MOD Monday - Pattie Boyd

What does the Beatles George Harrison & Eric Clapton have in common?  They both have the same ex wife and her name is Patricia Boyd otherwise known as 'Pattie Boyd'.  She was an English model & photographer, who obviously like most models had a 'thing' for musicians.  Her career as a model landed her in London and Paris in spite of the fact that she had prominent front teeth & what was considered to be unconventional looks.  Have any of you ever caught an episode of 'America's Next Top Model'? Those women vying for the title are anything but the girl next door and I have honestly thought to myself, "How in the H are they competing on this show?"  Anyhow things have changed over the decades, that's for sure as we are seeing everything 'but' the norm when it comes to what is considered conventionally beautiful...  

In the mid sixties, Pattie Boyd was fresh on the MOD scene making a name for herself in spite of what was considered a flaw with her protruding teeth.

Boyd is said to have been the muse behind the music of Eric Clapton's hit love song, 'Wonderful Tonight' and his catchy tune 'Layla'.  Unfortunately the demise of her marriage to Clapton was due in part to them both having issues with drugs and alcohol which makes their story totally cliche unfortunately and in 2007, she wrote a biographical type book that chronicled her journey with both Harrison & Clapton.

Just this past July 2011, Boyd hosted a photography exhibit of her work titled 'Yesterday and Today: The Beatles and Eric Clapton as Photographed by Pattie Boyd'. 


With George Harrison...

With Eric Clapton...

pics: article.wn.com, bigother.com, members.fortunecity.com, likeamuse.com, outdailyfashion.wordpress.com, whosdatedwho.com

     

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!



pics: tumblr.com, psychedeliclion.blogspot.com, polyvore.com, broadcast090511.cocolog-nifty.com 

Gaga & Faris Go Hepburn...Who Wore It Best?

Both comedic movie star Anna Faris & pop singer Lady Gaga were seen wearing the same Audrey Hepburn inspired dress this past weekend. Gaga was in Vegas at the 'iHeartRadio Music Festival' & Faris was out and about in New York making a guest appearance on Letterman. The vintage knock off was designed by Moschino, for the Italian fashion houses Fall 2011 collection. Of course Gaga glammed up her version with some Fendi black sunglasses, pearl'esque necklace & Ferragamo black leather evening gloves.  Lady Gaga also went as far as to have her hair coiffed in the signature Hepburn chignon.  Faris on the other hand went more demure, accentuating her dress on a more simpler note with her only accessory being a pair of strappy Louboutins.  

Who do you think captured the 'true' essence of the legendary icon in full swag? 


pics: heatworld.com, dressingupindaisies.onsugar.com      




   

Going For Baroque?

Of all the style trends that were popular for Spring/Summer 2011, I have to say the oddest in my opinion was the 'Baroque' style sunglasses frames & the variations produced by several designers.  Baroque, by definition was an era in which everything in regards to music, clothing, dance and art were overly exaggerated.  This started in around 1600 in Rome Italy.  I'm sure you'd know exactly what I'm talking about if you picture the women as well as the men who wore the tall white wigs and elaborately adorned clothing?

So now you get the idea in regards to what Baroque is all about right? O.k., so there's this designer, Moo Piyasombatkul, who's such a newbie that Wikipedia hasn't even categorized her yet.  Anywho, this 23 year old Thai designer who lives in both London & Bangkok has come up with her own take on vintage Baroque by creating the most architecturally inspired eye wear frames.  She intricately embellishes each pair with opulent porcelain motifs inspired by versions of 17th century furnishings.  She came up with the idea when she spontaneously repaired a pair of her fave broken glasses with clay.

She was quoted as saying that "Whatever the body relates to is jewelry & statement pieces can change a look entirely"...


Don't know about you, but I don't plan on running out and going for 'baroque' anytime soon?  I'll stick with my good old vintage aviator frames...    




flickr.com, trendelecreme.com

Fall Color Line Up

Earth tone neutrals used to be the common fare for Fall which consisted of basic blacks, browns, tans & cream.  That's not the deal at all for this season as we are seeing a barrage of rich colors that will most definitely excite and surprise you!  Your cooler weather wardrobe will get an instant boost if you add one of these hot hues to it... Aside from the coral and pink, these are my faves from the Pantone Fashion Color Chart for 2011...

