Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Fashion Dilemma and a Very Eco-Chic Solution

I was faced with an interesting fashion dilemma recently - we were invited to a festive, black tie-ish affair, and digging through my evening wear I realized that my wardrobe lacks a rather important piece, an accessory if you will. Every woman, I think, experienced something similar when going out - bare shoulders, and often back as well, are exposed to warm, hot, drafty, freezing, and hot again air at parties. Wearing a sweater is not an option, it doesn't really go. Pashminas are great, but it's a kinda been there done that idea. I concluded that our grandmothers had it all figured out already. A fur stole or a shrug solved a myriad of temperature problems, and added that certain seductive glamour. Unfortunately fur has become so expensive and politically incorrect, so I thought I had to cross it off my wish list straight away. What to do, what to do? As they say, necessity is a mother of invention. Thanks to my stylish grandmother I have inherited some very old, and very vintage items (one can only wonder how they made it through numerous wars and occupations). I suddenly recalled a couple of fur collars that were stored in the farthest corner of my closet. A trip to a fabric store for some silk ribbon and fabric, a couple of hours of sewing, and I became a proud owner of a very chic, one of a kind, socially conscious fur shrug/stole/wrap - a true feel-good moment. Here it is!

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Home is Where Your Cake Is

My world seems to be defined by food. At Christmas I do what I can to transport myself to the wonderful time I remember from my childhood. I do it by filling my kitchen with the intoxicating aromas of poppy seed cake, pierogi, and red borsch. Forget calorie counting - let the festivities begin! Happy Holidays!
A bakery window, Cracow, Poland

Thursday, December 15, 2011

My Favorite Place in the World

This time of year I always feel a tiny bit nostalgic. It's not just traditions, it's the whole package of what you get when you visit my favorite place in the world - Cracow.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

It's Personal

Someone once told me that jewelry is a personal item. Whether you choose it or it chooses you, when we look for something special to celebrate or make a special day memorable it is most likely with a piece of jewelry. When we think "heirloom" first thing that comes to mind is a family treasure - something dazzling - made with gems and precious metal. For a guy to choose a jewelry as a gift for his honey can be a major decision - not only because of a price tag, but because it is a reflection of what he thinks of her and what she means to him. It can be, quite truly, a defining moment of the relationship. A jewelry piece you choose or are given becomes a part of your life and every time you look at it it will remind you of the first time you'd seen it. You may get it for yourself because you are on vacation, or you lost 5 lbs., or you just celebrated a major birthday, or you got a new job, or you want to treat yourself, or for hundreds of other reasons. We quite often underestimate what these trinkets mean to us - but even if a ring, or a bracelet for example, can be quite easily replaced, we know, that if they're lost, anything else is not the same. I feel honored every time someone selects a piece of jewelry from my collection because it delighted them, because that was exactly what they were looking for, because it chose them...
"Silver & Pearls" Necklace and Bracelet

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Iconic Style - Audrey Hepburn

Whenever I look at images of Audrey Hepburn I am always amazed how easily her style adapts to lives we lead today. Black cigarette pants, sailor striped T-shirt, ballet flats... Not to mention a little black dress for evenings out... Add a white shirtdress (and turn up your collar for attitude), tailored dark wash jeans, a silk scarf, sunglasses (for a touch of mystery !), a men's style watch, and - a piece of bold jewelry. These classic wardrobe investments will age as gracefully as you, and are a receipe for an easy everyday chic. An undisputable fashion icon, Audrey owed her spare and uncomplicated style to Hubert de Givenchy. Clean lines, simple color palette, bold accessories - what can be easier to commit to? Less is more, that's philosophy to follow. Audrey showed us a way of dressing that is not difficult to carry off, and so easy to imitate. Never tortured, contrived, but beautiful in its simplicity and functionality. Effortless, takes guesswork out of getting dressed in the morning.

Friday, October 28, 2011

Trash to Treasure - Modern Heirlooms

A jumble of strings, beads, rhinestones, bunches of necklaces no longer worn, forgotten somewhere at the back of your closet... Some of it is sentimental, hard to throw out, with memories attached. Some of it looks like junk, broken pieces of something once fabulous now sitting in a sad little heap. But wait, don't throw it all out - not yet. What if it could be reworked and revived? In the spirit of saving our planet, and saving our individual style in the deluge of cookie cutter accessories, what if we could modernize, re-glamorize these old trinkets? This is what happened with my grandma's brooch - a very sparkly rhinestone affair, it was living in a forgotten box, never seeing the light of day (or night for that matter), and various attempts to work it into an outfit failed. And then there was a broken string of a big costume piece, a necklace, and a rhinestone clasp that came from something else altogether. One creative afternoon later, we gained a fab new choker style necklace which is gathering plantiful compliments. It not only looks good, but feels good as well - we did something great for ourselves, and for our planet.
If you'd like to redesign your old trinkets into new treasures contact me at Joanna@JoannaMorganDesigns.com!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Autumn Delights

