Style Inspiration: Mad Men

I have been a bit apprehensive about doing a style post pertaining to Mad Men for quite some time now.  This is mostly due to the slew of fashionista bloggers out there worshipping both the style of Betty and Don Draper alike.  But, with the season premiere just around the corner, I thought it was time to honour the show that has given me fashion inspiration before I even watched it.  And what an appropriate way to celebrate my 100th post!

You see, I have been a collector of vintage clothing for ages, and it just so happens that the hourglass waistlines and full skirts look pretty tremendous on me, so the late 50s and early 60s style has been a go-to of mine for years.

I adore the flower print dresses, and on more than one occasion I have claimed to wanting to dress like I'm rushing a sorority circa 1962.  Pair that with some sparkly costume jewelry, clip-on earrings, or maybe an oversized cocktail ring and I'm sold.

Unfortunately, dressing like it is 1963 all the time is no longer practical in this sweltering and filthy city.  You can only get away with second skin dresses and matching heels so often.  So I steal a few touches here and there to make it more practical.  Lately, it's been all about the liquid eyeliner paired with a heavily saturated lipstick.  I'm addicted to MAC's Lady Danger (definitely my signature colour), Impassioned, Morange, and Girl About Town for these purposes.

I also love adding vintage broaches to my dresses.  I have been lucky enough to come into a few of these over the years, but you can find them on eBay for super cheap.  It probably doesn't hurt that Christina Hendricks looks absolutely phenomenal in all the 1960s styles.  No wonder Prada and Louis Vuitton both stole the 1950s/60s inspiration for their upcoming seasons!

Style Inspiration: The Runaways

Yesterday, I decided to take in a solo movie, so I hiked to the Lower East Side to see The Runaways.  And while I wish I would've saved the money (Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning are just not convincing), the one thing I took away from the film was a revamped love of 70s style.  

Sequins, jumpsuits, platforms, and a little bit of Bowie, everything glam and rocker that I cannot get enough of.  However, since I can't show up at my corporate financial firm wearing sequin platform boots (I wish), I'm going to need to find ways to sample their style without going over the top.  


First stop- Invest in some patterned neutral colored shirts.  Paired with black pants or a black pencil skirt I think I could almost get away with it.  


Second stop- As I've mentioned in a few previous posts, it's time for me to bring back the silk scarf trend.  Back to eBay hunting it is for me.  


And then maybe, just maybe I can invest in some super tall platform boots/sandals and sneak them in on a casual Friday.  Hey, I work in the back of the office, am already known for the sheer amount of color I wear, why not mix it up and throw in some height too?  Maybe they'll never notice :)

Style Icon: Courtney Love

I have had a thing for the 90s for a while now.  A couple years ago, anticipating the return of the 90s, I started to collect vintage Doc Martens and a few babydoll dresses that would give me that early 90s Courtney Love grunge look.  Now, I am well aware that most people hate Courtney Love, and while I consider myself lucky that my ex-boyfriend no longer reads my blog (saving me hours of a lecture about how awful Courtney Love is), I am still certain to get some flack for secretly loving her.

The once prominent musician (thanks to her tumultuous relationships, zany antics, and Cobain written lyrics), has certainly had her fair share of media downfall.  She is constantly run over the coals for things she is saying, lawsuits she is dealing with, and issues with her daughter.  All that aside, if I could dress like she did in the early and mid-90s and pull it off, I would.

The first step is to build my collection of too tight/sheer/ripped/stained baby-doll dresses.  Thankfully, Spring and Summer are just around the corner and if I pair these with an oversized cardigan (or maybe a flannel button-down), I may just be able to pull it off.

The second item I will need to start acquiring is a great collection of Doc Martens.  This is actually going to be surprisingly difficult.  Now, this won't be difficult because Doc Martens are tough to find, no, it will be difficult to create a great collection of them without looking like a total poser.  Thankfully, I am already well on my way already owning a few pairs, including my white and black polka dot graphic Doc Marten boots, which are perfect for rainy weather or bar hopping in Williamsburg.

I bought these Doc Martens at a thrift store in Missoula, Montana a few years ago for around $35.  I've gotten more then my fair share of wear out of them in the rainy New York weather we've had this past year.

Finally, what really makes Courtney Love who she is, is her makeup and hair, and the fact that it is all just way to extreme.  Dark red lipstick, pale white skin, and kohl rimmed eyes that always look as though you've just slept with your make-up on after one too many PBR's.  The final touch is the bleach blond bob.  Having already been a blond for a large portion of my life, I have recently been contemplating switching my dark to light and my long to short. 

That's not all Ms. Love has proven herself to be.  No matter how much MAC Russian Red lipstick or peroxide I use, I could never be like Courtney without all the attitude and "I don't give a fuck" attitude that she projects.  Love her or hate her, get used to her, because even in her 40s, this woman is still making headlines.  

Best Montana Find: Vintage Prada

One of my favorite parts about Montana is that I have the opportunity to buy designer vintage for much cheaper then I would find it for in the city. While it is rare that I am able to find anything designer (it's Montana after all) I can usually manage to find one or two really great items.

This trip, I was on a mission to find a more professional wardrobe. One of these days I won't be working at a restaurant and I may actually have to look semi-professional. I killed two birds with one stone when I found these vintage Prada loafers on sale for $30.

