[meen kyolë] custom dress design chicago - made to measure fashion for any event

Trends and the Thinking Girl

2009-07-23T15:54:00.004-05:00

It's July, well, almost August, which means that fall fashion is hitting magazines and stores alike. Women and men all over the world will be looking to fashion gurus to see which trends to check out to be on the cutting edge of chic. What is the forecast this season, and what will actually prevail--often those two are slightly off.

However, I wasn't actually going to talk about the 2009/2010 trends, although I'm happy to say that feminine shapes appear to be dominant, but rather the whole concept of trends being announced seasons in advance in an attempt to influence and condition popular fashion preferences.

Why do intelligent and independent women (and men) let fashion dictate what styles they wear? To fit in, of course. For many it's not simply a dream of living up to society's perceptions of beauty but a very real need to comply with the norms and dress codes set by the work place. Regardless of your profession, there are definitely certain ways of dressing that are acceptable and some that will have your peers and colleagues looking at you in disbelief.

Yet we still have room for individuality. In spite of social and haute fashion determined styles, we choose how much to let trends influence us. We can either buy every lifestyle magazine on the rack and try to live up to their standards, or we can reject that which just doesn't appeal to us. Just let your self through in your personal style and get noticed without being outrageous. Keep your body type and your sense of modesty in mind, and sprinkle a little of your own personality onto your wardrobe. Choose your trends with care, and never compromise your own sense of style as you venture into a new season. A trend is nothing more than another person's opinion--one that you may choose to respect but won't have to obey.

Of course trends are announced in order that upcoming collections will sell. Therefore the real problem with trends is that you may not like the general styles they represent. Don't fret, though, you will always be able to fix any fashion problem--either (learn to) do it yourself, minimize your purchases for the season (...), or if you really need something new: have it made and be your own trendsetter.

Jumpsuits--80s cool or 80s drool...?

2009-04-15T14:32:00.005-05:00

OK, I know, that was an awful title, but it captures exactly what I'm trying to figure out. When first I saw that the jumpsuit really is back (and trust me, it is in a huge big way), I was horrified. I could not believe my own eyes and immediately started imagining scenarios of saggy boobs and protruding bellies making a major statement in various styles of jumpsuits. But then I remembered that I used to LOVE jumpsuits. And not just in the 80s, but also in the 90s, and probably as recent as 2003...

A few years ago, I had some aversion to smocked top dresses, still do. The jumpsuit has the very real and risky potential to be the pant version of those awful dresses, because, like those dresses, it can be tremendously comfortable, and signify cutting edge fashion. Just look at the By Malene Birger jumpsuit in the above link (it's harem pants and a smocked top in one), or take designs by Roksanda and Diane von Furstenberg. I shudder at the thought. But there are also examples of very well-cut and designed jumpsuits that have practically nothing in common with the smocked top dress. Alexander McQueen's All-in-One Tuxedo is absolutely beautiful, and for more relaxed looks Anna Sui and Stella McCartney (although her takes on the jumpsuit are not always flawless) are among the designers who have some great designs that neither make you look fat, or like you're trying to hide fat, or like you've tried to cover up your prison escape with some crafty fabric dye.

I guess that what I'm trying to say is that you should definitely go with the jumpsuit, but only if you find one that is actually more than a glorified PJ.

Spring Time Comeback...

2009-04-08T10:23:00.003-05:00

Well, it's been how long since the last post? And all this while we've been quietly taking in the Cleveland suburbs and contemplating new designs and future styles.

Speaking of new styles: Just returned from Denmark where fashion, to put it mildly, is different from the US. So simply walking the department stores was inspirational, not to mention awfully tempting. While the overall trends are the same, there is a very pronounced edge to Scandinavian styles that is missing here in the US--perhaps because day-to-day living requires less corporate representation there than here.

So anyhow, let's talk a little more style over the next few days, fabulous trends, not so fabulous trends, and how to start things up in Cleveland. When a recession hits, hit it back in your best outfit!

