Archive for the ‘Designer’ Category
Fashion Files: André Courrèges
André Courrèges, self-proclaimed inventor of the mini-skirt, launched his ultra-modern ‘Space Age’ collection in 1964 and went on to become one of the most copied fashion designers of all time. A former civil engineer, Courrèges’ clothes were sharp, angular and mathematically designed. His clean-cut collection included trouser suits with immaculately cut straight legs and streamlined jackets. The look was created using heavyweight gabardines and other heavy fabrics to maintain a rigid structure. He also employed PVC, metal and plastic in many of his designs.
Today, vintage Courrèges pieces from the 1960s are rare and can sell for hundreds of dollars. Below are some vintage Courrèges items found on eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image to see the full listing.
Courrèges red wool gabardine mini-dress, 1964. Photo credit: Victoria & Albert Museum. Dress donated by Stavros Niarchos.
Vintage Courrèges “Eskimo” sunglasses. Current bid $162.47 on eBay.
Vintage 1960s Courrèges Sunkist orange PVC jacket from TimelessVixenVintage on etsy. $550.
Vintage Courrèges cap toe patent gogo boots from pamcoco on etsy. $335.
Vintage Courrèges lavender a-line dress from vintagedresscloset on etsy. $395.
Vintage Courrèges purple PVC vest by pamcoco on etsy. $525.
Vintage Courrèges dress with mesh back from violentvintage on etsy. $390.
Vintage 1960s Courrèges structured jacket from EndlessAlley on etsy. $110.
Mod Courrèges orange vinyl wallet from snapitupvintage on etsy. $175.
Vintage Courrèges modernist earrings from popgoesmyvintage on etsy. $40.
Vintage Courrèges black vinyl purse from snapitupvintage on etsy. $285.
Vintage Courrèges “Futur Couture” dress. $690 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s Courrèges ivory wool and mohair dress from thriffany on etsy. Also available in black. $250.
Vintage 1960s Courrèges navy blue handbag from TheMysteryDrawer on etsy. $150.
Vintage Courrèges stamped enamel necklace. $95 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges sheer sweater from violentvintage on etsy. $120.
Vintage Courrèges sweater with drawstring waist. $109.99 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s Courrèges silk scarf. $160 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges “Sport Futur” dress. $213.34 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges sunglasses frames on eBay. $85.
Vintage Courrèges Hyperbole wool jacket. $699.95 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges sculptural sunglasses. $980 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s Courrèges cashmere blend turtleneck sweater. $70 on eBay.
What Would Mrs. Roper Do?
Just three days into August, my favorite month of the year, and I’m already feeling a tinge of sadness for the end of summer. Still, as much as I relish the heat and humidity, when the thermometer ascends to triple-digits, my wardrobe inevitably suffers. It’s times like this a girl needs some fashion inspiration to see her through. It’s times like this a girl must ask herself, “What would Mrs. Roper do?”
A sassy and liberated woman of the 70s, Mrs. Roper wouldn’t let the dog days of summer bring her down. She would throw on her finest caftan (or kaftan), sexually harass her neighbors and insult her husband, all with an air of freedom and panache.
Short, long, cinched at the waist or wide open, an airy caftan is the sizzling summer secret to adding a languid air to your ensemble – without sacrificing style. Below are some of the more wearable caftans we found on etsy and eBay this week. Click on each image to see the full listing.
Make your own caftan! Vintage Simplicity 5680 caftan pattern from mbchills on etsy. $15.
Vintage 1960s or 1970s red gold caftan with cinched waist. Current bid $42.95 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s desert princess caftan from charlialana on etsy. $34.
Vintage floral mini caftan from fabledfancy on etsy. $48.
Vintage 1980s Christian Dior caftan from poetryforjane on etsy. $26.
VIntage 1970s plaid maxi caftan from midnightflight on etsy. $30.
Yellow striped batik caftan from EastAsiaHeritage on etsy. $35.
Handmade eco-friendly cotton kimono from ecofriendlybeauty on etsy. $60.
