Chugging Along

I can promise you that I will never get myself on a permanent schedule. It is what it is, but at least I won't lie and say "I'll be better" or "I promise I will always post on...", so I think I deserve some credit for that. And in that vein I sit before my computer at five till eleven on Friday night drinking a glass of red wine and presenting you with an inspiration board.

It's bright, it's frilly, it's the circus! Fantastic timing since I've been looking at a bunch of House of Worth gowns from the late 1800's to the early 1900's and they have the same kind of whimsical feeling to them. Also, every time I look at this board I remember that the bride wants to put the groom in tails and then I think of is the ring leader. BRILLIANT!

Me MIA?

Yeah that happens a lot doesn't it. Whatever, I'm here now. By the way, so is fall. It was like the weather decided it wasn't going to gradually change with the seasons, but instead did a strange cartoon bit of going straight from one to the next. Next thing you know all the changing leaves will just drop off in a heap. Just like that. Oh well. I'm excited for the cooler weather, lord only knows my wardrobe tends to be more tailored to it.

But enough about the amazingness that is fall, you all want pictures and inspiration boards. So today I give you STEAMPUNK:

I don't know what it is that makes it so right for fall, but it might have something to do with the rustic nostalgia that is attached to it.

Have a good week everyone!

Missed a week

But it was necessary. No really, the week revolving around Labor Day and retail in general makes for a great deal of tired. On top of that I had just started a new job, so I was learning the ropes during a crazy time. This new job was gotten to replace my job at Kate Spade. A sad day when I had to give my two weeks notice, but necessary. You see Kate Spade started selling too much apparel and I was told I had to choose between them and Talbots. Seeing as I've started to do some of the merchandising at Talbots and there was a better chance of promotion at the time, I stayed with Talbots. And to compensate, but not conflict, I now work at Perry Ellis.


Perry Ellis, why does that sound familiar? Well, for those of you who don't follow men's wear I have a little story for you:
At fashion week back in the fall of 1992, the Perry Ellis S/S 1993 runway had a rather bazar show for the audience - one that wasn't well received at the time in fact. At the time a barely know designer sent an entire line of grunge inspired pieces down the runway. His name was Marc Jacobs. Yeah, Perry Ellis was that show. Cool piece of history if I do say so myself. And on November 3rd it will be the 20th anniversary of said show, and I'm going to try and incorporate some grunge into my look if I'm working that day - that should be interesting.

So next week I will be back with a new inspiration board, but until then have a good week!

So The Scanner...

Yes it deserves to be capitalized, it has become an entity of of great villiany in my life. That is to say it is still having problems. I know how to fix it, thankfully, but in the end I have decided that I 'm going to wait on posting the actual designs I did, and instead post those all together at the end.

So for my next board I was able to find pictures from an actual chemistry themed wedding, which I know will tickle my friend's fancy (she loves chemistry - her dream kitchen would be a chemistry lab). On my end this should be interesting because it has no actual dresses as reference. I have a few details in mind from some dresses, but nothing substantial. So here we go:

I personally am a big fan of the candy table with all the periodic elements as labels. Enjoy!

No drawings today

Sorry if you were looking forward to it. I have both preliminary sketches and a finished piece that I really want to show every one, but my scanner is out of commission at the moment. Hopefully next week will yield better results. So until then here's the next inspiration board to hopefully appeal to the senses:

This one I'm really excited about, and the reason for this excitement is that it's a bit of a military influence. It might not seem that way since it consists of Empress Elisabeth of Austria's coronation dress and costumes from the ballet Stars and Stripes, but the reality is that both were already influenced by military dress to begin with. Also, the whole sword thing going on down in the right hand corner - I know that there are talks about a mock battle during the ceremony. What can I say, my friends have a flair for the dramatic!

Hope everyone has a good coming week!

I'm not dead?

I thought I was, Lord only knows my life is monotonous enough to make my a zombie. But then the clouds parted and the sun came out in the form of my friend getting engaged and then coming to see me. Ladies and gentle men, boys and girls, if you are ever in a depressive funk go hang out with friends and take a mini vacation and suddenly the world becomes a little brighter.

Because I saw my friend and asked her about her wedding I have been inspired enough to do something. You see, she knows nothing and told me to come up with ideas for her... for  her wedding. So, yeah. For the next couple of posts how ever many they may be will be full of ideas, inspiration boards and dress sketches for my friend for her wedding.

So without further ado, here is the first concept: Starry Night

This board was actually created by Snippet & Ink with the inspiration of a Constellation Wedding fueling it. Once I saw it, it made me think of my friend's love of architecture and cathedrals that have star covered ceilings, so I came up with this:

By next week I hope to show everyone at least one dress design using this board as inspiration. Wish me luck!

Neglect

It's an ugly word, but it's the truth.I have been neglecting my blog. On the other hand, I can happily say though that the bachlorette went of without too many problems (stupid alarm system...), my sister's wedding was AMAZING (she was so happy she was vibrating. No, really, she did a happy dance on the alter), and now I have two - yes TWO - new part time jobs.

If you remember, for the bachlorette we went for a Kate Spade inspired theme. So there was Kelley green, black and white, polka-dots, and details that had "utility, wit and playful sophistication" written all over them. My favorite part was the balloon chandelier I created.

this would be me laughing too hard while blowing up the balloons...

