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.

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.

retro gone wrong: and just when it was going so well...

It figures, as soon as I anoint ModCloth as the chosen one, it has to go and post this in its one-of-a-kind section:

I'll give you one good guess as to why this hasn't sold yet: it's ugly as sin. Seriously, guys. Let's try to avoid missteps such as this in the future, okay? I love you too much to see you hurting like this.

a little tip, because i care

As I mentioned before, I'm a huge fan of ModCloth, and while their vintage section usually sells out faster than you can blink, there's one item still kicking around that deserves notice:

Called the "Day at the Beach" scarf, this 1980s piece is the perfect companion to that little red number I posted about last week. Scoop it up before someone else does!

Red Carpet Classics: Julia Roberts

I was hoping there would be some more vintage dresses for me to comment on after Sunday's ceremony, but since there was only one gown, I figured I would discuss my favorite vintage looks from years past. And there's no better example to kick off this post than Julia Robert's vintage Valentino gown worn to the 2001 Academy Awards:

Roberts deserevedly took home the Best Actress trophy for her titular role in Erin Brockovich, but with this dress she also earned herself a spot on many all-time best-of red carpet lists. This dress is a classic, without a doubt.

The black and white color scheme is simple yet elegant, and the contrast created by the white detailing adds an extra layer of visual interest. The V neckline that continues as a single line down the front elongates her form, and helps the eye travel down to the rest of her dress. The train is extravagent without being ostentatious. The netting adds a softness to this look, and ties the dress together with its presence on both the train and the bodice.

This is the type of dress that little girls dream of being able to wear one day, and even though I wasn't exactly a little girl when I first saw it, I can't deny that I envisioned myself in her shoes (and dress) on that Oscar stage back in 2001. Mostly so I could make this face:

(Thanks to People and L.A. Splash for the photos)

Red Carpet Watch: Oscars

Greetings, dear readers (all two of you). As promised, it's time to talk Oscars. First of all, I have to say, the Oscars are my absolute favorite television event of the year, and other than that supremely odd ode to musicals in the middle of the telecast, I thought this year's show was really great. I think Hugh Jackman was a bit under-used as host, although they probably had to give him ample time to catch his breath between those intense musical numbers. Now, on to the red carpet!

Before we get to the vintage goodies, I'd like to make my pick for favorite ensemble, and that honor would have to go to Amy Adams, in Carolina Herrera:

This color is absolutely gorgeous on her, and really stood out from all the creams and black on the carpet this year. Not only that, but she chose a funky, bold piece of jewelry to accent this already-awesome outfit:

Temptalia described this look as "a cross between Talouse Latrec’s dancing girls and the watercolor feeling of a Gustav Klimt painting," and I couldn't agree more. Her simple, elegant hairstyle really lets her dress and necklace take center stage, and overall I think she pulled this off with grace and ease. (Is it obvious I have a girl crush on her?)

Speaking of grace, the biggest vintage splash at the Oscars was made by Penélope Cruz, who won the Best Supporting Actress statuette for her role in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. She also won a lot of best-dressed awards for her more than 60-year-old Balmian gown:

Cruz said she saw this dress eight years ago, and it made such an impression on her, she vowed to find it again and wear it for a special occasion. I'd say being the first Spanish actress to take home an Oscar is a fitting occasion indeed.

Finally, on the accessories front, Natalie Portman carried a vintage Rialto clutch to the ceremony:

The pearly, brushed silver bag nicely accented her flowly, sophisticated look without pulling attention from her dress.

(Thanks to Getty Images, AP Images, and Gossip Rocks for the photos.)

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?).