This is how I began the Roaring Twenties. Shimmer-shammer in the form of this magnificent Rachel Zoe top, silver leather Marc Jacobs sandals with rhinestone heels (!) and lamb leather jeans (possibly my favorite item in my closet, as I keep them in heavy rotation and they go with EVERYTHING)!
The theme for this decade is sparkle, shine and animal prints/hides. I am really not keen on the safari look, although that cheetah thing was huge in Wonder Woman 1984. Those pumps look amazing on Gal Gadot (but what doesn’t?)
On second thought, maybe I will add some WW flair (and all it encompasses) to my 2021 wardrobe. <3
#amicale #kesnyc #theory #coach #ragandboneKaren Tashkovski, Princess, 2017, encaustic on masonite, 8″ x 10″ (mounted on chalkboard), $111#kesnyc #tashkovski #allsaints #joesjeans #ragandbone
Although I was in all black yesterday (above), I’m making a conscious decision to add color to my wardrobe. Color looks better in #ootd pictures. Color is just fun. I color coordinate my walk-in closet – this makes it easier to notice items bought separately and even years apart that end up looking amazing together.
This Black Brown 1826 cashmere sweater (above) is something I often wear around the house over my pajamas. It is a thick 4-ply cashmere – very cozy and soft. The sleeves had frayed but I loved it so much, I didn’t want to get rid of it. I brought it to DeWitt Cleaners, recently, because I spilled yogurt on it and when I picked it up, it was not only pristine, but someone had magically mended it as well! The yarns of the sleeves were somehow stitched together (crochet hook?) and now it looks great with the most expensive skirt in my wardrobe!
This outfit (above) was inspired by one of my encaustic angel paintings, currently located on my bedroom dresser. I have had these silk velvet pants for a while. Paired with Marc Jacobs combat-style boots and the double sweater look, it felt super comfy on that cold day. We are in school on Wednesdays while the students are at home. #officehours
Confidante, 2017, encaustic on masonite, 8″ x 10″ (mounted on 11″ x 14″ chalkboard), $111#amicale #kesnyc #warnerbros #anntaylor #coach #ragandbone
I rarely wear red – then this Coach leather skirt came along and now I’m singing red’s praises! Absolutely in love with the length. I paired it with an old Ann Taylor cashmere sweater from when the Ann Taylor store was on the second floor of the mall. (Does that store still exist? – IDK)
Royal Gamer, 18″ x 15″, 2012, encaustic, $125#kesnyc #bcbgmaxazria #sorelKaren Tashkovski, “Geisha”, 2019, 8″ x 8″, encaustic & collage, $250#kesnyc #tashkovski #saksfifthavenue #rebeccataylor #frame #rebeccaminkoff
The monochromatic look was the rage at the 2021 Inauguration. It looked a bit like a circa 1980s rainbow wedding to me but fashion instagrammers didn’t agree. They loved that parade. I am not a purple head-to-toe fan either, lol. But blue? Yes!
One color works best when it is a blend of textures while allowing the hues to vary. Here (above) a new cashmere sweater with my tissue thin Rebecca Taylor summer denim dress, a navy silk mask and Frame cropped jeans. Boots, kind of, match my hair.
Sometimes I throw on my hat or earmuffs for the #ootd picture and sometimes I wear them most of the day when I am not in the classrooms. There is a lot less moving around these days due to all the Covid restrictions and such, and it just feels a lot colder at work. Hence the double sweater business too.
“SECRET”, 2008, mixed-media, 18″ x 24″#aquacashmere #talithacollection #tashkovski #joesjeans #rebeccaminkoff
The fist time I wore this silk Talitha Collection top (above), I was at the Doobie Brothers/Steely Dan concert at the Ampitheater. It was something like ninety degrees in the shade that July day! For a January school day, I threw it on over a thick cashmere turtleneck.
And, P.S., every color in the rainbow looks great paired with these lambskin leather jeans (Joe’s Jeans!)
Finally and full circle, dresses over pants is a fun look – the dresses become tunics/jackets and I get to wear them through the winter and still manage to stay warm. Thank you, Joie and AllSaints, for the leathaaaaaaaa! <3
2021 is about skirt length. The maxi for day is popular with the teacher crowd. Instagram fans seem to prefer the mini on me. The midi is the most comfortable for sitting during Zoom meetings. And my new Coach leather skirt, knee length, is my favorite go-to. It is perfection!
I love the new proportion. Boots with skirts is my look. And I am loving Rag & Bone right now. Their lug sole is genius. I am truly a fan of the almond toe.
I know – I have a lot of sweaters. I keep them in two cedar chests. Pullovers in one, cardigans in the other. I am in love with Theory right now. The cashmere is luxurious!
This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for on-line shopping. And of course, for all the wonderful people in my life including you. I feel incredibly blessed – thank you, thank you, thank you! <3
Here are my outfits of the day for the month of March 2020. No more school for a while. I just discovered a show on ABC called Schooled to help with my school withdrawal. It is almost as funny as the silly things kids say at real school. It’s set in the ’90s, which is when I started working at my job. Back then I think my fashion look was sort of Monica from Friends.
