Funky Feather Weaves Trending HOT!

Have you heard about the new feather weave trend that's happening right now?   It's been going on since early Summer and hasn't let up yet!  Both women and girls alike are opting for adding feathers to their coif be it professionally done at their local salons, or by doing it themselves at home.

Back in the 70's feathers were BIG! You'd see them as jewelry & clothing accents as well as hair accessories.  This vintage style has been around and used in hair doos for years however weaving, which is actually the process of integrating the artificial piece into the hair (i.e. feathers or both fake & human hair), is pretty much a new twist on an old idea. In regards to choosing the right plumes, it seems as though the younger crowd goes for more colorful option whereas the more mature ladies vibe the neutrals.

There is a less invasive way to wear the feathers that only involves clipping them into your hair.  It's pretty easy as opposed to the more semi permanent weaving method and you can take them in and out and change them up according to your daily wardrobe.  Feather weaves are quite different in comparison to hair weaves because of the fragility of the feather they have to be placed more delicately.  Hair weaves are sewn into the hair on the scalp whereas feathers are kept in place with tight crimp beads at the base of the scalp.

Both past and present, celebrities have been on board with the hype of wearing feathers in their hair as seen here with the legend Janis Joplin and Aerosmith's front man Steven Tyler...

If we really want to go back to the origin of ornamental feathers, I mean waaaay back, we have to give a shout out to Sitting Bull born in 1831 who was chief of his Lakota Indian tribe during a time of resistance to U.S. governmental policies. Indians wore feathers in their hair as a symbol of trust, honor, strength, wisdom, power, freedom and so much more and to be given the feather of the mighty bald eagle was the biggest form of flattery...

"Wouldn't it be awesome if we could incorporate into our own lives, the true meaning behind the symbolism of wearing feathers?"...

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MOD Monday - Julie Driscoll

In the 60's, music had a huge influence on the fashions that shaped the 'Mod movement' and British singer Julie Driscoll was definitely in the realms of those who inspired people to dress a certain way.  Hailing from London, England, she started out staking her claim to fame by covering a Bob Dylan original titled "This Wheel's On Fire" and soon thereafter became instrumental in defining the psychedelic era that was British music.  In her teens, Driscoll was the prez of the Yardbirds fan club.  

As she progressed on through to the 70's she focused her musical talents in the genre of Jazz and since then goes by the name of Julie Tippet's, having taken on her married name.  In the late 60's, Julie's bohemian style became truly representative of the vintage mod fashion scene.  

The bohemian 60's was different from the hippie 60's in that it wasn't about baring your feet and wearing flowers in your hair.  It was more of a flowy maxi skirts, floppy hats, boas, faded torn blues and cheese cloth blouses that you can see through (I know because my aunt had one!) were what boho was all about. The mod mix in of course was the pixie hair do that was being duped by everyone from Twiggy, to Mia Farrow!

This Fall 2011, we've been seeing a resurgence of the vintage mod styles in stores everywhere!  Mod boho is one of the simplest to emulate with just a few simple additions to your wardrobe.

My fave Julie Driscoll tune is "Season Of The Witch" which was originally put out by the artist Donovan.  In her time, she was totally a hipster chick!



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The Sixties Fashion Trend Revival For Fall 2011

Every fash mag I've read so far is pointing in the direction of a sixties fashion trend revival for this Fall season 2011.  Mod lined pieces, shift dresses, pleated minis and structured knits are back in full swing with a modern day flair of jewel toned hues and pop-art prints.  Make no mistake, the 70's styles are still in, but the era that brought us Twiggy & Edie Sedgwick is now more popular than ever!  Geometric shapes and patterned fabrics (plaids, argyles, checks & gridlocks), clean lines (meaning, ditch the frills & ruffles, play it simple), saturated colors (primary hues of red, blue & yellow) and last but not least short hemlines (that can be accentuated with tights for the colder months ahead).

Whatever vintage style you're trying to recapture, be it the Mod Squad, swinging 60's or channeling Twiggy, you can't go wrong because this decade is making waves once again in the wide world of fashion!

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End Of Summer 2011

Sad to say, Summer is winding down and coming to an end being that we pretty much only have a hand few of days left until it's officially Fall!  Soon it will be time once again to pull out the cold weather clothing that we've stored away for the warmer months, and begin to consider what's 'IN' for the brand new season come this Fall/Winter 2011.  I've done a little research and here's what I've found...  Fall is going Fun, flirty & flashy as we are going to be seeing a hefty dose of bold colors with a hint of 70's appeal.  Designers such as Gucci, Bottega Veneta & Missoni are re-vamping styles bringing back fur lapels, outrageous florals & the return of the once popular 'white tights' with a vengeance!

