Fashionable Indiana Archives

Each month I can't wait to rush to the mailbox to see if my new VOGUE has arrived.  Oh, VOGUE, in all it's fashion glory with its beautiful people and fanciful items adorning each and every page.  It's like a gift to myself every month.  No one in my house is allowed to touch it before I do!  My oldest daughter knows that she is not to leap through it or read any article until I've done so first.  It's my own little pleasure in life.

One of my very favorite sections in VOGUE is NOSTALGIA.  I have learned about many incredible, intelligent, gorgeous, strong, independent women in so many of their articles.  I get to live each month in the past for just a few moments while I read about stylish women who wouldn't take no for an answer and persevered on to do extraordinary things with their lives and careers.  In the same breath I've also learned of many others who had it all but at the end of their lives died alone with no one knowing who they were.  The latter group are the women I enjoy reading so much about - they took chances and lived life to the fullest and even though they may have left us unknown, VOGUE somehow resurrects them each month so they really are never forgotten. 

I do believe that I lived in the 30's in Old Hollywood and did something to be rich because I'm just enamored with that era.  The clothes the clothes the clothes let's not forget about the clothes in this era - simply stunning and classy.  That was when people dressed to impress and it DID matter how you presented yourself to the world.  Once I get wealthy in this life I will only be in vintage Chanel, Balenciaga, and a few rare Elsa Schiaparelli pieces added in.  It sounds funny to think that one must have money to wear "old" clothes but it's true and when that day arrives that's what you'll find me in!

Along with my love of fashion I'm an absolute history nerd.  I love love love history and everything about it.  Art history, Russian History, US History, World History, you name it I love it - the only classes I received A's in when I was in school in fact :)  My major in college was Anthropology and I wanted to be Margaret Mead since I was 4 when my mom read me a story about her.  I say all of this leading up to the reason I browse the Indiana Historical Society web site all the time. 

During one of my recent investigative sessions I came across some wonderful images from the Root Store Fashion Show to the 4-H Dress Revue winners from the Indiana State Fair to the Herz Store League of Terre Haute Fashion Models.  I was surprised and elated all at the same time.  You don't think of the Midwest as being fashion forward but I was pretty impressed with the images I collected from their site - proud as a matter of fact.  Proud that back in 1933 these women not only made most of these creations themselves but they looked AMAZING and always put together at all times.  Now I can't personally go back to 1933 and hear what New York or LA were saying about our style here in Indiana but from what I dug up I don't really care. 

I hope you enjoy this trip back as much as I did!

Until Then:  "In the adjustment of the new order of things, we women demand an equal voice; we shall accept nothing less."  - Carrie Chapman Catt

P.S. - Thank you Indiana Historical Society for the wonderful images!

Sarah Radford of Chic Gems etc. Voted TOP Woman Entrepreneur

We are so proud to be a part of this very special occasion. Sarah Radford, designer of Chic Gems etc., was chosen as one of the TOP Women Entrepreneurs by Mike Michalowicz! What an honor - not only for her but it is a HUGE step for women in general. To view this phenomenal article click here.

A big CONGRATULATIONS goes out to Sarah and Chic Gems etc. You deserve it!

American Women of Invention

I was flipping through a Bed Bath and Beyond ad the other day and I came across something that caught my eye. No, not that adorable bed-in-a-bag but a small article that they included in the sidebar of one of their spreads. It was titled "American Women of Invention". It then lists some major inventions that women were responsible for and some we would be lost without in today's society.

• 1809 Mary Kies gets the first patent for the weaving process (try buying a non-woven rug and see how that works out for you!)


• 1812 Tabitha Babbitt invents the Circular Saw (Take that boys!)


• 1882 Maria Beaseley invents the Life Raft (the few survivors of the Titanic can thank Maria for her quick thinking)


• 1887 Anna Connelly invents the Fire Escape (seems like a handy invention in the case of some millions of people who live in city apartments)


• 1903 Mary Anderson invents the Windshield Wiper (and they say WE'RE the bad drivers - try driving in the rain without these!)


• 1951 Bette Nesmith Graham invents Correction Fluid (I personally will begin to thank her at least once a day as I correct my many mistakes)

I bring this to your attention because we, as women, have gone unnoticed for many many more things in history and in the present that I am sure we are unaware of. If you have ever heard of these women I mentioned above then you are way ahead of me and I commend you. If you have not (like me) we need to dig a little deeper and find all the phenomenal things we are capable of and have been capable of throughout history. If you study the inventions these brilliant women have come up with you'll notice that they are extremely logical as we women usually are. Each separate invention ultimeately started out as a problem that needed to be solved and the solution brought each invention to fruition. For example, I'm sure Ms. Tabitha Babbitt was so tired of spending hours and hours trying to saw a 2x4 with a hand saw and thought to herself "there has to be a better way". And she found it.

So, along comes 2009. Here we are. It's a new year and a new beginning. What are you going to do with it? Are you finally going to write that book? Are you going to start that business? Go back to school? Invent a way to be in 18 places at once (I'm in for whoever comes up with this one first!)? The world is ours and ours for the taking. Be confident and do what you love. Nothing is promised to us and I think this past year has proven that in a very real way. We need to help each other as people and as women and stay positive.

I love to help people and I love fashion. I love my family above all else. I finally found a way to combine ALL of those elements and in doing so I found myself again. I also found my love for appreciating beauty in things again as well. I get to work with the most amazing designers who also happen to be some of the most amazing women you will ever meet. We are all doing what we love but in different capacities yet we have found a common ground to come together and help each other succeed in our individual businesses and lives. Not to get too deep but it really is a beautiful thing.

Do what you love everyday. Find your passion. Get excited about life! Then go to Aesthetic Design Style and reward yourself with the most fantastic handbags and jewelry. You'll feel good knowing that you are supporting women, just like you, who are happy to greet the day doing what we love. Chic Gems Etc., Brynn Capella, Mattanda, and Bags of Blessing!

Until next time: "Anything less than a loving thought is TOXIC" - Dean Martens

Introducing . . . MATTANDA!

The Arrival of MATTANDA!!!!

Aesthetic Design Style is proud to announce that we have added a new designer to our family. Please help us welcome MATTANDA! MATTANDA is phenomenal hand crafted jewelry by Amanda McMahan and is beautifully executed as well as exquisitely packaged. Stop by Aesthetic Design Style or MATTANDA to check out all of the incredible earrings and necklaces beyond your imagination. MATTANDA uses vintage pieces mixed with modern flair to create one-of-a-kind items you won’t find anywhere else.

Not only is this line fantastic, it is very affordable as well. In this economy you can now afford to be fierce everyday. You deserve to treat yourself and with MATTANDA you won’t feel guilty – just FABULOUS!

We look forward to this new relationship with MATTANDA jewelry and we are so very excited to be a part of such a positive and wonderful movement.

ENJOY!!

Until then:

“My work has brought me into contact with the world's finest designers. I had a lot to learn. I have learned a lot. I found out you can learn a lot about yourself as a person, too-while you're learning how to use fashion in your life.” - Loretta Young