RICH BERRY: Makes an outstanding statement especially when paired with basic neutrals.

OLIVE GREEN: My favorite of all greens that is a neutral hue and very versatile.  It's flattering to every skin tone.

DEEP TEAL:  An extremely strong blue-toned green that should pretty much be limited to one piece per outfit (meaning never wear teal on both the top and bottom).This colors best complimentary hue is charcoal gray.

COFFEE LIQUER: Rich & decadent, this particular brown brings a sense of elegance to Fall.  This color is safe to wear head to toe, however you can jazz it up by pairing it with gold accents.   

pics: collegefashion.net, theperfectpalette.com, fashionfix.net-a-porter.com, pigmentsandpalettes.blogspot.com 

The Re-Birth Of 'Period Collars'

Vintage trends this Fall are going waaaay back, and I mean way!  All the way back to the days of innocence as there has been a dramatic rebirth of the Victorian style for this upcoming Fall 2011.  During the Edwardian period (1901-1910), high neck collars were popular among women and often adorned with elaborate lace applique and beading & often considered a form of jewelry.  Mind you this style is not to be confused with the gi-normous Elizabethan collars of the Medieval times...

In spite of the fact that the Edwardian collar couldn't be any more modest, covering up 'everything', women of that time actually considered the style to bring an ambiance of allure because of the allure of leaving much to the imagination in that they were giving the viewer 'nothing to see', but 'everything to wonder about'.  That really wasn't such a bad concept eh?  This past year during Paris fashion week 2011, the fashion house of the late designer Alexander McQueen brought new life to the vintage style of Edwardian collars with their Fall line up of suits that entail hints of Goth peppered with industrial chic.  

In regards to Goth, the new generation has definitely been instrumental in bringing back the popularity of the Edwardian collar while at the same time, maintaining true to the original design ...

  pics: photobucket.com, flickr.com, deliaohdelia.blogspot.com, capitolcharlotte.com

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! 


pics: southfleetmotorinn.com, coolspotter.com, tarstoisoisbeau.com, fashionmefabulous.com, glamour.com




   

Fall Fur'y

Outerwear is going tactile for Fall/Winter 2011 as with the onset of the chilly temps right around the corner, we will be seeing more cold weather apparel adorned with wild & woolly patches of fur, both faux & real.  Big statement coats or chic vests worn with skinny jeans and stilettos will be the perfect pairing as opposed to opting for colors of the rainbow.  Head to toe neutrals in black, brown, beige & gray are the way to go...  During fashion week 2011, American designer Peter Som, blew the runway away with his unique take on the common fur coat by deciding to fur the sleeves only on these absolutely unique & dramatic pieces.

Tibi of New York has an amazingly diverse selection of fresh fashions, for instance they offer the ultimate in utility chic in this Tibi's fur coat combo'd with rich wool felt that has detachable sleeves and bottom panel that converts this garment into a flirty cropped fur jacket.

My personal fave comes from Burberry Prorsum which to me has captured an ultimately vintage aesthetic with their double breasted, wool tweed trench coat with black fox fur panels.  It only goes for about $3,950.00.  It's a gorgeous coat, but geeze oh' peets that's pretty pricey!

Whether you like it or not, cruelty free fur is taking a back seat to the real deal this year because 'fur' is trending hot!  Global retail sales for fur were up more than 5% putting sales at over 14 billions in spite of the current recession.  


pics: atouchofluxe.com, tumblr.com, polyvore.com, flickr.com

Graduation 2011

Hey Retro Threadz friends! Just wanted to give props to my nephew Dakota who graduated this year.  He was selected to be his schools Class of 2011 Valedictorian. He delivered the graduation speech flawlessly!  Our city newspaper interviewed him due to the fact that he received straight A's in the core classes that have been made tougher by the new government requirements for graduation.  We came together as a family this weekend to celebrate his accomplishments!  Such a wonderful weekend, hopes yours was just as great! xoxo

 

Jazzin It Up!

