Phreaked Fall Fashion 2008 September 3, 2008

So I’ve been compiling a list of looks I would love to see this fall.

First off, the T-Strap and the Ankle Strap are adding a demur look to some of the heavier, clunkier shoes of fall.

Madden Girl Pracila T-Strap, $39.95

Juicy Couture Elisabeth, $352 (avail in both Port and Black)

Two Lips Copa, a lil clunky but, $79

Secondly, GREY GRAY GREY!! I want to see it on cozy sweaters, knee high boots, and a-line skirts. Anything from a soft dusty shade to gunmetal. I’m over charcoal, too severe.

designbynihan Grey Unisex Sweater, $130

Semantiks "Lottery Pick" Paneled Tweed Skirt, $88

muttsywonder Gray Short Sleeve Hoodie, great for layering, $38

Purple. Mind you, I tried to make this the color of Spring 2007 but apparently the fashion consciousness was concentrating on vibrant blue.

DONE.

Purple is an amazing color to mix with the rich shades of fall that are sure to mimic the changing of the leaves. Deep Golds, Burnt Oranges and Bloody Crimsons. Intensity and Flair for all my friends.

JON Animal Print Skirt, please wear this with canary pumps, $346

Alice + Olivia Purple Belted Bubble Coat, $640

Peacock Embellishments. I love the intensity of Peacock plummage. I actually made my own peacock tutu this past spring for a garden-theme party and have since thought of turning extra peacock feathers floating around the house into an inspired necklace.

Maggie Makes It Sheila Peacock Feather Necklace, $12

misskk White Peacock Feather Necklace, $68

As you can tell, past Phreaked fashion finds are always about drama!! How better to achieve that than with the airs of a peacock strut?? With that said check out the following peacock loveliness~

Ruby Red Rose Peacock Feather Clutch, $105

VieModerne Peacock Headband, $29

Alright well that’s all for now! Please take it to heart my pretties!

Rags to Riches in the Italian Market July 28, 2008

So two weeks ago I told you to check out Craftadelphia, where local Etsy designers sell in person.

I went, abeit I didn’t get there until around 3, so perhaps some of the artists had already taken off… Not a smart thing to do if you want to make money off your wares!!

Then again, I heard two young ladies behind the counter at the Mew Gallery saying that “word hadn’t really gotten out about today”

*SIGH*

I guess what I’m trying to say is that I was a little underwhelmed.

Not that the Mew Gallery isn’t fantastic, because it is, but a lot the items were just CUTE. Not necessarily out of this world original, or “couldn’t live without.”

THEN just as I leave, walking out to the corner of 9th and Christian and going left to Isgro Pasticceria (Chocolate Chip Ricotta Cookies were calling my name) I see something flutter out of the corner of my eye!! There to my right is a vintage suitcase full of silk scarves.

Now I am just nuts for silk scarves, I love how they can accessorize any outfit easily and I’m a big fan of tying one around your head simply this summer for an eclectic yet sophisticated look.

What you can’t tell here maybe, is that I had my hair pinned half back and kept the scarf as a sort of band that was knotted above the rest of my hair hanging down… not underneath. I also decided to drama with lots of black eye liner and contrasting orange melon earrings. This was one of my buys, a gunmetal grey with red designs. On the outter edges however, it is punctuated with red stripes.

The deal was two for $5 (or one for $3) so I also selected a peach scarf (it was long and rectangular, unlike the square one above) that had lavender, chocolate and cream stripes. Perfect for that summer capri look.

As I wandered off the sidewalk and into the store with my finds in hand, I realized the fun didn’t stop there!! Along with vintage housewares there was a massive table spread with all sorts of 60’s and 70’s costume jewelry! Rhinestone leaf bracelets, silver and peal link necklaces, and even semi-precious rings. I don’t think I saw anything over $30 but most items were in the $6-$17 range.

The sellers were SO South Philly it was ridiculous.
I think they are just prowling the streets waiting for the old ladies in S. Phil to croak- moving in to nab up all their great jewelery, bags, and hats.

I also found a beautiful lavender rhinestone ring. Massive. Probably a half an inch in diameter. Surrounded by white diamond-like rhinestones and set in a faux gold. It was the perfect flashy bobble so I scooped it up for $6. I also absolutely fell in love with a thick gold chain necklace. I actually thought there were two pieces laying there together, only come to find out it was double tiered. At the bottom of each chain hung a large white stone pendant. It’s an absolutely original piece. I would guess circa late 60’s, kind of a eclectic yet sophisticated feel. You know, the feeling Urban Outfitters tries to go for but just mass produces. Suckers!

