Archive for Alternative fashion
{ April 6, 2008 @ 3:55 am }
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{ Accessories, Advice, Alternative fashion, Charity, DIY Fashion, Event Fashion, Fashion Advice, Fashion How-tos, Fashion Trends, Local Boutique, Menswear, Shop for Fashion, Style Basics, Style on a Budget, Thrift Stores, Vintage Fashion }
{ Tags: fashion tips, great fashion advice, shopping for fashion, Style on a Budget, thrift shopping, Vintage Fashion }
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What is Vintage? Essentially, ‘vintage’ is just another name for second-hand clothing, but it can be expensive. Antique flapper dresses from the 1920s and original Raoul Dufy designs are gorgeous, but discovering unique pieces doesn’t have to be expensive.
Thrift Shopping If your funds are limited, but you are adventurous, try thrift store shopping. It sometimes takes effort, depending on how the shop is set up and organized, but the results can be very rewarding. My most recent finds were a full length Eileen Fisher silk skirt and a vintage Valentino Boutique Couture Blouse (tags still on) for $17.00, total. Another trip netted me several silk designer scarves (Echo, Ferragamo, Valentino, Liberty of London among them) for $20.00 total for the bagful. Even if I had the money for these at retail, I would choose to spend those 100’s of dollars on other things. I love owning a beautiful designer piece, but love even more that I own them, and spent so little.
The List The key to a successful shopping trip is to go with a piece (or pieces) in mind, otherwise it can be overwhelming. Do you need a skirt for a special event, a belt to freshen up a t-shirt and jeans look, or a silk blouse to brighten a dull business suit? This way you can scan shelves and racks for the colors and textiles you want, and only pull those items out. It is safe to say, if you are looking for a black slip dress, you can skip the obvious yellow neon plaid and green striped numbers.
Choose Well Build up a list of ideas whenever you go out and come up with your own thrift shopping rules. Steer clear of anything stained rather than just a little dusty, and things with the strong scent of mothballs should be avoided because that scent will never come out 100%. Tiny holes can be mended if they are not very visible, you want to look good not like a little rag doll (unless that is your personal look). Fabric and pattern choices should fit your current wardrobe if you want to incorporate it in everyday use. Choose the wilder looks for parties and special events.
Patience Give yourself time. You may not find the perfect piece the first time, or the second, but the third time you might. Take the time to build a perfect wardrobe. Explore the shops and flea markets and if you find yourself frequenting one shop, introduce yourself to the owner and ask if they will give you a call the minute new things come in.
Accessories If you’re still unsure about ’second-hand clothes’, just shop for accessories. Bags, belts and scarves are easily incorporated into an everyday wardrobe. Finding pretty pieces sometimes takes as much dedication as scanning for clothing, but when you find that perfect pair of 1960’s pink rhinestone basket earrings for $2.00 you’ll be converted. Then you just might look around and take a chance on a new ruffled tuxedo shirt or a fun 1970’s mini skirt, and you’ll never see shopping the same way again. Look at it this way, it’s closet of fashion you can raid without mom and grandmom getting mad at you!
Socially Responsible Shopping Thrifting and vintage shopping is also a great way to recycle. With so many beautiful fashions in thrift and vintage shops you may be able to find what you need and in essence recycle a well-made garment. If the current trends aren’t your taste, you may find past looks in great condition. If you are like me, and dress to express yourself, not follow the trends to the letter, then I think you’ll be very happy. Many thrift shops benefit charities too, so in some cases just by shopping, you’ll be doing a good deed. Just get out there and look!
Photo, vintagevibes.com
Click here for more Vintage Fashion articles
{ April 4, 2008 @ 4:49 am }
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{ Actors and Actresses, Advice, Alternative fashion, Celebrity Style, Charity, DIY Fashion, Education, Event Fashion, Fashion Advice, Fashion Trends, Red Carpet Fashion, Shop for Fashion, Social Advice, Thrift Stores, Very Cool People, Vintage Fashion }
{ Tags: actress, greener world, thandie newton, Thrift Stores, Vintage Fashion }
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Thandie Newton has the right idea when it comes to fashion. In a recent news item she says vintage clothes are not only glorious, but a great way to recycle. Thandie is known for her passion in making the world greener. Why buy new things when there are so many lovely fashions in vintage and thrift stores already? Her tastes may be vintage but her ideas are very modern.
