Just Devine!

If I ever visit, sorry WHEN I (one day) visit London, I know will have to pilgrimage to the Tatty Devine store. Tatty Devine is a jewelery company based in the East End of London owned by Rosie Wolfenden and Harriet Vine (what FANTASTIC names!). The pair started the company 1999, making acyclic-based accessories with a bold and unique twist that makes me just giddy! I fist saw one of their pieces on my very good friend Lucy and now I frequently drool over the website. Let me start your addiction.

Earrings!

More Earrings! Even cuter!


How Funny!


LOVE THIS!!!!! I may just order this...


This is a hair piece. Can you believe that?

Adorable.

Grand Finale {My favorite of all their collections!}:

Lighten Up

When Carolyn has made the trek from New England to the Mid Atlantic states she is going to want to relax in her humble abode. My suggestion to her is to light up.
No nothing illegal... we're not that kind of blog! Light a candle, a Voluspa candle!

Voluspa Candles are quite posh and a bit on the pricey side, but the fragrances are really lovely. So somewhere in between burning that Yankee candle you bought from your kid brother's school fundraiser or the incense you found in the Haight, you may want to try Voluspa.

The fragrances are, like I said, beautiful. My favorite is French Cade and Lavendar!






The design aesthetic is pretty cool too!




According the their website, Voluspa is the Celtic goddess of Wisdom. My own research tells me the goddess is actually of Nordic origin. I think maybe they were attracted to the -spa at the end of the name!

The company is actually based in Lake Forest, the next town over from me actually. Even though their candles and cause don't necessarily promote ecofriendliness (a la soy or bees wax) it seems they stay away from chemicals as they are a "luxury candle."

What to wear today?

Remember wearing the same outfit to Catholic school every morning? No, okay well... remember how cartoon characters always wore the same thing in every episode? Well its kinda like that. But not for Sheena Matheiken!
I recently found out about Sheena who started The Uniform Project. Through a staggering amount of recycled and thrift shop accessories (not to mention a rather impressive collection of tights and socks), Sheena managers to wear the same exact Little black dress for 365 days! She has 7 of the same dress, a reversible tunic made from organic cotton that she dresses up and down for every style and mood and occasion. She chronicles her daily outfitting and credits her etsy and ebay addiction with her astonishing accessorizing. Tim Gunn would be very pleased!
It gets even better. As part of the Uniform Project she is also raising money for Akanksha Foundation, a grassroots movement that is revolutionizing education in India. At the end of the year, all contributions will go toward Akanksha’s School Project to fund uniforms and other educational expenses for children living in Indian slums.
I can't post all 365 looks here, but I did pick some of my favorites!
*May 1, 2009 and April 30, 2010* The original.


*May 9, 2009*



*August 9, 2009*



*September 7, 2009*



*Oct 17, 2009*



*December 1, 2009*



*April 18, 2010*


*April 24, 2010*


I am keeping my eye out for when this Little Black Dress, or LBD, will be available to purchase! Not only is it supporting the idea of sustainable fashion and education, but its looks great! Maybe cartoon animators were on to something....

Swing on Over

I just saw my sisters’ school production of “Anything Goes” and of course I now want to overhaul my closet and replace it with high wasted pencil skirts, fitted jackets, and hats! So I went looking for anything that would call back to the Swing Era today.

There is really something to say about the clean and classic silhouettes of these style trends.

Some interesting facts I found out about this style is that with the rationing during WW2, having an outfit made of all one fabric and color was common. So instead women found other ways to spice up their look, like hats! Hats definitely need a comeback.

Women also took more liberty with their makeup. Bright lipstick helped to maintain a feminine feel as women donned structured men's wear, but also add that "pop" factor to any outfit.

I think overall is the feeling optimism these clothes represent. Here are women facing a worldwide crisis, but still they found outlets in dance and fashion, and most of all supporting their country. From nurse to service corps, victory garden, knitting bees, these gals were true patriots. And let’s not forget…

(Rosie the Riveter)
Girl Power.

