Village Style

The last place I visited on my annual trip to New York City was the Village, my absolute favorite neighborhood. Why do I love it so much?
 
1. Really really good pizza (John’s Pizza—you have to get the house salad and the meatballs in addition to the pizza, they are delicious!).
2. Washington Square Park—I love watching people walk around with their dogs.
3. The fashion, of course.
 
Plaid was everywhere. Shirts, dresses, headbands, even on a pair of leggings. And it wasn’t your normal red and black checkered print. I saw more teals and purples than reds and whites. My favorite plaid outfit was a long purple and black plaid shirt with rolled up sleeves, shiny black leggings, and a thin black belt. Oh, and of course, you can’t forget the Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses (I saw them on literally everyone there). I love this look because it is so trendy, but very easy to replicate.

I also saw a lot of ruffles, something I’ve seen Louis Vuitton incorporate in his fall runway shows.

 

 

Ruffles are such a fun, easy, and affordable trend that even the fashion-challenged can pull off. It is now one of my staples in my closet.

Ruffles by sophie1632 featuring Forever21

A majority of the outfits I saw there were much looser silhouettes than anywhere else. Boho frocks with unique patterns and long necklaces were common.

I also saw jumpsuits—a trend I thought would never be popular. I was wrong. This one from Avant Gaudy looks almost exactly like the few I saw around in New York.

I think Village style is all about looking good without trying too hard. To me, everything seems a little more relaxed and comfortable, which leaves room for more unique, individual styles to shine through. I could tell that a person that loves vintage clothing would fit perfectly in the Village. 

Midtown Style

After spending the day in the Bronx, I decided I wanted to spend a couple hours roaming around Midtown. I love the fact that in Midtown, no one slows down for anything. It’s also a great place to spot fashion trendsetters.
 
Many women wore high-waisted  pants and skirts—a trend I’ve seen both Chloé and Stella McCartney  incorporate into their runway shows.

I also saw a lot of dresses and tops that emphasized women’s shoulders. That doesn’t mean you should dig out old jackets with shoulder pads stuffed inside them. Instead, women are giving the old trend a revamp by wearing puff sleeves and jackets with sharp angles at the shoulders.

Light, summery scarves, long strands of pearls, and belts worn high on the waist are still the go-to accessories in Midtown. I couldn’t walk a block without seeing one of the three. Even finding people wearing all three wasn’t hard to spot.
 
Lastly, and one of my favorite trends,  are men dressing especially classy. I’d like to partially attribute this popular trend to the television series Mad Men. The men in that show are so well dressed! Well, actually, all of the characters are well dressed. (If you aren’t watching it already and you love classic/vintage style, you must watch this show. Oh, yeah, and the acting is good too.) Anyway, I saw so many men dressed in sharp suits, but just like women’s fashion, men were sneaking in pops of color without being outrageous. Subtle pinks, purples and vibrant greens acted accent colors in ties or pocket squares.

Those are the latest trends I’ve spotted off the streets of Midtown. Next time, the Village—my favorite neighborhood in New York.

Bronx Style

Every year, I go out to New York to visit my family. After spending 30 seconds in the city, it’s easy to see why it is one of the world’s fashion capitals. And living between 5th and 6th Avenue doesn’t hurt. But, because New York City is one of the largest cities in the world, it is hard to pinpoint one exact “NYC style.” That’s why, this summer, I really wanted to try and find what makes each borough’s style unique.
 
The first stop on my New York trip was the Bronx. So, after getting up at 4:00 a.m. and watching a man attempt to take a large pipe wrench through security, I arrived in the city and hopped on the subway to Fordham Road. There, I saw a wide range of generations and heritages mixed together to form a community unlike any other in NYC. The highlight of my trip was being seated at a little Italian café behind a table with four big Italian men speaking Italian, but cursing in English. I felt like I was in a scene from The Sopranos.
 
Anyway, back to fashion. I saw that while a lot of people wearing black and white basics, people added a pop of color in their accessories or focal point in their outfit. Neon was very popular, taking hints from recent RTW Fall fashion shows.
 
I also noticed that people chose sneakers over heels. And, keeping with the bright ’80s colors trend, people wore sneakers with bright laces and neon prints along the sides.
 
As for jewelry, I didn’t see a lot of it, but when I did, it was always big bangles and gold hoop earrings.

 The Bronx Fashion by sophie1632 featuring Bullhead jeans

That’s all from the Bronx. Next stop—Midtown and the Guggenheim.

Frankie Says Relax…and Go Bold

It’s time to pull out those wide shouldered jackets and big costume jewelry because the ’80s are back and brighter than ever! Just as we’ve finally washed the last remnants of volumizing mousse out of our hair, it’s time to go back to the year that brought us Duran Duran and Molly Ringwald.

I hope this trend lasts a while because I am a huge fan of the ’80s. The music was awesome. The Rubik’s Cube was an exciting form of entertainment. And, there were only 40 presidents to remember for a test. Life was simpler.

Oh, and did I mention the fashion? I can’t help but admire and cringe at the same time when I watch reruns of Cheers or The Cosby Show. Everything was big and bold. Everything made a statement.

That’s why I’m excited to see the same trends we saw in the ’80s come back to the runways. Top designers, such as Marc Jacobs, Versace, Balmain, Marios Schwab and Jil Sander, are all jumping in on the trend and putting modern spins on ’80s classics.

Designers are choosing to emphasize the shoulder more on both jackets and dresses. Whether rounded or dramatically angled, shoulders are the main focus in a lot of new styles.

     

There has also been a lot of bright, neon colors on in the Fall 2009 runway shows. And, it doesn’t just stop at clothing. Designers are choosing bolder jewelry as well. 

     

Designers are even taking inspiration from the heavy metal bands that came out of the ’80s.

