There was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid.

I've been feeling a tad inspired by the velveteen rabbit the past few days. Perhaps it's the fact that I too am battered and worn following three days of sailing, and  can now empathise with the worn-in bunny. Perhaps I'm finally being influenced by the recessionista 'spin' on fashion in an expounding on re-loving sort of way. Perhaps I just suddenly got reminded of when my brother was little, sucking his thumb and stroking the ears of his toy elephant so much that they went smooth and threadbare and as long as the ears of a rabbit. Maybe it's a subconcious craving to see Jake Gyllenhall act with Maggie, or a calling to watch that episode of friends. Whatever it is, I shan't bother pegging it; it might just be that I had the most beautifully illustrated book of it, which I can't track down anywhere, and got reminded of this by internets-trawling. The image above does not do my memory justice. Marissa Lanternam of Marissa's Art  does the best illustrations I've seen in a while, but I daren't post the images; she is, after all, a student, and she needs all the copyright laws she can get.

In the spirit of all things looking a little thrown together....

Michael Van der Ham for CSM's MA show

a little stringy....

Derek Lawlord for CSM's MA show

Perhaps a little droopy...

Dress by Bolongaro Trevor s/s 08

or maybe just a little hotch-potch

Marni @WWD

Or uneven...

Susie bubble in Topshop Unique  

I present the Alien being lazy. (In every sense of the word; this must be a month old.)

Barbour is badass.

I leave you with a film reference that references my reference. 

People cannot be truly loved if they are too sharp and shiny.  (Get the reference?)

[an ammendment to the reference to a reference: and yet I will still walk towards the shiny.]

Big people, little people, Lilliputiens and stylish chains.

 

In this instant, I wouuldn't mind playing gulliver..... Yookoo 

Called Atanta's "Knitting Wunderkind" by Vice magazine, Yookoo (who is, I believe, pictured) has been chipping away at fantabulary keck-knitwear, at a rate of knots. Too bust to take anyone on, this one woman, one shop set-up has been raking in orders (recession? whowherewhatty?) and, beneath that elfin crops lurks a human-machine that's been churning out oversized chains, Chunky capelets and Giant soopascarves.

 

By Giant, of course I mean 7-8 feet long....

 

No wonder she wakes up with cramps... or, as she so succinctly puts it, "me and my carpal tunnel thank you" [for your orders, presumably). Now having received street level recognition (people stopping her in APC to have a gasp) the knitter is, in fact, resorting to guarding her yarns and patterns fiercely. But, in actuality, she's moving into sewing. The ateliers better watch out...

 

Susie Bubble in Yooko's cambridge chain

 
The Mothership in sweet pea

I would also just like to point out the beautiful photography; lighting, composition, and the creator-model. All makes for a brilliant setting. Check out the colour combinations in that last image!

She also gives etsy the best "Tell us a bit about yourself" answer ever:

I don’t mean to scare anyone here, but, to be honest, I spent a larger part of my childhood preparing for this question. I used to dream of being on Nighttime Talk Shows and having a host lean in and say, “tell everybody about yourself.” My father said that it was the type of question that meant you had finally become someone of note.
Ingrid Bergman was someone of note and would always poise when answering this question. I would poise, too. I would try, but I probably wouldn’t make it far. I would end up jack-laughing throughout the entire first segment. Catching the Giggles. I’d try focusing on the bridge of my nose to keep from laughing. My father said all Nighttime talk show hosts have miniature buttons in their desk to cue commercials when guests weren’t working out so well. I imagine my persona being very button friendly. And it would be pushed.
And there I’d sit. I would have blown it. Now the entire world would join me in knowing that I was not the type of person that entertains such questions. I wasn’t Ingrid Bergman, or Simone De Beauvoir. And I was in nobody’s note. I was Yokoo, and I made scarves, some of which were chunky.

Brilliant.

 

The Bubble again

Also in my etsy favourites at the moment are Portland designers Emily Ryan (very affordable, cool) and Holly Stadler.

Stadler's designs start off as trimmings; literally. These can include "faded velvet ribbons, edwardian lace, the beaded applique of a 1920s dress" and  "aurora borealis rhinestone buttons". Interested in looking at the aging of fragile fabrics, she keeps things modern in the designs themselves, incorporating these raw materials; sustainable production indeed. Basing herself from the Seaplane boutique/lounge/gallery (complete with music and art installations, launching oregons finest on the word) each item she produces is one of a kind, tailor made or limited edition. Now that's special.

 

La Sylphide Capelet

 

 

Another thing? Custom-made-to-order listings. Such as this Gem silk lace dress and antique lace cape....

  

This all goes on While i wile away my time waiting for Kate Towers to post a new item (she has a baby, I suppose it's excusable....)

