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 

Fashion In Film Friday - The Great Gatsby

Since I began the week with Mia Farrow as 'muse' for my weekly MOD Monday post, I figured I would end it with her as well!  In 1974, Mia played leading lady 'Daisy' opposite Robert Redford in the film adaptation, based on the 1929 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald called 'The Great Gatsby'.  This romantic drama is basically a love triangle about two guys who pine for a married woman.  Jay Gatsby, played by Redford is a wealthy extravagant socialite who come to find out, has gained his wealth by illegal activities such as bootlegging alcohol.  There have been many versions of this film produced and currently one in production set to be released in 2012, starring Carey Mulligan and Leonardo DiCaprio as leads...    

Regardless of staying true to the book, the movie succumbed to negative reviews stating that it lacked in staying true to the 'jazz age' that was prominent in the 20's.  In spite of this, it was a box office success, bringing in over twenty five million.  'The Great Gatsby' won at The Academy Awards that year for best costume design, and rightfully so.  The rich and elaborate details of the styles that ruled that era were pinpoint perfection!  

From the bodacious sequined flapper cloche to the uber feminine chiffon & lace simple frocks accentuated with wide brim hats, this film had the ability to send us back in time.  The word 'Gatsby' went on to become a term that defined the well off in comparison to those who were not.  It was the rowdy time of prohibition, when women were truly coming into their own.  This timeless style is eternal as we are seeing it being brought back to life by designers such as Ralph Lauren, who created his fantastically gorgeous modern take on this vintage Gatsby'esque classic.  The fresh elegance of the pale palettes shimmer in soft pinks, silvers and whites.  

Gatsby girl, flapper, whatever you choose to call the style that embodied this time frame, you can easily put together your own look by incorporating some of these pieces into your wardrobe.  I am personally in love with the return of the cloche hat!

This what seems to our day and age...a 'modest' style, definitely has the hint of the subtle sensuality that encompassed the bygone era that was "the roaring 20's!"


pics: shopstyle.com, shine.yahoo.com, polyvore.com, shockya.com, buffalodandy.wordpress.com   

MOD Monday - Mia Farrow

If you're in my age group, you very well know who Mia Farrow is because as a kid you saw the cult classic horror movie 'Rosemary's Baby' and often confused her for the popular mod icon of that era known as 'Twiggy'.  Like Twiggy, Farrow's signature hair do was the short coquettish pixie and they were both fair and thin which often caused them to get mistaken for each other.  Farrow first began her acting career on the old vintage classic soap opera called 'Peyton Place'.  She gained her celebrity status however because she was the wife of crooner Frank Sinatra for a brief time & later became the wife of the quirky actor/director, Woody Allen.

Both Twiggy and Mia, made the cover of Vogue in 1967...Their resemblance to one another is uncanny!

After her career catapulted, she went on to star in over forty five films, winning numerous awards and aside from acting, modeling became her forte.  In the 1967 spy film, "A Dandy in Aspic", Farrow wore/modeled the mod designs of Pierre Cardin.

In her later years, along with adopting about 15 children, Mia Farrow has become an activist and is a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF.  Her focus is primarily on advocating for the refugee children of Darfur Africa.  She still acts, however only in bit parts these days.  She's also an avid writer on the subjects that are dear to her in regards to her humanitarian efforts.

Mod styles are very much still alive and kicking in the current trends, as we are seeing newbie stars attempting to emulate the once popular 60's hairstyles of Farrow & Twiggy.  Michelle Williams, Carey Mulligan and Emma Watson.

There's always going to be a 'new version' of an 'old fave' and with that being said, I for one am making sure I never get rid of anything that was once popular because you just never know when it's going to be back in style again?


pics: goldenlondon.blogspot.com, tumblr.com, cinebeats.blogsome.com, celebritylifeandstyle.com