Tee Party Afterparty!

The Rocky shirt got me thinking of other movies with memorable tees.  Here are two more vintage favorites:

Jean Seberg as Patricia in Breathless (1960) and the Rodarte t-shirt designed for the 50th anniversary.  Polly tee from A.P.C. and the original Polly tee from Qui êtes-vous, Polly Maggoo? (1966).

Coincidentally, both of these films are French and made me realize I've been on French movie binge lately.  It probably started in July, when Turner Classic Movies featured a bunch of films by François Truffaut.  (The 400 Blows!)  And then Amélie is easily one of my favorite movies...and I love this song (and the corny choreography, and the metallic jeans) from Les Demoiselles de Rochefort almost as much as I love "Gonna Fly Now" from Rocky.

This isn't a movie blog so I'll bring it back to fashion and that statement t-shirt dilemma we discussed last time:  Clearly, what I need is this PARIS tee from Madewell.  But I've never been to Paris!  But I want to go!  (One day...)  Plus, the shirt has a nice feel to it and, really, it's no worse than wearing my vintage ARMY tee when I've never been in the army:

So the vintage army tee would also go well with those camo-printed jeans... Army tee is in the shop.

I have been to Disney World and I love this vintage Mickey Mouse sweatshirt that's also in the shop:

M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

I'm no lifeguard, but I love the perfect distressing on this vintage lifeguard tee:

I rescued this shirt.

I also love this one: super soft and sheer and also raises so many questions:

Step aside, unofficial lifeguards.  Marmaduke does pool parties right.  Is it a crime to imitate an official lifeguard?

Is imitating a lifeguard better or worse than misleading people to think you've stolen/borrowed your clothes from any Tom, Dick, or Harry?  Or Bill?  I'm in love with the screenprint on this vintage sweatshirt despite not knowing the Bill who owned it previously:

This screenprint is pretty rad.  I imagine Bill may have been a badass and I can only hope he had a matching tattoo.

A few months ago I sold most of my brass nameplate belt buckles from the seventies.  They were awesome.  Inevitably, whenever I wore one I'd endure half a dozen conversations regarding whose belt I was wearing and why.  (My favorite non-answer: 'Trophies.')  I don't think my name is terribly uncommon: my parents didn't opt for a creatively-spelt version of it and it's the kind of name you can find printed on a keychain at an airport kiosk or boardwalk shop.  But I've never seen the belt buckle incarnation.  When I decided to settle for my initials (and the even more popular nickname 'Al'), I finally, finally, finally found a plausible vintage buckle of my I very own:

I like to wear it casually with jeans, usually with the buckle off-center on my hip.

Having just the initials (or the word 'Al') is probably more understated.  Like the Hermès Constance belt.  And speaking of designers, I thrifted a knock-off Moschino bag a few years ago.  It had a broken strap I thought I could fix but it was beyond repair, or at least not worth the cost of a professional repair.  Anyway, I harvested it for the gold-tone metal letters:

Moschino No-no.

There's no 'A' or 'L' for my own name but I'm thinking of using them to accent key fobs or maybe cuff bracelets made with scraps of vintage fabric.  I've been feeling crafty and have a few projects in various stages of completion...I'll be sharing some vintage re-works soon!  In the mean time go watch Les Demoiselles de Rochefort.  Or at least the opening.  Take notes on how you should get out of bed every morning:

Timeless fashion in this movie.

Tee Party!

Forgive the fashion magazine-y play on words.  I couldn't resist.  I'm genuinely excited about styling tee shirts and finding the perfect screenprint is something to celebrate.  And unlike, say, certain statement bags or statement shoes, a statement tee shirt is relatively affordable.

The very first Vintage Adoption Agency collection was about my love of random souvenir tees from places I'd never been and the sometimes ironic disconnect when statements made by t-shirts have no significance or meaning for their wearer.   

I had written, 'when you wear a screenprinted shirt, you're literally wearing that image (or text or logo) across your chest and your heart...in a sense, every shirt you wear could (should?) be interpreted as something you 'heart' or love.''  And I also shared an experience where I got called out for not being terribly familiar with the athlete referenced on my vintage tee:

My most memorable t-shirt-instigated interrogation happened when I was wearing a shirt featuring a NFL player as a kitchen appliance (refrigerator) while pumping gas.  I heard a guy's voice bellow from the adjacent gas pump: "Whoa, whoa!  That shirt is OLD SCHOOL!  Whatchu know 'bout that, honey?" (Answer: Nothing.)  Apparently, William 'the Fridge' Perry was quite the football star.  He even has this jam dedicated to him and his own brand of barbecue sauce.

I like my Fridge shirt because it's my favorite color (navy blue), insanely soft, and even reversible! I don't like football.

I still wear that shirt, just not as often during football season... It's not unlike how everyone had (or wanted) a Starter jacket just because they were colorful and made of that shiny windbreaker material.  (Loved those purple and teal Charlotte Hornets.  Basketball, yes?  Who cares.)  Similarly, I appreciate these sporty tops only for their artwork:

Gooo teams! Go check them out in the etsy shop!

The vintage Miami Hurricanes sweatshirt is insanely soft and I love the fading on the felt print.  The Lakers tee was made with that signature eighties puffy paint on the yellow and the Honolulu Marathon Clinic jersey made me think of the awesome Étoile Isabel Marant Rosa tank...  Fashionable wearers can style these tops to look cozy and cool (check out these tips, too) and it'll probably (reasonably?) be assumed that they're fans of the team (or clinic) they're representing.

