FASHION FRIDAY: Incorporating Vintage

Here at Numéro we are crazy for all things vintage so putting together this photo shoot was just about the most fun we could have. (Well, that and we had just polyurethaned the floor at our offices and the fumes were making us silly. “George! George Glass!”)

With the help of our wonderfully patient models, we created some looks to help inspire you in your search for great vintage items. In fact, creating your own vintage-inspired look is simple if you know what to look for and where.

Stores like Goodwill, Salvation Army, and The Church Mouse are great resources for unique vintage clothing but here are some things to note when you are choosing your items:

• Make sure the fit is right for you. Sizing has changed significantly over time so don’t be fooled by the numbers. Try it on.

• Look for any staining, tearing or over-wear. These imperfections can make your vintage items just look like old clothes.
• Always be mindful of your color choices. Wearing vintage makes a statement but you don’t want that statement to be, “I have poor taste.” The color should flatter you and the clothes you already own. Mustard yellow doesn’t work for everyone.
  

• Go for subtle detailing, not terribly designed and poorly made. Believe it or not, bad design existed in the 40’s and 50’s as it does today. Be smart and find sophisticated pieces. Don’t let the vintage wear you.

Sometimes vintage jewelry or accessories can be a great way to give your outfit some personality. Look for pretty details in the clasp or the beading. Vintage women’s jewelry is usually uber-feminine so you can make a real statement with a gorgeous vintage necklace and a boyfriend jacket.

Try not to wear too many vintage accessories at once. Keep it simple and the few pieces you wear will look much more charming.

For men, a tie can be the ultimate vintage accessory. Look for silk ties with unique patterns. Stay away from polyester ties with ugly florals, they look dated and so will you.

Many of the items featured in this spread are for sale on etsy.com from local sellers. Go to: 4oclockvintage.etsy.com and coleblk.etsy.com.

For great vintage accessories, check out the Flea Market at the end of every month at Expo Gardens on Northmoor. You may have to dig through a good amount of junk but the prices are reasonable and there are treasures to be found.

Now go forth and vintage!

Love,
The Numéro Staff

THRIFTY THURSDAY: Glass Dome Project

Lately I've noticed a resurgence of glass domes as a means of displaying keepsakes, art and found treasures. Almost hearkening back to Victorian times when one would carefully preserve the bits and pieces touched and cherished by lost loved ones. Finding vintage domes can be a chore and put pain to your pocket book, but not these. I was at a thrift store and found a cast off dome that had originally displayed a doll, sometimes you can find broken domed clocks or even large clear drinking glasses and vases (these give a nice variation of shape).

I purchased the cast off dome for $1, and painted the base with a semi-gloss white paint but you can try different colors depending on the type of objects you want to display. Then I roamed my house for interesting objects, (whoever thought Legos could be used as home decor?). Domes of various sizes look great when grouped together. If you happen upon a great dome but no base, you can pick up a raw wood plaque for around $1 and $2 from Michael's and Hobby Lobby. Or to give your base a rustic feel, use the cross section of a sawed log. Don't be afraid to get adventurous, if you try this project, email us pictures and we'll show our readers!

Happy Thrifting!

Whatcha Readin' Wednesday: Pirate Latitudes

After the death of Michael Crichton in 2008, many thought that his unique and brilliant writing style had perished with the publication of Next in 2006.

Not true!

Discovered as a complete manuscript in Crichton’s files after his death, Pirate Latitudes was published in November of 2009, over a year after the author’s passing.

A rousing tale of whirlwind adventure, brave seamanship, intrigue and naval battle; Pirate Latitudes is the heir apparent to Crichton’s acclaimed Great Train Robbery, a brilliant piece of historical fiction the doesn’t lose the adventure and mystery of Crichton’s purely fictional works.

When a Spanish treasure ship is prevented from sailing due to bad weather, Governor of Jamaica James Almont sees an opportunity to make a staggering amount of money and stick a thorn in the sides of the Spanish. To this end, he turns to Port Royal’s premier privateer, Captain Charles Hunter.

Almont sets Hunter the task of reaching the island where the galleon is resting undetected and then stealing the ship and sailing her back to Port Royal. There is, however, one problem. The island in question is the dreaded Matanceros, a seemingly impenetrable fortress overseen by the brilliant and bloodthirsty Cazalla.

