Color + Fabric

There seems to be a leading force which favors design with color blocks in geometrical shapes over Victorian style print, or any other pattern type prints. Like Emilio Pucci's Fall 07 design (bottom 1st), and Marni's classic style (bottom 2nd, Miss Castiglioni looking absolutely adorable) neutral color blocks (left). From the "Oracle" of the fashion industry, Lady Miucia said that "The only thing I could think of was to work on color and materials", giving the idea that fabric and color are the two main elements that defines what's "current". Her Fall 07 line (bottom 3rd and 4th) mixed in the synthetic material, bright with neutral color and some gradient effects. Jonathan Saunder, a london designer who also did quite a similar interpretation with colors and gradient (last two), but I prefer the more subtle and retrained version from Prada.

LibraStar's Journal: Preparations

Sickness after sickness, it has been draining my energy to blog!
Just want to update on a couple things that I have been doing in my "down time":

1. Attended my first intermediate sewing class! We got our own custom measured skirt pattern which we will be using to make various style skirts (flare, A-line, pencil, bubble, pleats...you name it!) and first we are using Muslin to make the sample pattern. (Muslin is plain-woven cotton fabric that uses to make a trial version of the garment)

2. Fabric shopping craze!! yea well...now I know how people say they use all their lunch money to buy fabric - i think this week i have been using my lunch and dinner money to get fabric! (top pics: the top three I am thinking of making printed canvas bag with brown vinyl trimming; the lower three are some printed cotton stretch fabric, I am thinking of making some asymmetrical dresses using these! see the tibi one)

3. Got lots of beautiful gem stones from M&J trimming! I have been in love with the big gem (since Marni & Marc's inspiration) so now i will be playing with these on my bag designs and clothings!

4. Sew another makeup bag! This is a gift for the person who kindly helped me in the application process! :) There are still more customization to this, which I will be adding later.

5. Realized that I have been needing a lot of trimmings, zippers, buttons, eye & hooks for my sewing projects. It is time to get some kind of organizer for these things! Really love Bit & Bobbins big drawer with those little compartments...

I am so glad that spring is here! We all need to get out of the cold weather soon! Have a sweet weekend!

LibraStar's Journal: Vintage Finds

It was one crazy cold winter day when I decided that it might be a good exercise to go to the chelsea flea market to snick and pick thru junk/treasures. Well, I got there and I thought I must be out of my mind to have thought of this activity (felt awfully sorry for my sweet bf).

It wasn't alot of people around, but I was still surprised that there were some seller with truck full of old stuff scattered all over big tables or on the floor. My fingers were numb by the metals of the jeweleries as I scrutinize them carefully, then for $3 a piece I quickly picked out 2 colorful gold metal necklaces, and one multi-color jewel brooches. The seller then gave me a $1 discount...awesome.

After about 20 mins at the flea market we decided to find a place indoor to save our life. We then went to the vintage market place just opposite of the flea market, which is a 3 stories vintage markets full of vintage jewelery/accessories shops, funiture shops, and some clothings. It was definitely alot of fun but at the same time these places are more organized, they usually have a carefully curated collections and prices are much much higher (I fell in love with a set of "hugh red gem" collection- ear rings, bracelet, necklace and a brooch at $800+). I am currently into big gem stones accessories which was very much inspired by Marni and Marc Jacobs accessory collection. Then I found this really great yellow belt with big clear gem in the front for $25, it was probably one of the cheaper thing in the store which I could afford, this nice old lady who owns the store was probably a socialite or debutante. She has such a great collection of accessories, some of them are custom made for her (such as the belt that I have purchased), and alot of them from European designers which are all very daring and unique. As she was packing up the yellow belt for me using this darling turquoise box with a bow she whispers, "you know, I see this as art." I immediately gained great respect for this old lady and my little cute belt because she put such care and passion into every single of the items she owns.

Despite the dreadful weather, this was all in all a great lesson for me, because this time I found new level of vintage shopping experience. I am definitely going to explore more next time around the area. stay tuned! :)