Colenimo S/S 2013

Photos from Honey Kennedy.

Here's a spring/summer collection straight out of my dreams. It's by Colenimo and called "Little Miss Poker Face", inspired by Helen Wills Moody, a famous tennis player in the 20s and 30s. I love the preppy, English feel to the whole thing, and the mix of menswear with really practical fabrics. Such a great collection from Colenimo once again!

Photography: Jenny&Lee 
Makeup Artist: Natsumi Watanabe (Caren) 
Hair Artist: Takuya Baba 
Model: Tanya at First

More Greens by Grinshpan

I'm always such a fangirl when it comes to Gabriel Grinshpan's clothes. Even though we're in opposite seasons, I'm always able to pull inspiration from his designs and beautiful lookbooks. I mean, most of the outfits with look great with a pair of tights! For the rest of the Greens by Grinshpan lookbook, visit the shop's facebook page.

Note: A while back I posted Greens' previous collection and labeled it "spring/summer" when it was really the  fall lookbook. Sometimes I'm thrown off by collections coming out of the southern hemisphere, especially in the middle of changing seasons. 

Ace & Jig Fall 2012

Ace & Jig has stolen my heart these past few months. I'm always thinking about this label and how simple, consistent, and beautiful it is. The fall line is no different. The ladies behind Ace & Jig have a real knack for selecting perfect yarns and dyes for their collections, and they really know how to work a stripe too. I only recently read about the design process on their website. I enjoyed it so much that I choose to include a small excerpt of it below.

A main drive behind ace&jig was focus and clarity. We wanted to create a seasonless women's collection loosely based on one fabrication. Not denim, tees or knitwear, we wanted to create our own yarn-dye woven fabric. A fabric that could lead many lives, and tell many stories. We wanted to create effortless clothes where the fabric could speak for itself. Read more. . .

Journal Accesories

The days are getting a little easier now with school assignments winding down. I've still got a few more papers to write and tests to take, but at least I can see the light now! I wanted to share this tiny stamp set I bought on etsy months ago. I didn't expect the blocks to be as small as they were, but I can't really say that I mind much. They work perfectly well in my tiny journal!

Stamp set from Zakka Lover (they sell lots of washi tape too!)

Dream and Awake

I haven't been able to poke around the internet for inspiration in a while because I've been so loaded up with school work, but this morning I crossed my hardest presentation off the list, so I'm allowing myself a little play time. I've seen a lot of good stuff already from some of my favorite photographers and designers, but this photo collab between photographer Eefje de Coninck and the vintage dress shop, Dream and Awake, stopped me in my tracks because, well, they images are just so good. If I didn't know any better I might argue that the first one was a painting.

The Dress

The Dress from David Parkinson on Vimeo.

Ever wonder how much work goes into making one dress by hand?

Before I started my blog I took about ten months of classes from a couture designer here in town. I learned how to make my own patterns and how to construct blouses, skirts, dresses, jeans, and coats. I made two dress, a skirt, some jeans, some shorts, and a playsuit before giving the hobby up. At the time, I was split with a decision: pursue an online vintage shop and blog or continue making clothes and try to get into local fashion shows. I suppose I could've done both, but I was working a lot and only had the time and energy to focus on one. In the end, I feel like I made the right choice.

I recently saw this video by David Parkinson which follows the making of a dress from concept to the finished piece, and it reminded me of how much work and patience goes into every garment and how exciting it can be when you see the end results.

Credits: dress design by Sybil Lebois, modeled by Sonya Lebois, filmed by David Parkinson

Kinfolk Magazine

Kinfolk Magazine. I'm pretty much obsessed. I've been seeing a lot of this magazine around the web lately, and all I can say is that I'm simply in love. I might just have to get myself a subscription someday soon. Here's a small selection of some of my favorite photos from the Kinfolk gallery:

Forestbound + Favorites

Forestbound has been one of my favorite handmade shops for a long time now. I think it was three years ago that I fell in love with designer Alice's re-worked utilitarian bags, after seeing this video and becoming enchanted with her woodsy aesthetic. I started following her on Instagram recently, and it reminded me of all her beautiful bags and the old wishlists and inspiration folders that I used to store all my favorite designs in. For this post I paired my most favorite Forestbound designs with some of the other things I'd like to wear this spring.

Click the photos to shop the clothing and see more from Forestbound here.

Inspiration #1: Wood & Blush

I've had a Pinterest account for ages now, but I only just started using it last week. I've heard from many people that it's an addicting site, and now I can attest that it is in fact very addicting! I'm glad I'm active on it now though because it really is a great tool for organizing all the lovely things I see and want to remember from the internet.

Here's a little inspiration from this past week: pretty wood and crisp white linens, dusty piano keys to match a knit pom pom beanie, paper gems, tiny fawns, suede boots, and Caitlin Shearer illustrations. I'm in love.

You can find more of my inspiration here.

RRL by Ralph Lauren

The new RRL collection by Ralph Lauren may be one of the best men's collections I've seen in a while. The photos look so convincingly old-fashioned and the styling has such an early-twentieth century, back-roads kind of feel to it. Every character reminds me of someone I've seen in photos on the Life website or in vintage photos around the web, making me think of late-nineteenth century gold diggers and cowboys and farming families from the 30s and 40s. Then there's the two dapper gentlemen who look more sophisticated and strikingly similar to Oscar Wilde and Aubrey Beardsley –– or at least the photos and clothes look like replications of their portraits. It makes me wonder if there are anymore influences from The Yellow Book in this collection, too, and what photos were hanging on the RRL mood board when they organized this shoot.  It's definitely one of those "i wish my boyfriend shopped here" kind of places. . .

