i want this

This watch is freaking fabulous.

 { via FFFFOUND! }

However, it's Burberry, which makes it $695. Hmm... yeah right. I am really racking my brain trying to figure out a way to DIY this. 

I think I can do it.

Building Bling

"The silhouette of Chanel No.5’s iconic bottle — made from 1,200 hand-assembled sequins — will decorate the exterior of Paris’ Musée d’Orsay from Jan. 6 to 28. The massive flacon’s image will cover 2,890 square feet of the museum’s exterior, which runs along the Seine river." { via Womens Wear Daily }

  

 { via Womens Wear Daily }

I can't say that I am a fan of this juxtaposition. What do you think?

Monday's Muse #2

The first time I drove by the Monique Lhuillier store on La Cienega in West Hollywood I caused traffic to slow.

I had to brake. I had to. It so much pretty to take in all at once!

Luckily I get to drive by it every day on my way home from work :] One day I finally pulled over, parked for 45 seconds and took pictures of every window while the valet attendant silently stared. 

Whatev. I highly doubt I am the only one who has taken pictures of these beauties.

I hope you enjoy this whimsical wintery wonderland of wedding-ness as much as I do. :]

I hope you enjoy this whimsical wintery wonderland of wedding-ness as much as I do. :]

For the cost-conscious-couture bride...

Bridal's equivalent to Gilt Groupe... The Aisle New York sells designer wedding gowns at deeply discounted prices during limited-time sales.

{ Elizabeth Fillmore gown available at The Aisle via NY Times }

As NY Times calls it... "As Thrilling as Finding the Groom." Read the full article here.

Rose Bowl Flea Market

Incredibly delayed... But better late than never?

Checked out the Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. It was beyond fabulous. 

Definitely a full day's worth of stuff to look at, and not for the faint at heart [note to self: never bring my mother--she can't stand cluttery knick knacks or any other shopping experience that doesn't involve a limited number of orderly color-coded racks]. 

Best $10 I ever spent... This amazing vintage leather and brass Dooney & Bourke bag. When I asked the lady the price and she told me $10, I practically choked. I gave her the money and ran away before she could change her mind--and that says a lot, because I LOVE TO BARTER. I was very much looking forward to bartering, actually. But I felt like I was robbing this woman with her asking price, so I couldn't bring myself do it.

  

Long story short, go to the Rosebowl Flea Market. Bring coffee, patience, an open mind, and discerning eye.

designer highlight :: Give A Shirt

 

{ Give a Shirt }

Who :: Give a Shirt, founded by Whitney Ferrin [When she was a high school senior! Yeah. Seriously.]

From :: Salem, OR

Why I love :: The cause is unbelievable. When Whitney learned that there were 900 homeless students in the Salem-Keizer school district, she wanted to help. There were already programs that assisted with meals and transportation. She thought a lot harder than that. She thought like a fellow high school kid.

Clothes can be a big deal. Most homeless students don't have more than the clothes on their back--they wear the same thing and don't have the privilege of laundry days. Whitney found out that a lot of these homeless students would skip school to avoid the teasing around these issues. With a business plan similar to that of TOMS, Whitney came up with Give a Shirt. Buy a cool shirt for $15, and $10 goes toward providing clothing to the homeless students of her community.

What is NOT to love about that?!

Favorite piece of the moment :: They don't have a ton of choices yet, but I plan on collecting them all. My favorite in my closet right now is the American Apparel deep v-neck--I have to restrain myself from wearing it almost every day. I love it when people ask me what my shirt means, and I just love how comfy it is :] **update: the blue and pink shirts in the photo above, plus a bright blue men's shirt will be available THIS Sunday 9/19/10 at 2pm**

Where to go [clickable] :: website and online store

One more thing... Fridays are wear your Give A Shirt days! If you have one or buy one, I'd love to see your Give a Shirt photos :]

designer of the month :: The Monument of Our Hearts by Brett Clouser

Who :: The Monument of Our Hearts (TMOOH) founded by Brett Clouser

From :: Los Angeles, CA via Salem, OR

Why I love :: I don't have just one reason for this one...
1) I love what the company stands for--promoting healthy body images for both men and women--and I am looking forward to seeing where they go with their unique stance as a fashion company.
2) All of their products are made and treated in the USA.
3) Brett started designing t-shirts one at a time, using stencils and handpainting methods. My husband and I have a couple of originals, so I can't help but promote his efforts, now that he has an online store and has actually created multiples of a few of his designs.
4) Oh yeah, did I mention that my husband and I are friends with Brett? He's a good guy :]

Favorite piece of the moment :: This is modeled on a man, but it's a uni. I would wear it with black skinny jeans, heels, Ray Bans, and a slouchy cardigan. Bonus, my husband and I could share it!

{ Upside Down Heart V Neck unisex tee as seen here }

Where to go (clickable) :: TMOOH website, TMOOH store website, and blog

 

Where to go (brick and mortar) ::  TMOOH is currently carried at EXIT Real World at 505 Chemeketa St. NE, in Salem, Oregon. The shirt seen above is also available on Exit Real World's website

OCTOBER designer of the month :: Tim Cooper

Yikes, I am behind! Let's pretend it is October still, shall we?

Who :: Tim Cooper for his Modo Illustrator concept work for Lamborghini

From :: Portland, Oregon -- one last Oregon designer!

Why I love :: Extremely creative. Great detail. I appreciate his designs more for the sake of art than that of function.