Hunter turns to the bomb maker Don Diego, the ruthless killer Andre Sanson, the sharp-eyed Lazue and the silent-but-deadly Moor to lead his expedition. He explains to them a brave and foolhardy plan for destroying the island’s deadly guns before they can sink his precious sloop, Cassandra.

And thus the stage is set and the action begins in earnest. Crichton’s research is extensive, almost exhaustive. Every naval action is not only executed, but explained in great detail. The action and plot are painstakingly realistic, with none of the high-flying acrobatics and tightrope-fighting that are so inexplicably ingrained in the American perception of pirates.

There is rum, there are swords, there is a Kraken and there are feats of heroism aplenty, but nowhere in the text does Crichton abandon his customary style. Plans and consequences are just as important in the novel as the actions that carry us between the two.

The novel tells the story of a harrowing adventure, but it doesn’t read like a Michael Bay screenplay. Instead, the action is balanced equally with thought, dialogue and explanation. This leads to a novel that is entertaining, highly informative and historically accurate.

So if you love tales of the high seas, have an interest in colonial-era naval combat or just like anything and everything to do with pirates, Pirate Latitudes is just the book for you. It also leads me to hope that Michael Crichton had at least one more of these masterpieces hidden away in his notes.

A Little Extra Music Tuesday on a Wednesday Morning

This album is the first I've heard of Beach House and what a first impression they've made. I've completely fallen for this bittersweet little gem. Aptly named Teen Dream, this album runs the gamut of emotions but always seems filtered through a sense a dreamy sadness and dare I say, nostalgia. Victoria Legrand's voice is incredibly soulful and she clearly means every word she sings and Alex Scally's multi-instrumental talents, especially with guitar, help provide the background that allows her to flourish.

Don't get the wrong idea, this album isn't all moody ambiance, there is plenty of meat here to keep you tuned in. One of my personal favorites is Silver Soul, which sounds exactly like having a crush feels (at least in my experience) and Norway is quickly becoming a music critic favorite for its quick tempo, almost cheerful "Ah, Ah Ah" s, and wavering organ long notes (it sounds a little like it's being played under water).

This is a great winter album you must own. Pick it up at Co-Op Records and support your local music shop.

REVIEW: Spoon + Transference

In my opinion it doesn't really matter what Britt Daniel is saying but I wanna listen, his cheeky purposive vocals are back in full force on this album. To be honest the songs didn't hook me like some of their past hits but "Got Nuffin" and "Written in Reverse" are well done, every instrument pounds to the beat, even the piano becomes like an added drum. In those moments I hear the Spoon we've all come to know and love. Unlike Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga, Spoon seems to have pulled back just a bit. Spoon is best when brash and loose, this album to me is the gait after the run. One thing about this quartet is consistency and honesty, they have a great time playing their music and they don't rely on a lot of flash or electronica. You gotta love a gritty guitar. Overall pretty good album, also check out gems such as "Trouble Comes Running" and "The Mystery Zone" and the sweet slow song, "Good Night Laura".

Movie Monday: The Book of Eli

The last preview I saw before going to see The Book of Eli told me that it was going to “rock my soul.”

Understandably, I found this to be a bit unbelievable. I’ve seen some great movies in my day, but I don’t know that I can say I’ve ever felt my soul was changed by a film.

Now I don’t feel that it rocked my soul, but I will tell you that The Book of Eli is going to be a definite candidate for best film of 2010 (unless 2010 lets loose a wave of talent and intelligence that I just don’t think Hollywood has anymore). It’s an epic tale of faith and destiny, of walking in the dark with only unwavering belief as your guiding light.

Also, Denzel Washington cuts a lot of people to pieces with a machete.

The Scene
30 years prior to the film’s opening, a war of indeterminate origin and outcome burned the world, turning every forest, river, and city into a desolate wasteland. It is a world where people kill each other over things our society would throw away. The closest thing most people get to a bath is a wipe-down with a 30-year-old moist towelette. It is a world where the unending task of simply staying alive for one more day proves to be more than many can handle. Bandits, raiders, thieves, rapists, murderers, even cannibals prowl the wastes, taking whatever they want and leaving their victims (if they’re lucky) to die.

The Characters
Eli (Denzel Washington): Eli is a survivor of the Flash, the cataclysmic end of the war that turned our beautiful planet into a desert. He has wandered the country for 30 years, led only by a divine mission to ferry his most precious possession to the place it is most needed. Blaming religion for the war, the people of Earth tracked down every single Bible on the planet, save for the one in Eli’s possession. Guided only by his unshakable faith and protected only by his considerable skill at killing people, Eli travels the country, not knowing where his journey will take him.

