SOCIAL MEDIA

Wednesday, June 6, 2018

The White Pepper Clothing

I have been going nuts about this label I recently found - The White Pepper . Perhaps it is the dolly influence in my life or the fact that I have finally embraced that I AM AN ARTIST - Shouty caps for personal impact - lest I forget. In any case these clothes are comfortable, well priced, made of natural fabrics (mostly) and are wear anywhere items. I mean they're not for sexy, sexy time, but they are super cute. I love a style/fashion house with a sense of friggin' humor. We all tend to take ourselves WAY too seriously in this world.

Check it out!

This one is my favorite of the examples I've posted here. Oh a pressed white anything makes me go nutty - but this is LEATHER!!!! MIND BLOWN! And that high/low hem tease - oh so great! And that contrasting lace? OY VEY! It is both little girlish and avantgarde. I need it!




I've been enjoying looking for other little places that I can find high quality, fashionable clothing at a reasonable price. Here are few: Olive and Pepper, the beloved Lulu's and how about this one called Albumip (probably a Chinese company; great prices and interesting things) follow the links to see what I've found.



Monday, November 20, 2017

Diversions #2 - How to Get Dressed

I'd say I am what some might a call a "slave to fashion," or perhaps a "fashion maven," or a "clothes horse." whatever the nomenclature is, I'd say it's true. I, like my mother and grandmother and sister, truly love fashion. I love textiles, the culture of clothing and dressing, the fashion world glossy magazines and shopping. But I also love history. In fact, I have curated an art show about fashion and published an academic paper in a university art magazine about the fashion of Elsa Schiaparelli and the costumes of Walter Schnakenberg.

Today we will look over something like this:

Mrs. Cadoux at The Tate
A friend of mine shared this with me becasue she knows my great love of clothing and fashion history. She's pretty thoughtful.

In the 18th Century (Britain specifically - for our purposes), wealthy women had servants to dress them. They needed lots of help getting dressed becasue the chore was sheer drudgery. See the video below which delineates all of the extraordinary details and the great undertaking that getting dressed was. This was the time of the Rococo art movement in Europe so opulence was a mark of high society and the fashion reflects that as well as the art.

This is from The Lady Lever Art Gallery 
   

But you can read more here at the Encyclopedia of Fashion.
And here at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
And here, too, at Jane Austen's World.
Thursday, September 25, 2014

Weddings Here at P & P

I have a wedding blog that I used to be very active on. I designed folks weddings and thus had a little side business going. I even made shoes for some of my brides (including myself) hence the name La Bottine Couture ("Bottine" means a lady's boot in French). Somewhere along the line I grew disenchanted with the whole thing and sort of threw my chips in. The thing is, though, I still love the pretty of a wedding. The love involved and the care taken in creating the most magical party of any couple's lives still get's me going. I love the dresses, the flowers and the clever details. I have decided, since I have let La Bottine Couture fall by the wayside, I should still employ my loves of weddings, on occasion, right here on Poppies & Paperbacks.

As you might've seen from an earlier post, I love dresses. As I was growing up, my mother used to exclaim, "You are all girl!" I'm pretty sure she meant I was girly and high maintenance. I don't think I'm high maintanance. I just like frills, and lace and ruffles and ribbons and bows and taffetta and organza and....

But I can roll around in the mud with the best of 'em too.

Nevertheless here you go. More fancy dresses of the Bridal variety.

Does anyone know the maker and style number for the image above?
Source


Haley Paige Style 6201
Source
These are called "Wendi" and I made them.

La Bottine Couture
Thursday, September 18, 2014

Anthropologie Presents




I have a really nice friend named Carrie who gifted me this top. It's gorgeous with star bursts of color on it as you can see. It's something I never would've bought for myself and what a shame because I would've missed out on this beautiful piece. Its comfortable and easy to wear with a skirt or jeans. It's from Anthropologie though, so you know it probably wasn't affordable. That is why I call it a "piece."
I have recently submitted this exact photo to be used as an example of a normal, everyday person wearing their clothes. Cross your fingers it gets published on the site. That'd be some pretty cool exposure for P & P! Guys, go shopping!
Saturday, August 30, 2014

