The Swelle Life

Finally, Your Calves Won't Be Bulging Out of These High Boots

 

I recently bought an awesome pair of Paul Smith Kings boots and I adore them. Just one problem - I have a knee injury and my left leg has been compensating for the right for over a year, and thanks to that my left calf looks twice the size of the right. And the boots have a heavy-duty zipper all the way up the back. I can get the right boot on just fine, it fits with a bit of room to spare. However, when I try to get the zipper up past the thickest part of my left calf it becomes all stuck and throbbing and resembles Ben Stiller's junk-caught-in-zipper scene from There's Something About Mary. Not sexy.

While I would not trade these boots for another (I assume post-surgery my 'enhanced' leg will deflate somewhat), I would certainly welcome some long-overdue innovation in the form of adjustability with tall boots. I've never considered myself heavy in the calf department, yet about half the tall boots I've tried in the last 10 years have been mighty tough to wear comfortably. How all those women were able to tuck their jeans in them in 2004 is beyond me.

Now, about that long-awaited innovation - it's here, courtesy of Tom's. (I'm sure it's been done before, the underlying aesthetic reminds me of early Vivienne Westwood but I haven't seen anything so practical until now). They've come up with a cure for throbbing calf in the form of their Wrap Boot - a slipper-like shoe with an attached elastic wrap that extends from the ankle and closes with Velcro, when YOU decide it fits properly! Genius. If I was more of a DIYer I'd have tried my own version already with a pair of my shoes (in moments of exasperation I've been tempted but it never got past the 'light bulb' stage).

Worth a try for $118? For sure. (If you've got the cash for your rent/mortage/car payment covered first!)

Leanimal Untamed on Project Runway

   

(Sorry, Leanne - sometimes headlines are a bit of a challenge.)

Leanne Marshall is one of my favourite designers and I'm thrilled to have found out that she's on Project Runway 5! Actually, she's my #1 favourite of the accessible designers, meaning those who make amazing clothes that we can afford without starving or selling off the family jewels (I'm speaking literally, not figurately, but you can earn your money however you like). For her Leanimal line she mainly designs dresses and coats (do we really need anything else?) that upon first glance have you mentally calculating your savings and clearing space in your wardrobe, thanks to her unique brand of structural and femine detail. 'Cute' doesn't cut it; Leanne's expert ways with tucks and pleats and an instinctive non-traditional approach to mixing fabrics and textures result in a truly original garment. Which is why those who know her covet her extraordinary and beautiful designs.

However, time may be ticking on the bargain prices now that she's been chosen to be one of the 16 (now 13, well done!)talented designers to battle it out before the delightfully snotty Michael Kors, the intensely alert Heidi Klum (those eyes scream 'caffeine!'), and that woman Nina Garcia. And how much do you love 'make it work' Tim Gunn? ProjectRunway.com is auctioning the dress Leanne made in episode 3 (see right) and as of today it's leading the bids of the others by miles. This dress looks so 'Leanimal' yet I haven't seen it before. I really look forward to what brilliant pieces will come from her in future episodes.

I am lucky enough to say that Leanne is designing a custom dress for me once the show is finished and I can't wait to show it here. And she still designs and makes every piece herself. How insanely busy must she be? What a woman. And, she has one dress left in her Etsy shop, a truly special, one-of-a-kind piece that is so artfully crafted that it was displayed in the Contemporary Museum of Craft in Portland. Oregan, where she is currently based.

Project Runway 5 is running on Bravo in the US but I have no idea when Canada is getting it and who is running it (no info on Bravo.ca or google. Hmph!) You can see the first two episodes on YouTube right now, hopefully #3 will be posted soon.

Here are some gorgeous pieces from Leanne's Spring 08 and upcoming Fall collections:

 

 

A Secret Just Between Me and You: Where to Find Noa Noa Cheap

Yes, you will be all smiles as well when you see all the wonderful clothes and accessories by Noa Noa at up to half off the retail price.

In my quest to get my hands on more of the brand's irresistably feminine pieces inspired by styles of the 1920s and 30s (the boutique near me had sold out, and I know what you're thinking - it wasn't due to me buying it all up!), I found a shop on Ebay that sells everything from underwear to shoes to dresses to beaded sequin collars (one of my fabulous finds which I'll be showing here soon).

And there's also Noa Noa Mini, for the impossibly stylish little girl who still looks like a little girl should (LOVE that about them).

I can vouch for the shop, everything is brand new with tags (including extra beads, buttons, etc.) and comes nicely packaged in Noa Noa paper and/or bags. My guess is the seller has some association with one of their retail stores and this is overstock.

Best of all, all items are 'Buy It Now' with many discounted by 50% and everything is at least a third off, and in season. Items are shown styled with Noa Noa accessories to show you how wonderful they can look styled and also without, so there's no illusion about what it is you're getting. And they do ship overseas if you use PayPal.

Okay, I've made you wait long enough, I'll get on with it now - the shop is flickster13. What are you waiting for? Oh wait, just one sec so you can see the most delicious little coat I bought my daughter (accordian not included):

Don't forget to share your fab finds with us - show off how great you look and send in a photo!

