Loyal Fan

Posted by Rachel, Style Intern

You might recognize the name Loyal Loot from the rustic log bowls featured in our November/December gift guide. (Oh, Dad'll love them? Well, no need to thank us.) In addition to earthy yet industrial collectibles, I discovered that the Loyal Loot gals (a collective of Canadian women) have designed a clothing line -- and I'm working on smuggling their Canuck chic across the border. Their collection is full of cool, reservedly sexy pieces that gain an edge when worn layered. My personal favorite, the “Ruffle Bum Belt” is the cutest cross between a bustle and a cummerbund, depending on which way it's worn.

The “Party Frock,” which is shown layered over a heathered three-quarter sleeve top on the website, would be my perfect go-to dress for holiday parties.

The fuzzy knitted “Suspend Sweater Dress” looks cozy yet presentable -- just right for layering with a turtleneck and jeans for work.

There’s nothing on the website that I don’t love. Unfortunately for us American girls, Alberta’s the only place you can find this loot in stores. But not to worry, just shoot them an e-mail and they’ll hook you right up.

Is there anything you've got your eye on to wear this fall?

Refining eBay

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

Trawling page after page on eBay can be overwhelming, and the thrill of the hunt often fizzles after logging countless eye-numbing hours. Personally, I never tire; I'm the sort of person who likes to rummage through the $1 bin and reach into jacket pockets in thrift shops, hoping to unearth some sort of treasure. (I once found a ball of lint that resembled Elvis.) But for those of you who wouldn't mind a little direction, check out Refinery29's eBay blog. Every day they post a great eBay score -- anything from vintage clothing and books to folk art and bicycles -- that can be yours if the bidding is right. I recently chatted with the site's editorial director, Christene Barberich, for whom the blog is a pet project (and something of an obsession).

Q: What compelled you to start an eBay blog?

A: It was a collective idea, since I share the thrifting affliction with our style director, Piera Gelardi. It just seemed like a fun concept that no one had explored yet.

Scandinavian print fabric

Q: Does the 'one for the blog, two for me' principle of shopping come into play while you scour the site?

A: Unfortunately, yes. I make a very concerted effort not to bid on everything that wows me, but occasionally I do give in. My latest splurges (all rather conservative, since they cost well under $75) have been an extremely eccentric pair of oversized black Cerruti eyeglass frames and an enormous oil painting of a couple that I believe is some sort of amateur homage to Alex Katz.

Dansk pot

Q: Any search tips that you're willing to share?

A: I have a few secrets, but no, I'm not willing to share...sorry! I will say this: Be willing to dig -- in whatever sense that's possible on the Internet.

Q: What do you look for in objects that you blog about?

A: I have a particular soft spot for the descriptions sellers attach to them. Some of my favorite picks have included extremely hilarious background info. I tend not to go for the super-obvious bidder searches, especially when it comes to vintage clothes, but I guess I just know something is special when I see it. When I discovered a complete set of hand-painted block people (which included "a circus guy," according to the seller) I couldn't believe my luck.

Beloved block people

Q: What's your favorite eBay score?

A: That's so hard. Probably something simple, like my used copy of the Fairchild Dictionary of Fashion or these black knee-high Aquascutum boots I just won. I only hope they're just as amazing as they looked in the pics.

Character Sketch

 

    Posted by Katie, Fashion Editor

"Type Casting," the September/October fashion story, was partly inspired by the personal styles of several coworkers. To assemble my cast of fashion characters, I created a board of inspirational images and the market pieces that would suit each one. The types morphed a bit during the process -- originally there was the "perverse crafter," based on a friend in the crafts department, but that was renamed and eventually edited out. Here's what inspired those that made it into the magazine.

The Bold Minimalist was based on Page Marchese Norman, our style director. 

I found this portrait from the contributors page in Blueprint's first issue, but I'm not sure any photograph can capture the essence of Page's style.

The Bold Minimalist isn’t afraid of strange proportions or bold color, loves glass jewelry, and has a touch of the avant-garde in her style. She wears flats or wedges -- she’s a bit sensible -- and part of her chic is that her clothes are roomy, but not sloppy. Her runway favorites are Jil Sander and Martin Margiela, but she's able to find her look in a wide range of designer collections. I think Zero by Maria Cornejo and A Detacher especially suit her. Rather than sneaking a shot of Page for my wall of inspiration, I pulled this Mats Gustafson portrait of Vanessa Redgrave from The New Yorker...

...and combined it with my favorite Jil Sander ad

...and an image from an old APC catalog.

