Value Village Score

My niece, Sofia, hit the jackpot today at Value Village. I think a thin, brown belt and some cute ballet flats are all she needs to create a terrific Audrey Hepburn inspired outfit. 

He Who Seeks Beauty Will Find It

I finally watched the Bill Cunningham documentary. What a beautiful man and how he survives in NYC is beyond me. I will simply say watch it and be inspired and learn something from this wise, yet childish soul. ~ Rebecca

Sara Makes a Paper Bag Dress

Meet Sara, a fantastically talented 14 year-old from Vancouver, BC. She is the daughter of an old friend (see her mom's jewelry website here) with whom I spent time this past weekend. Sara decided to make this dress as her Halloween costume and I can't wait to see what she creates for shoes and accessories. We talked about duct tape roles as bracelets, but we'll see. I'll get her to send me a picture of the ensemble and will post it post October 31st.
~ Rebecca

Origami Outfit

I went to Blue C Sushi last week for lunch. When I went to the register to pay my bill, there it was an origami outfit made out of $1 bills. The guy at the register told me that a kid-client made it that week and that her family left the ensemble with their tip. ~Rebecca

Little Fashionista at the BECU

I saw this little girl while I was in line at the ATM yesterday. What a terrific little outfit--especially the polka-dot tights. ~ Rebecca

Thanks Kate.

This is a thank you to Kate Middleton for making a much needed step towards bringing back classic style and poise. Her confidence and graceful manner on her wedding day provided a great role model for women everywhere. ~ Anne

FYI, this one was my favorite.

Princess Letizia of Asturias, wife of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne. I would like to have a closer look at those gloves please. Perfecto!
~Rebecca

Super Seattle Senior

Check-out the bumper sticker.--R

Details, rag curls

 As a child, I curled my damp hair with rags. Imagine my surprise when I discovered my daughter using strips of paper grocery bag instead! She did this all on her own with no coaching from me. Joy.--R

pretty people i see

The Suetorialist and me

About seven years ago I started to climb out of my Seattle-mom-fleece-ensembles with the help of my dear friend Sue Pess. Let me back up. Before moving to Seattle, I lived in Boston and I had my fashion act together (enough) for a single girl in the city. Then I moved to Seattle, started grad school, got married, wrote a thesis, had 2 kids, and bought a house. Let's just say that my wardrobe suffered....a lot. At one point my Bostonian sister said, while greeting me at the Logan airport, "Do you really think you look good in fleece and are those plastic gardening clogs on your feet?" Like I said, I was at a low point.

Fast forward. My youngest son was turning three and a good friend was soon to be married to a Roman woman in Rome. If there was ever a time to clean-up my act, this was the time. I immediately called Sue. "Help, I'm going to Rome; I have to look great 24/7; I'm broke and what the Hell am I going to wear." Sue's response, "No problem. I'm on it. Just remember style is not about money." And on it she was. We combed the fashion magazines. We cleaned-out my closet. She shared her secret shopping spots with me. And together we created 7 days of fabulous looks for me. She also gave me enough "Fresh" products to cover the trip. If you haven't experienced the "Fresh" line, well, we will talk about that later.

Since then, with Sue at my side, I've never looked back and I've never dressed as well for as little money. And as for the plastic gardening clogs, they're history. --R


 Click here to read about Sue's jewelry in the news.

Ralph

Slam dunk, the best Autumn 2011 I've seen this spring is Ralph Lauren's. I haven't always been a fan, but this 1920's Singapore inspired collection is just so beautiful and, you know what, these are clothes for women. Yes, they look fab on all the 20 year-old supermodels, but this stuff can look glorious on all kinds of female sizes and shapes. Thank you Ralph.

See full collection here: Ralph Lauren

The Sartorialist and me

Here's how a typical weekday starts for me: Wake-up after kids have left for school (no I don't make their breakfast and I don't pack their lunches so, sue me); Make smoothie; Take 1 million vitamins plus whatever antibiotic I seem to be on that week; Have a cup of Joe; Go to the computer and get to work.

Nine times out of ten the first site I check is The Sartorialist. I love to see what folks around the world are wearing and I do love to see Scott Schuman's Singer-Sargeant-like portraits of mostly "regular" people on the street. I'm often inspired by the ensembles and subconsciously, or not so subconsciously, try to create my own twist on them. Last week it was the polka-dots and, as a polka-dot devotee, I was thrilled that all the girls in Milan were sporting their dots.

What I love about fashion these days is that really anything goes. Of course there are trends and "in" colors and fabrics of which I am not always a fan--Don't get me started on jeggings and any number of "Housewives of New Jersey" looks. But overall I'm thrilled to see the variety and personal expression in fashion that Mr. Schuman's blog celebrates.

This week on Well Done I'll be posting pictures of clothing and styles and individuals that I find inspirational and timeless. Enjoy. --Rebecca

Katrina, from above.

Katrina, the fashionista

 

One of my clients is an amazing seamstress. While visiting her last week, I suited her little dog Katrina in a raincoat that my client had recently sewed. The inside of the raincoat is soft and fuzzy, the dog inside is happy and cozy.  She also is a great model for photographs.

5 Questions for Naomi Evans, Jewelry Designer

Describe your perfect client
Someone with an appreciation for, and an understanding of what goes into producing handmade art work.    


What is your passion?
My passion…my passion is my art. My passion is my family. My passion is working up a sweat. My passion is curling up with a great book.   


Where are you from?
I grew up in Washington, DC, went to school in Philadelphia, PA, Kansas City, MO and Boston, MA. I have lived in Israel off and on, and made Cambridge, MA my home for many years till moving to Vancouver, BC 5 years ago.   


What was your favorite job?
I love what I do right now, but before I started making jewelry, I was a potter. I loved making pottery and at the time I was also teaching aerobics. It was a great combination of time alone in my studio and social time teaching and hanging out at various gyms.  

Tell us something no one knows about you?
I once had an animated dream where all the characters were spoons


View Naomi's work HERE

oh I want one!

Wayne Wichern
is apparently THE guy to go to for hats in Seattle.

Hot Hat.

Winter clothing and hat style in Seattle is not so easy to spot because you usually need so much actual hiking-type weather gear to actually leave your house. Whenever I see someone repelling water and looking hot I feel happiness inside!

That 70's Show

This post is just an excuse to share some funny pictures of me and Anne and friends in our best 1970's garb. It's also an excuse to get you to click on the link about Adam Crowley and learn more about the great photographer who took these photos.--R

Sails and pocket books

Meet Jon and Pam. Pam is my birthday twin (separated by ten years) and Jon is her lovely husband who designs and creates sails--as in for big sailboats. In his free time Jon makes pocket books for his wife out of sail fabric remnants.  Now that's a honey who can do!