1950's Circus Fabric - Vintage Fabrics - DonnaFlower.com

1950's Circus Fabric - Vintage Fabrics - DonnaFlower.com
these images remind me of a time when as a child anything was possible, clowns were real people, Santa fit inside somewhere somehow and nothing scared you. The world was a safe self sustaining place where everyone was nice loved living, didn't have so many problems or in such a hurry. Ironically the clown went on to have a beyond average horror career, I still wont look under the bed but it's safer in here with in the nice old fabric. Beano

Style bubble brings us .............

JLouie_gayner7_portrait

I look at the collaboration of Loeffler Randall and SUNO and want every single pair to hang on my walls just to see how perfect and balanced color, texture, line, and contrast can be, even when you don't see it. They are of the stuff of shoe gods. Alexander McQueen, Manolo, Louboutin. The craftsmenship uniqueness of the shoe by the Suno fabrics feels like each tell a different story. I don't know that I will ever get a pair like those. The heards and knowners will see them and make calls to have 6 to 13 pairs delivered to their home. Others will find them and spend their whole weeks worth salary on them and not have money for rent. That is what happens when things like these are made. We will see them editorially, occasionally on the heard, and on celebrity's (hopefully they will have to pay for them) WTF is with that anyway. They have the coin to buy. We bottom feeders with the know but not in the known should get them for free. The ones that read about SUNO in the NYT months ago and followed their story and collections. Getting sold and Opening Ceremony much cheaper then. The people that want meaning from their choices, and are generally nice. Not the snooty hearders or knowny knowners. Oh well, nobody will get to see or read my love for these shoes. Maybe. Today someone will understand.

Bright Red Orange

As I looked through all the fashion weeks shows one color kept coming up. This Bright deep coral or red orange color has taken over the catwalk. It's such a punch of color to any outfit, beware to wear!

A

Bus stop #2 Alexandria from the Congo

I was driving to dog park, and got onto a busy road and there was Alexandria, I always smile at bus stop people because they are helping the environment. Then she smiled back and I made a quick U turn and ran back to get her picture. The one I have of her smiling is nothing compared to her ear to ear one. She was shy and could not believe I wanted her picture. I love other cultures, her outfit which has never seen a runway was beautiful and she was glowing. The rich dark skin against the orange in her patterned dress (which I bet has a name and I will learn it) and 1 gold necklace collar with simply white flip flops. Topped my day to see her.

Who is Kim Kardashian?

I woke up early this Sunday morning before G (hubby) put on coffee and noticed the mail had come late and my last copy of Allure was on the table in it's bag (thank you Allure that's helpful and classy) and I could not figure out who was the girl on the cover. I thought movie actress doing her junk whatever to get the word out on her latest work, no. I thought top models back from extinction, no, I really didn't figure it out until I ripped the bag off and read her name.
Ok, now I know, she is reality star from sex tape fame whose siblings all live on reality and date other reality people and Kim was dating a New Orleans Saint, Reggie Bush (I know sports) when he won the Super Bowl for the town and it was an emotional game for the country as well. Kim, what big eyelashes you have, are they real? What does she do? Design, own a couple of fashion boutiques, loves to shop elsewhere though much to the concern of her evil non step sisters. This by the way is the perfect story for our country. It's called a fairytale.
Ok lets get serious. What does she wear. She is a hearder and in the known so she gets hooked up. Dresses, she goes for a bit to gaudy Cleopat for me. I like some of her choices from Topshop,  but she rode the big shoulder dress too long. She has the skinnys the 5 inch chunks and heels from Loubou. She has most of it all there. But that is the clue for me, she is not original, she follows to please, no fashion flare. Too heavy on make up. My motto is look like you are wearing nothing but maybe a bit of lipstick. It's very I didn't look in the mirror and blah blah blah. Kim has charisma with those bedroom eyes, and curves like a Botticelli, maybe better. Kim works out. But I really don't think and I am talking Allure she needs fashion covers, it's always been a trend a complaint a story whos who is on the cover but I just never miss knowing that chick on my fashion mag. Toodles, Leota Jane

