Tag Archives: 1960s fashion

Leaf Me

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My mama and papa said all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey. Well, almost – but not quite.

I chose my leaves in the form of a thrifted shift dress. The leafy vine motif in an autumn inspired color palette of orange and green is so appropriate for the season. It reminds me of the picturesque leaves changing colors on treetops – one of my favorite features of fall.

Since the dress is so short, it requires some careful ladylike maneuvering. My floppy hat serves a dual purpose: not only does it shield the sun from my face but it also preserves my modesty when I sit down. A dress this short deserves some flats or low wedges. I found an excuse to wear my new Jeffrey Campbells – I love the allover perforation and tonal cutout detail on top of the shoes. The nude color is versatile and the low wedge height makes them so comfortable I can practically live in them everyday before it gets too cold. My initial cluster necklace gets a bit lost in the busy print of the dress, but since V’s are so rare, I just had to wear it. The outfit wouldn’t be complete without my thrifted Anne Klein II purse to keep all my worldly possessions together.

Now make like a tree and leave.


thrifted dress / H&M hat (similar) / Jeffrey Campbell shoes (similar) / Anne Klein II bag (similar) / Urban Outfitters initial necklace (similar)

A Little Birdie Told Me…

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…That whomever said it is wrong to wear white after Labor Day is a Dodo bird.

Labor Day is supposed to mark the end of summer, but my golden tan and the hot asphalt outside beg to differ.

Even in this 90-degree weather, I’m maintaining a cool 60s. I was smitten for this sweet 1960s eyelet blouse when I laid eyes on it; anything eyelet exudes an air of innocence and a demure-like quality. What I love about wearing white is that you can treat it as a blank canvas. Just add some colorful accessories and voila, you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.

I chose a vibrantly colored scarf with three birdies on it and perched my new feathered friends atop my head. I accented the yellow in the scarf with matching wooden canary earrings. My wrists wouldn’t be complete without a cloisonné bangle and a vintage two-toned wooden cuff. Is it possible to take this outfit up a notch? I went from the 60s to the 70s with my newly acquired pair of Swedish Hasbeen wooden clogs, which originated in 1970s. Who doesn’t like wood?

I guess the age-old fashion faux pas of wearing white after Labor Day and the Dodo bird have something in common after all.


60s vintage eyelet blouse (similar) / Urban Outfitters jeans (similar) / vintage bird scarf (similar) / wooden canary earrings (similar here & here) / 70s vintage wooden cuff (similar) / Swedish Hasbeens

Floppy Wall Flower

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Whoa! I’m Blossoming every time I put on this floppy denim hat – minus the oversized flower.

I hastily bought this hat a few seasons ago for a summer trip. Although it is cute and my face is shielded from the sun’s harmful rays, I always feel like I will walk into a tree or a telephone pole – it’s just too damn floppy for my own safety. Yet, as most fashionistas do, I sometimes sacrifice comfort and practicality for visual aesthetic. Floppy this hat might be, but a fashion flop it is not. The camera captured my floppy hat in all its glorious motion.

The light denim color of the hat lends itself well to this thrifted silky blouse with washed out citrus colored flowers and a dash of sky blue. Likely once a home sewn project, I date this shirt back to the 1960s. The print is reminiscent of wallpaper, floral motifs on dishware, and flower power stickers that were all the rage in that era.

I wore mid rise denim skinnies to balance out the blouse’s short boxy silhouette. The fact that my jeans are nearly the same shade of denim as my hat is no coincidence. Why, that’s just made in the shade.

Where my girl Six at?

Citrus Summer

Mad for Paisley

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Are you mad for Joan, Betty, or Peggy?

While I’m mad for Don Draper, the ladies of Mad Men each have their own distinct style that I covet. Whether it is curve hugging sheath dresses for Joan, sophisticated fit and flare for Betty, or innocent and conservative office attire for Peggy – I have items in my closet that can easily identify with each of their style personalities.

I would say this abstract paisley dress fits Peggy’s style personality best. The conservative high neckline and feminine flared out skirt makes this dress oh-so office appropriate. I can picture Peggy wearing this dress as she climbs the corporate ladder. If that corporate ladder were Don Draper, I’d try to climb it too.

Look who decided to join Peggy for tea time: why, it’s none other than Velma from Scooby Doo!

vintage dress /vintage earrings (similar) / Urban Outfitters necklace (similar) / Guess platform pumps (similar) / silver & gold cuff (similar)

 

Chevron for Velma

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Get that pinky in the air because it’s time for some afternoon tea – would you like a Scooby Snack with that?

Although I always felt it was highly unrealistic that a bunch of meddling kids were able to solve not-so-ghostly mysteries, I still loved watching old school Scooby Doo cartoons. I used to actually believe Scooby snacks were dog treats and nothing else.

My favorite character was Daphne, with her red hair, green scarf, and chic purple shift dress. Yet for this post, I decided to channel Velma, the less glam, but more intelligent female in the Scooby gang. This was my chance to give Velma a style makeover. Let’s start by ditching the baggy turtleneck sweater and pleated schoolgirl skirt.

I stumbled upon this groovy 1960s dress at a yard sale one day. The deep orange color is true to Velma’s style. The white chevron pattern adds some dimension to the dress, and is a far improvement to Velma’s drab solid orange uniform. I introduced a new color to her outfit – a pop of green in the form of a beaded necklace with a brooch pinned to it. There is nothing ruh-roh about this outfit.

