20th Century Vintage: A Fashion Archive Of Inspirational Vintage

Last Week I had the strong feeling to figure out some nice vintage online shops, not only for buying but also to get some inspiration. After an intensive search I came over 20th Century Vintage, an online shop focussing on 60th and 70th Rock'N Roll brands like Ossie Clark and BIBA. C20 also remains the largest online collection of Ossie Clark pieces for sale in the world. It is a farm in Dartmoor owned by Mark and Cleo Butterfield. They posses a nice collection of items coming from various labels, mainly Ossie Clark and BIBA, but they also feature other designers of the british boutique movement like Zandra Rhodes , Thea Porter , Bill Gibb, Bus Stop and Jeff Banks. The main part of their business consists of sellling their pieces to professionals like stylists, designers, dealers and celebrities. Yes, celebreties, so far Kate Moss must be one of their customers because I recently found a photo of her wearing an Alexander McQueen Vintage pull currently available on their site.

In an interview Mark Butterfield explained "The market has totally changed in the past five years, old-style vintage collectors loved how things were made, and bought accordingly," he says. "Our celebrity clients now buy one-off vintage items in the same way as women used to buy couture, because they want and often need to look fabulous and unique." Mark and Cleo are also featured in a useful interview on on feminin.co.uk where they gave their personal advices how to shop for vintage. For New Yorkers it might be interesting to hear that they also participated in the Manhattan Vintage Clothing & Antique Textile Sale in 2006 and 2007. The next shows for 2008 are already scheduled for February, April and October (unfortunatelly it seems that they may not be part of it, but it might be interesting anyway).

Details:
http://www.c20vintagefashion.co.uk/
Enquiries:
enquiries@c20vintagefashion.co.uk
Examples:

BIBA

Ossie Clark

Other Vintage Sites selling 60th brands:
http://www.losthorizonvintage.com/
http://www.swankvintage.com/
http://www.enokiworld.com/

A Propos De Léopard...

Some weeks ago I posted about wild style with regards to leopard prints. Today I came over this ebay offer for a Louis Vuitton Leopard Alma Bag of light and supple monogram canvas. I learned that in 1896, Louis Vuitton's son launched the "Monogram" Canvas. To celebrate its 100th birthday in 1996, Louis Vuitton went in collaboration with SEVEN designers: Azzedine Alaia, Manolo Blahnik, Romeo Gigli, Helmut Lang, Issac Mizrahi, Sybilla, and Vivienne Westwood. This offered item is the work of french darling, the tunesian designer AZZEDINE ALAIA. This bag would complete the leopard look in total perfection. The responding vendor sells it together with a cosmetic bag as well as a matching cosmetic set.


Having talked a lot about this special LV item, I have to admit that I am no specialist with regards to authenticity of these items. To check on this you may want to get some information via the purseblog (log-in required).


Generally I am a fan of collector's items because if you are able and willing to spend a fortune on a bag you may want to have the confidence that there are only few available.

Seasonal Muses

In fashion there two kinds of muses: The forever muses (like Kate Moss or Lady Amanda Harlech) and seasonal muses like Sienna Miller.

Of course both have the same qualities the only difference is that the first are inspiring forever and latter only part-time. After loosing herself over Edie, Sienna's feeling for style is back (part-time it seems). The latest photo shows a matching mix of accessories which made me smile. A special outfit for a cold winter's day.

Winter Accessories: TOD's Gommino Bracelets

On a quite November Saturday I stopped at Paris' Tod's boutique to have a look at the bags. Since Tod's launched the Pashmy Bauletto it has developed one of my favorite labels for good quality bags which don't need too much attention.

What actually caught my attention more than the bags was their new jewelry line of bracelets in different shapes and and colours like stucco, lilac, plum, brandy and cherry red. Like the Pashmy Bauletto, these bracelets emphasize on the responsible body and not too much on itself.
The gommino bracelets would make a nice Christmas present but with regards to the price I am not convinced yet. 200 EUR each might be a bit exaggerated, especially for bling jewelry.

Constance Eyre: Knitwear Which Emphasizes On Female Beauty

It's cold outside and it is getting even colder. Indeed Christmas has to come along with low temperatures but also with the aspect of freezing.

Therefore I am grateful that there are designers who produce effortlessly chic knitwear in beautiful designs to protect you from this. One of my favorite examples is Constance Eyre, who recently launched her new line of winter dresses.

Constance Eyre is a "do it yourself" girl who only started knitting in Spring 2001. After designing some pieces for british designer Elspeth Gibson, she set up her own label. Materials consist mainly of merino wool and each knitwear piece comes along with a vintage flavor. No surprise as she was collecting vintage knitting patterns to reach this effect. Knitwear which is female and charming is a rare find, plus quality is guarenteed - every single piece is still handmade in the UK.

