THE CONSIDERED ENSEMBLE

/ GOLD

KIM KNEIPP
Another rainy, winter’s day and I’m feeling the chill. I’m off to Melbourne to buy some eco house paint then on to see clients to return some of their altered wears. Working under the moniker of Frockerphiliac, I run a sustainable design and personal styling service. I have recently pledged to go a year without even op-shopping. I blog at www.thesustainablestylist.com

Raised in the tropics, Melbourne’s cold streets still feel like the Steppes, and I’m wearing a Tzar-esqe black fur hat that sits high on the head, hovering low to top lid. The macramé sides fall to entangle with the black, knotted, bead-scarf draping down my neck. My dress is also black and knife-pleated to on-knee. (An op-shop skirt refashioned by me).

Tones of caramel peek out from the gaps – the collar of a crumpled linen, button-front shirt and the warm, slubbed-sucrose tones of a thrifted blazer – clean cut with 40’s-style vertical yokes that flow to form sleeve. These layers are belted at waist by a handful of strip-cut, chocolate-coloured leather, knotted and hanging long from a circle of silver. Coated in three-quarter length chocolate wool with large, vintage buttons on three tiers of angled welt pockets, this ensemble has military overtones with flapper fanfare. Black low-heeled, laced ankle boots, black ribbed tights and a single gold bracelet help set the scene.

Worn from Daylesford, to Melbourne, then to Daylesford again, Monday 30th August 2010.

ANNA MIRIAM ETHEL PARKMAN
I’m a 19-year old countrygirl nowadays living in Stockholm. I work in a swedish kids clothing store half of the time, and on the other half I work with my interests such as baking, sewing and photographing through my vintageblog, http://www.miriamskafferep.blogspot.com. I dream of becoming a pastry chef and I also dance Lindy Hop and Balboa, sometimes wishing I was born 80 years ago.

Today, on the afternoon of july 24th, I’m wearing a 50’s summerdress, with the perfect tiny waistmeasure I very rarely find. It’s cream white in a heavy, dull kind of silk, with raspberry red stripes, mixed thin and thicker ones. It has a square boatneck with short sleeves, typical 50s style, with one big, red stripe following the neck, and then thin ones down to the skirt. Around the waist there’s a thin, red belt, with a buckle of mother-of-pearl-shimmering seashell. The skirt is over-the-knee-length and pleated all around. Together with the fabric’s heaviness its’ swing’s lovely around my legs when I walk and dance! The tag inside the dress says “Suprex Models” but I don’t know from which country it’s originally from. I bought in Stockholm’s best vintage store: Old Touch at Upplandsgatan for 450 SEK (approx. 61 USD).

On my feet I’m wearing a pair of 50’s reproduction wedge sandals from british ROCKET ORIGINALS, with peeptoe and anklestraps crossed back and buckled in front. The wedge is bright raspberry red with a following cream white stripe, and over the toes the sides cross over to an atomic shaped “V”, marked with a another cream white stripe.

I wear my blonde hair in a low, curly ponytail with pinned up sides and my bangs in a big, in-rolled curl, pinned with two green and golden dragonflies. Like a mix of Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe in their more casual moments. I wear a light perfume with lily of the valley-scent from british PENHALIGON, bright red lipstick, light foundation and rose pink blush. When outside I wear a pair of green and yellow cateye-shades, also bought at Old Touch, and a little 50’s handbag in beige and white, bought on a block fleamarket.

The time is 17.47, on a sunny, lazy day in my hometown Härnösand, north of Sweden.

KELLY LYNN WATERS

I’m a designer/architect, sometime illustrator, and blogger of halcyon days (http://kellylynnwaters.blogspot.com)

Well, seeing that it’s a typical San Francisco summer day, cold and foggy, I went looking for something to brighten up my day so I pulled out a favorite vintage silk dress. The print on the dress is reminiscent of some art nouveau pattern and the colors are a really lovely combination of deep peacock green, a light plum, rust, and black and beige. The tag says RUE DE SOIE (silk road I gather) but the style reminds me of Ossie Clark or Biba. I cinch it with a black and gold leather belt by HYDE and pair it with plum tights and dark brown boots from PAOLO. In my ears are black pearl earrings given to me by my Mister for our first anniversary. Around my neck is a cast gold wishbone necklace by LAURIE BROWN also given to me by the Mister (he gives great gifts no?) and a longer gold necklace made from three different types of chain I acquired at Rare Device. And on my finger my wedding/engagement band, wide and heavy with a pavé surface by CHRISTOPHER ROULE. The hair is long and dark with bangs but I’ve been itching for a lovely chopped do a la Tao Okamoto. A spritz of the classic PRADA and one more layer before I leave, a classic vintage trench, given to me by my Aunt, given to her by my Grandma, and black leather riding gloves by AGENT PROVOCATEUR (another gift from the mister), a quick grab of my vintage Coach speedy, hop on the bike and off I go.

