24 October 2017. We're excited to introduce Fog's latest Winter collection. It will roll out online in two deliveries and feature a brand new 100% wool fabrication. Many of you are familiar with the wool/linen blend for the cooler months, but we hope you'll grow to love this new permutation. The fabric is warm, soft, and surprisingly not scratchy. The drape and weight of the wool yield structure that is modern and very wearable. For those of you who might miss the linen content, fear not. Many of the items in this Winter collection do include linen details such as the full linen lining of the Mona Coat, or the lined pockets of the Karina Tuck Pants. Designer, Yumiko Sekine chooses combinations that are in balance and ultimately highlight her two favorite materials.
Can you tell us a little about the inspiration for this collection?
I always find inspiration on the production side when I'm visiting the weaving companies and see all of the materials, wools, threads, and all of the possible colors and styles. That's where I begin creating.
The linen for Fog Linen Work is made in Lithuania. Is this true for the wool?
Yes! The woolen fabric is woven at a very old factory in Lithuania. I looked through all of the fabric samples that they had from the past and picked the 'hand' of the wool and colors from their production history.
What do you like best about the new wool?
The feel of the fabric! It's very smooth, soft, and warm. It's good quality and it's fun to mix with the linen. Using the linen for lining and other parts. The color and material work well together.
Do you have a favorite piece from this collection?
The Gemma Tuck Pants. I like the silhouette of the pants. It turned out nicely and comfortable to wear. (arriving in second delivery)
Who is this collection for?
I always design the Fog Linen Work collection for every day life--not for special occasions. But, this Winter collection turned out to be be very elegant. It's versatile and can be worn by an elegant woman for a special occasion or just every day.
*The second delivery will arrive the first or second week of November. Sign up for our mailing list to be informed!
19 October 2017. While we're lamenting the shortening hours of daylight, we're actually loving the cooler temps and the cause to add a few layers here and there. Jeans and sweaters might still be accompanied by flip flops in a last attempt to grab the suns rays, but by night-fall, while we settle in, and settle down, our toes call for our familiar, cozy sock friends.
*image by jenny hallengren
11 October 2017. We’ve noticed some summer produce still out on farmers market tables. Tomatoes, especially, are hanging on in all of their hefty, bulbous glory, and we’re thinking of ways to put these last, sweet beauties to use. We’ve found that this vinaigrette triples as a dressing for fish, greens, and grains, and it contributes the freshness of summer thanks to the bright acidity of sherry vinegar. The simplicity of the recipe means that, within minutes, you get a beautiful, tangy-smooth, light coral sauce to pour over whatever you wish (toast with a fried egg on top, for another example). Add a handful of chopped herbs, and you've already arrived at a flavorful and special meal worth savoring.
Tomato Vinaigrette: Recipe from Smitten Kitchen
Ingredients
1 medium tomato, peeled (if desired), seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon (100 ml) olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt, or to taste
5 good grinds of pepper, or to taste
Preparation
In a blender or food processor, puree the tomato until smooth. Add sherry vinegar. With the machine running, drizzle olive oil in a slow, steady stream. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
Find more cooking inspiration at Smitten Kitchen
October 5 2017. Every year, a box arrives at the shop that looks perfectly normal, cardboard and scuffed from travel. But this box is different from all other boxes. It's full of calendar cloths, the once-yearly, limited edition cloths that arrive to a waiting list and our collective bated breath. Though the kitchen cloth is the workhorse of the kitchen, the calendar cloth can live as a casual wall hanging, clipped to a piece of twine or pinned to the wall throughout the year. Each cloth features an artist's unique design that conjures a mood or sentiment to usher in the new year. This year, we welcome the work of three new artists: Rae Dunn, Isabelle Boinot, and Yuka Sakamaki. They offer us a snapshot into the simplicity of day to day life, reminding us to live well and mind the passing of each day. At the end of the year, the calendar cloth can continue to hang on the wall or it can have a Cinderella moment, changing back to a workaday cloth.
Image: Angel in Blue Sky by Yuka Sakamaki
22 September 2017. In this life, baggage is a given. Emotional, physical, psychic--just a few of the categories where we might feel a little extra weight. Yet baggage tends to get a bad rap, as though each of us should be free-wheeling and unfettered despite life's hard knocks.
We stand firmly in the camp of baggage = natural and good, but we recognize that sometimes we need relief from the weight of lessons learned. With wisdom and perspective safely set aside for a minute, we can free up space in our minds and bodies for new insights, thoughts, and imaginings.
In our day to day lives, we turn to a literal interpretation of that safe storage space. Curled up with a good book or a video line-up, we keep a small tray beside us that holds the few things we carry throughout the day: phone, glasses, water. We've come to accept that these items are almost a part of us but it feels good to let them go once in a while. The tray cradles them, keeping those fragile specs safe and the phone out of the couch cushions, and makes it easy to carry everything with one hand when it's time to move.
We've been thinking of these trays also as a perfect gift for a host or as a smart addition to a mulit-part-present. What nicer thing to give someone than the gift of respite? You're sending the message that, yes, you deserve to take a break from the struggle, and, in fact, it's important to do so. We're all navigating life's twists and turns, but it's how we get from place to place--and how we manage that baggage--that paints a picture of who we are and who we are becoming.
