i.passionista

Sunday, November 8, 2009

People Watching :: Larimer Square

Inspiration is all around you. Everywhere you look, you can find inspiration whether it's for a new outfit, design, recipe, painting, a story, a play... or just simply being inspired by someone's energy, positivity, creativity. You have to keep your eyes open, be aware that it is around you and stop to appreciate it. This is why I have chosen to make an effort to carry my camera everyday when I step out the door. I want to capture these moments - the people, their sense of style, their mood, their stories.

This one will be a resident on my blog as far as style watch is considered. This woman owns a very fashionable wardrobe and her sense of style is on point and in trend all the time. I'd say for the most part, we have a very similar taste in fashion. And this is why we are friends. We have even bought similar items on separate occasions and wore them on the same day. She's also the same size as I am from head to toe. Another good reason why we're VERY good friends. :)

Just a couple of Wisconsin guys, looking effortlessly cool, if they do say so themselves. Jeremy (if memory serves me right) with his aviators and a poorboy cap while his friend with a polka-dot print button up and brown leather jacket.

LOVE Alayna's (I probably spelled her name wrong) nautical French Riviera style. I think the sheer polka-dot knee-high stockings completes her look. Also diggin' her husband's style with the double-cuffed pants paired with classic loafers.

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Saturday, November 7, 2009

one woman's trash is another's treasure

My mother taught me the value of vintage shopping and thrifting. She has a gift for finding one of a kind pieces; from vintage jewelry and brooches, purses, coats, even home furnishings and decor. She would drag me from one thrift store to the next vintage shop when we used to live back East. I still have fond memories of us hitting up shops in the Hamptons, Sag Harbor and Greenport, which were all fantastic areas to do that sort of thing. I used to shy away from it, especially clothes, since the idea of using a stranger's clothing made me a bit uneasy. But I slowly learned the art of thrifting and how to pick through the clutter and find something amazing. Even items with their tags still attached. I am, however, very selective when it comes to shoes and the few I have purchased have either been completely refurbished or never worn. You have to be patient enough and possess that sharp eye for quality pieces and you will stumble on that needle-in-a-haystack find. Apparently, my mom still has that gift since she recently scored me a pair of resoled Frye boots for $20, which originally retails for over $200. Thanks, mom.

C, D and I spent a lovely weekend afternoon checking out vintage shops along Broadway. Boss Vintage, Decade and All American Vogue were among our stops. We weren't lucky with thrift finds however, we did luck out on shoes at Denver's favorite, True Love. And then over to Pink's Boutique for some more shopping.

:: this is what friendship is all about ::

:: record shopping @ Mutiny Now ::

:: a strapping, young George Michael ::

:: a clever album name, says Jermaine ::

... anytime now

:: whimsy finds @ Starlet ::

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Friday, November 6, 2009

friday find :: ModCloth.com

Thank you, Mandy, for introducing me to this site.

A really neat story behind the birth of ModCloth. The founder fell in love with vintage fashion and thrifting and created a site to sell her finds during her early college years. From shipping merchandise to her dorm room to a full-fledged business, this is another success story that gives me every reason to believe that anything is possible.

And today, this site has also given me another reason to post this as my Friday Find... as well as a reason to spend some money. You have to act quickly when shopping on this site as they have limited stock on a lot of their merchandise. And their prices are reasonable with a selection of low and high-priced items... another great reason to shop on ModCloth.

I'm diggin' this whole Navy/Military-inspired look this season.

Navy-inspired Cardi :: $57.99

St. Mark's Square Dress :: $47.99

Muir Woods Booties :: $62.99

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

innovation, at its finest

When I see a product - whether it be clothes, shoes, jewelry, purses, graphics etc. - there are 3 things that come to mind instantly.

My first thought is - and perhaps most importantly - I want that! Or, how and where can I buy that?! It's a pretty natural thought process for me, actually, which isn't always a good thing.

Secondly, if it's an attractive and impressive piece of work, I think about the people, minds and the hands behind it and the process in which it was created. The design, cut, fabrication, and the bits and pieces that complete it. Which, then, leads me to think, why am I not the person behind this product, from conceptualization to creation? Or perhaps, how can I be a part of the innovative team that developed it?

