The Shrimpton Couture Blog

Old Hollywood Glam

2008-10-14T20:15:00.003-04:00

Made modern

Mila Kunis in Matthew Williamson and Kara Ross jewels at the Max Payne premiere

Hot trend alert - err I mean cold I think......

2008-10-14T09:51:00.004-04:00

Well girls, apparently when I tongue in cheek chastised Daisy Lowe for forgetting her pants, other girls-about town looked at her picture and said hey - I can do that too- after all it will save me countless seconds of pulling on pants or a skirt and I can therefore get to a party quicker.

Cases in point

Liz Goldwyn debuts her sequin panties-worn as outerwear. I know they look alarmingly like fuzzy leopard fun fur in this picture, but I am sure they are sequins. Its here coat that is fun fur. tsk tsk silly girls for not immediately spotting the difference (leopard....spotting ...get it?)

And then we have Juliette Lewis, who in spite of being known to be rather consistently psychotic when it comes to dressing (and I say that in a rather loving manner as I quite like her kookiness) actually somewhat manages to pull the whole look off. As far as wearing no pants or skirt in public can be pulled off. And because she does come rather close to looking - well - good actually, I am betting you are going to see more pantless girls at parties in the near future. And at the beginning of the evenings even,

Don't think I don't know what kind of parties some of you wild things go to either. I mean pantless on purpose not the waking up the next day and go oh gee where did my pants go.
I have heard stories
;-)

Start em young

2008-10-11T08:49:00.002-04:00

This is why i am glad I acquired my daughter at a later age. If I had had a girl at this age this would be me. And then would be seriously broke and break my own soap boxrules (see 2 posts below. When they are 20 you can be the wise old chick who can explain the value of earning and paying for your own Hermes cuff.

Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes get bashed all the time in the media. And yet, they like the revered Brad and Angelina are always around Suri. Name me five other big stars that are regularly filmed with their kids? I am happy to go against the mainstream on this one and give them my (very unimportant) blessings to them as a fabulous couple.

And you know what? I think Katie is a great parent and my bet is that while her bag contains some fabulous little Hermes bauble (because it really is hard to resist the temptations of a Hermes store), I bet that little miss Suri's bag is just that - A Bag, and an empty one at that.

Every girl wants to be just like her mom and I bet Kate was smart enough to know that she is going to get dogged by the media for appearing to be buying Hermes trinkets for her daughter, but a good enough parent to know that it does not matter, that its more important that Suri swing her little bag and feel like a pretty grown up kind of girl like her mom.

But thats just my opinion. Maybe one day Kate will stumble across this blog and let us know herself.

Oneof these things is not like the other

2008-10-10T19:49:00.002-04:00

How does a girl go to a premier-slash-some-type-of-red-carpet event in what ends up being a pretty fashion forward outfit (love it or hate it) and bring her smucky looking boyfriend who from what my daughter tells me is a smuckly type boy all around -personality wise, who is wearing a plaid shirt, wrinkled jeans and scuffy shoes? Honey, if you had the balls to get a new nose, catapult yourself into the limelight in spite of any so-called friendships you may or may not have had and generally re-create yourself - could you not have at least upgraded the boy too? Don't be a typical loser face girl who hangs with the idiot guy cause "I love him" yeesh, if he doesn't respect you enough to know that if you are getting photos and he might be in that frame, to maybe at least, you know, tuck in his shirt.....yeesh don't make me soapbox twice in one week

That being said - nice clutch

Oh Woe, Oh despair

2008-10-10T09:49:00.002-04:00

Net-a-Porter is down for a few hours.
What will the fashion world do at work this morning?
Woe and bad tidings ensue

Great Photo

2008-10-09T16:36:00.001-04:00

Let's Talk Money Shall We?

2008-10-09T12:40:00.006-04:00

This post is only somewhat clothes related so check back tomorrow if you just want a straight fashion post.

(start of soapbox rant)

I had an interesting conversation yesterday with a colleague. He works for me and My Guy at our non-vintage related endeavor, but he does read my blog. During a conversation we had he mentioned that he had read that I had bought shoes at Holt Renfrew and mentioned that I should remember that the people I work with read this blog. Basically it was a comment to say that with things getting so tight in our industry (and all industries for that matter) maybe I should not be posting that I am buying expensive shoes.

Now I realize it was somewhat said in jest but I think at the same time it was not.

We all know the economy has taken the most dreadful downfall.

My own personal stock portfolio is down substantially and I have taken a loss straight across the board. If you are even half aware of what is happening in the world you know that everyone is in debt, people are losing their houses and things have just generally gone amuck.

