Monday, November 29, 2010
Holsters, the new Man Bag
Remember that Friends episode with the man bag* Joey loves?
(*not to be confused with the male nurse amalgam, 'murse')
In 2010, we're going a bit more butch, but nonetheless fashion-conscious:
Carry your $200 Best Made Co. axe in your $175 handcrafted leather holster:
Or better yet, tote a flask of your best single malt
in
Elc Mens' Westcliffe Flask Holster ($285)
Paging Ernest Hemingway.
Bedazzled
I'm really looking for a heavily studded jacket, preferably in leather or denim.
I just think it would go so well with the current Young Hollywood aesthetic. Skinny jeans, military details, strappy ankle boots, and the tough-chic like aren't going anywhere anytime soon. For now, I'll wear it with a hoodie underneath for warmth. In the summer it'll be an opposites-attract cover up for feminine blouses and party dresses.
So, a little eBay roundup of what's out there:
I just think it would go so well with the current Young Hollywood aesthetic. Skinny jeans, military details, strappy ankle boots, and the tough-chic like aren't going anywhere anytime soon. For now, I'll wear it with a hoodie underneath for warmth. In the summer it'll be an opposites-attract cover up for feminine blouses and party dresses.
So, a little eBay roundup of what's out there:
Vintage Jean Paul Gaultier (BIN $200)
Stella and Jamie leather jacket (BIN $350)
Vintage punk jacket (BIN $200)
Sheri Bodell canvas jacket (BIN $90)
Vintage denim blazer (seller: bambi bones)
Backseam Tights
My friend Phoenix just messaged me an underpinning dilemma, specifically, where to find stockings with that signature 50's backseam. Visions of Varga-style pinups danced through my head. Hooray! Phoenix is getting saucy.
Before recommending brands or retailers, I launched into a (somewhat erroneous) history lesson which I heretofore correct:
I had thought there was some anecdote revolving around wartime rationing, recalling movie scenes in which desperate heroines drew their 'seams' with eye kohl when they could no longer afford to buy new pairs. How it really went:
- 1957 - performancewear company Bear Brand begins manufacturing tights with the newly developed material, Nylon. The product was marketed successfully to dancers, actors, and children. These 'fully fashioned' tights were expensive to construct, due to several knitted pieces being sewn together up the back.
- 1958 - the invention of circular knitting makes seamless stockings a reality, and accessible to the average woman. Still, many women favor their stay-ups and garters.
- 1959 - Lycra is invented.
- 1967 - Mary Quant launches the mini skirt. Men go crazy. Women go crazy for tights in any colour or pattern.
- 2008 - Lindsay Lohan stumbles drunkenly around LA wearing tights as if they were pants.
If you're looking for backseam fishnets, they are easy to find. Get the most durable pairs at Dancesport shops. Brands like Mondor or Danskin make top-quality legwear, available year-round (tap dancers and Liza Minelli impersonators need tights, even in the summer!)
If you're looking for sheer, then things get a bit trickier. Denier ranges from 3 (impossibly sheer and very rare) to 40+ (super opaque). I recommend either a 15 or a 30. American Apparel has a wall of choices, one of which is a mid-denier backseam version. For higher quality, try:
Wolford's 10 - they're $50 so make sure to take a emery board to your nails and lose the cocktail rings!
(at: Net-A-Porter)
Spanx - a very reasonable $28, with a little tummy taming to boot!
(at: Shopbop)
Oh, and by the way: Wikipedia states: "For people who are either very large or very thin, pantyhose can be extremely uncomfortable and unflattering." Thanks, but I think I'll take my chances.
Before recommending brands or retailers, I launched into a (somewhat erroneous) history lesson which I heretofore correct:
I had thought there was some anecdote revolving around wartime rationing, recalling movie scenes in which desperate heroines drew their 'seams' with eye kohl when they could no longer afford to buy new pairs. How it really went:
- 1957 - performancewear company Bear Brand begins manufacturing tights with the newly developed material, Nylon. The product was marketed successfully to dancers, actors, and children. These 'fully fashioned' tights were expensive to construct, due to several knitted pieces being sewn together up the back.
- 1958 - the invention of circular knitting makes seamless stockings a reality, and accessible to the average woman. Still, many women favor their stay-ups and garters.
- 1959 - Lycra is invented.
- 1967 - Mary Quant launches the mini skirt. Men go crazy. Women go crazy for tights in any colour or pattern.
- 2008 - Lindsay Lohan stumbles drunkenly around LA wearing tights as if they were pants.
If you're looking for backseam fishnets, they are easy to find. Get the most durable pairs at Dancesport shops. Brands like Mondor or Danskin make top-quality legwear, available year-round (tap dancers and Liza Minelli impersonators need tights, even in the summer!)
If you're looking for sheer, then things get a bit trickier. Denier ranges from 3 (impossibly sheer and very rare) to 40+ (super opaque). I recommend either a 15 or a 30. American Apparel has a wall of choices, one of which is a mid-denier backseam version. For higher quality, try:
Wolford's 10 - they're $50 so make sure to take a emery board to your nails and lose the cocktail rings!
