April Showers

Dear Mother Nature,

We know that you are terribly busy and we hate to bother you but we'd like to remind you that it's officially spring now. We're well into April and this cold and rainy weather is a bit much. Oh, and you remember the snow this week...not funny! Not funny at all! Last spring was so beautiful! What happened?! I know I speak for everyone when I say that we could all use some cheerful sunshine and warmth right about now. Please. Pretty please!

Sincerely,

New York City

Stunning New Ethical Fashion from 'Round London'

It was a happy day, this past Tuesday when I came across Round London and their stunning fashion collection. But first I had to ask myself, 'could this elegant line of clothing meet both my aesthetical and ethical needs? Could life be that kind to me on a Tuesday morning?' Yes, it turns out Tuesday is a great day for ethical fashion discoveries. Who knew?

Round London's ethical angle comes courtesy of the designers reusing recycled and vintage garments, thus saving them from a life left languishing away in landfills. According to Round London's website, approximately '1 million tonnes of textiles are thrown away each year'. The salvaged, recycled garments and fabrics are transformed into a collection of utterly stylish pieces that have 'designer, limited edition, must-have' written all over it. You can purchase Round London's one off collection items through their website or you can use their collection as inspiration.

Thanks to Round London's customised service, when you spot a piece from the collection you particularly love, you can get something similar made by sending in a piece of your own clothing or fabric. This seems pretty perfect to me. Now, you don't have to consider throwing away problematic clothing anymore. You can just send it to Round London for professional help and wait to receive a piece of clothing back in a style you love and that is made to fit your body! Their customized service can be a radical 'redesign' or just a 'little fix up'. It's up to you.

Prices start at £10 per piece using your clothing and fabric, or £15 a piece using Round London fabric.

Two more ethical greenie points to add to Round London: designs are made in London and their packaging is made from recycled or bio-degradable materials. Okay, you are officially Green Lashes and Fashion's FED for April (favourite ethical discovery).

I'm not sure how long Round London have been circulating this fashion mecca of a city but I do know this is definitely one name to watch and a name every style savvy green girl should know about!

Visit Round London.

They had me at Hello!

I think most people would assume that young girls in New York are running around to clubs and getting into trouble every night. Well, not my friend Kelly Reynolds and her roommates, Hannah Robertson and Angela Francine. You can usually find them at home crafting or sewing and all their hard work has culminated in the new accessories line, Hello Robertson! Right now, the line consists of headbands and other hair accessories that are perfect for helping create good hair days! Since I don't usually wear anything in my hair, they've promised to start making necklaces too! They definitely had me at Hello!

Organic, Vintage and Fair Trade Scarves

I am a huge fan of scarves and love how a particular colour or pattern can inject a bit of your personality into any outfit. For example, I am quite partial to a green scarf (surprise) and my favourite forest green scarf rather blatantly tells the world I am into all things 'green' (could I be more obvious?) while my vintage black sparkly scarf dresses up any evening ensemble and saves it from looking too 'boring black'.

Not only can scarves be worn in numerous weird and wonderful ways but they can also be highly flattering once you've found your perfect shade. I've narrowed today's scarf selection down to the following stunning scarves that are the most stylish and ethical ones available. Which one is your favourite?



Popomomo Favourite Things Scarf (pictured above)
Made in LA
Made from recycled fabrics

If Maria from the Sound of Music could have worn a scarf while singing, 'My Favourite Things' this would be it (yes, maybe it is a bit too cool to wear with a habit but go with me on this). The scarf print depicts designer, Lizz Wasserman's favourite things such as ice cream sundaes, rainbows and mushrooms! Each one is unique though so see what you get!
Purchase online at Shop Flick for US $48

Vintage Pierre Cardin Paris Signature Square Scarf - The Vintage Scarf

Ooh, a little vintage designer find! Yeah! Drape yourself (or just your neck rather, as it probably isn't big enough for draping) in this brown and cream Pierre Cardin scarf which was made in France. Je l'aime!
Purchase online at The Vintage Scarf for US $16.50. There are also many other vintage scarves too chose from at this site all categorised by colour. Scarves and categorising! My two favourite things!




