The 80's Revival: Fug or Fab?

I haven't entirely understood the whole eighties revival thing. The closest I've come fashion wise has been reintroducing footless tights to my wardrobe. But a few things have come together lately to make me rethink all this.

Firstly, this fantastic series of photos for Giuseppe Zanotti definitely caught my eye because it had the playful eighties vibe without feeling rehashed. (I'm sorry, but hammer pants? I was done with you at age five and nothing will make me take you back. I don't care what Marc Jacobs thinks.) I also love sequins for daytime and the mix of casual and formal, jersey and sparkle, to make something that feels very young and new. Did I mention that it's an Italian company? Specializing in footwear? Go. Now.

The second thing was this very thoughtful response by Etsy sensation Yokoo on the wonderful blog Yellowgoat. She says:

"My style is very much a reflection of the early eighties pop culture phenomena: the Claire Standish of Breakfast Club, the Janet Jackson of Control, the Beth Gallagher of Fatal Attraction, and the Mia Farrow of Hannah & Her Sisters. I feel that this was the greatest period of classic American style. Ralph Lauren had just released his Prairie line, the entire country would spend their Thursday nights together enjoying The Cosby Show; it was just this magical balance between adult innocence and childish vulgarity. The Nineties was the opening of the gates, but the eighties were like children cursing for the first time and then laughing about it. Sometimes when I think of where American culture is right now, it just fills me with deep sadness."

I'd never thought about the eighties in quite that context, but I think she's hit the nail exactly on the head. Childish Vulgarity. It's the idea of having fun and being carefree but also being right on the edge of something much scarier and not really being ready to look it in the eye. Suddenly I understand why this resonates with people right now. I think I need to go out and get me a majorly sequined skirt and a baggy t-shirt.

What do you think about the Eighties Revival? Is there anything you vowed never to wear again? What are you tempted to try? What have you tried?

What I purchased in L.A

Here are some of the lovelies I bought in The City of Angels:

Big silk flower ala Carrie Bradshaw. (The Fug Girls call Patricia Field's styling "A Shock and Awe Campaign" but I always loved the massive flowers and the absurd ensembles on Sex and the City. It was just so fun and happy!)

Mini harmonica necklace from The New Stone Age. That shop was just magical- they had the most beautiful pair of grey doves with lovely yellow eyes that just cooed and sighed as we looked around. There was no music at all beside those sounds. There were also bowls full of tiny white seashells with delicate rainbow stripes, Mexican Wedding Garlands festooning the rafters and giant sparklers at least two feet long. I showed great restraint.

Ticket to Duplicity. My adoration for Clive Owen has been well documented, but E and I held off on seeing this because we weren't sure it would actually be good. It totally was. I think we may go again so he can see it too. Great fun.

Cheerful stripey dress from H&M. (Sheesh do I love that place!)

Three mini cupcakes from Dots in Pasadena. I like the idea of trying three flavors for the same calorie count as ONE giant cupcake, don't you? (P.S) Jack Donaghy claims the cupcake fad is over (in New York they've moved back to doughnuts apparently), but I have my doubts. I mean, they are both tasty and adorable and can be dressed about a thousand different ways. That has all the makings of a sickeningly lifelong love affair in my mind.)

Miss B Reports on Los Angeles

A few more sights from around L.A...


Our hotels was just lovely. Very well done kitsch. We felt like quite the glam Beverly Hills hipsters. (Sorry no pics of the room because the energy saving bulbs weren't very camera friendly. Take a peek at their website if you're planning a trip.)

Loved the little tableau in this window- the slick white vessels and chandelier against the bold green tile and red door. (And ooh la la, there were so many happy succulents everywhere you looked!)
Lots of serious cases of house lust. All 1930's Spanish style bungalows and wild unruly gardens, bougainvillea covered stucco walls and burbling fountains. Wish Wish Wish.

Cool lanterns in the otherwise dull Beverly Center.

Katie and Marilyn.
I loved the champagne cork and his very tidy school boy handwriting. I'm thinking I need to watch Some Like it Hot again. (and again!)


Crinolines hanging outside a vintage shop on Third Avenue. I love the colors- they remind me of cotton candy. More on all the cool boutiques we visited to come. I'm already plotting another trip with E sometime soon.

Where are you hoping to getaway to this summer?

An Automatic Place in Heaven.

This one is for you Momma D! Thanks for raising such nice gentlemen. (I quite like mine!) Thanks for the feedback about the other illustrations dearies! I think I will have a go at making paper dolls next! (Thanks Abby!)

DIY Cork Board

I know I've shared this project before, but I thought I'd include some slightly more detailed instructions. It's so simple that whenever I've saved enough corks, I make one. I've got seven or eight now (stashed in the storage unit, sadly) and someday I'm going to mount them all to make a giant wall 'o corks in my studio... (maybe layered, the way they hang art at Anthropologie, so it has dimension too?)

