thinking about this

Death Becomes Her: Mourning fashions at the Met

I haven't seen this exhibit yet, but it is on my list! It features fashions worn during bereavement rituals in the 19th and early 20th centuries. If you find yourself in New York this winter you should check it out...

If you can't make it to New York, there are some images on the Met website, in this Vanity Fair review, in this The Cut review, and in this V Magazine review. Or check out this book I finished recently about the history of dress.

Have you been already? What did you think?

Death Becomes Her will be on view until February 1st, 2015 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Interview with AnaBell creator of Kettlebell Chicks

I met AnaBell at BodySmith, where she teaches some amazing classes including kettlebells and ropes (if you've ever heard me say Tsunami, you know how sore that class makes me). She recently launched Kettlebell Chicks and because I'm a huge fan of hers and of the movement I wanted to share this interview about how it all started and what it really means. Follow AnaBell on Twitter for updates on the next classes and check out her website.

WHAT IS KETTLEBELL CHICKS?

The Kettlebell Chicks Movement is an empowering program for promoting the physical health of women of all shape, and sizes. We cater to any female who wants to become stronger mentally and emotionally through the promotion of Kettlebell training.

HOW DID IT START?

Although the Kettlebell Chicks Movement has been five years in the making, this is an endeavor just recently underway. It began in 2009 as the result of my own personal journey. Personal training, like many other male-driven industries, has been difficult for me as a female. I began my experience with kettlebell training in 2004. I actually thought I was pretty fit until my first contact with a 25 pound kettlebell. My training buddy at the time would meet me three times a week for one hour. After three months of consistent training, my KB weight went up to the 35 and 50 pound weight. Long story short, not only was I in even better shape, but I could swing and squat and do moves men twice my height and weight could not. My knowledge began to expand, having now the ability to do the different exercises. I was picked up to work at a local Crossfit, assisting the owner Mr. Mike Krivka in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I was then sponsored to take my first Crossfit Kettlbell Class, where I met my current mentor Mr. Jeff Martone. I immediately volunteered to assist him with teaching and running Crossfit-Level 1 Certifications. On weekends I would frequently dedicate nine hours on both Saturday and Sunday to assist him. I wanted to learn from the best in order to become the best.

After several years of assisting him, Jeff was kind enough to pick me up as one of his paid trainers (I was the only female). I was humbled to learn that Jeff valued my teaching expertise, especially since I wanted to walk in his footsteps. It’s been four years now since I’ve been a part of his Crossfit and Tactical Athlete staff, but he continues to guide, assist and advise me in my training business. Even though I have equal experience and training as other trainers in the area, I still get passed over by less qualified (male) trainers for teaching opportunities. This is why the Kettlebell Chicks Movement was established. Although I have had the privilege to work with the best in the industry, am knowledgeable and hold many specialty certifications, the men in this industry continue to devalue my skills. My goal is to spread awareness through Kettlebell training because in Crossfit it is the most under-utilized, yet effective tool. And that’s how I see US WOMEN, under-utilized and most effective!

WHO & HOW CAN YOU JOIN?

Anyone can join! Go to www.anabellsfitness.com, click SHOP, purchase a tank top or tee shirt and come train with us on Saturday and Sundays for free!

WHAT’S IT LIKE BEING A LEADER IN A MALE-DOMINATED INDUSTRY?

It’s difficult at times, but every time I get a door closed in my face I know I need to tackle my goals even harder to open two more doors.

HOW DID YOU START YOUR BUSINESS AS A PERSONAL TRAINER?

I’ve always been into sports. I played varsity basketball, volleyball, and ran track in high school. I went to school for rehabilitation services with a focus on mental health, and there I gained interest in becoming a sports trainer for the women’s basketball team and had the privilege of traveling with them. I knew then that training would be my passion.

WHAT’S THE SECRET TO YOUR SUCCESS, IN REGARD TO FITNESS? BUSINESS?

I don’t think I have a big secret. I was raised by a strong mother. We had nothing growing up. In fact I came to the United States when I was five. Not knowing the language and being held back a year was very frustrating for me. I wanted to have friends but because of the language barrier; I grew up having only a few friends. I would barely see my mother as she was too busy working three jobs to care of our family. I watched how my mother would struggle just to feed us. I knew then I wanted more. I was the only one out of four siblings to go to college and, after three months of working in my field, I left to try out personal training. I began my own business one year later. Knowing where I came from has given me the drive to understand where I want to go.

WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU’D GIVE TO SOMEONE THAT WANTS TO HAVE A CAREER IN FITNESS?

Entering the fitness world isn’t a piece of cake. For the most part, one will apply to become a trainer at a local gym where there they are fed clients from the personal trainer directors. Although it sounds simple, it’s a slow process. One bit of advice I would give is to be confident and educated. I remember when I almost quit the first time I was asked to go up to a complete stranger and give suggestions on their current workout to help maximize their results. The client I approached was the wrong one…. he not only dismissed me after cutting me off, but yelled at me (“What do you know, you’re just a little girl”). I laugh to this day. Hopefully he hasn’t injured himself from the terrible form of exercising he was doing.

WHEN DID YOU FIRST FALL IN LOVE WITH KETTLEBELLS?

I fell in love with kettlebells after accidentally being introduced to them by a friend. A trainer, Mike Krivka would come work out with one of the trainers on my staff. I was the new kid on the block. Well, the trainer had an ankle injury and couldn’t work out with Mike. Mike didn’t even know my name but asked me to workout with him. After agreeing, and nearly dying, I was hooked!

IT’S FALL. IT’S DARK IN THE MORNING. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU TO GET UP EARLY AND GET TO THE GYM?