Vintage 1970s or 1980s lilac caftan with floral print from heidihodge on etsy. $26.
Vintage 1970s lion’s head, semi-sheer caftan from renouveauclothing on etsy. $58.
Hand drawn batik caftan from EastAsiaHeritage on etsy. $38.
Vintage 1970s striped tunic from PomPomClothing on etsy. $42.
Vintage 1970s ivory caftan with palm fronds from jantiques on etsy. $38.
Peachy rose short caftan by fivestonesvintage on etsy. $75.
Vintage 1960s pleated Hawaiian caftan on eBay. Buy it Now for $28.73.
1960s or 1970s Alfred Shaheen luxe Grecian caftan by closetcaseVNTG on etsy. $118.
Vintage 1971 abstract kimono-like caftan from ranchqueenvintage on etsy. $120.
Vintage mini caftan on eBay. Buy it Now for $42.
Vintage 1960s pink jersey caftan from luckyvintageseattle. Nice fitted waist so you won’t get lost in it. $165.
Vintage pleated, knee-length caftan from LuvStoneVintage on etsy. $58.
Vintage Hollywood glamour caftan from BoudoirBarbie on etsy. $48.
Vintage metallic rainbow pleated caftan on eBay. Current bid $9.99.
Vintage 1970s embroidered caftan from LoveStreetVintage on etsy. $150.
Vintage flying hearts caftan from FabulousDresses on etsy. $27.99
Vintage 1970s caftan blouse from heidihodge on etsy. $20.
Don’t Call It a Statement
Fashion critics are so in love with “statement” pieces these days (eye roll). It’s not that I don’t believe a hat or a piece of jewelry can make a statement, but putting the word “statement” in front of a noun has become so ubiquitous in fashion magazines and on TV shows that it often refers to a wide range of gaudy sins.
This Fall, don’t try to make a statement with your fashion. Instead, just be yourself and wear what you think is fun and cool. You know what I think is fun and cool? Vintage pendants and necklaces from the 1970s. I particularly covet Lanvin’s lucite pendants from that era. I also love Trifari, Sarah Coventry, Coro, Avon, Miriam Haskell, Napier, Whiting and Davis. Yes, many of the necklaces from this era are chunky, but don’t call it a statement. Don’t call it anything. Just wear it, and when someone begs to know where you got it, that’s when you can make your official statement.
Unfortunately, my jewelry armoire is at capacity at the moment. However, just because I can’t acquire anything new doesn’t mean you have to go without. Here are some of the 1970s-era necklaces I would buy today if I had the storage space. Click on each image below to see the full listing.
Vintage Lanvin signed necklace and earring set from ChicDeuxChic on etsy. $595.
Vintage 1970s “key party” pendant from Elsewind on etsy. $24.
Vintage 1977 Givenchy necklace with geometric pendant from gathersalot on etsy. $147.
Vintage Trifari white lucite necklace from mooivintage on etsy. $79.
Vintage 1970s egg shaped pendant necklace from lapoubellevintage on etsy. $24.
Vintage Trifari cream and green spinner necklace from mooivintage on etsy. $225.
Vintage 1970s Napier lucite choker from PRELOVEVINTAGE on etsy. $39.99.
Vintage Trifari black and silver enamel necklace from mooivintage on etsy. $59.
Vintage 1970s Avon Town and Country (I love that name) tortoise shell pendant by nickandnessies on etsy. $24.
Vintage Trifari modernist necklace and earrings from mooivintage on etsy. $99.
Vintage 1970s Whiting & Davis gold mesh bib necklace from stilettogirl on etsy. $62.
Vintage Egyptian revival enamel pendant from theCollectedCollage on etsy. $55.
Leos! Vintage 1970s lion head pendant with amber foiled cabochons for eyes from twinheartsvintage on etsy. $46.
Vintage (unsigned) 1970s Egyptian-inspired choker from bigyellowtaxivintage on etsy. $45.
Vintage 1970s white enamel and gold tone modernist pendant from fmvintage on etsy. $22.
