Analogue Chic

Back from a little hiatus…

Spring Fever

Edited by Jennine Jacob Do you get spring fever? Oh man… the itch to run around outside in flowery prints and frilly laces gets greater and greater each passing day. To heck with chunky sweaters! This week we have a load of great spring style posts, Holier Than Now checks out cape coats, if you’re strapped for cash Out of Order gives the perfect 45min spring skirt tutorial, so cute! And girly clothes not your thing? The Demoiselles has a great homage to genderbending unisex looks. I’ve been thinking of doing a couple of days in menswear myself. Well, as soon as I learn how to tie the half Windsor knot. There were so, so many great links this week, it really was hard to narrow it down to 2o. Check out the full listing of Links à la Mode here.

Read the rest of this entry »

 {That is the literal translation of the Spanish word for umbrella, sombrilla.}

These parasols from Japan-based DiCesare Designs are killing me right now.

Available from White Rabbit Press.

I love that they are 1) reminiscent of 19th century bonnets; 2) help prevent skin cancer; and 3) they don’t come in ridiculous Hot Topic-esque prints, because they could so easily go in  a very wrong Goth-Lolita direction, but stay sanely within chic-yet-whimsical territory.

Tanning is so overrated.  Oh, and it makes you look older faster.  Oh, and you can get skin cancer.  Last year, I regularly went out into drab downtown Danbury with my pastel painted faux-paper (i.e. polyester) parasol from the amazing Chinese dollar store here. And occasionally wore a hat from my collection.  I think if I owned one of these parasols, I would go out in full My-Fair-Lady-at-Ascot garb all the time…

Also, this artist used one of them plus several umbrellas to make her costume for Venice Carnivale last year (yes, THE Venice Carnivale).  I think she’ll bring the trend full circle back to wide brimmed bonnets.  Count me in!

Apparently, Japan has a strong market for sun-blocking accessories, including long fingerless gloves, which I totally want.

Parasol images, DiCesare designs. Umbrellina photo, Tanja Schulz-Hess.

"Goth" for grownups– dressing for the office in Hot Topic’s team colors.

Red cardigan – thrifted

White ruffly halter blouse with awesome collar – some discount line from my old retail job

Black chambray slacks – ditto

Red flats – Naturalizer

Awesome trio of plastic bangles – some urban discount "trendy" store

Awesome collar!

How not to take a fashion photo – no feet

{This one’s for you, Printess Leah.}

Richard Nicoll’s London runway show for Fall/Winter 2010 was accentuated, not with trendy chains, zippers, or pyramid studs, but with the humble binder clip.

Look closely at these photos.  (Don’t be alarmed– I’m sure that binder clip is in her chignon, not clamped to her ear.)

Images: Richard Nicoll, via Cyana Trendland

also debuting my new (now 3 weeks old?) haircut. much better.

favorite button down, puff sleeve blouse – Target a couple of years ago

black cotton cardigan – who knows?

charcoal gray organic cotton crop jodhpur slouch pants thingies – Laura Dawson

gray tights – Target

gray pointelle socks – who knows?

black high heel oxfords – Made by Elves (that’s what the label says, seriously) from Urban Outfitters a couple of years ago

what i almost wore today: my circus master costume.

Since this month marks my personal New Year holiday, this post from Vintage Indie was a perfect find.  The rituals of making resolutions, spring cleaning, "shaking the house" are so fitting for this time of year (in the northern hemisphere) when new leaves are turning. 

1. Are you allowing toxic relationships to run your life?
2. Do you surround yourself with people who control your thoughts?
3. Are you hanging on to any bad habits?
4. Do you have a poor attitude?
5. Are you allowing fear to keep you from stepping out?
6. Is discouragement keeping you from your dreams?
7. Are you holding on when you know you should let go?

It’s clearly a good time to freshen up one’s priorities, and recharge one’s badass batteries.  Take stock.  Be gentle but firm.  Look at La Chanel up there, she is telling you to get it together!

{Sadly, this photo is bopping all around the tubes without a credit.  If you have a proper credit, please let me know. Thx.}

Donna Karan is now a household name, but began her career, as so many of us do, as a lowly student intern.  She launched her own line in 1985 with a system of "seven easy pieces" – a bodysuit, a coat, a jacket, blouse, skirt, pants and something a little fancier for the evening – that revolutionized modern dressing and made her synonymous with New York style.