Beautiful Gowns

I love to scour the internet for designers I've never heard of. Before today, I had never heard of Ziad Nakad. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside knowing there are folks out there designing things for other folks who walk red carpets and go to formal galas and so on. I fantasize about what it would be like to be one of these fancy folks. Alas, this sort of lifestyle is simply a fantasy. Nevertheless, a girl can dream! Check these out...see makes you want  to go to fancy fete's too, huh?! Do you have a soiree that you need to be uber dressed for in the near future? Go see these!

photos credited








Monday, March 10, 2014

Curly Girl

I learned lots of things by reading the original book "Curly Girl" and for most of my life I had no idea how to deal with this mop. I often still have difficulty and sometimes look like a fraggle or Animal the Muppet.



 I have consulted The Curly Girl Method and only of late feel confident about my curls. Thank goodness for Lorraine Massey!

So I invented this half up/half down do that's fast, easy and pretty for the curly girl! Especially on a rainy day like today! 

Instructions:
Wash hair as usual; product (I love Deva Curl Firl Hold Gel) and diffusion (without touching) is essential.
Leaving several tendril around your face, loosely gather your hair at the nape of your neck.
Pin, being sure to hide the bobbies as well as possible but using as many as you feel comfortable with to make your hair stay.
And Voila! Ready for your day.




Tuesday, September 17, 2013

60 is the New Sexy

On New Beauty, they talk about 60 being the new sexy. It's a great post and couldn't be truer. In this day and age, women of all shapes and sizes are represented but true beauty doesn't always come at any age. I myself am an undisclosed age though younger than 60. At 60 a woman has raised her children, contended with difficult men, divorced the difficult man, had a career and likely seen things we younger counter parts haven't. At the end of summer, it seems apropos to post about women in the richness of the new prime.

Below is a photo of Helen Mirren. She is a true beauty at 60. I recently met a lady at Magpie (while getting their sumptuous ice cream sandwich). She was sitting at the counter and I simply had to comment. Her hair was a natural silver, her eyes clear as a sunny day and her skin, flawless. She was "Sexy at 60!" Meet Joy! Her spirit was as youthful as anyone my age - younger even and her warmth unmatched. She was not arrogant or standoffish. She whole heartedly encumbered the elegance, beauty and charm of not only a woman of a certain maturity but of a woman who was delightedly proud and happy to be who she is. I sort of envied her ease, her "joie de vivre," if you will.

I've included the piccie of Ms. Mirren because as a woman of the New Sexy, I hold her in high regard for her accomplishments in her craft and her elegance. I do not, however, know her. I was lucky enough to spend a short stint with Joy. She was, simply put, beautiful!

Source




Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Something New!

I want to start a cosmetics company. I want to call it Moxie Make-Up and Cosmetics. I want to use TOMS one for one business model and give make-up and cosmetics to under served, at risk, low income, inner city ladies, beginning here in the U.S. then branching out to other countries and communities. Beauty should not be unattainable. Alas, where to begin? Where to get the capital? How?

I have a student named Renee. She recently went to the dermatologist for some skin irritations. He said she needed to stop wearing perfume or using lotion with scents and so on. As a teenager, she is pretty horrified at he thought of walking through life without the scents associated with being a girl. I was too when my doctor told me the same thing. So as a little present I made her Rockin' Renee. An Eau de Parfum made strictly of all natural products.

I hope you like it, love!


Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Street Style - Me Again!

Ok, so I don't ordinarily like it when bloggers post themselves in their own fashions. It is somehow narcissistic and self centered. But since I haven't posted in a while and I got a new top that begs a position on Poppies, I had to share. Do I think I'm some kind of fashion maven? Well, in an effort to exude humility I'll say no. But I can put myself together alright. See?

Top: Forever 21 (Only $9.99!) Jeans: Walmart (Only $11.99) Boots:  Naughty  Monkey ($99.00)

This jacket is one of my all time favorite wardrobe picks. My friend Charlene found it at Target. It was originally $99.00 and I left it. It was simply to dear for me to justify a purchase like this from Target. When I went back 3 days later, It was on clearance for $38.00! Needless to say, It's mine! 

