fame+frippery

Flora and Fauna of the Gowanus (Indigenous and Otherwise)

Sun, 19 Feb 2012 10:32:21 -0500

Stumbled upon these beauties over at the Brooklyn Magazine archives. Amazing anything can survive in the cesspool that is the Gowanus Canal. Be sure to read up on the lion, shark, and snake sightings below, hilarious Gowanus-lore.

LOCAL FLORA

1. ARTEMISIA VULGARIS “MUGWORT” 2. PAULOWNIA TOMENTOSA “EMPRESS TREE”
3. ROBINIA PSEUDOACACIA “BLACK LOCUST” 4. AILANTHUS ALTISSIMA “TREE OF HEAVEN”

LAND- AND WATER-BASED FAUNA

1. PROCYON LOTOR “RACCOON” 2. ONDATRA ZIBETHICUS “MUSKRAT” 3. PANTHERA LEO “LION”* 4.PYTHON RETICULATUS “RETICULATED PYTHON” ** 5. SELACHIMORPHA “SHARK” *** 6. ANGUILLA ROSTRATA “AMERICAN EEL” 7. CYANEA CAPILLATA “LION MANE JELLY FISH” 8. HELIX ASPERSA“LAND SNAIL” ‡ 9. MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA “MUSSEL” 10. CALLINECTES SAPIDUS “BLUE CRAB”

*Tiny Tim, the bodyguard of mobster Joey Gallo (about whom Bob Dylan wrote the song “Joey”), was said to have wandered the neighborhood with a pet lion cub on a leash. **A really big snake was spotted in 2008 at the end of Degraw Street, near the canal. It’s likely that it escaped from the nearby Gowanus Houses.***In 1950, a medium-sized shark made its way up the canal where it was pumped full of bullets by the local police. ‡Actually edible, so long as you don’t stare for too long into their deep, dark little eyes.

// Illustrations by Melinda Josie. Footnotes and whatnot from Brooklyn Magazine.

Me me me me me.

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 21:23:37 -0500

Want.

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 09:39:00 -0500

Oy. This year has been a doozy…which hasn’t necessarily been a bad thing, just a year packed with curve balls and question marks and the occasional patch of stress. I had some back pain/herniated disc drama, Kyle moved out to California for a third of the year, and I’ve been a little blotto when it comes to all of my side projects. On the upswing, the mister and I got engaged!! I got the title change I so desperately sought after with work and privately have come into some of those ohmygodimalmostthirty life epiphanies that I think I’m the better and stronger for.

So here I am, sitting on my couch drafting this blog post. Same bat-time, same bat-channel as last year (well, almost.) Keeping with tradition, here goes my list of goals, aspirations, and shoot-for-the-stars accomplishments I hope to meet in 2012:

As pertaining to our upcoming nuptials:

Do not lose my hat in the next 4 1/2 months. Serious. I am marrying my best friend and less-chatty better half. And for that I am super thankful. All the familial and planning crazies *I hope* will just be an afterthought.
Stop reading wedding blogs!!! They are making me crazy!!!! I’m so so so over the uber-styled pretty frou-frou weddings I see saturating the interwebs. And if I see any more of those awful mustache whathaveyous, I will scream.
Learn to let go, wedding planning and otherwise. Perfection should be a dirty word, for real.

General life:

Learn to manage my expectations, with friends, family, work, life….all of that. Had a big OH! moment at the end of December when I realized my projected expectations of people were causing major disappointment in my life. It wasn’t the people themselves, really.
Disconnect from mindless computering when I get home in the evenings. I made a conscious decision years ago not to have a TV in our house, and realized surfing the web when I get home in the evenings is no better.
Keep on keeping on with my new found love of spinning, and squeeze some yoga and running in there in between. I’ve been on a great exercise clip this past year and should capitalize on my almost pain-free back situation.
Tend to fame+frippery a little, er…a lot more. And maybe with all my freed up time from internetting, I can pickup all those ancillary things I’ve let slip: blogging, floral stuffs, jewelry design, etc.

xoxo,

Photo credit // Cassandra Ferland of Wonderland Archives

Mignonne Handmade

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 10:27:00 -0500

Beautiful.

Brown on brown

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 09:32:23 -0500

My fall into winter shoe obsessions…

From here and here.

