(day-glo) tabula rasa(s)


My Rowenta. Just look at her. Ain't she purdy? Two paintings my Matt Murphy.
Important plant. Lamp with silk shade I made. Found on the curb in Jamaica Plain
(Boston). Matching chair found on the curb in (on?) Beacon Hill.
Orange chair from Brimfield.


My beautiful Kenmore workhorse. And 2 serger friends. And "Lucky E" shrine.
And my diploma. It's in Latin. Desk from Harriet ♥. Art from Sandy. Thread scissors.

And here are the *Outfit Flashcards* which I've been working on for 2 days.

For my two days off from work (our office was closed for the holiday), I decided it was time to get my wardrobe super-organized. It was time to wear more than 10% of what I owned. It was time to make *outfit flashcards* and take the mystery/confusion out of getting dressed in the morning.

As it turns out, I am very pants-centric. So each pair of pants gets its own card. Pants in pen. Outfit options below in pencil. I haven't even thought about skinny belts, shoes, sparkle barrettes, necklaces, cardigans. Just the core stuff. Accessorizing, I have determined, can be whim-based.

I think you can never have too much shopping help. Or enough self-diagnostics. MyShape.com has broken it down, and with pleasing visuals, to help you pursue the best fit, cuts, and flattering fabrics for your shape. Are you "broad-shouldered with proportionally narrow hips and a less defined waistline?" Then click Shape Y. Or do you have "curvy front and side profiles as well as softened shoulderlines, with waist measurements are at least 10 inches smaller than their balanced bust and hip measurements?" Then you are Shape S. Are you M, Y, S, H, A, P or E? Yes there is a bit of MYSHAPE marketing in the letter assignments, but it is still good information. I like this site very much.

Our TUXEDO DRESS
for Shape H

This site is a great companion to an online Sizing Guide, such as the one we provide. You can never have too much information when shopping for clothing that will flatter your figure and mesh with your personality. When it comes to shopping on elaineperlov.com, remember to request swatches, and call us whenever you have a question. I love to talk "fit" with clients.

Some of my recommendations:

CASCADE TOP,
SILK OBI SASH &
CHRYSANTHEMUM SKIRT
:: click here ::


LACE CAMEO TOP,
SILK OBI SASH &
SILK PINSTRIPE SKIRT
:: click here ::


BAMBOO COWL,
DOUBLE QUATREFOIL NECKLACE,
SATIN KARATE BELT &
DENIM V-STEP SKIRT
:: click here ::

It is nice to hear that Mireille Guiliano, author of French Women Don't Get Fat, and now, French Women for All Seasons, agrees with me. When it comes to dressing, buy quality, not quantity. Focus on a few special pieces you love, compose your outfits from a stable of stylish, multi-use basics, and add some flair with unique accessories {my words, not hers}. Her new book looks like it has good information to help women cultivate their own personal style. I am all for that!

Vive L'individualism!
Vive Modular Dressing!

And as I always say,

Maximize your Minimalism!
Don't Just Stand There. Accessorize!

Modular Dressing Tips to Maximize your Minimalist Wardrobe:
1. Start with the SILK PINSTRIPE SKIRT [ABOVE], a lovely classic with a twist
2. Add the LABYRINTH TOP [L] to mix-match prints within the black-on-black 'color palette'
3. Treat yourself to the very special 'RED SWIRL' WINTER OBI [L]
4. Add the CHUNGKING VEST [R] as a 2nd outfit combo using the same skirt
5. Change the look with the graphic 'FERN STRIPE' SILK OBI SASH [R]
6. On another day, un-belt and add a bold necklace [CLICK]


[PHOTO CREDITS: BOOK JACKETS FROM MIREILLEGUILIANO.COM; MINIMALIST OUTFIT COMBOS FROM ELAINEPERLOV.COM]

I wanted to show you the reference photo I used to make the new index page: Transition into Fall 2006! The wrought iron openwork at 171 Madison Avenue caught my eye because I love repeating geometric patterns. Here were the 3 photos I took back in early Spring. That turned out to be a very good walk! (see also the Geisha/StyleBakery index page from April, using the top photo)

In Photoshop, I took a thumbnail-sized sample of the wrought iron and repeated it like building blocks across the page. I love how the 'seams' meet on all four sides. Matching, but not quite matching. I think in terms of 'seams' and juxtapositions. What can I say?



I liked how the color and pattern of the wrought iron complemented the rich browns, golds, pinks and plums of the SUMI-E and BAMBOO pieces, and the texture of the LABYRINTH OBI. As I have been doing for the last few index pages, I inserted thumbnails and details of my designs into the 'building facade' to make the various tops and skirts look like building blocks themselves -- wardrobe building blocks that you can use to create many economical outfit combinations. All it takes is a few new building blocks each season to see your old favorites in a new way.

