my timeless closet.: June 2012

YOUNG VINTAGE LOVERS.

"I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles." - Audrey Hepburn

A love for all thing vintage starts at a young age and stays with you for the rest of your life. Well, at least this is the case for Madeline and Amy. These young ladies love wearing vintage inspired clothing, especially from the 50s era where rock and roll was becoming as popular as Justin Bieber and the ready to wear industry was being born.

Madeline (left) is looking oh-so-adorable in her red polka dot dress, similar to the one from rockabilly label Hell Bunny. To add a bit of oomph to her appearance, Madeline has paired her dress with a black bolero jacket. Bolero jackets were big in the 50s, being often worn with cocktail dresses so the shoulders could be covered and the general appearance of the dress still remained. Topping off her look, she has accessorised with a small black shoulder bag and red hair bow. Simple but sweet is Madeline’s motto.

Amy (right) is looking outright vibrant in her 50s inspired layered floral dress and red three-quarter coat. Three-quarter length coats were popular in the 1950s, being an essential fashion piece for evening outings. Amy has also accessorised by adding a classic floral 50s styled hair band, and a cherry red retro belt, giving her that cinched waist look which was all the rave in the 50s. The cinched waist and statement belt is a becoming a theme on the runway with Italian Designer, Luisa Beccaria bringing out 1950 style clothing into her runway show.

These girls’ dresses are of a similar style to what celebrity Dita Von Teese was spotted wearing. Sporting a 1950s inspired Red Shirt Dress by Glamour Bunny, Dita Von Teese is definitely bringing back the vibrant reds of 1950’s fashion. Their style can also be compared to Audrey Hepburn’s 1950s fashion of her vibrant coloured coats, floral dresses, and cinched waists.

Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty - Luisa Beccaria's Spring Runway Show

"This look evokes '50s Hollywood glamour. It's for a woman who is aware that her sex appeal is both empowering and strong." - Luisa Beccaria

Italian Designer, Luisa Beccaria, brings out 1950 style clothing into a modern context.

Dita Von Teese wearing Glamour Bunny Dress

Ditta Von Teese, American burlesque dancer, model, costume designer, author and actress, is bringing vintage styled clothing back into fashion with this 1950s inspired Red Shirt Dress by Glamour Bunny.

Audrey Hepburn in a 1950s red poodle coat

1957 ad for Givenchi's first perfume starring Audrey Hepburn

Get This Look:

Top to Bottom, Left to Right

Vintage 50s Apricot Petal Necklace $34, Etsy.

Olive Cherry Red Rockabilly Polka Dot Dress $75, Hell Bunny.

Jeppers Peepers Square Neon Sunglasses $27, ASOS.

1950s Red Floral Print Swing Bow Cotton Dress $53, Queen of Holloway.

Lili Double Breasted Coast $100, Forever New.

Black Side Bow Aliceband $4, Diva.

Lowie Skinny Leather Belt $53, ASOS.

Black Short Sleeve Bolero $39, Dorothy Perkins.

Vintage 1950s Woven Tapestry Box Bag $54, Etsy.

Johnny Loves Rosies Rope and Crochet Floral Headband $23, ASOS.

ROCKABILLY COUSINS.

"I adore wearing gems, but not because they are mine. You can't possess radiance, you can only admire it." - Elizabeth Taylor

These cousins graced their presence at the Cooly Rocks On Festival, sporting fabulous rockabilly dresses. Kate (left), who is a die-hard rockabilly fan, regularly dresses up in 1950s rockabilly style clothing. Jackie (right) is an rockabilly amateur, this being her first time she’s done anything like this before. Both dresses are from Kate’s extensive rockabilly collection, sourcing most of her clothes from online vintage stores.

These girls look like they’ve been thrown out of 2012 and fallen into 1955 with these vintage inspired dresses. Kate’s leopard print dress by label Rockabilly Couture, features a plunging, v-neck line, which started to become a common trend in the 1950s. Her simple black cardigan compliments her outfit well, and that splash of colour that’s thrown in from the hairpiece and sunglasses, give the look it’s finishing touch. Kate’s look also draws on celebrity fashion, with it being somewhat similar to a vintage, leopard print look sported by singer Katy Perry. Jackie’s blue polkadot halter neck dress is by label Hell Bunny, which specialises in rockabilly style designs. Halterneck dresses were a big trend in the 50s which were favoured by Hollywood glamour, Marilyn Monroe and British-American actress Elizabeth Taylor. Jackie’s look also draws on Katy Perry’s style of halterneck 50s inspired dress.

