Style – Page 3

The Joy of Cuffs

05.31.2015 by Tracey //

Dannijo Axl Cuff

Dannijo Pandy Cuff

Sundance Cuff (top) and Saint Laurent Cuff

Vintage Navajo Cuff

When I was a kid, my cousin Keith wondered, “How come Batman always knows what a villian is going to do? If the Joker throws sneeze powder, Batman says, ‘I knew you were going to pull that trick, so I wore my anti-sneeze suit.’ Why doesn’t he just say, ‘I knew you were going to do that, so I wore my NOBODY CAN TOUCH ME suit’.” I cannot tell you how many times I have thought about the NOBODY CAN TOUCH ME suit. I really want one of those! Not that I would want it or need it every day, but there are those times when it would really come in handy. On the days that I need armor, I reach for these cuffs. And it isn’t on the days that I feel powerful and strong. I put these on when I feel vulnerable and need a little extra protection. Very tough. Very rock and roll.

I could have used the NOBODY CAN TOUCH ME suit the other day when I attempted my own version of a super hero act, saving a little dog from a big dog. I’m happy to report that both dogs are fine, but my arm, not so much. Since I’m out of the sewing game while my injuries heal, I thought it might be a good time to show you some of the Alabama Chanin garments that I’ve made. So get ready, the month of June here at Featherstitch Avenue is going to be full of DIY Alabama Chanin!

See you next Sunday, June 7!

Doll Necklaces

05.17.2015 by Tracey //

Deer

Bird

Mouse

Dog

Pig

Photography by Santiago Vanegas and Tracey Hogan

Do you remember the movie High Fidelity? There is a scene that I think of whenever I wear these necklaces. In the movie, John Cusack plays a record store owner who declares “I will now sell 5 copies of the album by The Beta Band”. He puts on the record and sits back and watches his customers react to the music. When I put on one of these lovely necklaces, I say to myself, “I will now compel 3 strangers to ask me about this necklace.” Usually I have more than three people approach me and more often than not, they can’t help themselves touching the necklace too. I haven’t been touched by strangers this much since I was pregnant! I don’t blame them, really. The necklaces are irresistable. They are made by Servane Gaxötte, who has the sweetest shop in Paris. (You can also buy them in New York at Kisan.) I have been collecting my “poupée” necklaces for a number of years now and my love for them is just as intense as the first time I saw them. Happiness on a chain!

Have a great week. See you next Sunday.

The Joy of Jean Paul Gaultier

05.03.2015 by Tracey //

While we were in Paris, we were lucky enough to get a chance to see the Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at Le Grand Palais. I understand that this exhibit debuted in Montreal and has been traveling to various cities for awhile, but I think for this show in Paris some new items were added. The images above were taken in the first room. The mannequins had projections that made their faces look very real and it’s odd to feel like you are looking at a living person. My son took one look, said “nope”, and made a bee-line for the exit. I was fine until one of the models started to talking to me, then I started to wonder if my son had the right idea. I toughed it out though, because it’s not every day that you get a chance to see these clothes up close.

I love these fashion exhibits. Especially when you get to see the really iconic clothes that you’ve seen pictured in magazines and books. The experience of seeing the real thing never fails to surprise me. No matter how hard you try to capture the essence of one of these garments in a photograph, there are intangibles that are lost. So I have no problem lining up to see the Alexander McQueen exhibit, the Punk exhibit, or this show. The wait is always worth it.

The can-can dress was part of the “runway” show. And watching the show is Catherine Deneuve, Grace Jones, and Dita Von Teese.

Madonna tableau

Le Grand Palais. Beautiful!!

Can you believe these corsets?! Insane!

I have to admit that Jean Paul Gaultier had been kind of off my radar for awhile. But seeing this exhibit reminded me just how much fun he is. He is so joyful!!!

For a much more articulate description of the exhibit, you can go here.

See you next week!