Archive for January, 2010
Shop NYC Tours Video - Episode 1
Friday, January 29th, 2010The LBD Takes Center Stage
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
What shall I wear? Come day or evening, casual or special occasion, the answer is always the little black dress. It’s the one garment that will take you to an informal affair or a gala at night. As the Duchess of Windsor once put it, “When a little black dress is right, there is nothing else to wear in its place.”
At the upcoming Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show the iconic Little Black Dress will be center stage in a special lobby exhibit that features some of the “best” LBD’s to ever have been designed. Show exhibitors will also be selling dozens upon dozens of tempting versions that will bring a touch of class to your wardrobe in 2010. And, while there are many stylish LBDs on the market today, there’s nothing quite like the vintage edition to lend glamour to your life. This popular wardrobe staple has risen in popularity for many reasons. One being that it is truly the most versatile garment ever created.
The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show is a shopping extravaganza where you have the opportunity to shop dozens of top notch vintage dealers all in one place. Designers, stylists, and other fashionable folk religiously flock to this event each season to find the best vintage clothing and accessories from around the world. Here you will find the missing pieces of your wardrobe. You might even find a LBD for you!
Show hours are : Friday, February 5th, 1-8pm; Saturday, February 6th, 11-6pm. Admission is $20. The Metropolitan Pavilion is located at 125 W. 18th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues in Manhattan. For more information visit www.manhattanvintage.com.
Clements Ribeiro
Monday, January 25th, 2010
I have written about the design duo Suzanne Clements and Inacio Ribeiro before. They are the designers behind Clements Ribeiro who often use vintage and antique trimmings to create their very unusual design collections.
Inacio explains, “The projects are all about up-cycling. When Suzanne and I restarted our business we were painfully aware of the sheer amount of brands and products crowding the market and felt somehow uncomfortable bringing in more stuff. Hence our concentrated collections - stronger individual pieces on a smaller range - as well as our concept collections we call Projects. These are made out of unique pieces which come about through a thematic recycling of vintage materials combined with high end crafts. “
Now they are unveiling what they call Project Number 4, a five piece collection built around vintage scarves. The pieces (a dress, blouse, and skirt) are made from mismatched scarves from the 40s-80s. There are also two merino wool sweaters embroidered with silk scarf scraps.
There is a presentation called “scarf mania” running from Sunday January 24th – Wednesday January 27th at the Palais Royal. The pieces range from $650 for a top to $1800 for the dress. You can pick one up when it hits shelves in May at Barney’s New York and Blake in Chicago.
Book Signing Party for Vintage Fashion Accessories
Friday, January 22nd, 2010
This Saturday, January 23rd, come celebrate the new book by Stacy LoAlbo, “Vintage Fashion Accessories.” Stacy LoAlbo, known as “The Vintage Maven”, owns the vintage boutique Incogneeto in Somerville, NJ.
In her new book the pages are filled with fashion photography of dresses, hats and accessories with artfully cropped images of product shots by Jimmy Lin and Marguerite Ruscito. A book more for the “fashionista” or vintage collector, it easily crosses the boundary of art as it emphasizes the beauty, uniqueness and sensuality of these vintage items spanning an era that starts in the stylish early 1900’s to the plaids of the 70’s.
Click here http://www.vintagefashionaccessoriesbook.com to check out the book!
For the month long exhibit called: “Vintage Fashion Accessories: Celebrating the Art of Vintage Fashion.” hosted by MH Art & Framing Gallery. The month long exhibit will feature vintage fashions from Incogneeto boutique and fashion photography by Jimmy Lin and Marguerite Ruscito for the book, “Vintage Fashion Accessories.”
A book signing with author, Stacy LoAlbo, will also be held during the night of the Opening Reception (January 23rd 6-9pm with the book signing from 6-7pm).
Special vintage items will be offered for sale at the gallery during the month long event as well as photography by Jimmy Lin.
Photographer, Jimmy Lin, will display fashion and product shots that are featured in the book as well as additional imagery from his repertoire. Marguerite Ruscito completes the photography exhibit with her fashion photography. All accessories and clothing photographed for the book are from Stacy LoAlbo’s vintage clothing boutique “Incogneeto” in Somerville, NJ.
The show runs from JANUARY 16th - FEBRUARY 27th
Opening Reception:
Saturday, January 23rd
6-9 pm
MH Art & Framing Gallery
9 West 20th Street
(between 5th & 6th Ave.)
New York, NY 10011
(212)242-1252
hours of operation:
Monday thru Friday 10-7
Saturday 10-6
Resort Fashion
Wednesday, January 20th, 2010
1. Sailor style top from Bows & Bandits $48.
2. Military style shorts from Charlette Russe
3. Vintage Pucci sunglasses from Solakzade.net
4. Vintage costume enamel shell earrings from Catwalk10021.com $225
5. 1980’s JOSEPH BARRERA RUNWAY NECKLACE from Catwalk10021.com $1100
Resort Fashion
Monday, January 18th, 2010
Are you tired of the cold? Do you dream of hopping a charter boat to go island hopping and basking in the warm rays of the sun? You start to see all of the fashion designer’s “resort” collections hit the floors filled with bright colors, and nautical inspirations. Oh how nice it would be to take a vacation right now to get out of the chill!
What many people don’t realize is where the idea of “resort” came from. It all started back with the transportation age set in. The railway system was put into place here in the U.S. around 1830. This new mode of transportations got people moving. New hotels and spas, otherwise known as “resorts” sprung up along the railway around the country as people began moving and going in search of hot springs. People also began traveling overseas on steamers. Each mode of traveling exposed the people to new activities and more social events, and each situation called for certain behaviors and certain attire.
