Style Ideas: How to Wear an Obi Belt

I can honestly say that obi belts are by far my favorite accessory. Followed by vintage scarves as a close second. I love the versatility they offer with dressing. You can wear them with so many things to give a pop of color or texture to an outfit. They can be used to faux-tailor clothes to fit you perfectly.

Something that I have been pleased and surprised by is how obi belts compliment many body types: I like them to nip in around my waist, which is narrower than my hips and shoulders. They look great on long lanky women around the hips. I also like them on women with rectangular torsos because it creates the illusion of a waist.

Obi belts give you options to change the look of a tunic length shirt or sweater. This is one of my personal signature obi looks. (LOVE IT!). I apologize for the dark images, I am still adjusting to working with the low lighting in my new workspace.












This obi can be found in my store.

I discovered almost accidentally while working in my unheated artist's stall on Artists' Row in Salem, MA, this fall that obi belts look oh so fab topping a classic trench coat. I wore it with this narrower obi in the fall, but am equally as pleased with the funky look the wide obi gives this classic style.












This obi is not yet available in my store, if you love it, send me a note, I would be happy to list it for you.

Because I have broad shoulders and hips and a narrower waist, I tend to prefer looks that nip in at the waist or are well tailored for my silhouette. Obi belts are a quick easy faux-tailoring fix when stuff is just too loose looking. I use them over big, cozy sweaters, fun vintage dresses that are a size or two too big, but the print/look/label was too good to pass up, knit tops that could use a little extra shape.

You name it, I've obi'ed it. Here is a sweater I prefer to wear with an obi. I wanted to show a dress too, but the obi belt I have that looks good with a few of my dresses is MIA for the moment. I am living out of boxes still...things in the house, things in the garage...slowly assembly a life.












Again, this obi belt isn't available in my store yet but I would be happy to list it for you. Just let me know.

I mentioned that obi belts flatter a lot of different body types. Here are several real women, who modeled in my Ahht For Peeps, Wearable Art Fashion Show in Salem, MA this summer. I invited members of the community to model my looks. I took it a step further and encouraged them to pick out the pieces they wanted to model and create a look they felt comfortable wearing. Real people, real fashion.

The first two are what I would describe as lanky women, long and lean with long torsos. One wears the obi with the wide part to the back giving it a low, loose look. The second wears it in front but low, she really makes this apron flavored obi look sassy! Love it.












The model on the left is wearing this obi. The model on the right is wearing an obi not yet available in my store, but if you dig it, let me know and I can list it for you.

These two women have narrow hips and long lean legs. Their torsos are more rectangular in nature, often giving the sense of no waist. Here they both look fabulous in obi belts, which create the illusion of a waist.













The obi on the left is available here. The obi on the right is available here.

P.S. I love taking on custom obi orders. I have a nice selection of authentic antique Japanese kimono obi fabric and a booming stash of vintage neckties. Let me know what you are looking for. I would love to create it for you. berry (at) yazberry (dot) com. I love using recycled materials. Most of my obis are made from either antique Japanese obi fabric, vintage neckties or upholstery samples. I do mix in new materials as well, but find so much inspiration from recycled materials.

My current obi belt collection is available in my store. However, if you saw something in the pictures from my Artists' Row store, chances are it is not yet available online but I do have it, send me a message and I will confirm either way.

Wee! Stuff on the Shelves!

My good Skidmore College buddy Kate Bradley helped me populate the store this weekend. Steve & I did a couple of finishing touches and voila, I present, the almost ready store!
This is my vast window display, the other windows are occupied by the potter.

The wall of yummies. Obi belts, newly designed hair barrettes (only available in store), some of my purses and leather cuffs...

The converted letterpress drawer earring display.

My new handmade mannequin (yesterday I built this mannequin from newspaper, strapping tape and plastic grocery bags. I made a cover for her from a t-shirt. I'm rather pleased with the end result). A glimpse of the jewelry case, which we plan to light with a string of white x-mas lights.

The dressing room, made from a hula hoop. We rigged up a wooden stick to serve as the rod for clothing. Still need to come up with a lighting solution so you aren't in a super dark tent trying on clothes. Any ideas?

The corner shelf with a couple more purses and wine glass charms. What you see on the left hand side is some of the potters work.

YazBerry Obi Belt Makes Front Line Treasury

Thank you euphorbiadesigns for including my handmade obi belt in your lovely Etsy treasury, the Front Line. Please check it out so we can try to make the front page. Here's the link.

My obi belt is available in my Etsy Store: yazberryfashion.etsy.com

YazBerry Fashion Reaches 100 Sales!!!

Congratulations to me, congratulations to me, I'm singing this to the tune of Happy Birthday...congratulations to me :)

I made 100 sales this week and as promised, made an awesome custom handmade gift for this lucky person as a huge thank you for helping reach this milestone.

Customer 100, miss Emily the awesome, bought a vintage belt in this rich teal color with hints of forest green. I brought it to the bead store to pick out the perfect hue of teal to match. I found these delicious oxidized faceted glass beads and stunning blue Montana stone Swarovski crystals. I had never seen or heard of blue Montana stones but am in love with their color. I think whatever you call that particular hue of blue, is my favorite blue. What would you call it?

Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

Thank you all a million!!! And here's to the next 100!

Love,

Virginia

Wists.com Social Shopping

I've stumbled upon Wists.com, a website for social shopping. Here's a little background on this concept, from their about us page:

About us

Wists was created for 2 simple purposes:

1. To make finding well designed, interesting or unusual products and collectibles both simple and fun.

2. To make publishing or sharing lists of recommendations and wishlists easier and more appealing than maintaining a weblog and not tied to one particular store.

Using Wists is not like going to Walmart or searching a price comparison shopping site - we try to encourage the discovery and promotion of products from small retailers and manufacturers and young designers.

We are based in New York City and are backed by Gawker Media.

I learned about wists.com because, thank you wanderluster, one of my handmade obi belts has been included on their site!

This item is available in my store.

Check their site out: www.wists.com

Scoutie Girl - Zoomed Local - Salem, MA

Upon my recent relocation to Salem, MA, I was discovered by Linda, a blogger forScoutieGirl in her Zoomed Local Blog post on Salem, MA Etsy artisans. She featured one of my Handmade Obi Belts (pictured above), which is made from an antique Japanese Kimono Obi. This one is reversible and available at yazberryfashion.etsy.com.

"scoutie girl is the blog with a penchant for the passionately handmade. we feature original design - from both emerging and established crafters - to enrich your life. for more on sg, read the dirt." (Taken from www.scoutiegirl.com on 11/2/09)

I recently learned about ScoutieGirl's blog myself, as it is a favorite source for all things awesome and hand made on Etsy's Twitter account. I Highly recommend you track down both @etsy on Twitter.com and @scoutiegirlblog on Twitter, for interesting and insightful posts on handmade goodies and fascinating artisans.

While you're there, look for @yazberryfashion to keep up to date on what I'm working on and up to!

Also, blogger Linda, is an artisan herself, she has an etsy store, alamodestuff.etsy.com where she sells quirky switchplates and purses, wallets and pillows made from seatbelts! Be sure to check out her store and her blog www.alamodestuffblog.com!

A thank you goes out to my Model, Naomi!

This is what Insomnia Does.

(If you want to read the commentary, click on the picture to view a full size version).