So yesterday’s floral dress was by Lucy Sykes. In today’s FWTWYL: Look 12, Summer, Lil A is in a red swimsuit by Imps & Elfs; her Joyfolie shoes are called Celyn. The floral pair from yesterday is named Constance. No, she does not work for Joyfolie–her mom (and I) are just big fans of this designer!
I know what you’re thinking. That red one piece could also double for a stint with the WWE. I’m thinking “Milk Monster” might make a solid, intimidating moniker!
So this wraps up the Four Seasons series within my FWTWYL series. It’s been so much fun hanging out with the little one and my family these last few days. It’s going to be awfully hard getting used to not hearing the pitter-patter of her little feet as she runs to me calling my name anymore.
Tags: Chanel, FWTWYL, Imps & Elfs, Joyfolie, Lucy Sykes
I apologize if these FWTWYL entries are becoming hit-and-runs, but whenever the women in my family get together, we end up sweatshopping from morning till night. And I do not mean power shopping in an unairconditioned mall. I mean we are busy sewing, making jewelry, cooking, and planning a million other things that we never have enough time to finish. And shopping. Now with the newest little one in the mix, we are all running around like chickens with our heads cut off (especially when we’re running after her).
Speaking of the little one, for today’s FWTWYL: Look 11/Spring, she’s in a navy/white floral dress and Joyfolie shoes. If it weren’t already past midnight I’d ask my sister for the make of the dress. But I was still baking rum raisin cupcakes with my mom at 10pm while finishing her pearl necklace so I’m lucky to even remember my name right now.
Here’s the talent with my wallet. I think she’s wanting something other than milk for payment 
:
I haven’t been back to this Fifty Ways To Wear Your Lover series since June, and to re-introduce it, I thought it’d be fun to use new talent.
So my latest supermodel, Lil A (btw when she’s famous and loses her milk belly, she’d like to be known just as “A,” thank you very much), shows up all professional and ready for work. All businesslike. Well, sans shoes but all businesslike quand même. Who needs shoes when you have carry people?
In between shoots she makes phone calls to her agent (Forget the clothes, do I get to keep the bag?!?)…
and kills time by flipping through magazines (What! No new Elmo gossip?)
Anyway, we’re doing something fun for the next four FWTWYL…the four seasons, of course!
FWTWYL: Look 9, Fall. Burberry jacket, Ralph Lauren jodhpurs, Joyfolie Maudie boots, and the black caviar jumbo.
The last photo gives you a glimpse tomorrow’s boots!
Tags: Burberry, Chanel, Joyfolie, Ralph Lauren
There are sounds like heavy rain on a tin roof while you’re safe (and dry) under it or the happy purrs of a kitten snuggling on your chest that trigger happy memories. And then there are sounds like a sharp pair of scissors ripping through a stretch of stiff Thai silk fabric that trigger all kinds of sensory stimulations. Better yet, it’s great to see and hear someone tear the fabric with their bare hands. I think I’ve written before that textiles run in my maternal family’s side so it’s no surprise that I’m wired to spot the different kinds of silk, cotton, wool or linen from about ten feet away. It also explains why I always have to touch every piece of clothing I see–but as much I want to, I try not to do that with strangers. Blindfold me and I can still work my way through a fabric mill just by touch or smell; and I have to confess I love the smell of silk as much as a crispy new dollar bill. It’s not a particularly useful skill unless there’s a Jeopardy category on textiles! Alex, I’ll take Italian Wools for $600!
Here in Dallas, besides loitering at the upscale fabric retailers, any hardcore professional or amateur seamstress would know about the fabric outlets around the once seedy Harry Hines area:
My mom, my sisters, and I are no exception. We’ve spent many weekends at these fabric stores, going on 20+ years, rummaging through countless rolls of fabrics and finding inspiration in trims, buttons, pattern books, and most of all, each other.
Over the years, some of these warehouses have remained the same. Some have changed hands, and others have morphed into million dollar businesses as wholesalers. Don’t let the industrial facade fool you; some of these outlets may look like shabby storefronts, but one of the owners pointed us to a map he has on the wall of the 30+ outlets he has around the country. We love it that these textile entrepreneurs love Dallas enough to make this city their headquarter because nowhere else can we find such a fabulous selection of silks and linens at such incredible prices. Prices that I honestly can’t match even in third world countries where the dollar may actually have a pulse.
Anyway, speaking of silk, these bins below, stocked with rolls of all kinds of silk, are what fantasies are made of for me. I may talk a lot about ready-to-wear pieces here at my blog, but at the end of the day, there’s no better creative exercise than to walk through a room of piles of fabrics and imagine what your mind and two hands could collaborate to produce. I’d like to think that Coco Chanel herself would know what I’m talking about .
How fantastic is this embroidered dragon on a roll of gray Dupioni silk? I’d love to use it as wall covering for my office or even on my bed headboard, and my mom thinks it’d be pretty on an áo dài… the possibilities are endless.
Tags: Dallas, Dupioni silk, fabrics, textiles
