Analogue Chic

Posts Tagged ‘danbury ct’

Hello there,

‘Twas just a garden in the rain…

A misty-moisty morning to visit the wedding dress exhibit and flower show at the Danbury Museum on Saturday.  Lovely plants and beautiful dresses, unfortunately served to highlight how badly the Museum needs better exhibit space.  So donate generously!

You can read my write-up, with photos, over at The Mercurial.

[Updated June 15]

It’s more than just "here’s a bunch of clothing from our collection"– it’s a really illustrative survey of what women from this little part of Connecticut were wearing on their wedding day.

I’ve been informed by Museum staff that, with the Flower Show completed, some dresses will be coming out of the glass cases and onto dress forms, with some other items also going on display.  I was just cringing looking at some of those heavy dresses on hangers, and the trains folded up in the case.  It will be great for visitors to get a little closer to the details.

Having been involved with several small museums in Connecticut, I completely understand the limitations of funding on everything from roof repairs to paperclips.  The Museum is quite proud of the recent renovations to the central building, Huntington Hall.  I’m sure it’s a vast improvement on its previous setting.  On a personal note, I just have to say the style of the building is quite a visual jolt when you see it surrounded by the historical buildings and garden.  A building with flexible exhibit space, with climate control and adaptable lighting, on one floor, and offices, etc. on a separate floor, in a more harmonious style on the exterior, would be an ideal starting point for tours of the rest of the buildings.

So again, visit often, and donate generously!

Image via Wedding Dress Gallery

Also, as part of a series of wedding-themed events at the Museum this year, a wedding cake tasting and contest will be held August 14, as a fundraiser for the Museum.  16 bakers will compete on the merits of taste and decoration for a $250 cash prize, with judging by the event attendees.  Champagne will be served, and musical entertainment will be on hand.  Any bakers interested in competing should contact the Museum, (203) 743-5200.

Danbury Museum and Historical Society

43 Main Street, Danbury, CT

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4 pm

Phone: (203) 743-5200

Email: info@danburymuseum.org

Via the News-Times, Danbury’s crack information team (who can’t even get the name of the store correct in the headline).

DANBURY — After more than four years as an empty shell, the former Filene’s store at Danbury Fair mall will have an occupant.

Forever 21, a national clothing retailer with a smaller store at the mall, has submitted plans with the city to take over more than 77,000 square feet of space.

The company is expected to spend more than $2.3 million to renovate the space, according to documents submitted to Danbury’s building department. The store now occupies about 5,000 square feet elsewhere in the mall.

Filtering past the middle school name-calling and bickering in the comments on the web site, I was appalled to find someone actually thanking Forever 21 for "bringing much needed jobs to the area", as well as some other truly misguided economic analysis.

I was compelled to write a letter to the editors, which I usually refrain from doing with newspapers of such low caliber.

I’m reproducing it here, in a slightly expanded form, and with links.

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You may recall we had a little fashion philanthropy picnic last weekend. 

It was bloody warm, the turnout was a bit disappointing, and everyone but my husband and I was hungry because apparently, they did not read the part of the invitation that said "Please bring your favorite picnic munchies…"

But those who did attend were quite good-looking, and did an awesome job putting together not just fabulous hats, but amazing period-referencing costumes.

It was basically like this:

with less wine and less bicep. Sadly.

But, more croquet!

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As per usual, when I want my camera, I don’t have it; and when I do have my camera, I don’t need it so it just weighs down my bag until I take it out again.  I don’t understand this curse…

Today I finally met lovely Valerie (gosh, I hope I remembered her name correctly…) at the library– I have seen her before around town, and recognized her by her awesome sneakers. Unfortunately, her great juxtaposition of colors and prints must suffer to be captured by my crummy phone camera.

Valerie is rocking a pink tee with blue and white floral capris.  Her black and pink cheetah print sneakers and ikat-style print bag are from Forever 21.

Head on over to Danbury’s indie news magazine, The Mercurial, for my reporting on the Mother Earth Fashion Show that took place in Bethel, CT on April 12.

As a local designer and fashion blogger, I looked forward to an injection of style and conscience into the closets of my fellow Danbury-metro dwellers.  I dressed for the evening in my usual mix of high and low style, new and vintage, mass market and indie designer.  My hair was newly trimmed by Tiffany of Tease Salon at Martin’s in Danbury, and colored, incidentally, by Jackie at A New Beginning.  My eyelids were enshrouded in brown shadow by Ecco Bella plant based cosmetics, available at Chamomile on Newtown Road.  I layered a black tuxedo jacket over my pink wrap sweater by Grace Napoleon, a featured designer for the event, and dark jeans.  Gray spectator-mary jane-hybrid oxfords finished the look.

This tree-hugging fashionista went the extra eco mile and rode the number 2 HART bus from Main Street, Danbury to the front door of the Stony Hill Inn, with time to spare.

Read my review, over here!

Hooray!  Grace Napoleon, whom I profiled a while ago on this blog, will be showing her upcycled apparel in a runway show to benefit Clean Ocean Action, sponsored by A New Beginning Salon in Bethel, CT on Monday, April 12.  Tickets are still available!

I will also be reporting on the event for The Mercurial, Danbury’s online news magazine.

A New Beginning Salon & Spa is an Aveda Wellness spa. Every year the Aveda company encourages their spas throughout the country to participate in fundraising efforts to benefit an earth-friendly organization. For the second year, Clean Ocean Action will receive 100% of the net proceeds of this event.

There is also an opportunity for tickets to be purchased and donated to The Women’s Center of Greater Danbury. All ticket donations will be distributed to clients of the Center.

[...]

According to Clean Ocean Action’s advocacy team, as a result of years of ocean dumping, a legacy of pollution remains in the ocean off the Atlantic coast from New Jersey to New York and Connecticut’s shores of Long Island Sound.

[...]

Clean Ocean Action leads informed campaigns against these sources of pollution and advocates for environmentally sound solutions.

The organization was recently instrumental in lending its voice to help defeat the installation of an LP gas pumping platform off the Branford coast that would have measured three football fields in length, and compromised recreational and commercial boating throughout much of Connecticut’s coastal waterway.

Quotes via The Newtown Bee.

Ohhh, this is like finally catching that elusive, big, beautiful fish after trying, season after season…

Introducing Faith, server extraordinaire of Marcus Dairy.

I saw Faith in this very uniform the first time I went to Marcus Dairy, last year, and of course I didn’t have my camera, and I wasn’t even sitting in her section, but I vowed I would document her style for Danbury fashion posterity.

Today, I was finally successful.

I just adore her fantastic (she called it ‘cheerful’–indeed!) plaid bowtie, and coordinating red apron.  I noticed she also always has this sparkly, dangly pin on her collar.

I have several of just this type of apron in offwhite, that belonged to my great-grandmother, I guess from her days of operating the family hotdog stand/diner.

And of course, I didn’t have my camera, so these are phone-photos that are not doing her justice.  But Faith was so charming, and gracious in letting me take her picture.  And she told me about her mother, who ran a farm stand, but was a bit of a fashionista, and was a pioneer of mismatched, multicolor accessories.

Yes, there is a story there, and hopefully Faith will call me so I can give you a full report.

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!

The social event of the year for Danbury took place this past Saturday night, the annual Mayor’s Ball.  Politics aside, I was not in a position to shell out $100 (the reduced price, allegedly to allow more people to attend) for a ticket, plus an outfit and hair (yes, the ball is a charity benefit).  But, I’m still more than ready to share with you my evaluation of the best and worse dressed.

You know it’s going to be rough when the entertainment is dressed better than the people who paid to get in… Lovely singers.

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