I ran into lots of cool independent designers and boutiques at Chicago’s Sidewalk Sale (put on by the Chicago Department of Cultural affairs, bless their heart) in Daley Plaza last month. Kate Boggiano’s collection is one that caught my attention immediately. And, while Kate B. actually focuses her designs on high-quality, non-trendy women’s shirts and blouses, it is her wardrobe-must-have-basics leggings and tank tops that had me going.
Good, comfortable leggings are not so easy to find. That is, until I bought a pair of Kate’s capri (cropped) leggings. Her long and cropped leggings come in an assortment of good basic [...]

By Shari Bonnin, Contributing Editor
Shockingly, I was a raffle prize winner at my friend Christine Haynes’ Book signing Party for her book “Chic and Simple Sewing”. I ran up to choose my prize. I saw it; the piece of paper that no one had noticed with a photograph of shoes on it. I grabbed it really quick because I knew exactly what I’d be getting, what I’ve coveted for years, handmade Mohop Sandals! And now that I have them I wonder why I waited so long. I’m such a shoe fanatic, and with these, all I need really, is [...]

Amy Holms is architect by day and a serial hobbyist at every other moment (in between being a wife and mom to twin daughters). Her latest passion (which she assures us is permanent) for glass bead and jewelry making is something that she stumbled onto by accident, upon attending… a knitting convention? One of the convention exhibitors was a lampwork beadmaker who sold his beads to be used as stitch markers (her hobby of choice at the time). From that moment on Amy became obsessed with investigating lampworking as her new “hobby”.
Aren’t we glad she did. As a trained architect, [...]

I’m pretty sure that we’ve all, unwillingly, committed the offense portrayed on the left, to one extent or another. We can curse the low waisted jeans all we want, it appears that they are here to stay for a while yet. So, let’s deal with the problem. Actually, Christine and Kelley, the developers behind the Hip-T “t-shirt extenders” solved the problem for us by inventing this little tube top like sheath that you wear over your jeans and under your t-shirt.
hip-T noun: stretch fabric hip wrap worn over your jeans, and under your shirt: create sassy layers without the t-shirt [...]

I’ve always been enchanted by Tord Boontje decorative accessories. I love how the designs juxtapose the innocence of the themes with the sophistication of the execution and materials. Irresistible.

Excerpted from Tord Boontje Studio philosophy statement : “ …the Studio’s work draws from a belief that modernism does not mean minimalism, that contemporary does not forsake tradition, and that technology does not abandon people and senses…”. This philosophy is in fully manifested in the studio’s latest launch: next week, Tord Boontje fans will get to legitimately wear his designs. The Charming charms jewelry line is making its debut. It will [...]

I totally fell in love with the architectural feel of this shoe. Then looked at the About Us page of United Nude, only to find out that Dutch architect Rem D. Koolhaas (nephew to über architect Rem L. Koolhaas) is behind the collection. Together with Galahad Clark (seventh generation of the Clark’s shoe-making dynasty), the other part of the United Nude team, this makes for a very potent combination.

The Möbius shoe is inspired by the Möbius band where a single strip forms, at once, the sole, heel, foot-bed and upper (see the animation). Like all United Nude’s shoes, the [...]

Kay Moates’ On Slender Threads shop in 1000 Markets was one of the very first that I bookmarked. At first, I was attracted by the beauty of Kay’s shawls, wraps and mantles. It was a fashion focus reflex. It’s only upon delving a little deeper that it became clear that Kay’s mantles were more, much more than just pretty things to keep your shoulders warm and stylishly adorned.

Indeed, the spiritual expression of the mantles may be just as compelling as their physical beauty. Kay refers to her one-of-a-kind handknit shawls and wraps as “tools for conscious artful living”. The thoughtful [...]

Welcome to the Succulent Wife’s Mother’s Day Gift Guide on 1000Markets. We are excited to be featuring some wonderful hand-picked, could-not-be-more-perfect gift ideas for mom. We have something in every price range, but the true value of these handcrafted items comes from the imbedded passion of their creators. Please come in and take a look!

“Gold becomes kundan only after passing through fire.”
This is a saying that Sapna Mehra heard as a little girl and that resonated loudly years later when she used it to help her surmount difficult events.
In Hindi, “Kundan” translates to “pure gold”. Here, we refer to kundan as a 400 year old jewelry making technique, traditional to India and that Sapna admired from her earliest years when playing for hours on end in her mother’s jewelry box.
Kundan is a method of gem  setting, consisting of inserting gold foil between the stones and its mount. It is often combined with enameling on [...]

For all other fellow Oilily addicts, you’ll be glad to know that the new Summer of Love spring summer collection has a  20% off sale going on till April 12, plus and extra 10% if you subscribe to their email. A small price to pay! I think that I may well indulge in some of the pieces that I mentioned here. Woot!