/ BLACK

PHOEBE THATCHER

From the head down; a shrinky dink necklace shaped liked a laser gun (pew, pew, pew), an avocado-coloured Andrew Bird concert tee-shirt, fitted, nice and soft from lots of wearing, with a lovely illustration of his signature rotating victrola speakers on it. A black pleated skirt I grabbed from the thrift store – a little shiny in some places from too much ironing, but clean and a respectable length, a few inches above the knee. I feel that pleated skirts are a lost art form. I like the uniform, almost military vibe they lend to any ensemble. Black, lacy patterned tights, relatively opaque- my mom’s, from the ’80s. Beloved TIMBERLAND boots, mid-calf height, with brassy zippers along the inside, buckles along the outside by the heel and laces all the way up the fronts, black – but a hard-working, humble greyish black, not the shiny onyx you see in Underworld and The Matrix.

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.

RAYMOND CHIU
I am a studio engineer and work in retail. I run RaymondChiu.com and Bornatdusk.com. It’s august 23, 2010. I am wrapping up my studio session with Robin Thicke and we are headed for drinks. The weather in Vancouver BC is neutral today. Not too hot, not too cold.

I am wearing black LABEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION low rise trousers from ss09. They are flowy up top, but taper from the knee down. Definitely my favourite pants at the moment. On top, I am wearing a grey reversible cotton screen printed LABEL UNDER CONSTRUCTION long sleeve from ss09. I like simple footwear with precise craftsmanship and tend to be drawn to the timeless classics from CARPE DIEM. Today, I chose black calf laced derbies from fw03. I have worn the same 3 rings for the last two years– A MARGIELA spiral thumb, WERKSTATT silver hammered ring and another WERKSTATT punched wound round ring. My fragrance for this summer is CDG harissa from the red series. Perfect if you’re looking for something light, yet still noticeable by your peers. Plus, the ladies love it.

ANJA LOUISE VERDUGO
I sell vintage clothing online and have a journal where I share my photos & finds here: www.clevernettle.com/blog (based in Portland, Oregon)

This outfit all began with the most special shoes I can imagine- black & white satin cat print flats from MIU MIU’s spring 2010 collection. I’m almost embarrassed to have these shoes, owning a designer item is so foreign to me. This is my first time wearing them, and I’m nervous! In a way they seem almost too precious and fancy to wear, but before I bought them I visualized the little cats many years from now… worn, scuffed, and loved, just as they should be. I’m wearing them with little black silk tap shorts from the FLETCHER BY LYELL collection that was sold at Urban Outfitters, vintage-inspired and featherlight. The blouse is vintage 1960’s white lace, perfectly fitted with sheer sleeves, a gift from a friend in Maine. I’m all black and white, a little silent movie apparition from the future. Ok, not quite- my lips are a bright crimson red. I’m also wearing a dab of single note rose perfume made by TOKYO MILK (Scarlett 57). Portland is known as the Rose City and this year I am more obsessed with roses than ever. I hope a bee doesn’t chase me!

I’m wearing this 7/31/10 at sunset for a nice drink & evening walk, maybe to take some pictures with my 70’s SLR since the light is so good at night these days. I’m not exactly sure where the evening will take me yet!

KAREN BARBÉ
Textile designer in Santiago, Chile (www.karenbarbe.com)

I’m wearing a bluish grey CALVIN KLEIN chambray pencil skirt with pintuck details at waist and slit side pockets, a white AKIABARA cotton shirt and a blue CALVIN KLEIN wool v-neck sweater. Variegated blue and grey SILVANA cotton/wool tights with classic and simple white REEBOK Princess leather aerobic shoes. Hand knitted fingerless gloves in grey merino wool. Long black ZARA padded jacket. As a handbag I’m using a REISENTHEL mini maxi shopper bag in sand. No jewellery. No nail polish. A basic Nokia cell phone in my pocket. Chance by CHANEL.

A cold 8˚C Friday 23th July in Santiago, Chile.

LAURA CHÁVEZ SILVERMAN
I am Laura Chávez Silverman. I am a writer, gardener, cook, nature lover and blogger at www.gluttonforlife.com. I live in Sullivan County in upstate New York.

