Home sweet home.
I've been a long-time fan of textile artist Natalie Chanin. The Alabama native left her successful career as a costume designer and fashion stylist in New York to return to her hometown of Florence, AL, where she creates fantastically intricate appliquéd textiles for the wardrobe and home. While her first book, Alabama Stitch Book, focused on pattern-making for clothing and some home decorating Read more
While I've featured Alabama Chanin before, the design company's site has beautiful new interior pictures that I thought were worth reflecting upon. Alabama Chanin, the collection of designer Natalie Chanin, features clothing and interior decor pieces that strive to be as environmentally sensitive as possible. Organic cotton, natural indigo dyes, and US-made products are all part of the line. The Read more
Karl was on a strict diet of black, white, and paper when designing Spring couture. I'm predicting white is about to be the color du jour, thanks to Michelle Obama's dreamy Jason Wu gown. As always, Karl was psychic. His designs may have been scaled down, but they were anything but streamlined. Cuts were sharp or voluminous, shoulders and waists were punctuated, and details were both in-your-face Read more
Cameron Diaz's Oscar de la Renta dress, which she wore at the Women in Film Awards, reminded me of another beautiful lady who's fond of appliqué and reverse appliqué. In fact, this designer marks them as signature techniques in her fashion and home décor lines. I've featured her work a few times in the past, along with her inspiring book. To find out who the designer is, read more Read more
Appliqué An ancient needlework technique in which pieces of fabric, embroidery, or other materials are sewn onto a foundation fabric to create designs. This is done through hand or machine stitches. If you recall, Audrina Patridge's green Phillip Lim dress had appliqué detailing around the neck. Try the technique with this Nicole Miller Embellished Blue Dress ($308, originally $440). Read more
Fab reader Blair Stubbe channeled 20s-inspired evening glamour with a sweet dropwaist ensemble. Her long black and sheer Daisy Buchanan-esque dress featured pretty floral appliques and was topped off with a cropped faux fur jacket. She wore vintage chandelier earrings and black pointy-toe pumps as equally Great Gatsby worthy accessorizing touches — definitely a perfect example of understated Read more
Kristen Bell stepped out in LA last evening for the premiere of her new TV series, House of Lies, in a stunning minidress by Zuhair Murad. The hand-beaded applique and illusion sleeves exposed the perfect amount of skin, making it equal parts sexy and sweet. Want to channel Kristen's look for a night out? Watch today's FabFlash for some great options. Read more
When it comes to getting a flawless, fast holiday manicure at home, there's nothing easier than nail appliques. And this year, nail companies big and small have released festive designs for every taste, whether you're into subtle holiday cheer or full-on mistletoe and merriment. We've found four perfect patterns guaranteed to make your season bright, so check them out now. Read more
Sweet tooth need a fix? We recommend this cupcake headband ($25), which is candied as can be without actually having any sugar. It's easy to wear, too. Regardless of your length or texture, the thin band is a subtle way to keep your applique in place. It's also the sort of piece you can wear to spice up a boring outfit. It's certainly not formal, but even a sweatshirt and jeans would look Read more
Minx is known for pushing boundaries and coming out with some of the most stunning shapes and patterns around, but their appliques for avant garde designer Charlie Le Mindu's show are delightfully outrageous. To see them up close and find out what it takes to wear them yourself, just keep reading. Read more