British Airways: 90 Years of Fashion

Many of you may already know, I'm an avid fan of uniforms. I like garments that are made of practical materials, efficient enough for day to day wear, tailored and timeless and flattering on any woman's silhouette. To celebrate 90 years in the sky, British Airways is launching a new tv advert (as they call them), along with another short film where they discuss the history of their uniforms. In the fashion-themed film, they explore the various designer collaborations seen over the years, as well as the effects they've had on British fashion. From the nipped and tucked waistline of the 50s, to the floral shift dresses of the 60s, all the way to pinstripe suits of today. It's fascinating! You can watch that video here.

I've also enjoyed looking through the old photographs and airline posters on their history and heritage website. You get a great sense of where fashion was just by looking at the uniforms. I've added the teaser film to their new advert below, mostly because I'm smitten with every single outfit in it. If you have time, visit their facebook page to see the official ad.

Online Sample Sale

Built by Wendy is having an online sample sale! I was so excited when I got the email yesterday morning that I went straight there and started browsing. The overalls were the first thing to catch my eyes, and considering the designer, they were most affordable. Sadly, they were only stocked in an xs, so there will be no Built by Wendy overalls in my future (wamp wamp), but there was a good variety of sizes in other pieces. Until I can afford my textbooks, I think I'd better lay off the clothes though. So I guess this is just a head up for you guys. Definitely check out the sale if you have money! Some of the jeans are listed at only $25. It ends September 7th.

All clothes from Built by Wendy. Hat and shoes from Madewell. Sunglasses from Topshop .

Gorman

I'm loving all the prints in this collection from Gorman. Technically, it's their spring/summer collection, but these days you could wear all of that stuff in the winter too. Gorman is a beautiful Australian label that doesn't have an online shop quite yet, but they're working on it! Hopefully it'll be up in time for me to grab the first two looks.

I'll be back with the Urban Walls giveaway winner this afternoon. If you haven't yet, enter before it's too late!

Styling School Uniforms

Clockwise from top left: Orchid Grey  •  Need source  •  Urban Outfitters  •  To Be Adored  •  Need source  •  Refinery 29

A few weeks ago a blog reader contacted me with styling question regarding school uniforms. She's starting at a new school this year and wanted my advice on how to look cute despite being tied down to the same oxford blouses, polos, slacks, and kilts all year long. I thought it was a fun challenge and decided to turn it into a Sync article (pg 12-13). I went around town borrowing pieces from local shops and put together a fun back to school look, which my little sister ended up modeling.

But before I knew it would be a Sync article, I put together these collages for the blog. I found so many great ways to dress up a classic button up, be it with a lace collar, a brooch, an oversized bow, or even a pocket full of posies. I also styled a couple of looks with pieces from some of my favorite online shops.

I never had to wear uniforms when I was in school, but I think it would be fun. Everyday you start with the same simple canvas and get to build it into something exciting. I'm sure it does get old after a while, but take it from Sheena of The Uniform Project, it's definitely possible––just watch this if you need inspiration!

I always enjoy doing this sort of thing, so if you're ever feeling fashionably stumped, feel free to shoot me an email and I'll see what I can do to help––starrcrow@live.com. Until then, happy styling to you!

Because I put this article together two weeks ago and didn't compile a list of links at the time, I need a little help with sourcing! If you know the owner of the unsourced photos, please let me know who they belong to so I can issue proper credit.

Topshop Cardigan  •  French Toast Blouse  •  American Apparel Pants  •  Urban Outfitters Bag  •  Etsy Horse Brooch

French Toast Blouse  •  Old Navy Pants  •  Forage Bow Tie  •  Urban Outfitters Oxfords

Dear Creatures Interview

Dear Creatures is one of my favorite independent labels out right now. They create some of the most adorable looks based off of the most stylish 60s characters! I'm not sure if I've ever posted about them before, mostly because all my favorite blogs have it covered, but I've been a big fan for a while! I was very excited when I found an interview in Zooey Magazine with Dear Creature creators Rob Sinclair and Bianca Benitez. I love getting a little insight into how labels came about and what direction they plan to go in the future. Here's a small taste of the interview that got me most excited:

Q. What plans do you have in the future for Dear Creatures? Are you looking to expand the brand? If so, how?
ROB: We going to be launching another label where our goal is to sell pieces that retail under $100. It will be a separate division from Dear Creatures but under the same umbrella. This is still in the very beginning stages and it won’t be launching until 2012.

Cheaper brand under the same umbrella as Dear Creatures?? Sign me up, please! For more of the interview, click HERE.

Self Service

After seeing Rhiannon's post about Orla Kiely's fall collection yesterday and trying to figure out if Venetia Scott really did shoot the campaign photos (I'm convinced she did), I found a whole new-to-me set from her instead. They've been out for a month or so now and I'm sure they've been scattered all over the web at this point, but Venetia Scott's work is too good to keep to yourself. These were shot for Self Service Magazine, and even though they're meant for the summer, I'll be honest, I couldn't get away with wearing half of the stuff these girls are wearing. It's way too hot 'round these parts. The outfits sure are pretty to look at though!