vintage clothing | Frivolous Universe

Tuxedo Jackets and Bling: Borrowing from Prada and Versace A/W 2012

By: Kelly Lynae Robinson

23-01-2012

Nicole: The last two weeks we’ve drawn our fashion inspiration from some favorite 70’s and 80’s movies. This week we’re turning to the latest runways and borrowing from the men.

Red high-waisted jeans, mesh and applique flower shell, velvet tuxedo jacket.

N: Aren’t Gary Oldman, Adrien Brody and Willem Dafoe looking dapper? I’m stealing the red, black and white color palate and the tailored jacket from the Prada A/W 2012 menswear line. Wish I had some awesome red circle glasses.

K: Oh em eff, Gary gets foxier and foxier as the years go by…

Gary Oldman, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe

N: These jeans were probably made around the same time I was born, and do ridiculous things to my ass, which I love.

K: We figure you should dress to accentuate and exaggerate your most apparent features. In Nicole’s case, the ASS.

N: We like to name our clothing items. We call this one “white slutty.” It’s a cheap juniors shirt from the 90’s, but if styled correctly it’s, like, totally awesome! Keep it subtly slutty with a black but not figure-enhancing bra.

I got this leather and canvas rainbow belt at a vintage shop down the road, and it sadly broke as I was doing this photo shoot. At least it will live on the blog…

K: Tragic.

N: The tuxedo jacket is not thrifted, but is still a favorite sale piece from my department store days. It’s wonderfully tailored and so fancy.

K: Oft I have borrowed it and never been disappointed.

N: The stiletto granny boots are Aldo, but I bought for cheap from a co-worker who never wore them.

N: I never wear stilettos or heels that are this high…I’m still not sure if I’m 100% about these booties, but they worked with this ensemble. The pants hit at just the right spot at the top of the boot. What do you think?

K: They make for a great silhouette, but I can’t tolerate stilettos for long either. Too painful.

K: This outfit borders on the not-s0-subtle end of subtly-slutty, and I love it!

K: We made this outfit over video chat.

K: The night of Anna‘s cocktail-and-costume-jewelry party, Jess, Bethany and I ended up at the Red Room for dancing with DJ Shay.

K: At said jewelry party, I bought this gold tone vintage military brooch and quickly added it to my 70s vintage embellished metallic shirt and black tuxedo coat.

N: A shiny shirt just begs for more bling. I also love the blending of the metalics with gold on silver.

K: The military brooch is very current, from both Prada’s and Versace’s (below) A/W 2012 menswear shows. (Photo from 10magazine.)

K: There’s a really excellent curly-q happening in my hair in this picture.

N: I’m a big fan.

K: This beautiful shirt has no tags, and no indication of it’s origin other than its absurd 70s lapels. The leopard-lined coat was a gift from my parents on my 19th birthday.

N: This outfit is so luxe…the fabrics all look really beautiful together. I love contrast between the clean, classic lines of the pieces and the intricate details of the shirt, jacket and jewelry.

K: The black linen pants are thrifted Ann Taylor mom-pants. I got the multi-chain necklace back when subversive did a line for Target. Yes, my shirt is un-tucked on purpose.

N: So bold!

K: Jessica is a great companion on the dance floor. Self-consciousness be damned.

Androgyny is sexy.

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The Complisult.

By: Anna D.

17-01-2012

Anna

According to the Urban Dictionary, a complisult is “a backhanded compliment.” Example: “That’s such a nice dress. It does wonders for your figure.”

One night a few years ago, through an amber haze of whiskey fumes and cigarette smoke, a close friend of mine confessed, through tears of laughter and apologetic overtones, that I had unwittingly acquired a nickname amongst my friends – “The Complisult”. She explained to me that I have this “endearing” way of paying people compliments by insulting them.

As soon as she said it, I realized just how horrifyingly appropriate my nickname was. I’d never been able to put my finger on it – this thing that invariably happened when I tried to joke with others – and now here it was, staring me in the face. The Complisult. It’s a little like thinking you’re Batman and suddenly discovering you are in fact The Joker.

Now that I’m aware of my hapless talent for complisulting people, I diligently monitor my words. But old habits die hard, especially when one was only made aware of said bad habit a relatively short time ago…..so at times The Complisult still makes a vengeful return, giving me a nasty case of foot-in-mouth disease.

The silver lining to this affliction is that it’s made me work damned hard to make lasting friendships. The evening these photos were taken, I had the good fortune of hosting a few of my most prized friend acquisitions – Jessica, Kelly, and Bethany – three of the five other women who post on this blog. Not to mention, I have one hell of a manfriend, who built our lovely home, and a dog, Ed, who is so devoted to me that he lays at the foot of the tub when I shower and hugs my hand with his tiny white paws every time I scratch his furry little chest. Just look at those eyes he’s giving me! it’s love.

All of my loved ones, save Ed of course, have fallen prey to The Complisult a time or two, but they stick with me, and we adore and revere each other. It’s a fine thing. So I raise my Tyrconnell filled glass to the FU broads, Dustin, and my Edmund – here’s to sticking with it, and building love.

