Color Combo: B&G

Vintage Gold Tone Necklace

SJP Collection "Carrie" in Black

When you get creative with personal style the color combinations are seemingly endless. There are several elements that one can use to make their personal fashion expression unique to their experience and color is one of them.

Today I am feeling the Black and Gold vibe. Understated from a color stand point but a timeless and chic color combo.

I fist fell in love with this combo in the early 1990's via CHANEL. They are the ultimate black and gold fashion house to me. The accessories are, and always have been on another level.

CHANEL 1991

VOGUE Paris Shot by Arthur Elgort 1991 - Christy Turlington in DIOR

EVOLUTION VINTAGE Goes B&G

SHOP

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Rock'N Royalty: 90's Style

Inspired by the birthday of Super Model and Super Mother Christy Turlington I thought about all the fashion editorial's I have seen her in over the years. I fell in love with fashion in the mid-1980's, even though I still feel the 80's was the most hideous fashion decade. This editorial from American VOGUE, October 1990 shot by the talented Irving Penn top's the list of my favourites. I had this magazine and remember cutting these images out and making a collage that surrounded my bedroom mirror. I was 11 years old and completely swept away by the art of fashion, these models and the photography. Her fellow supermodel Linda Evangelista and Model Tatjana Patitz were also featured in the spread.

CHANEL COUTURE

CHANEL

CHRISTIAN LACROIX

 CHANEL

Claude Montana for  LANVIN

 GIANNI VERSACE

 DIOR

 UNGARO

 CHANEL

 GIANNI VERSACE

 LACROIX

YSL

Never Forgotten: Gianni Versace

Seventeen years ago today fashions brightest light was brutally extinguished. It was because of  Gianni Versace that I fell into my life long love affair with Fashion. What remains is an amazing legacy of bold, unique, designs and a giant gaping hole in the industry. He will always remain an inspiration to me.

I still remember where I was when I got the news. I didn't want to believe it and I still don't. Seventeen years later I look back at the child I was, so enamoured with this man's vision for women and liberating them through garments that were way ahead of their time. Garments that the house of Versace continues to make a gallant attempt at emulating but never quite hits the same mark. He was a genius, icon and will always be an muse to me. 

I can't help but believing that the style and fashion landscape would be a different place if Gianni were still here. I long for the day's where the supermodels reigned supreme and the celebrities only occupied the front rows at fashion shows, not the magazine covers. He created the supermodel, the spectacle that we now know as fashion shows and presentations with his over the top cast, music, orchestration and front row. From his mother's dress shop in Southern Italy (Reggio di Calabria) he was THE trailblazer to the celebrity, the supermodel, unique textiles and glamour that was so bad it was way too good.

Image: Helmut Newton

Gianni had an attitude in the business I wish more designers and successful people in general would replicate; There is room for everyone. He would give "unknown" creative's (like Brian Atwood, Todd Oldham, etc..) opportunities that they never otherwise would have received. His pursuit was beauty and expression. He never wanted to stop learning, experiencing and growing from all corners of the world and culture.

1990

In the wise words of Mr. Versace, "Beauty will save the world"

And he is still right.

1946-1997

Fashions Past is Present

Chanel F/W 1991. Model Kristen Mcmenamy

I cannot stress enough the obvious cyclical nature of the fashion industry. I could use thousands of examples of how fashions past influences fashions future. People who claim they are "not into Vintage" make me laugh as their current wardrobe pieces simply looks like a new spin on an old classic! 

The resemblances are not always LITERAL or COPIES but the essence of past collections are always present, for me anyway. My latest observation was the Balmain Spring/Summer 2014. It just reminded me of the CHANEL Fall 1991 Collection with the mix of denim, gold hardware accessories and black moto style pieces.

Quick Fashion History Lesson --> Fashion Designer Pierre Balmain (pictured below in 1952 in Paris) was an architect turned fashion designer in 1934. He one said, "dressmaking is the architecutre of movement". He worked for another designer until he opened the House of Balmain in 1945 and in the post WWII era was dubbed "the king of fashion" in France. He was born in 1914 and passed away in 1982. The house of Balmain has changed designers several times since his passing (including major designers like Oscar de la Renta) and the current designer is Olivier Rousteing.

Balmain S/S 2014

This new Balmain collection reminded me of F/W 1991 CHANEL.  Let me be clear that it is not identical, nor do I see "copies". The connection is in the the denim, moto inspiration, quilting, gold hardware/accessories and sheer elements. My overall point is that the essence of fashion's past always lives in fashion's present and future. 

 Thus, Vintage pieces are ALWAYS CHIC and TIMELESS. 

Styling is the key element to modernization of pieces from the past.

What are your thoughts on Fashion's Past?

 Do you see the connection?