Gold is "IN" right now

Slideshow: 21 Glitzy-Gold Dresses, Skirts, Tops, and Pants -- The Cut

There are so many sparks of precious metals, sequins, metallic thread for this upcoming season. If I look back and think of Alexander McQueen's last Couture collection gold runs rampage all over the clothes. Givenchy's looks were layers of gold, sweeping and crinkling through out the collection. Back to the gold slideshow, you have a good price points, there are pieces for everyone and expect to find the shimmer everywhere. The heards have already been in sequins land and the knows are looking for new avenues to call their own. Who wants to dress like another? I don't and I make sure of it. That must be my statement piece.

Jewels that have me thinking...

Jewels in the Raw

•  GO check this link out. I am thinking of a new name for this kind of jewelry besides raw.
• Perhaps PrehistorCHIC? 
• The unfinished lines of a dress, an almost unraveling of clothing
• Rodartes' deconstruction of knitwear
• Balmain's seemingly undone cave woman dress
• it's something new I must admit
• I would revel in it I think
• Clothing so basic it's just you and not long lines of hearders that go for trend upon trend upon trend hoping to fit into the skinny jean, layered layers, hobo bag (2010 spring), chunky name shoes, statement somethings and the right colors of the season

Them Pearls...

 The days of a single strand of pearls is over. The Cut gives a great new way to look at pearls. It's one of my more favorite stories that puts the old with the new. Contrasting the pearl with heavy metals, ball barrings takes the 50's out of these ancient rocks. Check out the link and watch the slideshow


 http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2010/07/trendlet_pearls.html?mid=fashion-alert--20100729#photo=5

this is one of Stephen's Dweck's necklaces from exoticexcess.com

Here is some of the great new necklaces and in researching this story I have found a great jeweler Stephen Dweck

 

VIOLET is coming..........

I have been going through some of the RESORT 2011 collections and check this color out!

Dior, Prada, Hermes and Jason Wu and Oscar have added violet somehow to each of their Resort collections this year. Purple has been huge for several years now but this color takes you deeper into a shade very close to blue. Get it now while no one knows it's the "it" color

Looking at "What they wear" a little closier

Look at Agyness she freaky, the dress is too big, it needs a lay to define the space. It's a wicked dress mind you but you need balance-hat or scarf-scary shoes, a sweatshirt tied around her waist.
My favorite one with all the stars keeps it simple dress and chucks. Whitney Port wears this I love a tomboy at heart.
Alexa Chung is one of those skinny girls that went to boarding school, is artistic at heart but loves history. The way she wears Chanel should be archived. In "What she wore" it's the basics a oxford boyfriend shirt, jean cutoffs and some leather metallic sandals to kill 2 birds with one stone and bags perfect.

Helen Christianson is another instinctual dresser. Her "Old Molly" label kicks laidback ass. I imagine you wake each morning in her closet, find a skirt then a tee then layer the skirt with a scarf or apron mini and off you go. She has this brilliant fit summer dress on here, with an undershirt to balance or hide the tight corset fit and the nude flats a lovely simple sign that it is summer and I am still cool.

Chanel Couture Fall 2010

I don't know if she going to kill you or is Joan of arc
this is my favorite one black with gold old Chanel


The boots are the most amazing part of this Collection


I love Chanel. If you don't someone kicked you in the head as a child. Coco Chanel revolutionized woman's clothing. Bringing the fabric jersey into our everyday life (in the 1920's) She made the woman's suit. It goes on and on. Karl Lagerfeld has been at the helm since the late 80's and reinvented the brand with some help from the true only supermodels. Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Linda E, Kate, and Claudia. The first lady of France Mrs. Carli Bruni Sarkozy is considered one and there are a few others.
This Fall couture show is unreal so so so beautiful.


