polyvore play!

some time ago, i posed the question: polyvore, anyone?
since then, the site seems to have taken off...everyone and their mom seems to be using it. are you?
connect with me if you are! as might be guessed, i go by bitsandbobbins 'round those parts as well.

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i haven't been playing with it as much as i'd like...but when i do sit down and poke around, i play with the site and it's offerings in an indulgent way, putting together ensembles that go with my own personal tastes and trends, rather that those that seem to be currently on offer in the fashion world at large. i guess one can expect that sort of thing from me...i'm ever the stubborn one. ha!
how are you using it, if you are? for illustrations on your blog? just playing around like moi? do tell.

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i can't abandon one of my first color combo loves, the classic complimentary paring of red and green. the addition of a dash of chartruse and some blues keep things interesting and in my opinion, steer things away from the inevitable christmas color commentary.

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while orange (in most of it's forms) is still my greatest love, i am starting to cultivate a new appreciation for electric blue. i think it's especially lovely when paired with gray. and really, what isn't lovely paired with gray? it's a superb and subdued foil for all those great bright, eye-bleeding colors i can't seem to be separated from.

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i've always loved african fabric prints, regardless of whether they are chic at a given moment. (ethnic look, what?) it's something about the vivid colors and unapologetically bold geometric patterns that has got me hooked for life.

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clickity click on any of the above collages to find sources (and shop, if so inclined).

(not so) random links

due to my busy-ness last week, this feature took a little unplanned vacay. whoopsie-daisy!
so, lots to share this week. enjoy, and as usual, feel free to comment and discuss at will!

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-times are tough and getting tougher financially. food and gas prices are soaring and clearly, many people are feeling the pinch (via the new york times). what i am curious about is...does the ever increasing cost of fuel put the breaks on your ventures out in to the world? what about when it comes to shopping? do you take less trips into town to indulge in fashion-finding missions (retail, secondhand, or otherwise)? have you turned to alternate forms of transportation? when money is tight, what becomes a priority for you? does satiating your style bug become less important in the scheme of things? has it already?

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-ever heard of the lipstick theory of economics? seems that mr. lauder (of estee lauder) noted that sales of his lipstick seemed to shoot up precipitously when things, particularly in terms of world and personal finance, are a bit unstable (via the new york times). in times of economic uncertainty, women seem to be more likely to buy a couple of relatively inexpensive lipsticks (or the equivalent) to give their mood a boost, rather than dropping hundreds of dollars on say, a designer dress. obviously, the beauty companies are banking on this percolating trend. and it seems to make some sense as far as economic theory is concerned, say experts in that field. but thus far this year, the numbers haven't borne said theory out.
what about you? when the budget belt is tight and getting tighter, do you find yourself forgoing those big ticket items, instead choosing to go for little luxuries? what else do you do to stretch a dime, while at the same time satiating your need for a fun little sartorial pick-me-up?

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-according to carole white of the premier model management agency in the UL, there is a dearth of black models in modeling and by extension, media because, and i quote: "according to magazines, black models don't sell." british photographer nick knight says the problem stems from those in high places in the fashion industry, who believe that black models are '"not aspirational" or "don't sell in Asia"'. (via the independent). what??
does that imply that "white" is that color of money? is "white" the only thing that is or can be considered beautiful these days? i call BULLSHIT. what happened to the healthy diversity in modeling and fashion that was in vogue in years past? what is this apparent racism in the fashion industry REALLY all about? anyone else think this apparently lack of diversity in media is reprehensible and disgusting?
for further reading on the same: jourdan dunn is the color of money (via the times online)

