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 -- A Red Handbag

Things have been pretty hectic around the Blackbird World Headquarters lately.  As you learned in the Junk Love post for this week, the other Blackbird deserted me to travel across the ocean and have all kinds of adventures in Ireland.  It was a really boring, long, sad two weeks while she was gone, but I was productive!  Well, I was for the first week.  The second week -- not so much.  All I can say is that I am thankful for my Netflix subscription, and I now have a new appreciation for Gossip Girl. 

(In my defense, I had to watch something.  I tried Antiques Roadshow, but believe me, that just made it worse.)

But since she got back home, we have been junk shopping like mad.  (Boy, have we been finding some really good stuff!)  I've been listing our new finds left and right in the Etsy shop.  We're both getting ready to start teaching again -- she's really the teacher, I just have one class.  And the blog has been suffering.  You know, for example, a Radar post on Friday...

Anyway, in the middle of all this, we sold this bag on Etsy:

It's a super sweet frame handbag by Dover, and it has a lovely new home in Texas.  However, while I was bringing this bag from our storage studio to the house, I got several offers from people wanting to purchase it.  When I told them it was sold, they asked, "Do you have any more?"

Oooooookaaaaayyyyy....What's that about?  And then I checked the stats on Etsy.  This bag's views spiked last Saturday.  A major spike.

And then I remembered what one lady who wanted to buy this bag said -- she said, "I'm all about a red bag right now."  So I looked it up, and lo and behold!  EVERYBODY'S about a red bag this fall!

I feel like I am so behind the curve!  But maybe it's because I'm ALWAYS about a red bag.  Red is my favorite color, and if given the choice, I will always pick it.

So here's my roundup of designer bags to drool over.  Look at these, and then just go to Etsy or your local antique store and buy a vintage one.  I mean, ours was only $18.  That's a steal!

Roberto Cavalli, Fall 2013

Marchesa clutches, Fall 2013

Dolce and Gabbana, Fall 2013

All Valentino, Fall 2013

Alexander McQueen, Fall 2013

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 -- Summer Lace

Dolce & Gabbana Fall/Winter 2013

The dress to have this summer is a LWLD, or a little white lace dress. We know, we know.  We posted about lace trends last fall.  But it's still happening, people!  When you've got Valentino, D&G, and Stella McCartney (just to name a few) making LWLDs, well, they're still the thing.

Isla Fisher wore this D&G eyelet lace dress to Cannes just a few days ago.

I don't really care for it, but here's Stella's version of the LWLD, just to make my point:

And here's Valentino's LWLDs, which I like much better:

French Connection's got one, too:

And here's my favorite vintage picks, from Etsy.  These are a tiny fraction of the price of the previous ones, and have soooooooooooo much more personality, IMHO:

From Stardust Vintage on Etsy, here.

From Jackie and Audrey on Etsy, here.

On the Radar -- Spring Scarves

Dolce & Gabbana, Spring 2013

If there is one accessory we Blackbird girls can't live without, it's a scarf.  Of course, as you lovely readers know, I collect scarves designed by Vera Neumann.  But you may not know that the other Blackbird collects all different kinds of scarves -- and she specializes in red, white, and blue ones.  We also always have lots on hand in the Etsy shop and in our boutique in Brightside Gallery.  They are very affordable, fun, and easy to wear, and they can really change an outfit.  Plus, they make for a great collection -- I use my Veras as a changeable wall display in my bedroom by using two small decorative towel bars from Ikea, and the other Blackbird has a multi-hook rack on her wall piled up with all of her red/white/blue scarves. We love to see the different patterns and prints!

So imagine how excited we were to see all the scarves popping up on the runways!  Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY, and Marc Jacobs all used scarves to accent their collections, and brands that always have lots of scarves in their lines, like Hermes and Burberry, added even more options. 

D&G, Spring 2013

Hermes scarf

Hermes, Spring 2013

Marc Jacobs, Spring 2013

Recreating this designer look is easy -- we have tons of scarves in our Etsy shop and our boutique, starting at $3. Like this 1970s giraffe design for $6:

Available here.

And if you want a real designer scarf, you can still go vintage for much less than new!  Like this vintage red and white silk Diane Von Furstenberg scarf, also in our Etsy shop!

Available here.

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!