time for a change...

dear lovely readers,

i've decided to make a change. a blog change. while the closet challenge was a major undertaking from which i learned a lot, i have decided to shift the focus of my blog, because i think the content of the closet challenge (one daily shot of, "oh hai, i wore this.") has reached critical mass for me.

i've decided to change to reflect my station in life.  most of what i do is styling for bands / artists. this is because my loves in the world, besides my kitty ;) , are fashion and music. i am a lousy musician. but i figured out a long time ago that while i can't make music, i can make people who do look the way their music sounds- with fashion. and i am in the midst of a career built on this fact.

for the record, things to know that i learned from the closet challenge...
-i made it 154 days. i bet you can go farther than you think, too.
-if you don't wear something at least every 6 months, get rid of it. or make it into something you will wear.
-shop in your closet. there are things you love you've forgotten.
-we all get in fashion ruts. remember that when you got something in your closet, you loved it! try things new ways with new accessories, and you will surprise yourself. i sure did!

so, from now on, besides my general critique and commentary on the fashion goings on of the world, i will be posting about music and dress, what i hear, and why i style my clients or myself based on it. i'm also going to post videos or MP3s of the music to share with you- because i don't work for anyone i don't support, and have worked with some killer acts. i think you'll dig it. i hope so.

stick around and see what's next.

lots of love,

mode.

yikes!

sorry for the Dreadful delay in postings, lovelies! things are nuts around here and i have many travels (KY, Boston, and AL) going on.

things calm a bit next week and you can expect more updates, as well as news about the film festival.

and here is what i wore on christmas! lovely vintage dress that i adore.

and the jacket matches and is removable, y'all!

also, i'm almost up to 100 followers- wow! soon as i get there (which i hope i will) i'm going to have my first giveaway! woo!!

hope everyone is well!!

<3 mode.

captain america & the nashville film festival

save the day!

very exciting news!
most of you probably recall the intro to this story, but i'll give you the short version just in case...

i have several times had the pleasure of working with the amazing photographer/ cinematographer/ director Chad McClarnon and filmaker/ writer/ painter motke dapp. the two of them were working on a short film called The Once Mighty and at the last minute, requested a full on Captain America costume from me. in a pinch. i had only six days to construct it- including buying fabric- from scratch. i mean the tights, shorts, shirt (which is a torso piece, two sleeves, stomach piece, and star) a hood/mask (with A and wings), gloves, and boots.

think, pooh bear... midconstruction

the fabric had to be dyed, and my first try failed. on top of that, the film was being shot out of town, so i never actually measured the actor. this is always an issue, because if you tell me your waist is a 32 but you wear a 36/36 pant, something is Wrong. i usually insist on measuring myself, but i took on this challenge, partially due to a bribe of an OG lite brite from Chad. i think i made the best costume i could considering the constraints and was proud that i made it in time. i posted a picture of the costume here.

here's the trailer for the film... the costume you see there is not the one i made.

fast forward to this week- the nashville film festival will be showing The Once Mighty !! i'm so thrilled and honored to be a part of it, though my contribution was small and fast. motke and Chad are so talented, i'm absolutely beaming for them. Green Hills Cinema at 10am on Sunday April 17th! be there if you're in town- i know i will be!

yay!

closet challenge!!

i am slammed at work this week, but wanted to at least post one outfit from the closet challenge.

day 90

i love love love this outfit. (i was up super early in these pictures, you can tell how tired i was)

this is a le chateau jacket, white/black market pants, black undershirt and grey booties. i love the coloring of the jacket (it's a plaid, but it's grey, white, and charcoal) and almost fell out when i saw these shoes. you can't see the shoes too well in these pictures, so here they are.

 they are to die for Pour La Victoire gray booties. had to have them.

off to work...

hope everyone's week is going well so far!

