Nelson Mandela

Happy Birthday Madiba!

Pic - Afro Style Magazine

Kehinde Wiley

Kehinde Wiley

I bypassed the evening news and this morning's news broadcast... what I guessed to have been as horrific to watch as the night before and the morning before that.  Not that I need all my news to be bright and cheery, but even with the car accidents, heat deaths, and political firing squads, wasn't there something more than the suburban senior center's arts festival on the good news list? Just sayin'. To be honest, I'm sort of a NPR, CNN News Junkie, but my new role as Mother (to a wonderful little baby boy), makes me break out in hives at the caption 'BREAKING NEWS'.  Some days not knowing exactly how high the murder rate is for my city, and that my favorite charity is going down for embezzlement is just the respite I need.

Watched Newsroom on HBO though....

the ONLY thing I'll make time to watch at its scheduled broadcast.

 You know what puts me right into a good no-bad-news-day spirit?  Googling -- Images for Kehinde Wiley.  Just scrolling through... one after  another, clicking on my favorites, sitting still, face in palm, wondering at  the true to life quality of each portrait, seeing a little something missed on my last Kehinde meditation.  *smile*  That's what I call these little breaks... Kehinde Meditations. 


Each individual portrait, and the universal face in each portrait, reminds me of........

...........being in the theater with my Father, watching my brother(s) stroll through the park, a lover's wink, my uncle's concentrated game "of pinochle" face...... bring on the calm.  In Kehinde Wiley's work I see the faces of my protectors, providers and most recently my beautiful son. 

Thank you Mr. Wiley

__________________________________________________________________________________

Whew!!!  The weather has been crazy in Philadelphia... scorching hot! Which means, there's a power outage every other hour. *shrug* Whaddaya gonna do?  Makes me really grateful for the convenience of electricity... fans, AC... computers!!!  Anyway, because of these rolling brown outs I was unable to post last week's giveaway winner!  Congratulations Sarah! Please email me your shipping address.

Kerry Washington - Vogue Italia

Salute!

Vogue Italia

 Americano Kerry Washington is vintage glamour personified.

And right on the heels of a successful season of Scandal,

(appointment TV for me and all my facebook friends and tweeties!)

this spread for Italian Vogue is stunning!





Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia

Vogue Italia

#AndyDrew2TheBrand

Fashion Friday Pic of the Week!

Andy Drew 2

In my Amazon shopping cart....

Yes!  More gifts for me! 

Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa,

Hans Silvester

The Dress Doctor: 

Prescriptions for Style, From A to Z,

Edith Head

The Tokyo Look Book: 

Stylish to Spectacular, Goth to Gyaru, Sidewalk to Catwalk, 

Philomena Keet and Yuri Manabe

Stay With Me Baby!

Just had a long conversation with a very fashionable friend (who wants to remain nameless... why? I don't know. *shrug*) about what makes a Fashion Icon. I say, it's anyone you can recognize by their silhouette or seeing their clothes hanging in the closet.  I would know, Diana Ross's clothes... I would know Karl Lagerfeld's clothes... I would know Betsy Johnson's silhouette .... wouldn't you know Isabella Blow's collection of chapeaus? 

...... anyway, we went on and on about who is recognizable and who isn't?  I say Janis Joplin's closet and silhouette are recognizable, my friend says not so much,..... that she is a music icon.. and her closet could belong to any flower child.  WHATEVAH!  LOL

Speaking of the great Janis Joplin, I haven't heard this cover of Lorraine Ellison's 'Stay With Me Baby' in forever. 
LOVE this version!

MRSmamaCASSELLIOTT

Philadelphia Designer's Market!

If you haven't "Liked" Philadelphia Designer's Market on Facebook or subscribed to their newsletter, you should do so ASAP.

You know I love all the big designers, but I REALLY love an Indie-Designer! So when I saw this invite.... I typed it into my calendar immediately and have been looking forward to it for weeks! ......should have posted a reminder for everyone else on the 17th... I promise, I'll make sure I post their Spring Market dates.


So... I was really in the mood for fashion, the night before I attended John Wind/Maximal Art's 25th Anniversary Bash at The Palm! 

Best Dressed

Ilene Griff (Graphic Designer) 

in Isabel Marant and Stella McCartney, John Wind Signature Necklace

Dina Wind (Artist, and Mother of John Wind)

in two classic John Wind Double brooch

 ..... after a whirlwind night of every neck, ear, and wrist being adorned with a John Wind bauble, I was prepped for more fashion and couldn't wait to see what the Philadelphia's Designer's Market had to offer.  And I wasn't disappointed ... I could hear the bustling shoppers and oohs and ahhs way before I started walking on the Market's yellow carpet (which was held at the Beautiful First Babtist Church on 17th Street.... took a moment to meditate inside the actual chapel... I highly recommend meditation, and I highly recommend a look at the beautiful architecture and history of the Church.

So... let's dive in!  There was an amazing energy inside the Market space.  Everyone was reaching and grabbing and trying things on.... and primping in mirrors... my kind of party.  Here are a few of my faves....

K. Louise Designs

Designer, Kelly Louise succeeds in designing jewelry that allows the wearer to become one with the elements.  She wants to show the balance and connection between all things. 

...Fell in love with her pocketwatches! 

Ohhhh and I ran into one of my new favorite designers Sultana Maria (met her at Eat your Art Out).  

Sultana Maria Jewelry makes the kind of jewelry that I'm so attracted to.... found objects, abstract, asymmetrical... Rocker Glam!  I bought a great pair of coin earrings... $20!

I Heart New Jersey

 Nesha Griffin is self taught and has a line called My Rever Jewelry Collection (site under construction) her inspiration is nature.... You can see more of Nesha's work, on An Dukes blog.  Bought a beautiful silver multi-chain necklace.... $35!  Yes! I bet you'll be shopping the Spring Philadelphia Designer's Market. *Wink*

Pic from An Dukes fabulous Blog

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special for the Style Shepherd followers:

Of course I bought something for you! My Rever Jewelry had a great pair of silver plated and brass earrings (3.5" Long 1" at its widest) that I think scream Style Shepherd.  Very simple rules, you must be a follower of The Style Shepherd, and follow Philadelphia Designer's Market on facebook.  Easy! Not so fast... you must also leave a link to your favorite indie designer. Good Luck!  You may comment as many times as you like but your comment must be made by December 26th 11:59 PM EST.  The winner will be chosen by random.org and announced on Monday December 27th.