July 6, 2010 San Francisco CA. Just a day at the office.

CHRISTINA BEAULAC-FERRIS
I am a blogger for TheLooksee.com and jewelry designer living in Los
Angeles.

On this balmy summer day I’m wearing a simple beige, shortsleeve,
batwing cardigan from H&M that is very lightweight, unbuttoned over a
basic black tank top also from H&M. I’m wearing thrifted faded black
denim cutoff shorts, and some thrifted green suede flats.

I love jewelry, and like to wear a lot of it. Around my neck, I’m wearing
a long Triple Triangle Grid Necklace from my jewelry line, The Looksee
Jewelry. On my wrists, I have three vintage costume bracelets. One is
goldtone with little starbursts spaced an inch apart on a lightly textured
background; the other two are thin leather, faux-snakeskin and goldtone
with chainlink accents- one is green, and the other is black. I am also
wearing my wedding band which is a simple yellow gold band with a single
starburst and a tiny diamond chip in the middle. On my other ring finger
I have on a vintage rose gold square signet ring with a small amount of
hand-engraved filigree. It has yet to be engraved with my initials. The
signet ring and my wedding ring are the only constants in an ever changing
ensemble of clothing and accessories.

KRISTINE BIASON
Editor for CIRCUS, the blogger’s bookazine
www.circus-project.org, www.herznote.com

I slept with damp hair last night, which has left it a little scraggly and mis-shapen, wavy strands fall messily on my face. I’m due for a trim and I’ve been eyeing the local hair dresser I pass by every morning. 11 euro for all lengths. I have on a basic V neck t-shirt from SES, a chain store based in Australia. I packed it as one of my basics, assuming it would be worn frequently. On closer inspection there are slight streaks of blue stains, the inevitable result of mixing whites with your colours. The weather is warm enough to wear an old pair of mineral wash AMERICAN APPAREL natural denim runner shorts – in cornflower blue. But since the cool breeze from last night’s first summer storm still lingers, I’ve put on my wooly winter reindeer boots, bought from Big W. Around my neck is a gold necklace with a crucifix pendant – a present my mother gave me before I left home. Every time we speak on skype she comments on how lovely it looks. She insists I never take it off, and I never have.

Mon 7th June, 14:22 pm, Darmstadt, Germany

LEWIS ALUN DAVIES
Artistic Director, collecting images from unwanted sources collaging them all together to make new beautiful things. Making unwearable accessories for photoshoots and mirrorball armor for Lady Gaga’s dance troup. Spending to much time in artificially lit photographic studio’s and helping myself to fizzy water in their fridges. Down and out in London & Paris.

From head to toe: A light splash of Bumble & Bumble ’straight’ potion for my unruly locks. A dash of DIOR homme aftershave. Thin cotton vintage blossom style print shirt by PAUL AND JOE, with cream landscape, blue tree trunks and pink blossom, from Selfridges London. Pure lambswool Cardigan by PETER JENSEN in wine color. Round neck cut with no fastenings on front, bought from sample sale at Peter’s studio. Vintage CASIO gold calculator watch. Slim fit dark denim jeans by UNIQLO with 1inch turn up. Perfect fit for my overly long legs and slim waist. All underwear by AMERICAN APPAREL in maroon bought from the LA flagship store in down town LA whilst on vacation last autumn. Vintage Chelsea boots bought from a flea market in Paris. Slightly scuffed and worn leather just as I like them.

