How to dress like a 1970s gamine

1. Start with Lauren Moffatt's  2011 fall collection.
2. Stop there.

(I especially love the stripey dresses and the use and color of that buttery leather.)

{all images via Lauren Moffatt}

Shall I shave my head or...

...learn to tie my hair up in pretty knots?

I'm so done with my hair growing like crazy and having to pull it back in a sloppy ponytail. Something has to change before I just cut it all off. Thankfully, the lovely hair illustrations by Maria Gil Ulldemolins (aka MGU) has me leaning toward knots rather than baldness.

 MGU's Etsy shop, blog, and website (discovered via lenorenevermore)

a swinging skirt

Once I'm on the other side of this baby growing - I'm going to get myself a full black and white skirt that I am going to pair with some fun bright flats. This is the beginning of my post-pregnancy plan. :)

{left via asos, right via Gertie's New Blog for Better Sewing
bottom via The Sartorialist}

searching for a summer dress

It appears that my recent explosion in size is dovetailing ever so neatly with a heat wave here in North Carolina. The result is, of course, sheer discomfort. What's driving me further over the brink is a lack of cute and comfortable pregnancy dresses. Like everyone else - I'll make do by hitting the maternity sections of Target, the Gap, and Old Navy, but must every one of their summer dresses feel exactly the same? Like a brightly colored night gown made out of cheap cotton? Is is wrong to want to wear a dress that keeps me cool during this summer and actually looks cool too? I don't think that's asking for too much. I just need one. Just one. (And even though I'd rather go sleeveless in an NC summer - I'd love to grab up that Mama.licious dress from asos but, sadly, my size is sold out and my search must go on.)

momfilter

Image from "Remembering" series via momfilter

Did you ever read Cookie magazine? I had just started a subscription when they called it quits. It was such a disappointment because I really liked the blend of parenting issues, style features, recipes, and general life/work pointers the magazine offered. It was not too parent-y and not too fashion-y....it was just right.

Well, the founding editors of Cookie are still delivering that just right blend of information, but now they can be found (along with some fantastic contributors) on the blog momfilter . In a cyberspace crowded with blogs, this one was a welcome discovery!

Florence and the fashion

If anyone is kicking butt and taking names during the fashion parade that is awards season - my vote is for Florence Welch of Florence & the Machine. She takes risks with color and retro detailing, but is still able to look utterly modern and beautiful. Such great style (whether it is her's or belongs to a stylist with actual style!).

 

Oscar red carpet dress via Lucky Magazine

Oscar performance dress via Toronto Sun

Grammy dress via FabSugar

P.S. And if you need another reason to fall in love with Florence or her music - check out this video of  a little guy dancing his heart out in his car seat to "Dog Days Are Over." Total and pure joy.

Kate Spade tumbl(e)s for you

I've been thinning out my google reader account and un-following blogs left and right in order to just get down to the blogs I really like to read. I have, however, recently added a new one: the Kate Spade New York tumblr blog. I know, I know... it is just a really well-dressed up advertisement, but I can't help it. It's just so darn pretty and who can resist dreaming about living in such a candy-colored yet ladylike New York world? A sample of images...

all images via http://www.katespadeny.tumblr.com/

beyond the Boston Brahmin

Dear Boston,

You know how much I love you and your cobblestone streets and public gardens. I could wander all day on your city streets and never feel lost (as long as there's a Dunkin' Donuts within shouting distance and the accent of your people in the air - I know I am home). But, Boston, for so long - for so very long - you've had the rep of being old fashioned in the worst possible way. Yes, I am talking about your sense of style. 

You, old friend, are not known for being a trend setter in any way, shape, or fashion. And though you and I agree that plenty of fashionistas strut your streets, you still get called "frumpy" or "old-fashioned" or, despite your politics, "conservative" by those who don't know you intimately. But how great to hear that things are changing thanks to Beyond Boston Chic! As I'm sure you know, BBC is a blog that's been documenting some of your better dressed natives for some time now (though the blog is new to me) and sharing their style with the world.  And hasn't Beyond Boston Chic captured your fashion-forward residents beautifully? You must be so proud of her!

Anyway, missing you a little bit extra now that it's fall and you are in your prime. Promise to write back when you get a chance though, okay?

Love,

Vivi

All images via Beyond Boston Chic

no, no, no to swimsuit season

via The Sartorialist

Seems that the fiancé is not a big fan of the hand-me-down one piece bathing suit I got from LL and have been wearing for something like half a decade (I know - I can't believe it either!). In addition to really pushing that I not only get a new one this summer, he wants me to get a gosh darn TWO PIECE.

