GOT MILK?...The Most Unlikely Of Fabrics

Just when you think you've heard it all, more than likely you really haven't and this couldn't ring more true to the fact since I've just recently discovered that along with the usual fabrics that clothing can be created from, such as crepe, silk, linen and cotton, 'milk' is now on the list to choose from.  I initially thought this was a joke when I first stumbled upon it but after putting in some time researching, the info I found is the real deal.  A young fashion designer from Germany has developed a fabric called QMilch that is produced from the high concentrations of protein called casein found in milk.  This is truly the first man made fabric developed entirely without the use of chemicals or chemical byproducts.  It is said to have a silky feel that is void of any smell.  The fabric is even cited as being healthy in that the wearer will reap the benefits of anti aging since the amino acids in the protein have antibacterial properties that aid in cleaning out the free radicals that we are exposed to every day.  In addition, it's believed to be able to regulate the circulatory system and body temperature...

Anke Domaske, 28 of Berlin is a microbiologist in addition to being a fashion designer.  What an unlikely pairing of career choices eh?  Anyhow, her fashion label called Mademoiselle Chi Chi has become a favorite of stars like Mischa Barton & Ashlee Simpson.  She's honest to state the facts that milk fabric is not a new concept and has been around since the 30's but she does however, redeem kudos for being the first to produce it 'au naturale'.

The whole process is rather interesting to conceive of.  The milk protein is removed from the dried milk powder, heated in a type of mincing machine with other natural ingredients and then the fibers come out in strands that are spun into a yarn on a spinning machine.  Domaske states it would take around 6 liters of milk to make an entire dress and that the finished product would cost around $200 American dollars.  In case you were wondering, the heating of the proteins is what keeps it from decomposing.  Pretty cool!

Scientists have found that this milk fiber can also be used for medicinal purposes and even as an additive to cosmetics.  Some car companies are even considering looking into using the milk fiber for upholstery.


This seriously gives new meaning to the term..."GOT MILK?"

pics: mt-online.de.com, vancouver.com, welt.de.com

Fashion In Film Friday - The Flapper

Since the early 1900's when motion pictures were first coming to life, costumes have been the most important element.  Aside from the actors capability to make you believe in the characters they portray, the wardrobe for each character has been just as much an essential element to each film.  For as long as we can remember, the fashions we've seen in the movies we love to watch have had a major impact on our own personal style choices. The very first vintage film that sparked my interest was "The Flapper", a non talkie flick made in 1919. Actress Olive Thomas was 25 at the time she played the role of a 16 year old pretending to be a flapper. Thomas' look in the film was the embodiment of the trends of the approaching 1920's, from the bobbed hairstyles & cloche hats, to the short hemmed fringe flapper dresses that shimmied.

Olive Thomas, born in 1894, was an American silent film actress and socialite who gained her rise to stardom after being hired as a dancer in the Ziegfield Follies.  A vixen in her time, known for being a wild party girl, Thomas posed nude for a Peruvian artist before she went on to sign with an international film company to which she acted in over twenty movies in four years.  Her untimely death at the young age of 26, happened by accident when on a coke binge, she mistook her husbands syphilis meds (liquid mercury bi chloride) for either water or alcohol?  Either way, she screwed up big time and it cost her, her life...

'Flappers' by common definition, were women who were seen as non conventional in that they had no shame in their game and were totally not unopposed to wearing excessive makeup, drinking booze, smoking, driving and most of all had no issues with professing their attitudes towards sexuality which was unheard of at the time!  Sounds like they laid the ground work out for us!
I absolutely am in love with the designs of this era and am convinced that this timeless style will always be 'IN'.  Just this past year we are still seeing designers at the board, creating their unique versions of the 'modern flapper'

pics: silentsaregolden.com, tumblr.com, myspace.com, maureentillman.blogspot.com, freenewfashiondesign.com

Fall Fur'y

Outerwear is going tactile for Fall/Winter 2011 as with the onset of the chilly temps right around the corner, we will be seeing more cold weather apparel adorned with wild & woolly patches of fur, both faux & real.  Big statement coats or chic vests worn with skinny jeans and stilettos will be the perfect pairing as opposed to opting for colors of the rainbow.  Head to toe neutrals in black, brown, beige & gray are the way to go...  During fashion week 2011, American designer Peter Som, blew the runway away with his unique take on the common fur coat by deciding to fur the sleeves only on these absolutely unique & dramatic pieces.

