Fall Fashion Favorite

You've all seen the Fall fashion trends by now
leather,
velvet,
winter white,
patterned suits,
fur,
tapestry-needlepoint fabrics
and baroque detailing.
Some wearable

Winter White by Valentino

Some, not so wearable

Patterned Suit by Miu-Miu

What I've found to be the most striking out of all of the Fall Fashion trends on the runway,
were the Dr. Seuss style mink hats worn in the Marc Jacobs collection.

I loved them.
Were they wearable? Not so much.
So, I've found my wearable (and affordable) alternative at Couture Allure Vintage

 Vintage 1950's Red Velour Sculpted Hat for $45

Vintage 1950's Mustard Velour Sculpted Hat for $45

Most of the what I saw in the Fall Collections I found to be totally over the top and unwearable, not to mention inappropriate.

(When the economy is tanked, is multicolored head to toe fur really appropriate?)

But I still think that we can add a little whimsy to our wardrobes with a funky brooch or two 

or a fun hat.

What do you think?

Vintage Value Venture - Michelle Obama Style

Michelle Obama's fashion choices have not just been erratic over the last couple of years, they've been downright inappropriate at times.
But for the White House Christmas party, she pulled it all together with aplomb!

Michelle Obama in a vintage Norman Norell cocktail dress...clasy, figure flattering, and first lady like.
(Has someone on her staff been reading BHB or Wendy B or Zuburbia or Couture Allure?)
Instead of the giant diamond earrings, I would have styled her with smaller vintage diamond earrings and a classic vintage diamond brooch as well, such as the one that I sent to Julia Roberts to wear at the White House a couple of weeks ago,
but overall, Mrs. Obama gets the BHB seal of approval for this look.

Vintage Value Venture - Hot Colors For Cold Spring Nights

After looking at Tish's town & country photos I'm pretty sure that it is colder here in Los Angeles than it is in Paris....and not just because it is raining outside. For the last week or two I've noticed the temperatures at 64 degrees...in the sun at mid day! Unheard of for this time of year here. And of course the nights are downright cold.

So...if I had anywhere to go...on a cold spring night...I'd mix it up with hot colors like cherry red and fuchsia pink. Probably too matchy-matchy for all all of you but I'd totally wear this ensemble.

Vintage 1960's Magenta Satin Dress from Couture Allure $125

Pink and Yellow Sapphire Ring in 18K from Beladora.com $4350

Garrard Lotus Earrings from Beladora.com $2850 (retail price $4700)

Group of Bangle Bracelets in 18K from Beladora.com $4500

(gold weight people, gold weight!)

Vintage Snakeskin Jeweled Clutch from Vintage Skins $195
(I love this website)

Your basic satin shoes from Zappos for $80

Yeah, I know that it is a little over the top in a SATC way

but as Wendy says, wear what you want.

Vintage Fashion Photography

I am loving the vintage photo contest at The Sartorialist

There is so something lovely about a time when both women and men dressed up to do basic activities, including riding bikes.

Trending Towards Turquoise

Thank God that style guru Imogen Lamport and vintage style crusader Mary Kincaid have informed me of the fact that turquoise is going to be the dominant color of 2010...because I'm always late finding out about these things.



I love the vibrancy of turquoise, it is certainly one of my favorite colors and while I don't often wear the color in terms of my clothes, I do accent what I wear with plenty of vintage turquoise jewelry.

Here's one of my favorite peices because of the blue on blue motif.

Beladora Vintage Turquoise and Zircon Ring in Platinum

Do you wear the latest trend in color in your clothes, accessories, both or neither?

Vintage Value Venture - Couture Allure On Sale

OK people pay attention here
The holidays are always about finding just the right gifts to please our family and friends. But the post Christmas week is a good to time find something wonderful for ourselves.
I know you all have some post holiday cash in hand....or you will as soon as you return that holiday sweater that you received as a gift that you will never wear, back to the department store.
Well Couture Allure Vintage is having an after Christmas Sale!
For me it's kinda a toss up for me between the vintage Oscar de la Renta evening gown with matching coat with mink collar and cuffs...because god knows that I lead such a formal life of galas and black tie events that I need an evening gown...
and this very wearable 1950s Mr. Blackwell cashmere and wool dress for $175!

