Bones, The Look for Less

I had previously talked about how bones were a trend to watch. I've just found a way you can get the look for less. These bones aren't the spinal bones seen at McQueen Spring 2009 runways, or the X-rays of Narcisco Rodriguez Spring 2009 but actually based off fish bones! Check out the Target Tie Die Leggings in Fish Bone for $12.99. They give you the feel without being a direct imitation and they won't empty your wallet.

Three Days of Halloween

With Halloween falling on a Wednesday this year, I had three nights to celebrate. I hate ghosts, goblins and zombies, but I love, love, love dressing up.

Every Halloween is a reminder that my wardrobe is silly and slightly ridiculous, but this year especially!  This year, I just had to pick up a few plastic bones for my first costume.  The rest was already in my collection.

Look 1: Pebbles-Inspired Cave Woman

I love textures and interesting textiles, so over the past few years, I've managed to collect quite a few shaggy, faux fur pieces.  Put them all together with some leather, unpolished accessories and bones, and ta-da, cave woman!

DIY: Lady Mary Crawley Inspired Wedding Tiara

There is no bones about it, I am a huge Downton Abbey fan. Ever since I first entered the world of the Crawley's I have admired the style and poise of all of the "Lady's". Naturally when their weddings aired earlier this year for all of the world to see, I couldn't resist admiring Lady Mary's bejeweled tiara that weighed in at 45 carats and cost about $200,000. Being a bride on a budget, that tiara was most definitely out of my price range, however I could not shake the lovely laurels from my head. Thankfully I happened to stumble upon this laurel brooch while browsing eBay and I found myself an affordable solution. I ended up ordering 2 brooches and a pack of 10x5 Navettes on eBay, buying myself a comb in a craft store and some super powerful glue (E6000) and seeing what I could do with a little bit of grosgrain. All in all, I think I spent under $20 for my own laurel wedding tiara. While it's not as large or bold as Lady Mary Crawley's I think I still get to have a little touch of Downton on my special day.

The pieces I ordered on eBay were actually brooches, so the first thing I did was snap off the backing by pushing in on the brooch pin and pulling back and forth a couple of times.

Trick or Treat: Not just for Kids

Sure we all know that ubiquitous McQueen Skull Scarf that is everywhere and even at one point imitated by Topshop. But what about checking out other sources for your creepy fun fix?
Whether you dress up for Halloween or not, these pieces grab my attention no matter what time of year it is. Maybe it's the somewhat Gothic imagery, pieces that are not so obvious what they are, or tongue-in-cheek factor here are some of my picks that work for more than just Halloween.

Paraphernalia - Anatomica Red Heart Necklace $25

I've loved Paraphernelia ever since it first launched on Etsy, but this red heart is a great new twist on an old favourite piece.

Button Diva - Anatomy Bones and Brains 1" Pinback Buttons $6.85 on Etsy

These black and ivory illustrations of anatomy would look super fun pinned on the lapel of a jacket or tote bag.

Jessica Hicks Web Earrings $250

This is a bit more of a splurge item but there is always some sort of beauty and strength in spider webs. These web earrings would definitely make a statement with whatever they're paired with.

Giles & Brother - Hook-fastening leather bracelet $125 on Net-a-Porter
This bracelet is so simple, but the knots and the fun hardware look anything but grim.

Michelle Chang Jewelry - Baby Skull Earrings in Sterling Silver $44 on Etsy

I've admired these studs for sometime, but previously they only came in a diamond eye version. Fortunately for the more budget conscious these skulls are well within reach.

Neurotica Bat Drape Dress $135 on Pixie Market

Neurotica always has fun prints and silhouettes, this Bat Drape Dress is no exception. The bats are definitely bats up close but from a distance look almost abstract.

Sample Sale Report: Fenton/Fallon

After the last Fenton/Fallon Sample sale where I picked up my beloved eagle ring that I wear practically everyday, when I heard another sale was on the radar I was absolutely determined to pick up some more of designer Dana Lorenz’s creations to add to my jewelry wardrobe. These days with my closet at point of critical condition unless I purge, I’ve turned my eye towards tinier objects to fascinate me.

I made my way down Freeman Alley just before 7pm and getting there always feels like I’m headed on a mini NYC adventure (to enter, you actually have to walk on Rivington St between Chrystie & Bowery into the end of the alley way and make a right after the brick wall that has “FENTON” written on it. This time around the sale was quite busy and there were easily 15-20 people in the boutique at any given time browsing the selection and viewing possible purchases in one of 3 mirrors that were sectioned together on a wall.

When you enter the sale the more affordable items are starting at your left there was a small selection of goodies at just $10. Mostly bangles I’d seen at the last sample sale and random one-earrings that could be fun on their own.Next off is a selection of sparkling rhinestone earrings for just $30. These are so glam rock 80s. The make me think of Jem and the Rockers.Beside it are some fun gem earrings for $20 and magnetic necklaces that make disco shine around your face for $25. These disco necklaces kept disappearing then reappearing as people were narrowing down their purchases throughout the night. Also great snake earrings for $25 with rhinestone heads.The table on the right yielded some statement necklaces and I was admiring and contemplating the tribal bib necklaces that I passed up on last time around. Now they are priced at $60. Bracelets $50, headbands $55, earrings $50.I thought these space age looking earrings were pretty fantastic and they were $40 a pair.Plenty of $35 cuffs caught my attention. There were many of the classic pyramid versions from last sale, but plenty of new varieties to behold my attention. I couldn’t resist the tribal bird like cuff with pyramids in the bottom right corner. Apparently no one else could either because the 3 or 4 on display seemed to vanish by the end of the sale.On the shelf above larger more elaborate bracelets and cuffs were going for $50.

