VieDesign

Making Even Casual Moments a Work of Art

2011-05-08T17:38:00.000-07:00

One of the major goals of VieDesign is showing how to bring beauty and artistry into every part of life: from the elaborateness of a wedding to the simplicity of friends getting together for a movie. a movie night and this image perfectly exemplifies that goal. All it takes is a little thinking outside the box.

Patterns and Color Palette Inspired by This Image:

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Color by COLOURlovers

Where Have We BEEN?!?

2011-04-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

So between our last school, a graduation, new jobs, and--I admit it--tumblr, we have gotten woefully behind on our own... macroblogging(?). However we have been reading other blogs and getting inspiration wherever we can. To get back into the saddle I just wanted to list a few of the best posts that I've come across in the fashion blogging world. This post will be more links to other blogs and content :( but we will definitely be getting back into the swing of regular posting.

One of my most recent discovery is Cinder & Skylark, a Capetown, South Africa street fashion blog. I like being able to se the themes and threads I'm familiar with in street fashion (oxfords, neck scarves, wide belts, etc.) in new and fresh combinations. My fave post so far is Friday 14 January and here are a few pics to give you a taste:

Tumblr has a pretty much amazing fashion and fatshion community and I've discovered quite a few inspiring photos of street fashion, editorials, and the like. So here are my top picks from my tumblr.
Speaking of fatshion, I started following Christina on lookbook because it was wonderful to finally find a fashion blogger after my own heart: fat, black, and goth! Then I found her on tumblr, and then started following her main website, Musing of a Fatshionista. I can't help but share her site because it's been such an encouragement to me:

To save the best for last, I have definitely been keeping up with fashion week this season (Fall 2011) and even looking at past shows for inspiration. Here's a link to some the looks that I've come across that really speak to me.

Icons and Influences IV: Sonia Sanchez

2011-02-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

“Sonia Sanchez is a lion in literature’s forest,” says Maya Angelou. “This world is a better place because of Sonia Sanchez: more livable, more laughable, more manageable. I wish millions of people knew that some of the joy in their lives comes from the fact that Sonia Sanchez is writing poetry.”

Here at VieDesign style as expressed in clothing isn't an expression of consumerism and adherence to majority culture, as much as an expression of the each individuals values, culture, and beliefs and Sonia Sanchez is one of the most appropriate icons. Sanchez is a poet nationally known poet whose unique style of dress stems from her appreciation for Black and African culture, a value that is also prominent in her writing style and content.

Personal Letter No. 3

Sonia Sanchez

nothing will keep

us young you know

not young men or

women who spin

their youth on

cool playing sounds.

we are what we

are what we never

think we are.

no more wild geo

graphies of the

flesh. echoes. that

we move in tune

to slower smells.

it is a hard thing

to admit that

sometimes after midnight

i am tired

of it all.

Icons and influences III: Polly vs. Helena

2011-01-28T09:30:00.000-08:00

I have yet to meet someone who knows what I’m talking about when I ask if they’ve seen Polly, a musical based on the book Pollyanna, starring Phylicia Rashad, Keshia Knight-Pulliam, and Dorian Harewood. This movie was perhaps my favorite movie as a kid (along with Beauty and the Beast) and my parents recorded it on VHS for me when it aired on TV probably in 1991 or 2 (somewhere thereabouts).

As a kid it was my greatest hope to look and dress like Aunt Polly (Rashad’s character) and the other characters when I grew up. This movie and its sequel provided beautiful and rare images of fully fleshed black characters that definitely contributed to my self-image as young black girl in the South. Not only that but this movie was also one of the first to impress on me a sense of style.

Of course, I also loved Batman and other Tim Burton movies so I also wanted to incorporate that dark aesthetic into my own sense of style. So when I first saw the My Chemical Romance video “Helena”, I was in second heaven as the video tied together two aesthetics that were a huge part of my upbringing, and I can’t help but wonder if some of the inspiration for the video’s setting/choreography was from Polly.

Maybe you're wondering how these influences translate into something a practical. "What does this have to do with how I dress?" These two pieces of media how us two sides of the same stylistic coin. One (Polly) is light, bright, and floral, fitting the traditional view of lady of the 1950s. The other (Helena) is a darker version of the same silhouette. No matter what your style is, there are some shapes that are almost always flattering.

