vintage | Frivolous Universe

PRETTY WOMAN: A 1990s Fairytale for 9 Year Olds

By: Bethany Walter

25-05-2012

In 1990, I was 9 years old and my best friend was Jenny B. It was a year when laws were more lax and parental guidance wasn’t enforced. Our rebelling consisted of riding our bikes to the video store and renting (R) Pretty Woman.

Pretty Woman was a modern day fairytale about a healthy, beautiful, happy-go-lucky prostitute working the streets of Hollywood who is rescued by a sexy, extremely rich, lonely, materialistic, ruthless businessman and his credit card. And she rescues him right back. Swoon.

Pretty Woman movie poster

While I didn’t grow up to live the fairytale, I did get to feel like Julie Roberts in the polo match scene where she is wearing a polka dot dress. I wore a similar outfit this last weekend at my friend Jeanne’s birthday. Her party was at the race tracks and the dress attire was derby sophisticated.

Pretty Woman polka dot dress costume designed by Marilyn Vance

This dress Roberts is wearing was costume designed by Marilyn Vance. All the designer clothes that Robert’s character buys on Rodeo Drive are actually costume designs by Vance.

Inspired by my 9 year old memory of the Marilyn Vance’s creation is my outfit below. All of my outfit came from thrift stores, a second hand shop, an antique shop, or was inherited from my grandmother.

1980s Cimmaron Dress polka dot romper – thrift store

Vintage large brimmed hat – no label, Antique World Mall, $9.58
Vintage short white gloves – grandmother’s

Brown woven belt – thrift store
Floral heels – second hand, The Lux Fashion Lounge
Vintage Ande brown clutch – grandmother’s
Vintage gold bead necklace – grandmother’s

Photography by Jeanne Giltzow front and center (except for this photo by Mr. Matt)

I’m waiting for Hollywood to do a remake of Pretty Woman but instead call it Cute Man. It would be about a charming, beefy, intelligent male prostitute who is rescued by a rich, cutthroat corporate woman. Swoon.

But they probably won’t because the storyline is too unbelievable. Oh wait, Richard Gere stared in this movie in 1980 and was called American Gigolo. His character was a stud for sleeping with rich beautiful women and getting paid for it. Except for being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he didn’t need to be rescued.

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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

Kim

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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STAYIN’ ALIVE: A bit broke, a lil’ Brut, and a whole lotta Bangkok

By: Kim Philley

10-04-2012

Kim

Bangkok is a city of extremes. One day you’re hospitalized with an acute respiratory tract infection; 48-hours later you’re on top of the world.

Literally. Sipping Brut because Vertigo’s Moët et Chandon is slightly outside your 20-baht-fashion price point and taking in the Moon Bar’s lightning rod’s-eye views.

All this hat-trick requires is one melodramatic F’book status update and a friend who is gorgeous enough to hop the next available flight from Phnom Penh to Bangkok. During the Civil War the Army of the James had Clara Barton. I have Pedro. There are friends and then there are friends. Nobody dies on Pedro’s watch, and the sickbed service includes California Brut.

Sexy Maitre d’: Brown Herringbone dress tailored by the talented Pin-Pin of Hoi An, Vietnam

Wide belt: COLOR, Phnom Penh’s first and only vintage clothing store

What can I say? I followed the Thai doctor’s orders. She gave me a bag of drugs and wrote two recommendations on my Rx: “change environment” and “fresh air.” I wish this blog could convey the sound of me laughing my ass off.

Breathe the fresh air in Bangkok — doctor’s orders! And while you’re at it, enjoy a kosher cheeseburger! With so many impossibilities at my fingertips to restore me to hale and hearty, I barely knew where to begin.

Like Smilla’s varieties of snow, Bangkok is a smorgasbord of air: putrid air, steam bath air, pungent-garbage-underfoot air, heavy-particulate-matter air, Freoned-within-an-inch-of-your-life air, hooker-just-blew-menthol-in-my-face air, but fresh air?

For such an ethereal commodity there’s only one thing to do. Scale Mount Meru or climb the sixty-odd floors to the Banyan Tree’s rooftop. Both are mythical places, but only one serves the bubbly.

And while you’re up there, definitely check out the eye candy.

Braided gold earrings & bracelet: mosstories, Terminal 21, Bangkok

Faux pearl friendship ring: Ciga Shop, Terminal 21, Bangkok

Lil’ Black Dress: COLOR, Phnom Penh’s new vintage store — check ’em out!

There’s nothing like a 2:00 A.M. bathroom photo shoot to bring out the minx in me. Take an Asian hemline and press it to my mantis gams and subtly slutty is what you get.

Jingle-jangle earrings: Lumphini MRT street stall, Bangkok (for 20 baht, a.k.a. 65 cents)

Leather clutch: In Retrospect, Boise

Faux pearl friendship ring: Ciga Shop, Terminal 21, Bangkok

Yeah, I’m finally writing about the clothes.

The best thing about taking the high road to recovery? At the end of the evening, the concierge at the Banyan Tree gave me — a Brut-swilling non-guest — a free bottle of fancy hotel water. “Water from my heart,” he said.

I HEART THAILAND

I HEART VANESSA BOOTS, A.K.A. PEDRO — thanks again for the epic pics and the eleventh hour rescue!

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