Carnegie (Gary Oldman): Another survivor of the Flash, Carnegie has built a town around an underground spring he found in his childhood. This abundance of clean water has made Carnegie a very powerful man. He is intelligent, educated, and ruthless, a dangerous combination in a world that is mostly full of stupid, illiterate thugs who just need a leader to show them where to find the best loot. Carnegie is searching for a Bible, knowing the power its teachings can give him over his peasants and desiring to rule as much of the shattered and burned world he can.

Solara (Mila Kunis): Hot. Solara is the daughter of Carnegie’s… consort. She is often forced to do his bidding for fear that he will hurt her mother, and thus she is entangled in Carnegie and Eli’s struggle for the Book. She is naïve and inexperienced, but her desire to escape and to bring down Carnegie eventually draws her after Eli on the road. Did I mention that she’s hot?

Reasons I Liked it
1. Denzel Washington was in it. Denzel Washington is the man.

2. Gary Oldman, also the man.

3. Mila Kunis, despite the fact that she looks good no matter what she’s wearing, is actually a pretty good actress.

4. It was much less of an action film than I had expected. Obviously it’s the tale of a violent conflict, but it is as much a tale of faith and the human spirit as it is a movie about people killing each other.

5. Social commentary. I love social commentary. When asked about “the world before,” Eli tells Solara that people were wasteful. “We threw away things people kill each other for now,” he tells her. (Hint: he’s talking about us.)

The Book of Eli is a moving story about a man’s journey in the face of incredible odds. It is also full of intense (but not overdramatic) action sequences. And it offers a not-so-vague warning about our future if we can’t learn to temper our lifestyles.

It’s a movie that actually made me think, not just a film I saw because it was entertaining. I highly recommend it.

DJ Hero: Turntables, Hip-Hop, and You

I’ll admit, I was very upset when Activision announced the launch of DJ Hero. It seemed like a dumb idea and I thought it would be even worse than Guitar Hero for making people who aren’t musicians think they’re musicians. And since mixing two songs somebody else wrote doesn’t make you a musician, I really thought it would make all players into people who thought they were people who thought they were musicians.

But I digress.

After viewing the initial release information, I grudgingly decided that the game had potential. The controls are interesting, the setlist is actually pretty good if you play past the drivel, and the gameplay is really fun as long as you can stop taking yourself seriously.

Then they announced that it was $120 and my interest faded until Christmas; and then I played through the entire game in about 2 days. The setlist is about as diverse as it gets, including songs from every artist between Eminem and Blondie. There’s also some Jay-Z, Bowie, Queen, and Daft Punk mixed in there.

Almost every song in the game is a mix between two other songs, save for a select few. Some songs even include a guitar track (from the likes of the Foo Fighters, Foreigner, or Motorhead) which can be played using a Guitar Hero controller while a friend handles the mix. If you want to hear the mix but don’t want to play, the game offers a Party Play option that allows you to simply play tracks from the game.

The controls are simple even if the gameplay can get a bit intense. I’ve created this short explanatory video so you don’t have to read about something you’ve never seen.



All in all, what you have is a great party game and a pretty good solo game.The game is more fun with a friend, the game is also entertaining alone if you’re willing to cut loose and get into it. You can dance, you can sing along, you can throw your hands up, but you absolutely cannot take yourself seriously and play this game. While actual dancing may not be required, I at least find my head bobbing during almost every song.

THRIFTY THURSDAY

Welcome to Thrifty Thursdays! I had the good fortune of going thrifting this week with my cousin, who is a local Etsy shop owner and our mothers. My cousin and I were raised in a household where going sailing had nothing to do with boats. We grew up with an appreciation and understanding for all things old and unusual as we perused unwanted wares at estate sales, garage sales, flea markets, antique stores, and thrift shops. Going thrifting, you not only take away arm fulls of 'treasures' but also treasured memories, like being packed in a car to the gills while my cousin laughs at my gigantic ceramic dachshund as he looks lovingly up at her (which I actually bought for a friend but now I don't know if I will part with him!)

The four of us had a very fruitful day, my cousin found some very kitschy kitchen wares and a hilariously coral sheer night coat from the 60s. Shown are my treasures which I obtained all for just under $28. A life-size ceramic dachshund, a large glass apothecary jar for a terrarium, a red Anne Taylor dress, a porcelain seashell tea cup and saucer, a green glass cake plate, a turquoise afghan with swallows on it, a spinning condiment tray, spice jars, and a flowered casserole dish.

