quick (fashion) questions: street fashion sites = have they 'jumped the shark'?

(this one is inspired by a post entitled street style is dead; long live street style! by morgan of pandahead magazine over at brightest young things (where miss morgan regularly guest-posts))...

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-have street style sites reached a saturation point? i.e., are there too many of said websites, with too many of them essentially showing the same thing (same type of people, too similar of styles), over and over? do we need MORE street style websites? one from every city, town, village? multiple ones from every city? would more be better? or would less be better?
-are street style sites, as a blog/website category, losing their novelty? or, as morgan and her commenters suppose, are they just reaching a saturation point amongst those who have long been rabid fans of that particular genre of fashion photography?
-are many of the popular street fashion websites/blogs too focused upon one style, at the expense of other styles/a sense of diversity? or could one argue that the photographers running and maintaining those sites have focused their eye upon a certain aesthetic that appeals to those individuals and their readers?
-to take this a bit further: is there, in this day and age, a discernible difference between the denizens of one city to the next, as far as documentable street fashion/fashion trends are concerned? or has easy access to the internet and globalization of retail homogenized style to a great degree? meaning, can we tell the difference between the hipsters in paris and the ones dwelling in london, or the ones who hail from san francisco or the ones who hail from new york?
-morgan asks, and i in turn ask too: if street style/fashion blogs are beginning to become or have become passe (at least amongst some small subset, perhaps), then what the heck is next?
-will this kind of thing (street style websites and their ilk) stick around and become ubiqutious and everywhere?
-will only the strong survive? (note that a lot popped up a long while ago, and have since been abandoned, new ones have sprung up in their wake.)
-what will or could this type of blogging and documentation of those around us morph/evolve into, if anything?

etsy love: sohomode

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i have been stalking the etsy shop of louise hedley, aka, sohomode, for weeks, if not months now. why? because of those amazing, flattering high waisted skirts of hers, simple pieces which are made oh so deliciously different with her inspired choice of fabrics (fun old floral prints, popping plaids, fringe). those the wide ribbon-decorated belts she pairs with them are actually, factually the perfect touch. and her duffel bags are so so fun fun fun...the patchwork in a mix of leathers and wools is yes yes yummy.
on a related note, i love duffel bags (in general) so much! mark my words, they are poised for a comeback...

(not so) random links

-it's official: the recession is in full swing, and people are spending less across the board...consumers and companies. boutiques and big & little retail stores appear to be offering huge discounts, advertising ginormous sales, moving their businesses to different (read: cheaper) areas of town, cutting back their opening hours, or even just plain going out of business. on that note, see this absolutely fascinating, in-depth, multi-part article about the ominous and sad shakeout that has been happening on the retail scene in new york city over the past several months (via new york magazine). i am seeing evidence of some of these trends in the city in which i currently reside (san francisco), and have noted the following (as i stroll my baby around downtown and window shop):

*generally, most stores seem kinda empty, or at least less peopled than they once were. of course, i cannot quantify this, it's just a feeling/obsevation. i have noticed more people lurking around discount tables and racks, however...

*department stores, major chain stores (like old navy, for instance), and even boutiques seem to be bogged down with tons of clearance items and are advertising big savings and steep discounts on top of discounts...

*h&m was handing out 20%+ off-one-item coupons this week, hoping to entice people to buy...

*peripherally related to fashion: i learned that a nice yarn store here in the bay area, artfibers, moved across the bay to oakland, in search of what i am sure is cheaper rent (they had a centralized location right downtown here in SF, i'm guessing they won't have the same foot traffic in their new digs)...

so, question time, addressed to you: what's happening on the retail scene where YOU live, as a result of the economic downturn? are stores closing, moving, or selling off big bunches of goods for little prices? are there any retail establishment whose demise you particularly lament? are any stores in your area enjoying an unlikely boon in this economically busted time in which we currently live? who's surviving in retail, or will survive? and why? care to posit?

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a whole bunch of quick and dirty (i have a backlog!):

-the amazing knit maven stephanie japel of glampyre, genius that she is, has come up with an easy triangular scarf pattern that was developed to help one use up those fun single skeins that seem to lurk around in one's stash, looking for a good use...it's called reclamation. LOVE THIS.

-knitter? fan of owls? check out this sweater pattern by needled that has owls encirling it's yoke. v. cute! (via craft:)

- i just recently learned about weekend designer, a pattern drafting blog. brilliant idea! according to said blog's about page, "most of the tutorials (posted on the blog) illustrate basic concepts in pattern-drafting or are patternless designs".

-i LOVE this little japanese-looking "grab bag" pattern from allpeoplequilt.com (via craft nectar and whip up) love the idea for using said little bag for little incidentals one picks up while shopping, particularly when going to the farmer's market, etc.

-here's a few more bag-making links for you: fat quarter tote by cicada daydream (via craft:), rag rug handbag (via whip up)

-the suburban queen passes on an inventive bit of knitting inspiration: a cardigan that isn't a cardigan at all, but rather, a long piece of knitting, buttoned in the front! what a superb idea!

-the observer (UK) has a series of how-to's online called make your own: designer clothes and accessories. amongst the gems on the site: viv westwood details how to make a dress and a how-to on how to recreate one of waistcoats from martin margiela's 2009 artisanal collection...(thanks, farpitz)

-casey of elegant musings passes on some helpful links on the subject of pattern grading (sizing)...here and here. good info to have at hand to help you when you find that perfect vintage pattern in a thrift, but it's not in your size...

-ethical style passes on some super smart vintage shopping tips from judy at atlantis home/jane at sea of shoes (they are mother & daughter)...

-how to make a very haute ruffle necklace, courtesy of morgan of panda head magazine, over at brightest young things...