Press: Telia on The Vancouver Sun

Telia wristlet

Telia has been featured in a fashion article in The Van Sun last Sunday.

You can track the article down here.

Article caption

The feature also brought some calls to the Custom Service - here is a customized OOAK Cross-body Telia for a new customer we were very happy to build:

Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

Introducing - Telia. A clutch from all recycled materials.

One type of raw-materials I have always been on the fence about, is fur. And, even now, having used it, I still am. I find vintage fur coats very wearable, and believe that continuing to wear them, is the best way of appreciating such a garment. Many of those coats from the 50's and 60's are classically cut and made in North America - or other country, where they were sewn and sold. They are also very well made, and if cared for, would be able to serve several generations of wearers.
I could not justify cutting up a perfectly good, unique vintage coat, not even for the sake of re-using it.

I also do not work with unused pelts, regardless if they are manufacturers "dead stock". So, for a while, fur was not a material of choice for me.

The coat I recycled recently, had a few tears in the right sleeve and joint, rubbed-off sleeve tips and disintegrating lining. The condition showed me, that it may have, in fact, been worn by several generations already, before it got donated to charity. It was petite in size, it actually appeared too small for today's fits. I spent perhaps twenty minutes inspecting it, and was pretty much certain, it would be a hard sell, as a complete garment.
I purchased it, in hopes on making good use for it. So, just like with my leather, I cut out the worn out and damaged bits, used all the wonderfully preserved pieces of fur, also the cheese-cloth supporting them from the inside. Unfortunately, I was not able to save the embroidered lining, as it appeared too fragile for my use.

And this is the result - Telia, limited edition clutch made of recycled Fox fur and remnants of my production leathers. With a zipper closure and wrist loop, it is a distant relative of the Butterfly Clutch.

Telia is already available at some of my lovely retailers, and will make an appearance at the Web-shop and all my Holiday Season events. There will not be many of them, as I am only recycling this one coat. The fur will be consistent through all the clutches, but the frame leather will change - besides, Brown, shown here, I have made them in Burgundy, Chestnut and hoping to squeeze in a few other leather colours.

Telia, Brown

Telia, Brown

Telia, Brown

 My beautiful vintage Fox coat lives on in a form of clutches, that will serve several generations of their wearers'...


Posted by Jolanta http://jolavdesigns.com

My "What to wear" for Fall...

Seasons are changing inevitably, and most of the Fall fashion overviews have already been out for weeks, if not months. I will be brief with mine, and include a few suggestions about what most of us could get away with wearing this Fall and Winter without completely ignoring Fashion...

There are a few very interesting directions I noticed popping up for this colder season, that are worth going deeper into.
In any way this is not a call to be a 'fashion victim' sought after the 'latest' and the 'newest'; I am not focusing on particular brands for my selection of images (Ok, maybe preferences have been given to smaller, fresher brands, or those who did something outlandish to them (yay, Karl!)).

Also, remember, that new ideas in fashion are generated in the Indie world, and only later, marketed by the mass producers, and acquiring your fashion fixes locally is key...

Here we go!

Still around from 2 seasons ago:

Some of the last fall's nicer ideas are back again- like outfits quite directly translated from Menswear ;  or Layered look with very contrasting textures (boho, or not); the Maxis (long, forgiving coats and dresses)

Layers and Contrast (all seasons, night+day - in one)

Menswear  translations - beehive optional...

More Maxis

Maxi - cloud of hair optional too

  

But, there are a few looks I do not remember seeing last year, and was nicely surprised by, such as these:

Lady-On-A-Cruise-Ship No More!

Wearing clothes that actually match together has for a long been a staple of cruise ship riders, ladies, who lunch - or golf, - or both, - at one end of the spectrum;  and 8 year olds on the other.... It manifested itself in matching your shoes with your bag, your belt, your umbrella stick, your bangles, which would match earrings, that would match shoes - and in the extreme cases of offence - it all would match your sun visor! Usually white mixed with all too familiar nautical gold....

Matching returned this fall, but it could not be further away from its 80 year old predecessor. Here are some great examples of matching similar hues, colours into one, and getting away with it.

Grey - no gold and visor in sight...

Matchy!

Lotta Orange

Meet Your Milkman - these cinched, high wastes followed by a fuller skirt are brought back from the 50's. This is a very flattering look for most bodies, I am so glad to see it return decades later. This fall, wastes are cinched over full skirts, A-lines; all giving you 50's style curves and even generously revealing cleavages. This look must have been the reason why the MILKMAN was such a sought after 'profession' for youngsters at the time....

Good for work...

.. and fun

..and LBD occasions

FAUX, not Fox.... 

 Fashion, unfortunately, still uses a lot of pelts. But the good news to me this fall, was that some brands, which usually put out alot of fur clothing each time, actually discovered Faux. Faux definitely made its entry this year, being used as trims, adornments, accessories or clothing itself. Natural fur is beautiful on animals that are born with it. If you have to wear fur, pls, make it vintage or re-claimed....  And yes, same goes for leather...

Here are some absolutely adorable fauxes:

furry does not have to be cruel

both images - Chanel

Here we are - hope we all have a good fall. Enjoy the season, dress the way it makes you happy - and more importantly - dress warm!

jolanta