Monday, August 29, 2011

Blogger is mean

Ok, I could lie and tell you that I had tons of blog posts planned during my absence and the title had to do with the fact that Blogger Is Mean and didn't post my posts.  Alas, not so.  Blogger is just loading super slow today, so I decided to just tell you I was alive and write some more tomorrow.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Today I'm following Cate and chanelling Hemingway

Today's six words are:

People walk calmly after the war.

Thanks to Ernest Hemingway for coming up with the idea and Cate at Show my Face for revolutionalising it and bringing it to blogging.

http://www.showmyface.com/search/label/6WS (the shiny picture-link doesn't work)

Friday, August 19, 2011

Coco Chanel's Kevin Bacon Number is Six

They said it could not be done.  More than none of my friends insisted there was no way to connect COCO CHANEL to KEVIN BACON.

Oprah Winfrey?  Piece of cake.In Charlotte's Web (2006) with Dakota Fanning from Cat in the Hat (2003) with Mike Myers on Saturday Night Live like John Belushi in Animal House with Kevin Bacon.  Alec Baldwin?  In She's Having a Baby with Kevin Bacon.  They're actors...it's no big deal.

"Gabrielle Chanel!"  I yelled, excited.  Anyone could do this!  It's fun!

"Actor," responded my impudent friends.  "She's a fashion designer.  You can't do a fashion designer." 

Oh, but Dan, you can!  I thought about explaining it here, but it seemed like it would be more fun to exploit the idea on my blog.

Coco Chanel was a member of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne, as was Hubert de Givenchy, whose main muse was Audrey Hepburn, who was in The Children's Hour, as was Keira Knightly, who was in Pride and Prejudice with Donald Sutherland, who was in Animal House with Kevin Bacon. 

There you go.  Gabrielle Chanel ---> Kevin Bacon = 6.

Happy128th birthday, Gabrielle!

Image credit: Idea go/Freedigitalphotos.net
Happy 128th birthday, Gabrielle!

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Is two scoops too many?

At the inaugural post, I promised some pretty inane things, didn’t I?  No? 

Aw, well…


This is inane.


See, I think that two scoops of raisins are too many for one box of raisin bran.  I mean, how big are those scoops, anyway?  I bet they’re pretty big.


I suppose the Raisin Bran Problem, which essentially involves there being more Raisin than Bran, could be solved by using a shallower bowl, instead of a deep cup.


Still, though, I’m not buying it.  In a shallower bowel, it’s harder to pick up cereal from the bottom, which might mean more even raisin distribution, but would probably negatively affect the experience more than the over-raisin-ness. 


Those less-than-two-scoops wouldn’t make the raisins lighter or easier to pick up.  Still, one-and-a-half-scoops might make the cereal less overly-sweet and kiddish.  They could even halve the size of the scoops and market it as the cereal with the “Three Scoops!”


PS—Yes, I know about the bowel.  I put it in there to make you laugh.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Use of the word Couture in America

Image credit:
Suat Eman/freedigitalphotos.net
Did you know there is actually an organization that regulates fashion?  They actually control fashion labelling, even though they're not like the fashion police.  The Chambre Syndicale de Haute Couture actually states that, according to Wikipedia (YES, I KNOW THEY ARE UNRELIABLE), a true couture house must have an atelier (workshop) with fifteen full-time workers in Paris, present two shows of 35 items a year, and custom-fit garments for customers. 

Such is the one and only collection of people with the legal right to label their clothes "haute couture."  There are a few non-French members of the Chambre, namely Armani and Valentino, among others.  Couture Sewing Techniques by Claire Shaeffer said that Oscar de la Renta was the only American member, but Wikipedia did not list him among correspondence or guest.

However unreliable my sources, I have a strong sense of international justice and feel I must deter non-members of the   Chambre from using the couture label.

A few days ago (a few more since this post was previously deleted), I was watching shopping TV, which is always boring, but due to my new knowledge over laws and labelling, it was injustifiably interesting.  Here were these clearly uncertified people saying "it's couture!"  They laude the couture details and show off the impeccable couture design, haute styling!  It was an American designer.

