Bandanas

A few days ago, Garance was discussing how some people have a signature style. You know, a certain color lipstick or always wearing boots or flats. If I have any sort of a fashion constant, it's displayed in my wearing of scarves, primarily in the winter, yes, but I have drawers of warm weather versions I wear less often. This post comes about because the olive drab bandana I've had for years and use only when doing something active was recently ruined while sanding and staining Clementine's now beautiful teak hatches.

So what are my replacement options? See below.

The most common bandana is the western paisley, shown here in blue or green, but available in every imaginable color. These were worn by cowboys in the movies and by railroad workers, laborers, and anyone making a living outdoors. The main purpose was to wipe away sweat and to keep dust from getting inside the collar.

Variations of the traditional design include the teardrop bandana and the less interesting open-square bandana.

The word bandana comes from the Hindi bandhana (बन्धन) which means to bind or tie. Yoga studios sell the om bandana in a variety of colors and use them to help contain energy and create focus. The intricate India Star bandana is sold only in green, gold, and violet or in brown, gray, and tan.

The hippie bandanas make me smile. I used to wear my bandana (probably the olive one!) tied around my leg ala Jimi Hendrix. Here's a bright tie-dye version and a Grateful Dead Blue Bear Mandala.

I like the sportier versions, both of which remind of the beach, sand, and sun-tan lotion. These are referred to as the Hawaiian-style or the floral hibiscus bandanas.

The "rougher" bandanas are desert camo prints and those decorated with skulls, one fashion statement I don't quite get. And by the way, I'm intentionally leaving out any discussion about gang affiliations, colors, or back-pocket code.

I especially like the Guadalupe bandana and how sophisticated wearing a bandana can look. How do you wear your bandana?

Charcoal (instead of Black)

Inspiration from Eileen Fisher, recently re-focused to appeal to a younger audience. The current pieces have a closer fit and a more modern approach.

Shopping

I've been online shopping again! This time, I ordered the Mar y Sol 'Guadalupe' straw hand bag and a pair of Tory Burch sunglasses.

Art of a Different Kind

Fashematics' take on the spring 2010 collections from Alexander McQueen (ready to wear, left) and Givenchy (couture, right). Special recognition if you can identify the top images.

(Posted one day before Alexander McQueen took his life ... a tragedy in the fashion world without a doubt.)

Marie Antoinette

Although criticized by many as being a superficial film lacking in historical reference and plot, Sofia Coppola's interpretation of the Marie Antoinette story is pure delight. I found the two-hour experience mesmerizing and much more satisfying than those other fashion film attempts out there. And, yes, while "Marie Antoinette" is a bit light, it can be instructional if you take a closer look.

For example, take Coppola's use of Versailles. She gives us wide camera shots of the palace's exterior and close up views of well-proportioned rooms filled with architectural detail, beautiful flowers, sparkling chandeliers, and amazing furniture.

She shows us 18th-century excess complete with the ridiculous dressing ceremony, the royal lack of privacy, and the preponderance of gossip and intrigue. We are entertained with masquerade balls, home-made theater productions, and gambling parties. Coppola even makes reference to the menagerie of zoo animals kept on palace grounds.

The best part, of course, are the award-winning dresses designed by Milena Canonero. According to Jenn, a blogger with a well-organized site dedicated to costume design, the film is highly stylized "in regards to the [brighter] palette ... but the overall silhouette is spot-on and the basic cut of the costumes (if not the trim and accessories) is very period." "Marie Antoinette," in other words, is both exquisite and educational with short little insights into architecture, social history, and fashion design. Enjoy!

Sock Dreams

In anticipation of my new rain boots, I spent a good hour online today looking for socks and finally came across Sock Dreams, a small personable company operating out of Portland, Oregon.

My buy was conservative but they have a great selection of polka dots, stripes, and interesting styles if you want to step outside in something a little more playful. I expect I'll be placing another order some time soon.

Rain Boots

Due to tropical storm Ida, I am stuck indoors shopping. Here are my new British wellies by Hunter. Ordered in black, of course. Photo from Toast but boots available through Nordstrom.

