retro gone wrong: the sev

The girls over at Go Fug Yourself have a deep hatred for Chloe Sevigny (who they've dubbed "The Sev"), dating back to the creation of their site (that's her in the white Wayfarers -- not bought at Target -- at the top right corner of the masthead). They've laid off in recent years, though they still feature her wacky sartorial antics from time to time. The latest is fodder for today's edition of Retro Gone Wrong:


Heather ragged on her for the granny sandals-and-socks combo, which is definitely heinous. But I'd like to commend Chloe for tightening her belt in these tough economic times. Does she go out and buy a new sundress to wear to Coachella? No, not The Sev. Instead, she digs into the back of her closet and dons her favorite outfit from 1994.

I distinctly recall having several dress-and-t-shirt combos just like this, circa grade four. My favorite was a faux-denim number with a plastic pink heart sewn on the front. I usually wore it with a light pink or white t-shirt, but I like how Chloe just goes for it here with the black. Way to make a statement, Sev.

when good music happens to thrift fashion

Working on a magazine project for another class, I stumbled upon a great new musician with a connection to fashion (albeit, a small one). 

Matt Ward (no, not that M. Ward) is the younger brother of my friend Jen, and an up-and-coming singer-songwriter. His folky, quirky style is fresh and endearing, and so is his subject matter. 

His debut album is called Thrift Shopping, and the title track is a glorious ode to everyone's favorite activity: a lazy day browsing through the treasures at a local thrift store.

Buy the mp3 and treat yourself to lyrics extolling on the virtues of musty couch cushions, grimy fondue sets, old trophies, and finding a t-shirt you gave away a couple years ago and now want to buy back. (It wasn't his style then, Ward sings, "but now it is.")

Mostly, though, this song reminds me of everything I love about thrift shopping experiences: spontaneity, goofing off, and that one great find that brings you overwhelming satisfaction. Play this song for a quick pick-me-up, or on the way to your favorite thrift store. Just remember to go on a day "when the clothes are half-price."

retro gone wrong: smells like team spirit

Something that's so hilarious, so wrong it's right, I found while browsing the 1990s-Present page in FashionDig's shopping-by-decades section. Can someone please explain to me what on earth THIS is doing on a vintage fashion website?

While labeled as "Mellow Tiger Mascot," I'd argue that this guy looks more like he's posing for a plushies pin-up calendar.

Seriously, though, why is this lumped in with dresses, coats, and necklaces? And at $600, who, exactly, are they expecting to actually buy this?

It could be worse, though. Oh wait, it is:

"Happy Pink Elephant"? More like, "Will Give You Nightmares for Years to Come." Although, at $500, compared to his tiger counterpart, this guy is a steal.

can you dig it?

Another great site I recently discovered: FashionDig.com. I don't even know where to start with explaining how awesome this site is. Part store, part blog, part gallery, part search engine, and so much more, FashionDig displays the best and most vintage looks you will find on the internet.

Some great features: a store locator that brings up local vintage and consignment shops when you enter your zip code; style galleries with archival fashion images from certain eras; and my favorite, the shopping department, which is organized by decade, department, designer, and store.

The decade section is extremely handy for those looking for an item from a specific time frame, and inspires a certain amount of nostalgia. This section not only includes every decade from the 1920s to the 1990s, but also recent vintage-inspired looks and turn of the (19th) century items. Prices vary, although more coveted/specialized clothes and accessories will cost you a pretty penny. (Those on a budget, however, can narrow their search by dollar amount within each decade.)

One of my favorite finds is this belted plaid coat from the 1930s:

I've been browsing through the site for almost an hour now, which proves that it's very easy to get lost in time when looking through all these items.

Another funky find: this abstract floral dress from the 1960s:

I could go on forever. Basically, if you have even a small interest in vintage clothing, check out this site. You won't be sorry (unless you have any work to get done).

indie lovers of the world (wide web), unite

I came across this site in my internet wanderings and had to pass it along. Indie Quarter features independent designers as well as a whole host of other design/fashion/craft goodies. They have a blog, podcasts, galleries, and many links to other fashion sites. In short, it's a buzzing hub that holds a lot under its umbrella.

IQ also is a great source for vintage and retro design. They have featured label Under the Root, which crafts custom, hand-made, retro-inspired lingerie from vintage fabrics, as well as regional crafters who use vintage items in their products.

The only downside is that the site is based in Manchester, England, so many of the events they discuss cannot readily be attended by US readers. But references to the pound and spellings like "favourite" help ease the blow and add to the site's charm.

life in plastic, it's fantastic

A few weeks ago, Barbie, our favorite anatomically incorrect doll, turned 50. To celebrate, New York Fashion Week had a show celebrating 50 years of Barbie style.

Designers such as Diane Von Furstenberg, Marchesa, and Peter Som contributed looks to the collection, and styles ranged from faithful recreations of signature Barbie looks to avante garde interpretations of Barbie's many different incarnations over the years.

My favorite would have to be the very first look, of Barbie's iconic debut outfit, the black and white striped swimsuit:

This is a simple and sexy update that stays true to the original. It evokes memories of playing with my mom's old Barbie, which was one of the originals and outfitted in the same suit (and, consequently, the same sluttly eye makeup).

Giant hair, bright lipstick, and cat-eye sunglasses dominated the details front, and added a touch of whimsy to the proceedings.

There were definitely a few missteps among the bunch, but one that stood out for its sheer ridiculousness would have to be this example of Retro Gone Wrong:

Among her stints as a doctor and astronaut, I don't recall Barbie becoming a Vegas showgirl. Or a drag queen.

The Revolution is Now

This past Friday I helped document the Newhouse/VPA joint fashion show, The Revolution is Now!, the theme of which was the changing media landscape, and how fashion has become an integral part of it.

All the models had newspapers incorporated into their style, either through strips in their hair or letters stuck to their faces. Another aspect of the show that proved details are everything was the incorporation of vintage accessories:



Small touches like this can make any outfit come to life, and proved that these student designers are inventive enough to have long careers in their futures.

Thanks to my colleauge Danya Shaikh for the photos.