orangyporangy.com Blog

Local artist Juliette Crane was spotted wearing my NEW Peggy skirt for her opening at HATCH gallery in Madison, and she wears it well! Check out her fun & colorful paintings and see her work that Peggy skirt in her red tights and Tsubo mary janes…love it!

Tomorrow’s the big show in Milwaukee!! I will have lots of my new Ruby pocket skirts and Peggy  - both perfect for your holiday parties. Stop by and say hi, the show starts at 10am

So it’s officially fall, and every year I’m surprised by how many ladies pack up their skirts and hide them away until spring. I’m here to help those of you who cringe at the thought of anything but pants for fall & winter, find the tools to help keep you in skirts all year round!

It takes a little courage in the morning & a few basic wardrobe pieces to keep your skirts in circulation throughout the colder months. My low-maintenance style demands two important items for success, a basic fitted cardigan & a great pair of boots. A diverse collection of  tights & tall socks is also a great thing to cultivate. I’ve gathered some of my favorites & included links to make it easy to look cute without trying too hard this winter.

MY FAVORITE SWEATERS are cropped & fitted. They look best with skirts because they come in at the waist which is flattering on most every figure. If your top is too long or loose fitting you loose this important focal point. A cropped sweater also has more of a vintage look which I personally love.

here are some great fitted sweaters in a range of prices…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On to the hunt for THE PERFECT BOOTS. Seriously, I’ve been obsessing for months and still haven’t decided on a pair. A mid-height boot is best with a skirt that comes below the knee, it’s hard to find this season, most are riding boots that come up to the knee or higher. Here are some of my faves that combine utility, comfort & style…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Skirts & tights can be a sticky situation, so I have learned to pick tights that are made with mostly nylon. This type goes best with my Opal skirts and Jane Hoodie skirts. But I actually prefer a tall knee-high or over the knee sock with these styles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Problem is I’m addicted to sweater tights! They go well with a slim fitting a-line like Poly, and my new Peggy skirts. Here are a few places for warm & cozy sweater tights:

http://www.sockdreams.com/products/bella-woolissimo-tights

http://www.target.com/p/Merona-Collection-Women-s-Cable-
Sweater-Tights-Assorted-Colors/-/A-13699165

http://www.barenecessities.com/product.aspx?pfid=HUE12440&source=gbase&cm_mmc=GLBS-_-Hosiery-_-HUE12440-_-NA&term=HUE12440%20&mr:trackingCode=4A8713CB-12E3-E011-87D9-001B21A69EB8&mr:referralID=NA&mr:adType=pla

http://www.kohls.com/upgrade/webstore/product_page.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524892825106&pfx=pfx_
shopcompare&cid=shopping2&mr:referralID=941049f7-08f1-
11e1-931b-001b2166c2c0

Hope this guide is helpful, it’s just what I prefer, I don’t believe in rules. I know it’s getting cold, but it’s really not that much harder to layer-up and look cute in your skirts. Take it from someone whose life is so busy I consider myself an expert in low-effort dressing, you just need the right tools in your closet.

 

Wednesday night was a fun event for an important cause, four new orangyporangy looks walked the runway  for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services of Madison. Joining me on the runway were three women who each represented orangyporangy so perfectly, Kate Wodyn, Kathy Walsh, & Jen Erdman. They each brought their own personal flair to the looks and wore them well, I was so proud. These ladies are all women I have met because of skirts! It was an adventure for all of us, we spent most of the evening preparing and getting all dolled up then trying not to smudge our make-up. Thank you to DAIS, the event was nicely done. To get involved with future events or for more info visit:  : http://abuseintervention.org/

all runway photos by Timothy Hughes

Our latest a-line is Peggy, her structured flare is just in time for cooler weather. Peggy looks best with a shorter top that accentuates the waist and balances her fuller a-shape. Peggy is sewn in heavyweight cotton that holds its shape beautifully and has a little bounce, so it’s a fun skirt to wear. Peggy also pairs wonderfully with tights – no clinging to your legware for fall.

 

The show was great – I had so much fun with my BFF Emily Kircher Recycling Artist who was kind enough to share her booth with me this year! It was a bit hot but overall a great weekend. Thanks to all of you who stopped to say HI and shop.

see more photos from RENEGADE CHICAGO

 

RENEGADE CRAFT FAIR CHICAGO starts TOMORROW!!! I’m happy to say that I’m ALMOST finished sewing and will be ready soon. I love the Chicago show, it’s the best set up, we all line up in the middle of Division Street and the crowd walks a circle around us. There will be great food & drink, including coffee by one of my favorites – Intelligentsia, music and interactive arts & crafts for all. Stop by if you can -there will be over 300 artist and bands performing.