POLLY

HELENA

Marc Jacobs for Louis Vuitton, Fall 2010 Ready-to-Wear

Source: Style.com

Wedding Wednesday: Ayesha & Zach

2011-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Ayesha & Zach are a beautiful bohemian couple who were wedded in an incredible Treehouse. Details such as watercolor portraits, personalized silhouettes, and homemade floral arrangements, all made this minority wedding unique. Ayesha says this about the day of her nuptials:

Zachary is my first, last, and only love. It was a truly magical day that brought together our families in a profound way. One of my favorite moments was when my Uncle (who married us) asked “Who supports this couple in their decision?” and everyone took out noise makers and rattled the Treehouse. We knew we had our friends and family rooting for us!

Check out the pictures below and click here for more!

Tablescape Tuesdays!

2011-01-18T19:08:00.000-08:00

This week on Tablescape Tuesdays, we're featuring a beautiful wedding snipped from The Bride's Cafe.
Sarah & Orion had a whimsical themed wedding Portland, OR, and their table centerpieces and decor were creative and deeply personalized.

My favorite would personally be the postcard table. Guests choose a postcard, signed it, placed a stamp on them, then sent them to the guests within a year of the wedding. What a beautiful way to encourage the participation of the wedding guests, instead of the traditional spectator-ship!

The travel-theme flowed into the guest table centerpieces, with Oregon and Iwoa State place cards.

Take a look at more pictures from Sarah & Orion's whimsical wedding here .

Ivy

Icons and Influences II: Cruella de Vil

2011-01-14T08:30:00.000-08:00

Continuing with the movie them, a favorite fashionable character mine has always been Cruella de Vil, especially since the live-action version with Glenn Close. Her interpretation of the classic cartoon character as a cruel and supremely fashionable aspiring puppycide is faithful to the not only the version that made it into the original Disney cartoon, but also draws on the various versions that the design team went through before settling on the gaunt, scraggly, chain smoking Cruella we know and love to hate. Here are a few looks from fall 2010 and spring 2011 that keep the spirit of Cruella de Vil alive with drama and structure.

CELINE

L.A.M.B.

L'WREN SCOTT

BADGLEY MISCHKA

L'WREN SCOTT

source: Style.com

Online Mondays: Blast from the Past

2011-01-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

blogger spotlight: deedeefresh: About Dee*Dee Fresh:
"Just a girl posting about things that happen in her little world! Wierd, crazy, whatever?!"

Icons and Influences I: Romare Bearden

2011-01-08T07:46:00.000-08:00

Romare Bearden (September 2, 1911 – March 12, 1988) was an African-American artist and writer. He worked in several media including cartoons, oils, and collage. He was a contemporary of the jazz movement and greatly influenced by the music of that time. He is best known for his innovations in collage-work and his representations of African-American life through abstraction. The things that stand out to me about Bearden's work is his use of color and geometrics.

The Calabash, 1970

Empress of the Blues 1974

"Via House Beautiful, Design icons Christopher Coleman and Angel Sanchez teamed up for Dining by Design several years ago to create this masterpiece. "

Empress of the Blues by thebookofstyle featuring metallic shoes

Jeffrey Campbell metallic shoes
$20 - lorisshoes.com

Loden Velvet Setee - Sofas - Furniture - Store
thecrossdesign.com

Curved Intermezzo Sofa by Ted Boerner, Inc.
decorati.com

Decorati | Ribbed Bullet Table Lamp by Marian Jamieson Furniture &...
decorati.com

DWR Design Studio Ravello Flatweave Rug
$680 - dwr.com

Ali Chapkin Parasolita lamp Price £69.00
shopcurious.com

Pier 1 Imports - Pier 1 Imports > Catalog > Furniture > Pier1ToGo...
$200 - pier1.com

5 Drawer Chest by House Inc
$50 - notooshabby.com

RECYCLED RECORD BOOKENDS - SET OF 2 | Music Memorabilia, Vinyl...
$40 - uncommongoods.com

