Analogue Chic

Posts Tagged ‘danbury ct’

Never underestimate the power of the right haircut.

This is hands down the best haircut I've ever had and probably the biggest boost to my self-esteem I've ever experienced. I totally love it, for many reasons. Ashley was so great and did such an amazing pro job, I just had no idea it was going to be so different. I think I probably worried her a bit afterwards cause I was so totally freaked out by it, but I will definitely be back there to ease her mind. 

 

It feels wonderful, feels totally me and like the look I've been searching for for years. I can't wait to see what else it does! 

Never underestimate the transformative power of the right haircut! For the first time in a long time I feel like I see myself when I look in the mirror. That's a pretty empowering thing and I already feel it trickling down to other aspects of my style. [...] I'm on top of the world! Even this afternoon's root canal cannot dampen my spirits.

Best dressed, worst dressed– I really don't know.  At least people got dressed.

Based on the photos from the News-Times, there was no stand-out winner this year, at least in my book.  There was some improvement, but plenty of the same mistakes.

So, I'll keep my analysis short and sweet. It's "Oh-la-la" vs. "Oh-no-no".

Oh-la-la

Accessories

Good effort with the accessorizing this year. Just remember Ms. Chanel's words: "Always take off the last accessory you put on."

A little sleeve

It's not about hiding your arms, it's about creating balance in the visual effect. Read the rest of this entry »

You may find a previously unknown, extremely important discovery that will advance science, win you the Nobel prize, and make you rich and famous and sexy!…

Science researchers have recently discovered a new bacteria species in the rust on the hull of the Titanic.

Although the rust was sampled in 1991, no one bothered to look closely at the life forms hanging out in these rusticles– they just threw them into big plastic containers labeled "bacteria" or "fungi", stuffed them in the back corner, and then moved on to more glamorous things, like reupholstering the sofa. (OK, I'm taking some liberties with the story, but it's basically true.)

Mind you, the sunken Titanic was not even found until 1985, 73 years after it sank.

Now that this new Titanic-munching microbe has been identified, some people want to eradicate it and preserve the Titanic for tourists and documentary filmmakers of the future.

If they hadn't gone rooting around in the corners and dusty piles of the Official Top Secret Titanic Research Closet, they never would have found those little guys, and the Titanic would just melt away (unlike a certain dastardly iceberg)…

(What the crap does this have to do with fashion?, you may be wondering.  Here comes the punchline.) Read the rest of this entry »

If you’re a literature-geek like me, especially for novels written or set in the 1800s (Austen! Dickens! Gaskell! Wharton!), you’ve probably heard of “the season”– the fall and winter months when wealthy folks moved back to the city from their country homes and went out every night to balls, plays, operas, parties, dinners…

Many things have changed, but November through March is still a big season for charity galas.  Even a small city like Danbury, CT hosts almost one per month at this time of year!

The Dream Come True Gala has a Paris Evening theme...

We’ve already seen the Danbury Hospital Ball, in November. Here’s a list of the biggies coming up in Danbury (and the surrounding area) after the New Year:

January 29 : Mayor’s Ball

February 4 : Girl Scouts Gala

February 12 : Danbury Animal Welfare Society Gala

April 2 : Dream Come True Gala

TBA : Hord Foundation Gala

The Girl Scouts Gala has a Masquerade theme...

What are you going to wear?

Read the rest of this entry »

This weekend I went to a presentation at the Danbury Museum about shopping habits in the U.S. in the 18th century.  Due to some technical difficulties, I found myself huddled around a laptop with half a dozen women history buffs, looking at newspaper ads from 1774 and chatting with Fran Hendrickson about fashion, commerce, and dancing. Around us glittered the sparkly, woolly, colorful wares of the museum gift shop and Holiday Bazaar.

Fran is fascinating: a musician, historical reenactor, dance instructor, publisher, researcher, she’s also the former director of the Danbury Senior Center.

Image via Project Gutenberg (click through)

I honestly had so much fun “geeking out” about bum rolls, umbrellas, aprons, pompons, minuets, and puzzling over the mysterious vocabulary and pre-standard English of the newspapers.

You can read my article in The Mercurial about the presentation.

Here are some of my favorite visual sweets to indulge your love of 18th century style:

UK-Nigeria textile artist Yinka Shonibare, MBE

Ingrid Mida’s blog

Marie Antoinette’s “official” blog

These amazing paper wigs

This music video

Sophia Coppola’s M.A. movie, of course

The Duchess of Devonshire’s biopic

UPDATE 12/27/10: I was just going through my Inbox and found this photo from Daily Fashion Report on the Spring ’11 Pierre Cardin show.

Photo: Randy Brooke

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.

Read the rest of this entry »

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!

Read the rest of this entry »

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.