11AM- 7PM Saturday & Sunday
BOOTH 124 – I’m sharing my with my friend Emily of EKRA

I’m taking a a car-load of fun and colorful skirts for the show, I’ve made a new batch of  Vintage-Remix skirts that I’m super excited about. My favorite textile to sew with is once again making an appearance, the wonderful giant rooster tablecloth! I’m bringing three rooster designs to the show & I don’t expect them to last long. I also worked some amazing feedsacks into most of the new designs. Stop by and check out the new designs if you can….

 

 

Get this fantastic yellow cardigan to go with our new OPAL skirt design

at H&M – $18! In stores only in this color but online in these colors

Those of you who are regular orangyporangy shoppers may have noticed a small increase in price this summer in my cotton print OPAL skirts. This is a direct reflection of a price increase in cotton from my suppliers which started late last year. In order to keep designing with the range of colorful print fabrics I love, the standard opal price has changed from $75 to $80 to cover costs.

I will continue to design with vintage and modern textiles and keep costs as affordable as possible. I trust that fans of the orangyporangy a-line will understand and continue to support handmade clothing & small business. If you’re not on the email list yet, get on it, I send out sales to my list a few times a year!

For fall I may be focusing on fewer designs, instead of purchasing lots of multiple prints. I will be choosing fabrics based on versatility & multi-season wear, I have already picked a couple of amazing fabrics that I’m very excited to work with.

click to read about cotton costs on the rise

I have been at work on some brand new dress designs for summer, I’m really excited about them and will be posting images very soon – stay tuned

Here’s a sneak peak at some of my latest finds in vintage fabrics – I literally grabbed these colorful florals like a kid in a candy store. Most of these are vintage sheets from the 60s & 70s, and a few are tablecloths. Can’t wait to finish all of these super springy designs – they’ll be online soon………..

please say hi to our brand new member of the a-line team at orangyporangy, the stripe-tease. It’s a bit of a hybrid a-line, combining the comfort and flattering fit of our POLY skirts with a slightly fuller cut, similar to our OPAL skirts. Made of the softest cotton knit fabric and a stretch knit waistband like our hoodie skirts, it’s got some of the best features of our other three skirt styles in stripey new package! Great for spring, travel, everyday casual or the office.

 

sizes and quantities are limited in this skirt for now but we will have more soon, if your size sells out please feel free to email us and we’ll let you know when your size will be back in stock, this new classic orangyporangy style will stick around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HEY ORANGYPORANGY SHOPPERS! IT’S BEEN A LONG BREAK BUT THE BLOG IS BACK – ALONG WITH A NEW WEBSITE LOOK. RUNNING OUR NEW SHOP HAS BEEN VERY TIME CONSUMING SO I’M HAPPY I FOUND SOME TIME TO UPDATE ORANGYPORANGY.COM AT LAST. LOTS OF NEW SPRING DESIGNS ARE ON THEIR WAY SOON INCLUDING LOTS OF NEW KNITS, COWL NECK TOPS, DRESSES AND LOTS-O SKIRTS. THANKS FOR HANGING IN THERE WHILE OUR NEW SHOP OPENED, THIS YEAR SHOULD BE A FUN ONE! EMAIL QUESTIONS TO SHOP@ORANGYPORANGY.COM, THANKS

ORANGYPORANGY HAS A NEW HOME IN MADISON WI AND IT’S CALLED ZIP-DANG, LOCATED AT 2606 MONROE ST. WE QUIETLY OPENED THE SHOP THIS WEEK, WE PLAN TO HAVE A GRAND OPENING IN JULY.

HOURS ARE EXPERIMENTAL AT THIS POINT BUT SO FAR ARE APPROXIMATELY 12PM – AT LEAST 7PM MONDAY – FRIDAY, AFTER THE FARMERS MARKET SATURDAYS ABOUT 2PM-7PM, CLOSED SUNDAY.

STOP IN AND SEE THE PLACE, MIKE IS BUILDING OUR COOL DISPLAYS, WE’RE ADDING NEW GOODS DAILY AND I’M SEWING SKIRTS EVERY CHANCE I GET. IN ADDITION TO ORANGYPORANGY HANDMADE LADYWARE, ZIP-DANG WILL ALSO FEATURE VINTAGE GOODS INCLUDING DRESSES, MENS BUTTON SHIRTS, NEW OLD STOCK EYEWARE, FURNITURE, COLLECTIBLES & ACCESSORIES. AND WE’RE BUILDING AN INVENTORY OF GOODS MADE BY TALENTED INDIE ARTISTS THAT WE’VE MET ALL OVER THE U.S.

* * ORANGYPORANGY WILL STILL BE AT THE FARMERS MARKET ON SATURDAYS THROUGH OCTOBER.* *

SOME PHOTOS FROM THE SHOP SO FAR . . .