Monthly Mood Ring: June

15 Saturday Jun 2013

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june 2013Wow, so it’s been a long time since I did one of these, right? As I approach my two-year anniversary of starting this blog, I’m trying to get back into regular posting-mode, but I’m all ears if there are certain posts you want to see, so feel free to let me know in the comments! So…June. Typically a month full of warmth, sunshine and days spent at the pool. Yet, as I write this, I can’t help but look out my window at the overcast skies and wish that my building hadn’t turned off the heat yet. Oh well, at least summer TV is back, so things are looking up!

  • The ‘Gram: I spend a lot of my time looking for vintage inspiration and staring at gorgeous pictures from the past, so Shrimpton Couture’s Instagram is basically a wealth of beauty for me!
  • The Shop: NYLON Magazine has always been one of my favorite publications, and their themed shops are so perfect. This month? Some Breakfast Club inspiration (cue Simple Minds).
  • The Memoir: A Bob Dylan book in the works? Sign me up!
  • The Blog: I have a feeling that Lilah, the brilliant mind behind Part Nouveau, and I are secretly soul sisters.
  • The Look: It’s my great aspiration to perfectly channel a boho-chic Summer of Love inspired look at the pool.
  • The Inspiration: Speaking of amazing summer style…hello Lolla!
  • The Muses: I love it when fashion designers take cues from the past for their current collections – just another confirmation that vintage style is very much here to stay!
  • The Classic: With all the controversy surrounding privacy right now, it’s no wonder that George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four is rising back up the charts
  • The Collection: A bursting plethora of vintage photographs. Wow.

Historic Haunt: The Beverly Hills Hotel

05 Wednesday Jun 2013

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vintage beverly hills hotelChances are that if you’ve read a gossip magazine in the past 50 years, you’ve heard of The Beverly Hills Hotel. Located on the historic and luxurious Sunset Boulevard, the hotel opened in 1912 and within a few years, it was the go-to places for celebrities to stay and mingle. Once Beverly Hills became a viable option for movie stars to retain some semblance of privacy, the hotel took note and began to cater to these VIPs.

marilyn monroe beverly hills hotelWhile the decor and celebrity guests have changed several times over the years, the hotel has been able to retain its iconic status thanks to bungalows for privacy seekers and a packed Polo Lounge pool area for fame hounds. If the grand walls could talk, it would tell stories of hush-hush business meetings, scandalous affairs and over-the-top events.

beverly hills hotel historyAfter more than 100 years, The Beverly Hills Hotel (or as it’s simply known in BH, The Hotel) shows no signs of slowing its reign over the Hollywood power set – and its legacy will continue to grow for decades to come.

So Sweet: Sweet’N Low Giveaway

28 Tuesday May 2013

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vintage sweet n lowIn honor of the 20th anniversary of the renowned health, fitness, and wellness festival, SELF Magazine’s Workout in the Park, I’m giving away an exclusive Sweet’N Low prize package!

Taking place in Chicago THIS WEEKEND on Saturday, June 1st, you guys are invited to join Katie Cassidy (yes, David’s daughter) for a day of fitness and fun! Here is what the prize package contains:

sweet n low giveaway

  • $50 gift card to buy your first bathing suit for the summer
  • Sweet’N Low tote bag
  • Sweet’N Low yoga mat
  • Sweet’N Low towel
  • Sweet’N Low earbud set
  • Sweet’N Low recipe cards
  • Two martini glasses and a shaker
  • Sweet’N Low product

To enter, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post using the word SWEET and I will choose a winner at random next Tuesday, June 4th!

Good luck!

Celebrity Looks of the Week: Springtime Chic!

22 Wednesday May 2013

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1960s celebrity fashionWell, spring has sprung and all that jazz, but I’ve already moved on (mentally) to summer. I’m sick of the rain, the constant sneezing and the influx of flowers on everyone’s Instagrams and I’m ready for bikinis, pools, and sunny days! Until we actually get to that point I suppose I can while away the hours staring at my favorite celebrities and seeing how they’re getting into the spring of things sartorially. If there’s anything about spring that I do enjoy, it’s the return to bright clothing and fun accessories! Here were some of my favorite looks this week (via Vogue).

