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.

retro gone rong (ha, see what i did there?)

It's no secret that I idolize the girls over at Go Fug Yourself. So, inspired by their snark and wit and delicious cattiness (enough superlatives?), I've decided to start my own little feature, Retro Gone Wrong (yes, the W will be part of future postings -- I'm anal enough that seeing it spelled incorrectly, even in a humorous fashion, still bugs the hell out of me). These posts will poke fun at those who try to pull off retro chic, and juuuuust miss the mark (or miss it by a mile. Those are more fun).

First up is someone the Fug Girls had in their sights last Thursday: Maggie Grace, dressed suspiciously like Sandy from the end of Grease:

As Jessica put it,

It's giving me chills. They're multiplying. You guys, I'm losing control, because the combination of pantyhose and sateen is LITERALLY ELECTRIFYING.

God bless those girls, and the celebrities they mercilessly taunt. Maybe, someday, you'll feel the same way about me? One can only dream of such blogging pseudo-fame...

Red Carpet Watch

We're deep in the throes of awards season (my own personal favorite time of the year), and inspired by Go Fug Yourself's Fug Carpet, I want to talk about some of the vintage style we've seen so far this year.

First, at the Golden Globes on January 11, actress Elisabeth Moss (Mad Men) wore a bright red vintage tulle dress:

In a sea of blacks and pastels, this color really pops, and the unique straps add a quirky, visually interesting element to this silhouette. Plus, this color is gorgeous on her, and really compliments her skin tone. Elisabeth, if you're reading this: I loved your work on The West Wing. Would you mind hooking me up with this dress? Keep in touch.

Also at the Golden Globes, Heidi Klum wore vintage Galanos:

This is classic Heidi -- cute, whimsical, and just short enough to show off those killer legs. I love the flower, which the petals of the skirt echo nicely. Not too crazy about the detailing on the fabric (kind of resembles scales), but overall this is a fun look.

At the Screen Actors Guild awards on January 25, Kyra Sedgwick (The Closer) wore a Chanel 1980s couture dress from RARE Vintage:

This is simple and elegant. But while I'm usually a sucker for classic black and white looks, this one strikes me as a tad boring. It looks great on her, but if she was going to wear vintage, I would have liked to have seen her take more of a risk.

And speaking of risk-taking, we come to our final look, from Thandie Newton at the BAFTAs on February 8:

This dress has been pretty polarizing, but I have to say, I really like it. Maybe it's a bit long, but overall, I think Thandie wears it well -- she owns this look, no doubt about it. I love the black and gold contrast, and the ribbon detailing on the tulle gives the dress a funky texture. The bodice is cute and flirty, and the full skirt gives Thandie some flattering curves (something she could use more of -- this woman is SKINNY).

So far the vintage forecast has been mostly sunny. Check back in next Monday for the next installment of Red Carpet Watch, when I discuss the Holy Grail of awards shows, the Oscars. Bring your A-games, A-list-ers.

(Thanks to Debutante Clothing, RARE Vintage, and Popsugar for the photos.)

hokay, so, here's my blog

When I told my friends I was taking a fashion class, they laughed. This was a less-than-encouraging reaction for someone who's trying to learn more about online communications, but when aimed at me, it seems fairly appropriate. I am most comfortable in sweatpants and an old t-shirt. My socks have holes in them. I didn't buy a pair of leggings until well after the trend had come (and gone?), and even now I wear them only when it's cold, and with trepidation.

I'm not a fashionista by any means. But I think I know what looks good. I read Go Fug Yourself regularly and can spot a fashion faux pas a mile away. And with that, I start this blog exploring vintage and thrift store style -- a vein that I feel I fall into, or at least wish I could fall into more often (since I'm currently wearing a t-shirt leftover from the second grade, I think I'm qualified).

I'll comb the interwebs and the mean streets of Syracuse and report back to you. All you have to do is read, enjoy, and hum "The Sweater Song" before you click away (before you click awa-a-ay -- Weezer reference, anyone? Anyone? Bueller?).