What Photoshop Could Do For Your Grandma:

I absolutely love these before and after photoshoped photos... we all know everyone and their dog is airbrushed in magazines but I swear these never get old. Maybe you can make your noni look this hot too? (or maybe not...)

I'd also like to add that 15 years + ago theres no way people who looked like Madonna circa now would ever think of dressing like that in a photoshoot... thanks photoshop for making ugly people attractive?

(source: www.bestweekever.tv)

Spool Hooks

Never be afraid to look around the house and think... hmm what can I do with all of this? Haylie Waring from *DesingSponge decided to take her collection of vintage spools of thread and turn them into wall hooks.

I love the way this can produce a functional yet cool looking fixture for your walls. You can also use just about anything to create a similiar effect. You can use pieces of old branches, wooden spools or even pinecones.

(for full instructions click on link above^)

Where Did All The Pants Go?

Betty Jackson (London Fashion Week 2010- Above)

As I was filtering through the multiple Fashion Week's of 2010, I noticed one thing: all the pants had gone missing. All though the collections were produced for fall/winter it seems a large majority of designers choose to stick with skirts skirts skirts. Although many did it very well (and when added with a great tight and pair of boots the outcome was outstanding), I felt like not everyone will want to spend those chilly months running around in nothing but tights.

The pants that did exist in this year's fall/winter collections also seemed to be extremely baggy. Although the equestrian-cinched-at-the-top look worked wonders in some of the collections, I have to admit as an averaged sized 5 foot 6 woman, and not a size 0, amazonian model, I found this style a little hard to swallow. As I think many women would. Instead I leaned more towards the collections that kept a well talored straight and narrow pant. For those that have a little more curve to the hips and legs: choose the well tailored straight pants, not the skin tight tapered ones. If your on the skinnier side: Burberry had fantastic examples of skin tight pants (although many of these looks were pulled off with thigh high leather boots, it's still easy to imagine how the clothing would look with a simple black pant.

The jackets in London Fashion week were to die for. Christopher Bailey (for Burberry Prorsum) presented an amazing collection of jackets. Here's where I think the equestrian influence is working wonders. They're beautifully taylored, with a slight miltary twist, and buttons galore!

I think overall, this seasons look is forwarding a little more class. Although I like my far share of girly get-ups, I too have those days when frills and short skirts just won't suit my mood. Most of the looks I've pulled would look great with a simple black pant and a fitted leather jacket. Tie it up with a great pair of boots and you've got yourself a very versitile fall wardrobe.

Some examples from London Fashion Week 2010:

Burberry Prorsum

Daks

bSTORE

Emma Cook

Clements Ribeiro

2010 Fall Inspriration: From NY Fashion Week

Although New York fashion week happen back in February, there was a lot of great ideas in the collections. Looking through the different lines, it got me excited to again put on a slouchy sweater and a good pair of leather (or faux-leather!) boots.

This fall warmth is in. Greys blacks and neutrals are always great for the chillier seasons, but add a bit of umphf to your fall wardrobe with warm browns and golds. Don't be afraid to thrown in those deep reds, auburns and olive greens as well.

As for the actual clothing: mixing simple tailored pieces, with a bit of slouchy sweaters and necklaces. Be sparse with the leggings, as I feel these are slowly wearing out their welcome, they still look great with a good boot. Instead, I would favour some thick tights or patterned hose.

I always like to throw in a bit of print being a sucker for the patterns that were rampant in the 60s. Some of the designers (like Anna Sui and Michael Angel) did these sort of bohemian patterns perfectly for fall.

Anna Sui:

Alexandre Herchovitch:

3.1 Philip Lim:

Tracy Reese:

Adam:

Lela Rose:

Cynthia Steffe:

Michael Angel:












Zac Posen:

Carolina Herrera:

Nanette Lepore:




Rececca Taylor:

Rosette Rooms: Making Simple Look Beautiful

Anthropologie is one of my guilty little pleasures. Although 99% of the time I can't afford 99% of what is in the store, they've still got beautiful items and great ideas.

Have a poke around the Anthropologie online store and get some ideas for your own. Because I think they're terribly over priced, it's always a good idea to take inspiration from the stores you love and try to recreate it on your own. This is where vintage/antique stores and a good old trip to the fabric store will come in handy.

Better yet get a grandma or a friend to teach you how to knit/crotchet and you'll be glitzing up your pad like an Anthropologie show room in no time. ;)

Wild Hair Day?

I stumbled upon this amazing hair style in the midst of a random surfing sesh. I think it's absolutely crazy what some people can do with hair... if only I had as much talent when it came to mine.

I was unable to find who the actual artist was of this creation and if anyone knows please share with me so i can appropriately credited them.

