I thought I’d throw in a bit of Welsh for you. It keeps me on my toes. I’m on them this minute, ouch.

As you know fair reader the New York Times is a pretty big deal. It’s won 108 Pulitzer Prizes. I don’t think any other publication has done so, or has even come close.  The paper’s motto, printed in the upper left-hand corner is “All the News That’s Fit to Print.” so, I took notice when it featured scarves; silky, beautiful, printed scarves in their Fashion and Style pages. Oh, what a delight!

http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2012/05/29/fashion/29iht-fprint29-slide.html

Queen Elizabeth has always had a fondness for headscarves, especially printed silk squares like the one she wears here, at the 2011 Royal Windsor Horse Show.

Credit: Adrian Dennis/Agence-France Presse

Recently designers have been showcasing scarf prints. At Comme des Garçons, the designer Rei Kawakubo created dresses made entirely of scarves for the autumn/winter 2011 collection, shown in Paris.

Credit: Chris Moore/Karl Prouse

And the spring/summer 2012 catwalk had even more: D&G, by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana,spring/summer 2012, in Milan.

Credit: Chris Moore/Karl Prouse

Etro, by Veronica Etro, spring/summer 2012, in Milan.

Credit: Chris Moore/Karl Prouse

Thakoon, by Thakoon Panichgul, spring/summer 2012, in New York.

Credit: Chris Moore/Karl Prouse

Mary Katrantzou, spring/summer 2012, in London.

Credit: Chris Moore/Karl Prouse

Emilio Pucci, by Peter Dundas, spring/summer 2012, in Milan.

Credit: Chris Moore/Karl Prouse

We’ve spotted a fair amount of skin making its way down the Spring 2012 runways — and designers are zeroing in on one not-so-subtle way to flaunt your figure. From Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Missoni, and more, crop tops are taking over the catwalk. The cropped, bustier-style tops are being paired with longer flowing skirts, à la Missoni, tea-length ladylike skirts, like we saw at Dolce & Gabbana, and slick pencil skirts from Versace. This isn’t a look well-suited for wallflowers, but if you’re in the market for a sexier style, this might be your thing.

If your not comfortable with the cropped, bustier-style tops, but would still like to show off those abs you’ve been working hard to achieve. Check out Rebecca Minkoff available at Saks, Maiyet available at Barneys, or Preen available at Ave 32.

Rebecca Minkoff

Rebecca Minkoff’s playful and subtly edgy designs can be spotted on girls everywhere from downtown to uptown, in the US and abroad. Born in San Diego, CA, Rebecca grew up designing and sewing clothing. Her passion for fashion and design prompted her to move New York after high school graduation and pursue a career as a designer. Rebecca launched a five-piece apparel line in 2001. Her first taste at success came when an “I love New York” tee Rebecca designed made it onto Jay Leno and into US Weekly. Requests for the patriotic T flooded in. Rebecca spent the next few years sewing I Love New York shirts on the floor of her New York apartment. In 2005, Rebecca took a stab at handbags, and the Morning After Bag was born. The now iconic, classic Rebecca Minkoff bag was an instant success.

M A I Y E T is inspired by the Ancient Egyptian concept of truth and harmony. The founders have over 20 years working in Human Rights. Read more about how Maiyet was born here.

Preen

Preen is Justin Thornton and Thea Bregazzi. Preen launched in 1996, selling clothes inspired by iconic Britishisms like Victoriana and punk rock. One year later, they had a shop on Portobello Road, and in the years since, the London-based label has earned strong editorial coverage for its clean, fluid lines and slouchy-futuristic elegance. A Fashion Week decampment from London to New York for spring 2007 solidified their international status, and they are now sold in more than 25 countries. As Cathy Horyn noted in New York Magazine, February 2008, “their clothes get more sophisticated without losing their cool.” In Copenhagen in 2008, the duo—who in addition to their design collaboration are also a couple—debuted Preen Line, a younger offshoot that melds the classic Preen look with a little rock and roll.

