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Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

Designing for Spring 2014 is in full swing here in the Steel Pony Studio. Could not be more excited. Here is what the design team is listening to in order to inspire creation today and sets the tone for the week. Tokyo Police Club – ‘Wait Up’. Take a look at the bands up beat video and tell us what you think.

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

Philadelphia is soaking wet this week. The smell of a city hot and damp are seeping into our nostrils as we stroll the streets for inspiration. The Steel Pony studio is buzzing with activity, filling fall 2013 orders, preparing for August’s upcoming Vegas showcases and dreaming up the Spring 2014 line.

With all that going on in house, we need music to aid the chaos and with the rain pounding all around us, the end of the week staff pick is hands down: ‘Let it Rain’ by Amanda Marshall.

Take a listen and let us know what you think. Have you heard of Amanda Marshall? I have been listening and singing along to her for over a decade, nearing on two actually…ugh (feeling old admitting that-realizing that) She is an inspiration for my personal singing style and a go to musical comfort for a number of life occasions, good and bad.

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

New week, new staff music obsession. This time around the must hear band is Frightened Rabbit, a killer Scottish band with an inspiring sound. Here is there single ‘Heads Roll Off’ Have a listen and let us know what you think!

Enoy

Cheers!

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

It has been an insane week in Philadelphia and now we are under severe flood warnings and the sky has gone dark. We in the Steel Pony Studio are in need of some musical inspiration for the remainder of the day. This up and coming band has will be appearing tomorrow in Northern Liberties at the Piazza for the free to all 104.5 Summer Block Party Show with Metric headlining. Here is the up and coming single from Philly favorite- Royal Teeth. What do you think?

Check out the first wave of sale items available for the Welcome Summer Sale here at Steel Pony! Save 30% on pieces from Spring and Summer 2013!

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

Photo Credit: AP

When a building goes down in the States, in a major metropolitan area, in one of saids’ busiest districts, it is- as it should be-an enormous deal. That is exactly what occurred yesterday in Steel Pony’s backyard: Philadelphia on 22nd street and Market in the bustling finance district.

As of this morning the death toll is at 6 and the critically injured is hovering at 14 people, as confirmed last night by Mayor Micheal Nutter. The partially demolished building tumbled on top of its neighboring Salvation Army Thrift Store.

This is close to my heart, as a sustainable shopper and textile artist, that thrift store is one of my favorite in the city. Only a few blocks down and over from my almamater: Moore College of Art and Design, we Moore girls used to head over to pick the racks every Wednesday afternoon when the new deliveries were , literally, just being placed on hangers and proped up on shelves. I have an insane amount of costumes, tee’s turned into art work and yarn yardage, vintage household goods, decor and jewelery from that thrift store.

We at Steel Pony are huge advocates of shopping at Thrift and Goodwills, vintage boutiques, antique stores and other re-use-it shop entities. To have something so tragic happen in our own yard is chilling, horrifying and begs to have the question asked: how the hell did this happen? The Philadelphia Inquirer described the scene as follows:

“Amid pandemonium and choking dust, bystanders and emergency responders pulled survivors from the collapsed thrift store at 22nd and Market Streets, which had been crowded with morning shoppers who turned out for its weekly “Half-Off” sale.”  (this is the exact half off sale I am referencing above)

Officials said the demolition contractor was Griffin Campbell Construction in Philadelphia. Apparently, upon investigating owner Campbell, records show that he  was charged in 2005 with dealing crack cocaine near a playground. The charges were dismissed after prosecutors misplaced evidence. Campbell pleaded guilty in an insurance fraud case in 2009, and was acquitted of aggravated assault and related offenses in 2007.

He has also filed for bankruptcy protection twice since 2010. The first bankruptcy was dismissed because he didn’t follow through on a repayment plan approved by the court. A second bankruptcy petition was filed in March.

There were no existing violations on the collapsed building, and Campbell had proper permits for the work being done, according to Carlton Williams, of the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections.

The city issued a demolition permit for the four-story structure on Feb. 1. Records show the property owner as STB Investments Corp., a company linked to prominent businessman and developer Richard Basciano, who has been best known as the owner of porn theaters in New York City and Philadelphia metropolitan areas.

