Vintage Vixen

Imagine this; you enter the room, fashionably late of course, and everyone at the party cannot help but stare at the most amazing headband that is sparkling atop your perfectly coiffed head. Now flashback to a downtown Toronto apartment in the dead of winter when two girls are bored out of their minds and start making headbands out of vintage jewellery, lace and ribbon.

The result is FictionFaction, a Toronto based accessories line specializing in unique handmade headbands. Designers Ali McQuaid and Olga Kisza create some of the most amazing pieces using jewellery that is “generously donated by Grandmas or found at antique markets.” Each piece is different and is not only vintage inspired but also wearable both day and night. From twenties flapper to bohemian goddess, these girls have you covered with designs that feature antique buttons and feathers a plenty.

Their holiday collection is out now and is available through their website, www. fictionfaction.ca. Each piece is under $35!
*FictionFaction Headbands available at www.fictionfaction.ca and Model Citizen, 279 Augusta Ave.

Big red bows, pink Christmas trees and fluffy white snow. J’adore the holidays! The most magical time of the year is also the most glamorous with sparkling work soirees and Kris Kringle parties around every corner. And while all Vintage Vixens are busy making their lists of who is naughty and nice, they are never too busy to bring a little vintage inspired glamour into their wardrobe.

Most notably, Canadian designer Jenny Bird has recreated the iconic clip-on earring just in time for the holidays. Her designs of gold tone, round clip-on earrings in various sizes recall a time when drawing attention to a woman’s neck and face was the main focus. During the fifties and sixties, clip-on earrings came in every colour and shape and framed a woman’s face, often matching her outfit.

Today, Jenny Birds’ iconic designs have made a strong comeback along with other clip-on styles from H&M and Aldo. They can be worn both day and night, from party to party and best of all, fit in every stocking!

Jenny Bird earrings and accessories available at http://www.jenny-bird.com

by Rosanna Carlucci
Red lipstick is an icon. It is also the calling card of Hollywood bombshells and Vintage Vixens both past and present. During the Fall 09 runway shows, red lipstick appeared not only on the mouths of countless models but also adorned their necks and handbags. Designers such as Dolce and Gabbana and Betsey Johnson revived the icon of red lipstick and incorporated it into both their jewellery and handbag designs. Most notably, Dolce and Gabbana’s whimsical lipstick necklace made of gold chains and tiny tubes of red lipstick dilated thousands of pupils and set vintage hearts aflutter.

Inspired by the novelty of 50’s jewellery and artists and designers such as Salvador Dali and Elsa Schiaparelli, the collections revisit a time when makeup and vanity items were the inspiration for playful accessories such as brooches or necklaces. In the Fifties, many women would wear lipstick brooches on a chic black evening bag or fun summer dress.

So make sure you put your red lipstick on your mouth, your neck, and your handbag too. Either way, you will be sure to leave your mark!

by Rosanna Carlucci

Vintage Vixens the world over are jumping up and down in their platform heels and pin curled hair. The fabulous forties are back! Every designer from Balenciaga to Dries Van Noten had models sashaying down the runway in forties inspired suits and dresses for Fall 09.

Broad shoulders, cinched-in waists and peplums are hallmarks of forties fashion. Combined with this season’s rich palette of reds, greens, and blues, the collections recall a time when men were off at war and women traded their aprons in for punch cards.

Most notably was John Galliano’s stunning collection for Dior Couture Fall 09.

Mister Galliano recreated the structured and restrained glamour of the forties and released some of that tension by revealing what lies underneath. Confections of tulle, stiff satin and silks reveal sexy stockings and garters that beg to be noticed. Rosie the Riveter would be proud!

by Rosanna Carlucci
Every Vintage Vixen who adores vintage fashion knows that there is a fine line between wearing vintage with style and looking like a cheesy Halloween costume. Australian designer Melanie Greensmith truly understands this fine line and her clothing label, Wheels and Doll Baby, is the definition of vintage inspired clothing that is loaded with style.

Since 1987, Greensmith has been creating the most delicious dresses, cardigans, and skirts with a distinct retro/rockabilly vibe.  Everything from intricately beaded cardigans to leopard print blazers has adorned celebrities and vintage vixens alike. 

