ReVamp!

Charlotte

Oh my goodness. I think I'm in love. In lust, anyway;) I just discovered this shop, ReVamp, and (dangerously) its located not far from me in LA!

Featuring high-quality vintage reproductions from the teens through the '50's, ReVamp will outfit you and your honey for the next swinging party. They also have wedding dresses from each decade, and while thier prices are steep, they are pretty fair for what you get. Take a look at some examples:

Violet (1920's)

Mercedes (1930's)

Rosalind (1940's)

Vivienne (1950's)

If I was a rich girl, I would totally blow a bunch of money in this store! And, they have men's clothing, accessories . . . sigh. I suppose I'd better not pay them a visit;)

Twisted . . .

The Twist Convertible Dress by Dessy

I've blogged about the trend of convertible dresses in the past, and how much I dearly love the idea of a dress that takes a little creativity to style and wear.  Now it seems like everyone is getting on the bandwagon (a trend I don't mind at all!). Dessy had one of the first; a wrap dress in two lengths intended as a bridesmaid dress but increasingly appealing for everyday wear as well. Their version is a little pricy, coming in at around $200, but when you figure you can make four or five dresses out oone, it doesn't seem nearly so bad.

Two Birds Classic Convertible Dress

Two Birds was another company that got in at the beginning of the convertible dress trend, and their bridesmaid dresses are still showing up on wedding blogs and in bridal magazines. Coming in multiple lengths, colors, and styles, they seem to offer the most choices beyond just the many ways you can wear the top panels.

Victoria's Secret Ruched Convertible Dress

A few new companies have joined in the fun, and I gotta say I like the new, more affordable options. Victoria's Secret now has an entire collection of convertible dresses, of which the above is my favorite. Sexy without being skanky, I actually first saw this dress on a bridal blog being used as bridesmaid dresses, each wrapped differently. At just under $100, it's pretty nicely priced too!

Mossimo Black Convertible Dress from Target

The final offering is the most affordable of the bunch, a new Mossimo dress from Target. Coming in multiple colors like purple, black, and red, the $30 price tag means this dress might just have to find it's way into my closet;)

How about you, dear readers? Do you like the Convertible Dress trend? Or, do you like dresses you don't have to figure out how to wear?

Favorite Site Tuesdays: The Enchanted Doll

Cinderella

While I usually try to feature Etsy shops every Tuesday, once in a while I discover an artist whose work so moves and excites me that I have to introduce them to y'all. Marina Bychkova of The Enchanted Doll is just such an artist. I discovered her through my friends over at 666 Photography (another talented woman!), and I have not stopped looking at Marina's work since.

Agnetha-The Other Woman

Marina's porcelain dolls start with hand-sculpted forms in super sculpy, and then she casts the porcelain pieces from there. Each doll is unique, hand-painted, and fully articulated with leather-lined joints to protect the movement of the porcelain. But, that's just the beginning of the beautiful artistry of these dolls.

Echo- The Emperor's Youngest Daughter

The costumes. Oh my goodness, the costumes. These meticulously researched and heavily beaded and embroidered works of art are that much more incredible for being done on such a small scale. You never think about this unless you make dolls, but finding properly scaled patterns and prints in sometimes impossible. Many of the prints she makes herself.

Imperial Concubine

It's no secret that I love dolls, and I have tried my hand at making them, but I bow to someone who does it so well. Even her nude dolls are incredibly elaborate, life-like creations.

Nitocris- The First Woman Pharaoh

She even handcrafts the headpieces, shoes, jewelry and accessories. If I were a rich girl, I'd own as many of her pieces as possible.

Costumed Butterfly

I highly recommend heading over to The Enchanted Doll. You will need to pick your chin up off your desk afterwards, but it is worth it;)

Corsetiere Extraordinaire . . .

Cherry Blue Corset

I just discovered the work of the amazing Maya Hansen, and boy, do I wish I could pick up one in every style! I'm a sucker for a beautiful corset, and these are simply stunning, with a sense of whimsy, fun, and even goth sensibility that I quite love.

Calippo Corset

And, her photography is fabulous! I was certainly inspired by images like these for my recent Seamstress of Avalon shoot;)

Diva Blue

Doesn't this model look like Kirsten Dunst?

Check out Maya Hansen online, or, if you're in Madrid, check her out in person;)

What do you think, dear readers? Would you spring for one of these beautiful corsets? (I know I would!)

Covet . . .