It is bad in America and its not so far behind here in Canada.
It's not like we where not warned - link here to read an article written a full year ago about Canadians running up their credit cards. And I heard recently on the news that the credit card situation a lot of Americans have gotten themselves into is even worse then what is here in Canada. Off the top of my head I believe the numbers where something crazy like the average Canadian is $10,000 in debt due to credit cards and has 3-4 cards, while the average American is $30,000 in debt and has up to twelve.

That's just scary

And you know what? If you are in the position where you need to tighten your belt and start being responsible because you owe a shit load of cash to everyone and their mother, then you should not go and drop hundreds of dollars on shoes. I full heartedly agree.

When I was working my way through college and then University after that, (all on my own dollar, whether borrowed as student loans -repaid now- or worked for, on top of a full class schedule I might add) and doing BOTH WHILE raising a child on my own, well shit, buying shoes came under the -need them for my child and I will have to do with what I have-category.

And I was still stupid with my money even when church-mouse poor.

But I grew up

A lot of people assume that because I am with My Guy - who is very successful - that I am on the kept woman plan. Yeesh I wish. I work my ass of running two very successful companies and am involved with half a dozen more.

BEFORE I even got involved with My Guy and we became really seriously, I made it a priority to learn how money works. Why should that only be guy territory? Why does no one ever assume that I make more money and pay for My Guy? huh huh?

I already had a stock portfolio and a damn good career going and was very well paid. I paid off every debt I had as soon as I could turn some of those stocks into a nice lump sum of cash and consequently owe absolutely nothing at all to anyone. And then I stayed that way.

Think about that. If you no longer paid your mortgage or your car or credit cards or any other type of loans.....well even a modest income would feel pretty rich to you would it not?

I can buy as many pairs of shoes as I please as long as I generate enough money to pay my monthly bills and help support FIVE children and 2 dogs. One of which is very very large and eats a lot. And I do mean a lot.

When you have no debt hanging over your head you are free to do as you please.

You have earned it because its not easy to get there and its sure as hell not easy to stay there.

So I decided to write about all of this, even though it will probably piss that person off, but so be it, because there is a SUPER Important lesson here to learn.

Girls, and especially the young ones out there reading this, don't fall into the trap.

Don't get yourself into so much debt you can't get out.

Buy quality, buy lovely, obnoxiously expensive things but buy them when you can afford them.

Because when you have earned the things you love to own
(and yes I do know that there are SO many lovely things to tempt a girl),
when you have earned them and worked for them, with no strings attached,
by yourself,
for yourself,
then you are free from people opinion's, the state of the economy (to a degree of course) and from ever having to explain yourself to anyone but your Mother and Your Guy.
Both of whom deserve your full respect.
Other people have to earn theirs

(end of soapbox rant)

Future Vintage .......

2008-10-08T09:07:00.003-04:00

Or just in MY future closet (giggle)

Let's talk the Dries Van Noten Spring 2008 show today and maybe look at some others later on in the week. I was a bit of a shoe slut last season with Dries shoes so was eager to see what Dries had to offer for spring. I am nit a die-hard Dries fan - tis a bit too loose and unstructured for moi. But I find there is always a piece or two that is unabashedly fabulous in its line or craftsmanship. He tends to do at least one piece that is wonderfully hand beaded and/or draws strong ethnic references to the culture and craftsmanship. Those are the pieces that I am drawn too and will invest in - they will be the pieces all of our children's children will go see in a Museum one day.

These shoes are so mine. I love them! They are so different from anything else but are not ridiculously stupidly stacked like so many of the shitty shoes out there this year

Love the 1920s craftsmanship on this piece - I would have it slightly tailored though - and yes I know its meant to be this way but it has to work on a girl you know

Love this - just a super mix of fabric, pattern, bead work and sex

And oddly I actually like this. I know it is probably fugly and would get bashed instantly upon wearing publicly but I love it anyway - sans necklace, sans hat and adding sky scraping platform sandals. Oh and add a vintage Lanvin necklace and a vintage Hermes jige clutch in cherry. Yep this one works for me too! And if you are on the fugly side of the opinion poll on this one - well darling, let's call it a statement piece and call it a truce

Being the shoe slut that I am.......

