Summertime

Summer is upon us and the fur is flying.

 Clearly and infused with humor.....  faux fun fur is the finishing touch of the season.

     

 Here is yet another of my

 Couture Clutch placemat bags

 all fuzzy-n-fun and ready for summer.

From head to freshly painted toes.... faux fur accents are a summer delight not to be ignored... start  your trimming today! 

    

Velcro works best for clothing... double sticky tape or a hot glue gun for shoes, purses and
 any other accessory. Until this globe warms,
 faux fur trim is the “IT” look for summer.

 

                                Here's a totally refreshing summer cocktail:
                               vodka, triple sec, soda water, and a squeeze
                                of Meyer lemon... stirred into deliciousness
                              with an ice cube stick of basil and mint leaves.
                                           Yum yum! More please.

                      
The best summer read: GRACE.  Ms. Coddington will be your BFF before yer half way through her delightful story. Each photograph is a movie while every drawing reveals yet another slice of her charmed yet challenging life.

                           

                                  “OMG: why didn't I keep that... today it's back in style”.
                                    OK we've all played that sad tune between our ears.
                                            Today it's sleeves on a swimsuit. Trust me,
                                they are sprinkled throughout all the summer magazines.

I rifled through our family 8mm movies and found a reel of an Easter vacation in Palm Springs. WOW, in one single frame, there it was...  my “NOW” swimsuit with, can you believe it: sleeves! I took a picture of the frame, removed the family and sketched in the rest of the image. In more ways than I'd ever admit to, I've always been way, way out there. In more ways I will happily admit to, I've always laughed my through life.

   



 I'll bet some one with great style is wishing that she had held on to this elegant box purse. I spotted it at “All Things Vintage” in Oakland. The next week, after buying this chic bag... there it was on the catwalks. Sorry for its former owner. Hooray for me.

                                       

                                 Glitz is another winter look that's HOT,HOT, HOT for summer.
                                       This pants suit grabbed my eye and wouldn't let go.

                             The next week, this dress grabbed my piggy bank and nearly emptied it.
                                        Well, I guess for $15.00 at The Salvation Army,
                                           there were still a few dimes and nickles left
                                                  in my curly tailed pal for accessories.

I sliver leafed the plastic domes for earrings. The ginormous pearls were vase fillers from The Pottery Barn that I strung together. I glued six of my favorite champagne tops on to the 60s sliver purse. Here's an idea: your champagne will keep it's bubbles for days if you drop the handle of a silver spoon into the opening. Oh, if a necklace breaks when you are vacation this summer,  don't fret...you can re-string it with dental floss.

                                  I'm obsessed with the dressing that I make for my kale salad.
                                    Parmesan cheese, orange slices, red onion and hazelnuts ...
                                         finished off with Aftelier Perfumes pink pepper
                                     and pink grapefruit mists and heavenly  Italian vinegar.

                                          Peter has his favorite salad: butter lettuce, almonds,
                                           cranberries and my divine almond butter dressing.
                                           Because neither of us are ever willing to cave into
                                       the others favorite salad option, most nights I fix both.

                           Last night, I balanced the meal out with pineapple chicken sausages.
                                              Creative juices just love to flow in the kitchen.

Thank God that no one was around to see my ego crash and burn as I tried to wiggle into this  magnificent 50s Mr. Blackwell dress. In perfect condition, it is a simply stunning army green/brown wool knit dress with the most gorgeous chiffon beaded top: for me it's breathtaking.

                                         My vintage dress form looks stunning in it and so

                                          I'm labeling it a piece of fashionista designer art.

                                               Pocket squares have become bouquet broaches.

                                          I copycatted this one with the wide end of an old tie.

                                                              Here's a summer project.
                                Get your dental floss out and make a hodgepodge necklace
                                    using that box of broken beads in your jewelry drawer.
                                                Come on, you know you have that box.
                                                     If  RALPH can do it...so can you.

                                               
                                                           
So this summer, just toss on any blouse with a totally mismatched pair of slacks.   You'll be right in style. 

