Eyewear for the ages

I love any man who spends time to refine his look. I enjoy dandys, fops, cads, any of the types who really care about their appearance. This however, almost seems a bit ridiculous, even for me...


From the Telegraph UK:

Monocles to be sold on High Street

Vision Express, a chain of opticians, is to start selling the lenses after an unexpected spate of requests for monocles.

It believes most of the requests have come from young men wanting to ape the fashion of their grandfathers and great-grandfathers.

The eyepieces cost £50 and come with a metal frame, a pouch, and a string so the wearer ensures it stays around his or her neck if it slips.

Read more of the article here

Modcloth.com

Has everyone been to Modcloth.com recently? As with most stores in my good graces, I have periods where I will see nothing I like, and then suddenly everything that pops up seems amazing to me. If I wasn't trying to save money to pay for my (insanely expensive) wedding dress and upcoming nuptials I would be buying up all sorts of clothes from them. It also doesn't hurt that they have great customer service aside from all the fantastic clothes!

My current favorites are below. I will take any of them right now please and thank you. My measurements are 34-26-35...

Louisa May Blouse $34.99


Wesleyen Blouse $79.99



Gondolier Dress $49.99


Skipper shorts $64.99


Golden Days of Glamour Dress $174.99


Sidecar Tour Dress $42.99


I could go on forever as there seems to be even tons more on their site I want. I'm on their mailing list and check the site almost daily, yet somehow I always miss the great one of a kind vintage pieces they feature here and there. Oh well!

As always all pieces above link to their pages. Stop by modcloth.com soon. Trust me, you won't be sorry!

How to dress in 1940s Fashion

I am a consumate pack rat. I collect all sorts of things (hats, hair flowers, shoes, Norwegian troll sculptures, tiki mugs, etc), and while the hoarding of items is usually attributed to material goods, I tend to do the same with web links. Often I'll see clothing items that I can't afford at the moment, only to curse myself later when I check back and the item is gone. Sometimes it pays off and something will go on sale and I'll jump up and down with pride for my patience.

All this rambling actually doesn't at all have to do with clothing per se, but a link I found ages and ages ago and have constantly kept bookmarked in my files. It is on wikihow (I guess wikipedia's how to guide?) and is called "How to Dress in the American 1940's Fashion". Aside from all the wonderful instructions and references, it gives additional tips for creating your own vintage look, as well as links to other 40s fashion sites.

Young woman on wooden steps by lake, 1948 color photograph

Some highlights from the article:

Fashion from the 1940s is such a classic look that it never really goes out of style. You'll find that almost anywhere you go wearing 1940s fashions, you will get a lot of positive attention. This article explains the look of the times and aims to help you convert clothing from current times to carry a more 1940s flair, as well as giving some key tips on hairstyles, accessories, shoes and other relevant items.

-Consider the fabrics. Get tweeds, wools, silk, linen, cotton, or blends of these. Keep in mind that some synthetic materials, such as nylon and rayon, had already been invented. Rayon was quite popular in women's fashions, as a substitute for silk, which the military was using for parachutes. All the same, many fabrics we have now were not in existence then but you may be able to get away with it.

-Small hats were popular, also with netting that would hang over the face. A high-fashion woman may have worn large hats. These would often have little or no brim in the back and a high oval rim in front, which may have been any angle above the face. A woman's hat similar to a fedora began to be popular.

-Lipstick was still darker shades of red, maroon was popular. Mauves and corals were also popular, and Tangee lipstick, the original color-change lipstick, is still available. It was still common to fill in lipstick beyond the lip line, especially to emphasize the curve of the “Cupid's bow” of the top lip to more of a gentle arc.


You can read the full article here


or if you're looking for more great reference material for the times, this book is fantastic:

"Everyday Fashions of the Forties As Pictured in Sears Catalogs"
For sale via amazon.com for as little as $7.09!

Since it's clothing that was for sale during the time, not just what the upper class and movie stars wore, it has great illustrations for helping to put together an authentic look of your own.

Sunglasses

It's finally getting to the point where it's pretty sunny out each day. I'm not a huge sunglasses person, and never have been. I don't really enjoy having something on my face, and I have a pretty petite nose which generally causes lots of slipping and pushing back up. I am trying to be protective of my eyes though this season, so I figured if I could find super cute sunglasses I might give them another go. Checked ebay and etsy first for any good vintage and came up heavily lacking (though I did see a great pair of CLEAR sunglasses in cats eye style - don't want to give away the link!). Next go to for something standard like that - Urban outfitters online. HOLY MOLY did I hit the holy grail of retro sunglasses! I'm pretty tempted to just buy up a whole slew of them since a bunch say "online only" and then return anything that doesn't fit or look right on my pea head. They're all just so cheap, and awesome, and most come in a variety of colors.
Here's just a (large) sampling of the goods, and as always, clicking on the image will lead you to the webpage...