 

TIP OFF #1:

Check out http://ccwearschanel.blogspot.com/ for her amazing interview with artist Mark shwartz

Adding fuel to the fire.... Or taking it away, I suppose

(Click to zoom) Clockwise from top left: Electra Amsterdam Alexander Girard "tree of life" edt. TV spread, Snake Bike lock-Fred flare, 3G Bikes Flamingo, Pinup-ridingpretty, The ditty Bops album cover, bicyclecape-cyclechic, Ann demeulemeester scarf, Carrie bike basket, Pin up image-ridingpretty, Cyclechic cherry blossom pannier, man on a bike, ann demeulemeester talon-heeled boots, Cyclechic tartan box bag and helmet, Yellow electra amsterdam tulip, red electra amsterdam Alexander Girard, Cyclodelic brabad (for handlebars).

Bikes are so hot right now, they on FIAH. I'm waiting to see Kanye pedal on the ltd. edt. Chanel bike, perhaps Gucci, perhaps early tiffany.It doesn't take a genius to work out that recessionistas (I shudder at the term) and eco-warriors (Another shudder) Have made bikes very visible in recent months, but wouldn't you say that they're just doing something that most people should be doing anyway? Not that I don't admire them for their advocacy, but rather, I marvel that they're even considered abnormal. Surely it's just logic? Bikes are pretty, fun, practical and a cheap way of getting around, but I'm not going to preach. Instead, I take the view of Copenhagen Cycle Chic, who claim that rather than there being a large number of cyclists in copenhagen, there are simply alot of people in copenhagen who cycle; in their heels, in their suits. Normal, everyday people. Not crazy warriors. And you don't have to kit out in lycra, nor know who made your brakes. (Just how to tell if they've been cut)

Check out Riding Pretty, who makes helmet covers, like so...
Even better with a matching cape...wouldn't you say?
At any rate, very Karl lagerfeld

She has been known to rock a sherlock homes look...

But, with cyclodelic opening at topshop, with agyness dejn and her bike popping up every which way I turn, and with my plans for transport in paris very cyclo-centric, I can't very well just ignore it. I am, after all, trying to choose a bike.

MAYBE ONE OF THESE?:

All holytaco.com/celebrities-riding-invisible-bicycles

Ok, enough humour. The bikes:

The electra Amsterdam "Girard tree of life" or

The Electra Amsterdam "Girard madonna" or

The Electra Gypsy or

The Electra Amsterdam Tulip or

THe electra Ladies Nexus or

The PAshley Princess sovereign (old skool) But in regency Green
or

Pashley poppy or

Velorbis Victoria Ladies Classic or

3G flamingo

or. get this. 3g bike with rocket lights:

I should probably stop before I persuade myself into swomething like this that clashes with a) holiday b) Orientation week. I could probably fit in the july one, but raising £1,300 by july would be...tricky, what with exams and all. Who knows?

I want to jump into these ripples of petit filous...

ok, yeah, so the lime green pannier isn't exactly blending in, but firstly, it's straight out of robert ryan, seconsly, robert ryan reminds me of birdcages. birdcages remind me of Prague. Prague reminds me of dusky colours. And it's awesome?! The Carrie basket. google it.

When will it be summer? I was reminded by the dusky pink in that last post, coupled with the petit filous pot I'm eating, of Comme des Garcons, and then the sheer amount of antique colours out there on the runways. Brain connections, eh? Although I'm told its the colour of the Sky in Paris, I also believe its the same colour as the mold I found in the Washing machine detergent drawer. Meh. Mould can be so on trend. Actually...think about all those crazy colours and crystalline patterns... *Archives mould as source of inspiration* I should probably point out that noone's been living in this house since december.

thecherryblosomgirl.com

As noted, pastels seem to be everywhere Fall and winter. And of course with pastels in mind, you have to head to the cherry blossom girl. You just do. It's like birdcages and Prague. DO you really need an explanation? Could I even give you one? Answer: Unlikely. Anyway, her photoshop must be on permanant vintage setting as, whilst documenting her life, style and times, everything is bathed in a soft glow. Beyond that, I want her sofa.... Her closet too wouldn't go amiss.

On to greater things. Prada's inspiration for the MiuMiu s/s09? exploring our european heritage. Possibly because there's no unified italian heritage? (Far too revolutionary and divided. Italy's a baby, in constitutional terms). Though fading dusty colours they hark back to a distant time, when the chemicals on photographic paper decayed in such a pretty manner, (Now its more likely that someone's put lined paper in the printer and caused a jam) the silhouettes present are decidedly modern. Architectural, almost. Like old cartography. I want a dress made out of old charts, screw newspaper dresses. (although, as far as they go, I wouldn't mind one of these...

reminds me of Barbara I Gongini A/W09

So, the pastels.

Comme des garcons:



Miu Miu


Prada (DUSKY LEATHER GLADIATOR SKIRT! HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET TO SAY THAT?)



LV


Christopher Kane



Erin Fetherstone

How does she pull off a skinhead????


In conclusion.... I want spring to come so I can whip out these babies....


Peace out. Notice the rosy glow given by poor lighting and photobooth. Not only mould, but industria school lighting too!