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 ☆

never neverland

i'm taking a bit of a break from making pleated skirts as i wait on some white ink to arrive in the mail for an upcoming printing marathon. in the meantime, i've been working on a few quick sewing projects in an effort to use up some of the interesting fabric scraps i've got lying around from past endeavors. this peter pan collar tutorial by elegant musings is the perfect quick & easy project for all those random leftovers and even gives the choice between pointed or rounded ends - how cool is that?!

it's difficult to tell in the pictures, but i used a very fine corduroy for the bright red collar which adds a wonderful texture and was also really fun to work with. the print-at-home pattern & instructions are easy to follow - all you need besides your fashion fabric is a bit of interfacing and your choice of closure (ribbon, button, etc.) i finished my collar off with a thin mustard velvet ribbon and couldn't be happier with how it turned out. makes me feel like a little girl in a fairytale who stumbled upon never neverland and never wants to grow up!

xoxo
☆ emilia ☆

*outfit details: dress - dear by amandy bynes / skirt - isaac mizrahi for target / shoes - naya / purse - vintage / glasses - vintage / owl ring - ebay 

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 ☆

big daddy chain

it's been such a long while since i've shared any completed crochet projects with you! here is an incredibly quick & easy accessory that will really get you noticed - the big daddy chain by hooks & halos. you might remember i used another hooks & halos pattern last december when i made the boerum warmer - the pattern for this chain was just as simple & easy to read as the warmer and is perfectly suited for the beginning crocheter. 

i used lion brand thick & quick yarn in citron for a big thick gold chain look (as opposed to silver or platinum) and worked on two links at a time over the course of a week until i was done. i can hardly even remember working on it, the links were done so quickly due to the thick yarn & large hook required. the big daddy chain is definitely a "notice me!" piece and i can just imagine what sorts of comments i'll get wearing it around town - should be entertaining. :o) 

i paired it here with my extra large gold hoops and one of my favorite vintage dresses ever featuring a quilted skirt with fantastic multi-colored print. i don't know what it is about vintage quilted skirts but i'm just mad about them. it probably has to do with the fact that my second vintage purchase ever as a teen was a dress very similar to this one with a black top and quilted skirt w/ pockets in muted tans & browns. it's been a total love affair ever since!

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

new in the shop - vintage gloves!

these vintage gloves have actually been in the shop for a couple of weeks now, but i just added another two pairs this afternoon so i thought i should make a little announcement here. since this is supposed to be a companion blog to my shop and all. :o) i am really loving the long nude & brown gloves at the moment, which seem like such a great lightweight alternative to leather or suede. hop on over to the shop to check out all the different colors & styles! 

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

inspiration - rike feurstein

images: rike feurstein

i first spotted one of german hat designer rike feurstein's knit pieces last month on camille tries to blog - check out this incredible blue-purple gradient cowl which nearly knocked the wind out of me when i saw it. i immediately began a hysterical quest to find out what on earth the fantastic stitch technique was so i could learn it as soon as possible and diy my own gradient cowl. i stumbled on this great tutorial via honestly wtf for the "no knit" scarf before discovering that the amazing stitch in question was developed and patented by rike herself. it's such a beautiful, mesmerizing stitch - i just get lost in the simplicity & chunkiness of the pattern and adore the playful use of color in her pieces like that one bright pink row in the middle of the light pink scarf... brilliant!

there has been speculation that the stitch might be based on the tunisian crochet stitch - a gorgeous type of crochet with a knit look that i've been intrigued with since taking the craft up. seeing as most of my projects this year were based on the single, double, and half-double crochet stitches (i.e. the most basic of stitches) i am in awe of the thought of inventing your own stitch - and such a gorgeous one as rike's at that. 

my crochet projects are starting to wind down a bit now that i'm really starting to delve into sewing. i've got a couple of completed pieces from last month that i'll be sharing with you this week and am now getting starting on my last project of the season - a pair of mary jane-type slippers. i might try to squeeze in one quick spring scarf based on the light pink / hot pink stripe one b/c i'm just so smitten but we'll see. there are a couple of projects i wasn't able to get to this year - a purse and a couple of blankets all involving granny squares, which i still have yet to learn. but, it's exciting to have some projects & new techniques to look forward to in the fall and i'm sure  by then i'll have even more projects added to the list.

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆

i hope you are all having a lovely day!!!

sending lots of love your way this valentine's day...

xoxo

☆ c. emilia ☆