trending

{ hand-knotted rope jewelry for spring }

I usually try and shy away from major trends when I am designing pieces for the collection. But, every once in a while I'm tempted to find a fun way to incorporate the season's colors and materials into the line. One quick and satisfying way for me to experiment with that is by making accessories. This season, we're seeing loads of neon and chunky statement jewelry made with all sorts of rope and nylon cord. I spent some time a few weeks back playing around with materials and putting my own touches on those trends. Here are the results. These first two have been claimed, but I'm kind of excited about them, so think I'll make a handful more and bring them to the store in the coming weeks.

this vest...

 

{ one: via Net-a-Porter | two: via Pinterest | three: Vogue Germany photo via Le Fashion }

...keeps popping up around the internet. Such a special mix of tough and delicate. My goodness, I love Isabel Marant.

moroccan treasures

Roslyn recently returned from her honeymoon in Morocco and brought these beauties back for me. Just lovely!

birthday camping

{ photos by Elise Bergman (plus a few by Collin Moore) }

Collin's single request for his birthday every year is that we go camping for the weekend. Unfortunately, busy work schedules and testy midwest weather usually prevent us from taking a trip. Since his most recent birthday was his thirtieth, we decided that no matter what—rain, shine, looming presentations or the like—we were going to make it happen. I'm so glad we did because it was the perfect way to bid adieu to his twenties. We loaded up our packs with far more goodies than a seasoned hiker should (enough food and snacks for about five people, a full bottle of bourbon, extra layers to keep cozy, travel Scrabble, a couple different cameras, et cetera) and headed to the Shawnee National Forest in southern Illinois. We picked a trail that went along Kinkaid Lake and hiked until we found the most inviting spot to pitch our tent. Despite a damp couple hours on our first day and a few startling encounters with critters in the woods, the weather and the weekend were flawless. A delightful birthday celebration!

jump into spring with glossed & found

Graham Kostic and Caleb Condit, two of my favorite Chicago creatives (and regulars on this blog), just collaborated with an
über talented team on a really fun and vibrant spring beauty and fashion editorial for Glossed & Found. This behind the scenes video gets me excited for spring's bright pops and prints. It also inspires me to gather some friends to work on a group project, whatever it might be. Don't they all look like they're having such a blast?

here we go magic

Sweet and weird robot dance moves in this new video from Here We Go Magic. Their newest album, A Different Ship, comes out next week and everything I've heard so far indicates that it is chock-full of great tunes. The Nigel Godrich (think Radiohead and Beck) produced tracks are an enjoyable and precisely balanced mix of folk, indie, and dream-/synth-/psych-pop. Excited to see them later this month at the Empty Bottle. You can pre-order the album here and stream it here.

spring florals

{ one: Elise Bergman Simone Wrap photo by Emily Donelan | two: floral place setting DIY via Oh Joy! | three: vintage educational charts from Art of Instruction via Jen Loves Kev | four: farmer's market bouquets via Project Wedding }

Despite recent 50 degree weather, spring is definitely in the air. This morning we're imagining a spring wedding with

bridesmaids in bright coral and floral place settings and bouquets fresh from the farmer's market.

so, how was your day?

{ via So, How Was Your Day? }

As I've mentioned many times before, my dear friend Jessica Murnane is a constant source of inspiration and creative motivation. Jessica is full of great ideas and what I love most about her is not just that her ideas are especially clever, but that she actually goes out and executes them, and very thoughtfully at that. Well folks, she's done it yet again with her newest project So, How Was Your Day?. The site launched last week and is full of fun and inspirational glimpses into the lives of creative movers and shakers who exemplify the traits I admire so much in Jessica. Through a handful of brief lines about meals, meetings, daily tasks, and a few fiery follow-up questions, Jessica introduces readers to some serious innovators. Graham Kostic of Glossed & Found and Monica Dimperio of The MidWasteland and Elegently Wasted Vintage are part of the initial line up and it was exciting to see these friends and familiar faces in the mix. The new site is a fantastic concept with the same eye on simple and refined design that I have grown to love through Suitor, Jessica's line of paper goods. Can't wait to see who else she features!

British Vogue

{ photo by Candice Lake for British Vogue }

Just received an exciting email from Candice Lake, who took this shot of me leaving Lincoln Center when I was in New York for Fashion Week last month. Not only is she a super talented photographer, but she is also an absolute beauty and a style icon in her own right (check out her blog). It was an honor to catch her attention. Today, the photo is on the homepage of British Vogue in a street style story featuring a plethora of well-heeled editors, fashionistas, models, and more. It's an impressive gallery and I'm thrilled to have made the cut. I'm wearing the Theo Tank, Donelan Blazer, and Newman Jacket (new for Fall Winter 2012) from the Elise Bergman collection. I am also wearing a Pendleton hat from Vintage Smith, a hand-me-down Bottega Veneta purse from my mom, Fiorentini & Baker booties from Barney's a few years back, and a pair of trusty ol' Levi's.

DIY

We designed a fun, oversized hair bow for Glossed & Found and photographed the process. The step-by-step DIY is on their blog today so you can try it out yourself. Click here for the full instructions and here to download and print the template. For a different type of hair accessory, try a comb or rubber band. Or, try sewing your fabric creation to a pin back for a makeshift bow tie.