October 11th, 2016
Well, I think we all agree that Fall has come. The mornings are chilly and the evenings are just plain frigid. I am attending some training tomorrow. It's in Brockville and starts early in the morning so I decided to pull out my Winter wardrobe. I walked down to the basement. No tupperware boxes. I checked the barn, where I knew there was a black garbage bag full of tights, tops and dresses. Nothing.
My husband has been driving to the local charity, Lazarus House, throughout the Summer with bags of stuff. He has been de-cluttering his closet. We have donated piles of toys that our daughters have outgrown. However, I think he may have gotten over-zealous and grabbed stuff that wasn't meant for the donation bin, namely, My Entire Winter Wardrobe.
I told my husband that I seemed to be missing a season's worth of clothing. He scratched his head, swallowed and asked me where this "wardrobe" was stored. He came with me to double check the basement and the barn. He came to the same conclusion as I had a mere 10 minutes earlier. Yup, no clothing here.
So, here's the thing, I can just got to the store and get a few pairs of pants, a couple of sweaters and a handful of tights but, I don't buy a lot of clothing. I pick items I like and keep them for years. I am imagining various items that I loved to wear. My favourite colourful dresses, my funky tights, my cozy sweaters. It's sad, like a photo album burned up in a fire.
The other thing is I am chunkier than I used to be and some of those items were my motivation to lose the weight. I wanted to fit into the colourful pants, that tulip shaped skirt. Those were my measuring stick. Have I lost weight? Let me try on those pants. Nope, still too tight. I feel like I have lost a whole section of my identity. I know it's only clothing and people have real problems and this is NOT a serious problem but it feels like a loss.
I can go shopping but I want my old clothes back. The shirt with a tiny stain from my daughter's spit up. The dress I wore to my art therapy interview. The pants I bought in Montreal in that cool shop on St-Denis that smells of incense.
I guess it's time for a fresh start. A new wardrobe with new memories. Clothing that fit me the way I am now. It just struck me that it's ironic that it is my Winter wardrobe that has disappeared since I visualize every day that I go away with my family every year to a warm destination for the entire Winter. Perhaps the Universe is listening to my request and preparing me for our departure. If my life is about to change and I won't be around for the Winter then bring it on but it better happen soon because it's getting cold.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fashion. Show all posts
Tuesday, 11 October 2016
Tuesday, 1 March 2016
Iris Apfel
March 1st, 2016
For the past two weeks, the snow storms have kept me home. Unable to get out and meet exciting women to interview, I wrote about Louise Bourgeois last week and now, I'd like to present Iris Apfel. If you work in the fashion industry, then you already know her. However, I will hazard a guess that some of you have never heard of her, I hadn't, but you should.
Last night, my husband and I watched a documentary about this amazing woman. She is 94 years old and lives in New York. At first, I stared at the tv screen, stunned by this larger-than-life woman. She was wearing bright colours, furs, hats, large black-rimmed glasses and massive jewelry. She doesn't like tiny, precious jewelry. She prefers bold pieces that make a statement. Her home is a museum of sorts with wall to wall designer outfits and chunky jewelry from all over the world.
She spoke of her desire to wear jeans when she was younger. She was told that women don't wear jeans. She insisted and, eventually, the store owner sent her a pair of boys' jeans. She wore them and loved it. She accessorized and made them trendy. Throughout the documentary, you can see photographs of her travels. She has been all over the world, purchasing fabrics and jewelry. She explains how to barter with merchants, how they are disappointed if you pay without negotiating the price.
They show her in her 90s, visiting fashion sets where young models wear her combinations of clothing and accessories or, getting dolled-up for a photos shoot. She shops around for new items of clothing or to add to her collection of eclectic jewelry. Her husband, obviously dressed by her, sits and waits, occasionally weighing in on one of her purchases. He is a sweet man, talking about his love for his wife and confirming that he could never get bored with Iris as his wife.
She worked in the fashion world and as an interior designer. She and her husband owned a design company and were requested to help decorate the White House on many occasions. When The Met called her because an exhibit they had planned fell through, she put together an exhibit of her designer fashions and accessories. They promoted the exhibit through word of mouth and it was extremely well received. So much so that Iris became famous. She still receives 50 calls a day from media wanting her to attend an event, a photoshoot or, requesting an interview. I loved watching this woman, doing what she loves with her devoted husband at her side, shopping with her assistant, haggling with store merchants, dressed up in full garb.
When I grow old, I want to be active and passionate, wild, colourful and eccentric just like Iris Apfel.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
For the past two weeks, the snow storms have kept me home. Unable to get out and meet exciting women to interview, I wrote about Louise Bourgeois last week and now, I'd like to present Iris Apfel. If you work in the fashion industry, then you already know her. However, I will hazard a guess that some of you have never heard of her, I hadn't, but you should.
Last night, my husband and I watched a documentary about this amazing woman. She is 94 years old and lives in New York. At first, I stared at the tv screen, stunned by this larger-than-life woman. She was wearing bright colours, furs, hats, large black-rimmed glasses and massive jewelry. She doesn't like tiny, precious jewelry. She prefers bold pieces that make a statement. Her home is a museum of sorts with wall to wall designer outfits and chunky jewelry from all over the world.