Tibi of New York has an amazingly diverse selection of fresh fashions, for instance they offer the ultimate in utility chic in this Tibi's fur coat combo'd with rich wool felt that has detachable sleeves and bottom panel that converts this garment into a flirty cropped fur jacket.

My personal fave comes from Burberry Prorsum which to me has captured an ultimately vintage aesthetic with their double breasted, wool tweed trench coat with black fox fur panels.  It only goes for about $3,950.00.  It's a gorgeous coat, but geeze oh' peets that's pretty pricey!

Whether you like it or not, cruelty free fur is taking a back seat to the real deal this year because 'fur' is trending hot!  Global retail sales for fur were up more than 5% putting sales at over 14 billions in spite of the current recession.  


pics: atouchofluxe.com, tumblr.com, polyvore.com, flickr.com

MOD Monday - Raquel Welch

60's sex symbol and pop culture icon, Raquel Welch was a big deal in her heyday. Born Jo Raquel Tejada in Chicago, Illinois in 1940, she was of Spanish/American descent because her father was a Bolivian immigrant.  Prior to becoming an actress, Welch was involved in acting on a small scale doing plays in her local community theatre. She worked as a cocktail waitress and also did work modeling for the department store, Neiman Marcus.  Her first taste of being behind the camera was when she landed a gig as weather girl for a San Diego television station.

In 1965, at the age of twenty five, Raquel got her first movie roll in a campy beach film that landed her a contract with 20th Century Fox, but it wasn't until the 1966 movie 'Fantastic Voyage' that she actually achieved star status.  The movie that pushed her into her own, was the remake of 'One Million Years B.C.' which she starred in wearing nothing but a fur bikini and speaking only three lines of dialect. The movie poster for the film became a best seller and made her one of the leading sex symbols of the 60's.

Welch seemed to be solely responsible for making 'cleavage' a fashion accessory in the 60's as MOD fashions were becoming more revealing once her bodacious bod was on the scene!  Ironically, in 2010 at the age of 70 and still as fab as ever, Raquel Welch wrote a book titled..."Beyond The Cleavage" which is cited as being part autobiography and part personal philosophy on every subject from dealing with the angst of youth to aging gracefully.

Denying having had any plastic surgery, she promotes that her longevity with retaining a youthful appearance has everything to do with exercise, yoga, a strict diet, a tad of hormone replacement therapy and three hours of make up in the morning.  I don't know if I particularly buy into all of this especially after seeing this photo of her with her wig tape showing?  In all reality unless she has discovered the fountain of youth or sold her soul, there is absolutely no way in 'H-E-double hockey sticks' that anyone can be 70 and look this flawless without a little help from their friends (i.e. plastic surgeon).  It just ain't happenin'!

pics: idiotflashback.wordpress.com,dvdconversfusion.com, google.com, electricjewelryandfashion.blogspot.com, fashionfave.blogspot.com, luxlogic.blogspot.com, jeffs60s.com, blog.ladybunny.net

Spotlight Saturday - Amy Whinehouse

The soulful sultry voice of brit born Amy Whinehouse has been stifled long before its time as the 27 year old, best known for her old school sound and amazing contralto vocals was found dead this afternoon 4:00 UK time, in her home in Camden, London.  The cause of her passing remains 'unexplained' however, it's no secret that the young singer had an ongoing history with drugs & alcohol.  Whinehouse gained popularity in the UK several years before she came on the scene in America with her second album titled, 'Back To Black' in 2006.  Ironically, it wasn't until 2007, with her hit song 'Rehab' that she rose to fame here in the states.  Besides being noted for her vocal abilities, Amy was the muse to fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld.  She wasn't just the beehive, eyeliner and tattoos, she was an amazing talent who had the ability to infuse jazz, r&b and soul into every song she sang.   

                                      In the spotlight today...            
                                      Amy Jade Whinehouse
                            September 14th 1983 - July 23rd 2011


pics: fitceleb.com