You'll need large collection of corks, a bulletin board and your trusty hot glue gun. Wonderful long suffering E uses a serrated knife to cut these in half so I only need half as many. Be warned- it's a recipe for sliced fingers. (Sorry babe! You're the best!) A counter top vice would probably be useful. You can also find lots on e-bay if you're impatient!

I recommend laying out your pattern before gluing it down. I like to do a parquet pattern to add interest and make them look a bit tidier. We drink loads of champagne, and when I use those strangely shaped corks, I lay them end to end, but make sure they are the same direction in the parquet pattern. Trust me, it looks much tidier.

After you have a design worked out, carefully hot glue each cork to the board. (I like to use an actual cork bulletin board so any gaps are less noticeable.) You will go through quite a few hot glue sticks, so make sure you have plenty on hand.



Here's the finished product in my office with my Charlie Harper prints! If you make your own, make sure to come back and show it off! I'd love to see how yours turns out! Happy crafting y'all!

New for Mother's Day!

New illustrations in my shop for Mother's Day. I think I'll do a few more- should I do one with just Mom and little boy, a pair of sisters, or perhaps three little boys in honor off Momma D? (She always says "Mother of three boys- automatic place in Heaven, and I think that's true! Think of the hell three boys must have raised!) Hope you're all having a lovely weekend!

Ms. Betty Crocker's Etsy Picks

Betty's friends call her Ms. Crocker because she loves to bake. Souffles, tarts, lemon chiffon cake, sugar cookies, double chocolate brownies, coconut dream bars- you name it, she's stirred it up and popped it in the oven.

She always brings this roomy canvas tote to the grocery store when stocking up on sugar, lemons and sprinkles!
This mini cookbook is one of her all time favorites. It's called "Show Off Desserts."

Betty is constantly jotting down recipes too- these are her favorite recipe cards. Aren't they cute?
She stashes her growing collection in this tin box.


She always wears an apron when the flour is flying, and this pretty aqua and chartreuse number reminds her of her favorite summer dress.

She loves this nice tall bowl for stirring up a double batch of butter cream frosting.

And the final product is lovely and delicious! (These vegan cupcakes almost have a halo, don't they?)

See the treasury while it's still live on Etsy here. Happy Saturday to you!

Fresh Mother's Day Ideas

Did you know that the woman who invented Mother's Day eventually grew to detest the commercialization of the holiday she invented? She was also penniless at the end of her days, but never knew it, because the American Floral Society paid her bills as a sort of tribute.

So instead of flowers this year, I'm brainstorming alternate ideas. Here's what I think my own wonderful Mother might like.

This adorable print would be perfect on the white brick wall in her bedroom above her glorious stacks of books.

This set of cheerful reusable tote bags that fold flat might come in handy. (She can keep a few in the trunk for her tango shoes and one in her handbag!I love how they look all together- groceries and miscellaneous who knows what never looked so cute in plain old plastic grocery bags!)



Fragrance from Jo Malone in Fig and Cassis? (Never floral perfumes for my mum! She quite prefers men's cologne.)
I think she needs this bicycle basketfor her adorable vintage Schwinn. (And a bell too! Ding Ding!)



I'd love to send macarons from Paulette and a nice big bottle of bubbly. (Sicillian Pistachio, New Orleans Praline and Passion Fruit all sound heavenly to me!)


Instead of flowers that will wilt in a few days, perhaps something that will come back year after year, like this Peony in an unexpected shade of green.


What are you planning for your Mom this year?

The Getty Villa

If I remember correctly, we visited the Getty Villa when I was a child. I remember two things. I somehow managed to forget my shoes and my father had to carry me through the place on his shoulders. Secondly, I remember thinking it was supremely strange that someone would build a palace like this and never live in it. (It struck me as a terrible waste!)

Coming back as an adult I can see that Mr. Getty was building a monument to himself, his taste and his wealth, not unlike the ancient Romans he was imitating. Here are a few of the sights.



Don't the white inlaid eyes make for a startling contrast?



I think I'd like to try to make something similar with paper. I can't imagine a better birthday crown than a wreath of gold laurels inspired by the ancient Olympics!

In this room, dedicated to the women of ancient Rome, and filled with marble busts, a guard asked me which was my favorite. I pointed out a nice plump lady and told him I liked her because she looked like a real person- not stylized like the others. When I asked which he loved best, he pointed to this lady. "The marble has a translucence and she just glows, like a tulip."

This looks to me like the perfect spot to exchange wedding vows.

His and Hers.