I don't think this is so wrong because Americans are calling random pret-a-porter (ready-to-wear) "couture," I think it's wrong because they have no standards.  Just about anyone can call themselves a couture designer here -- it's like in The Jungle when plants would label these sausages premium and those sausages regular.  They were the same sausages.  Well, if you call it couture, I expect some couture sausages!*

Because fashion is so relentlessly unregulated in the US, anyone can call their product whatever they want.  I'm not too keen on the usage to mean pret-a-porter, but if that's all American designers will provide...

I guess if I had to start from scratch and forget, like these imposter designers and their customers already have, that couture is the description of an exceptionally high-quality, custom-made garment, I propose we have a set of different standards for America.  Let's please call it high fashion, though, instead of haute couture...

  • Hold a show of at least 20 pret-a-porter garments on models who do not have perfect fit model proportions and for whom said clothes were not made
  • Have at least one "special collection," which contains adaptable designs to be graded up or down for a customer's provided measurements, and
  • Have at least one person who stands as the head and public fave of the design house.
Basically, I'm seeing American couture as something very close to Light-in-the-Box.com (for which I cannot vouch), but with a designer, a fashion show, and not custom-modelled clothes.

What do you think American high fashion should be?  Does it have a place in the U.S.A?

Monday, August 15, 2011

I found Anthropologie. Please help.

Oh yes, dear reader, I have found it.  I have been to the store with the whimsical style, adorable homegoods, and easy-to-knock patterns.

I entered, saw one project I could see myself making, the trench-coat skirt.
After that I found the books.

Yes, I am in love with Anthro's books.  Not their shoes, housewares (though those were cute), not even, so much (after seeing them in person), their dresses.  What I really want from Anthropologie is their set of adorable children's titles like Peter Pan and The Secret Garden with their sweet, illustrated, embossed covers.  I want them all, even though I am too lazy but sure I could find them from Penguin, which publishes the copies.  So basically, I go into a semi-cute store, and find little of interest beyond that what I could probably find on Amazon for less.

Of course, I don't think I should like Anthro for anything in particular.  I think I really, really like their atmosphere and can find most else of interest from there elsewhere. 

Saturday, August 13, 2011

My first six word Saturday




I thought I'd try this, posting just six words on Saturday.  I'd might as well.  This one's from my real life, but check later for a real story.


Enjoying my new book from Anthropologie

http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Wonderland-Lewis-Carroll/dp/1612930301/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1313212707&sr=1-1, I can't find the Penguin edition.

Friday, August 12, 2011

A thought and a question

I just had this thought...

To throw is to trust the air, sometimes with life.

Thursday, August 11, 2011

I like to sew things

So when I began this blog a couple of weeks ago, I wasn't really sure where I was going, but I knew I wanted to take a few steps and start.  While I have decided this is officially not a sewing blog, this is a life+style blog.

One of the most important things about style, that is, physical style, is how you present yourself to the world.  I think sewing your own clothes is an important and great way to make sure your clothes fit because let's face it, whoever drafts patterns and especially ready-to-wear patterns has never seen a real person.  They live with dress forms that don't actually have the proportions of people.

For this reason, I decided to give real sewing a try.  I've made some pajama pants before, and started a jumper in quilting cotton (and so I quit), but that is my full...sartography?  Collection?  I don't know.

I'm starting with a really simple pattern, Simplicity 1970.  It's called a "SewSimple" pattern, which means it has only one view and it's (theoretically) easy.  I still have to learn how to pleat, and am looking desperately for an awesome and easy-to-follow tutorial.  I have too much to do, but I think that it's so important that one's clothes make one feel good.  This is a quickie post, but I thought it would be good to solidify the direction I'd really like to carry this blog.  I'm getting started, and I like it so far...hopefully I won't have to make another post later: I don't like to sew things.  Because so far since I do I want to keep it that way.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Waah! I lost my post


Image credit: PANPOTE
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2253
Freedigitalphotos.net
I like to save my posts on my computer as opposed to on the Blogger cloud, but unfortunately, my computer sometimes decides to shut down due to thermal problems.    So I decided to post today about computer problems. 

