crochet monday - detachable crochet collars

we're still pretty crazy about detachable collars over here at the flying carousel headquarters. i've been scouring ravelry and etsy for quite some time now looking for the perfect detachable crochet collar pdf pattern to work on but kept running into dead ends at every turn. who knew it would be so difficult to find a cute, simple crochet collar pattern?

a little further research on the web led me to this simple, easy-to-follow detachable crochet collar pattern by iro iro. i made the small lavender collar first using rowan cotton "calmer" yarn and the suggested 4mm size hook. for the white collar, i stuck with the same size hook but switched to uber-soft debbie bliss cashmerino yarn. what a difference the thicker yarn made - the white collar came out so much bigger!! i love how you can really see the cute scalloped edging on the white collar - so adorable!

i've paired each collar with a different vintage dress and my black lita's for a sweet & sort of dramatic witchy look - two opposite but equally authentic expressions of my self. a bright turquoise hair ribbon and vintage turquoise brooch add a fun pop of color to each. after seeing this amazing "freak show" animated fashion shoot, i knew i wanted to try my hand at some animated gifs. it was sooo much harder than i thought but still had a lot of fun putting this little shoot together.

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

inspiration - bill cunningham new york - the "designing diplomat"

last night i finally got around to watching bill cunningham new york on netflix instant, a film that's been on my "to watch" list forever. the documentary chronicles the life of new york times photographer bill cunningham - the 80+ year old grandfather of street style photography and the man still responsible for two weekly new york times style photo columns. 

this incredibly charming film about the obsessive artist and prolific street fashion chronicler follows him as he bikes his way through the streets of manhattan - day in an day out - relentlessly searching for fashion trends with the energy of a man half his age and a passion so undeniably pure and contagious it can't help but inspire. bill cunningham is a rare kind of artist - the kind that creates an absolutely exceptional body of work and single-handedly manages to document street style from its inception to its present wildly popular incarnation, inspiring thousands to take the streets to document street style in their own cities in the process. "he who seeks beauty, finds it" is his mantra, his way of life.

one of bill cunningham's most eccentric subjects - a former UN official from nepal whose style earned him the title "the designing diplomat," has an interest and passion in fashion as undeniable pure as bill cunningham's. look at those incredible outfits pictured above - an "alphabet" outfit, a "light bulb salesman" outfit, and one simply called "awning stripes." these are just a fraction of his entire eccentric wardrobe, which he describes by saying things like, "this one makes people smile and cheers them up a bit." don't you just love that fashion philosophy?

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

teddy, girl, love

i'm not the first and certainly won't be the last to fall in love with london 1940's youth culture "teddy girls" and their amazing neo-edwardian fashion sense. i've wanted to do a teddy girl shoot since i first started the blog and i'm so glad i ended up doing it this week b/c the checkered wool pencil skirt featured sold shortly afterwards and it was pretty much what inspired the entire outfit. i can't think of a cooler look - or one that makes you feel more empowered, for that matter. i had so much fun putting together this tough little number!

the skirt is paired with an absolutely ancient victorian jacket i picked up from a gentleman who's grandparents had displayed it in their b&b for 30+ years so it's got all kinds of sun & moth damage. if it wasn't in such bad shape, i probably wouldn't even let myself wear it - it's part of an authentic victorian mourning dress and incredibly rare & special. i think it makes a nice substitute for an edwardian jacket with it's boning and structured silhouette. the striped, high ruffled collar blouse is from a recent etsy trade with vintage reformer (trading vintage clothes on etsy has ended up being the best unexpected surprise so far as an online seller.) a simple black ribbon "teddy tie," vintage cameo pin & my beloved lita's help finish off that perfect teddy girl blend of masculine & feminine.

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

inspiration - mich dulce hats

images: via mich dulce

although i'm in love with mich dulce's spring/summer 2012 hat collection, i can't help but feel even more inspired by her collection from last year. the colors, the mix of vintage & modern and the playful yet sophisticated designs - these hats capture the essence of my dream spring 2012 wardrobe: neutral creams & grays with pops of yellow, muted pink and cerulean blue.

i've always been a huge fan of hats but never seem to wear them as much as i'd like. most vintage hats really make it tough to make an outfit look modern - i tend to save them for special occasions to pair w/ a party dress, with the exception of my bowler hat. i've played around with making paper hats before and will be experimenting more with those in the spring but what i'd really like to do is make an investment in a mich dulce hat (or similar.) there are several incredibly talented milliners on etsy that i also have my eye on but i really am in love with mich's quirky creations!! 

as far as fashion resolution go, i'm going to try and cram in all those unused hat days from the past into a spring season chock full of fancy & fun head accessories. what sort of fashion resolutions are you making this year?

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

crochet friday - pom poms worn 5 ways

after seeing pom poms everywhere this past holiday season (it seems everyone was making pom poms to use as present toppers) i couldn't help but catch the fever and decided to make a few for creative fashion purposes. even if you can't knit or crochet, there's no reason you can't make pom poms. there are a ton of simple tutorials to follow out there - like this one - and all you need is yarn & scissors to get started! 

here are 5 ways to wear those adorable little fluff balls - 

1. as a ring - i sewed this white pom pom onto a cheap adjustable ring i had lying around. i love how soft & feminine this accessory both looks and feels - i think it's the perfect accessory for winter for when you really feel like wearing a tiny snowball! (*chunkier yarn = bigger, fluffier snow balls.)

2. as a headband - i stole this look from yokoo and i really love the big oversize pom poms! i used a simple single crochet stitch for the headband and sewed on a button for fastening but you could always just sew these bulky pom poms onto a cheap store-bought headband or ribbon for a quick winter accessory that can easily transition into those cool spring mornings. 

3. as a choker - i sewed two small pink pom poms & a snap closure onto a small strip of black ribbon to make this super easy & adorable choker. it feels so nice when the pom poms tickle your neck!

4. as a glove accessory - i sewed two medium black pom poms onto the back of a pair of short vintage gloves - one on each. i really think it gives them that extra something special - just a little extra burst of cute and a nice textural detail on an otherwise standard pair of gloves.

5. as a hair accessory - i slid bobby pins straight through these pom poms and fastened them directly to my hair in a little cluster. this is a super easy & fun look and the possibilities are seriously endless. mix and match colors, sizes and yarn types to get your own little pom pom "bouquet" going. so much fun... looks like a party in your hair!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