Let us judge, these do not sound like good characters, people who particularly care about the well being of others as compared to the bottom line of their pockets being lined. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It smacks of the government official/owner of Rana Plaza in Bangladesh, whose collapse last month killed over 1,000 people. Huge difference in death toll and situation, but similar in the possible ideology behind it, the driving force of commerce. Accidents happen, yes, but spotty work, cutting corners and not taking adequate measures to protect against any and all possible issues falls on those in charge. Roofer Patrick Glynn told the Associated Press that ”For weeks they’ve been standing on the edge, knocking bricks off…You could just see it was ready to go at any time. I knew it was going to happen.” more information is sure to come to light as the investigation goes on. Currently emergency workers are still combing the site for survivors.

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

Enjoy!

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

A new week has begun and with it a new song that will not leave our heads here in the Steel Pony Studio. This time it is a favorite band amoung the staffers: Muse and the song is titled: ‘Madness’.

Anyone who is familiar with Muse will most likely agree that the newest singles are a far cry from their old sound, but there is something charming about the new work. Take a listen and let us know what you think.

Enjoy!

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

As we have been posting this weeks blog, which became very much fruit & veggie inspired, I have had the song  ’Vega-tables’ by The Beach Boys stuck in my head on repeat! One of my favorite albums of all time: Smile gave us this little gem. Have a listen and for those of you who have not heard this piece before, let SP know what you think!

Also, this picture of a veggie manicure, is to delicious not to share with you all! the artistry here is incredible!

Which manicure would you be into sporting?

Cheers!

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

Last week we took a look at one of the most popular fashion trends for Spring and Summer 2013 – the Sheer trend. We dished on celebrities at the Billboard Music Awards who showed up rocking and well- destroying – the look and talked styling from head to toe.

Coming off of an exciting and busy Memorial day weekend end filled with beautiful weather, Paradise City Arts Festival madness, video shoots for the newest line: SP Essentials and now staring out the warehouse windows in the SP studio at the gray, musty, rainy day ahead, a music post is just what we need here at Steel Pony to rev our engines for the week coming.

Sigur Ros

Here is a favorite of mine, a non-sensical, uplifting and energizing piece by the icelandic band Sigur Ros. I have adored this band for nearly a decade and have posted songs by them on this blog in the past. Here is ‘Gobbledigook’ with a still video backdrop, the uncut and true video is not the best in the world. Enjoy this incredible piece of music and let us know what you think!

Sigur Ros Performing

Enjoy!

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

As promised in yesterday’s blog post, today we are talking styling! This is one of the most subjective areas of the fashion world, coming down to personal tastes, attitudes, needs, projecteced imagry and comfort zones. Having said that we are going to play it simple, fun and easy to achieve. Remember, adapting trends into your day to day look is about you feeling comfortable, beautiful and happy. You can do whatever you damn well please! But for this post let look at some bohemian inspired messy hair that takes next to no time in the morning or transitioning from work to night on the train to achieve, natural make up and a nice rosey lip with statement nails.

Lets start at the top:

Hair

This lady is super simple to follow and cute as a button. Here is a quick tutorial on just how to get that saught after bohemian style bun.

Now that we have locked in the hair, lets move on to make up. I know we have Steel Pony tribe members all over the states and encroaching internationaly, soo..not all of you are melting ths week like we are here in the SP studio in Philly. The highs have been near 90 and the humdity! HA for get about it! Simple make up is key for staying beautiful and dewy in this type of climate.

The theme in the natural make up looks for S/S 2013 is the natural brow. Use clear mascara and powder or cream eyebrow color to lightly even out and fill your own brow, defining its natural bend and arch. Set with a quick stoke of the mascara, adjust with brow comb or finger tips.