My necklace was only $7!
I’ve been wearing it everywhere and getting SO MANY compliments.

So enough about my finds! You need your fashion fix as well right?!

Rags to Riches
823 S. 9th Street (North of Christian)
Philadelphia, PA

The man I spoke to gave me the impression that either he is only in the store on the weekends selling these lovely vintage finds… or perhaps they’re only open 10-5 Friday Saturday Sunday. I couldn’t really understand that gruffy “Yous Guys” voice. I just know those are the hours he gave me when I admitted I had to leave immediately before I bought everything.

You can do it for me instead.

Go Go Go Go!!!

Sink Your Teeth into This: Tempting Eden by Wendy Brandes July 21, 2008

Recently I stumbled across Wendy Brandes online.

While she has several collections including It-Girls, Vivat Regina and a men’s line; Eden is my favorite.

This set is perfect for summer, taking inspiration from Mother Nature thus featuring flowers, fruits, and leaves. There are smooth curves, shining stones, melded with gleaming intricacies which call to the true spirit of the living beauty around us.

FAVORITES~

My darling Eve you will shell out some serious green for these fanciful designs and I don’t mean a few tender fig leaves. These necklaces retail at 1,050.00 pieces and 2,025.00 respectively, but others are upwards of 6,000.00. ( The ring prices were unlisted.)

The ring with the white Prehnite is a little different than most of the Eden pieces but I love it’s rough dull look. It belongs to a woodland faerie!

So visit Wendy Brandes and check out some really unique, feminine designs!

Airline Adversity = Style Serendipity July 11, 2008

Your accessories need to be seasoned travelers as well.

After all, every jet-set miss knows that a striking necklace or flashy bangles can instantly improve the casual outfit; giving you more fashion mileage from a tight suitcase to boot! The same can be said for handbags. Three is all you need, even for a long vaca.

One should be this…

Check out the airline bag recently featured on thestylephile:

This Kim White purse is made from fabric originally intended for use on a United Airlines plane. Hah, yeah as if any new planes are going to be made anytime soon.

Retailing for $210 (including tax and shipping) this bag is not only adorably kitchy; the transition from day to night with this same simple tangerine dress is abundantly clear.

Day accessories: Wrap this beautiful purple scarf around your head and keep your feet relaxed in these Steve Madden flats. (Phreaked owns a pair just like them!) Go Boho chic doll!

Night accessories: Play up the black leather details of this purse matched with the earthy tone of the fabric by going with black and cork accessories. (Stewart Weitzman Wedge Sandals & Cork Cluster Earrings)

Summer Loooove: Etsy means Easy Adornment June 24, 2008

So I know I’ve been missing as of late and I’m sure you were just jonesing to get Phreaked. Fear not my pretty kitties, while suffering a writing block, the ideas were, however, limitless. That is to say, I had lots of great things to mention but these Fin g .ers. jUst. w..ould. noT. ty p e!! Ugh!

Thank you for all the Loooove concerning my last post on the immeasurable style of Sex and the City. 3,145 views to date! Quite a success for me; and hopefully just the first of many. Mwa Bella!!

Speaking of Smashin’ Fashion: ETSY

My new obsession is a website featuring designers from all around the country (and beyond) selling unique handmade crafts, gifts, jewelry and fashion.

There are several ways to hunt for dazzling items:

-Browse categories such as: Accessories, Paper goods, Glass, Vintage, Furniture (and many, many more)

-Look up lists in the Treasury, where other users group together favorite items by a theme (ex. Turquoise & the American West)

-Treat the eyes with wonders in Showcase: Etsy pulls the “Top Items” from thousands of sellers. “Fresh Daily”

-Be Playful, Pounce!! Users can view sellers waiting to make their first sale (oh, be a humanitarian already!) OR view sellers who just made a sale.

-Traverse the Geolocator: Etsy’s Globe shows you the most recently published items from around the world. Think Google Earth but for en mode.

-Speaking of fashion forward, take a trip in the Time Machine and be UP TO THE MINUTE. As items just listed float on the screen just begging to find a home. Seriously, this is worse than a trip to the pound for me… “Mama, I wanna take em all home!!”