I've taked about Cadi in posts past. I got these in Gumusluk , Turkey at the only Cadi store in the world. Turquoise and Gold with tiny seed pearls and onyx beads. I like them, but wish they weren't so heavy.


Saturday, December 15, 2012

For The Book Club - A Shopping Guide

Sometimes I visit The Folio Society just to eat my heart out! They have cloth and leather bound classics as well as modern tales with whimsical, colorful illustrations.

1.
Kate Baylay illustrated this. Her talent is priceless.


2.
I think these guys are super cute without lacking sophitication. The Literary Gift Company hails from the UK but ship all over the world! They have great gifty things like this candle, too.

 
"There was no moon, and everything beneath lay in misty darkness: not a light gleamed from any house, far or near all had been extinguished long ago: and those at Wuthering Heights were never visible—still she asserted she caught their shining.
'Look!' she cried eagerly, 'that's my room with the candle in it, and the trees swaying before it [...]" --- Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights

3.

And then there is this. It's a scent called "In the Library." 

"In the Library is a warm blend of English Novel, Russian and Moroccan Leather Bindings, Worn Cloth and a hint of wood polish."

The scent is made by Christopher Brosius from Brooklyn New York whose story is more than interesting. I recommend you visit CB I Hate Perfume just to peruse his cleverness.

4. 

And finally, The Jane Austen umbrella from Literary Luminaries.





Saturday, December 8, 2012

Street Style - Me Again!

I just can't stop! I've lost 105 pounds. It's a struggle everyday and I've rewarded myself with some new clothes.

The jacket is Anthropologie from about 6 years ago. The top Banana Republic, thrifted! The shoes, thrifted, the denim, Target, The scarf JC Penney $12.99. The Jewelry by Amy Peters Studio, "Thank Your Lucky Stars!" And the cuff, Uko.










Thursday, November 8, 2012

Street Style - It's me!

I usually pick someone off the street for these posts, hence "Street Style." Plus, I hate visiting fashion blogs where Annabelle X blogs about herself and her awesome clothes. It appears vain and boastful and narcissistic.

But for this one, I'm going to be Annabelle X.  I really liked what I was wearing. Actually I felt like a totally cool hipster chick. The kind I always look at and think,  "Man, I wish I was that cool." Seriously, yesterday, I might have been that cool chick to someone. You know the ones too. The girl who has Little Majorette and Empire of the Sun and Alex Winston, supplemented with The Kills on her play list. The one who exercises regularly at the hip yoga studio that other super hip folks go to. The one that says she'd love to be vegan but can't give up bacon. The one that is craftier than any crafter, craftier even than Martha Stewart's whole staff. You know the one!
I felt that cool; that hip.

I wore a dress from Macy's that's really too big for me. When you look at the pictures you'll probably be like me and say, "Shorter, perhaps." The tights are Italian no name tights with a really cool motif on them. I got them at Marshall's for a bargain but I hope they'll at least last through winter. They're epic. The sweater is a basic black with 3/4 sleeves from Ann Taylor Loft. And the earrings...OH THE EARRINGS. They were my favorite part of the outfit. They were gifted from Granny. And the booties. I wish I had taken a better picture of the booties. It's hard to capture the very turn of the century look of them. They are real "Anne of Green Gables." They're from Anthropologie about 4 years ago. I love them.

Anyhoo. Check it out. Let me know what you think!









Wednesday, September 19, 2012

A Giveaway - Jewelry From Cadi

I think I may have mentioned that Cadi in Turkish means witch. There is absolutely nothing but magic here at this tiny store in Myndos. The name is apt simply because it is indeed bewitching.

*Scroll down beyond the photos here and enter to win the gold bunny necklace with matching rose quartz earrings. The stipulation is that I must get 20 new faces in the box to the left. But, I would take new Pinterest followers and new Twitter followers too!















I collected this really special bunny necklace in gold on a pink silk cord and matched it to a pair of earrings adorned with golden flowers, cut rose quartz, turquoise crystals and black tourmalineThe earrings hand from french wires.

All you have to do to enter the giveaway is make sure your picture appears in the box to the left or right And leave a comment here (with a usable email address - how else will I notify you when you win?). 


a Rafflecopter giveaway