20/05/10, 2pm gmt

SANDRA HOJ
Accessories designer and blogger http://classiccopenhagen.blogspot.com/
Copenhagen, Denmark

Today I am wearing a combination of my favorites: a thin, black HUMANOID dress with extra long sleeves self-adjusted to uneveness, black cotton tights and black suede MARGIELA boots with a pointy toe and a funny foot shortening sole from a couple of years back. A supersoft fringed cashmere scarf by TSUMORI CHISATO in a faded black with a red/white/green flower print. Twisted doublecoat with strategic holes in a felt like oatmeal colored wool by COMMES DES GARÇONS. A peeling coat of CHANEL nailpolish in the color “inattendu” and four vintage sculpted 1950-60’s Danish stonefree gold rings placed on pinky, ringfinger, pointy and pinky. Just for today my bangs are punished with a bobbypin, my bag is an early XL city tote by ANNA CORINNA in black and soft but worn leather, that can be carried in at least three ways. Most importantly across the shoulder, messenger style, if need be. I love my perfume, Coco by CHANEL, but I can not smell it on myself anymore, so we are on a break.

Copenhagen, Denmark, tuesday april 6th 2010, on the road, on the bike, scouting for blog-food and grocery shopping.

WILL BOEHLKE
Author of A Suitable Wardrobe weblog, San Francisco. http://asuitablewardrobe.dynend.com

Navy mohair and wool double breasted suit by ENGLISH CUT, grey twill shirt body with white collar and cuffs by TURNBULL & ASSER, antique white gold cufflinks, grey silk & linen necktie with orange bar stripes of my own design, white Irish linen pocket square, navy wool socks with a large grey windowpane overcheck, espresso brown quarter brogue shoes by GAZIANO & GIRLING, ORMONDE JAYNE eau de parfum, soft sided leather case by MARK CROSS, black silk THOMAS BRIGG umbrella, blue silk scarf with orange dots by DRAKE’S LONDON and BURBERRY microfiber trenchcoat. And I should have worn a hat.

Thursday, 23 February 2010 at 1PM; visiting a custom leather goods maker in a downpour.

HELEN JAMES
Fashion and Accessories designer and Blogger, Ireland

Off to a meeting in Dublin, Wednesday February 24th 2010, I am wearing NICOLA FINETTI long black, pleat back cotton coat from a couple of seasons ago. Long sleeve grey jersey GAP T-shirt which is about 10 years old and washed to featherlight perfection. Silk camisole top in dark pewter from my own collection s/s 2009. Tan calfskin waist belt from my own collection. Pleated cotton knee length skirt, vintage bought in Rellik London. Charcoal grey cashmere arm warmers by Irish designer EILIS BOYLE. Black opaque tights from WOLFORD. Knee high ACNE leather boots, current season. GINETTE NY, gold circle neckchain . Scent is Geranium Bourbon by MILLER HARRIS. Lipstick is Lover by CHANEL.

CHERI MESSERLI
Stylist + Designer Paris, France
http://scout-holiday.com/blog

Blue button up jacket with cotton lambswool collar by HUSSEIN CHALAYAN, clay colored sweatshirt by BLESS over an off-white with purple splatter paint print draped silk vest by SOCIETY FOR RATIONAL DRESS, a salmon pink button-up short sleeved shirt by ACNE, a purple t-shirt by SCHIESSER underneath. A thin lavender scarf I knit myself, brown knit intarsia hat from STEVEN ALAN, black shorts by MAYLE, 2 layers of opaque black DKNY stockings as it is freezing here in Paris, black socks with rainbow flecks from ERICA TANOV, black lace up ankle boots by A.P.C., scent: SERGE LEUTENS Datura Noir, custom gold ring by RAMSEY CONDOR, one of my CM flag necklaces, carrying a tan leather and canvas POSTALCO travel wallet in one hand and a rope leash by FOUND MY ANIMAL that is securly fastened to a 4 year-old vizsla named Scout in the other.

01/02/10 Saturday 3:00pm on the way to my favorite bakery on Rue des Martyrs.

SIGYN EIRÍKSDÓTTIR
Manager of MUNDI

Today I’m wearing deep purple MUNDI jeans and a big black 100% Icelandic wool, sweater with light grey astronaut pattern. Underneath I’m wearing 66°N microfiber black sweater because its very cold and windy in Iceland now! My shoes are old white skin Bavarian boots. On my fingers is my wedding ring plain golden circle and a ring from my parents in law, white gold with diamonds and a pearl. Around my neck I wear a necklace from my husband made by an Icelandic designer, HALLA BOGA, with lots of different color pearls in all kins of forms also, once again, MUNDI´s white very thin cotton scarf with black fringes. When it comes to perfume I have been using the same one for years simply because I love it, CK one.

Reykjavík 23 December, preparing for the big Christmas shopping day at MUNDI´s boutique, hugs and kisses!