With its roots firmly in Rock N Roll, (Melanie’s first husband was a rock musician) the label started off with a more punk rock vibe that eventually softened to include more girly and feminine pieces. Yet the clothing is not campy or kitsch, but rather a perfect balance of vintage design and modern fabrications.

In addition to designing for Wheels and Doll Baby, Greensmith also designs clothing for various musicians on tour such as Blondie and INXS. More notably, she designed a jacket for the late Michael Jackson for his BAD tour.

Wheels and Doll Baby available at Fred Segal and www.wheelsanddollbaby.com (They ship to Canada)

by Rosanna Carlucci
Anyone knows that the key to being a true Vintage Vixen lies in the ability to be both a lady and a vamp. In the spirit of bad girls like Mae West, who looked like a lady but talked like a trucker, comes clothing and accessory line Locher’s, from designer Nicole Locher.

Debuting in 2005, the line includes fun and flirtatious tops and accessories that are a combination of modern and vintage with a sexy little twist. Inspired by vintage embroidery, Nicole creates modern day clothing with vintage patterns and not so vintage slogans embroidered onto each piece.  Favourites include, “Will Fuck For Shoes” and “Best Piece of Ass In Town”. 

Her accessory line includes a great collection of necklaces with lockets and charms that dangle innocently from lovely silver chains. Yet upon closer inspection, one will discover vintage fetish and erotica photos, with phrases like, “Spank Me” or  “I am the shit”.

Needless to say that Locher’s Paris is not what you’d wear to church on Sunday. However, if you are a choirgirl looking to cause a commotion, than a trip to Locher’s Paris is for you.

by Rosanna Carlucci
Like a pearl at home in its shell she lies across her pink towel, lounging in the shade of her white umbrella. She lets the cool breeze caress her skin and takes a sip of her lemonade in the hopes it will cool her down.

As the temperature continues to rise she decides that the cool kiss of the water is exactly what she needs. The warm sand envelops her feet and seems to pull her towards the turquoise coloured haven. Her black one-piece swimsuit fits tightly around each curve, turning heads as it reveals little but says so much more. She is both ingénue and vamp as she makes her way down to the water, each step causing waves in the crowd and beating hearts to stand still…

Any vintage vixen knows that there is nothing more glamorous than spending the day at the beach, lounging in the warm embrace of the sun. And no day at the beach would be complete without vintage inspired swimwear to lounge in.

Thankfully designers such as Michael Kors and Norma Kamali have recreated the most amazing retro inspired swimsuits for the vintage vixen in all of us.

Their Spring/Summer ’09 collections are reminiscent of the swimwear that was popular throughout the late forties and fifties. At the time, swimwear closely resembled the very structured and supportive outline of a lady’s undergarments. A woman’s bust line was very pronounced and padding was added to some suits to give a more definitive silhouette.

The Bikini did not resemble its skimpy modern day self, but rather a fuller bottom half was accompanied by a very structured and high cut bra.

The one-piece bathing suit was extremely popular and came in a variety of patterns and fabrications, more specifically polka dots and ruffles. The one-piece covered most of the body, yet the cut and proportion of the garment highlighted the female form and was, if anything, more alluring than today’s “barely there” swimwear.

So grab some friends, sunscreen and vintage inspired swimwear and head on out to the beach for a day of sun and retro glamour.

Norma Kamali Swimwear available at www.normakamalicollection.com

If you love vintage jewellery with a modern twist than look no further. This past Tuesday at Sassafraz in Yorkville, Canadian designer Trudelle Laker debuted her new line of costume jewellery “Re-Stated” to an eclectic gathering of close friends and media. Fashion Televisions’ own style maverick, Jeanne Becker, kicked off the evening with a heartfelt homage to Trudelle and her lavish designs that have delighted fashionistas since the eighties.

Coming from a family of fine jewellery designers, Trudelle has been designing some of the most unforgettable and unique pieces under her own name as well as collaborating with designers such as Dean and Dan Caten and Wayne Clark. 