Waterloo Pillow, ZigZag
$98 - anthropologie.com

Laura Ashley 84" Realistic Grass Floor Plant in Contemporary Stand |...
$259 - csnstores.com

Melange Trunks - Anthropologie.com
$75 - anthropologie.com

Linea Artichoke in slate pot
£8 - houseoffraser.co.uk

link side table shopping in CB2 accent tables
$149 - cb2.com

Icons and Influences

2011-01-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

"I think thinking is stylish. Looking is stylish. Culture is stylish. I think you need to be inspired by something in order to look good. A poem, a picture of Wallis Simpson, tailoring…"

by Isabella Blow

Scala Regia: Style

This next VieDesign series will be about some of my style icons/influences, everything from movies, people, from random photos to magazine stories. What Inspires you to be creative? For me it's often the beauty and music of language. I love the arts of writing well and speaking well, of creating an image and an emotion with a few words chosen and crafted for the occasion. That never ceases to amaze me.

Also, movies are huge fashion inspiration both in the home and in clothing. And again it all has to do with creating a desired atmosphere. This is at the core of event planning, of architecture, of interior design, and of fashion. Evoking a certain emotion/experience by altering the physical landscape around a person(s).

Online Mondays: "1930s Gal Meets Ska Boy"

2011-01-03T11:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2011 at VieDesign Blog! To open up the week we've started Online Mondays as a way to introduce you to a few awesome things we've seen while surfing and researching. Today's little link of wonder comes from Offbeatbride.com. Candace and Erik's wedding looks like it was an exciting event! For more information click through to Off Beat Bride.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

2011-01-01T12:54:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone's New Year's Eve went safely and well.

It's been a great past year for VieDesign, and though we started slowly, everything has been picking up speed these past two months, and we're bringing in the New Year with fresh, new ideas, and a little passion and zeal to go with them.

Here's a short recap of my two favorite events in 2010:

The Taylor-Benton Wedding

This wedding was such a joy to work on. The couple had a limited budget, but that did nothing to stop their (and our) creativity from flowing into the planning, and continuing on to the Big Day. Their wedding party and family were such a great help, and helped out tirelessly.

The Children's Tea

During the summer, we hosted a tea party for a small group of children, and might I say, it was one of the greatest tea parties I have ever had! With four girls, and one boy, the afternoon was filled with laughter, etiquette lessons, and fun.

Once again, I hope that the beginning of your New Year was spectacular, and that the rest of your New Year's Weekend goes well.

Stay tuned for more VieDesign....

Norrinda & Fareed: Magenta & Marigold Wedding in Palm Springs, CA

2010-12-21T14:13:00.000-08:00

This wedding has to be one of the most beautiful weddings I have ever seen in my life. Every time I review these photos, I am almost in tears. The love that is seen between this couple is amazing and inspiring.

Find more pictures at Project Wedding.

Vintage Hollywood Glam Inspired Wedding--Sabra & Ken

2010-12-21T10:34:00.000-08:00

I found this beautiful minority wedding while searching online.
Sabra & Ken were married at the Omni Championsgate Hotel in Orlando, and every detail screamed Vintage Hollywood Glam.

More pictures can be found at Garrett Nudd Photography

More In the World of Style...

2010-11-13T12:33:00.000-08:00

I made an obviously truncated list of blogs that I like to visit for news and inspiration for my own style (there are at least 6 other blogs/sites that I will post in the near future). Enjoy!

Haute Macabre: one of the leading alternative fashion sites, catering particularly to those grown-up Goths (myself among them) for whom the style, music and lifestyle weren't "just a phase" and who want to take it to the next level.

Cephalopod Tea Party: Let's just be honest, who doesn't find octopi, squids, and cuttlefish to be at least fascinating, if not absolutely adorable and necessary in every part of life? (I smell obsession here but I'm sure it's only the healthy kind :D)

Bleu Coiffure: A celebration of natural hair in person, in style, in art, and in the media, Bleu Coiffure is a great resource for finding pictures of models with natural hair as well as for inspiration when the world is trying to get you down about having natural hair. Another thing I like about B.C. is that Danyelle makes sure to feature all different textures, lengths, and styles of natural hair, so that no one can feel left out.