Autumn is my favorite season. There is something about the muted hues of brown, ochre, and mossy green that makes me feel safe and cocooned. I love foggy mornings, misty afternoons, and drizzle on my face (great for the skin, by the way!) Walking through piles of dry leaves is a delight, and dodging falling chestnuts is fun, although they scare my dog... In Seatttle, hearing a fog horn on these darker, moodier days is special. As well as having a multitude of coffee houses on every corner to wake up with a cup of joe on dark days. My personal indulgence in coats, gloves, and scarves becomes a justified obsession, and adding accessories in my favorite hues makes getting dressed extra fun. What is your favorite season?

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Sunny with a Chance of Rain

Fall arrived suddenly - one day we enjoyed endless sunny skies, and the next rain came in.  I welcomed the change since fall is my favorite season.  And the season has a special flavor in the Pacific Northwest.  You think you're in for a day of rain and clouds, when all of a sudden - surprisingly - the sun comes out, or the opposite happens...  It's sunny with a chance of rain...


"Sunny with a Chance of Rain" necklace


Friday, September 23, 2011

Simplicity

Sometimes less is more, as in the case of this simple crystal pendant necklace.  My bestselling designs often come to life out of necessity - like this one.  One day I needed something easy to wear, easy to layer with other pieces for versatility, and neutral in style.  The pendant is a beautifully faceted quartz, clear with a golden web of rutile that comes to life when held up against the light, with a chain fringe.  It is suspended on three sterling silver chains, some oxidized to give the piece some edge and depth.  Simply elegant!*



*available at SPUN in Seattle or by contacting me directly at joanna@joannamorgandesigns.com , each necklace differs slightly because no stone is identical

Friday, September 9, 2011

My Inspiration

I am a nomad - every few years my life takes me somewhere else.  Growing up I never even thought of leaving my Polish family but fate had other plans.  I have to say Pacific Northwest is the most beautiful place on Earth I have ever lived , and I feel so fortunate to be here.  The beauty of nature freed a lot of creativity in me and my love of organic elements came through in a lot of my designs.  The pace of life, the light, and the spirit of the region have taken me where I have never dreamt of.  I am often asked - "what's your inspiration?" - and I often feel that answering simply that nature surrounding us is what is the constant source of new ideas, may not be enough.  But just look around - how can you not be moved by these wonders?





Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Celebrate Fashion's Night Out with me!

In just over a week thousands, millions of fashion enthusiasts in many countries will celebrate Fashion's Night Out.  I am so proud to be a part of this special evening on September 8th! If you are in the Seattle area you are invited to drop by SPUN in Capitol Hill to preview my Fall Collection*.  Hope to see you there!



*My Collections can also be viewed on line at http://www.joannamorgandesigns.com/

Monday, August 29, 2011

"M" Like Mandy

OK, so I'm in love with my dog, but why not?  She is the cutest, sweetest, and makes every day better just because she is.  No matter how hard my day is, her happy face, wet tongue on my nose, and the sheer joy with how she greets me, make me feel like I'm number one.  She reminds me that one cannot be too serious in life, napping is important, as well as getting a good meal, and trusting our instincts pays off.
So it's not exactly a fashion blog post, but possibly a reflection that everything is relative and we all need a good friend to believe in us, unconditionally.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Happy Birthday, Madame Chanel!

On August 18th Coco Chanel would have been 128 years old - or 118 depending which biography of Coco we read.  It's hard to believe that so many things that we take for granted in our wardrobes, like trousers, a little black dress, or jackets, we should thank her for.  She did us all a big favour of "stealing" from the boys and passing the goodies to us. One of many invaluable lessons we learned from her is not to be afraid to experiment in fashion - it leads to great discoveries and grooms our sense of style. We may not actually own anything with a "Chanel" label, but our wardrobe favorites echo hers. 
Her choices were brave for the times she lived in, and her courage to be a fashion trailblazer led her to be a fashion icon. It was her who said that luxury is a state of mind, and not a state of our bank account.  A century later after she opened her first boutique her brand stays strong and we continue to crave all things Chanel. What else can I say about Coco Chanel, that hasn't already been said? Merci!

