Recently Planet Shoes got in touch with me about reviewing a pair of shoes from their site.  I was intrigued, as one would be from a shoe company promising to be more green & eco-friendly (or at least I am!).

I used this opportunity to check out Indigo by Clarks, specifically the Plush Silk (a cute, 1940s styled heel).  I’d written about my curiosity with Clarks Shoe in the past, and it hasn’t changed.

In all honesty, I’m MORE on the hunt for cute, practical and comfortable heels than ever. Heels don’t need to be 4″ tall to be sexy or make you feel great about yourself, and I want heels that are realistic for me to wear in my everyday life.  These shoes appealed to me for their beautiful 1940s styling; they’ll pair really well with dresses and skinny jeans; I can wear them will hauling a case of wine; they won’t kill my feet when I wear them around the city.

Originally I had requested them in black, not realizing they were sold out.  So when I received them in bronze (not listed on the site), my initial reaction was “What the fuck will I wear bronze with?!” But then I started thinking… I have a Mardi Gras costume coming up that needs shoes… and these might perfectly fit the bill.  I won’t kill myself tripping over a ridiculous heel if I’m drunk, and they’re not so impractical I can’t spend the whole day walking in them.

True to their reputation, these shoes are undeniably comfortable.  Probably one of the most comfy ones I’ve ever worn.  This pair is a little Planet Shoes misfit– the color isn’t listed on the site, and they’re missing the side detailing.  To be honest though, I actually like them better without it…. they remind me of dance shoes (and the days Mallory & I used to spend taking ballroom dance lessons as wee squirts).

I love that Planet Shoes seems to put money behind the eco-friendly branding: my shoes arrived with no extra packaging & materials.  Clarks are one of their green brands that they stock (you can see a full list of the eco-friendly brands and vegan brands carried), along with initiatives like re-using cardboards & recycling, giving at least 1% of their annual sales to environmental causes, and you can choose Carbon Free shipping.  This supports CarbonFund.org, which helps organizations and businesses minimize their carbon footprint.

My biggest challenge will be figuring out how to pair them in to my wardrobe palette… I’m not much for metallic colors (occasionally wearing silver & pewter),  so I’m not really positive how to style them.  How would you do it?

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My gal pal with the mostest, Libby Bulloff of Exoskeleton Cabaret, shared with me the amazing jewelry of improbabecog–who you can find both on Etsy and on Shapeways.  It’s no surprised I was instantly in covet covet mode when viewing Noah’s jewelry creations– they’re geometric, natural, supernatural, and beautiful designed.

Noah’s pieces are currently 50% off in his Shapeways Shop– meaning that pieces that typically run $75 for a pair of beautiful, custom-made stainless steel earrings are currently $35.00.

I’m desperately wanting the tendril earrings (now $35)– at 3.5″ long, they’re dramatic, but I get the impression I’d feel like wood nymph in them, with vines and flowers growing down my body.  I’m also loving the Wing Earrings (down to $25)–a bit sci-fi, like I’m a femme fatale cyborg from the 25th century.

I had the rare chance to get real-life testimonials from my girls about Noah’s work.  Typically when I feature an indie designer, I only get the privilege of lusting–not first hand experiences.

Gal pal Kara says,

I have had the long floral tendrils since christmas and adore them.  They are so light to wear and I don’t have gauged piercings but they are comfortable. I’ve had loads of strangers stop me on the street and in shops and compliment them, too! They are perfectly workwear suited as well as dressing up things with lower necklines.

Libby says of her many pieces,

I own three pairs of Noah’s 3-D printed jewelry: the bright blue tendril earrings, the martian flytrap earrings, and the spine earrings. I’ve also given a few pairs of earrings to friends and family as very affordable, unique gifts. All of his jewelry is incredibly lightweight–I can hardly tell it’s there. It’s both futuristic and organic, and the design and production is very cutting-edge. I mean, how many people can brag that their earrings were made by robots?

Noah’s got great rings, cufflinks, studs, plugs and pendants as well, so there is something for everyone. With pieces as low as $12, there are some real steals in here (maybe time to do a little early Christmas shopping?).

Describe the girl/guy who loves impropablecog accessories:
I like to think that the typical person who likes my jewelry would be younger, somewhat geeky and tech savvy. Artistic, with an aesthetic leaning towards goth/punk/steampunk styles, but not necessarily identifying with one of those subcultures directly. That, however, mostly describes the sort of crowd I know personally who like my work. I’ve also had a surprising amount of interest, particularly in the Tendril and Flora jewelry, from others who are nothing like that description

What are your inspirations?
Science fiction and fantasy, which is fairly obvious I suppose. I’m heavily influence stylistically by art nouveau (in particular Alphonse Mucha, who’s work I love), product design from the art deco period and the decoesque 1950s scifi, and by artists like H.R. Giger who merge technology and biology in their work.

