Well Read: Knitting Vintage

"Knitting Vintage" is a great read, it's filled with 30 knitting projects inspired by period fashions.  What I love most, is that it provides key themes, popular designers, illustrations and mood board inspiration for each project and decade.  It's loaded with tons of information, a mix of vintage fashion history with very detailed knitting directions.  It even provides resources on where to source all the materials needed.  Each project calls for modern materials but encourages the reader to use vintage accessories and notions.  The designer reinvents each vintage pattern for a more modern appeal, which goes hand and hand with our philosophy here at Borough Vintage....I definitely plan on trying my hand at knitting this winter, good thing this book has various skill levels.  Wish me luck!!!

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Read:Rare Vintage Gem

A Map of the Open Country of a Woman's Heart was created by D.W. Kellogg circa 1833 -1842.  Kellogg portrays the 19th century ideals of womanhood.  Check out the "Love of Dress" section. 

More info here: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2011/09/30/map-of-womans-heart/

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Well Read: Fashion Originals

Hopefully, you had a chance to pick up the 1/2/2011 edition of the St Louis Post-Dispatch.  Debra Bass wrote a great article on 5 individuals that take fashion seriously!  Borough Vintage was included in the spread along with other great people making their way in creative industries. "Passion for Fashion" indeed....

All photos by: Emily M Rasinski

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Well Read: I Love Your Style

I recently happened to find this book and it seemed to be perfect for those who are interested in the history of fashion, inspirational guides to lifestyles and their reflection in personal style. Released last year, here's a short description of what to expect from the former fashion muse, creative director for designer label Tuleh, and author, Amanda Brooks.

"I Love Your Style is a sumptuous full-color look-book and style bible, complete with more than 400 classic and modern photographs, that will both empower and inspire women to dive into the challenge of defining, or refining, their personal style. With fully illustrated chapters, sidebars, shopping lists, and personal stories devoted to a range diverse styles and shopping techniques-Classic, Bohemian, Minimalist, Street, High-Fashion, Cheap Chic, Vintage-Brooks walks readers through every angle of the fashion world, from the basic pieces and accessories that define a style, to the small details, combinations, and adaptations that can make it your own.

With its focus on embracing creativity, personal history, originality, and the freedom to pick and choose aspects from any distinct "style"-and with no "rules," "commandments," or lengthy lists of "don′ts" in sight-I Love Your Style is a must-read for budding fashionistas, or anyone who finds herself frustrated in front of the mirror each morning."

With the Fall season approaching, this will be a great book to read before hitting the racks!

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Well Read: Posing Beauty

There is a new book out, just in time for Christmas, called Posing Beauty.  Aimed at presenting a definitive look at African-American beauty - this is one book that will be on my holiday wishlist (hint, hint ; )   The NY Times review makes me want this book even more:

"In the pages of “Posing Beauty,” readers can appreciate African-American men and women as dandies and debutantes, models and beauty queens, politicians and clubwomen across the generations. The book is a treasure, a triumph and a singular achievement that invites fresh and enduring insights with each viewing."

As I research fashion related topics - I am always discouraged to find the lack of African-American images in the vintage fashion arena.  So, this book will be a good first step in showcasing the stylish men and women of the past decades.  I want to see more images such as these: (Photographer: Carl Van Vecten - Eartha Kitt, Leontyne Price, and Blanche Dunn)

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Style File: The September Issue

Source

Here is the next Fashion movie - "The September Issue". Which just screened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. According to Sundance, the movie will cover:

Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue for 20 years, is the most powerful and polarizing figure in fashion. Larger than life and more complex than fiction, Wintour embodies a fascinating contradiction of passion and perfectionism as she reigns over a dizzying array of designers, models, photographers, and editors. Director R.J. Cutler delivers a rare insider account of the nine months leading up to the printing of the highly anticipated September issue of the magazine, which promises to be the biggest one ever. He takes us behind the scenes at fashion week, to Europe and back, on shoots and reshoots, and into closed-door staff meetings, bearing witness to an arduous and sometimes emotionally demanding process.

It sounds like a great documentary covering the innerworkings of the fashion publishing industry. Now, we can all be flies on the wall behind the scenes.

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Well Read: Camouflage Magazine

If the first edition of Camouflage magazine is any indication - This might be the magazine to watch. The photography and artistic direction is stunning.

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Well Read: Diane Von Furstenberg's Blog Diary

Diane Von Furstenberg in vintage YSL

Diane von Furstenberg burst into the fashion world in 1972 with her iconic wrap dress, the beginning of what is today a full fashion house. The iconic designer is letting us get a glimpse into her well-traveled life in her blog. The site features upcoming fashion trends, but also, a personal diary by DVF herself - highlighting her travel adventures.

Here is an excerpt from her trip to Shanghai:

I also found my home in Shanghai…the small boutique hotel The Mansion, located in the French Concession. It has been incredibly well decorated and restored to its art deco glory…I felt like Marlene Dietrich in the 1930s!!

Read and Enjoy!

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Frida Kahlo Vintage Wardrobe

Frida Kahlo

Frida Inspired Fashion Shoot

New on bookstands is "Self Portrait in a Velvet Dress: Frida's Wardrobe" released June 2008 by Chronicle books. It takes a look beyond Frida Kahlo as an artist and looks at one of the most interesting aspects of her persona - her wardrobe. When I learned of this book - I was interested in finding out more about Frida Kahlo's style of dress. What I like the most are the bold pieces of jewelry and her use of flowers as accents. Her style of dress has been a source of fashion inspiration - as evidenced by the Harper's Bazaar shoot in the third photo.

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Style Icon: Iris Apfel

There is great difference between being fashionable and stylish. Being in fashion - just means that you are wearing a design that is widely accepted among a large group at any given time. But, where is the originality in that? Having true style is the exact opposite - it is being a testament to nonconformity. More or less, wearing what captures your mood or personality regardless of the general acceptance of your choices - makes one stylish. Iris Apfel is one such person that is elevated to iconic status for her use of color, mixture of couture with flea market finds, and application of over the top accessories. She inspires us to be true to ourselves and what we adore.


Iris Apfel in her eighties (via NY Times)



Her book



Past Exhibits at the Norton Museum and the
Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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