Wednesday, April 22, 2009
retro gone wrong: the sev
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
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
retro gone wrong: smells like team spirit
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?
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).
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
indie lovers of the world (wide web), unite
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
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
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.