Growing up, my mother always instilled in me the idea of recycling, reusing, repurposing. Not necessarily because she was an environmentalist, it had more to do with being an immigrant and growing up dirt poor. Nothing was wasted. When we immigrated to America (I was 8), I remember having to wash every jar so they could be reused (great for leftovers, for organizing, for vases). I washed and dried to-go containers (great for lunches or bringing food for your neighbors). Garments you grew out of were sent back to the Philippines or re-made into something new (clothes for my little...

I saw a post on Threads where a life coach had shared something along the lines of “The year ISN’T almost over, you STILL have time to move into that new house, get that new job, find that relationship…you just need to keep going!” and someone commented with “I’m tired. I want this year to be over. I’m tired, it’s been an unbelievably hard year.”And her comment really made me think. Why is our culture so obsessed with “hustle culture” and “doing all the things”? Why do we glorify working ourselves to exhaustion? Why do we celebrate benchmarks and milestones...

The role of a skilled tailor might seem like a relic of the past in today's fast paced world of off-the-rack fashion and online shopping. However, having a tailor is not just a luxury for the upper class but an essential asset for anyone who values well-fitted, stylish clothing. It is also a great way to promote sustainability in fashion and in consuming responsibly. Here are some reasons why I think it is important for you to have a tailor.1. A Perfect Fit: One of the most significant advantages of having a tailor is the ability to achieve an ideal fit for your...

The website has now launched and I've been a bit quiet again on social media and even in marketing and promoting the new site. Seems a bit odd, but I'm listening to my emotional state and realizing I have been working so much the past year that I need to rest and to recuperate and just allow myself time and space. I only have so much energy and I'm getting a bit older and more guarded with my time.  So instead of constantly "promoting the existence of"-- which is how I feel about social media these days, it seems as if everyone is in...

With a professional background spanning well over a decade in the vintage clothing trade, followed by six years dedicated to curating contemporary apparel from various brands for Adored Vintage, I have traversed the extensive spectrum that delineates finely crafted attire from its less distinguished counterparts. This journey extends beyond the realm of aesthetics, delving into the quintessential attributes that distinguish a high-quality garment. There are and should be distinct price points for the differences. My mission is to share the knowledge I have garnered, with the explicit aim of enlightening and informing. My hope is you read these quips and...

I visited Los Angeles for the second time this year, and perhaps this will not be the last. It proved to be a most fruitful visit and as I continue to take small steps towards discovering more of who Atelette is and what makes her, well Her. I am also gaining more and more confidence in myself. For quite a while I have felt like an imposter.  Well, a certain part of me still feels this way, and perhaps that will never truly go away. But after this trip, I feel it in my bones, in the most sure way, that I know...

The dream isn't grand, neither is the desire. Rather to create something that gives this chapter of my life meaning. Something to look back on, when I am older, or old, I suppose. Sitting on my porch, overlooking gentle rolling hills. Or perhaps it's a lake. Or a meadow. Or the sea. Or fields of lavender in Provence. Something to look back on. With a small content smile. "I did that once." That all these little things add to my makeup of my being. I do not want to be defined by one solitary thing. Rather a series of fulfilling...

Study for the dream. These past few weeks I have been diving deep into unknown knowledge territory. Studying and learning more about the process of crafting and creating garments from the ground up. It has been a huge feat that I know I don't give myself enough credit for, so I suppose I am taking this moment to show myself a bit of kindness. "You're doing good kid."  I do feel something like pride with how much focus and attention I have been able to devote to this and still maintain and manage other aspects of my life. I'm trying...

The past few days we spent on Vashon Island, a quick ferry ride away from Tacoma (or Seattle) and I was instantly smitten. I had always wanted to visit because I felt like this charming island in the Puget sound would be the perfect backdrop for the newest chapter of floral printed dresses. We rented a charming little farmhouse near the center of the island that was intentionally minimally decorated with antique finds.   That afternoon we spent driving around the island and exploring possible locations for future photoshoots. It was frigid, but the scenes and settings were so idyllic and beautiful....

Maybe if I speak it into being, This thing, This amorphous thing. Like trying to grasp fog.  I see walls, And light, soft, natural, And shadows too, Since one cannot exist without the other. And this desire to create, to show, to share. What these two hands are capable of,  When heart and mind are at play. These things take time. And I know, once the path is lit, I'll thread easily down that road, But for now the map feels too bare. Everything feels too forced. Feels lacking.