In street fashion, vintage ’80s t-shirts paired with skinny jeans and Ray Ban Wayfarer sunglasses have become quite popular.

Here are some 80s inspired pieces for less. My favorite is the Atari t-shirt.

The 80s by sophie1632 featuring Forever21

There’s no question that 2009 is the new 1985. So get out that hair spray and put on some Cyndi Lauper, ’cause the ’80s are back!

What are some of your favorite ’80s inspired trends? Be sure to comment and let us know!

New Trend: Biker Chic

A fashion trend I’ve noticed spreading quickly both on the runway and on the street is called “biker chic”, or at least that’s what Elle is classifying it as. It’s basically a throwback to the grunge look of the 90s, but it includes some of today’s hottest trends like skinny jeans and funky scarves.

When I looked in my closet to see if I could pull the trend off, I was surprised at how many of the biker essential pieces I already had. There isn’t much to this trend—it’s very easy to pull off. My rule of thumb is that if it’s leather, studded, or has chains—it works. Any combo of the three and you’ve got yourself some bonus points.

Biker Chic by sophie1632 featuring Alexander McQueen

I think that if you pair some of the biker-inspired pieces with some of your own personal favorites, you can give your usual style a fresh new look. This trend just gives you more ways to spice up your style.

For me, I like pairing something non-feminine, like a leather jacket, with a really summery, flirty skirt. Or you could pair skinny jeans and a leather vest with much more feminine jewelry, like a big flower ring or some colorful bangles.

Biker Chic 2 by sophie1632 featuring Forever21

This is a trend I would definitely recommend trying. It’s fun to be a little edgy for the day.

Playful Jewelry with a Dark Twist

Jewelry designer and creative director for The Docent, Cora Thomas has taken eclectic jewelry to a whole new level. Although her line is fairly new, her designs seem to have success written all over them. To create them, Thomas often searches for vintage chains and other small details she can add to her designs later on. Her jewelry takes me back to my childhood—going to camp, making new friends, playing games. I’m taken back to a time where things were simpler. The twist? Her designs, while playful and fun, each have their own hint of darkness mixed in. Don’t believe me? Take a look at one of her designs called the Safety Bracelet.

I love this bracelet for its simplicity and the dark wit behind it. Most of all, I love the fact that her designs are completely unique. I truly believe there is nothing else out there quite like this. Her jewelry is designed so you could wear it on any occasion, whether it’s going out on the town or pairing it with jeans and a t-shirt.

It’s your inner-child embodied in jewelry.

Cameron Silver: Vintage Couture

Cameron Silver knows his vintage. As the owner of Decades, a vintage boutique in Los Angeles, he nearly eat, sleeps and breathes vintage clothing. And, when he’s not, he’s usually thinking about something related to designs from decades past. But, his clients couldn’t be happier because when you think of vintage couture, you think Cameron Silver.

Ever since Decades opened more than 10 years ago, Silver’s clientele has become larger and more fabulous. Today, he’s dressed up some of Hollywood’s biggest stars like Katie Holmes, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez. While some might consider him a risk-taker, his immaculate eye for style makes the leap from everyday trends to slightly more unusual designs a little easier. For Silver, wearing vintage sends a message to others. “It says, ‘I own my style,’” said Silver.

His unique collection of couture ranges from Gucci from the 1960s to anything Hermes. He travels all around the world to find inspiration. And, in return, his collections have inspired a vintage come-back in recent years. For this, Silver was named one of Time’s “25 Most Influential Names and Faces in Fashion” in 2002.

To collect his original inventory, Silver travels to different thrift stores and attends auctions. Sometimes he is even invited to houses of wealthy women who would like to give him some of their memorable pieces. One notable woman was Catherine Deneuve, who gave Decades items like Hermes luggage. But, he says that when looking for the right pieces for his store, the best vintage looks don’t look vintage at all.

Silver wasn’t always into fashion. In fact, up until a few years before Decades opened, Silver was a cabaret singer. He while at UCLA, he studied Theatre Arts. After performing for a few years, he was introduced to the fashion world and has been hooked ever since.

Since opening Decades, Silver has made appearances on E! Entertainment and the Style Network and has written many fashion articles for Style.com and the UK-edition of Harpers Bazaar.

Anyone can tell that Silver is passionate about what he does. He is obsessed with finding clothes that are unique that tell their own stories, oh, and anything Hermes. He favors vintage over hot off the runway because he feels the pieces are on of a kind. When buying clothes based off of current trends, you always run the risk of wearing the same thing as someone else. This explains part of vintage clothing’s charm according to Silver. He also acknowledges today’s eco-friendly, recycling, hybrid-driving youth as a factor that lead to its sudden popularity.

Silver’s Thoughts:

Current Fashion Icon: Michelle Obama

Favorite Personal Items: Anything Hermes, but especially his Hermes traveling bags

Hot Decades Items: 50s, 60s and 70s gowns

The Decades Image: “Sexy, gorgeous and stunning”

Who Stays Timeless: Lanvin, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga

 

You don’t have to dish out hundreds of dollars for fashionable vintage clothes like the ones at Decades. Avant Gaudy has pieces that are just as memorable as Yves Saint Laurent.

Here’s one of my favorite Decades’ pieces. It is a Pierre Cardin Aqua silk dress. I love the lightweight, flowing material—perfect for summer. And, the jeweled halter neckline really makes this dress stand out from the rest. You could have a similar look for much less with this fun summer dress here at Avant Gaudy:

This dress still has that lightweight, flowing look to it—it even has a similar color to the Pierre Cardin one. While it doesn’t have that same jeweled neckline, the neckline on this one makes the dress unique. And, if this doesn’t have enough sparkle for you, add statement making bracelets or earrings.