MOVING SALE!

I'm moving back to Canada in two weeks time. So to lighten my load, I'm having a sale in my Etsy shop. Everything has been reduced by 50% or more! Shop now! Sale ends October 10th, 2009.

More items to be added, so keep checking back. Some gorgeous yarns greatly reduced

Marimekko Shop- London

I first learned about Marimekko when I stopped by in Helsinki on a Baltic Sea cruise. Markimekko is a Finnish textile design company and they produce their own line of products featuring their famous pop prints. I visited the shop in London, 16-17 St. Christopher's Place (go through the alley way from Oxford St where H&M is).

I got a copy of this Marimekko magazine. You can also view a fill copy of it online at their website. There is an interesting photo essay explaining the textile printing process at Marimekko.

They also sell the beatuiful Marimekko print fabrics by the metre. They are printed on a medium weight cotton, most appropriate for home furnishings (you can sort of see the bolts of fabric in the last photo below).

The Meaning of Color- Aura Soma

At Aloka in Brighton, 14 East St

Go on, pick a bottle, go with your instinct, what catches your eye. These dual colored bottles of organic oil, plant and crystal essences are from Aura Soma. Each bottle has a name, a number and an explanation for it. What you choose is intuitively what you need. The theory is that color is associated with the Chakra energies. When we have too much or too little of one energy, we may feel drained or unbalanced. Shake up the bottle so that the colors are mixed and apply to the body.



I love the beautiful colors in the bottles. They remind me of Dan Flavin's light installations like the one seen below.

You're Got Mail!

YSL cuff, via

Do you miss receiving a hand written letter? I used to revel in receiving a letter from across the world, reading about the life of friends and family in a foreign country. In a world of email and Facebook, letters have become a rarity. And now it's a fashion statement. See here, postcards and envelopes used as a motif.


YSL and Lul Guinness bags, via

Silver Business Car Case, SJ Stodel, £350.00 via Liberty

Win A Signed Copy Of Lace Knitting To Go

Win a signed copy of Lace Knitting To Go from yours truly. All you have to do is visit my Twitter homepage and start following me! Let me know by leaving me an @andreatung twitter message for a chance to to win! When I get 500 followers on my Twitter, I will randomly select five winners, so get your friends to join in as well!

Lace knitting To Go is available on Amazon.com.

Don't Forget The Trimmings! VV Rouleaux- London

VV Rouleaux is a beautiful trimmings shop in London (get off at Sloane Square tube station and it's around the corner, 54 Sloane Square). They sell beatitude ribbons of every kind, including 100% silk ribbons and gorgeously luscious velvet ribbons of every color. They also have an atelier service that makes hats, mask and interior design accessories. If you need something to make that extra special touch for a craft project, you'll find something here that strikes your fancy.

All That Glitters At Swarovski

Exclusive fashion exhibition at Swarovski

Something I think jewelry enthusiasts should check out in London is the Swarovski CRYSTALLIZE shop. This store is different than all the other Swarovski stores in that it's a concept store and it's about creating your own style with Swarovski. The shop features these pull out drawers that are lit up and display glittering crystal elements that you can purchase on its own . Or you can have your own jewellry ideas made up by one of their designers. It doesn't stop there, get upstairs and there are special displays of Swarovski encrusted fashions by well-known designers and take a break in their lounge. If you make a purchase, join their free membership and receive a free drink voucher for the lounge!


Swarovski CRYS|TALLIZED lounge


Green tea in beautiful Swarovski dishware

Sartorialist Book Signing, London: The Most Fasmous Fashion Blogger

Scott Schuman is probably the most famous fashion blogger in the world. So it shouldn't come as a shock if people line up for two hours to get thei book signed by him. Why is he so popular? It's because his blog isn't really about himself. It's about you and me, and the poeple around us. It's about style and not really about "fashion" (style being timeless and fashion being of the moment). I read Malcolm Gladwell's The Tipping Point and if he were to explain it, The Sartorialist's phenomennon fits into the Power of Context, it's many small movements happening together that creates an epidemic. Schumen focuses on style-- he photographs people of all sorts, and it's about the people in the photo expressing personal style. And that's something everybody can relate to.

