A few decadent things in black, garnished with gold. This is how i'll celebrate the new year. Happy, happy!
Malene Birger Feather dress / Isabel Marant leather jacket / Alexander Wang coin purse / Asos sunglasses / Miista suede and metal cap toe boot / Diane Von Furstenberg shoulder bag / Vintage 1920's cast bronze crocodile inkwell / Flora by Gucci / gold leaf agate book ends / layout made with Polyvore
I've had quite a few sartorial sugar plums dancing around in my mind's eye recently...
Maybe you already know *Ahem* that I reserve a special, cozy, cuddly place in my heart for the strange, the darling, and the macabre. So without further ado let's take a moment to focus on that handcuffed bear...
A thorough combination of the adorable, the delicate, and the very dark. You can even see his little teeth!
Designed by Momocreatura, a jewelry brand created by a Japanese, Central Saint Martins graduate called Momo. She has a delightfully twisted sense of humor, and designs for those who are "curious enough to glance into another world". Don't miss her other clever talismans as well, particularly those from the "Nearly Dead" collection.
No, these darlings are not cheap - unless you are looking for an absolute treasure and future heirloom. (The gold bear is $522.50, and prices run between $100 and $600) They are also not fast fashion, and are not clumsily made. Massive understatement right there.
Lastly, I'd like to draw your attention to this:
Pretty much the sentiment that I ought to go ahead and get engraved across my forehead, as I tend to be a nervous nellie when it comes to doing things, as opposed to thinking things. Appropriately placed dead center on a (really delicious) Smythson leather agenda.Oh god, that reminds me. The new year is fast approaching.
Wait - scratch everything on your To-Do list...
COCKTAIL PARTY FIRST.
1 / "Cleopatra's Curtains" Ring / 2 / Chloe Leather ankle boot / 3 / Chloe glossed leather knee boots / 4 / Levin stripe clutch / 5 / Smythson "Now or Never" Notebook / 6 / Jil Sander hazelnut leather wedge booties / 7 / Momocreatura hand-cuffed bear necklace / 8 / "Rive Gauche Craft "Unearthed" iPhone 5 case / layout made with Polyvore
Forgive me for my absence. I have been quite the bedraggled, caffeinated artist, holed up in my (very tiny) studio, creating some new things like this:
How eccentric would it be to have friends over for tea, served in these strange and dainty ceramics? A conversation starter, for sure. Fear not - I couldn't stop myself from incorporating a good dose of classic flora into the mix.
For spring's Unearthed collection of housewares, stationery, and personal accessories, I drew inspiration from nature, particularly the regal silhouettes and elegant minimalist spartan nature of what some might call "grotesque" creatures.
I can't help but appreciate their physical beauty, their strange little lives, and their handsome built-in weaponry. I find them thoroughly enigmatic, to say the least. They both terrify and fascinate me at the same time. What's more, they become strangely feminine when re-colored in refreshing hues of fog and sea foam, and invigorated by a splash of masterful lapis lazuli blue.
These items are really just a peek at what's to come for spring, but I did put a little sampling of them in the Rive Gauche Craft BOUTIQUE.
Have a gander at the Anastasia & Friends Gallery on Main St (Columbia, SC) this month- my original illustrations will be on display, and available for sale! Everything will be reasonably priced, especially for holiday gifting.
These illustrations are now available in the Print Shop and on a variety of decorative items in the Boutique.
Nude classics get an energetic injection of deliriously happy, intoxicating charm via bright (if not other-wordly) accessories. I'm enchanted like a little girl with a brand new fluffy kitten.
I didn't want to skimp on aesthetic pleasure in this post, so here are a few more of my favorite paintings from this artist.
You can find prints of these works, and lots more of Bass's lovely things in her online shops via Etsy and Bigcartel.You're welcome.
 |
| "Happiness" oil on canvas by Katherine Elliott |
 |
 |
| Me. Oh yeah. 2009 in NYC. |
 |
| Me & a friend in front of FIT between classes. NYC, 2009. |
In other news: my online shops are up, but not quite open yet. I'm working on taking photos of all the work I've created for Rive Gauche Craft up till now. So far there are lots of illustrations, watercolor paintings, note cards, jewelry, knitted things for the home, and several sorts of bags. And of course, more is always on the way.
I find myself having so many ideas, that it's difficult to balance creating new projects while also building Rive Gauche Craft's online presence. Not to be deterred, I'm plodding along! (Well, still at full speed, but feels more like plodding)
Altea Tassel Scarf / Charlotte Olympia Clutch / Mr. Fox Illustration / Tiger Illustration / Fifi Lapin / Kenneth Jay Lane Flower Ring / Zebra Illustration / J. Crew Sweater / Ferris Wheel Photo
I started this project called 'Rive Gauche Craft' a while back. Like, a whiiiiiiiiiile back. Embarrassingly far back.
