A post about my brief adventure to NYC's Fashion District
Gettin' In The Mood
In more than 6 years in this city, I had never once visited the temple of fashion that is Mood Fabrics… until recently, that is, when I went to get some supplies for my Jaunty Fascinator. Mood is popularly known as the place where Project Runway contestants have to scramble about to find materials within their budget. But now that I'm making a vaguely fashion-y fascinator, I have a reason to join them. A coworker of mine was on the hunt for some 50's-ish dress fabric, so I had a buddy to help guide me through the labyrinth of 12-foot-tall stacks of fabric bolts.
It's Called "Birdcage" Ya'll
Mood fills three floors with just about every kind of fabric, button, and ribbon you can imagine. And it is swarming with attendants eager to assist you if you know what you're looking for. When I was first approached and asked if I needed help, I replied, "Oh yes! I want some hatnettingveilstuff. Know what I mean?" Unfortunately, the kind salesperson did not. Attendants kept pointing me over to the taffeta isle--aka NOT where I wanted to be. It probably took 20 minutes for an elegantly-clad saleswoman to finally figure out that what I wanted was not, in fact named "netting-stuff-for-hats-but-with-big-holes-in-it" but what peeps in the biz call "Birdcage Veiling."
I got a yard of white, figuring that the translucent plastic I'm using will look more white than anything else. If it ends up feeling too boring or bridal, I'll just dye it something fun like chartreuse or magenta. After claiming my prize, my coworker and I popped over to M&J Trimming, the city's largest largest trimmings store, where I spied a few sinamay fascinator bases for about $10 each. I'm regretting the fact that I didn't get one. But perhaps I'll attempt to make my own.
So now I have a veil and an idea for a base. What more does a Jaunty Fascinator need!?
(trick question! obviously it needs some LEDs and an accelerometer and a microcontroller and...)
In other news: I've really delved into programming this week. Look forward to a longer update on Saturday all about the ridiculous metaphors I've been using to try to wrap my head around the rules of coding.
