The Verdict

So yesterday I posted about my mixed feelings regarding Totokaelo.com and their beta format. Today, however, I must eat my words. I have to admit now after having joined and checked out the site, that it's pretty ingenious. A shopping and social networking site for the worldly working girl to see what the other kids are into is a great way to get people hooked on a store. I am very curious to see if all the chitchat will equal lots of clothes buying. Either way though, the site looks slick and well thought out (even if some aspects are a little hard to navigate), and totally gives you a feeling of having stumbled into a very hip online "community". There are a surprising number of women on the site from around the world, not just the Pacific Northwest, and the assumption seems to be that if you are shopping at Impulse you must be a very well traveled and classy lady. And what lady doesn't like to have that assumption made about her?

xoxo,
marion

Nathan DiPietro @ Punch Gallery 08/07

portrait of a woman by nathan dipietro 2008

I'm so bad about remembering to go to the first Thursday Art Walk. I always think of it the day after or the week after, and try to remember what I was doing instead, and it's never anything good. However, this time will be different. A very talented friend of ours will be showing at Punch Gallery and I, for once, shall be in attendance.

xoxo,

marion

trust me, this is going to be good

So with my limited budget for shopping at the moment I can't get a bunch of new stuff for fall. Which is a shame really since the fall clothes are my favorite all year. (blazers! sweaters! colorful stockings!) But it came to me that what my wardrobe needs for fall is just one thing. Corduroy. I know what you must be thinking... and you're right, no one is really talking about corduroys glorious return. Which is in part what is fascinating for me. Also, the type of corduroy I want is exactly what you envision when you think of that fabric; large, cumbersome, wide wale, brown, tapered corduroy pants. Preferably a size too wide and a size too short. Muwahahah!!! I'm starting the hunt on Saturday. (if anyone wants to troll the thrift stores with me you are more than welcome!) And I'll post the results here on the blog.

xoxo,

marion

guilty!

um... ok, he's just too adorable not to share... so if you haven't got your cute-and-knows-he's-cute british bloke fix for the day you should watch Matthew Goode's screen test for T Magazine. He drinks wine. He looks into the camera like he's looking right at you. All in all a very satisfying five and a half minutes.

xoxo,

marion

Take That Calvin!

So I'm totally intrigued by the idea of the decorative wall decal. I like decorating... AND I like being able to rearrange everything every few months, or when the holidays come around. So the whole notion that I could have a whole wall mural of sorts that I could potentially just remove when I'm tired of it is pretty great! It's like how I want to get one of those tattoo's that fade after a year (is that a real idea or just wishful thinking on my part?).

Anyway, there is a couple who sell really cute vinyl wall decals on Etsy.com and I'm honestly thinking I might need one for the new place. I really like the ones that go over a headboard, except we are rocking the metal frame at this point, so it would just be a cool pattern over nothing but pillows.

check it: dali decals

xoxo,

marion

Viva Vintage!

For summer I am totally going crazy for vintage linens and quilts. I have been realizing that the patterns on vintage table cloths and handkerchiefs can be so fresh and crisp still, and yet have that easy, homey quality that it's almost impossible to find with modern patterns (at least the mass produced ones that are more in my price range!). I have been trolling about garage sales and ebay for all the loveliest little things and have not been disappointed. There are so many vintage tablecloths available that haven't even been used they've simply been sitting at the bottom of a drawer somewhere and occasionally someone will discover them and list them.
The hunt continues!

xoxo,
marion

A Delightful Medium

So I think these girls who make their living as illustrators must be the most adorable group of people in the world. One of my more recent posts was about Kris Chau who is "drawing and dreaming of pretty girls" in Philadelphia. And today I stumbled upon the German illustrator Anke Weckmann whose company name is Linotte, and who currently resides in London. She likes Harriett the Spy (i do too!), and elderberry cordial (i want to try some!) and draws all sorts of fantastic things, from the above portrait of Devendra Bainheart to sweets and treats for Bust magazine. She also currently has a shirt of her design available from the omnipresent Threadless.com ( and I would like to state for the record, that while I don't often wear graphic t-shirts myself, I totally give Threadless a virtual high-five for their support of independent artists.)
Any illustrators I should know about? Do tell!!

xoxo,
marion

The Journey Towards Great Fashion Continues!

I'm so thrilled to announce that I'm taking my fashion interests to the next level and have enrolled in design school! If all goes according to schedule (we have as yet to find Kelly a job and the two of us a place to live in L.A.) we will be heading down at the end of August and I'll be starting at FIDM October!

I think that this will increase my blog posting tenfold since I will be bursting at the seams with new and exciting fashion information.

While I have some mixed emotions about leaving my friends in Seattle and moving to SoCal once again, I know that this new chapter is going to be incredibly valuable. I hope you all stop in to see what I'm up to in the fashion world!

xoxo,

marion

Beauty in her Veins

I love stumbling across a new artist that I can appreciate. Kris Chau, formerly of the lovely state of Hawaii, and now dwelling in Philadelphia, is the sort of illustrator that a girl of my generation can look at and understand instantly. Not that her work is simple, but it's immensely visually appealing on a very basic level the moment you see it. There are so many fantasy based illustrators these days that the concept has become a little bland for me (yes, it's both a horse and a man wearing a clown costume, i get it...) but something about the fresh images of these girls makes me appreciate the idea again.

As I was looking at her work I also couldn't help but think, this girl should get in to fashion! And come to find out, she is in fact working for Free People as a knitwear designer. Fabulous!

Here is a little snippet of what she has to say:

"...I don’t really make a lot of money, and part of that is to make me work harder at home so one day I won’t need these stupid jobs and I'll be able to somehow make art all encompassing. The picture of the little girl that you like – I have a print of her in my office with a bubble that says, “Get off your ass you lazy ho or keep your day job!” Every hour that you want to go out drinking with your friends or spend money on that shirt. I look at that picture and think I have to make that choice for art."

That quote is from a nice interview with her in dorkmag...

http://www.dorkmag.com/kc_page_1.html

I'm vastly pleased to have made this little discovery today, and I hope to be able to see some of her lovely work in person sometime! (come to Seattle sometime, Miss Chau, if you are reading this!)

xoxo,

marion

Forget SIFF!!

The Seattle Film Fest may be in full swing, but for my part I'll be checking out the Northwest Film Forum next week for PRÊT-À-FILMER: A WEEK OF FASHION FILMS
"This series of five documentary films celebrates fashion icons— those who made fashion and those who wore fashion in ways that changed the definition of style."

What better way to spend a summers evening than ogling vintage fashion footage, sighing at the perfection of Yves St Laurent at work in his atelier, and rolling your eyes at Victoria Beckams latest fashion statement.

Although it occurs to me that popcorn doesn't really suit this sort of film watching... I wonder if they allow champagne at these things...

For dates and times check out http://www.nwfilmforum.org/cinemas/fashionfilms.php

xoxo,

marion