my new favorite dress shape

left to right: mr. larkin pleat dress from beklina, zero + maria cornejo goa tank dress from totokaelo, and henrik vibskov stegasaurus dress from creatures of comfort.

perfect simple spring outfits

photos from Maryam Nassir Zadeh

I'm in love with these spring looks from Maryam Nassir Zadeh.  Easy and elegant with no fuss.  I'm so ready to stop wearing jeans after seeing these outfits.  I can't believe I still haven't been to this store.  It looks amazing!

woven tee

I bought this gorgeous fabric from a Japanese website several months ago with the intention of using it for my spring collection.  I made some tops with the material, but unfortunately they didn't end up fitting in with the rest of the collection as it developed.  So I'm offering them here at a reduced price before my collection comes out.  The top is shaped like a t-shirt, loose and comfortable, with a pocket at the chest.  It's so simple and easy to wear.

speaking of beach photo shoots

I really like these shots by Meg Urbani.

a little spring inspiration for your day

top to bottom: "0184", "each new day" (lieke roomijs' whole photostream is gorgeous), an abandoned building at floyd bennett field, and jacob riis park

So, I didn't have my photo shoot yet.  It turns out that the photographer I'm working with had to go to Spain at the last minute for another shoot.  (What a life, huh?)  Although I did get to meet with him and the model last night when his flight got in.  We did a fitting and discussed ideas for the shoot, and now we're aiming to do it next weekend.  It's supposed to rain, but I really need the weather to be nice!  Dominic wants to shoot at the beach maybe, so last night I researched some New York beaches and came up with these photos for inspiration.  I'm all for going to the beach and breaking into abandoned buildings.

I'm so frustrated that I haven't been able to blog more lately.  For the last week my internet connection has only been working about 15% of the time.

best friends make the best clothes

photos by Elly Fales

You may have already seen this, but that won't stop me from blogging about it.  Elly's Green Olives Design Spring 2010 collection is so super cute!  I love the rope drawstring hems.  It's all very classic and very fun.  No word yet on when the pieces will be for sale (since Elly is building up her inventory), but I know it will be soon.

Speaking of Elly, she and I will have some exciting news to share soon about something we're doing together this fall.  Stay tuned...

Edit: The collection will be available tonight (Friday, April 16) here.

get ready for something super sappy

Back when my grammy Ruth Wiksten moved into the nursing home, I was the one who got to take home all of her boxes and boxes of sewing supplies, knitting needles, fabrics, etc.  (I will probably never have to buy another sewing needle as long as I live!)  Sifting through her collection of things and discovering remnants of past projects was inspiring.  Her impeccable taste, creative drive, and hard work was evident.  Initially it made me sad that she would never need any of those supplies ever again, but now I see it a different way.  I'm so lucky because not only am I the recipient of her boxes of supplies, but I'm also the recipient of her knowledge and passion for sewing and creating.  She shared by spending afternoons teaching me and guiding me through projects with a loving heart.  Although her passion for sewing is no longer a part of her life, she made it a part of mine, so it's not like it's really gone.  It's just been transferred.  How cool is that?

The other day I was searching for more pins for draping, and I opened one of Grammy's boxes of fabrics (pictured above).  I was immediately hit with the scent of her home.  I'd had that box for over a year, and all of the fabrics still smelled exactly like Grammy's house!  My immediate reaction was to start crying as the memories consumed me.  I really miss our time together.  I don't know when I'll see her next, but I think of her often.  I even have a picture of her in my wallet, ha!  It looks like a small school photo, and it was taken a few years ago for her church directory.  If my scanner was working I'd show it to you.  But this one is nice too--shows off that twinkle in her eye.

marais usa spring collection is here!

photos from Marais USA

I love the photos from the Marais USA spring collection!  How cute are these girls?  They look like they're having fun.  Catherine Chen and Haley Boyd's company is based out of Brooklyn, and it's always my first choice to buy from local designers that I believe in.  My Marais Chelsea boots are my favorite pair of shoes, and I already know which ones I want from the spring collection: the Criss Cross sandal in silver and the Oxford in white.  Hmmm, I don't know, the sneakers are pretty darn cute too.

may tova class

I'm teaching another Tova top/dress class in May.  Here are the details.  Email info[at]lenacorwin.com to sign up.

la casita de wendy spring 2010

Here.  Hmm, wish I could read Spanish.

nightgown weather

Yesterday it was 89 degrees.  Yeah, in April.  I really didn't think nightgown weather would come so soon this year.  Boy was I excited to get my stack of whisper-thin nightgowns out of storage and wear one for the first time last night.  These are my three favorites, and they've all been in my closet for many years and hold special memories. 