In the new book, Resort Fashion: Style in Sundrenched Climates the author, Caroline Rennolds Milbank explore this glorious time of travel and leisure and how the fashions changed over the years to what we know it as today. Find the meaning of use of certain colors and the introduction of wild prints. You will never look at vacationing the same way again!
Resort Fashion: Style in Sundrenched Climates is on book shelves now for $65 from Rizzoli publishing.
Fashion Trivia: American Gigolo
Friday, January 15th, 2010What famous menswear designer’s suits were made famous when Richard Gere wore them in the 1980s flick American Gigolo?
Giorgio Armani’s suits for Richard Gere’s character in American Gigolo was the Italian designer’s breakthrough moment. Armani’s jackets were much softer than traditional suits, yet still enhanced the male torso, and showed that the suit could be sexy rather than formal and stiff. The most famous scene depicts Gere’s character Julian laying out a selection of Armani shirts, jackets and ties on a bed, and it encapsulated the narcissicism of the 1980’s.
Keys to Style
Wednesday, January 13th, 2010
Vintage keys have been quite popular as a motif for the past year. The antique, ornate designs found in old master keys or skull keys make for great design inspiration. VSG first reported this jewelry trend in early 2009. Shortly thereafter Tiffany & Co. came out with their collection of key necklaces which have been quite popular.
Now key jewelry can be found just about everywhere and at every price level. The antique key design is most often found in necklaces, earrings, and on charm bracelets. One thing to note is that key are not the only motif coming out from this trend. Now we are starting to see more decorative key holes. These designs are used primarily in necklaces and brooches.
1. Antique brass short skeleton key hanging on brass tone chain $10.
2. Brass Victorian Keyhole Escutcheon Pendant Necklace $34
3. vintage key hole lock necklace $10
4. Diamond Accent Key Necklace In 14kt Yellow Gold $281.25
5. Vintage Heart Key Hole Necklace
6. Diamond Fleur-De-Lis Key Necklace In Sterling Silver $120
7. Antique-Style Key Necklace In Sterling Silver and 18kt Yellow Gold $176.25
Reinvent Yourself for 2010
Monday, January 11th, 2010
This time of year it is quite common to pause for deep reflection and recognize room for improvement in ones life. While many people list high on the resolution scale goals such as weight loss, financial wellness, or new job opportunities one change you may not have thought about is improving your image. Do your clothes really reflect who you are? When you look in your closet do you find that much of your wardrobe was purchased out of necessity (for work) rather than because you really loved it?
I bring up this topic because when I was about 25 years old I woke up one day and realized that I really didn’t like my closet. At the time I was still making a small salary and I had accumulated outfits that I felt were “work appropriate”, but they were really very boring and had no personality. I have to admit I was pretty embarrassed, especially considering I worked in the fashion industry!
I could not afford to run out and go on a major shopping spree. So, I did the next best thing. I put together outfits from my closet. If there was something missing, like matching shoes or jewelry from an outfit I marked it down. I threw out anything that I couldn’t make an outfit with. Then I made a budget that allowed for new purchases.
I hunted out these missing pieces each month and slowly but surely got my own personal style back. I encourage you to do the same.
For me I love vintage! But I had to find a way to mix vintage pieces into my corporate environment. What I found worked best and what was missing from my closet were mostly great vintage jackets that I could coordinate with my simple solid dresses. I purchased some great printed blouses and dresses that I would then tame with structured blazers. I also found that great vintage costume jewelry, which was pretty inexpensive, was a simple solution to updating an otherwise boring outfit.
I am going to be posting some other great “Working Style” outfits on the VSG blog each week. I hope you tune in to check them out!
1. 70s Ossie Clark black top. Available at PoshVintage.com
2. 80s ESCADA Leaf Pendant Necklace $450 at Catwalk 20012
3. Large Brushed Goldtone Vintage Givenchy Half Hoop Earrings $225 at Catwalk 20012
4. 70S SUSAN GAIL CUFF CLUTCH $285 at PoshVintage.com
5. Herbert Levine Black Heels $165 at WoodlandFarms.com
Confessions of a Vintage Shopaholic
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010
Today I was watching Confessions of a Shopaholic. It made me think of my own personal dark obsession I have with shopping…for vintage. There is something very special about finding these pieces of art from the past.
Working on the Vintage Shopping Guide these past couple of years has given me the opportunity to meet all kinds of people in the vintage world. I have interviewed people who make a living surrounding themselves with the most beautiful items from the past: vintage shop owners, collectors, curators of museums, stylists, costume designers, and auctioneers. You name it.
I think they have the most amazing dream jobs ever! Who wouldn’t want to work at the BATA Shoe Museum? Their closet is to die for! Or be a buyer for the vintage department at Bag, Borrow, or Steal? Can you imagine authenticating garments worn by Audrey Hepburn for an upcoming auction? To be able to touch the most iconic items from the past and see it up close and personal with your own eyes! That to me is the most amazing feeling in the whole world. It makes you a part of that history.
My favorite part of interviewing all of these extraordinary people is asking them how they first got into their line of work? What got them hooked? What drew them to this magical world of not yet forgotten fashion? For me it was being in elementary school and not being able to afford the trendy fashions my classmates had. My father’s secretary brought me to a thrift store located in the upper crust part of town. You know, where people give things away that still have price tickets on them? It was there that I found a candy land of unwanted treasures! And yes. I did get those Guess jeans I desperately wanted. And over the years I’ve dumpster dived with the best of them, hunting down Gucci bags, Missoni sweaters, tuxedo jackets, and the perfect pair of double “C” earrings by Channel. I even found my wedding dress at a vintage shop!
I am officially an addict. I know. But I want to invite you along my journey for these treasures from the past. This year at the Vintage Shopping Guide I will be doing more interviews, and talking more about the business of vintage. I hope you will join me.
