vintage jewelry | Frivolous Universe

COLOR IS THE NEW BLACK: Playing dress up with Dalis Chum of COLOR — Cambodia’s homegrown, microfinanced vintage clothing pioneer

By: Kim Philley

01-05-2012

Polished, affordable, vintage clothing and accessories in Cambodia? And all run by a whip-smart, sassy Khmer businesswoman with great fashion sense? I know I jump on a dime these days, but I went full-on trampoline for Phnom Penh’s new COLOR Vintage Clothing & Accessories:

Dalis Chum–a 29-year-old entrepreneur, single mother, and owner of COLOR–gave me the run of her vintage racks yesterday. It was hard choosing, but I finally settled on three outfits and two motorbikes I long to sneak past Suvarnabhumi Airport customs.

Not only are COLOR dresses darling, scot-free of the typical fades / snags / stains that plague vintage clothing, and perfectly pressed, but her COLOR accessories rocked my world. These Chinese metal orbs-cum-earrings only set me back five bucks and they’re surprisingly light on the ears.

safari dress: Mashhad International ($18)

fabric belt with metal buckle: ($10)

hi-so sunglasses: KOMONO, Gadhype, Terminal 21, Bangkok

slim-fit long black coat: Jazz Club Ctd. ($45)

black cotton top: ($8)

red skirt: ($13)

comfy Cece suede ballet flats with hidden wedge: J.Crew

After all that street jumping it was time for a more grounded look.

I love a maraschino-red mini paired with a simple top and jingle-jangle earrings ($5). And as you can see, COLOR doesn’t neglect the boys with its hand-picked selection of vintage vests, trousers, and other dapper menswear.

I love these silver-hoop earrings with big black hearts for $30. How in the world did I forget to buy them? I think tomorrow may warrant a return visit. And if the beautiful glove don’t fit, COLOR offers in-store tailoring to ensure a flattering silhouette.

Two more things I can’t get enough of: Honda scooters and trompe l’oeil skirts. I have the hips of a 14-year-old boy and a waist that balloons after a single can of Anchor. Not only is this Mardern Milan skirt yet another COLOR five-buck steal, but it creates the nip-tuck illusion of a tiny waist with its poofed, ruched hips. Et voilà–instant voluptueux!

And last but not least, the impeccably accessorized beauties who made this post possible: Dalis Chum of COLOR and my booking agent/buddy extraordinaire, Vanessa Boots.

Photography by Dalis Chum and Vanessa Boots

Clothes, glorious clothes by Dalis Chum of COLOR, #168 Street 13, Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia (+855 9578 7768)

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Pretty as a Fruit Basket and Dandy as a Fop in Warm-Weather Togs and Wide-Brimmed Hats

By: Kelly Lynae Robinson

25-03-2012

Nicole: Spring is here, spring is here, spring is here!!! Even though my first winter in New York was possibly the most mild winter in the history of the East Coast, I am still doing cartwheels over the fact that spring has arrived. On the day I wore this fruity outfit, I spent a good 6 hours outside enjoying a sunny 75 degree day in the city. It was so nice out that I took the East River Ferry (for only four dollars!) to get from Brooklyn to Manhattan so I wouldn’t have to go underground.

Kelly: In the spirit of the season, I’ve been Spring cleaning. When turning a critical eye on my wardrobe, I scrutinize each item to see if it is versatile, well-made, and special. The rejects go back to the thrift store. The problem I’m having this closet-purging is more the lack of problem. My closet is packed with interesting vintage pieces that I love and I still see in my future. I’ve never worn this bizarre teal swimsuit cover-up over a peach silk tank and blue pencil skirt before, but I sure think it looks dandy.

N: I agree. Dandy as a fop. Love the sherbet-ness of it all. You just make me crave gelato. The recipe for my fruity ensemble consists of (1) vintage wool skirt, (1) fruit print tank top, (1) woven leather belt. Top with (1) floppy wool hat and finish with floral print wedges.

K: I love your color story and the competing floral and fruit prints. It isn’t easy to make predictable items like high-waisted skirts and tank tops look interesting, so throwing in a statement accessory like a wide-brimmed hat is a must. It is my over-abundance of wardrobe staples that has made me want to explore new kinds of accessories like this thrifted black straw hat.

N: I picked up these sandals at my new favorite consignment store, Crossroads Trading Co. A floppy had just demands feminine shapes like flirty skirts and floral wedges.

K: The peach and blue color palette of my outfit is mirrored in the cloisonne beads on my necklaces. Details, details, details!

N: I pick up the purple from the sandal in my hat. And my single-bead necklace is the sister of Kelly’s, bought from Anna D.’s man friend and given to me as a classy BFF necklace.

K: Cause we be BFOATs (best friend of all time). Jeezass, do you think there are any other best friends who have as many terms of endearment as we do?

N: Doubtful. If there are any, I doubt they are above the age of 12. Although, we have been friends nearly 10 years, so that’s a lot of time to come up with loving nicknames. And if we can’t frolic in the sunshine together, the least we can do is coordinate wide-brimmed hat wearing from opposite sides of the country.

Spring done sprung, bitches.

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Bidet lost in translation

By: Bethany Walter

23-03-2012

Bethany

This last Tuesday made me think of Russia. Not for any real good reason but because it seems like the romantic place to think of when winter is slapping you in the face.

green beret, striped scarf, thrift store outfit, hounds tooth polyester pants, black wedged boots

XL brown sweater: Stan Sport, thrift store
Hounds tooth polyester pants: Home sewn, thrift store
Black leather woven belt: thrift store

When I was 20 I actually traveled to Russia with my parents and stayed for two weeks, one week in Moscow and one week in St. Petersburg.

Kate Landry beret and BDG linen striped scarf

Wool beret: Kate Landry, Dillard’s clearance
Linen black and white striped scarf: BDG

Most people ask why Russia. Don’t tell but my family used to belong to the Society for Creative Anachronisms. What? Basically it is a group similar to those in Renaissance fairs but instead it is a group that recreates medieval times. The other difference is it tends to be a private group that anyone can join but generally is not set up to entertain the public. And no, it isn’t larping. The interesting thing about this group is that it attracts either very intellectual and historical nerds or the incredibly randy type with low IQ’s. My parents fit into the nerdy type interested in Russian history and literature.

Linen black and white striped scarf: BDG
Black wedge booties: Denna & Ozzy

While in in Russia, my family and I were fortunate enough to have our own personal guide rather than having to be herded around with other tourists. Our guide’s name was Tatjana and an 18 year old university student studying to be a hotel manager.

Afghanistan silver vintage swan earrings

Vintage silver earrings: Afghanistan, Armor Bijoux

One evening, after a week and a half of staying in hotels, I asked Tatjana what she would change about the hotels we had been staying at. She told me that even though they were five star hotels with feathered beds and running hot water that she was surprised that there were not any bidets.

Bidets?

The word bidet was lost in translation. Trying to understand, I asked her to describe what she was talking about. Putting it in delicate terms, she told me it was something that shoots water out and you clean with it. I told her that it seemed like a sink could serve the same purpose. She gasped and went into a long rant about how she thought it was disgusting that Americans just used toilet paper. To her it was the same as wiping excrement off of ones arm without washing and then going about ones business.

Tatjana soon after changed the topic to her and I sneaking out to the night clubs. Looking at a map, all we’d have to do was walk 20 blocks, cross a giant bridge, which was scheduled to close at 4 a.m., and head another five blocks. Sure sounded exciting but after the long and confused bidet conversation I decided things could get a little dangerous. Tatjana took her switch blade with her and left on her own.