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So, I’ve been bitten with the black and gold bug. I just can’t stop it. Got a ton of amazing Spanish fabric last week for my next royal skirt and I absolutely love the detail. I’m having a 50′s themed birthday tea party on Sunday and it’ll be the perfect skirt for such an occasion. Can’t wait! I’ll take plenty of photos.

Apart from this skirt I also can’t stop wearing my black and gold studded blazer… by Asha Isabella US, of course.

Anyway…

I’ve decided to do a giveaway on The Boston Bazaar for one of the blazers so you have a million ways to enter.  I’ve also decided to do a crazy birthday sale on the Etsy shop. Everything will be 30% off all day Monday, starting at midnight.

Enter the giveaway fahhhrrr sure and totally check out the Etsy on Monday! Oh em gee… savings!

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

These are a few of my favorite things

Yes, ma’am, I made a couple of skirts this weekend and I am ever so happy to wear the samples.

I headed out to Western Mass last week for some major fall time fabric shopping.  This season I’m all about prints, predominantly baroque inspired, love collars, silks, and really deep rich colors… and of course, we always have to have some type of badass appeal, usually in the form of spikes, chains or studs.

The skirt on the left is my favorite. I wore it on Saturday to a party and it’s just such a cute mini. It moves, its silk… and it has jet setter packing instructions. You know… because I travel so much. Ergo, I named this skirt “The Jet Setter Mini” and if you look closely it reminds you to pack your superstar sunglasses, cozy sweaters, fashion favorites, make sure someone watches the cat, bird, and walks the dog… and the list goes on.  I added a zipper in the back and a thin studded belt with mini studs because… just because.

The skirt on the right almost made me cry at the fabric store. I found this baby on a 30 pound spool (thingie…I don’t know what they’re called) and I struggled to get it in my cart and rushed to the cutting table. Of course, the fabric man decided to put a lighter to it and recommended I not use it for clothing because it cannot withstand heat. Come on! Well, that problem was easily solved with a warning on the product page and special care instructions. I tested out a bunch of swatches and you basically cannot iron it, NEVER cook in it, don’t drop cigs on it, avoid lighters and grills, and machine wash in cold water. That’s not too much to handle… especially for a print like that and a price like this… you should’t be grilling in it anyway.

I haven’t put the shirt up for sale yet because I’m still playing around with different draping methods. But those spike shoulder holsters… or so I’m calling them… are awesome. I’ve worn them a couple times since September so far and it just always adds that missing element to my ensemble.  I think I might just sell those separately because everyone needs one in their lives.

Here are some other pieces I added today.

Asha Isabella US blazer with silver shoulder chain

Black & Gold Studded Blazer

]]> http://asha-isabella.com/2012/10/15/raindrops-on-roses-and-whiskers-on-kittens/feed/ 0 pearlsandchains asha-isabella-skirts Blazer with Shoulder Chain Asha Isabella Black and Gold Studded Blazer http://asha-isabella.com/2012/10/13/i-had-a-heart-then-but-the-queen-has-been-overthrown/ http://asha-isabella.com/2012/10/13/i-had-a-heart-then-but-the-queen-has-been-overthrown/#comments Sat, 13 Oct 2012 01:43:05 +0000 Asha Isabella http://asha-isabella.com/?p=854 ]]> So I tell myself to be strong.

I get to a point where I realize I have neglected my blog… then out of guilt or complete fatigue I make the conscious decision to further neglect it.  It’s like watching calendar pages rip and fly away into oblivion every time I make my way to my dashboard. I’ll even hit “new post” but somehow convince myself that I will totally do it later.

Well, here’s to later (as I sip my glass of Sangria).

A lot has happened in the past… wait let me check how long it’s actually been… shit, really.

A lot has happened in the past month and a half.  1. I never did receive that vest back from Flo Rida.  And, of course, his stylist made the completely valid point, “well he did wear it for two major award shows.” Which, ok I get (a tweet mention would have been nice) but I mean, no shit… that’s why I let you pull them to begin with… that’s why I spent 12 hours customizing a pair of Supras to gift him. What more do these f*$&ing people want.

2. I’ve been talking with a ton of celebrity stylists trying to figure out which direction I want to go in first. I have to remind myself I actually make all of my garments so I can’t just go offering them to everyone I want to dress.

3. I sold to a store in LA (lala Land).

4. I sold to a store in Switzerland.

5. I changed the name Isabella Louis to just plain Asha Isabella. I’ve been saying Asha Isabella US because it’s really difficult saying my name out loud, just sounds like I’m referring to myself in the third person.

6. I’ve turned The Boston Bazaar into a media company and have started Tosser Magazine (TosserMag.com), which comes out in print and online in January.

6. I have 13 interns, which I’m now realizing is not difficult to manage, but I NEVER realize when they don’t show up. Oh…but when I do… dahn dahn dahn.

7. I’ve been teaching myself Swedish.

8. I’ve been reading far too much Machiavelli. Which is probably a bad idea because I’ve been feeling extremely betrayed by a lot of my friends. And unusual as it sounds, Machiavelli and my frustration has convinced me I really don’t need any…well, many. I’d rather not deal with the drama. The disappointment. The complication. It’s lonely at first, but they come as easy as they go. Shoulder shrug.

