since most of our summer has been a prolonged build up to fall (see: coolish) i can’t help but look for ways to stay stylish but warm.  and since hosiery is my J-O-B (legwear designer for nordstrom) i get to study legwear for work.  i’ve been seeing all these adorable iterations of the OTK and bold, statement tights.  a look i can’t help but mimic as we make our way into the dreary months…

allie, vicoria and i gathered some inspiration for you- let us know what you think! (featured above, a stylish lady from paris- eleonor bridge- since my french isn’t what it used to be, i can’t tell you much more than that- but don’t you love the tutu and socks!?!)

my picks- something bold- love the mod style. although i couldn’t find the original from garance dore, this was linked on this is love forever

end of summer, layered sheers- very cool

allie’s picks-

sheer dot on alexa chung

red tights

sexy knee highs

from victoria-

off the hook uzi leggings

all saints bell leggings (i love the idea of glorified sweatpants)

wow.  if you’ve ever had a kid, you know i’m not kidding when i say, i didn’t even realize 5 months went by.  if you haven’t had a kid… please understand that time, and it’s passage, have new meaning for me.

i wouldn’t trade a single second of everything that’s transpired.  being pregnant… sucked.  but you know the upside? your very own baby.  it’s been a pretty crazy ride, but now it’s time to get back to all things style in our city, and putting up some inspiring content on needle+thread.

i’m putting it out there that i’d love contributors.  want to write about local retail?  love to take photos of your fashionable friends?  do you like to illustrate or draw?  if you live in seattle, and have any creative inklings that are (or are not) related to fashion and/or style… drop me a line.  my only goal here has been to show what the people in our city are like… walking the streets, going to shows… i want to continue that, and would love for you to help me.  looking forward to hearing from you!

k.

i’m a fan of hearing from other local creatives.  add design, and i’m in.  although i haven’t done much clothing shopping for myself lately, i’d love to check squelette out in person.  the fact that they apparently sell their wares in conjunction with a wine studio… that may have just sealed the deal (when i’m back on the grape).  seems like a perfect addition to an artwalk meander; they’re located down in sodo, and apparently open till 7pm on the weekdays.

(photo nabbed out of their 2011 lookbook, photo credit: patrick kehoe)

i have a strange fixation with birds.  i probably have 200 photos of crows.  and none of them very good.  so i’ve been branching out.  my backyard is like wild bird kingdom, and photo stalking these little buggers has been fun.  usually just when i put my camera down (because my arms have fallen asleep) one turns up right in my face (hummingbirds, literally, in your face).  so anyway, i thought i’d post some other stuff today… happy friday!

hummingbirds from the inside of my house… someday i’m going to capture the red throated dude.

this gull and i had a long talk. i told him if he played his cards right, i’d get him some french fries

not having it…

this lovely lady was creating live art to raffle off at the end of the show. she drew the amazing lavender ball gown…

happy mom’s day to all the moms out there. and of course to my own mom (and mother-in-law!!) as well. to the ladies who band-aided knees after treacherous roller skating accidents (could have used some of that action last week), put up with what i know now to be the most horrific period of my life (and most likely my mom’s as well) the teenage drama, and still take the weekly (or daily) updates, rants and queries from their confused, addled or giddy off-spring… thanks for being our moms. we love you!  above, one of my favourite photos of me and my mom.  she looks happy to be holding that little alien…

also… my mom’s birthday is tomorrow… wishing her a fabulous birthday and many more to come…!!

i like the flash mob mentality, and it seems to becoming a more popular phenomenon. which is cool… nothing like something spontaneously happening in your day to make you smile.  i can’t imagine what the people thought, who all of a sudden were in the middle of nearly 1000 person mob, dancing to glee songs.  i hope it gave them the same feeling it gave us… GLEE!  put on by one degree events, you can see the official video of the westlake performance.  they seriously had their business together: over a month of preparation, rehearsals for people who wanted to participate, starting the flash on time, and 3 separate locations all over the city- westlake, space needle and pioneer square.  it’s fun to be part of something so uplifting…  want to see a few more photos and some of my favourite flash mob performances? then

learning the dance at century ballroom- almost 200 people showed up!

practice the morning of, at cal anderson

the first performance at westlake center- see the official full video here.

i got a feeling on oprah

jaime oliver’s food revolution flash mob

and from ‘improv everywhere’ who seem to have gotten the movement going- a few videos

grocery store musical- the best part of these videos are the peoples faces.

i’ve looked through some of my earliest posts, there’s probably no one more critical than me… that being said, i’ve come a long way.  i’ve learned a ton, both about my camera, and myself… and really what more could you ask?  i’ve been invited to some cool events (some are coming up) i’ve been contacted by people all over the world, and right here in seattle.  i’m glad you find inspiration here.  i’m glad you’ve visited… i hope you continue to check back.  this has been an evolution, and when i needed it most, a labor of love.  i love grabbing my camera and walking around our beautiful city… below- my very first post, above- the very first picture i took… here’s to another year of visually capturing all parts of seattle… i hope you have a great weekend!  xoxo- n+t

from april 3rd- 1st post of needle+thread

i’ve lived in seattle for 9 years.  before that, i lived an hour and half north of here, and when i came to seattle, one of my favourite places to meander was the market.  even now, as a local, it never seems cliche’ to me to go there to connect to my city.  i never get tired of wandering there.  poking through new corners.  going a little further than i went last time.

a new goal has been to document some seattle fashion. seattle is a land of individualists. people who don’t conform to the rules of other cities. it’s a joke that we wear fleeces and socks with sandals, and i won’t even argue with you, i own more fleece than i did when i lived in arizona. and my tevas are beloved, although i would sooner set fire to hair than wear them with socks. but i get it.

i want just a little bit of what my city looks like here. from the man selling produce with the wicked style, to the girls walking around in herds starting the new grunge. i love living here, and i’ve always loved people watching. this is my way to connect to where i live and be inspired.