-Gift Guides are a lifesaver!! The user can choose between who will be receiving the gift, the occasion, the time of the year as well as that special person’s tastes. PHUCK Overstock. Great Prices and Originality.

-Colors: While seemingly NOT the most exciting program that Etsy offers, it is actually wildly amusing. Also quite helpful for someone trying to match home accessories in the Perrrrfect living space.

-Shop Local: Obviously a favorite. Check out my finds below.

While you can buy dresses and hand painted shoes, I’m quite partial to creative jewelry myself. Not only because it makes a statement with any boring outfit but because jewelry always tells a story. Think about what you’re wearing this moment: What was the occassion? How does it make you feel? (Please Comment Below!)

Oh, the lovely thing about ordering jewelery online? No ‘wrong size.’

These are the finds in Philly that make me want to empty my bank account:

Feeling edgy? Show it with sweetteeth’s handmade glass beads resembling pulled teeth!!
Would this be an inappropriate gift for Grandma?

I cannot get enough of this designer!! pinkflamingo61takes found item/vintage jewelry to another stratosphere!

FallenHearts‘ carries a wide array of vintage jewelry, like this ivory cuff from India.
Oh, just think of all the places it has been!

PreciousMeshes employs metal wire to net and nest some truly enviable objects.
Simple. Delicate. Lovely.

What’s your favorite piece of jewelry?

Where did you get it?

Summer Loooove: Brilliant Fashion in the NEW Sex and the City Movie!! May 29, 2008

Tuesday night I was fortunate enough to be in a seat at the Ritz East for an advanced screening of Sex and the City. Oh My PHucking God. It is amazing. Reuniting with four of my favorite girlfriends was so exciting!! You could feel the enthusiasm in the air as Sarah Jessica Parker’s infamous voiceover re-introduced us to each lady.

The audience literally ohhhhh-ed with anticipation.

Now, I don’t want to give away too much about the movie, but know this: NO ONE DIES! Apparently some ridiculous rumor about Charlotte dying in childbirth is going around! NOT TRUE. Yet, some of our usual complications DO arise. Miranda is riding Steve too hard (although not literally, which is a touchy sexual issue itself), Big and Carrie still have BIG marriage issues, Charlotte continually worries unnecessarily about her family and Samantha, well Samantha never has too much of an issue that a little sex can’t solve, does she? But really, even she encounters an issue she can’t fuck away: fidelity.

Of course I have to mention the 5^th and most prominent character of Sex and the City: FASHION!

I had a full-on couture hard-on for the whole movie.

I absolutely adored almost everything Miranda had on. Especially: this metallic dress worn in the opening scene.

As well as this black and white one worn at an auction scene:

It seems they put Miranda in a lot of geometric prints which I knew would be huge this summer with the 60’s edging back into style. Charlotte is sprouting florals everywhere! As well as clean lines. While Samantha is as bright as a canary. Think tropical yellows, reds and blues.

Carrie as usual, edges between high end tomboy and runway darling. Of course the epitome of lovely is when she dons several different designer wedding gowns for a VOGUE fashion shoot that features the sex and relationships writer as a bride at 40. “The Last Single Girl,” they decide to call the article. Do you not adore this Vivienne Westwood?! AHHH

Each actor brings his and her best, making for some truly emotional scenes. (I cried!!) The editing is fantastic as well. Sooooooo… GO SEE, GO SEE, GO SEE!!

On a softer note, I felt a sort of redemption undercutting the emotional journey we took with our heroine. In the end, the LOVE was apparent, as well as lessons in forgiveness. Which when you think of it, is the biggest expression of unconditional love, is it not??

There have been times watching Sex and The City that my negative attitudes towards love and attachment have only been reinforced.

Mainly that it’s too complicated, not worth it. But as I sat watching four of my beloved characters and their men sit down to dinner in the final scenes of the movie, I got it. Essentially, what the show has always been trying to tell me: have hope. That the search for love is messy, painful, tragic at times even, but in the end, it is found.

It is found.

In the meantime, I’ll collect handbags… go get yourself something NEON. That is an order.

Until Next time,

Phreaked

P.S. Feel free to comment on the movie if you have seen it, or ASK questions on the comments board! Thanks!