But for a brief ray of sunshine early this morning (gracias, amigo), I am drenched. Mind body and soul. Figuratively and literally, positively and negatively. I am guessing you don’t want details so I will move on. I am supposed to be on the road right now, but instead I am waiting for yet another storm to pass. I almost braved the downpour, but then I actually saw lightening touchdown and thought better of it…

In light of (nega-pun not intended) this gloom, I thought I’d share a cute little idea from Rain Couture. The concept is self-explanatory, cute little rain coats for your handbags.
I don’t really have any super-mega-expensive handbags (at least none that can’t withstand the rain) but for those of you out there toiling in pastel colors and suede, these little gems are perfect for that unexpected rain storm.

My tan is fading… keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend… more later.

This is a short week, but short weeks can be even more stressful than long ones… I feel like I am cramming 5 days of things to-do into 3… Yikes!

Anyway, I thought you would enjoy fun, playful fashion designer Houstina Summers and her line Cowgirl Heaven. These designs are anything but traditional and Houstina makes some of her most fabulous designs affordable on Etsy. About the designer from her blog:

Houstina Summers, designer of Cowgirl Heaven, and the founder of the Silver Hearts Foundation triumphs through all odds to create a timeless form of art through fashion. She faced many adversities within her personal life like homelessness, depression, and the lost of her father to cancer. All of this heartache occurred in one year, but has not slowed this passionate college graduate down. Summer’s success has sky-rocketed since she launched her career in the fashion industry late in the year of 2007. .

She has intricately created a line that has, in itself, become a timeless fashion trend. “How can something so beautiful come from such a sad and ugly beginning?” “Well, its like gold. Gold has to go through the fire so that you are able to enjoy it in its purest form,” says the designer during an exclusive cable TV interview in early 2008. Sister of former Capitol recording artist Houston, Houstina is no stranger to the spotlight. She was Houston’s personal stylists, which helped create a name for her among some of Hollywood’s most elite celebrities. Her line of revolutionary dresses has a strong 1950’s Hollywood aura. Detailed with vintage beads and semi precious stones, her whimsical pieces are draped with velvets, and layered lace petty skirts.

Ok… more later…

Okay, I’m not quite wired yet, but I do plan on slowly work up to that level over the course of the day so I can go out and unwind later! I love today’s designer…. I especially love her chaos bangles (in name and form)!

[wired] is a collection of accessories made entirely from reclaimed and surplus industrial materials. The materials used come from the discard piles of various local Chicago industries and include alternator wire, rubber and transistors. Each piece is handmade individually, and is either one of a kind or produced in limited quantities. The found materials dictate the design of each piece and foster different design challenges than traditional materials.

[wired] designer Melissa Kolbusz holds a BFA in Industrial Design from University of Illinois at Chicago and also studied at the Universitá di Genova in Italy. She has worked in the fields of furniture design, engineering and architecture. In 1999 she began [wired], a project creating jewelry from recycled and surplus materials, which has since branched out into other accessories and art installations. Her work has been published in the books Green Design (NY) and Recycle: The Essential Guide (London), Style Naturally (San Fran) and featured on the WB Morning News in NYC and NBC5 News in Chicago.

In this age of mass production and big business, recycling has become an integral part of contemporary life. A positive strategy for counteracting the waste created by industry is to recycle these materials into creative, wearable accessories and fashions that challenge the designer to think outside the box. By partnering with local industries, [wired] reinvents and revamps the surplus produced by these businesses that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Every sustainable [wired] piece is an individual work of art, crafted locally and by hand, that its owner can wear for a lifetime, rather than having these materials go to waste in their original state.

Check out [wired] on Etsy, Stars and Infinite Darkness, and Elegant Roots.

Free song download of the day:

I didn’t used to be a shoe person…. seriously, I never got the whole “Carrie” Sex and the City thing until I started working in a wear-a-suit-to-work-everyday job. Now I’m totally addicted! I love independent designers, but it’s harder with shoes. That’s why I was so excited to discover Koji Horigome’s amazing (seriously, how sexy are those boots!!) collection of gorgeous shoes. This London based brand uses a specially developed asymmetrical shoe shape and a mixture of traditional shoe crafting and futuristic materials during the design process. Koji Horigome was born in Japan and uses his background in Mechanical Engineering  and Fashion design to create these truly breathtaking looks.

You can browse his collection on Not Just a Label where you can also purchase Asymmetrical Women’s Derby Shoes!

* Ha ha ha, no, this is not another diatribe….  although, I got a lot of e-mail responses to my little rant from a few days ago . . . I know it’s not my style to share that much about my personal life, but based on your letters, I’m glad I did! Anyway, speaking of my personal life, the countdown to the Vineyard has begun.  I’ve actually never done a 4th there before, so it should be interesting. We rented a place for the weekend and I’m sure I’ll have some  stories when all is said and done. I’ll definitely share if they are worth sharing.

Today’s designer is USE unused… and I really do feel them! USE unsued is one of the most successful young fashion design teams in Hungary.  The founders of the brand are Eszter Fuzes, Attila Godena-Juhasz and Andras Toth.  All three designers graduated from the MOME (University of Art and Design Budapest) in 2004 with a Masters Degree in Womenswear Design and since then they have run USE unused, their fabulous women’s wear line.

