Hooray! We’ve received our first new shipments for 2011 and are happy to announce we have several new pieces from Erin Considine’s S/S 2011 IMMRAMA collection now available on the shop as well as three new pieces from Elsinore Carabetta. Be sure to click over to the shop to check it out and stay tuned for more new arrivals over the next few weeks

Paul Beelen jewelry.

We don’t discuss the controversial issues within the world of fashion here at PP because that’s never been the focus and there are other blogs out there that explore those topics far better than we ever could – for example the awesome Threadbared by Mimi Thi Nguyen and Minh-Ha T. Pham. Threadbared has rightfully been getting a lot of attention recently and I highly recommend adding them to your daily reads.

Anyway, one of the major issues within the fashion sphere is the overwhelming dominance of, and dedication to the white beauty standards that so many major designers and publications cleave to. For an industry that prides itself on pushing the proverbial envelope and challenging the establishment, it’s laughably inept at acknowledging different beauty standards (beyond fetishizing and appropriating them) and a large portion of its audience – those who aren’t white and don’t identify with the mainstreamed style standards the industry constantly pushes.

The conversation, and yes, outrage over this issue has been growing recently and with it have come people who are thankfully willing to buck the establishment and have a go at presenting smart, engaging, relatable alternatives. I’m just going to highlight a couple in this post today, but keep your eyes peeled because I think this a growing movement with plenty of exciting things on the horizon.

If you’re already a follower of Threadbared you’ll know that Pham recently launched Of Another Fashion, an exploration of the fashion histories of women of colour. Read Pham’s most recent entry for a discussion of this latest project. And again, add this blog to your daily reads!

Also rising to the challenge is the brand new, gorgeous bi-annual magazine, Pop’Africana, which seeks to shatter the negative perceptions and representations of Africans and the African continent that are so prevalent. The magazine explores the inspiring fashion, literature, and art being produced across the continent. I’ve ordered Vol. 2, but I’d love to get my hands on back issues too. This is truly refreshing and exciting!

The mag’s founder and editor, Oroma Elewa (photo above) has her own blog that’s equally as inspiring

Arnsdorf

Pour Porter will have been around for six years come April and I’ve been wanting to mix it up a bit in 2011. I had a lot of fun doing a collaborative post with Gracie of Woolgathering&Miscellany back in December 2009, and wanted to expand a bit on that this year.

Our debut post for this new series comes to you from Leanne of Illustrated Obscurity, whose fantastic pinterest I have the pleasure of following (she’s a must follow). Thank you Leanne!

I hope everyone enjoys this little collaborative excursion. Some posts will have themes, like Leanne’s, and some will be a bit more general, but all will hopefully reflect the unique perspective of each of these bloggers. Stay tuned for more guest posts coming soon

Trip to the Library

The Library

Trinity Library in Dublin, Ireland via Hither & Thither

The Book

The Master of Flemalle and Rogier van der Weyden & Magic – 1400s – 1950s

The Clothes

I’d keep the overall look simple and classic but modern. In a library, you need to be
comfortable so you can concentrate, be able to stretch up to the top shelves, and stay warm
in drafty alcoves…

Clockwise from Top Left:
Scottish tweed De Beauvoir jacket from the amazing Eloise Grey; Apiece Apart’s Second Skin top as a body-skimming first layer; La Garconne’s Lou fine-gauge cashmere cardigan comes next; Wool-blend pants from le vestiaire de cle – Chic, comfy, just slightly slouchy and has pockets…

The Accessories

I’d keep it pretty low-key, as you don’t really want to go jangling
through the silence…

Clockwise from Top Left:
This Swedish Hasbeens Day Bag is just the thing to carry what’s needed. I picked natural, but the lipstick red version would look pretty great too; Beautiful, subtle river rock bracelet in sterling silver from ColbyJune at etsy; Rachel Comey’s gorgeous Nash boots seem like a perfect match; Definitely a pretty ring or two (or three): Bird Stamp ring from Brooklyn artist Anne Arden Macdonald, or perhaps this delicate silver Line with Bubbles ring from Meetalls, and this gorgeous “Tsaritsa” ring from Jessie Taylor

In the bag

I don’t go anywhere without a Moleskine Squared Notebook, my Tombow pencils (best drawing pencils I’ve ever used), and my favorite knockout red lipstick, Ellis Faas Ellis Red

The 1pm lunch

Finally, lunch at a sunny cafe. Toasted vegetable jardiniere (click for recipe) via Harini Prakash