As we enter a new clothing season, it is always nice to recontextualize and reframe your existing wardrobe. Choose a new basic, a new color, a new texture, and a new accessory. Break up that suit into separates or add a new top and necklace underneath. Add a new wide OBI to 'an old faithful' ensemble you loved from last Fall. See things in a new context. It is a brand new season to create a new you! And all it takes are just a few new modular elements.




Modular Dressing is a new featured regular column for the blog. gee

Click here for a more in-depth read about my concept and economical approach to fashion.

I needed to change the feel of my table with minimal effort and minimal dollars. I didn't want to make a new tablecloth, so instead I swapped the white cafe paper for brown craft paper. Try it! I wrinkled it to give it a bit more interesting texture. I love layers. It works for dressing yourself, and dressing your table. What a little modular dressing can do!

Add a new layer in your life this week. It will make you feel refreshed and brand new and sparkly.



Modular Dressing is a new featured regular column for the blog. gee
Click here for a more in-depth read about my concept and economical approach to fashion.

Here is an attractive dressy-casual sandal that can take you from shopping to dinner, or from the office to dinner depending on your lifestyle. I always love to choose a toe color that matches the inside of the sandal, in this case a pinky-lavender. The leather flower is a lovely touch with a smart crisp waxy cotton pants-suit, don't you think?

Once again, I would choose a black power-clutch, as I like to call it, to go along with these shoes. You know the kind: an exaggeratedly long rectangular black clutch in stiff yet buttery leather. Maybe with a subtle silver clasp. A retangular sleek clasp of course. To accessorize your shoes, try these pieces from elaineperlov.com. (If the shoe is really great, I do think of the clothing as the accessories. Go figure.) Links: Chungking, Bamboo, Pinstripe, Windows




Footnote
The wrap-around ankle strap is very comfortable as is the low heel. The toe straps however, are not built for distance. Take a cab. Choose an occasion that will require lots of sitting and looking lovely.

I know you are asking yourself, are espadrilles still in this season? Well of course they are. Do they ever go out? Just don't wear them on a rainy day or step in a puddle, because the sole will turn into an unpleasant, unflexible plank, forever. I found this pair and reconfigured the tie (shortened it and resewed). I don't really like something lacing up my leg, so I just tie them in a bow in the back. Short and sassy.

Espadrilles are a great basic to wear with your fancy-casual weekend wear. Perfect for outdoor patios, iced cappucinos, cupcakes. These shoes, with the right outfit, can take you from shopping to dinner! Try them with textured pieces like the Eyelet Tunic, Denim Skirt, Chungking Vest, or Embroidered Obi Sash, pictured below.




Footnote
You probably have decoded the pattern from the last few posts that the footnote is where I dispell the fantasy and tell you if these shoes are really possible or comfortable or realistic. Espadrilles are. Find the right fit, and you can walk for miles (on dry land only, please).

If you could only see how cute these look on! Especially with black pants, and the red fringey sunburst just peeking out. Plus the strange print on the insole is totally covered up. Ah the fantasy of beautiful shoes. Coordinating the perfect outfit to go with them, eating on the perfect outdoor patio with the perfect person while wearing them, with the perfect toenail color to match... I bought these shoes to wear with my Lucky Moon Necklace a few seasons ago. Again, with dazzling shoes, you need little to accessorize. All black is fine. The necklace and some skinny red bangle bracelets. And a razor-sharp credit card-slim black clutch. Ideal.

But sometimes more is more. You can't go wrong with all black; but colors and prints are fun to wear too.




Footnote
No ankle strap equals no subway stairs. I found this out the hard way when I kicked my shoe off down the stairs on stair #3. Oops. For those dedicated to looking good at whatever cost, you could always tote these cuties in your tote bag and do a quick change before you arrive at your location. Or perhaps you could buy a car? Never. Buy a tote bag instead.

These cork sandals are pure beauty. I would display them all the time if they wouldn't get dusty. I love the luxurious use of the material: every inch of the shoe, including the dainty straps, is covered in cork. And this in a time when wine bottle corks are made of plastic! I also love the delicate profile and gold underpainting that peeks through the natural breaks in the material.

These sandals add all the right texture to complete the Bamboo Denim Suit. They are also great with a pair of jeans (brown stitching please) and the Bamboo T in brown/gold.




Footnote
No subway stairs in these please. No clomping around the city either. These shoes are made to walk on the pavement for 10 steps max. They are strictly cab-to-restaurant shoes. And at night, they go back on their pedestal.

