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.

Fall 2009 Fashion Guide

Must Have Items:

• Big Leather Tote
• Neon Jewelry
• Long Boots
• Vintage Little Black Dress
• Neutral Overcoat
• Leather Jacket
• Acid wash jeans

What’s big this season? 
Layers! The look this season is all about topping on those accessories to create a fresh, sophisticated look.  Start with a long tank or tee, top it with a hipster blazer, throw on some eye-popping jewelry with a headband and you’ll look on-the-go stylish. 

What’s one item everyone must have? 
A pair of boots.  Leather or suede, the material doesn’t matter; neither does the style.  Boots with buckles and layers include much of what this season’s look is all about.  In a perfect world, I’d recommend you have a pair of scrunched black suede boots to wear on a trendy night out on the town, and a pair of brown leather boots to wear for a simple daytime look. Boots can make an outfit happen. 

What should you keep in the closet? 
This season, I’d keep those UGG boots everyone has in the closet.  The new vintage trend is all about individuality and expressing oneself.  If you want to follow these fall trends, you need to dig a little deeper and search harder for what’s out there.  Instead of going to the same department store every year for clothes and shoes, try going to a thrift store – you never know what you may find. 

What is the inspiration of the fall 2009 trends? 
I think a lot of the fall 2009 trends are vintaged inspired.  Trends seem to be going for a casual, edgy look, which vintage is completely capable of.  However, it does depend on your style.  Here are a few chic trends I’ll elaborate on, so choose which fits your personality the best:

Edgy Biker Chic: Acid washed or dark skinny jeans, paired with a graphic tee and layered with a leather jacket. This look is vintage inspired from the 70s for a free spirited soul with lots of charisma. 

Log Cabin Chic:  This look is designed for anyone looking for a down-to-earth, laid back style this fall.  Plaid shirts, boyfriend jeans, and a pair of retro sneakers and a bandana will make this outfit have a personality of its own. 

Girly Chic: Colors, ruffles, pleated skirts- this 50s inspired look is simply adorable.  Find a pleated skirt and pair it with black tights, a ruffled moth-colored top and a headband and it’ll look cute and attention seeking for all the right reasons. 
 

So if you haven’t already, get started on shopping for this season’s trends.  Don’t forget to start in your closet.

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.

Get the Look: Bust Out the Blazer

At Avant Gaudy we firmly believe you can reinvent your style without restocking your closet.  Here’s how you can turn that classic blazer into a fresh new look.

Inspiration: Louis Vuitton Fall 2009 Trends

Avant Gaudy Collection: Material Girl Bra & Back to Basics Blazer

How to Style It: Pair a lacy brassiere with your favorite blazer for an instant masculine/feminine mash-up.  Button up the blazer for a confident and sexy look.  Plunge it open for the after party.

Price: Material Girl Bra $48.00 & Back to Basics Blazer $45.00

I showed you mine, now you show me yours. Tell me about your favorite way to make an old piece look new again!

Bright Days and Neon Nights

Spring 2009 runways showed a lot of brights and florals, as would be expected for that time of year. Suprisingly though, the Fall 2009 shows also presented neon and bright colors. While many people enjoy the colorful garments, neons and brights are often seen as hard to wear without making someone look like a glowstick or highlighter. 

Michael Kors believes that neons and brights are the way to go this fall. His show featured a shocking neon green fox fur coat as well as many other bright pieces. Says Kors,”Electric neon brights add an optimistic urban punch to this fall’s neutral palette. Who says clothes can’t make you smile?”

According to Khaussandra Delgado, several designers seemed to agree with Kors on one of this fall’s biggest hits:

“The Fall 2009 RTW collection features several neon pink pieces, varying from a black and hot pink constructed clutch to a pair of wildly seductive black boots with hot pink trim and soles. Givenchy also offers a pair of shoes in screaming neon pink; the cut-out boots are featured in a Day-Glo shade that is endlessly eye-catching. The neon trend is everywhere these days; it has gone from the raves to the runway and entered every stylish girl’s wardrobe.”

Made on polyvore.com by Kate

Some may still be wondering, what’s the easiest way to wear neons and brights? The most flattering and chic way to wear them is to pair them with black or neutral colors. A hot pink dress makes a statement, but still looks classy when worn with black tights and a black belt. Another easy way to brighten your style is through accessories, such as bright green or pink shoes, bright yellow bags and skinny neon belts. It is important to keep in mind that a little goes a long way when it comes to this trend. If you just want to add a little hint of neon to your look, try some of this season’s newest makeup and nail polish shades, including Essie’s Perky Purple.

For even more about this Fall 09 trend, check out this short clip from Harper’s Bazaar.