Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Can't touch this.

I'm making MC Hammer pants tonight for my home teacher. I found a pattern online. They're actually similar to Indian salwar pants so this will be a fun project. I hope he got enough fabric. Let's see!
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Ok, so I used this website for a very basic reference and this is what we got!! I only took Dusty's outseam. I think they could have a lower crotch, but he's a little shorter than me so they might look better. At any rate, they looked ridiculous on me, and only took 2 hours from start to finish, so a success I think.

This was a great project b/c parachute pants are basically salwars and now I've made a pair w/ no harm to me! When I make real palatia salwars I'll use 60' wide and probs drop the crotch. These puppies just have a drawstring, but o' course I'll pleat my waistband.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

random projects

I'm currently in the beginning stages of writing a report on India's influence on European women's fashions in the 19th century. I've been finding a lot of fun things about Kashmiri shawls, a LOT of fun things actually. It's kind of shaping into a report about the shawl, which is no good b/c I want to write about other things too. I'm sure if my professor lets me analyze extant costumes w/o accompanying materials about India, but that are clearly Indian, I can write more.

I've now had quite a few production meetings for the show I'm costume designer for that's coming up in March. The show is Blood Wedding and I'm excited. It's a Spanish play and traditional Spanish wedding dresses are black, and the director wants to keep it that way!! I'm so STOKED to design a black wedding dress. My concept for the production crew is due tomorrow, and is due to the producers on Monday.

I'm running out of/sick of many of my Sunday dresses so I'll probably have to make another one soon.

I'm going to be Audrey Hepburn for Halloween, a la Funny Face. I'm going to work on blocking my eyebrows out in make up class today. Technically today is gutsies and gories day, but I need to practice Audrey before Halloween, so I'm doing Holly Golightly after she fell down the fire escape.

Friday, October 16, 2009

wishlist: more flat front pants






I wasn't sure (why is this underlining? anyway) what to put this topic under. I'd put it under trendi, but I don't think it's as trendi as it should be. So basically, I wish more men would wear flat front pants. The only excuse for pleats is to give your giant thighs extra room because you're dancing in a tuxedo, and I mean dancing.

Anyway, you just have to look at flat front trousers to realize they are amazing. my heart skips a beat when I see an excellent pair of said slacks. Mmmmm delicious.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

project: palatia salwar


Of course I love Indian costumes, esp Northern pant outfits. After I watched Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi I fell in love with Taani's salwar(s, plural?). Turns out they're patalia salwar(s) and I want to make a pair. I've found churidaar patterns online through Folkwear, and a basic salwar pattern, but so far patalia salwar patterns have been impossible to find. I've found many pictures, seen above, but I've had a hard time finding the waist construction b/c they're most often worn with a kameez. THEN, joy of all joys, I watched Luck By Chance again w/ my roomie last week and as it turns out, Hrithik Roshan has a 4 minute dance scene in white patalia salwars, and a mesh shirt, perfect for construction shots!! Needless to take I took 54 pictures and ran down my battery taking pictures of these beautiful pants at every angle. I'm excited to make them someday, hopefully before the end of this school year.

Top construction

Oh so voluminous

Saturday, October 10, 2009

too horrible by half: eyeliner gone bad

Oh eyeliner, oh how oh how it can wreck your whole face.

I have small eyes, I also have purple bags under my eyes. I've come to accept the fact that eyeliner is not my friend. In fact, unless I'm as chipper as a new born goose (b/c I'd assume they're chipper) and use permanent marker my eyeliner will move and make me look like a insomniac domestic abuse victim. I think that this is a fact that many women refuse to accept about their own eyeliner usage. The days of all over eyeliner should be over. You're not in middle school anymore.
BAD BAD BAD Too much eyeliner, and too dark. If you're fair, try a brown shade.

Here's a tip, and what I do that works wonders: only put your eyeliner on your top lid, starting in the middle and going out (see below). You don't need any more than that! This opens up your eyes and if you want to get really fancy, make it thicker at the corners and maybe add a little to the bottom lid, but that's enough. Seriously, unless you have Bambi eyes, eyeliner is not meant to go all the way around as a day look.



If you insist on framing your entire eye, I can only stress the importance of fine lines and drawing on the ledge. The closer to your eye the better.
This was an experiment I did when I was 17. It took me forever to get the liner that close to my eyes, but doesn't it look great? I also added white shimmer to the inside of my eyes to brighten them. I would never wear this on a normal day. I've ventured this much eye makeup for formal events, but I'm way too big a fan of the natural look to wear so much liner.

