Category Archives: Fashion
The Art of Time
Image from swipelife.com
I’ve a had a number of conversations with people about how less and less people are wearing watches, or at least wearing watches to tell the time. The ubiquity of the cellphone has really put a damper on watches being instruments that measure time. While there are some that wear watches for their original purpose (and because their phone battery dies quickly), many people today wear them more as accessories that express a personal style and aesthetic.
While some might prefer the traditional, classic watches that might become family heirlooms, there are a number of design brands that produce very interesting contemporary designs that have their own unique character. Here are a few timepiece producers that make functional and interesting objects.
Image from timefy.com
Projects watches’ tagline is “architecture you can wear.” Most of the watches in the line were designed by architects and have a clean, modern sensibility, with each piece having a defining characteristic or design element that sets it apart from traditional watches.
Image from Projects Watches
This watch by Italian designer Denis Guidone, for example, has a face where the 12 is slanted slightly so that it is straight up when the wearer tilts their wrist at an angle.
Image from curvebean.com
Originally a kitchen utensil deisgn company, Alessi is a design factory from Italy that produces high quality functional objects. Since the 1980’s, their company has become more focused on creating objects that are considered “high design,” collaborating with periodically famous designers to come up with new product lines.
Their watches can have particularly interesting designs, like their Kaj watch, that has a very slick, futuristic sensibility to it, but also retains its essence as a watch through its analog face.
Nixon is a watch company that caters to more of a younger, independent lifestyle. The california-based company originally produced skate, snow, and surf products and then branched into accessories. Alot of their designs are a neo-retro fusion on contemporary and classic design.
Andy Warhol Collection
Image from thedigitalistas.com
The Andy Warhol Museum has a comprehensive store that brings the art of the great pop artist to the public. The watches do just that – most of them care mini posters and recreations of Warhol’s famous silkscreen paintings within a mod, colorblock design.
Dezeen Watch Store
If one of these watches has caught your eye, and wondering where to shop different designs in one place, then the Dezeen watch store is a good place to start. The design blog has a dedicated store to watches by featured designers.
Beyond the Pale
Spring is upon us, bringing with it the warmer weather, blooming flowers, and pastel hues. I have always loved the thought of pastels but have never incorporated them into my wardrobe. As a 40-something plus-sized woman, I picture these colours making me look too childish, too prissy, or too much like a fluffy marshmallow peep.
(Photo: Posh Pose Post)
However, this year the runways and fashion magazines are bursting with so many examples of the confectionary colours that I am emboldened to give them a try.
(Photo: A Girl Can Dream)
I’m going to start slowly, with nail polish. It is an inexpensive way to try out the different shades to determine which ones best suit my skintone. And even though I don’t think it is a colour I would chose for my wardrobe, I love the seafoam green on nails.
(Photo: ASOS)
The success of AMC’s Mad Men has inspired a vintage vibe in spring fashion, which is perfectly suited to pastels. A lady-like bag is a great way to get both trends in one purchase.
(Photo: Kris Atomic)
I’m not this bold but I’m totally crushing on the cotton candy hair trend. When paired with well-tailored clothes, it really is quite chic.
(Photo: Viva Luxury)
I really was surprised at how easy it is to tone down the girliness of pastels by adding a darker colour like navy or black. The pairing is perfect for the transition from winter-wear to warmer weather outfits.
(Photo: The Pink Peonies)
Before this year, I never would have thought to mix pastels together but the combination provides a fresh take on another spring trend: colour blocking. Pairing pastels with a slightly more masculine piece, like a pinstripe shirt, provides a fun and unexpected contrast.
(Photo: What to Wear)
I’m certainly not going to go out and buy a whole new wardrobe but I think a few key pieces are in my future. What about you? Do you shy away from pastels or have you embraced this spring’s trend?
Fab With Four Eyes
I’ve always liked the thought of wearing glasses. When I was younger I intentionally broke every rule about caring for my vision. I read in the dark, against the light, and in moving vehicles. I sat too close to the TV, and spent endless hours in front of my computer. But my eyes were tough. My vision stayed sharp and clear.
So I went through a phase wherein I went to untinted glasses anyway, and wore them whenever I felt like it. People would ask me about my spectacles, and find out that there was nothing wrong with my eyes. I would explain that I wore them not because I thought they made me look smart. It was because I just liked the frames. The round ones reminded me of John Lennon. The pointy, slanted ones reminded me of the ones my Mom used to wear when I was little. Eyewear presented a whole lot of stylish opportunities!
Earlier this year I had my eyes checked, and whaddayaknow, my right eye is astigmatic. Now that I’m older (and hopefully wiser) I realize it is not something to celebrate. But nonetheless, I had a great time picking out a frame for my prescription glasses. If I’m to be a four-eyed chick, I might as well have fun.
So I’ve chosen a frame, and ordered the lenses that go in them. I am quite happy with my specs, but the desire to look at more glasses rears up every once in a while. And after looking at a few hundred more frames, I’m beginning to think my choice may have been a tad too safe. I’m presenting here the different eyeglasses, some of which are very adventurous, that I’d consider peering through in the future.
I tend to gravitate toward the huge and the catty. I realize I may not be able to pull off wearing some of these, but it sure would be fun to try.
