So Let's Meet Some of the Local Color

So as much as I enjoy big corporation shopping just as much as the next person, my parents have always taught me it is better to help the small business.

Since my parents own a small company they have brain washed me into always helping the underdog out. Recently I have become interested in small local artists who do really interesting and cool work.

I recently learned about a young woman who was in my circle of friends who I had never met personally but who did really intriguing work. Her name is Jessy Cashin-forrester and she is a wild gal with excellent style. I emailed her and let her know I would love to purchase something of hers.

She got back to me immediately and eagerly and wanted to get together to find out more about my personality to mold the piece to me. I told her I wanted lace and bones and that was all I cared about.

A few days later she presented me with a necklace she had made especially for me. I loved it. She is charging me $35 for it. I haven’t paid her yet because I am a little short on cash and she is completely relaxed about it and trusts I will get it too her when I have the money. Now I am sure you cant get that kind of service from American Apparel.

Here is some of her other work that I could find pictures of.

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Next on my list of local artists is a girl named Genevieve Hildbrand-Chupp. She painted these shoes for our mutual friend Lauren.

She will charge me around $30 and I have to provide her with white canvas shoes. I am so excited to have her paint them. Laurens turned out so wild and unique.

If any one knows people who do really riveting work like these two women you should let me know. I am always on the look out for new items to incorporate.

-Katy

Fashion Will Save Lives

Have you ever experienced the feeling of falling in love with fashion for the first time? I have. I remember the first real 1960’s dress I bought.

After that, I was hooked. When I was younger I loved fashion and wanted to experiment but I had a weight problem. I wore uniforms in middle school and too stand out I would role up my Lands’ end khakis and put the most outrageous socks on, but that was about it.

I felt as if I didn’t do the clothes justice. I would drool over magazines and wish to be expressive through clothes. I thought I would never be able too and would just be mocked if I tried.

One day I was walking in San Francisco with my dad and walked by this cute little hole in the wall vintage store. Walking in I fell in love. I ran my fingers over all the different silk and polyester. My eyes widened at the site of the vibrant greens, pinks and oranges.

That was when I made the decisions to stop caring if people thought I was too chunky to dress up. I got home and went onto the Internet and found my first metallic 60’s A-line dress. Once I started caring about what I wore, the pounds started to melt off. I needed fashion to feel more confident in order to realize I deserved to be healthy.

Fashion is not only fun, it saved me from diabetes, high blood pressure and heart attacks.

Here is a picture of me when I first got my dress sophomore year. Fantastic dress and pair of go go boots if I do say so myself.

This is me now wearing a pink early 60’s baby doll dress that I got from that store in downtown Palo Alto, Empire Vintage.

This may seem dramatic to some of you, but I feel it did sort of save my life.

Fashion can get you out of your shell.

Well there’s a deeper blog for you.

Until next time fellow bloggers!

-Katy

Please Wedge My Heart Even Deeper Into Those Shoes

So as most of you know lately I have been completely gaga over wedges.

I just cannot get enough of this style of heel. I personally feel they give the same effect as heels with more comfort. They make your legs and butt look great! They make you taller with better posture and they are totally adorable! (In my opinion at least, what do you think?)

They are more comfortable because it is more of just an elevation and less of such a harsh sharp angle that you would get with stilettos. In a previous post I talked about my new longing for Jeffrey Campbell wedges and how I must have them on my shelf, well all my dreams have finally come true.

I couldn’t find the zebra print ANYWHERE in my size, but I found the snake print at the Villains shoe store on Haight street and had to get them of course. My wonderful father bought me the black ones (which are great for work!) because of my good grade in English. I have to say, they are ridiculously comfortable for a heel.

I have been wearing them basically every day and I haven’t gotten a blister yet. Also I can wear them for at least 6-7 hours before my feet start feeling sore. If you are going too make a heel purchase soon, I would strongly recommend the wedge.

I hope you girlies out there (some boys too, if you are daring enough!) give them a shot.

I am pretty sure you wont regret it in the end.

-Katy