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The Black and White Dress

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Whether you’re celebrating this Valentine’s Day with your partner or with your friends, do yourself a favor and leave those pink and red outfits in the closet this year. Instead, wear something classic – a black and white dress – and you’ll be sure to stand out in the sea of lovebirds and perhaps even attract cupid’s arrow. This elegant color combination brings back memories of classic starlets, silent movies, and, of course, romance.

For those with modern tendencies, this black and white dress by elbling is simply stunning. With asymmetrical color blocks and sleeves as well as beautiful draping and a comfortable fit, this dress is both elegant and dramatic – a rare combination. Paired with a few brightly colored accessories, it is an instant classic that can be dressed up or down depending on your Valentine’s Day plans.

If you don’t mind showing off a little leg this Valentine’s Day, consider this gorgeous lace dress by LaBronz. The simple 60s-inspired cut compliments the drama of the lace, creating a classic and romantic look that is sure to catch the eye of your loved one or inspire envy in your friends. The short cut is offset by the 3/4 length sleeves and a simple round neckline, making it a classy choice for your night of romance.

Paired with colorful heels, this a-line dress by aliceanna features a full skirt that’s made to be twirled around the dance floor. The bold black and white fabric is both playful and whimsical while the H-strap back adds a touch of sophistication and romance. The thick black band will highlight the smallest part of your waist and ensure that you look good no matter if you’re dancing to swing or salsa.

The gorgeous photo featured at the top of this post was taken by Amelia Kay Photography.

Spinswim

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I’m not a knitter, but I love the look of handspun yarn.

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Danika: I love combining quality fibres and found materials to create beautiful, one of a kind yarns. I’m always experimenting to discover new, unexpected color and fiber combinations. I rarely repeat an exact colorway, so everything I make will always be one of a kind.

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The June Bride fabric brooches

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Beautiful felted jewelry made from recycled sweaters by The June Bride.

thejunebride-thumbBorn in a field somewhere in the world, each of these delightful brooches began as pure lamb’s wool, nature’s soft coat for a baby sheep. Lambswool is much softer and finer than the wool of a mature sheep. After the careful process of shearing, the wool was then cleaned, carded, spun, dyed and knit. For a time it existed as a garment, aptly warming its wearer better than almost any natural substance. And then, some way or other, it found me.

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thejunebride-thumb2When I come across the right sweater, I bring it home and think about it… imagining its future life. Once I’ve settled on a happy fate, I thoroughly wash it, felt it, dry it, stretch it, cut it and shape it. Some of the wool becomes other useful objects, but my favorite little things to make are these brooches. Each type of wool has its own characteristics, and I thoughtfully choose the flower shape to best highlight its qualities. I match the petal color to a shade of green for the leaves that peek out the back to make a harmonious finished product. Some have a vintage button for a center, some have a simple gold center and some have no center at all.

Modica Design

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Modica Design: Inspired by an unlikely marriage of materials, I made my first line of resin-infused wood jewelry in 2002. At that time, I majored in furniture design, while also exploring metalsmithing. Both disciplines share many processes; cutting, filing, sanding, polishing, etc. However, the scale of the finished product is dramatically different.

The intimate scale of metalsmithing held a distinctive allure and I found myself incorporating materials I knew and loved from furniture into my jewelry. Wood, providing warmth and texture. Resin, providing light and color. Together they create a unique dialog between contrasting worlds. Natural meets man-made. Opaque houses translucent. Warm collides with cool. The union of materials along with my commitment to high-quality, handcrafted jewelry is what gives this line a fresh, contemporary elegance.