The vintage 70's is also going to get it's groove on with these funked up fashions as Gucci bolds it up with these over the top colorful fedoras paired with pinstripe slacks and dyed fur stoles.

Ponchos were a must have in the boho realm of the 1970's and ADAM & Alexander Wang have done an excellent job of resurrecting the style befitting the current day trends.

I think I was especially surprised to find that sequins are making a big come back this Fall as we are seeing pieces embellished with all that glitters for a glitzy fresh take on an old fave.  For instance this V-neck sequined shifty by Prada that is simple yet stunning!

It's looking like Fall 2011 is about making a bold statement so whatever you choose for your wardrobe this year, you have a free pass to be vivacious! 


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MOD Monday - 'That Girl'

I was thinking today about how much television has changed over the decades in regards to the new ratings standards & then I remembered a popular wholesome television show that ran for about five years from the mid sixties to the early seventies called 'That Girl'.  'That Girl' starred the then, up and coming actress Marlo Thomas.  Thomas was born in Detroit in 1937 and is the daughter of the late comedian Danny Thomas who is well known for being the founder of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  Marlo has kept her father's legacy of 'hope' alive as she has continued on as national outreach director.   

Thomas' career fell into place easily because of her father's rapport in the business, starting out in small roles and then making her own mark when she got the lead role on the popular, now vintage sitcom.  Ironically, life was imitating art or the other way around maybe, because the plot was based on the life of an aspiring actress who moves from her small hometown to make it in the big city. To many, Marlo Thomas is considered to rank up there with the top 10 fashion icons of the 60's.  From her signature flip hair style, to the bold geometric, colorful fashions she wore that inspired a generation, she was the ultimate 'girl next door' who made being smart, funny & beautiful admirable.  

In a sense, Thomas was instrumental in moving women towards the future of 'doing it for themselves' so to speak as her character Ann Marie in the show, was a young woman who graduated from college, didn't rush into getting married and having children, but rather moved away from home to live on her own and pursue her own career goals.  Looking back in retrospect, I wonder if Candace Bushnell who wrote 'Sex In The City', used Thomas' character in 'That Girl' as her muse? Or is it just a coincidence that Carrie Bradshaw & Ann Marie were both trend setting clothes horses, living in New York City?  Things that make you go Mmm? I'm pretty sure she would never fess up to it, but makes you think doesn't it?

Now in her early 70's, Marlo mostly continues to work with St. Jude but hasn't really done any acting in over a decade.  Active in fundraising for the children's cancer charity, she continues to donate all proceeds from her book, 'Thanks & Giving: All Year Long' to the hospital that offers support to gravely ill kids who otherwise couldn't afford treatment.

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The Summer Of Love - June 1967

Forty four years ago, in June of 1967, over 100,000 people migrated to the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood of San Francisco in what was known as a 'hippie rebellion'.  Many young people traveled from across the world to be a part of this event which promised them the opportunity to cast off social conservatism & experiment openly without reprecussions, basically in the areas of psychotropics, free love (i.e. promiscuous sex) and of course rock n' roll!  There was no formal advertisement for this gathering, it all came together by word of mouth that spanned a huge distance and diversity of individuals.  The most positive thing that arose from this was the idea of 'unity, love & acceptance' for all of humanity...That's the part I like best! 

I know some of the history of 'The Summer Of Love' first hand because of my now reformed, once die hard hippie, Uncle Noel who said it was given the name to offset the negative impression the media was pushing for, of it being a drug infused, hairy hippie orgy.  Of course, for all intents and purposes it pretty much was exactly just that, no matter how much they attempted to sugar coat it!...   

A fashion trend arose from this decade called 'bohemian' which is a combination of the anything goes style of the hippie movement sprinkled with a little bit of nomad and topped off with a pinch of free spirited gypsy.  This vintage style will never be out of style as it has lasted the span of four decades having not changed very much from the beginning of its origin.  The allure is that the wearer does not conform to the norms of fashion or society for that matter and in turn to some extent becomes a 'rebel'... Boho-Chic entails everything colorful, flowing, comfortable & can even incorporate mix matched prints into style choices.  It's the same now as it was then and is absolutely one of the most simple trends to keep up with because it never really changes...

Of all the eras of clothing I personally find appealing, I'm all about the Mod early 60's thru to the late vintage Hippie 60's to early 70's because of the non-comformity of the fashions.  What is your favorite style era?


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