Shopping for a suit that will satisfy both of our demands and self-esteems has become quite the stress in my life since I haven't worn a two piece since the days of pre-adolescence. If only I could find one as lovely and sweet as the vintage one above. Or just about anything that Esther Williams ever wore as highlighted in this gorgeous montage... le sigh.

Canvas Classics

Lands' End has debuted a new line called Canvas. They are dubbing it essential pieces for an effortless style and I have to agree. The clothing seems timeless - the type of stuff you can wear season after season, changing up the look with new accessories and pops of color.

As much as everyone loves to be current and with the trends, there is something to be said for the true classics in fashion. 

 

All images courtesy of landsend.com

rare bird, indeed

via nytimes

When I'm up in Boston for the holidays, I really want to check out the special exhibition at the Peabody Essex Museum (PEM) called "Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel."

Iris Apfel is an 88 year old legendary style visionary (and, professionally, owner of a textile house). She's been dressing to the beat of her own drummer for 70 years - mixing vintage with designer, bright eye-catching colors with big and bright eye-catching jewelry, pattern with more pattern. I don't and may never dress like her, but I so admire the tenacity, individuality, and bravery of her style.

You know that slightly hokey poem, "Warning"? It starts with the lines:
"When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat which doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves..."

That poem reminds me a little of how unconventional Apfel is and was long before she had the excuse of age to do and dress as she pleased. I think that she's a wonderful model for just enjoying what you are and what you like - no matter how left field it is (and no matter how much turquoise jewelry you end up swimming in...)

via exhibition at PEM

via past exhibition at Nassau County Museum

via past exhibition at Nassau County Museum

via poppyetunia

via clutch

Oh, and check the beautifully photographed book about her style:

Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel by Eric Boman

If I could, I'd wear this every day.

This is one of my very favorites pictures/outfits/moments from The Sartorialist (from October 2007). So easy and elegant and perfect. It is, of course, the lovely Garance Doré and it reminds me of this quote (via fadetodirrtygrey):

Reason to love rain (#4)

image via cents-of-style

Ah, the classic trench and the obligatory blog homage to it. But the trench is much deserving - it is so practical and yet so perfect. Even my boyfriend thinks it's cute, but I acknowledge that that may be because he has a thing for WASPy blondes from the early eighties - Teri Garr worn one in "Mr Mom," Meryl Streep in "Kramer vs. Kramer," and Allie from the sitcom "Kate and Allie" rocked one too (the series is free on netflix and I've inflicted it upon him more than once. I know, I'm a horrible gf).

I, however, finally bought a trench coat last year and loved every rainy day in it even though I think I looked more like Colombo than anyone else. Nevertheless, I'm still looking forward for the rain to bring coolness instead of humidity so I can drag out my trench and have people ask me whether I've solved any crimes recently. I like the idea of it that much.

Oh, and for a lovely poem that further romanticizes the raincoat, see "Selecting A Reader" by Ted Kooser.

image by suffocatingIvy

That's Julie Andrews in a still from "Torn Curtain"

via movies.sky.com

I like this image because I like to think that it's the real Audrey Hepburn wearing a trench and not just her character, Holly Golightly. image via cdn.write.demandstudio.com

image via stylebytes

photo of Meryl Streep via vogue.co.uk

And, of course, no one looks as lovely in the classic trench as Catherine Deneuve (just spend an afternoon with "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg"), but who knew that she could also sell it with such sex appeal (clip from "La chamade").

When inanimate objects speak...

image by jeannie86

I love good sloppy hair. Not the kind of hair I have when I wake up with my bangs standing straight up (because I slept on my face) or when my head looks dented (because I went to bed with wet hair), but messy hair that looks like you don't give a damn and still looks great. This is, of course, something I cannot accomplish at all (though I am master of sloppy sloppy hair). You have to have a certain nonchalance, a certain, dare I say, style to look good without caring whether you actually look good.

And so that's why seeing the bobby pins appeals to me so much. Sometimes the prettiness is in how haphazardly they are shoved in to keep the hair out your eyes or to hold down a cowlick. You can argue that they are a bit too utilitarian, but that's the quality that appeals to me. Plain old bobby pins just seem to say: "Look at me. Yeah, I'm ugly, I'm plain. I know it. But I also don't care." That's what makes them the cool girl at school.

image by Meganzii

image via W

image via W

image by ~kaileecripson

image via dreaming of revelry

image via oh bambi