2008-10-06T20:23:00.005-04:00

..part of me had a bit of a weep when I read on the style file blog that Marc Jacobs gave these Louis Vuitton platforms after his show to his favorite editors. OK so they are over the top but I happen to be a girl who likes over the top. Maybe later this week I will post my new Feragamos and Alexander McQueens that I just bought (even while slightly throwing up at the cost, but Derrick at Holt Renfrew held my hand and made it OK - well he held it so my signature did not shake on the slip but whatever right). I want these shoes. They are oddly fabulously strangely compelling in the midst of their absolute absurdity. And you have NO IDEA how fucking fabulous a vintage dress can get when you mix some over-the-top up-to-the minute shoe.

Just imagine these with a strict and severe cut silk tailored black 1940sor 1950s dress like this one from Shrimpton Couture with a pleated but demure bustle back - the dichotomy of the two would create this crazy yet fabulous mix. Add a great over-sized clutch in an interesting skin in one of those colors and how fabulous would that be? So if you are an editor who got your FREE pair and you are so-last-season over them already and you just happen to be a 7 1/2
....just email me darling

Vintage?

2008-09-29T10:11:00.002-04:00

Manolo Blahnik received the Walk of Style Award and January Jones showed up in the above ensemble. Her outfit was not accredited but I sear it i a 1930s vintage hostess dress that has been cropped to the extreme. I have one of these exact dresses in my stock room right now. In its proper full length which is a lady like mid-calf. It does serve to illustrate how changing the hem line can dramatically effect the look of a dress!

On other fronts you may have noticed my spottiness in posting lately. I have had internet troubles up to the you-know-what so have not posted or updated the site in forever.
Things seem to once again be functioning so things will resume as normal.
Whatever normal is......

Looking good

2008-09-26T09:15:00.002-04:00

Look who Wore vintage to the emmy's

2008-09-23T09:38:00.004-04:00

America Ferrera looks smashing at the Emmy's in her vintage Werle dress.
She has really caught the vintage bug hard lately hasn't she? It totally gives her that old world Hollywood movie star look!

Werle is not a name one hears very often and unless you are a die-hard vintage collector you may never have heard of him. Dan Werle designed & produced Ms. Loretta Young's wardrobe,

worn on her show The Loretta Young Show which aired on NBC in America between 1953-1961. It was the first and longest-running anthology drama series to feature a female star as host!

Loretta Young in what ismost likely a Dan Werle dress

Each episode, she would make her appearance on camera wearing, always, a gorgeous custom-designed gown, that soon became the trademark of the show.

Though Werlé was the designer for the television show, his garments were also available at his boutique in Beverly Hills. They really are exquisite pieces and very uncommon. It was nice to see America wearing one and it being accredited as being a Werle!

The last few years have seen a huge influx of stars wearing vintage to events but sadly, we now seem to be going to an era where designers just COPY vintage so stars can get their gowns for free, designers can get their names in the papers and the girl behind the star facade still gets to wear something that LOOKS vintage but satisfies her publicist. I mean no one benefits form America wearing Werle now do they?

So there where endless vintage "looks", some of which are not bad at all....

Christina Applegate looked regal in her one shoulder Reem Acra gown with a full back bustle. You see this exact fabrication on gown from the late 60s

Marcia Cross wore a blatant copy of a 1950s prom dress - oops I mean couture Elie Saab

Mariska Hargitay looked lovely in her one shoulder Carolina Herrera.
I swear I have seen this dress before?

There where lots of gorgeous renditions of that fab one shoulder dress - this is Marchesa and looks to me to be a combo of 1970s Halston with modern day Lanvin.

And finally this Armani Prive gown worn by Heidi Klum could not be more reminiscent of the heyday 1970s Studio 54!

Ring Ring

2008-09-19T16:02:00.001-04:00

Hey your pants just called and left a message that
next time they might like to go to the party too.

I Heart Verushka

2008-09-17T19:35:00.002-04:00

Besides Jean Shrimpton (duh) my favorite model isVerushka. Had my mother named me Verushka I would have held my head high as I got teased and beaten throughout my childhood. I even named my great dane part in her honor - Coco Verushka Iman Dantry (Dantry being the kennel name) Watch the above and buy her book. If you have connections and can get an autographed copy of one - email me my peeps will talk with your peeps

Celebrity Vintage Spot

2008-09-17T19:35:00.001-04:00

Look who else is wearing vintage these days?
America Ferrera shows us her killer curves in a sweet floral 50s frock!

Celebrity Vintage Spot

2008-09-17T17:20:00.003-04:00

Vintage connoisseur Jada Pinkett Smith looks lovely in her New Look shaped frock . I love love love this trend BACK to the whole lady like look. I love dressing up and am so glad it seems to becoming back in vogue. Though even if it is not that does not stop me.

