VPOD: Lady in Lace

Isaac Mizrahi once described Norman Norell's designs to Vogue magazine as "simply the most glamorous clothes said in the fewest words."

One glance at today's VPOD and you know exactly why he was raving. This 1960s dress by Norman Norell features gorgeous lace over pink dupioni silk with a smashing pink sash. It's breathtakingly feminine and oh-so-pretty.

With lace as a huge fall trend--and most of it in black, midnight blue, plum and other fall shades--this is a refreshing change of pace that is still perfect for any occasion with crystal chandeliers, silver ice buckets and delicate champagne flutes.

It's a very glamorous find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Olive's Very Vintage.

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VPOD: Just Koos

Koos Van Den Akker was born in the Netherlands in 1939, immigrated to the US in 1968 and became a naturalized citizen in 1982. His signature statement has become the delightful mixing of colors, fabrics and textures. In the hands of someone else, combining up to six different fabrics like tweed, fur, leather, wool, sequins and quilted cotton would be a disaster. But in the hands of this master, it becomes...wearable art.

Today's VPOD features a smashing example of his genius. This abstract wool jersey cape has cobalt and rust color blocks and dramatic long scarves.

It's a very unique find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at eBay from Seller ID koko1954.

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VPOD: Off to the Expo

I may be exhausted from my recent trip (which resulted in the sporadic blog posts of the last few days), but I will still be dragging myself out of bed bright and early tomorrow morning to head on down to the early buying session at the Santa Monica Vintage Fashion Expo.

And I'll probably feel like I'm still dreaming when I'm strolling amid the huge array of vintage goodies from more than 90 of the country's best vintage dealers. The show, which is celebrating its 20th year, is a must-see for southern California vintage fanatics. If you're within driving distance and have never attended, hustle on down between 10:30 am and 5 pm on Saturday or between 11 am and 5 pm on Sunday. Or, if you're an early bird, pay twice the regular admission fee of $10 and get first pick at the wares between 9:00 am and 10:30 am on Saturday.

And if you have to miss the fun, click here for a list of participating dealers, many of whom have internet sites you can visit.

It's a must-see event for a vintage fashionista!

More information available at Vintage Fashion Expo.

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VPOD: Lovin' Lanvin

If you're anything like me, you don't get anywhere near enough cocktail party invitations to put all your "dressy dresses" into circulation. Of course, that's no reason to leave them languishing in the closet.

Take today's VPOD for instance. This swanky 1980s number by Lanvin has a fall color palette that is crying out for a little bit of creative layering. Sure it's strapless and would be stunning with high heels and a smashing necklace, but the bold fashionista wouldn't be afraid to pair it with tights, boots, and a chunky sweater either. Think outside the box ladies!

It's an inspiring find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Vintage Couture.

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VPOD: Green with Envy

Shakespeare described envy as "the green sickness" in Anthony and Cleopatra and since then we've all caught the bug and been green with envy at one time or another. Maybe it's struck you over a car, a home, a promotion or even something as silly as a to-die-for dress like today's VPOD.

This glamorous silk faille cocktail dress by Estevez has a dramatic cut with an extremely unique bodice and an off-center back zipper. Wrap yourself in something this beautiful and you'll be wearing green without the envy.

It's a fabulous find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Hemlock Vintage.

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VPOD: Courting Color

According to research conducted at the CCICOLOR Institute for Color Research, between 62% and 90% of our initial 90-second judgment about a person or product is based on color. Well, it only took about 10 seconds for me to look at today's VPOD and know that I had a favorable response.

This vintage chiffon dress is bursting with nature's bounty--beautiful shades taken from pristine mountain streams, lush vegetation, flowering plants and rocks of the earth.

The impressionistic pattern teases the eye and the floral detail at the waist just adds to the charm.

It's a colorful find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Blonde Vintage.

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VPOD: In a Clutch

Open any home decorating magazine and you'll find some article talking about the mixing of textures. Different textures help to give a room depth and also help satisfy our tactile natures as human beings.

Well, mixing textures in fashion is just as important. And the designer of today's VPOD accomplished the task beautifully.

This vintage clutch by Vittorio Arnio mixes leather, shiny black patent leather and suede in an oh-so-chic bag that's big enough to carry your essentials without throwing out your back.

It's one stylish find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Modify.

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VPOD: Tulle Time

My daughter took on an ambitious project this weekend when she and her roommate decided to build--yes, build!--a new sectional for their teeny-tiny Manhattan living room.

After several trips to Home Depot, walking armloads of cut 2x4's up five flights of stairs, negotiating with a power drill that had a mind of its own, and re-working their design when they realized they measured incorrectly, the girls completed a pretty marvelous custom-made piece--and neither of them ever held a hammer before!