6. A blogger called me today for a quote on a post about the AI name change and the collection in general. She asked “You say you focus on classic femininity (as per my website) – how do you go about blending that femininity with the punk movements you’re inspired by?” I start the day listening to Bach then I shake the walls of my space with dub step, then play the songs I loved during my angst ridden teenage years and remind myself that we are not whole if we are not both… the sweet and the sour.  After our convo I realized I did not remember her name nor get the name of her blog. So, if you’re out there please let me know… or my exact quote will go forever into oblivion.

Well, here’s what I wore today.

Made that ensemble (say it with a French accent or don’t say it at all) today.

Yeah, I can totally get on this radiator. They would decide to finally turn my heat on when I decide to do this.

BAM. Did it.

Radiator sittin’ achieved.

Whoops.

Whatever, I’ll stand

I’ve got NERDS anyway.

So, ha!

And, I’m not sharing

Top: Jones New York

Skirt: Forever 21

Belt: Perry Ellis

Tights, socks, and shoes: Steve Madden

Earring: Christian Dior
(I never wear two… I’m like a 90s boy)

*Narcissism

My neighborhood is roaring with trucks. No idea what they’re doing but every morning around the 7:30 mark it gets a little noisy.  I’ve gotten so used to it that they don’t even make me turn in my sleep but they’re definitely interrupting my AM Spongebob session. How’s a girl supposed to remain sane without early morning Spongebob?!?

Anyway…

I have to start this beautiful Friday morning with a major recommendation.  If you’re new to the blog sorry  for the face I’m about to startle you with so early in the morning.

BAM. So, I’m all about my at-home spa days so I shop around (a lot) for different face masks. I’ve even dedicated a full cabinet in my closet to my face products (yes I have closet cabinets – they’re mini!)  Though, I am a huge fan of the True Blue Spa Blackberry Face Peel I have fallen head over heels with another affordable at-home spa face mask…from CVS. Plus, I ran out of the face peel. I have way too many home spa face mask parties.

The Freeman’s Dead Sea Minerals Facial Anti Stress Mask (long ass title) is definitely worthy of your skin.  Most importantly, it’s really blue and smells like candy heavy.  This is honestly how I imagine Spongebob’s house to smell – a hint of pineapple and just pure joy.  Anywho, at first I was concerned that the mask was not going to harden… that it was going to be a knock-off mask and stay all creamy and make my eye cucumbers sticky. No need to fear, it hardens in a few minutes but while you wait you get a piece of candy heaven smell.  I left mine on for a solid hour. Sue me. If it’s going to de-stress me it needs some time. Anywho, when I washed it away with cold water my skin looked matte.  I didn’t even put on moisturizer (it was night time anyway) because I just looked so airbrushed and felt so smooth.

I definitely recommend.  Especially for those girls like me that do not wear foundation or any type of powder, we’ve got to keep our skin looking fresh and a regular face mask will help out. And for $3.99 a bottle, you can afford it!And if you do wear makeup, then its really necessary – you’ve gotta get that stuff out of your pretty pores!

Face mask fan? What are your favorites? Always looking to increase my collection.

Pantry Chic

This is the I didn’t leave the house but had my air on blast ensemble.

Hey, reader, what’s up? How’s your day been. Mine was pretty cool… literally. I semi took the day off in anticipation for the next few sleepless weeks. I can finally say that my new venture in fashion design has officially made me more money than my old job did in a month… a month and a half.  Worked out the details for a wholesale order today and I am so amped! I’ve been working on packaging details lately and now I get to add all types of features to prepare these babies for retail.

I’m shipping a bunch out to LA LA land so all you west coast beauties will be able to pick up your fav IL pieces in Los Angeles! Excitement.

BUT this means I have 13 days to produce a ton of pieces and prepare myself for New York fashion week…. while working out the details of my new lease and new roommate.  Oh, and welcome the 8 new interns I’m bringing on board this semester.

No complaints. I’m excited. I’m nervous… but, hey, I’m blessed.

XOXO,
Smack ya later
Asha

If you’re new to my life – 1. Hey, how’s it going? Nice to meet you. 2. IL is short for Isabella Louis, you know, that nifty little clothing line I’m working on.  Anyway… you have a pretty awesome chance to win the shorts in the above photo in whatever size you’d like!

Why, you ask? Because I fell in love with the Boston based blog Notes on Lifestyle by Georgina and I had to figure out a way to collab with her. So, she’s hosting this fancy little month-long giveaway and is giving you a million chances to enter. Well, that may be a little over exaggerated but you get the point.

Check it out and enter!

Later Days,

Asha

I spent Friday night… hmm, I don’t remember. It was uneventful though, I think I caught up on the Daria episodes I had stored on my DVR. Did you know MTV was playing them every morning last week. I think they’re doing it again this week but only at 8:30am or something like that. Then I spent Saturday editing a story I wrote. The short story was previously published (page 127) and I figured I’d get back to working on the novel it was inspired by.

Then Sunday, this awesome couple behind the new Boston company Angela & Roi stopped by for an interview on The Boston Bazaar.

They gave me a bag. And I love it!

Now you have to buy it and you definitely have to read the article HERE!

I completely gave myself a makeover this morning to submit for a film… you know, to look normal and all. I honestly don’t even recognize myself.

Anywho… gotta go finish up these Etsy orders. So bye.