this and that.

so i said i have been making lots of hats, berets to be specific. this lovely orange number is one of the many i've made in the previous month or so. it's made of orange handspun wool that i found at san francisco's amazing imagiknit.one of many berets in order to make said berets, i had to teach myself how to use double pointed needles. i've been knitting for three years (as of new years or so) and i have learned and done a LOT of near magical things knitting-wise, but had not done the DPN thing because i was scared! now? i'm ADDICTED. they seem sort of beastly and like this weird, uncontrollable creature at first, but once you get use to them, you get this amazing rhythm going...

speaking of which, i was thinking about this recently: the act and process of knitting really does seem magical. two sticks, a ball of yarn, some specific movements of one's hand, and voila: you've made something. and really, the same things goes for any other fiber art: sewing, crochet, needlepoint, weaving, etc. it's so freaking cool, if you take a moment to actually ponder it.

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i just bought this book on hatmaking/millinery by hatmaker eugenia kim. i'm obsessed! now that my hair is in this short little pixie style, i've been daydreaming about purchasing and wearing and making all sorts of hats. not many people wear hats so much anymore, really! they really make a statement, if one can pull them off and make them an intregal part of their wardrobe. it's so funny that years ago, if one did not wear a hat when in public, it was scandalous. now people usually just wear hats in the winter, like knitted ones. but what about lovely cocktail hats? fabric berets? felt cloches? gosh and golly, there are so many hats one could wear! the options are endless.

saturday night hat by eugenia kim

this mini beret pattern from eugenia's book is so adorable, and is SO getting made and worn by yours truly. mini beret

this is eugenia in her NYC studio (from the WWD accessories magazine). when my hair actually grows out again, i'm going back to something like what eugenia is rocking here, hair-wise. the bob is a classic. it's like a cute little helmet of hair. eugenia kim's hairstyle

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a future project i've given myself: embellishing this thrifted dupioni silk dress with a touch of hand-embroidery. to take it in another, more *me* direction. thrifted green silk dress

*** i love these colors together: red-orange, acid yellow, and aqua blue. these are skeins i picked up today, and could not resist. i could just look at them forever and be content, but really, they'll become something soon enough. my mind is already dancing around a few ideas... yarns

if money was no object...

i've been m.i.a., yes.we came home from florida (which was fun!) and immediately, i caught some awful cold. yuck! i'm just now getting over i!. so i have been taking it easy, for the most part. it's a good thing (big ups to martha!).

i hacked all my hair off on friday...it's a pixie thing, really. it's also a good thing, because my hair was fried and like straw/hay from perming and bleaching and other forms of hair torture i caused it to endure this past year. now i can grow it out and have it be more healthy overall. yay!

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a choice few things i'm grooving on at the moment...and would have in my personal possession, if, of course, money was no object:

(click on any photo for more information/a link back to their website)

i am happily mesmerized by these geometric handmade wooden earrings by orno, at etsy:

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i completely adore this trench dress (from anthropologie): it's wide notched collar, capped gathered sleeves, and the yellow contrast side of the belt (a perfect touch, imo):

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and i think the above trench-dress would be particularly pleasing over these skinny red jeans (from urban outfitters):

(a little secret: when i make these posts i often think about all the products/pieces as if they might be worn together, a whole outfit, or mixed-and-matched, if you will. it's a weird habit of mine, for quite some time. this time is no exception. i'm weird! :P)

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i am rather excited about the upcoming proenza schouler line @ target that's being unveiled next month...i adore the bright colors and modern streamlined shapes and piecing (that the guys are of course known for)...but i think the sportswear, casual interpretation is particularly terrific.

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i am hoping to do some thrifting this week, if i have time. i did a tiny little bit when in florida, but mostly, i didn't find too much and/or didn't have a lot of time to thrift between traveling/working/visiting with family and friends. such is life! maybe the thrift gods have some good stuff waiting for me here in san francisco...i can only hope!

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pictures to come, soon. i have been knitting like a fiend for the past couple of weeks/month but haven't photog-ed anything in ages.

favorite outfits of 2006

1.21.20061.21.2005

4.27.2006 4.27.2006

5.2.2006 5.2.2006

6.16.2006 6.16.2006

9.2.2006 9.2.2006

9.16.2006 9.16.2006v1

11.4.2006 11.4.2006

12.10.2006 12.10.2006

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i love looking back. looking back allows one to see the trends in one's own personal style! my personal trends and favorites in two thousand six:

  • the color red-orange. it's EVERYWHERE in my wardrobe most of my favorite pieces in my closet are in that color: the red-orange raglan 70s cardigan with the short sleeves, the A.P.C. track jacket with the plastic zipper, and that red-orange enamel pin (a vintage find). several pairs of red-orange enamel earrings...all get regular, or TOO regular rotation! hah!
  • boots! i love boots. vintage, new, whatever. often i can be found tucking my tights/leggings into my boots. i rarely wear jeans without tucking them into boots unless i'm wearing pumps. boots deserve to be shown off!
  • jeans: the slimmer/straighter and tighter the better. still. i have been pondering getting a baggy pair of jeans, but i think generally slimmer jeans are more flattering for me, since i am short (about 5' 3").
  • scarves! this habit started while living in new york. it carries on here in SF. a simple way to add color. plus, i LOVE the feeling of a big, voluminous scarf wrapped around my neck and chin...i feel comfortable, protected, and swaddled. i love anything with a high neck. which is actually really funny, because when i lived in florida i HATED turtlenecks and the like. it's far too hot there, i guess.
  • patchwork!
  • belts really work for me, regardless of their in or outness. i need them to define that i actually own a waist.
  • i have an unabashed love for that vintage acid-wash kids levi's denim jacket. it's perfect and it goes with ANYTHING and EVERYTHING in my closet.
  • peep toes!
  • green and orange together, and red-orange/orange with gray. i have also started to embrace black again, and i do love tan/beige. mixing more neutrals with brights. still having fun playing with color.
  • leggings and tights! another layer, another chance to play with color!
  • i actually REALLY liked my hair red. lots of people claimed they prefer me blonde, but eh. i don't know.