Vintage Oscar style – our favourite Academy Awards dresses
Preparations for the 82nd annual Academy Awards this weekend are well under way in Hollywood at the moment, and every actress nominated will have by now narrowed down her choice of dress. A vintage couture gown is the preferred choice for many - who could for example forget Julia Roberts’ vintage black and white Valentino dress. Here we take a look back at Oscar nominated ladies from the last few decades and their choice of dress. Who knows, we might be seeing similar gowns on the red carpet on Sunday!
QueensOfVintage exclusive: We chat to A Fine Frenzy’s Alison Sudol
February 5, 2010 by Lena · 3 Comments
Alison Sudol, age 24, is the leader of A Fine Frenzy, which she introduced to the world with the 2007 album One Cell In The Sea. The project established her as one of the most talented young singers and songwriters around: it received rave reviews and reached Number One on Billboard’s “Heatseeker” charts. But with the follow-up, Bomb in a Birdcage, Alison Sudol is most certainly revealing another side of A Fine Frenzy.
While the album retains the tuneful charm and whimsical language of the debut, it adds new colors and textures, with louder guitars and beats that sometimes veer into New Wave-y dance territory. QueensOfVintage.com has met up with Alison to chat about her amazing vintage style, her first novel and how being “pale as a snowball’s arse” can be quite good in LA.
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The Zoot Suit Riots: fashion, rebellion and youth in Forties LA
February 3, 2010 by Lena · 4 Comments
During the Forties, American teens were at odds with the adults. They went to clubs that served oversized menus and soda and would listen to music by Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, and Louis Armstrong. They would go dancing in ballrooms, for walks with their sweethearts and took advantage of their time as youths. They danced the jitterbug, wore saddle shoes, oversized skirts, and Zoot Suits along with wide brimmed hats. Our LA correspondent and Zoot Suit lover Vanessa Sandoval takes a look back in time.
Reproduction vintage report: ReVamp
February 2, 2010 by Lena · 2 Comments
Annamarie von Firley opened her company, ReVamp, in 1998, with the idea of creating clothing inspired by designs from 1910-1950.“I started reVamp with a friend. We were out swing dancing on the USS Jeremiah O’Brien lamenting at how poorly people were dressed.” Things needed to change- ReVamp was born. Vanessa Sandoval went to check out the label.
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How not to do vintage interiors: a cautionary tale
December 6, 2009 by Lena · 3 Comments
Many celebrities love vintage – both in terms of dress and interiors. Hollywood is full of vintage shops, where A-listers can pick up expensive vintage designer clobber and furnish their mansions, knowing that vintage is the cool way to live.
But all too often they simply overdo it. Nell Darby takes a look at US media mogul William Randolph Hearst and his obsession with collecting antique and vintage furnishings.
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Reproduction vintage report – this time: Bésame Cosmetics
October 12, 2009 by Lena · 3 Comments
Reprodcution vintage doesn’t just cover clothes, shoes or accessories but also make-up. More and more cosmetics companies discover the allure of vintage packaging and design. Vanessa Sandoval takes a look at the vintage-inspired Bésame Cosmetics.
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Reproduction vintage report – this time: Stop Staring!Clothing
October 5, 2009 by Lena · 2 Comments
Nothing beats a vintage dress with killer vintage shoes and accessories, but what do you do when you can’t find one you like or in your size? We have two words for you: reproduction vintage. Vanessa Sandovalwill be investigating the world of repro clothing for us. This time she’s looking at American label Stop Staring!
Are you into kitsch?
September 25, 2009 by Lena · Leave a Comment
Well, American songwriter Allee Willis, who penned the Friends theme tune for example, certainly is. She has turned her 1937 LA house into a shrine to all things kitsch, sentimental and over-the-top. Luckily for us we can now admire her treasures online as her virtual ’Allee Willis’ Museum of Kitsch’ has just opened to the public.
Let’s go thrifting in LA!
February 22, 2009 by Lena · Leave a Comment
As the editor of a vintage mag you get to meet lot’s of lovely people (yeah, it’s a hard life!), and last week I caught up with Rachael, owner of online vintage shop ‘It’s Vintage Darling’. We had a great time chatting away about our favourite vintage decades and her amazing stock of vintage goodies, but best of all Rachael has let me in on where to go thrift shopping in LA!
