Looking For Mr. Goodbar

Love Diana Keaton and Love this movie! 

(via)

China...pronouced Cheena

 

China Machado is possibly the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen; the overall bone structure, cheek bones and full lips are phenomenal!  Born Noelie Dasouza Machado of  Latin and Asian ancestry, China paved the way for generations of models to come, being the first model of color to be featured on the cover of a US fashion magazine, Harper's Bazaar.

Machado started modeling in Paris in 1954 for Givenchy and Balenciaga, but it was her coming to America and meeting Richard Avedon that would change her career and make history.  She soon became the muse of the famed photographer, and it was Richard Avedon's photograph that would grace the cover of Harper's Bazaar in 1959.  But as we all know, history isn't made without opposition and Avedon had to fight the publishers to keep China's photo on the cover.  The publishers were opposed to putting a woman of color on the cover of the magazine for fear of backlash from southern Americans.

China Machado would eventually become a top fashion editor for Harper's Bazaar in the 1960s with the departure of Diana Vreeland.  She also started her own fashion magazine in the 1980s called Lear's, a magazine for mature women over 45.  And today she is the oldest contracted model signed to IMG at the age of 82...and she is still as gorgeous and fabulous and lively as she was 60 years ago.

Gorgeous

There is still no one better than the 90s supermodel...

Gilded Gypsies Vintage

Gilded Gypsies is my love child.  It's been tucked away in my heart for about 7 years now.  I came to realize that selling vintage was my true calling while working on the feature film American Gangster.  It literally was a eureka moment, like a light bulb went off in my head. When I came to NYC, I thought I wanted to work in either the music industry or fashion, I even had a specific job that I wanted in music, A&R.  I temped at record labels, hung out at clubs and lounges AND other record labels meeting people to further my career in the music business but my first passion (fashion) just wouldn't leave my mind, and so I switch gears.  I've had my hands in fashion across all boards since deciding to focus my energy on fashion.  I've experienced every dream I've had as a 13 year old girl reading Vogue and Sassy magazine.  I've worked with supermodels, I've been on white backdrop sets in a loft at photo shoots like I said I would when I was a 13 year old watching House of Style.  I've been to amazing fashion shows during fashion week, I've worked for top fashion mags like W magazine and I've even interviewed at Christian Dior...and let me tell you, interviewing at Dior is like having Zeus invite you to walk amongst the gods!

But it's my experience as a film costumer that has led me to my true passion and that's vintage fashion.  Trust me, before working in film, I've always had a strong connection to the past.  As a little girl visiting my great grandmother in Florida, me and my cousins would explore, and in our exploration my imagination would often drift to the past and what it must have been like.  I can remember running down a dirt road singing the Supremes at the top of my lungs imagining I'm a child in 1960s rural Florida. When I landed my first period film, I had no idea what the job was until I showed up for the interview and with all sincere honesty, I was more elated about the time period and impending costume research than I was about the fact that Denzel Washington was the star...and that's saying a lot!

There was a older woman who would come to the costume shop about twice a week that we would get vintage pieces from.  So one day out of curiosity I asked her where she found all that she brought to us for the movie, and she told me that she'd been a collector for years! That her house was overflowing with so many vintage and antique items, and that she rents and sells to films all the time, travels the world to find great pieces and also sells her items at the Chelsea flea market in the summers. Everything she said to me was me...she even looked like me, it was literally like looking in the mirror and seeing myself in 30 years!

And so with American Gangster, Gilded Gypsies Vintage was born.  GGV didn't have a name at the time, but she had a place in my heart, mind, body and soul.  God shows you your calling in life...it's just up to you to see it.

Jellies 1985

 How amazing are these vintage Thierry Mugler jellies currently on ebay?!?! I love them and if I had $499 to waste, I'd buy 'em!  Kinda jealous of the vintage dealer who actually found these puppies.

Tadashi Shoji Fall 2012

Towards the end of NYFW, I got a little sidetracked on posting rewiews of my favorite shows.  One show that I particularly liked was Tadashi Shoji.  I thought the dresses were just...well, pretty.  Inspired by “the golden age of Shanghai,” Tadashi showed delicate lace, chiffon and velvet gowns in rich tones, all very 1920s in silhouette.  The floral dresses that were shown were also 1920s inspired, and while in the 1920s would have been considered day dresses (if shown with shorter hemlines), they are in this millennium more wedding or daytime red carpet appropriate.