Jada wears vintage a LOT. I think it is important that she know of me and my little shop. Can one of you take a moment and call her for me please? Or have your people call her people maybe.

Miss me?

2008-09-17T09:10:00.008-04:00

I have been traveling for my "other" career and maybe doing a bit of buying on the side - a girl does have to stay true to her roots) and so have missed out on blogging for such a long time. Honestly sometimes it is so hard to get the time to sit and write every day - you have no idea. Unless of course you run your own blog and then you do. Plus even though I know there are a ton of you that stop by ever day cause I can see you on my stats, I am just a little blog in the world of bloggers AND I just don't seem to be one of those blogs that prompt a gazillion of you to start and then hold a fabulous discourse in the comments section. So sometimes it gets a bit discouraging and I will admit to a moment or two of a full on pout when I feel that it is sort of pointless...... however that being said I guess I can suck it up adn post for the people that I know might actually like reading my drivel so let's do a bit of a catch-up shall we? In no particular order here is just a teeny bit of what happened last week!.........

Meet Isabella.
This week I snuck in the time to add a new line under the moniker S-Couture. I have found an artist and avid vintage collector who re-does and re-creates original vintage pieces and makes them their own little works of art. She was selling on Ebay under Victorian Bedouin but will be working exclusively with Shrimpton Couture from now on. Each dress is entirely done by hand and takes about a month to complete. Each is signed, labeled and numbered. We will be offering bespoke services and taking special orders so keep an eye out!

_____________________________________________________________

Apparently New York fashion week was held. I missed every bit of coverage and am just hoping the collections went a better direction then the current fall line-up

Vintage made Vogue this week when the upcoming auction taking place on October 30 by Christie’s South Kensington. The event will auction an extensive collection of late-twentieth-century fashion assembled by visionary dealers Mark Haddawy and Katy Rodriguez, who founded Resurrection, the inspirational Manhattan vintage resource, in 1996.
_____________________________________________________________

This is the fabulous Hotel Del Coronada were My Guy and I laid out asses poolside for a day and a half before starting a whirlwind tour that took us to three countries, 8 cities and countless airplanes. Air Canada serves warm cookies and ice cream on their flights and their new cabins are upgraded with individual Pod seats. I highly recommend that airline whenever possible.

This is a shot of Marilyn Monroe, who shot Some Like It Hot at the Dell. I stood on this exact same spot and recreated this shot for you all. But did not actually have a camera so imagine amongst yourself for a moment. (Did you really think me stupid enough to go a direct toe to toe with Marylin Monroe) ((hey that rhymes))
_____________________________________________________________

Wendy B wore vintage Ossie Clark to a Zang Toi event and the Reem Acra fashion show last week for a real life vintage spot

And she wore Ossie Clark again earlier in the week!

_____________________________________________________________

In other news....Shrimpton Couture has been asked to contribute to an upcoming book that will be published in April of 2009. Can't say more then that yet.........And it looks like one of the major pieces that is currently listed on the site will be becoming a highlighted piece in an upcoming exhibit at a major American Museum. Again lips are sealed but as soon as we can spill we will.....we just shipped off a gown that may potentially be worn as one of my fave client's wedding dress......AND YES we did pick up lots of new lovelies so look for a MAJOR update on the site soon!

Happy Dances

2008-09-04T09:18:00.002-04:00

Vogue reports today:

AFTER a two-year sojourn outside the fashion lines, former Chloe creative director Phoebe Philo is making a comeback - as the new creative director of Celine.

Both fashion labels are owned by luxury mega-firm LVMH and Philo so impressed its ceo, Bernhard Arnault, with her directional handling of Chloe between 2001 and 2006 that she was an obvious choice upon which to call for the Celine shake-up.

"By giving her Celine, we're giving her a platform to express her vision," says Pierre-Yves Roussel, ceo of LVMH's fashion division. "For Celine, which is a bit more grown-up as a brand, the fit is very good in terms of her style, her personality and where she is in terms of her own development."

Having spent her time away from the fashion limelight bringing up her young family, Philo hops back in the saddle next month and will present her first Celine collection next March for the autumn/winter 2008-9 season.

"In the current climate customers are looking for something that will get them interested and excited about buying again," she tells WWD. "I want to create clothes, shoes, bags and accessories that are relevant to right now - modern, exciting designs that women will desire and appreciate."