"The combination of voluptuousness and severity could have bordered on an arch libertine sensibility, but barely brushed hair and fresh, girlish makeup added a vital lightness.
The ever-precise Lagerfeld is a textbook Virgo, but in honor of Chanel the Leo, he filled the Grand Palais with a vast and marvelous lion. Its paw rested on a huge globe—a Chanel pearl, perhaps—from which the models emerged. Befitting a collection that had the courage of its convictions, this was a fierce, awe-inspiring creature—one that could have sprung from a dream or even a nightmare. "
http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2010CTR-CHANEL

Courtney vs Couture

When Courtney Love makes news, it's not usually about fashion. I guess not in recent years, she has been living the life of a wounded kid, making records, I do not believe she is taking care of Francis Bean, but this is what I mean, I don't really know much about her anymore or care.

However now she has brought herself to life again in the fashion world through a blog that let's us a what she wears today. Some shots are "artist" and blurry others one cannot see what exactly she is wearing, so I am pondering, I can't see the clothes so it's more of a photo shoot of her playing dress up. Twitter, Blogs and whatever foursquare is are all avenues to get your message out there or keep it out there. She has the ability to throw fire (tar, feathers, tiaras and baby doll dresses hacked up, smear her lipstick all over her face) on everything holy in the fashion world. Bring it on if you can Ms. Love

Courtney Love, who launched WhatCourtneyWoreToday.com last week, has been gifted many a designer dud over the years, but she's typically given it an unconventional welcome. She's set fire to some of it (“Marc [Jacobs] sent me and Kurt [Cobain] his Perry Ellis grunge collection . . . We burned it. We were punkers — we didn’t like that kind of thing.”); tried to take shears to some of it (“I went to whack [a floral, Empire-waist couture gown given to her by John Galliano in 1997] with scissors because it would be more useful that way . . . Somebody said to me, ‘You aren’t whacking s--t and this is why,’ and explained to me what couture was.") . . . and has even worked out in some of it ("I perform in Rick [Owens], I sleep in Rick and I jog in Rick. I have, like, eight pairs of his harem pants. I’ve been running in Rick Owens for years.")

But she's started to turn a new leaf — particularly after the 2007 catastrophe in which she unknowingly wore a faux Chanel couture dress (which had been gifted to her) to Paris Hilton's birthday party. “It was a scandal, the Chanel police were after me,” Love recounts. “But want to know what Karl did? He flew me to Paris, basically forgave me, had me pose for Harper’s [Bazaar] naked and covered in pearls and said to them, ‘The poor thing doesn’t know what couture is.’ This is L.A., I didn’t know!” Lagerfeld ended up giving her the real version of the dress.

She credits Lagerfeld and his muse Lady Amanda Harlech — who Love “worships because she jogs in sweats” — for setting her straight. When they saw her wearing a tutu last year, Love remembers: “[Harlech] said, ‘What are you doing in a tutu?’ and I was like, ‘Um, I have a record coming out.’ And I got this talking-to from the Kaiser and Amanda, and they were like, ‘You’re 45, what are you doing?’ And they were right. So I went and had Sally Hershberger cut all my extensions out.”

http://www.fashionologie.com/When-Marc-Jacobs-Gifted-Her-His-Perry-Ellis-Grunge-Collection-Courtney-Love-Burned-9204939

