Holiday Madness....

I do love Christmas so much my sister has nick named me Tracey Christmas.
We received a nice snowfall in NYC a few days before Christmas, what can be better than that....oh 3 new kids in my family at Christmas Eve dinner this year and they are all so so cute. I was almost tempted to start designing children's wear...maybe..... just wrap skirts in the spring. 2010 is starting in 4 days and I am kicking it off with my brand new pink daily planner from Santa Claus. I try and try to schedule everything in the berry but I still like the hard copy. Let's hope for good fortune in 2010 and girls wrap skirts......a brand new decade!

Christmas Fabrics, I love em!

Started working on new Christmas items, napkins, placemats and cat nip toys. I love the holiday season and my new holiday fabrics have that bit of retro feel. I hope they make you feel cheery too!

Coco before Chanel

I finally got to see Coco before Chanel. It was wonderful! Of course seeing it in the old Paris Theatre in NYC added to the experience.  If you like history and clothing and a bit of a sad story you will like this. Many people have commented that  the movie does not cover alot of her time in a fashion house. They seem to not realise the title, Coco before Chanel.  It starts off with her and her sister being dropped off at an orphanage at the age of 9 and 10.  They go thru the struggles of being very very poor working for the extremely affluent. Constant battle of never being accepted by the wealthy. They each fall in love with a wealthy man but because they are poor these men will never marry them. Coco becomes popular because of the hats she makes and always opposed tight and binding clothing which was worn at the turn of the century. She is sassy and speaks her mind and becomes the innovator of Womens Sportswear.    Audrey Tautou does a fantastic job, who couldn't love her!

                                                     

Burrrr.....

So winter season is upon us here in NYC. This past weekend I learned that 2 of my friends visited the local Salvation Army coat sale. They always seem to have luck there. Last year one of them found a gorgeous, good condition Stella McCartney coat. This year they found a  Burberry, unfortunately not the right size. For all of you money conscious people out there, and who isn't in this economy, check out  your local used clothing stores. Some of the garments there still have original tags and are not used. Plus your money is going towards a good cause!

http://www.salvationarmy.com

http://locator.goodwill.org/

Some of the new products

that will be seen tonight!

 

handmade double sided napkins set of 4 $25.00

  laptop envelopes with contrast linings $25.00            

Fall in Line with Fall 09

So I have been working on my trunk show for Thursday night. It is an incredible amount of work for one person. But I have so many cool, exciting new fabrics, I want to sew everything! For some reason I am really into birds and bees, I am not referring to the birds and bees but rather the actual flying creatures.  The below are not very autumnal but I did get other colours.  Both of these fabrics are by Westminster/Rowan. The top one is designed by Jane Sassaman. The bottom one is Tina Givens.

Botanical prints are becoming popular and are being forecasted for the next few seasons. You can find these online. I think I may be making placemats and napkins with them and maybe a purse or two.

Fashion week

So fashion week began last Thursday with Fashion Night Out, see below. BF and I went to Bergdorf's (thanks Casey) for the festivities.
We missed Zac painting dresses in the window but did see a crowd of people around Gossip Girl people. Not too interested in that. We also missed Isaac Mizrahi doing some burlesqueish singing, oh well....We saw some great and inspirational floor displays, clothes, and house accessories, see below.  Oh and my BF ended up in NY Social Diary, http://www.newyorksocialdiary.com/node/900242. I was wandering around scoping out the place and people.

Love the red and black! What pow!

 

Foo Dog Napkin Rings so cute!  by Dransfield and Ross

I did my contribution to Fashion Night Out, I bought supplies for my upcoming fall sale, Fall in Line with 09.
Next Thursday Sept 24th 6:30 to 8:30 email me for more info.

Fashion's Night Out

Tonight is Fashion Night's Out.
Vogue has joined with NYC & Company, the City of New York, and the Council of Fashion Designers of America to enliven again the consumer spirit that churns the economy and boosts the local industry of America’s fashion capital, New York City. Next only to finance, fashion is the second-largest sector of industry in New York City—the headquarters of more than 800 fashion companies employing 175,000 people and generating $10 billion in total wages. At City Hall’s May 20 press conference to announce Fashion’s Night Out, Vera Wang said, "To put it bluntly, if people don’t shop, people lose their jobs." http://www.fashionsnightout.com/

Anna Wintour will be in QUEENS! Wow, wonder if it is first time there. I recently saw her on David Letterman and I found her to be funny, contrary to what people say. You can see Anna at Macy's in Queens from 6 to 11. Also check out the new documentary about her, September Issue. I still need to see it.

And tonight I just found out that Gwen Stefani is to appear at Bloomingdales at 7pm!

So although the economy is still, what's a better word for sucky, try to go out and buy something fashion. Treat yourself!

Tautou as Chanel

Remember the movie Amelie? That was Audrey Tautou who we all fell in love with. Now she is playing Coco Chanel in the movie Coco Avant Chanel.  New York Magazine Fall Fashion Aug 24, 2009 has a great article about it.
The movie sounds like it gives Chanel a fair shake, well at least from what I have read in a few books about her.

She lost her mother and was abandoned by her father when she was little, age 12.  She lived with nuns and worked as a seamstress. She rose up in french society. She was really the inventor of women's sportswear. She hated the uncomfortable clothes for women at the time. Also what impresses me most is that she was a great designer and a smart business woman, having both of these traits is rare. The film does focus on her loves, two men who did provide financial backing for the business, but it was her that grew the business. She died at 87 in 1971. Currently Karl Lagerfeld has been upholding her legacy. His designs often refer back to the history of the brand.
The movie opens in New York and L.A. on September 25.

traceytoole started off with bags

I was tired of mass manufacturing, although that still pays the rent, so I decided to start making stuff myself and make it one of a kind and out of vintage fabric. That was 12 years ago.
Now I make bags, stroller blankets, cat beds, cat toys, and houselinens like napkins, placemats, teatowels. I like it, it satisfies my itchy fingers.
This blog will hopefully keep me focused and keep you informed. I spend 3 days in the garment district and the rest in parts of NYC. I see a variety of inspirational things.
Well inspirational to me.