For all you first time thrifters don't expect to get lucky the first time around, it takes patience and a keen eye. Just like a pirate, sometimes you have to dig for the treasure and get your hands dirty.Then again don't pick everything you see, be picky and think about if you really have room for everything you find. Have fun and play fair!

There are a few things that you should arm yourself with...

• Hand sanitizer (trust me you don't know where it's been or who touched it last)
• Small bills and change (this will help you pay quickly and get on to the next stop)
• A positive easy-come easy-go attitude (Be courteous, don't get in a fight over something ridiculous, it's bad sportsmanship)
• Coffee and snacks (You're going to need stamina)
• An empty car (believe me, it will fill up fast)
• A newspaper and a map (To plot out the good sales and quickest routes)
• A partner (Two pairs of eyes are better than one, also good for carrying large objects and navigating while the one person drives)

Apples and Cherries and Chocolate, Oh My!

Celebrate National Pie Day with these delectable desserts from Apple's Bakery, $3 from every 9-in pie will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, in honor of the bakery owner's mother, Alberta, a fantastic pie maker living with the challenge of MS. So Numéro says indulge your sweet tooth for a good cause. (After the photo shoot I had the good fortune to take one of these lovely creations home, I don't usually eat pie, but this was mmm...delicious).

Don't Forget Our Contest!

Hey, all you Numéro Blog readers, don't forget about our contest! Send in a picture of yourself or someone you know reading Numéro Magazine and the person who sends in the best picture will win a copy of this here Blind Pilot album "3 Rounds and a Sound."
Email your photo to NumeroMagBlog@gmail.com and the winner will be announced February 1st. Good luck!

Fashion Sneek Peak: Part Deux

The photos from our first fashion shoot are just about finished and what a fun shoot it was! Thanks to Andrea and Beau for being such troopers as we posed, pinched and prodded them to get the right shots, you guys are awesome!

This upcoming spread will be just the first of many as we plan to bring you a new spread every month and be your local source for all things fashionable in Peoria and beyond.

This month, we'll discuss how to incorporate vintage elements into your wardrobe and create unique outfits to keep your look fresh and modern with just a hint of old-fashioned whimsy.
Some of the clothes and accessories featured in the shoot are available for purchase, we'll tell you where to find them and give you tips on how to shop for vintage items locally.

Stay tuned for more!

Thrifty Friday

This month's theme being Clear, we are breaking out the natural palette. Objects that are clear tend to catch light and take on the atmosphere of the environment around them. Neutrals calm the senses and allow for a single color to take on much more power. Find some of these thrifty treasures at swankyladyvintage.etsy.com. The shop owner, Carrie Budzinski, is a local thrifter with unique penchant for unusual items. Vintage crystal-studded eyeglasses were a lucky find at the Illinois Antique Center.

Book of the Month!

This month we reviewed the new PostSecret book, Confessions on Life, Death, and God. Check out the January issue of Numéro to see what we think!

Fashion Sneak Peek!

Time to dust off your vintage, throwback is here. Check back later this week for tips on how to incorporate retro treasures into your modern wardrobe, as modeled by Andrea McCabe and Beau Commanday, to create a look all your own.

Clearing the Clutter

A Place for Everything...

That's right Numéro readers, it's a new year and it's time to get organized. Check out this month's article about cleaning and clearing away all the things that get in the way of a happy productive environment. Tell us what your favorite ways to get organized are!

Here are a few links mentioned in the article by Pam Tomka:

www.flylady.com

urbanext.illinois.edu/clutter

www.discoverorganization.com/guide.html

Bowie!!!

In honor of rock god David Bowie's birthday today, here is his amazing live performance with Arcade Fire as well as his equally amazing live performance of "Hereos".

Drink of the Month

Betsy Clear
1 shot Vodka
1 shot Peach Schnapps
Fill with Sprite

Serve in a frosty, fancy glass and with ice if you wish. Enjoy and let us know what you think!

Check out the local talent!

Andrea McCabe is a good friend of mine and will soon be featured here as one of our Numéro fashion models but beyond being totally awesome she is also a fabulous singer! Check out her cover of the completely precious "Tonight You Belong to Me". And hey, you can download it for free!

"Tonight You Belong to Me" by Andrea McCabe