Please notice the last shot, the gorgeous lace detail on the back of the red velvet dress.  That dress takes my breath away.

It's been a long wait...

Mad Men is finally back in two weeks and I couldn't be happier!

Debbie Harry

The most amazing picture I've ever seen of Debbie Harry, she looks gorgeous! 

via Lune Vintage

Valley of the Dolls

Valley of the Dolls is one of my favorite movies. Being the fashion-driven girl that I am,  my favorite films usually feature the best fashion trends of the time and the characters are typically stylish...but that doesn't take away from the actual film...I love Valley of the Dolls in all its glorious campiness!

Anne Welles in all her inherent sophistication

 I am a Bostonian who moved to NYC as a young girl of 18 years to seek my fame and fortune in the big city with hopes of becoming a career girl strutting down 7^th avenue in her Nine West pumps…yikes! So from the start of the film, I am immediately captured by relatability; relating to the young Anne Welles (Barbara Parkins), who leaves Massachusetts to start her life as a career girl in the big city...New York City.  She unknowingly lands her first job with an entertainment law office and the rest is history!  Her good looks and charm make it all too easy for her to become a part of the entertainment circle, soon becoming a fashion model.  She also falls for the handsome Lyon Burke (Paul Burke) and they embark on a tumultuous relationship which sends her spiraling and reaching for that little bottle of “dolls”. 

Anne Welles sleeping all day, only waking to take another "doll"

The talented Neely O'Hara

Neely O’Hara (Patty Duke) is the young, spunky, and naturally talented new kid on Broadway who comes from humble beginnings.  We are first introduced to her rehearsing her first and only solo in a show starring Broadway diva Helen Lawson (Susan Hayward).  Ms. Lawson, no fool to the ways and fickleness of the business has Neely’s solo cut from the show…she’s not having any young chick stealing her thunder!  Neely soon bounces back from the disappointing blow and becomes a young Hollywood starlet, but with fame comes pressure and Neely soon becomes hooked on uppers and downers.

The Hollywood starlet, an addict

Jennifer North, a sexy Broadway chorus girl

Lastly we have the beautiful, buxom blonde Jennifer North (Sharon Tate) who is a chorus girl in Helen Lawson’s Broadway show and a friend of Neely’s.  Jen follows Neely to Hollywood and quickly marries the Dean Martin-esque nightclub singer Tony Pilar (Tony Scotti).  Tony is sent to the loony bin because he has a hereditary nervous disorder, which sends Jen to France to do “nudies” (soft core porn) to pay his medical bills.  Feeling worthless and nothing more than a great pair of boobs most her life, on top of finding out she has breast cancer, Jen commits suicide by overdosing on "dolls".

Jen in her final act

In the end, we are left to figure out what fate Neely meets…does she OD? Does she get clean and win back her audience? Or does she become just another starlet who loses it all because she couldn’t handle it all?

And Anne Welles…well little Ms. Anne moves back to Massachusetts, and realizes she always had it all right here at home in her quaint little town of Lawrenceville.   There’s no place like home!

Ralph Lauren Fall 2012 RTW

 As I am one of many who are utterly obsessed with Downton Abbey, you shan't be surprised that I am currently in a state of withdrawal as I await the third season premiere.  I recently posted on this here blog about the awesome costumes on the show, so you can imagine how super happy I was to see that Ralph Lauren took a direct and literal approach with Downton Abbey being the inspiration behind the fall collection.  The show even opened up with the theme song of Downton Abbey blasting over the loud speakers!  And apparently many editors are super fans of the show as well...there was a collective gasp heard throughout the room as the music started to play.  The first set of looks sent down the runway were inspired by the men of Downton...something like Matthew Crawley's 'out in the country for hunting and sport' attire or Lord Grantham's 'heading to London for business' attire.  These looks were followed by gorgeous gowns typical of the ladies of Downton and a few flapper inspired styles that we are sure to see in the upcoming third season. 

Can't wait to see what bold, brave ladies don the men's inspired looks next fall!