Her new venture “Re-Stated” is a combination of vintage stones and settings recreated into modern pieces that command attention. The Re-Stated collection as a whole can only be described as vintage inspired jewellery injected with a large dose of dramatic glamour.

Everything from gorgeous gold cuffs with filigree detailing to a mouthwatering assortment of cocktail rings set with turquoise, pearl or carved bone. Each grouping within the line reflects a certain theme such as the tribal look of the Fluid Movement collection or the Art Deco inspired black and crystal earrings from the DECOrum collection.

However the true beauty of the jewellery lies in the knowledge that each piece is uniquely hand made by Trudelle herself, making Re-Stated highly collectable for both its design and quality.

As Jeanne Becker so poignantly put it, “The Eighties are back!” and Re-Stated jewellery is truly a testament to the oversized glamour that has made its way back into fashion. This vintage vixen cannot wait to indulge!

Re-Stated Jewellery available at  www.restatedjewelry.com 

by Rosanna Carlucci
Like a swarm of bees around a hive of honey the boys in the park hover around her. She is not intimidated or shy and seems to relish in their sweet talk and longing stares. Her auburn hair falls into loose curls that find their way into the collar of her red and white day dress. The sun shines on her face like a spotlight, putting her red lips and green eyes on display like a prize-winning rose.

As the day wears on, it becomes clear what her suitors are after. She gracefully declines their offers for late night walks along the shore and weekend trips to the country. She finally excuses herself from the huddle and lets the warm spring breeze carry her about her day.

As she walks away the boys continue to stare, each of them wanting what they cannot have, they whisper back and forth about her smile and how she smelled like strawberries. And then just as soon as they had stopped, they resume their quest; looking for the next flower to pick…

Despite the dismal view from my bedroom window, the thought of warm days on the horizon keeps me going. The thought of clear spring afternoons when the breeze is full of cherry blossoms makes me long for crisp cotton day dresses and patent cork wedges. And lucky for all us vintage vixens, the day dress is back!

Emerging from the wardrobe of the quintessential fifties woman, the day dress was usually cotton or seersucker and came in a variety of colours and patterns. Popular pattern choices in the fifties varied from cabbage roses in beautiful shades of red and green to polka dots and gingham in classic colours like black and white.

The cut of the dress was very fitted at the waist, usually emphasized with a belt made of similar fabric or a contrasting patent leather. The dress would then bell out into a full skirt that usually ended at mid calf or just above the knee.

Today, American designer Michael Kors has breathed new life into the fifties day dress. Kors has recreated this classic in traditional red and white gingham with a one-shoulder neckline. If you happen to have three thousand dollars lying about, you must indulge. To all my fellow recessionistas, head on over to H&M for the vintage look for less.

by Rosanna Carlucci
She licks her ruby red lips and gazes at the crowd from behind her cat eye frames. Like a little girl chasing a balloon she quickly dashes from the hotel lobby to the car that awaits her, looking back only once. The photographers’ pounce and every man with a pulse salivates. Like the most powerful magnet in the world, she draws them in and is impossible to escape. Her pale skin, platinum hair and innocent eyes seem to promise the world. She is hopeless, yet full of hope. The light that shines from within her has been extinguished time after time, yet she somehow manages to reignite it. Her soft curves seduce from beneath her black dress and as the car pulls away she turns and smiles from the back window; a shooting star that never seems to fade.

Bombshells Rejoice!!! The ultimate sex symbol and blonde icon, Marilyn Monroe has inspired a new fashion line appropriately titled, House of Monroe. The designer behind the brand, Victor Carranza, used to design many custom pieces for Monroe herself and will launch the high-end label in stores such as Bergdorf Goodman in the U.S. The sultry line will carry clothing inspired by Monroe’s innocent yet seductive style. Carranza has obtained the master license from the Marilyn Monroe estate, which makes House of Monroe the only company with full rights to reproduce Monroe’s image. Carranza will also produce a more contemporary fashion line entitled Norma Jeane, which will feature t-shirts and jeans at a more affordable price point.

This Vintage Vixen cannot wait!!!