Monday, January 19, 2009

Modern Vintage

I'm gradually working through some of the new (Pre-Resolution and new-to-me) stuff that I've bought in the last month or so. I love taking a single item and building an outfit around it. That's actually my usual method for special occasions: what's the main piece I want to wear? Is it a certain pair of shoes? A particular piece of jewelry?

In this case, it's my new vintage top:
I do love me some shiny! This is probably late 60s or early 70s (metal zipper, lurex thread, the shaping of it) - I got it for about $20 in a vintage shop. It's in excellent condition.

In order to not look like a crazy lady in vintage clothes, I mixed it with a basic black skirt, a long boyfriend cardigan, and some very modern shoes. Add a vintage bracelet and a mixed pearl necklace and voila!

A shot of the back of the top:
I love the mix of colours (red, orange, yellow, pink on the black background) and the "painty" quality of the pattern, which has a nice modern look to it.

The accessories:
The bracelet is Trifari (it's marked), probably from the early 60s - this is another one of my mom's pieces that I nabbed from her jewelry box when I was in high school. Hi, Mom!

I love these old-school labels on vintage clothing:
Hard to tell in the main picture, but I have dark gold and black tights on.
I thought the pattern went well with the shininess of the top and all this black.

Cardigan (no label, consignment), top (Style Rite, vintage), skirt (Kensie), tights (Hue), shoes (JLo), necklace (Plum), bracelet (Trifari, Mom's, vintage), crystal stud earrings.

13 comments:

  1. I love it all! When you break down each item I can see the attention to detail that pulls the whole look together cohesively. From your post I learned a good way to start an outfit: see what piece I'd like to wear (hilight); and to mix some up-to-date items w/vintage. The top is gorgeous!

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  2. I love the way you have put everything together and that top looks so rich in texture and colour.

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  3. That shirt is beautiful! The shoes and tights really modernize the classic look of the pencil skirt and cardi, as well.

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  4. I love this outfit! You incredibly HOT and professional. I love vintage. I recently wore a black and white sequin top with a pair of jeans. You did an excellent job of mixing new and old, wild and tame.

    I love your blog too. I've bookmarked it.

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  5. Ooo, I like the gold and black tights with that new vintage blouse.
    Very pretty!

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  6. That vintage top is SUCH a score!

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  7. I'm in love with your gorgeous vintage top. And you look fantastic and completely unlike a crazy lady in vintage clothes.

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  8. That top is so unique and gorgeous! Great find! I love how you styled it and "down played" it. Super hot shoes though, love those!

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  9. Well done. This is really pretty. I know what you mean about some vintage things looking costume-y. This, paired with the minimal black and modern tights and shoes, is very "now."

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  10. Holy smokes, thanks for all the comments!

    DawnB: welcome, and thank you! I'm so glad that the details show - I am all about the details.

    Jane: thanks so much! I felt in love with the top as soon as I saw it.

    Erica: Thanks! Ah, phew - goal accomplished.

    Kate: thanks!

    Sandra: welcome and thank you! I have always been a huge fan of vintage clothes (since I was a teenager, raiding Mom's closet). I am going to check out your blog.

    Alison: me too! They had a big sale on tights at the Bay after Christmas so I scooped up all kinds of wacky tights.

    Sal: I know! I just love a deal.

    Lady D: Thank goodness! ;) I thought of you and your butterfly top.

    Trace: thanks! Aren't the shoes killer?

    Tessa: welcome, and thank you. My goal is always to look like a million bucks without spending it.

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  11. The colors in that top are fantastic on you. I like that you build outfits around a single piece of jewelry. That's how I introduced all of my Great-Grandma's jewels into my wardrobe.

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  12. Cat, it's totally the way to go to ensure that your outfit remains cohesive and that special piece (whether clothing or jewelry or shoe) is framed perfectly.

    I love seeing your grandmother's pieces! Post more pics of your outfits with them!

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