Pictures of the Past II

Links à la Mode: February 17th, 2011

Fashion Week's Inspirations

Edited by Marie Denee of The Curvy Fashionista

During the midst of New York Fashion Week, fashion took another direction. Beyond the beauty of an artist’s creation, fashion bloggers take their inspirations to raise questions, reflect, challenge the status quo, create and fashion pieces of their own, and analyze the trends in digital and social media- nevertheless, fashion inspired. With this inspiration comes an eclectic look into this week’s Links a la mode.

Links à la Mode: February 17th, 2011

• Alterations Needed: Getting a dress altered - before, after, and the thought process in between.


• Beyond Fabric: Embracing a more stylish ride


• Brunette Blogging: Blog Seasons - How different seasons have an impact on your blog


• College Girl: Liberty London Girl spares her time to answer some in depth questions about her blogging experiences and gives amateur bloggers some exceptional advice in the process...


• Dressing With Courage: Valentine's Day lingerie: Take back the sexy


• Fashion Writes: Let's Get Digital. Digital. Women are small in numbers in the always-enhancing and ever-evolving tech side of the fashion industry, but we as fashion bloggers are going to begin skewing the curves.


• Independent Fashion Bloggers: A blogger's moment with Anna Wintour at Milk Studios


• Katrya-Kyla: "Print vs Video: The Industry's New Plan of Attack"


• Khola's Kloset: Looking Back: The models and images that made fashion special


• Lariza da Blog: my struggle with the vanity of fashion blogging:


• Metallic Kiwi: Top black models emerging within the industry.


• Most Serene Rabbit: Is there really such thing as ethical leather? Why is there a double standard when it comes to ethics In the fur and leather industries?


• Previously Owned: BEHIND THE GLITZ- Q&A with designer Carolina Rodriguez about her food/fashion/music inspiration


• Same Sensibility: Rihanna just ruined your Valentine's


• Scrap and Run: Why I remix


• Seamstress Stories: High heels yay, headscarf nay? Double standards in the symbolic value assigned to female clothing.


• Style by Santina: My "Happy" Weight: When the Body and Brain Disagree


• The Button Owl: Why your creative space identifies the real you just as much as your outer image.


• The Coveted:Running into Anna Dello Russo at NYFW


• The Curvy Fashionista: “DIY Diva” inspiration with Be Vain or DIY Trying


• The Demoiselles: Crystal Renn on body image and pressure from the media.

SPONSOR:
Shopbop @ NYFW: Rag & Bone, Parker, Derek Lam, Rachel Pally, 3.1 Phillip Lim, CKU, Pencey, James Perse, Madewell

Sailing Sydney...Sydney Harbour, Australia

Pictures of the Past

Great Great Grandfather, Robert Arthur Sellman



Great Grandfather Thomas Condon, probably circa 1910. Look at that club collar! Probably taken during college, and the pin is probably a Knights of Columbus Catholic Fraternity pin.


Thomas Condon as a Lieutenant in the US Army during the Great War.


Thomas Condon in the 1920s or 1930s. Look at how timeless his style, he would fit in today with his repp tie, three button suit, and cardigan.


This is the funeral of my Great Great Uncle, James Condon, brother of Thomas Condon, in 1938. He was, according to my grandmother, a Naval Aviator during WWI, and was quite powerful in Democratic Party politics. At the center of the picture of is Governor Earle of Pennsylvania, and Mayor Scully of Pittsburgh where the funeral occurred.

A friendly reminder; these photos belong to my family. Please do not use them without my permission.

I Wish I Was Summering...

In Amanohashidate, Japan:




In Taiwan...



In Guam...



In Sydney, Australia...



...instead of wintering anywhere!

Hoover Academy, RAH RAH RAH

Shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren, Belt by GAP, Khakis by Deco, Socks by Alan Flusser, Shoes by Sperry Topsiders

Take Your Time

The Brooks Brothers watch with grosgrain bands. Now roughly $55 with tax at Brooks Brothers stores and outlets. Three watch colors in White Face, Silver Face, and Gold Face. Each comes with one different grosgrain band. You can purchase additional grosgrain bands for about $15. Or go with a wider selection from *O'Connell's or *Leather Man Ltd.

*Brooks Brothers, O'Connell's, and Leather Man Ltd have provided me no compensation. If I talk about it, I either own it, or would like to own it. Period.

Red Book Reading Nook

University of Texas sweatshirt from the University Co-Op, shirt by GANT, khakis by Deco, socks by Polo Ralph Lauren, shoes by Sperry Topsiders.

Bricks...Dallas, TX

Shirt by Polo Ralph Laren, Tie by Burberry, Sweater by Uniqlo, Belt by Polo Ralph Lauren, Khakis by Deco, Socks by Uniqlo, Shoes by Bass

Back On Campus...Denton, Texas

Jacket by JF, Polo by Polo Ralph Lauren, Shirt by Richman Brothers (now defunct), Bow Tie by J. PRESS, Pocket Square by Deco, Jeans by Banana Republic, socks by Polo Ralph Lauren, Shoes by Bruno Magli

Notable; return of the 1976 Jimmy Carter for President button

Double Polo Tea Time...Dallas, TX

Polo by Polo Ralph Lauren, Belt by J. CREW, Khakis by Deco

Why I Don't Care Enough To Blog Every Day

I like blogging.