Have a look at Constance Eyre's new line of winter dresses. They are now offering a 10% discount first customer orders.
The Dresses can be shopped online or in the UK:

LONDON
Bridget Salmassian, London
2 Church Road, Wimbledon Village, London, Sw19 5DL

Austique, London
330 King's Road, London SW3 5URtel: 0207 376 3663

Yates Buchanan, London
212 Kensington Park Road, London W11 1NR

Polomo, London
5 Chiswick Common Road, Chiswick, London (0208) 9951717

SOUTH
Prey Ltd, Bath
3 York Buildings, George Street, Bath, BA1 2EB

State of Grace, Chipping Norton
West Street, Chipping Norton, OX7 5AA

Chattertons, Woodbridge
18 Market Hill, Woodbridge, Suffolk. (01394) 385757

Jeanne Petitt, Hungerford
3 Bridge Street, Hungerford, Berks (01488) 682472

MIDLANDS
Doyles, Market Harborough
Old Town Hall, Church Street, Market Harborough, Leicestershire,LE16 7AA

SCOTLAND
Fifi and Ally, Glasgow
48 Buchanan Street, Glasgow (0141) 229 0386

IRELAND
Ursula, Armagh
30 Scotch Street, Armagh, N Ireland, BT61 7BY

Likes And Dislikes Are Sometimes At Close Quarters

Month by month I look forward to read Vogue Paris' "Une Fille Une Style" , which always features the style of cool girls. I was quite disappointed by the November issue focussing on Prada's communication director Mathilde Agostinelli, famous for being close friends with Ex Mme Sarkozy. The quotes, remarks and advices listed in the editorial are disappointing and uncreative. Maybe it's the money or just this person. I am not sure.

What I disliked most about it was the paragraph when it comes to the style of her apartment in Paris' aseptic 16th arrondissment. She states that it has been decorated by french interior designer Jacques Grange.
First of all I have to admit that I share the opinion that people who get their apartments decorated, rich or not, have no personality. Ones apartment actually reveals more about ones personality than the way of dressing could ever do. So how come that people pay a decorator? I only can think of prestige...the proof of status which goes in one hand with a personal driver, trainer and all this blablalalala.

To cut a long story short, a few weeks later I came across this post of The Peak Of Chic Blog showing photos from Mathilde's Paris home which had been already published in "House&Garden" in May 2006 (I don't like the title though). I came to the conclusion that every single room of the apartment is just stunning, colourful and lively. A matching mix of finds which is hard to do. A proof of taste in perfection, even though it was THE DECORATOR who did it.

Moschino...Paris' Most Sartorial Window

This is now my second post about Moschino's shopping window, rue de Grenelle, Paris 6ème.
They must employ a real genius-decorator because everytime they change the outfit it looks even more stunning. Compared to a post of Café Mode referring to Lavin's window, I recognize some similarities. No matter who was first, Moschino stays my favorite and the ladies in the window don't need to get drunk to catch my attention...the bronzes pasta does it as well.

Linda Farrow Vintage - Collaborations, Vintage And More

Linda Farrow Vintage is not a "fashion secret for producing the coolest sunglasses ever" anymore. It is a brand known for a bride range of the most beautiful vintage sunglasses as well as the most exiting designer collaborations ever.

Linda Farrow is a lable braught back from death by Simon Jablon, Linda's son. Inspired by the vintage finds in their house in Islington, he reanitmated but left everything in original packaging. Working now as creative director he is responsible for collaborations with ACNE , Basso & Brooke , Bernhard Willhelm, Buddhist Punk, Eley Kishimoto , Jeremy Scott , Sophia Kokosalaki and Linda Farrow Vintage for Tsubi in order to create eight new debuting collections. Afterwards Jablon made a selective distribution for the over 2000 designs only sold to the most exclusive retailers in the World. The brand is available in shops like Browns in London, Maria Louisa, Montaigne Market, Colette and L'Eclaireur in Paris, Antonioli and 10 Corso Como in Milan and Ouartier 2006 in Berlin. Linda Farrow-Gallery boutiques, designed by Matthieu Paillard, can be found in Harrods-London, Printemps- Paris, Joyce- Hong Kong, Villa Moda- Dubai and Harvey Nichols- Istanbul.

Simon Jablon

Outlook: Linda Farrow Luxe will be launched for SS08. I personally look forward to it.


Shop online:
http://www.stylebop.com/
www.shopbop.com
www.satineboutique.com

Anna And Samuel Are In Love

Look at this nice photos of Anna Mouglalis and her fiance Samuel Benchetrit in and on the cover of the french Blast Magazine shot by Ellen von Unwerth. Anna is very french, very seductive and teaches you why "femme fatale" is a french expression. Sexy, humorous, affectionate and special! How much better could it get after their first baby!

Orciani - Made Of Fine Leather

It's cold outside and I am one of those women who always have cold hands. In order to avoid further exertions for the skin of my hands, I baught some nice black Orciani leather gloves at yoox.com. They are made out of fine quality leather fed with soft cashmere wool. The ultimate winter hand experience so to say.
As I am so exited about their quality I made some recherche on this italian label .

Orciani was founded in 1978 out of the need for a special belt for a special 23 year old italian boy. They boy I am writing about is Claudio Orciani born and raised in Fano (Marches), where the head quarters are still located today. ...coming back to the belt. This boy decided to create the special belt with a piece of leather provided by a shoe maker. A friend of his, who owned a boutique, adored it and advised him to produce more. We are writing now 2007 and Orciani still exists. They produce high leather accessories such as, bags, gloves and belts of course.

Orciani's collections are available for men as well as women and can only baught online under the following addresses:
www.yoox.com
www.thepursestore.com
www.saksfifthavenue.com
I attached some photos of the lovely sexy and very italien campaigns and my favorite pieces taken from his women's collection F/W 07/08.
Be inspired and have a warm winter!