The Style Bubble blog

This is from a blog named Style Bubble. I read it everyday, I love all that she finds and all that she debates about in regard to Fashion. I brought this clip over because it's something I have been debating for for the last year. Where are we going in the world of fashion. With the invention of the designer collaborations high end in some frugal interpretation can be found at the low-end cost stores. Target had Alexander McQueen, Rodarte and Anna Sui just to name a few. Then you have the middle designers, end up at Urban Outfitters. Forever21 is at the bottom of this fashion food chain. But let me tell you, if you want a trendy item, it is the place to go. They even have their in house vintage line, that can create some treats you'll love forever (No pun intended). They also have created Faith21 for the plus size which they think starts at size 10. So big designers are trying this "branding" idea. Which means (I think) a style that can be had by all. I wear my cute little Jean Paul Gaultier striped dress, Liberty of London scarf and an Eugenie Kim fedora to a party. It's all from Target. It was less than 100$ for all over it. But the biggest branding moment happened to me at my brother in laws wedding this year. I was wearing a Liberty of London dress, and a pair of Olivia + Alice chunky black slingbacks with pink on the sole. A woman walked over to me from across the room and said," are those Louboutins?" I smiled deeply inside and said no I got these at Payless. She about fell out of her chair. "When"
I had to disappoint her because they were last years. But it was a fun moment for me. Had another one of those with the Anya Hindmarch handbags from Target, a lady at Starbuck's thought it was the "new Fendi bag" . So read the little starling's blog, she is cute, works hard and finds the most fun items for all of us.

http://stylebubble.typepad.com

I'm hesitant to add factual/concrete affirmations to this post so apologies for the plentiful use of 'Perhaps', 'Maybe' and 'I feel'.

As this blog has chugged away in the past four years, I feel some pivotal things have been changing up in the high street which I've been trying to make sense of it all without being able to work out a longview trajectory. By high street, I'm including international stores in the fold... well... Forever 21, Sportsgirl and Target really...

Without wishing to imbue importance from a fashion perspective, on a period of time that ten years from now may just be an insignificant blimp in the scheme of things, the latter part of this decade and probably hereforth, there's been a wild burst of activity on the high street to mid-street, everything done to continually up their game. Designer collaborations, stores as exhibitions spaces, different approaches to campaigns, new creative directors, rebranding, rejigs, refits - renewal in various senses of the word - all well-documented and well-pressed. Perhaps these things were happening before this decade and I just never picked up a copy of Draper's Record to grasp it all. Perhaps not.

Actually this ties in with the wild bend of a theory that has been gestating in my head - that a shift has occurred in the past ten years so that on the whole and in amongst the general population, fashion-consciousness has grown in importance - this feels like something that could be laughed off entirely as complete rubbish. I have to ascertain whether this is just my very specific environment and situation that makes me come up with this theory. Does it feel this way because the internet has made things all the more pertinent and important through various avenues - i.e. has the cocoon of the blog (to use a phrase of a commenter on my Skinny and Strappy post) elevated the importance of fashion in my eyes, and in my mind, enforcing it upon the general public in a cloud of self-delusion.

Hmm... alright, to scale it back a bit, and just speaking from living in London as a city - does the theory apply there? Totting up the aforementioned ways that budget, high street, mid-street and beyond that strata of retail have been trying to one up on each other over the past five years, their reactions seem to cater to a more fashion 'savvy' customer. A knowledgeable and more aware customer. This of course needs to be investigated from other angles to see whether the theory is supported by say, fashion's infiltration and development into mainstream media. I guess I only have a teensy weensy bit part of something vaguely concrete here. The problem I seem to always stumble onto when trying to piece together a proper theory for a zeitgeist is proof... which can't be acquired by one hour doses of blogging a day. Another post, another unfinished bit of fluff...

I had half a point that was supposed to lead in nicely into another development in the "Upping of the High Street/Mid Street Game". British high street to mid-level Reiss, last week unveiled their A/W 10-11 campaign that has taken a vastly different approach from previously non-descript ones. They've enlisted the help of Jamie Morgan, via the connecting link of Pop magazine to direct a film 'Elements' (trailer of which is below) for their campaign which is striking to say the least. In short; black and white smokey atmosphere, a slow mo Natasa Vojnovic, a visceral looking horse and dog that is of course symbolically placed in the film just all doesn't sum up to equate err... Reiss, the go-to place for 'professional' people's attire - i.e. people with PROPER jobs who sit on the Tube reading a mixture of Metro, a Dan Brown book and a thick wad of paper that looks VERY VERY IMPORTANT. You may know of Morgan's work from his beautiful portraits of Tavi in Pop magazine but further back and more significantly, he was one of the founders of the 'Buffalo' collective that shaped the visuals of The Face. "Not another fashion short..." may be what comes to mind but add Morgan to the mix and it becomes an intriguing prospect... especially when you consider the source. You know, important working people with wads of important paper and all that...