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and a positively ginormous pile of the quick and dirty!:
-my absolute FAVORITE new york city boutique, i heart, now has a blog! 'bout time, gals! now you just need an e-commerce site so we can enjoy the wonderfulness of your store even at a distance...
-as a guest blogger on design*sponge, illustrator/designer julia rothman shows how to turn a drawing into a repeated pattern, w/o the help of handy tools like photoshop. it can be done! would be a cool way to turn an illustration you've made into a cool piece of printed fabric, for starters...
-woot, a knit bias stripe stitch pattern! thanks, vogue knitting!
-make an effort to take good photographs! it matters! people are looking, and they DO notice poopy photography/imagery. at least, i do! do you? the 10e20 blog offers up 21 ways to shoot better photographs.
-craft: spread the word: knit1 (the fun knitting/crochet mag put out by the makers of vogue knitting) has a page with free downloadable pdf's of v. cute patterns. that are free. yay! (on a related note, i am grooving on the colors in their 'ginormous baby blanket'...oooh! ahhh! rainbows!)
-love this tutorial for a quilt on oh fransson! that features 'crazy' nine patch blocks. the fractured, offbeat look of said blocks makes me think of some of the work of modern quilt maven, denise schmidt.
-the purl bee gives us the run down on thimbles...calling them an essential for any sewing kit. and depending on your sewing needs the project you're working on, i'd have to say i agree.
-i need to make one of these super cute yoga mat bags using the pattern and instructions offered up by bored and crafty, stat. one made out of some patchwork fabric would be mighty me and quite lovely, methinks.
-show those plastic sandwich bags the door, forever! check out this little how-to on how to make a little reusable sandwich wrap, from the small object.
-damn right, san francisco is crafty! feisty elle put together a great google map with points that correspond to artsy-craftsy destinations-of-interest in this here fair city by the bay. i cannot even express how awesome this is. thanks for doing all that work, feisty elle! crafters and makers of the bay area salute you.
-i have basically no hair, so this can't do *me* any good, but i am totally grooving on this how-to on how to make your own hair-ties, on bluelines. if i had long, lustrous tresses, i'd go nuts picking out just the right buttons and baubles to adorn my locks! the crazier the better...
-i recently learned that lion brand yarns has a blog. while i don't love everything lion brand does (some of their designs are more than a bit clunky/old fashioned in an off way, and some of the yarns are too synthetic for my personal taste), i do like what they do now and again and check in with their site on occasion to see what new patterns they have on offer. this relaxed, slouchy market bag pattern is rather lovely...and it looks easy to crochet, tout suite.

if money was no object...

it's been a long time. a REALLY long time. a GINORMOUSLY long time since i've made an 'if money was no object...' post...!
truth be told, i've been *trying* not to look at clothes and such too-too much for months...being pregnant and all, it's sort of like, hrm, can't wear that, so i don't even want to look at it right now, if you know what i'm sayin'. :)
and also...i have so many other things to be thinking about, doing, and yes, spending money on (hello, impending BABY!)...
and i am trying to be careful and considerate about what i DO buy (as evidenced by so much of what i write about and have been writing about for some time, about making smart choices, about ethics, about being green and creative...and all that jazz)...
but... STILL, i have been sort of quietly obsessing over a few things...okay? i am human, after all. at least, i think so!
so, *sigh* here goes... :)

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there's no way i'd ever be able to afford these paloma picasso stackable gold and semi-precious rings, from tiffany's, but...a girl can dream.

ms. picasso is calling them 'sugar stacks'...how apt! they are so delicious...they totally remind me of candy. i almost want to eat them!

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being a long-time jeans fiend, i'm all about this pair of higher-waisted dark skinnies from that most classic of jean purveyors, levi's (a long time fave of mine, btw).

so simple and perfect: a normal-ish waistline (at least compared to the past's low-lows), no stupid whiskering, straight, and narrow. just the way i like it.
if i wasn't very, very pregnant (and about to be even more round than i currently am!), i'd snap those up so fast it's silly. i'd be wearing them non-stop, oh yes.
*crosses her fingers and hopes to the gods she snaps back figure-wise after having le bebe royal*

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well-designed orange shoes are SO hard to find! yes, i did find a superb pair of orange snakeskin wedges a while back at a local shoe store (paolo, which is located on hayes street, and also over on fillmore, both here in san francisco), and i love them like i love no other pair of shoes in my collection.
but --STOP THE PRESSES!!-- i do believe i've tracked down another superb pair that i feel suit me down to the ground...and i am of course coveting them like mad: these schindler sandals by rachel comey, to be found over at creatures of comfort.

the ankle strap is sturdy and wide, the sole is comfortably flat, the peep-toe keeps things summery, and the criss-cross over the toes has just a teensy bit of texture in the way of the lines, keeping things subtle yet interesting.

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if by some chance you want more of this kind of thing, do check out my past flights of retail fancy in the 'if money was no object...' archive.