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Fall Cravings

August is here and summer is still here, but I'm impatiently awaiting September issues of Bazaar, Vogue, and Elle with their loadful of autumn and winter fashions - it's almost like getting new school books before a new school year starts.  When I was a kid the major thrill was shopping for new school stuff, books smelling of fresh print, pages crisp.  I loved choosing new pens, pencils, new colorful markers, everything was so new, fresh, and holding promise.
Many years later I still get that anticipatory flutter - looking forward to pouring over thick tomes of magazines.  Even in the age of internet, when fall collections are announced well in advance, the allure of glossy pages draws me in.  For me September issues are like Christmas gifts in summer, and a postman a Santa in a blue uniform.  Can't wait!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

At Last - New Website

After months of - creating, musing, agonizing, losing sleep, deciding, etc - my new website has launched! I am so excited to share it with you, my dear friends and fans.  It was hard work, but also fun fun fun! I hope you like what you see.  Please click on my logo to visit and browse my latest designs for Fall/Winter 2011:




Tuesday, July 19, 2011

A Sneak Peek at Fall

I am so excited about my Fall 2011 Lookbook that I decided to share a little bit of it with you.  More soon!


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Vive la France!

Happy Birrthday to France, my favorite travel destination!  July 14th 1789 marks the beginning of France as a modern nation.  Yes, it was bloody and I think generally dreadful, but it has been celebrated ever since as a big national holiday.  In my family, although we're not French, we are drawn to French food, places, traditions, and - naturellement - fashion.  Here, in Seattle, far away from France, Cafe Campagne is my favorite spot where I can perch at the bar and sip my kir royale.  From there Le Panier is conveniently close by to pick up a baguette and a bag of macarons.  In my 'hood we adore sitting in the garden of Le Reve and munch on croque monsieur...

 Vive La France!

Claude Monet, Rue Montorgueil, Paris, Festival of June 30, 1878.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

Coffee with Liv

Had coffee with Liv at my favorite neighborhood spot - Caffe Vita.  Liv was my model at the last photoshoot - it is not what she does for a living, but she could!  The woman of multiple talents, she is also a gifted artist (see for yourself here).  We chatted and laughed, and it is so sad she is moving to the East coast in a month.  Bon voyage and bon chance, Liv!


Lovely Liv


One of Liv's paintings

Thursday, July 7, 2011

My Favorite Summer Things...

"Summer afternoon - summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language."  ~ Henry James

Summer - a perfect time of year, but oh so short and precious.  Long days pass too quickly as we savor deliciously warm minutes trying to save up the feeling of contentment to last us into the rainy season...
How to stop time and make the flavors and scents linger a little longer? 
Here are a few of my favorites I will miss when summer is gone:
Farmers Markets around town with their parade of summer fruit - starting with strawberries and cherries, ending with plums and pears - well into autumn



Blackberry fields in our own neighborhood
The simple elegance of a little white summer dress, and -
Turquoise, robin egg and aqua blue jewelry to complement my LWD


Warm nights perfect for dining al fresco
Languishing...
An abundance of flowers




Easier, slower, gentler living
etc, etc, etc ...  a rose is a rose is a rose is a rose....

What are your summer favorites?

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Eco Chic - It is Easy Being Green If You Try

If I were asked to be on TV - LIVE TV - I would have to take a tranquilizer (ha, ha!).  Sara of SPUN just glided graciously through the entire Q13 morning program with Kaci Aitchinson, which aired on Monday, June 27th. 
SPUN is one of the first boutiques that has changed the notion that eco chic is an oxymoron.  Frequented by women who love fashion and are excited to discover new designers, the Capitol Hill store offers an edited modern collection of locally designed and made fashions: clothes, accessories, jewelry.  I was so happy my bracelet (on Sara's arm) and necklace (on the model next to Cameron) made it into the clip - thank you, Sara, for mentioning Joanna Morgan Designs!
Here is a short video from the show:


Monday, June 27, 2011

My Photoshoot - An Inside Look

Last Saturday greeted us with an overcast sky - a perfect day for a photoshoot!  We started bright and early - at least early for a weekend day - with Krystal of Smashing Divas, who worked her amazing artistry on my already flawless model, Liv.  She gave Liv a smoky-eye, sophisticated look. 


Krystal working her artistry
















Hair time!

Krystal's tools of the trade






Then it was time for Amanda of Art of Subtlety to capture in her trademark masterful way the mood and personality of my collection. 

Making sure





















Yes, these are phone books and one super thick book we used as a stepstool


Can't wait to show you the end result!

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Seamless in Seattle

I just love that my first post on my new blog is about "Seamless in Seattle".  Anyone who has passion for fashion in our rainy city could be seen there last week.  "Seamless" - an annual fashion show showcasing local new talent, didn't dissapoint. Bonus - seeing my friends from Fashion Group International.

Here's me, arriving at the event.