With her amazing success, Karan has always maintained the sensibility of an artist and the earthiness of a woman, wife and mother. 

"Everything I do is a matter of heart, body and soul," says Donna Karan, chief designer of the international company that bears her name. "For me, designing is an expression of who I am as a woman, with all the complications, feelings and emotions." [...]  Says Karan, "That I’m a woman makes me want to nurture others, fulfill needs and solve problems. At the same time, the artist within me strives for beauty, both sensually and visually. So design is a constant challenge to balance comfort with luxe, the practical with the desirable."

She has leveraged her professional success to promote the social issues that are important to her.

A member of CFDA ’s board of directors, Karan conceived and spearheaded its Seventh on Sale benefits to raise funds for AIDS awareness and education. Karan co-chairs the annual New York "Kids for Kids" events for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, as she has since its 1993 inception, as well as underwrites "Super Saturday," an annual designer flea market/barbeque founded with the late Liz Tilberis in 1998 to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. To facilitate her many on-going philanthropic involvements, in 1999, Karan and Weiss established the Karan Weiss Foundation.

Karan’s Urban Zen Initiative, founded in 2007, is the culmination of Karan’s philanthropic efforts. explains Karan, "I have founded the Urban Zen Initiative to create a working structure for advancing wellness, preserving culture and empowering children. These are the causes that mean the world to me."

 Quotes via DKNY.com

Read more about Donna Karan’s influence and accomplishments here.

Read more about the Urban Zen Foundation here.

March – in like a lioness!

Here in the US, it’s Women’s History Month, and Monday, March 8th is International Woman’s Day!  BOOYAH!

This month, I will feature some badass women of fashion, one fashion matriarch per week.

And– bonus– the Spring Equinox is March 20th, which is also Nawruz, the Persian New Year, which I have also adopted as my personal New Year holiday, because it just makes more sense than the middle of damn winter…  So I will feature some badass Persian women, and some Persian-inspired spring fashion.

Stay tuned!

Thank goodness. I first saw one of his paintings at the Met, and my first reaction was, wow, that background looks like African prints! And it was.

Image (c) Kehinde Wiley, via Newsweek.

PSFK: How did you choose which designs to use?

KW: I went to the streets. I was in Africa with my friends, and we went out into the markets and looked at reams and reams of fabric- later figuring out which photo, which portrait worked best with what- it was really a hands on and sort of intuitive experience. There’s no concise system for it,  it was more of an ineffable process. A visceral decision about what had the right look and feel for what we were doing.

I wish he were more specific about what cities or regions he was in, because textiles are so tied to the local culture – there is really no such thing as an "African" fabric.

I’m not such a fan of his portraits, actually – I’ve never been a big modern art fan.  But I am definitely a huge fan of making art accessible to everyone, especially those who are typically not among the elite of arts patrons.

KW:There is actually a lot of conceptual overlap between the two projects. My work is about engaging the  contemporary  global street-whether it’s Harlem or Columbo, Sri Lanka. And many people say it’s  hip hop , many people say it’s a global cultural urgency which is driven by a sort of African essence- I don’t know what it is- but to engage with popular culture is something that I’m excited about. I mean, in the 21st century artists occupy many different states- and it is my job to do whatever it is I do as  well as possible.  To view the world through my eyes and make my vision resonate with the viewer.

(I thought I had previously done a post on Yinka Shonibare, but I guess not.  Anyway, I love his work – it’s the perfect combination of critique, sarcasm, rococo fashion, traditional textiles, and colonialism – it’s like we have the same brain. Google him.)

Quotes via PSFK.

Still don’t have your look down for the Hord Foundation Gala next Saturday?

I will help you look your Roaring ’20s best.  I am a local designer and stylist who specializes in vintage and retro looks.  From the hair to the shoes, I can help you get on the Best Dressed List.

And I will teach you how to dance the Charleston!

• Free consultation. 
• Hourly fee. 
• WesConn students, I will assist you for free!

Whether you still need a dress, or just need help with accessories, I will be your personal shopper or your complete event stylist.

Email Allie {at} AnalogueChic {dot} com to set up your free consultation!

Looking for the usual Analogue Chic news?  Just scroll down a bit!