chateau bizarre: hardcore glamour & curious finds, reviewed daily » mixed materials

Cerise UK

lilah wild — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 18:50:47 +0000

A British accessory emporium specializing in bits of handmade, carefully curated, modernized yesteryear from about eighteen or so indie designers. Funky retro kissclasp purses, flowered fascinators, pinup playing card makeup bags, tattered scarves made to be worn every which way, gold and silver jewelry that keeps the skulls understated – or crowns them with antlers. A good place to pick up fripperies that work double-duty with both vintage and contemporary stuff.

Catbird

lilah wild — Mon, 29 Mar 2010 21:09:44 +0000

A well-curated shop of jewelry that traipses through city streets and enchanted woods and mid-century dressing tables, lots of good understated strangeness in here: a necklace where a 14k gold dagger pokes into a solid silver anatomical heart, silver talons or witch hands or melting hearts to protrude through the ears, tree trunk rings complete with carved lovers’ hearts, name necklaces bathed in elegant curlicues. They also have an entire section devoted to wedding bands.

Xylocopa

lilah wild — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:07:58 +0000

A neat little shop of woodworked jewelry and toys. The adornments feature motifs of tentacled water beasties and we do believe them when they say you won’t find a nicer set of pangolin earrings anywhere. Also pendants made up of moving gears, which will surely draw forth cries of “ooh, can I touch?” Build-your-own fishmonsters and ratmobiles make for morbidly mobile amusements, the mushroom puzzle is cool in a retro-70’s way, and gods only know what the Mystery Item might be.

Natasha Salkey

lilah wild — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:04:21 +0000

Handmade jewels hybridized from metal and gemstones. Among silver honeycombs, small waterfalls of chain, and quartz-beaded “full moons,” the Bonne Chance collection renders the rockabilly card suit in rivety discs and dangling charms. Commissions welcome.

NIMLI

lilah wild — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:34:56 +0000

Eco-fashion for men and women. The clothes tend towards wraps and ripples of solid color with the occasional print, stocking everything from slinky cocktail dresses to hoodies and what looks to be delightfully comfy loungewear, as well as rubber handbags and synth-leather shoes. Kids and pets get their own sections of apparel, bedding, and toys, there’s whole divisions of furniture and housewares, and the bath and body stuff includes bright purple body glitter.

Renegade Handmade

lilah wild — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 18:48:08 +0000

A Chicago brick-and-mortar that grew out of the Renegade Craft Fair and currently features over 300 artists. Clothes and accessories, jewelry, artwork, stationery, housewares, bath and body goods, stuffed animals, indie style in full swing through cute animals, vintage yearnings, cupcakes, and filthy-minded crossstitchery. Thanks, Miko!

Coco Career

lilah wild — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:26:06 +0000

A UK boutique specializing in emerging designers of the bold and conceptual variety, where one can find velvet rompers, “braided” trousers, plaid jumpsuits, art tees, and other mod-to-modern flauntables among party dresses, separates, swimsuits, and lingerie. The accessories section gets kitschy with 80’s piano-key belts and poofy unicorn necklaces, also going retro in a wide selection of flapper headbands and fluffy hairpieces. Commissions are possible for certain pieces, contact for more info.

Magpie Creations

lilah wild — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:15:00 +0000

Kanzashi! Intricately folded flowers of hand-dyed silk, plum blossoms and chrysanthemums and even sunflowers perched on clips, combs, headbands, hair prongs, and brooches. Obi belts feature size-adjustable corset lacing and big fat bows and kimono blouses are on the way. The rest of the catalog tips fae/bellydance with filigree wings and ornate headdresses, dichroic glass twinkles and winterberry branches sculpted from wire. Custom welcome.

CutesyGirl

lilah wild — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:51:00 +0000

An enormous array of skimpy clubwear and some actual practical stuff too, tunic turtlenecks among the plunging necklines and metallic minidresses. Leggings, rompers, pleather motorcycle jackets, denim skinnies and flares, plenty of separates to play with, a ton of costume jewelry, 20 pages of Halloween costumes, and what looks to be Leg Avenue’s entire catalog. Particularly good for scrunchy ankle boots and platform pumps and all the other fun 80’s-esque styles in materials that are not leather.

Rivet

lilah wild — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:21:00 +0000

Handmade jewelry where bold, clean lines swerve into bouts of understated industrial elegance. Earrings hook spirals and corkscrews through the lobes up to 10g, the rings look spit from the mouths of dainty little robots, the necklaces are distressed hearts and sci-fi discs, the bangles are sometimes collapsible, and some of this can be customized with names and messages. Thanks, Miko!

The Oriental Magpie

lilah wild — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:28:00 +0000

An online consignment shop run by the owner of Ji Ji Kiki, once again showing off an eye for the cute with a roster of teenytiny indie brands working in jewelry, accessories, home decor, and paper goods. Carousel necklaces, orange slice rings, cat-shaped lavender sachets, comic book envelopes, hair flowers, linen purses, an overall gathering of, to borrow from one of the featured brands, dainty pretty things. Artists and designers are welcome to come sell their stuff.

Netta Beads

lilah wild — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Elegant jewelry crafted from a disparate array of elements, incorporating recycled metals, glass, Swarovski crystals and hemp twine into necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. Found objects clanging together in a charm arrangement, scrolls and squiggles looping about the neck and wrist, etched copper cuffs made from roofing material, ear spirals that don’t demand a greater gauge than 18. Also pet tags and jewelry trees. Thanks, Miko!

Cut + Paste

lilah wild — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 01:52:00 +0000

A consignment shop showcasing clothes, accessories, jewelry, and home stuff from a bunch of tiny indie brands. Bright happy tunics, bird earrings, funky tote bags, loads of stationery, soaps and candles, and a page of ‘zines. And if you’re a small-biz brand, they’re actively seeking new “partners in craft.”