May 2022

Me wearing a Stadium cardigan decorated with handpainted mushroom motifs on off white sweatshirt fabric. I'm holding a light yellow daffodil and smiling.

Hi
  I have some exciting news to share with you: The Stadium sweatshirt is officially here! I'm hoping this can be a staple for you during the Spring, Summer, and Fall when light layers are often needed. I also hope that you use it to channel your activist spirit and emblazon your make with something important that you care about. I'll be doing just that next month with a raffle for a custom painted sweatshirt, to raise money for a cause (more to be revealed in the coming weeks!)

In the mean time, I'm preparing to head off on another trailer trip and I'm looking forward to living what my mom often refers to as 'The Mini Life'. One of my favorite things about traveling is the routine I create for myself to feel at home but still immersed wherever I'm traveling. All of the extra stuff gets put on hold: instead, you get to decide how your little routines and creature comforts adapt to new surroundings...and inspire new perspectives!

These trips often require careful wardrobe planning, since storage space in the trailer is limited. It's a great opportunity to create a little travel capsule wardrobe. Stadium will be my go to layering piece for this trip, as late Spring weather is often fickle and I tend to get chilly. On camping trips, I live in me-made jeans and t-shirts, but I always bring something slightly dressy, just in case the occasion arises.  What are your go-to pieces for a capsule travel wardrobe?
 

In this newsletter:

The Stadium sweatshirt, personal style, fashion history podcasts, and more.

Some Blueprints News

The Stadium sweatshirt is here!

Stadium is a raglan pullover or cardigan sweatshirt inspired by vintage sports apparel. Version 1 is classic raglan sleeve sweatshirt. Version 2 is a letterman style cardigan, featuring a V-neck and patch pockets.

The Stadium pattern includes instructions for adding vintage style felt applique to celebrate your favorite things in sports fan style!

Stadium is available now as a PDF in sizes A-P (32-60" Chest)

To learn more about the inspiration behind this pattern and see some excellent tester versions, check out the latest blog post.

When creating this sample, I chose to highlight the year of the Roe v. Wade decision: 1973
It’s amazing (and terrifying) to think that a court decision protecting the right to have an abortion would be challenged almost 50 years later. If you’re looking for more information about reproductive rights or ways you can support reproductive healthcare in the US, visit https://reproductiverights.org/

On Personal Style

This lovely article from NPR's Life Kit made me smile. It takes the form of a podcast narrated by Mayowa Aina and a comic co-created by Aina and illustrator LA Johnson. 
It features some incredibly stylish and thoughtful contributors. I love hearing folks discuss the evolution of their personal style and it always reminds me to take a closer look at my own style from time to time to see how it has changed alongside me.

The first page of the a comic by Mayowa Aina and LA Johnson via NPR. It features the title 'How to Cultivate Your Personal Style' and a grid of four stylish contributors rendered in green and pink. Clockwise from top left, it features: Courtney Mays-Stylist, Ruby Redstone-Fashion Historian, ALOK-artist, Asia Jackson-Actor.

Fashion Legislation

A graphic in black, pink and white that reads "Introducing: The Fashion Workers Art. We're demanding financial transparency and accountability in New York's fashion industry. Join us."

A new bill introduced into the NY state legislature in collaboration with The Model Alliance seeks to establish better workplace protections for fashion industry workers and creatives including models, stylists, and makeup artists. In the industry currently, these folks are booked through agencies where there is little to no oversight or regulation when it comes to payment terms, contracts, and transparency, among other things. Passing this legislation would be another step towards making the fashion industry a more equitable, safer, and more transparent place to work. You can read more about this bill here (NYT).

You can also visit the Model Alliance's website to learn more and find out how you can help support this bill and spread the word.

The Invisible Seam

From the folks who brought you The Fashion and Race Database, The Invisible Seam: Unsung Stories of Black Culture and Fashion is a podcast focused on discussing and celebrating Black contributions to the story of American fashion.

Created in collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger (a brand with a history of overt racism, btw), the podcast discuses and celebrates Black contributions to the story of American fashion.

It's been fascinating the observe the ways that American heritage brands are starting to unpack and address their histories of racism towards and exclusion of Black Americans. Obviously, sponsoring a podcast or presenting a collection in collaboration with historically Black colleges & universities does not erase centuries of racism, but I think it's a start in making amends and hopefully evidence of internal changes working towards DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion).

This month's studio playlist

Click here to listen on Spotify
 

I made this playlist a while back and enjoy listening to it while I work in my studio, especially if I need a pick me up. I especially love the pop song featuring German conceptual artist, Joseph Beuys.

When I was 17, I spent time in Berlin. When I came home, I took German language classes in the evenings at a local university and developed an intense love for German New Wave. This dark-but-catchy collection of tunes is worthy of an underground Bauhaus themed nightclub.

1. Essential Logic - Brute Fury

2. The Monochrome Set - Eine Symphonie Des Grauens

3. The Passions - I'm In Love With A German Film Star

4. Die Doraus & Die Marinas - Tulpen und Narzissen

5. Joseph Beuys - Sonne statt Reagan

6. Anika - No One's There

7. Kleenex - Die Matrosen

8. F.S.K. - Was Kostet Die Welt

9. Amon Düül II - Sleepwalker's Timeless Bridge

10. Klaus Johann Grobe - Ein guter Tag

11. CAN - Nineteen Century Man

12. Malaria! - Your Turn to Run

13. Kraftwerk - Das Model

14. Oppenheimer Analysis - Subterranean Desire

15. Guerre Froide - Demain Berlin

16. Faust - Jennifer