The Young Ladies and The Sea

Ernest Hemingway's lush Key West home where he lived in the 1920s and 30s sets the mood for the irresistably feminine and romantic clothes from Danish brand Noa Noa. This inspiration translates to a delicately feminine collection of dresses, jackets, accessories and swimsuits for spring and high summer.

It's late in the spring season yes, but I've just discovered Noa Noa and I'm thrilled to bits for it. While flipping through their spring catalogue in a local shop at the weekend, I was transported to the beach scenes from the film Summer of '42 (at least that was the feeling. We live by the sea as well but when our groceries are delivered it's far less eventful).

It's that desire to live moments from a distant past that makes Noa Noa so utterly enticing. Exquisitely capturing the spirit of the early 20th century aesthetic, they also consider today and what's to come, resulting in a wonderful, modern look for women and girls (yes, Noa Noa Mini is for the little girl at her most lovely and adorable, prancing and pretending in easy comfort).

What I love most about the range is the versatility of the individual pieces. You can put together a head-to-toe polished 1920s ensemble of muted blues, pinks and greens, or mix with contrasting items from your wardrobe to create a truly original look that is totally You.

OH! I almost forgot to mention the incredibly reasonable prices. When trying on a few jackets (see below for the one I bought, and adore), I expected at least two times the cost of what I saw on the tag. The range is very well constructed with high quality fabrics that feel as soft as they look.

OH! #2 - Noa Noa's Code of Conduct is used to instruct their suppliers about their firm stand against the use of child labour, concerns for the environment and its protection, and demands for professional health and safety regulations. (We really should be looking into these things when supporting a company, should we not??)

Noa Noa has retail shops across the UK and Europe (check their website above for details) and there are plans to expand into Canada (great news, friends!)

If you can spare a moment for a bit of time travel:

    

   

  

  I have this cropped ruffle-collar jacket, it feels great on (very light and comfy) and looks fantastic over tea dresses or with a T-shirt, jeans and one of their lovely, lovely chiffon rosette hairbands.

Oli Oli Vixen Free-For-All

 

I love to share when I'm excited about and impressed by a shop or service. I had been meaning to check out Oli Online for some time but until a few days ago only remembered when NOT in my butt-numbing position at the computer. Oli is the online department store that offers loads of dress options, a full 18 pages as of yesterday (the only thing I was interested in due to my plan to wear dresses every day) in styles to suit everyone from the wannabe WAG to the more demurely feminine, '40s and '50s style and tea dress-loving set (that's where I fall), and everything in between. At mostly steal prices. So it seemed. Could it really be, or was it all a too-good-to-be-true LCD mirage where the goods heartbreakingly don't measure up to hopes and expectations?

I almost didn't give myself a chance to find out. At first glance I thought 'Too bad, not for me' until I realised there was a good helping of 'me' dresses sprinkled within the halter-and-ruffle-skirt numbers. Now this juxtaposition may be off-putting, or not, it usually is for me. I like my wardrobe to come from a place that's a solid step up from the average clothing merchant (I'm not a snob, it's just that I tend to buy for investment and look for quality, fit, style, uniqueness). But the 'me' dresses were tallying up higher and higher and they looked too good and at cheap prices (but not so much that there's no chance of the dress not looking cheap), and besides, who's not looking for a real bargain? The most expensive dress on my wish list was £50 with a few between £30 - £40, not including the anomalous £600 (that's about $1200) On/Off Boutique by Steph Aman butterfly applique frock (top centre). That's on the 'When I win the lottery' aka the 'Dream on' list.

So I went for it and ordered a floral tea dress and the navy stripey jersey dress (bottom right). Perfect for wearing any time, right in line with my 'every day in dresses' plan. The jersey dress was a two-week wait but the tea dress came two days later. By courier, on a hanger - actually hanging by the courier's hand when I opened the door - and in a garment bag. A plastic disposable one but still! I was so impressed. I was thinking 'I like the Oli people' before I even removed the dress.

The verdict? Very happy. It was a nice fabric, seemed much higher quality than the £30 price would suggest (though that was after a 40% sale discount) and it fit well, no puffing out in weird places or anything. And I have to mention it's FAR SUPERIOR to a tea dress I bought from the Kate Moss Topshop collection, in terms of fabric and cut. At half the price! And Mossy's dress did not come hanging.

And to top it off, to return items you call the courier number on your package and they come get it at your house and take it back for you, FREE OF CHARGE! What more can you ask for? I'm sold. And I love their order confirmation emails: "You're going to be one happy bunny!" And it's true. I am one happy bunny.

One more thing! Many of the items have video so you can see a model work the catwalk wearing the clothes. Excellent for seeing how a piece moves, and if it doesn't look so great on the model maybe it's not worth getting, though with their fantastic returns policy who cares, try it! And, they send special offers if you sign up by email, not to mention the discount vouchers available at My Voucher Codes.

And look at the coats and jackets below! Are you drooling?