Another helpful hint: eyelash curlers! I'd only dabbled with mine until recently, but they do wonders for the size of your eyes. Starting as close to your roots as possible, crimp your lash, then work the curler out and up to get a smooth curl. So great!!

outfit: 10/8/09


autumn demands plaid and riding boots.
Gap shirt, pants and Delia's riding boots.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

trendi: true prep

Five or so years back we saw the "preppy" trend implant itself in this nation's middle and high schools. Fed by such stores as The Buckle, Abercrombie & Fitch (originally super preppy) and Hollister, this trend led the general public born after 1985 to believe that preppy meant florescent polos with popped collars, tight hip hugging jeans and ridiculously long strands of plastic pearls. I said is then (2004) and I'll say it again, this is not prep.
Luckily, a resurgence of true prep has flooded the closets of today's trendi people. Back in 2004, my bestie Sarah found two books, The Official Preppy Handbook and Things You Need to Be Told, off which we based our wardrobes and lives. I, being from the West and Midwest exclusively, have happily adopted many of the staples of the East Coast (of which Sarah is 50%). Sarah meanwhile has first hand experience w/ true prep, her gparents being straight up Irish East Coasters and all.

In case you didn't know, true prep consists of items of the East Coast/Cape Cod/Nantucket variety. The most recent, straight up and widespread prep originated in the 80s. Having missed all but 13 months of this decade, I base my knowledge of true prep of of the aforementioned books and bestie.

And now, those items that I am so grateful to see on the best dressed of us. Keep in mind that some of these items, when worn away from a sailboat, need to be handled very carefully. Also, these individual trends are great together, or alone. But please, if you wear a sweet action sport coat, don't pair it with cargo shorts, never cargo anything.



Boat shoes/Top siders: So you've never been on a boat, who cares? I'm a fan of socks, but some pairs can't be done right w/ them. I myself have two pairs of men's boat shoes I mostly wear w/ slacks. Fun times! love them!

Riding boots: So you've never ridden a horse, who cares? Make sure you get RIDING boots, not the nasty strappy, buckley pirate crap that's been trying to pass itself off as riding boots. Be legit please. Helpful hint: wear these w/ tube socks, into which you tuck your pants so they in turn stay tucked in your boots. It also helps to have a slim pair of pants to begin with.

Knitwear, specifically men's: What a great time for knitwear, esp for men. I love cardigans, and sweaters. Note the shawl collar on the left, classic. This look actually heralds back to Harold Lloyd, of 1920 silent film fame. HL wore a shawl collar like nobody's bizznezz.


Canvas shoes: Mostly seen in the Vans variety lately, don't forget the always endearing, was around long before Vans were, Keds. Red or Navy is esp. preppy.


Sport Jackets: Shown here in delicious seersucker, sport jackets are an instant way to dress up any already good foundation. You remember that random Kirsten Dunst movie w/ Paul Bettany? Wimbledon. Great Jeans, amazing white button up, sports jacket, simple and classic.

A good oxford cloth button up: keep them ironed, keep them crisp. So classy, in stripes or solid, but don't go overboard proving your masculinity by wearing pink. Also note the flat front pants: the ONLY way to go.

And what's great about today's prep is that while guys should avoid riding boots, the girls can wear all this stuff!

Again, I'd recommend one or two of these trends per outfit. Don't go overboard, esp if you're not true prep. Also, don't wreck these looks w/ skater shoes, ball caps, or esp for the girls, rainbow plastic matching earrings, necklace and bracelet set (you know you still wear them).

Yay oder Nay: yayayayayaYAY!

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

outfit: 10/6/09


With the arrival of autumn comes the need for dark hose, impeccable coats and fun cardigans. Don't forget trendy accessories (my favorite bag that's Gap-a-licious^max and my lurvly pashmina), a classic denim skirt and bows in your hair.

Old Navy cardigan: Christmas present
Old Navy tshirt from like 5 years ago
hand me down denim skirt
charcoal tights (nice alternative to black)
black flats
Miss Sixty Coat: my baby!!
Gap bag from like 5 years ago
Pashmina from the Krishna temple in Spanish Fork

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

wishlist: wrestling shoes


I've wanted wrestling shoes since like my sophomore year in highschool. A 125 friend of mine offered me his old pair, but we both decided that that's discusting. I want some new ones!! Some nice, black wrestling shoes to wear w/ slim bootcuts (I'm over skinny jeans).

Sunday, October 4, 2009

I wish I'd thought of this...

http://shopping.yahoo.com/articles/yshoppingarticles/268/the-7-style-mistakes-weve-all-made/

and this is also fabulous.

http://men.style.com/gq/features/slideshow/v/091307STYLISH?loop=0&slideshowId=slideshow43073&iphoto=0&nphoto=50&play=false&cnt=1

too horrible by half: tights and shorts

Sarah, my bestie in Paris, tipped me off to this trend. Actually v. popular at BYU two years ago, this fad is rampant in France's capital. I'm all for tights, in moderation. I should add them to my wishlist, but there is a time and a place for tights, and the only time for tights with shorts was fourteen years ago on my first grade teacher, w/ loafers as well. This trend makes me think of the cover of my pattern making book portraying a stylized fashion sketch. The figure in question is wearing a ridiculous outfit, including spotted tights with a mini skirt. These tights make it seem like the model is stricken with chickenpox from the waist down. We can see that the girl to the far right above has lobster-itis. This trend just shows too much tight. If you're going to wear short shorts, which I don't agree w/ on account of my modesty standards, show your legs, not some technicolor disaster a la Elphaba from Wicked. Our kids are mos def making fun of us for this one.