Madame Butterfly $14.00


Crystal Risky $14.00


First Lady $24.00


Skyline $24.00



Glitter Cat Eye 6.99



Diner $12.99



Mrs. Robinson $12.99



Two Tone $6.99


Plastic Circle $6.99



Oversize square $16.99


Sweet Heart $16.00

Grey Gardens

I, like many of my fellow vintage lovers out there, was so excited for Grey Gardens to come out. There were tons of spoilers posted online of the outfits that made it so hard to wait, and now the time has finally come. It premiered on Saturday on HBO, which means they are probably replaying it all week, and possibly all month, long. If you haven't seen it yet then find a time to make it happen. The trailer is above in case you need more of a reason to watch it.

Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange are amazing and their transformations into Big and Little Edie were astounding. Of course, what resounds most within me is the clothing. Here are a few snipits of what Drew and Jessica wore:












So just for the fun of it I made a polyvore of what I think Little Edie would wear.

Grey Gardens by chancepinup featuring accessories

Little Edie had her own take on fashion, especially when she got older and was living with Big Edie in Grey Gardens. Though turbans aren't for everyone, it's easy to channel a bit of her in the small details, easiest of which is vintage brooches. Have fun, and play around with your look, Edie would have...

Anthropologie Shoes

I have an insane love for shoes. I don't even know how many pairs I have right now, but I'm sure it's over 100. I can't bare to part with ones, even when they don't fit me correctly or are painful to walk in, so are never worn. I have a pair of brownish purple satin brocade shoes with a gold brooch on the toe that are so amazing, and yet I've never worn them once in all the years that I've owned them.




You might be asking, what does this have to do with anything? Well, for months now I've been dreaming about these shoes I saw in Anthropologie one night while waiting for my fiance to meet me for an evening event. Anthropologie's shoes are always pretty good looking shoes, usually very retro in feel, but always ridiculously expensive. It hurt my heart, but I had to walk away from them as $186.00 was just way too much, especially when you also add in over 8% NYC tax.


For months I tried to convince myself it would be worth it to just get them. "You'd wear them with everything!" and "what other shoes have tiki heels!" I'd say to myself, but no, the little devil couldn't push over the angel. So this weekend I was doing a random check to see if they had gone on sale yet, and they had!! Just over 50% off and yet they didn't have my size on the website. I thought, for sure this is the sign that I'm not meant to have them. However, my stubborness prevailed and I took the subway 30 minutes to get to the only anthropologie in the city (that I know of) that stocks shoes. There on a small shelf in the back corner were my shoes lined up for sale - with one pair in my size. They might as well have been glowing in their own heavenly light because that's all I saw as I flung myself towards the shelf.


Today they are on my feet and I couldn't be happier. One seems a little loose, as I'm sure it was the try on pair, but I don't even care. I wont let these be like the others that sit in my closet unworn. I will wear these with pride, and know that for once it was worth holding my breadth until they finally went on sale.


Below are a few other Anthropologie shoes that I just think are darling - but wont be for me since I just blew my monthly shoe budget! All shoes link to the sale site, so Enjoy!

Shaded Path heels - marked down to $79.95 - available in 9 and 10
Courtyard Gate Oxfords - marked down to $89.95 - available in 7.5 and 10

Windorn heels - marked down to $99.95 - available in 6 and 7

Fashion at the Philadelphia Museum

I love the Philadelphia Museum. I've travelled the few hours by car to see various shows there and the city, and museum, never let me down.

So today I was super excited to notice two shows on at the museum that sound great:

Something to Wear: Fashion in Print 1850-1925
April 11, 2009 - Summer 2009
The fashion industry during 1850-1925 was a period of tremendous change and innovation. This exhibition, designed to complement Shopping in Paris: French Fashion 1850–1925 explores the world of fashion and consumer culture through printed publications. On display are books, periodicals, department store souvenirs, trade catalogs, and fashion plates from the Library’s collection of fashion-related material.


AND



Shopping in Paris: French Fashion 1850–1925
April 11, 2009 - October 25, 2009
The glamorous and cutting-edge fashions created in Paris have always inspired American dress. This exhibition explores the American experience abroad between 1850 and 1925. Such luxurious designs as the House of Worth and the classic elegance of Lanvin are being paired with American fashions based on these Parisian prototypes.

Featuring nearly twenty-five garments from the Museum’s collection—many of which are rarely (or have never been) displayed—these outfits are accompanied by an exciting array of accessories. Photographs and film clips from the early twentieth century will be on view, giving audiences a sense of the storyline around each garment and the woman who would have worn it.

And an event at the museum for the person with the big wallet:



Art After Dark: Vintage Paris
Saturday, April 18, 2009
8:00 p.m. – midnight
The Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building
2525 Pennsylvania Avenue

Attire tres chic
Valet parking
All proceeds benefit the Museum's Division of Education

Individual tickets: $225

Enjoy a soirée Parisienne at the fifth Art After Dark party, co-chaired by Shelly Brown, Pia Halloran, Patricia Isen, and Helene van Beuren. With inspiration drawn from concurrent exhibitions Henri Matisse and Modern Art on the French Riviera and Shopping in Paris: French Fashion 1850–1925 in the Perelman Building, all things French will enliven the evening, including exciting performances, innovative art stations, festive food, and extraordinary art.

