inspiration - valentino resort 2013

it's been a while since a collection has caught my eye… i've been in kind of a 'fashion funk' lately and am not really sure where my style is heading as the summer season fades and fall arrives. i'm not quite ready to think about making a cloak or altering any autumn pieces just yet and have been more inspired by these uber-romantic valentino resort 2013 dresses full of gorgeous lacy florals and my favorite haute 60's silhouettes. the collection is full of exquisite lace, beautiful beading, and lots of pink which is exactly what i need for a bright burst of cheer and a breath of fresh inspiration into my wardrobe.

this collection is all about the perfect party dress (and, the perfect little flared trench to wear on top.) i'd love to wear that lovely long white lace gown and the adorable polyester floral embroidered mini dress (last photo) every single day for the rest of the summer… they just ooze prettiness and femininity which are the fashion characteristics i seem to be gravitating to most right now. it's tough to find that perfect balance between youthful joie de vivre and classic elegance but i think this collection does a good job of melding the two and bringing together an air of girlish whimsy with the smart sophisticated tastes of a mature woman.

i'm thinking pinks, taupes, and tans are going to be my go-to's this fall (inspired by that last dress) with bold bursts of color mixed in somehow… what do you think?? sounds… pretty! i can already feel i'm going to want to brighten things up this fall season instead of going with my usual darker palette - it's going to be fun trying to incorporate more femininity & color and keeping everything more muted and soft. we'll see how i feel by the time autumn actually roles around… knowing me i'll have changed my mind a thousand times and been inspired by numerous other collections/photos/etc. by the time it's actually here!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

goddess frida

yes, i'm still alive!

… and, who better to get me back into the blogging spirit than the patron saint of creativity & visual beauty herself, frida kahlo. i recently updated the shop w/ several fantastic vintage central american dresses which are so beautiful & unique they were just screaming out for a special frida tribute shoot. you can imagine my surprise when i came upon these beauties at a church rummage sale here in toledo. they are exquisitely crafted - total stunners - and i'm so glad i got to wear a couple of them during my trip to florida last month before they went up for sale. the lightweight peach dress w/ red embroidery is the perfect swimsuit cover up on an afternoon trip to palm beach for some window shopping and sun bathing! you can find the peach dress for sale here and the pink dress w/ white embroidery here.

i've always wanted to do a frida inspired shoot… to say she's been a major influence in my life - both artistically & personally - is a definite understatement. her iconic beauty and intensely personal self portraits have captured my imagination for as long as i can remember and her tumultuous marriage to diego rivera and leftist political leanings only sealed the deal. it's pretty much impossible to think of putting a large bunch of flowers on the top of your head w/out channeling a bit of frida... my only regret is that my hair isn't long enough for a proper side braid to weave my ribbon scarves in & out of and that i didn't have a hawk or a cigarette to complete the look. :o)

i hope you are all having a fantastic summer so far and getting in as much relaxation and lake swimming as i've been!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - etro fall 2012

i know it's a little early to be mentioning anything about fall - ok, a lot early. i mean, we're not even into summer yet… geez. but, with my fall cloak project on the brain and not much inspiration to guide me, i couldn't help but notice the etro fall 2012 collection when i stumbled upon a few images of the show. the lush colors, huge mix of fabrics and exciting pairings of materials gave me the jump-start i needed to start designing a cloak with autumn in mind.

the detachable peplum belts are my favorite - i've got to say, i've fallen hard for the recent peplum trend and can't wait to get my hands on a peplum skirt, dress or belt of my own. i love the equestrian feel of that large brown leather waist cinching peplum belt and the black & maize dress it's paired with - the one w/ those dramatic sleeves - is pretty much 'to die for.' this collection has it all - rich velvets, delicate lace mesh, fall staples like tweeds, knits & tailored suits as well as several gorgeous sheer evening dresses with elaborate patterning and textural details.

this collection sure got my creative juices flowing - there are so many options for my fall cloak! one amazing detail i might have to copy on one of my cloaks is that adorable ruffle collar with bright red lining on the fur capelet. isn't it just adorable? i love little details like that - and, the etro fall 2012 collection is chock full of just those kinds of exquisite, over-the-top elements. these pieces are kind of making me excited for fall. just a little bit…

