Made by Nikki F2011

Just got back from a week and a half in the heart of Mexico. It was a very interesting week full of ghosts and orbs and very old churches. Been slogging through all the emails that have built up in the interim, and I came across this preview of the Made By Nikki Fall 2011 Collection. Simply gorgeous! Brought to you via  Le petite-coquette.

Bearded Corsets!

Well, not really, but I do have beards and corsets....

I've had an epiphany. I always have so many projects in the works that my room has become a dangerous cave full of bags of half finished ideas just waiting to trip me. Its a health liability. So, I'm going to do something revolutionary, and just work on one project at a time. Yeah, yeah, I know, obvious, right? But I never wanted to have to structure my free time like I do for work, because it might feel like..... work. But times they are a-changing. And I, really want to finish something once an awhile.

In the future I want to post pictures of my works in progress, but since everything right now is for Christmas presents, I have to keep it all secret. All I can say is that there are a lot of leather studs involved. And flowers :)

And now for the mustaches!!!

Via Anna Fischer's Flickr

I re-found one of my favorite corset makers, Morgana Femme Couture Corsets. They were originally based here in Los Angeles but have since picked up shop and flown across the pond. London does seem to be the place to be to make fantastic lingerie.

They always used my favorite pin up models here in LA and now they're using one of my favorite from London. I'm not sure what her name is though...

Morgana Femme Etsy

And lastly, I love this jewelry!!! From Heron Adornment. Find more here

Lingerie and sweatshops, yay!

I have a serious obsession with lingerie. It is what I do and it is what I dream of. There's some amazing stuff being sold out there, so stay away from Victoria's Secret, and get yourself something scrumptious.

Agent Provocateur is always a favorite. I used to really love their marketing, but it's gotten pretty boring in the last couple of years.

Rawr.......

I really like this collection too. Its so delicate and feminine..... and transparent :)

These are both pretty established companies, though AP is much bigger. I love watching the really new small companies too. Keep an eye on Hopeless Lingerie. They started as a humble Esty shop and have over the last two years gotten international attention, and you can see the brand improvement over such a short period immediately. I am so happy for them.

The owner and designer, Gaby, has a blog of her own. She has been doing a series of posts about the experience of setting up her business. The first in the series was about finding the proper motivation to start a line. There are a lot of misconceptions about starting a clothing line, and her experience has very much paralleled my own. Want to make your life as complicated as possible? Start your own business. I always find it too funny when people I know whom I conceder particularly unmotivated and disorganized tell me they plan to start their own company. I'm sure the appeal is the perceived freedom to  make your own hours and it would seem to be less stressful to be your own boss. People can underestimate how comforting a steady paycheck can be. But on the other hand, the self satisfaction that you've built your business can't be rivaled, and its decidedly not boring.

Hopeless Lingerie

On a different note, I'm bummed I'm missing Le Serpent Rouge bellydance class next Wednsday here in Los Angeles. At least I'll get to see them preform on Tuesday at King King in Hollywood. If you are at all into Tribal Fusion BellyDance, you should come.  Get your tickets here