Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.
Little Houses was created in my East Vancouver apartment in 2006. I have a love for anything and everything created by hand. I make everything from full garments, to hats, wallets and accessories. Everything you see is constructed by me from sketch, to pattern, to garment.
What a great way to stay warm!
I craft these original classic children’s coats from premium vintage New Zealand wool, featuring my original hand embroidered dandelions and three large buttons to fasten. These are exquisitely crafted jackets, fully lined and built to last. This little coat is a size 1-2 , made from 100% pure New Zealand wool in grey.
Lining is a gorgeous winter red.
Handmade by Big Little.
Derringer Friday is a duo of transplanted southern gentlemen who like to wear nice things. Like so many independent designers I know, Scott Permar and Lukas Smith got started because they couldn’t find anything in stores that satisfied both their style and quality requirements.
Derringer Friday is about neckties, because that’s what Scott and Lukas like to wear. Although neither of them come from a design background, they know what they like, and they know what looks good. “At the end of the day, it comes down to taste rather than any specific skill,” says Scott, and he’s right. After all, many of the most successful menswear designers never set foot in fashion school.
I first noticed Derringer Friday ties at the Temporium, where their unusual colors and interesting shape caught my eye. As always, I noticed the fabric first: high quality wool, linen and seersucker in bold plaids and florals. The combination of texture, color, and pattern was really interesting, and a far cry from the boring “power ties” on the collars of most men in DC.
The most interesting feature, however, is the guillotine tip, a design detail that really sets Derringer Friday ties apart. They are constructed using an unlined, four-fold technique that Scott and Lukas devised themselves, after some research and trial and error. Their goal was to create a tie that would drape nicely and hold up well over time, all while looking stylish, and of course, not like everybody else.
The company came about as sort of a happy accident. Scott and Lukas have been friends for years, and have always been interested in clothes and style. After talking about starting something together for a while, they took the plunge by experimenting with necktie designs, and Derringer Friday was born. Their first collection debuted in April 2010.
All the ties are handcrafted in Washington, DC by Derringer Friday’s talented local production team. The most popular ties, not surprisingly, have been the brighter, more colorful designs, which also happen to be the ones that Scott and Lukas enjoy designing the most.
There are plans to add cufflinks and tiebars to the collection in 2011, but for now you can find handmade Derringer Friday neckties at their online shop, and at Alter Brooklyn in New York City.
Stacie May: This is a vintage inspired timeless version of the little black dress. It can be dressed up, worn gothic style, or made casual over some jeans. The dress is made from textured rayon and antique-style ivory lace that is hand cut to shape around the sleeves. Lace is also adorning the unique long “tie” and godets in the bottom for flare.
I am reliably informed by several fashion magazines, that ‘tribal’ is fashionable for this summer, though I’m not sure sure exactly what this means – especially as this has been a trend for the last few years, varying slightly each time. My mind is drawn towards a native American style – lots of tan leather and suede and fringes and tassels and beads. I also think of a not-very-good-but-popular BBC television programme my daughters used to love called Cave Girl. Although the plot lines were rather iffy, the costumes were cool. If my memory serves me correctly, Cavegirl ran around rocks and desert fighting rival tribes with wild untamed hair and wearing wrapped around pieces of hide and fur. To be honest, it was rather too sexy for a children’s programme (the boys were topless though, so it was ok!), but then tribal is a sexy look. There always seems to be plenty of skin on show; remember Destiny’s Child Survivor music video?
I found the above swimsuit on Etsy, by seller ElvenForestCreations and I love it! You would definitely be the coolest person on the beach wearing that.
This creation by CrudeThings looks fab on the mannequin with all those tribal accessories. In hot summer reds and yellows it is perfect for bellydancing the night away.
African inspired prints are around a lot this year too. I’m always a bit wary of wearing prints – they don’t suit my pale skin and not-so-skinny figure. However, I would give dresses like this one by VC2o a try. It is absolutely perfect for exploring exotic countries on your holidays, and I really like the hanky hem-line and muted colours.
It’s a great summer music festival look as well. It can be as costumey and dressed up as you like. I’d definitely wear this outfit by ConciousLvingThreads. A perfect tribal look and I always love an interesting back to a top.
