Friday, December 23, 2011

excalibur








thanks Rob, for introducing this amazing version of the King Arthur
story to me- made in 1981, the year of my birth, this film still has some legs...
mainly, the entire thing looks like a Fleetwood Mac Album cover
worth a watch

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Miles to go......


Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   
To stop without a farmhouse near   
Between the woods and frozen lake   
The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   
To ask if there is some mistake.   
The only other sound’s the sweep   
Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.   
But I have promises to keep,   
And miles to go before I sleep,   
 
And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost
 

warmest wishes to you and yours this holiday season,

and a bright and joyous new year

from Annie and the ladies of frei

Saturday, December 17, 2011

wabi inspirations





being in post 27 has been a really great experience in many ways
it's wonderful to be exposed to so much local and vintage design
interiors, objects, furniture
Angela Finney- Hoffman, the proprietor of the shop had the most beautiful book
called Wabi Inspirations, a collection of images by the designer/ curator
I want to inhabit a home that reflects this kind of quiet beauty
I am trying to create a stillness in my spring collection that feels like this:
clean, elegant, warm, and minimal- we shall see.....

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Holi- DOSE!

So excited to be a part of DOSE market again
for this coming December 4th edition
You can find me there with all kinds of amazing goodies
for fancy holiday parties and gifts for loved ones
SUPPORT LOCALLY made this season!!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

holiday collection


Thursday, November 17th 5-9 pm
Post 27
1819 W. Grand Ave
view the holiday collection
sip seasonal cocktails
and enjoy 20% off the fall collection
when you purchase a holiday piece
see you there!!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Chunky

wool cashmere blazer, alpaca gray sweater, Pendleton skirt, vintage belt

silk "ruff" scarves in silver pearl and midnight blue

Pendleton wool jacket in black and white harding

chunky knit roving hats by Mischa Lampert


Being from Chicago, I always get a bit concerned as the weather begins
to change
what am i going to wear to keep me warm while maintaining some element of style?
I am not ashamed to admit that i love a chunky kind of warmth.
I like to be cocooned and cozy in wools.....
For fall i created a wool/ cashmere blend blazer as tailored as it is warm
it pairs well with the Portland Pendleton collection that we have in at 
I am stoked about the chunky roving knit hats from Mischa Lampert
that we recently got in as well- they are so thickly knit
there isn't a cold wind that can penetrate them
and of course, the silk ruffled "ruff" scarf adds something unexpected
while still still keeping one warm.
I love this time of year- before the real damage of the midwest winter is done.
In this season, fashion still is possible despite the weather!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

romance


A Closet Visit Film No. 1 from Claire Cottrell on Vimeo.

very excited to have found this blog- the blogger finds amazing stylish ladies and photographs them in their favorite wardrobe pieces.  Great idea- and really inspiring!  Apparently, she has made two small films- so lovely- for some reason- this one reminds me of fall time....
I really find it dreamy and sweet.  Check out the blog:  closetvisit.com

Thursday, October 6, 2011

featured item



the "lady-like" blouse has several romantic details.
Made of silk crepe de chine, the feel and drape of this blouse is nothing
short of luxurious.
Although the pleated detail of the sleeve adds a feminine character to the blouse,
a tongue-in-cheek moment happens at the neckline
in the form of an "untied bow tie"
meant to hint at a late night of parties
this blouse is great tucked into a high wasted trouser or pencil skirt 
or left untucked with a great pair of jeans and boots for a slightly more casual approach
either way- you really cannot go wrong with a feminine hint a masculine nod
happening all at once in one great top.
Available in silver, midnight blue, and garnet red

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

DOSE

frei will be at Dose market this coming Sunday selling
deeply discounted past season items
along with current fall pieces.
Come check us out!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Outlaws and Patriots







CURRENTLY SHOWING AT PACKER-SCHOPF GALLERY
NOW THROUGH OCTOBER 22ND

Bill Harrison specializes in doing highly realistic life size charcoal pencil portraits. His new series of portraits of bikers (Harley, not Schwinn), is called Outlaws and Patriots. His goal is to do an "unsympathetic portrait;" that is, a portrait in which his sympathies lie neither with nor against the subject. No mocking, nor glory; He simply portrays them as they appear, in high detail, and lets their own innate dignity carry the piece. His subjects are older, generally in their fifties or more. Someone once said, "When we are young, we wear the face God gave us. By 50, we wear the face we deserve." Harrison finds that the faces of people in their middle age or older are full of character, evidence of a life lived well or badly or both, and this is what is portrayed. What really interests him about the bikers is the tribal aspect of the subculture. Their hair, their leathers, their patches and pins all function to set them apart from the typical citizen. In many ways they're the kind of people who would've been cowboys back in the old West. They are generally tough independent men, often misfits to some degree, who generally want nothing more than to be left to live their lives as they see fit.

Bill Harrison received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting from the University of Illinois in 1977 and spent the next 20 years as an illustrator. Working almost exclusively in 'stipple', constructing nearly photo-realistic drawings of food, people, and products using only little tiny black dots. Since the bottom has dropped out of the illustration world, he is making the transition to the fine art arena.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

seasoned stars






































Thursday, September 8th
Angela Finney-Hoffman (proprietress of the lovely Post 27)
and I hosted a "studio warming/ fall 2011 debut party" at the shop
all kinds of friends and fans came out to view the new fall collection, sip on
a seasonal cocktail of apple cider, cognac, sparkling wine, and rum garnished with slices of apple,
and take in the installation/ performance

I had several ladies with artistic backgrounds come in to create a celestial installation grounded
by seasonings, grains, and seeds
It was very autumnal and harvest-y
I had a few ladies making paper stars, while another lady created a large mandala of seeds and dried grains on my cutting table
another station consisted of two gals wheat-pasting the paper stars and adhering grains and dried seasonings to them to decorate them
another lady hung the seasoned stars to dry
all of this was installed among Post 27's interior vignettes and home accessories
it was magical and fun and the fall collection worked perfectly
in the mix
the fall collection is for sale currently at Post 27 in Chicago
and will be up online at www.workshop-chicago.com shortly
a special thanks to all the help and involvement of my multi-talented posse:
Colleen O'Sullivan lent her hair and makeup talents
Stephanie Acosta made it all happen
My gorgeous models Chiara Keeling, Marisa Munoz, Joy Davis, Karen Faith,
 Leslie Bembinster, and Nadine Lolino
Krisite Kahns took the amazing photos above....
such a talented crew- what would I do without you??