Intense blue was seen all over directional shows from the SS17 runways. In Paris Nicolas Ghesquière combined blue and black into one piece for Balenciaga while in New York Diane von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta partnered blue with black together as well.
Here, Shu Pei -- who is one model who frequently can be counted on to be wearing some version of color -- channels the same color combination with her black shoes, black bag, and black trimmed blazer.
After church, my lovely family, decked out in their beautiful Christmas attire, strolled out of the church and made their way across the parking lot to our van. I watched from the church steps as my husband unlocked the door and my daughters and son climbed in.
As I approached the van, I heard a 6 year old girl screaming at the top of her lungs. The screams could be heard for miles and echoed loudly off of the church steeple. A chill ran up my back, fluttered across my shoulders and raced up the nape of my neck - where there it sent a chill through my body so cold that it could have frozen a raw chicken in two minutes flat.
I looked into the back seat and there on the floor was the six your old girl, in her beautiful velvet Christmas dress, hair pulled into a bun at the back of her head and held beautifully with a black velvet bow, and lovely black sequined shoes on her six year old feet. Straddled on top of her, also lying on the the floor, was the 10 year old boy, in his black church suit with the crisp pink shirt and gray speckled tie. They looked up at me, as I stood in the door - my children.
I closed the door, the two children still sprawled out on the floor, climbed quietly into my seat up front, closed my door and then screamed, "YOU ARE GONNA' GET IT WHEN WE GET HOME," to my boy child, now climbing like a little zoo-monkey - into his seat. Across the aisle from him was my 6 year old daughter, crying pathetically because she had been trampled to near death by her zoo-monkey-brother trying to get into the car before her ... and her beautiful bun was no longer nice and neat and pretty - but now a stringy mess of hair flowing down her back. She could barely catch her breath through all the sobs and tears.
I turned back in my seat with a huff and looked over at my husband, who was clueless as to why I was so angry and simply said, loudly, "HE IS GONNA' GET IT WHEN WE GET HOME." My husband shook his head in acknowledgement.
In the back seat, the little zoo-monkey boy kept saying, as we drove away from the church - away from the other civilized families and their darling little church-going children, "What do you mean, 'Get it?'" And I would not answer. "What do you mean - just explain to me what you mean, 'Get it,' so I'll know what to expect." I still did not answer and was very much enjoying seeing him sweat, for a change. "Come on ... what do you mean?" he begged and begged and begged.
On the upside ... Sometimes I just want to wring their necks and then sometimes I just want to break out in hysterical monkey laughter - "What do you mean, Get It?" - he was so scared and he must have asked 15 times - like I was going to string him up and hang him from a banana tree or something - I was so pleased with myself that, after 10 years with this zoo-child, that I had actually said something that scared him to death - said something that really had him worried - it was a very proud moment. (*sigh*)
I have been tagged again for the 7 Random Things Meme by Forgetfulone and also by Mary @ Happenings Today - thanks ladies for thinking of me.
So, I am going to list 14 things and here it goes:
1. I am a lot funnier in my head - than I am in real life. I can be funny - when I am around the right people (like a few of my closest friends and my family), but I am not one of those people that humor comes to quickly or easily - except inside my head. In my head ... I am HYSTERICAL! This is also true about how I perceive myself - I am way better looking in my head - than I am in real life! Also ... a lot smaller.
2. We have a ghost in our house. Our house is about 40 years old and the ghost lives in the hallway that leads to our bedrooms. When I (and my mother) have seen this ghost, he is always crossing the hallway (from my twins' bedroom) and goes into the bathroom. He wears a black trench-like coat, black boots and black hat (like in cowboy movies). The neighborhood we live in is well known for a particular Indian Tribe living here. I believe this ghost is from that time. My mother and I are the only ones to have ever seen him, but I have seen him at least 25 times over the past 13 years. It has been a while since I have seen him and I have recently began to believe that he has moved from the hallway to my bedroom and sits at the foot of my bed (as I feel the bed move, like someone is sitting - jump up even to see who is there - like one of my kids or a cat - and there is never anyone there. I usually have to then, pull the covers over my head so the ghost won't come near me). I've never been afraid of this ghost - and I am not one to really believe in this sort of thing - but he does live in my house.
3. On a scale of 1 - 10, if you were to ask me how happy I am in my life ... I'd have to say that I am at a 10. And, this is not something that I have just suddenly come to realize - I think I have been at a 10 for a lot of my life. I seldom feel as though my life could be any better. I don't believe that is true of very many people and I feel fortunate to be able to say that. I thank God often for blessing me and for giving me my wonderful life.