Grammie's hats!!

this post was meant to go up earlier, but i suffered a nasty fall this weekend. i was walking to a show and slipped on the wet street, and fell on both knees, rolled my ankle and scraped myself up pretty badly. ouch! for the record, i was wearing flats (!!) and am firmly convinced that i would not have fallen if i'd been wearing my highest heels. 

anyhoo... my Grammie's hats!

i went to see my grandmother and she gave me these lovely hats and scarves! they all belonged to my great-grandmother (Grammie) and i love them! 

here's a picture of her, her name was Elizabeth Parrish, she is second from the left, standing next to her father, my great-great-grandfather, and her brothers and sisters.

she was born in 1901 and died in 1994. judging by the outfits and the relative ages, i think this picture was taken around 1945- the men's trousers and ties are on the wider side, ties and pant legs got thinner after WWII ended. so Grammie is around 44 here- and she loved hats! i can't wait to figure out what to wear with them... especially the white pill box one. it looks like a Jackie O cake!

these are real deal vintage, and are staying in the family, which makes me happy. yay!

and back to the closet challenge..

day 88

black and white stripedy Tim Burton wedges (love love love these), black slacks and tee, silver earrings, and this beloved white jacket with a poem on it.

it's a Mizrahi jacket and my friend Jessie added the writing. i got it from her at a yard sale she and her husband had (i can't Believe she parted with it!)  i've never actually read the whole thing, i'm embarrassed to admit, but it's true! i get a lot of questions about this whenever i wear it, it's just such a great unique piece.

day 89

night out with friends! i wore these black slacks and this black camisole with a grey rhinestone studded Calvin Klein sweater and black boots for a drink with friends at a local jazz club. i love the shape of this sweater and the 3/4 sleeves.

happy monday everyone!

xoxox

<3 mode.

fashion catch up

don't call it a comeback...

Captain America (i made this costume for him!)

i know i have been remiss in my posts, dear readers! things have been so, so busy. just had some dear friends get married, tons to do at work, and working on a video shoot. phew!

first and foremost, please check out http://crimsonrosella-kirstin.blogspot.com who has been so sweet to include yours truly in her self portrait sunday feature today! she has fantastic style, so be sure to look at her blog, and you can also follower her on twitter.

the Captain America picture is just for funsies :) back to the closet challenge!!

day 85

thanksgiving 1- i wore this to dinner with our Real Talk family (read- close friends who know how to throw down), which includes one of my favorite necklaces (which i made!)

day 86
Thanksgiving day proper. all you need to know is that i wore this t shirt

and these slippers

all day long.

day 87

dinner out, to cap off the week of gluttony that is thanksgiving.

black sheath and flats with Neiman's enormous turquoise necklace.

that sucker is one piece. and Heavy. i normally do not care for gold, but i love this. plus it was a gift!

i hope everyone is doing well... i promise to be better about posts now that things have calmed down a tad- at least a post a week! and more time to follow up with those of you who also have blogs :)

meantime, drop me a line on facebook or twitter and say hi!

spring is almost here, hope you are smiling...

xoxox

 <3mode.

valentine's question...

i hope everyone had a lovely <3 day. Bunny and i did!

i'm often asked about the poem on the wall behind most of my self portraits. here it is (day 84) partially cut out of the picture and obscured by my elbow, as usual.

black tie back peasant dress, acrylic ice necklace (xmas gift), and black booties with unicorn slides. plum Cynthia Rowley tights i absolutely adore.

well, for valentine's day, here is your present, lovely readers. the poem from the wall. i wrote it, a long time ago. i hope you enjoy.

((when i am reborn
i hope only that god will grant me
the memory of your face))


realize everything but heavenly peace
your hands like glass,
your face ice stained,
here. and here.
and here.
you said love was like a cloud
a storm one, at best
that never stays about for long
and it stings like thorn


rise up singing,
i will bathe in your water when it runs
and steady the shake.


when i die
my face will soften
my breath will rest beyond steady
as god lets my body, too, be


when i am forgotten
i will gain a path
that memory never had
the power to hold
though i’ve lost my hands


when i am reborn
i hope only that god will grant me
the memory of your face

my yummy valentine