Crochet Crotchets

September 25, 2015 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | Annabel Lee, CRAFT, Crochet |

I admire that craftiste who, upon finding the pattern of something which she desires to make – (say, for argument’s sake, the crocheted jacket on page 10 of Margaret Hubert’s “Runway Crochet)” – opens the cupboard containing her yarn stash, frowns a bit, then says “yes, that’ll do nicely” to some skeins of something and, just like that, starts to make the (again, just as an example), close-fitting long-sleeved  Juliet Jacket.   I admire her because she has made up her mind about the pattern , she has the right amount of the right yarn, she knows the right size, her tension is good,  and she just…

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Wheels and Dollbaby Get-Togethers are Evil

September 22, 2015 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | Annabel Lee, AUSTRALIANIA |

At the Thrift Shop Bar. Image courtesy of Natasha Buccella

If you do not know that ‘Dita’ is both a burlesque artist and a cardigan;  if you do not believe in cleavage, and if you think that leopard-print is old-fashioned, read no further.  This post is for Annabels who say “yes!” to black satin pencil skirts and plunging necklines, who want a mermaid tattoo and love faux fur.  Wheels and Dollbaby is an Australian women’s clothing brand with an instantly recognisable, sexy and sleek look, a retro vibe, a rockabilly hint.  The brand’s creator Mel and her muse (the  Dita von Teese) know their audience and do the same thing season after season with panache. I had only two Wheels  items –…

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Shop Til You Drop

August 19, 2015 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | THUMBNAIL REVIEWS |

If Shop Til You Drop were a woman, her name would be Symantha.  Symantha is a nail technician but she’s trying out for “Australian Idol” and her friends say she’ll win.  Symantha’s living with her boyfriend but she’s ditching him soon and her friends say she should.  Symantha’s friends LOVE her selfies and say she should try modelling. Once upon a time, I woke like Sleeping Beauty from a years-long coma during which I had worn the same out-dated princess outfit.  I swept out into an unknown world (known as “The Newsagents”) and saw Shop Til You Drop.  I thought it was a…

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In Style (Australia)

August 19, 2015 | Posted by Lesley Jakobsen | THUMBNAIL REVIEWS |

If the Australian edition of In Style were a woman, her name would be Alyssä and she would be the PA to the CEO of an interior design firm whom she hopes to marry when his wife gives up on the botox.  Alyssä would wear Armani culottes to theatre first nights.  She wouldn’t think much of you. The Good: In Style is much more likeable than Alyssä, its corporal manifestation. It is a truly terrific and selective catalogue of upper-mid-market fashions, arranged into useful categories. It does an admirable job of showing how to style and combine these expensive things. It shows you clearly who has…

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Dior & I

May 9, 2015 | Posted by Peter Jakobsen | Documentary, THUMBNAIL REVIEWS |

'I could merde a champers...' (still from the official film site)

(Dir. Frédéric Tcheng) (2014) Disclaimer: P neither knows nor cares much about the industry of haute couture but this engaging documentary was an against-the-odds, enjoyable take on a fashion scenario so familiar it is almost a cliché: new designer and effete assistant arrive to head up the major collection of an iconic Euro fashion house with no time to spare. Much eye-rolling, hand-wringing, and undoing beading late into the night, the heroic Parisian seamstresses pulling an all nighter (from their love of the work and helped by some early morning champagne).  A last moment decision by designer Raf Simons that he did…

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