I'm firmly convinced that we women can do anything we set out to do--but if you're not inclined to work with traditional tools, then I suggest you turn your sites to the "tulle" of today's VPOD instead.

This 1940s lace and tulle party dress is a true jaw-dropper! With its boned bodice, a few carefully placed rhinestones and that awesome shade of teal, what's not to love?

Oh, and the only measurement you'll need is a 24-25 inch waist (you gals with the teeny tiny figures can fight over this one!)

It's a heavenly find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Posh Girl Vintage.

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VPOD: Rhodes to the Rescue

Tromp l'oeil is an art technique that creates the illusion of three dimensions and is used with fabulous effect on today's VPOD.

This gorgeous silk 1980s blouse by Zandra Rhodes features printed necklace sketchwork along with a dramatic obi belt.

What a fantastic find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Dorothea's Closet Vintage.

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VPOD: James Galanos American Luxury

With the fashion industry so focused on the outside, it's good to remember that it's what's on the inside that counts. No matter how beautiful a woman may appear to the eye, if she is nasty or mean-spirited her beauty will diminish the minute she opens her mouth. And James Galanos knew that what was on the inside counted, too. He established a reputation for creating garments whose insides were just as meticulously finished and beautiful as their outsides.

Today's VPOD, a 1980s wool dress, is a fine example of his excellent tailoring and is available for a stylish fashionista to call her own. But more than 120 other Galanos masterpieces are available as eye candy at Kent State University's exhibit, James Galanos American Luxury, which runs until March 1, 2009 on the university campus. If you're in my old stomping grounds of northeast Ohio, be sure to visit.

It's a Galanos treat for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Frock Vintage NYC.
For more information on the exhibit, click here.

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VPOD: 30s Rock

I was watching The Rachel Zoe Project last night and Rachel was talking about her two great loves: (1) her husband, Roger, and (2) the fashion world. And that got me to thinking about love and fashion.

Have you ever noticed that finding the perfect dress and finding the perfect man have a lot in common? While each task requires you to be proactive (dresses and men don't generally fling themselves at your door!), no matter how systematic your approach, there will always be an element of fate or luck in the process that you can't control.

And why is it that oftentimes the dress or the man that makes you lose your head is wildly inappropriate while the dress that looks great on the rack or the man who looks great on paper ends up being a huge disappointment?

And who can explain that element of chemistry that makes your heart beat and your stomach flutter to tell you when you've found the one?

Unfortunately, I can't point you to your perfect match in the romance department but I did find a dress that would score a first date with the potential for a long relationship.

Today's VPOD is a 1930s stunner in a to-die-for autumn color palette with a puffy, painted fabric that gives an almost three-dimensional effect. Those clean lines, a darling cape...I think I'm falling in love.

It's the start of a beautiful relationship for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Vintage-a-Peel.

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VPOD: Shell It Out

Believe it or not, there are still a whole lot of women who believe that vintage = mothball-scented grandma sweaters + frumpy housedresses. Au contraire! Sure there are loads of these types of items living in thrift shops throughout the country, but there are also little gems like today's VPOD hidden away.

This little sweater shell has beads and sequins galore but looks tres chic with skinny jeans--not at all frumpy or old-fashioned. This one is missing a bead or sequin here and there. But with a price tag under $35, you'll never miss them! (And no one will wonder if it's a vintage-inspired knockoff--they'll know it's the real deal.)

It's a chic (and inexpensive) find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Ikonic Vintage.

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VPOD: Knit Picker

Cashmere is known as the "diamond fiber" in China and could be this vintage fashionista's favorite eco-fabric. After all, quality cashmere garments can last forever with little to no pilling. They can be hand-washed requiring no chemical-heavy dry-cleaning. Plus they are about eight times warmer than wool and don't wrinkle. But...

...China's increased production of cashmere to meet our needs in the West is having a huge detrimental effect on its land, air and water. Not to mention the deplorable conditions for the darling goats who offer up their fur for your toasty cardigan sweater.

As with so many fashion choices, choosing vintage cashmere not only benefits our environment but can offer a one-of-a-kind look that differentiates from the thousands of ho-hum cashmere sweaters sold by big-box retailers every year.

Consider today's VPOD. This charming 1960s vintage cashmere sweater by Pringle would look smashing for the office with a skinny little belt, a white shirt, a pencil skirt and heels. But it's also a fun little weekend find with a tank, a scarf, jeans and flats.

It's an eco-conscious choice for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Posh Vintage.

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