Certainly the simple black dress will go better with a double strand of south sea pearls and my new favorite pair of south sea pearl and diamond earrings.

South Sea Pearl and Diamond Earrings

So this is what I've picked out....what are you going to get?

(Oh, and don't forget that Beladora's discount code is HOLIDAY09

till the end of the month)

Favorite Foularde

Taking a clue from Deja Pseu
I thought that I'd show you what I am wearing today at the office
my foulard de la semaine


This is the same scarf that I wore to my first job interview after I graduated from college....waaay back in the day.

Et voila,
fine silk scarves like fine estate jewelry will last decades, if you take care of them.

Vintage Value Venture - Getting Ready For The Cold

Well now that the worst scientific scandal of our generation has been exposed, I can finally stop worrying about melting ice caps and concentrate on getting prepared for cooler temperatures.

And how better to get prepared but with a warm wrap coat.

Right now I'm loving this 1940's film noir look.

Vintage 1950's Black Cashmere Wrap Coat from Posh Vintage $345

Doesn't a coat like this need a great hat

Vintage 1940's Black Wide Brim Tilt Hat from Couture Allure Vintage $125

And a great brooch for the lapel

Tiffany & Co. Black Onyx and Mother of Pearl Brooch in 18K

Yeah I know, it was a 1980's revival on the runways this year but as long as I'm thinking vintage I'd rather go for the retro 1940's look.

Vintage Value Venture - The Winter Fur Suit

Just because I was boasting about having 90 degree weather for Thanksgiving doesn't mean that I don't miss real winter temperatures....especially when the cold calls for something with a little fur.
Here are my vintage picks for staying chic and warm
and I would wear any one of these suits

1960's Saks Adolphe black wool suit with beaver collar and cuffs
$425 at Vintage Swank
(Wouldn't you offer no more than $275 given other vintage suits online?)

1950's Hart Schaffner Marx nutmeg wool suit with mink collar
$300 at Tresor de Vintage
(Don't you love this Mad Men color and 3/4 sleeves which are perfect for kidd gloves?)

1960's Dan Millstein black wool dress with jacket and white mink collar and hem
$295 at Couture Allure Vintage
(Is it just me or is there something Mrs Santa about this suit?)

1960's Saks red wool suit with mink collar

$95 at Couture Allure Vintage

(seriously, where can you buy a wool anything, let alone a suit for $95?)

1970's Lilli Ann grey knit suit with fox collar

$275 at Couture Allure Vintage

(this fox looks strangely like lynx or coyote in this photo, doesn't it?)

Why would anyone buy new when these gorgeous and reasonably priced vintage pieces

are available online?

Vintage Value Venture - Seeing Red

Let's see what we've got here

one color, vintage, affordable, Beladora estate jewelry and comfortable shoes

This is my perfect Fall outfit for the office

Go ahead Corporette...beat this is you can

Vintage Patullo Red Brocade Dress with Jacket from Tresor Vintage $200
Nice bow and cuff details

Vintage 1940s Cobra Bag from Vintage Skins $185

Bruno Magli Red Shoes from Zappos $178

Vintage Mid-Century Gemstone Bird Brooch from Beladora.com $3650

Vintage 1980s Gemstone Earrings from Beladora.com $2850

Vintage Value Venture - Forties Fever

I adore the Forties inspired outfits featured in this month's Vogue
And as much as I loved the looks, I wasn't thrilled with the prices
So here's my vintage alternative

Vintage 1940s Belted Black Dress from Vintageswank for $265
Vintage 1940s Retro Diamond Ring From Beladora2.com $2250

1940s Inspired Black T-Strap Shoes from Fleuvog $89

(Hat tip to Karen for Fleuvog my new favorite)

Add a great pair of kid gloves and a hat

and you're ready to go party with the Deep Glamour Girls

Vintage Value Venture - Rhapsody In Blue

For some reason this vintage evening gown

Couture Allure 1930's Evening Dress in Blue Velvet $295

makes me think of

John Singer Sargent's Madame X

I wonder if Madame X ever wore a ring like this

Antique Victorian Sapphire Ring from Beladora.com $2550

Vintage Value Venture - Bring On The Blue

The Summer sale at Posh Vintage is finally here!