She spoke of her desire to wear jeans when she was younger. She was told that women don't wear jeans. She insisted and, eventually, the store owner sent her a pair of boys' jeans. She wore them and loved it. She accessorized and made them trendy. Throughout the documentary, you can see photographs of her travels. She has been all over the world, purchasing fabrics and jewelry. She explains how to barter with merchants, how they are disappointed if you pay without negotiating the price.
They show her in her 90s, visiting fashion sets where young models wear her combinations of clothing and accessories or, getting dolled-up for a photos shoot. She shops around for new items of clothing or to add to her collection of eclectic jewelry. Her husband, obviously dressed by her, sits and waits, occasionally weighing in on one of her purchases. He is a sweet man, talking about his love for his wife and confirming that he could never get bored with Iris as his wife.
She worked in the fashion world and as an interior designer. She and her husband owned a design company and were requested to help decorate the White House on many occasions. When The Met called her because an exhibit they had planned fell through, she put together an exhibit of her designer fashions and accessories. They promoted the exhibit through word of mouth and it was extremely well received. So much so that Iris became famous. She still receives 50 calls a day from media wanting her to attend an event, a photoshoot or, requesting an interview. I loved watching this woman, doing what she loves with her devoted husband at her side, shopping with her assistant, haggling with store merchants, dressed up in full garb.
When I grow old, I want to be active and passionate, wild, colourful and eccentric just like Iris Apfel.
Anne Walsh
www.artnsoul.org
Tuesday, 9 February 2016
Hemp Love
February 9th, 2016
I have been researching eco-friendly products lately: body soaps made from goat cheese, borax as a laundry detergent, vinegar to clean windows and apple cider vinegar as a deodorant. I had heard of hemp as an alternative option for natural clothing. I visited websites and saw some pretty cool fashions made from hemp.
There are different fabrics you can use to replace synthetic clothing: hemp, bamboo, organic cotton and soy. The great thing about hemp is it just gets softer as you wash it, it grows really quickly and repels insects, it protects you from the UV rays and it lasts a long time. The plant doesn't require pesticides and it nourishes the soil.
Pretty impressive right? But it doesn't stop there. Hemp is way more than comfy, eco-friendly fabric. Hemp seeds can be eaten and it is actually really healthy. It can be a source of protein and essential fatty acids. It is also recommended for birds and livestock.
Hemp is also used in body lotions and cosmetics because it nourishes the skin and hair with its healthy nutrients.
Hemp produces strong paper that ages well. It doesn't disintegrate over time.
Hemp can be turned into fabric for clothing or woven into rugs. It has been used to create canvas, jeans, even flags. You can also make rope and fishing nets with this strong material.
In the past, people have transformed hemp into alternatives to plastics. A variety of building materials can also be produced from hemp. These materials are fire-proof, insulating and waterproof.
I instantly started thinking about all the ways we could use Hemp as an environmentally-friendly substitute in so many ways. When I looked into the possibility of growing hemp, I realized why I hadn't heard more about this before. It has only been legal to grow hemp in Canada since 1998. You can't just start growing it, you have to get a license and go through lots of paperwork. Why? Because it is one of two strains of cannabis. It has a much lower level of THC but because of its association to marijuana, it is highly controlled and monitored.
Considering all I've heard lately about the need for affordable housing, I can't help thinking that using cheap, hemp-based building materials is worth considering.
Check out the cool fashions at www.nomadshempwear.com
My sources for information about hemp:
www.harbay.net
www.hemptrade.ca
www.hempbasics.com
www.theinformationdistillery.com
www.nomadshempwear.com
I have been researching eco-friendly products lately: body soaps made from goat cheese, borax as a laundry detergent, vinegar to clean windows and apple cider vinegar as a deodorant. I had heard of hemp as an alternative option for natural clothing. I visited websites and saw some pretty cool fashions made from hemp.
There are different fabrics you can use to replace synthetic clothing: hemp, bamboo, organic cotton and soy. The great thing about hemp is it just gets softer as you wash it, it grows really quickly and repels insects, it protects you from the UV rays and it lasts a long time. The plant doesn't require pesticides and it nourishes the soil.
Pretty impressive right? But it doesn't stop there. Hemp is way more than comfy, eco-friendly fabric. Hemp seeds can be eaten and it is actually really healthy. It can be a source of protein and essential fatty acids. It is also recommended for birds and livestock.
Hemp is also used in body lotions and cosmetics because it nourishes the skin and hair with its healthy nutrients.
Hemp produces strong paper that ages well. It doesn't disintegrate over time.
Hemp can be turned into fabric for clothing or woven into rugs. It has been used to create canvas, jeans, even flags. You can also make rope and fishing nets with this strong material.
In the past, people have transformed hemp into alternatives to plastics. A variety of building materials can also be produced from hemp. These materials are fire-proof, insulating and waterproof.
I instantly started thinking about all the ways we could use Hemp as an environmentally-friendly substitute in so many ways. When I looked into the possibility of growing hemp, I realized why I hadn't heard more about this before. It has only been legal to grow hemp in Canada since 1998. You can't just start growing it, you have to get a license and go through lots of paperwork. Why? Because it is one of two strains of cannabis. It has a much lower level of THC but because of its association to marijuana, it is highly controlled and monitored.
Considering all I've heard lately about the need for affordable housing, I can't help thinking that using cheap, hemp-based building materials is worth considering.
Check out the cool fashions at www.nomadshempwear.com
My sources for information about hemp:
www.harbay.net
www.hemptrade.ca
www.hempbasics.com
www.theinformationdistillery.com
www.nomadshempwear.com
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