(My dressmaker’s mannequin.)
For Christmas, I bought myself a dressmaker’s mannequin. It’s actually something I’ve thought about buying for a long time, and I’m planning to use it on my blog periodically to show different clothing pieces. Ryan usually takes my fashion photographs, but sometimes I like to show a top or a piece of jewelry, and a full-on fashion photo session isn’t needed. Plus, we have to schedule our shoots around the boys’ routines and the weather, so this mannequin gives me a bit of flexibility.
I’ve thought about naming her, just for fun, and right now, she’s in the corner of my bedroom wearing only a necklace. She’s a lady, after all. Once she arrived, it took several days to get used to her hanging out in my bedroom, and I startled a little each time I caught a glimpse of her. At least she doesn’t have a head, so that makes things less frightening in the dark.
I promise that my mannequin won’t replace all of my fashion posts, but she is a handy tool to have around. She’s also pretty and useful, so I’m glad she finally came to live at my house.
And this post would not be complete without mentioning one of my favorite 80s movies, just for fun.
(I always love the light this time of year.)
We eased back into our routine this week, and now it’s Friday again! The weather is really cold (for central Texas) and we’re preparing for a cozy weekend indoors. I’m hoping the sun starts shining again soon, but winter is very short-lived here, so I remind myself to enjoy it. Here are a few things that caught my eye this week.
“Write about who you are, not who you want to become.”
An activist from Kenya offers advice to America.
A list of ethical brands in Austin.
Kareem Abdul-Jabar writes about Mycroft Holmes.
Arthur takes on “Downton Abbey.” Arthur is a big deal at our house these days, and I can’t wait to watch this with my boys!
I never wear nail polish on my hands, and it seems that’s the new trend for winter.
Pictures of abandoned theme parks. Because stuff like this never gets old.
Have a wonderful weekend and stay warm!
I’ve seen many positive reviews for eShakti, the India-based clothing site that lets you customize your dress, and when they contacted me recently, I was excited to try out the service for myself. Leah from Style Wise reviewed an eShakti dress at Thanksgiving, and based on her research into the company, I felt confident enough to support them. Their customer covenant is simple: “We will never allow anything that is opposed to human dignity or the laws of the land where we operate.” The company prides itself on caring for its employees, and that’s a great place to start.
(The dress is made of cotton and has pockets.)
Overall, I was incredibly pleased with the ordering and customization process. I was offered a huge selection of dresses, and I picked the Olivia Dress in deep navy. The website was a little difficult to use, since I was given a special blogger page to access, but the service representative was helpful and guided me through the process. When you choose a piece, you’re asked to provide your height and standard size, as well as any custom options you care to make, like changing the length, sleeve, and neckline. For this dress, I changed the sleeve from a cap style to a short length that actually offered more coverage. I decided to keep the skirt length and neckline styles because they worked for me.
(Pretty details on the dress.)
The normal turnover time is between 14 and 18 days, but my dress came much sooner than that and I’m really thrilled with it. The dress itself is cotton and has lovely detailing along the bodice and waist, as well as pockets within the full skirt. It also features a thin belt with a gold buckle, which I removed when I decided to wear my Noonday necklace. Since the weather was cold, I paired the dress with navy tights and pink heels for a little color, but it will be perfect in warmer weather with strappy sandals or open-toe pumps. It’s such a fun and flirty dress, and I’m really drawn to navy these days. It feels so classic, and can be dressed up or down depending upon your mood.
I’m thrilled with my eShakti experience and I definitely encourage you to visit their site to experience the customization process. It’s refreshing to finally have a say in the cut and style of your clothing, and eShakti features a wide range of styles.
