Aug 29, 2008

Cicadas

Don't mind me, no posts, no phone calls, it's just my damn kidney's, acting up.
Stuffing my mouth with antibiotics, per usual. But in any event the Greek scored some damn hot designer stuff, AGAIN!!! He's good like that.
About a week ago I posted a Myspace blog, my private profile, about cicadas. No reason, I was just missing them, you see I have always loved those twisted insects. They remind me of my childhood. I recall their "song" each summer, to me it signified the beginning of summer. I would play with their discarded shells in my back-yard for hours.
Cicadas are just my thing.
The Greek and I once went on a junking tour, far away from our home. We arrived at a large barn, where a very very eccentric woman lived. We bought so much stuff from her, not things to sell, but things to hold and look at. When we left we took a picture with her, and a HUMONGOUS cicada landed on my husband's shoulder. That was such an incredible sign to me, of what I have no idea, but mostly for good luck.
We actually brought him home with us, where he stayed on our back porch for the nite.
He flew away mid-morning.
In Japan last summer we were surrounded by the song of the cicadas, it was deafening. They were huge, almost scary, but incredibly beautiful.
So I was pleasantly surprised last week, when I walked our front yard and saw our tree, covered in the shells of newly molted cicadas.
We even we able to watch a few emerge from their shells.

I picked up this info somewhere:
"To the ancient Greeks the cicada symbolised resurrection, rebirth and immortality and is mentioned as being sacred to the ancient Greek sun god Apollo. Homer mentions cicadas in the Iliad and compares the discourse of "sage chiefs exempt from war" to the song of the cicada.


In Taoism the cicada is the symbol of the hsien, or soul, disengaging itself from the body at death.


Ancient Greeks and Chinese made a habit of keeping male Cicadas in cages for the pleasure of hearing them sing.


Cicadas had a powerful effect on ancient artists as they feature on numerous coins and gems both before and after the time of Christ. A number of beautiful gems have also been found carved in the likeness of the cicada. The cicadaĆ­s emergence from the earth was a powerful symbol for ancient Romans with members of the nobility taking to wearing a gold brooch featuring a cicada to hold back their hair.


Cicadas also feature in Japanese carvings on small medicine boxes and they are mentioned in ancient Hindu law in India."

So it is not so unusual to love a bug.
But today I was googling "World of Mirth" a toy store that I had read about quite awhile ago. The sad part is that the owners and their 2 young daughters were senselessly murdered, I can't even write about it, it wrecked me for many months.
I cannot imagine the depth of pain their family and friends still must be dealing with.
In any event, I found this blog:

There must be something in the air, synchronicity, about the cicada.

Aug 20, 2008

Atelier Bob Vintage

One of my newest favorite vintage sites is Atelier Bob's. I started seeing this site all over the web, I kept thinking "Who the hell is this ATELIER BOB?"
This is who, check out the Fred Perlberg Sweater and Patterned Skirt Dress!!! Exquisite!

My personal favorite?? This vintage Chester Weinberg Moss Green Cocktail Dress! OH MY GAAAAAWD!!!!!



I looove this site, it's quirky, interesting, has great clothes although I just may get arrested for all the stalking I do!!!!
Take a peek!
atelier bob

Aug 19, 2008

French Navy!

Carine Roitfeld is the pioneer for the whole black with navy look. So French, chic and ever so slightly “shocking,” we love the way the two paired together give a jolt to our basic navy or black clothing. It’s like when that guy decided to put peanut butter and jelly together, or fish and chips, golden cake with creamed filling, you get the idea…it’s revolutionary, darling!

Back in the day we would never, ever, ever, pair black with navy. If done it was only because your eyesight was shot, a simple mishap in the morning rush. Fast forward to today, black and navy is so fresh! While this dress has not a smidge of black, we see it accessorized with black opaque tights, and huge, clunky patent leather shoes. Impeccable in its structure, we love the low dipped back. A perfect summer to fall transitional dress.

French Navy blue linen silk , back zip, fully lined.
circa, 1960's
Only at CHI-CHI and the GREEK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COCO!!!

CHECK OUT: BANANA BLOX, for more articles on Coco!

"How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone.”
Coco Chanel



Coco Chanel is an obvious fashion force. Credited with inspiring the flapper look, releasing women from corsets and binding clothes,"inventing" the little black dress, her love of costume jewelry, camelia's, wearing trousers and tanning, when both were huge "NO-NO'S", walking to the beat of her own drum in her personal life. All of these things are common knowledge. I remember reading a biography about her some years ago. I walked away feeling a bit sad for her. Although a successful designer, business woman and independent free thinker it seemed to me that she was always seeking true love, a family, the things that women who are fiercely independent believe they do not need in order to be whole.