Vintage Crown Trifari “waterfall” necklace. Same necklace (different color) Meryl Streep wore in The Devil Wears Prada. $39 on eBay.
Make a Spectacle of Yourself
I scored an impeccable pair of vintage Missoni sunglasses this week, but first I had to wade through an online sea of new old stock/dead stock (vintage, never used), gently used and vintage knock-off sunglasses on eBay and etsy.
As you can imagine, there’s a lot of junk out there.
To save you the pain of replicating my exhaustive search, below I have assembled a collection of some of the more interesting, original vintage sunnies I found on eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image below to view the entire listing.
Vintage (new old stock) Miss Dior sunglasses on eBay. Starting bid $99.
Vintage (60s dead stock) mid-century, electric orange sunglasses with super thick plastic frames. $67.50 on etsy.
Vintage (used) 70s Christian Dior oversized square sunglasses with shades of butterscotch to dark taupe. $188 on etsy.
Vintage (dead stock) 70s funky mint sunglasses made in Germany. $59.99 om etsy.
Vintage (new old stock, never used) brown aviators on etsy. $6.75.
Vintage (deadstock) 60s mod, navy blue square framed sunnies on etsy. $67.50.
Vintage (used) tiger striped amber blockers with smokey gradient lens and side panels. Made in Italy. $16 on etsy.
Vintage (used) Diane von Furstenburg tan, black and orange sunglasses on eBay. $150.
Vintage (used) 70s sunglasses made in France with unique, geometric arms. $44.40 on etsy.
Vintage (barely used) 70s Ski Optics Japan red, white and blue sunglasses/ski glasses. $30 on etsy.
Vintage (used) mirrored sunnies, made in France. $9.99 on etsy.
Vintage (used) gold plastic aviators with green plastic lenses. $7 on etsy.
Vintage (new old stock) Christian Dior sunglasses from the 70s. $225 on etsy.
Vintage (dead stock) brown sunglasses with glass lenses and metal arms and bridge. $9.98 on etsy.
Vintage (new old stock) 70s nose guard sunglasses by Bollé on eBay. $299.
Vintage (used) 70’s frosted sunglasses with lightweight metal frame and light brown tinted glass lenses. $8 on etsy.
Vintage (dead stock) 70s Emilio Pucci amber shades on etsy. $189.
Vintage (used) 60s pastel yellow sunglasses on etsy. Very mod. $35.
Vintage 70s round sunglasses with clear frames and blue lenses on eBay. $99.
Vintage (appear unworn) 70s Valentino sunglasses on eBay. $89.
Vintage 70s ski aviators with red metal frame on eBay. $7.99.
Vintage (new old stock) 70s Playgirl butterfly sunglasses on eBay. Buy it Now for $69 or make an offer.
A Creamy Crop of Capes
Get a replica of Kate Middleton's Angora wedding shrug on etsy. $190.
You don’t have to be royalty to drape yourself in a creamy confection like Kate’s. On etsy, “tvkstyle” will make you a replica of the duchess formerly known as Kate Middleton’s Angora wedding shrug for a pauper’s price. Let them eat cape! Capes. Ponchos. Swing coats. Shrugs. Shawls. Crochet. Knit. Angora. Wool. Fur. Leather. Fringe. Here are some of the best in creamy cover ups from eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image to go to the listing.
Oatmeal tweed acrylic cape on etsy. $61.
Vintage swing coat with kimono sleeves on eBay. Starting bid $9.99.
Lanvin cape with neck ruff detail on eBay. $967.
Creamy crochet cape on eBay. Buy it Now for $75 or make an offer.
Vintage sheer lace poncho on eBay. Current bid $10.49.
Vintage 1920s ostrich trimmed cape on eBay. $228.
Hand knitted mohair capelet by ufer on etsy. $49.
Vintage crochet caftan on eBay. Current bid $26.
Vintage cream cape on eBay. Buy it Now for $128.45.
Ultra soft tiered capelet by fashionknitwear on etsy. $92.
Handmade, oversized scarf with pompoms by tvkstyle on etsy. Merino wool blend. $130.
This Week's Look 