Carolyn Braden......Dreamer of Style

I had a dream Tuesday night.  It was a dream about fashion.  I remember my dreams often, but this particular dream spoke to me about an upcoming style.

I remember Tarina Tarantino being in my dream.  She is one of my role models ever since I discovered her wonderful jewelry designs.  I won an essay contest she had several years ago.  It was about inspirations and I wrote how she was such a huge inspiration to me.  She continues to inspire me and I feel like I think in the same creative way she does.  I often will have an inspiration of some design, such as peacock feathers, coming into style.  Then I'll come across her website and see that one of her latest collections reflect what I was inspired by.  There must be a connection between all the creative people in the world.  I am waiting for the door to the creative world to open up for me......... :)

I was talking to Tarina in the dream and we were looking at huge rubies an emeralds.  These big single stones were the focus of her new designs.  I don't remember other colors, but I am sure they were there too.  So......that leads me to believe that big single stones are a great new style coming out in jewelry and maybe more. 

Other inspirations right now? 

Glittery decor.  I raided the Target dollar bins and found the glittery words "peace", "joy", and "wish".  I just bought vases that have similar words to these on them.  I will be using these things to decorate this holiday season.  Right now though, my decor is focusing on fall.  I have used red flowers and white peacock feathers in a large arrangement in my dining room.  I put shiny stones in the vase to keep it from falling over, but they look pretty too.  My placemats have a photo print design of stones on them too.  My bannister contains a "garland" of leaves I created.  I used oranges, greens, and yellows.   Love these colors together. 

My snow globe idea from months ago is out there everywhere.  I just bought my latest globe......a beautiful silver base with a silver Christmas tree inside.  Oh, the holidays.  I can't wait.  :)  "I'm dreaming, of a white Christmas........"  Get some stylish snow boots soon.  You may need them this year.  I am looking for moon boots.  Kind of Napoleon Dynamite inspired.  Where oh where am I going to find them?

----Carolyn

Carolyn Braden: Vintage is SOOOO in!!!!

If you were born in the late 1970's or early 1980's, you are going to know exactly what I am talking about. If you were born before then, maybe you still will know what I am talking about. If you were born in the late 1980's or later, you need to know what I am talking about!

Vintage is SO in. Vintage has been in for a while, but now it's in full bloom. Many of the artists in the cartoon, fashion, home decor, and accessory world is now about the same age as I am. They are bringing our old toys out into the new world. The things we grew up with as kids are starting to surface and it's bringing back all kind of nostalgia. Weird to realize I am now officially old enough to "reminisce"about things, but it's true.

When I've come across some of these "vintage" things lately, it's almost brought on some tears. They make me remember some of the most happiest times in my life and the tears are of joy. I loved playing with my toys as a child. Due to acquiring many of these old toys again, I have been told by a teenager recently that I am like a kid in many ways. That made me think; Is it so bad to act like a kid sometimes? I don't think so one bit. Currently teaching art to elementary school children brings it out in me. I am around 5-11 year olds on a daily basis. It's inevitable that they are going to rub off on me sometimes.

Here we go on the things that are making it back into our world:

The Biskitts
Rose Petal Place Dolls (Nastina really reminds me of Ursula from the Little Mermaid and Ursula really reminds me of someone I know.....Mom you know who I am talking about....he he. Isn't there always a "bad" character in every childhood story? I think that is true for our lives as well)
Hugabunch
Sesame Street (I blogged about this last year, but the world is slowly catching on to my idea)
The Wuzzles
The Popples (They make these again and they are so cute!)
Rainbow Bright
The Snorks
The Shirt Tales
Disney's Gummi Bears
Duck Tales
The Smurfs
Muppet Babies
Fraggle Rock (I showed my DVD of them to my first graders and their eyes were glued to the t.v. during the whole episode. We were studing puppetry and they made that connection I was wanting them to make. Yeah!)

Whatever happened to Hypercolor shirts? I am watching one on E-Bay. I want one again so bad!

Shirts with kid like designs. Wear them with a cute cardigan, jeans, and suede booties. That's my outfit I am wearing tomorrow and it will be so cute! My shirt has a cute white doggie face on it that is kind of ghost-like. I got it at one of my favorite local stores, Dot Fox, on Bardstown Road.

Doubling up your socks. This is 1990's. I found some sheer green socks and some Mary Jane-like turquoise socks to layer together. It will look cute with heels. I got this idea and bought the socks from Cherry Bomb on Bardstown Road. It just became one of my other favorite places to shop. The best vintage ties to wear as scarves are there to buy! Local jewelry artists have their stuff in there and their designs should be turning up in some high fashion magazines! They are so unique and in style! Speaking of Mary Janes, I am still trying to find the perfect pair. I wish I would have kept mine from high school!

