DIY Projects have colonized a bit of my time

I am currently trying to wrap as many DIY wedding projects as possible before I begin my new faculty job. Above are the containers for our cookie table. I ordered and affixed custom labels for all 200 of them! Granted we are inviting more people than containers, but hopefully some couples will share. We'll see, I guess! For those of you not familiar with the "cookie table," a Pittsburgh wedding staple, read about this delicious and fun tradition here and here.

Last night, my friend Mary Jo, my fiancé Chris, and I went to Artist Image Resource (AIR) during the open studio hours to work on our wedding invitations. Each will feature an individually screened image of the 16th Street Bridge. Of all the bridges in Pittsburgh, this is by far my and Chris's favorite. It is also the one we use most often to get around town.

(image taken from here where you can find more info;
note: this is not the image we used for the invites)

I learned that I am 1. a little OCD 2. pretty adept at lining up paper 3. capable of screening very quickly by myself. All of the design talent is thanks to Mary Jo. I am so grateful for her eye and her abilities. Once everything is finished I will share how it turned out. We are still working on the invites and reply cards. Afterwards we will move on to the ceremony programs, table numbers, and seating cards.

Another project I am working on involves the use of our parents' and grandparents' wedding/couple photos. Both Chris and I are very close to our parents and siblings but we have also both lost our grandparents. I am working on a way to integrate their presence into the visual landscape of the reception because it is extremely important to us. I am still determining the execution of this project which right now involves gathering, scanning, and trying to clean up a lot of older photographs.

A bit of a meta-blog thought aside: Not sure why/how I believed that finishing a dissertation, starting a new job (that is technically my first "legit" professor job), and planning a wedding were things I should do simultaneously. Don't get me wrong, these are all wonderful and privileged things to be doing. I feel extremely fortunate to have such opportunities ahead of me. I know I will look back on this time in my life with great fondness and joy. But I have to admit my time to blog thoughtfully (or do much of anything else, thoughtfully) is becoming increasingly rare. This is part of why the content here has been less analytical and more "hey here's an outfit!" "hey here's a dress review." That genre of entry is quick and dirty and I like the content just fine. But my spare time to critically and productively think through my patterns and material desires as a consumer has taken a backseat to other more time-sensitive things. I hope I don't lose a lot of readership for it!

Anyway, this week I bought a bridal bustier which had to be altered a bit to fit me better. I had such a fantastic experience at Smartform Pittsburgh. I highly recommend them to any women in need of bridal undergarments or any special occasion pieces. They also specialize in post-mastectomy undergarments so they are extremely knowledgeable and capable. More than anything else, I was surprised by how affordable, discreet, and warm they were. I spent less on a piece that was custom-altered, more flattering, and more supportive than I would have spent buying something off the rack from just about anywhere else. A week from now I will get to officially be fitted to my wedding dress! I also changed my mind about my rehearsal dinner dress. But more on that next week! Have a great weekend, everyone!

DIY-Inspired Maison Martin Margiela Jewelry

I was browsing the sale content on Eluxury (since their current promotion offers an additional 40% off bags and accessories) and came upon a series of Maison Martin Margiela jewelry items that appear to be DIY, recycled, or recession-inspired. I can't quite figure out which. The prices are not very recession-friendly (even on sale, with 40% off) . I wonder if on some level, Margiela's pieces are manifestations of the pressure to "go green?" What do you think? Are they being tongue in cheek about DIY fashion or about the global economic downturn?

Regardless of the motivation or the meaning behind the pieces, the recession-unfriendly pricing means that I intend to make my own version of the can tab necklace. This statement necklace looks so grand, despite the mundanity of the found objects that assemble to form it! I don't drink much soda or beer (in cans, anyway) so I will need to collect the tabs in various sizes toward this project, somehow. I made many a paper clip necklace in my youth so I will pass on that one. And I'm just not sure of how I feel about the cork necklace. I think it would be difficult to not look like you were essentially wearing "garbage."

If the bow on this bow cuff was made of metal, I would actually consider purchasing it (for the right price)! The bow might be metal, but I can't quite tell. It looks like just a regular gift wrap bow, though.

I will keep you posted on the progress of my DIY can tab necklace... though it might be a while for me to accumulate all those tabs without drinking the liquids in the containers that have them!

Back from NYC, Lots of updates to do, but here is a quick shot of my petticoat!

My stylish colleague over at Style Tribe noticed and cleverly branded the emerging visible slip trend as the Wispy Little Thing (WLT) and I LOVE that. Be sure to check out her analysis!

To continue this theme, I received my petticoat from ebay. It is longer than I anticipated, so I had to roll the top of it, Catholic school girl style, but I am very pleased with the garment. I took some quick iphone mirror shots of it and look forward to finding the perfect voluminous topskirt to pair with it, ala the gorgeous Abaete Nancie skirt.

I am strategizing how to alter the length. I obviously cannot take it up from the bottom, as it would eliminate the scalloped hem detail that makes it so special. I will probably try to hem from the top after consulting my mother who's sewing skills are far more advanced than my own. What do you think?

Harnessing a Trend: Exposed Slips and My Own Abaete Nancie Skirt

A few epals had great luck during some of the recent sales! They were able to score this romantic, whimsical, divinely feminine Abaete "Nancie" skirt which features a detached, exposed petticoat.

The sizing for this skirt ran notoriously small (size 0's needing size 6's, etc.) so I didn't work too hard to locate one. I heard rumblings about an H&M knockoff but then learned that the exposed slip matched the skirt, which seemed too monotonous to emulate such a uniquely feminine, exposed slip effect, as shown above. So I set out on a mission: To find and acquire a suitable approximation of that petticoat and then locate a topskirt of appropriate length.

Well, part 1 of that mission is complete as of today.

I purchased this scalloped petticoat off Ebay (thanks to a clutch tip from epal, Najeema) and I will keep it handy for part 2. It will be necessary that I have the petticoat with me to ensure the proper length of a black, grey, brown, or navy flouncy, natural-waisted skirt. My quest to adopt the exposed slip began earlier.

I don't quite recall when I first noticed this emerging trend. I do remember vividly that I was extremely happy this summer when I acquired this Marc by Marc Jacobs Mochachino velvet dress with attached lace petticoat from Barneys Coop in Georgetown for 75% off retail.

It was great for fall and I hope to wear it a few more times before the end of winter! The other week I purchased a vintage-inspired piece from Anthropologie with the intent to build outfits around the pretty, pleated hemline. I displayed it in my last post, paired with a Manoush ruffle bib dress.

With these key pieces in tact, project exposed slips will continue to be successful in 2k9 thanks to the additions the topskirt (readers, please let me know if you spot anything) and my new scalloped petticoat!