these shots of jenny lopez for our boudoir shop are so beautiful and dreamy…she looks like a ballerina lost in thought with mystery in her eyes. in the boudoir we have some beautiful slips that i’d love to wear while floating around my apartment and daydreaming on a sunday morning. which of these is your favorite?
i’m sure some of you remember these adorable stockings we sold a few years back. i’ve been kicking myself ever since for not buying one – so i finally decided to take matters into my own hands and make my own free people stocking inspired by the ones above!
i went over to a.c. moore during my lunch break in search of a stocking and embellishments. they didn’t have the plain old red stockings i had in mind, but this knit one worked just as well. i also got some fake fur trim, ribbon, feathers, sequin trim, and some tassels and pom poms i didn’t end up using.
the only items i used from here at the office were a free people bag (which many of you may have!) and some strips of fabric from our display team.
the only other things you need for this project are scissors and fabric glue! your stocking might come out a little bit prettier if you sew things onto it but the glue worked just fine and was quicker :)
i started out by gluing the fur trim to the top and then worked my way down by adding different embellishments at random. it only took a little over an hour, and here’s the end result!
i’m really happy with it and it will look lovely hanging by my desk. now i want to make more!
if any of you are inspired to make your own stockings i would love to see photos! you can send them to blog@freepeople.com :)
it’s a gray, rainy start to december here in philly but at least i can put this pretty new calendar on my desktop! click on the image to go to our flickr page and download the large size. happy december :)
it was only a matter of time before the christmas decorations popped up down in our customer service area! i love the lights…i’m thinking we might need some of those down here on our end of the office.
even bob’s ticket made it onto the tree! apparently he’s a big eagles fan, or something… ;)
lou’s tomboy spirit comes alive during the holidays when she ventures out to cut down her own christmas tree. she thrives in the outdoor elements – for her, winter is all about sledding and snowball fights and roasting marshmallows around a bonfire. she’s not always the sentimental type but if you give the lou in your life any of these gifts you’ll melt her heart for sure…
mittens, winter hats and cozy socks are right up her alley as they’ll keep her warm while she’s out playing in the snow – and a soft blanket to wrap up in when she comes inside is always a perfect gift. a backpack is the only bag for a girl who’s always moving, and you can’t go wrong with some basic skinny jeans and our vneck beheaded tee or jersey raglan top- they’re the type of items that lou will live in! accessories with a hard edge like our vintage belts or the jennifer elizabeth ella cuff are perfect stocking stuffers and lou will definitely appreciate the classic vintage skateboard from our vintage loves collection! finally, throw in some peppermint bark bubble bath (by philosophy) because after roughhousing in the snow all day even lou could use some relaxation :)
Our accessories buyers are currently in love with jewelry designer Vanessa Mooney. Her ethnic treasures are one of a kind… full of character and worldly charm.
We loved her designs so much that we featured the Egyptian Ornament Pendant that is handmade in Nepal in our November catalog.
Here are some photos of Vanessa and her staff working at her studio in downtown LA.
Vanessa grew up in a family of artists: filmmakers, writers, painters and actors. As the great-granddaughter of Harry Warner, one of the Warner Bros., she was always listening to, meeting and watching the history of what her family had created through motion pictures and their art.
Inspired by what they were able to accomplish she knew there was something for her to achieve with the creativity she felt. Her mother, a free and bohemian influence, taught her to look for and see beauty in those things around her and to create it if it wasn’t there. She would keep her busy with the arts: painting, plays, stories or her favorite… dress up from the full trunk of costumes and accessories they would collect from different travels. After school she would put on a classic movie from her family’s library and think how beautiful theses woman could be with just a simple hat, a pair of gloves or a rhinestone necklace. This began her love for fashion.
We adore her designs and feel they are the perfect items to dress up your knit wear.
located on the corner of broad and locust in the heart of center city, philadelphia, lies one of the city’s most historic buildings and interesting music venues. it sits calmly in the shadows of skyscrapers on a street lined with flashy buildings, but don’t let its unassuming exterior deceive you – on the inside it is one of the most breathtaking buildings in philadelphia. built in 1857, the academy of music is the oldest opera house in the united states that is still used for its original purpose.
i can vividly recall my parents dragging me here as a child to see the orchestra… the smell of perfume and lingering cigar smoke as we made our way through the crowds of people in their finest evening wear and were shown to our seats by the usher. curling up in the red velvet seats, my view obstructed by a column but not minding because my eyes were usually fixed on the massive chandelier hanging from the ceiling. falling asleep with the sound of violins and horns fading in and out of my dreams.
while i lacked appreciation at my young age i’ve come around now and have a whole new love for the building as a concert venue. most recently, i saw the monsters of folk there and they completely blew me away. it’s really cool to hear modern music played in such an old, historic space – and despite the small floor seating area and the multiple balconies that extend towards the ceiling the venue has an unexpected intimacy and leaves you feeling like you were a part of something quite special.
they don’t have concerts there very often so if you’re able to catch one, do. for more info check out their website.
do you have a favorite or unique venue that you love where you live? i’d love to hear about it!
So, my first Thanksgiving has passed and it didn’t disappoint. I went to Texas and ate enough food to feed an entire nation!!!
I woke with sleepy eyes greeting me and a big birthday hug as it was also my birthday. I walked into the kitchen and it was already hustling at 10am, big love and laughter filled the room as the sweet potato casserole, cranberry salad, vegetables and the best southern pecan pie around was prepared.
American football played in the background on the flat screen TV — as I understand it, big games were played that day. A big turkey bird was deep fried out on the drive in the cold frosty air – southern style — while I sat on the porch gazing at Friesian horses walking majestically across the pasture.
I felt very blessed to have experienced such a beautiful celebration in the US, and I sure did give thanks to a bountiful Harvest :)
I have never heard of this place before and was slightly gutted when my sister beat me to it after I’ve been here much longer than her.
The Benjamin Franklin old fashioned ice cream parlor is the place I’m talking about. Isn’t it the perfect place to take some cool photos.
The aesthetic of the place is so delightful and oozes character. I know, I know, it’s getting a bit cold for ice cream, but it’s goooooooooood any time of year, right?!
“The Franklin Fountain aims to serve an experience steeped in ideals, drizzled with drollery, and sprinkled with the forgotten flavors of the American past.”
I was blown away by the original porcelain mosaic tile floor. I wish I had this in my own home!! It’s definitely a place to head to if you want to beat the Sunday blues.
Go here to visit their beautiful website. Their history is pretty magical.
thanksgiving day began with a light snowfall outside the window and ended with a fire-lit private gathering at my favorite philly bar… i hate winter but it made me long for a blizzard. there’s nothing better than a snow day that shuts down the city… sleeping in, playing in the snow till your cheeks are rosy and warming up by the fire. have a great weekend! xoxo