More info here

transitional coats

Plaid 50s-60s era swing coat. An Ebay steal for $14.95



It's always hard for me to dress when the weather is being indecisive. All I want to do come spring is break out my light weather jackets and cute sweaters, and one day it will be possible, then the next it'll be so cold and I'll have forgotten that I need to wear a heavier coat.
The perfect thing for this time period is a bit of what I like to call transitional dressing. Coats that are just heavy enough should it be breezy and chilly out, but cool enough that if the sun came out and the temperature warmed up you'd still be ok. Maybe undo a button or two, but it's not like you're wearing your vintage wool and are sweating under your layers!

I started breezing through my first go-to's for this search (etsy and ebay) and came up with a couple cute selections. A nice variety for your size and taste.

Navy blue and hunter green plaid jacket. Etsy - $55.00

How neat is this one? The coat buttons up like a full jacket, but it's got an attached cape to keep you extra warm and dry! Only $49.00 on Etsy

Menswear inspired baseball jacket. I'm known for sporting lettermen style sweaters in the warmer weather, and this would fit in perfectly. Just $12.00 on Etsy!

Another cape swing coat. I can't help but love this style, especially for transitional dressing. When it's chilly you pull your arms in, when it's warm let them dangle free in the air! I'm prety tempted to get this myself but I own so much plaid already! Only $32.99 on Etsy.




There are also tons and tons of vintage clothing dealers online where you can find similar style clothes, perfect to take you from winter into spring! Remember to always check and ask for measurements, as vintage clothes are not sized the same as today. I have a few items that were claimed to be larges, and are really about a small in today's standards. Happy hunting!

my outfits

It's been a bit of a lazy week for me, especially since the temperature keeps jumping all over the board here in NY, and it's been raining nearly every day.

I figured, maybe for once I'll show myself on here, and put up some casual outfits. These are not really things I would wear out for evening, and none took much thought. Just basic work wear so I could be dressed and out of the house in under 30 minutes.

Black jodphurs with a basic tee, red and cream retro varsity sweater, vintage scarf tied into a bow, back seam tights and some flats














I love the anchor buttons!

Vintage blue and white houndstooth skirt, grey green tights, dark grey puff shoulder cowl neck sweater

Dark blue capris, blue and white stripe sailor top and my new vintage angora puffy sweater.


I just got this sweater from Etsy and I love it. From the puffy shoulders and sleeves, to the pearl buttons, to the cinched waist and peplum bottom, it's just dreamy!

Hope everyone is enjoying some better weather than we are!

Luella S/S 09

I am a person easily swayed by the seasons. I rush into skirts at the first sight of spring, and this year seems no different. I've been staring at S/S 09 collections for days now, hoping to get some serious seasonal inspiration (we all know it's hard to go from black, grey and other wintery monochromatics to bright spring colors).

What I've really been loving and going back to over and over again is Luella's S/S 09 collection. Just check out these color combinations:



An extra large pompadour and hair bow? Yes please!



The box purse and cat's eye glasses with all that pink and orange? swoon!



Ahh, high waist flouncy shorts with a Chanel-esque jacket and pearls!


What's everyone else craving for spring?

Sail away with me

I've always loved sailor style since I bought a navy blue and white stripe j.crew sweater with an anchor on it years ago second hand with the tags still attached. It seemed like such a deal and still proves to go with more than I even anticipated. Now you'd be hard pressed to find me not wearing stripes at least once a week.


sail away by chancepinup featuring French Connection tops

I dig the high waisted shorts with the sailor buttons as well as anything slightly nautical. Though it was tempting to add in octopus rings and anchor necklaces, I wanted to keep it more subtle than obvious as well as make sure the red, white and blue screams ocean rather than america.

This also just reminded me that I'm dying for a pair of heart shaped Lolita glasses. Better go get on that...

Michael Jackson auction

Custom military jacket, estimated $500-$700 USD

I am not ashamed to say I love Michael Jackson. I always have and always will. The scary little boy lost documentary, pedophilia court cases, plastic surgery failures and all around weird behavior will never change the fact that I am a fan of his music and what he represented to me when I was young.

Monogrammed brooch, estimated $150-$200 USD

So today I come across the online auction for pretty much his entire life. It's really sad to see someone's life laid out like that. Everything from garden sculptures to patio furniture, fan art sent to him, music awards, video games, his clothing, hat and glove collections, etc. When Christie's did Marilyn Monroe's auction it was awkward, and this one is no different.


Costume pants, estimated $150 USD

For those who are ok with taking a part of someone's life because debt collectors took it all then this is for you.

Michael Jackson auction