Dianna Agron at the ASMALLWORLD Celebration

dianna agronI think that Dianna is one of the most beautiful and feminine starlets around and while her fashion choices are often unimpressive, I like this simple springtime Diane von Furstenberg ensemble – perfect for a vacay, perhaps?

Dianna Goes Vintage: 1950′s Yellow Rhinestone Dress, 1960′s Yellow Clutch Bag, 1960′s Sandals

Zoë Saldana at the Star Trek into Darkness Premiere

zoe saldanaI’m always intrigued by the way Zoë dresses because it is never conventionally elegant or chic, but her amazing figure and beautiful face always make it work. This sheer Rodarte dress has a unique retro flair to it and I’m a fan!

Zoë Goes Vintage: 1950′s Embroidered Fitted Slip Dress, 1970′s Gold Hammered Coil Cuff, 1980′s Red Leather Heels

Jaime King at the Prabal Gurung Dinner

jaime kingNot every woman can pull off a fitted satin drop-waist dress but I think this Prabal Gurung frock looks spectacular on Jaime, who has an unconventional California-girl chic that works for her. Lovely!

Jaime Goes Vintage: Vintage Navy Dress, 1980′s Yellow Snakeskin Clutch, 1960′s Patent Mary Janes

Spotlight: Winona Ryder

04 Saturday May 2013

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Most Famous Role: Beetlejuice, 1988heathers veronica sawyer

Most Fashionable Role: Heathers, 1988

Memorable Movie Quote: “It’s one thing to want someone out of your life, but it’s another thing to serve them a wake-up cup full of liquid drainer.”

The Look: 1980′s Ohio; Veronica Sawyer is a girl stuck between two worlds. One is hating her ultra-popular clique full of shallow Heathers, and the other is woolgathering about her gorgeously sadistic boyfriend J.D. While she tries to balance these two sides of her personality, she looks killer in black peplum suits (for school!), artfully baggy T-shirts, off-the-shoulder striped ensembles, and even the occasional monocle  It is the perfect blend of gothic and over-the-top that makes Veronica one of the most iconic heroines of the ’80s.

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Fashion Favorite: Quentin Tarantino Films

29 Monday Apr 2013

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vintage tarantino postersWith so many sequels, prequels and remakes in theaters it is getting harder and harder for a movie buff like me to get excited for anything. But the one director that always quenches my desire for something creative and different from everything else out there is Quentin Tarantino. Mr. Tarantino and myself share a love of ’70s B-movies, strong leading ladies and Leonardo DiCaprio, so suffice it to say I’m a major fan. Since every Tarantino film has such immense attention to detail, it’s hard to miss things upon first viewing, such as the incredibly on-key fashions in every movie. Here are some of my favorite Tarantino masterpieces and their best ensembles:

True Romance (Writer)

true romance alabamaThe Gist: A comic book nerd and a sincere call girl fall in love. Christopher Walken, Brad Pitt and Gary Oldman all try to break them apart in amazing supporting roles.

The Look: Alabama Whitman, the offbeat and charming hooker played by Patricia Arquette, has the most amazingly eclectic style during the entire movie. Leopard coats and leggings, metallic wayfarers and a bra as a shirt is exactly what a trendy ’90s woman of the world would wear.

Pulp Fiction (Director, Writer, Actor)

pulp fiction danceThe Gist: Three interwoven stories about outlandish yet relatable characters are told in a nonlinear way. There’s diner robberies, bathroom shootings and ’50s dancing. Classic Quentin.

The Look: In one of the film’s most iconic scenes, Vincent Vega and Mia Wallace (John Travolta and Uma Thurman) take a break from their ultra-serious lives to do the twist in total ’90s black and white ensembles. The scene is both kitschy and classic at the same time.

