This Week: Visuals [all vintage everything]

How (S)he Wore It: Defining Tabitha

A little over 6 months ago, I met Tabitha at a meet-up for the lady style blogger variety at a cute little nail salon here in Chicago. It was a fantastic mix of fashion and geekery; these women understood me.  Ever since, we've stayed in contact with our mutual love for technology, menswear, and the windiest city that we call home.

Quite Strong

Design tends to be a big fat Boys' Club, it's true. 

There's a lot of chatter on the web among creative types, particularly on twitter, about innovation, change, and being the agent of such things. A lot of times, being the woman forcing her way into that conversation and making a statement that is heard can be tricky.

Enter: Quite Strong, design's Girls' Club

Something For Your Girl

New Goods: The Isadore Stole

As seen in the Holiday Lookbook, the Isadore Stole is available today at The Style Cooperative for both men & women. It's a limited run item, just in time for the weather holiday fanciness.

Style It Solved

Fun news! I very recently created a Formspring account where readers, tweeters, and friends alike can pose (anonymously if you want you sneaks) questions about style, ideas, advice, tips & tricks.  Your question may get featured here on the blog.

Asked via twitter this week: 

What are some body conscious unique black tie dresses are out there? Also affordable.

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Vintage Renewal

Vintage and thrift shopping is like searching for treasure- but s well worth if if you have the patience and an sharp eye.  Hop on EBay, go to estate sales, visit local vintage and thrift stores and see what you can find.  If something looks great and the price is right, but just needs a little bit of lovin', chances are, $30 at a tailor may produce your favorite garment your closet has seen for a while.  When it's all said and done, this could easily be the cheapest, or most expensive option... but definitely the most open ended for you creative types. I once blogged about this here.

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Red Carpet Rentals

During the holidays this past year, I wrote about companies that function like leasing agencies of all things fabulous.  If you want to wear a fierce runway look, but can't stomach the runway price, this may be a great option to feel like a million bucks, while only paying a fraction of the cost.  Many of these companies carry current season couture and will take care of the dry cleaning so you won't have to.  This is also a great option if you're going to be in a lot of photos, and don't want to wear the dress ever again. 

Fletcher Maxi

Invest in Versatility

Of course, there are also some of you out there who just want to buy something without the tailors, rentals, shoots, ladders, and more. You also want something that is a value, without being necessarily cheap and disposable. *enter shameless promotion* If you're looking for something special, versatile, and reasonably priced find a dress that  you can dress up or down, and feel as if it isn't too "right now".  Check out The Co-Op's Fletcher Maxi Dress (fall & holiday fabrics available soon).  They are full length, fully customizable on the inside and outside, so you develop something that you will actually love to wear.  Style it for a formal event or brunch on your favorite Sunday patio- it's just that easy. 

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Statement Jewelry

It is perfectly possible to take the most basic dress you can find with a great fit and dress it up with the most in your face jewelry you can find.  We'll call this statement accessories.  By using jewelry (costume or otherwise) as the focal point of your look, you just may be able to save a little bit of money in place of getting a really elaborate dress. Chances are, people just may remember you for the jewelry and the overall look more this way, regardless of how basic the dress.

Do you have a style questions? Send them my way and find the answer here on the blog.

A Little Shoe Indulgence

I'm always really hesitant to buy anything that is too trendy, as I like to think of my closet as a collection of pieces that I'll wear forever. Then there's shoes. Usually I'll allow myself one indulgent, on trend and probably-will-not-ever-be-worn-past-the-season pair every few months or so.

It's because of this, I get really intense and spend too much time researching to know I'm getting what I'll love the most.  Style nerd, yes. That's me.

Right now, I've been consistently impressed with the looks that Jeffrey Campbell has out for summer (and they're reasonably priced!).  I'm looking for a sky high platform wedge with lots of straps, embellishments, and whatever other kind of crap they can put on it. I'm talking over the top, but with some versatile sensibility and charm.  I plan on wearing them to toughen up pretty little summer numbers.

I've got quite the list of requirements for a single shoe I suppose. The compulsive shoe research continues!

Women's Spring Picks

How was your weekend?  Mine was great- had my hand at draping & drafting a pattern from scratch all day yesterday.  I never went to fashion school or anything like that, so the jury is still out on whether or not it was a success.  If it's not a totally shameful disaster, I'll share with you kind folks.

Alright, onto my Spring Picks for Women.  This spring, I'm looking forward to very feminine meets very masculine pieces.  You know, juxtaposition makes the world go round.

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Floral Pattern Mixing

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Little White Dresses

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Alternative Pant Shapes

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Spring Fedoras

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Bloomers

Just had to...

Ok ok. I know I'm supposed to be on a blogger break right now, but I simply HAD to share this photo set I saw here. It's from Paris circa 1962. The colors, the comfort, the emotion, the style.

The photo set text reads:

Images from Paris cafés and nightlife in 1962, the same week Yves St. Laurent's runway show vaulted Dior to new heights.

Many scenes around Les Halles (which no longer exists as it did then).

I melt.