Attended The Sartorialist book signing at Liberty on Monday night. Unexpectedly, they ran out of books and had to get more delivered during the signing. I managed to buy my copy there when the delivery arrived. When I go out of the signing room, the line stretched out the door! What a turn out! The book is a great addition to any fashion addict's library.


Me at the signing



If you missed the signing, you can still check out their display in the Men's department at Liberty and purchase the book.

What is Kitsuné?

A/W 2009 Kitsuné collection

So I get an invite to a party for something I admittedly don't know about. I get to Bluebird almost unknowingly because I don't know the area very well and I ask for 350 Kings Road. Turns out I've arrived (I ended up walking too far and running into Vivienne Westwood's shop). The party was for Kitsuné. They've opened a pop up shop at Bluebird. But what is Kitsuné? I asked the staff and ended up speaking to one of the Kitsuné founders. It's a brand based in Paris. It started out as a music label seven years ago, and they expended into a clothing label. It's a lifestyle brand. Cool music, cool, simple, well made clothes. Well made was something I definetly noticed about the clothes. They are sold in concession stands at high end department stoes throughout the world, mostly in Japan, Barney's and Bergdorf Goodman in NY, and Dover Street Market in the UK. And for the time being at Bluebird.

I love the coat in the photo above, and the scarf!


Kitsuné pop up shop at Bluebird

Wonderland...

Sometimes a really simple outfit could use a giant bow on it. Just added my latest design on Etsy, Wonderland Silk Bow Hair Band. The bow is made with a gorgeous silk taffeta. I love the light blue color of the fabric. It has a luminous sheen to it. The stiffness of the fabric adds shape and volume, which give it a sort of cartoon effect. The inspiration was Alice In Wonderland meets Minnie Mouse. I was also thinking about an iconic Yves Saint Laurent bow dress

My Liberty Purchase Arrives!

Yay! Someone finally called me back to get my payment details on Tuesday. My purchase arrived this morning. They included a free Liberty Eco Bag for the inconvenience caused, and sent it for next day delivery. I'm glad that when they do mess up, they do their best to make it right. Really happy with the combination of prints I chose.

Hats at Donna Karan

Following NY fashion week. Favorite collection so far is Donna Karan. The collection has an easy breezy approach, yet well considered and flattering to the female form. What put really made the look for me were the hats by Stephen Jones. They looks like what a hat would be if it were "draped". Simply divine.

Why I Chose Etsy

Yokoo makes knitted accessories

Jennifer Loiselle makes crazy fun hair bands

After I completed my university degree, having studied fashion design, I went to work in fashion. I went through many short term jobs and phases about what I wanted to do. I went through phases like wanting to be a fashion illustrator or creating a fashion line and selling it on consignment in boutiques. I worked in various ares. Nothing quite panned out well into long term work. I ended up importing yarns and designing knitwear on my own.

Having done the consignment in shops thing and knowing the sort of hassle of getting into a department store, I decided that I would not go that route unless it was a case that buyers were approaching me, not the other way around. But ever since the awakening of e-commerce and social networking site, I think many things have changed. Many brick and mortar ships may struggle to survive in a cost heavy environment and sometimes designers struggle in a narrow profit margin when selling. Now designers can simply set up shop online and bypass the middle man, selling direct to customers. This changes things a lot. Not only cost, but it makes things accessible, as opposed to being available in a couple of boutiques, being on the internet means anyone around the world can buy. I can create and sell as much as I want, the avaability of my products won't be limitted because a retailer says so. Being online in some ways menas breaking the traditional rules of retail. I had thought of setting up shop on my own domain, but decided it was better to be on Etsy, at least for now.

