Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!! Have a fabulous night!

Mid-Week Inspiration: Dream Sequence

Hauntingly beautiful and slightly spooky. I love this W Magazine editorial in the October issue called Dream Sequence.
I now want to wear long gowns and have woodland animals as pets.

Photographed by Paolo Roversi. Styled by Alex White.

Vintage Finds of the Week: Spooky 'N Scarry

This week is all about being spooked out.... and these vintage Etsy finds spook me out.

Unearthed from German Soil...4 SpOOky Creepy Eerie Souls...Dearly Departed Spirits from 100 Plus Years-$15-adelesspookyart

50 Great Ghost Stories for Halloween 1971- $9.99-MoxyFoxBooks

1917 Spooky Graveyard Tombstone Ghost Black and White Photography-$4.75-maclancy


Spooky Antique Doll Arm-$4-erachel

1940's Occupied Japan Painted Redware Scary Black Cat On Book-$13.50-christmasangel

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Sonia Rykiel Spring 2010

I'm a big fan of Sonia Rykiel and her Spring 2010 RTW collection shown earlier this month did not disappoint. Always with a retro sensibility, Sonia showed a mix bag this season with influences from the 30's, 40's, 70's disco, 70's doing 40's, and 80's for a good time feel (note the smiling models!). In case that's confusing, let's just have a look. Here are some of my favorites, for the complete collection take a look at style.com.

Newly Listed This Week!

This past week I listed some more sweet vintage finds in my Etsy shop, Femme Fatale Vintage. Here's a look at what's new:

Vintage 1960's McCall's Pattern 8395 Bias Raglan Sleeve Dress- $5

Vintage 1980's Halston McCall's Pattern 8322 Poncho, Skirt, Blouse, and Pants-$7

Vintage 1960's Floral Satin Party Dress with Ruffled Neckline-$57


Vintage Nude Embroidered Slip with Lace- $16

Mid-Week Inspiration: Karen Elson for Lula Magazine

Lula Magazine is an inspiration in itself. I especially love this editorial with model Karen Elson in the Fall/Winter '09 issue. I love her hair and make-up in these shots. I must practice my curls!

Shot by Catherine Servel.

Vintage Finds of the Week: Magazine Racks

Besides Vanity Fair, I haven't subscribed to fashion magazines for years. Lately I've decided to return to the printed magazine world. I renewed my VF subscription and tacked on a subscription to Vogue, Elle, and W. While I anxiously await for their arrivals, I know I'm going to need room to store them in my tiny place. For this week's Etsy vintage finds I have found a mid-century solution: magazine racks!

Hollywood Regency Gold Gilt Folding Magazine Rack Holder-$48- fabulousmess

Mid Century Modern Age Industrial Black Metal Magazine Rack-$24-modbots

Mid Century Magazine Rack-$30-reclaimedhome


Wrought Iron Magazine Holder-$34- seaglassvintage

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Sharin Foo of The Raveonettes

I fell in love with The Raveonettes with the release of their first album in 2002, Whip It On. Mixing 1950's rock 'n roll, 60's garage, a strong Jesus and Mary Chain influence, and a dark film noir cinematic sound had me enthralled. Six years later I'm still intrigued and will be seeing them perform for the third time tonight!! Sharin Foo, the bassist/vocalist, has become one of the coolest ladies in rock without even trying. I love her vintage style. A modern Hitchcock Blonde with a guitar.

Photo above courtesy of nickwilsonphoto.com

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Ethics and Morality in Fashion City

Edited by Ashe Mischief

This week’s Links á la Mode covers the gambit in regards to the ethical and moral questions surrounding fashion right now…. we have Confessions of a Fashion Editor’s take on fashion blogging & paid posts, and Oranges and Apples reports on a German magazine’s ban of professional models. threadbared talks about Lara Stone, French Vogue, and the controversial use of blackface in recent issue, while Hong Kong Fashion Geek revisits the argument about fashion, price discrimination, and designer knock-offs as Alexander McQueen sues Steve Madden.

As usual, there was a spectacular round-up of links in the forum as well, all worthy of checking out!

Links à la Mode : October 15th

• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Morality, the law, and fashion blogging


• Denimaniac: – Best Denim Shops Q&A with LA’s Mister Freedom


• dramatis personae – Costumes from Holidays Past…


• ferOHHHsh: – Champagne from a shoe?? J’Taime Le Rituel!


• From Betsy With Love – Bringing some Lynchian Style to the Web!


• Grit and Glamour – Manscaping 101: Guys should groom, not preen. A little chest hair never hurt (but a shaved chest does).


• Hong Kong Fashion Geek – What’s the harm in Steve Madden doing an Alexander McQueen knockoff? Is it really sue-worthy?


• idiosyncratic style: – Idiosyncratic Style: Dare to put your legs center stage this season.


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – Poll : How do you feel about Sponsored Posts?


• Large Black Diary: – Austie has a beautiful collection of hair accessories


• Oranges and Apples: – German magazines bans professional models – an in-depth disussion


• Prom Mafia – Betsey Johnson does DC.