4. I totally believe in God. I believe he is standing next to me and guiding me - all the time. I truly believe he is completely aware of how much I love him.
5. Something I hate ... let me list something I hate. I hate "high-maintenance" friends. I want my friends to be simple. I want to be able to call you and say, "What are you doing?" and I want you to tell me, "I'm mopping the kitchen floor." I want you to know that I care about that - I want you to know that you can tell me that, even though it may seem insignificant - I want for that to be how simple our relationship is - that we talk about stupid crap and can turn that stupid crap into an hour long, ridiculously funny, memorable conversation. I want my friends to be completely and emotionally capable of dealing with me and me with them - on the simplest and purest level - no pretenses. I am too old and too tired to have to figure you out - I don't have the patience for that anymore.
6. I do not like spaghetti, pancakes, watermelon, sloppy Joe's, peanuts, cinnamon rolls or pretzels. I can eat all these things, but I don't like them.
7. I am nocturnal. I've always been a night-owl and love the night. I also love a dark room and seldom turn on many lights in the room I am in. I also turn off lights in every room that I think is too bright. My family is just the opposite and are always turning on every light in the room and I go behind them and turn most of them off. My mother complains constantly that I should open the blinds or turn on a light. I like the way a dark room, a cloudy day or the night makes me feel - cozy and closed in. I do, however, also ... worship the sun and love summer and stay outdoors a lot when it is hot.
8. I'd rather give a gift, than receive a gift. I love buying gifts and am always looking for a reason or occasion to do so. I think I drive my friends crazy because I buy gifts often for, what seems like, crazy reasons. I love buying gifts.
9. I keep a lot of lists. I am a list maker. I get this from my Dad - he was and is a list maker. I have lists to keep up with my lists.
10. I am drawn to clocks. I am also drawn to lamps, vacuum cleaners, socks, rugs and throw pillows. I have to talk myself out of buying these items every time I go into any store.
11. I often look at my husband and think, "He is so handsome - how did I get such a handsome man?"
12. We have 9 TVs in our house and one in my van. There is always a TV on, somewhere in our house - sometimes many are on. I keep a TV on at all times when I am home alone - for the noise. I turn the TV on as soon as I wake up. I don't watch TV, hardly ever, during the day ... but it is always on. It is on right now in my bedroom and I have no idea what channel it is on or what show is on.
13. If I had to admit to one regret I have in my life, it would be that I did not do more with my life. While I am completely content and happy with how my life has turned out and totally happy with everything that it is ... I believe that I honestly have not reached or lived up to my true potential. I wish I had had more drive, direction, ambition and detailed goals, when I was younger that might have led me to pursue a path of something that I loved (like animals or art or writing).
14. I do not like to walk or run - anywhere. I don't know why ... but I don't want to do either. I don't have any desire to hike or enter marathons or walk from the farthest parking spot in any lot. I am not a lazy person and I don't think there is anyone in my life that would say that I am - but I don't want to walk or run - ANYWHERE!
Thanks again to Forgetfulone and Mary @ Happenings Today for tagging me for this meme. I know I am supposed to tag seven more people, but I am going to leave this tag open and if you'd like to take it and do it - consider yourself tagged.
Matching the black and white themed contrast of her top and skirt with her black and white ballet flats.
It is a morning when my twins are at basketball practice.
Alexis and I are home alone, as Little Billy had gone to work on this day with his Daddy.
I am in a rush, as I have to go pick the girls up at their school and I scream down the stairs, "Alexis - you have to come and get ready to go. I'm going to pull out your clothes and you need to come and get dressed."
She heard what I said and yelled back, "I'll pick out something - I want to pick it out," and she came running up the stairs as fast as she could run - so as to catch me before I picked out her clothes.
I stopped looking in her closet and turned to leave her room. I turned back and said, "Okay - but don't pick out anything WEIRD - just pick out some pants and a shirt."
As I was walking down the hallway I heard her say, "What do you mean 'Anything weird?'" in her little diva voice, like how-dare-I-insinuate-that-she-has-no-taste!
I just smiled.
On the upside ... She did okay picking out her outfit on this one day. But ... for future reference ... anything weird includes:
Do I need to go on ...
My son has been into Sharpies lately. Over the summer he begged me to buy bunches of them.
So I did. BIG mistake!
