On the Radar -- Have a Heart

Since Valentine's Day is right around the corner, today's post is a roundup of hearts.  The other Blackbird's birthday is on the 14th, so hearts are a classic little motif that always draw us in.  I also blame growing up in the 80s -- who didn't have a Care Bear back then?  Or a knit outfit with matching stirrup pants with a heart design?  Well, maybe that last one's just us, but I bet you did have stirrup pants! (And you love hearts.  Admit it.)

So here's a list of love-ly fashions that are as stylish as they are sweet.  It's a full-on mix of high cost and low cost, new and vintage.  XOXO

Je T'aime sweater from C Wonder, here.

Moschino Cheap & Chic dress, here.

Jeremy Scott JS Heart Sunglasses, here.

Vintage shoes from Tigerlily Frocks on Etsy, here.

Vintage bangle from Pop That Cassette on Etsy, here.

Hearts skater dress, here.

Silver heart link bracelet from our shop on Etsy, here.

White Heart cutout dress from ustrendy, here.

90s Betsey Johnson shirt from Clothes Party on Etsy, here.

Vintage Straw Courreges handbag from ShopSecretStyleEtsy, here.

Stella McCartney heart print dress, here.

On the Radar -- Botanica Mania

Traditional botanical illustrations are a classic.  And we can appreciate a classic.  However...what we really love is when classic becomes modern, especially by presenting the classics in a new or unexpected way.  The Blackbird girls love fun design, and the best new take on classic botanicals is to make it fun, whether by color, context, or through surprise.

The first example we fell in love with is some of the newer pieces from our favorite potter, Leanne Pizio.  We talked about her sgraffito pottery in this Junk Love post.  We don't own a piece like this -- yet -- but don't worry, we will. We love the color, and we also dig the playfulness of the hand carving -- it's not traditional, by any means.  It feels modern.

The we started seeing vintage botanical pull down charts in Country Living and Martha Stewart.  We love pull down charts, but we're more fans of the map and medical variety.  Educational tools as art is always modern, and we had never really though of charts with flora --

from The Impatient Gardener, here.

From Bonnie and Bell on Etsy, here.

They are dynamic, but pull down charts are expensive.  You can get the same feel with a vintage or reproduction print.  This example has great colors, and it's under $10!  Plus, I also liked how this print was displayed on a vintage clipboard -- it's quirky, and you could easily change it out with the seasons or with your mood.  Imagine a whole line of them along your wall:

From BonnBonn on Etsy, here.

This is more traditional, but I think the large scale and bright colors of this one makes it fresh:

From here.

And what about using color photocopies of prints as wallpaper?  This is stunning!

 

And if you want to wear your botanical print, check out these vintage goodies:

From Crush Vintage on Etsy, here.

From wildfellhallvintage on Etsy, here.

Or carry a 1970s botanical needlepoint handbag, available from our shop, here!

On the Radar -- Rattle the Cage

So, this trend post was originally influenced by the Alexander McQueen Fall/Winter 2013 collection.  I know.  You're shocked.  Moi? Inspired by McQueen?  No!  I promise you, we're not really always that predictable.  Just when it comes to McQueen.

Anyway, we saw this and thought, hmm...cages...

And then we saw this, and we couldn't think for a while...

Sigh.  We just love McQueen.

But when I could get my brain going again, I noticed other people were on the cage train.  Like Dolce and Gabbana:

And Valentino:

And Sergio Rossi:

And Anndra Neen:

And Calvin Klein:

And this by Cecilia Valentine:

On the Radar -- The Prints Make the Man

Louis Vuitton Fall/Winter 2013

OK, so it's a raining and dark outside, and I'm a day late on writing the blog.  I'd like to say that today's On the Radar post is not just an excuse to look at male models, but to be honest, it partly is.  I'm a little bit sleepy, a lot cozy in my bathrobe, and screw it, I just want to look at hot guys.

But there really is a trend here.  All the major designers seem to be embracing color and pattern in a big way, and these prints that they are coming up with are cray-cray.  I don't know any men personally that would wear these clothes, but they are fun to look at.  And well, so are the models.

Enjoy the round-up, because just for you, dear readers, I've slaved away looking at tons of pictures to find you my faves.  (It's such hard work, but alas, I must do it.)

Moschino, Fall/Winter 2013

Prada, Spring 2014

Dolce & Gabbana, Spring 2013

Givenchy, Spring 2014

Dolce & Gabbana, Fall/Winter 2013

Alexander McQueen, Fall/Winter 2013

Oh, and you're welcome for this one.  It's so very on trend...

Dolce & Gabbana, Spring 2014

On the Radar -- Brass Off

Elle Decor

I can't stand brass.  Well, I can't stand that super shiny, super yellow-y gold brass that's cheaply made.  It's just gross and fake and really, really tacky.  And I used to hold it against all brass that it had that tacky, low-class cousin. 

But as I've fallen deeper into my love affair with junk, I have developed a deep and abiding passion for old, worn, patina-ed brass.  Brass that is heavy and smooth.  Brass that has been transformed by years of wear and love.

And by worn I don't mean pits and spots and rust like that cheap brass gets.  What I'm talking about is PATINA.  Serious patina.

This kind of patina:

Penn Station, NYC

We've noticed the brass sales rising at the antique mall, and several magazines have talked about the re-emerging trend.  But let me get to the point.  When I saw that brass is back, I just wanted to lay it down for all our readers.   

Not all brass is good brass.

Here's a quick guide to some brass we love.  Of course, buy what you love.  All I can ask is that you look at the dull, sweet shine of this brass and think before you buy the cheap stuff.

From here.

From Jonathan Adler, here.

Mid Century Chair, here.

Vintage doorknob, from Counter Clock Wise Antiques, here.

Vintage Brass Numbers, from Vintage Spectacles, here.

On the Radar -- Falling for Olive

So we've all heard by now that emerald green is the color of the year.  But -- did you know that olive green is the color of the fall?  

Neither did I.  Until I started looking at the fall collections.

 

It's everywhere.  Every designer seems to have at least a few accents of olive, if not a whole collection of it.  Poor emerald green.

Phillip Lim 3.1, Pre-Fall 2013

Brian Atwood DEA boot, Pre-Fall 2013

Ted Rossi Tribeca Clutch, Fall 2013

Pamella Roland, Fall 2013

And, hell, look at this Gucci lineup!  It's all olive green!

I feel bad for you, emerald green.  Here you thought it was your time to shine, and your dull cousin olive has stolen the spotlight.  Granted, he was in Pantone's color trend list, too, so we shouldn't be all that surprised.  I mean, they called him lichen green, but it's really just old olive with a fancy name.

Maybe next time, emerald.  Just let olive have the glory for now...

Our addition to the lineup, this vintage velvet jacket, available here.