Classic Vintage Style!
I've often wondered as I've strolled along a classic boulevard or a bohemian twisty lane full of quirky shops with mysterious vintage hidden treasures or pieces of unique clothing that each have a hidden story that I can ever only guess at ........... Why is it that I'm magnetically attracted to anything vintage that holds a story never to be revealed?.........
Pondering about this on one of the few Spring days that we in Ireland were lucky enough to have had so far this year, I came to the conclusion that my Vintage passions go right back to my childhood. A childhood full of ups and downs seeped in blue skies and grey. A childhood torn between doing what I was told and doing what was right.........
Amidst all the chaotic crevices of childhood I had a golden goose......... I had something that transported me from mundane mediocrity to marvellous magnificence................................
I had my passion for the Golden Age of Hollywood........My passion for Classic Movies and their silver screen Goddesses who transported a little Irish girl to a place where anything was possible and strong women were the order of the day........
These women were awe inspiring and I never tired of seeing each character dripping with impossible glamour through amazing tailoring and creative combinations. Fashion wasn't a word that immediately came to mind as I gazed hungrily at them , more a feeling of style and timeless glamour...........
Sometimes , as I got older I wondered if I was stuck in a bubble and not of the real world......where everything was grey and brown in my brown town....... I realised quickly enough that far from being the 'odd ball' I was indeed one of the few lucky people to be so inspired and to be gifted by a passionate nature that included my love for the Silver screen and all it encompassed.
As I got older my style quickly evolved and I became a dab hand at combining the old with the new. My vintage pieces that I would pick up in charity shops and markets would be swiftly paired with a modern piece and thus given that unique vintage and modern fashion fusion twist. A 40's tea dress would be worn with my trustworthy Dr Martens. A vintage coat would be teamed with modern jeans. Retro wiggle skirts would be complimented by my favourite biker jacket and modern heels. This combination of fusing the old with the new swept a new lease of life into the old while giving the new a sense of 'uniqueness' it wouldn't ordinarily have... thus complimenting both era's.
My love of vintage and fusing it with modern pieces has worked its way down to the next generation , that is , my daughter..........She grew up with vintage treasures all over our house be it decor , household or clothing and took it all in her stride....... and I suppose probably thought it was the norm. She now has a real interest in creating her own unique look and is a fan girl of the 80's era. She combines over sized 80's vintage shirts with shorts and skinny jeans and is also a big fan of 80's knitwear and denim jackets.
To conclude I must thank all the great ladies of the last century for giving me the inspiration and love for great vintage finds. Marlene Dietrich , Greta Garbo , and Katherine Hepburn for their penchant for masculine tailoring and great androgynous looks. They managed to make mens tailoring look sexy and feminine.
Lauren Bacall , for her easy transition from slick trouser suits to slinky full length gowns...she epitomised that all american look. Grace Kelly , for her 50's feminine ladylike look. Smart dresses , twin sets and matching coats and dress suits were her signature look. Then along came Audrey and the gamine look was invented....... cropped pants and pared back tops complete with flats gave Miss Hepburn her own unique style. Marilyn Monroe burst onto the screen with a mixture of body hugging pieces and 50's separates and thus created the blonde bombshell look that we all associate her with...what made her unique was the unusual mixture of sex symbol and vulnerability that she possessed. This was evident in her clothing choices as she was seen in equal measure in Jeans and check shirts and tight fitting siren choices.
These ladies are just a few of the many many stars of a golden age that was so inspiring for me. The rest are too numerous to mention. A Big THANK YOU Ladies.....
What inspires you when it comes to clothing choices and developing you personal style?...... I would love to know in the comments....
Talk soon XXX VIOLINKIT
