Ella Archives

Here is a photo of some leather hides tanned, stamped, dyed and printed into luxurious leathers for COACH bags.

I think it's so interesting seeing how their hides of leather look so similar to hides I have, myself, for crafting. I really hope novices to leather crafting find this fascinating, too. A must peek for any Coach, bag or craft lover!

By the way, I have a few drafts/ideas for COACH-related posts, but I will try to vary topics! I apologize for either a lot of the brand coming up or more slow posting.

Source: COACH on FB

Manolo Blahnik Tweed Boucle d'Orsay

$715.00

Bouclé, d'Orsay, big name ... and metallic threads?! Seriously, I'm going crazy for these. I would sell both my little toes to get these, if need be. That might even make wearing them a better experience, seeing as they're notorious Manolo Blahniks. Since I might greatly benefit in pain relief in general from that "sacrifice", you need know that I would do many other things, as well; in ways from smart and moral to DOS-attacking NM.com so they don't sell out.

They simply mustn't sell out before I get my beloved pair. That is why I must act fast, use all my resources and why I say "get these on mah feets NOW" - it's a rare thing I cry!

Endangered Species: Women's Bodies is an upcoming summit with a great goal: to help the self-esteem of women. I won't talk too much about it partly because it is trending now anyway but mostly because it is not nationally spread, and I am no New Yorker (Yankee). ;-) If you want to learn more or you can attend in NYC, click that link for the US branch.

What I'm participating in though, because these issues are important to this blog and myself, is a little meme in the theme from Beautiful You by Julie; who tells female bloggers to "participate" from afar. (I couldn't not join in!)

The blogger posed three questions for others to choose from. I had to select this two-parter,

"Why is body image important to you and what would you like to be your and your wider community's body image legacy?"

1. Why is it important to me? Because it effects my daily and virtually all-day happiness or at least contentment. I am hardly even content with myself. I feel inferior to those whose busts extend beyond their guts, or lack of guts. I assume I'm judged if I'm not wearing the utmost flattering outfit (I try so hard!). No matter what I do, my profile is never great and I worry about "looking pregnant". The thing is if I could live without fear of other women, always women, judging my shape - I would be content to not even try to change. I love food and don't enjoy real exercise in the slightest - no highs, no energy boosts, no big feeling of doing something great for myself. What if I could change the world around me or at least my perception of the world's perception of myself? So many others feel it is needed as well! Health is important, but I'd prefer my heaping (read: ginormous) near-nightly portion of delicious (read: buttered) veggies would hold more importance to my mental well-being than it does.
   
2. My community's body-image legacy? Well, I need a community, first, and it's petites / petite women. I've wanted to help petites better face this world since I was young. Even though I'll never again be a skinny teenager, I will also never again grow one inch. Also since I'm not plus-sized (just round), my community is with the shorties. I want my wider community's body image legacy to be... that women no longer think short is ugly. (It really seems like they and society do!) We constantly hear "long and lean" is the goal, but that's insulting!!! I go crazy when I hear or read of a petite girl feeling unable to wear flats, or living, living, living in heels since age 12 - because her jeans have a P attached to their size. Short is cute and feminine! Men do dig it (along with curves and meat)! Of course there are many men for any shape, but guys are at least cool with dating a girl a foot or more shorter; relax and wear some comfortable shoes on that date, missy. Heck, most men actually prefer comfortable shoes on a girl to heels. (Which man do you want, anyway?) Seriously, take all this from a girl who actually likes girls; not just boys. I love petites--You are hot.
   

Wear what you like and rock what you have! If I have one actually important flattery tip to add to that, it's just "cinch your waist". ;-) Beyond that, let's stop worrying so much. The world will be a better place.

Is Target quality declining (as is the case for at least some other companies in this recession) or is the instance of a "coming apart" clothing item possibly a result of crazy Christmas shoppers?

This photo was taken during the time of Christmas rush, true, but I've never seen such a thing even with years-old mall-brand denim. Jeans have always been known for their ruggedness and holes are usually worn into the knee long before any seams come undone. Denim is like Louis Vuitton bags in item lifespan! Usually, that is the case, but here with this "more premium", William Rast, line at Target, I found this disturbing scene.

It's also true that stitching is not the famously durable portion of denim products. So is this kind of lower quality par for the course with "marts" or, as I suspect, is this a cost-saving measure reserved only to pad profits for the bigger-name brands?

I think I will shop Target with more caution now, even though I enjoy the chain (my small Mulberry bag is great!). I'll likely buy my denim with more  tried-and-true (or at least in my own experience) stores, or perhaps solely shop for the original: Levi's. Still, we must all remember to be cautious consumers especiallly during - even after - a recession, whether in "greedy" America or while dealing with any large corporate products. These are tough  modern times with far lower business morals, but at least Levi's as a company would fall apart of its denim did!

I suppose after this, I must wholly endorse Levi's products for all!

(Yes, that includes petites, like these 27.5" or 29" inseam skinnies. Need! Restock please!) (We do not receive any funding from clicks or purchases of this link or levis.com, currently, or with this post.)