My friend Dikka “No Scrap Too Small” is organizing a show of recycled fashions in Seattle’s Greenwood Parade. More info at Sew Up Seattle http://www.sewupseattle.blogspot.com/
Dikka is part of the great Re-Skilling of America, teaching free sewing classes (using all recycled materials) every month.
Last week I had the honor of being a critic at the Seattle Central Community College photography portfolio review. I came away absolutely overcome and somewhat intimidated by the creativity, energy and unstoppable confidence the students had. It is wonderful to see creative people transcending their mediums and becoming adept in all forms of artwork whether that is photography, film or design. Technology has changed the business for the better and these students are taking full advantage of that fact.
Some of the most astounding creativity, the part I wasn’t there to officially critique but naturally did given my interest in sociology and design, was in the tattoos and piercings I saw on display. All but two of the young women I met with were either pierced or tattooed or both. Not just a little nose ring here or a dainty butterfly there. I’m talkin’ full on graphic novels from shoulder to wrist; chest tattoos covering cleavage and clavicle, elaborate license plates aka: trampstamps peeking out of low cut jeans, eye brow piercings, tongue piercings, nose, lip, cheek, you name it, I saw it and it was tatted and pierced.
Let me restate once more, these were lovely young women with gorgeous skin, nice figures and beautiful hair. The same girls, who in my day babysat for extra money, ate Sunday dinner with grandma and wrote thank you notes with smiley faces—regular, girl next door girls with modern day fairy-tales and cheap jewels adorning their nubile bodies.
At first I had a hard time focusing on the work in the portfolios, I was distracted by the colorful narratives decorating forearms, knuckles and neck napes. A woman talked enthusiastically about her work and all I could see was the jewel above her lip moving in sync with her expressions. “That must hurt,” was all I could think. “How does it stay in place I wondered? Is there a back to it, like an earring? What happens if it gets infected?” I worried. “And if she gets bored with the piercing or suddenly finds it inappropriate will it haunt her with an unsightly gaping hole?” These were the things I pondered while this woman—this talented woman was presenting the work she had labored over for two years. I tried to focus. I told myself I was dated, old; a fuddy-duddy but I couldn’t take my eyes off the jewel bobbing above her lip.
Another woman, a Natalie Portman look-a-like had a goolish story sleeve on one arm. It made me wonder if the other arm, the one without the tattoos, got cold sometimes. “What will happen,” I projected, “when her arms get flabby and the stretched out sleeve starts to pill? Clearly there will be a cosmetic remedy for that? Maybe a business idea for me?”
Finally I focused. I forced myself look at the work. I was impressed again and again. Eventually I lost sight of the tattoos and the piercings and began to see the work for what it was…fresh, pure, skilled and original, not unlike what I saw on lips, chests, calves and wrists.
Later that evening when I got home I dug the business cards out of my purse that I had collected from the group of hungry budding photographers. I wrote notes on each card to remind me about who did what and what I liked about each of their portfolios. I chicken scratched details of what each person looked like so I could put a face to the work. Naturally I noted who had what tattoo and who had what piercing—clear markers to help me identify each one.
This got me thinking….what are tattoos and piercings all about anyway? Is it a generation’s attempt to create their individual identity? Is it a form of promoting a storyline like people do on Facebook and twitter? Has this culture of ours become so generic in our Gap and Old Navy fashion that we can no longer make a statement with our clothes and instead we are moved to stand out on the canvas of the skin? Or are tattoos just modern day war paint signifying the battle of a homogenous conformity? Or simply this generation’s attempt at anti conformists conforming?
I asked my fifteen year old stepson what he thought tattooing and body piercing was all about. I ran a couple of my sociological theories up the flag pole with him. He shrugged and said “you’re over thinking it, sometimes a tattoo is just a tattoo. It’s like art, you buy a painting you like and you hang it on a wall. It’s no more complicated than that.”