There was also a small selection of vintage clothing for 60% off that I didn’t pay much mind to and amazing Fenton necklaces (the higher end line) for $125 (slashed from $175 previously in the day). These are slightly more elaborate and very chain heavy designs.It took me a while to realize what these pieces are – were they bones, random shapes or what? Then it came to me suddenly - they are ram’s heads! This amazing and original necklace was $50. There was only 1 left when I was leaving.The final temptation? This bowl of rings that was right by the cash for just $25 a pop. My beloved eagle was in there, in addition to some LOVE rings, locket rings and great dark metal band with single round pyramid that I almost picked up.

So as I was checking out, I noticed that if you were paying cash, it’s a lot faster to get through the line. Otherwise there is a bit of a line. But it was totally understandable after the after work crowd made their way to the sale about the same time and was all queuing to cash out.

They will not be re-stocking and the sale is currently about 60%+ sold through, but there is still plenty to love. Make your way quickly for best selection.

Who: Fenton/Fallon Sample Sale
What: Deep discounts on great graphic and super fun jewelry. Stud Cuffs are $35 (was $180). One of a kind necklaces $80-200 (was $500-1000).
When: September 23-24, 2010. Thursday 1pm-8pm, Fri 1pm-7pm
Where: End of Freeman Alley, 187 Chrystie St.(Enter via Rivington St between Chrystie & Bowery St) 212.477.1315

Travel Diary: Brighton Day 3

Sorry that I’m a bit behind on my posts, I had spotty internet connection on the 2nd half of my trip. I just got back Stateside on Monday night after 14 1/2 hours of travelling! Yikes, I’m tired but alive!

On the third day of my trip I decided to get out of the city for a day and head south to Brighton.  I started the day in Victoria Station and I arrived early as there is no bringing back a departed train to the station. Sitting there in the morning I observed many people running with suitcases catching connecting trains and others just stopping for a second to catch their breath.

While I was waiting for my cousin to get there, I decided it was a good idea to have a familiar North American style breakfast so I grabbed McDonalds.  Our train was set to depart at 9:21 and by 9:09 I am starting to get nervous as my cousin still hadn’t arrived to meet me.  I call him and his train was delayed and he still has to pick up our train tickets.  He tells me to meet him on the platform. When I get there, I wonder how to get on the platform.  Why is there a subway oyster card machine to get to the trains? I see other people swiping in and I shrug my shoulders and follow them. My cousin calls me and asks how I got on the platform.  I told him I swiped in.  He tells me they will charge me a fortune if I do that.  I ask if I should swipe back out and he tells me not to.  We don’t have time to sort this out and to Brighton we go.  It is strange as there are first class carriages and you not only need a train ticket but also seat reservations.  No one comes to check our tickets.  We only use them to leave the station.

Initial thoughts on Brighton are that it is quaint and has a historic quality to the city.  A town clock with an ode to Queen Victoria is at the center of the city. Main streets are lined with shops, many which you will find in London, but the winding side streets yield more unique boutiques, bars and restaurants.  It’s a seaside town so the air is crisper and the cold cuts to the insides of my bones despite my best efforts to layer up.  I see seagulls but they are not like any I’ve seen before, they’ve been supersized and would dwarf your average Coney island seagull.

I see the Royal Pavilion and the Brighton Museum and they are so distinctive and odd to see in surroundings such as this. Amongst the city of colorful townhouses and classic European architecture, these structures look like they belong in India rather than this seaside city.  There is not questioning their grandeur or how much attention they command. 

Inside the Royal Pavilion, photography is forbidden (photo courtesy of Chris Giles).  I find myself feeling I’ve been transported further East as the insides are all about China/Chinoiserie style décor.  The entry way and initial hallways are serene and almost static while other rooms like the Great Dining Hall and the Music Room take your breath away.  They are both majestic and in some ways terrifying – with dynamic design elements like Dragons and Snakes abounding in 3-dimensional fashion. After learning a bit of history, that took it from humble farmhouse to Queen Victoria to a hospital for Indian soldiers, it’s time to wake up at the beach.

The beach at Brighton is crisp, picturesque and quite peaceful, apparently a sharp contrast from the bustling summer activity.  The water is sparkling, the sun looks awfully low for noon, you can see water for what seems like forever, although I’m told France is just on the other side of the channel.  There is an orange tint to the pebbles by the shore and bits of sea life are washed up and dried amongst them.  You can see the pier in the distance on your left hand side, full of modern day amusements and on your left, the sunken skeleton of a pier that once was.  We stop at a seaside seafood shack and feast on some seafood and oysters.

At the pier and I witness the British love of gambling via countless machines dedicated to coin balance/tipping.  This pier is kind of amazing, I cannot believe that the pier holds 2 roller coasters and countless other rides over the sea.  To be on one of these rides, with extra height must add an extra layer of peril.

It’s time to warm up but unfortunately the Brighton Museum is closed on Mondays and so are the tea shops.  So after some wandering down the roads, we return to the Royal Pavilion for  some Cream tea – that is Tea served with scones, clotted cream and jelly.

Still 4 hours left to kill until our train leaves, so the rest of the day is spent shopping the local shops, the mall and chain stores like Topshop and Primark in hopes of finding jems while avoiding London crowds.  Unfortunately, the merchandise is subpar in Brighton and I don’t end up finding anything that is worth buying.  At least the streets were quaint and lovely.  Had the little shops not closed so early I would have liked to explore them.  Oh well!  Caught the train back to London and finished the night with a steak pie veg, some mashed and a Magners and a mini exploration of Covent Garden.