The Gentleman's Standard: While I am given to a much more alternative style, there really is nothing like a man in suit, better yet a man who knows how to dress himself at all times, no matter his style or bent. I relish the fact that young men are once again beginning to want to dress themselves with distinction and The Gentleman's Standard is a guide to this end, both inside where the heart lies and outside where style matters.

Le Naturale

2010-07-10T21:56:00.000-07:00

As I do, many brides-to-be are wondering what they can do with their Naturally Curly, and Afro-ed hair on their wedding day. It has taken snooping around the internet, and me becoming frustrated with the lack of photos within the mainstream wedding planning blogs of Naturally Curly Haired Women, and I mean those full curls, tight curls, long curls, short curls, etc.....HOWEVER....I have found a solution to my (and maybe your) problem!

There are a plethora of blogs and hair care websites that provide beautiful inspiration for your wedding day.

Khamit Kinks, le coil, natural belle, African-American Wedding Hairstyles,

The links direct you to these great websites, as well as the other blogs that inspire them.

"Oh, Tabitha!"

2010-07-10T08:20:00.000-07:00

Found this amazing artist through le coil. Tabitha Bianca Brown creates wonderful art, centered around

"Illustrated snapshot of nature and urban life through the eyes of young people in (or out) of love."

Here is a sample of her gorgeous work:

4 Books That Inspire Your Children to Travel

2010-07-01T17:05:00.000-07:00

Growing up my family didn't have a lot of money; nonetheless I was always dreaming of exploring the United States, and the other wonderful cultures that inhabit Planet Earth. One way my parents sparked my interest in other cultures and countries was by reading. shelves filled with African literature, fictional stories, National Geographic books, etc., all of them encouraging me to look beyond my native culture, and appreciate others'.

Here is a list of 4 books that might open your children to a whole new world:

Featured Artist: Jessica Virgin-Part1

2010-06-28T07:18:00.000-07:00

An incredible woman and mother, Jessica loves fashion, but most of all vintage clothing. Going by the codename "Virgin," she owns an online vintage clothing and jewelry store, and we had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing her for some fashion tips, and little bit of good ole fun!

JW: Well I just wanted to ask you a few questions; my sister told me about your blog, she was the first person who saw it, and I was like, “Ohmigosh I love everything on here!”

JV: Awesome, thank you.

JW: So, what got you into wearing vintage clothes, like wearing and even selling vintage clothes?

JV: What got me into it? My grandmother, my grandmother's a little different from most people, I guess? Like, I had the means to be able to be able to afford good clothes, but my grandma always wanted me to shop thrift. So, I’ve been shopping with her ever since I was a little kid and it’s always been what I wanted, I was vintage-y since I was born. So, I look to my grandma for inspiration and then looking at pictures. Oh, can you hear me?

JW: No, sorry I’m outside, so there’s a few dragonflies around

JV: Oh, okay. The reason why I started a blog was because I didn’t see anyone online like me, so I was like, “I’m gonna start a blog!”

JW: That’s awesome

JV: Yeah, Thank you.

JW: So, I know you sell some of your clothes. What made you start selling vintage clothes? Was it just an overflowing close? What made you say, “I should start selling some of these?”

JV: It was when it was time for me to move in with my boyfriend three years ago, and the apartment he got a two bedroom, and I was like you know we have my son and he can have the second bedroom and I have too many clothes so, we had literally had to go and keep my apartment--like, right now my apartment is my studio because I have so many clothes. But I haven’t sold in like a year, so I’m starting to get a lot of clothes again (LAUGHS). That’s the main reason I started selling; I always wanted to sell on eBay, I just didn’t really... get it at the time. I was like, “I don’t get that.” Then, I just did it. My friend that I was talking to was just like, “Do it, do it, do it,” so now I’m on Etsy and then I did Ebay. Now it’s hard for me to get out, because I don’t have a car.

JW: What are you doing now, when you’re not dressing awesomely and selling clothes online? What’s your other job?

JV: Oh, no, I don’t have another job; I’m a full-time mom.

JW: Oh, that’s a job!

JV: (laughs) And now my house is vintage too, so I keep the house. And I love being a mom, like the reason why it is so close is because it’s what I love; I love dropping my son off at school, I love taking him to school, I love spending time with him. So, like, vintage is the way to go. It’s a part of my life, so it’s already a given, so now I can just take care of my son, and that’s what I’ve always wanted.