Straighten Up and Fly Light: Tips for Easier Airline Travel
(Photo Jay Berkowitz, Los Angeles World Airports )
By the time you read this post I will be on a plane, half-way to Los Angeles. And as much as I love to explore new places and return to old favourites, I truly hate to fly. This feeling has only increased as security measures have gotten stricter and airlines have become stingier with what they include in their fares. While there isn’t much we can do about this, savvy travelers know that what and how they pack can help to reduce the hassle. Here are just a few ways to make your flight go a little smoother:
Not Recommended For Airline Travel! (Photo: Whimsybags via Etsy)
Pick the Right Luggage
As much as you love your hip vintage suitcase, it is time to put it away (or check out Mandy’s suggestions on how to repurpose it) and buy a bag that meets the size and weight limitations imposed by most carriers. If, like me, you tend to bring back more than you left with, chose a soft-sided bag that can be stuffed to its limits. Crumpler’s Spring Peeper duffle is an excellent option. Weighing only 6.5 lbs., it is as easy to carry as it is to pull along on its wheels and the durable canvas construction ensures that it will hold up to rough treatment if you do end up checking it.
(Photo: Crumpler)
If you are packing more fragile items, a hard-sided case is the better option. Heys makes the lightest carry-ons in the world, weighing slightly more than 5 lbs. Retailing for less than $100, the xcase is an affordable and fashionable option- there are dozens of colours and patterns to chose from, including their latest Exotic Collection.
(Photo: Google Images)
Lock your suitcase with TSA-approved locks if you are going to check it. And don’t forget to label your luggage with a sturdy tag on the outside and a card with your destination information tucked into an outside pocket as a backup.
(Photo: Swiss Miss)
Pack Light
Unless you are going away for months and require a great mix of formal and casual clothes there is no reason that you can’t pack what you need in a carry-on. Pick a base wardrobe of neutral colours (black, grey, or tan are good choices) and add a few colourful accent pieces; this way you will be able to mix and match several outfits. Shoe addicts be warned, you should limit your selections to three pairs: a casual and a dressy pair to pack and another, the bulkiest, to wear when you travel.
(Photo: Travelista)
There is a heated debate amongst travelers on the best way to pack clothes so that they arrive as crease-free as possible. Some like to roll their clothes but I think this takes up too much space and prefer to “bundle” pack. This video explains the technique and includes some extra helpful hints to ensure your clothes arrive in wearable condition.
Pack Valuable Items in a Second, Smaller Bag
Most airlines allow one personal item in addition to your carry-on bag, such as a purse or a laptop bag. I choose one that is large enough to carry my wallet, travel documents, electronic items and their chargers, valuables, medications, reading material, and travel-sized toiletries. If you have to check your main bag, you will still have these important items with you. It is also easier to pull out these items for screening at the x-ray machine if they are together in one bag.
(Photo: Orla Kiely)
I also include a change of socks and underwear, in case my bag does get lost. To cut down on this list, remember that most hotels provide shampoo and condition and many will have other products such as toothpaste and deodorant on request at no extra charge. And if you travel with a lot of gadgets, consider buying a universal USB power charging cable, which will cut down on the number of cords you need to pack.
(Photo: Deal Extreme)
Know Your Airport
Have a tight connection but need to grab some refreshments? Or have a long layover and looking for a way to spend the time? Do a little research before you go or download an app like Gate Guru that helps you determine which options are closest to your gate. And don’t forget that many airports have replaced the mundane food courts with more upscale options, including wine bars and spas, to help you pass the time.
(Photo: Vino Volo)
While it is impossible to guarantee a stress-free flight, hopefully these tips will help to make the journey almost as enjoyable as the destination.
In Defense of the Old
Vintage New Year postcard. Via Kudzu Jungle.
It’s the new year, and a lot of us are making resolutions, cleaning out closets, and letting go of a lot of junk. “Out with old, in with the new,” so they say. It’s the time when we all want fresh starts, clean slates, and all things new. But before we haul those old books and clothes out, let’s take a deep breath and pause for a moment.
Not everything that’s old is old-fashioned. Not everything that dates back a few years is dated. Not everything of the past is passe. We all need to look back on our experiences — we need our memories.
Besides, there are a lot things that with the years become more beautiful, more valuable, more fabulous. Aside from the usual things that people say get better with age — friendships, certain wines, certain cheeses, certain people… I thought I’d mention 3 old things that get just to good to let go of.
Old Trees
Image from Garden Pictures
Don’t axe that tree in the garden! The older trees get, the stronger, statelier and more graceful they are. Their trunks get chunkier, their branches reach higher and farther, and if they are fruit-bearing trees, they yield better fruits. Birds and other living things, including humans, like them better too.
Old Jeans
Image from Wendy's Lookbook
Also from Wendy's Lookbook
So a pair of jeans is no longer the same deep color as when you first wore it. And maybe it’s worn, and frayed, and faded in patches. It doesn’t mean goodbye — at least, not just yet. There’s a certain comfort and style in old jeans that make them favorite closet staples.
Image from Style Tips 101
Oh, would that we could all age as gracefully as denim… Maybe it’s all about a wabisabi vibe, or maybe it’s just that old jeans fit better, having known its owner’s hiney longer. They fade like they were meant to fade. And somehow they fray where frays and fringes look flatteringly best.
Old Songs
Sometimes we get too engrossed in the latest albums, the newest artists, the current number 1 song. Hype is how recording companies make their profit, after all. I personally like to give songs a bit of time before I give them room to embed in my head.
Time for me is the true test of a song’s substance. It separates the music from the fluff, and only the good ones last. If I can listen to it being played and overplayed in the radio and TV, in the mall PA system, and covered by showbands, and badly sung in karaoke joints, and if it still does not make me want to puke, then it may well be on its way to being a classic.
Same goes for movies. I just saw P.T. Anderson’s Magnolia again last weekend and was once again blown away by the craftsmanship that went into weaving all its mini stories together into an awesome cohesive whole. And I fell in love again with the music of Aimee Mann.
So before you throw anything out, you may want to rummage through that discard bin again. There might be some keepers yet in there.
