Make me a Teddy Girl

Quite sometime ago I found a set of vintage photographs online that inspired me more than anything else had seen in quite sometime. I immediately dragged them from the screen and safely into an inspiration folder on my desktop where they sat. and sat. and sat. and sat. And now, finally, today is the day that I get to set them free!

They were of Teddy Girls in the mid 1950's (see the two smaller photos below), and I remember being so captivated with their effortless Edwardian-era styling and their tough, tomboy attitudes. In the time since, I've done a wee bit of research on Teddy Girls, enough to know that I would have been A-okay with being one if I had been around in the 50s.  They spent their spare time away from factories buying or making their trademark clothes which included – get this – drape jackets, pencil skirts, long plaits (aka braids!), rolled-up jeans, flat shoes, tailored jackets with velvet collars, straw boater hats, cameo brooches, espadrilles, coolie hats and long, elegant clutch bags (taken from wikipedia!). I mean, other than the coolie hat, which of those things would you not want to wear right now?

It was only recently that I rekindled my love and appreciation for Teddy Girls, and I owe it all to Liz Ham's 2010 interpretation for Oyster Magazine. More than anything they make me ready for spring and maybe a little anxious for a pair of shiny black oxfords!

1955 photos shot by Ken Russel!

Greens by Grinshpan

I lucked out earlier today when I stumbled upon this great collection by Argentinian label, Greens by Grinshpan. They're set in Buenes Aires, and well, if you ask me they should be getting paid by the tourism department because all this collection makes me want to do is fly down south to Argentina to bask in the tropical sun – I always envy the Southern Hemisphere when our coldest months hit.

The color palette is a positive match to nearly everything else in my closet already. The loafers are a spitting image of the Etienne Aigner's that I wore in yesterdays post. Check mark on the trench coat, too. Perhaps my favorite things here are all the stripes, the two super baggy dresses, and maybe the subtle hint of a good 60's flick that I see in the coat and the cropped tank.

Their winter collection for this season is equally impressive. Lots of plaid pieces and more baggy dresses, things that only seem fitting for Alexa Chung style enthusiasts.

Fray I.D.

Sorry to be so quiet around here today. I've been a master procrastinator this week putting off both of my Sync articles until today – I submit two every other Tuesday – and skipping out on *most* of my Christmas shopping until now. I still haven't had time to do it, so I'll be a at the store with all the rest of the bozo's tomorrow (raise your hand if you're with me!). 

I have lots of outfit photos on my card reader to show you, but until I find time to edit those I'll just keep sharing some of my favorite collections. I left the Japanese labels alone for a bit (like, half a day), but surprise, surprise, I'm back on track again today. This label is called Fray I.D. and I'm head over heels for the lush 60s vibe in their latest collection! Favorite piece: fur collar camel coat with *to die for* bow buttons. It's going on my thrift list, but I have a feeling this one isn't going to surface.

Penelope and Coco

If you've followed my blog for long, you'll know that I'm an animal when it comes to oxfords. I just can't get enough of 'em! Sky high heels are quite impractical for my everyday life, not to mention uncomfortable and obnoxious (when I walk in them, at least), so I made the decision a few months back to stop wearing them for outfit photos, too (except on occasion!). As much as I'd love to wear a nice pair of Jeffery Campbell clogs, and as slimming as they'd probably make my legs look in that one dress, I just can't do it.

That's why I love Penelope and Coco so much. Their selection of oxfords and boots is great! For the first time in my life I'm taking nicely to leopard print things, and I actually don't mind the hot pink oxfords either! The outfit styling in the lookbook is such a treat, too. And hey, they're not Japanese either. I managed to slip an American label in there. Whatayaknow!

I'll be back tomorrow with a giveaway! xo.

Té chichi

So maybe the Japanese label love is getting a little obsessive. Sorry! I just keep falling in love with everything I find. And just so you're fore-warned, there's no end in sight. I've spent a lot of my extra time seeking out great Japanese labels, and I've got a whole bunch of junk of my desktop to prove it! I'll be organizing lots of folders later today, and hopefully getting all this content into a post (or a few posts) soon. Everything is just so pretty!

Today I'm all about Té chichi and their wonderful Anthropolgie-esque lookbook. Isn't it lovely. Everything looks so cozy!

Masscob Fall Collection

I discovered the Masscob fall collection while working on my recent article about the 70s trend. The colors and materials matched all the things I was picturing in my head perfectly. I wondered how I missed such a fantastic collection until now?

After a little more digging, I discovered the film that went with the collection. It brought a whole new life to the clothing, and added a personality that couldn't be translated through photographs. It's one of those films that your heart attaches to just seconds into the piece. It reminded me of a brilliant video I saw in the school art gallery last semester.

The film from school was very personal and poetic. It's called Outpost and was shot in Super 8, and it touched on the idea of how landscape defines a place and a people. It's based on a true story about a 22-year-old Icelandic fisherman who survives a shipwreck in the middle of the North Atlantic in 1984, and it's one of the first pieces that really made me want to pursue film.

Every time I see a good collection video, my love for story-telling though film is reinvigorated. I usually watch them over and over again!

