Style Muse Monday: 1940's College Sweetheart

INSPIRATION:

When I stumbled upon this photo from a 1940's issue of Seventeen Magazine I knew I had some red hot outfit inspiration.   First look you may see just a couple of college cuties, chillaxing after class, one of them has a guy in tow carrying her books, but look again these girls have some wicked style.   Both models are wearing a fairly standard issue plaid skirt, but I like how each is styled slightly differently.  The colors are similar right down to the red shoes, but the woman on the the left has a more sporty look with the drapey blouse and loafers, while the woman on the right has a dressier more feminine take.  
 

1947 Seventeen Magazine.   Image from here.

THE RE-CREATION

Working around the plaid skirt I decided rather than create two similar daytime looks I would create a look for work and a look for a night out on the town.  Either look is statement making and comfy cozy thanks to the plaid flannel draped on the lower half (like wearing a blanket out). Caution: While dolled up in a plaid swing-y skirt random men may offer to carry your books (not that you couldn't carry them yourself). 

Plaid skirt, $65
Knee length socks, $8
Chelsea Crew oxford flat shoes, $33
ASOS vintage bag, $40
American Apparel elastic suspender, $18
ASOS studded sunglasses, $16
Old Navy Boys Oxford Shirt, $15

No sleeve shirt, $60
Plaid skirt, $37
Wet seal, $20
ASOS stiletto heels, $64
Suzy Smith clutch handbag, $40
Zara metal belt, $30

Vintage Inspired Outwear Looks

The Inspiration:

Fashion Illustration from the Department of Special Collections at FIT Archives

The Recreation:

Plaid To Meet You by jrosestyle featuring a pea coat

The Inspiration:

Fashion Illustration from the Department of Special Collections at FIT Archives

The Recreation:

It's A Grey Matter by jrosestyle featuring a double breasted coat

The Inspiration:

Fashion Illustration from the Department of Special Collections at FIT Archives

The Recreation:

Lady In the Yellow Hat by jrosestyle featuring yellow gloves

Costume Confection

Today I am trying something a little different instead of my usual pictorial outfit posts I am doing a video outfit post. Are you still with me...okay, good. Halloween appeals to so many people because of the power to temporarily transform yourself into someone completely different. When in costume it is easy to get into character, be bolder, because you are masquerading as someone as. While dressed as my saucy little flapper I decided to try taking some video of the outfit as well as my usual picture. I liked how the video looked and in the spirit of being a bolder self (even if I am posing as someone else) I am going to post it to see what you think.



So what are your thoughts on a video outfit post. Does it show the clothes to their best advantage? Does it give you a better sense of my style? Or do you prefer the photographs?

Last Minute Halloween Costume

Here's a quick last minute Halloween costume idea, 1990's grunge girl. With 90's clothes officially reaching vintage status it's a great year to resurrect and recycle those duds as a costume. The pieces are probably things you have, could buy at a thrift store or borrow from a guy friend.

The Main Ingredients:

• Henley or 90's Band Shirt
• Flannel Button Down (Cut the sleeves off for a DIY vest)
• Ripped Baggy Jeans
• Beanie Hat
• Guitar Pick Necklace or Velvet Choker
• Grommet Belt
• Fingerless Gloves
• Combat Boots

The Extras:

• Unkempt Dirty Looking Hair (run some gel through it for a wet look)
• Colorful clip in Extensions think Manic Panic Bright
• Dark Brick Red Lipstick

Style Muse Monday: Katharine Hepburn

Taking a Look Back: My Style 1996

Here is a photo snapped of me waiting at an airport July 1996. Excuse the chipmunk face (no idea what was going on there).  I was 15 and eagerly waiting to board a plane, on what would be my first flight.  You can see that even though I was traveling I still made sure that I was properly accessorized, note the multiple chains and rings.  I was wearing my favorite jacket, a ditzy daisy cotton number from Delia's.  * Side note I lived and breathed Delia's clothes back then and would ravenously flip through the pages whenever a new catalog arrived.  The rest of the outfit was relatively simple a boy's white cotton tank and wide leg jeans.  What I love about this picture, aside from the expression (priceless really) was the haircut.  I used to love experimenting with my hair; different lengths, the color, my hair was constantly changing.  I love the edginess of the cut; the length and the bangs, how very chic of me.  Looking at this picture reminded me that sometimes style risks pay off and I was certainly more of a risk taker back then.  Moving forward I want to try to take more chances with my style.  Whether it be with my hair or my clothes, I don't want to become staid or comfortable I want to continue to evolve and move forward.

Do you ever find yourself in a comfortable style rut?  What were you wearing back in 1996?

