Vintage Fashion Guild Inspirations 2012

"The Vintage Fashion Guild (www.vintagefashionguild.org) is an international collective of people who are passionate and knowledgeable about vintage clothing. Founded in 2002 by a group of online vintage sellers, the group now also includes retail (brick-and-mortar) vintage sellers, stylists, designers, fashion editors, writers, journalists, vintage related bloggers, curators, researchers, historians and librarians of fashion history."

I am proud to be a member of the VFG, and have been for many years now. I encourage all my readers who have not visited this fantastic site to browse it's forums, resources and articles.

The VFG Spring Inspirations 2012 has just been released! Yours truly is a part of it once again, but the whole collection is stunning, featuring many of our best members. Noting historical influences in modern fashions, this is a beautiful read. Head there now :-)

New Items Now Available!

It's turned a little cooler here which makes me think shawls, capes and blazers!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Vintage Italian made raffia and wood carved purse

Red wool blazer, deadstock by Holt Renfrew

Gabardine 3 piece suit with mink trim

Sheep's wool and silk couture vest

Camel color cape with black trim fringe

Vulgar Sheep

Well, I have begun reading Emily Post's Etiquette and I must say she is a woman of admirable wit with a very sharp tongue! As is often the case, to have good manners and etiquette also means you must have decent moral values and live by the truth. In Ms. Post's case, she insists upon truthfulness and will dish it out with a large shovel. This is most entertaining!

"CLOTHES are to us what fur and feathers are to beasts and birds; they not only add to our appearance, but they are our appearance. How we look to others entirely depends upon what we wear and how we wear it; manners and speech are noted afterward, and character last of all."

Ms Post asks, "What makes a brilliant party?". Accordingly it is good clothes as a 'frumpy' party is nothing more than a collection of badly dressed people. One can have brains, beauty, finances but if they are badly dressed, can verge on having a vulgar appearance.

Ouch!

A chic woman (she mostly notes females to begin with, having an entire chapter devoted to gentleman's dress), does NOT buy the latest, greatest and newest fashions. Those that do, are referred to as a 'dressed-to-the-minute' woman. They do not take into consideration if the latest, greatest and newest fashions actually suit them. Grouping these ladies and comparing them to sheep, she takes some of the recent fashions in the early part of the 20th century and describes them thus:

"When hobble skirts are the thing, the fattest wabble along, looking for all the world like chandeliers tied up in mosquito netting. If ball dresses are cut to the last limit of daring, the ample billows of the fat will vie blandly with the marvels of anatomy exhibited by the thin. Comfort, convenience, becomingness, adaptability, beauty are of no importance. Fashion is followed to the letter—therefore they fancy, poor sheep, they are the last word in smartness."

Did I mention she was brutally honest? The word 'fat' comes up a lot. 

 

Some suitable clothes.

Vintage Wool Suit

 

Vintage 3 Piece Double Knit Suit

 

Gay Paree Pink Wool Suit

 

Grey Wool Dress with Matching Bolero

That's a Funny Name

Cummerbund. Go ahead...say it 5 times. Isn't it funny? :-)

What is a cummerbund for?

Generally worn with a dinner suit, a cummerbund is a band of pleated material, often silk worn around the waist. It is worn for appearance only and was first used by high ranking British army officers.

A modern use of the cummerbund could be to tuck in a beer belly or an unsightly bulge. Since it is worn at the waist above the hipbone, it creates an illusion of a higher waist and longer legs. But be careful! It can also enhance a larger waist. Despite David Beckham temporarily invoking interest in them by wearing one without the matching tie, the cummerbund is still considered old-fashioned.

However, the traditional cummerbund can look less like a cummerbund and more like an accessory:

Gucci and John Galliano have added cummerbunds to their clothing lines. In order to update the look, take the cummerbund out of the context of formal wear and into a causal chic look. When David Beckham wore the look, he chose to forego the tie and unbutton the shirt. It was a winning look.

If you decide to add a cummerbund to your outfit, pleats facing up please!

It's OK To Wear The Pants

Katherine Hepburn was a remarkable woman. Not only does she hold the record for the most Oscar wins (4), the American Film Institute ranked her as the greatest female star in the history of American cinema.

A strong, independent woman, she made it okay for women to wear pants. The only movie star I can think of who can look incredibly sexy in a dress or a pant suit!

The trouser she made so famous is back in style. And not a moment too soon...those hip-huggers were driving me crazy! Kept pulling them up....

Calling All Gentlemen

"Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society."

Mark Twain.

45 things every man should know for living in the modern world.

By Edward Wilkinson-Latham

"A gentleman is defined by intrinsic qualities such as manners, decorum and graceful wit. Although some may presume such preoccupations belong to a bygone era, the manners of a true gentleman never go out of style."

This lovely online catalogue has everything a modern gentleman needs to know. From grooming to fashion to maintaining integrity with wit and education, we can all learn a thing or two. This is written with humor and style! Just as a gent (or anyone) should be.

In the fashion section, there is a wonderful paragraph on suits. "A gentleman should own more than one suit, but avoid anything polyester. The elderly may be fond of it, but that's because the static keeps their hearts going."

This is so much fun to read! Pass it along to your fellow gents and ladies.