Tag Archives: Chanel

Monthly Mood Ring: August

15 Wednesday Aug 2012

Posted by in Now, Runway, Vinyl

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The last month of summer is bittersweet for so many reasons: it’s the end of pools, tans, and sandals, but it’s also the start of fall, which is (in my opinion) the greatest season of all. The urge to go Back to School shopping never really leaves us, so fall is the best time to stock up on wardrobe essentials, celebrate our favorite shows coming back, and get excited for the upcoming explosion of holidays. Here are some of the best things about this month, all vintage-tinged of course, let me know what you’re loving right now in the comments!

  • The Scent: For the first time in awhile, Chanel is launching a new perfume this month. Called Coco Noir, the scent harkens back to the classic feminine topnotes that Chanel is famous for, with a dramatic retro edge to it as well.
  • The Legend: 17 years ago this month, Grateful Dead founder and original hippie Jerry Garcia died in his sleep. He left behind millions of fans, thousands of songs, and a legendary persona that will never be seen again.
  • The Collection: It is safe to assume that the Fall runways will have plenty of retro influence, which we can already see from Band of Outsider’s new line, inspired by ’70s icons like Diane Keaton and Lauren Hutton.
  • The Comeback: One of the best moments of the month so far was when The Spice Girls briefly re-united for the Olympics Closing Ceremony. I saw their reunion concert 4 years ago and can honestly say it was the best concert I’ve ever been to.
  • The Loss: The literary community and womankind in general lost an icon this month when Helen Gurley Brown, the legendary editor of Cosmopolitan magazine died. She was the original Carrie Bradshaw, and never lost her signature style!

Nail the Retro Style

13 Sunday Nov 2011

Posted by in Time Machine

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My name is Dana and I’m a nail polish addict. Okay, addict might be a bit strong of a word, but in my opinion there are two kinds of women in the world: those who care about nail upkeep and those who don’t. I am most assuredly in the first category. I follow all of the latest nail polish trends, I agonize over the racks when I have to choose a new color, and I really hate it when they chip (aka the day after I get them done).

I am thoroughly bemused by people who keep the same color on for months at a time, leaving only speckles of lacquer on each nail. But I also don’t believe in hair products or straighteners, so hey, I guess we all have our things. My favorite nail colors are unique and classy, so I try to steer clear of intense glitter formulas, but in reality I’ll try anything once.

Seeing as how this is a vintage blog, though, the shades I usually gravitate towards evoke a sense of retro nostalgia. As I’m sure you know, nail polish harkens back to Ancient Egypt where it was used for women to distinguish their social order (doesn’t everyone know that? No? Fine.) It’s been used by many different cultures and can represent many things, but nowadays nail polish is typically used as an enclave to fashion. Here are some of the biggest nail trends over the years, and how to recreate them now.

1940s: It was typical to match your nails to your clothing, which inspired many different colors, including various shades of red, mustard, and mauve. The most popular style was to have a white half-moon at the bottom of the nail, and a silver tip. Now: Watch a half-moon mani tutorial here!

 

1950s: In a decade all about shiny wholesomeness, nail polish reflected this subtle glamour with its focus on timeless, elegant red. Nails were kept long and tapered at the end, and it was considered a faux-pas not to match your nail polish to your lipstick. Now: Deborah Lippman’s classic red My Old Flame

1960s: The sixties were a heavily segregated time, style-wise, and the various intersecting nail trends included white or clear for Mods (to match their nude lip), a natural chemical-free look for Hippies, and frosted pastels for those women in favor of sexy glamour. Now: Essie’s frosty pink Lady Like

 

1970s: The au natural Hippie look gave way to the punk movement towards the end of the decade, and black nail polish became all the rage. For a more neutral look, the seventies also saw a renewal in popularity for the French manicure. Now: OPI went retro in name and color with Light My Sapphire

 

1980s: One word stands for almost every trend in the eighties: BIG. Hair was voluminous, suits had massive shoulder pads, and nails were as long and bright as possible. Now: American Apparel goes all out with their Neon Collection

 

1990s: After the crazy ‘80s, things toned down to a point of rebellious minimalism in the nineties. Grungers preferred chipped black, while the sartorial sect began to buy designer bottles in dark, dramatic shades. Also, nails were kept short and square. Now: Chanel perfected the look with 1994′s Vamp

Are you a fellow nail polish lover? What’s your favorite shade? Let me know in the comments!

A Day in the Life: Modern Vintage Chicago & Winnetka Antiques Show

24 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in Carnaby Street

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In Chicago, during the fall, there are many great things to do.  There are pumpkin patches, corn mazes, and the weather is still just right.  Best of all, the final vintage shows of the season take place during October and November, and the sellers often save the best for last.  First up on Saturday morning was Modern Vintage Chicago, a Randolph Street Market event that is put on every spring and fall.  This show is unique in its penchant for designer garments and accessories, which is right up my alley.