These last few weeks have been tougher than normal. But my schedule is also hectic. Knowing that I physically will not be able to workout at 9pm after a full day of clients helps me to avoid hitting the snooze button. It’s all about priorities. I’m not perfect in anyway, but I practice what I preach daily to my clients. I always put my mental and physical health first. Having a background in mental health, and a fitness business, it has become part of my lifestyle. I can honestly say it does NOT get easier as the years pass. I’ve been working out at 4:30 am for five years now. Knowing that’s the only time I have to work my program helps me stick to my schedule.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU?

What most inspires me are my clients. Hearing my athletes express gratitude and feedback on how they feel and look thrills me. I want to help change lives. And if I’m helping someone feel emotionally and physically well, then I’ve done my good deed for the day.

DC Photohappening at Franklin School future site of ICE DC

On Saturday, November 8th ICE DC opened the doors of Franklin School located on 13th and K Street in NW Washington, DC. Over 300 photographers and photo enthusiasts took to their phones, tablets, DLSRs, Holgas and good old fashion film cameras to document the empty building, which has been a school, homeless shelter and site of the Occupy movement.

The massive brick building, designed by Adolf Cluss, was built in 1865 and in 1880 Alexander Graham Bell transmitted speech through beams of light from the roof to his lab 700 feet away creating the photophone, which is the precursor to modern-day fiber-optic technology. ICE DC invited the public to come and take photographs of the empty building before they transform the space into a Kunsthalle.

We arrived around 1pm for one of the last sessions in which we were allowed to roam throughout the entire 50,000 square foot building. Paint was peeling from the walls and bulletin notices hung by old push pins forgotten and frozen in time--reminders left to be forgotten. We made friends with other photographers and instagram lovers. We learned about the building structure from our friend's parents, whom she had brought along for the experience. I thought about other abandoned buildings I'd explored in Berlin and even though this required no shimming through a wire gate, no climbing up a narrow tower, no watching out for broken glass bottles from late-night raves that happened decades ago, I still felt that adrenaline rush that only comes from doing something you aren't supposed to do. Something that is (for reasons unbeknownst to you) not allowed, but that no one will ever know about unless you tell them.

I joked that everyone was taking photos of the same thing. Shortly after I shot the light coming in from the first room to the right, I saw a friend's post of the same exact thing on Instagram.

I posted while I framed, observed while I crouched down and took some photos of other people taking photos. There was very little chatter, but an energy was certainly felt. Like a collective agreement that an important task was at hand and time was ticking. We were kicked out right as we found the 'someone forgot to close the trap door' sign on the top floor. We did not sneak onto the roof or hide out in the basement. But, something tells me there will be time for that, in some other building, some other time, or at the opening of ICE DC when they display the winners of the photo contest from this very event.

The whole experience can be seen below in a tagboard that pulls in anything from Instagram, Facebook, Flickr, Twitter, Google+ and Vine.

leather, moda + revistas

**warning: do not read this if animal skins freak you out**

My last trip to New York was for a garment tour with Bits of Thread, the studio where I do design work, sewing, etc. They hold various sewing and fashion design classes and hosted a trip for some fabric shopping.

I started the day at The Blind Barber in Williamsburg. They have Blue Bottle coffee and internet, which is all you ever need from a cafe.

We met at Mood. I got lost in the aisles searching for fabrics. Many stores in NY, including Mood, carry the remnants of fabrics ordered by designers. For example, if Theory orders thousands of yards of a cotton twill, but doesn't use all of it, it could end up at Mood where someone else can buy the very same fabric they use. At Mood they usually label the lot if it was made for a designer. The bummer is there is only a certain amount and you can't order more.

For lunch we stopped at Schnippers and I had a huge cobb salad. Yum.

Then we had a class at Global Leathers and learned about the different types and qualities of leather. We touched a lot of skins and discussed properties, treatments and uses. We also got to feel some exotic skins like stingray, zebra and python. It was pretty amazing to learn from an expert everything there is to know about leather (well, not everything!).

After I stopped at some other fabric stores, then Fashion Design Books for some art supplies and Around the World Fashion to browse through fashion magazines from around the world. To end the day I stopped at Moda Espresso Bar for a cappuccino and some down time with my swatches and new colored pencils.

create: floral hair pins

For our first photoshoot we created floral hair pins to put in my sister's hair. We had a different hairstyles for each look and created various sizes and types of floral hair pins to make each one unique.

Materials: bobby pins giant bobby pins hair clips fabric confetti (we made this out of remnants of the fabric used in the Flor Silvestre collection) various dried flowers (we got ours on etsy) glue gun glue sticks (we used a lot of these -- definitely get an extra pack) cardstock or thick magazine paper

First, we cut some ovals out of the cardstock and glued them to the large bobby pins. Then we glued on fabric confetti and various dried flowers. We would also made little piles of the dried flowers and fabric confetti, put small amounts of glue on the hair combs and then just dipped them in the pile over and over again until we covered the whole edge. Be careful--the glue will be very hot so don't touch it. Would have helped if we had some kind of stick, like those small wooden ones used for nail care, to push down the pieces, but we managed without one.

We let them all dry overnight. And voilà, gorgeous one-of-a-kind floral hair pins!

I love how they turned out! They look amazing in the photos and definitely helped to create the atmosphere I wanted for our first photoshoot.

Let us know if you tried to make them. And don't forget to check out our Flor Silvestre lookbook!

floral hair pins - etxe - flor silvestre photoshoot

floral hair pins - etxe - flor silvestre photoshoot

floral hair pins - etxe - flor silvestre photoshoot

floral hair pins - etxe - flor silvestre photoshoot

floral hair pins - etxe - floral crown