The Roaring ’20s are back in fashion — on the runways and on-screen.

It started in September at the release of the spring 2012 fashion shows, with Ralph Lauren’s “Great Gatsby” gowns, Tory Burch’s sportswear inspired by Coco Chanel and 1920s Deauville, and Frida Giannini’s Art Deco black-and-gold fringed flapper dresses at Gucci.

Ralph Lauren

Gucci

But the trend has already hit Hollywood, with the films “Hugo” and “The Artist,” both of which are set in the late 1920s to early 1930s. “The Artist” was Sunday night’s big winner at the Golden Globes, taking home three prizes, including one for best comedy.

The Artist – Director Michel Hazanavicius

Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin wonders if the arrival of talking pictures will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller, a young dancer set for a big break.

Hugo – Director Martin Scorsese

Set in 1930s Paris, an orphan who lives in the walls of a train station is wrapped up in a mystery involving his late father and an automaton.

The trend is also apparent in television with the likes of “Downton Abbey” and “Boardwalk Empire” both of which were nominated for Golden Globes.

“Downton Abbey” became a huge success in Britain and among it’s American cousins, yesterday winning Best Mini Series at the Golden Globes. It’s series is set in the fictional Downton Abbey, the Yorkshire country house of the Earl and Countess of Grantham, and follows the lives of the aristocratic Crawley family and their servants in the reign of King George V. The series begins with news of the sinking of the Titanic, thru to the 1920′s when women get the vote.

Downton Abbey

“Boardwalk Empire” an American television series from the cable network HBO, is set in Atlantic City, New Jersey, during the Prohibition era.

When it comes to retro fashion, the 1920s look is simple and sexy and romantic at the same time. It’s very easy to wear. And because the shapes are so simple, they are a blank slate for embellishment. It covers all the bases one wants for a successful fashion moment.

Boardwalk Empire

In no particular order…

The Kills – Alison Mosshart, her stage name VV (the name”VV” alone evokes feistiness and attitude. I like it!)

Python Jacket ♣ TopShop,  Leather Trousers ♣ All Saints,  Vintage Silk Top ♣ Lucy Frend

The Kills played; Coachella, Lollapaloza, and SXSW in 2011 promoting their forth album Blood Pressures

The Kills “No Wow” – Coachella 2011

Little Dragon’s – Yukimi Nagano (singer)

Little Dragon are a Swedish electronic band, formed in Gothenburg in 1996. Along with Yukimi Nagano and her close high school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Fredrik Källgren Wallin (bass) and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards). I just love their sound and have seen them live a few times. They sound best in intimate venues.

Silk Top ♥ Lucy Frend, Trousers ♥ TopShop

Little Dragon “Little Man” – SXSW 2011

Lykke Li - Swedish singer-songwriter. Her music often blends elements of pop, indie rock and electronic. She’s an amazing live performance artist I’ve seen her perform twice in New York.

Leather Jacket ♠ Angel of Pleasure, Silk Top ♠ Lucy Frend, Jeans ♠  TopShop, Boots ♠ Michael Kors

Lykke Li “Little Bit” – Live on Jools Holland – 2008

Annie Erin Clark – singer-songwriter who performs as St. Vincent. I’ve been lucky enough to see at my favorite venue the Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Her debut album, Marry Me (2007) was released to critical acclaim, and was followed by the more commercially-successful Actor (2009). Her third album, Strange Mercy, was released on September 13, 2011.

Clark’s music has been noted for its wide array of instruments and arrangements, as well as its polysemous lyrics, which have been described as teetering between “happiness and madness”.

Vintage Silk Top ♦ Lucy Frend, Pencil Skirt ♦ Valentino, Shoes ♦ Unknown

St. Vincent “Surgeon”  4AD Session – 2011

Rayon

Lets start with Rayon because it was the first manufactured fabric. In fact, it used to be known as artificial silk before the term was changed in the early 1920s. It’s unique in that it is neither a truly synthetic fiber nor truly a natural fiber. The process to manufacture rayon begins with the plants that make it possible, such as wood.

