Category — vintage

Say cheese! We totally took this photo inspired by Vogue 1993 Beauty & the Beach. The memories are all flooding back!

I have a slew of friends who are packing their luggage for warmer destinations come mid-December.  There is only one word: jalouse! (that’s jealous in French).

Recently, at our annual fashionistah holiday brunch, we reminisced about our university graduation trip to Cancun. A few years later, older and wiser, I went on a girls vacation with my bestie C.  Before departing for the airport, I told her father not to worry if he saw bloody beaches on the news; it would be the trail of broken hearts we would leave behind.  Can you believe he let her go on vacay with moi? 

Two girls in Mexico?!!  It was a make or break trip for our friendship but somehow we managed to get into heaps of sketchy fun without the drrrrama.  Stuff that brings back fond memories of Mexico:

Tan faster! Australian Gold so you don't blind the locals with your pasty white legs.

Chloe sunglasses with the rhinestone heart detail. I still have mine. Do you have yours?

Dress for that tropical climate in an emerald green TBags Maxi dress. The best air conditionning is 'no pants.'

This Jemma Jube crochet bikini via Vogue Australia reminds of my bestie's from Preloved circa 2001. Cutes.

I can't say I was impressed by Lady Gaga on the cover of Vogue September 2012, however, I do dig her giant fuschia feather hat and tiny Marie Antoinette mole.

The reason why the September issue is a bazillion pages is that designers go all out for Fall.  Forget weight training, just go to the newstand and pick up a few magazines.  Heavy!  This is the best time of year to purge your closet (donate or give your friends some duds) and make room for a few new pieces to jump-start your wardrobe. 

As promised, morex3 Fall Fashion Must-Haves:

• The Scarf Print – A Baroque pattern inspired by 80’s Versace motifs is one of the standout prints of the season.  I particulary like it on a floaty chiffon blouse or on a silk scarf.  To channel your inner Jackie O. take a square scarf, folding it into a triangle and tie the points at the nape of your neck.  Allow the scarf to drape loosely creating a cowl.  This is my favourite look with a fitted blazer.  Super chic!

Inspiration for Glamazons: Versace Fall Couture 2012

The classic Hermes scarf also inspires many contemporary motifs gracing apparel this season.

• Skinny Of The Future - This season there are many denim options – jewel tones, printed or coated.  Take your pick!  While colour denim was hottt for Spring/Summer, we are seeing denim in Fall hues such as burgundy, mustard, emerald, turquoise and magenta.  For edgier fashionistahs, there are styles in tie-dye, metallic and faux leather finishes. 

Run about town in your Ernest Sewn Skinny in Turquoise. Best paired with leather riding boots.

These Paige Skyline Leaf Print Skinnies remind me of a craft project. Conversational jeans. Me like.

• Eye of the Tiger – The koala is my power animal when I am sleepy but when I am all riled up, it’s leopard, cheetah or tiger all the way.  Animal prints are easy pieces to add to your transitional wardrobe (especially paired with camel or burgundy), but there is a major emphasis on tigers for Fall/Winter.  These giant tiger heads are popping up on sweaters, dresses and tops. 

Meow! Purr! Hiss! Are you happy to see me or is that a giant tiger on your Moschino dress? Whimsical & nonsense-ical!

Hey-Hey-Hey settle down! The always gorgeous Gwen Stefani covers Harper's Bazaar September 2012

I keep having this reocurring dream that I’m back in elementary school, sitting in the cafeteria awkwardly having lunch with new classmates.  Then I wake up, a tiny drip of perspiration, glad that I’m an OG (old girl) and it was just a nightmare. Bahahaha!  Let’s not relive that again!  I do enjoy this last burst of summertime heatwave but regardless of the hot, hottt weather, there is nothing better than making a list of Fall Fashion Must-Haves.  Perhaps you can make your checklist with moi?  Shall we?  We shall!

• Houndstooth – Think of houndstooth like a black and white checker, on a diagonal zig-zag gone on steroids.  Houndstooth is a classic retro-print which is best suited in a dress, a lovely chiffon blouse or a miniscule print on pants.  To modernize and give this look a daring pop, pair it with brights such as canary yellow, fuschia or cobalt blue. 

Vince Camuto does an oversize houndstooth dress with a bow-tie neck. Very chic!

• Kick Up your Patent Heels – Who doesn’t adore a patent heel, non?  There is something so Mad Men, so sexy secretary about shiny heels.  I am quite partial to almond toes, however, the pointy heel is back! I always say, if you’re going to work a “look,” commit to it.  Both look very sleek and elegant paired with a slim pencil skirt or well fitted dress trousers.

This is the most glorious shoe perfection to me - the shape, the platform, the sheen of the black patent leather. The Brian Atwood Platform Pump. *Insert choirs of angels singing

Yeow. Love me some animal print! Loving the unexpected twist of a black patent toe and zipper detail on these Michael Kors Pumps.

• Let Them Have Jewels – I love embellishment which means the return of the statement necklace, sequins, decorated tunics, dresses with ornate beading, the list goes on… This means we need to fill up our after 6pm social calendars to wear all these fantastic shimmery, sparkly pretty pieces. 

Even though Olivia Palermo is a socialite mean-girl, she does style herself quite exceptionally. Her statement necklace collection is covetable but Mr. Joe Zee should have fired her from ELLE on The City.

Lanvin Fall 2012 is a bit Zsa Zsa/Russian Princess but will be a HUGE inspiration for the kind of over the top, family heirloom-esque jewellery that we'll be seeing this Autumn.

