Vera Vault -- Stripe it up!

I'm slowly getting through photographing my collection of Vera scarves.  There are two things that hinder me from working through them faster.  1 -- I am working on our business -- photographing all the goodies for our Etsy shop and our website, and 2 -- I keep getting more scarves!  The first is unavoidable, and the second is, well, never going to stop!  So enjoy these stripes from my last batch photographed.  

On the Radar -- Ahoy!

Aye, aye, Gene!

There are certain common themes we Blackbird girls are always drawn to -- and nautical is one of those.  Maybe it's because Gene Kelly just looked so gosh darn sexy as a sailor, or maybe we just love the classic color combo.  Whatever it is, if we see a sailboat, or a whale, or a stripe, or a polka dot, we're probably going to buy it.

However, from Michael Kors to Lacoste to Coach, this spring everyone else has jumped on the nautical bandwagon, keeping American sportswear very classic. Designers have flocked to the traditional red/white/navy, with accents of yellow or black.  Stripes, anchors, whales, and sailboats abound.  Rope and boat hardware also make appearances.

So, here's a round-up of some of my favorite finds -- maybe you'll find something you just have to have!

Lacoste, Pre-Fall 2013

Michael Kors, Spring 2013

Coach, Spring 2013

Land of Nod

From Cathy Davey on Etsy, available here.

From our shop!  Available here.

Vintage YSL cotton scarf, also from our shop.  Available here.

On the Radar -- Painted Schmainted

The Blackbird girls will paint anything that stands still long enough.  1970s plastic sconces.  Old (ugly) brooches.  Lamps.  Bubble wrap.  Even furniture -- unless the wood is good wood.  Then it's a no-go.  And, yes, somehow, painted furniture is (still) "in" fashion.  But...

Blah, blah, blah.  Painted furniture.  Been there, done that.  BO-RING!

We DEMAND a change.  Shake it up, people!  Welcome pattern and texture and color into your life!  We're presenting these options to you, our readers, today, to inspire you to paint greatness.  Step away from the white paint and sandpaper.  Realize that "Shabby Chic" starts with shabby.  Dive into the paint chips and pick something other than a neutral.  Or a pastel.  Try red or royal blue or canary yellow or kelly green or tangerine or ALL OF THEM AT THE SAME TIME!  Invest in a stencil (or make a stencil).  Buy some painter's tape.  Rub your little creative brain cells together!

Just remember two things -- 

First, pattern:

Chevron

Stripes

Everything!!

Try just accenting the legs with pattern...

 Second, color:

Not so traditional anymore, eh?

NEON!

Just bright tops, hmmm...

Now, put it together and paint EVERYTHING!!

Trunk, headboard, baskets, dresser, frames, vase, keys in the artwork...it's all painted!

On the Radar -- Walk the Line

Dolce & Gabbana, Spring 2013

Continuing on in our look towards spring, the Spring 2013 runways were covered with stripes -- from Marc Jacobs to Michael Kors to Dolce & Gabbana.  Since stripes are one of those classic elements that never really seems to go away, I thought I'd just give a glimpse at how they have been reinterpreted.

They can be bold and graphic:

Marc Jacobs Spring 2013

Diagonal and bright:

Issey Miyake Spring 2013 from WWD

Sheer and Gauzy:

Dior Spring 2013

Summery and classic:

D&G Spring 2013

Try vintage to get your fix, like this bracelet from Jennie's Junque on Etsy:

Or this 1970s shirt from our shop!