Obsessed with Embellishment

My twin daughters are on the edge of Teenhood, so bedroom redesigns are a top priority.  This is an easy solution:  they both picked out some fun fabric at Ikea, and I used it to make curtains for their closets.  The previous owner of our house installed folding closet doors with mirror fronts and a custom closet system.  The closet system is a keeper, but the mirror doors were too heavy and eventually fell apart, so we removed them.  The drapes are a better solution than new doors because the drapes enable access to the entire closet.

 The fabric was just split down the middle, the inner cut edges serged and turned under about 1/4 inch to keep preserve flower shape as much as possible (the fabric was the perfect width for the opening, and I didn’t want to buy double yardage just to add the traditional 1 inch double folded drapery side seam.)  The selvages were just turned under at the sides and the top & bottom hemmed.  A few washers were sewn into fabric pockets at the corners for extra weight at the bottom.  I did calculate a little extra yardage so a full flower could be centered.

The hardware is just a taut wire and simple clips.  If you don’t live near Ikea,  similiar hardware is available from Pottery Barn and  Smith+Noble.  Ikea has wonderful fabrics, but really you could use just about any home dec fabric (make sure it’s not too heavy if you use clip-on rings.)  You could even use a flat bed sheet (which may already be the perfect size and you won’t need to hem it!)

 Onto the the next one!

In the summer of 2006 we took a family vacation to Iceland.  This was the girls first trip outside of the US, and we stayed with friend in Reyjavik.  It’s an amazingly beautiful place, and just found some photos.

This photo was taken about 9:oopm; and it’s the view from our bedroom window at a farm that belongs to our hosts:

Enjoy!

Today was a a beautfiul fall day in Boston!  Clear, crisp weather, blue skies, the temps were in the high 60’s - by far this is my favorite time of year because I can wear my favorite clothes.  Today it was time to break out one of my favorite wool skirts and team it up with a nice turtleneck, kicky boots, a demin jacket, nice leather gloves and I’m all set for work.

As I got off the train at South Station I noticed that most people appeared to agree with me today, because everyone seemed to be wearing their new fall clothes, and for once I was surrounded by good  fashion.  Life was good.   I strode confidently through South Station, marched downstairs to the subway, and nothing could darken my mood - not even the condescending look a woman gave me as I stood next to her on the platform. 

“Whatever biotch, those ratty paisley cords are not exactly happening either” I said to myself, so pleased was I in my fashion superiority.  And then I glanced down at my feet and saw this.

Fortunately I had an extra pair of brown shoes at work.  I really need to get John to install those lights in my closets!

Things have changed in workplace fashion since I entered the work force in 1980. Last week in a company-wide email our CEO noted that since we are a sponsor at big local trade show, and we will be hosting many visitors, she asked that everyone wear business casual to work this week.You’d think she was asking the women to wear corsets, and men to wear spats.  You would not believe the complaining!  Over business casual.  Oh Please.

But this does segue nicely into the latest edition of Fashion Tribes, the Office Edition:

Sports Nut - This is a young guy, on the overweight side, who broadcasts support for his team in any way he can. His wardrobe is almost exclusively Official Team Merchandise. On the few occasions when he is dressed up he wears a $400 Official Team Leather Jacket with a shirt and tie, which makes him look a stadium groundskeeper. Something tells me these are the guys I see on TV who paint their chubby bodies in team colors, and stand half-naked & braying in the stands. If my daughters ever bring home guys like this I will be horrified.

Baby Mama - This as a woman under 35 who is expecting her first baby. For any number of reasons she eschews maternity clothes, so as her pregnancy progresses we are treated to way more boob and belly than we really need to see. In her first two trimesters she sticks with a tight t-shirt smoothed over her popped out belly button and maybe wears stiletto heels with her pregnancy jeans until she can’t take it anymore, and by her last trimester she is so sick of wearing the same three sundresses she adds a shrunken cardigan that she can’t even begin to button.

Endless Summer - This is a woman who will wear flip flops in the office into November if she can. Often combined with Baby Mama. Ladies - the only people who can get away with extending the summer via wardrobe are shorts-wearing UPS guys who do it because it’s locker room contest to see who can hold out the longest. The “No White Shoes After Labor Day” law needs to be amended to include flip flops.

Guilty Quilty - This fashion choice just screams “middle aged female”: a woman in a quilted microfiber jacket in black, beige or red (but oddly never a good red.) She also has a quilted brown-blue-cream Vera Bradley paisley bag AND a faux Pierre Deux quilted bag. Stop the insanity!

Party In My Cube - Female version: clothing that is too tight, too low and too short. Favors stiletto t-straps with crazy patterned stockings. Reeks of clashing scented hair and body products. Male version: clothing that is too tight, too wrinkled, and too faded. Has not worn leather shoes since his prom. His cologne is all that beer from the night before, slowing oxidizing through his pores. Often combined with Sports Nut during playoffs.

The New Mullet - You know this guy: young, smirky, walks down the street holding a lit cigarette that he never really smokes (then why bother?) Always has the newest anything from Apple. Carries a messenger bag slung over the back of his right hip. Wears his hair pressed into a ridge along the top of his head. Dude, in 15 years you will so regret every photo ever taken of you with that hair.

Hipster Doofus - This look is becoming very common in certain industries: shaved head (due to being prematurely bald, that part is ok ), shirt is always worn out, and the lack of hair is made up for with robust facial hair (goatee or soul patch.) I have to be honest here - I can’t tell these guys apart! From 10 feet away you look more alike than Blue Man Group.

The Woman Warrior - Now here I have to turn my wrath on myself. The next time you may be in Boston take a quick look round and count how often within the space of ten minutes you see this uniform on working women: black or brown pants, boots, shirt/turtleneck/t-shirt, denim jacket. Go ahead, count ‘em - you’ll be amazed.  And one of them might be me!