I Love The Flower Girl

I'm a daydreamer, like so good I could go professional. Here's what I daydreamed today: I was running through fields of flowers & green hills {a la English countryside} & then I got on my awesome bike {clearly a daydream, I am by no means a confident biker}, with fresh picked flowers in my basket {I love being surrounded by fresh flowers!} & riding down a dirt road, while "California" by Joni Mitchell played in the background. I was wearing a white, flouncy skirt with a loose fitting button down, bare feet {my go-to footwear}, & an old, beat-up straw hat. Perhaps my final destination is a country cottage -with a big porch & rocking chairs, I need a porch.

{image: Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music -1965}

{image: April J.Crew catalog}

{image: Renee Zellwegger in Miss Potter -2006}

{image: Amanda Pratt photography}

{image: Amanda Pratt photography}

{image: Amanda Pratt photography}

{image: Cherry Blossom Girl}

{image: Peggy Lipton, Child of The Moon}

{image: Bright Star- 2009}

{image: Bright Star- 2009}

{image: coco+kelley}

{image: Hugh Stewart photography}

{image: Hugh Stewart photography}

{image: Anthropologie}

{image: Anthropologie}

{image: Souvenirs}

{image: Souvenirs}

I obviously can't wait for summer & a break from all this work {the end of the semester is killing me}. Also, this is largely stemming from my extreme desire to own this bike.

Did you daydream up anything fun today?

Snap out of it!

I apologize for doing two fashion-y posts in a row. I'm trying my hardest to finish Tess of the D'Urbervilles in the next two days, so I can start a new book during my plane ride to the Netherlands {where I will be spending the next 8 days!} & get a review up for our lovely readers. Our book blog is in dire need of a book review! eek!

However, I just can't stop thinking about what I want to wear when I finally have more free time to shop/dress...I'm in a "play dress up" mood & I can't help it. I think the summer breeds wardrobe re-do moods. I'm really feeling a Peggy Lipton/late '60s- early '70's vibe for Summer 2010. I'm also really missing my long hair & am on a quest to grow it out.

Right now, I'm totally inspired by these early photos {think 1960s-late 1970s} of one of my most favorite people. I'm sorry, I can't help it. I'm just gonna come out & say it: I LOVE CHER. I love her. I love her music {avec Sonny & solo}, I love her movies {uhh Mermaids anyone!?...I love a good Catholic joke. I'm allowed to -I paid my dues with 12 years spent in plaid skirts & kneesocks}, & I love her style...she does what she wants. She is Cher after all. I think it's safe to say her look from 1980 to the present might be a little too much for everyday inspiration -leather onesies for class? Not for me! I tend to prefer her earlier, more natural looks.

{image: Cher Style}

{image: Cher Style}

{image: Child of the Moon}

Do you have a favorite Cher look?

Buried Treasure

Another commonality between Carolyn and I: younger teenage sisters. And what are younger sisters good for? Adventures!!

This past weekend my triplet sisters and I made an expedition to Costa Mesa CA; destination: The Buffalo Exchange. If you have never been to one of these stores I highly recommend it. Its thrift at its indie/bohemian best. I was first turned on to it by my very good friend, Madelyn (check out her music blog!), who currently lives in Brooklyn NY, the epicenter for all things hipster/indie. Not that anyone would ever dare be called either of those things. Labels are for jars, man.

Long story short, Costa Mesa has this fabulous little shopping center called The Lab: anti mall. My sister Amanda and I found it a little over a month ago, but at the time were unable to explore it fully because we were caught in a downpour! But, this past Sunday, the weather was wonderfully Southern Californian, so we made another trip, along with Brooke and Sarah. (And one day hopefully Carolyn!)

Filled with outrageously cool stores, the atmosphere was absolutely perfect for a relaxed shopping outing. We dug around "The Exchange" for a bit, coming out with some fabulous, new, well new to us, outfits.

My favorite item of this day: This skirt

and this top

and this too

and this

We also walked around the outdoor plaza. Sarah found this sweet little alcove

And tea and lunch here.

The Gypsy Den! How perfect!!

The moral of this story is to go and search out your local thrift shops and support local businesses, you never know what kind of buried treasure you are going to find at the end of a rainbow!

Cheers!