Zac Posen Dress on Polyvore

I should really be working or writing or something, but I saw this Zac Posen dress on Polyvore and just had to create a set.

Best. Pastime. Ever.

Venetian Carnivale by AmandaBlogandKiss

Speaking of Zac Posen, I was at a corsetry course at the London College of Fashion a few years ago (maybe 2003?) and I saw on the wall that Zac Posen would be speaking that night and that it was free for all LCF students.

I wasn't exactly an LCF student per se, but I was taking a night course there, and Zac Posen is one of my absolute favorite designers, so I bunked out of the class and headed down to hear him speak.

He was charming and lovely and inspiring. And his number one tip to make it in the fashion industry, believe it or not, was:

'Be nice. People like it when you are nice to them.'

What a sweetheart.

The 80's called.......

...and they want their prom dress back.

Seen in a store window on the Dam (in other words, NOT vintage, as you would expect).

So wrong, yet feels so right?

Sisz fashion show at Hotel V

This is a little late in posting because I had to wait for the photos to be sent, but in the beginning of March there was a collaboration evening at Hotel V hosted by Abudanz which featured a DJ, a painting exhibition, and a fashion show of the current line from Sisz.

Sisz is a store on the Ferdinand Bolstraat that carries a few gorgeous brands of women's wear found in few- if any- other places in the Netherlands, such as Baum und Pferdgarten (Danish), Gestuz, Potz' Braulein (Danish) and the extremely lovely Phatoak line (Dutch).

Abudanz is an organization which hosts events that bring together creative minds and artists from different genres in order to network and exchange ideas. The event was a definite success!

I was lucky enough to attend with a few friends, and wanted to share the photos from the fashion show. These photos were all taken around Hotel V before the show started.

And these next two were my favorite pieces of the night. I want them, covet them, NEED them:

Ready for Summer

Is anyone else ready for Summer already? I can skip Spring and jump straight into the summer months from here.

I'm thinking late afternoons on terraces in the sunshine (wearing SPF 14 and sunglasses of course).

Afternoons in the park lying on the grass reading a book.

And riding my bike through town to the library to check out more books.

Or to the Albert Cuyp market to get some fruit and veg to eat at the picnic in the park.

Whenever you're ready, summer. I'm here, and I'm waiting. Patiently.

Worn Relics: The Wedding Dress

Just before the January '09 Amsterdam Fashion Week, I sent away for a WORN_RELICS clothes tag, where it sat sadly on my desk unused until today.

For those that don't know, the concept behind WORN_RELICS is that every beloved piece of clothing has a story and a history behind it. On their website, they attempt to catalogue all of your stories about your most treasured fashion relics on one easy to reference (and update) website.

During January's Fashion Week they also hosted a Swap where you could donate your relic and swap it for another person's treasure- every item tagged with the actual story behind it, written by the previous owner. I unfortunately missed that event, but there is another coming up soon which I will be going to.

In the meantime, I logged on today and created the profile for my very own WORN_RELIC: my wedding dress.

On their site, you can flip through other relics, with other stories: those of fathers who made skirts for their daughters, of friends who borrowed a shirt only to fall in love with it and never give it back, or a simple jacket mixup from a night out in a club with a happy ending.

The WORN_RELICS concept is unique as far as I know, and it's a nice way to spend a few hours browsing online- almost as good as going vintage clothes shopping, but also in a way better- because with each piece you hear it's tale- the when's, where's and how's of each shoe, bag, or pair of jeans.

Polyvore, Gimme More!

Have you see the site Polyvore?

No?!

Then get your little tush right over there pronto, missy, because it is easily one of the most inspiring collection of fashion vignettes to waste your time on! Forget facebook- forget myspace- go! Now!

Some of the more recent ones that have made me stop and drool:

_ - by MyChanel on Polyvore.com

The gray and light blue pairing really pulls me here!

TO mangoweb - by ♡•Simply Moi•♡ new contest on Polyvore.com

Stunning. Just....stunning. This oozes love, sex, and romance, all bundled up in one hot, hot ensemble.

Secret Garden! - by ♥✿PaintHead on Polyvore.com

Ah, Spring....it will be here soon so I hear, and this would be the perfect outfit to usher in the better weather!

For: ღYasmineღ{Team Jacob/Taylor} - by Natalcia♥ on Polyvore.com

Although I think this outfit is a little heavy on that one blue, WHAT A BLUE IT IS. I think I would kill my neighbor for that dress. Don't tell him that, though...

And finally, Yellow. How I love thee.

Dancing in the Rain - by simplyirresistible on Polyvore.com

Isn't color just amazing?

Oh, and I credit Gala Darling completely for showing me the light and blogging about Polyvore recently! Thanks so much!

When I first stumbled upon Gala Darling's site, it was like I was looking at a blog ABOUT me! It was insane the parallels! Vegan? Check. Interested in Raw? Check. Loves motivational things? Check. Virgo? Check. We had even read the same book recently. (That book, by the way, that changed many things for me and has in a way altered my route in life towards a more creative direction. I highly recommend it.) The similarities were spooky.

I was reading through her blog going 'Whoooooa.' and when my husband asked what was up, I turned and said 'This girl....she's ME!'

And now I just checked her blog again and she posted about Matt & Nat- one of the best vegan bag lines ever! And if you know me, you know that I:
a) don't wear leather or suede
b) have an insane bag addiction
c) LOOOOOOOOVE matt & nat!

I'm telling you, this girl is on it. Go read her blog, bookmark it, and love it to death!

I was a little apprehensive at first about blogging about Gala Darling, because then it would seem like everything I post was copying her (and indeed, my very first post is about something that she already blogged about, meeeh), but you know what? I'm not going to sweat it. Our styles are different enough (she's a bit edgier in a Hello-Kitty-meets-a-bucket-of-neon-pink-paint-and-goes-punkish-goth kind of way while I am attracted to more classically beautiful things like pastel shades, vintage cameo pins and fallen leaves) that I think this fashion blog will take off in a different direction, and besides- she's already so well known in the blogosphere that my wee little blog is nothing to be scared of!

I'll occasionally also post about other bloggesses that inspire me too- both in fashion and other blogs- because there are so many out there! Hurray for the internets, allowing beautiful souls a chance to speak up!