More snow....

Yesterday it was about 8 degrees.

Weeks ago my sister and I were having this discussion, how do you dress to stay warm and still feel cute even when wearing long johns? I even read an article on the New York Times Fashion & Style page about how long johns are making a come back. But mostly it was talking about for men's wear. Doesn't really help me and my sister. I have a friend that designs long johns for women, from her stories, her sales people don't think people like us want well fitting, cute, long johns. I want to sign a petition that we do! She's a very talented designer, please let her design something awesome!

Dressing warm and feeling good is a pretty constant discussion in the winter (for me at least). And this winter in particular has been colder and snowing more then most of my New York life. Today it's a balmy 32 degrees and I'm watching big fluffy snow flakes falling outside my windows.

A couple of weeks ago, inspired by wearing something warm and not wearing pants, I made this heavy wool pencil skirt. I lined it in silk. So now my question is, where are the long johns that come just to my knees? What do you wear to stay warm?

(I promise I did not leave my house with bare legs.) (shoes by K* for Spring 11)

More Pants!

As I mentioned in November, my pants assignment is to make cute, warm winter pants. So here is the newest pair. (I have not yet mastered the art of photographing myself in clothes.) After finishing these, I was discussing the things I wanted to change with a couple of my design school friends and my friend Jenn suggested a correction that hit me like, "ohhh yeah!". Now I'm itching to make more, to see how these little tweaks will change the fit. (I love the experimenting part.)

Also, all these snow storms are a big inspiration for more winter clothes....

New year, new adventures...

(this image above is from the steam whistles at Pratt, it's a Brooklyn New Years tradition)

New years is my favorite holiday. Hands down. I like all of it, new years eve, new years day, new years resolutions.... What I love about it is it's so simple. It's just a celebration of time. One year is over and we're on to the next. It's the newness I love, like a new sketch book, the year and often in New York the city is all white and blank.

It makes me feel really optimistic. Also it's an excuse to make a new party dress.

So for this year, I'm making 2 sets of new years resolutions, 1 set for my life and 1 set for my studio. So far for my studio, my resolutions are to:

1) make more. and post more about what I'm making more of.

2) take on more projects that make me nervous, these projects always end up teaching me so much.

3) Try more of the "I'm not sure that will work" variety, just to see what will happen. (I think I started this one while working on my new years eve party dress. . .I'm still not sure what will happen with it.)

That's it. I like to keep the resolution list short, makes it all feel more achievable.

My parting thought, and maybe my mantra this year, is this:

I love this, I found it on pinterest, but it is actually from madebysean.com. It's right up there with my other favorite new poster, the "You will have your cake and eat it too" one my sister found on Esty.

I don't think these count as resolutions, maybe they are just reminders to do what I love and see what happens. I guess, in a nutshell, that is the resolution... to do more of what I love and see what happens...

Here's to a wonderful new year! cheers, xophae