Horoscope signs. I have a belt that has "Gemini" studed on the back of the belt. It is so old, but so cool right now.

Owls and toadstools. I knew about these designs in the spring. I have a cute ceramic toadstool in my backyard. These ideas are so 70's! My mom used to paint toadstools on slices of wood.

There are so many more things coming out in this fashion world right now. Try anything that makes you feel good. Layer things cause it's gonna be a cold one this year!

Until next time.........

C

Carolyn Braden: All fall style is in!

Fall style......very interesting.

Basically everything is in for fall. I mean it!!!!

Um...

Shoulder pads, check!

All colors for clothing, check!

Belts, check!

Tights, check!

Boots, check!

Versatility in clothing, check!

Leggings, check!

Trench coat, check!

Matte makeup to get rid of shine, check!

Matte anything (car paint, nails, etc.), check!

Draping and layering, check, check!!!!!!!!

If you have any kind of eye for style, wear what makes you feel good this fall and you will be in style. Really. I can't say one exact thing stands out to me because there is so much out there right now. It's as if the designers just can't come up with anything new so they just said "If it's old, it will be new again this fall!"

I do really like the draping the clothing is doing right now. I like a tight dress or jeans to show off the figure, but the draping is awesome. Some days, you just don't feel comfortable. I should explain it as "The Bloat." We all feel uncomfortable sometimes in our regular clothing so it is nice to have such beautiful, draping clothes to let our bodies breathe sometimes.

A somewhat rose scented perfume is nice right now. I just purchased the new Marc Jacobs perfume "Lola". Smells great.

Oh...try shopping at TJ Maxx. If you have one in your area and you feel like hunting for some good buys, go there. I love it. I know there are women who would rather just hit up a mall store, pay full price for something, and not want to go "hunting" for deals, but come on girls!!!! Money is tight. Shop the sale racks and be smart with your money. I believe bargain shopping is SOOOOOO in style!

---Carolyn

Carolyn Braden: What's Out: KANYE WEST

Here's my forecast for the music world and more.

Artist's that are out of style and should be a big "DON'T" for your Ipod:

KANYE WEST.

What he did tonight on the MTV video awards was not in style, never was in style, and never will be in style. See my Pammie Peacock blog for my full opinion on him.

Moving on....

Horoscopes and astrology are in style.

The moon is beautiful.

Dragons are standing out.

Horses are in.

Will blog more style soon. Be in style and be nice to others no matter what your opinion is. :)

Carolyn Braden says "What is it about.....?

There's something about Nashville, TN right now. It's everywhere. Could it be style coming up there? I am not sure. I do know that "country-western" style is popping up everywhere in the magazines so we'll see. It's really funny that cowboy boots and such are showing up right now because I remember reading in some magazine in the winter saying that style was "Sooooo out". You know what? I really think that you should wear whatever makes you comfortable. If you love something, truly embrace it. Wear it with your head held high and you will make a statement.

Oh.....I was in Border's the other day and there was the book I was referred to this summer......The Alchemist. It was #4 on their best seller list. Hmmmmm........ It's becoming popular once again. Very interesting. You should read it if you haven't yet. It's all about change, and we are really seeing that everywhere right now.

Good luck symbols are still popping up everywhere. Rainbows, pennies, you know, the traditional symbols. I haven't found my four leaf clover yet so I bought a "Grow your own four leaf clover" kit yesterday. It may or may not produce one, as the box says, so I will wish very hard for one to surface and maybe I'll be blessed. :)

Sterling silver. Get out your Tarn-X and get that silver clean! Wear 2 or 3 or more necklaces at a time and show it all off! Tarn-X cleans all kinds of jewelry, so I've been cleaning all mine recently. It is really sparkling right now.


Stud earrings. Yes, hoops and longer earrings still look great, but try some studs for a more simple style add on if your outfit is really bold. I love my pearl studs.

Monsters and scary stuff is popping up. Watch an Alfred Hitchcock movie soon.

LBD's. Get one and accessorize. (Little Black Dress). You'll always turn to it when you need something a little fancy, yet understated, to wear.

Red, purple and jewel colors. Try them this fall!

Mad Men Casting Call Contest: Carolyn Braden!

Trying to win yet another contest. Help me out! Click on the link below and it will take you to my voting page on the AMC's Mad Men website. Click on how many stars you rate my Mad Men Style photo (5 stars please, please, please!). Do it once a day per computer until August 11th and lets' see if I can win the walk on role on AMC's Mad Men and a $1,000 Banana Republic gift certificate.

Thanks lovely readers!

http://madmencastingcall.amctv.com/photos/view/1879