I'm happy (and terrified!) to say that I'm breathing life into it again. Since last time, I've gotten a few life type things out of the way. Now I'm ready to buckle up and FULL SPEED AHEAD. (<--Omg that was so nerdy.)
I actually love this as a matchy matchy suit. The crazy pattern makes it absolutely un-soccer mom.
These brocade trousers from Miu Miu's FW 2012 collection look almost juicy when paired with even more brights...and surprisingly modern when anchored with a beige jacket.
Runway photo via Style.com / Illustration by Garance Dore / Miu Miu trouser / Alexander Wang blouse / The Row leather jacket / Proenza Schouler leather tote / Miu Miu glitter pumps / Portolano gloves
Kind of like an Edward Gorey drawing. Lots of black. A bit of red. Elegant and timeless, amusing and clever.
Romwe Dress / Charlotte Olympia Platform Shoes / Smythson Leather Tote / Kate Spade Silk Shawl / Mellor Ware Animal Teaparty Teacup and Saucer / Beach Photography by Lupen Grainne / Orange Stone Pearl Cluster Ring / Kate Spade Watch
A little strange, a little whimsical, a little granny. Cat ladies. There's nothing quite like them.
I'll be the first to admit, I'm crazy about my cat. And granny sweaters. Vintage thingies. Awkward proportions. Lipstick that is literally shaped like a cat wearing a porkpie hat. Cats on my feet. Cat portraits on the mantle.
I take my cat for walks. Well, I do the walking while she rides in a basket under my arm. And when she's bad, I shout in a loud Italian-Russian hybrid accent that I will make a pair of gloves out of her. (Not entirely sure where/when that bit originated).
And now I reveal my secret indulgence. I love the Cat-Who books. The ones by Lilian Jackson Braun. They feature two crime-solving kitties : Koko and YumYum. I don't make this up. And a newspaper reporter with a mustache. And typewriters. No cell phones. No computers. Good old fashioned kitsch.But don't let me out-shine the original Cat Lady:
Fall details that add "warmth" rather than warmth + Climate appropriate actual clothing in subdued tones
Chloé dress / Givenchy shoes / Z Spoke by Zac Posen bag / Juicy Couture bracelet / Iman lipstick
My favorite color is grey, but beige comes in second place.
No! It isn't boring! It isn't an empty canvas waiting to be filled. It is the main event sometimes. That's the beauty of it. Stop trying to do things to it. Just let it be beige. Glorious beige.
That A.P.C shift dress? Yes, it's really just a big expanse of non-colored rectangle. I like to refer to it as modern and understated. I've paired it with a few notably whimsical elements that add just the right amount of feminine decoration to enhance it's beigeness. A dash of glitter across the shoes. A couple of immortalized gold cicadas. A little square purse to echo the shape of the tunic, trimmed with gold. And I couldn't resist the skulls.
There's nothing more alluring than a woman outfitted in something feminine, and sprinkled with subtle traces of mortality. You just can't pin her down. The effect is generally inviting, but on closer examination - a complete mystery.
A.P.C. Silk Dress / Maison Martin Margiela Leather Boots / Christian Louboutin Heels / Z Spoke by Zac Posen Patent Leather Clutch / Alexander McQueen Scarf & Ring / Stella McCartney Sunglasses
I won't lie: The world of colorful dressing can be perplexing. It isn't always formulaic.
I used to wear a self-imposed uniform of black, myself. I have always envied those women who were able to master color effortlessly.
The most important thing everyone should learn early about cultivating your own sense of style is to give up your certainty that some things just don't go together. You must try it on and see all of the elements working as one. You can't imagine. Throw your imagination out the window. No pictures, paper dolls, or what-have-yous. Nothing comes close to actually trying something on and literally seeing what happens.
BUT, A Few Guidelines Might be Handy...
1 // Balance colors and shapes. If the colors are bright, keep the silhouettes simple and classic. If you go crazy in one area, you must stay tame in another.
2 // NO Polyester. Bright things can look cheap more easily than neutrals. Stick with natural fibers like silk, cotton, cashmere, or rayon. Yes, I consider rayon a natural fiber since it's made from wood pulp.
3 // Keep bright colors within a similar range of intensity OR within a similar hue, i.e. tertiary colors, in which case the intensity (brightness and darkness) may vary.
4 // Give yourself a quick and painless study of basic Color Theory.
You might also like to have a go at Color Scheme Designer, to get some ideas of where to start in your own wardrobe.
Good Luck!