In case I seem mean by teasing my friends across the pond (Oli doesn't deliver outside the UK), contact me (see top of the sidebar) if you've browsed Oli.co.uk and are interested in something. I'll be in Toronto and Niagara as of mid-June so if you're in the vicinity, we may be able to work something out if I can fit it in my carry-on!

Tasty Crumbs Well Worth Picking Up

The women's apron can be seen as the symbol of a hard-day's work in the kitchen, a throw back to the era that gave us casseroles, Sunday pot roast dinners and a bold fearlessness of lard.

Or better, it's a sweet reminder of those warm memories of baking chocolate chip cookies alongside mom on rainy Sunday afternoons, while dad watched the game on TV in the living room in the big chair. And then ate most of the cookies. But you didn't mind, the fun was all in the pointers learned from mom, and the giggling and sharing of secrets that dad would never understand anyway.

Donning an apron to cook or bake, especially a great looking one, transforms the act of simply preparing sustenance to one of nostalgic ritual and great fun. To indulge in it myself, I went searching for true vintage to get the authentic experience, but was disappointed when I found that the originals don't look anywhere near as good as they do in our memories and imaginations. And the thought of a 50 year-old pork n' beans stain is a bit unappetizing.

Luckily, there is a designer who understands such wants and needs and is passionate about them. Jennifer Lucas of the Canadian company Crumb Designs has created a line of flirty and romantic aprons 'to inspire everyday living', as is her motto (and a wonderful one at that). Each is handmade with fabrics that are carefully chosen for colour, design and the quality to endure a lifetime and beyond. Such a lovely family keepsake they would surely make.

Jennifer is most compelled by the happy times she spent as a child in the kitchen baking and cooking with her mother and grandmother, and through her designs offers such an opportunity for others. Her impossibly adorable and stylish matching aprons in adult and child sizes are the perfect recipe for creating that special bonding experience for you and your favourite wee one. What little girl wouldn't light up when presented with such a delightful invitation?

Crumb Designs aprons are available online at www.crumbdesigns.com (nice website, too!).

Coming soon: Watch the website this spring for the new line of gardening aprons for adults and children. (Bake cookies, just the two of you, go outside to the garden to plant your tulips in the sunshine then enjoy your homemade snack together on the porch. How's that for the perfect day?)

To learn more about Jennifer Lucas and how Crumb Designs came to be, read the interview (a very sweet and inspiring story).

More delicious treats to savor:

Best Fashion Find of Newcastle and Beyond

When I came to the UK in winter 2005 and ventured into the city centre of Newcastle in search of Christmas presents to take home for my friends, I found myself frightened and confused. Sure, there were myriad pubs, restaurants, and high street chain shops but where were the boutiques?? Those enticing little shops with enchanted window displays and fresh labels displayed artfully inside, waiting to be discovered? The architecture here was lovely and inspired but was is it possible my new home was (gulp, knot forming in stomach) a fashion wasteland?                                                                        

Luckily, as fate would have it, we took a random turn down a cobble-stone side street and into our view came independent record shops and (yes!) one little boutique that ticked all the boxes on my wish list, aptly called SKIRT. Upon entering I found myself floating over to the racks to browse. I was bursting with excitement as I ran my fingers over the beautiful tops and dresses that were so me, but better. That's what we continually seek, isn't it? Our favourite styles taken in a direction more fabulous than what we're already 'doing'? But this was not the time to be cultivating my new and improved image, I had others to think about. I would return, many, many times.

Despite Newcastle being home to Northumbria University which churns out some of the UK's brightest design talents, it is shamefully lacking in efforts to reflect the richness of its resources. And so, sometimes the fashion-starved have to take matters into their own hands.

The woman behind SKIRT is Clare, who opened her boutique on Highbridge a few years ago because she couldn't find great clothes in her hometown (THANK YOU!). She's always on hand in the shop to help you put together your new look, or leave you be to take your time and create it yourself. The independent labels Clare brings to the shop reflect her exceptionally keen eye for a particular look that borrows heavily from the vintage aesthetic (very Swelle!). Completely kitsch-free, the clothes are beautiful and original with a simplicity in design that is quite feminine, yet bears no relationship to the merely 'cute'. And a full range of accessories that includes many one-offs well complements the collection consisting mainly of tops, skirts and dresses. Shoes are coming, too, so you can soon get the complete head-to-toe SKIRT look. 

To top it all off the shop is affordable AND you can now browse online and buy by phone or email. A wide range of prices allows for a guilt-free fashion fix or a serious statement piece indulgence, not to mention the great seasonal sales.

Featured labels currently include: PAUL AND JOE SISTER, ANTIPODIUM, CHEAP MONDAY DENIM, ELLA MOSS, HOMEBODY and L&W.

Vintage lovers: Be sure to check out the vintage section of the website, Clare has brilliantly done the legwork for you.

Here's a sample of the tasty dresses available now (many on sale!) plus one TO DIE FOR pale blue leather ruffle-front, puff sleeve jacket by Tina Casmose (not on sale, as if!):