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Archive for August, 2014

The Hermès Pocket Square

Posted in Fashion, tagged , on August 27, 2014| 3 Comments »

IMG_0490It’s true, I tend to treat myself to a few wonderful sartorial things a year. Perhaps something custom-made or handcrafted to add to my wardrobe, but I keep it to pieces I need and rarely do I indulge in a luxury brand item.

Then one day an e-mail popped up from Hermès. I’ve always admired the craft of the Hermès scarf, if not the motifs, which are a little busy. Still, the layers of color and the screen-printing all done by hand … I love the whole idea. I was happy just to look until that e-mail arrived showing off their latest silk twill pocket square with the oh-so 1920s and 30s looking women, sporty, and in autumn colors. A pocket square is quite a bit smaller than a scarf but large enough to wear and within my price range. I had to have it, although, I kept to my long tradition of sleeping on any expensive purchase.

At first I thought I wanted to make a special occasion of it and journey over to San Francisco to the Hermès boutique and get the whole luxury shopping experience. However, having to work to afford the lovely accessory, I soon let go of that and ordered online. Within days the package arrived with a card that said: To Me from Me, just because.

I was all happy smiles slowly untying the brown ribbon from the signature orange box. Peeling back the delicate tissue paper I delighted in seeing my new pocket square nicely folded in quarters. As expected, it is rich in color and finely detailed with rolled edges that were hand sewn and done so in France, merci beaucoup!

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I haven’t worn it yet but I look forward to doing so this autumn.

Hey, readers, have you treated yourself lately? Leave a comment and tell us all about it.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Mary L Wellington

Posted in Fashion, Vintage, tagged , , , on August 25, 2014| Leave a Comment »

7sistersI’ve sold every frill and ruffle/And have tried in vain to muffle/My longing for a floating veil or two.

– Mary L Wellington, Smith student class of 1916. From her poem The Wail of the Tailored Maid.

In honor of Back to School, I’m reading Seven Sisters Style: The All American Preppy Look, by Rebecca C. Tuite (Rizzoli, 2014). Seven Sisters refers to the seven liberal arts women’s colleges located in the Northeast United States and established between 1837 and 1889.

  • Barnard
  • Bryn Mawr
  • Mount Holyoke
  • Radcliffe
  • Smith
  • Vassar
  • Wellesley

(Radcliffe and Vassar are now co-ed.)

In the early 20th century, the Seven Sisters students made great strides in getting away from the restrictions of fashion dictates, such as corsets. Borrowing from their male peers at Ivy League colleges, the young ladies adopted more casual and comfortable wear and eventually developed what is now called the Preppy Look. We all know what that’s like – Bermuda shorts, varsity sweaters, saddle shoes, Oxford shirts, plaid skirts. Preppy changes and evolves with each new generation but it retains its style identity and collegiate roots.

Happy Back to School!

 

 

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Gatsby Summer Afternoon Celebrates 30 Years in 2014

Posted in Events, Fashion, Vintage, tagged , , , on August 20, 2014| 2 Comments »

Image courtesy of the Art Deco Society of California.

Image courtesy of the Art Deco Society of California.

Those of us who yearn for the grace of the early 20th century have our own time machine called Gatsby Summer Afternoon. This popular event is a period costume picnic held every second Sunday in September at the Dunsmuir Hellman Historic Estate in the Oakland Hills and it’s produced by the Art Deco Society of California.  In its 30th year, Gatsby Summer Afternoon is coming up on Sunday, September 14th.

Attendees arrive all decked out in 20s garden party day-wear and set up picnic sites using only vintage gear and vintage-style food (hello Jell-O and tea sandwiches). The afternoon includes a display of vintage cars, music by Don Neely’s Royal Society Jazz Orchestra, dancing, croquet lessons, touring the Dunsmuir mansion, and perhaps winning one of the contests for: Best Car, Best Costume, Best Charleston, or Best Picnic Site. Oh, and everyone enjoys the Decobelles dance routine and the crowning of this year’s Miss Art Deco.

Heather Ripley is a regular and often volunteers. In fact one year she was the event Chair and this year she’s on the planning committee. What Heather appreciates most is the elegant ambiance of the day. “It’s amazing to see the lawn transform from an empty field to a charming picture postcard scene from another era,” says Heather. “I make a point to take a few minutes to stop and step back and drink it all in.”

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Last year we set up our Scotty Dog themed picnic site under a tree.

There’s plenty of time to purchase tickets and get thinking about what to wear. A little stumped? Not to worry, show up on the day and stop by The Costume Closet where vintage stylist Jonathan Belmares and his assistants will suit you up. Picnic sites can be as simple or elaborate as you like or skip that part and just roam the grounds.

Gatsby Summer Afternoon is THE period costume event of the year and a lovely note on which to end the summer. Check out the website for all the information you need, including tips on:

  • fashions of the era
  • how to put together the perfect picnic site
  • what kind of food fits the bill
  • and all the dos and don’ts of the day!

See you there, Old Sport!

 

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Ringo Starr

Posted in Fashion, tagged , , , on August 18, 2014| Leave a Comment »

fw14-campaign-1When you’re in a band – before it got to grunge – you dressed the bit. So yeah, I’ve always had an attitude with the clothes.

– Ringo Starr

Last month Ringo joined forces with the men’s clothing line, John Varvatos, and launched a campaign to help raise money for the Ringo Starr Peace & Love Fund.

Click here to check it out.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Laurence Picot

Posted in Arts, Events, Fashion, tagged , , on August 11, 2014| Leave a Comment »

5376827c6a3ee8_71152680I thought the idea and concept of luxury was really lost nowadays. The public doesn’t know what it means. They only know the brands. True luxury is the knowledge of craftsmanship.

– Laurence Picot, journalist.

Ms. Picot has been pondering the definition of luxury since 1997. The result is an exhibit called LuxInside: Traces of Man, which consists of 14 luxury items and a medical scan of each including the new Hermès saddle and a pair of Christian Louboutin stilettos. Ms. Picot’s intent is to show the inner workings and craftsmanship of these luxury goods.

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Fashionable Quote of the Week by Suzy Menkes

Posted in Fashion, tagged , , on August 4, 2014| Leave a Comment »

imagesIt’s easier to write about clothes than to make them.

– Suzy Menkes, fashion journalist.

Ms. Menkes goes on to make the point that it helps to write well about fashion when you know a little something about how clothing is constructed. Before going into fashion journalism she studied fashion design.

 

On another note regarding Ms. Menkes’ hairstyle, she’s been sporting what she calls a coif since the 1980s. She says that her hairstylist came up with it when Ms. Menkes complained that her long hair got into her eyes while she wrote at her desk. According to Ms. Menkes, her husband wasn’t a fan of this style and I have to agree. But it is distinctive and now, for her, it’s a signature look.

 

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