Move over Daphne, there’s a new fashionable female in the Mystery Machine. You can blame this meddling stylist!


vintage dress (similar chevron blouse, skirt, dress) / Claire’s necklace (similar) / vintage brooch (similar) / Pour la Victoire pumps (similar)

When in doubt, crop it out

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There are just 14 days until the start of summer and I’m already experiencing hot flashes. How can I keep my cool during these heat waves? When in doubt, crop it out.

I’m not inclined to bare it all unless I’m in Vegas. However, when the temperature reaches the mid 80s, a cropped top is a perfect way stay cool and shows off a little skin without feeling too exposed. Not to mention it’s an excellent solution to get some color in your midsection, if you don’t mind a funny tan line.

My aunt was cleaning out her closet and I became the lucky recipient of her groovy 1960s two-piece dress. The openness of the sleeves is not only stylishly cute, but has a functional purpose, for it serves as a much needed ventilation to my overheating body. This photo shoot was taken in the late afternoon, with the sun beaming down on me, and not a shady spot in sight. I think I might be too hot to handle, quite literally.

Is it hot out here or is it just me?

two-piece vintage dress (similar top & skirt) / vintage heels (similar here & here)

Sin City Blackout

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Meet Vixen Vic, my alter ego.

Last week I went to Las Vegas and committed the greatest cardinal sin of all: I didn’t pack enough accessories!

Specifically, I was missing a belt. I know what you’re thinking: after a couple of drinks and dancing to loud music in dimly lit clubs until sunrise, does anyone really care? I do.

Call me a prude if you may, but I am no friend to Vegas attire; dressing in as little as possible has never been my forte.

However, shopping in my closet yielded an appropriate solution: black short shorts (hey it’s just like running shorts right?) and a sheer black top (the chest pocket placement is not an accident). Add a dash of glitz, gold, and vintage – you’ve hit the jackpot in the city of sin. Oh craps, I should’ve worn a necklace. Send another gin and tonic to me at the penny slots please!

My favorite detail in this outfit: the filigree-like loopy 1960s gold earrings that I scored at a vintage market in Toronto.

I returned home with no photographic evidence of my trip there, because as we all know, “whatever happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” Enough said.

Vixen Vic vs. Chic Vic – readers, what do you think?


Silence & Noise blouse (options here & here) / Silence & Noise shorts (options here & here)   Nine West Rocha Pumps / vintage earrings (options here & here) / vintage belt (similar)

Chic Chambray

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Chic Chambray

When I first met the chambray button up shirt, I didn’t care for it too much, thinking that it certainly would clash with all the denim jeans I owned. Who wants to wear head to toe denim? Not I. Yet, slowly but surely, chambray found its way to my heart. Suddenly I longed to make one mine and looked forward to creating all sorts of beautiful outfits with it.

So, what exactly is chambray? Originally made in Cambrai, France, true chambray fabric looks rough and uneven. It is traditionally woven with blue threads and a white horizontal thread to give it that mottled look. However, now chambray can also refer to blue dress shirts or shirts that are denim in color.

Old Navy chambray (on sale! cuter option here) / Unisa espadrilles (similar here & here)   vintage Lord & Taylor jacket (similar) / vintage envelope clutch (similar)

I am surprised at how much I like denim on denim. The key to this outfit is to wear different shades of blue. The casual fit of the shirt felt a bit matronly on me, but nothing that a skinny belt can’t fix. To add some flair to an otherwise plain blue denim palette, I incorporated a leopard urban turban and a similar wild print in my espadrilles. I decided to pin a 1960s flower brooch on my shirt instead of my jacket to help break up the monochromatic look. Even in this balmy spring weather, a lightweight jacket is a must. I chose this peach colored vintage Lord & Taylor jacket to complement my blue-clad ensemble. And what look wouldn’t be complete without a purse to hold my essentials? This woven straw envelope clutch adds a punch of texture to my outfit.

Chic Vic in chambray. This shirt is sure to be a staple in my closet for the warm spring days ahead. Oh hey, can you say chambray all the way?

Fashion Week Favorites

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New York. London. Milan. While Paris Fashion Week hasn’t even started yet, there are simply too many fashion shows to keep up with. After reviewing hundreds of runway photos, my favorite Fall 2013 collections so far are from Anna Sui, Badgley Mischka, and Dsquared2.

I love Anna Sui’s bold use of color and eclectic mix of fabric and textures. From the clean wingtip eye makeup on the models to down to the shoes, Anna has redone the 1960s in a very groovy way and kept it young and playful. Might it be a reminder that yours truly was swinging 60s before Ms. Sui debuted her Fall collection. Call me clairvoyant.

Badgley Mischka’s slim silhouettes, fur, jewels, and dark hues paint the portrait of an elegant lady. It is said that the duo were inspired by the female characters from Alfred Hitchcock’s films. I’ve never seen any of his famous movies, but now I will definitely check some out, just for the outfits. Oh the horror!

Dsquared2 channeled the 1940s wartime look without the seriousness of the war. They added their own whimsical twist to the popular silhouettes and styles of that decade, with pencil skirts, suits,  fedoras, and fur. I must find excuses to wear socks with strappy heels more often. I drool over the men; the menswear doesn’t look so bad either.

What are your favorite runway looks from Fashion Week?