There is nothing so 50's glam as floral. But now that floral is returning, we don't want to look dated in the old-school grandma-esque florals. This is an especially dire outcome of thrift store shopping. You want to look modern, classic, but with hints of vintage.

Hints of floral.

One way to achieve this is by mixing the fabrics and styles in a way that references a vintage style, without mimicking it. In the Louis Vuitton Fall and Winter Collection 2010/2011 Collection there are a few excellent examples of this working successfully (and some not-so-much, IMO) Styles 15, 18, 19, 22 and 49 (minus the buttons on the jacket) are my favorite examples.

So how will a touch of floral and edgy materials give you a similar look?


Knee-length A-line skirts are as close to the mid-shin circle skirt that Vuitton features. The middle outfit is inspired by my favorite runway look from this collection, the combination of a leather jacket and floral skirt. Mind, the floral on my set is much bolder. But the jacket I pick does not have buttons that could have arrived in a time machine...

The pencil skirt was more popular in the 40's and 60's than the 50's...but paired with Victorian inspired-blouse and a floral bolero, you have a modern work outfit with vintage appeal. Belts keep the outfits cinched at the waist, maintaining the classic hourglass form. The floral patterns reference the 50's but what you pair it with keeps the outfit of being trapped in the past.

So what if I'm thrift store shopping and want a modern look?

The excellent thing about vintage inspired looks is that you can incorporate true vintage pieces for a similar look. If you have a little sewing know-how, you can alter thrift store pieces to make them fit like a glove. The straight, knee-length-skirt was big through the nineteen-ninety's. They did not have the form-fitting elegance of modern skirts, but if you found a skirt of this period (my recommendation would be to find solid colors)you can take it in to fit closer to the body. Or you could insert panels to create a layered circle-skirt. If adding a second fabric, I would suggest a more modern pattern. Then, like incorporating different textures, your skirt becomes evocative of a unique and modern look.

The fashion mags say that "fake" is never in style. I don't think that goes for expensive materials like leather. I believe that in order to pull off a look on a budget, fake materials are okay. You just need to remember the interaction between shape, personality, color and form.

I will talk about Shape, Color, Personality, and Form next time!

Another entry from your Polyvore-addicted fashionista!

Here's a 50's inspired set to ring in the new year:


I really liked Luis Vuitton's Paris collection for fall. I read a lot of bad press about the whole return to 50's style, though. Certain bloggers thought that it was bad to return to a style from an era famous for its exploitation of women, and the intensive segregation of gender roles.

However, I don't think exploitation has stopped. I think mini-skirts (though I love to wear them, sometimes myself) are more exploitative than the 50's-esque mid-length skirts and matching blazers.

In fact, I think that what is scandalous now is far different from that time. So when we renew the style, we do so in a context that will imbue new meaning to the shapes/forms and colors.

I personally can't wait for these classically-inspired designs to hit the local stores!

So last post, River called me on a boo-boo I made :(

I didn't introduce polyvore.com.

So what is it? Polyvore is a fashion-lovers-playground. You can put together sets that look like you tore them out of a magazine. For me, I like playing with form and finding that balance between classics and trends that is my own.


And sometimes, like this one, they are just for fun. It's all the benefit of playing dress up without the urge to buy immediately!!! I have found it helpful in narrowing my style down.

When I was younger I thought my style was all over the place. I thought I loved patterns and various colors, etc. I couldn't say how I elected to express myself with clothes beyond "like" and "dislike."

What have I found? I'm an earth toned kinda girl. I like classically fitting forms, and am unswayed by severe trendiness. But I like integrating partiocular trends into a classic wardrobe and donning the whole thing in a way that looks...modern, without exuding "trendster fashionista!"

This one is a good example of what I'm talking about:


Trends:
One shoulder, tiered skirt, ruffles, and the strappy sandals, and wide belt.

Classic feel:

Cinched at waist to prevent the loose-fitted top from diminishing an hourglass form. Chunky necklace so the right shoulder is not left completely barren, so as to limit the top's lack of symmetry. Using the frills and the skirt to echo a sort of girlieness throughout the ensemble. The contrasting belt is complementary to the top, and is a declaration that the wearer is consciously manipulating form. (Making clothes work in a way that they *may* not have been intended) The shoes pick up the tones in the top, instantly lengthening legs given a boost from the wedge heel. The illusion is furthered by the two complimentary browns, much like that of the top and the belt. Gold jewelry adds a touch of pizzazz, brightening the top and hands, for the summer outfit.

Matching:

I <3 matching. Because color creates illusion. The play of color, matching or contrasting, is something I believe needs to be done very consciously. I think color needs to match personality, skin tone, and the message you want to create about yourself.

It is classic to match, but it is not currently popular. But from me, you will see consist matching or complimentary colors. As I said before: I'm short. I use color and heels to give myself a taller presence. I have a very young face. So I use form to enhance my appearance of womanliness. The classic form suites my needs. The cautious implementation of trends to fit my style fulfills my inner fashion-lover :P

I work at a nail supply store part-time, and even though I'm not into nail polish, being the girl that I am, I still get a tad bit giddy being surrounded by so many different brands of types of polishes. I think the designer in me wants to color-code these polishes, organize, reorganize, and create different color palettes from the thousands of colors available. The OPI polish aisle is my favorite.

Click on the READ MORE link for pictures.