Masscob Autumn-Winter 2010-2011 from be-poles on Vimeo.

Snidel

 

 I've fallen so hard for this great Japanese label called Snidel. I accidentally found their site the other day and haven't been able to get it out of my head ever since. Their latest collection reminds me of so many great things. . .

♥ The first photo reminds me of Marc Jacobs latest campaign. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because they both have a ghostly feel to them.
♥ The photo of the girls in cozy sweaters and matching berets reminds me of Bonnie and Clyde. Love.
♥ The cream-colored boxy suit reminds me of the designs from Luella's spring 2009 collection. So many ruffles and boxy 60's-inspired coats in that bunch!

I could rave about every single outfit here, but if I had to call it, I'd say my favorite outfit is the one with the white collared navy sweater and the patterned skirt, and (I get one more!) the amazing lace petticoat with the floral top and beautiful heeled loafers!

Which look is your favorite?

Swedish Hasbeens: 70's Wedding

How authentically 70s are these shots from the latest Swedish Hasbeens campaign? I've spent the evening working on a project that pertains to the current 70s trend, so naturally, this set of photos was of particular interest to me! I think I'm most fascinated by the girl in the chocolate brown mini dress in the big family shot, and the groom in his unbelievable velvet blazer and over-sized bow tie. The shoes aren't so hard on the eyes either! I'm glad I waited on my first Swedish Hasbeens purchase when everyone else was getting them this past Spring, but I would eventually like to get a pair. They totally won me over with their story. . .

"Her name was Anita and she was the hottest mum in all of southern Sweden in the 1970’s. While smoking Camel she screamed at her kids until her curlers fell out and just looked fabulous in her white high-heeled clogs."

"One summer day in 2006 we found the shoes she wore (300 pairs of red, white and black beautiful clogs from the 70’s) in the basement of an old clog factory in the neighboring village and brought them to Stockholm. So for all these people that shared our love for Anita’s wooden shoes and for ourselves we started Swedish Hasbeens."

Animal Sweaters

I think I've confessed my love for animal print sweaters enough here lately. After bringing them up in several different posts and spending a few different afternoons digging through google images for them, I figured I'd just shut-up and show you guys a few of my favorites.

Though my thrifting luck has been good the past few weeks, it hasn't been good enough to bring home one of these bad boys. I've gotten so desperate at this point that part of me has been tempted to spend the $88 that Urban Outfitters is asking for that Peter Jensen bunny sweater. But the practical part of my brain always stops me before I make it that far. I figured if I couldn't get my hands on one, I'd at least live vicariously through these photographs.

1. Caitlin Bellah 2-3. Tiny Owls Magic Attic 4-5. Peter Jensen 6. Mad Girl Vintage 7. Liebemarlene 8. Jean-Charles de Castelbajac 9. Tiny Owls Magic Attic

Local Designer Spotlight: Lauren Roark

On Saturday night I went to an event called HarvestFest in a well-known and very well-liked neighborhood, Hillcrest, here in Little Rock. HarvestFest is pretty much a massive block party, except for the fact that they have a yearly fashion show! It's put on by a great little boutique called Box Turtle which carries a lot of great independent designer pieces. I've always loved the shop because there's a room upstairs that's dedicated to nothing but local designers!

I think in all there were something like six or seven designers who showed, all very creative and unique with their own different styles and influences, but my favorite designer had to be Lauren Roark. I had a feeling that would happen since she loves vintage as much, if not more than me. She's got a pretty vintage shop in one of the local flea markets and I know she sells a few things online too!

Her background in vintage radiated through the silhouettes in her collection, though the vibrant prints and inventive headpieces rounded it out with a much more modern element. I could see myself wearing the first dress more than anything, but I know it's a one-of-a-kind design and there's no way that model is the same size as me!

If I had a fancy flash for my camera like the guy beside me, I'd definitely have more photos to show you. I wish I would've gotten more of Lauren's line and of the line that went right before her, but my camera doesn't do so well at night. I just ordered a Canon Speedlite 580ex on Ebay today, mostly because I have my first paying photo gigs coming up in a few weeks and I want to be prepared, but it'll be nice to have it for nighttime events like this too.

If you're interested in learning more about Lauren or want to get your hands on one of her pieces, just let me know and I'll try to get you in contact with her.

The Chungs: My Madewell Purchase

I know I already snuck these into a shoe shot with the Annie's in Central Park, but I wanted to give a proper introduction to my new go-to oxfords, 'the Chungs'. I was practically acting like a giddy third grader with a crush when I bought them, writing Madewell all over twitter like a little girl with a sharpie and a bathroom wall, but I'm pretty sure they were my most expensive purchase of all time so you can understand where the excitement was coming from.

I tried on the fringe clogs first and walked around the store for a bit and loved them, I absolutely did, but they just didn't seem so practical for my every day life. First off, I wear oxfords every single day. I wore one pair until each shoe had a large hole in the bottom, another until the sole started flapping, and yet another until the little weaves started peeling apart! I wear oxfords to the grave!