Katy Perry's 1950s vintage inspired fashion

The halterneck dress inspired by 1950 icons

Marilyn Monroe

Elizabeth Taylor, early 1950s

Get This Look:

From Top to Bottom, Left to Right:

Cream Pearl Hair Corsage Brooch $13, Diva.

Vanda Dress $85, Hell Bunny.

Extreme Cats Eye Sunglasses $45, Squint, Topshop.

Prada Round Plastic White Sunglasses $285, Prada.

Bettie Dress In Leopard Print $90, Bettie Page.

Big Red Rose Deluxe Floral Pinup Hair Clip $16, Baby Girl Boutique.

White Crochet Edge Cardigan $27, Dorothy Perkins.

Alexander McQueen Knuckle Box Clutch $2,516, Alexander McQueen.

Scallop Trim Cotton Cardi $29, Dorothy Perkins.

Tamsyn Platform Pump $100, Forever New.

MISS ROCKABIILLY: PRETTY IN PINK.

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." — Marilyn Monroe

Emma, otherwise known as Miss Rockabilly, sells vintage inspire handmade goodies such as hair accessories, jewellery, and other trinkets. Her look reminds you of a vintage styled Elle Woods, with a twist of corporate Barbie, and a splash of the prim First Lady. Sourcing her clothes from stores that stock popular vintage inspired labels, Emma pulls together a girly yet sassy manner. The Chanel Suit was an important icon for the 1950s, with Coco Chanel producing her famous suit in 1954, which Jackie Kennedy wore. If you want this look, this jacket is one from Friends of Couture and the skirt is sourced from Bettie Page, a vintage and rockabilly clothing label inspired by the 50’s icon Bettie Page. This look can be accessorised with pink and black rockabilly pin up polka dot bows, available from Emma’s Etsy store for $6, or a cute pink pin up lace fascinator for $16.50. Emma’s inspiration comes from 1950s Pin Ups such as Bettie Page and Marilyn Monroe. She also draws on modern Rockabilly culture to create a unique range of handmade product. Check out these lovely trinkets at www.missrockabilly.etsy.com.

Jackie Kennedy in Chanel Suit

Nifty Fifties Barbie Doll Collectors Edition

Marilyn Monroe

Available at Emma's Etsy store, missrockabilly.

GET THIS LOOK:

From Right to Bottom, Left to Right:

Emily Pink Cardi $68, Betty Jane.

Pink Viola Skirt $90, Alice Nightingale.

Vintage 1950s Rose Pink Organza Party Dress $450, Vintage a la Mode.

Rockabilly Pin Up Pink Polka Dot Bows $6.18, Etsy, missrockabilly.

Pinup Lace Pink Fascinator $16.47, Etsy, missrockabilly.

100% Silk Nightie $139, Peter Alexander.

Le Bunny Bleu Romantic & Vintage Flat Shoes $44, Le Bunny Bleu.

PIN-UP GIRLS: Sailor Cherry and Miss Kandi Bordeaux.

Ralph, I don't want a million. There's just one guy I want: you - Alice Kramden, The Honeymooners

These girls are absolutely stunning in their 50s pin-up outfits. Working at the Pinup Skool Magazine booth, these dames preach what they practice.
Sailor Cherry is showing off a mustard coloured blouse with navy blue collar which compliments her matching navy blue pleated skirt. Her look is a fusion of the roller skating waitress look you’d find in an old diner movie, and a saucy air hostess appearance.
As the name suggests, Miss Kandi Bordeaux revels in elegance with pearl earrings, and a chic and timeless black slip dress. Her white shrug offsets her elegant style, giving her a relaxed yet sophisticated look. You too can get her vintage hairstyle from the handy book Vintage Hairstyling which features retro styles with step-by-step techniques.
This look is a throw back to 1950s sitcoms, where Sailor Cherry is starring as Lucy Ricardo in I Love Lucy, and Miss Kandi Bordeaux is playing the lovely Alice Kramden from The Honeymooners.