Thandie Newton has said she can’t understand why people buy new clothes when there is so much great vintage material out there.
She said that she loves buying secondhand clothes because of the benefits for the environment: “It is grotesque how out of control manufacturing has become, and the excess, the pollution that’s caused by it.”
“Vintage [fashion] is not only glorious and stylish, it’s also the way forward in terms of recycling.”
“Whenever I go into great vintage stores, I wonder why we ever buy new things.” Source: fametastic.co.uk
Remember to check out Thandie in her new film Run Fatboy Run with Simon Pegg.
{ April 3, 2008 @ 6:34 pm }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Art, Celebrity Style, DIY Fashion, Event Fashion, Event Locations, Fashion Advice, Fashion Designers, Fashion Show, Vintage Fashion }
{ Tags: Vintage Fashion }
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Frock Me! on June 8th is a vintage fashion event that is held in London several times a year at the Chelsea Town Hall. In addition to clothing, pick up accessories such as hats, shoes, gloves and jewellery from a retro era.
And according to Frock Me! organizers, vintage clothing attracts a diverse clientele, from stylists and models to fashion students and collectors and even stage and film costume designers.
Those looking to mingle with designers and celebrities may well spot them rummaging for fashion one-offs in the crowd as items can reportedly be found to suit “all tastes and budgets”.
Stocking items from a range of eras including the 1920s, 1950s and 1960s, period Pucci, Lanvin and Chanel items are all among those likely to be found at Frock Me!
Ckick here for more info: “Frock Me” Vintage Fashion Event
{ April 3, 2008 @ 6:13 pm }
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{ Alternative fashion, Art, Celebrity Style, Conventions, Crafts, DIY Fashion, Event Fashion, Event Locations, Expos, Fashion Advice, Fashion Designers, Fashion Show, Fashion links, Fun links, Prom fashion, Shop for Fashion, Special Events, Style on a Budget, Thrift Stores, Vintage Fashion }
{ Tags: london, notting hill, Vintage Fashion, vintage fashion fair }
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Are you going? I have a feeling this one is going to be even more amazing than the last. The Vintage Fashion Fair will be held on Sunday 6th April in Notting Hill.
Anita Bott founded this one after the end of her previous partnership with Battersea Vintage Fashion Fairs. Anita’s Vintage Fashion Fairs (AVFF) organizes six fairs a year and features vintage clothing, textiles and accessories dating from 1800 to 1970. Everything from vintage buttons, braids and trimmings to stage costumes and high fashion can be found at the Vintage Fair.
She is hoping to make this the Number One Vintage Fair in the UK and is off to a great start because AVFF was voted 16th out of Vogue’s 100 ‘Guide to the Greatest Shops off the Beaten Track’.
Click here for more info: Anita’s Vintage Fashion Fairs
{ March 19, 2007 @ 4:56 am }
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{ Advice, Alternative Prom, Alternative fashion, Dances, Education, News, Parties, Prom, Prom Stories, Prom fashion, Prom planning, Social Advice, Special Events, Style on a Budget, Teens, The Good Life, Very Cool People }
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This was a pretty cool article about an observant principal and his solution to a Prom for everybody to enjoy.. 
We have no date. We have no money. We cannot dance. We’ve never worn a tux or a ball gown. We are too fat. We are too skinny. We are too ugly. The list goes on and on encyclopedically. And each day brings it 24 hours nearer, as all around us the excitement rises like an ocean tide in which we will undoubtedly drown, socially obliterated and globally warmed.
… continue reading this entry.
{ March 5, 2007 @ 4:09 pm }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Art, Contests, Couples, Crafts, DIY Fashion, Education, Event Fashion, Fun links, Fund-raisers, Fundraiser Ideas, News, Prom, Prom fashion, Tuxedo }
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This looks like fun! You could win scholarship money for you and your school!
The 2007 Duck brand duct tape Stuck at Prom Scholarship Contest challenges high school students to create and accessorize their prom formalwear with duct tape.
Entries must be received by June 8. Go to www.stuckatprom.com for rules and registration.