The wood fibers used in the makeup of rayon come from one of three major species of trees. Pine, Spruce and Hemlock are the most popular choices, but these are not the only ones that can be used. However, the ease of cultivation of these trees, along with their abundance, make them some of the most economical to use.

The manufactured part comes into play when the wood pulp is ground up and treated with sodium hydroxide. This is then dried over a period of several days. The resulting product is then mixed with liquid carbon disulfide. This becomes a very thick liquid kinda like honey.

Did you know?

Rayon is used to house the wick in a Zippo Lighter.

Silk

Silk is known as the Queen of fabrics. As you know silk comes from the cocoon of the silk worm. It requires a great deal of handling and processing, which makes it one of the most expensive fibers.

The specific species of silk worm used used is called Bombyx mori. It is usually cultivated and raised under a controlled environment and diet. The life cycle of a silk worm goes through four stages. The egg, the silk worm, the pupa and the moth. The silk worm feeds on mulberry leaves forms a covering around it by secreting a protein like substance through its head. This stage is called cocoon, the desirable stage for the silk producers.

The cocoons are sorted according to the color, size, shape and texture as these affect the final quality of the silk. Cocoons may range from white and yellow to grayish. After the cocoon has been sorted, they are put through a series of hot and cold immersions, as the sericin must be softened to permit the unwinding of the filament as one continuous thread.

Did you know?

It takes about 5000 silkworms to make a pure silk kimono.

Polyester

Producing this fabric reads like a serious scientific experiment. It makes you wonder when invented in Britain in the 1940s if these scientists had a few mishaps before they got it right.

Polyester is derived from coal, air, water, and petroleum. Who knew?

Polyester fibers are formed from a chemical reaction between an acid and alcohol. In this reaction, two or more molecules combine to make a large molecule whose structure repeats throughout its length. Polyester fibers can form very long molecules that are very stable and strong. This is the same material used in making plastic.

Polyester is made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the same material that is used to make plastic drink bottles.

Did you know?

Some plastic bottles are recycled by being reheated and turned into polyester fibers, which, in addition to being an efficient use, also helps keep polymers out of landfills.

Cotton

Cotton is typically planted in spring, by machines, which can plant 12 rows of cotton seeds at a time. Under good conditions, the plants generally are visible above the ground within a week. The seedlings mature for about a month and a half, and then begin to flower. Flowering is very brief, and in just a few days after the flower appears, it is gone, and in its place remains the part of the plant that ripens into a pod called a boll. Over two to three months, the boll matures and the cotton fibers in it grow to their full length.

After harvesting, raw cotton goes through a cleaning and refining process before it is spun into thread and woven into cotton fabric on looms. While synthetic fibers have seen increased use in recent years, cotton fabric alone still accounts for at least half of all clothing textiles in the world.

Did you know?

Read more by vising these site sites:

wikipedia.com

madehow.com

wisegeek.com

ehow.com

silkpaintinggallery.com

sophisticatededge.com

A lot of people ask me where do I find the silk scarves I use to make my tops. I’m lucky to live in New York, as there are an abundance of vintage, consignment and antique shops. My favorite by far are the Housing Works, peppered throughout New York. Housing Works engages in relentless advocacy in pursuit of ending the dual crises of AIDS and homelessness. They take peoples items they no longer use or want, and then sell them on with the proceeds going directly to help the community. It’s a win win situation. I’ve found a lot of treasures in Housing Works. I have a couple of locations I visit regularly, as they receive new items daily. I’ve had friends outfit their apartment with furniture from Housing Works. I was lucky enough to find a Christian Dior place setting here once too.

