Hello friends!
We’re back in Madrid after a whirlwind three weeks in New York and then a quick visit to Barcelona. What a crazy month we’ve had away from you! But while we were in New York we got everything sorted, packed, and sent off with the movers who will put it onto a container ship. We’ll see our belongings sometime in November after they land in Valencia and get trucked through Spain to our apartment.
We’ve given up our New York apartment. It was emotional to say goodbye our our home of twenty-two years–so many memories there! I think it was a little easier because we’ve been away from it for two years and that’s given us a little time to prepare, but it was still so sad to close the door for the very last time. And I must admit that it’s been quite freeing to live with just the essentials for the past two years. But we did that by choice. That’s not the same as losing everything, as we’ve witnessed in Houston recently. I hope those of you in Florida will be OK.
While in New York made a quick trip to see our parents and my grandma, who is now 98 years old. We managed to spend time with many of our very closest (and longest) friends (but we didn’t manage to catch everyone!), and S and I grabbed a couple of hours the afternoon before the movers arrived to catch the Rei Kawakubo exhibit at the Met. Wow, it is good. A friend gave me the book, which I’ll be able to read when it arrives with our shipment in November. Something else to look forward to seeing, right? We managed a short stroll through Central Park and a visit to some of our favorite spots (the secret stone slide!) and we snagged a pretzel for old-time’s sake. I really love our city and will look forward to every chance to return in the future. And this week we took a much-needed rest and went to visit some dear friends in Barcelona, so once school starts next week I think we’ll be ready to settle down for a while!
Pinterest Picks
My favorite transitional piece right now is the Liesl + Co Gallery Tunic/Dress, which looks so chic worn with sandals in the middle of the heat but also works great as a fall layer when the weather turns cooler. Here are a few styling examples to help you wear it.
Patterns and colors that are inspiring me right now.
Two examples of elegantly-dressed men. I love the proportion play and the accessories here.
Mmmm, ice cream.
And just in case you missed them, here are two popular tutorials we ran this summer. The lengthened Classic Shirt as a dress combined with our free Popover Placket download makes another great transitional piece!
Weekend Reading
- How very cool to see the pattern pieces that achieved those fascinating Balenciaga shapes! I’m so excited that I will get to see this show in London later this month!
- It’s true: women’s work wear is really confusing these days.
- It will be interesting to see if clothing store mannequins really do change to reflect diverse body shapes and sizes in the near future.
- Definitely trying to eat more brain foods this week. I’ve been dragging since we returned. (Which could be jet lag or fatigue from packing. My arms and shoulders are noticeably stronger right now!)
- Wow, is it nice to be a modern woman. All those 18th Century layers!
- Anyone else want to become a costume curator after reading this? So fascinating!
- As long as we’re talking about starting things, who else wants to participate in Formal Fridays? (And how funny would it be if I answered the door to the UPS man in a full-length strapless silk gown?)
- Oh yes, let’s bring back seersucker! It’s beautiful when woven without the differently-colored stripes, especially.
- Behind the scenes in the costume department of Game of Thrones. Just another Ikea hack!
We’ll be back next week with lots of great stuff for you. And the fall patterns will be ready in a little over a week! Happy September! Have a great weekend.
I’ve just made a Lisette B6464 sleeveless top in a type of Japanese seersucker called Enshuku. The fabric is salt shrunk and so the puckering effect is in splotches rather than lines. It’s delightful! Now, if only it didn’t still feel like winter here…..
Congratulations on the big move.
Well, if our weather is getting colder (which it is!) then yours should be getting warmer soon too. Hang in there! xo
Love the link to the seersucker trend. I work for apparel company, Southern Tide, and seersucker is used quite a bit as an accent. We have also used it in complete garments. It just speaks upscale southern! I am also a HUGE fan of Oliver & S. Thank goodness I have little girls to sew for. Will the children’s line continue to grow?
I love its texture, Kim! It’s a great summer fabric, for sure.
Thanks for your kind comment about the Oliver + S patterns. We’ll have a new pattern coming out this fall (as well as several Liesl + Co patterns, that is), and I’m hard at work on more for next spring as well.
That costume curator article reminded me of that lady with the barn full of costumes at Blueberry Hill…remember that? I mean, different, obviously, but so crazy to have all those theater costumes in a barn in Vermont.
I always enjoy your weekend links, Liesl. I can’t believe you sold your NY place!!! Good luck with the unpacking, etc. Hope it’s not too stressful.
Thankfully, the most stressful part is over! Now we just have to decide where we’re going to live, long-term, in Madrid. But we have almost a year to decide. Thanks for your feedback on weekend links! It’s nice to know you like it.
I’ve been thinking Italy, but keep chickening out when it comes to even starting, so Kudos to you!
I have opened the door to UPS fully Victorian Steampunked out in the middle of the day corset, hip-high lace up boots and all and it was….embarrassing. On the other hand, the driver has gone the extra mile ever since, stashing packages when I’m not home, etc. I was trying out the outfit for a party later that night in case you were wondering, it’s not my normal attire!
Italy is lovely! It’s been a wonderful experience to live abroad. I highly recommend it if you’re considering it. It’s really changed all three of us, and for the better I think.
Your story about the costume is hilarious and brilliant! Love that you’ve witnessed different treatment from your driver ever since. Sounds like it was totally worth it!
It sounds like you are super busy but I’m waiting with bated breath for the new patterns. I’m so very excited to get them!
Wow! Can’t believe it’s really happening (moving to Madrid) – I’m sure it must have been a turmoil of emotions for all of you (love S’s picture).
I visited New York for the first time this summer (a few weeks ago) and it’s really impossible not to love the city and it’s people (The MET is really fabulous – I loved Rei Kawakubo exhibition so much!! Totally worth several visits).
On a side note, I’m so glad to hear that there’s a new O+S pattern coming out this fall (together with the new Liesl+Co) – I miss your patterns 😉