But I don’t agree. Like shopping, when shopping is never really about shopping, piercing and tatooing are never as simple as just hanging a piece of art on the surface of your skin; it’s so much more than that. If there is one thing I have learned on this diet it is that presenting oneself in the sea of people is vastly more complicated than getting dressed in the morning or buying a new ensemble in a store. Self expression, regardless of your medium, is an attempt to prove you matter in a larger world. Tatooing and piercing, I am conviced, is just one other form of doing that. These artists are once again trancending their medium and expressing themselves in anyway they know how–there is real beauty in that.
My friends and I would shop at ecoSkin; pre-teens would shop at ecoSkin. My mother would shop at ecoSkin, and even my Aunt would shop at ecoSkin. That is only one of many appealing things about this earth-friendly brand made and designed in L.A. by industry veteran Sandy Skinner. Offering everything from casual shirts to evening-worthy dresses, there is something for everyone and every moment of your life. Outfits come in toned-down blues, reds and pinks as well as neutrals such as grey and beige. Their looser tunics and summer dresses caught my eye, and I know my mother would love the selection of wrap dresses; they are perfect for the office. The clothes are begging you to style them which allows fashion freedom and the ability for them to easily slip into any existing wardrobe. With Sandy closely watching every step of the process to make sure the clothes are made with environment in mind, you are sure to walk away feeling guilt-free and with a jump in your step that these flirty pieces will surely produce.
Twistflower Dress
http://www.ecoskincollections.com/ecoskin/index.html#
With soles made out of recycled tires, and the rest of the shoe made out of genuine leather, you cannot help but love this classic footwear. There are a limited number of styles, but most, such as the Molly Shoe, come in a wide range of colors. Old-fashioned loafers and boots that can be seen on the farm as well as the street are among what is offered. The Emma Boot, a short boot with small detailing on the leather was my favorite. And when makers Garcia and Clancy are donating a tree for every pair sold, there is no reason not to buy one of each!
The Erma Boot (left) and The Emma Boot (right).
http://www.shopgreenbees.com/index.htm
These bright gold pieces speak for themselves and will jump out at you. Maker Danielle’s attention to detail is apparent in the placing of every last stone. The jewelry isn’t garish and made for show, it is delicate and intentional. I loved her Constellations Collection, which offers new versions of the classic astrology necklace. The star patterns are also available on rings and earrings. It’s surprising that it was the first collection for this accomplished designer.
The Leo Constellations ring.
The past couple weeks my computer’s internet page and I have become best friends as I have scoured the World Wide Web looking for fashionable, eco-friendly clothing and accessory brands that are made in the US or fairly traded. With the help of Eco Stiletto and other sites, I have compiled a list of incredible lines that you are sure to love; and it will only keep growing as the summer goes on! Check back every day for a new one, and let the conscious shopping begin…or begin in 85 days, at least.
Designed by a Parson’s school graduate (yes, the same one from Project Runway), you’d expect Doie to be effortlessly chic, and it does not disappoint. The classy silk shirts of the NYC and Paris Collections will always be in demand and the Los Angeles and California Collections offer summery pieces, perfect for the beach or a Saturday afternoon with the family. This is the ultimate find; run, don’t walk. Earlier collections are not necessarily to my taste, and certainly not for the fashionably-safe, but I encourage you to take a look if only to admire the designs. The website includes write ups on all the fabric used, so you know exactly what you are wearing and where it comes from.
A shirt from the NYC Collection.
http://www.doiedesigns.com/index.htm
I cheated. Nine months in and I cheated. I bought two new yoga tops. I could give you some good excuses like – my droopy boobs that seem to have dropped two additional inches this year – needed a bit more support, but that would just be an excuse. A real one none the less, but still I could have held out. The real reason is that I started ‘not to care’…just got tired of all the other pressures of my life and this seemed the easier route to take. Just got back from a very rough trip to NY while my brother received chemo for 4 days in a row, with me by his side. Many, many family dynamics and a long flight delay home, to MORE RAIN and MORE family pressures and I just got plain tired. I’m sorry. But I’m not returning the tops. I will do my best to stay on track for the remaining months. As much as I say I don’t care…it does matter.