Sin City (Director)

sin city goldieThe Gist: Based on a comic book series about a cast of irregular characters in a city of sin, this is one of the most visually stunning movies with equal parts retro charm and futuristic bravado.

The Look: In one of the best stories of the movie, beautiful Goldie bestows a night of passion on rough-and-tumble Marv (Mickey Rourke) and awakens his desire for love and revenge. Not to mention, she looks awesome doing it with full red lips and ’40s-style blonde curls.

Inglourious Basterds (Director, Writer, Actor)

inglourious basterds diane krugerThe Gist: This revenge-fantasy looks at WWII from a different perspective, with the Jews and their allies going after the Germans in brutally creative ways. It. is. awesome.

The Look: The ever-fashionable Diane Kruger makes an appearance as German actress Bridget von Hammersmark and she wears an array of lovely ’40s dresses, furs and accessories.

Celebrity Looks of the Week: Festive Fashion

24 Wednesday Apr 2013

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1960s festive fashionWell kids, I can finally stop complaining about the cold weather in Chicago because it seems to really and truly be warming up. For now. We’ll see. Either way, I’m so ready for summer that I’m bypassing spring altogether in terms of fashion. No more jackets for me! It seems that celebrities haven’t gotten my memo yet though, because there are still so many dark colors on the red carpet but Coachella gives me hope that the best warm weather fashion is still to come! Here were some of my favorite looks this week and their vintage counterparts (all images courtesy of Vogue)!

Vanessa Traina Snow at the Whitney Museum of American Art Awards

vanessa traina snowThe daughter of romantic novelist Danielle Steel often goes for classic silhouettes and dark colors, and this cool and edgy city outfit is no exception. I’m personally a big fan of mixing black with brown, so it’s good to know I’m not alone!

Vanessa Goes Vintage: 1940′s Fitted Jacket, 1980′s Sheer Sequin Top, Bronze Sling-Back Sandals

Kate Bosworth at Coachella

kate bosworthIf one thing is certain in this world it is that Kate Bosworth will always be at Coachella and that she will always look amazing. I adore her trendy eyelet ensemble paired with simple ankle boots and aviators – cue my Lollapalooza inspiration!

Kate Goes Vintage: 1980′s Aviator Sunglasses, 1960′s White Eyelet Dress, 1970′s Brown Ankle Boots

Sienna Miller at the Tribeca Film Festival Vanity Fair Party

sienna millerMy best-dressed celebrities list has gone through several iterations over the years, but Sienna Miller has always been on it and this is exactly why. Who else could pull off an adorable ’60s-inspired dress with such flair? I mean, besides me?

Sienna Goes Vintage: 1960′s Black Lace Dress, 1970′s Black and Red Handbag, 1980′s Black and Silver Heels

Playlist: Earth Day

22 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in Vinyl

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vintage earth day posterFor those of you not in the know, today is Earth Day. Even though the world is filled with some crazy things and sometimes it feels like it’s only getting worse, it’s nice to take a day off and celebrate this amazing planet we live on. Even though I am most decidedly an indoor girl, I do appreciate nature. Growing up in a house buried in the woods, it was hard not to fall in love with the beautiful trees, bright shining moon and variety of woodland creatures that often popped in to try to eat our pleach-covered house. Poetic immersions aside, let’s take today to listen to some earth-friendly tunes and just enjoy being here.