Next use a BB or CC cream to even out skin tone, hide imperfections and illuminate while hydrating your skin. Take a cream blush or tint bar and ever so slightly rub your index finger across its top and in a circular motion apply to the apples of your cheeks closer to the cheek bone and ear vs closer to the nose. Sweep a powder brozer in the shadow of your check bones. Blend. Set with translucent powder. Take cream highlighter , dab and blend on the tops of your cheek bones, brow bone, inner eye & outer eye corners and directly above the indent bow of your upper lip. Use blackest black mascara and sweep on one to two coats on pre bent lashes. Comb out for natural length and thickness-not clumpy vamp. Do clear mascara on the lower lashes for more subtle definition, black for more impact. Finish the look by adding eyemake up if desired in a nude pallete blending carefully to look like natural shadow and highlight. Take a nude, peach, or rose tinted lip balm, matte lip stick, gloss or stain and dab to lips. Voila! Make up complete!

Finally

Nails

Anything goes with the nails in styling the sheer trend, especially with boho chic styled hair and natural makeup, go crazy, go intricate or go nude!

What are your thoughts? Which looks and combinations do you plan on trying out?

Have fun, look fabulous this holiday weekend, take tons of pics and send them our way to be featured on our social media feeds!!

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

We have been discussing the must have look of the S/S 2013 seasons: the sheer trend, this week and I simply can not resist putting before you a top ten list showing off the look – live and not always well- as worn by celebrities at this years May 19th Billboard Music Awards. I have my favorite look, each person here in the Steel Pony Studio has made claim to their best and worst, now it is up to you tribe! Who wears this trend the best and who just misses the mark entirely?

Tomorrow we are going to talk about how to style this look: hair, make-up, nails and accessories, so take note at how these ladies stylists chose to put their looks together and make a few mental notes to compare.

Alyssa Milano in Emilio Pucci

Amber Rose in Gucci

Carly Rae Jepsen in Dyanthe

Emmy Rossum in Zuhair Murad

Jennifer Morrison in Kristian Aadnevik

Selena Gomez in Atelier Versace

Jennifer Lopez in Zuhair Murad

Taylor Swift in Zuhair Murad

Miley Cyrus in Balmain

Kimberly Perry in Mark Zunino

Cast your votes in the comments section below! Who is the Best and Who is the Worst from this Top Ten List?

Enjoy!

Cheers

Lee

Hello Dear Steel Pony Friends!

Before you turn your mind off to the idea of this Spring and Summer’s leading fashion trend: Sheer Clothing, think about how you can take the trend and make it your own. Most of us have areas of our bodies that we are not particularly found of and the notion of truly baring all under a see-thru shroud may illicit a gulp if not an inner gasp. Models from runway to magazine spreads, Hollywood elites captured in various day to day activities by trash tabloids are all showing the most daring way to wear the look: bra-less beauties baring breasts and strutting their stuff under gauze and organza in a full spectrum of iridescent colors. Or impossibly thin lovelies throwing on sheer asymmetric skirts with hide-nothing body suits.

The average American woman, does not care to, nor should she wear, the trend this way. Especially the boobie thing…I mean it may get you out of a speeding ticket but it could cause a five car pile up and heaven forbid if thats over the shock of it versus the aw, if you get what I mean. SO, whats a gal to do who loves the feather weight, Goddess-esque styling of this going-no-where-soon trend? You can rock a nude bra, or one in a contrasting color if you are younger and into your body shape. You can take a sheer top and pair it with a great tank or dress, throw the see-thru skirt on top of a mid length or full length skirt of solid material. The possibilities are endless, the age range is anyone, believe it or not, ANYONE can wear this look as long as it is done in a way that makes each person feel wonderful.

This version may be a LITTLE much for the average lady!

Investing in the sheer trend is not a throw away choice. For the past six years this look has evolved and permeated the runways and streets world wide. Based off of this seasons collections as well as forecasts for 2014, the see-thru look is turning year round and is a fashion wave that has no crest in sight. Hop over to the Steel Pony facebook page and take a look at five available sheer tops: perfect for rocking sexy with a bra alone or more conservatively with under shirts, dresses, tees, etc. available for purchase on sale-including shipping for only $40! Sizes small to double x-large. Range of jewel tones ideal for all body shapes and skin tones!

We have three (yes that is IT) Maggie Tops on the main website under ‘Shop Online’ available right now in baked clay, one size fits all. Do not hesitate or it will be too late! We will continue talking about this trend as inspiration for posts throughout the week.

How do you plan to wear this trend?

Cheers!

Lee