Joys of Winter -- Vintage Photography of NYC and Washington, DC

A few months ago, I stumbled across these vintage B&W photos of snowy New York City and Washington DC street scenes from the early 1900's.  I think they are positively fabulous and entertaining, for so many reasons!  With a major blizzard forecasted to descend on the Northeast as I write this, and all the media hype concerning the hassles and inconveniences of snow, these marvelous photos are great reminders of the timeless joys of winter.

And, of course, the accessories designer in me can't help checking out the fashions! All the fun berets and scarves!

The photos appear to be by an anonymous photographer, being offered on Etsy as scans and digital downloads. All images are via HistoryPhoto.

Vintage photograph of winter in Madison Square Park, NYC. 1902. Source: HistoryPhoto.

Vintage photograph of winter in Washington, DC. 1922. Source: HistoryPhoto.

Vintage photograph of winter in NYC. 1900. Source: HistoryPhoto.

Vintage photograph of ice-skaters in Washington, DC. 1925. Source: HistoryPhoto.

Vintage photograph of winter in Central Park, NYC. Source: HistoryPhoto.

As some of you know, I'm a big fan of photography, especially B&W photography. I've also done and exhibited photography myself in the early 2000'. I think that these images are really splendid.

Now open: Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art online POP-UP SHOP.

Summer Style Finds

What's your summer style like? If you are picturing lightweight natural fabrics and fibers (silks, cottons, linen blends), flowing silhouettes, and subtle geometric and botanical prints, you are going to enjoy my Summer Style picks very much. From bold and vibrant colors to neutral tones, these clothes, along with jewelry and accessories to complement them, are the very essence of summer, wherever you happen to spend it -- in the city, by the seashore, in the garden, or on the road to your next adventure.

Summer Frocks

Navy, Saffron, Seafoam

Cotton, Linen, Silk

Jasmin Shokrian, Wiksten, Donna Karan

Summer Tops

Ruffles, Ferns, Applique

Isabel Marant, Zero + Maria Cornejo, Alabama Chanin

Summer Adornments & Jewelry

 Organic Cotton, Wood, Silver

Sea Kelp, Pebbles, Shells

Elena Rosenberg, Grace Girvan, Oscar Carvallo

Summer Bags

Lemon, Eco-print, Leather + Linen

Jill Harrell, Red2White, Ellington Handbags

Summer Pastimes

Caresses, Pedals, Petals

Jose Villa Photography, Ali Harper Photography, Sweet Eventide Photography

Summer Treats

Wild Strawberries, Summer Harvest Scent, Ginger & Cilantro Margarita

AllTheBeautifulThings, Burren Perfumery, The Gouda Life

See more SUMMER STYLE inspiration on my Pinterest Boards.

Other summer-time collections to enjoy: 

The Essence of Summer

Small Bouquets

Berries

Nature Inspired Art Jewelry

My other seasonal STYLE collections:

 Autumn Style

Winter Style

2014 Collection Photoshoot - Part I

On a snowy February afternoon in one of Westchester County's picturesque rivertowns, a fantastic group of women gathered for an unusual photo-session. My vision for the shoot was to showcase a phenomenon, a trend, a connecting thread I have experienced over the past few years with many of my amazing customers. In person, at the art & fine craft shows I do, and through interactions in my online store, I have observed women of different generations gravitate toward and fall in love with the same designs of mine. Whether they are in their teens, twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and above, women of all ages seem to find my styles and my work beautiful and desirable. 

I love seeing multi-generational families shopping in my show booth together. And I love knowing that my fashion accessories, clothing, and adornments have been worn on round-the-world journeys, to weddings, soirees, vow renewals, recitals, or simply on strolls around town or quiet afternoons at home. I love seeing people's faces light up when they try one of my designs on, and when they feel elegant, warm, pampered, and loved in what they are wearing. With thousands of individual stitches comprising every garment and accessory, each exquisitely made by hand one at a time, what else could you feel when wearing an Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art original, if not love? 

Here in these photos are women of several generations looking positively dazzling in the shawls, wraps, scarves, capelets, hats, and gauntlets from my recent collection. It is a reflection of things coming full circle too, as in the last year or so, the work coming out of my knitwear studio is no longer produced by me alone. We are now a two-person team, with my mother, Alla Kachuro (who taught me to knit when I was 10 or 11!), skillfully contributing production help on some of the designs.

I hope you love these photos as much as I do! Stay tuned for more images and details from this session in Part II, coming soon!

A little behind-the-scenes collage from the photo-session, captured for Instagram. Photos by Elena Rosenberg

For making this photoshoot possible, I am grateful to the talented dance and portrait photographer Ellen Crane, hair & makeup artist Ilise Heitzner Harris, and my gorgeous models, Abigail Garland Loose, Hannah Devaney, Erica Halliwell (yoga instructor at Hastings Yoga), and Maxine Sherman (former principal dancer at Martha Graham Dance Company and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater). Scarf/shawl pins pictured with some of the designs are custom-made for my collection by wood artisan Harry Firth.

As you know, most of my work is handmade in very limited editions or is one of a kind. To see these and many other designs in person, visit me at the American Craft Council show in Baltimore, MD, next week (February 21-23, 2014). Most of the pieces pictured here have not been added to my online store yet. Please feel free to contact me directly to inquire about availability.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Shawl, Hat, and Gauntlets (merino wool, alpaca, silk). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Shawl, Hat, and Gauntlets (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Shawl and Hat (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Shawl (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Wrap and Hat (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Shawl, Hat, and Gauntlets (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Capelet and Hat (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Hand-knit Shawl, Hat, and Gauntlets (merino wool). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Elena Rosenberg Wearable Fiber Art. Crochet Collier Necklace, Multistrand Bracelet, Blossom ring (Silk). Photography by Ellen Crane.

Can't wait to work with this talented crew on another collection and style concept!

Your feedback and thoughts are welcome!