Jan 23, 2013

Dear Fashion Journal at Charlie + Mary!


Right behind Albert Cuyp, the famous street market in Amsterdam, there is a great little store called Charlie + Mary. The store is named after its owners, Charlotte and Marieke, who have made it their mission to provide all the lovers of fashion with fair brands and products that have a story to tell - including Dear Fashion Journal that can now be found on their shelves as well! The store is open from Wednesdays till Saturdays and locates at Gerard Doustraat 84.


PS. Are you as curious to know why Charlotte is called Charlie as we were? Follow this link to find it out: www.charliemary.com

Jan 20, 2013

Dear Fashion Journal at Dialogue Books, Berlin

Good news for all the Berliners and those lucky enough to get to visit this hub of underground arts; Dear Fashion Journal can now be found at Dialogue Books, the most charming little bookstore specialized in hand-picked English titles.

Go say hi to them at Schönleinstraße 31, 10967 Berlin! The store is open from Tuesdays to Saturdays from 11:00 till 19:00 in the evening.


View Dialogue Books in a larger map

Jan 17, 2013

Golden Rules of Fashion by Jacq

Jacq is a 36-year-old lady with a 100% no-nonsense approach to fashion. She writes a blog called Another Frock - A Style Blog for Normal People with such a smart attitude that we could have jumped for joy when she promised to share her golden rules of fashion with us. Here is her list with four golden fashion rules for normal people:

Although I sometimes feel like I might be a bit too old to be a dedicated follower of fashion, there’s no denying that I still take a keen interest in what I choose to wear. After 20 years of keen observation, here’s what I have learned.

1. It’s not what you wear; it’s how you wear it.
In the late 1980s I was a teenager and the original supermodels ruled the fashion world. Linda, Christy, Naomi and Cindy walked with their shoulders back and their heads up, confidently taking on anything before them. As a tall, gawky, skinny girl, these women showed me how to look like you’re invincible, even if you’re daunted by your surroundings. I also learned that you can take pride in yourself and your appearance, even if you’re wearing a school uniform or a grotty pair of jeans. It’s all about the attitude. This golden rule has won me boyfriends, wolf-whistles and great jobs. If you look confident in what you wear, everybody will think that you look pretty good.

2. There is nothing new under the sun; 
save the clothing that you really love. 
I know that the fashion industry would prefer us to believe that we should clear out and replenish our wardrobes on an annual basis, but take a look at fashion trends over the past two decades and beyond: everything has been done before. The moral of the story is to buy clothes of decent quality, keep them if you still love them (and they still fit you), and just find some way of storing them. In our last house we had a loft, which gave me a lot of room to stow stuff, but you could do just as well with one or two of those plastic under-bed storage crates. You’ll be amazed at how lovely it can be to unearth a long-loved garment and weave it into a new outfit.

3. Know what suits you and dress accordingly.
Fashion is great fun, but the surest route to ‘fashion victim’ is to wear stuff that really doesn’t suit you. When you’re young, try out every new look – but do your best to narrow down your ‘look’ as you go. You can then cherry-pick from each new season’s fashion options. I invest heavily when the stars align and full-skirted 1950s outfits abound, but go into shopping hibernation when a 1970s revival hits.

4. Own at least one fantastic handbag.
Be smart and save up for it, or ask for it as a present to mark a special occasion. My husband bought me a lovely, simple black Gucci bag just after our wedding, nearly 14 years ago, and I use it nearly every day – it’s looking a bit battered now, but I like it even more in its distressed state. And I bought myself a Mulberry Bayswater a couple of years ago, and it elevates every outfit. Invest in classic accessories like this and you’ll be leaving them to your (very grateful) daughter one day.

Written by Jacq. For more, read her Style Blog For Normal People here: anotherfrock.wordpress.com

Jan 10, 2013

Q&A with Suzanna Knight

Introducing to you: our copy editor Suzanna, who next to being a grammar geek also happens to be a brilliant illustrator. She draws, writes, plays Noah and the Whale on ukulele and makes cosmically good sweet potato casserole!
1. Name: Suzanna Knight

2. Age: 26

3. Please fill in: I am a ______ because ______.
I’m an illustrator because I was once was a radio journalist who realised she was scared of calling people on the phone. Also there’s a weird dent on my right middle finger that allows me to hold a pencil really well.

4. What would be the name of your autobiography? 
"Two Bottles of Wine and a Bad Idea"

5. What was the latest thing that inspired you?
The Anthology of American Folk Music. It’s this huge six-album collection of American folk & country songs from 1927 to 1932. It makes me want to call up all my musical friends and have a hootenanny in the kitchen.

6. Your biggest fashion fetish? 
Big comfy sweaters. Because they’re insanely comfortable. ‘Winter knitwear’ is pretty much the only way you could describe the contents of my wardrobe no matter the season.

7. What is your first fashion memory?
Having the exact same clothes as my sister in a different colour despite the fact that we’re not twins. We’re only a year apart though so I guess my mom thought that was close enough.

8. What have you learned recently?
That despite all expectations I can build an Ikea closet all by myself.

9. What are you known for amongst friends?
Everyone who knows me even a little bit knows I love snow and icy cold weather and therefore everyone who knows me even a little bit thinks I’m a little nuts.

10. What is the most important thing to have around you when working?
A record player, tea, a bottle of indian ink and a set of cheap Russian watercolour paints

+1: Which piece of your own work do you like the most? 
The illustration here.

Suzanna's portfolio:
Suzannaknight.net

Jan 7, 2013

Playlist

These are some of the tunes we sang whilst working on Dear Fashion - perhaps not always in tune, but each time wholeheartedly! So, here we present to you a set of mellow songs served with good mood, voilá!


Dear Fashion Journal's Playlist by Dear Fashion Journal on Grooveshark