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - british pathé vintage fashion film archive

i spent a large part of this past weekend combing through the fantastic british pathé vintage fashion archives on youtube. there are so many amazing little videos in the collection highlighting vintage 40's, 50's & 60's trends in accessories, makeup and fashion of all kinds from wigs & shoes to swimsuits & swim caps. i love the footage of vintage fashion shows and all the strange & quirky newsreel type films like the "girls with sexy eyes" holiday camp contest or "battle of the bulges - 1940s style" which features all sorts of oddball exercise equipment & maneuvers. but, my absolute favorites are the clips of vintage shoe, hosiery, and even umbrella fashions - check out the video above featuring the most fabulous trends in 1950's spectacles. but be warned… you will quickly become addicted to these quirky & charming old films!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - everlasting sprout

images: via Tokyo Fashion.com

this week, i've been feeling all kinds of inspired by the everlasting sprout A/W 2012 collection. there's so much i like about this collection including the unique knit pieces, the bold floral patterns, the socks, and all the adorable details found throughout. before i started crocheting, i really didn't give much thought to knits on the runway but these days i'm particularly smitten with designers who are known for incorporating avant-garde knit designs into their collections - i've learned to appreciate the material and the medium so much more than i ever did before. don't you just love all the textures and those gorgeous patterned knits (especially the dresses and skirts?!) i love the idea of florals for fall and the colors are just perfect - a bit darker but still incredibly bright & fun.

i've also been looking at collections with more of a critical "can-i diy?' eye lately thanks to geneva from a pair and a spare and have been finding sweet details everywhere i look that seem doable. like, the ruffles on those short pants pictured above? … love! i can't wait to get my hands on some secondhand tweed pants to shorten and add some flirty ruffles to - what a sweet, feminine touch for fall.

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆ 

inspiration - fam irvoll

images: via vogue uk

if you were wondering just how fun & whimsical a collection could be, well now you know! the delightful pieces above are from fam irvoll's A/W 2012-2013 "monster mash" collection and her first ever show at london fashion week. the norwegian born designer's use of wacky cartoon monster prints, bright candy colors and pastel-infused creepers were pretty much the perfect mix for a cute & color junkie like me! these clothes make me happy, happy - i love the overall fairy kei-meets-ghosts/monsters vibe.

one of my favorites is the white dress w/ pink dip-dye, so it's probably no surprise that i'm already on the lookout for the perfect white dress or skirt to add this sweet touch to. the monster prints are the BEST - i just adore them and the monster dress w/ peter pan collar is pretty much the most adorable thing i've ever seen. i'm also pretty gaga over that candy colored mini-dress paired w/ the monster print blazer - how freakin' cute is that??! i'm completely obsessed with the dress (pink + mint green, the buttons) and with somehow getting my hands on my very own monster print blazer. and, don't even get me started on those creepers, which are a collaboration between fam & underground england and will be available on the underground website this fall - so much cute... so much!

these images are just the beginning of fam irvoll's world - just google her name and look over the images for a serious dose of cute, color and imaginative play!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - paule ka

via: paule ka

as much as i love me a mix of bold bright colors, fun prints, exaggerated silhouettes and basically anything cute or kawaii-inspired, there's an equally large part of me that is in love with classic elegance, vintage sophistication, and the simplicity of timeless designs (like my beloved mod scooter dresses.) 

paule ka, the french ready-to-wear brand, has managed to combine so many of my favorite vintage details in their charming spring/summer 2012 collection while adding a nice mix of modern elements including updated silhouettes, chunky modern hardware and those gorgeous exaggerated cuffs! for me, this collection perfectly blends my favorite mod design elements w/ simple - yet striking - modern details for looks that are both cute & charming while remaining sophisticated, elegant and fashion-forward. i think that's a huge accomplishment and a pretty difficult task to pull off - one that i try to practice as much as possible through mixing & matching my own vintage & modern pieces. i'm particularly drawn to the silhouettes in this collection - vintage inspired but with a slightly modern twist to every shape, which makes all the difference in updating a familiar vintage look. i'm also completely smitten with all the cute hair & accent bows - so adorable!