Just use the discount code posh15

Posh has plenty of 1970s gorgeous goddess style gowns in flowing jersey that are perfect for steamy summer evenings

But I'm tempted by this 1950's column dress in my favorite neutral, navy blue, that is wearable all year round.

Here's the description from Posh

We Believe That This Dress Could Date To 1956 As Marilyn Monroe Famously Wore An Almost Identical Dress In Photos With Arthur Miller For A Promotion For The Film 'The Prince And The Showgirl'... Marilyns Dress Was A Black Couture Cocktail Dress By GALONOS In A Wool Crepe With A BARE Exposed Midriff With A Sheer Black Chiffon Overlay... This Is One Of My Favorite Dresses Marilyn Ever Wore ... The Galonos Dress Is Featured In The Christies New York Auction Book Of Marilyns Personal Property... On Pages 36 And 37.. It Was Estimated To Sell For $30,000- 50,000.

(Obviously they mean't Galanos...here is the photo from the Christies auction catalog)

Our Dress Made By Ira Rentner Is EXACTLY The Same Except The Daring See Through Sheerness Of The "Marilyn " Midriff Was Replaced With Solid Fabric. Finding This Is A Thrill...

- From The 'Vintage Fashion Guild'- Ira Rentner was a member of the famous Rentner family of fashion that included brother Maurice and sister Anna Miller. He designed from the 1940s into the 1960s.

And yes... I know that this season's look is all about revisiting 1980s glam

but over the top big shouldered clothes looked horrible on me then, and I wouldn't wear them again, ever.

Posh Vintage 1950s Ira Rentner Dress in Navy $445

Vintage Mid-Century Lapis and Diamond Earrings at Beladora.com $3850

Vintage Mid-Century Lapis and Diamond Ring at Beladora.com $3850

Looking Back To The Summer of 1969

For all of us there is some pivotal event that occurred in our childhoods that we still remember because in some way it influenced the way that we feel about the world.
For the generation before me it was the assassination of President Kennedy. Ask anyone of that generation and they will probably be able to tell you where they were when the event took place and have some memory of watching the funeral on TV.
For my children it was September 11th.

But for my generation it was 40 years ago in the summer of 1969
The Apollo mission to the moon and Neil Armstrong's "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind".
We all thought that a Mars landing would only be a few years away.

That summer while my parents were in New York City, my brother's and I spent 8 weeks at camp in the hills of Malibu. It the the usual kind of summer camp except instead of having a lake we had the big waves of Zuma Beach. Most of my days at that camp were spent riding horses, especially learning gymkhanna events. But one day, all of us campers were herded into the main house and sat in front of the television to watch the moon landing.

And it was awesome.



So, yes it makes me really feel old to realize that this incredible event took place 40 years ago.

The summer of 1969 was also a summer of music

and not just the Top of the Pops...

There was the wildness of Woodstock

And plenty of Soul Music

Pretty girls looked like these bikini clad babes from the Pirelli Calendar

and high fashion was both buttoned down

and Boho Glam

Bright colors and Big jewelry

and my mother, the easy breezy California girl running around the streets of New York,

would have looked a lot like this

So where are we today in the summer of 2009?

Less buttoned down and more Boho Glam for sure

with short skirts, strappy sandals and big sunglasses

And where is the space program?

Well, certainly not on Mars...but maybe a Mars landing will be the pivotal event of my future grandchildren's lives.

We shall see