Pink Fire Pointer September 2009

Reinterpreting Icons

Meow! I should probably introduce myself- I'm Laura, a fashion historian and photographer in New York. I write on my own blog, Sighs and Whispers, about fashion, costume history and photography, and a month or so ago Cherie asked me to start writing some guest posts for her. Of course I was overjoyed at the opportunity so I'm finally starting now.


It is likely that everyone who is reading this has some interest in vintage- whether you've come across this blog due to a celebrity wearing some vintage piece, or from Shrimpton Couture's work with the Zoe Report, or are a die-hard vintage fan I always find it important to look at why wearing vintage is such a great choice. I'm sure many of us who dress in vintage have different reasons for doing it, but I'm sure at the base of it all is personal expression. It is one thing to slavishly follow fashion, and another to dress how you truly want to. It is definitely possible to dress individually in only new clothes, but I'm sure I'm not the only one who can go from shop to shop without seeing a single thing to buy. I've worked in retail and for a designer so I understand that stores need to buy what sells and designers need to make what sells, but that doesn't always allow for the greatest creativity. The fact that I can go into a vintage store with several other girls, and we can all emerge with completely different and wholly personal outfits makes it so special to me.

Even when we are seeking to create our own personal styles, most of us look to the past for inspiration. I adored Vogue Paris's September issue as all of the editorials were based on style icons of the past, and all of these looks could be easily reinterpreted with more era appropriate vintage pieces, which will likely be much less of a burden on your bank account than these high end designer ones.

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Natasha Poly as Brigitte Bardot, by Mario Sorrenti.

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Lara Stone as Gloria Vanderbilt, by Mert & Marcus.

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Raquel Zimmerman as Debbie Harry, by Alasdair McLellan.

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Sasha Pivovarova as Liza Minnelli, by Bruce Weber.

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Tao Okamoto as Tina Chow, by Paola Kudacki.

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Anna Jagodzinska as Diane Keaton, by Mikael Jansson.

Edit: I fixed the link!

Spotted - Louise Black

Our very own Louise Black rocked the Marie Clair NY red carpet in her own vintage inspired frock and signature cuff. Louise is doing terrific on Project Runway 6 and we could not be prouder!

Want to own a piece of fashion history?
Jump here to snag an original Louise Black piece from her capsule collection done exclusively for Shrimpton Couture!

Congratulations Rebecca!

We are kind of partial and unabashedly biased when a Shrimpton Couture client does good, but when she debuts in a brand new TV show and we LOVE it we somehow feel entirely responsible (teehee). The entire Shrimpton team LOVED Eastwick last night and wishes Rebecca tons of continues success!

(Though we do think her character should wer nothing but vintage from here on in!)

Shrimpton Went to the Emmys!


OK so it wasn't me but one of the dresses from the shop! My gorgeous client Katherine arranged with me to wear the RSVP gown from the shop on her jaunt to the Emmy's! Katherine's husband is John Hodgman who appears on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He is the show's "resident expert," so he was invited to go with the cast and writers. The Daily Show was up for Best Variety Show and Best Writing for a Variety Show AND it won in both of those categories! Can you imagine how fabulous it must have been to be there and see your husband be a part of that team!! WOW

John was also the voice you heard giving the color commentary throughout the show, providing funny bits of biographical trivia about the winners as they approached the stage.

I am so proud to have been a part in finding Katherine the dress that she chose to wear and she has promised to send us more pictures when she arrives back home so I will update this post with them the second I have them

Congratulations and I cannot believe how fabulous you made that dress look Katherine!!

Now the only important question is of course....
Can I come with you two next year please?

Celebrity Vintage Spot - Jennifer Garner

Jennifer made an appearance at the Toronto film fest and wore vintage! She looked gorgeous in her Vintage Oscar De La Renta dress paired with Casadei shoes

Invention Of Lying screening at Toronto International Film Festival

The Invention of Lying Screening - 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

The Invention of Lying After Party - 2009 Toronto International Film Festival

Jennifer was styled by Rachel Zoe!

NEW Glamourai Cuffs & Necklace on Pre-Order NOW

Head's up peeps
The latest Glamourai collection is now up and available for pre-order and this little cache of couture jewels is to DIE. Three insanely fabulous necklace - modeled here by the lovely Kelly herself



And her debuted collection of the MOST fabulous, gorgeous original CUFFS that are all adjustable and ever so wearable. Each incorporating a vintage bauble or two in it's design!





Go grab one while you can - they should arrive in stock later this week and will go out right away to their lucky girls. Go here to Pre-Order and here to see the rest of her goodies currently in the shop

PS Kelly did a wonderful post on the shop today
thank you doll!!

Rachel Zoe in Shrimpton Couture!


You all know how much I love Rachel Zoe.

How can you not love a girl who loves vintage like Rachel does?
I am especially happy to post today's celebrity vintage spot of Rachel herself, wearing a 1970s chiffon jumpsuit direct from the racks at Shrimpton Couture on her way to Zac Posen for New York Fashion Week. She sent these over herself before running out the door.
Doesn't she look fabulous?

