Seeing RED, sharing my favorite vintage finds of late.

  Happy Wednesday from sunny and snowy NYC! 

I'm often too busy during the holidays to take on a personal project for myself; so when I snagged this brilliantly bold, vintage dress, I thought it was perfect as it only needed a few alterations. I wanted to have at least one new jazzy go-to piece with the multitude of events I had approaching and the lack of time I had to prepare for them. 

This particular dress was old, but the fabric was in great condition. I reinforced the seams, and shortened the hem. The color and print were so vibrant, I thought it might be more flattering as a shorter dress. A bonus about this fabric was that it draped beautifully and barely wrinkled- turning this dress into a great travel item. Our Christmas consists of 3 parts- Connecticut, New York, and Louisiana. I stuck it in my suitcase as we headed down to Louisiana to celebrate Christmas Part 3, the New Year, and my cousin Sarah's wedding.  

With all of the packing and unpacking I had been doing, at least the only item I forgot upon arriving in Louisiana was an evening clutch. This was a perfect excuse to do some last minute antiquing- hehe.  My brother agreed to let me stop at my favorite consignment shop in Thibodaux while en route to my cousin's wedding in New Orleans. I was a little bummed at first as I ran through the entire shop and found nothing- unusual for me. Then, my husband pulls out this vintage jewelry box in the perfect shades of red and gold and proposes the idea that I use it as a clutch- brilliant! For someone who often discourages me adding anymore items to our tiny NYC apartment- it was very sweet and memorable of him to help.

The velvety and gold box had a mirror in it, which made it even better as an evening bag. 

Some of my best vintage finds are the ones that tie in with memorable moments, and these certainly do. The wedding was a great way to cap off a wonderful and whirlwind Christmas vacation with family and friends. Congrats to the bride and groom, Sarah and Ben- well wishes for a happy marriage!

 (Hanging with one of my favorite ladies at the wedding festivities- my Aunt Estherlina)

Okay, now I must get back to work! I leave 2014 feeling superbly grateful and I enter 2015 prepared to work hard on my goals and make the most of what each new day brings. Best wishes to you as we kick off 2015! 

Sincerely,

-Erin

http://www.erinelsie.com 

Follow along my every day on Instagram:@ ErinBlank_Designer

Classic...check! Chic...check! Timeless...Check!

Classic and cozy, chic plaid scarves have stood the test of time and remain style staples.  When I found some vintage Pendleton skirts, with torn seams and missing zippers, scarves seem like the perfect way to give the fabric a new life in a versatile and timeless piece. Pendleton wool is and has remained a high quality fabric, made in America. Although the vintage pieces I found were in rough shape, the fabric was still going strong.

 Here are the first couple of scarves, and I'm trying to get more done in time for the Holiday gifting! I'm a true believer in buying quality over quantity; beautiful pieces that quickly become your favorite go to items. I think investing in great, classic scarf definitely fits that bill.

Cobalt Plaid Scarf

This plaid was such a great find. The brilliant and bold colors make it a standout piece, while the plaid pattern keep it classic and timeless.

Classic Red Plaid Scarf

It doesn't get much better than this one- you can't go wrong with a classic red plaid.

Violet and Black Plaid Super Scarf

I love that you can easily dress this one up or down. It's extra long, giving it such a lux feel and versatile styling options. A perfect item to throw on a chic and comfy traveling outfit. Here in New York, I feel that way about outfits almost everyday! 

To shop all ErinElsie scarves at hats, Click Here.

Have a great week everyone! 

Cheers,

-Erin

http://www.erinelsie.com 

Follow my every day along on Instagram:@ ErinBlank_Designer

'Tis the Season! It's Cold Out! (and Getting Cozy in the Workshop)

It's Holiday time in NYC, and even though it's getting very cold out- the lights and decorations around the city can be truly infectious. The busy Holiday season inspired me to create some cozy gift-ables that you can truly feel good about- winter accessories made entirely with repurposed materials. In the workshop right now; I'm making some beanies from reclaimd wool, cotton, and cashmere sweaters, along with some lux plaid scarves with classic and gorgeous vintage Pendleton fabrics.  

coral-cashmere-slouchy-beanie

Also, I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend! I'm leaving you with a few pictures from ours in Rhode Island. We spent the weekend at a beach house with family and friends that feel like family. The lovely views didn't hurt either!

Okay, this elf needs to get back to the work! Gift-ables coming soon. Thanks for following along everyone! 

Cheers,

-Erin

http://www.erinelsie.com 

Follow my every day along on Instagram:@ ErinBlank_Designer

It's Fall Ya'll! Some of my favorite new pieces fresh from the workshop...

It's Fall Ya'll!

Whether your part of the world is cold, or just a little bit cool, fall is such a fun time to layer accordingly. I'm excited about some of my new pieces because they lend perfectly to that idea. 

Versatile Paisley Shirt Dress and Kimono

A perfect, timeless paisley print. From the moment I found this fabric, I fell in love with the rich, universally flattering color scheme. This fabric is a lightweight wool, made in France, I reclaimed from a vintage garment with a very dated and unflattering shape (I found the original piece on a recent vintage treasure hunt with my mom in Louisiana, you can read more about that on my last post here.) It was a joy to repurpose this fabric into this beautiful dress and kimono. I also love the idea of taking this piece into summer as a rich swimsuit cover-up. The exaggerated sleeves are super comfy and flattering, adding a fun shape that's not overly dramatic. As the days get colder, just layer it up with tights and/or a long sleeved shirt underneath.

SHOP LINK

Leopard Print Boxy Blouse 

 Leopard print has now established itself as a versatile and neutral print in fashion these days. I love the idea of interpreting it into chic pieces that you can incorporate into your wardrobe. This leopard blouse is such an easy and season-less one, but lends itself to fall beautifully. It's made from a piece of reclaimed vintage fabric. There are little black buttons down he back, and you can even flip it around to change up the look.

SHOP LINK 

Quilted Leopard Print Fabric Fold-over Clutch

I never let good fabric go to waste. I had just enough fabric leftover from making the above blouse, that I was able to create this chic little clutch. I quilted the fabric with cotton batting and lined it in a cute plaid print. It would add a perfect pop to both dressy and casual looks all year around, but looks beautiful with all the fabrics and textures of fall. It would also be a great little bag to just drop in your larger carryall as a wallet or makeup pouch.  

SHOP LINK

Alright, back to the workshop for me- more new fall pieces coming soon. Thanks for following along friends, and have a lovely weekend.

All the best,

-Erin

http://www.erinelsie.com 

Follow my ever day along on Instagram:@ ErinBlank_Designer