Throughout my time as a vintage shopper, and now blogger, I have become friendly with many of the sellers, and it’s always nice to see familiar faces amidst all of the fashion.  I quickly realized that, fittingly for the upcoming frost, the theme this year was fur.  Almost every vendor had racks of jackets, coats, and wraps ranging from creamy white to jet-black.  I am no fur expert, but everything looked to be in amazing condition, and whatever your stance on fur, it is undoubtedly better to buy vintage than new.

Aside from fur, the selection at MVC was varied in its mixture of designers, eras, and accessories.  There were tons of purses and jewels on display, and seeing how each seller lays out their wares is half the fun.  Some simply lay it out on a table, some use racks, and others invest in mannequins.  No matter which way, it is obvious how seriously vintage is taken at a show like this, and you will never get the dreaded question “are you shopping for a costume party?” to which I always want to respond by walking out of the store.  I left with a brightly colored chevron sweater, perfect with jeans and boots to perk up those dreary winter days.

Next up was the Winnetka Antiques and Modernism Show.  Going to these shows on the same day really shows the variety within the vintage community itself.  While the Randolph Street Markets are always huge, busy, and somewhat unorganized due to the sheer amount of people touching and moving everything, the Winnetka show is pristine.  The show takes place at the Winnetka Community House and everything is displayed as it would be in a high-end department store, on black velvet holders in shiny glass cases.

The goods at Winnetka are also much more tailored to a specific clientele, and the show focuses mainly on designer jewelry and antiques.  Art, tableware, and furniture are all of a more traditional style rather than the mid-century modern flair that I tend to gravitate towards, but the show is wonderful to visit nonetheless.  The jewelry in particular was stunning, with everything from 1960s Pierre Cardin to 1970s Chanel, and the sellers were all exceedingly friendly.  My souvenir was a 1972 book titled “Drinking in Vogue,” so you undoubtedly have a post about vintage cocktails coming your way soon!

Of All the Handbags in All the World…

10 Monday Oct 2011

Posted by in Time Machine

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For some women, the Carrie Bradshaws of the world if you will, their wardrobe is defined by their shoe collection.  For others, they measure success in mascaras and lipstick.  However, for some, prosperity can be found in their purses.  I will have to count myself in this last category, as I have always been something of a handbag fanatic.  The right bag can tie together an outfit, or give it the punch of individuality that it needs.  I suppose some of my love for this particular accessory stems from the romanticism applied to it in the 1950s and 1960s.  In those days, women carried pocketbooks for their days and elegant clutches for their evenings on the town.  This emphasis on luxury and femininity is something that designers still recognize today, seen by the retro-inspired capsule collections permeating the runways and fashion websites.  Here are some of the most charming moments in the history of handbags, and how you can recreate the look now:

  • Gucci Begins Its Brand with Equestrian-Style Bags (1921)

Guccio Gucci first gave his name to a small leather shop specializing in luggage and handbags with symbols such as the horse bit and rein-like straps.  These motifs soon became synonymous with the brand, and in 2011 the House of Gucci launched their 1921 collection crafted with the same styling and techniques of their original line.

  • Coco Chanel Invents the 2.55 (1929)

Always an innovator in favor of female comfort, Chanel created this classic chained bag in an effort to give women’s arms a rest.  She was inspired by soldiers’ bags but what she created was a chic and timeless silhouette that is still immensely popular and sought-after today.  Classic details include quilting, a burgundy interior, and a zippered pouch in the front flap.

  • Grace Kelly Becomes A Bag (1956)

The epitome of a classy, elegant fashion icon, actress and Princess Grace Kelly was a huge fan of Hermés and frequently carried their classic bags, especially when she became pregnant in 1956 as an effort to cover her growing bump from photogs.  When an image of Kelly and her bag was published in Life, the public and soon the line began to call the bag the Hermés “Kelly”, a name that stuck and it still famous today.

  • Purses Are Designed in Funky Fabrics (1960s-1970s)

In the 1960s and 1970s, fashion slowly moved away from the classic but buttoned-up silhouettes and materials of the 1950s.  This was showcased particularly well by the popular handbags of the eras, which were beginning to be made using vinyl, crochet, and hemp.  These bags are some of the most heavily copied today, and almost every woman has some variation of them in her closet.

  • Edie Parker Launches a Collection of Vintage-Inspired Handbags (2010)

Inspired by the socialites of the 1950s and 1960s with their fashionable handbags and clutches, Brett Heyman created her own retro-inspired brand.  Before Edie Parker, Brett worked for Gucci and Armani, so she understands high fashion and how a brand can change over time.  Mid-century styles are abundant in her collection, and it is the perfect way to bring modern elegance into your wardrobe.

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