I love shoes to the point of displaying my favorites for inspiration while I work. I have designed many pieces based on shoes. For example, this skirt. And then of course there is the search for the perfect shoe to complete the outfit I just finished. This green striped sandal is ideal for all the new grassy green mix-ins. I can't wait to wear my new ensembles. I bought these last year, already thinking of green for this Spring's new designs. The right shoe makes all the difference.

The colored stripes are great to mix with pinstripes or bold patterns to add some good contrasting, yet complementary, layers to your outfit. Choose one color in the shoes to pick out in your top or accessory. Less is more when combining patterns and colors. Sometimes I wear these shoes with all black and the Lasso Necklace in green, just to pick out the color.




Footnote
These are actually comfortable for walking around the city. The ankle strap is a must for clomping down subway stairs. And the sole has a rubber tread!

Don't just stand there. Accessorize! Make your look more rich in color, pattern, texture by adding 'layers of interest.' (Click on each collage for more detail.)

Focal piece: Camo V-Neck Top


Layers of interest:

1. Subtle/dressy: wear the Camo V-Neck Top with an olive tank, a pinstripe jacket, a green narrow flowy scarf, cropped cuffed black pants and wedge heel boots
2. Fancy/casual: wear it with a long sleeve black top, a dangly necklace, bangle bracelets, black satin karate belt, slim black pants and heels

Focal piece: Momiji Top


Layers of interest:

1. Dressy/fun: wear the Momiji V-Neck Top with a brown patterned long sleeve top like the brown snakeskin pictured above, brown pants, silver belt, textured tights, brown heels
2. Fancy/casual: a yellow tank, sexy dark rinse jeans with the brown sequin flower pinned at the waist off to the side, a fab necklace, copper strappy sandals or yellow shoes
   

I like having dinner parties, not only for the cooking aspect, but for the moving around the furniture into new modular arrangements aspect, different from the day-to-day. Plus I get to use all of my cocktail napkins!

Before I moved from my first apartment on Beacon Hill (it looked roughly similar to this) to my second in Bay Village (oh my gosh, this is my old street!), I decided that all of my furniture had to fold, convert or come apart. I was in a condensing and organizing mindset at that moment. But I still like the idea, and still choose pieces of furniture that have a multi-use quality. Stools that can double as end tables, bookcases made of smaller cubes (to resemble a Japanese tansu), a coffee table made of two smaller tables, etc. It makes for easy moving, and more design combination options. Modular living.

Living in New York now, the thing I wanted in my apartment above all was the feeling of space. Empty space. Empty calming space. It took many yard sales for us do it: nine yard sales in Boston before we moved here. I also went around "interviewing" my minimalist friends and studied their apartments and closets to discover what it was like to live without "back-up stuff" or "just-in-case chairs," which is what I was doing. After setting up and striking 9 yard sales, I think I realized the true pleasures of owning less stuff.

Above, our living room set up for hors d'oeuvres and cocktails.

I like to think of interior design as I do my clothing design: modular sculptural options that complement each other in a mix-match sort of way. I like to have a lot of options to change arrangments in the home, just as I do my outfits. I love this reading area because it gets great sun for most of the afternoon. I change the arrangements on the table and the pillow combos every so often. Pictured above, the window sheers, lampshade, pillows and cushions for the chair are some pieces I have made. When I found this chair and matching lamp, they were both in need of repair. But the curved wood on both pieces captivated me. And they matched!

I had the lamp rewired at my local hardware store (very inexpensive to have done, and sometimes free!) and then made a new wire frame and fuschia silk shade to complement the fabrics for the chair. And for the chair, I had to redo the webbing on the seat, and then made the seat cushion with high-density foam I had custom-cut. I decided to keep the finish on the wood as is. The vintage fabric decorated with sculptures, I found at Brimfield for a song. If you live anywhere near central Massachusetts, you must go to Brimfield sometime. There are 2 miles of dealers and they love to bargain. You can find pieces for great prices, no matter what your personal style. Here is a link for the information.

The most recent addition to my chair was the Yellow Bolster Pillow. The edges of the rectangle are pressed and topstitched to hold the shape. I love this detail. The fabrics are a cool yellow silk dupioni paired with a shiny silver rip-stop nylon. The filling: down feathers for a structured-yet-soft look. If this pillow is a must-have for you, let me know. You can choose from a range of custom colors for the silk dupioni. My recommendations: hot pink silk with silver rip-stop or dark turquoise silk with silver rip-stop. Limited edition. Price upon request. Dimensions: 18" x 6" x 6"

There you have it. Home Installation #1. Stay tuned for more.