The Superhero In You

After seeing The Dark Knight this weekend (and drooling endlessly over Maggie Gyllenhall's wardrobe), I've been back on my "superheroesareSOtotallycoolandIKNOWIhavemutantabilities" kick.

Then Fate got a hold of this and introduced me to Etsy seller Esta Sketch, who makes the most delightful superhero inspired art prints.

In a series titled, "My Secret Identity," Estasketch says her images depict

ordinary people who fancy themselves as a little out-of-the-ordinary. Their secret powers can range from always getting a bus first try during rush-hour, being the Pictionary champion of the family to being able to type at 92wpm without ever having taken a typing course. It doesn't matter what it is, as long as it makes them feel 'super', and it's something they wear on their sleeves (chest, arms and back) with pride.

All of her pieces are created from old comic books: those with missing or torn pages, sans covers, or are otherwise destroyed. I love the way she layers various comic pages together to create color variation, depth, and pattern on each of the pieces.



What I find even better about the pieces is the super steal that Estasketch has them priced at: $35-60 each.

Etsy Designer: Liza Rietz

If I had a cool $250 to buy myself an amazing birthday present for my 25th birthday (obviously $10 per year I was born, grandparent style), I would be heading over to this shop.

I'm lustful and desperately wanting the gorgeous gowns and garments from Liza Rietz's. Many moons ago, I discovered her site by finding the beautiful and stylish cloche hats she makes.

Since that time, she has updated her shop to include gorgeous dresses, tops, and vests, available in custom-sizing. I love how she takes classically styled gowns, and adds a modern twist on them, creating a beautiful, architectural garment.

If money were no object, I'd be picking up, without a doubt these two pieces:



These two pieces would be flattering on any body shape; I love the defined waist band (which is great on Apple figures like myself!) and classic A-line skirt coupled with the ruffled accent pieces. The neutral coloring further defines the amazing and standout nature of the dress.

She has lots of cozy knit gowns and tops as well, that look so yummy but oh so cozy, too.

Sleeve Meet Face

Sleeveface is my newest favorite Flickr group-- and why shouldn't it be? It combines two of my favorite things, vinyl and innovation.

Sleeveface defines itself as "one or more persons obscuring or augmenting any part of their body or bodies with record sleeves causing an illusion." This definition is provided by DJ Carl Morris, who began the fad when he placed an old album sleeve of McCartney while DJing. The crowd went wild, and DJs have been emulating the presentation ever since.

Sleeveface also has a blog where the continue to post great images.

Morua Designs

I am a big, big fan of U.K. fashion designer Gerry Quinton and her company Morua Designs (as she probably knows by now). I came across this talented designer when I spotted her cyber corset design on a Livejournal community. The lines, the design, the colors-- I was hooked.

Her website states that, "Morúa's girl is ahead of the curve. She is sleek. She is confident. She wears a chic new rhythm. She is a skyscraper, a monument, a river. She towers and twirls. To achieve this dynamic effect, Morúa utilizes only the finest fabrications and couture construction techniques in every collection. We dress our lady in a new kind of shaded beat. We will transform the modern woman, grant her a novel freedom: to walk the quantum pattern of satiating prints. We want our lady to flow." With standards and demands so high, one could wonder how Quinton manages to deliver! And yet, she does.

Her Couture line is a beautiful hybrid of timeless shape, utilizing dramatic angle, bold pattern, and strong color to transform them in to unique and vibrant pieces of body art. Many of her couture pieces are from her "Metropolis" collection, lengthening the body and sharpening with her bold architectural style. But many of Quinton's other pieces seem bring out the softer side of the Metropolis, such as the Marionette dress featured above, and the Chiquitita dress. Both are pieces I personally love, and would wear together (perhaps with this Fall's dominant Men's style booties?); the neutral tone would highlight the supposedly cold exterior of cement buildings, while romanticizing the perceived connotations of the structure and identity of cities.

A Fresh Breath of Victorianism

Every so often, I come across a designer or artist who sends my head spinning and reeling with their creations. Another one of those times has come, as I came across German designer Maide, who specializes in breathtaking women's spats.

One of my favorite pairs of boots resembles spats, with a contrasting white upper and black bottom. Maide, however, creates removable spats that are adorned with velvet flowers, lace bits and trims, ribbons and lacings, all antiquities from 1900-1930. Each pair is a work of art unto itself, bring the Victorian past into the modern era. The influences of Klimt, Mucha, and Larrson are visible in each set's beauty and design, while establishing the designer with their own nostalgic vision of fashion.

If only there were some way I could justify the expensive exchange rate, I'd snatch a pair of two up for myself.