Welcome to my blog. Here you my thoughts and advise about living life, fashion and textiles. You'll also see the adventures that my odd little family and I go on. Hope you enjoy!
When I started this blog I was just a tiny girl trying to make it in this big kid world. Fashion changed my life and gave me the confidence to stand tall against a world full of people who will try and bring you down and I wanted to share that with the world.
Now EJD stands for more than just me fighting to succeed - It represents Elizabeth, Josh and Darwin (an odd little family) fighting to make it in a new place with a fresh start. I hope you enjoy joining us on this journey of new adventures and experiences.
So in the last few months my life has been completely turned upside down, spun around and is still kind of balancing on a line between normal and insanity. Within a month I quit my job, moved to Philadelphia, and started a new job and basically a new life. My new coworkers are amazing and the atmosphere of the office is extremely inspiring (especially with all the pups running around). But moving is extremely difficult. Starting a new job is never easy. Taking a huge leap forward in a relationship is terrifying. Doing all of this with OCD is nearly impossible.
Since I talk about them all the time - it is pretty obvious that I am obsessed with scarves. I'm always cold so I almost always need to have something on to keep me warm - no matter what the season. What I love about pashminas is that they are usually not too bulky so I can easily roll it up in my purse- this way I can have it on the freezing cold train during the summer but not have to carry a heavy extra item with me all day long. What I want to focus on today is a decorative pashmina - something practical, beautiful and unique. You can wear it wrapped like a shawl, around the neck like a scarf, or even around your head as a hair covering. The possibilities are endless!
I know the “nerdier” aspects of the textiles is a little dry, but this has changed the cotton industry drastically. This is probably something you have actually known about for a long time but never realized what the difference was – I’m sure the following types and brands will sound familiar: Giza, Supima, Pima, Egyption, and Suvin (There are more but these are the most common). By using Long Staple Cotton, we can achieve a look and feel that has never been associated with Cotton before; and we can do so without the use of any chemical finishes! Something as simple as using a longer cotton fibre in spinning has totally revolutionized the way cotton can be used in the textile industry and allowed us to create something new while still only using natural plant fibres.
Today is the day to finally talk about the Faux Leather Jacket! While I do own leather products, I try to wear faux as much as possible. The issue I run into is finding high quality faux leathers that will wear nicely and last a long time. Because of this, I don’t usually recommend faux leather unless I find options that I can honestly recommend based on their style and quality. I feel this industry has come a long way and faux leather jackets are definitely becoming a high quality necessity. And, every woman needs a strong piece to show how fierce she is; a faux leather jacket can do that without causing any harm to animals in the process!
Who is ready for spring? Because it is in the 70s today (I can’t believe it), the sun is shining, and I cannot wait to start breaking out my spring wardrobe. All I want to do is wear my blue and white seersucker tank with a pair of white shorts and some Birkenstocks. Which leads me to today’s trend: Seersucker! This fabric is great; preppy and nautical without being blatantly either, fun but classy, and a woven wrinkle means you can get your clothes as wrinkly as you want without looking sloppy. Can it get any better than that?
We are halfway through Premiere Vision Paris and halfway through the week which can only mean one thing; its time for Wednesday Trendsday! I am so in awe by everything I'm seeing – this show is amazing and overwhelming but utterly inspiring. There are a lot of different textile trends but an overlying theme, which I love, is the iridescent colour effect. I've seen it used in different weaves, weights, contents and looks but I want to focus on a specific style of iridescent fabrics. Today I want to talk about the deep, mermaid-like opaque iridescence that manages to maintain a gorgeous balance between luxury and fantasy.
Today’s "Must Have": The Plaid Trench. Now coats tend to be the last minute addition that people throw on and not as much thought is put towards the style. This is a huge mistake! Every part of an outfit needs to tie into the rest and not a single piece is more important that another - these are all equal parts of a whole. Your coat is the finishing touch to your outfit and a crucial piece of a stylish look.
So today's blog is going to be a little different since I'm going to Paris tomorrow! After many business trips I personally believe that I have become a pro at packing. To make life a little easier and give you guys a little less to read, I actually made a video to explain how I figure out what to pack. Below I've also given you some do's and dont's to help you avoid any mistakes when preparing for an international business trip (and extra baggage fees). I even paired up with an amazing makeup artist to give some wonderful advice on travel makeup and skin care: Kelsey Ann. I hope you enjoy!
In this blog I’m going to focus on the Fibre and Yarn stage of the industry and talk about a product that I am obsessed with: Lenzing’s Tencel. Not only is it beautiful, but it is also one of the most eco-friendly fibres on the market.
Today I want to talk about the classy statement pump. I say classy because a statement pump can be covered in spikes and double as a weapon (and there is nothing wrong with that!). This specific blog post is about the more subtle statement - something that screams for attention without being so loud that it belongs in a club.
An amazingly beautiful, emotional, spiritual experience that you should definitely do if ever given the chance. Described as an experience where thousands of friends and families gather to listen to live music, fill up on great food, and light up life by sharing their personal wishes, dreams and goals.