Leisa Barnett

I am so happy Phoebe is coming back! And to a house that could potentially make a HUGE turn-around under her capable and talented hands. I was devastated when she left Chloe. The brand has not been the same since.

Welcome back Phoebe!

Shoes

2008-09-03T08:21:00.002-04:00

This article in Vogue this morning:

ONE-TIME Vogue cover girl Catherine Zeta-Jones has raised the bar for shoe obsessives everywhere by admitting that she buys her favourite styles in bulk so that wherever she is in the world, she'll never be at a loss for the finishing touch to an outfit.

With bases in Los Angeles, Quebec, Majorca and Bermuda, it's understandable that the Welsh actress could be frustrated at not having access to that perfect shoe, so she simply stocks each of her homes with identical wardrobes - much to the dismay of her other half, Michael Douglas.

"I have to buy duplicates," she admits to WALESONLINE.CO.UK. "It's something that I have to continually explain to my husband. The worst thing about having all these houses is that when I have an outfit and I think it's going to look great with a certain pair of shoes, they're in Mallorca or Bermuda. So that's why."

Sparked the following conversation between me and My Guy

Me: Babe I think you should be glad we don't own multiple houses
My Guy: Why is that?
Me: Because you know I am a shoe nut right?
My Guy: (Insert guy grunt here) Uh huh
Me: So Catherine Zeta Jones and Michael Douglas own all these houses around the world adn it causes her tons of problems
My Guy: Uh huh
Me: See when she finds shoes she likes she has to buy one for each house so she is never stuck anywhere like Bermuda without her favorite shoes.....so they aren't back in New York or something. See now I don't seem so bad huh? At least I only buy ONE of each shoe.

Silence

Imagine very serious guy look

My Guy: I think you should not read that kind of stuff anymore

He leaves the room

Another Designer has been Peeking

2008-09-02T09:00:00.003-04:00

Linda Fargo in Adam

Original 1970's dress from Shrimpton Couture

Where you peeking?

2008-08-30T11:43:00.003-04:00

Sometimes I think designers peek at Shrimpton Couture for inspiration

what do you think?

Eva Amurri in the top picture
a one shoulder 1960s dress currently available at Shrimpton Couture below

Must reads

2008-08-29T09:12:00.003-04:00

Thanks to the lovely jewelery designer Wendy B for mentioning us in her recent interview done by blogger Eye4Style.

She mentions here recent purchase of the one shoulder Clovis Ruffin - don't we all want to see the picture of Wendy IN it??

Never say Never

2008-08-26T09:34:00.007-04:00

If you are even marginally fashion-aware, then you know that Harem pants have been flitting around the edges of the fashion "in" crowd trying to make their way to be main stream.

If you missed the eighties and MC Hammer

a Harem pant is somewhat low slung at the waist and somewhat completely low slung at the crotch. If that does not conjure up an instant shudder then you also need to add a nice tight ankle to the picture you now have in your head.

I know for some of you its early and putting that into your head before
breakfast was not very nice

Then YSL did them in sequins and when combined with black lip gloss and blunt bangs you at first said WTF? and then upon third or fourth glance start to see that there is a certain balance created by the billowing sleeves and corresponding knees of this look.

(If this is the first time you have seen this look then try it yourself. Say EWWWWW
now but then come back tomorrow and then for 3 more days following and see if your fashion forward part of your brain doesn't start to dig it if only for a teeny tiny bit - sorry to tell you this but it will happen whether you want it to or not)

But still you have to admit that even when confronted with the reality of the experiment and challenge posed to you above - you are certainly not rushing out to BUY a pair of Harem pants.
And GOD forbid if you still have a pair scrunched up in your closet - don't you even THINK about digging them up.
Some things should ONLY ever be re-done preferably in new & inflammable fabric and not resurrected.
We are not talking couture 1950s frocks here.
The original harem pant should probably be burned if it has not already self-combusted on you.

So after all this you still probably are laughing and saying NEVER - even if the harem pant is in Vogue (Paris of course)
and even if I might buy black lip gloss -whether I wear it in public or not
but harem pants

NEVER

Am I right?

HA

Cause then one day you are scrolling through the internet and you see a picture of some fabulous girl who makes the damn pant really work

Never say never girls.
Cause someone will show you why not
damn her

Celebrity Vintage Spot

2008-08-25T09:08:00.003-04:00

Heres someone you don't see often as a Vintage Spot
Rachel Bison looking lovely in a vintage jacket

Did you know

2008-08-24T12:07:00.002-04:00

That the dress Nicole Ritchie wore to her engagement party was vintage Halston?