November Rain

Sat, 29 Oct 2011 15:22:31 -0400

My nine-year old self was in LOVE with this dress. Because hello, how hot are Stephanie Seymour’s gams?! (On a semi-related note, why did Axl Rose have to go and get cheek implants?? Yikes.)

Flutter

Tue, 18 Oct 2011 18:45:00 -0400

My conservative-ish ceremony gown is en route, special delivery. But THIS little number would be yowza for dancing and milling about. Martini sleeves anyone? I can see myself sipping an extra dirty one now. Haha.

Image swipe from Net-a-porter

Back to School

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 14:01:05 -0400

Love those peter pan collars. Dresses from here, here and here.

Image swipes from the respective links above.

Tom Binns vs. DIY Tom Binns

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:22:00 -0400

I love me some Tom Binns something fierce. Especially his neon collection. But in all reality, this ladycakes doesn’t make enough to drop $500 on one of his lovelies. Especially considering I’ve got a wedding to save for…

Enter, DIY bloggerinas Glitter n Glue and the Hyperbalist who turn super inexpensive crystal necklaces into something Tom Binns inspired. Be sure to checkout the DIY tutorials. It’s amazing what a little nail polish can accomplish.

Image credit: (from the top down) via, via and via

Just putting this out there...

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:13:32 -0400

And while I’m lying on the couch feeling pitiful, I thought I’d share these boots with the blogosphere and hope maybe someone buys them for my birthday (I’m a size 37.5!)

Boots/image via

Bringing Sexy Back

Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:05:52 -0400

Speaking of backs, amidst all my complaining the past few months about my back hurting, I have now officially thrown it out. The mister makes quite the nurse. I’m popping muscle relaxers like skittles. Sadface.

Dress via

Muy Bonita!

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:11:21 -0400

Loving these gowns by Spanish label Rosa Clara.

Image via the same.

On Acid

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 21:25:00 -0400

And I like it. A little Tenoversix and Loeffler Randall action fer ya. Frick I love lucite!

From here and here.

My Hair Fantasy

Wed, 31 Aug 2011 08:00:05 -0400

Does it count if it’s a drawing? I’m just now starting to master this side braid thing…

Image via

Thanks Melissa!

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 20:06:00 -0400

How great is this ivory crepe number?! Tassels AND a keyhole back?

Image and dress via Opening Ceremony, via one of my most fashion savvy BMs, xo!

Drooling

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 15:48:27 -0400

How freakin’ gorgeous are these handmade leather peeptoe slingbacks by Brooklyn-based label ABK (designer Alya B. Kazakevich)?! Quite the investment piece at $455, but crafted to last.

Thanks to fellow blogger, CravenMaven, for the rec. She turned me on to this designer when I was aimlessly looking for handbags. Be sure to checkout ABK’s assortment as well. They are beaaauuutiful.

Surprised I can blog about anything other than wedding planning? Haha.

Image swipe via ABK

Quite a Beauty

Mon, 29 Aug 2011 12:01:00 -0400

Claire gown, by Imitation (a spinoff of designer Tara Subkoff’s Imitation of Christ label). Available in white jersey and peach silk here. White silk option available here.

Image swipe from Bona Drag

Floral Inspired Rings

Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:03:00 -0400

{clockwise} Conroy & Wilcox, Jenny Kim, Katie Diamond, Aesa

Image swipes from designers/sites hyperlinked above

A Smallish Collection of Low-Back & Backless Dresses

Sat, 27 Aug 2011 18:51:49 -0400

I’ve started the task of trying to find, you know, the dress. With two appointments under my belt, and a slew of internet browsing hours, I’m realizing the bridal market is saturated with strapless numbers and poof. I happen to despise both.

Below are some simple dresses with one of my favorite silhouettes, a deep scooping back. Unleash your dorsal fins on these beautes:

{from the top, down} Joanna Johnson, With Hearts in Our Eyes, Caroline Seikaly, Delphine Manivet, Alice+Olivia, J.Crew, Fancy New York

I tried on the Delphine (black & white photo above), but it left me looking more Princess Leia than 30s-inspired chic. Methinks it is suited for a more slim physique. Still a gorgeous gown.

Image swipes from the respective links above.

Over it.

Sun, 14 Aug 2011 21:27:00 -0400

Can we just chalk this whole mustache fad up to a 2007 trope and be done with it? If I see one more wedding with those stupid mustaches-on-a-stick, I am going to scream.

Image via