The Happy News

2007-04-18T10:16:00.000-05:00

The last 2 days I read way too much news about this shooting, and it left me all depressed and "mushy". So today I decided I would not read anything about it, but...I still wanted to read the news...a dilemma! I did a little search for "Happy News" - oh the joy, I found this lovely little website that only prints the good stuff. I am now up to date on the sale of Mammoth fossils and am very much looking forward to the Bandares and Eddie Murphy duet in the next Shrek movie! - So, hope you all enjoy some happy news too.

http://www.happynews.com/

Google Bombing

2007-01-27T18:50:00.000-06:00

So the concept of Google Bombing seems to going the way of the dodo. Those party poopers!

For those of you unfamiliar with the topic, Google Bombing is the term used when someone (usually pranksters) links a derogatory term to another individual in an attempt to have that term bring up the person's name/web site as the first recognized hit in Google searches for the keywords.

So for the longest time, searching on the term "miserable failure" would bring up a direct link to the whitehouse.gov page for the President (hee hee hee) because enough bloggers and website publishers got in on the meme to link those terms to the page. The same goes for linking the term Scientology to Operation Clambake - a cheeky site critical of scientology. However, now Google has changed their algorithms to prevent all our fun! Hardly fair of them to spoil all that hard work that people put in.

I suppose they just want Wikipedia to be the first result for each and every search ever entered into their search engine. Too bad.

We've been quiet for a while but now...

2007-01-11T08:56:00.000-06:00

It's Sink or Swim Time.

And whom do we have to thank for this? YOU of course. You who supported us through your patronage, or inspired us with your enthusiasm and interest in our business model. It's that inspiration that has given us the confidence to take the plunge! In order to express our gratitude for this, everyone who have supported us prior to February 15th, 2007 will continue to receive our present rates.

Starting January 1, 2007, our rates will go up by approximately 20%; however, as mentioned above, you'll forever receive the rates that you have been accustomed to. Just set up an appointment with us prior to February 15th, 2007 and we will lock you in at our present rates. The best way to do so is by using our contact form.

So thank you for your support of [meen kyolë]! And keep a close eye on us. We're going to try to grow up here, and it's guaranteed to be interesting. Either interesting like a butterfly coming out of its cocoon, or interesting like a train wreck... At least it will be fun!

Have a Great & Happy New Year

Sizeists - reprised

2007-01-01T10:41:00.000-06:00

Sizeist? Ever heard the term? Sizeist is slang for a prejudice against a person because of their size. Be that person small or large - a sizeist doesn't like them because they don't fit the mold. [meen kyole] believes that sizes are a thing of the past and is looking to break that mold. Sizes aren't really even valid!

We've seen over time women who have grown, but their sizes didn't! So did we all shrink? No, the sizes grew! They grew because we chose not to; because our vanities would not allow us to buy bigger sizes. Now we are all for vanity - but that kind of self delusion is simply mindless. It doesn't do anyone any good, really, but it does make us appear rather silly. A size 0! What are you? A "nothing"?

Nobody has a perfect body, but anyone can have a perfect fit, a perfect design, a perfect look - just not off the rack. [meen kyole] custom clothing design will work with you to find your perfect look. Customizing your look with with us will help you not only look good, but feel comfortable and express yourself just so.

We're located on the north side of Chicago and can meet you where you'd like in the Chicago area. Wherever you're most comfortable. Wherever expresses your style the best.

http://www.meenkyole.com for more detail on our name, our philosophy, our product, and us!

Venice Project

2006-12-19T17:35:00.000-06:00

Every once in a while, someone spends $2.6 billion and makes the Internet funner and cooler - those are technical terms.

Anyone got an invitation for me?

Zero Gravity Fashion

2006-11-08T14:26:00.000-06:00

Tokyo Rocks. Those crazy Japanese.

Have a look at this - it's a fashion/couture event showcasing designs meant to be worn in zero-gravity.

Awesome.