Rebecca Taylor jacket, Milly top, Joe’s Jeans leather jeans, Calvin Klein booties
Free People dress, Sorel boots
Joie leather dress, Marc Jacobs boots, Tashkovski bracelet
BCBGMaxAzria sweater, dress, and pants, Rag & Bone booties
Free People cardigan, Theory sweater, BCBGMaxAzria leggings, Rag & Bone booties
Free People cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria top, Rebecca Taylor pants, Calvin Klein booties
Welcome to my world. Here are my 2020 #ootd school pictures thus far. My Studio in Art students have been painting with acrylics – these paintings are going to blow your mind. They are sooooo good!!!!! I think they only need a couple more weeks to complete them. I have been wearing stuff that wouldn’t freak me out if it got paint on it. I guess I am saying that fashion is taking a backseat at the moment. I’m a control freak about the brushes – I tell them to use however many they want and need, and I will wash them, so, I spend about twenty minutes washing brushes on my lunch period every day.
Today was the first day of the 2nd semester, believe it or not, which means we are already half-way through the year. I am giving pre-tests and prepping lessons – lots of cool things to come: oil pastels, collage, more paintings and clay!!! I’ll be switching up the artwork on the cabinets soon, as well as eventually organizing the excessive amount of white paint on that back counter, lol, for those of you who scoff at the mess. (It is an art room, after all – that’s what makes it fun and funny). Special thanks to Katy C., my colleague and photographer, who laughs with me every day. <3
Theory sweater, Rag & Bone skirt, Marc Jacobs booties
BCBGMaxAzria dress, Marc Jacobs booties
Theory cashmere cardigan, Syracuse Yoga T-shirt, Banana Republic skirt, Marc Jacobs booties
My recent outfits of the day are heavy on the Theory cashmere sweaters and leather skirts, and jeans by French Connection, Free People and Joe’s Jeans. My newest acquisition, the Rag & Bone wine-colored patent booties, will be in heaviest rotation in 2020 until I get them in multiple colors (no doubt). They are fashion perfection in a decorative sense and also function – they’re spot on for walking around in Syracuse, New York in winter.
Tashkovski bracelets, Theory cashmere cardigan and sweater, Rebecca Taylor silk velvet pants, Marc Jacobs booties
Lord & Taylor cashmere cardigan, Joe’s Jeans leather jeans, Marc Jacobs booties
Tashkovski bracelet, Trina Turk stretch silk top, French Connection leather skirt, Marc Jacobs booties
In about eight hours, I will be getting up early for the last time this year. After tomorrow, we will be on a two-week hiatus from school. I will spend time assessing my bracelet project. Sales went well at the Sip & Sparkle at The Chop House. Another event is planned for late January. I’m contemplating on-line sales too. Not sure what to do quite yet – I’m waiting for inspiration to guide me.
Theory cashmere cardigan and sweater, BCBGMaxAzria pants, Calvin Klein booties
Tashkovski bracelet, Theory cashmere cardigan, 7 For All Mankind jeans, Nine West booties
Theory cashmere cardigan, Bailey 44 silk top, Joe’s Jeans leather jeans, Nine West booties
I’ve had so many wonderful things happen to me this year despite it also being one of the most tragic years of my life with the loss of my dad. It is like a jumble of confusion and clarity. The last few days have been sort of massively cloudy, kind of like when you ask the Magic Eight Ball a question and you get the murky liquid instead of words spelled out on a triangle.
Honora jewelry, C by Bloomingdales cashmere cardigan, BCBGMaxAzria leather skirt, Nine West boots
BCBGMaxAzria sweater, Free People leather skirt, Nine West boots
I don’t know what’s next, but If 2020 isn’t the year of clarity then that will be the biggest joke of life. It kind of has to be, right?
Thank you for your support this year and always – of me, my art career and the bracelet thing, and for being one of many international readers of this blog. I renewed the website. I am actually on my way to making my first $100 with the monetization of the site – it is very exciting, so, thank you for that too.
BCBGMaxAzria sweater, dress and pants, Rag & Bone booties
Free People cardigan, Theory cashmere sweater, BCBGMaxAzria velvet leggings, Rag & Bone booties
I am grateful for you. <3
Rebecca Taylor top, Joe’s Jeans leather jeans, Rag & Bone booties
Theory sweater, Trina Turk skirt, Karl Lagerfeld boots
Tashkovski bracelet, Rebecca Taylor silk velvet dress, Sorel booties
The Tashkovski Collection is officially launching on Tuesday, December 10, 2019 from 5 – 8 pm at The Chop House on Waring (200 Waring Road, Syracuse, New York 13224 – (315) 445-1976). The event is called Sip & Sparkle and will include twelve local vendors. They will also have a Wild Turkey bourbon tasting and some appetizers. It is going to be a lot of fun!
I had a poster made and some postcards. The bracelets are photographed, catalogued and tagged. I have a Square reader to process debit/charges. I am ready to be ready (which means ready, I think).
$55 – NORMA BUTTERFLY #2
NORMA BUTTERFLY #2 (BACK)
$55 – NORMA BUTTERFLY #7
NORMA BUTTERFLY #7 (BACK)
$55 – NORMA BUTTERFLY #6
NORMA BUTTERFLY #6 (BACK)
Here are the latest pieces. These leather bracelets feature vintage pins manufactured in Estonia circa the 1970s by a tin toy company called NORMA. I scoured the world looking for them. I’m in love with them! The are handmade, one-of-a-kinders. I know you will fall in love with them too. <3