Vintage Prada Loafers, Blue Suede with Brown Leather Straps

A bit tight, but still comfortable.  These loafers make me think of Audrey Hepburn meets Molly Ringwald.  I fully plan on wearing them with leggings, skinny jeans, and dresses come spring.  Not bad for $30 bucks.

One more picture, for proof

Style Icon: Angela Chase

Due to my bed rest last week and current unemployment this week, I have had a lot of time to re-watch old TV shows, mainly My So-Called Life. Now this is not my first watching of MSCL. In fact, I've watched the entire series probably 4 or 5 times, if not more.

Re-watching this show has made me decide one thing...I want to be Angela Chase.



Claire Danes perfectly captured that teen angst that the 90s was known for. I understand feeling that way at 10, then again at 12, 15, 17, and at 23. Only, Angela did it better. That hair, those friends, those emotions, that family, that drama, and more importantly...




That boy. Ahhh, Jordan Catalano, you were the childhood crush I never recovered from. You have been and always will be the perfect bruting male. If I dye my hair can you pretend that you wrote "Red" about me, and not your car?

Let's not forget the clothes. The flower prints, the plaid, the boots, the perfect shapelessness of Angela's dresses.




It makes me think that the 90s coming back won't be such a bad thing. I'm dusting off my Doc Martens in anticipation.

The Most Un-PC Thing I Do

I am usually known for being very PC. I try not to generalize or stereotype groups of people, I try to live by John Stuart Mill's standards of Liberty, and I don't eat a lot of meat. It's usually this last clause that I get hung up on.

I love animals. I often thing that the farming industry mistreats their livestock and I try to buy as knowledgeable of that as possible. I was often referred to as the "Food Nazi" while living at home after I posted a list of over-farmed fish on the fridge. I am a valiant animal loving hippie who loves to spread the gospel around.

Sort of.

You see, underneath this hippie exterior lies a total hypocrite. Regardless of my animal and food politics there is one thing I do that cannot be made up for. I wear fur.

Hold onto your cans of red paint. I, of course, have rules by which I wear fur. It has to be used, it has to be vintage (the longer it's been dead, the better I sleep at night), and it doesn't have to be real. I know that these rules will never make up for my fur loving, animal killing self, and one day I may look back and be disgusted by my choices. But that day, is not today. No, today was the first day I decided to sport my newest fur addition:


BEHOLD: THE PATCHWORK RABBIT JACKET

A year ago, I would have thought this jacket tacky, and not for me. However, ever since I watched Wait Until Dark starring Audrey Hepburn, I have been obsessed with getting a patchwork fur. At the beginning of the movie, which takes place in New York in 1967, a minor character is spotted wearing a trench length patchwork fur. While I'm too short to wear a trench length anything, I think this shorter version will suffice.


A better view of the length




And a close up of all the different colors.

My roommate and I have established that it's probably rabbit (though I was secretly hoping it was fake actually). If only my PETA member mom could see me now...

My New Vintage Obsession: Men's Vintage T-Shirts

As I mentioned in my last post, I often shop vintage in order to save money while living in the city. Well, that and I cannot stand to even walk into an H&M or any other sort of big boxy store, which leaves me with all the great Soho boutiques I can't afford. Right, so vintage it is.

Usually my vintage shopping leads me to great vintage dresses, maybe a jacket here and there, and some accessories. Growing up, I was never a t-shirt and jeans type girl, but with the stresses of the city, that has quickly changed into my everyday, non-work wardrobe. The one difficulty I have had with bridging the gap between my love of supersoft tee's and vintage shopping is that it is impossible to find really killer t-shirts, that still fit, and stick true to my personality.

Well, call me Lady Luck, because all of that has recently changed. First, came my vintage-esque* Ramones T-shirt that I only managed to snag after Annette had second thoughts and threw it back on a random rack. Then, while shopping for my Halloween costume (I made an amazing Garth), I came across a vintage Woodstock t-shirt. Now, it's not like these t-shirts come with tags of authenticity, so I know that this shirt may not be from 1969, but I do know that it is tissue paper thin, is oversized enough to look amazing, and the screenprint is so worn out that you have to squint to read it. Even the check-out girl was totally jealous, I thought I had myself quite the find.





Shortly thereafter, I decided to give the vintage store another go (I hit it about every two weeks, and usually leave with one, maybe two items depending on my luck that day) and on this particular day I decided to start in the men's t-shirts. I had actually been going back to see if an old Cars concert tee was still there, when lo and behold, I found it. The holy grail of vintage t-shirts for me, a Prince, Purple Rain t-shirt.



Now, I have this sick obsession with Prince. I don't know what it is, maybe the crazy androgyny? Maybe the fact that in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet the choir did a gospel version of "When Doves Cry," either way, I recently bought a raspberry beret just so I could justify singing the song to myself when I walk down the street. Over the past week this shirt has become hands down my favorite article of clothing. I will forever keep it with me, and when I can no longer wear it, it will go into a trunk alongside my mom's ancient Bowie and Police concert tee's (which may get stolen at Christmas).

Here's one more pic of all three tee's, just so you can get an idea of what I'm wearing on a day to day basis. Lately, I've been combining these shirts with my Kimchi and Blue harem pants, some random knee high black boots I got ages ago, an oversized cardigan and fur vest. Nothing beats being comfortable and warm in the fall in NYC.




*Vintage-esque- meaning, I don't think it was too vintage, I think it's more one of those shirts that is bought at Hot Topic to be cool, but later consigned when they realize they know nothing about the actual band. However, it still fits correctly and is perfectly worn in.