by Christian Lacroix (2007)

If Christian Lacroix wants to talk fashion, I am listening, or in the case of the exquisite and inspiring Christian Lacroix on Fashion, I am looking. I found this all color coffee table book for a surprisingly cheap 25 at a local shop and have been gazing at the contents ever since. Any fan of incredibly detailed clothing and sartorial history will find themselves equally transfixed.

Divided into themes like “colour” ( “The red that I love to use everywhere… comes from my mother.. She always dressed me in red, or at least a touch of red, which had a cheering effect”), “Checks, plaids and tartans” (“Eccentric yet conservative, checks and their Scottish cousin, tartan, re the essential embodiment of British dandy chic.”), “ceremony”, “graphics”, “patchwork”, “cobwebs”, “black”… the book features short, colorful descriptions and beautiful photographs of beautiful clothing.

From ivory garden party dresses from the 1900s, capes from the 1880s, the work of Mainbocher, Chanel, Gres, YSL, Heim, Vionnet, Worth, Dior, Rabanne, Ungaro, Balenciaga and of course, many from Lacroix himself – there is so much style here it will make your toes curl with excitement.

Click here for the rest of Christian Lacroix on Fashion

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Posted on May 31, 2010

Vintage Heaven Online

The Frock has, for years and years been one of my favorite places to look at truly stunning vintage clothing online, dreaming of where I’d wear each piece to. Run by artist, former paralegal and man of great taste Christian Madrigal, the site grew out of a colletion of Edwardian capes gone wild. Since then, it’s a beloved source of vintage for film makers, magazines, and the rich and famous – Dita Von Teese names it her favorite spot for vintage. Below/after the jump are just a few favorites (including an Oleg Cassini that would be my wedding dress number two if I were allowed to remarry Jim every few years and a Mary Quant that I actually unwittingly own – it’s without a tag), but there are hours of browsing to be had on the site and if you have a special occasion that calls for a bank breaking gown, look no further.

Click here for the rest of The Frock

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Posted on May 31, 2010

Fashion Highlights From Every Single Episode Of Roseanne

This is a real wow of a website! Third and Delaware will take anyone from my generation all the way back to the late eighties and early nineties when Tuesday nights were spent getting a glimpse into the rough around the edges working class life of the Conners. The site focuses on the outlandish style of the time and the sitcom, and proves that, seriously, without even knowing it, we all lived through one of the strangest annals in sartorial history. People mock the seventies, but those disco fun loving chicks never shaved the underpart of their hair to make it look like a mushroom, nor did they don Blossom hats and bedazzle their vest with buttons. Still, it’s a more interesting archive than mere cringe inducing ugliness (Sandra Bernhard for example is still fabulous in her wild get ups), it’s a visual parade of a decade that style forgot. See just a few favorites below/after the jump, but spend the time to dig through the impressive archive on the site.

Click here for the rest of Third and Delaware

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Posted on January 24, 2010

directed by Matt Tyrnauer (2009)

Valentino: The Last Emperor is beautiful, inspiring, and as touching as it is uplifting. The film captures the process and excitement behind the couturier business as well as the glamour of the lives of those involved. The emotion comes not only from impeccable hand made gowns, but particularly from the enviable love and business partnership between Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti who have been weathering the changes in trends and making women look beautiful together for 45 years.

Captured among these often exhilarating images, appropriately set to the score of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita, is the designer’s swan song – and an elaborate, over the top decadent one at that. For his 45th anniversary there are parties on top of parties, gallery shows, and runway presentations fit for a king… or an emperor.

One is left in awe of his accomplishments and saddened by the end of an art form. His is truly an extraordinary life, the kind of magical and seemingly fictional life of a modern aristocrat, and being permitted a peek inside it is amazing.; and it may just bring you to tears.

Click here for the rest of Valentino: The Last Emperor

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Posted on November 22, 2009

Great Accessory

I am truly obsessed with this girly striped bow tie I picked up at the increasingly impressive Japanese run thrift shop/gallery About Glamour. Two recent visits, several amazing purchases… but today we focus on the bow tie.

It’s not just for has-been pundits anymore. If you don’t believe me and my own fashion sense, I’ve compiled a collection of women (and a smattering of men) sporting the androgynous accessory.

Click here for the rest of Bow Ties for Girls

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Posted on November 22, 2009