Tatjana’s corner

May 4, 2022

Statement pants

Some people like statement necklace or rings, bold jewelry pieces designed to attract attention. I, on the other hand, swear by statement pants. First off, they are practical: at least a half of a person’s body is dressed. Second, they announce the wearer’s arrival from afar. Third, they allow for great creative freedom as the wearer can pick the design, fabric pattern, or fabric color in order to personally curate their statement. I personally prefer focusing on color, as a striking hue goes equally well with a simple or an elaborate pant design. Patterned fabrics, according to my aesthetic, (and what I think constitutes good taste) only go well with a minimalistic pant design. That being said, perhaps throwing caution to the wind makes for the best statement pants?

Feb16, 2022

Perfection

Geometric. Clean lines. Simple. Perennial. Interesting. All the adjectives describe my current favorite bag. First of, the fact that it’s a parallelogram reminds me of the handbag my nana used to wear when I was a child. It’s geometric shape gives me a feeling of comfort comfort, familiarity. There are only defined lines on this bag: no folds , gathering or any kind of fuss. Just strong, clean lines that draw attention to the fact that when the design and materials used are superb, there is no need for embellishment, The bag is simplicity in a nutshell: just a body, a flap and a handle. No extra pockets or details needed. With its rectangular shape, and medium size, it’s a perennial kind of handbag. I have used it while shopping, or going out in the evening. Even, on occasion, when walking my dog. The twist, the interesting part, is the handle: just a round loop on top, reminiscent of a rollercoaster loop. No need for any straps, as it can be worn around your arm or in your hand.

In other words, perfection.

Jan 9, 2022

Magic 45 degree angle

I love anything cut on the bias, but particularly dresses. What is "cut on the bias?" Does it mean that one cuts fabric with prejudice? Okay, I'll be serious. It is when a pattern is placed on and cut from cloth which sides are folded on a 45 degree to each other. Why is it so magical? It's because it gives woven fabric a natural stretch, which it inherently doesn't have, as its threads are placed at a 90 degree angle to each other. Confused much? Anyhow, I adore it, because dresses don't require darts to accentuate the waist and the material hugs the hips beautifully. Also, even when a long dress is cut to fall straight, there is (mostly) no need for a slit. It's most important feature, though, in my book, is that dresses cut in this manner are wonderfully comfortable to wear.

You can now see why I call it a magical 45 degree angle, right?

Dec 9, 2021

A win-win situation

I love to adjust my wardrobe to fit my current, creative vision. Case in point: I have been (almost obsessively) designing dresses and tops with empire waistline lately. You know, the waist that goes just below the bust and makes one think of Jane Austen. And Mr. Darcy. But, I digress. So, I have been racking my brain trying to figure out how to create the illusion of that waistline on some of my existing dresses and tops, without making actual alterations. What to do, what to do? I decided to see if I can create the silhouette with a belt. And not just any belt. It’s a wide, black, leather belt that sits beautifully just below the bust. Since it is so sturdy and simple, it allows me to achieve the illusion an empire style without any alterations. The fact that it helps me extend the life of existing garments is an absolute delight: I can avoid the guilt that goes with owning clothes I do not wear as much anymore when as I am in the mood for a different look. A win-win, in other words.

Aug 9, 2021

Candy, with a twist

I love candy, particularly the old fashioned hardy candy. It's sweet and colorful, and pretty. I also love cabochon gems, my other "candy." Cabochon gemstones are polished, not faceted, usually round in shape, with a high or flat dome, and always a flat bottom. To me, jewelry made with them look like hard candy: colorful and pretty, and maybe a little childish, but always playful and fresh. Perennial, like the hard candy.

May 20, 2021

Being practical is not a dirty word

A dress is the order of the day. A practical, versatile dress. A dress that is easy to wear, that can be worn in different ways, and that will please me from all angles. The fabric store is the first stop, one accompanied by feelings of anticipation, as fabrics often initiate my design process. I peruse and peruse, then, lo and behold, I find the best material! A drape-y and lightweight rayon-lycra knit (already sold: a knit!) with a stylized floral pattern. Perfection, in other words. The rayon-lycra blend is fabulous and practical: since rayon was invented to mimic silk, the fabric is smooth and cooling. Although it is manmade, it is based on cellulose, making it renewable and biodegradable! The lycra adds comfort and recovery to the knit, as well as anti-wrinkling properties. The busy, but elegant floral pattern can also mask wrinkling, like from being in a suitcase or, god-forbid, being left too long in the dryer. Never, ever could I be accused of such a crime. Also, maybe some tiny stain can hide there until one gets home to take care of it. I have never been adverse to those prints. They are sensible and practical.

Anyhow, what all these features led me to design was a vaguely ancient Greek-style column dress, with elastic around the neckline and armholes, to control the ease and provide support, plus along the hemline, to shape the silhouette. I wanted to create a throwback to the early 20th century styles which, by gathering the hemline, prevented dresses from looking like amorphous tents. This column-esque shape, without emphasized waist, is my go-to when I feel that some areas of my body should be camouflaged a bit. Of course, in my experience, that has NEVER happened. But, moving on. I also wanted to accentuate the waist or the bust, if I felt like it. Hence, I added wrap around belts, just below the bust, to achieve the Empire-style look (love it), or by criss-crossing at the waist, draw attention to it. Voila! More of an hourglass-y look. But I went further. The elasticized hem also meant that I could place the hem on my hips and get a mini dress, both loose or not. Ingenious, I have to say. I haven’t yet experimented wit the hemline on the waist, to get a tunic, but, hey, why not?

With this dress, the sky is the limit.

Apr 21, 2021

Conundrum

As I am wearing my hair longer these days, I also find that it frequently gets in my way. Perhaps, I should opt for a shorter style? What to do, what to do? Why, wear hair pins! They both are practical and decorative. While there is a plethora of hair accessories, my favorites are bobby pins and berets. They are often designed to stay flush to the hair and they grip the strands well. In addition to keeping my tresses from my face, I use them to “decorate” my fairly simple hairstyles by adding dimension to a pony tail or side part. I see that bit of sparkle in the hair as a way of adding interest to an everyday look, particularly if the outfit I am wearing is simple and monochromatic. An element of surprise, in a nutshell.

In conclusion, hair pins, what wonderful little devices! Functional and ornamental, who needs anything else?

Mar 18, 2021

Silver is a new black?

I recently created a monochromatic charcoal top and pant combo. Sort of an elegant, streamlined, timeless, yet comfortable ensemble. Made out of wool neoprene-type knit. Heaven, in other words. Upon wearing it for the first time, although I was pleased, something was amiss. That is, until I remembered my silver lace-up brogues, from which the perfect outfit was born. This pairing of a pretty, but somber top and bottom, and the silver color on my feet, just tied the look together. The silver hue gave it just the element of surprise and luster, the “I-am-serous-but-I-know-how-to-have-fun” aspect it needed. It is the lustrous nature of silver - the most light-reflecting metal of all - that allows it to add a special touch to any look. Whether it is polished to a high sheen, dulled, patinated, or somewhere in between, it’s a perfect accent to an outfit. I like to use it in accessories, like belts, in handbags, (whether it’s a fanny pack or a large bucket bag), in jewelry, or on shoes. I don’t think that one should wear them all at once, but I don’t judge. (Maybe just a little.) The hue and luster provide just enough interest to drive the eye to the outfit, but in a sophisticated, elegant way that endows the whole ensemble with a subtle radiance and glamour. The color itself goes well with pretty much any other color, aside from gold. Silver is the new black as far as details in wardrobe go. The cool magic of silver is just the thing to set one apart in an evening on the town or at a party.