He proceeded, the entire summer, to Sharpie anything and everything he could think of! I'd walk into his room and there was constantly this overwhelming smell of the Sharpies (you know the smell) and him there on the floor, hovered over an old toy or something ... ee,ee,ee,ee (*the sound a Sharpie makes*). I began to worry that he was doing that sniffing or huffing I've heard about and so I would tell him to "Stop already" with all the coloring of everything (entire shoe boxes, small trucks, treads of shoes, bills of ball caps ...). "STOP ALREADY. And ... if you have to do it - open a window or take it outside."
It became a joke in our family and with friends - this strange obsession he had with Sharpies. I'd joke to friends, "Oh ... it's the same refrigerator - we just left The Boy too long alone - WITH A BLACK SHARPIE - in the house."
I swear - he has colored everything!
I think we should have him Sharpie that old Studebaker we have sitting in our driveway (long story - will one day write about that under the category: My husband and his redneck hobbies). Color it black (all of it - ee, ee, ee, ee, ee) - put some bright orange and red flames on the hood and down the sides - insert the SHARPIE logo in scroll writing amidst the flames - send it to the Sharpie company as a commercial for this product - get some money out of this CRAZY obsession.
I try to encourage my children's artistic enthusiasm - I do. But Son ... STOP ALREADY!
On the upside ... He's not coloring as much lately as he was over the summer. Maybe he just had too much time on his hands - ya think?
I have been tagged by Dawn @ Renaissance Mama for the 5 Things You Love Tag. So here it goes:
1.) I love the memories I have of my grandmother when she was alive and living up on Herman Street in West Virginia. I would go there in the summers with my family and there would always be uncles and aunts and lots of cousins. The house was tall and white with many large windows and porches and a basement with secret rooms. There were apple trees. There was always laughter. It was a joyous time.
2.) I love the memories I have of my grandfather. Spending time in the summers at the farm, roaming the hills, picking black berries, chasing cows and kittens and ponies. Climbing the ladder in the barn into the hay loft. Sitting on the swing on the front porch of the old farm house. Singing and running and playing ... and sleeping out under the canopy of the black walnut trees up on the hill. I can still hear the sound of his voice calling us kids ... down to the grain shed or from inside the barn. He always wanted us near. He loved having us around. It was a magical place. Those were wonderous times. I think of him often.
3.) I love the memories I have of each of my children's births. My first born, my twins - complete joy and pride! My second born, my son - elation! My last child - an awaking, complete and simple love. All a blessing - their births - their lives.
4.) I love the memories I have of my wedding day. How I can see clearly ... every minute of that day, from the second I woke up until the moment I went to bed. How I can hear the music and see all the loving faces. How I can recall my excitement and happiness and love. How I felt the very moment I became a wife and looked into my soul-mate's eyes ... and he became my husband.
5.) I love when someone makes me laugh so hard that my cheeks begin to hurt, tears roll down my cheeks and I can hardly catch my breath. I love a person that can bring me to feel this level of joy ... of happiness. I am fortunate to have many such people in my life.
Thank you Dawn for considering me for this special meme. I am not going to tag anyone in particular for this 5 Things Meme right now, but if you would like to do it, feel free to take it - it is fun.
The top photo is of Kaaren, a piano and singing teacher. Her shoes are from John Fluevog , her coat from Darling Town Australia, her purse from Fremantle in western Australia, and her scarf is vintage.
The second picture is of Anna standing on the car lift at the parking garage on Mercer and Houston. I like how she color coordinated black, blue, and grey and how she spices everything up with the red, black, and yellow from her scarf.
Black and White prints are in! For Spring/Summer 07 Vera Wang, Diane von Fusternberg, Ralph Lauren and Tuleh all featured black and white prints. I like how she couples it with a cropped coat.
Alexis and I are in the car, riding on the way to the grocery store.
She says, "Audrey is going to Vegas." Then she says, "She's not really going - I'm just going to pretend she is."
I say, "Why?"
She says, "Just cuz." Then she says, "You get lost in Vegas," not really talking to me, just sort of a statement.
But, I say, "Why?"
I see her face in the rearview mirror, her eyes squinting a bit and her head cocked sideways and she says, "LOST Vegas - Duh."
Silly me.
Then she begins to talk about the book she is reading at school, called The Bus Driver From The Black Lagoon. She says, "Lagoon," and then giggles. "Lagoon ... lagoon ... lagoon. I like that word. Lagoon ... la..goon ... l.a.g.o.o.n ... la..goooon ... lagoonnnnn, "she goes on for about twenty lagoons.
(*mom's eyes temporarily cross and imaginary stars floating above mom's head*)
I didn't dare ask her what this book was about - some things I just have to leave alone ...
On the upside ... Maybe that bus driver is cruising along and loses her way ... drives right off the road into a black lagoon - in Lost Vegas. I don't know. But ... I. Know. How. She. Feels!