When I’m not out-and-about in the city ebay is another convenient source for me to find vintage scarves. I have my favorite sellers on ebay and have developed great relationships with them over the years. TERRIART has a wide variety of scarves for sale. It’s always reassuring to buy from a trustworthy seller, one who is concerned with customer satisfaction. Patricia Santana 123 is another trustworthy seller. She sells a variety of products and once in awhile has some lovely scarves. I once purchased a scarf that contained a few stains and holes that were not mentioned in items description. She was very applogetic and refunded my money without any hesitation. Sellers/buyers on ebay take very seriously their customer rating. I encourage everyone to leave feedback on their experience with sellers/buyers. It really helps the rest of us know who is trustworthy and who to avoid doing business with.

When shopping for vintage scarves it’s essential that they have no holes or stains. Over the years the signs of wear on silk can be very noticeable. You don’t know how many gorgeous scarves I’ve come across only to find that they have irremovable stains, or the ink has bleed from improper cleaning. This is actually my biggest challenge finding almost perfect scarves. No one would buy my tops if they contained stains. I’m currently working out how to use the smaller remnant pieces… watch this space.

I use the notes app on my iPhone to write stuff down that pisses me off. I find it therapeutic. I write it down, I get over it and move on. And vice versa I write things down that I enjoy, however simple.

My first entry for something I disliked:

I take a seat at the bar, and feel for the peg to put my bag and/or coat on. I’m feeling, I’m feeling around, and then bend down to look, surely it’s here somewhere. NOPE. No bloody hook. I find it a minor annoyance when I can’t place my belongings off a stinking floor.

I find some annoyance with Lip-Gloss packaging. If it’s in a tube containing a lip-brush it’s a guarantee that ten to twenty percent of the product will be unused. Those little lip brushes are useless, leaving the sides, and the bottom of the tube impossible to get at. Can’t manufactures figure this one out.

My first entry for something I liked:

I recently bought this Givenchy lipstick. I think its packaging is beautiful, classy, and simple. It would make a lovely present for anyone (most likely a woman). It’s a little piece of inexpensive luxury.

]]> http://www.lucyfrend.com/2011/likedislike-no-1-bar-hooks-lipstick-givenchy/feed/ 0 http://www.lucyfrend.com/2011/serger-sewing-machine/ http://www.lucyfrend.com/2011/serger-sewing-machine/#comments Sun, 30 Oct 2011 01:18:22 +0000 admin http://www.lucyfrend.com/?p=206 I started sewing a couple years ago, so I’m still quite new to it all. I improvised doing neat-ish seam edges with a zigzag stitch until I learned about the Serger. I did my research and wanted something affordable, you can spend a lot of moola on one of these puppies. The Brother Lock 1034D by far had the best reviews. It comes with a very handy video, and reading materials. These both helped enormously in figuring out the right tension to use with various fabrics. It’s all about the right tension. – Sorta like life. Too much tension is overwhelming and too little is boring. Don’t you think?

P.S The Brother Lock 1034D is no good for thick fabric like leather and such. Bummer, I know…especially since winter is upon us.

I’m a lover of vintage silk scarves. I think they are so beautiful, and you can find some intricate designs. Designs that a rarely seen on clothing.  Several years ago I became passionate about hunting for the most exquisite pieces. I became compelled to find another way of wearing them rather than just tied around the neck, head, waist or handbag.

So, I got creative, and began to match and rework their magic into tops (that can still be wound around the neck, head, waist or handbag). Soon I began wearing them around town (New York), I got so many compliments and requests from friends and strangers alike that I began to create more! Now I’m in business…well a business would imply that I’m actually making money….lets just say I’m working on it.

I’m so thankful to my friends for modeling;

(left to right) Aisha Cloud, Iwona Tomica, Ildiko Toth, and Milana Naumenko.

Check out Milanas tumblr site. There are some great images of various artist and the Occupy Wall Street protest.

My make-up artist is Patrick Jones Roth. He actually has his own line of make-up. Always a pleasure to work with. No hassle, easy going, and always on time. Just the way I like to work.

Big thank-you and bear hug to Spencer Gordon. A fantastic photographer. What a gem to work with. Straight up, playful, and extremely knowledgeable. Need a photographer…hire him.