DIY: Airstream Before & After

Sarah took this beat up Airstream trailer and turned into an ultra chic modern studio. I love the throw back to 60s interior design mixed with the overall comfy layout.

What I really like is that she's used simple pieces from Ikea (the boxed shelving) and mixed them with natural woods and vintage furniture. *Good thing to note: we all love Ikea, but going into Ikea overload can make your pad look unoriginal and lacking creativity. Anyone can replicate an ikea ad so spice it up with some personal pieces that no one else can get!

If your in the edmonton area check out the Antique Mall or the Junque Cellar (located right on whyte ave), for some great vintage furniture and nic.nacs!

If your not, almost every city anywhere has some sort of vintage furniture store or even markets (most of the good ones are usually located outside of larger cities, and sometimes in the countryside). Make a day out of it and see what you can find.

Source:

http://www.26-letters.com/

http://www.designspongeonline.com

Another Use For Wood

These amazing wooden sculptures are the work of Gehard Demetz (an Italian born artist). Little is known about the man, but his sculptures are hauntingly beautiful. From far away one could mistake these for porcelain carved figures, but in fact are built and carved from wood.

More Images: Gehard Demetz

DIY: T-Shirt/Jersey Necklace

Forget scarfs and chunky necklaces and make way for the jersey t-shirt necklace.

For the trendy people who want something unique Chictopia has come up with a great way to make a new neckalce or a general "piece" to spice up any outfit.

Take those old tshirts that you don't wear anymore and cut long strands, tie them together in any way shape or form. Also use similair shades to produce a harmonious look (like above).

For more detailed instructions visit: www.chictopia.com/photo/show/144426-diy-necklace

Shooting Strangers

"Shooting Strangers" is a project by Danny Santos II (a photographer based out of Singapore).

He bases his work on the streets, using strangers and random encounters as his subjects.

His photos have a great depth and mystery to them that really could only come from "shooting strangers".

This Pen is Definitely Mightier

Juan Francisco Casas produces oversized BALL POINT PEN drawings on huge canvases. This ultra-realistic imagery is jaw dropping. If this doesn't make you want to up your sketching abilities I don't know what will.

Images from: www.bestbookmarks.co.cc/art/ballpoint-pen-art-by-juan-francisco-casas

Vivienne Westwood: Gold vs. Red

As always, I wonder how Vivienne Westwood keeps up so many lines with so little time. Although I love her clothing dearly, its time to admit that when you take on so much one thing is always bound to suffer.

This season Vivienne Westwood took two different approaches when it came to her lines Gold and Red. The spring/summer 2010 looks for her Gold Label (left) seemed to lack a certain "je ne sais quoi" that I've come to expect from her. In short I feel like the Gold Label just didn't do it for me this time around. The prints and layering were fantastic as always, but the collection as a whole was a bit scatter-brained to say the least.

The more wearable Red Label (right) was a knockout, however. Vivienne Westwood created a fantasy world with her soft pallete and scrunched up hem lines. Fifties housewife meets woodnymph sort of style. Purely brillant, this collection would look chic on just about anyone.

Images from: www.viviennewestwood.com

L Filipe dos Santos: A new Take on Watercolour

This artist first caught my eye a little while ago, when I was sent his wonderful art work from a friend. He blotches watercolour onto a notebook and folds the pages together, creating a pyschological-painting effect and then uses that as the backgorund and inspiration for ink drawings.

The outcome is amazing. I feel like notebook artwork is going to catch on. Fast.

Image from: http://corcoisefolio.com/

Rodarte Never Ceases to Amaze

This season Rodarte keeps up the pace by collaging together prints and plaids in their signature chopped and layered way. Taking dainty fabrics and aggressively layering and roping them around the body gives a sense of Highlander fashion for the modern women.

Strap on your boot heels and pick up a copy of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, because the Scottish influence is strong in this collection.

(Image from www.Rodarte.net)

Pencil Sculptures

Jennifer Maestre's unique sculptures are grabbing attention.

It all started with an art competition in school, in which she started creating sea creatures out of nails. The newest versions of her creative flow are breathtaking and on the verge of being physically dangerous. Truly something for the eyes to feast on.

Jennifer's site; http://www.jennifermaestre.com/

More Images: www.womansday.com/Articles/Family-Lifestyle/12-Cool-Colored-Pencil-Sculptures.html

To Start Again

Hello everyone!
I've decided to rejoin the blogging world in hopes that it might motivate me to keep up on some of my work. I've decided to put a whole wack of stuff on here, sort of like my creative hub. I'll include some work I do professionally and some that's just for fun.
Stay tuned for everything and anything that keeps the creative juices flowing.
Cheers,
Alyssa