Retro primitive accessories... in bright colors... are a  truly happy 50's  look across the pond this summer. Best part for us on this side of the pond: they finish off to perfection, a "box of beads necklace" and a completely mismatched  slacks and shirt duo. It's fun; give it a try!

Lucky me...last month at our Antique Fair Flea Market....

along with my $40.00 Mr. Blackwell cocktail dress...

and after studying all of the primitive fashion statements

 in magazines and on line.. 

I found this raffia, leather and sweetly trimmed

 Italian vintage bag. Doncha love it.

                                                 Put your summer thinking cap on...because
                                   without really thinking,  it's amazing what you'll dream up.

                   

                             












                                  OK...  so it's time to twirl through summer  in flowers..... galore!!!
                                          Get out there...now! The days are already getting shorter.
                                  Remember to stop and smell the roses...they are divine this summer.   

Cinco de Mayo

“You could sell these” is the very flattering compliment I hear every time I wear one of my clutch bags...we do “wear” our purses...right? After years of making dozens of placemat clutches, I decided to film a “simple as pie” YOUTUBE tutorial so that everyone could copycat this accessory... in minutes.

I drew the story boards, my film maker husband shot the video and now you too...can get creative.

In this YOUTUBE you will see how I attach...just for fun... an oversized mirror on to the inside flap of each bag. Click below and in no time... you'll have one ready for your next party.

http://youtu.be/XfkSNZ7UCkQ



 

“Everything that's old is new again”. We're going to a '60s MOD gala next week. I rifled though the relics section of my closet and retrieved this nearly vintage Escada knit suit for the event and made ...yet another placemat clutch.
 

 

To celebrate Jean Paul Gaultier when he came to San Francisco, I trimmed a faux croc placemat clutch with post card pieces of Paint By Number pictures, his name with scrabble chips and turquoise smiling Buddha beads.

 

We downloaded his show into my Nano and then I built a necklace around it.

 

                               

Filled with enthusiasm and excited and wearing my FAV Gaultier jacket, I headed to the de Young museum to hear his talk. He was enthused and excited to see my ensemble and asked for my card: twice!

 

It's called: THE CHOP. A few nights ago at about 1:00 am, after seeing this CHOP cut in all of the papers and on line fashion magazines, I chopped my hair...way short. So far...I'm lovin' it.

 

Last winter, I CHOPPED these sweaters up into “PB” style: Before Prada designed her Spring 2013 look. After boiling and shaping two large cashmere sweaters, I cut flowers out of the pink one and CHOPPED the turtleneck, cuffs and hem off the blue one. I'll make a winter cap with the turtleneck piece, scrunchies and headbands with the cuffs & hem pieces. I finished the sweater with a few antique mother-of-pearl buttons centered on the flowers.

 

To complete MY Prouda Prada look, I wore a Prada pencil skirt and a fleurs galore Prada blouse.

 

Framed mirrors atop a woven straw place-mat, a few fav accessories and CHOP, CHOP... I'm ready to rock.

 

“Go figure/Who knew” that faux fur anythings would become such statement “must haves” this summer. I scored a few “yah coulda fooled me” (made in Japan in 2000 ) rolls of faux fur at our local antique fair. Tap plastics cut the bracelets to size. Worn between otherwise noisy, stacked up bangles, I'm rarely out the door without one..or two.
 

Chic and practical rarely describes a guy's thing. Now that cell phones can do anything, it's the only thing a guy needs. To make this accessory accessible, I accessorized it. I CHOPPED the tips off a tie and sewed the bottoms closed.

 Give this a try: it's just like sewing up a turkey. No one will ever see your handy work. How way cool is this pocket square chic and practical detail that encases a cell phone and a pen. Can't wait to get creative with the center section of the tie... maybe a belt, headband, bracelet, or trim on a purse?

For the way I roll, Instagrams are instant gratifications. Yet another cell phone application I love.
 

           

Here in California, we are so happy when Cinco de Mayo falls on a margarita infused weekend. I was double happy this weekend when INSTYLE on line informed me that my “Day of the Dead” rain boots/Burberry waxed rain jacket combo would be their pick of the week. Last fall, they also liked a combo a sent in to the magazine. OK... it's happy hour and the BARZ open.