Polka Dot Daze...

I've been keeping up to date on what's in for Spring 2011 since it's right around the corner and my most recent reveal is polka dots!

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Dots primarily in pastel shades have made a huge impact on fashion trends for this year!  Victoria Beckham is stunning in this pale pink polka dotted Marc Jacobs one shoulder mini!

Polka dot patterns became super popular in the 1950's and the retro 50's dot bold & bright style is still considered to make quite the fashion statement...

You don't have to shop in high priced boutiques to acquire this style trend because it's pretty much 'polka dot daze' currently at all retail chains off and online.  Juicy Couture at Zappos.com, Forever 21.com and Endless.com has a bevy of polka dotted fashions and accessories for you to choose from.

   

This style pattern will take you right through to Fall as you can pair polka dots with capris, a slim skirt or dark-wash jeans!

                                  Jason Wu’s Fall 2011 runway presentation at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week


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Whatever Happened to Grace Jones?

Recently I was reading about the days of Studio 54 and this got me to thinking...What ever happened to Grace Jones?  Remember her? The scarily sexy androgynous Jamaican-American singer, model and actress?

Born in Jamaica, she moved to New York in 1965 and became a successful model in the city but gained her fame as a clothes horse in Paris more so because her looks were considered 'too strong' for American magazines.

She also studied theatre in Syracuse and became an extremely capable actress which overshadowed her musical talents in America, but not in Europe where her status as a recording artist was much higher.  She made some low-budget films in the late 70's, early 80's and became a mainstream actress after starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1984 movie Conan The Destroyer.

Jones made a record deal with Island Records in 1977 and put out a bunch of dance club hits.  It's said to be known that she is responsible for adapting and emerging a new wave style in music and she definitely incorporated performance art into her grooves.  In 81' her album "Pull Up to the Bumper" spent 7 weeks at #2 on the U.S. Hot Dance Club charts. 

So where is she now?  Although she hasn't made an appearance in any mainstream films since the late 90's, it seems as though the 60'something Ms. Jones is still rocking the microphone in all her glory.  Here she is performing at the Roskilde Festival in Denmark wild as ever!  

She's also been spotted several years ago during New York Fashion Week participating in the Jean Paul-Goude African Fashion Collection.

A press article last year stated that the infamous Lady GaGa was said to be interested in working with Grace Jones on a musical collaboration to which Jones replied..."She asked, but I said no....I'd prefer to work with someone who is more original and someone who is not trying to copy me actually"...She also added that she probably wouldn't waste her time seeing GaGa in concert.

Bad move on your part Grace, she could have given you a 'leg up' and some new found media exposure as well.  And what the heck? If the Queen of Pop Madonna even gave her approval for 'style dupes' to Gaga, you should have too! After all...Imitation is the best form of flattery. Get over your damn self!


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Vintage Film Classic 'Taxi Driver' Inspired Spring Style

Do you remember the classic 1976 four time Academy Award nominated movie Taxi Driver with Robert De Niro and Jodie Foster?  There was a lot of controversy about the film due to the fact that Foster was just 14 years old when she took on the heavy role of playing Iris, a teenage prostitute.

The American born fashion designer Marc Jacobs has recently used this vintage cult film icon as his muse for his Spring 2011 collection during the New York Fashion Week.  Inspired by the 70's, he incorporated the theme to this movie within his runway show by creating styles that brought back the floppy hats, gold sequin platforms, zigzag knits, peasant blouses and hot pants.

Palazzo pant jumpsuits, dresses with thigh high slits, satin jackets and a wild palette of colors consisting of poppy, red, maize and desert orange, fuchsia and bright violet.

Other designers such as Chanel, Moschino & Linda Farrow for Luella have come on board with accessories as well as their own creative interpretations of this 70's retro look with over sized sunglasses, patent clutches and silk scarves.

Although it's a unique concept, this fashion trend will by all means have a difficult transition to everyday life because in all reality..hot pants are rarely hot unless you're a size 3 stick figure eh?!

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Elizabeth Taylor...Timeless Beauty

The beautiful Elizabeth Taylor just recently turned 79 this past February and has been in the news over the past several weeks for being hospitalized for congestive heart failure at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. She remains stable and there are no new developments in her condition.

Award winning two time Oscar recipient Taylor defined herself as one of the most influential style icons of the 20th century with her stunning face, violet-blue eyes and the trademark beauty mark on her chin.  She was never afraid of playing up her bold eyebrows and that became a trend among women everywhere.


She has influenced film fashion for over five decades and became famous not only for her acting talents but for her style choices in clothes and jewelry.  Since she was a teen she has been intriguing us with her sass and sex appeal.


