The Tastemaker Diaries » indie

Roses are Red, Robin’s Eggs are Blue

Lori — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 13:17:26 +0000

What’s your favorite first sign of SPRING? Mine is waking to the sweet sound of chirping birds outside our window, even though it is only FIVE-in-the-morning!! I also think one of nature’s most perfect compositions is that of speckled robin’s eggs ‘blue’ against a nest in shades of brown. It isn’t just the color brown that Robin’s Egg Blue looks great against, though. This cheery, happy color is a great compliment to just about every color in the rainbow. So, in honor of those chirping little birdies let’s take a look at some vintage inspired accessories in Robin’s Egg Blue to get us in the mood for a crisp spring day!

This Rusty Blue Necklace by MARIE FLY FLY is a great example of vintage meets modern. The speckled Czech glass beads combined with the industrial look of the hammered copper hoop and chain really pop…and at just $34, they’re a steal!

Isn’t this clutch sweet?! This is by MOSEY who’s tag line is: “Recycled, Reconstructed, Re-loved,” so you can’t beat that. This Araucana Pocket Clutch is made of soft, felted, boiled wool with a vintage button. Check out the sweet surprise on the back: egg shaped cotton appliqués in a vintage calico print….too cute. This piece measures 6” x 5” and is a mere $22!

It must be my wee bit o’ Scottish blood that draws me to the kilt. There’s nothing sexier than a lad in a kilt, but why can’t the lassies get in on the action? Well, we can if you wear this vintage kilt pin! This would look great as a fastener for a hand knit wrap or scarf. This pin is made of steel wire and vintage beads by SUPERFAY.

These little beauties by FOUNDLING feature a couple of vintage Lucite and faceted stones with a delicate brass chain connected to a cool brass ring (check them out up close) for $25.

This fun “>ring by THE BROKEN PLATE is actually handcrafted from…you guessed it, a broken plate. The vintage 70’s silver adjustable ring setting completes the look.

These super-duper-cute baby hair clips made by DETAILS just make me smile! The Monogram clip on the left and the personalized one on the right are entirely hand-sewn. It’s no surprise then that they use only high quality wool felt on these beauties! Their entire collection for babies and toddlers is a must see!

You can check out all of these designers and more on Etsy, my go-to international boutique for all things indie!

Revving up the traditional handbag

Lori — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 15:03:02 +0000

What do you do when you discover a warehouse full of never used automotive fabrics from the 70’s and 80’s? Well, if you’re Kim White, you buy up the whole lot and turn them into a hip line of vintage handbags. It turns out these upholstery fabrics meant to cover the seats of a 1983 Camaro or a 1975 Chevy van are perfectly suited for handbags because they’re incredibly durable. When you buy your favorite eco-friendly style, it has a tag marking the year and make of the fabric, from say a 78’ Ford Mustang…doesn’t get any groovier than that!

Oh, and one more thing, you’ll never guess where Kim lives. She’s just minutes from the Peterson Automotive Museum in L.A…how fitting! All Kim White handbags are proudly made in the USA.

You won’t need a tag for this clutch. It has CAMARO written all over it! A 1983 Camaro to be exact. This bag has a great spring frame that allows it to open and shut with a snap. The cut-out gives you the option to hold it in your hand or under your arm.

It’s hard to find an optical print like this on a handbag! This vibrant blue with black version (from a vintage 1980 Ford Mustang print) is so striking and versatile from weekend to work.

This style is a great shout out to my favorite decade, the 70’s, in style, textile and color. Brown and orange happens to be one of my favorite color combinations and so classic 1970! I love the distressed brown leather with the oversized grommets. It’s hard to believe the fabric is from a AMC! The adjustable strap goes short for just under your arm, or extends to a messenger, across your chest style.

Kim also found some vintage floral upholstery fabrics from 1950 – 1970…what luck! This yellow floral bag reminds me of my grandma’s soft sofa draped with a crocheted throw! The simple shape, coupled with the contrasting dark brown leather, really shows off the funky pattern. This would look so cute with a denim and corduroy ensemble…don’t you think?

You can check out her entire line and add your favorites to your StyleFeed at her site.

Ditch the logo bags

Lori — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 19:34:07 +0000

OK, so here’s the thing: I am a handbag designer, albeit a self-taught one. My first career using my art and design background was in the textile industry selling fabrics to manufacturers in the active sport market like The North Face, Patagonia and REI to name a few.

It was only after the birth of our second baby that I was truly inspired to design the first HARDWARE bag. This bag had to feel hip, and fit my new lifestyle with two toddlers in tow. Add to the mix my textile background coupled with my love of industrial and post-modern design and the first HARDWARE handbag was born. I’m now focused on slowly building our brand, while still maintaining our ‘indie’ roots.

So, because I’m so busy juggling my family and business I do virtually all of my shopping online. I’m inspired to buy most all of my personal and home accessories from indie designers that I admire for their original point of view. My goal is to introduce you to some of these designers that I’ve known for awhile as well as those I’ve just discovered.

Because we live amongst a sea of knock-off designers and logo crazy fashionistas, I want to bring to you fresh, independent design that inspires you to buck the latest trend and find your own personal ‘indie’ style. And I’m sure you’ll be able to direct me to new designers as well!