Gizoogle.com

2006-10-16T14:12:00.000-05:00

OK, so you can really have some fun with this: www.gizoogle.com

[se min kjole] `bout...

[meen Kyolë] is a modificizzles of tha danish words [izzy kjole], which mean [my dress] so you betta run and grab yo glock. tha inspiration fo` tha name came friznom a danish children's sizzay in tha dogg pound:

look at mah dress, red like tha rose all thizzay i own is jizzust like it that's coz i love all th'n red n coz a postman is mah nigga

look at mah dress, blue like tha sea all tizzy i own is just like it that's coz i love all gang bangin' blue n coz a sailor is mah nigga

look at mah dress, green like tha grass all that i own is jizzle like it that's coz i love all ho-slappin' green n coz a hunta is mah nigga

look at mah dress, white like tha snizzay all that i own is jizzust like it that's coz i love all th'n white n coz a brotha is mah nigga

look at mah dress, it's gots all colours all T-H-to-tha-izzat i own is jizzy like it that's coz i love all colours n coz a poser is mah nigga

unlike tha girl in tha song, [meen Kyolë] is not `bout doggy stylin' good fo` some handsome suitor, but `bout look'n good fo` ourselves . Snoop dogg is in this bitch.

Footballer's Are Today's New Style Leaders?

2006-07-31T15:29:00.000-05:00

“Footballers are today’s new style leaders,” says Giorgio Armani, commenting on “the relationship between soccer players and fashion,” in a June New York Times article by Eric Wilson.

Well, the unfortunate thing is that someone from the New York Times also thought so back in 2002 - just before the US' successful World Cup appearance.

Has fashion really changed this much in four years? Or was this photoshoot just put together by a "soccer is for sissies" person who rags on the sport for it's confusing "football is soccer and soccer is football" and even more confusing "1 point per score" theories.

Yikes!

Additional Soccer Fashions from Across the Pond

2006-06-26T11:16:00.000-05:00

After a couple weeks at the World Cup in Germany, I've come back with a new appreciation for the creativity that fans can have. Here are some of the (not so fashionable) soccer fashions from the Cup.

Brazillian Girls:

German Guys:

Tight Shirt/Big Shirt:

Righteous, all!

World Cup Fever Results in Soccer Fashion

2006-05-24T17:09:00.000-05:00

Every four years or so, the massive worldwide cultural phenomenon of the FIFA World Cup culls new interest in soccer - and a resulting new interest in soccer gear and fashion.

So soccer fashion 101 begins with this installment here - with your pets, of course. Clicky clicky.

Pink Ribbons are an Excellent Accessory

2006-03-17T17:08:00.000-06:00

On Mother's Day - May 14th, we are walking in Chicago's Y-ME Walk for breast cancer. The mission of Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization is to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone.

As it is always in fashion to support a good cause, we recommend participating in this event! The race details are as follows:
1- or 3-mile Walk or 5K Run
Mother's Day, Sunday, May 14, 2006
Registration: 7:30 a.m.
Race Begins: 9:00 a.m.
Chicago's Grant Park Columbus and Balbo

If you are not able to participate in the walk, but you would like to donate, support our walkers, Kim and Brendon, by donating through their race pages.

To learn more about the walk visit the Y-ME Race homepage.

International Sporting Rivalry

2006-03-13T11:19:00.000-06:00

So the World Baseball Classic is rolling along. As a baseball fan from Cleveland and an American I was really disappointed when Cleveland Indians pitcher CC Sabathia pulled out from the US squad. Now that the games have started, I'm sure he is as well.

The nice thing about the Olympics, the World Baseball Classic, and the FIFA World Cup being played in the same year is how the international rivaly can carry over. In 2002 - after Apolo Anton Ohno had a South Korean speed skater disqualified in the Olympics, the US met South Korea in the first round of the World Cup in South Korea. After scoring against the US, South Korean striker Ahn Jung Hwan celebrated his goal by doing a speed skater dance.

