(Ryan was in Brussels all week. I was not.)
This week was long and crazy, and I’m glad that it’s finally Friday. Ryan was away all week and his return flight was delayed significantly. But he is home today and we are looking forward to a quiet and restful weekend. Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
Completed inspections of Bangladeshi garment factories, and what they found.
“Driving Halfway Across the Country to Have a Baby.”
This piece pokes fun at the media’s coverage of Ebola.
A quick lesson in Latin American design.
What happens when you wear a YouTube makeup tutorial out in public. (Contouring only belongs in front of a camera.)
And the greatest songs from Stevie Nicks.
Have a wonderful weekend!
(Violetta di Parma Perfume with an atomizer.)
It’s finally feeling like fall around here, and I was lucky enough to receive two freebies for the season in the past few weeks. I’ve always been a fan of violet perfumes, and my mom recently ran across one of favorite scents, Violetta di Parma. She picked it up for me on one of her perfume hunts and the bottle came with an atomizer! I’ve never used one before, and it’s definitely an elegant way to apply my perfume each morning. Perfume lovers hold strong opinions when it comes to violet scents, but I’ve always loved this soft and powdery fragrance. I found a bottle years ago at Anthropologie in San Francisco, but haven’t seen it since, so I was thrilled when my mom surprised me.
(My new Gräf & Lantz clutch from Grechen’s Closet.)
And Grechen recently held a giveaway for a Gräf & Lantz clutch, and I was the winner! It’s a really lovely clutch and tech case, and I’m planning to use it this fall and winter as a catch-all within my tote bag.
I’m still hoping to get a few things for fall, though I’m waiting for even cooler weather. Are you stocking up on anything this month?
(Beautiful hand stitching on an Alabama Chanin piece.)
I recently heard this story about organic cotton and the new “field-to-garment” movement, and after doing a bit of research, soon fell in love with the work of Alabama Chanin. An established designer, Natalie Chanin moved back to her hometown of Florence, Alabama, once a major hub in the garment industry, and began working with local seamstresses to create a line of clothing and goods made from locally-grown, organic cotton. It’s a beautiful story that really comes full circle, and the pieces themselves are absolutely exquisite.
(The Francis Dress by Alabama Chanin.)
Alabama Chanin’s main collection is truly art, and was inspired by photographs of southern families from the 1930s and 1940s. Each piece is made-to-order and hand sewn, and the detailing is beautiful. Chanin’s company is a mainstay in the slow clothing movement, and each piece is literally one of a kind. There are several other lines with more affordable, machine-sewn options, though all of the products reflect the company’s focus on sustainability.
(Gorgeous pieces from Alabama Chanin.)
I’m incredibly impressed with Alabama Chanin and I only wish I’d discovered the line sooner. New pieces are debuting Tuesday, and if you’d like to see more, be sure to peruse the lookbook and watch this short video, too.
