C O U N T O W N

gutes neue jahr! may 2014 be a year of expected givings rather than of expected gettings. see you all on the other side.

LIFE l Cabbage Patching

Italian baguette. Giant baby bearing cabbage. Secret gardening among the peppers, the tomatoes, and herbs. All at the East End of the world.

THE TOMGIRL SERIES | Polished Pioneer

This Thanksgiving I got to fulfill one of my childhood Frazier induced dreams of visiting Seattle. I honestly had no idea what to expect. I did no research on the place, took no one's word for it and pioneered through the Oregon trail (not really but I did take a train from Portland to Seattle and I am happy to report no wagon wheels were harmed during the process of this adventure).  I was brilliantly surprised. It solidified in my mind that I was born for colder weather. All those layers. Makes a girl like me swoon.

TOMGIRL SERIES | Polished Pioneer by andiaschehera featuring a leather purse

LIFE | Fashion Show

I cannot believe it has already almost been a week since the fashion show (sorry I did not keep you ladies as well informed as I wanted to. The last month got really crazy and hectic)! There were some hiccups before, during, and after the show, but otherwise the show was amazing. I set the bar at 100 and all those involved decided to take it 100 steps higher and exceed even my own imagination. There were tears. And almost an ugly cry. But I made it through to the end. I got to style Great Gatsby, which is not what I would have liked to have done with the million hats I had on (yes next year I am locking in on an assistant). Here are a few photos from last weekend that was with Great Gatsby. Special thanks to Holly Harris, Jessie Sander, The Originative, Carilee Spence, Demarco Films, Andre Bohrer on lighting, Ariel Clarke, and all the models and volunteers who helped make this all possible!

DESIGNER | Suzanne Rae

My heart just melted. Into 85 proof creamy dark chocolate. So rich. So simple. Suzanne Rae. Wwwhere have you been all my life? I was pinning away this morning on turbans (I don't care if they have gone with the wind, I still think they are doable) when I stumbled across this little Philippina gem. Her entire collection for FW13 just proves that simplicity can be so striking.

BOOK INSPIRED LOOKS | The Great Gatsby::Jordan

The Great Gatsby | Jordan by andiaschehera featuring floral tank tops

Although I didn't care so much for the new version of Gatsby (I haven't seen the older versions but I heard they are no better) I couldn't help but drool over Jordan Baker's wardrobe. She was my one consolation to enduring to the end. Jordan was a golfer and from the book a not so decent golfer, but an athlete non-the-less. Florida winters are normally northern states' fall, and normally you would see people walking around with their favorite college sweatshirt, shorts/pants and flip-flops. Never quite understood the concept, but here's something way more sophisticated if you must indeed wear sandals in the winter Floridians. A thin bomber or varsity jacket with a nice boyfriend coat draped over it and underneath it all some high waisted pants and mid-drift top to make you less toasty.

BOOK INSPIRED LOOKS | The Great Gatsby::Daisy

The Great Gatsby | Daisy by andiaschehera featuring a raffia hat

Can you tell from the last look and this look, that I am in love with quilted things? After buying my first quilted jacket in Germany last year (geeyah I can't believe tis almost a year!) I have been looking for some good quilted jumpers to pair with slim pants and flowing skirts. I went a more traditional route with Daisy's look with a chiffon pleated midi-skirt and a straw cloche, but broke away from it with the geometric quilted jumper from Topshop. Florida summers can be brutally unpredictable and our autumns are only slightly cooler summers. I am indoors mostly where it is cold, so a top like this doesn't bother me so much. Plus lighter colors reflect the light, so the thought of a light jumper doesn't seem quite as agonizing.

BOOK INSPIRED LOOKS | The Great Gatsby::Gatsby

BOOK INSPIRED LOOKS | Gatsby by andiaschehera on Polyvore

The Great Gatsby is always depicted with women in fringe and pearls, and the men in tuxes all living the party life twenty.four.seven. If you are wealthy, I am sure this is not far from your reality, but for us folk who come from small beginnings, style must blend in with practicality. Jay Gatsby did business in an unconventional way: he was a bootlegger disguised as an "Oggsford" man. This look sheds the normal suit and tie attire for the office (why can't they just say Dress code: Must look presentable) and takes the whole mullet approach: business in the front party in the back. Simple shirt, chino, and tie, with a loafer instead of the normal oxfords and paired with a fun quilted moto jacket. All black, with a hint of green, keeping the memory of Daisy close to his heart.

Want to try the tomgirl version? Simple! Try a sheer black button down instead and add some heels if you like.

BOOK INSPIRED LOOKS | Divergent::Erudite

DIVERGENT | Erudite by andiaschehera featuring an indian purse

 

Erudite faction focuses on obtaining knowledge. The blue color they wear is said to be calming as to aid in their clarity of the mind. I went with something studious yet laid back and not as uptight as some of the Erudite characters come off in the book.

After reading the book, I went back and forth between which faction I would have been in. I am a behind the scenes kind of person, not trying to draw attention to myself, but I am very black and white as well as have a thirst for knowledge. While I was online reading the faction manifestos I saw a link to take the test. It was cheesy of course, but I found out I was...{hold for dramatic pause} DIVERGENT. And it was as I guessed it, a blend of the three I mentioned (so Erudite of me). If anyone of you have read the book, what faction are you?

BOOK INSPIRED LOOKS | Divergent::Amity

DIVERGENT | Amity by andiaschehera featuring BCBGMAXAZRIA

 

Amity faction wears the peaceful colors of either yellow or red or both. Mixing red and yellow together can be tricky as it always makes one think of hamburgers and hotdogs. I broke it up with some neutral colors and used less saturated hues of the two colors. I am interested to see how the movie mixes the two colors. I am thinking less bright and airy to go with whole dystopian theme.