Turn the page in your notebook, there are so many to list.  Fall Fashion Must-Haves to be continued…

Spice Girls at the Brit Awards: I just adore Geri in her Union Jack Dress and her undies hanging out. LOVE.

The Spice Girls at the London Olympics Closing Ceremony. I adore my Baby Spice in her pink futuristic frock. Le sigh!

Let’s talk a stroll down Spice Girl memory lane.  Let’s dust off our 90’s memorabilia and pop our cd into the ghettoblaster.  Remember when you “chaperoned” your tween niece and her friends during the Spice concert? They were so embarrassed when you made them stand on their seats and sing along to “Stop right now, thank you very much, I need somebody with a human touch…” (and do the actions).  How about the heartbreak you felt when you saw the news headlines that Geri left the band in the middle of her North American tour? Devastated, right?

Remember when you voted for your city to become a stop for the Spice reunion tour?  Then got your friend’s husband to dial incessantly for 2 hours to get ‘Front of the Line’ tickets? Or maybe that was just moi? Whatever, you were obsessed too.

 Watch these awesome classic Spice Girl videos –  some my favourite spice tracks:

1. Too Much
2. Wannabe
3. Say You’ll Be There
4. 2 Become 1
5. Spice Up Your Life
6. Goodbye

Nothing like holding down that spray button. Julianne Hough getting her bangs teased in Rock of Ages.

OMGx3.  In my middle age, sometimes I get a very random memory come back to me and I enjoy a silent chuckle.

As a tween in the 80’s growing up in the suburbs, we often had ‘punk parties.’ To achieve such a look:  find an oversize shirt (WWMW – what would Madonna wear?), throw on a wide leather belt slung on your hips, crimp/tease your hair with a liberal application of hairspray (hold 10 seconds), accessorize with mesh gloves and the piece de resistance, drawing a giant lightning bolt on your cheek with blue lipstick.  Sometimes you would get misinformation and a half hour before your arrival, you wouldn’t know if it was a ‘normal/wear jeans’ party or a ‘punk’ party.  Such stress!  And it’s not like we had cell phones back then! Drrrring! Dring!

In dire scenarios such as these, there was only one out — to keep a tube of blue lipstick in your pocket and offer to punkify the rest of your friends.  With costumes, commitment and persuasion are key.

The reason I missed the bus from 1985-1988, morning episodes of Jem & the Holograms. Model your lightning bolt after The Misfits.

You wanna throw a punk party now.  Ditto.  Here’s your 80’s hair band playlist:

1. Starship – We Built This City on Rock N’ Roll
2. White Snake – Here I Go Again
3. Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar on Me
4. Guns N’ Roses – Paradise City
5. Mr. Big – To Be With You
6. Poison – Every Rose Has Its Thorn
7. Thompson Twins – Hold Me

Don't forget the bigger the hair, the bigger the attitude! 80s Rocker Chic is so Paris Vogue 2010.

Lipstick Makes a Comeback. Be not afraid. Be that girl at the party with the brightest lipstick, ever of all time.

Lately, I admit I have been reverting to my 90’s teenage heart.  Buried away like an amnesiac grasping for a memory, “Wait a second. Ohmigod, I remember…lipstick!  It looks so good on.”  For a decade, I put away my M.A.C. matte Viva Glam in favour of lipgloss or Chapstick.  But I have been enjoying a renaissance of sorts what with the off the charts ROC (return on compliment) that my pop-art fuschia lips have been inspiring from friends…and random strangers.  By the way, you know it’s a winning look when you get stopped by strangers.  Just take it and say ‘thank you.’

While I profess my love of M.A.C., I don’t think it’s necessary to splurge all the time on lipstick.  I mean, you also need money to fund your shoes and grocery.  You can find some lovely hues at the drugstore and like me, you won’t shed tears when you lose your favourite gloss or get it confiscated at the airport security.  Here are my Top Summer picks:

1. Coral Crush – I think that Coral is one of the most flattering hues to wear in Summer, what with your tan, white eyelet summer dress already going for you.  Whenever you wear a bright lipstick, I think it’s best to keep the rest of your makeup somewhat neutral with shades of taupes or browns and a gentle application of mascara.  

2. In the Mood for Nude -  Nude is sooooo 90’s matched with your M.A.C. Spice lipiner.  Ahhh, we were freshmen then.  Le sigh.  I love a nude lipstick with a baby pink undertone – this is very Edie Sedgwick circa Andy Warhol’s The Factory.  Looks amazing paired with a heavy handed smokey eye and dramatic swirl of cat-eye liquid eyeliner. Meow!

Nude done right: Is it just me or is Drew Barrymore getting more beautiful? Every time I see her in an ad, I want to buy CoverGirl. And she's my idol reforming a bad boy whose father was a CEO at Chanel.

3. Red Never Dies – My mom was trying to make me buy red lipstick today.  It is the classic go-to.  The key to red lipstick is first finding the hue that suits your complexion then practicing to achieve a perfect shape and applying enough coats so that the colour is opaque.  Here is a mini tutorial on how to get The Perfect Red Pout.  Special trick: If you have trouble lining your lips, start filling in your lips working your way out so you don’t line outside your natural lipline.  Ronald McDonald is a definite don’t.  Please be a DO!

Bet on red: I know I wax poetic about my girlcrush Emma Stone but girl can wear a red lipstick like no ones business. This image alone should make you stop what you're doing, get in the car and find a beauty consultant to test shades on your pout. Phew! Run-on sentence.