This pretty much summed up the character -- and prevented Page from being under too much scrutiny on my wall.

The next character, the Laid-Back Trailblazer, was based on a friend who works for Martha Stewart Living. Ms. Greenjeans, not her real name, has amazing style. She has a special gift for selecting things that I would completely ignore and turning all the pieces into a singular, whole vision. She was represented on my office wall by shots from the Rick Owens runway...

...and this boot.

I've never seen Ms. Greenjeans in either, but something about the shorthand of those two images came close to expressing her idiosyncrasies. In meetings I described this character as someone with a penchant for the avant-garde, but whose choices ended up looking comfortable, not so precise. Other designers that suit this character are Bruce, Nicholas K., and Yohji Yamamoto. This also turned out to be the page I'm going to shop from the most; I'm still planning on buying the Rachel Comey shoes. Certainly jumpsuits are part of this look, and Ms. Greenjeans and I always trade tips on which designer has made the best. I'm expecting to see her in one soon, silencing all doubters in the process. 

Perhaps it'll be this one, by Sari Gueron.

The Postmodern Pinup, was based on a former colleague on Weddings magazine. Her personal style is legendary: red lips, odd accessories, some retro touches, great use of pattern and color. I ran into her the other day and she had really outdone herself again: she was wearing a nondescript pencil skirt and shirt with a scallop-edge red scarf and argyle socks with heels. Trust me, it worked! What I’ve always liked about her style is how she keeps her retro look modern and witty, not costume-y. For the story, I chose an image from the Dior runway, to indicate that not everyone was committed to the shapeless shift dress...

...and paired it with John Currin’s painting,“Heartless," to flesh out (har) the character. This is a woman who shows her waist, wears great accessories, loves feminine touches, and specializes in breaking hearts.

The Preppy Bohemian was a composite of my favorite food editors. They have crazy hair (in the best possible way); wear shoes, skirts, and scarves from their travels; and mix it all up with Brooks Brothers classics and aprons. Obviously there was a big Balenciaga influence...

 

...and this image from, of all places, the Chaiken show.

What a clever look -- so wearable, yet updated. It was by far the easiest character to develop.

I obviously love thinking about style types and I decided that I may need to put together an inspiration board to describe my own personal style. What fascinates me are the definitions that people use to edit their style, like when they're shopping and they say, "Oh, that's just not me." Do you think of your style in this way?

Mask Masters

Posted by Valerie, Senior Editor

Here at Martha Stewart HQ, Halloween ranks right up there at the top of the holiday hierarchy: What other day can compete with its combination of creativity, humor, and, um, candy? Blueprint-ers are hardcore costume people, and we thought we'd share some of our recent favorites with you. (Trust me, none involves cookie-cutter getups from the party-supply shop.)

 

Senior Art Director Lisa Thé, in 2004, as Bjork at the 2001 Oscars.

 

Associate Managing Editor Sarah Rutledge as "The Bitter Bridesmaid," 2003. She says: "The smeared lipstick is on purpose, and I walked the New York Village Halloween Parade shouting, 'It should have been me! When will it be my turn?"

 

Me, as an unlucky knife thrower's assistant, 2006.

 

Design Production Associate Sydney Applegate as Margot Tenenbaum, 2004...

 

...and in 2006, as one half of Patsy and Edina from "Absolutely Fabulous."

Our Style Intern, Rachel Lexier, 2006. She says: "I was the goddess of wine, and, might I add, very popular that night."

Duane Stapp, Senior Design Production Associate, as a pigeon in the New York Village Halloween Parade. Duane was part of a flock, and the birds' heads were mounted on sticks so that they could be made to bob in a lifelike way...

...and as part of an ensemble cast portraying "Chinese food."

Editorial Coordinator Rachel Boyle as Rosemary (and her baby).

Associate Fashion Editor Sarah Conroy, with her hair in a literal bird's nest.

Now tell us what your greatest costumes were, and what you plan to be this year!

Back Talk

 

   Posted by Sarah, Associate Fashion Editor

The other day I was lucky enough to spend a hour or so with some of the girls from James Jeans. We talked about fits, washes, and trends, and I had the opportunity to shimmy into as many pairs as possible. As soon as I zipped up the first, I did the tried-and-true jeans test -- I checked out the front, squatted, and did an over-the-shoulder peek at my rear. What I saw was amazing: my butt actually looked cute.

