by jennine on March 18, 2010
These days it’s hard to find actual vintage in a thrift store. Every now and then you’ll come across something vintage in a sea of last year’s H&M, and for that reason, I don’t frequent thrift stores as much as I used to back in the day… well, the ‘new clothes’ back then are now being sold as vintage. Yep, that long ago.
A few weeks ago, looking for furniture for our new apartment, I visited a thrift store that actually had a high percentage of vintage clothing and antiques. They were having a sale on coats, and never having enough coats, I took a look through, and found several vintage coats I wanted. One I had to leave behind, though it looked like it might be from the 1950’s, but it had stains, and was quite frail. Then this beautiful camel hair coat for $20. Holy moly, it has beautiful buttons and lining. The camel hair is soft and it fit perfectly. The only problem was that it was too long. Long coats are great for cold weather, but in California, id never really gets cold enough to where you need a long coat, and they often come across as too formal.
So here is the question… do you alter vintage?
Sometimes it feels like destroying the design by altering, taking away the elements that made it true to it’s time. Other times, it seems that a long skirt or a high neckline come across as frumpy by today’s standards, and a beautiful garment ends up sitting in a closet hoping the next generation finds it fashionable.
In this case I decided I would alter the coat. It was $20 and alterations on the length and the sleeves cost $35, for a total of $55 for a natural fiber, union-made, vintage coat. Even the $250 made-in-China coat I was wearing this winter started to pill because the fabric wasn’t sturdy enough (much to my annoyance). So these days you really can’t get good quality pieces for cheap. I’ve worn this coat a few times already since altering it on Monday, and I really find it goes with a lot of my wardrobe.
Before:
The coat passed my knees. This is a good length for colder climates, but in a place that never goes below 50°F it’s a little too much.
After:
The shorter length is more casual and versatile…works with jeans, and short dresses.
Now I’m thinking, heck what else can I alter in my wardrobe? I really want cropped jackets…we’ll see what comes up next.
by jennine on March 17, 2010
Did you remember to wear green today? Well if you did, good for you! And if you didn’t, I didn’t either until this afternoon. Sometimes I’m into it, and sometimes, well, I’m not… St. Patty’s day isn’t like HALLOWEEN, where you can make up a costume and pretend to be something.
Believe it or not, I don’t own that much green. Which is strange, because its actually a flattering color, as most colors are, if you get the right tint/tone/shade. I’ve had this Tartan jacket by Christian Francis Roth for some time, I don’t exactly know why I bought it, oh yes, because I love Wendy Brandes. But the jacket, while cute, doesn’t quite go with many things I have, and the box cut jacket is a particularly challenging silhouette for curvy people, but I loved nod to the early 60’s combined with the asymmetric detail so I bought it.
The boxy jacket wasn’t complete with out a hat. Really, we should all wear more hats anyway, I’m gong to the Vintage Fashion Expo over the weekend to see if I can pick up any more vintage hats. This vintage red beret I got from Market Publique, it really should make more appearances!
Jacket : Francis by Christian Francis Roth • Vintage Hat : Market Publique • Glasses : Cynthia Rowley • Jeans : Era of Chaos • Ballet Flats : Jessica Simpson (yes, now I have TWO pairs by her!)
by jennine on March 16, 2010
Tomorrow is St. Patrick’s Day… legend has it it that St. Patrick drove all the snakes out of Ireland. Who knows? The fact is, I’ve never been much into the holiday, even though I love Ireland, I’m not much for beer drinking and, well, green? I need more green in my wardrobe. The other day, on the bus I heard this guy planning on helping the snakes reclaim the holiday, which could be a nice idea, if the snakes actually cared that much about people getting sloshed wearing plastic green top hats.
UPDTATE: Punk Glam Queen explains: There were never snakes in Ireland. Those “snakes” were a metaphor for the indigenous Pagans. Its believed that St. Patrick drove people their deaths because they wouldn’t convert to Christianity. That’s probably what the guy on the bus was talking about as there has been a huge resurgence of people interested in and following pre-Christian religions.
Where are you when it comes to animal prints? Leopard made it’s way back, zebra too… I’ve always admired them from afar, but chicken out at the last second. Well, except that one jumpsuit with 4 different animal prints. That was awesome beyond all awesome, therefore an exception. Tasteful animal prints, I’m not sure if it really exists, and who cares about tastefulness anyway? Longing for something animal inspired, I snagged this lovley Ella Moss snake print dress on sale at Shopbop a while back and had to get it. It’s taken some time to wear it properly, as it was intended for NYFW, but it never happened. So here it is… a dress can’t stay in my closet for long without getting dragged out!
