Plaids

I really like these plaid ties, they're inspiring for a bit more color in my plaid guitar straps!

Image from GQ

Feathered

Recently seeing (and loving) Black Swan got me interested (again*) in both ballet and feathers. While I can't really imagine a successful combination of ballet and guitar straps, I can think of many ways to use feathers on guitar straps. And fortunately, I just came across this Etsy shop- KIMONOS, which is an amazing resource for them. I'll definitely be buying some of their feathers to add onto new guitar straps in 2011. I can't stop looking at their amazing photography- these pictures look like frame-able works of art.

All images by KIMONOS

*check out this feathered guitar strap of mine created earlier this year, now on sale!

Vintagey Epaulettes

A long time favorite detail of mine, these epaulettes are pretty cool. The colors, rugged fabrics, and metal buttons are all inspiring for some details on my guitar straps.

Image from Hollister Hovey's trip to Paris

Brooklyn Tailors- Sophisticated Plaids & Etsy shop inspiration

Check out these great woven shirts from Brooklyn Tailors. I really love that a design duo in Brooklyn is not only making high-quality, handmade mens (and womens!) shirts and selling them on Etsy, but that they're getting the same press and recognition that is usually only given to bigger companies. Especially in the menswear world. And it's well deserved- their plaids are beautiful, and the sewing quality and fit (slim, modern) are quite obviously top-notch, as evidenced by their photos.

They are another inspiring reminder of how amazing & successful an Etsy shop can be.

All images from Brooklyn Tailors on their site and their Etsy shop.

Elvis in the Army

I love Elvis, and also military details- so these pics are some of my favorites! Very inspiring.

Images source lost, sorry!

Teddy Girls

Images by Ken Russell

Image by Liz Ham, from Oyster magazine

These girls are literally, too cool for school. The top two images are from the 1950s in London, and the bottom image is a modern photoshoot inspired by the top image. Love this look. Definitely now an inspiring mix of Edwardian Gibson girl + rockabilly + menswear-on-women. There's more on the true teddy girls in this article.

Metal Hardware

New inspiration! I really like these metal trims/hardware & their placements from the Spring 11 runways.

Top two are Burberry

Bottom two are Gucci

All images from Style.com

New Straps- Done!

New straps that were in work today, are now finished! They'll be in the shop soon...

Paul Smith's Rockabilly Menswear for Women

I love Paul Smith's Sp'11 runway looks for women. Pompadors & menswear-inspired pieces are two of my favorite things. And the mix of patterns going on is pretty cool too, and inspiring for some of my guitar straps!

*Also, new guitar straps (FINALLY) coming soon!

Images from Style.com

Red Croc

Loving this very Wes Anderson-y luggage, with its gold buckles and embossed initials. This kind of vintage red leather would be perfect for some new straps.

Image from Jak & Jill blog, featuring Anna Della Russo

Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Saw this movie this weekend, and loved it! The visual effects are awesome, the music is catchy, and the costumes are well done. Inspiring in a fuzzy-guitar, garage-band (living-room band?), punk-rock-girl-with-manic-panic-hair-color kind of way.

All images from Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Ryan, Golden Veins

Ryan has a new band- Golden Veins. Here he is doing some recording, using one of the first straps I ever made! I'm glad to see it's still holding up, and I'm looking forward to hearing more of these recordings.

Their twitter

Lost + Found: Prints

Emily (a former co-worker!) and Yuuki of Lost + Found find a LOT of great vintage pieces, but right now I am really drawn to the small/delicate prints in their shop. These prints have a nice mix of nostalgia and femininity- and whenever I see them on their blog I'm inspired to find some to use on my guitar straps!
All images from Lost + Found

The Morning Benders- Stitches

Fell in love with this band, The Morning Benders, sometime in early spring. And this song, especially. Now they've gone and made a great video for it, which is inspiring in more ways than one (colors, stripes, guitars, feeling, concept...etc).

Lucky for me I'll be seeing them again soon at Lollapalooza!

Video images from Vimeo

Dusty Gray

Very cool gray color on these two shoes. I'd love to find some dusty gray leather remnants to cut up and use on some new straps! And I really really like the gold number stamp on the top shoe.

Images from GQ.com, shoes by Common Projects and Calvin Klein respectively

Beck

This week, in search of summery tunes, I came across some old Beck- specifically Que Onda Guero, which is a really fun song that I've since had on repeat (lyric about a melting popsicle= the best). Anyway, it made me remember that Beck is one stylish guy, quite ahead of his time. Definitely a good source of inspiration for creative guitar straps.

First image- no source (looks like Vogue to me)

Second image from Style.com

Men's Scarves

This collection of men's street style pics is the most inspiring one I've seen in a very long time. Wow. And I am loving the scarves on these three guys- definitely a good way to introduce some pattern to an outfit, or a guitar strap!

Images by Tommy Ton for GQ

Tight

These tights are really really REALLY cool. The inset stripe and fishnet pieces make such cool futuristic shapes. Definitely an inspiration for a mixed-material rock-on guitar strap.

Tights (and images) from Oak Black Label

Miu Miu Stones

I love these mixed media dresses from Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2010. They're such a cool combination of retro/feminine/artsy prints, and costume-esque glamour. And the placement of the stones, sequins...etc, is beautiful! Definitely an inspiring reminder of the freshness that comes from mixing materials.

(the source on these images is MIA...sorry!)

Woven Chains

So cool- the way the different sizes of chain are handwoven into this bracelet. Rock and roll weaving!

Bracelets by wear-and-tear as seen at Stars + Infinite Darkness