The Obligatory Little Black Dress Post

Every fashion blogger is required by law to write a post on the little black dress. Fashionising’s article on LBDs on the runway inspired me to share Avant Gaudy’s own collection with our readers.

Avant Gaudy's "Third Date" dress features a sweetheart neckline and velvet - perfect for fall 09.

Viva Las Vegas

Make your fall fashion debut wearing our Debutante dress.

This vintage Betsey Johnson dress is made of a stretch material and is very versatile.

A cheerleader-inspired skirt makes our Match dress perfect for day or night.

Pair this LBD with colorful leggings and stay cozy in the fall.

My own little black dress is rather unoriginal – but therin lies its potential. It’s a strapless, knee-length number from Charlotte Russe, with eyelet trim and a simple ribbon belt. Not only do I change the ribbon to match every outfit, but black acts as a blank canvas. I add a cardigan most of the time, but sometimes I add a blazer or funky tights. I’d love to see how it looks with a colored crinoline underneath. For now, it looks something like this:

What about your LBD? Where did you find it? How do you accessorize it? Share your story!

Avant Gaudy on The Coveted!

Jennine from The Coveted visited the Avant Gaudy showroom this week.  Check out an exerpt from her interview with Deborah and see a sneak peek of some of Avant Gaudy’s favorite fall looks:

One of the things I missed the most when I was abroad was easy access to vintage clothing. I missed some of my local shops, and online, well many of the ones I love are located stateside (though not all!) When I came to Chicago, honestly, there’s not been much time to visit shops, we’re looking for a place to live, and me, I’m looking for work… but luckily enough, we got in touch with Chicago-based online vintage retailer, Avant Gaudy. Founded by Deb Umunnabuike (pictured on the left) in 2005, Avant Gaudy started out from a love for vintage, for integrating found pieces and wearing them in modern ways. this has translated into her shop philosophy:

“modern vintage” clothing: garments with some history that represent the best of today’s fashion and trends. Our fashion philosophy is all-encompassing: anyone can look good, and looking good does not equate spending a lot of money nor a lot of time in a shopping mall.’

Behind the scenes the shop has grown, with two buyers searching high and low for great pieces, they pool their resources together to create ‘collections’  based on runway trends, magazines, and style blogs like Hel Looks and The Sartorialist and fashion news sites like WWD to find inspiration. One of the advantages of going to Avant Gaudy’s is to see the ways they interpret vintage and relate it to the most recent of today’s trends… and for pretty cheap too, most pieces run about the $25-$50 range which for edited vintage pieces is quite a steal!

Check out the rest of the article on The Coveted to see more photos of our fall looks and even an exclusive photo of our latest editorial photo shoot.

Shoes!

Get ready for fall or back-to-school! Check out some of our newest vintage shoes at Avant Gaudy, including boots, heels, flats and vintage sneakers!

New Avant Gaudy Photo Shoot – Back to School

Take a look at a few exclusive photos from our latest “back to school” photo shoot with photographer Shmura Campbell.

Go to Avant Gaudy to see photos from our previous photo shoots and buy these one-of-a-kind vintage items.

“Just Take Off My Red Shoes, Put Them On and Your Dream’ll Come True”

Every weekday morning, I walk by the dog run in Madison Square Park on the way to the subway.  Sometimes I see office workers from the nearby financial firms practicing tai chi, sometimes I see a man walking his cat, and sometimes I see country music bands setting up for a mid-morning concert.  But I was unprepared for the chihuahua and his red running sneakers.

The pup and his owner ran by too fast for me to whip out my camera, but I think I’ve located the source of his sneakers.  They looked sort of like this:

Now, I realize that dogs have been wearing shoes since at least Legally Blonde.  Especially in New York, this is none too shocking.  However, seeing red running shoes on a speeding canine confirmed a suspicion I’ve had ever since I started noticing flocks of really well-groomed men strolling in Central Park with bright red sneakers.  Most similar to the amazing dog sneakers?  This pair of Prada running shoes, made for the America’s Cup:

At a moment when the recession seems like it might never be over, florescent red shoes lighten the mood of even the most jaded Manhattanite.  With more muted colors for fall, red shoes are the ideal way to add a punch of color to a staid outfit, and to remember that even when the economy is tanking, we can still have fun.

For those without a Prada-sized budget or an adorable puppy with delicate feet, I found these great red wedges and two-toned pointy heels at Avant Gaudy: 

Title from “The Red Shoes” by Kate Bush.

