Being Still

See you after the weekend  ... taking flight soon!

via LiveandEnliven

Blogger Style Now: Native Kee

'Native Kee' in action

If you wonder what sort of journey I am taking you on, welcome to the world of Native Kee. I would not really call Kee's blog a 'blog'. It is more of an online inspiration board that delves deep into all things beautiful, raw, complex, and life-affirming. It's also about the senses - those we have forgotten and those we need to connect with as part of a native tradition.

Alexander McQueen knit dress & fresh eggs

Kee is 'searching for beauty', and she does this in a way that peels back the layers of convention and complacency. This process not only informs her lovely work as a designer but also makes her a very real and alluring person. She humbly invites you into her world, coaxes you to play in the sunshine and on new shores, but this free-spirit never overlooks the big issues that drive her to create and craft a complex journey. 

Photo by Harper Smith

Visit Loup Charmant to learn more about Kee's labor of love.

Her journey is a sumptuous collage that will patch and soothe whatever ails you and yours.

*all images courtesy of Native Kee

Happy Organic Bounty

Happy Organic Bounty

I am off to the mountains to soak, steam, reflect, and give thanks.

Wishing you loads of bounty and good cheer this Thanksgiving.

Thank you for all that you do so gracefully.

*above Noa Noa image via Makool Loves You

Organic Frills

'Surfaces' OOAK felted wool wall hanging by Vilte

Issey Miyake S/S 2011 in Paris via Style.com

Forest Fungi /Sofia, 2010  (photography by Abigail Doan)

No-ëllk via Fashion Burst

Frei Designs Autumn 2010 by Annie Novotny

Alabama Chanin delicate hand-crocheted necklace

NYFW: ORGANIC by John Patrick Spring 2011

ORGANIC by John Patrick Spring 2011 (photo: Abigail Doan)

(photo: Abigail Doan)

(photo: Abigail Doan)

ORGANIC by John Patrick Spring 2011 (photo: Abigail Doan)

Might it be too bold to say that only a handful of designers understand the American fascination with timeless (sustainable) style the way that John Patrick does? In this new era of frugality chic, ORGANIC by John Patrick is a label that marries our hard-won values with stunning home-brewed classics and grosgrain extras.

While chatting with John Patrick after his sunny and fresh ORGANIC Spring 2011 presentation at the Ace Hotel in NYC yesterday, it became apparent to me that he is a man who approaches his designs with a masterful recipe for nostalgia mixed with bright optimism. As someone who uprooted his operation from the daily bustle and hype of NYC, one cannot help but to admire this individual’s roll up your sleeves attitude towards unfussy style and living.

(photo: Abigail Doan)

ORGANIC by John Patrick Spring 20ll conjures images of perfectly tilled fields, straw bales glimmering in the sunshine, and crisply ironed linens stacked on a ladder back chair. (I honestly wanted to hand his models tall glasses of minty lemonade while they stood under the hot lights.) In terms of the textile detailing on the pieces, the styling was impeccable and confidence building in a multitude of ways.

John Patrick tweaks his Spring 2011 classic trench 

Spring’s 18 looks included: a belted linen trench, crisp cotton pleated trousers, a mocha chiffon blouse, floral printed skirts and dresses, a nude-hued recycled polyester pleated skirt, a chambray shirt and short set, a navy silk blazer, an embroidered white cotton dress, and the list goes on. These were all beautiful pieces but with the added purpose and grit that might see one through many a season as well as an unpredictable climate.

(photo: Abigail Doan)

Lessons learned: Sustainability is not about materials alone. Sure this is a significant part of the equation, but it also high time to look at the whole picture when it comes to ethical sourcing, de-centralized manufacturing, and even the greener lifestyle choices of celebrated designers. It’s not easy to walk away from the fashion parade of jet setting, urban life, but John Patrick has done just this and consequently created a way for us to experience refinement in our day-to-day lives while also smartly updating the past for a brighter future.

(photo: Abigail Doan)

*ORGANIC Spring 2011 presentation jewlery: Lizzie Fortunato; shoes: Dieppa Restrepo; hats: David Steele for ORGANIC; sunglasses: Cutler and Gross; and make-up and hair styling by Aveda

Flirting with Romantic Organic

Given the handful of times that I have had my hair trimmed over the past year, I could have crafted a number of these eyelash necklaces made from human hair, though I surely do not have the dexterity or patience of artist/designer, Stephanie Simek. The necklace chain is sterling silver. Blink. blink. blink.


Simek's milk & honey necklace is pretty sweet as well, though my hands down favorite is her 'natural perfume' honeymoon fragrance, cleverly packaged in a sea urchin.

As seen in Marie Claire and on NOTCOUTURE

Extreme Coifs: Plaiting to the Max

Extreme coifs by by Studio Marisol and CuldeSac via via dezeen