The 1950's in High Fashion

Well it's about that time......I'm pretty sure most of you fellow fashion-mavens have already read the newest editions of this seasons high fashion magazines, and what I am about to share is probably nothing new.  I think we all get a little excited come September, not only for the cooler weather (in my case), but of course for a change in fashion too!. The change of fashion into Fall & Winter- which allow me wear my favorite coats & hats, and well frankly I live in Arizona. So any chance that there might be cooler temperatures on the horizon, is relieving news for me. This happy feeling of anticipation for Fall, goes hand in hand with the fun of taking a peek into the pages of the fashion magazines. A pastime in the world of fashion if you will. Since the early days of fashion publications & catalog's.

Not that I could actually afford anything that is for sale on the runway these days. I just have an interest in viewing the seasons new collections, styles, and amazing work of Art Directors, Designers, & Stylists in the ad campaigns. Vogue, Harper's Bazaar & Glamour magazine mostly all have the same high fashion ads in their publications, but the first time I saw Louis Vuitton's fall collection was in the September issue of Harper's Bazaar. The cover has Jennifer Aniston, beautifully re-creating an image of Barbara Streisand.

I get especially excited when the seasons styles incorporate an appreciation for an era of fashion in the past. In this case, Louis Vuitton's fall collection has beautifully represented a taking to the classic, sophisticated, feminine 1950's! Complete with mid-calf full skirts in plaid wool for casual, and luxurious satins for glamming it up. He even took into the details of exhibiting the classic red, blonde & brunette heads into his advertising campaign, I love it! Well done Vuitton team! Oh ya! and I almost forgot to mention the fabulous dressing room set they created!

Even though I have been wearing the mid-calf skirts and sweaters of the 1950's, long before they were on the high fashion runway, and you can bet-cha bottom dollar, I will still be wearing them long after they are yesterday's news. I am still extremely delighted to see an appreciation for, and bringing back of the glorious 1950's influence in mainstream fashion. Even if it is for just a short time!

 I have attached the link to view all of  Louis Vuitton's 1950's inspired, fall collection- fashions from the runway!

Is anybody else excited about this collection? What are your thoughts?


XOXO~Syd

Golden Garbs- Black & Yellow

 Have you ever gone shopping in your own closet? You know, re-discover something you've had for a while, that just got shuffled to the back. That recently happened to me, when I was organizing my closet over the weekend, to prepare for the fall. I came across a few things that I had forgot about.....It was a nice little treat, like finding money you forgot you had, in your pocket! It was like having a new dress!

As I mentioned in my last fashion post, I get quite delighted when I find modern pieces of clothing, that identify a vintage aesthetic. This dress was one of those lucky finds, made by an indie designer! I picked this cute little black & yellow, floral-textile print up at my local Buffalo Exchange a few years back. It's a little higher above the knee then I'm used to for a dress (and maybe just a tad snugger than I remember-ha!), but none the less. I thought it had a 1940's cotton sundress look to it. Pretty sure the vintage feel of the fabric is what caught my eye in the first place! Well, that and I'm always a sucker for the color yellow. It was just too cute, and for 2 cents shy of 10 bucks (yes, I do remember what I dish out for things!), it just had to come home with me....So I brought it to life again!

  

The Dress

 The Fabric

The Shoes
(vintage 1940s)

The Accessories

(vintage ivory floral clip-on earrings & black snood)

The Head-Shot

Golden Garbs- Mix it up!

I think it's time for an outfit post folks!

My fashion inspiration today came from mixing the colors of blue & red together. Along with mixing a few pretty details from some different eras in fashion. No one era in particular, I threw together certain distinct elements that I happen to be fond of. Then mixed them all together to pull off a chic outfit. For example: I love the 1940's sweater girl look, the full mid-calf skirts of the 50's, and the t-strap style shoes of the 20's & 30's. So why not style them in harmony all together? I have always been devoted to the details, so this is where my fixation for accessories ( vintage jewelry imp-articular) come in. Accessories always complete the outfit and just add that finishing touch. Sort of like the final stroke of a painters brush, on his masterpiece. I think all those dainty details mesh well together don't you?

I love to use textiles and color in fashion, and some-days I feel like dressing head to toe in a specific era. Then other times I get in the mood to mix things up, from vintage pieces of different eras. I even get a thrill when my sharp-trained-eye finds new pieces that have a vintage aesthetic, to throw in the mix!

