Experiment: The Nightgown

Perhaps no article of clothing is more matronly than the nightgown.* A trip to any catalog-era department store will confirm this. Row after row of high-collared, flannel or felt frocks evocative of curlers and rose-scented bath salts. The wearers comprising a strange dual-demographic of grandmothers and 7-year old girls - females nightgowned in the stages of femininity more concerned with softness and chocolate chip cookies than out-and-out hotness. The little-girl/old-lady set. Characterized best perhaps by the Olsen twins. And yet. . . . Something classically appealing about them, these gowns of the night. Perhaps the name. Nightgown. Gown. It actually...

Alt Design Summit

While I guess I'm announcing things, let me add another to the list in case any of you are interested/going: I'm speaking at Alt. this year. I get to hang with the other speakers like Design Sponge (aka Grace Bonney), the co-founder of Pinterest (pinteresting. . . ), Design Mom, and of course my dear old friend Hunter Sebresos! And I'll get to meet lots of other impressive creative types. Or, let's put it this way, they get to meet ME. I'll be speaking on how design, craft, fashion, and deli meat bloggers can use basic ad principles to differentiate and strengthen their brand. "We're all Mad Men" is what I'm calling it (even though I very much dislike the show...

Experiment: Growing a Human Being

This was tucked inside my fortune cookie last month: Soon = 3 months. Maybe too soon. Sort of surreal. Always feel weird announcing personal things, because what more can you expect than a "congratulations." And congratulations, though well intentioned and sincere, never feel like enough when I'm on the giving end.  Pregnancy announcements are like sympathy cards in that way - not a lot of options of things you can say. So can I solicit some nontraditional congratulations? You know, like "Best wishes on your Asian son."  Or a name recommendation (boy).  For instance, "Jean-Luc Pi Cardon." Because after all, he probably will come out bald. And...