Favorite piece of the moment :

{ Lamborghini Gallardo Stilettos by Tim Cooper as seen here }

How outrageous are these? No, I wouldn't wear them. But seriously. Can't you just picture a trashy Nascar driver's girlfriend wearing these?

This is the actual Lamborghini Gallardo:

How cool. I love how creative Cooper got with this.

And those heels are made of carbon fiber. That is legit.

dress shopping, anyone?

Yes, please.

{ gown by Marchesa via The Out Net }

Retails for $4,830. Available here for $1,690.50.

I know, still pricey for a dress. But what a discount, right?!

Marchesa is a New York based design house. Celebrity clients include Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Lopez, Anne Hathaway, Sienna Miller, Penelope Cruz, Kate Beckinsale, Cameron Diaz, and Eva Longoria. You can view these photos by clicking "Red Carpet" on the Marchesa website.

designer of the month :: twigs & honey by Myra Callan

Who :: twigs & honey by Myra Callan

From :: Salem, Oregon

Why I love :: Like I mentioned in my August designer of the month, I am keeping it local while I am still an Oregonian!

I discovered twigs & honey about a year ago and was immediately twitterpated. When I soon found out that Myra is from SALEM of all places, I about fell off of my chair. She is pretty much my Etsy idol. I want to be her. The fact that she is creating such fabulous pieces, and doing so well out of Salem, totally inspires me. Not to mention that she was a Geography and Environmental Science major! ...I know, right?

Myra uses fabulous and unique materials that create amazing palletes of color and texture. Details, details, details. I especially can't get enough of her birdcage veils.

Favorite piece(s) of the moment :: I couldn't choose just one! So I broke my own rule... When I make the rules, I am allowed to fudge a little.

{ cake topper; cake by Marion of Myriad Cake Design; photo by Fred Molesworth of Encore Photography }

{ hair adornment; photo by Leigh Miller Photography }

{ Rise and Shine Necklace from Etsy shop $70}

Where to go (clickable) :: twigs & honey gallery website, shopping website, blog, and Etsy shop

I told my husband that as soon as he hits the bigtime in Hollywood, I am wearing a hairpiece from twigs & honey to the red carpet event, dangit!

designer of the month :: Sarah Seven

Who :: Sarah Seven

From :: Portland, Oregon

Why I love :: My husband and I have recently decided to really, really take the plunge and move to Los Angeles! I am excited for about a hundred reasons, but I will miss Oregon. I'm highlighting Sarah Seven, not only because of her up-and-coming status, or amazing designs, but also because she is local! Elizabeth Dye is also from Portland, and I have a few more local designers up my sleeve for September and October (at least) until I am a true Californian.

Besides the fact that I love the true talent coming out of Portland, I love the whimsy of all of her pieces. That pretty much sums it up. I am a sucker for whimsy, and that is that. Just look at the picture and you will understand :]

Also... [I will go to the grave that I found her first, but...] Lucky. magazine featured Sarah Seven this month in their September issue. There is a new ebay, Etsy, et all blogger at Lucky via Lucky Right Now. And apparently, she has good taste.

Favorite piece of the moment ::

{ Robins Egg of Sarah Sevens Spring 2009 collection. Seen here at Sarah Seven's website }

Hot little number of blue pleated silk with detailed bodice and a triple layered skirt topped off with a (precious) gold ribbon belt.

Where to go (clickable) :: Sarah Seven website, Sarah Seven's blog, or her Etsy shop

designer of the month :: Simon Schubert

Who :: Simon Schubert

From :: Germany

Why I love :: Again, details at their finest. Check out his work with paper. All of the lines are done by folding and scouring. Nothing else. Amazing! And so unique.

...And I am oddly attracted to his eerily appealing sculptural work. (see bottom of post)

Favorite piece of the moment ::

{ "o.T." via http://www.simonschubert.de/papierarbeiten.html }

I love the preciseness. And there is even a chandelier in the scene!

Where to go (clickable) :: http://www.simonschubert.de/index.html

Favorite sculptural pieces... Super creepy, but I still love the element of illusion.

{ "Hannah" via http://www.simonschubert.de/skulpturen.html }

Something a little more practical....

{ "Kronleuchter" via http://www.simonschubert.de/skulpturen.html }

Look again. Yeah. They're arms.

if you can't make it to Paris...

So.

How amazing is this?

{ d. Sharp }

I know, right? Made entirely of paper. Absolutely incredible.

designer of the month :: Elizabeth Dye

Who :: Elizabeth Dye

From :: Portland, Oregon

Why I love :: I am detail obsessed. And this girl's got it. Extremely intricate, luxurious fabrics (either to the hand or to the eye), with details so interesting that you have to study it twice to catch them all. She has fabulous boleros, custom wedding dresses, as well as (drumroll) wedding dress redesign. ...just add sentiment to details, and I am hooked.

Favorite piece of the moment ::

Gorgeous cream linen bolero jacket. I can't get over the detailing. The more I stare, the more I get lost in it. According to her listing, "Embellishments include antique lace, vintage embroidered and french knotted linen, raw-edged linen ruffles, and cream colored soutache embroidery scrolls." A stunning collection of romantic textures, all rolled into a structured couture piece.

Where to go (brick and mortar) :: 1124 SW Alder St., Portland, OR 97205

Where to go (clickable) :: The English Dept. or the Etsy shop