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Archive for April, 2024

Fashionable Quote of the Week by Lynette Nylander

Posted in Events, Fashion, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 29, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Photo by Tembela Bohle on Pexels.com

I was in front of the mirror trying on a coat when I saw someone trying to edge in and I turned around and it was Julianne Moore. I was flabbergasted. I just thought to myself – You don’t need to be here.

Lynette Nylande – British writer and editor.

Nylander was speaking to Elle magazine (Feb. 2024 issue) about The Row sample sale in New York City.

Everyone, EVERYONE loves a deal. According to Elle, designer sample sales are usually a rare occurrence. But in the past year, brands such as The Row, Khaite, and Comme des Garcons have been unloading their extra inventory at as much as 80 percent off the retail price. Sounds great! Except the crowds are a nightmare with over 1000 people waiting just to get in the door. (And then of course there’s Julianne Moore edging into other people’s space. Sheesh!)

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Fashionable Favorite Things: The Wool Handbag With the Big Satin Bow

Posted in Fashion, Mom's Closet, Uncategorized, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The other day I pulled out a merino wool handbag that I don’t carry very often, but I love it for spring, especially Easter. It was made in Ireland by Boyne Valley Weavers and actually, I have two – one in vibrant purple and one in natural. I think this color is a standout.

Something else unique about this bag, the satin bow tie. How charming is that? I remember my mother telling me that I had to tie the ribbon as that’s what made the bag unique. I agree, and so I always do tie the ribbon into a nice big bow.

Bows are huge this season. Designers were showing bows all over the runways and now we see them on shoes, barrettes, gloves, embroidered onto fabric, anywhere a bow can go. So, I’ll do my subtle nod to the trend with my wool handbag from Ireland.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Professor Dilys Williams

Posted in Events, Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

We should stop and really consider what it is that we’re wearing every day. And how we came by it and what it means to us, and what we are saying through what we’re wearing.

Professor Dilys Williams – Professor of Fashion Design for Sustainability, London College of Fashion.

It’s Fashion Revolution Week! This is an annual event that recognizes the anniversary of the 2013 Rana Plaza collapse in Bangladesh, where 1,100, mostly women seamstresses, died and 2,500 people were injured. FRW is a movement that seeks to raise our awareness of what’s really going on in clothing/fashion industry.

This week is an opportunity for all of us to think about our fashion and clothing choices. Where and how can we cut back? I believe what we wear matters and I’m taking Professor Williams’ quote seriously. Particularly, what we are saying through what we’re wearing?

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Celebrating Earth Month: Sustainable Fashion Workshop

Posted in Arts, Events, Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

This week I attended something fun – Sustainable Fashion Workshop – hosted by Sustainable Walnut Creek. It’s a well known fact that clothing production is a significant contributor to climate change; there’s currently a movement to buy fewer new pieces and thrift shop instead or use what we already have in our closets.

Around twelve of us showed up for the Sustainable Fashion Workshop at the Downtown Walnut Creek Library to hear about and discuss ways to reuse, repair, repurpose, and recycle our clothing. Ellie (SparkEllie on Facebook) led the discussion and offered advice. Some attendees brought in pieces they needed help repairing or repurposing and others came for inspiration. Ellie contributed a large bag of fabric scraps that we all enjoyed sifting through. Among the gathering of likeminded people was a five-year-old girl who quickly put together a pile of fabric and set to work designing something for herself. (Her enthusiasm was delightful to see.)

A local Walnut Creek resident found just the right white cotton ruffle to add to the bottom of a t-shirt. I asked for advice on mending a sweater with rips under the arms and got several great ideas.

If this is of interest to ODFL readers there’s another Sustainable Fashion Workshop coming up on Monday, April 15, 5-6:30 at the downtown Walnut Creek Library.

Do you have some clothing that could use a little TLC? Want to refashion some of your wardrobe? Just need some inspiration? I recommend popping into the Sustainable Fashion Workshop to meet some really nice people who also want to help save the earth, one item of clothing at a time.

It’s free! Click here to register.

This workshop is just one event in April to celebrate Earth Month. Among the list of fun is the Earth Day Celebration and a sustainable fashion show on Saturday, April 20th at Walnut Creek Civic Park, 11-4.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Moe Tkacik

Posted in Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , , , , , on April 8, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I remember walking in and just being hit with the sense – Oh my god, they’ve bottled this. They have absolutely crystalized everything that I hate about high school and put it in a store.

Moe Tkacik – American journalist.

Tkacik is speaking about her experience at the retail store Abercrombie and Fitch in the documentary White Hot: The Rise and Fall of Abercrombie and Fitch.

Once I walked into the A&F located in the Westfield Mall in downtown San Francisco. It was loud and it was dark and I walked right back out.

I just watched this fascinating documentary and there’s quite a story to A&F – the rise under CEO Mike Jeffries – financial success – illegal business practices – mottos such as “we go after the cool kids.” Apparently, corporate managers really did not want what they considered unattractive people to work in their stores or even to buy their clothes.

Did you know that A&F was originally a sporting goods store? It opened in 1892 and sold everything outdoorsy – golf clubs, tennis rackets, camping gear, hunting rifles, sports clothing, and so on. When business declined in the 1980s, Limited Brands bought A&F and revamped it, selling an American collegiate look to teenagers. It was a huge hit, until it wasn’t.

As I said, this is quite a story! White Hot is currently streaming on Netflix.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by J.J. Martin

Posted in Arts, Fashion, Uncategorized, Vintage, tagged , , , , , , , on April 1, 2024| 3 Comments »

Martin wearing her own designs for her spring 2024 show in Milan. Photo: Vogue.

Color, print, and pattern all evoke an energy, a frequency, and when you’re wearing them, you can feel different. A lot of people are doing this subconsciously, putting on those pink pants! It’s one way to raise your vibration.

J.J. Martin – American fashion and home goods designer and founder of La DoubleJ.

This is a quote from an interview with Martin in Vogue magazine, winter 2024.

Martin believes in the power of energy and approaches her designs with that in mind. She’s known for busy, bold prints in bright colors for both her clothing and homewares, which are all made in Italy.

I’ve noticed that I’m drawn to certain colors at different times. All of a sudden for seemingly no reason, I want to surround myself with purple, bright green, or yellow. Most recently it was mauve or soft pink – I just couldn’t get enough of it, like candy, and I think it’s because I find it a comforting shade. Patterns also call out to me; often it’s plaid but this past year polka dots are my thing because they’re such fun. Perhaps subconsciously I’m shifting my vibe. Whatever is happening, I’m enjoying it!

How about you, readers? What colors and patterns are you attracted to this spring?

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