The second strike against the clogs was that they were heels and I just simply do not wear heels to class – which is pretty much the only place I get dressed for anyway. The final factor that I weighed out just before I made my final decision was the fact that clogs may not be "in" next season but oxfords are classic enough to be "in" until the end of time! I'll be getting these babies resoled for the next ten years.

Needless to say, I'm verrrry satisfied with my choice! I'm not sure if they're Alexa for Madewell since they're not under that section of the Madewell website, but they previewed with her lookbook earlier this year, so I appropriately titled them, the Chungs, as in "baby, have you the Chungs laying around anywhere today."

Eve Gravel Dress Giveaway

A while back a Montréal based designer named Eve Gravel contacted me and a few other bloggers to see if we would be interested in helping introduce her clothing line to the states. She's no stranger to the business as her label has been around in Montréal for 16 years, but for this fall season, she decided it was time to spread her creations to the south.

To make sure the collection was something we'd even be interested in, she sent over her fall lookbook for us to browse through. Of course it was filled with the prettiest dresses, skirts, and jackets made of the most beautiful fabrics and textures, all with charming details that I couldn't help but adore. We were able to pick out our top five favorite pieces and from there the Eve Gravel team narrowed it down to just one. I wasn't able to get my favorite piece, but they did their very best and sent over one of my other favorites, the Edgy Kate dress.

I'll admit, when I first saw the collection I was thinking, "Oh no. Leopard and black. Can I do leopard and black?", but the more and more I scrolled through the looks, the more and more I began to love it. Despite the fact that the pieces seemed a bit more edgy than my typical style, the silhouettes and textures seemed so very feminine. To be honest, it's not that I don't like urban looks, it's that the shapes don't usually work on my curvy body. This girls' got too much ass for skin tight booty shorts and body con dresses–which is why I love free flowing vintage dresses–but finally there's a collection that meshes the edgy aesthetic with a more girlie style. The whole time I was wearing the dress I kept thinking, "oh my gosh, Allison Mosshart would TOTALLY approve of this look"–um, yeah, so that girl crush is still going strong! 

I suppose the best news out of this whole Eve Gravel collaboration–for you guys, at least–is that each one of the five bloggers participating will be giving away their special Eve Gravel piece on their blogs. That's right. Five Eve Gravel pieces are up in the air, and I seriously think I might cry once I have to ship this dress off! The fabric is soft and sheer and the sleeves have just a bit of puff in them to help hold their shape. There's ruffles, there's lining, and it honestly is just about the best piece in my closet right now.

To enter, all you have to do is visit the Eve Gravel website and share your favorite piece from the collection. Make sure to leave your email address so I can get a hold of you and to increase your chances of winning at least one thing from the Eve Gravel line, be sure to check out Lulu Letty, Selective Potential, Sally Jane Vintage, and Liebemarlene throughout the week as they will be giving away their selected pieces too. Good luck!

Photos by my friend Corey.

Central Park

Blouse: Zara
Jumper: F21
Tights: Zara
Shoes: Madewell
Vintage Bag: Antique Mall
Sunnies: Estate Sale

 I told you the other day that I didn't get any proper outfit photos until the last day I was in New York, and I finally have them to show you! Since it was me and the two Annie's together on the last day, we figured we'd just take all the shots with Little Ocean Annie's fancy-schmance camera. That was one bonus of the trip, getting to see everybody's cameras and lenses. It definitely proved to me that I need to invest in a 50mm F/1.8 lens because holy shmoly, the results are bea....utiful!

We went to Central Park to get these photos, and unfortunately my flight left so soon after that I had to carry my luggage with me. Lucky me, Time Enough For Drums Annie was kind enough to hold one of my bags and wear my hat–thanks for not stealing it even though I know you thought about it! I thought Annie (T.E.F.D.) and I looked like little Orla Kiely girls with our cute vintage inspired pieces and amazing opaque tights from Zara. Preggers Annie was darling too, she just can't go for the short dresses right now. She's on a very limited wardrobe! 

It was tough to say goodbye to them after such a fun weekend. We spent our final moments sitting on the steps of the Met while they soaked up a Gossip Girl moment that I had no idea about–I've never really watched the show. Annie got an organic cupcake from a nearby stand as my tummy rumbled and begged for real food that wasn't a hot dog. I eventually got that real food at the airport where I had to order on a screen–if you can call a burger and fries real food. It was strange. I placed my ordered and a ticket printed out. A lady then called my number and gave me my food, and then I went to the cashier line to pay. Little Rock has self checkout lanes at the grocery stores, but I had never ordered food on a touch screen before–I'll read this in ten years and be like, "oh my gosh, I'm so old" because it'll be the common thing!

The taxi ride to the airport was nice. I didn't mind that it was long and would eventually cost me $35–even though that was like two more pairs of tights I could've bought at Zara–rather I enjoyed staring at the city. I had no crazy agenda and no friends in the back seat with me, and so I just looked out the window with my iPod playing loud and my eyes as wide as my brothers the first day he got glasses–he said, "Mom" .....  "the clouds are following us" as if he had just seen the sky for the first time.

Farewell, New York.