{not my butt}

Yeah, I know some of you are thinking, Duh, that's what James Jeans is known for, but before I tried them on, I wasn't a believer. Seemingly to get me hook, line, and sinker, James has just come out with new washes using their T400 technology -- a high-tech name for 'four-way lycra stretch.' Basically these babies suck you in and slim you down to create the perfect svelte silhouette. As with all of the other styles, the rear pockets are designed with a dart and positioned at an angle so that you can create a bootylicious illusion, even if you don't have J.Lo's assets. The styles with the T400 technology are:
 

Tom straight leg in Riesling

James slim bootleg in Riesling, my favorite classic fit!

You can find them at Revolve and Shopbop.

Oh, and feel free to ask for some jeans recommendations -- I think I’ve tried them all. It is my job, after all...

Cloud Nine

Posted by Rachel, Editorial Coordinator

It's inevitable that once the weather gets cooler, many of us go into full nesting lockdown. And what better way to cozy up at home than with one of these linen silk-screened pillows from Paper Cloud?

 

Available in many color combinations, they are among the many "brainchildren" of husband-and-wife team Matthew and Ariana Broerman. You might even want to curl up with a good book under one of their other bright ideas:

Or jot down your thoughts in one of their hand-bound journals. These page-turners are a stylish alternative to a sea of Post-its (admit it, you've got 'em everywhere).

Best of all, everything is handmade in the basement of the Broermans' Cincinnati house. Talk about working from home!

A Haiku For Kunel

Posted by Shane,  Deputy Style and Home Editor

Picture this: Page and I have been in the Christmas trenches for the past two months creating and shooting our Christmas feature, which should be out in a month or so. It nearly killed us, but we're finally back in the office, licking our wounds and gearing up for our January/February shoots. It's around 7 o'clock in the evening and I've been in two loooong meetings discussing our next decorating story. So now I'm tired and procrastinating the inevitable -- which is that I need to get to work on my next project, pronto. But to relax, I just need an hour with some good, hardcore stylist porn, so I start flipping through the library of one of my favorite magazines: Kunel.

Kunel is a Japanese lifestyle magazine with a featherlight touch and lasting grace. For a year or so I've had a love affair with this magazine, even though I can't actually read it. The content is effortless, sometimes abstract, and always unfussy. Whether they are illustrating how to distill essence from blooms, profiling an elderly craftsman in the rural countryside, or teaching the art of making pancakes, the photographs hold a refreshing breath of humanity. Sometimes I'm not sure from the images what exactly the stories are about, but they are so beautiful that it doesn't matter. In Kunel, you'll find dirty hands, piles of magazines on the floor, wilting bouquets, wrinkled linens, non-design, inspiration for Sunday hobbies, and decoration with a make-do attitude -- all beautifully lit and regarded with the sensitivity of a poet.

 

 

 

 

To order your own copy call Asahiya at 212-883-0011.

Mix Master

Posted by Callie, Senior Home Market Editor

Back in the day, I was totally into mixtapes. I would sit for hours with my dual tape player editing together my new favorite Flock of Seagulls song and an embarrassingly beloved Starship hit (come on, I know you loved them too), in pursuit of the “perfect mix."

With retro, '80s-inspired clothing coming down the fashion runways and '80s-esque glam bands all over the blogosphere, it was only a matter of time before the decade’s influence would reemerge in the product design world. Now the audiocassette tape is making its pop-culture comeback, this time as a protective recycled and repurposed case for iPod’s Nano. The ’45 nano by Canadian design firm Contexture Design reuses the old medium to protect the first and second-generation Nano (with an update on the way to support the recently released third-generation version), putting new meaning in the word 'remix'. The ‘vintage’ cassette is available online at 45ipodcases.com for $45. Now, scroll down, hit play, and sing it with me: “No time is a good time for goodbyes.”

 

Seeing Blue

Posted by Erin, Staff Writer

This morning our editor-in-chief, Sarah, woke up extra early to give Al Roker a tour of her bedroom. Fear not, it wasn't a private tour: she was on the Today Show giving viewers a glimpse of the beautiful, gender-neutral decorating ideas for bedrooms from our September/October issue. And despite feeling under-the-weather, Sarah was every bit the match for Al's enthusiasm. You can catch the whole clip here.