So today my outfit consist of:

Blue sweater- Forever 21 (thought it had a 1940's aesthetic to it)

Skirt- vintage 1950's (from Desert Vintage)

Shoes- Steve Madden (thought they had 1930's feel)

Red purse- vintage 1950's (thrifted)

Brooch- vintage 1930's (Desert Vintage)

Blue & white cameo earrings- vintage 1940's (thrifted) 

I decided to put my hair in a 1950's inspired high pony-tail (minus the bangs), simple & chic! Mostly because I was being lazy the night before & didn't put a set in my hair, but there is always a way to improvise!

Vintage Trinkets: The Newest Lady of the House

Making her debut as the new focal point, on the top of my dresser....Here she is, the newest addition to my family of Lady Heads! I re-arranged some things in my bedroom and made a spot for her...she is the biggest of them all!

Anybody who is a regular reader of this blog, knows that I am completely obsessed with collecting lady heads. Creepy some would say, but I say they are so beautiful in feminine detail, and each one brings an individual touch of lady like glamour to a room! Just another example of my infatuation with pretty-girlie details....couldn't resist.

Does anyone else have a collection of something they would like to share? Or maybe any  fellow lady head hoarders? Do tell.....

XOXO~Syd

Vintage Trinkets: Toy Stove

While trotting through all the amazing little antique shops in Bisbee, AZ. I stumbled across this cute little vintage toy stove. I always wonder about the story behind the things I find. For instance; this stove is just one lingering piece, to what was once a whole set of toy household appliances. Did this once belong to a happy little girl in the 1950's, who quietly entertained herself by mocking her mother's actions in the kitchen? Was she inspired and eager to learn the life skill of cooking?

I think it's the inner little girl, still living inside me, that draws my eye to appreciate these little trinkets of cuteness. I love to find things like this, and give them a new home. I found the perfect spot for it on a shelf in my kitchen! Across from my real stove, a mini-version if you will....It fits in quite nicely I have to say!

Movie Maven Inspiration: Claudette Colbert

Claudette Colbert was known for her natural ability to be beautiful from the inside out, without trying too hard. From just reading interesting references and tid-bits about her life over the years. She always seemed like she was a genuine intelligent person, with an honesty about herself, that allowed her to be true, content and graceful throughout her successful career. Maybe that's why I grew fond of her in movies, at the impressionable age of 10 years old. Since seeing her in Frank Capra's romantic comedy "It Happened One Night" (1934), for which she took home an Oscar, and the glamorous film of Cecile B. DeMille's "Cleopatra". Her personality was full of charisma, wit and spunk! She was originally born in Paris- France, but settled in the United States when her family relocated here in 1906. The daughter of a dressmaker, one of her original aspirations was to be a fashion designer. She made her debut on Broadway in her early 20's, and has been quoted saying that "Broadway was where her heart was, not Hollywood!"

Of course not only was I captured by her personality, but all of the glorious 1930's fashions she displayed in her roles and shoots, have never been short of breathtaking!  I once read that she preferred to do her own hair & makeup for photo-shoots and film, now that's my kind of girl! Claudette's distinctive hairstyle was usually the infamous fluff bang, which she proudly displayed in front of a short bob. She always had a bright- eyed, fresh-heart shape face, youthful look, elegant demeanor, and a clever, but classy attitude. Another swell flick Claudette Colbert shines in is "Since You Went Away" (1944). During the making of this film, Claudette was well in her 30's and was up to the challenge of playing the wife of a solider serving in WWII.

Claudette aged gracefully the rest of her life, and settled in a beautiful estate in Barbados. She made her last film in 1982 at the age of 79 years old. The film was called "The Two Mrs. Greenvilles and co-starred Ann Margaret. She took home a Golden Globe for her performance. Claudette Colbert was a true beauty and a talented actress of her time!

Golden Garbs- Summer Suits!

The Summer Suit

Heaven knows I love the chic-polished look of a vintage tailored suit! Just because it's summertime, doesn't mean that I'm going to put the thought of wearing one, on the shelf for a few months! Summer suits made of lightweight linen or cotton fabrics, with a short sleeve, are a ladies alternative choice to wearing a suit in the summertime!

Here I am in one of my summer suits, in a light green (almost gray) linen fabric, with navy blue buttons!

(1940's navy mesh style wedges)

A few more sewing patterns of summer suit inspiration!

Any one of these suit ensembles would be lovely paired with a straw summer hat...

(Flickr photostream)