In honor of her birthday we share with you a few things we have at our store, www.chichiandthegreek.com:

Black wool zip dress from the Chanel Boutique, yellow silk Chanel skirt and Holly Harp's version of the little black dress. All are available at: CHI-CHI and the GREEK

Aug 17, 2008

musical inspirations

When I work, lately, I have a wee bit obsessed with Boards of Canada.


and of course Thomas Feiner:

Aug 14, 2008

Modern Flapper Dress at Chi-Chi and the Greek


My obsession with the 1920’s is parallel only to an embarrassing love of Katie Holmes and her ever evolving hairstyle and fascination with baggy men’s jeans, Don’t get me wrong, I love Katie and am ready to go fisticuffs with anyone who bags on her sense of style. However there are times when my “flapper “ mania beats the life out of my Katie Holmes fixation. Unfortunately I am a lot like you. The prices of vintage clothes can get me down, especially for clothes that are too fragile to wear, like most garments from the twenties are. This leads to a constant hunt for items that mimic the flapper era, frocks that mirror that time but are still affordable and wearable.
Hence, please join me in a loud scream of “SCORE!”
A gorgeous flapper type dress, complete with dropped waist, pleated bottom, lovely embroidery detail on the cuffs and neckline. Slightly padded shoulders and a darling velvet ribbon across the waist! Made in Canada by Fini von Infeld. The fabric label is on the lamb but this is substantial, yet flowing material, somewhat like silk crepe or a nylon blend. Excellent condition.
and here's a pic of Katie "scored" from Evil Beet, a blog that is highly addictive!!!

Aug 12, 2008

Vintage Ungaro and Chloe Sevigny


Oh Chloe Sevigny, we worship at your gladiator clad feet. Yes, we know that some fashion mags just don’t understand your sense of style. They call it “quirky” “eccentric’ they even question your mind, asking: “What the hell was she thinking?”

We KNOW what your thinking, Miss Sevigny, you are so far ahead of the style curve that mere fashion mortals can’t even begin to comprehend you. But we do, we love your individuality, your proverbial “thumbing of the nose” at mass targeted fashion trends, with their “it” bags and “must have” shoes….(if you noticed we are borderline stalking you, but no worries, our doctor upped our meds and we are positive that the “facility” has no intentions of letting us out soon.)

In the meantime we noticed that this vintage Ungaro dress mimicked one you were wearing recently.

Floral print? Check

Vintage Ungaro? Check, check!

Undeniably show stopping? Check. Check. Check.

Made in Italy,
size 6
Flowing shift dress, 4 pockets, no zip, front buttons, light pink with rose designs

onl at: www.chichiandthegreek.com





Aug 6, 2008

DESIGNER ITEMS ADDED!!!!!!


CHLOE
MARC JACOBS
LANVIN
ADELE SIMPSON
DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
DIANE FREIS
MORE COMING:
CHANEL
JIL SANDER
PRADA
XXO

Aug 5, 2008

Told You So!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ah, I'm right...again. The distressed baggy jean look that Katie Holmes has been wearing, and me too, is so huge that there's an article on how to achieve the look on the L.A. Times.
Told
you
so!!!!

Aug 3, 2008

Oh Katie...


So very very new. ....yet this how I looked, okay minus the billon dollar bank acct. and Scientology issues, when I grabbed coffee this morning. It really is the staple, however I wear a gold 1980's snake belt and patent wedges on "dressier" days.

Aug 1, 2008

Summer Scents


Each Saturday the Greek wakes up early and drives to the local Farmer's Market in search of fresh flowers for our home. I'm usually still sleeping off the week's worth of child rearing. Last Saturday he arrived with an armful of white Tuberose. The scent has infused our house. Now, I am in search of a true Tuberose fragrance. Being the perfume whore that I am you would think I already had one, but for the last few years I have been addicted to patchouli, incense, amber and sandlwood type scents. The summer always throws me for a loop regarding scent.
I recently purchased Roger & Gallet's Gingembre scent but frankly I am not a "water scent" gal. More like a in your face, but polite, scented broad.
In the latest issue of Vogue I saw a lot of reference's to Penhaligon's perfumes. I am a bit interested in Bluebell all of a sudden.
Here's what they say about it on the website:

"Head Notes
Citrus

Heart Notes
Hyacinth, Lily of the Valley, Cyclamen, Jasmine and Rose

Base Notes
Galbanum, Clove and Cinnamon

A soliflore, created in 1978. A cult classic. Pure and unadulterated distillation of the scent of bluebell woods. Utterly beguiling and unique. Perhaps the most ‘British’ of our fragrances.

The telltale earthy sweetness of hyacinths rises through the soft citrus head notes and mingles with rose, lily and jasmine to round out the delicate heart notes. As it settles the flowers give way to spicy clove and cinnamon and the unique textural base note of bittersweet galbanum.

Tremendously evocative of wet earth, moss and rain, it softly detonates across your scent receptors and instantly throws you into mythic woodland, surrounded by dripping leaves, skin tingling with spring.

Wear it and see where it takes you."

I'm thinking it will take me over the edge!