soled

"accidentally" bought these yesterday

They rock! Soooo comfortable and I think I can think I can walk in them. And they look way coooler in person than on the website, somehow, trust me.

ps: I just googled to find an image... found out the style name is "Rolled Oats" = meant to be

ahhhhhhhh

Bath, England

If you're like me the changing seasons can be difficult on your skin. As soon as the weather dries out and turns crisp, so do my arms and legs become dry and itchy. I sought a solution on the internet last night and found a small miracle: oatmeal

Of course, I could not tell you enough about how great oatmeal is in general and my special techniques for making it.... but some other time.

Oatmeal Bath

1. Begin drawing a warm bath (aside - I love this use of the word "draw")
2. Put 1 cup of uncooked oatmeal in an old piece of hosiery and tie the end closed
3. Throw it in the tub as it fills
4. Get in. Squeeze the oatmeal pouch for maximum strength. You can even use the pouch as a sponge if you can't fit your lanky body in your tiny bathroom, as I.
5. Steep yourself for around 10 minutes and then gently pat yourself dry.

I don't think my skin has ever felt so good! Itchiness is gone but it just feels like skin, no gross lotion residue.

Try it!

ps: while shoe shopping today, I pocketed a handful of those try-on footie hose for the future...

dream home

living here is basically my childhood fantasy

inspiration

went to see Metropolis on the enormous screen at the Ziegfeld Theater last night

making

this is where your clothes may be made, if you are very very lucky

ps: For my day job (patternmaker for a new designer label) we share the same factory (another one - not a tailor) with Rag & Bone. Sometimes I get back samples with their buttons sewn on by mistake.

in case you want to know

Just to get it completely out of my system, here are some makeup basics that I like a lot:

Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer

Rather expensive but I don't care because it's one of the few foundation products that doesn't aggravate my rosacea. It goes on so light and smooth yet really covers a lot at the same time. I know the oil-free formula is popular too.

Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner

This is an expensive product but literally the only one I've been able to get a natural effect with. It's so creamy and blendy, yet sets better than you'd expect. If you want to go really subtle, you can use an eyeliner pencil to apply and blend it right into the lash line.

Maybelline Full & Soft mascara (waterproof)

I've actually been using this for a long time in the regular version, but I like waterproof much better. It doesn't end up underneath my eyes by supper. Unlike a lot of waterproof mascaras, the lashes still stay soft and natural looking.

Revlon "Brow Fantasy"
Use the pencil end to darken brows (good to balance the face when wearing a lot of eye makeup), then use the gel to hold in place. I use the gel alone most days for a polished look.

Sonia Kashuk makeup brushes
These are great and pretty cheap too. You can buy them at Target.

Burts Bees original lip balm
Made with beeswax! Stays on the lips and smells delightful. Good to put on before other lip goos.

pat myself on the head

Ok, so this is kind of random but anyway....
I never learned how to wear makeup when I was a teenager. My mom didn't wear any and I didn't think about it much until the inevitable prom-like thing, where I put on some mascara, then washed it off because I thought it looked weird.
This attitude didn't change much until this past year when i realized (!) that I was getting married and didn't know this most fundamental of womanly skills (I also purchased a bundt pan - I am a good wife!). So, I did the nerdy thing and went to the internet to research what exactly I should do. This is how I discovered the wonderful, gaudy, and amazing world of Youtube beauty instructional videos. I studied them intensely, learned to ignore the Sephora "helpers" giving me the side-eye, and bravely put a new face forward.
Now, I feel competent - which is probably my most favorite feeling. I even can put together different "looks". Today, I have on dark green shadow (worn as liner) to go with the dark green fisherman's pants.
I still keep up with some on the beauty "gurus". Here is my favorite:

I could listen to her talk all day!

colour

Essie "Lapis of Luxury"

You know your nail polish is awesome when people (multiple) stop you on the street in NYC to ask you what it is. I agree - I cannot stop looking at my hands! It's like having little James Turrell windows on the end of each finger. Also, a great punch of color to wear with neutrals. I found mine at Ricky's in NYC, not sure where else you can get it, probably online. Happy weekend :)

older work

circle cape

wheel skirt

drawstring dress

I kind of had forgotten that I set up a Picasa web album to power the slideshow that appears on this blog. It has some pieces I made a few years back and haven't done anything with besides occasionally wearing them myself. So, just for fun, here they are.

(you can click the album link for more images)

now swatching - japanese cottons

(enlarged to show better detail)

Found these yesterday on a sourcing expedition. They are the traditional Japanese cotton used for yukata. Not sure if they are actually indigo dyed (unlikely - it's rare these days). There's a great gallery of vintage yukata here.

block of raw indigo - as referenced in "Zero History"

united nude - rem D koolhaas shoes

"United Nude products are about clear concepts, elegance, and innovation"

I just learned about the shoe brand that Rem D Koolhaas has been designing
(thanks Dory for your correction - it's the nephew of Rem Koolhaas (no D))

Odette

Finally had a chance to photograph the necklace I received in my trade with Odette! I picked the skipping stones in gold. I was surprised how yellow it is and initially not sure how I would wear it. Turns out that it looks amazing with black (and oh yeah, do I wear a lot of black). I pretty much haven't taken it off all week, including wearing it to a wedding this weekend with a cobalt blue dress - lots of compliments were received on the combination.