(at: Net-A-Porter)
Spanx - a very reasonable $28, with a little tummy taming to boot!
(at: Shopbop)
Oh, and by the way: Wikipedia states: "For people who are either very large or very thin, pantyhose can be extremely uncomfortable and unflattering." Thanks, but I think I'll take my chances.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Is There a Doctor in the House?
- Martens boasted the 1st ever air-cushioned sole ("AirWair" technology still used today).
- Have been worn by postal carriers, skinheads, punks, and now everybody else...
- Iconic appearances:
- Claire Danes in My So-Called Life,
- The Twilight kids,
- Russell Crowe in Romper Stomper,
- Liv Tyler on the cover of Empire Records,
- Supermodel Agnyess Deyn
- MTV's Daria
- Pete Townsend (of The Who) wore Doc Martens on stage (ie: with a white jumpsuit, as a commentary on the state of working class Britain).
- Pairs bought today still come with the same Lifetime Guarantee and Made in Britain seal that they did 50 years ago. Jolly good, then.
Pair them with:
- skinny cargos/a kilt/jean shorts
- anything leather
- boyfriend cardigan/plaid button-down
- a rebellious spirit
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Klute
I adore Jane Fonda. The majority of her film career came before my time, but that hasn't stopped me from emulating her onscreen style like so many others got to while the movies were still on the marquee.
The most recently demonstrated Fondness for Fonda? Kim Kardashian's new Beach Bunny Swimwear line, which she claims is "inspired by Jane Fonda in the movie Barbarella, where she plays a super-sci-fi-sexy Queen of the Galaxy!"
While the reference is apt, it seems to have everything to do with the addition of a cosmonaut's helmet and lace up go-go boots rather than the plain white (*yawn*) string bikini Kim 'designed'.
It's hard to believe the same little actress embodied the space vixen Barbarella, desperate dance marathoner of They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, gunslinging Cat Ballou, and literate half of Stanley & Iris. She's so versatile. But far and away, my favourite Jane Fonda role is her 1971 turn as hard-boiled call girl Bree Daniels. The thriller may have been named Klute, but it was all about Bree.
Like the acting, the costuming was pitch perfect and a prime reason for seeing the film.
That slinky sequin maxi-dress was a character all it's own, driving the action forward as Bree met with a client and then slowly disrobed back at her apartment, luring Klute all the while. Some actresses have the ability to move inside their wardrobe in such a way that the sartorial comes to life. Sarah Jessica Parker always seems to manage both hair-acting and clothes-acting, adding realism to her performances. I love her for that.
While I don't have the lithe physique to pull off a full-body sequin sock with aplomb, I do intend to don some of The Fonda's other 70's looks:
Klute looks that keep on keeping on: feather choker, maxi skirts, saturated jewel tones, feathery false lashes and pale lips, neutral turtlenecks, chunky leather accessories, poet sleeve blouses, suede vests, leather-piped camel trench, knee or thigh-high boots.
Klute looks that didn't quite make it to 2010: skirts so short they might as well be belts, tank tops sans brassiere, shaggy mullet, having sex for money.
The most recently demonstrated Fondness for Fonda? Kim Kardashian's new Beach Bunny Swimwear line, which she claims is "inspired by Jane Fonda in the movie Barbarella, where she plays a super-sci-fi-sexy Queen of the Galaxy!"
While the reference is apt, it seems to have everything to do with the addition of a cosmonaut's helmet and lace up go-go boots rather than the plain white (*yawn*) string bikini Kim 'designed'.
It's hard to believe the same little actress embodied the space vixen Barbarella, desperate dance marathoner of They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, gunslinging Cat Ballou, and literate half of Stanley & Iris. She's so versatile. But far and away, my favourite Jane Fonda role is her 1971 turn as hard-boiled call girl Bree Daniels. The thriller may have been named Klute, but it was all about Bree.
Like the acting, the costuming was pitch perfect and a prime reason for seeing the film.
That slinky sequin maxi-dress was a character all it's own, driving the action forward as Bree met with a client and then slowly disrobed back at her apartment, luring Klute all the while. Some actresses have the ability to move inside their wardrobe in such a way that the sartorial comes to life. Sarah Jessica Parker always seems to manage both hair-acting and clothes-acting, adding realism to her performances. I love her for that.
While I don't have the lithe physique to pull off a full-body sequin sock with aplomb, I do intend to don some of The Fonda's other 70's looks:
Klute looks that keep on keeping on: feather choker, maxi skirts, saturated jewel tones, feathery false lashes and pale lips, neutral turtlenecks, chunky leather accessories, poet sleeve blouses, suede vests, leather-piped camel trench, knee or thigh-high boots.
Klute looks that didn't quite make it to 2010: skirts so short they might as well be belts, tank tops sans brassiere, shaggy mullet, having sex for money.
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