The pearls of the sea: Mermaid Parade 2009

Newsday

I think we set a new record! From costume concept to execution in only two days of work. Then again, this wasn’t our first trip to the rodeo – Team Pearl included veterans of the Fakework Girls (notorious shopping cart racers in the annual Idiotarod), the Madagascar Institute (fresh from the 10th anniversary gala), and a pro puppeteer.

Gothamist’s coverage

I’m still vacuuming up little bits of cream satin and gold sequins…so grateful to my hardworking friends for indulging my vision of a Busby Berkeley-retro-Victorian postcard, and for letting me put them in hotpants and parade them up and down the boardwalk.

by katharine_brainard on flickr

my favorite flickr shot by ultimatehill

by Coney gal

Did I mention that Harvey Keitel blew us kisses? Oh yes he did.

with one of our stalwart sailor dudes.

anticipating Easter!

The annual New York Easter Parade is one of my favorite days of the year…my friends and I gather in the week ahead and make elaborate bonnets. The Tavern on the Green hosts an official competition with a petting zoo! here are some of Jenene’s photos over the years…

This year I am also excited to stop by and see the circus and magic-themed Lanvin windows at Bergdorf’s!

Corsages!

Corsages!

Originally uploaded by missdarling

for my friend violette’s birthday party…the theme was corsages. of course, a little competition inspired us to go above and beyond.

some other entries:
- a car-sage! (painted on the hood of a car)
- a brussels sprouts on the vine-sage
- a loteria-sage
- oyster shells-sage

further photo documentation at laurendarling’s flickr! click the photo…

Corsages!

Corsages!

Originally uploaded by missdarling

for my friend violette’s birthday party…the theme was corsages. of course, a little competition inspired us to go above and beyond.

some other entries:
- a car-sage! (painted on the hood of a car)
- a brussels sprouts on the vine-sage
- a loteria-sage
- oyster shells-sage

further photo documentation at laurendarling’s flickr! click the photo…

Corsages!

Corsages!

Originally uploaded by missdarling

for my friend violette’s birthday party…the theme was corsages. of course, a little competition inspired us to go above and beyond.

some other entries:
- a car-sage! (painted on the hood of a car)
- a brussels sprouts on the vine-sage
- a loteria-sage
- oyster shells-sage

further photo documentation at laurendarling’s flickr! click the photo…

cannot wait to smell this!

I love milk-based scents.

Costume National’s new 21…

“The 21 notes include: bergamot, saffron, cumin, milk, orange blossoms, pepper, cashmere wood, royal jelly, moss, clary sage, patchouli, olibanum, amber, sandalwood, oudh wood, cedar, vetiver, tonka bean, vanilla, labdanum and musk.”

Wonder where in NYC I can give it a whiff?

this week’s New Yorker is killer!

It’s the fashion issue, which I realized on getting halfway through thinking “why are all the articles this week about things I really like?!”

Link to an excerpt from a great piece about Bill Cunningham, the original street shooter… reg. required to read the whole thing.

Turns out that he started out as a milliner, as did Lanvin and Coco Chanel (as I learned a few pages along in the Alber Elbaz profile)…very inspiring.

Also I am in love with this blog: www.jcruel.wordpress.com!!

Trunk Show in Brooklyn!

Tomorrow, Sunday I’ll be joining some fab indie designers at
JUXTAPOSE: Fashion Rendezvous & Trunk Show

March 1st 5-9pm
@ the Brooklyn Sanctuary
778 Bergen St. btw. Washington & Grand Ave.
C train to Clinton-Washington Ave

Come check it out, it’s super informal and there will be snacks etc.

Pepto-pink vs. Mamie pink?

I found this site – Save the Pink Bathrooms.com - via Apt Therapy yesterday!

I had no idea my crazy pink bathroom had a posse. I painted the doors and trim black when I moved in a few years ago, and re-painted them a dark stone gray recently (though the black was still working for me!) I have also found, after much experimentation, that the only color that goes with this intense pink (and often a lot of it, in a tiny room) is RASPBERRY.

I did find an awesome Lilly Pulitzer-esque vintage stitchery in those colors with some kelly green foliage and frame, and a great cloth shower curtain with raspberry/pink graphics… it only took like 4 years of thrifting!

so very proud of my friend Jean…

My very talented friend Jean has cooked up these gorgeous liquor cabinets out of vintage suitcases…can I move into one? I’ve been in a few NYC apartments that were smaller…