Style Muse Monday: Gwen Stefani Circa 1990

I don't have much to say about attending High School in the 1990's.  There are certain things from the 90's though that I could wax poetic on. One being fashion, two being movies and the third would be music. I love that the decades fashions were so heavily influenced by the music scene of the time. My style was certainly influenced by the musicians I adored. I have to say that one of the most influential people on my personal style in HS would have to be Gwen Stafani. Her 90's style was kooky and eclectic; a combination of rockabilly, skater girl and punk with a dash of global influence.   It was masculine; baggy pants, combat boots, and chain wallets. But it was also feminine; retro curls, red lips and cropped tops. The polarities of how she dressed herself was endlessly fascinating to me as a teen. So today's Style Muse Monday is dedicated to one of the first people whose style I tried to emulate, Gwen Stafani.

Gwen Stefani: 1990's Style by jrosestyle featuring roll up pants

Online Shopping 101: Vintage Shopping with Market Publique

I always love discovering new websites that are easy to use, have a great layout and well, have to do with shopping.  I attended the IFB conference in September where I met Pamela Castillo, Co-Founder and Creative director of Market Publique.  Market Publique is an online auction site solely dedicated to vintage clothing and accessories. Anyone who has tried vintage shopping online knows what a cavernous mess of a maze it can be.  Etsy and Ebay may have massive web sites filled to the brim with vintage goods, but let's be honest, they are so overwhelming and the sellers aren't always reliable.  Castillo explained that Market Publique is different because the site administrators select and approve the sellers before they are allowed to list items on the website.  The selection may be smaller than some of those "mega-sites", but the site has a higher end curated feel to it and the items look like they are a higher quality.  I am all for quality over quantity, if you are too and love a good vintage find swing by Market Publique.  Here is a snapshot of some of the gorgeous pieces currently up for auction.

60's Structured Kelly Green Purse, $35

70's Crochet Vest, $14.99

60's Wool Pencil Dress with Bow, $55

80's Polka Dot Crop Top, $7.99

80's Tribal Collar Necklace, $30

Remember the things pictured are only a sample of the offerings on Market Publique, because of they are one of a kind they may not be available.  I hope you enjoyed my website roundup for Market Publique, got a great online vintage source share it in the comments section below.  

Style Muse Monday: Joni Mitchell

There is something about fall that brings out my inner wander.  I want to hop in the car and drive without a destination, occasionally stopping to take in the fall foliage and the delightfuly crisp fresh air that define fall. The resurfacing of my inner free spirit is certainly reflected in my wardrobe; light easy layers, chunky accessories and nice pair of well heeled boots. I stumbled across some images of Joni Mitchell from the late sixties early seventies. Her carefree layers, knee high boots and easy free flowing hair are the inspiration for the outfit below. 

Whose style has been inspiring you lately?

Movie Style Moment: How to Steal A Million

How to Look Like A Million by jrosestyle featuring a bow belt

The 1966 film "How to Steal a Million"  is a delightful, comic, capper starring Audrey Hepburn and Peter O'Toole.  The film is a lot of fun and definitely worth watching for the wardrobe alone, designed by Hepburn's favorite designer, Hubert de Givenchy.  Givenchy had said of Hepburn:

She knew exactly how to shape her strong, independent image.  This naturally extended to the way she dressed. And she always took the clothes created for her one step further by adding something of her own, some small personal detail which enhanced the whole.

The film is chock full of fantastic mod 60's clothes, but no matter how bold the ensemble or outrageous the accessories, it was always Hepburn wearing them, not the other way around.  My favorite costume from the film is the black lace number Hepburn wore in the scene when she was trying to recruit an accomplice for the heist.  The fantastic black lace cocktail dress was paired with lace tights and a lace mask.  You would think that head to toe lace would be a bit much, but it is costume confection perfection.   The above outfit is my modern take on the costume from the film. Take a peak at the trailer below, if you haven't seen this movie I highly recommend it. 

Karen Elson For Nine West Vintage America

If you have been following me for a while you know that I am a sucker for all things vintage and retro looking.  I was intrigued when I heard that model, musician and muse, Karen Elson was partnering with Nine West's Vintage America line to create a limited edition capsule collection.  While Elson has made a living wearing designer duds, her own style is decidedly vintage with a hint of goth. What would this collection look like with Elson holding the design reigns?  Well here is the answer, a little victorian, a hint of rock and roll and a little glam.  The collection consists of shoes, bags and jewelry, evocative of the victorian era;  carpet bags with skeleton key adornments, granny boots in black leather with contrast glittery sparkle sides, gold chains with key and lock charms.  I was hoping that there would be more pieces in the collection, I think the designs could be more varied, but what is there covers the scope of Nine West's usual offerings. The most successful pieces design wise are the MIDNIGHTSUN knee high laceup boot (I already own something similar) and Sorrownwoe crossbody bag.  I personally think that the price is a little high for Nine West's target consumer, with prices ranging from $32 for the jewelry to $269 for the tall lace up boot.  The entire collection is available now.

MIDNIGHTSUN Knee High Boot, $269

SORROWNWOE Crossbody Bag, $69

So what do you think of the line? Do you have a favorite item in the collection? Are you tired of design collaborations between designers or models and mainstream retailers/lines or do you want more?