Spotted in Nolita, Chelsea is a former intern for Amanda Brooks and she attended Parsons. I've seen a lot of "boho chic" this summer, but don't recall ever seeing it in black as worn here by Chelsea. If you like cats and fashion then maybe you have something in common with her and would enjoy a visit to her style blog at: ilovecatparty.blogspot.com .
Simone Carvalho (Ford, NY)
Vertical black stripes add body contour to Simone's Little White Dress. Time to forget the Little Black Dress with the coming Spring and Summer months :)
Before I went to the BlogHer conference a couple of weeks ago, in San Francisco, I wrote the post Help - I Am Stepping Way Out Of My Comfort Zone. In it I joked about taking this old-lady-grocery-cart to haul all of my stuff around to the conference sessions.
Many people commented that I SHOULD NOT take one of these old-lady-carts, as I would embarrass myself - look silly. No one said exactly that - but, that's what they meant.
So ... I didn't.
But - I knew I had to have something to haul all my stuff - my laptop and binders and the pens with On The Upside on them - my little swag gifts - all my stuff. I also needed somewhere to put the swag gifts we were given.
If I am anything - I am organized. I have always been organized. I don't do anything or go anywhere - unorganized.
So, when I went to BlogHer - this is what I took:
This little black rolling case held my laptop, pens, bag with my swag gifts, camera - all my stuff in it. The polka dotted see-through bag I'd use when I didn't want to drag the rolling case around. I got these black (and polka dot) bags at Michaels and I just loved them. The BlogHer tote was given to everyone by Cafepress.
I just thought I'd show you this, so that everyone that read my post before, wouldn't worry that I actually took one of those old-lady-carts.
I have to say - this case/purses from Michaels worked out wonderfully. But ... I totally believe that all the matchy-matchy - totally organized - look ... probably bugged people.
Nothing bugs other women more than a woman that is carrying her crap better than someone else - you know.
Nothing bugs other women more than a woman that looks put together.
Nothing bugs other women more than a woman that has accessories with polka-dots on them.
I hope I didn't rub anyone funny, but I often do, as me - and my organizing obsessiveness - comes across as OBNOXIOUS and I know it.
I'm sorry about that.
I don't do it to bug people.
I do it to keep the things in my life in order!
On the upside ... Honestly --- I don't give a hoot what other people think about me - I never have. If I did BUG anyone - that's their problem. They can just go over to Michaels and buy some of those bags for themselves - they had them in several other colors. And - I have to say ... I was not as put together as all these bags might have have made me look - but ... I don't mind if it came across like that. Honestly ... I can use all the help I can get!
Yes - The tote is a scrapbooking tote - from Michaels - very cool little case!
Hosted by Cecily and Mama Geek
It's true ----
I have lots of shoes.
I have shoes in just about every color.
I have flat shoes and tall shoes ...
I have lots of ... tall shoes.
And ... I have boots.
I have tons of boots - in brown leather and black leather and off white and tan and red and leopard print. Lots of boots.
I have shoes in polka dots and checks.
I have shoes adorned with rhinestones and sequins and gems.
I have not worn all the shoes I have.
There ---
I said it.
I buy them and sometimes I don't ever even wear them.
Like these purple shoes:
I bought these shoes last year for $10.00. I've never worn these purple shoes anywhere, but I had to buy them because ... they were only $10.00!
I have to say - these shoes don't look too awful bad in these photos, but in real life - they look like elf shoes. The toes are an odd point and the bows are tweed.
I have yet to wear these purple elf shoes, but ... I'm still keeping them - you never know when or where I might wear them.
I think shoes definitely make an outfit and can tell you an awful lot about a person.
(These are my Queen shoes - I wear them with my furs, diamonds and tiara - hee hee).
I LOVE these shoes. I also have them in black.
I am one of those people that you never know what shoes I might be wearing.
I am honestly toooo old to be wearing some of the shoes I choose to wear - but - I don't care - I still wear them.
I'm also probably toooo un-cool to be wearing some of the shoes I try to pull off - I don't care - I still wear them.
Then - there are those shoes I think are cool - that really aren't - and, my kids don't hesitate to let me know how lame they are.
I wear some shoes - honestly - that have way more personality than I do!
I do like shoes.
I have said it before - I do not have enough places or opportunities to ever wear all the shoes I own and yet ... I keep all of them and ... continue to bring home more shoes to add to my collection. One day ... my shoe closet is going to be so heavy that I am afraid it might just fall right through the floor into the garage below.
When that happens ...