Elizabeth Taylor will always remain a timeless beauty...     

pic: cowkitty.net

Hats Off To Spring!

Women have always been in love with hats as a fashion accessory.  In the 1920's the cloche hat was one of the first modern styles of the 20th century.  Cloche is the french word for 'bell' as these caps were form fitting to the head in that shape. These hats were considered 'sexy & mysterious' because the hat sat right above the wearers eyes...

In the 1930's there was a trend in the U.S. for wearing hats when Spring was in bloom and they often did so with a sense of rivalry involved as to whose hat was the biggest and the best! In the midst of the great depression, a new hat at Easter or a refurbished old one was a simple luxury for most women...

There's also a rich history of African-American women and hats, in that the act of covering your head during worship has its roots grounded in scripture.  It has since become a firm tradition for many women who want to show respect for God while adding pizzaz to their presence!

The 1950's saw a decrease in the popularity for hat wearing in general by women, and were no longer a 'must have' for every outfit but have since regained popularity in the 21st century since this is one of the most flexible times in fashion history and everyone is pretty much following their own impulses, especially when it comes to what they're topping off with.


Remember the floppy colorful shade hats in the 70's? We're starting to see them again... 

When talking about 'hats' you cannot forget to mention the huge hats women have been parading around in at the Kentucky Derby for ages. Styles of course have changed so much throughout the years that now the Derby event is more like a red carpet who's wearing who and what!

Just like everything...'what goes around comes back around' and hats of pretty much every style are being seen worn again these days.  Here at Retro Threadz, we pride ourselves in selecting only the most quality of vintage hats for you to choose from so make sure you stop by the shop regularly as we are always stocked with a variety of beautiful vintage styles ranging from the 1940's to the 1980's.

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The Bizarre & Beautiful of Paris Fashion Week 2011

Highlights of the recent Paris Fashion Week 2011 hosted the 'bizarre & beautiful' and these three designers in particular set the runway on fire in my opinion with their unique yet exquisite collections.


#1. Mugler's muse Lady GaGa stole the show taking to the gig like she'd been doing it all of her life grinding down the catwalk as her new single "Government Hooker", played as the soundtrack.  Nicola Formichetti a house designer for Mugler, showed her tailored jackets and dresses with extreme "Metropolis" shoulders, latex pants and catsuits. 

#2. Balenciaga flashed fashion gold as he brought punk for Spring turning a 180-degrees from his usual foray.  

Skirts were his coveted item as he showed several versions of paneled knee length styles with asymmetrical hems.  He also did his take on the popular 'dresses over pants' which has been done by most every designer.

#3. Hakaan Yildirim, the Turkish born designer won the French ANDAM award for new talent (given by the country's National Association for the Development of the Fashion Arts) last year, and was definitely the buzz'iest newcomer on this years schedule completely living up to the hype with his fresh take on androgynous fashion (i.e. masculine-feminine themed). 

Who were your fave designers during the 2011 Paris Fashion Week? Retro Threadz wants to know!




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Rated PG Sexy

What's sexy?  Is it true that 'less is more'?  Nowadays it seems quite the opposite as we are seeming to conform to the European standards of modesty on all media fronts and even more so in today's fashions. Case in point, naked models walked the runway at London Fashion Week for Charlie Le Mindu! Way to shop your hats!

The 1940's & 50's was supposed to be the eras of the pristine 'good girl' but they managed to sneak a little naughty in there for sure!  My mother said she remembers back in the day her mother wearing a black sheer button down blouse with just a black bra underneath.  How did they get away with that back then?!  Maybe grandma was just a rebel? Check out this sheer lace number Rita Hayworth wore in the 1942 musical comedy 'You Were Never Lovlier'.  This now vintage scandalous dress was definitely ahead of it's time!

My mom's story of my grandmother's risque fashion choice led me to do a little scoping out on sheers as a current day trend.  I've been reading a lot about the New York Fashion Week still as articles are still trickling in and continue to pop up in the style section of the news as well as in the fash mags.  I came across Proenza Schouler.  Never heard of them, but they are fairly new being that they've only been around since 2002.  Proenza Schouler is a New York based modern design label that focuses their inspirations primarily on women's wear & accessories.


I Google'd them and went looking to see what I could find and their spring 2011 collection at the New York Fashion week was 'sheer heaven'!  I really dig how they couple the aspect of maintaining modesty with the sheer and sexy vibe of the delicate fabrics leaving much to the imagination by accompanying the styles with appropriate under garments such as boy shorts and camis.  

Sheer is definitely 'in' for Spring/Summer 2011 so make sure you keep it classy and not trashy and wear it rated PG Sexy!


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