Family Trees

Posted by Page, Style Director

When I moved to Los Angeles several years ago, all of my friends told me there was a woman named Susan whom I just had to meet. (Susan’s friends were telling her the same thing about me, too.)  Our connections were countless (and a little spooky): We found that our fathers had both worked at the same company for years; both of our fathers raised bees (and let’s face it, it’s pretty hard to find another person with such a quirky hobby!); and both of our fathers enjoyed woodworking -- Susan's so much so that he started a business doing it. The most uncanny similarity is that we were both made by our fathers to load firewood on the weekends in order to heat our rustic homes. Needless to say, Susan and I became friends, and I've enjoyed getting to know more of her incredibly creative family members in the years since: Her grandmother, the talented knitter; her mother, the gifted cook with a green thumb; her sister-in-law, the fabulous clothing designer; and her brother Mark, a tremendous graphic designer and musician. Last but not least, of course, is Susan's own proficiency as a brilliant stylist, gardener, and cook. Over time, Susan’s family has given me wonderful presents, from a jar of their handmade honey and a cozy pair of knitted socks (thanks, Oma!), to a little wooden trinket made by Susan’s father, John.

Grandma's knitted socks.

Now, in response to Susan and Mark’s nudging, John has made his beautiful, hand-crafted wooden spoons, hooks, and napkin rings -- among other things --  available for purchase on his new website, LiveWireFarm.com. The site is divided into three sections: Timber, Honey, and another of John’s specialties, Fence Charger Repair (yes, he fixes electric fences, too).

 

A jar of fresh Vermont honey.

 

Stir up something special with a hand-hewn wooden spoon.

 

Two uses for wooden hooks.

 

A pair of twigs used as surprising shelf brackets.

 

Napkin rings with rustic charm.

The wood John uses in his designs (maple, beech or birch) is grown in Jacksonville, Vermont, then dried, crafted, and left with its natural color and finish. To purchase anything on the website, all you have to do is fill out an online form; every item is created according to individual customer requests. While families as wonderful as Susan and John’s are hard to come by, at least now anyone can bring the fruits of this crew's creativity into her own home.

La-Z-Girl

Posted by Milano, Editorial Assistant

While it doesn’t take much to coax me into being active -- who doesn’t love an impromptu trip to the Met, a hair-raising game of touch football, or a sampling of local live music? -- I must admit that, at heart, I’m a lounger.

Crackling fires, double hammocks, sheepskin rugs, and puffy chaises like this one (below) from Crate and Barrel: All these things speak to me on a deep level.

Thanks to a barbecue I attended a couple of months ago, I found another item to add to my dream team. As I inhaled my steak and potato salad, my eye was drawn to a rattan-and-wood plantation chair sitting regally by itself on one side of the living room.

When I complimented the hostess on it, she responded, “The real beauty of the chair is in its pivoting arms.”

Now maybe I’m the last person to learn about this polished progenitor of the La-Z-Boy, but it was a lightbulb moment, like the time I read about the earth being round or the instant I understood why some stocks are referred to as “liquid.” I was awestruck and, of course, full of hope that someday one just like it would be mine for the lounging.

Once I stopped gawking, I asked about the history of this type of chair. It’s called “plantation” because it was used during the Colonial period on plantations in the South, the Caribbean, and other exotic, hot locales by folks looking to put up their feet and air out on a sweltering day. This particular recliner is a replica made in Indonesia. I’m not sure where it was purchased, but I'm happy to report that a quick look on web yielded a numbert of look-alikes -- all of which can be enjoyed by dedicated loungers in any climate.

Rear View

Posted by Valerie, Senior Editor

You may recall from my last blog that I am a bit of a trash-picker. Here is another example of something I dragged in from a street corner in my neighborhood:

It's a fairly large wooden frame -- about 3 feet by 4 feet. It leaned against the wall in my kitchen for more than six months before I finally got around to doing anything with it. I had planned to hang it over my bed to help delineate that area of my apartment (my very small studio is one big square), and to place some to-be-determined thing inside.

First, I needed to remove the nails that jutted out from the inner rim:

Nails -- ouch!

When I really looked at the back of the frame, though, I realized that it was actually better-looking than the painted front. A new plan began to form. With a bit of help, a little patience, and a lot of nails, I hung the frame backward on the wall over my bed. (I'm sure there was a better way to do this, but I just tapped very thin nails through the wood and straight into the wall.)

When I was confident that I had the frame securely fastened, I added two picture hooks just above its top edge, and used them to hang a pair of decades-old leather lederhosen that I bought over the summer at an antiques store in Virginia. (Originally, I had planned to alter and wear them -- either as better-fitting shorts or as a skirt, with the suspenders intact. Like many of my impractical plans, this did not come to pass.) I think they look great, and their irregular shape keeps the room from being all squares and rectangles.

What's the most inventive or unusual thing you've ever framed? Send a photo and a brief description to bluelines@mslo.com by October 31, 2007, and we'll post a few of our favorites here on the blog.