  1. “Heaven is a Place on Earth” by Belinda Carlisle (1990′s Floral Dress)
  2. “I Feel the Earth Move” by Carole King (Vintage Bohemian Sun Dress)
  3. “That’s the Way of the World” by Earth, Wind & Fire (Vintage Fur Maxi Vest)
  4. “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” by George Harrison (Dress)
  5. “Earth Song” by Michael Jackson (Suede Platform Sandals)
  6. “Earth Angel” by The Penguins (1970′s Chocolate Brown Swimsuit)
  7. “Get Ready” by Rare Earth (Starfish Button Dress)
  8. “Europa (Earth’s Cry Heaven’s Smile)” by Santana (Vintage Party Dress)
  9. “Mother Nature’s Son” by The Beatles (1990′s Red Horizon Knit Sweater)
  10. “Nature Boy” by Nat ‘King’ Cole (Floral Print Dress)

Old School Vegas Fashion

10 Wednesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Locales, Time Machine

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vintage las vegas postcardYou guys know that I have a favorite place in the world and that place is Las Vegas. It’s been my second home for more than 20 years and – I don’t like to brag (yes I do) – it’s turned me into one mean blackjack player. But if you look around the gambling table today, the gamblers look nothing like they used to. Long gone are the days of the Rat Pack where everyone had their own style and gamblers exhibited an air of class.

james garner las vegasThe 1950′s and 1960′s were a time when gambling (like the theater or travelling) was an event and something that you dressed up for. You didn’t see men in jeans and a t-shirt coming straight from pounding margaritas at the pool and usually the ones that did were quickly shown the door. Instead, men wore suits and blazers, usually with a matching tie and pocket square.

vintage las vegasAnd don’t even get me started on the women. I’m having a serious case of Mad Men envy right now and I wish it was appropriate to go to Whole Foods wearing elbow-length satin gloves. But, sadly, it’s not. Nowadays when a woman puts on a dress she is automatically “dressed up”, but in old school Vegas, women dressed to the nines whenever possible. They wore mink coats in the desert, simply because they could. Even the cigarette girls wore classy, yet more casual, ensembles. No cheesy satin and torn fishnets as far as the eye could see. Today, your style at the table can help you win the game as people will judge you based on your outfit. But back in old school Vegas, everyone had style from the candy girls to the dealers. To that I say, let’s bring it back!

Timeless Town: San Francisco

02 Tuesday Apr 2013

Posted by in Bags, Locales, Time Machine

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vintage san francisco postcareI realize that aside from these weekly posts, you guys don’t know me all that well, so here’s a little nugget. I am the type of person who has grand realizations and makes grand statements just about every other day. Recently, I got it in my head that I wanted to move to California and run a stand at the beach while writing in my spare time. Why not, right? Well, aside from the practicalities that I so conveniently chose to forget, I think that this may be a case of the grass always being greener. I have no real evidence, other than what I’ve seen in movies and a few trips to Disneyland, that I would even like California, but nonetheless San Francisco is where my heart is, where hippies thrived and vintage stores are aplenty. Hopefully I’ll visit someday and find out if it loves me back! In the meantime, let’s take a stroll down SF’s memory lane; I’m sure it’s a very fashionable walk.

san francisco gold rushThe Gold Rush (1848-1855): Greedy treasure seekers rushed (get it?) to San Francisco, desperate for gold and riches. Those who were lucky enough to find it, like Levi Strauss and Domingo Ghirardelli, chose to settle down in Northern Cali and start entrepreneurial businesses.

golden gate bridge 1930sNo Great Depression Here (1930′s): While the rest of the country suffered from The Great Depression, San Francisco continued to boom by building the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz, and hosting the 1939 World’s Fair. It’s always sunny in San Francisco (except for prisoners, I guess).

san francisco hippiesThe Counterculture Rises (1950′s-1970′s): Everyone from beats to hippies to gay movement supporters like Harvey Milk were attracted to the alternative San Francisco Renaissance and its headquarters, the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. 1967 was known as The Summer of Love, but after that summer everything started to go downhill thanks to violence and industry.

san francisco tech boomThe Tech Boom (1990′s-Now): After the development and industrialization of the ’80s, San Francisco soon became the mecca for techies, geeks and computer whizzes and Silicon Valley was born. Big names like Steve Jobs and Bill Gates lived and worked in this booming area, and I’m sure a few burgeoning satraps are there right now.

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