Participants must submit an entry form and a photo of themselves wearing the duct tape prom formalwear.
Entries can be submitted at www.stuckatprom.com or mailed to: Stuck at Prom Contest; c/o Henkel Corp.; 32150 Just Imagine Drive; Avon, OH 44011-1355.
Ten couples will be chosen as finalists by judges who are looking at workmanship, originality, use of colors, accessories and quantity of tape used. Online public voting will decide the winning couple. Voting is June 15-24.
Winners will be announced on or around July 11. The winning couple will receive a $6,000 ($3,000 for each person) cash scholarship for college, and $3,000 will be awarded to the high school hosting the winning couple’s prom. Second-place winners will each receive a $2,000 scholarship, with the high school also receiving $2,000. The third-place couple each will win a $1,000 scholarship, and the high school will get $1,000.
Related Article:
Duct Tape Gown!
Duct Tape Craft Books
{ March 2, 2007 @ 11:21 pm }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Art, Couples, Crafts, DIY Fashion, Dances, Education, Event Fashion, Event Theme, Fashion Advice, Fashion How-tos, Formal Events, Guy's Fashion, Menswear, Parties, Prom, Prom fashion, Shop for Fashion, Social Advice, Style Basics, Tuxedo }
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Guys, how will you express yourself at the Prom? It doesn’t have to be boring or uncomfortable, there are fun alternatives and choices you can make to feel like you are expressing yourself just as well as the girls in gowns. Even if you are required to wear certain things like only black tuxes you can express yourself in colorful accessories like a colorful vest or jewelry and cufflinks.
Check out this article where the guys are showing off their school colors.
“Prom will be a chance to display school colors for Carey Fleming, a Clinton High School junior who plans to wear red accessories with his white tuxedo.
He won’t be alone.
“A solid third is either white or ivory,” said Jamie Martin, manager at Tuxedo Junction at Metrocenter mall where Fleming works part time.
Even more Tux advice here in this article “Guys can use accessories to punch up tux”
Here is someone who really went DIY with his fashion and made his own tux.. out of Coke Cans!
How about a Hoodie with a tie printed on it? It looks very cool!
Oh and if you have to wear a tie somewhere it doesn’t need to be boring!
If you really want to go ALL OUT and get crafty like Mr Coke Can did check out Duct Tape Fashions.
Or get even weirder and wilder and do something with Pom Poms, yes Pom Poms! Maybe in a Pom Pom Tuxedo you can take out a girl in a Sock Monkey Gown!
More on Event Fashion here!
{ March 2, 2007 @ 5:09 pm }
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{ After Party, Alternative fashion, Event Fashion, Fashion Trends, Formal Events, Fun links, Gifts, Interesting Links, Menswear, Parties, Prom fashion, Shop for Fashion, Style on a Budget, Top Picks }
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Can’t get your guy in a tie? Check out this cool hoodie, yes a hoodie! Price: $45.
“Santa Monica, CA (PRWEB) For many high school and college students, proms and Spring formals are just around the corner. This year, there’s no excuse for not hitting the after parties in comfort and true nerd-chic style, with a brand new dressy casual black hoodie for men just released by www.NerdyShirts.com. This latest original shirt design offers a casual yet tasteful option for keeping both warm and fashionable.
The latest of the weekly, original shirt designs is a slim-fitting, zip-up, black hoodie (available only in men’s sizes), sporting a white printed-on “tie” for that “I don’t need to be stuffy to be classy” look. Now guys in this traditionally casual generation can lose the tux when they step off of the dance floor, and slip into comfort for the after-hours.”
{ February 28, 2007 @ 4:31 pm }
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{ Alternative fashion, Celebrity Style, Dances, Event Locations, Event Theme, Formal Events, Music, News, Parties, Prom, Special Events, The Good Life, Tuxedo }
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The Under the Sea Theme is so much fun! As reported by JamBase the band My Morning Jacket has a great Prom planned. Send me pictures for a theme album if you go!
“For all of you who missed your prom back in 1956 or 1986 or 2006 for that matter, My Morning Jacket will be hosting the 1st annual MMJ 2 night prom, March 6 and 7, at the fabulous, prom-ready, 40 Watt Club in Athens!