California Vintage: Hillcrest, San Diego

San Diego is unique as a California city, lacking the pretension of LA and the cold fog of San Francisco. Still, the laid-back nature and temperate climate are only part of why I love it here so much. To me, San Diego is a vintage city, always drawing on its past to create a unique and eclectic future. Maybe I just like my city like I like my closet.

There is something to be said about each neighborhood and borough within San Diego, but the one I keep coming back to is Hillcrest. This is where I find the best food, theatre, and people…and shopping. From the premier vintage at Wear It Again Sam to the fantastic thrifitng at Flashbacks, the thoroughfare of Fifth Avenue represents the best in California style, and San Diego attitude.

Anything goes here. Style is an experiment in the bold, and the attempt is appreciated as much as the result:

Frocks and leggings are good, a trapeze dress is better. A closet staple since the ’60s, their simple silhouettes make them a perfect day-to-night…even better for beach to city.

Shorts are a necessity for the sunny summer days, and can be dressed up, dressed down, or completely customized. A classic casual with a t-shirt or tunic, and a cropped jacket for a bit of texture. Sandals are nice, and so are heels, but I’ve been told they work best as a team; along with big, colorful accessories.

It’s not that any of this is unique, it’s the way it all comes together. Colors and textures take president over cut and silhouette, and more often than not, too much is just about right. The fashion I find in Hillcrest represents the best of what the neighborhood has to offer: diversity, a willingness to stand out, and the perfect mixture between casual and vibrant.

That’s my preview into the best San Diego has to offer. More to come as I begin writing for Avant Gaudy. I’m excited to see what’s to come!

Fall Trend Alert: Velvet!

by Anika

Yes. Velvet is coming back this fall and it’s no longer reserved for girls under the age of 12.  Use velvet in your wardrobe to create sophisticated looks that are classic and feminine with a hint of toughness.  The runway was full of this luxurious fabric this season with dresses, blazers, and even pants from designers such as Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Armani, DVF and more.

Can’t afford designer prices?  Try these vintage pieces from Avant Gaudy.

Style Tips: Be careful not to overkill the trend by wearing too much.  One statement piece of velvet is enough for an outfit.  Try a velvet blazer over skinny jeans and a sheer romantic blouse under to avoid feeling stuffy.  Try a shorter jacket over a frilly dress to add a bit of edge.  A velvet dress with a pair of heels makes for perfect evening attire.

 

You know what my favorite kind of velvet is? RED VELVET CAKE! SO good.  Here’s an awesome recipe from allrecipes.com.

Celebrating Woodstock

Channel your inner hippie and celebrate the 40th anniversary of Woodstock this weekend…

Check out Style.com’s list of fashion foward neo-hippies, including David LaChappelle, Blake Mycoskie (Toms Shoes) and models Shalom Harlow and Angela Lindvall. In one way or another, all of these free-spirited ne0-hippies promote peace, the environment, helping each other and positive vibes.

If you really want to re-live Woodstock, check out some Woodstock anniversary celebrations in your area. A few this weekend include:

A Woodstock Illinois Tribute
August 14 – August 15
Galt Airport (approx. 50 miles NW of Chicago)
5112 Greenwood Road
Wonderlake, IL 60097
Featuring nine tribute bands for: Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Joe Cocker, The Who, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Grateful Dead and Santana.

Woodfest ’09 Music and Arts Festival
August 14 – August 16
The Washita Hideaway
I-35 and Hwy 77 (exit 51), NE Corner
Davis, OK
Featuring tribute bands for: Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Jim Morrison, Grateful Dead, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young and more.

Check out a few more Woodstock celebrations throughout the country.

If you can’t visit any of these celebrations this weekend, just wear a few of your favorite ’60s trends. Woodstock was an obvious inspiration for the fashion world at the time and still remains influential today.

Check out these ’60s-inspired/neo-hippie/boho looks from Avant Gaudy:

 

 

 

Don’t forget what Woodstock was really all about! Listen to some of our favorite songs and artists that played at Woodstock ’69 in our pop-out player.

  

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.

Exclusive Blog Comment Contest Ends in Five Days!

Don’t forget, Avant Gaudy is offering an exclusive contest for blog readers!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is comment on 10 or more of our blog entries (past entries acceptable) and email us (raffle@avantgaudy.com) the titles of the blog entries you commented on.  Then, just tell us which blog post was your favorite!

We will enter you into a raffle for a $50 gift certificate to our store!

Hurry up and comment now – you only have 5 days left! The contest ends August 17 at 12:00 a.m. CST.