eshakti custom sizing & "fatshion"

I had learned about Eshakti a couple of years ago and then completely forgot about them until Kristine brought them up a few weeks back. They have so many cute retro styled garments, they're worth a look for inspiration if nothing else. Check out this gorgeous 40s-esque number in their sale pieces:

The company has a really interesting concept: All garments are available in every size 0-36W, AND you can order a custom fitted garment by entering a selection of measurements on the website (for an additional $7.95 per garment). I would pay an additional $7.95 for a custom fitted dress. Wouldn't you?

The prices are extremely reasonable too. So reasonable, that I had my suspicions and went on a google hunt for reviews. Most are positive. The one blog I found with a negative (and it wasn't so much fit as it was dress length) was a sewing blog...aren't we sewists the pickiest when it comes to garments? The comments on that article had interesting negative "reviews" too, so it's possible the negatives aren't getting talked about I suppose.

The funniest article though (by far!) was on XOJane by Leslie, titled: "How I shop for basically all my plus size clothes online." HIGHLY recommend a read, because A) I hooted, and B) there are some cool sites and tips in both the article and the comments.

I'm most definitely bookmarking Leslie for further reading. She's hilarious and down to earth and my kind of girl.

So how about all you sewing enthusiasts out there? Should I use the website for inspiration or give in to temptation and see if the customization really works?  More inspiration:

You see my problem now, don't you.

Love your thoughts people of the interwebs! <3 p="">
**NOTE: The dresses, I've discovered, are made in India. I'm still investigating the fair labor practices for the factory and will update if I find anything newsworthy. Yeah, I know. Most people don't care. I care.**

bon vivant

I'm pretty sure luggage shouldn't make me cry and want to have its babies.

olily luggage at anthropologie

And then there's this fiasco:

jocelyn dress

And this:

merida pencil skirt

And these:

lace melange top

honore buttondown

roselle pullover

beaded pointelle cardigan

I mean really, anthropologie. What gives you the right?

Summer's comin!!

I can seriously TASTE summer. 

How about an inspirational picture dump? Yes? 

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Lena Hoschek (my favorite!)

vintage skirt

these shorts!!!

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anthro?

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Lena Hoschek again!

And for Krisine (bahah, I crack myself up)...CHEVRON SHORTS!

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ps. If my butt looked like this I'd wear chevron shorts too.
Yes.

Spring. FINALLY.

Just a little pretty inspiration while it (yes) SLEETS outside my window on this fine spring day.

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Now if the weather would just cooperate, and my pocketbook would GROW. I might be in business. ;)

Happy Thursday!

It's 30 degrees.

And all I want to think about is WARMMM...

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Come on, Summer!!

Project Runway Ain't Got Nothin on Us

Special treat for you today...straight from my classroom!

I'm teaching Fashion Merchandising this fall, on a 4x4 block, which translates to 1 semester of class delivered in 9 weeks! (i.e. I'm locked in a room with the darlings for 90 minutes each day.  90 MINUTES WITH 27 TEENAGE GIRLS.  That explains alot, huh?   Nah, they're all really sweet and most of the time they're not giving me the eye glare of doom.)

It helps they still think I'm fashionable.  Lord help me when they figure out how old I really am.

The week before Thanksgiving, they had a project to practice their understanding of the elements & principles of design, and basic garment shapes (straight, a-line, bouffant, bustle, etc.)  I like to call it Trashy Fashion, and it was inspired by the Season 6 episode of Project Runway, where they created fashions from newspaper:

In essence, each group has two days to design a garment and accessory from newspapers, packing tape, and any recyclable materials they bring from home.  On the 3rd day, we have a little fashion show and then they get to parade through a few classrooms of willing teachers. (We've never been invited through the math hall. I have no idea why.) 

This year's fashions may be the best bunch ever!  They're amazing!  Group shot (heads chopped off for obvious reasons):

And some closer detail shots of the dresses!  The hot pink on this dress is recycled Forever21 bags:

Some of the little trims I allowed because these girls are master negotiators.  Their argument was..."but it's leftover from a previous project, so technically it could be considered trash".  Um, OK. Pickin my battles, daily.  And that's not one of them! haha!

There was so much detail on this next one, I wish I had taken closeup shots of each little piece.  It was incredible!!

Yes, this is a boy, and his girlfriend is in the class.  She insisted he be the model for their group.  He was cracking me up in his runway walk.  By far the best runway model!  The dress is beautiful. It has an intricate woven/pieced bodice that this photo doesn't do justice to.  And the fanned ruffle placement on the skirt?  So well thought out.

 The colors on this dress come from recycled color copy paper.  I love the pops of color!
 

The zebra duct tape snuck in under the radar of "is this allowed".  She was taped into that dress pretty darn fast, on the principle of "ask for forgiveness later".  haha!  It really is cute.

Pretty cool, huh?  Keep in mind, they had roughly 3 hours to make the garment (and an accessory), and they're "fitting" real people, not rail thin models or a perfectly proportioned dressform.  (well, for the most part.  Of course they're little things, they're teen girls!)

In any case, I'd say the PR folks should be paying attention. We're gunning for them.

TGIF everyone!!