*above image courtesy Jenny Hallengren
08 September 2017. As the seasons turn, we notice the sun slipping away earlier while being aware that the ease of summer is coming to an end. It's a reminder that changes are afoot. Some changes force us out of routines and patterns that we cling to for dear life. That feeling of losing a deeply rooted routine can be terrifying, devastating, liberating, or all three. You can find yourself tearfully mourning the loss of something while simultaneously feeling a weight lift from your shoulders.
Our culture tends to focus on the value of change, innovation, and letting go of what doesn't serve us, but there seems to be a dearth of messages valuing the routines that have supported us for years. Flopping on the couch and watching tv after a hard day might not be glorified, but it can gently ease us out of a stressful day. Wearing those pants that don't really flatter but that feel like a hug on your legs can be just the thing to make it through a jam-packed day. That childhood friend whose politics you don't agree with might also be able to make you laugh in a unique and familiar way. It makes sense why we cling to those things that might not propel us towards our 'best life'; they stabilize, ground, and reinforce that things are ok.
Yet change has to happen. Some of it we choose and some of it we don't. As the feelings arise, it seems important to acknowledge how hard change can be while making space for discovery. Meeting each feeling of fear with a deep breath can give us that millimeter of space needed to get through to the next moment. It's scary, challenging, and exciting. You don't know what's on the other side for the first time in a while. Take one more step forward and perhaps you'll find the energy to keep going.
01 September 2017. The first day of September. While it's not technically Fall yet, there's a definite shift. Apartments turn over, traffic becomes a bit more dense, daylight is slightly shorter, and our old friend the morning chill is paying us a visit again. This image of Anja and her bounty of fresh baked donuts screams "FALL!" to us. Where's the cider? Who knows how to make these sugary, doughy, fried confections and can I possibly do this? Well reader, you can. And you can do one better--it's called the malasada.
Malasadas are a fried Portuguese-style donut popular in Hawaii. Traditionally, they don't have a filling, but some varieties are flavored with creams or other fruit fillings. Intrigued? We first read about these while following the blog Two Red Bowls on Instagram. While we must admit that we have not attempted this recipe, we do go back to it often--frequently recommending it to baker friends with the hopes that they might endeavor for us.
If you live locally and decide to make these, please just remember who told you about them. We'll be right here with our mouths watering. Here you go: Malasadas with Guava and Lilikoi Filling
24 July 2017. Starting Monday July 24th, you’ll find great savings on seasonal apparel and other select items that have either been discontinued or have simply over-stayed their welcome. There’s sure to be something for everyone. (Please Note: Sale items are final sale and cannot be returned.)
**while our brick and mortar sister-shop will be closed August 13-29, our warehouse will continue shipping orders during this time.
12 July 2017. The long, lazy days of Summer are upon us and hopefully, you'll be able to partake. But, if you're feeling the slightest bit guilty about diving into that dreamy hammock or porch-side chaise, well don't! Sleep.org offers up some surprising ways a quick snooze is good for you.
Recharge:
Naps boost alertness and improve motor performance, which is why you feel energized after taking one. The length of your nap determines the benefits. A 20-minute snooze—called a stage two nap—is ideal to enhance motor skills and attention, while an hour to 90 minutes of napping brings Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which helps make new connections in the brain and can aid in solving creative problems. Set an alarm to make sure you get just the right amount of sleep. (Napping for a length of time between 20 and 90 minutes may also help, but you’re likely to feel groggy afterward.)
Zap Stress:
Regular, short naps can help lower tension, which decreases your risk of heart disease. Get the most health benefits out of your nap by doing it right. Stick to a regular napping schedule during optimal hours, which are between 1:00pm and 3:00pm. This timeframe is optimal, since that’s usually after lunchtime, when your blood sugar and energy starts to dip. Keep shut-eye short; and nap in a dark room so that you’ll fall asleep faster.
Boost Your Mood:
As anyone who has suffered from a sleepless night knows, it’s hard to be chipper the next day. Sneaking in a nap can help erase that sleep-deprived irritability.
Keep in mind, a short snooze is a wiser choice than sipping espresso if you need a mid-day reboot, since consuming caffeine in the afternoon or evening can negatively affect your nighttime slumber. Napping is a natural way to revive your energy.
Now enjoy that nap!
image by: Jenny Hallengren
02 June 2017. Welcoming miiThaaii--a new line of clothing and accessories from founding designer Yumiko Sekine. As a new and developing brand under the aegis of Fog Linen Work, miiThaaii focuses on products made of 100% cotton Lungi material from India. While Lungi can come in thousands of patterns, Sekine is mainly using the blue madras check which in itself hosts many permutations. In this way, all of the miiThaaii items are assorted. When you order, we want you to be open to the possibility that you may not receive the the specific check pattern in the product image. Items are in the 'blue' family and feature checks and plaids. What is certain is that miiThaaii is a sweet surprise, crisp cotton, and fresh for Summer. We hope you enjoy the edited collection we offer here at Shop Fog Linen.