The haves and the soon to be have 2.0

• Anne Christensen acknowledges that going from T to Glamour is a new direction for her: “Even in my last few years at T, I was trying to embrace mass market brands, and this is a great mix of high and low. This is how people dress, and we just have to embrace this reality. I’m not afraid of the challenge.” [Daily Front Row]

This is one of those bleeps about embracing mass market branding. I think the tippy tippy top of the fashion world is sad, mad and complaining about what is going on out there. I read a story of a stylist (I will bring her to light) and her depression over that those well kept secret designers where becoming known and it devalued her "wardrobe" and sadden her and the same time. That special one of a kind life was over in the fashion world. Anne Christensen is moving from T the New York Times version of a kick ass vanguard of fashion magazine to the more mainstream Glamour and that we all just have to get use to it. She called it a challenge. Are we not good enough for the top designers designs at Target, Mango or Kohls? Of course we are and this group of insecure, snooty, globtrotters, can sulk all they want. I am your every woman, I have been able to afford high end fashion (with lots of saving and smart shopping) but will be the shopper looking for collaborations, UO recycling. I have a good eye at the Thrift and been lucky. So suck it up poor rich lady. The great Buddha said "Life is suffering" like when 10 other folks have the same boots as you.

Modern Vintage shoes

Emelyn satin Pumps

These shoes speak decades to me and when history is involved in fashion , I can create stories with this shoe. My dad was a pilot so I was able to travel all over the world. In airports, with long layovers I'd find a good place and shoe watch. I would look at the shoe first, guessing a few details about whom this person might be, where they are going, what language do they speak and so on. If I saw this darlings walking I would assume there was a luxury and shyness about it. God is in the details and designers such as Pedro Garcia give us a lovely look back while moving forward. These shoes are for the strong individual, eccentric, subtle and maybe an old soul but one with supremely good taste.

Pedro Garcia

$495

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Editor's notes

Heel measures approximately 115mm/ 4.5 inches with a 15mm/ 0.5 inch concealed platform. Step into ladylike style with Pedro Garcia's navy and black satin lace-up pumps with tulle-covered crystal-studded toe. Slip them on with your favorite LBD for a chic color combination.

Details

Navy satin pumps with a heel that measures approximately 115mm/ 4.5 inches with a 15mm/ 0.5 inch concealed platform. Pedro Garcia pumps have a black toe-cap with crystal embellishment and a tulle overlay, a raw trim, tongue, lace-up front and a black grosgrain ribbon bow to fasten at front.

For style advice, contact our Fashion Advisors
Product code: 81286

• sold at Net-a-Porter.com
  

Chaos & Sparks

The team of Erickson Beamon have been making jewelry for the first Lady, Anna Wintour, Angelina Joie and even lucky me and tons of devout followers. They made a line for Target some fun pieces that reflected their junkyard/old royalty treasures. This one is beyond my just loving it. If you look at the detail, you see their modification of may be an old diamond brooch with seashells, its in the details, it is NOT a statement necklace it is a piece of art. When you wear this one, it's the only show in town, minimal wear with nudes & black shoes. Try her with light jewel tone fabrics as well but I, personally would stay with neutrals.