If you could put any piece from your collection on the body of any person, which piece on who, and why?
Oh, this is going to sound geeky, but I would love to see my Tribot cufflinks worn by the late great physicist Richard Feynman. He was brilliant, had quite a sense of humor, and I think as one of the first scientists to have envisioned the possibility of manufacturing through nanotechnology, he would have got quite a kick out of robot jewelry that’s robotically created bit by bit out of steel.

If you could create a collection, without cost, supplies, and inspiration holding you back, what elements would we see in it?
Under such a lack of restrictions, you would see much more in the way of functional mechanical elements in my work. Prior to my first 3D printed jewelry line, I was building one-off art pieces such as the Protection From Darkness Pendant which splits open with a spring loaded click and lights up, and the Artifact Box, which opens only if three spherical magnetic keys are locked into the three matching hemispheres on the lid. A larger degree time and money are needed to get complex pieces like these to production, as they require more prototyping and fine tuning to ensure that the mechanical elements function as promised.

What can we expect in your upcoming collections?
I’m actually already working on recreating some of my earlier mechanical jewelry as 3D printed pieces that can be manufactured and sold. I also have other types of products in the works, such as purses with a metal or plastic exoskeleton that have a stretched interior skin, and a line of robot figures, the very first of which is already starting production. Expect to see plenty of new biomechanical jewelry too, as I have a backlog of concepts still making their way to actual production.

© dramatis personae. If you enjoyed Indie Designers: improbablecog, please subscribe at dramatis personae. Company links may be affiliate links; see a full list of affiliates here. Be assured that all products have received that Ashe seal of love, lust, & approval.

The response, comments, and interest in my post, Finance & the Fashion Blogger: Ignore-ance has been overwhelming and incredible.  Though I haven’t responded, please know that I’ve read them all.

Money– It’s Important to talk about.

And I don’t mean how much we make.

In the U.S., the Horatio Algiers, rags-to-riches ideology is still an active part of the American Dream.  Unfortunately, the mentality of living outside our means began with the Baby Boomers, and that, coupled with our inability to talk candidly about finances (and how to use them), has left the American economy in crumbles.

Recently I received an email from Daily Worth the other day about a new book coming out: Spent: Memoirs of a Shopping Addict.  The Daily Worth mentions that author Avis Cardella estimates that 6% of the U.S. population has a shopping problem– US News reports that as of 2008 5% of Americans have the problem.

That’s 15.3 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES ALONE.

Dudes.  That’s a LOT of people with shopping addictions.
Curious to know what makes up shopping addictions?  58 Warning Signs of Shopping Addiction.

A recent post on NYPost.com called Shop Junkies featured 5 New York women and their shopping habits.  Among the quotes:

The damage: “Let’s put it this way: Louboutin sent me a bottle of champagne last week. American Express Platinum is grateful to me. I don’t care how much I spend. I need to have what I love. I want to get a great value, but that’s not my driver.”  – Carol Brodie

Her credo: “When I first got to college, I thought credit cards were like magic plastic, and then the bills came. I screwed up my credit, and to this day it’s still screwed up,” confesses Shure, who once went on “Oprah” to get a scolding from financial guru Suze Orman. It didn’t change her shopping habit, but now Shure feels guilt over her addiction. “You look at your closet, it’s an empty chest of things. Other people go on trips or have a savings, but you have a pair of shoes.” – Eva Shure

Fashion Bloggers: An At Risk Group

I opened up this discussion because I see fashion bloggers as an at-risk group.  I know that I myself am and can be capable of addictive shopping patterns and habits.  It’s similar to being more at risk of developing alcoholism because it runs in your family; it doesn’t mean that the habit or addiction WILL form, but certain characteristics make it possible.

Many people brought up the alternatives of shopping at thrift stores– and in discussing the topic, Miss Malaprop and I came to one conclusion– that can be just as addictive.  It’s easy to think that shopping at a thrift store can automatically make you more frugal and less likely to put yourself in financial burden.  But what’s the difference between spending $25 on something you really love at the Gap or $25 on pieces you love at the thrift store?

There was a popular blogger a few years back, who was well known for her thrifting and fantastic wardrobe.  She had done a series on cleaning out your wardrobe…. at the end of it, I recall seeing a full-to-the-brim wardrobe, and a dozen bags of clothes to be donated.  Piles of shoes to be sorted through.  I was appalled and confused by the massive consumption of it all– because in our minds, shopping secondhand or at thrift stores isn’t about that.

Thrifting can be just as addictive and just as costly in the end as buying new clothes from a mass retailer.  Like Birdiee said in a tweet, “It’s all about moderation.”  Whether you’re buying new, used, swapping, or sharing, consumption is consumption– and the excessive need to consume can lead to financial burden.

Leaving a Different Legacy

One thing, that I realized was incredibly important after reading through so many comments– we need to talk about money.  So many of us weren’t raised knowing how bills were paid, how credit cards worked; our parents shielded us from it.  Many of us grew up making the same mistakes as our parents or struggling and fighting not to make the same mistakes.

The “thank you”s from teenage women in that post though, really reiterated to my WHY it’s important for us to have this conversation.  Many of us have teenage readers, and if their parents aren’t having this discussion with them (like our own mothers and fathers may not have), who will?

