Magpie and Birdie photos

The items shown below are available at Magpie and Birdie, the ebay store that I operate
with my pal Emily.

Check our store for new items each week...
http://stores.ebay.com/Magpie-and-Birdie

Visit us on myspace...
http://www.myspace.com/magpieandbirdie

Update

I am so ashamed of myself for not posting in weeks, but I have been collaborating with a friend on an ebay store. We will be selling vintage, reconstructed, new, thrift, and originally designed apparel and accessories for guys and gals, and maybe eventually home accessories, furniture, and art, etc. We want our store to be just so before we "advertise." I'll post the details the minute we get it prepared properly, because to begin with we are selling many items from my obscenely large wardrobe and then we will actually buy items for the store.

In the meantime, I have read "The Fountainhead" and "On the Road." Both jolly good. I am currently reading "The Great Gatsby."

I have watched many interesting films:

1. sex, lies, and videotape
2. the player
3. dead ringers
4. day for night
5. metroplitan

If you want to see a very magical short film, it would serve you well to click here.
It was directed by Kenneth Anger in 1949, and I can only assume the music was latered added by him in the 1960s. I am a little obsessed with the 2 songs featured in the movie; I am dying to find out who sings them.


I am also planning a trip this May to Portland and Seattle with my friends, which should be terribly fun.

Here's a look I wore to work the other day. I tried to somehow make neutrals POP! Wow, what an exciting, cohesive post.


light peach chiffon blouse + black cami + black pencil skirt + black skinny belt + grey pumps

Proenza Schouler for Target

I love Target's Go International campaign. Here is a summer-version and winter-version of a dress by the latest collaborators Proenza Schouler, whose collection I found to be fresh, youthful, and fun. (Forgive my lethargy in the ironing department.)

DIY: dresses from the lazy seamstress

A. I bought a cobalt blue sweater skirt at Savers, added straps, and what do you know?!
A dress.

B. I laid down a dress and a top on some fabric (for the shape), started cutting, and added a red stripe to both sides because I haven't really seen that for some reason.

C. I augmented a 1970s blouse pattern to create a navy polka dot 1940s-style dress.

You too can be lazy like me and still make stuff.

Inspiration/Interpretation: Fall '07 NYC Fashion Week

The "Interpretation" is soon to come.

runway photos taken from style.com

DIY: knitting

This is the first scarf - the first anything - that I ever knitted. I made it a week or two ago, and I am extremely proud of it. I have used a guidebook my good friend gave me, as well as "Stitch 'n Bitch" by Debbie Stoller to teach myself. I look forward to creating new and better items.
Eventually, I want to get the knitting books "Twinkle's Big City Knits" by Wenlan Chia and "Domiknitrix by Jennifer Stafford.

Inspiration/Interpretation

Inspiration: 1960s Italian cinema/"Never on Sunday" + modern L.A. club kid


The Elements:
-A blousy or snug top tucked in.
-A high-waisted pencil skirt.
-A long skinny scarf (tied low).
-Several gold chains.
-The shoe is up to you.






[photo taken from wgsn]







Interpretations #1 - 6

DIY: ribbon

I like to add a ribbon or a thin scarf to a top to freshen it up.


I added a crinkled cobalt blue ribbon to this black lace-up top for color and a sense of unconventional romance.

I added a brown/cream polka dot "scarf" into the bow of this blouse to make it look somewhat French (circa the 1970s).

Inspiration/Interpretation: cocoon dress

Inspiration: this doo.ri cocoon dress

Interpretation: I designed this mushroom-colored Poiret-style dress/jumper (that can be belted as well)


(Ok, I actually designed this dress months ago, and then spotted this picture...but you bought it, didn't you?)

DIY: T-shirt

I love to mess with T-shirts. Here I created a screen print.

the elements:
-t-shirt (unadorned, or adorned if you think it will work)
-a usable image (found online or from another source)
-a color printer
-iron-on transfer paper
-iron/ironing board

Print out the image on a piece of the iron-on transfer paper. Trim the blank space from around the image. Place the image on the garment in the correct place, facing the correct way. Follow the ironing instructions on the iron-on paper package. Let it cool, and then peel away the paper extremely carefully. (Remember: after the shirt is completed, DO NOT iron the screen EVER - it will stick to the hot iron and melt away.) This method of screening can be used on jackets, totebags, skirts, dresses, almost anything. Enjoy.

pictures from my recent trip to India

DIY: shoes

Thanks to a Miss Susie Bubble my old shoes now have new hope.

The elements:
-unadorned flats, or possibly wedges
-velcro dots (at Wal-Mart, or any office supply or craft store)
-ornamentation: bows, faux flowers, buttons, parts from old jewelry, feathers, big faux jewels, etc. The world is your oyster!

Place one of the velcro dots on your shoes, and place the opposing side of the velcro on your gorgeous ornamentation. Mix and match.

Inspiration/Interpretation

Inspiration: "Annie Hall" + 1970s French cinema + Anais Nin


To achieve a similar look, combine the following elements:

*Dark neutrals with pops of lighter neutrals or even some color.

*A wide silky/flowy scarf - wrapped as only Europeans can.

* A delicate camisole, blouse, or almost any top with an open enough neck to feature the scarf - tucked in!

*A dark cardigan, capelet, short jacket, or shawl. There is much room for interpretation here - sheer, woven, knit, etc.

*Dark shorts over dark opaque tights.

* A somewhat wide belt.

*Dark boots/booties, flats, or any sturdy pump (no spindly stilettos please).

[photo taken from wgsn]

Interpretations #1 - 4