A Perfect Jacket for Fall and all

This one is sold out over at Net-a-porter.com and I was lucky enough to get the Rodarte version of a leopard jacket at Target last winter. Leopard prints have that high end quality that will polish off any outfit to anywhere. When it met Marilyn, Madonna, Punk Rock, Shania Twain ( do any of you remember her video head to toe leopard singing to a man on a motorcycle riding daringly close to her while she sings her goodbyes) Lady GaGa, Kate Moss has lots famous moments with it, it's a coat that will reinvent you, hide you and surprise you, Vintage ones are the best no matter cropped, full length, twirly, or trench. Get one

oh that shirt

Elizabeth and James


Daria Chiffon Drawstring Blouse: Mauve

Daria is a new feminine shape from EJ. It is styled in sheer silk chiffon and is very oversized, with a V neck, button front and drawstring. The drawstring is at the bottom of the placket so the button front gets more ruched the tighter you tie the drawstring. In a beigish mauve color with a black feather fan print.
Fabric: 100% silk


This shirt is, fierce and flirty one that with your slight adjustment here or there will give you a allow you to customize. Ashley & MaryKate are serious designers with a vision. The perfect shirt, skirt, scarf, jean etc. So when you pull it out in 5 years, or give it to your daughter in 20 years, it will still be one of the best things you ever bought.

New Topshop Designer Meadham Kirchoff

here is a new name in fashion Meadham Kirchoff. He has lots of beautiful dresses at Topshop, deconstructed, layered, and so how evolved from Rodarte's loosely knit design concepts. So lovely with mainly 2 colors nude or peach and black.

Oops they did it again....

Still fresh from the sting of losing the yellow and black wedges from Target, I thought Zac Posen is coming up and I had my eye on 1 dress. Same thing happened. When I called the Target store they told me what they got, No floral brocade tie dress. I have since informed Target my love for them has waned and I will try VERY hard not to shop there anymore. The next day, I look at Ebay and low and behold, is the Zac Posen dress for 79.99 while the original price was 74.99. It was more than amazing. I bought it and had good info on the sellers ratings. One more fashion loss who knows what I would have done. So in a way I didn't get my money to the big T, I gave it to a very nice person

Looking for Cynthia Vincent for Target? Get in line.

http://www.theaccessoriesjunkie.com/looking-for-cynthia-vincent-for-target-get-in-line/

Looking for Cynthia Vincent for Target? Get in line. This was the bane of my existence last week. Target really screwed customers on getting the yellow and black wedges. this lady claims to have seen the mustard and black wedges at her store. We saw the multi color wedge, the cognac wedge, and an assortment of the flat sandals. So if she really did see it where I live most not be important, that sucks, we don't even have an H&M. Dark age mountain fashion. After I lost the shoe, I made a list and image of the other possible ones, I will be posting that important list

Ankle boot evolution

blowfish slouchy boots LC Tuttle's Urban Outfitters boot

Mango's ankle boot

This little tidbit about ankle boots is from WhoWhatWear. My main focus last spring were a part of Mango ankle boots (above) they were to die for, and of course they only went to a size 10 (me 11) so I searched high and low for alternatives, I thought about having someone make me a pair, It didn't end. Then I realized the ankle boot was here to stay, I could calm down. A year later I happily have 4 pairs, the styles keep getting better. I realized that missing out on one pair shouldn't kill me, but it didn't. Talk about making a mountain out of a pair of shoes.

Ankle Boot Overload
On footwear side note, we are still seeing tons of ankle boots—with and without heels—dominating backstage. Whether they are bright blue (at Anna Sui), black and laced (seen at Gianfranco Ferre, Peter Som, Rag & Bone) or pale and neutral (at Derek Lam and Carolina Herrera), it's all about ankle-grazing options. Whether you pair them with skinny bottoms, or tights (after all, the shows are during the dead of New York winter in February), be sure to check out our stellar selection. If black ankle booties are your cup of tea, try Steve Madden's Virgoo Boots ($76) or Dolce Vita's Wish Boots ($110). For a few neutral styles, check out Boutique 9's Elation Combat Boots ($198) or Jeffrey Campbell's French Field Boots ($138). All of these are chic and MOD-approved, so make sure you snap them up and wear them with your favorite floral skirt or cutoffs all spring and summer long for a smart transitional investment!—Kate Mulling