Are you already dreaming of what items you’ll be rocking this year as the festival season takes shape? Calendars and closets are filling up with intentions that will soon manifest in the ever glorious moment!
It is with great pleasure that we welcome back our favorite co-author of 2009, Mairin the beautiful artist and owner of Kareli Kairos. Not only does Mairin have a reputation for being one of the most creative fashionistas in our local tribe, she also generously gives of herself in helping others with their couture projects and experiments.
<- Braided Gauntlets/Arm Warmers – I started making these in 2009, in every color I could find, and they are a great way to add edge to anything. They play with negative space in an interesting way; there is something very sexy about skin that shows in patches. They are tribal and geometric at the same time. They can also be worn layered over solid arm warmers, making them super-versatile.
Faerie-Headdress -> This is probably my favorite thing I made last year. I created it on top of a commercial “fairy hat” base, and added two pairs of small costume wings, flowers, beads, lights, etc. I created different clip-on accessories for it that allowed me to wear it for several occasions, including it’s incarnation as the Poinsettia Faerie’s crown for the Santa Crawl. It is dramatic, different, and reminds me of Art Nouveau illustrations. A headdress makes one feel theatrical in a transformative way that is liberating and very fun.
<- My hair – This might be a bit of a stretch as an accessory but I got two really incredible, colorful haircuts in 2009 that rocked my world. Having hair that looks amazing is great, even if the rest of one’s ensemble is less than awesome, the hair is there, ever vigilant in expressing your style sensibility. I also dress up to my hair on days when I am not very inspired; having pink and black stripey hair encourages me to commit to the rest of my look with the same vigor as my hair.
Feather Eyelashes -> Feather eyelashes created quite an impact for me 2009. They come in a wide range of colors, and instantly make one look “made-up,” even if one isn’t wearing any other make-up at all. Drawing attention to the eye is the major reason for wearing make-up to begin with, and boy do these do the trick. One’s eyes will be noticed. They are whimsical and otherworldly; every blink becomes the wing-beat of an exotic bird.
Fur Crop Jacket – Sometimes it gets cold, and one wants to stay warm, yet not cover up one’s whole outfit (or lack of one). The best solution I’ve found is the fur crop jacket. Having one’s arms and shoulders covered in super-warm fur goes a long way to keep the whole body warm, even if the rest of it is scantily clad. Also the cut of a crop jacket makes one’s shoulders look bigger, which makes one’s waist look smaller (generally figure-flattering), and in a football player sort of way, makes me feel like a bad-ass. There’s something about a crop-jacket that says, “Don’t mess with me.”
Our sincere thanks to everyone who wrote in so far with their top 5. Rest assured we will be bringing this popular and interactive series back at the end of this year!