We're fairly likely to see some World Baseball Classic rivaly spill over into the World Cup now. The US Mens National Soccer Team may play Japan in the second round and yesterday the two nations baseball teams played in the World Baseball Classic. Controversy erupted in the 8th inning when the umpires ruled that a Japanese player hadn't tagged up from 3rd base properly - negating the leading run for Japan. Complete BS call that I'm sure if I could read Japanese I'd be able to see it all over the Japanese press today.

Anyhow, the US went on to win by a run, setting up a possible Ahn Jung Hwan moment during the World Cup in Germany in June, stay tuned.

Win Some, Lose Some

2006-03-13T09:54:00.000-06:00

Not every dress meets with such a happy ending as my sister's dress below. The custom design business can be finicky at times and from time to time, we do have work that gets cancelled during production.

Usually this is due to an unfortunate set of circumstances for the client - such as their event getting cancelled. However, it is very fortunate for those of you out there looking for an even better deal on piece of custom designed couture.

Just look at those poor, lonely, unwanted dresses. Our wedding dress that was left at the alter - and our bridesmaid dress (never the bride, not even the bridesmaid). Can't you find a good home for them?

We've opened up a new page on the website (you'll see the link above) for unfinished pieces. These are near-complete pieces that we have available to tailor to your fit - and sell you on the cheap! You'll find full descriptions of the dresses on the unfinished pieces page.

So contact us if you're interested in any of these pieces before they go - and check back from time to time to see if we have any additions to our poor, lonely dresses. How can you look at them without feeling for how sad and unwanted the poor dresses feel :(

CTA Run Numbers Don't Mean Diddly-Squat

2006-03-10T09:22:00.000-06:00

Chicago Transit Authority trains all have an automated announcement that states "welcome aboard red line run number 802" or some other number. I've always wondered what that meant - thinking that it could actually be valuable information to know that might somehow make my daily commute more efficient.

You'll see the run number in the front window of each train (opposite the happy conductor in our picture). They're everywhere, right?

I thought - maybe the run number is the time of day that the train is supposed to arrive at the Howard station that I pick it up at - or another stop? Maybe the run number is the amount of time taken to go from one end to the other - or between a certain set of stops? Maybe it's an estimate of the amount of people that are on the train.

I figured - at the very least it had to be something relevant to the passengers on the train - given that it is announced on every train, at every stop.

Wellllllll no. Actually, the run numbers, in the convoluted explaination you'll find in that link, are just a set of routes that the train operators get to bid on every quarter - in order that they can jockey for the best routes for eating lunch at a decent hour, or walking their kids to school.

OK - so I believe this system is necessary. But really - couldn't the CTA change the announcement to, say, the time the train is expected to reach the Loop or another key location?

The Results Are In

2006-03-07T12:00:00.001-06:00

When I last wrote I had finished my first 2 of 4 fittings for my wedding dress with Anja, and was having nightmares that she might make me up like a clown. It is a little nerve-racking waiting to see if the dress you have pictured in your head will match the final results when you are having a dress made for you, but it is well worth it to have something that is unique, that is made to fit you perfectly, and that is truly your own.

Apparently my sister-in-law likes me after all and my worries and nightmares were all for nothing. My dress turned out to be beautiful – better than I could have expected and more perfect for me and the kind of wedding I wanted than anything I had seen in any magazine or store. I suppose it works that way when you get to specify down to the last detail what you want an how you want it.

So, to fulfill my promise, here are the first of the pictures from my wedding last weekend, featuring my lovely [meen kyolë] dress. Thanks to Anja for doing such a wonderful job and making me feel beautiful!

Cleveland Police Department Logo Looks Like a Pig

2006-03-01T15:24:00.000-06:00

Strolling through some of my hometown Cleveland OH news recently and I ran across a story about the Cleveland Police Department's logo.

With a small amount of photoshopping - it appears that the CPD logo can easlily be turned into a pig! While we love cops - and some of us have actually kept the Chicago PD pretty busy at times - I probably don't need to remind you of the somewhat derogatory link between cops and pigs.

