Chocolate, Perhaps?

The S Curve

 

I found (and creeped on) this woman in her striped glory at the Copenhagen airport. People watching in airports is always so wonderful! 

Trousers

My friend, fellow printmaker, and photographer Amy Cave got some new gear and asked me to guinea pig for her. As a classic ham, I was more than happy to accommodate.

While I was in Copenhagen, I searched for the perfect pair of drop-crotch pants. My feet, unaccustomed to cobblestone streets, begged me to give up after hours of walking into countless stores, in which I would ask, "do you have any drop-crotch pants?" "Any what?" "You know, 'drop-crotch'" (here is where I gesture to make the general shape of the pants clear). I didn't find the perfect pair of drop-crotch pants, but I did get a lot of funny looks and these trousers with interesting pleating. I am a sucker for detail.
 

About Today

Has it ever not been about the details?

What Matters

I've taken matters into my own hands.

I've decided to give up conventional living,

In favor of the more:
Unconventional
Unexplored
Undone

House of Sticks

Last winter I took off my coat in approximately 20° weather to model for a red headed photographer whose website I cannot find. Thank goodness spring has sprung. And thank goodness I am no longer in Michigan!

News

On a recent afternoon - after I had been to the grocery store, to work, to the bank, etc. - I looked down to notice I was wearing one black shoe and one blue shoe. Yes, I have the same pair of shoes in different colors, and apparently my shoe lust turned on me! I was a bit embarrassed.

In other news, I am going to Sweden for a month! If you are going to be in Copenhagen, Southern Sweden, or Reykjavik, in June or early July, let me know! I will volunteering at Holsbybrunn. It was a whirlwind decision and I'm so excited!

Danes claim that this statue of their Hans Christian Andersen's "Little Mermaid" is the most photographed statue in the world. I wonder what  Michelangelo's David would have to say to these claims...

What a beautiful city!

Southern Sweden

Birthday Gift

On my twenty first birthday, I wore a beautiful vintage hat adorned with a ridiculous feather ensemble I created. For my twenty third birthday, I decided a headdress would be the way to go. So I made one. Here's a little photo collection of my birthday celebration. Thank you to Bramble for the beautiful flowers (and photos)! And thanks to Unveiled Bridal for ordering me the feathers.

Blue Eyed

The Future is Now

I love this video. In the 1930s, fashion designers were asked to create pieces predicting what we would be wearing in the year 2000. It's funny to think that they really weren't all wrong. The dates weren't exactly spot on, but we've gone through so many of these styles! (Except maybe the one where she has a belt that adapts her body to climatic changes. What?)

Tell me what styles you notice! And aren't we all fitted with a telephone and a radio of sorts these days?

Anything remind you of Madonna? Anything remind you of the 1960s? 

Curl

Have you ever met anyone with hair curlier than this?

Shopping

Per Jasmine's request and for her upcoming house-guests,  a review of Portland. A top five was impossible. :)

 A walk along NW 23rd will take you past a multitude of independent Portland shops and restaurants, ranging from Moonstruck Chocolate to Oh Baby (leave the boys outside) to Goorin Bros. Hats. For $8 you can enjoy dessert at famous Papa Haydn's. I recommend splitting desserts, and their french fries are delicious! For the less adventuresome, Urban Outfitters, Gap, and Levi's are available. If your friends are from a small town as I suspect, they will probably enjoy a ride on the max, a stroll through the heart of the city, and a look around Pioneer Place.

If your friends like vintage, check out this blog and take your pick.
 

For a different vibe, check out N. Mississippi Ave and take a peek through the delightful clutter at Flutter and you must partake of delicious to die for carnitas at Por Que No?  You will also find The Meadow, a specialty salt store and a smattering of boutiques.

Whatever you do, don't let your friends set foot in a Starbucks! Albina Press, Barista, Stumptown, Pix Patisserie, and countless others serve a better brew and an authentic Portland feel.  If they have learned to read, take them to Powell's Books, the largest independent bookstore in the world.

If your friends have not been to Portland before, take the time to drive out to Multnomah falls on either a beautiful afternoon or when the stars are peeking out.

Self Portrait

Man Ray got the better of me.

Calling: Cobbler

Two weeks past the "ready by" date, I finally run into my local shoe repair place to pick up my shoes. I also find multiple signs hung around the very small shop advertising a shoe making class. Shoe making class? I never even considered such a thing. Tuition is a bit steep at $1500 for a class that results in one pair of handmade shoes, but I definitely considered signing up for about 2-3 minutes.

Fortunately, I stumble upon a brilliant pair of handmade shoes at a consignment shop just a few days later. $8 is more reasonable (and they came with a glass of champagne! This is the way to shop).

