FUN FUN FUN

My New Black Lace Top and Top Shop Socks!

As the weather begins to change, there are many options for leg wear apart from the usual tights and leggings. 

A fifties inspired trend, now on the rise, makes great use of a under utilized piece of hosiery-the ankle sock.  Ankle socks are not just for the gym , you can find them in jazzy prints, lacy floral and simple fishnets.

  

This trend started emerging in fall 2010, and it has been fun accumulating pairs here and there. This particular pair of grey lace ankle socks are from Top Shop. 

Top Shop has a unique collection of hosiery, very London- Darling! Top Shop carries of the moment trends as well as the staples. They were even voted best place to buy hosiery in NYC by Time Out New York, that will all change once I open up my store....watch this space. 

My next hosiery purchase - Oroblu Annis Lurex Tights

While browsing on-line, I came across these Oroblu Annis Lurex tights. I will hopefully be adding them to my collection soon!

The Annis lurex tights like all Oroblu tights have an interesting color way; brown with a blue and yellow floral print. They feel as if might have been inspired by William Morris Wallpaper.

They will be the perfect pair for the changing season from winter to spring or even for fall.

Both of these William Morris Wallpaper patterns would be perfect designs for a pair of vibrant tights! 

William Morris Wallpaper

William Morris Wallpaper

Stocking Around Town with Lydia Kornegay

One of the best aspects of living in New York City is the sheer variety of the way people dress. You can, in just a few minutes, see someone in a complete hipster look, a high end sartorial stance and even someone dressed in newspapers. You never know who that person sitting next to you on the subway is, what they do during the day and who they can become at night.

Where I am currently working, Eileen Fisher, there is a very casual vibe. I guess that is due in part to the clothes that are designed here.  There are a few exceptions and Lydia Kornegay is one of them. Lydia wears both vintage and vintage inspired pieces with flair and allure. Her hosiery collection is both classic and attention-grabbing. Theses beautiful tights she is wearing have a black floral motif with a gray under color. She purchased these at Daffy's a great place to find of the minute trends in Hoisery!

I love the way her shoes and scarf coordinate!

Colleen Atwood inspired Outfit and Hold-Ups

Colleen Atwood is by far my favorite Hollywood costume designer. Yes, there are some pretty amazing costume designers out there, but by far Colleen Atwood has a  unique style and it runs through every film she is involved in from Tim Burton's Sleepy Hollow & Sweeny Todd to Tom Hank's That thing you do! She even did the costumes for NINE which were the only good thing about that terrible movie.

 

Whenever I think of Colleen Atwood I think of vertical stripes in black and white. A style I like to call Gothic, Steampunk meets German Expressionism with a lacy Victorian twist. However it’s hard to define her in only one category. Colleen’s costumes range from Silence of the Lambs to Public Enemy and even Memoirs of a Geisha and my personal favorite Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events.

Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland

Colleen's verison of the Red Queen

worn by Helena Bonham Carter*

Tim Burton's muse Helena Bonham Carter in her costume for Sweeny Todd*

A image from Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events. *

My favorite Scene from Sweeny Todd*

Did I mention Colleen did the costumes for Chicago too*

I would love the chance to chat with Colleen Atwood and talk about her inspirations and discuss my ideas for my designs for hosiery. I had a similar dream when I met Tim Burton at the Press Day for his show at the MoMa, I only got a chance for a brief discussion about what his films have meant to me. 

Needless to say my script that I have been holding on to for 13 years remained in my purse! But I did leave with an autograph in Max’s Nightmare before Christmas book. If I did get a chance to talk with Colleen Atwood, it would be different. I swear!

My tights today are the brand Bas Love Me. My favorite little indie brand from Paris! They always have a cute pin-up girl on the package and are scented! This particular pair is hold-ups with my favorite little touch, the name “love me” stitched into the top portion of the hold up are a sheer denier of 20 with vertical strips -very Colleen Atwood. I would say this pair are a mustfor any Steampunker out there! My top has the feel of a corset, especially since I must of shrunk it the last time I washed it, my button popped!

These hold ups are particualary special, my friend Laura Angela brought them when she came to visit from Paris last month-THANK YOU AGAIN!! Laura Angela!

*Note the legwear in the Colleen Atwood Film Stills

Hunting the Missing Cobra of the Bronx Zoo

We went to the Bronx Zoo this weekend in search of the missing snake. When we arrived we found out that she was found! THANK GOD, because I was very wary of visiting a zoo that had a cobra hiding in some place other than in a contained environment.
I never really liked snakes, but I wouldn't say that I am scared of them. I find them creepy and sneaky...
The Bronx zoo is hosting a competition to name that sly snake that escaped!  Max thinks she should called Slippy

Max and I posing at the Bronz Zoo

I am also using my Thursday Friday Together Bag whenever I can! Its not only stylish and interesting to look at it holds everything! Great for a MOM with style- and a suspicion of snakes!

These are another pair from Nordstroms! I felt these tights were appropriate for the snake hunt! They are a grey slate color with spirals that look like snakes climbing up my legs......


 

Futuristic Tron Tights

I am always amazed by the variety of hosiery that is out there in this world.  There is something for every style and taste. From the plainest Jane tights to stylish "of the moment" trends. Some of the most amazing hosiery are "of the moment" trends that reflect pop culture or a reinterpretation of a classic.

 Trends come and go, but style reamains- and sometimes they can be a total miss or against all fashion odds- successful. The  tights I am wearing today are truly an interesting addition to any outfit. They feel like I should be in the movie TRON, or an eighties advertisement for a computer. They also have the look of that old school Windows screen saver.

I purchased them at Goldenpoint a European hosiery store in 2009, I think they might be the brand Sisi but I didn't keep as detailed a record as I do now.