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Shopping blog featuring products made by people not factories.

Beach Bound: The Retro Look

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Summer is going by fast, but there’s still time to hit the beach and soak up the sun. One of the hottest trends in swimwear this season is the retro look, featuring high waists, ruched tops, and draped bodices. While it may be intimidating to sport the same beachwear as pinup girls and classic beauties, this season’s suits flatter all body types and will surely set you apart from the crowd.

This red one piece from The Red Dolly recreates this season’s vintage-inspired style with a gathered bust, halter top, and classic, flattering shape. The suit’s subtle detailing will allow you to wear it next summer without looking last season.

The high waist bikini is for the more daring trend setter, but all you need to pull it off is a little confidence and some sass. This white suit from LA Drama Queen features sweet eyelet detailing and a little bow, making it both feminine and flirty. While the high waist may look intimidating, it will actually make you appear slimmer by complimenting your natural curves and holding in your tummy.

A true retro girl never leaves the house without her signature lipstick. This cherry red shade from Glory Box Cosmetics is a quick way to pull together your retro-inspired beach look.

The hot summer weather is sure to leave the sand scorching. You’ll need a cute pair of sandals in order to comfortably stroll down the beach. Hit the sand in this silver pair from Tuto. Made from leather, they have a simple, modern style that will freshen up this season’s retro look and make it decidedly 21st century.

There are still plenty of long summer days left to pull together this season’s retro-inspired beach look. Channel the classic beauties, head to the nearest body of water, and get ready to turn some heads!

Inspired by Nature Spirits

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There is something about a bluebell wood with dappled sunlight streaming through the leaves that makes me believe in nature spirits. They’re there, I know they are. I just wish I could see them. I imagine them often though, wearing clothes made from their surroundings; woven grasses, leaf skirts, flower petal dresses and crowns made from dew drops. They are in fact, just the sort of clothes I’d like to wear myself. Fortunately, talented people are out there making them in actual human adult sizes!

The above outfit by Spiralina from her shop Fractal Wings is made from raw silk with beautiful embellishments and I just love the way the shapes emulate summer leaves. I’m a big fan of her work and actively encourage you all to take a look at her shop. In fact I will show another one of her items because I love them so much. Her philosophy is to offer unique and beautiful clothing that brings out the goddess in us and it is clear that nature inspires her.

Another great item of human-sized clothing is this fantastically cool skirt with a sort-of leaf tail. Yes, I did indeed say a leaf tail. Unusual yes, but I love it! By Nature Reworked.

Nuno felting is like a mysterious magical technique that I will never understand no matter how many you tube tutorials I may watch. This butterfly top by FeuerundWasser utilises this wonder brilliantly. The colours are beautiful too, especially the way the greens and yellows blend into each other.

Miss Malaprop

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Of course you know Mallory from her blog, but have you seen her clothing line?

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MissMalaprop.com is where modern handmade meets sustainable design. On my website, I spotlight the best in independent designers & artists, eco-friendly and sustainable products, New Orleans & Gulf Coast based businesses and issues, and people & organizations who are working to make the world a better place.

My own creations reflect those same principals. I began selling my creations under the name “dismantled designs” in 2004, after arriving home from a study abroad program in London where I saw the amazing artists at Portobello Market and where I was inspired to begin selling my own reconstructed clothing & accessories.

My designs are all one-of-a-kind, handmade and original. Most are made from used or vintage clothing, or remnant fabrics and trims. Each piece is meant to have a slightly unfinished, rough-hewn, well-loved look about it. I hope you enjoy!

The Wizarding World of Fashion

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Yes, I am not ashamed to admit it: I am a Harry Potter fan! So much so, we have saved up to take the family to Harry Potter World in Florida later this year, and we simply cannot wait to see the next film in the series next week. We have been the family who have queued up outside the bookshop at midnight when the new books have come out and read them non-stop; we bought the Hogwarts scarves, the wands, the wands the following year when the newer edition had pretty lights, and and we have also been the ones (husband excluded) dressing up to go to the cinema on the opening night.

Unfortunately this year my daughter’s still on her school camp on that first night, so we have to wait a whole 3 days! Now we are completely used to being accused of being very uncool as far as the Harry Potter thing is concerned (they either haven’t read the books or are jealous of J K Rowling’s success), but even I had my doubts as to whether dressing up not on the first night, is too much. Those doubt were quickly quashed though, and we are now busy planning what to wear!

A quick internet search reveals some amazing fan-made costumes, but sadly they mostly aren’t for sale. On Etsy, I absolutely love this one above by Bbeauty Designs of Bellatrix lestrange’s outfit. Evil and nasty though the character is, there’s no doubt that Helena Bonham Carter always gets to play the most interesting people and wear the best clothes.

The detail by limebarb that has gone into re-creating the uniform of the Beauxbaton students is amazing! It is just like the ones in the films.

Lastly I love this charm bracelet by 1luckysoul. What a fantastic idea. It has kind of a steampunk edge to it too and is so original.

The only sad thing is, this is the very last film!

Local Artists Bloom in Austin, Texas

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You may be familiar with the annual South by Southwest Festival (SXSW) that happens every year around this time in Austin, Texas. Originally meant to be a showcase for music, SXSW has now become a first stop for the newest technologies on the block–Twitter was introduced there in 2007. As a nod to the festival I thought I’d showcase some lo-fi indie talent from the world of handmade. Technology is cool and all, but mostly because it gives me more access to unique handmade stuff that I can’t get anywhere else.

Necklace: Amy Holton combines turquoise, tiger’s eye, and mother of pearl in this lovely necklace. Amy left the corporate world to start her business creating wearable pieces of art.

Dresses: Ivana Krejci designs her peasant-inspired garments using repurposed, reclaimed, and new notions. I could see myself spinning around in the Alps signing the hills are alive wearing one of these dresses, what about you?

Hand Stamped Fabric: Malka Dubrawskyis the author of the book Color your Cloth: A Quilter’s Guide to Dyeing and Patterning Fabric. She also sells her hand stamped fabric in her online store, which is excellent in case you’re like me and not as talented as Ms. Dubrawsky. But if you want to give it a try, she also sells autographed copies of her book.

Flowers in Your Hair: When I read about Tiffany in her shop profile, I immediately thought about the movie Giant, and the role Elizabeth Taylor played–Leslie. Like the movie, Tiffany says that she always felt a little out of place living in Texas and loving the fancy frills that define the roaring twenties. But I think these blossoms are bold enough to make a big splash, even in the great big place like Texas.