Cavalia

The best part of the performance today was the earth-tone costumes by Mireille Vachon. Primarily red and and brown with some neutrals and white, they were a little Mad Max and a lot Spanish Arabia.

Easy access to the show via the Pentagon City Metro. Photos from the Chicago Tribune and the Northern Virginia Magazine.

Looking Forward

from the verona daily photo site and marking my recent short hair cut.

Summer's LAST Days

Blog note dated December 18, 2009: My blog is a like a diary of sorts. Many of my posts have meaning not necessarily apparent to my readers. This one, for example, is about my smoking habit. I am like an alcoholic when it comes to cigarettes. I cannot have just one.

I started smoking cigarettes in high school, although my habit probably started earlier when I was an infant since my mother was a smoker. I quit in my early 20s and then again after a few years of smoking, in my early 30s. For the last two years, on New Year's Eve, I have smoked just one cigarette, in the holiday spirit, and loved it.

In August, when I posted this photo of Brigitte Bardot, I was smoking again, full-steam ahead, and while it looks fashionable, it clearly is not. How quickly I was jonesing for cigarettes and counting the time until I was home and away from the office. It was delicious at first, as all addictions are. Eric and I woke up early, and had cigarettes and coffee on the balcony just before dawn. I would sit on the steps in the sunshine, smoking slowly, while my thoughts ran free, but within a short period of time I was smoking again in excess and struggling to stop. It's been 35 days now since my last cigarette and I am stopped again ... but for how long?

Bernice

My Eastern European grandmother whose family came to America at the turn of the last century.

Bernice grew up in New York City and always wore beautiful well-made clothes. If you click on the pic large you can see the framed fashion prints behind her.

When Bernice was a child, her mother took her to watch the suffragettes march for the vote. She was told to remember those women because they would change her life. They definitely made a difference in mine.

Kate Moss 3

And for my final Kate post ... here's the big bag, black sunglasses, and skinny jeans again with ballet flats and a cheetah jacket ... always basic colors and never a lot of bling .... it's what I like best.

Kate Moss 2

Kate-style also includes a lot of vests with jeans and black sunglasses. I selected this pic because I'm big on the Chanel Blue Satin pedicure and I like the bohemian sandals.

Kate Moss 1

I haven't been thinking about Adams Morgan too much over the last few weeks but will be back to blogging soon. Over the next few days to fill up space, I'll post some Kate Moss outfits I like. Reoccuring elements are boots, big bags, and a scarf. Click on the pic to see the details.

Gladiator Sandals

Saving the planet, one spring sale after another. Posted in honor of allure and some of the other girls out there who manage to blog daily on one single subject.

Fashion Barbie

In celebration of Barbie's 50th birthday, here's a link to the fall 2009 fashion show held in her honor last month. The famous black and white bathing suit from 1959 leads the way.

Chanel and Her World (2005)

The legacy of Chanel in the fashion world is well known to anyone who follows clothing design even on the most superficial level. Coco's personal life was intertwined with her professional one. She was surrounded by a long list of talented writers, painters, dancers, and photographers. Her lovers were handsome, athletic, and well-connected. And so the story goes during the couturiere's rise to fame.

Edmonde Charles-Roux's Chanel and Her World is a quick read in spite of its 400 pages. The text is presented like a series of blog entries: a photo, headline, and a few informational paragraphs with a lot of white space and loose progression forward. The book, originally written in French, is a direct translation and the sentence structure is a little difficult to follow in some places. And like most art books, this one would benefit greatly from a good editor. But negatives aside, Chanel and Her World is a keeper and in honor of Coco's ever-present cigarette, I smoked one last night. Happy New Year!

Click on the link to find out more about this book.

Fashion On the Street

This photo is from the Sartorialist. I love the expensive black bag against an urban background. I like the variation in what she's wearing - the color, the texture, the layers. Blue tights. Patent shoes. Wrinkled cotton. Soft wrap. The girl almost has a red riding hood look about her but she's still very polished. Scott calls it "The Sculptor, Moscow." Click on the pic to see it large.