Its all about Proportion

I share this image of Jada Pinkett Smith for two reasons. First she is a die hard vintage fan so she automatically gets face time and props on this blog. And second because she is a girl who knows exactly what proportions to wear for her frame to make herself look as tall and lean as she possibly can. The booties are a neutral color and hit just at the top of the ankle bone - any higher and she would have chopped off her leg and made it look short. They also curve slightly down - if they were cut straight across the effect would be entirely different. The parallel asymmetrical angles sides on both top and bottom make the eye go up - the effect - lean lean lean. The shoulder detail is dramatic but not overwhelming and its offset with a simple bob.

And in case you did not know already - Jada is only 5 feet tall!

Gorgeousness from top to toe!

picture: people.com

JUMP TO THE SALE NOW! 

 

In a world....

where most people strive to maintain and manage their image - its refreshing to see someone be able to poke fun at her own. Check out one of my fave Shrimpton girls - its Rachel Zoe with Amy Philips in this fun little piece!

Most Days....

when I see any of the cast of Mad Men in modern day garb, I have these queasy moment while the universe realigns itself. You find yourself SO immersed in their characters that is the oddest thing to see them dressed up in our current fashions. Plus (and I hate to say this because I love that show - like LOVE), plus, most of them, well, they don't always have the best style sense shall we say?

So when I saw this pic of January Jones I had to share - this outfit is oddly appealing to me - its rocker chic to be sure, but she somehow manages to retain just a touch of Mrs Draper in the lace, yet its just the faintest, most elusive touch that one could probably argue is NOT there. Which is why it works. It looks planned and effortless at the same time!

Well Played!

Pic: People.com

If you are in the neighborhood........

At Shrimpton Couture vintage is our passion! Fabulous design, original pieces and a love of making old things new have inspired years of bringing you closer to the one-of-a-kind garment of your dreams… and ours! So it seems only fitting that as Frugal Fashion Week wraps up Saturday in Toronto, we are proudly partnering with the most original vintage show yet – the “Cheap is the New Chic” design finale!

Shrimpton Couture partners with “Cheap is the New Chic” design finale to showcase Toronto designers, raise funds

Three local designers have risen to the challenge to show off their fashion savvy, and frugal finds, at the “Cheap is the New Chic” design finale at Nyood Lounge (upstairs) Saturday July 24, 7 p.m. – 10 p.m.

The concept behind the competition is simple – each up-and-coming designer is tasked with putting together a “collection” out of used clothing. Each collection is ‘eco-chic’ inspired, with only gently worn clothing showcased. Saturday night, these designers will debut their ‘Frugal and Fabulous’ collections. The garments featured in each collection have been generously donated by Goodwill.

100% of proceeds will benefit Goodwill.

At Shrimpton Couture we could not be more thrilled to take part in this one-of-a-kind, fashion-forward, vintage-inspired event! Vintage clothing is a chance to show off unique personality, love of fashion and most of all your individual style! Not only do three up-and-coming designers have a chance to showcase their creativity, but it is also a chance to highlight the magic created from garments otherwise thought to be ‘unwearable’.

Partnering with the “Cheap is the New Chic” event is a great chance to break the misconception around used clothing and introduce people to the fabulous world of vintage. Even more fabulous is the awareness and money raised for a worthy cause.

Vintage collections to be featured on Shrimpton Couture

After the show wraps up, Shrimpton Couture will feature and auction off these vintage collections our site, www.shrimptoncouture.com, and 100% of the proceeds will benefit Goodwill. Frugal Fashion Week will also direct a portion of proceeds from the events of this week towards Windfall, a Toronto-area charity that distributes clothing and basic-needs items through social service partnerships in the GTA.

Tickets are $10, available at the door or click here to pre-purchase online.

We hope to see you there!

Girl Crush

Any girl that can hop on the back of a bike on couture ......

is a girl to crush on in my books. Though I might have picked a slightly more Adonis like driver to go with my dress. (and if you can;t figure out who this is - its Daphne Guinness - loves her!)

Sneakery Peakery

As the lovely Glamourai would say! Kelly (the designer extraordinaire behind the UBER hot The Glamourai for Shrimpton Couture brand that you all know and love in my little shop) recently moved digs so was caught up in that particularly mad and crazy rush of decorating moving and realigning one's life. The side effect of which was a lack of new goodies in the shop for a while, much to the dismay of her dedicated fans!