• Rags to Reverie: – Five tips for shopping at an American Apparel Flea Market


• Retro Chick – Lusious Lingerie: Vintage Style from Fred & Ginger


• sweetarchivia: – Review of Man Shops Globe event held at the San Francisco Anthropologie store


• The Art of Accessories: – The Art of Accessories shows you how to accessorize your winter wardrobe with tights.


• THE COVETED – SPUN Around: Integrating organic basics in your wardrobe.


• The Curvy Fashionista – The Business of Plus Size Fashion: Blogger turned boutique owner Marie Denee discusses the growth of plus size fashion.


• The Working Wardrobe – Virtual Dress Code: How Professionalism is Working its Way into the Avatar Wardrobe


• the3st: – The First EVER Philadelphia Fashion Week is this week. Interview with the directors of the week:


• threadbared: – We react to the recent Lara Stone editorial in French Vogue in “Blackface, and the Violence of Revulsion.”


• mode.ulation: – Mode-ulation is back from hiatus..we bring you a quick glance through Paris fashion week with the cutest trend – the updated toga.

Retro Looks In The Modern World: Dior S/S 2010

I nearly died when I saw the Christian Dior Spring 2010 RTW collection shown in Paris earlier this month. Inspired by my favorite loves... film noir, lingerie, and femme fatales... you can see why! Galliano was specifically inspired by Lauren Bacall (image above) and it showed on the runway where the models wore Bacall hair and a serious face. Here are some of my favorite looks from the collection.

Mid-Week Inspiration: Mint Siren

Vintage and modern lingerie have always been a huge inspiration for me and always will be. I get really excited when a lingerie line like Mint Siren appears. Discovered on Twitter, their retro inspired items are the right mix of sweet and naughty. Items are available in their web shop and hopefully will be available stateside soon.

Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show Pics

Last Friday I went to the Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show and it was a blast. As always it was filled with inspiring and drool worthy vintage clothing, shoes, jewelry, hats, textiles....if only I had more spending money! Here are some pics from the show:

Great displays, including bears watching over the shoppers at one booth!

A darling dress!

My friends, Emily Caretti and Gina Michele, from Tea Street Vintage .
I love that "Jean" romper!

Shoes, shoes, shoes!!

Lovely vintage slips displayed at Norma's Vintage where I bought a pair of white crochet gloves!

Newly Listed This Week!

Some new listings of vintage items have been added into my Etsy shop, Femme Fatale Vintage this past week. Here they are:

1950's Vogue Pattern 6581 Smock Bed Jacket 3 Lengths-$6

1960's McCall's Pattern 2085 Band Collar Dress and Long Vest-$5

1980's Black Eel Skin Large Clutch-$28

Vintage Mocha Lace Brown Nylon Slip-SOLD

Weekend Events and Links a la Mode

The Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show is this weekend (Friday & Saturday)! It's always a lot of fun and filled with gorgeous vintage temptation! I will be there this afternoon and sharing photos later this weekend. I've also got a lot of independent fashion blogging to catch up on! Here are this week's Links A La Mode!

Fashion Roller-coaster

Edited by Jennine

Wow… we’ve got an interesting bunch this week… word from fashion weeks has put us on a roller coaster from the creepy toenails on Shoe Daydreams to the stunning Alexander McQueen on ferOHHHsh, a much needed shopping bill of rights ondramatis personaeand Bay Area Style File wonders why cigarette cases are marketed to teens at Urban Outfitters. We’ve also got some new faces in our round up including one of my favorite French blogs, Morning by Foley whose beautiful photography reminds me how sweet fashion really is.

Links à la Mode : October 8th

• 39th and Broadway – Stop Glamorizing the Recession!


• Bay Area Style File – Crimes of Fashion: Chain Mess Cigarette Case


• Bobbins and Bombshells – Fashionable History: Veils


• BRICK MY LANE – The Longer Length SHOWstudio


• dramatis personae – Ashe Mischief’s Shopping Bill of Rights


• Fashion Pulse Daily – Goth Chic Rules the Runways


• ferOHHHsh – Alexander McQueen Spring 2010: McQueencaps.


• Fete a Fete – Dolce & Gabbana Fragrance Anthology


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – FTC Ruling : An Ethical Double Standard?


• Little Black Book – Velvet touch


• Morning by Foley – A beautiful afternoon with girls, a fairy and bows…


• Prom Mafia – Halloween – Recessionista Style. How to make smart and stylish choices when deciding on a Halloween costume.


• Rags to Reverie – A stunning editorial from V Magazine and how I got my copy from New York City


• Random Fashion Coolness – Garance Doré


• Retro Chick – Ethical Design Spotlight – SPUN


• Shoe Daydreams – Bad Trends in Feet – Gargoyle Toe & Clear Claws


• Style Symmetry – New divine dresser to watch out for Giant Dwarf!


• Sweet Fancy Treat – Interview: Uma Turan – Milliner


• THE COVETED – Berrylicious Colors and a New Mascara to Die For from Benefit Cosmetics


• The Curvy Fashionista – The Real Curves behind the cover of Glamour’s November Issue


• the3st – Interview with Marina Makaron

Fashionable History: Irving Penn

Last Wednesday, famed fashion photographer, Irving Penn died at the age of 92. Be sure to read the The New York Times wonderful obit. on the legend. Here are a few of his early fashion photographs from the 50's. Elegant and classy.