About the Outfit: This fantastic vintage cocktail dress was designed by Julie Miller, and made sometime in the mid ’40’s. Kelly gave it to me for Christmas, that classy dame! The boots are made by Classique, so essentially they are cheap knockoffs of some designer brand. But hey – they are actually leather, and I picked them up for $4 at a thrift store, so……

And in case you’re wondering, that stunning painting pictured behind me is by one of my all-time favorite Boise artists – Erin Cunningham.

About the Jewelry: My earrings are, no surprise here, handmade by Hazel Cox. The watch was Dustin’s grandmother’s, and is by Voumard. The gold bracelets are from my great-grandmother in Greece. The ring on my left hand is gold, diamond, and elk ivory – designed and made by Glade Davis. The one on my right ring finger is a Greek gold filigree piece from my great-grandmother, and the one on my middle finger is a gold and opal piece from my grandmother.

Jessica and I, extolling the virtues of quality-made vintage clothing in my cozy home office. Many thanks to Bethany for another round of fantastic photos.

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HOW TO WEAR BLOUSES: Bold Colors and Print-Mixing Bring this Vintage Staple into 2012

By: Kelly Lynae Robinson

02-01-2012

Kelly, Kelly and Nicole, Nicole

Kelly: Have you embraced the blouse yet? If not, might we suggest a 2012 resolution for you?

Nicole: In case you’re hesitant, I’ll let you know that Kelly and I only fully embraced the blouse a little over a year ago. The love affair actually started with the blush blouse you may remember from last week. It snowballed from there.

K: What’s the difference between a blouse and any old top? A blouse blouses over some kind of gather, usually at the waist or hips with a belt. Ninety-five percent of the time blouses must be tucked in, or it just doesn’t work. Girls don’t wear blouses. Women wear blouses. On the first day of 2012, we wore ours tucked in, belted, and layered with cozy knits. Vintage 70s You Babes floral blouse with billowy sleeves, wool sweater vest, and skinny jeans.

K: Lisa Sanchez grabbed this wool sweater vest in a everything-you-can-fit-in-a-bag-for-a-dollar sale at a thrift store and I was the lucky recipient. Because this vest is slim with a crew neck, we thought that a blouse with voluminous sleeves and a high-collar would give the silhouette visual interest. Nicole got me these carved rose studs in Boston last year.

carved rose studs earrings, floral big sleeve you babes vintage blouse, old navy wool sweater vest

K: Ah, another Nicole present, this red jelly belt was in my Xmas package. It faintly sparkles in the sunlight… like vampire skin.

N: I got the belt at a funky little shop in the West Village.

red jelly belt, vintage etra clutch purse chain strap green, vintage embroidered mint hankercheif

K: Oh the power of socks should never be underestimated, young Padawan. Even though this green isn’t in the rest of the outfit, I love the way these mint textured socks look with my lavender loafer pumps.

N: A big lesson we’ve been learning lately is that socks can make or break an outfit! That little extra detail might be all you need to make your outfit adorably quirky and interesting. (Also, 10 points for your Star Wars reference)

rolled up jeans cuffs, textured mint socks check, lavendar loafer pumps bcbg max azria chain hardware

K: Enter my grandmother’s vintage embroidered hankerchief in the same shade of mint green as my socks. This way, if I catch some rabid fashionista eying my sock choice, doubting the wisdom of the hue, I’ll whip out my mint handkerchief and shriek, “Does this justify if for you??!!”

Ahem… This vintage 70s Etra suede purse has a chain strap that hides away to convert into a clutch. Repeating motif! Chain strap on purse and chain hardware on shoes.

N: We repeat our mantra once again: details, details, details.

vintage mint embroidered hankercheif, vintage green etra purse clutch chain strap, diamond infinity band platinum

K: At $3.00, this blouse might be one of my best vintage finds. I can’t wait to wear it in warmer weather and show off its sheerness.

pansy print floral you babes high collar blouse top, wool old navy sweater vest green colorwork

N: I’ll call this outfit “what I might have worn on New Year’s if I wasn’t baby sitting 100 twenty-one year olds.” Unfortunately my New Year’s was spent working a private event for over 100 drunk college kids. It was messy. There was blood. It was not much fun. I decided to make myself feel better by putting together a fabulous blog outfit consisting of this vintage silk bow-tie blouse, sparkly cardigan and wool high-waisted trousers.

K: I love how fearlessly you mix three vibrant, saturated colors. The bright blue, red, and magenta are so playful, that they make these classic items (blouse, cardigan, and trousers) feel youthful and modern.

pink tie-neck blouse bow magenta, blue sequined sequins cardigan sweater, wool tweed gray pants grey, argyle pink socks, red round toe pumps

N: When your sweater is as embellished as this, it’s best to keep your jewelry sparkly but simple. So I went for a simple rhinestone stud earring.

K: There’s something very wintery about the beaded embellishments on this cardigan.

bow tie pink magenta blouse top, blue sequined sequins cardigan sweater, rinestone studs earrings

N: I love just the little pop of pink coming out of the sleeves and the neckline. I actually bought this sweater at a second hand store in Boston on the same trip I got the earrings Kelly is wearing.

pink magenta bow tie neck blouse top, blue sequined sequins cardigan sweater, gray grey wool trousers pants