The first time we walked thru those hallowed 40 Watt doors we said to ourselves, “this place looks perfect for a prom!” And now the dream will be a reality. The theme is a futuristic/retro under the sea vibe – costumes (tuxes, suits, robots, mermaid and lobster costumes, anything prom/ocean related) are not only encouraged – they are MANDATORY!!! NO ONE will be admitted without proper attire!**
There will be cake, balloons, fishnets, classic cars, chaperones, spankings, and a whole lotta shakin goin on – 2007 style… Come prepared to dance the night away, and make up for all the proms you missed…”
-My Morning Jacket
**you may be admitted without proper attire
{ February 28, 2007 @ 3:41 pm }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Crafts, DIY Fashion, Dances, Education, Essentials, Event Fashion, Formal Events, Interesting Links, Prom Accessories, Prom Dresses, Prom fashion, Prom gown, Prom planning, Shop for Fashion, Style Basics, Style on a Budget, Sweet Sixteen, Vintage Fashion }
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If you are creative, inexpensive options can be just as pretty as higher priced fashions and accessories. Here is a big list of places you can start looking in your city. It can be a fun afternoon out on the weekend with friends wandering the thrift and vintage stores to see what might be tucked in these shops. Plus there are online vintage sources to browse through.
“CosmoGIRL Magazine fashion director Tara McBratney suggests finding a simple slip dress to pair with a “cool, wild shoe and a sequined brooch in a bright color,” for example.
Think you have the matching earrings, bracelet, necklace and bag to look like a glamour queen? Do as the stars do. Pick one focal point and make it memorable like actress Scarlett Johansson did at the Oscars with her diamond star tiara. If you have a big dress with lots of detail or sequins, you don’t need a glitzy necklace or a sparkly purse, only a long pair of nice earrings, McBratney said.”
Vintage and thrift stores are also great sources for alternative or themed fashion. If your prom is going to have a 1950’s theme for example, then you just might find a genuine poodle skirt from the 1950’s. You can’t get more authentic than that! Have fun searching for vintage gowns and party dresses and keep an eye out for fashions you can add to your everyday wardrobe. Many of these shops benefit charities so you could very well be helping your community while helping yourself and that’s a cool thing. Vintage gown photo by Dan Henry
… continue reading this entry.
{ January 8, 2007 @ 8:28 pm }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Art, Gifts, Jewelry, Shop for Fashion }
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These are some cool alternatives to the sparkling gems we love. These may actually start conversations and get you a little playful envy! Creative adornment by artistic people for lovely evenings out… very nice to keep for yourself or give as gifts. Photo, ToyMe Sneaker
… continue reading this entry.
{ January 8, 2007 @ 3:49 am }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Essentials, Gifts, How-to, Menswear, Shop for Fashion }
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Formal fashion has men wearing a variety of accessories and one of them is a tie. No need for a tie to be boring or ugly. They can be a way of expressing a personal interest, hobby, profession and even to be funny. It’s nice to see a dash of color on usually dark colored formal suits. Check out some of these fun and beautiful ties available online. Photo, Sovereign Beck Ties
… continue reading this entry.
{ December 21, 2006 @ 3:26 am }
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{ Alternative fashion, Event Fashion, Fashion Designers, Shop for Fashion, Style on a Budget, Top Picks }
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Since I mentioned that sexy romantic hairstyle look the LOTR films inspired I thought I’d point out one special shop that makes fashions (not costumes) that would look wonderful in the holiday season with hairstyles inspired by Lord of the Rings or medieval times. Wearing a costume for fun is one thing but to be in the inspired fashion and not have it be costumey is something not every clothing maker can achieve. I will from time to time feature one special clothing designer (send in suggestions too!) and this one seemed appropriate to show now, Gypsy Moon. Photo, Gypsy Moon
… continue reading this entry.
{ December 9, 2006 @ 9:20 pm }
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{ Accessories, Alternative fashion, Prom, Tuxedo }
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The gowns are usually the stars of special events but there is no reason the guys can’t look as good. Not all special events are black tie though, so most guys don’t need to have a tux in their closet. When you need to rent a tuxedo read through these links to get started in finding the right one.
… continue reading this entry.