But if the piece is eye-catching enough but is missing that "wow" factor, then I think, in what ways can it be improved? The material could've been this instead of that, should the pockets have been placed an inch lower, maybe the zipper could've been a different color, or is it the buttons that throw it off and what about the color? What further details can be added and what else does it lack? Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to sound superior, as if I know all the right ingredients to a flawless merchandise. As someone who has gone through the process of developing a product, these are just some of the thoughts that go through my head. And after all, I am a consumer and if the store is trying to push a sell on this item, then I have to feel confident on why I'm making that purchase. And then again, there are just those moments when the two latter thoughts just doesn't even come to mind and I stop right at point 1. Impulse buys... yes, guilty!

So which leads me to this incredible find and what should be a completely different post by itself...

Fittingly enough, I came across Artoo's blog on Hypebeast and found his post on dekkori. Talk about awesome... designer, Stephanie Kim, came up with the idea of customizing your standard pair of heels and basically transforming the whole look of your shoes by this added accessory! You can instantly change your boring, black pair of heels into rock-star mode within seconds. What a marvelous concept! Designer and shoe fanatic Stephanie Kim hit the jackpot on this one. So not only am I thinking about point two (and you can forget about my third point) but seriously, where can I go to buy some of these?! Just my luck, anywhere but Denver....

:: images from dekkori via Artoo ::

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

i heart: chucks

It must be nice to be a part of a team developing a product that can truly sell itself, sans the marketing, the hype, and all the celebrity or athlete endorsements. What shining moment that must be for the creative and technical geniuses who knows they've succeeded after they've delivered and unveiled the fruits of their labor. To be able to stand behind a product and proudly say, "Yep, I was a part of that."

And in this day and age where consumers are constantly bombarded with the latest fashion craze, trend-relevant colors, the next best technology, what's hot, what's not... it can sometimes be overwhelming, even for the savviest of shoppers. And when it comes to shoes, particularly sneakers, the general public doesn't really have a sophisticated knowledge of why it's constructed in a specific way, what that technology is for, why those air-bags or uber-light construction makes it worth the money to splurge on. Unless there is history behind it, say a running shoe with a lifelong loyalty from an avid runner, then you're really counting on how the end-user reacts to how it looks (not forgetting the price tag, of course). While marketing does play a huge role on the success of a product, consumers, for the most part, are perceptive and keen on what looks good. They can pitch us their latest patented technology, the most unique materials, the best in-trend color combination and a winning public figure to endorse it... but if the aesthetic components aren't selected and crafted together in an eye-catching way, then it simply just won't sell. At least not in the numbers they expected and not the following they had hoped for.

Having said all that, I have to give credit, which is rightfully due, to an iconic brand that has been in the market for over three decades. It's the timeless silhouette of a classic favorite - Chuck Taylors. It's hard to believe that professional basketball players wore this shoe at one point and played a good ball game. What with all the bells and whistles that a modern basketball shoe now has, you have to wonder how well they actually performed on-court.

The beauty of this shoe is that it has kept its heritage roots and no matter what fashion era has come and gone, Chucks has been able to sustain its value and share in the footwear market. It's on a simple, classic platform that when surrendered to imaginative and creative eyes and hands, then the possibilities are endless. From the materials, textures, colors, fabric washes, to the laces and graphics, down to the minute stitching details, eyelets, and added hardware like zippers and studs. And then you get designers like John Varvatos and artists like Jeff Hamada that take their existing silhouette to another level.

The other beauty of this shoe is that it is and can be worn by many different types of people across generations: Your typical, rebellious teenager, his little brother, the soccer mom, hip-hop artists, rock-n-rollers, emo/punk/pop-stars, skaters, athletes, teachers, artists, and just your average Joe or Jane on the street - each with a style of their own. On the same token, it ties in and crosses over different lifestyles, music genres and interests. Not to mention its influence and impact on diverse cultures and language barriers across continents. I recently came across a Japanese traveler at the airport who, with an English dictionary in one hand and a map in the other, stopped to point at my simple yet shiny, black, patent Chucks. With a big grin, he said, "Chuck Tayror, I rove it!" And to that I said, "Domo arrigato" and waved him off with, dare I say it, a peace sign.

Whether it's your classic Black & White Hi-Top Chucks or an off-the-wall personalized Chucks, the brand truly speaks volume and longevity in the marketplace. As someone who has a passion for shoes, it would be one of my greatest accomplishments to be able to say, "Yep, I was a part of that."

So now that I've written a novel or what seems to be a lengthy product/brand review, an endorsement even, I share some of the best ones I found online along with a couple of the ones I own. Check them out...