The other night, I was making myself an after dinner drink and asked E if he wanted one. He said "Sure. Whatever you're having." I was having my own concoction of sparkling pink lemonade and vodka with a maraschino cherry garnish. I had a feeling he'd want something else. In the end, I made him a vodka tonic, but that little moment inspired this latest painting. I think I feel a series coming on. Underwear. Tennis shoes. Razors. Lunches. The possibilities are endless. (Details here.)

Au Revoir Folies Bergere!

When I heard that the Folies Bergere show at the Tropicana was closing, I begged Eric to take me to see one of their last ever performances. (Heartbreakingly, no photos allowed, hence my silly illustration!) Old fashioned revues like this one are out of fashion, with Cirque Du Soleil ruling the Strip. The Folies closing was blamed on lagging ticket sales.

There is no doubt that Follies Bergere was both cheesy and quaint. It really felt as though we'd stepped back in time to 1945 when no one had to apologize about objectifiying women and decorating them to look like exotic birds, Jello Molds or elaborate chandeliers. The M.C was ludicrously creepy, in a sadly baggy tuxedo. He made me pine for the Mad Men era when it would have been cool to have a job like his.

But I have to admit, I enjoyed every second of the dancing. Each costume was more preposterous and outrageous than the last- outlandish use of feathers, tulle, sequins, rhinestones and faux pearls were on display in every scene. I can't imagine what it must take to do costume changes for fifteen to twenty, sweaty, preening showgirls every three minutes for an hour and a half, but there must be an incredible system- not unlike a pit stop at the Indy 500.


You can still see an old fashioned revue starring nearly naked women in feather headdresses right here, but Vegas won't be the same without the original Folies Bergere. Au Revoir Mademoiselles!

Twenty Questions with Pinky of Verao!

Today I'm chatting with Pinky of Verao. I've been crushing on her adorable crocheted bikinis for ages, and with summer vacation just around the corner I figured you all might be in the market too! She tells us about traveling the world with her seven sisters, why she's crazy about summer and why crochet is a good break from the world of pixels she lives in as a digital effects editor. Enjoy!




Miss B: First off, tell us a little about you! It sounds like you’ve traveled all over the world! What is the best thing about life in Singapore?

Pinky: I’m the 6th of 7 girls! And since my parents had a travel agency, all of us got to travel during summer and Christmas vacations. Sometimes, right smack in the middle of the academic year, they’d pull my sisters and I out of school so we could accompany them to Tokyo. They believed that education was beyond the 4 walls of the classroom. My parents were strict when it came to going out at night, but they were very liberal with our traveling! Because of that I got to study and live in Los Angeles for a few months in the 90s, so moving to Singapore where I got a job as a digital effects editor by 2001 wasn’t too scary for me.

I like Singapore because of the cultural diversity and the of course, convenience. It’s a relatively safe place to be. And it’s so near the Philippines so I can easily visit family when I want. I don’t own a car and love the public transport, especially the trains. Imagine having Chinatown and Little India on the same train line a few stops away from each other!

Miss B:What inspired you to begin Verao (and what does that lovely name mean)?

Pinky: Oh where do I begin! I’ve always loved beaches and anything that had to do with summer. Summer meant no classes, family vacations and trips to the beach! I loved summer so much, I even ended up with someone from Hawaii, where summer never ends! And with summer, what else comes with it? Bikinis!

No fail, almost every summer since my late teens, I’d have bikinis custom made. Then a little over 4 years ago, when I was already here in Singapore, my Mom gifted me with a crochet bikini.

I loved the color so much, but something about the style wasn’t quite there, and it didn’t fit too well. That started my journey on making the crochet bikini that fit well. My unofficial slogan for my bikini was “sexy but not slutty.” After a couple years of trial and error, I was finally pleased with a design. It took me a while because I did not want my crochet bikinis to be like other crochet bikinis. Meaning, I designed it as a bikini first…because that’s what it is.

After I was satisfied with the fit, I turned my attention to the overall look of the bikini. The design, style, colors, and more importantly, taking into account that we are women with different body types and fashion sense, were all considered on an individual level until they finally meshed into what I consider the perfect product. In my point of view, it had to built for a woman by a woman.

As ar as the name, I decided to call it Verao. It means summer in Portuguese. After all, I’ve always loved Bossa Nova and the Samba, and my married name is Portuguese!


Miss B:How did you get interested in crochet?

Pinky: I studied in a Catholic school where we had a subject called Practical Arts. They had us crocheting since the 5th grade and if I remember right, up to the first half of high school. Did I like it then? No, but I did my projects. Every time I’d have a hard time with a certain stitch, my grandmother was there to help me!

But somehow after you graduate from school, when it’s not mandatory, crocheting wasn’t so bad. I’d crochet when I’d like to relax from a hard days work. When you work as a digital fx editor, and everything is digital and in pixels, sometimes you need something organic to connect to. So crochet was something that was good to engage in.

