Author: admin

GRUNGE Has Its Value

How to use Grunge? 

First of all, this picture shows a Marc Jacobs collection from 1993. “In early November, Marc Jacobs announced that he would be re-issuing the iconic 1993 “grunge” collection that got him fired from Perry Ellis back in 1993.” (Fashionista.com) His brilliant use and combinations of fabrics, silhouettes, colors, and accessories are ever current today. Even the skinny booties and heavy-duty Dr. Martins are gracing the catwalks for Fashion Weeks. So many messages here including “never give up,” but I digress. Let’s talk about how we can all gain additional value from these looks.

When do we wear Grunge and what does it express of us?

Grunge falls into a fashion section of casual themed clothing. Research shows that casual clothing is best worn for bonding and making friends. According to “The Cognitive Consequences of Formal Clothing,” casual clothing is related to intimacy and familiarity,” (Slepian, Ferber, Gold, and Rutchick). Since these looks are fashion-forward, there’s an extra message expressed about the wearer. The fashions can signal an image to others and help you find your tribe. They express creativity and confidence.

DECONSTRUCT: There’s something here for everyone to examine. The message of color combinations and textures, such as knits and lace together, leather as glamour evening wear, understated-simple crosses all categories, cropped pants, small cross body shoulder bags, love the fanny pack… short blazer… mixed patterns… etc… 

RECONSTRUCT: As a stylist, each of these trends can be re-applied in new ways for a wardrobe update. Fashion doesn’t have to translate literally. There is much to discover by deconstructing.  Every one of these fun works of art can be of value in the right application.  Use your imagination and enjoy the process!

Sharing is Giving!

Blue Box for Christmas?

 

Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/34396697@N00/8272642867/

Tis the Season…

Christmas Season is in the air. Even here in California, we have cool evenings by the fire, enough to cozy up and watch new and old movies. One can’t help but dream of possible gifts to give … and receive. Maybe even a “blue box” will show up in the stocking?

Tiffany’s blue box along with the Tiffany & Co store became iconic to many long before the 1961 movie, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (See Trailer). After the movie, Tiffany & Co. became a global phenomenon. Every couple years I manage to watch Breakfast at Tiffany’s. It’s an entertaining movie checking all the boxes for me: funny, visually good, great acting, love and romance, in a setting I love. Additionally and just as important, it’s an amazing fashion show with one of the most revered style icons, Audrey Hepburn, looking perfect in Huber de Givenchy’s little black dress.

In 2016, a documentary, Crazy About Tiffany’s, came out and was every bit as entertaining (CrazyaboutTiffanys.com). Learning the 150plus years of history of Tiffany’s, and how it entered pop culture is fascinating. Tiffany’s hired a female design director, Francesca Amfitheatrof, a smart move. The documentary explores how the jewelry is made, as well as how the pieces find their way to the red carpet in Hollywood. It also includes the story behind the color, Tiffany Blue.

And that’s why the iconic Blue Box for Christmas represents the ultimate!

Written by Karen Mathis     

Email: Karen.POWERofAppearance@gmail.com

 

“Fashion is your greatest tool for personal expression”
~Karen Mathis

Empower Your Appearance

Pantone 1837 Blue: Tiffany Blue

Tiffany blue has become an iconic color. It became centralin establishing the brand. Pantone standardized Tiffany blue or “1837 Blue” asthey named the color. It reflects the founding of the New York store which wasin 1837.  More than 10 million designers and producers depend on the Pantone products (pantone.com).

Pantone is the company that revolutionized the printing industry in 1963. They developed the PANTONE MATCHING SYSTEM. It’s a tool that organizes color standards. Pantone calls their process a universal language of color, with over 10,000 color standards across multiple materials including printing, textiles, plastics, pigments, and coatings (pantone.com). They determine the specific shades of colors that we see every day. The standards serve fashion customers when matching two items from the same season, even from different designers.

And that’s how we recognize the iconic Blue Box!

Karen Mathis

Email: Karen.PowerofAppearance@gmail.com

URL: www.PowerOf Appearance.com

Empower Your Appearance

A Spanish Lace Story

Lace and fashion have had a love affair since the 16th Century.  Lace has been dominant in both fashion and home decor since it was first created.

White lace represents innocence and romance. Black lace represents drama and excitement. Historically it was worn by royalty and continues to express the characteristic of quality for those who wear it today.

On my trip to Valencia, Spain, I discovered a great little lace shop at Plaza Redonda.  There are many small bolts of lace in white, neutrals and black. Prices are reasonable. 

  • Needle lace is regarded as the ultimate lace.  I was thrilled to meet a few local women sharing some of their stitches, using a needle and thread technique. They told me they have been coming to the Redonda Plaza and making lace for years. 
  •  There are several techniques used for making lace. In addition to Needle lace, there is Cutwork (whitework) created by removing threads from the woven backing.
  • Bobbin lace uses a group of wood or plastic bobbins of threads that are woven together on top of a pillow where the pattern is held in place.
  • Knotted lace is what we call macrame’.
  • Crocheted lace and Knitted lace have variations. Machine-made lace is what we see in the fabric stores today. Most any style can be replicated by machine.
  • Chemical lace is embroidered on a surface that is water-soluble and dissolves leaving the remaining stitched motif.
Facebook Twitter Google-plus Linkedin
Empower Your Appearance