The other day my husband asked why I wear so much brown and blue lately… and I can’t seem to get enough.
Dress: Ella Moss • Linen Motorcycle Jacket : Charlote Russe • Glasses: Cynthia Rowley • Clutch: Vintage Etienne Ainger
by jennine on March 15, 2010
Daylight savings time happened over the weekend. It was a pain in the arse to adjust to the lost hour, but dang…it stays light out so much later! Better start accumulating sunglasses, because I tell you the sun seems so much brighter these days.
Lounging on our new sofa last night, my husband and I spent some quality time together after a week apart. Talking about something, he said, ‘In retrosperspective…‘ Heh, English is not his first language, so he can say that and it’s super cute. What is retro-perspective? Paper 3-D glasses in drive through cinemas? Technicolor? Looking at the modern world through modernist eyes? Retro Super Future makes Italian sunglasses with Zeiss lenses. They used to specialize in the Wayfarer shades in bright colors, but lately they’ve branched out into more sophisticated, yet still playful frames. I’m really liking the Lucia, which has a nice twist of the circular lens, so hard for me to really pull off, the frames, both nerdy and kind of chic.
Ok, so I got a pair of sunglasses just a few weeks ago, but a girl can look, can’t she?
by jennine on March 11, 2010
First off, I have to apologize for the lack of posts this week. This year has been particularly stressful. The conference, the move, and now…it’s my family. I feel like I can’t be all things to all people these days, and right now, it’s my family who needs me here the most.
My grandmother, my father’s mother was the one person in the family who always made me feel definitely related. She was the one who loved fashion, she loved make up, beautiful things, loved talking and socializing, and the other person in my family who is left-handed. She would sew most her clothes until arthritis claimed her hands, she had more shoes than anyone I’ve ever met. She tended her garden and kept her house in order for as long as she could walk around the house. ‘You have to keep moving, or you’ll die.’ she said.
A few years ago, she would talk about dying, not in any morbid way…but most of her friends were dying off. She would say… “As long as I have my mind, and if I can die in dignity, I will be happy.”
Then it happened.
She had an accident, and was hospitalized with where they diagnosed her with Alzheimer’s disease. She was losing her mind. It went unnoticed as we all thought she was a bit spacey, but it was more than that. She had to be cared for, so my grandfather and she packed up and moved to Hawaii to be closer to my dad and uncle. That was two years ago.
Sometimes death is sudden, sometimes it’s not. I’m here in Hawaii now, visiting with my grandparents, my grandfather is doing ok, it’s very hard for him. My grandmother, who used to be so talkative and vibrant sits in a wheelchair unable to have a conversation. I think she recognizes me, but I’m not so sure. She’ll hold my hand and tell me she loves me, but she’s never said my name. She recognized my mom, who hasn’t seen her in a decade, but it’s also hard to say.
Alzheimer’s disease is so hard on everyone, the person who suffers, the family. I don’t really know how to describe it, but the woman in the wheelchair, she isn’t the same person I have known my whole life. I miss my grandmother, she was crazy, but I loved her that way.
The only good thing about this is my family has come together in this. My parents were divorced when I was young, and I’ve never been one of those people who wished my parents to be together… they weren’t a good couple. But, yesterday, for the first time in god knows how long, 10? 20? 25 years? My mom, my dad, my sister and I have sat at the same table and talked. It’s really been so long, I’ve forgotten what that was like. Sitting with the people I’m most related to, coming together in a time of need, really meant so much. Yesterday, my mom and I drove my dad to the airport, it was the only time in memory that the three of us had been together. I felt like a little girl sitting in the back seat, strangely content…even though my parents have much suitable partners in their new spouses than they ever were to each other.
I don’t think I’ve ever really talked about my family on this blog, it never really made sense to. This is the place where I come to have fun and talk about fun things and some of the more personal things in my life, seems to belong to a different world. But this week I really need to take the time to spend with my family, because we really don’t have that much time in this world.
Anyway, thanks for bearing with me, I should be back and posting on Monday.
Have a wonderful weekend my dears!