JW: That’s awesome.

JV: We’re real close, we’re real close around here.

JW: Where do you find the clothes that I see on your blog and on your lookbook? Do you have a favorite store or do you go from place to place?

JV: My favorite store in the whole entire world is Family Thrift Outlet. They have a Family Thrift Store that sells clothes that are from like a dollar to $20. At the Family Thrift Outlet they have special days where their clothes are like 25 cents to $1.75

JW: Are you kidding me?

JV: Yeah, like 25 cent Wednesday, 50 cent Tuesday, and it just goes up as the days go up. And I think it starts all over again on Friday. That’s my best place to go, I mean, I find so much stuff and I spend like $50 at a time.

JW: That’s funny actually because me and a friend were talking, and basically in Tallahassee there are a few consignment shops but really when it comes to thrift stores there’s only Goodwill and Goodwill, in Tallahassee anyway, is actually kind of expensive, like they started a Goodwill Boutique and I’m like “Wait, what happened? I wanted to get a $2 dress!” So that’s actually really of awesome. Thrift stores, nowadays, I think are actually seeing that there’s a younger audience [for vintage and taking advantage].

JV: Yeah, I go to Value Village, but now I have to go really really far out, like, that’s how I do things. I go at least thirty minutes out of Houston, so that things are easier to find... it’s like thrifting is a trend now, so now I have to go out further to the horrible parts of town so it’s like, "Where am I?” Do I need my passport?” That’s where you find all the stuff because no one’s going to be there and no one cares in those parts of town. That’s my secret. And another thing is when you try stuff look at everything. I show up at nine in the morning and when I leave, it’ll be eleven. I look at everything; I look at guy’s clothes, I look at kids’ clothes, I don’t care. Sometimes, the good stuff is in the kids’ stuff.

JW: What’s your approach to fashion and style? Do you have a certain look you’re going for?

JV: I know it’s a cliché to say that it depends on my mood, but it is true. Sometimes I’m like 50s style, 20s style, and then just 90s grunge or just blah. I just don’t know how to dress down I guess. I'll try to just put on jeans and a t-shirt and it still comes out looking, “Whoa.” I have so many inspirations around my house as far as clothes and shoes, so I’ll find some shoes say “Oh, I’ll get that,” or see something online and be like “I have a skirt like that,” or I’ll do my twist on certain trends I see, but either way it goes, I’ll be doing me.

JW: You mentioned your grandmother earlier, but who and what else are your inspirations?

JV: My Uncle Leonard he would take me to Bon Jovi concerts and Van Halen, to all the big concerts back then and he would let me dress like Punky Brewster, like any kind of way I wanted so, which also helped me in life. I also watched The Temptations and I love Grace Jones and Diana Ross, Twiggy, Grace Kelly, there’s so many different icons that I love. I love vintage movies from the 40s and 50s because they wore the best clothes

What really got me was this movie called Penelope about a woman who had problem with shoplifting. Throughout the movie, she makes so many costume changes, and at the end the end of the movie, she had a fashion show, showing all her outfit, so I just died! From then on ever since I watched that movie, I’ve always thought, “Oh I want that! That’s what I want!”

"Please, Come Again!": How to Be the Perfect Dinner Guest

2010-06-26T19:18:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder how to be the perfect guest everyone wants to imitate?

Susan Ellingburg, a writer and hospitality expert, offers some great advice to those invitees who have no idea what to wear, how to act, or are just plain nervous about interacting in unfamiliar environments.

My favorite piece of advice is Step 5 of the Dinner Party list:

"Step 5: Participate
Don't sit back and wait to be entertained. Take part in the conversation—but don't hog it. Avoid controversial subjects; your friends and your digestion will thank you."

One of my biggest issues in inviting people to gatherings/parties is how well my guests will blend socially. Everyone has their own opinions about politics, religion, men, women, etc., but your best friend's Christmas, New Year's Eve, or engagement party may not be the best place to discuss them. Playing safe in conversation can almost guarantee a smooth sailing time.

Check out the rest of her advice and her blog.