McMusic

Posted by Shira, Editorial Assistant, Art

 

When counting the reasons that Grey’s Anatomy fills my favorite 44 minutes of television each week, I run out of fingers (and perhaps even toes). But a key factor in my obsession with the show is its killer music -- and not just the three albums released with the pivotal tracks from each season. I’ve discovered dozens of artists after hearing a perfectly chosen song in an episode, looking it up online, and going on an MP3 downloading spree.

Naturally, I preordered the third Grey’s soundtrack before it even hit the iTunes store and gave it a listen, STAT. (What else was I supposed to do to pass the time until the season 4 premiere?) Inspired, I then delved into the catalog of one Ingrid Michaelson, whom Grey’s viewers should recognize from the season 3 finale (and nonviewers may know from the new Old Navy sweater commercial). I found myself singing that sweater song, “The Way I Am," repeatedly; now that I've picked up her new CD “Boys and Girls," I can move on to humming something else.

Like many of the other artists I discovered during this key time slot (e.g., Brandi Carlile, Kate Havnevik, Annie, and Foy Vance), Ingrid Michaelson will no doubt continue to get frequent iPod play. (She’ll also receive prime placement on CD mixes for my friends in the months to come.) The coffeehouse vibe, love-laced lyrics, and twinge of impish spirit (à la Regina Spektor), mixed with a full dose of could-have-played-at-Lilith-Fair singer/songwriter sound, is familiar, yet refreshing. For those of you lucky enough to live in a city on the Matt Nathanson tour, Ingrid is the opening act, so pull on your Old Navy sweater and go catch what should be a sweet show. (Just don't forget to set your DVR if the concert falls on a Thursday night.)

Keepin' It Tights

Posted by Johannah, Associate Fashion Editor

Yes, we know it's still hot, and that you may not be ready to let go of summer just yet, but we're already excited about fall clothes and all the (flattering, no-tan-required) legwear that goes along with them. Here are a few of our favorite tights to stock up on for cooler times. (We wanted to include them in our September/October issue, but we didn't have room!)

Left to right: Wolford black graphic tights, $52, www.wolfordboutiquelondon.com; StockinGirl ribbed thigh-high socks, $24, Stockingirl.com; Voila! Hosiery over-the-knee tights, $15, bloomingdales.com for stores; Levante USA Brubek tights, $23, levanteusa.com.

What's your favorite source for stockings, leggings, tights, and socks? And which styles will you be wearing this fall?

The Mother Lode

Posted by Rebecca, Senior Home Editor

After going through one of my many boxes of old photos, keepsakes, and documents, I came across these Christmas cards that my mother made in 1956. She was just 17 at the time. (Sorry to give up your age, Mom!)

These wonderful interiors -- with their bright pink ceilings, sweetly wallpapered walls, grand paneling, and muted gray floors -- were things that she dreamt up, not things from her actual home. I guess the apple doesn't fall that far from the tree, since I do the same thing here at Blueprint: cook up fantasy rooms (down to the tiniest decorating detail) and attempt to bring them to life, if only for the day of a photo shoot.

Now, if you see a bright pink wall in one of my stories, you'll know just where my inspiration came from. Thanks, mom!

Do you have family members or friends who inspire you in your work (or hobbies)?

Gold Standard

Posted by Rachel Lexier, intern

I've never been much for gold jewelry.

It always reminds me of that episode of Sex and the City where Carrie discovers her pear-shaped diamond engagement ring, "complete with gold band," in Aidan's gym bag…and subsequently throws up.

Lately, however, silver's been boring me and beading seems blah. So I've decided to give these gilded trinkets another try.

One style I've been loving is hammered gold circles with thin, simple chains, or interlocking circles for added drama. These pieces are great for a night out because they can instantly make any black shirt look cooler. And don't be afraid to wear several -- the more, the merrier.

Try looping a long chain a few times or, if you want a simpler look, try two interlocking circles, perhaps with a stone or charm hanging between them. I’m currently obsessed with this one from Melanie Auld Designs.

Another fresh look is the gold-and-stone combo. These dainty necklaces are so simple and pretty. Try chalcedony, citrine or topaz faceted briolettes. Each one comes in a variety of colors and is relatively inexpensive.

Again, the more drops you have, the more dramatic the effect. My favorite lemon-colored variation comes from Etsy. You can rest assured that no one will steal your style: Each piece on the website is handmade and most are one-of-a-kind.

Just remember the golden rule: Keep the glitz to a minimum. Sparkling simplicity beats glam and gaudy any day.