i put this little mini-collection together while dreaming of a fantasy paris getaway - i made sure to include a diverse assortment of pieces for trips to the museum, lunch on sidewalk cafes, afternoons spent in boutiques & patisseries and romantic evenings out. i'm really loving that formal pink suit and think it would be absolutely perfect for a courthouse wedding. this collection must be pretty dreamy as it's got me daydreaming about all sorts of fantastic scenarios... just lovely!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

pinterest obsession

were have i been, you ask? well - on pinterest, of course! and, i'm officially hooked, obsessed & thoroughly addicted after months of ignoring it's siren's call. it's like the feeling you get from making an etsy treasury times a thousand and my eyeballs haven't been this happy, well... ever! if you haven't given in to this guilty pleasure yet, do yourself a favor and allow yourself to become immersed in the beauty & bliss that can only come from gathering together all of your most favorite things!

xoxo
☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - pass the baton

i find myself revisiting this etsy video featuring tokyo consignment shop pass the baton all the time to draw on the wealth of inspiration i always gather from both the cleverness of the shop and its reverent attitude toward the art of recycling. when i was first thinking about starting my own vintage shop, i would watch this video over & over again to gather the courage to take the plunge. the owner's respectful view of recycling and his thoughts on the personal & historical context of this sort of endeavor made me feel like i was stepping into a long legacy of others who have also found beauty & possibilities in things left behind.

my absolute favorite aspect of the store are all the wonderful little stories that accompany the items - what a magical ideal! i wish i could offer a similar personal story with each of the garments in my shop - wouldn't that be lovely? it's gotten me inspired to ask more questions from now on about the previous owners & personal journeys of the lovely vintage frocks that eventually find a new home through the flying carousel. i would love to be able to provide a small snippet of the past with each piece - how special that would be?!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - bora aksu & the realms of the unreal

images: new york magazine

i don't usually pay a huge amount of attention to most of new york & london fashion week but couldn't help but notice bora aksu's autumn/winter 2012 collection at lfw this year. i am absolutely smitten with the london-based turkish designer's gorgeous collection which he has described as "romantic with a darker twist" and was entirely based on the story and accompanying watercolor illustrations of henry darger's in the realms of the unreal, with bora's girls mimicking darger's seven vivian sisters. check out this fascinating huffington post uk article to learn more about how the epic story influenced the collection on all levels.

i am particularly enamored by the "fantasy heroin" aspect of the collection as expressed through the gorgeous color palette, contrasting silhouettes, rose brocade, and sweet bows, collars & crochet trims. the knit dresses are also a marvel and those patterned tights are to die for - so lovely paired with all the interesting fabrics, wallpaper-inspired prints & textures throughout. my absolute favorite look is the bubblegum pink georgette & brocade dress with peaked shoulders and lamé collar - fierce and sweet!

this site has even larger pics of the collection including shots from the back that are well worth taking a look at for the impeccable details... just phenomenal!

xoxo

☆ emilia ☆

inspiration - red valentino

images: style.com

red valentino's fall 2012 lookbook is pretty much all a girl could ever ask for - at least one that has always dreamt of fairy tales, faraway places, and magical & extraordinary things. i love the thought of living in an animated world just like the backdrops for this adorable collection. 

i've been a big fan of red valentino's creations each season but am particularly smitten with this collection as it embraces a soft sweetness and a harder gothic darkness with equal weight while featuring a lot of interesting structural & textural elements. there are more than a few details from this collection that i'll be appropriating for my own spring & summer wardrobe - most notably altering a few of my skirts to mini-bubble skirts and adding pom pom fringe to a future pleated skirt design. i'm really loving the modern mini skirt silhouettes, gorgeous knit pieces (so crazy about that first dress) and all the vintage inspired touches throughout.

i'm also incredibly intrigued by that plush outfit as i've been madly attracted to materials like old quilts, vinyl, leatherette & plush teddy bear fabric lately for making pleated skirts but don't have the kind of sewing machine you need to handle those heavy-duty materials. it seems like i'm going to have to look into getting a tougher machine soon that can handle my wild imagination. and, maybe some of my very own hand drawn, snow white-inspired wallpaper as a backdrop for my real-life fairytale!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