Etsy offers a cost effective way of selling. This also means I don't have to worry about setting it up myself or getting involved with credit card merchant stuff. But importantly, it means being a part of a larger network of sellers that offer support to each other. This aspect is quite priceless.

Two designers that really inspired me to sell on Etsy are Jennifer Loiselle and Yokoo. When I first went onto Etsy's site, I wasn't too sure it would be for me. The sorts of products featured don't necessarily scream high fashion or luxury fashion for that matter. But that doesn't matter so much. Etsy is an interface and seller does what they will with it.

I think this is sort of selling is the way of the future for young designers. It used to be we sold on consignment at shops (because we were begging them to sell our work) or sat at local market stalls (most famously Portobello Market, there is even a web based market version Pret a Portobello). Now we sit at home in our pajamas selling on the internet.

My Etsy shop is at andreatung.etsy.com

Trend: Glam Rocks

Seeing many crystal studded fashion and accessories for fall. I love them. I think the arrangements are fresh and innovative. This is Beadazzler all grown up and sophisticated, wearing genuine crystals on everything. It's a return to eighties fashion as inspiration, but this is cooler. They that everything comes back in fashion, but the truth is everything comes back as inspiration, not the actual item itself! It's a matter of creating a new twist on an old idea. The trends are never the same as they were the first time.


Swarovski Gloves by Threeasfour, € 595.00 via Colette

Studded purse by Marc Jacobs via


via

Signage in Shop Windows- Brighton

I enjoy seeing catchy signage in shop windows. I spotted these two in Brighton. The one on the top is from a print shop. I like the shopping bag hanging on the top that says "I refuse to participate in a recession". "Keep calm and carry on" is a phrased that was use throughout England during the war. It is interesting to see it in today's context! The one on the bottom is from Jamie Oliver's Reciplease shop. They've got teat towels hanging that say "Don't forget to eat your greens!". I've bought fresh bread from there and it's very lovely. London prices, but I suppose worth the artisan effort. It's a very nicely merchandised shop in the visual sense.

Knit-à-Porter: Lulu Baby Slippers

I've spent some time looking for knit Mary Jane baby booties to knit for friend's newborns. But I never found one that was knit in the around. I dislike seams, I dislike finishing on knit items. I prefer minimal finishing. So I worked out my own pattern here. It's all knit up in one piece from the sole to the strap. The button hole is an eyelet, and I even made it with knitted buttons (child safety). It's the perfect last minute knitting as a gift. I did one slipper on a train ride to London (about an hour)!

One of the nicest things in the world that anyone could receive as a gift is a hand knitted item. These beautiful Mary Jane style slippers are knit in the round using garter stitch and fastened with eyelet and safety knit pearl button. A fast and easy project that makes for a lovely baby gift!

Fits 0-6 months. Foot length approx. 3". Ankle approx. 4".

P/S If you're not a knitter, or you just need a baby gift in a rush, you can buy a pair from me on Etsy!

Knit-à-Porter: Lulu Baby Slippers Knitting Pattern
$3.00 CAD


P/S You don't knit, you say? No problem. The booties are available ready-to-wear from my online shop!

The Inspiration: Daisy Bow Crystal Hair Band

When I was a kid, I wanted to be like Daisy Duck- dainty, pretty and cute! When my family went to Disney World, I got a Daisy Duck hat! I think I still aspired to be like her! I also love bows. I love ribbons, I love ribbon shops! I love the iconic bows on Ferragamo ballet flats.

These were the sorts of things I had in mind when I designed the Daisy Bow Crystal Hair Band. It embodies the sorts of things I love. The ribbon is wrapped on one side of the band, and the rhinestone in the middle of the bow is Swarovski crystal (another thing I love). I also get inspired by beautifully wrapped presents. There was one year when I was a teenager, during Christmas that I worked as a gift wrapper in the shopping mall.


Daisy Bow Crystal Hair Band on Etsy