The only other pair of shoes I've seen with upturned toes like this belonged to a girl who told me she got them on a trip to Tibet.

Tibetan boots

 Men's traditional Indian Khussa shoes

In my search for handmade shoes I discovered Pendragon Shoes, an Australian duo that specializes in handmade novelty and costume shoes. Steven Meisel shot these ridiculously awesome shoes for Italian Vogue last September.

Christina

 

 

 

I  met this beautiful and sweet girl on the train and she was kind enough to let me take her picture.

Wish List

Sitting through art history classes, I took notes on the beautiful clothes. I was so adamant about my adoration for Van Dyck's beautiful coat in one of his self-portraits, my name showed up in a lighthearted exam question on the midterm. (Something along the lines of "which of these paintings does Abbie want an article of clothing modeled after?) The answer, of course, being:

Anthony Van Dyck. Self-Portrait. 1620-1621. Oil on canvas

I love the voluminous sleeves with the slits in them and the high collar, all in gorgeous silk. Here's another stunning jacket with countless folds and a generous helping of buttons. It's all in the details!

Agnolo Bronzino. Portrait of a Young Man. 1530s. Oil on wood.

I could do without the hat. Finally, the draping and pleating in this dress is wonderful. The belt, the surprising layers, the lacing at the top, the emphasis on the female form - ah, magnificent! If only he had painted a view of the back as well!

Edward Burne-Jones. The Wheel of Fortune. 1884. Oil on Canvas.

Someday, when I am ridiculously wealthy, I am going to have these made for me. Or when I have learned how to sew ridiculously well I will make them myself. I wonder which is more likely...

Oh, Brother

I'm working on a little something something...

New

I've been tired of my hair for ages, but didn't want to make a hair appointment until I figured out what I wanted done with it. Dye it red? Grow it long? Chop it off? Dye it something else? When I finally decided to run with a long pixie, I was ready for my cut that exact minute. Thankfully, my awesome hairdresser had some time for me the next day.


Last week at Sea World with one of my favorite people of all time. I am lovin' the new do and am having fun. It looks even cooler when I wake up.




When I got home from Sea World, I happily found these shoes waiting for me.


They are basically the tallest thing I have ever attempted putting on my feet. Five inches may not seem like a big deal, but these NYLA Mensae booties are killing me. I've worn them only once and hobbled around my office for half a day. Thank goodness they came with an extra set of heel tips - one already fell off! The color is a little different than I expected, but oh well. I'm a little unsure about what to wear with them!

Pretty Eventful

As summer lines fly into boutiques everywhere (although I'm mostly wearing black, grays, and greens, the uniform of the Pacific Northwest), I've been attending as many opening events as I can. Yesterday I stopped by Phlox and Oh Baby.

I had to interrupt my visit to Phlox mid-browse, but the Isaac Hers collection was overall uninspiring and I left without a fight. Everywhere I look, I see solid colored jersey dresses either as a wrap or embellished with another solid. The inspiration behind the line is the forest floor. "Each piece blooms from the underbrush and dead fall, dotting the landscape with renewal and beauty." Past collections have some interesting designs, so I'm hoping that with fall some exploratory pieces will arise. Or more pretty and less jersey:

Willow Creek Dress, Isaac Hers Spring 2009

Speaking of which, if you are in Portland, Oregon and like pretty, check out Oh Baby and happily leave with 15% off your bra purchases through the end of the month. I am much too shy to go around snapping photographs in a lingerie shop, but the women who work there are very helpful and I assure you the shop is brimming with imported lace and so much pretty.

Adam Arnold Studio

Last week I took a trip to designer Adam Arold's new, more spacious studio. A girl checked my shoes at the door.


Here's Adam showing me the dress and vest I asked about. It was the "future" dress he created for a "Past, Present, Future" show he was involved with at Portland's own Seaplane. The little vest is the absolute best part. It's a bit aviator inspired and includes a chin strap, which he kindly modeled for me.



I love the details in this child's dress. The punched leather, the boiled wool half sphere ornamentation, and most of all, the hexagons! Hexagons seem to be the only thread I picked up throughout his spring collection.


This was my favorite corner of the new location. The creams and whites called to me, as did the careful folds in this dress peeking out at the side.


Overall, I was about 1/3 happy with the designs and 2/3 unimpressed. I loved the hexagons, but was not wooed by brightly colored shift dresses in stiff, itchy fabric upwards of $400.



When he makes time for the details, Adam Arnold's work is lovely. When he can't put forth the effort, there's no need for you to shop custom made.