I Die Rachel
__________________________________________
Update:

Well once again an item from Shrimpton Couture is out having WAY more fun than me at the moment. Rachel and her jumpsuit went to the Zac Posen show this morning

(pic from @AnnieBrat twitpic files)

She did press in it

(pic from Canadian's own Fashion File host @adrianmainella twit pics)

And Rachel herself posted this picture in Twitter working on her 2010 handbag collection for QVC while wearing her new jumper!

(follow Rachel @rzrachelzoe & you can follow me on twitter @shrimptoncoutur)

and just now WWD posted pics of
Rachel front row at the Carolina Herrera RTW Spring 2010

Update #2
Last one I promise and then we will go back to being non-geeky. Looks like Rachel ended her day in SC vintage by attending the Donna Karan Collection. I was a teeny bit excited to live vicariously through the jumpsuit when she sat with Joe Zee (Creative Director of ELLE Magazine & @mrjoezee on twitter) and Milla Jovovich in the front row

Donna Karan Collection - Front Row - Spring 2010 MBFW

Donna Karan Collection - Front Row - Spring 2010 MBFW

And I must must must thank the wonderful Vera at my favorite Gossip blog
I'm Not Obsessed for doing this fabulous post

This weeks Herald De Paris Column is out

NEW YORK (Herald de Paris) - Unless you live under a very non-fashionable rock, you are probably aware that it is Fashion Week in New York City. These are THE shows of the year, with editors, clients, bloggers and media all vying for the right invites to the right shows and it is a really big deal to the fashion world.

I love the start of the shows as much as any fashion conscious girl and eagerly await the news feeds to see what is hot and where things are going trend-wise. But I have to say from a vintage perspective, I tend to stay somewhat nonplussed. I look at the shows not only for what they are showcasing for the new season, but what might be of interest to me years from now. For me, fashion shows get more important the longer they become a thing of the past.....

read the rest by clicking here

GORGEOUS Shrimpton Couture Client Vintage Spot


The fabulous Jill, author of the Stella's Roar blog has posted another picture of herself in a Shrimpton Couture find.

Peeps this make me happy to my CORE.

The worst thing about running a vintage shop on-line is not getting to see my clients look all lovely and fabulous in their treasures. Look how fabulous and interesting and beautiful Jill is. From a purely selfish point of view I feel quite smug to have somehow landed such a fabulous girl as a client.

Gorgeous Jill!

Vintage Vs New

I spotted this picture today over at Red Carpet Fashion Awards of the gorgeous Eva Mendes wearing a ChloƩ by Hannah MacGibbon Resort 2010 dress.

I immediately thought of this dress that is up on my site. Its a immaculate 1950s Mexican Wedding dress that is to die for.

Aren't they amazingly similar?
Except the original has loads more hand finished details.
And I think the sleeves are better and more dramatic
What do you think?
Like the new or the old?

Very Modern Vintage

Spotted (as Cherie would say), my friend Emily in lots of vintage working a inspired, updated look!

40s appliqued skirt with an 80s sequined tube top and 30s velvet corset lace dirndl with an Edwardian crocheted bonnet...

Here, a red rose print chiffon 50s dress with 70s belt, red velvet cape from the 1930s, 50s bottle green scarab beetle brooch and 40s feathered cocktail hat....

We could mix it up all day, but these shots give a great idea of how vintage can be worn with a very modern attitude!

PS, thanks again to Cherie for being so kind as to allow me to blog here on occasion and congrats to her on her project with Rachel Zoe

~Ang

Celebrity Vintage Spot - Julie Berman

I think wearing vintage brings you good karma when it comes to winning awards - celebrities take note please - need I mention Penelope Cruz or Julia Roberts?

It certainly worked for Julie Berman, who won an daytime Emmy for Outstanding Younger Actress wearing a vintage Versace gown...coincidence? hmmmmm

Daytime Emmy Award winners

The 36th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards at The Orpheum Theatre in LA

36th Annual Daytime Emmy .Awards held in Los Angeles

Halston Heritage gets a pass

After tweeting loudly the disappointment I felt when seeing most of the new Halston collection (tres yuck except for some of the gowns and one bag) I was over -you-know-what-joyed when I saw Sarah Jessica parker filming the new SATC movie in a fabulous Halston Heritage dress (jump here to read what I had to say about this over at my Herald De Paris column)

Now this is what I am talking about.

Sarah Jessica Parker walks to the set of Sex And The City followed by paparazzi and fansAlign Center


Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth filming in New York City

Sarah Jessica Parker walks to the set of Sex And The City followed by paparazzi and fans

Sarah Jessica Parker and Chris Noth filming in New York City

I will take the entire ensemble right down to the Christian Louboutin Gino T-Strap pumps, pink Christian Louboutin Sylvia Drapey Hobo & clover leaf necklace.

Just send em on over peeps