CLOTHES MINDED: My Definition

Kate Moss by Richard Avedon - Versace F/W 1996

I don't know about you but when I buy clothes I prefer that they serve more than one purpose or have the ability to create more than one look. I like garments that can be styled at least 2 different ways, but MORE is indeed better. We all have multi-faceted lives that are "on-the-go" and our clothing needs to be as versatile as we are. Each day that I Re-Style a garment from fashion's past with contemporary pieces I think of the women who I call CLOTHES MINDED, these are not the clothing obsessed but the polar opposite. 

These ladies have tunnel vision on the contemporary, fast fashion that saturates our current marketplace. The women who turn their nose up at Vintage pieces because to them they garner "less value" because they have had a previous life. I'm dedicating my professional time to educating these women on the value and relevance of fashions past as it applies to the current fashion landscape.  

The past of these garments are the actual ALLURE, not the deterrent.

CLOTHES MINDED (My personal definition) : A Closed Minded Person as it pertains to CLOTHING, particularly Vintage.

Imagine if we thought the same about people with a past? we ALL have a past. So does the shirt in Forever 21 that 5 women just tried on before you, Ooops! Should we be over looked then or our value lessened because of our previous life or past? Ridiculous right? the same goes for previously loved garments that via Evolution Vintage have been professionally cleaned, repaired when needed and sold ready for their new life. 

This post is for those CLOTHES-MINDED ladies who can't see how the past can apply to the future when it comes to clothing.

I have literally hundreds of examples in my current Evolution Vintage inventory but I will use this This Vintage Damask printed 2 piece dress and cape set as an example here. I have re-styled it current AND in more ways than one.

GET THE COMPLETE LOOK (Under $200):

Dress/Cape Set: $95

Shoes (JustFab "Celia" Shoe) $39.95

Ring: Evolution Rewind: Silver Tone Tri-Leaf Ring with Faux Pearl Detail $60

First it is styled as it was intended. The dress and the cape together. Adding a contemporary colored bag, shoe or jewelry would time warp this set into 2014. I think that it stands alone as current as-is but contemporary accessories you can re-style that are all ready in your wardrobe.

Images: Tamara Wickstrom

The printed dress can be worn alone. Enhance the look with a pop of color. ANY bold color bag or shoe would bring this black and white to life!

 Or by reversing the cape to expose the Damask Print it can be styled with contemporary distressed denim, a trouser, pencil skirt or shorts. The cape itself can we worn two ways. 

Are You CLOTHES MINDED?

How could you re-style this set?

Kiss Curl: Contemporary Chic

1925

I'm currently in the middle of my New Year closet purge and organization. I am ready for new looks, a fresh way to re-style what is left and make new additions. The overhaul also goes for my hair. I'm contemplating a new look but making the best at creating diversity with the one I have now.

On New Years eve, along with my amazing Vintage velvet/feathered hat I went with a soft curled look with hot rollers off to one side and on the opposite side a "kiss curl". Like always I did a contemporary/vintage fusion look in both hair and dress. I mixed contemporary pieces like a black pencil skirt, Alternative Apparel Cobalt Burn out t-shirt, black blazer, Patricia Field fingerless gloves with the retro hat and vintage blue rhinestone necklace.

By definition a kiss curl is "A spiral curl plastered to the forehead or cheek"

The Kiss Curl for me combines Vintage glamour, retro-romance with a dash of contemporary chic-ness. There have been many variations of this look over time ...

1930's

Marlene Dietrich 1935

Louise Brooks

1960's

Kate Moss for John Galliano c. 1995

Will you rock a CHIC CURL in 2013?

To Turban or not To Turban?

One of the season's most interesting accessories is the "Turban" or "Turband". We've seen it all before, just like any "trend" but would you ROCK it for summer 2010?

It's not just for covering up those roots between colours or for "difficult"/bad hair days. It is a new chic hair/head accessory... or is it? YOU DECIDE. To Turban or not to Turban that is the Spring/Summer 2010 accessory question.

Turbans tromped town the runways in 2007 courtesy of Miuccia Prada and Ralph Lauren.
PRADA 2007



Celebs like Mary Kate Olsen and JLO rocked the Turband in 07:


Mary Kate's Turband 07


JLO @ MTV Awards 07


Kate Moss gave us a shining example of a chic turban in 2009 on the red carpet at the MET.


Carol Alt Rocks a Turband in the 1980s

The pages of Marie Clair magazine featured the turban for S/S 2010

Marie Clair - March 2010

and it has even made it's way into the much anticipated Sex and the City sequel film on the fab head of Carrie Bradshaw.


We have seen many versions over the years but where did they come from?

According to my research the first mention of turbans dates back to the end of the fourteenth Century, at the end of the Moorish occupation in Spain. Turbans were first introduced into English fashion in the 1790’s inspired by England’s increased trade with India for cotton. The French brought the Turban to the forefront of fashion in the 20th century via couturier Paul Poiret. See his wife Denise and muse in one of his designs:

Paul Poiret and his Oriental influence - Costume 1911

Many versions manifested from the 1920's well through the 1950's. All different versions, styles, colours, fabrics.

VINTAGE YSL (Velvet)

MY GRANDMOTHER Phyllis 1943

Vintage Turban (Crochet)


Middle-East meets mid-town Manhattan ... Can you Turban?

I know I CAN!!!