IFB Project #11: The Evolution of Fashion Media

I was reluctant to dive into the new online fashion media world; there was something so intimidating about blogs. I started as a passive observer of the new fashion media, occasionally reading some stylish girl’s fashion and style musings.  I tenuously joined the fringes of the blog world when I dipped my toe into blogging on Yahoo Shine.  The response was amazing. I was a convert, I loved it and I wanted to write more. I started posting on Shine more than two years ago, it allowed me the forum to write and receive feedback without having to manage the entire blog.  This last February I decided I wanted to do more, so I started my own blog.  It has been a lot of work, but deeply satisfying.  My inspiration for my posts, come from a varienty of sources; projects I am working on, online articles, blogs and magazines.  While magazines have seen dips in readership I don’t think blogs will replace them entirely.  Most blogs offer different takes on fashion from one person’s perspective. Besides, there is something so satisfying about flipping through the glossy pages of the newest issue.  For IFB Project #11 I created a list of my top 10 resources for fashion inspiration.

 

Fashion Magazines:

Lucky Magazine - The magazine reads like a fashionable best friend, telling you what will be in, how to dress for your shape and where exactly to buy it.

Harper’s Bazaar - There is very little high fashion about my personal style, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like to look at it. I personally prefer Bazaar’s take on straight from the runway’s style, interviews and fashion spreads.

Fashion Websites:

StylePage - Launched in 2011, StylePage is on online inspiration board, a place where you can gather images that are currently inspiring to you, be they trendy, timeless, edgy or retro. You can follow users in the community whose style you admire and they can follow you. Check out my style page www.stylepage.com/jrosestyle or create your own StylePage today!

www.stylepage.com

New York Magazine: Lookfinder - There many websites where you can view the latest designer collections, what sets NY Mag’s website apart is the ability to filter the online image gallery by designer, clothing type, season, color style or model.  It’s a great visual resource that is easy to navigate and the filters allow you to sift through the runways shows to easily find what you are looking for. http://nymag.com/fashion/fashionshows/looks/

Glamour Magazine - The self-professed “Slaves to Fashion” in fashion editorial department keep a daily blog that is a friendly, funny and accessible take on their current fashion obsessions and musings.  There is also slideshows featuring current trends and a peak at each month’s fashion spread. www.glamour.com/fashion

Fashion Blogs

Pretty Shiny Sparkly - Kristina the blogger behind P.S.S. is about all things in fashion and beauty that are Pretty Shiny Sparkly (Duh).  Outfit posts, nail DIY, makeup/beauty tips all feature on the site.  Kristina is also the creator of the Blogger’s Do It Better challenge.  A monthly outfit post that challenges participants to dress within the assigned theme and then share their looks on her site. www.prettyshinysparkly.com

  

Who What Wear - Who What Wear has all the polish of a glossy fashion magazine. The editors Hillary Kerr and Katherine Power deliver the latest trends, celebrity styles, fashion DIY and designer interviews in daily beautifully formatted posts. www.whowhatwear.com  

Everything Fabulous - Everything Fabulous’ banner reads “A girl should be two things classy and fabulous”.  The quote from Coco Chanel sums up the sites aim in one sentence.  The content is not strictly limited to fashion, it covers décor, food and DIY to name a few.  The subjects may vary but the content is always...fabulous. www.everythingfab.com/

Bloglovin’ - While not a blog in and of itself this blog reader is indispensable to keeping up with my favorite blogs.  The simple layout and browsing feature allows me to flip through my bloglist like I am flipping through pages of my favorite glossy. www.bloglovin.com

Fashion Blogging Community

Independent Fashion Bloggers - This would not be a top ten roundup with out including a website I visit daily for inspiration and advice, Independent Fashion Bloggers.  The site is an online community dedicated to informing, inspiring and connecting with other bloggers.  There have been many helpful bloggers who have reached out to me, who I have met through IFB.  The weekly projects such as this one give my fashion and writing a much need jolt and the Links A La Mode is a great to way to discover your new favorite blog.  

Best,

Jennifer

  

Outfit Chronicles: Akin to Stevie Nicks

Today's outfit was certainly inspired the originator of Bohemian chic, Stevie Nicks.  Nicks flair for chunky necklaces and rings, ethereal layers, and diaphanous skirts solidified her gypsy troubadour image.  Her iconic style has certainly cast a spell on fashion history.  My outfit is more an interpretation of her look rather than a direct copy.  I swapped out the tiered skirt for a pair of classic jeans, threw on a few chains, some chunky sandals and rock on Gold Dust Woman.

Jacket: Love Squared (Nordstrom Rack) 

Tank Top: Old Navy Petite

Necklace: Handmade, LOFT

Rings: Vintage, Lia Sophia

Belt: Vintage

Jeans: Paige Premium Denim - Peg Skinny

Sandals: Clarks

Who has been inspiring your style lately? Is is a particular person, or a decade, maybe another influence has seeped into your style, share the deets below.