Author: Erin

I'm So Glad That You're Mine (Almost)

Erin12 Comments

Simplicity_4248

Thanks to Janet at ZimmersArmy, this pattern is now mine. Or close to mine, as soon as the USPS delivers it into my waiting arms. I believe the only appropriate reaction is "oh boy!"

There are pockets, people. And look at that yoke. And I'm going to make it in just that buttercup yellow with a teal suede belt and teal shoes (…. um, someday).

I love a dress that has a narrow front and gathers in the center back of the skirt. It always feels like a train to wear — you just sweep into rooms (if you're so inclined).

Check out the looks that these two are exchanging. What happens next? My guess is: what always happens next when two people spend a little too long looking at each other.

Best New Project, History of Fashion Division

Erin7 Comments

OfAnother_6

Why is this woman smiling? (Well, because her dress is kick-ass, that's one reason.) The other is because she probably (like me) just found out about this wonderful new project from Minh-Ha Pham of Of Another Fashion. (Thanks Kat G for the link!)

Pham is collecting images of women of color, who, as she points out, are almost completely overlooked and left out of fashion histories. 

Her blog is fantastic and the pictures are wonderful. Highly recommended (and send her your pictures)!

Slow Art, Nice Clothes.

Erin10 Comments

Anglomania
[Image of the Met's Anglomania exhibit BY-NC-ND 2.0 by testpatern]

Mina sent me a list of fashion museums around the world from this Yahoo!Travel article — I've repurposed it into a wiki page over at the Vintage Pattern Wiki. Know of others? Please add them!

Which reminds me, do you all know about Slow Art Day? It's April 16 this year.

Slow Art Day was started to invite novices – and experts – to experience the art of looking at art slowly.

It's a very simple process. Volunteer hosts (not necessarily experts) invite people to come to a local museum and view a small number of works of art for 5 to 10 minutes each. Then everyone meets for lunch at a nearby cafe to talk about their experience. And all this happens the same day around the world.

In San Francisco, my son and I will be doing Slow Art Day at the Cartoon Art Museum — come join us!

If there's a fashion museum by you, why not sign up to host in your city? 

Wait, There Were Oscars?

Erin6 Comments

Advance 7942 Suzy Perette

I kid, I kid. At some point I will look at the pictures and opine, but really, in the Universe According to Erin, Christina Hendricks shows up in this Suzy Perette number, and everyone else goes home.

Christina, if you need this, check out the eBay auction. There's still time to bid! 

Fruit!

Erin10 Comments

Bonnie Cashin dresses

Robin sent a link to these Bonnie Cashin dresses, up for auction at Augusta Auction. The dark one on the right is actually two pieces: a bodice and skirt.

Neither dress is my size, but lordy, would I like a few (dozen) yards of that dark fruit fabric. (The bright dress has a similar palette to one of my favorite Liberty patterns, Enchanted Garden.)

(There are other pictures at the Augusta link, but for some reason having both the dresses facing left seemed humorous to me. They look like they're lining up to be bought!)

Airship Hostess Recruiting Campaign

Erin7 Comments

Vogue766

If I were recruiting for a new elite corps of airline hostesses (and who's to say I'm not?) I would definitely make this the uniform. See how cleverly the sergeant's stripes are incorporated into the bodice?

Thanks to Tammy O. for sending the link — the eBay auction ends, like, nowish, so jump if you want it.

Oh, and I think the model in gray is holding a swagger stick, yes? 

One Night Only …

Erin11 Comments

So I kind of forgot to mention that I'm signing books tonight in Burlingame. It's a lovely bookstore! They are super-nice! And if you show up in a dress I will give you a Dress a Day tape measure, while supplies last!

(The one night only part is kind of a lie, though, because I live in Burlingame, so technically I'm there pretty much every night.)

Hope to see you there!

[There *will* be an East Bay event, but I don't have my travel dates pinned down enough to schedule it yet. I hope to know this week …]

I Had No Idea

Erin6 Comments

Not being one of NYC's glamorous people, I didn't know that Elaine (yes, that Elaine) was a big dress-wearer. She sounds awesome, in every sense of the word:

“Measuring and creating clothing for Elaine was like painting a mural in motion.”

Read the rest of the story (in the New Yorker) here.