My mom bought the white one for me at Victoria's Secret when I was a teenager.  I grew up in Kansas, and Victoria's Secret seemed so grown up and sophisticated to me at the time.  However, this particular nightgown possessed puritanical proportions, meaning it came all the way down to my ankles and had long sleeves.  I took my scissors to it in an act of rebellion that to this day still makes me feel proud of myself.

The sheer off-white nightgown also came from my mother, bought for me at Anthropologie as a gift for my honeymoon four years ago.  It's such a beautiful nightgown that it makes me feel pretty every time I wear it.

The one with blue flowers is the most special of all.  This is the first garment that I ever made completely by myself.  Instead of going off somewhere fun for spring break as a teen, I stayed home, determined to complete my first solo project.  The sewing is kind of a mess, but the gown has held together well over the years despite how much I wear it.  It's been with me through so many things, and I like to wear it when I'm sick in bed because it brings me comfort.

I got an excellent night's sleep last night, wearing my floral gown, and today I woke up to find that the tree in my backyard had bloomed with hundreds of tiny pink flowers.  Spring.

Edit: If you're interested in sewing one like I made, here's a link to the pattern.  I have no idea what size I made, since that was over ten years ago.  I think it's cool that the company still sells that same pattern.  I need to make more of these for myself.  I also like this style and this one too.  That last pattern even includes a pillowcase with a handle on it!  You know, for like taking to slumber parties and stuff.  Haha, so weird.

flora douville

photos/prints by Flora Douville

Today I stumbled upon the blog of Flora Douville, a French illustrator and artist.  Her photography is stunning, and her prints are beyond charming.  All I can say is WOW.  Love at first click.

erica tanov spring 2010

photos by erica shires, from www.ericatanov.com

As my own spring photo shoot for Wiksten swiftly approaches, I'm finding myself so inspired by these images from Erica Tanov's Spring 2010 collection.  Casual, effortless, and perfectly evocative of spring.  Isn't the blue and white dress just lovely?  And the model's short haircut and colorful socks are particularly charming.  The whole thing seems real--not overly produced, but just a girl enjoying a lazy spring afternoon.  I like it.

Lately I've been busy preparing for my first full collection in over a year.  The transitions and ups and downs of the past year have prevented me from getting one together, and I've really missed one of my favorite things--collaborating with a team on a photo shoot.  Creating a visual story with a group of people working together can be a very satisfying thing.  I'm really looking forward to it (two weeks from now), and I'm kinda nervous too.

mociun s/s 2010 review

 The new Mociun stuff is now available in the online store!  Plus, last fall's styles are now 70% off.  I'm very excited about everything I bought from Caitlin.  Luckily I got to try it all on in person, but here's a review for those of you who are shopping online.  

First and second row: Circle Blouse in Pinwheel print (size M, runs true to size), layered over Tank Top in Black and White Argan print (size M, runs true to size).  Wow, this top is so lovely.  Check out the sleeve detail!

Third row: Plaid Spacesuit from last fall, 70% off.  It's best to size down on this one.  I got a size S.

Fourth row: Crew-neck Triangle Circle Square Tee in black and white (size M, runs true to size) and linen drop crotch pants in size L (way too big for me, as you can see, but I'm going to take them in at the sides).   I live in Mociun tees.  They're the softest, best fitting, best quality t-shirts I own.

I'm not terribly skinny, and yet I find that all the Mociun stuff I buy is very flattering to my figure.  Most of the pieces really do work on a variety of body types, not just on skinny models.  And another thing I love about Mociun is that it's gotten me to be more adventurous in how I dress.  I would have never, ever, ever worn a jumpsuit until I tried on this one!

Even though there's so much great stuff out there this spring, these are actually the only pieces I'm buying for the season.  Period.  I'm trying to be responsible with my money (credit card debt, cough cough), but that doesn't keep me from looking and enjoying.  I feel really good about these purchases, however, because I'm putting my money into a company that I believe in.  Sustainable fabrics, sewn in the U.S., lasting quality?  What's not to feel good about?

sewing class

My March sewing class came to an end this week, so I thought I'd share some photos.  I had such a great time teaching this group of talented and adorable ladies.  I'm so darn proud of them.  Check out the matching plaids on Rachael's seams!  Woohoo!  Can't wait to teach another Tova top/dress class in May.  (P.S. Lena took some of these photos.)

Edit:  Whitney of Darling Dexter (a blog I've always been a fan of) took my class and posted a photo of her finished top here.