Miss B:In your profile, you write about the candle business you launched while you lived in the Philippines. What did you learn in that business that you bring to Verao?

Pinky: Oh I loved those candles! Just like my bikinis, they were delicious! I had several scents like popcorn, watermelon, popsicle… etc… What I learned was that research and development takes long so you need patience! I remember I made about a hundred ugly candles before I made one that I even considered lighting. I guess I am one of those people that believes anything you make from your hands, begins with your heart.

With Verao, it took me almost 2 years to perfect my first design. Then I had to work on the proper sizing. I actually spent time fitting all different types of body shapes and sizes. Some of us are big on top, small below. Others are small on top and big below, some of us are razor thin and some us are just happy big and beautiful all the way around. There was a huge amount of time I put in to consider both different body types and personalities. And that was the same with the candles. The candles had to have fashion and function, and Verao is the same.


Miss B:I love that you sell your bikinis as separates so your customer can choose exactly what she wants. What are your best selling colors? Which design is your personal favorite?

Pinky: When I started with the Josefina, I started selling them as a pair of the same size. But then, even I don’t wear the same size top and bottom. So by the time I introduced Malia, I decided to sell them as separates. It was my husband who prodded me to sell them as separates! Now you can even choose the colors you want. My best selling colors would be Vanilla, Flamingo and Espresso! My favorite Malia combination though is Aqua and Espresso! My personal Josefina bikini is Espresso and Flamingo.

Miss B:Without revealing any trade secrets, could you walk us through the process of making these fabulous bikinis? (Do you begin with sketches? Do you use patterns?)

Pinky: Sketches! Now, I only have 2 main designs out. The Josefina and the Malia. And they began as sketches. I was right in the middle of a shower with the Josefina, so I had to sketch when I was still drenched, and for the Malia, I lounged at a café where I sketched. And that doesn’t just go for my bikinis. It’s the same for anything I want to create. Somehow I get great ideas in the shower. After the sketches, then I worked on the pattern. My first pattern was a very much hacked and improved version of the bikini my Mom gave me. I used that as my basis.



Miss B:What inspires you?

Pinky: For several years now, I’ve been into tropical vintage, so I love looking at old Hawaiian postcards, old movies and their posters. I am currently obsessed with torch ginger! The sea inspires me too, which is why I love turquoise and aqua.

For other color inspirations, I read interior magazines and blogs. That’s why I love Holly Becker’s decor8blog so much! The colors of whatever she blogs about is amazing. I almost feel so lazy because all I have to go there and in an instant, I’m inspired! Same with Domino magazine. It’s a pity it folded. And etsy surfing calms me down too. I also love watching films that are rich in color. Like Amelie. The colors were exquisite! In general, when I want a little lift, I go to the Opera Gallery in Ngee Ann City where I get to take a first hand look of the work of Botero, Andy Warhol, Picasso, and other artists.

Miss B:Do you participate in fairs or shows? If so, what is your favorite part of the experience?

Pinky: You know, I only participated in one fair and it was for my candles. I’d like to keep Verao on a personal level for as long as I can. Which is why Etsy is a great vehicle. At Etsy, people get to know me before they buy the product. Although for my candles, I had a blast! I always told other people that I’m not a salesperson. But somehow, when it’s my creation, that bubbly saleslady in me jumps out! And I love it!



Miss B:What do you wish you had known before you got started?

Pinky: That it’s ok to feel discouraged once in a while. I also wish I read the book The Creative Entrepreneurby Lisa Sonoma Beam first! I read about it in the decor8blog of Holly Becker and bought it because of that!


Miss B:What advice do you have to people starting their own creative small businesses?

Pinky: Aside from getting that book I just mentioned (The Creative Entrepreneur by Lisa Sonoma Beam) Don’t be scared to start. Development can take time and can be discouraging. Hang in there! Give yourself a schedule to follow. And blog blog blog. Now… if I can only follow my own advice!

Miss B:Which other Etsy sellers or artists do you admire?

Pinky: Two of my sisters are on etsy! Rina, my New Zealand based sister of Nostalgems was the one who told me about etsy. She makes great heirloom inspired vintage inspired jewelry. My other sister Michi, just started etsy recently. She’s a designer in Manila, but then finally decided to try etsy. She’s doing pretty well! Her store is Toccata where she sells luxurious handmade vintage inspired bridal boleros. I also love LaPomme, who you interviewed too. And even if I’m already married, I love looking at Stacydesigns88’s bridal jewelry shop! She became my etsy friend!

Thanks so much Pinky! It was so fun to go behind the scenes of your beautiful shop! I can't wait for bikini season!