Creative Layers

(From The Sartorialist)

I actually had a conversation the other night with Fr. Mark White (recall: the priest with the cufflinks) regarding where the best fashions are coming from these days. Although I have a great deal of affection for vintage and vintage-inspired clothing like that we are seeing on the runways, is it really new? I wonder. Anyway, after some thought we concluded that Asia is really producing some new and creative fashion these days.

To my delight, the Sartorialist has been in Japan recently (the above pic was taken in Toyko). Don't you love the layering that the girl has in the photograph? Layers of lace over cotton skirt, with colored stockings...my roomate is from China and she has the same sense for lovely layering that I wish I possessed. Even the dude in the photo has an awesome aesthetic, with the vest thrown on over the t-shirt (so effortlessly cool!) and the hat.

(p.s. ack! where did all my old pictures go?!? I will fool with that later...sorry!)

Vogue Korea March 2010

The March 2010 Vogue Korea has an absolutely gorgeous spread of Han Jin. All the photos have an ethereal, feminine quality that is a great inspiration for Spring. I love the ruffles, pleats, and delicate folds on her dresses. Makes me want to find something beautiful to wear, and put flowers in my hair. (Maybe like these from whichgoose?)

Photos from Vogue Korea via Asian Models. Head over to AM for the rest of the photos (and beautiful, full-size versions!).

Inspiration India

The Fashion Spot featured an article this morning on India’s Expanding Fashion Weeks and Middle Eastern/Indian inspired fashion. Am I a little excited that I had my finger on this fashion pulse? Yes. Do you want to know where to get some inspiration on how to incorporate the look into your own wardrobe? Of course.

To start you off, my favorite place to go is High Heel Confidential, a fabulous blog written by Payal and Priyanka about Indian celebrity fashion (both male and female). The commentary is fun, but I enjoy the roundup of awesome photographs. Indian fashion is gloriously colorful and forever interesting.

The featured fashions vary from traditionally-inspired…

..to modern...

(Images owned by High Heel Confidential)

To Die For

Is everyone else loving Danni Li in her gorgeous gown and floor-length pearls as much as I am? Photo from the April-May 2010 Issue #69 of the City Newspaper, via Asian Models.

Vintage Sari

Here is a headshot of me in my “new” vintage sari. Hopefully I can track down a full length picture soon!

(photo courtesy of the author's sister)

Saris

You may have noticed in my recent budget total update that I bought a vintage silk sari this week. I’d had my eye on it for awhile on Etsy from Badraboutique and hoped to wear it to my grandmother’s 80th birthday party. Well, the party snuck up on me and before I knew it I only had a week to get this sari. Thus the odd budget-gymnastics (using Feb. leftovers) in the aforementioned post.

That said, here is the lovely silk sari that I cannot wait to incorporate into my wardrobe. I think I will shorten the sleeves on the shirt:

(photo from badraboutique's etsy listing)

Inspiration

Head’s up: Nancy has a new post of her favorite outfits in her closet from April – December. Check it out!

Wow...

I went to this little factory in Suzhou—a small town of about two million people! The factory was like being in a dream, it was so unbelievably different. No heat. No bathrooms. But I saw incredible technique there—a totally different way of doing things. They had the same Japanese machines that we used, single needle and over-lock basically, and that’s really all we needed. But the precision in their shapes was totally new to me. It wasn’t really about a seam allowance. It was about the final shape. In America, you cut out your shape for a pocket; you had a quarter-inch seam allowance, you’d bend it over, press and sew it on. In China, you cut the final shape of your pocket on hard cardboard. Sometimes they actually took rice paste and water and painted it on to get the fabric stiff. Then they would hold the fabric over the edge of the cardboard and press it over these shapers. So if you wanted to make a collar it was all kind of pre-pressed for a precise shape. It was exactly right before it was sewn on and it gave a certain look to the clothes. It was very presentable but it was also a harsh look

….I still struggle in my dealings with Chinese factories to give more three-dimension to a garment and stop treating it like it’s a pancake. We don’t want an edge to be like a knife blade.

This from On the Runway. From now on I will certainly take a closer look at where my clothes are made, even secondhand pieces!

Inspiration: Xiaoxi Zhang

This adorable gal, Xiaoxi Zhang, is a great inspiration for anyone trying to craft vintage-inspired outfits. Her sketches and fabulous outifts never cease to amaze me. Visit her at It Is Nancy’s New Blog.