Today, 7.23.10, is cool and rainy. It’s a casual day at home for me, and I’m baking peanut butter cookies, so the Dries, Rick Owens and Marni are in the closet. I am wearing JAMES PERSE dark grey sweatpants, a navy cotton-cashmere t-shirt by VELVET and my comfy black clogs. My accessories include my favorite TIFFANY diamond studs (a wedding gift from my amazing husband), a delicate silver chain ring by GUINEVERE RODRIGUEZ purchased at her shop in Williamsburg, and the small tattoo of the California state bear that I have on my inner left forearm. It’s a tribute to my home state and to my former husband who died in 2003.

SANNA HELENA BERGER
I run TOURIST magazine and make things in Manchester and sometimes Sweden.

From below and up I am wearing a pair of black (somewhat sun bleached) shorts in sweatshirt material, they are an akward length, one popular in the early ninties (the era of which they are a bi product) which is why I have made turn ups of the ends. On the back pocket there is a screenprinted capital R. I dont know where they are from. We dug them out of my mothers back up wardrobe, she saves everything. They have drawstring in the waist and cement splatter all over since they were used to build a wall by my fiancé helping my father where we are holidaying, in a small sea side town on the coast of sweden which I can only describe as paradise on earth. Underneath I am wearing black knickers, totally standard cotton girl next door knickers, which is what I find both comfy and sexy. On my upperbody I am wearing a grey washed out tshirt with an OHM sign from India. I bought it there (for about a pound) a few years ago when I went to the very south of india to sit on a rooftop practicing yoga for 2 weeks. On top of that I have a black cardigan which (as the label tells me) is from UNIQLO, it confused me a while ago where this cardigan actually came from, I thought maybe I bought it when I was living in Tokyo, only to remember that its from the lost and found box of a bar that I do the door for. Not a single garment is spot free. from cement splatter to chocolate rice pudding from Berlin which I had the other night in bed whilst watching the new Roman Polanski film which was pretty terrible.

Other than that I am wearing my engagement ring, which is the same ring my father gave my mother as their engagement ring, saving up all his money whilst being in the army for the white gold, which my fiancé now has filed with a small diamond from england so not only is it a heritage piece but like us part english, part swedish. My skin is plenty of shades darker from the mid day swims and I also constantly wear 5 tattoos, ranging from 2 crosses, a square, 2 pieces of writing and a triangle. And my nails are scuffed with CHANEL rouge noir.

10.08, Arild, Sweden, 23rd of July 2010

ELISABETH KOCH
I am a milliner. www.elisabethkoch.net

Sitting in my atelier here in Beijing, I am wearing a black skirt that closes with green velcro. It has no label but my sister got it at URBAN OUTFITTERS in London like 10 years ago (!). My top is of jersey cotton, sleeveless, slash-neck type with very wide red & black horizontal stripes (3 red and 2 black). The straps can be tightened with cords (of the same striped material) and tied in a bow – or not, you could leave them hanging too. Both of mine are in bows. The label inside says “BDg registered trademark EST. 76″. This top is also a hand-me-down from my big sister who works in fashion in NY.

On my head, I am wearing a hat of my own label: Elisabeth Koch Millinery. Often while I’m working on a piece, I’ll stick it on my head just to get the feel of it. I make each of my unique creations by hand. It is made of triangular pieces of light silver sinamay with a poof of hand-cut white feathers in the middle. It’s a commissioned piece for a client. Other than these three things, I have no shoes on, no jewelry, but yes to a little mascara (MAYBELLINE from the USA) and eyebrow pencil (DIOR from Amsterdam).

Today is a wonderful July 14th 2010 at 4pm.

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.

JANELLE LISA YOLONDA MENTESANA
I’m a fashion illustrator and sometimes photographer. I’m watching fashion tv in my lounge room and looking outside my window to see if the weather is good enough to go out today. I’m situated in Paris, France.

I am wearing PLEASURE STATE lingerie couture range, a pair of black raw denim skinny jean CHEAP MONDAY jeans, plain white t-shirt, a HUGO BOSS baby blue collared shirt over the white shirt, 2 year old canvas shoes I bought from TARGET that only cost $10. YSL Parisienne.

11:17am Monday 21st June 2010, Paris.

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