I learned the mistakes of my parents by repeating them.  But if we can speak up, and some young man or woman can turn 18 and turn down those credit card offers (or better, take one of them and learn to use it responsibly?)– then we’ve just done something awesome.

Edit: An interesting article from the New York Times on Video Bloggers & Showcasing their “hauls” online.

© dramatis personae. If you enjoyed Finance & the Fashion Blogger: Blogging & Buying, please subscribe at dramatis personae. Company links may be affiliate links; see a full list of affiliates here. Be assured that all products have received that Ashe seal of love, lust, & approval.

Inspired by my own growing wishlist of indie goods and by this post on Customer Etiquette at Corsetry (not to mention Birdiee’s post on Retail Hell: How Customer Service has Changed), I thought it’d be great to share some tips on how to order custom, handmade, and one-of-a-kind goods– both from a consumer and creator perspective!

As someone who dabbles in crafting, the few custom orders I have had have been less than thrilling experiences. I can’t imagine what it is like for the person doing it full time.  Clients being unclear about what they’re wanting to lacking knowledge and research about the kind of work I create… it can create a disastrous work environment for both maker and buyer!

Via Catty Came Home

• Know what you want and how to describe it. Telling someone you want a black hat isn’t as helpful as saying you’d like a black pillbox hat or a black fedora.
• Do your research– approach the right person for the job. You wouldn’t approach someone to make a latex corset for you if they reproduced period pieces, and you shouldn’t approach the lady who makes gorgeous crystal headbands about making you a fedora.
• Don’t pressure them in to making something they aren’t comfortable with. All designers know their limitations–they know that point that is challenging and new and exciting, and they know that point that is beyond their skill set.
• Don’t ask them to provide their sources– don’t ask about material suppliers, where to get the best deals on supplies, or to divulge their secrets.  They’re called “trade secrets” for a reason, these designers take years to build up their relationships and suppliers, and they should’t have to share them with their consumers.
• Be regular, straightforward, and upfront in your communciations. Be honest about when you need it by, what your actual measurements are.  Set up a plan for payments, and be diligent and regular in your email responses.
• Keep your commitments. If you say that you’ll pay by a certain date or that you’ll ship a product at a certain time– DO IT.
• Recognize business hours and costs related to doing their job. Just because they are self employed doesn’t mean that they’re expected to work 18 hour days for below minimum wage, or not have health insurance to keep their costs low.  Realize that they are running a business and expect that to be included in your costs.  If they have to go out and buy new supplies to create your product, don’t be surprised that some of that overhead has ended up in your final costs!
• Don’t expect discounts! Related to the above point, these people are trying to run a business– and as much as I love a discount (and I know you do too!), there is a difference between waiting for a promo or sale and asking for the price to be reduced.
• Demand security for you and for them. Whether it’s in the form of a contract and home contact information, make sure that if you’ve given someone money upfront to create something for you, that you have the right to get in touch with them– and not just over email.  Likewise, respect that they aren’t going to appreciate phone calls at 3 a.m. and that they have as much right to your personal contact information as well.
• Be understanding. Real life happens to all of us– we get ill or injured, we relocate (*cough*), or occasionally we just let our orders get out of control.  Be understanding as a customer that most independent businessmen AREN’T out to screw you over.  Be understanding as a businessman that your customers will get scared and panicked if you have their money and haven’t been in regular contact with them.  On both ends, we’re just wanting communication, honesty, and survival.

Lovers of indie products, or creators and designers of indie products– is there anything you’d like to add?

© dramatis personae. If you enjoyed How to Custom Order Goods from Your Indie Friends, please subscribe at dramatis personae. Company links may be affiliate links; see a full list of affiliates here. Be assured that all products have received that Ashe seal of love, lust, & approval.

Smitten. That was my first reaction when I read Miss Malaprop’s post about designer Color Me Conscious. Lee, talent behind Color Me Conscious, makes these gorgeous, rich, stunning, and bold cuffs that I fantasize about having on my wrist.  With multitudes of buttons, or flowers and pearls, her cuffs aren’t the only beautiful statement pieces in her shop (but they’re certainly my favorite).  Priced between $28-32, they aren’t likely to break your bank, either.

Color Me Conscious donates a portion of each sale to a charitable cause, and for January and February she’s RED inspired– and proceeds are going towards Heart Disease Prevention and Awareness.  Lee says of this month,

RED is the color of heart disease awareness and prevention. So as you enjoy each unique piece of red jewelry in my shop, remember the cause that inspired it…and know that Color Me Conscious has already pledged a minimum of $35 to The American Heart Association in support of our featured cause.

Miss Malaprop is also giving away one of these gorgeous cuffs– the Memoirs of a Geisha cuff.  To enter to win this beautiful cuff, leave a comment on Miss Malaprop here.

© dramatis personae. If you enjoyed Indie Designer: Color Me Conscious, please subscribe at dramatis personae. Company links may be affiliate links; see a full list of affiliates here. Be assured that all products have received that Ashe seal of love, lust, & approval.