I’ve always been a bit of a minimalist. I never really took the time to coordinate accessories and I would rarely wear jewelry. The one thing that this diet has really taught me is the power of a good accessory. I have one cream colored cardigan to wear and ordinarily I would have run out and purchased several new cardigans to fill the void so that I wouldn’t be forced to wear the same vanilla sweater over and over again this Spring. That, however, would be a diet no-no. So…I purchased some really adorable accessories. I purchased several cute pins hand-made by Etsy Artisans to freshen up my wardrobe. A few even pull double duty as sweater pin or hair accessory depending on how I choose to wear it. I picked up a fun, casual pin, some bold and bright flowers, and a few more low-key, natural pins to give my sweater a little flair. I’ve also taken to wearing more of my jewelry that had been lazing about in my drawer, unloved and unappreciated. I’ve started wearing my hair in different ways so that I don’t feel as if I look like the same boring old me each day. In short, I haven’t added to my wardrobe by purchasing new clothes, but I have certainly introduced some new, fun and funky looks by working with a variety of accessories in different sizes, colors and textures…and it’s been fun.
Here are links to a few of the cute new pins that I’ve purchased and made myself that I’ve added to my collection of vintage, heirloom and gifted jewelry. I’ve included a few new headbands that I’ve purchsed as well because they really help me feel new and fresh.
Well, it’s a fact to which our TGAAD’ers will attest: clothing swaps are revolutionizing America’s approach to fashion.
One fabulous organization I ran across online is worth checking out: “Clothing Swap” has been around for 15 years, but the concept has really taken off in this economy. Their founder, Suzanne Agassi, is a self-styled “philanthrapreneur” who’s mantra is “Be good. Be green. Be GLAM!” Her Clothing Swap events have resulted in (literally) tons of clothing and shoes donated to women in need, family and homeless shelters and hurricane relief. Plus, $116,000 has been raised for a wide range of charitable organizations, many benefitting women and children.
Below is a little excerpt from Clothing Swap’s web site, but there’s much more great info online (and on FaceBook) to check out.
Happy swapping, everyone!
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About Clothing Swap®
Clothing Swap® has spearheaded ‘green glamour’ by gathering fashionable swappers together in a fun environment where they relax, mingle, get pampered and then SWAP (exchange) clothing, shoes and accessories and thus, happily augment their wardrobes in a “Girl’s Night Out” atmosphere.
This concept flips fashion upside-down and highlights the exciting Clothing Swap phenomenon that is revolutionizing our approach to fashion.
Our events simultaneously raise awareness of and donate to charitable organizations that benefit women and families in need. We are on the lookout for genuine volunteers who wish to get involved.
Our vision is to spread our message of “Fun, Fashion and Philanthropy” throughout the world. Our site helps Swappers socialize, learn, share and get inspired to participate in the art of swapping.
How a Clothing Swap® works:
| 1. Declutter: Clean out your closet and find items to swap
2. Find: Clothing Swap® events near youAttend. Bring unwanted but fab items in great condition 3. Get pampered: Relax, mingle, and sip during our signature Spa Treats 4. SWAP: Take home your favorites for FREE 5. Feel great: Relish new-to-you items and help a local charity 6. Share: Tell your story through Google comments, Facebook, Yelp and more |
If I thought I was unclear as to what my style was before I embarked upon this diet I am now officially stupified! This week I went to a great clothing swap with lots of really good second hand apparel. I came home with a white t-shirt, a black sweater and a pair of blue jeans. More of the same. There were prints, velvets and fancy skirts, wrap-around-dresses and plenty of accessories and I got….a white t-shirt. I think I’m frozen now that I haven’t bought anything for a while. Clothing is simply not that interesting to me these days, especially if it takes some thinking to put an outfit together. Have I gotten lazy or just more confused. Not sure but I now have seven white t-shirts, over 11 black sweaters and more jeans than I can count. Someone, save me from myself.
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