window shop #3: vintage wardrobe for spring 2014

Feb 26, 2014

window shop #3: vintage wardrobe for spring 2014

They say that the third time's the charm, and in the case of my “window shop” series, I feel like there's a certain je ne sais quoi in the Spring 2014's runway trends. Now, regular readers may already be shaking in their seat (or winter boots), “Did she say runway fashion?” And before you literally run away to go set trends not follow them, let me remind you, I am a lover of all things local and beautifully handcrafted, of all the hidden little gems and steals that can be incorporated into a minimalistic wardrobe that one is proud to call their own. For the record, I am also not a 6-foot tall runway model or New York elitist trust fund brat sitting on a pile of reserved money that allows me to turn my closet over every season the way pit masters turn over slabs of pork. Plus, I just spent all this time cleaning my closet out before my trip to Europe so there's no way in hell I am going to fill it up with items I will only wear once.

However...

I run through this list every post because I think it's an important personal reminder. I remember what it was like to live within the walls of the toxic, racist, superficial fashion industry and I most certainly remember the cold and sweaty nights that would leave me with the restless question, “Do my coworkers think I am trend ignorant?” Here's your BULLSHIT whistle- having a timeless wardrobe with historical, thrifted pieces will boost your confidence, pad your wallet, and never leave you wanting more. Here are my top three classic reminders for thrifting and vintage hunting within a particular season:

CONTINUE READING...

4 comments

window shop #2: building a vintage wardrobe for fall 2013

Sep 30, 2013

window shop #2: building a vintage wardrobe for fall 2013

As fashion week has come and gone I can presume the magazines, department stores, and self-appointed fashion blog gurus alike are all a buzz with this fall’s fashion to-do list. You know exactly which list I speak of, it's the who wore what, when, and, where of it all. Anyone that has been reading my blog long enough knows that I have some serious beef when it comes to the rapid and nauseating pace of alleged high-end fashion, or fast designer fashion as well. To add to my general distrust is the thousands of pictures of runway models  desperately striving to represent an artistic expression of the “modern woman.” (Um, no, I am not six feet tall with legs up to my neck.) The fashion world moves at a neck-braking pace and it seems like the only way to keep a closet up to date with the everlasting change is to ask (wait, no- demand) that some poor little girl in a third-world country work tirelessly for pennies on the hour. Yes, fashion can be fun and I most certainly like to adorn myself in items that are beautiful and new from time to time but this series is dedicated to the simple art of thrifting for the sake of others as well as your own expenses. Plus, you get to give a piece a new life and that, my friends, is exciting! Keep up with the trends without being an ignorant and extravagant dolt!

For those of you who are picking up in the middle of the program, here is a recap of my timeless tips for incorporating vintage items into your wardrobe during any season:

CONTINUE READING...

4 comments

{editorial} twinkle twinkle

Jun 21, 2013

{editorial} twinkle twinkle

Here is a story about a girl who reveled in times past. With a twinkle in her eye and one foot always planted somewhere in the present, she'd travel to places far and wide with an single swipe of her rouge and wrap of her pearls.

CONTINUE READING...

2 comments

window shop #1: how to buy vintage fashion for spring 2013

May 18, 2013

window shop #1: how to buy vintage fashion for spring 2013

Allot has been weighing on my mind as of late thanks to the ever-disappointing mass market fashion industry rearing its Medusa head time and again. And while I will be devoting my entire weekend to peeling back the layers of the little ethical choices we do have left, it goes without saying that ... when in doubt, thrift! How vexing it must be to hear the widespread outcry from certain bloggers (you know the kind, the ones that eat Prada for breakfast) mourning over the Bangladesh tragedy, pointing out that while they wholeheartedly feel sympathy for those suffering, they just can't seem to get themselves to stop shopping long enough to modify their consumerist choices. Oh how bourgeois a predicament. While they helplessly deal with the inner turmoil of having no power over the addiction to superfluous purchases and unequivocally poor quality clothing, I will wield my well-trained power of restraint (because yes, it takes effort to not be a freakin hypocrite, trust me I know...I was formerly very happy as Ms. Hypocrite USA) to not set one foot in a chain store again until due diligence is done. Not everyone has the luxury of whining over not being able to help themselves, because some people still live paycheck to paycheck (like me....fashion isn't all glamour and wealth) and some people have the means but lack the desire to constantly subject their wardrobes to repeated offenses (like me). So wherever you are on the spectrum, I thought offering up a silver platter of thoughtfully curated vintage inspiration each week would help you curb those impulsive buys at Zara and J. Crew and instead adopt a piece of history. It might sound like justification hogwash (and sometimes, isn't it always? after all, its fashion people) but honestly, as a true history buff, I find nothing more titillating than digging a gem out of a haystack and fantasizing about the era it was born in. Did it clothe a woman who had lunch with Diana Vreeland? Did it board a bus to Poland? Who knows! But that's the whole point. So first, a few tips from a discerning vintage rookie.

CONTINUE READING...

13 comments