I like blogging a lot. ...but, I don't like blogging a lot a lot. Let me explain.

I Like Blogging

Fashion blogging is definitely part of my life. There's no denying that. The reasoning is pretty simple; I enjoy looking at, dressing up in, and talking about clothes. And every now and then I feel compelled to post about others that I see, or about a look I'm working on, or just how I feel about some issue in fashion. And I read a lot more than I post.

I Like Other Stuff, Too

We all have finite time and resources, and fashion isn't the only thing I enjoy. In fact, it isn't even the number one thing I like. That, I am afraid, goes to an obscure (to this readership) Japanese animation series called Kimagure Orange Road. I also love traveling, and I almost never post while I am traveling, although I always tell myself I will. So I have a great backlog of photos that never get posted, but I probably should post them eventually. I also enjoy discussing philosophy, history, and government. I figure skate now and again, though not nearly as much as I did when I was younger. I adore sailing, and wish I could do more of it. I sometimes play tennis. I consider myself a "beer snob," prefer cocktails made from gin, and enjoy obscure 80s Japanese music on LP while consuming said cocktails. I play clarinet and trombone, though not very well.

I Don't Want To Advertise

Aside from the occasional item I myself am interested in, or a charity I support, there will generally be no advertisements on this blog. And there never will be.

Hobbies + Deadlines = Work

Applying deadlines on myself, or even some simple schedule like "will post every day" or "will post on Tuesdays and Thursdays," is the first step to turning a hobby I enjoy into unpaid work that I most certainly will not. Therefore, I allow my posting "bursts" such as they are, to come naturally. I may post four or five times in one day. I may then post every day for months. Then I may not post at all for two or three months. Likewise, I may engage in the community, and on the blogs that I regularly read, and then may go for quite some time without reengaging again.

Drama, Drama, Drama

One of the things that makes me run screaming away from the community like my hair is on fire and my ass is catching is the drama, especially between the industry and the community, but even between bloggers, and their online factions. Unless an issue is truly cut-and-dry to me (like the current and disgusting issue with JJ of The Coveted being ripped off), I tend not to get involved. I also tend to get tired of reading post after post after post on twenty something blogs all about the same drama. Nothing makes me want to cool my jets somewhere else than The Next Big Drama.

Final Word

So, I'll stick around for a while... until I won't... and then come back... until I don't.

Cool?

Sydney, NSW, Australia

Darling Harbour on New Year's:



Circular Quay and Opera House:





Blue Mountains:

Links à la Mode: February 3rd

So long, farewell

Edited by Thom of The Sunday Best

Here we are, face to face, a couple of silver spoons. My run as an editor for this venerable list is coming to a close, and as it does I'd like to take a moment to reflect on what makes the internet such an awesome place. Ahem. It's you. Yes, you! I don't get to read as much online as I once did, and this list kept me in touch with the, dare I say it, zeitgeist of style writing. I was often amazed at the diversity of topics you writers were willing to tackle. Keep those keyboards clacking, stay strong, and be good to the incoming editors. We are only human.

Thomas...out.

Links à la Mode: February 3rd

Aesthetics and Audio: "God, you're skinny"

Arash Mazinani: The Adonis Complex - men and body image

Beyond Fabric: Faithful companions

Brunette Blogging: Blog bashing

Chic Steals: Fashionista's dilemma to sourcing your clothing

Digital Traveler: Kids and high fashion

Dress With Courage: Suit yourself

Fashezine: On blogging and other drugs

For Those About to Shop: The great used clothing challenge

Grit and Glamour: Trademarks - What you need to know

Independent Fashion Bloggers: Fashion Week Tech Survival Kit

Lust, Love, Lose: 100 words on life

Ruby Slipper Journeys: Why I'm going on my first ever shopping ban

Starting From Scratch: Loving every body

The Coveted: Layering up with Wool and the Gang

The Demoiselles: Nine West's wacky email campaign

The House in the Clouds: Favorite body parts

The Loudmouth: Nudity - Naughty or Natural?

The Sunday Best: The law is meant to protect, not bully

The Styling Dutchman: Blogger bitching

Those Graces: On being a feminist beauty blogger

SPONSOR

Shopbop Sale: Splendid, C&C, Vince, Elise Overland, YFB, IRO, Gwen Stefani, Nili Lotan, Ella Moss, James Perse, LNA, Velvet

Snowpocalypse with Style...Dallas, Texas

Although I haven't posted my pictures yet from Sydney, it was a pretty big shock to come back to the cold. Even a bigger shock to go from sailing Sydney Harbour in 75F degree weather to Snowpocalypse. Hasn't kept me from looking stylish.





Notable: Necktie made in Scotland, 100% wool, tartan of the County Cork in Ireland, where my family originally hails from many, many generations ago.

Shirt by Polo Ralph Lauren, Cardigan and Belt by GAP, Blazer by Angelique, Khakis by Deco, Snowboots from Vermont