I'll have to walk all the way downstairs ...
To get my shoes.
-
Great casual outfit: grey and black.
Quirky cool. Tie on the left, vest on the right. Cool hair too!
This girl was amazing in person. I loved the striped zipper details her coat, how it mixed with the striped stockings.
The Little White Dress (LWD). Anna Sui, Catherine Melandrino, and Zac Posen along with a plethora of other designers showed the Little White Dress overtaking the Little Black Dress (LBD) for summer 2007. And I thought Little Italy was being overtaken by Chinatown.
Maria Flavia (Brazil)
Kinga Rajzak (Slovakia)
Subdued yet varied. Jac always has something going on style wise besides the ubiquitous all black model uniform.
Hosted by Cecily and Mama Geek
The date is: October 1, 2008
Characters:
Darling Daughter: When are we going to put out OUR Halloween decorations? *gleeful expression*
Grouchy Mama: *thinking ... Oh, man - here we go again* *forces smile*
Darling Daughter: When? Can we do it today? *eyes light up bright and shiny*
Grouchy Mama: *thinking ...Oh, sheesh - can't we just skip the orange and black thing this year?* *forces smile*
Darling Daughter: Everyone has g.o.o.d decorations, 'cept us. Why don't we have any g.o.o.d Halloween decorations?" *sad frown*
Grouchy Mama: *thinking ... Because ... the only g.o.o.d Halloween decorations are those that keep their ugly orange and black wings and hats and skeleton bones -- in the Rubbermaid box in the darkest corner of the storage shed. And ... stay on the shelves at the Target stores. Or ... are in the houses and on the lawns of other people.* *forces smile*
Darling Daughter: How come you don't like Halloween? *confused*
Grouchy Mama: Where'd you get that idea? What makes you think I don't like Halloween? *forces smile*
Darling Daughter: I can just tell. *walks away*
Grouchy Mama: *Evil giggle* I'll get some *damn* Halloween decorations ... but ... let's wait until the middle of October to put them up ... okay? *thinks ... That way I only have to look at the things for 2 weeks*
Grouchy Mama: Yes, I am! *thinks ... AND ... come bright and early Saturday morning ... all those gaudy decorations are coming down - to be shoved back into those Rubbermaid boxes and carted back to the shed - YIPPIE* *big smile*
Jessica : Cracked-leather paneled shorts , Ambient Viscose Blazer, Puckered Lace Cami Top all by Helmut Lang
Cracked-leather paneled shorts, Ambient Viscose Blazer, Puckered Lace Cami Top all by Helmut Lang
Jessica: Combo Cracked Leather Jacket in Black
Combo Cracked Leather Jacket in Black
Rachel : Mid-rise jersey-panel legging jeans
Graphite-print jersey tunic
As promised, here are a few more outfits from Helmut Lang, three pieces of which I was able to get commentary on directly from the designers Michael and Nicole Colovos.
In the first photo, Jessica is wearing a pair of Cracked Leather Panel Shorts. Inspiration for these was derived from an old pair of military shorts. Cut up lines, added seams, and plays on the pocket size break the piece away from a classic military aesthetic and add that signature Helmut Lang modern, architectural touch . The idea was to make them a luxurious pair of shorts with a beaten up texture, hence the "cracked" name.
In the second series, Jessica is wearing the Combo Cracked Leather Jacket designed to be worn as a modern sweatshirt. The expensive cracked leather dresses the jacket "up" and the jersey simultaneously dresses it "down" via the comfort factor of a traditional sweatshirt material. The theme of contrast --one the Coloveses work with often -- is evident with the 3D texture of the cracked leather when displaced against the flat jersey fabric. While it's designed as a leather jacket, it's still not so precious that you can't dress it down.
In the second series, Rachel is wearing signature Helmut Lang denim/jersey legging jeans, best summed up in one word CONTRAST--a recurring theme in the Colovoses designs. Contrast the texture and wash of the denim with the flat jersey fabric. Contrast the the traditional workman fabric (western wear) made modern via sinewy lines for flow. Contrast traditional plain stitched denim with denim that has interesting wavy visuals, a result of the curvy jersey/denim stitching. It all flows together on the body for comfort and maximum visual interest.
It was a pleasure to meet and greet with everyone at the Helmut Lang team. All the way from Holly and Shaye straight to the Colovoses themselves. Thanks!
![Cos Spring/Summer 2012 [Women’s Collection]](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nPGqw7AIF9w/TraiFunEjKI/AAAAAAAASvQ/-sPN2dgoYZk/s1600-rw/cosspringsummer2012wcqc01.jpg)
