The Revolving Door

 Theophilus Van Kannel, the one from Philadelphia in case you are aware of several others, was granted a patent in 1888 for a device that has come to be seen as a metaphor for the job market conditions today. 

The invention was the revolving door. 

When it comes to fashion we all know that what goes around, comes around. Vintage fashions influence current designers. Over and over again, designers use historical garments for research and as inspiration for their current collections. They raid the styles, patterns and fabrics of vintage clothing. Why? Because it works. And this vintage dealer has absolutely no problem with that!

Vintage fashions are reproduced everywhere.

Consider Barney's of New York. They launched an entire line of evening dresses devoted to Vionnet's style, focusing on the bias cut and bringing back the 1930s.

Have a look at these catwalk fashions. Some are pretty much copies, others are simply inspirational.

 

1940s inspiration 

1960s & 70s inspiration

1950s inspiration

Even your skivvies enjoys a 50s revival!

No matter how you wear your vintage - be it authentically or inspirational, feel good about it. You should...you look fabulous!

Shopping for Vintage: The Definitive Guide to Vintage Fashion

You Look Like a Million Bucks!

The 1930s were about hand-me-downs and making do. However, they were also about avant garde designers - Elsa Schiaparelli and Madeleine Vionnet of the bias-cut glamour gown.

Traditionally, fashion and status and wealth were completely linked. These avant garde designers were making lovely things, but not very many people could afford it.

Coco Chanel, known for her trim suits, little black dresses and clever knits, blurred the classes. She could easily translate haute mode to everyone else. She took the esthetic of poverty and made it fashionable. Chanel transformed the jersey, which was basically used for fisherman's underwear, into a fashion fabric worn by the Parisiennes. And it was she who made costume jewellery chic, not scandalous, when she wore heaps of faux pieces mixed with genuine gems.

Anyone can look like a million bucks!

But note the irony here: a Chanel suit is upwards of $1000 today. You will have to find a different designer who blurs the classes.