BUT I am SUPER happy to tell you that my lovely Kelly is back and with a vengeance. This neck-piece was featured on her blog this morning and if its a clue of what the other five pieces will look like .....well all I can say is you better be poised to snag your fast!

Gorgeous Client Post - Maile in Anita Quansah!

My beautiful client, Maile, is an enviable girl on several fronts. She is gorgeous, owns a spectacular, original bauble from Anita Quansah for Shrimpton Couture, AND she lives in Hawaii. That's a pretty good start for any girl, don't you think?

She recently sent me these pictures that she did for a post on my little shop for her blog, Island Sirens, and I had to share. I love that they are another great example of taking a huge, statement piece and working it into a day time outfit rather then thinking it would only be appropriate for evening wear!

I also have to tell you that the top picture in this series has to be one of my fave pictures ever. Its captured joy. I am proud to have been a teeny part of that moment!

Gorgeous!

Gorgeous Client Post - Christie in Anita Quansah!

Christie is an image consultant and runs her own firm: Personal Power Image Consulting. Go take a peek - she is really on the forefront of utilizing the internet in the services she offers - you don't even have to be based here in Toronto to access her! She is also on Twitter and this morning posted a picture of a recent, personal purchase she made from Shrimpton Couture - one of the extraordinary neck pieces form the talented Anita Quansah!

I immediately pounced and demanded a set of pictures to share with you and voila!

It's a great example of how a necklace that many people would think of as a might time piece can easily be incorporated into day. Christie looks cool and fresh! And just as a side note - is that A GLAMOUARAI for Coach Bag that I spot in the first picture? My designers are EVERYWHERE! xoxoxoxo

How to do the secretary dress

Eva Mendes can make pretty much anything look good, but I was particularly impressed by her recent appearance in this little blue Azzaro secretary dress. In the vintage world you see a lot of these from those crazy seventies days and sometimes they are good and sometimes they are seriously, terribly, horrendously BAD. Even the good ones can be tough to wear on the best of days and yet there is something rather compelling about them. There are some key elements here that make Eva's work- her hair is pulled up and away so there is not a massive lump created by hair and shoulders and bows, accessories are minimal (non-existent really) and bare legs and nude shoes add the perfect feminine contrast. The length is also SUPER important with a dress like this. Its hits just above her knee, longer and the entire outfit would looks schoolmarmish and shorter would have given her that whole porn star catholic school girl look. Most of the version you will find from the seventies will be longer then this - its important for a stylish girl to find a great tailor at some point. Trust me, having someone that knows how to fit things perfectly to your body and shape will get you MILES more out of your wardrobe then just buying the latest and greatest!

Well played Eva!

PS. The new look for the blog is almost complete - I will be adding some new features over the next few weeks but will be back to regular blogging! xoxoxoxoxoxo

 pic: People.com

Mini Make-over

Over the next week or so we will be having a mini make-over - ignore all changes till you see a post saying we are DONE! Then you can weigh in with what you think of the new look!

Thanks for your patience!

A beautiful dress is a beautiful dress

Girls, modern couture is a wonderful thing and there will always be talented designers as fashion moves ahead and I realize that not everyone "gets" vintage

BUT

Sometimes you see a picture of a dress, and you realize that the dress was made in the 1930s or 1940s and then you do that math in your head. And yes, that does add up to 70 odd years ago. Now think of what YOUR perception of what things must have been like 70s years ago is. Bet most of you are thinking pretty archaic, grandma days (or great-grandma for some of us).

Now that I have you in that state of mind - how does that perception match up with this stunning Schiaparelli dress?

Its not hard to "get it" when you see a dress like this

I always liked her....

But now I officially love her

GIOVANNA BATTAGLIA WEARING VINTAGE

She's one of US!
Happy Dances!

(pic from the Jak & Jill blog)

Celebrity Vintage Spot - Clemence Poesy

Look who wore vintage Chanel to the Haute Couture show - its the newest addition to Gissip Girl. Its nice to see such a young girl appreciate couture and to pick a vintage piece!

Was perusing...

....the People.com site this AM and came across this pic of Hilary Swank in a Bodyamr dress while attending the Astana International Action Film Festival.

I could not help but immediately think that is looked to be a dress that was along the same lines as this 1980s Lanvin I posted on the site recently.

Its funny how something made 20 odd years ago can look
as cutting edge as something made just recently?

Or is it the other way around?