I hate it very much when my computer shuts down because it gets too hot.  Way too hot, and it seems to get hot no matter what I do to it.  I have a giant USB fan, and it still shuts down periodically because it's too hot. 

Even worse is when it shuts down all by itself with no warning and no chance to save my documents.  Of course, it does technically warn me, but then I forget to postpone it because the message goes away, or I just hit "restart now" by accident.  In fact, I hate the messages that tell me to restart the computer.

This is pretty much a whining post, which I didn't really want to do, but sometimes I get upset at the internet and I have pretty much nothing else to say.  Just so it's out there, I was going to post about the use of the label "couture" in America, and I will within I week when I gain the energy to re-write it.


Tuesday, August 9, 2011

"Where Style Meets Comfort"


Image credit: Suat Eman, http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=151, freedigitalphotos.net
Guess what I’m talking about.  You have three guesses, but two of them don’t count.
Da.
Da.
Da.

Pajama Jeans.
            I just love how they try to sell these things.  They said “Where style meets comfort” about 500 times.  Then they went on and on about how people wear these things to the absolute fanciest occasions and people think they are wearing $200 expensive, designer jeans.   I want some of those.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Who deserves it more?


I live in the United States.  You can look up more stats on world hunger here (WFP)

            There are 17 million hungry American kids.  There are 11 million hungry Somali.  Caca.

Who deserves the food more?

Friday, August 5, 2011

Watching the laundry and getting serious


            Laundry always interests me.  It’s such a mundane task, but you just have to do it one time or another, and people have had to do it for ages.  I really like to watch it spin.  As much as I love that, though, I always think about the people who had to do it when it was really hard work.  I hate laundry because it’s incredibly boring, but what about the time before that when it wasn’t just a boring chore mostly involving sitting and watching laundry spin. 

            For example, what about when laundry was actually physical exercise? 

            A long time ago (and still, I suppose, in undeveloped countries) people literally had to squeeze the laundry, rub the laundry on a washboard, go forth and carry it to the dry line and dry it.  Yick! 

            I wonder even more about people who don’t do laundry or don’t have the means.  For example, what about the poor people in Somalia?  Clearly, they have more important things to think about than laundry, like eating and wars and keeping cool.  I remember one time I bought a new shirt because I was just too busy to wash that night, but they clearly can’t do that.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

About French-class names

This is related to French classes or names.  In French class, you learn to make brioche, like the cupcake on the right with the swirly thing. 

Having taken numerous French classes where I was not required to change my name, this is a new one for me.   Apparently, Lisette (of Lisette patterns for Simplicity) is Liesl’s French-class name.  Of course, this isn’t anything new.  I’ve heard of other French teachers having students draw a new, more French name from a hat to replace theirs for a school-period a day.

            I think it’s a bad idea.

Monday, August 1, 2011

Adding "man" to a word does not make it more "manly."

So, apparently there is a new phenomenon known as "manorexia."  It's like anorexia, only on men.  Perhaps manorexics carry murses.  Those are like purses, only for men.

Oh wait. 

They are purses.  They just added "man" to  it to make it more manly.  They forgot that they didn't actually change anything.
I think I am on to something.
Perhaps we've tapped a new market that would let us sell almost everything originally made for women to men.  I mean, we already have "guyliner," (that's like eyeliner) what about "manstick?"  (That's like lipstick.)

PS -- I don't really care if/that guys want to wear makeup, carry purses or stop eating (though the last one is sad on anybody); I just wish they could take it as what it actually is and not have to add "guy," "man" or "dude" to it.  After all, it's the same thing.

Well, this is the inagural post.

Hello,

Apparently innagural posts on blogs are supposed to be some really big deal.  Like they're a predictor of future blog success and they showcase style and writing skill.

Really?  I've read a bunch of other innagural posts, and they're pretty much as boring as this one.  (The first real post will be a lot bigger and better than this one).