The hitching post of the sun

A couple months ago I spent a wonderful afternoon in open fields of grass photographing the beautiful knit accessories by DeNada. Since the designer and I share South American roots and inspirations I wanted to incorporate very layered, ethnic looks similar to those that filled my childhood memories, so I brought to the field all the ethnic blankets I've been collecting over the years and had so much fun playing with them (and with the grasshoppers). You can now purchase DeNada's items online at their store HERE or HERE.


Hope you like the shots as much as I do.

Dark Reflection

I have been working on a couple sewing projects lately - one of them was directly inspired by Thakoon's mirrored jacket from Fall 2009.  I loved the understated but powerful shoulder and waist accents - I've been playing around with adding something similar to a longer vintage tuxedo jacket.  I'm really excited to finish it and share it with you.  There are also other amazing items in that same collection - gorgeous sequin pants and stunning mirrored heels and booties.  You can buy the much-coveted jacket plus other items from his collection HERE

Here are some of my favorites:

It's almost summer in Brazil

As the weather gets colder my thoughts head south, far south. So naturally, I began to peruse the real estate market in Sao Palo, Brazil. I stumbled upon Santo Amaro, a lust worthy house designed by the sublime Isay Weinfeld. Crime and kidnappings have forced wealthy Brazilians to build introspective homes that appear to be elegantly designed fortresses on the outside. But limitation always creates the best architecture. In this case, a home that is nurturing, private, secure and open to the outside all at the same time. American postmodern architects could learn a thing or two from Isay. In DC we seem to think that postmodern architecture means a glass box where your neighbors can tell the brand of dental floss you use.

Price upon request:









View the listing and take the tour here
Pictures from Sotheby's International Realty and Isay Weinfeld

Wednesday Picks

This is our second boutique-favorites installation.  For this look I paired a gorgeous and perfectly structured sweater with a pumpkin orange skirt and a suede hat.  The sweater is so beautiful, and the fit makes it incredibly versatile - I could've very easily paired it with jeans.  Remember, all items pictured are available at Treasury. 

Vintage Anne Klein structured puff sleeve cardigan $95

Orange A-line skirt $42
Vintage German fur hat $38

Studded Corset

I reconstruct the majority of the vintage clothes I buy - with the help of my lovely aunt who is a seamstress.  She usually ends up doing most of the work, but my latest DIY project is easy enough to handle myself.  I will be working on it this weekend - wish me luck. I'll share with you the process once I'm done. 


DIY from Park & Cube

Coco Chanel

I came across this fascinating set of pictures of Coco Chanel on 1stdibs shot by Mark Shaw for LIFE Magazine in 1957. They are being sold at Svenska Mobler in San Francisco - I visited them on a recent trip to CA and  they didn't have any of these pictures on display, but they did have some other wonderful photography which you can browse here. These are some of the most intimate shots of Coco Chanel I have seen and she recognized it as well saying that "Shaw had crept as close to her as anyone is likely to get with their LEICA on".   Mark Shaw used an unobtrusive 35 mm camera and eliminated all other photographic equipment resulting in these very informal and intimate black and white images.

Here are some of my favorites:


Coco Chanel in the living room of her Paris apartment


Concocting jewelery in her Paris atelier


Coco Chanel and legendary actress Jeanne Moreau

 
Outside of her flagship Paris boutique.


Sharing champagne with her be-smocked mannequins following the showing of her new fall and winter collection in 1957.

Jimmy Choo for H&M

The highly anticipated Jimmy Choo and H&M collaboration will finally be in stores tomorrow November 14th in selected locations: Los Angeles, West Hollywood, San Francisco, Costa Mesa, New York City and Chicago.  The collection, which you can now view online on H&M's website, is very faithful to Jimmy's Choo's vision - sexy, tan, popular girl - not as quirky or edgy as Christian Siriano's latest collaboration, which I loved, and definitely not as affordable, but if you pick the right item it could certainly enhance your current shoe collection.

I am really interested to see how well the leather in these items translates to production, especially the bags, they could be really beautiful if done well.  Here are my picks:


Clockwise from top left: Gladiator Flat $69.95, Metallic Blue Heels $129, Black Cris Cross Heel $99, Leather Leggings $199, Over the Knee Boots $299, Black Leather One Shoulder Dress $249, Leather Bag $149, Hot Pink Pillbox clutch $59.95.

TPWP and District Cut Wedneday Picks - Locally Grown

We have a really exciting new collaboration here at TPWP.  Every week the District Cut and TPWP will show you our favorite items from local DC boutiques, styled and choreographed by us :)

This week we went to our favorite vintage store in the U Street area - Treasury - and had a blast with owner Cathy picking out and styling our favorite items.  I loved everything I found, it was really really hard to leave them at the store for you readers to buy.  Especially the jacket in this week's look, so reminiscent of Phillip, and so versatile.  I paired it with a simple gold tank, a skinny belt, black leggings,  patent leather loafers and a lovely pillbox hat.  

All items pictured are available at Treasury.  Make sure you click over to District Cut to see what he picked from the men's section.  Stay tuned every Wednesday for more of our favorite items.











Blue Jacket w/gold buttons - $62
Gold tank top - $42
Orange belt , with western buckle detail - $26
Velvet pillbox Hat w/net - $32
Patent leather shoes - $65

3 times 3

I know Scott Schuman doesn't think we're a fashionable city, but he might have been persuaded to think otherwise if he had been at Redeem's 3-year anniversary party last night.  It was really fun to see some of DC's most creative people involved in the same party - artist Kelly Towles, designer Virginia Arrisueño, DJ Cassidy, and of course the owners and staff of Redeem.

Here are some pictures we took at the party:

Come Celebrate at Redeem

If you liked the knits from the "fashion art cocktails" party a couple weeks ago, make sure you stop by Redeem tomorrow night for the "FOR THE LOVE OF IT" event.  An evening celebrating their 3 year anniversary, featuring pop-up shop by de*nada and new works by Kelly Towles. Music provided by DJ Ca$$idy with complimentary drinks supplied by Wasmund’s Whiskey and Flying Dog Brewery.

November 7th, 6:30pm-9pm at Redeem
1734 14th Street NW

Rinne Niinikoski for Marimekko Fall 2009

Piia Rinne and  Nora Niinikoski 's label Rinne Niinikoski is well known in Finland for the imagery in their one-of-a-kind clothes.  I was always a big fan of their colorful cartoony prints and knits.  This season Marimekko has a wonderful collection, full of bright printed dresses and gorgeous coats.  They have also partnered with Rinne Niinikoski for a Fall/Winter capsule collection and it's one of my favorite of theirs.  I love the exagerated proportions and design of these sweaters, their brightness and vintage feel are just what I'm looking to wear this cold Winter.  I'll be seeing the designs in person soon and reporting back to you how they look.... hope to bring a couple of them home :)

I'd like to be a kid again

Stella McCartney's kids collection for the Gap is the most adorable thing I've seen in a while.  I wonder if I can fit into a boy's large? If you're as eager to try as me, or if you actually have children you can go see the collection for a limited time at the Chevy Chase Gap.