The wedding was amazing, but I'm afraid I don't have any photos to share. It's what happens when you're one of the maids of honor, and therefore have no camera all night.

Speaking of Kate Spade, it's one of my new employers. Epic, right?! So I now get to drool over awesome bags while trying to sell them to people. Sometimes I think I do a better job of selling them to myself, but whatever. The other job is at Talbots. This is a little entertaining in my family because my grandmother retired from the company not too long ago. It's a small world after all... Also, my managers are freakin' AWESOME! Just thought you should all know.

Oscars

It means I cry over my inability to own the beautiful fashions. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself...

Ellie Kemper in Armani Prive. She looked amazing in the copper. It complimented her hair without looking matchy-matchy.

Bérénice Bejo in Elie Saab. There was just something off about this dress, it looked like she was slouching the whole time.

 Brad Pit and Angelina Jolie in Atelier Versace. The dress was stunning, but it seemed to swamp her. Either she needs to add some meat to her bones, or a more fitted dress. 

Cameron Diaz in Gucci. She always looks fresh, flirty and statuesque. It's rather unfair really.

Colin Firth looked good but his wife, Livia, needed to loose the sleeves or change the bodice of her custom Valentino dress.

Emma Stone in Giambattista Valli. I know everyone was thinking Nicole Kidman circa 2007, but at the same time she made it her own, and made it fresh and new. Not to mention she looked amazing.

George Clooney and Stacy Keibler. He is one of those guys that get better with age. She looks like a million bucks in her Marchasa gown.

Gary Oldman - handsome man and he has a polka-dot pocket square.

My favorite of the night - Gwyneth Paltrow in Tom Ford

Giuliana Rancic in Tony Ward. I couldn't take my eyes off those sleeves, they were amazing.

Jessica Chastain in Alexander McQueen. This was my other favorite of the night. She looked like a fairy tale queen.

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad. Some didn't like it, but I gotta say, I think she is one of the few who can pull a dress like this off. And man, oh man, did she look hot on stage.

Kristen Wiig in J. Mendel. I have to agree with most, she needed more with her hair. I also wish she had a little extra sparkle, preferably in belt form.

Mia Jovovich in Elie Saab. She looks like a star, in all senses of the word.

Meryl Streep in Lanvin. She looked like the award winner she was. When I grow up, I wanna be as elegant as her mommy.

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton. I'm not a big fan of the peplum, but she makes this coral version look amazing. 

Natalie Portman in Dior. It was POLKA-DOT!!!

Viola Davis in Vera Wang. Her skin tone and that intense green was solid gold.

Octavia Spencer in Tadashi Shoji. She makes curves look like the new black dress: the most desirable of staples.

Penelope Cruz in Giorgio Armani. She walked on stage and my jaw dropped.

Rooney Mara in Givenchy. She will be sitting with Cate Blanchett and Tilda Swinton forever in the "she could wear that dress, and it didn't wear her" category. I can't wait!

Sandra Bullock in Marchesa. Loved the dress, but it did look best from back.

And lastly, Tina Fey. The only woman wearing Carolina Herrera. She looked amazing! 

P.S. My hair has done the messy form of her's, and I gotta say it just looks good. Try it, you'll probably love it.

Here's to the winner's and to next year's award season get ups!

So, I do fashion...

But I'm one of those bad people who didn't watch the Grammy's (particularly the red carpet). Granted I was at my sister's bridal shower and we don't have any type of recording system, but still. I feel bad. So amongst the doing of dishes and getting on top of job applications, I'm slowly going through pictures of last night's red carpet, and I can honestly say I like what I'm seeing...


And I had everything at my fingertips and then got lazy. Go me. Hopefully I won't be this bad with the Oscars on Sunday.

Adele in Armani = Amazing. Nothing else to say.

Carrie Underwood in Gomez Gracia. She is one of those disgusting people who is able to pull off white effortlessly. It's rather unfair, really.

Corinne Bailey Rae in Christian Siriano. Girly and fun, without being too much.

Fergie Jeean Paul Gaultier.I get where she was going, and I love her for it, but there is just something missing.

Jessie J in Julien MacDonald. One minute I like it, the next I don't. Perhaps if they got rid of the bottom ruffle I would love the dress without question.

Kelley Osborn in Tony Ward. She looked stunning. I just wish her hair was a shade darker, it just looks washed out.

Kelly Rowland in Alberta Ferretti. The only thing I don't like is he hairstyle, I'd kind of like to see it more crazy to contrast the dress.

Nicki Minaj in Versace. She wins for best statement look. Then again I might be biased due to the whole fairy tale aspect. The Pope was a nice touch.

Paris Hilton in Basil Soda. She really is just a stunning woman.

Taylor Swift in Zuhair Murad. No words, when I first saw the dress I'm pretty sure my jaw dropped.

Sasha Gradiva in unknown. Not gunna lie, this was one of my favorites. There's just something about the gun sleeve that I find too humorous to not like it.

As for the men...

Bruno Mars looks rather delicious in his 3 piece.

Adam Levine looked rather dashing. His date, Anne Vyalitsyna, looked pretty amazing too. Can I have her legs, please?

And last, but not least, Sir Paul McCartney... no words needed.

Now I really can't wait for the Oscars.