In the 1920's there was a liberation movement of sorts as women became more free spirited.  They smoked, danced, cut their hair short, wore make up and dared to take risks.  These women were called 'flappers'...

Flapper, by definition:

flap·per/ˈflapər/Noun

1. (in the 1920s) A fashionable young woman intent on enjoying herself and flouting conventional standards of behavior.

Flappers were generally urban, single, young middle-class women who usually held steady jobs by day and frequented jazz clubs by night.  These women sought to break down the barriers of the double standards that were the norm between men and women back in that era.  They were smoking, drinking & exploring their sexuality without reservation, at a time when it was unheard of for women.

This was definitely the time of the birth of 'female independence', as these reckless femmes were all about 'jazzin' it up' in every aspect of their lives!

The spirit of vintage speakeasy fashion is still alive and well circa 2011 as designers such as Rodarte, Reyes, Christian Dior and Reem Acra have designed flapper inspired frocks for the 21st century...

The HBO hit series Empire Boardwalk, set in the time of the prohibition has definitely had a huge influence on conjuring back up the style of the roaring 20's...

Thanks to these vintage rebels of days gone by, women have since been doin' it for themselves!!!  


 zoomaa.files.wordpress.com , fidamo.com , beautifullittlefools2.blogspot.com , pinterest.com , watch-boardwalkempire-online.com

Vivacious Vuitton!

Who doesn't love Vuitton bags?  This years new collection is absolutely vivacious as designer Louis Vuitton has lavished the avid followers with fresh new styles & bold palettes for their 2011 collection!

Louis Vuitton, is 'vintage' in it's own right being that the French fashion house has been around since 1854 & has been the world's leading designer ever since, currently topping a net worth of over 19 billion!  Although they originated with clothing, jewelry & accessories, they became uber famous for their signature monogrammed bags.

In spite of the controversy surrounding the creation of 'LV's' pieces being machined, the company still stands firm stating that there are over 100 stages additionally involved in the making of each bag to bring it to completion.  So in case you hand any questions regarding the validity of your bags construction, make no mistake...There are hands involved!

Vuitton is always surprising us with bold new concepts and I am especially excited about the new monogrammed, mono hued colorful clutches that are out now as well as the Avante-Garde chain strap Pochette...

   
I'm sure these gorgeous bags are worth every single one of the over 3,300 dollars they cost & so with that being said...maybe when gas prices come down a bit I'll got out and get me one!






pics: bagjournal.com  i-fashionblog.com , handbagfirst.com  bagbliss.com , albertoberasconi.photoshelter.com , 4.bp.blogspot.com , ilvoelv.com

MOD Monday

If you're 'mad for mod' and want to achieve this retro vintage look circa 2011, one important thing to know is that going 'MOD' will require more than acquiring the proper clothing.  It's also about the hair & the makeup styles that were popular in the 1960's.  

The most sought after hairstyles were the pixie and the fringe cuts, brought to light as a trend at that time by Twiggy and Edie Sedgwick.  The pixie was boy'ish and sexy feminine whereas the fringe was a more messy take on the same style. Called the 'fringe' because of the choppy wispy bangs.  

The basic 'cat eye' liner sometimes accentuated with white shadow on the lids along with big faux eyelashes to give your eyes the appeal of a doll is how you too can achieve the makeup vibe of that era.  The doe eyed Twiggy was known for painting lashes underneath her own with eyeliner which is a bit extreme!  If you're digging this and want to learn how to create your own mod style make up, check out YOUTUBE where you will find a great deal of helpful tutorials...

After you've achieve the hair and mod make up, you should consider beginning to incorporate some mod'ness into your wardrobe and the first item you might want to purchase is a basic mini skirt.  The mini is vintage and versatile and completely perfect as a starter piece and the bonus is, it has and never will go out of style!

Happy MOD Monday! 


pics: whatever.losito.com , hipstermama.com , retrotogo.com , collegefashion.net