The USE unused philosophy rises from the motivation, attitude and mentality of the three designers, which can be clearly seen in their collections.  The designers often go back to the forms and philosophies created by the 1940s, ’50s and ’60s and try to blend them with modern silhouettes.  This philosophy of respecting tradition while also considering modern style ensures that the collections are extravagant, yet elegant at the same time. Furthermore, each time they create something new, they preserve their own continual and unique style and mentality.

The USE unused mission & vision is to create a worldwide-known Hungarian fashion label that is successful and still carries the Hungarian flavor rather than a mass-produced product. The USE team are also looking to add new lines such as menswear, leather accessories (bags and shoes) and eyewear. Their mission is to have an effect on the Hungarian clothing culture and to guide and help other local young, talented designers along the way.You can buy USE unsued at Global Hot Shops (If I hadn’t blown so much on that Badgley Mischka bathing suit I would totally buy the hand braided stalk top they have there… I still might!)

P.S.

It really needs to stop raining. I am so sick of this drabbery (I know drabbery isn’t a word, but that’s the only way I can describe this weather!) A while back I wrote about Living Proof’s no frizz… I know it gets mixed reviews, but I have to say, I am still in love with this stuff… just an FYI if this weather has given you a case of the frizzies…

P.P.S.

I’ve had that stupid car commercial song stuck in my head for days. You know what one I’m talking about, right? I love it. I hate that I love it, but I love it…  anyway it’s by Shiny Toy Guns and is begrudgingly my song of the day!
I would change my sidebar picture in “listening to” section to reflect this, but  Anthony Santos is just too darn cute to take down!

My mother has several “famous expressions,” but one that she brings up often is, “when people show you who they are, believe them.” I think sometimes that’s easier listened-to than done. Especially for someone like me who tends to see things through rose colored glasses. Last night I took a deep breath and took them off. To say I was disappointed in what I saw would be the understatement of the century… but certainly the processes was helpful and necessary. It’s not just about how people treat you, it’s about how they treat other people… who they  hold themselves out to be vs. who they really are. After making some difficult observations I took a little walk in the rain and figured the rest of my night was going to be devoted to coming to terms with this disappointment.

One good thing about removing rose colored glasses and seeing people for who they really are is, some people are actually more beautiful without them… (quelle suprise!) Some people shine the best when illuminated by the full spectrum… imperfections highlighted and all. So with my rose colored glasses still off, I was lucky enough to encounter someone who has had the benefit of them throughout our entire friendship.

In the sharp light of reality, his flaws were brought into full light (don’t get me wrong, mine were too…he did a good job of helping me see myself sans-glasses!) But the crazy, amazing part of it was, all of his beauty was illuminated by that which had been muted before. He is perfectly imperfect. It was one of the most fortunate encounters I could have had… because it sparked a part of me that has been uninspired for some time. On a cold, drizzly, June night, I was filled with a pure, bright, uncensored kind of beauty.

I think that people come into your life when they are supposed to. I think that we come to realizations when we are supposed to, as long as we are open to them. I can’t really change who I am… I think that even if I attempt hide my glasses, or attempt to suppress my idealistic view of people and the world, I wouldn’t be true to myself. But I have learned to open my eyes a little bit wider. To take the glasses off from time to time… And to be overwhelmingly happy (for better or worse) when people show me who they are.

Right. You didn’t come here for my random observations… you came for fashion, so here you go:

Patricia Ayres is the independent Fashion Designer and Artist behind Art Lab. Currently based in NYC, her work has been shown and sold around the world. Her clothes tend to be fun, conceptual, one-of-a-kind pieces. Her accessories…small bags and cases…are all handmade and one of a kind and Patricia does all her own printmaking on those pieces…. tres impressive! Her inspiration comes from dreams, memories, the urban landscape, and film… a fun “TGIF” designer!

You can shop her work on Etsy!

* Points for working it into a post title?

Hmm…. where to begin?
I was going to write yesterday but was sort of consumed by my life and decided to run laps around the pond in an attempt to make sense of things. It wasn’t entirely successful, however, it was quite beautiful. At the very least, I got a good workout!

Before I share way too much about my personal life, I’m going to FFWD to today’s designer:

ELM Design is a clothing company that has been making waves with its imaginative collection for over ten years. Inspired by Iceland’s unique landscape, art, and culture, the design is Icelandic, and the raw materials are sourced throughout the world. ELM has a loyal following among women of all ages who demand eclectic, beautiful and striking clothing.
The three women behind the brand  are Erna - Lísbet - Matthildur. (They arranged their first initials to form the company’s brand name). Each woman comes from a different art and design background; however, they founded the company through their shared philosophy, that to design for women you need to understand women. Hence ELM‘s brand statement: “DESIGNED BY WOMEN FOR WOMEN.”

ELM’s clothes are gorgeous and I love the photography on the site. Beautiful presentation!

Je suis fatigué, but I have no idea why… not really the best way to start off a week… but at least we get Bunker Hill day off!
Today’s designs come from Argentinian designer Cecilia Gadea (Simon and Garfunkel will definitely be stuck in my head all day!)
Cecilia introduced her first collection back in 2000 and today she continues to create inspired designs, drawing from the past and applying modern silhouettes and techniques to create her signature look.

Shop for Cecilia At Turtle Boston!