I am so coveting these Christian Siriano booties from Payless. These will just have to find their way into my closet.

Velorbis is Danish for Cool . . .

I saw this on a blog this morning, and couldn't resist sharing. As many of you know, I used to have a trike, a blue three-wheeler that had a huge basket in the back. I rode it all over New Orleans during college, but Chicago was less friendly to my three-wheeled transport, and I eventually got rid of it.

Now, as I prepare for the big move to SoCal and contemplate getting around out there, I find this sweet little number, the Mobii from Velorbis. Each one is individually produced so it's fully customizible, and you can lug everything from cargo to children in it (there are seatbelts in the basket in front). Sure, it's pricey, but cheaper than a car by far. Now, if only I could peddle 2,000 miles in it . . . .

What about you, dear readers? What's the coolest form of transport you ever took to get from point A to point B?

Monday Morning Covet . . .

Oh my gosh, I heart this. This cake village comes from Williams Sonoma, as does the scalloped cake stand. How cute would this be on a Christmas dinner table?

Covet Thursday . . .

Bard Over Boot by Kenneth Cole Reaction

I am onboard the tall boot bandwagon in a big way; only with such a ridiculous trend can you clomp around pretending to be Jack Sparrow 24/7. Flat or stilletto, leather, suede or anything in between, I love me some over-the-knee boots.

Chinese Laundry Kingdom Boot

These are under $100! Please, bank account? Can I have them? Pleeease?

Anthropologie Ternate Boots

Skinny jeans? Check. Oversized cowl-neck? Check. These boots? Yes, please.

  

Aldo Imming Boots

Yep, the heels on this make it pretty impractical. But, practicality in boots is like carbs in LA: incompatible.

Joie Over the Knee Pirate Boot

I heart this trend, and I hope I can find a (cheap) pair before the winter is out. I may be clomping around the snows in Chicago, but in my heart I'll be on the high seas;)

What about you, dear readers? What fall/winter trend are you coveting?

Ann Taylor Loft Lounge . . .

Ribbed Draped Neck Jacket

It's no secret I love Ann Taylor Loft, and I have a new covet: their Lounge collection.

Open Front Cocoon Cardigan

Only Ann Taylor could do lounge so elegantly, and everything is under $100.

Drawstring Pullover Hoodie

This is just a step up from Old Navy, and I love, love, love it.

My new covet . . .

Okay, I know I don't technically have a driver's license yet, but I definitely know what car I want to drive.


Yes, I am a tree-hugger by nature. I love the idea of cars going completely electric in the next twenty years, and I think that right now Nissan has the best models to push that forward.


Exhibit A is the Nissan Leaf, a zero emission electric vehicle that claims to get you 100 miles of city driving on one charge. There are also plans to build charging stations that can charge the battery 80% in 26 minutes, though like most plug-in EV's, it will charge in a 220V outlet in 6-8 hours. No info on pricing yet, but if it's in line with other cars this size, it will probably run $25K to $35K.


Another, more concept-y car from Nissan is the Land Glider, just unveiled in Tokyo to salivating car geeks everywhere; I mean, this thing looks like it belongs in a science-fiction Philip K. Dick adaption. The Land Glider is just 43" wide, which means the passenger would sit behind the driver, but what's so cool about this EV is the way it takes turns: the wheel segments move independently of the cabin, causing the car to lean into turns at up to a 17-degree angle, important in a small narrow car that might otherwise be apt to roll when taking tight turns. It is also zero emissions, but Nissan has no immediate plans to put this one into commercial production (sad face).


MINI and Smart, two of my other favorite car companies, have plans to develop EV cars too, and once I'm out in SoCal, it will be easier to recharge said electric cars. I say, hug a tree, plug in your car, and bring on the future!

Monday morning covet . . .

Source: We Heart It

It's a rainy, gloomy sort of day here in Chicago, the kind of day I would love if I were at home, cuddled on the couch watching DVD's with my cat and listening to it storm. Alas, I am here at work, damp and wishing it would brighten up. It does get me to thinking, however, about how much I love a lovely umbrella;)

Source: Raindrops

This Guy de Jean Can Can Black Umbrella/parasol reminds me so much of a victorian carriage parasol, but this has the added bonus of being rainproof! Wish it wasn't sold out, but you can still get it in other colors . . .

Source: Bella Umbrellas

I love pagoda style umbrellas, and this shop lets you customize the handle color and material: too cute!

I guess rainy weather is good for something after all;)