Edun Rilke Poem Scarf - Black
Made in Kenya (factories audited by Verite)
100% Organic Cotton

Bono wore this scarf at Obama's inauguration concert which consequently led to it selling out within 24 hours in January! Now that more are available, you can also wear a bit of history. I absolutely love the look of this scarf but more importantly the significance of it and think it will become a very treasured fashion item should you purchase one.
Purchase online at Edun Online for 60 Euros.



Manumit Raw Silk Scarves
Hand woven in Vietnam (fair trade - member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops)
Tassel Silk (suitable for vegetarians as silk is spun from the cocoon once the silk moth has flown - Scotia Fair Trade website).

Manumit offer over 20 shades to choose from which you think would be a good thing but I can be incredibly indecisive and cannot choose between the sophisticated shades of rose dust, cafe au lait, chilli pepper red, cream or croissant (maybe the names are drawing me in a bit too).
Manumit source from an organisation working in Vietnam that is providing employment opportunities through tailor training for disadvantaged women and farmers). Manumit producers are also members of either IFAT or The Fair Trade Federation.
Purchase online at Manumit UK for £12
Adili £12 (only jade and burnt sienna)
Scotia Fair Trade for £12

Albert Hadley Drawings for Sale!

At the end of March, I received a lovely email from Lizzie Bailey who works at Gerald Bland Antiques (and who also went to school with Laurie Reynolds! Small world!) informing me that they would soon be selling drawings by interior design legend Albert Hadley to coincide with the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse. Oh, and would I like to come in and preview them before they were sent to the framer? Would I?! I'm sure you can guess that I said yes!

My friend Kevin had just asked me if I wanted to go check out the Parish-Hadley books that were for sale so I returned the favor by inviting him to check out the drawings with me. We spent almost an hour and a half in awe of what we were looking at and pouring over each one. Some are just signed and dated while others denote the client and house or project. Some of those included in the sale include the initial sketch for the Astor Library on yellow ruled paper, rooms for The Duke and Duchess of York, The Paleys and even Carly Simon!

We loved looking at how detailed some of them are even though they are just a sketch. Albert Hadley is amazing! And what's also amazing is that his drawing of the "Office of an Executive Woman" (top) that he created while at Parsons is up for sale! While most are black and white drawings, there are a few beautiful color drawings that will probably be the most expensive items for sale. I'm not of the exact prices but the framed works will probably in the thousands while the unframed loose drawings should be under $1000. I've already put my name on one of them! Happy Birthday to me!

According to Lizzie, "The collaboration came about through Gerald Bland’s wife Mita Corsini Bland whose watercolor renderings will be featured in the forthcoming book Sister Parish Design: On Decorating by Susan Bartlett Crater and Libby Cameron. Due from St. Martin’s Press October 2009, the book includes a forward written by Mr. Hadley. When the authors, artist, and their husbands gathered over dinner this winter Mita asked Mr. Hadley if he still had all his sketches, which he did. Though initially Hadley wondered who would ever want to buy them, he did come around to the idea of offering his trove of drawings. Early feedback suggests that many people in fact are quite eager to own one!" I'd say so! The drawings will be on display to the public at Gerald Bland Antiques beginning on Thursday, April 16, 2009.

Gerald Bland Antiques

1262 Madison Avenue

New York, NY 10128

tel. 212.987.8505

fax 212.987.8410

Thank you!

I want to thank everyone who has been so supportive and encouraging not only this week but since I started my blog! I forgot to thank photographer Eric Cahan in my last post for referring me to Jonathan Ragle who shot the bachelor pad. Eric was one of the first people to leave a comment on my blog in July 2007 and he continues to be a wonderful supporter and advice giver!

I just spent the evening at a design group event among old and new friends and I'm always struck by how supportive everyone is in this industry. Another interior designer was recently laid off and the community has already embraced him. I have no doubt that he will be more than ok because everyone will make sure of it! Well, that and the fact that he ridiculously talented!

I also want to apologize for the short post but HC was out most of the day and then had a few too many glasses of vino. Check back tomorrow for a post about how you can soon buy the drawings created by an interior design legend! Can anyone guess who it might be?

Photo by Eric Cahan, Interior design by Kimberly Ayres

Victoria's Secret Short Summer Dresses

Sexy yellow summer dress by Victoria's Secret Summer Dresses

Sexy short brown summer dress by Victoria's Secret Summer Dresses

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