The pig's kinda cute if you ask me. The touchy, feely police department.

Fashion Focus Chicago 2006

2006-02-28T18:16:00.000-06:00

The Chicago Fashion Foundation will again be an integral part of Fashion Focus Chicago, 2006 - by agreement with the Mayor's Office of Special Events!

Due to the success of the inagural Fashion Focus Chicago last September, of which CFF was an integral part - they have been asked to take an even more prominent role in FFC '06. Pretty amazing that after only three years of existence the CFF is working on a citywide scale to promote the fashion industry in Chicago.

A couple things to look forward to for FFC '06:

- Margaret Walsh will be back for another seminar on color forcasting. A world renowned expert on color and trend forecasting, Ms. Walch is Director of The Color Association of the US (CAUS). Ms. Walch leads seasonal forecasting sessions that chart color taste for the American fashion and interior design industries.
- The CFF is also working toward some big announcements - possibly a new scholarship fund!
- Other events will focus on the fashion industry in Chicago, Chicago area designers, and Chicago's schools contributions to the fashion industry.

Time Out Chicago "Check Out" Section

2006-02-17T19:28:00.000-06:00

Keep an eye out for this Thursday's Time Out Chicago. [meen kyolë] will be featured in the "Check Out" section!

Special thanks to Annie Tomlin with Time Out for putting up with all our phone calls. We hope we can repay her with a couple scoops on Chicago's fashion scene.

Pretty Birthday Girl

2006-02-14T17:20:00.000-06:00

OK - so for some today is important because it's St. Valentine's Day. Not really for us. Unh-unh - Today's big for us beacuse it's this pretty girl's first birthday:

That's San-Ok. Actually Little Miss San-Ok Suh. Our pretty birthday girl is an airedale terrier that we rescued from the Airedale Terrier Rescue Association (ATRA). She and her two sisters had been dropped off at a kill shelter when they were only only four months of age - apparently by a breeder who wasn't able to sell them while they were puppies.

So for her birthday we're making an additional donation to the ATRA and encouraging all of you to have a look at their website and contribute as well - maybe even rescue one of their available dogs.

Word of warning, though - You must lead an active lifestyle to have one of these dogs in your care. Please read up before you adopt one to make sure they'll be just right for you.

(and no - we don't design clothes for our doggies)

That's Funny

2006-02-10T16:56:00.000-06:00

An Egyptian newspaper published this on its front page under the heading "Striptease". The lovely lady on the left is Denmark's Queen Margrethe.

According to the Danish newspapers, the Egyptian paper intended it to be an insult to the Danes. We're pretty sure the Danes will roundly agree that it's great humour!

Images of the World

2006-02-10T15:48:00.000-06:00

This morning, amidst all the violent news, I came across this year's winners of the World Press Photo awards. Yes, they too depict violence, inhuman acts, poverty, disaster - but they also show that humanity is everywhere. And even under the most humble and tragic circumstances, ordinary people manage the extraordinary: They live their lives.

My favourite may very well be David Guttenfelder's photo of boys playing football (soccer) in an empty swimming pool in Kabul.

Go to the website and take a look at these beautiful and horrifying, touching and appalling images from all around the world.

Flag Wrapping: 2006

2006-02-10T09:31:00.000-06:00

Tonight begins the year of wrapping yourself in the flag. The greatest story of 2006 will be the good feelings that abound worldwide that are spread through international sports competition. Everyone, regardless of their current feelings on their country's standing in the global political climate, will have the opportunity to cast those issues aside for a time and just enjoy a period of intermingled patriotism and international fellowship.

So wrap yourselves in your respective flags tonight and enjoy the opening ceremonies of the Olympics, if'n ya like. Because here's your lineup for the year:

2006 Winter Olympic Opening Games beginning tonight and running until February 26th.
2006 World Baseball Classic beginning March 3rd and running until March 17th.
2006 FIFA World Cup beginning June 6th and running until July 9th.

The story of 2006. Best story of the year in recent memory.