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Archive for December, 2016

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Sweater by Dentz Denim.

The day after Christmas: when we all have two more ugly sweaters.

– Craig Kilborn, American comedian.

In the UK the day after Christmas is called Boxing Day, which was, in the Middle Ages the day when churches opened up their alms boxes and distributed the monies inside to the poor. Later in history, Boxing Day was a day off for servants and when working people such as butchers and delivery men traveled around and picked up their annual tips.

Today, Boxing Day is just another holiday and in some areas the first performance of the traditional Christmas pantomime. It’s also become a big sports day and no surprise – a day of shopping and sales.

Personally, the day after Christmas is a day of quiet, rest and reflection.

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Wishing my readers a Merry Christmas

Happy Hanukkah

Happy Kwanzaa

We are all celebrating together this year!

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Visit Mom’s Closet for a little holiday cheer: https://overdressedforlife.com/moms-closet/christmas-stockings-in-moms-closet/

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ann-demeulemeester-02-760x760Black is not sad. Bright colors are what depress me. They’re so empty. Black is poetic. How do you imagine a poet? In a bright yellow jacket? Probably not.

– Ann Demeulemeester, Belgium fashion designer.

Ms. Demeulemeester loves black and she’s also known for her Goth inspired designs. She goes for deconstruction with a touch of Victorian/Edwardian details. She, along with Jil Sander, came along in the 1990s and put European countries other than France into fashion focus.

 

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Ann Demeulemeester Spring 2013

As for her comment on black. Well, black is a wonderful option but I think color has its place. We can’t all sport black all the time; that might be slightly somber. But I do understand what Ms. Demeulemeester is saying in terms of depth. Black is rich and full and sometimes poignant. Color is fanciful and uplifting.  The world needs both.

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img_20161120_180053763Regular ODFL readers might recall that for most of 2016 I have been on a journey learning to sew. I’ve taken four classes using a sewing machine and as part of my continued education I decided to take a hand-sewing class at Britex Fabrics in San Francisco.

I first learned to hand-sew when at 9-years-old I signed up for a kid’s quilting class through Parks and Rec. I made two quilted pillows all sewn by hand. My mother preferred hand-sewing and she taught me as well. Still, I wanted to relearn and hopefully add to my skill set.

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Instructor Natalie Wiener has learned much about hand-sewing from her years building historical costumes.

That I did from instructor Natalie Wiener, notions buyer and manager at Britex. The class of six met for two hours on a rainy Saturday morning. We jumped right in learning:

  • Running Stitch – good for basting
  • Full Backstitch – to repair seams
  • Spaced Backstitch – topstitiching and setting zippers by hand
  • Fell – hemming
  • Slip – also hemming
  • Catch or Herringbone Stitch – hemming knits and my fave!

But there’s more! Natalie talked about tools and materials, for example the importance of thimbles – did you know they come in sizes? She also shared tips such as wax your thread to calm the thread fibers. (There is one tip that we all agreed has now changed our sewing lives, but sorry, not telling. You have to take the class.)

The two hours flew by. I really enjoyed the class and came away anxious to add some hand-sewing into my current project.

More classes will be scheduled in the new year. Check the website for information: https://www.britexfabrics.com/

Thank you, Natalie and Britex!

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Miss Rosie Lea. Photo: David Morley.

Vintage style is timeless, feminine and completely open to your own interpretation. It celebrates women of all ages, shapes and sizes in a way that fashion houses just don’t.

– Miss Rosie Lea, British vintage model.

This quote is from an article by Miss Lea in Vintage Life magazine, October 2016.

Well put! But I would add that it’s a good idea to mix vintage up a bit. By combining eras and even adding a touch of modern we create more interest and keep it fresh for a truly timeless look.

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There are many holiday craft shows happening all around the Bay Area but my favorite is coming up this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, December 10 and 11th, 2016.

Featured are Sarah Durling and Nora Akino, two Berkeley artists who have quite a following among local collectors.

gvg_0393_smSarah is The Buttonist – she’s a collector of antique and vintage buttons which she fashions into bracelets, rings, pendants, and I hear now she’s making brooches!! Sarah’s pieces stand out for their elegant design and quality settings in sterling silver. Every year longtime customers add to their collections and often sport two or three bracelets at a time.

 

 

Nora also has an elegant aesthetic, designing and sewing silk scarves and quality bags of all sizes in silk and cotton. I have a small bag I wear around my neck to hold my eyeglasses in style and I love Nora’s added touch of using antique buttons. Customers collect her larger sizes for shopping bags. Such a great idea as more and more shoppers shift away from those environmentally-unfriendly plastic bags. What a unique holiday gift idea. In addition to accessories, Nora will show monotypes and paintings using traditional Japanese pigments. Ooo … I can’t wait to see.

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This is a private sale in Berkeley but OverDressed for Life readers, you are invited!  Please e-mail info@noraakino.com for details. Or contact me at overdressedforlife@yahoo.com. We’ll fill you in. I hope to see you there.

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kevin-hart-horizontal-finalYou can tell a lot about people by their appearance. Good style in a woman is about her being herself. It’s about being able to bring your flair and attitude to your clothing. It’s not just about what you think is cool, it’s what you make cool. That’s the difference. The women who understand that always dress in such a unique way. It doesn’t look forced. You believe it.

– Kevin Hart, American comedian.

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