Naturally, I loved how the Man Repeller much more eloquently reflected on this graphic tee conundrum (plight? dilemma? hyperbole?) and compared fashion to temporary tattoos:  'A graphic t-shirt that includes words or a clear sentiment should probably crystallize the makeshift, fleeting tattoo which is why I’ve been wondering how often people actually believe in the graphics they’re wearing.'  THIS!  And then, 'While it seems important to remain true to your tattoo and the story you’re using your clothing to tell, what happens when irony gets lost on your audience?'  THAT, TOO!  Excellent question.  Now readers, reflect on the meaning of dress in the context of what our t-shirts communicate.  Plan your response and then write an essay...  Homework: just in time for the back-to-school season.

Choosing a t-shirt is potentially complicated and fraught with all kinds of social implications.  But probably not.  My criteria still comes down to favorite colors, good designs, and the perfect drape-y fit and feel.  And thank goodness t-shirts are temporary!  Similar to how I credited PacSun for helping me look like a landlocked surfer girl in middle school, Hot Topic is responsible for helping me pay homage to every eighties and early nineties cartoon show I only vaguely remembered with dozens of colorful ringer tees (and their coordinating shoelaces, wallets, sweatbands, and patches) in high school:

Sweet youth.

Just as I've realized I can go on a vacation without buying a t-shirt as a souvenir, I've also realized I can be nostalgic about the animated shows from my childhood without owning their commemorative tees.

That's what I tell myself.  (This was tempting.)  In reality, I don't think I've evolved that much; I've just gotten more selective and prefer subtler references in my graphic tees.  These days I'm less likely to reveal my allegiances with a particular tv show, or band, or logo.  It's less of a statement and more of...a whisper.  A nod that only speaks to super-fans.  Except, when it's not. 

I finally saw Rocky.  Better late than never but a bit surprising if you consider that I've had the theme song "Gonna Fly Now" in constant rotation for years and wasn't familiar with any of the (six? seven?) Rocky movies.  I was mostly in it for the famous training montages set to the theme song.  (Also, conveniently, compiled in a YouTube video.)  

Now, full disclosure: boxing and boxing movies* are not my jam.  But I love cheering for the underdog and found myself rooting for Rocky and was genuinely surprised—shocked, I tell you, shocked!—that he didn't win the fight.  No spoiler alert there because everyone else has seen it, right?  Rocky not winning the fight (yeah, yeah, yeah, so he got the girl) would be like E.T. not getting away from the cops.  (Not sure how well that comparison works, but I was expecting a Cinderella Man-like victory...but it was also much less traumatic than how Million Dollar Baby ended.)  

So I had to watch Rocky II.  And in this second installment I noticed Rocky wearing a lovely 'Win Rocky Win' muscle tee while training and naturally, logically, I found a similar design for cheap on eBay:  

Winning.  With style.  Loving how the vintage brocade blazer contrasts with the red font and the touch of black leather channels Rocky a little more with a bomber from Madewell.

While searching the interwebs for a movie still of Rocky wearing said tee, I discovered that it was actually gifted to him in the first movie by his girlfriend...but the scene got cut!  Same design except it was light blue with red lettering and in the second film, he's wearing a light gray version sans sleeves.  

I preferred to get mine in a charcoal gray and I love how this tee looks layered underneath different jackets!  I feel ready to pass my next t-shirt-instigated interrogation!  Once my bit of accidentally-discovered scene trivia is shared and the rest of my Rocky-related movie knowledge exhausted, I can confidently throw some air punches and hum "Gonna Fly Now" as I jog away from the conversation, victorious.

*A few days ago I was trying to think of some movies about horses that aren't super dramatic and/or full of clichés.  It's damn near impossible.  Movies about boxing are the same way!

       

Bali High

I recently scored this awesome dress from the Hunter Gatherer's Etsy shop.  From the front it's more or less a plain little white dress with some subtle detail on the sleeves and at the neck but turn it around and BAM! it has an amazingly intricate floral cutout detail on the back:

The style of this detailing is called Bali cutwork...or Bali embroidery...or Bali crochet...or even Balinese lace. Fittingly, it did originate in Bali.  Whatever you call it, it became a popular embellishment stateside in the late seventies and eighties on dresses and tops.  Usually I see it in floral or leafy patterns, with colorful contrasting thread details or in pastels.  I noticed a cheaper iteration made a comeback at some fast fashion retailers a few seasons ago and cover-up and sarong versions have become a staple in tourist-y boardwalk shops.  I love that it's breezy and that it's less delicate than actual lace!

Turning around was never this dramatic...

I'll be wearing my dress on hot summer days with a leather belt and strappy sandals and I'll be adding this Balinese lace top to my shop.  The detail at the neckline is perfect for showcasing a necklace!  And it looks great worn casually over denim shorts or tucked into a skirt without adding bulk.  The design is more subtle than revealing but still an interesting alternative to a black t-shirt:

Elsewhere on the internet (or at least the etsy universe), I'm really loving these two Balinese cutwork dresses:

The red one is really bold and strategically designed and the black one has a more unusual animal pattern; check out those critters hanging out along the hem!  This one has Bali detail and contrasting solid-colored flowers...it almost looks like neon signage and I like how it's styled for cooler weather with opaque tights and platforms!

Writing about Balinese lace reminds me of the scene from Rodger and Hammerstein's South Pacific when Juanita Hall (as Bloody Mary) sings "Bali Ha'i" and (because surely you, too, love kitschy movie musicals from the golden age...) I had to share some random facts I learned when I was looking for the movie clip of the song:

1. It was dubbed! Now, dubbing musical numbers isn't shocking BUT Juanita Hall had played Bloody Mary (and sang!) the song in the original Broadway version, so why was it dubbed?  Go read the blurb about it under the YouTube video.  And 2. (and I'll add a disclaimer as this is probably definitely just my own ignorance) Juanita Hall was African American!  That surprised me since, well, Flower Drum Song is the only other musical I recognized her from...and she also plays an Asian lady.  Check out "Chop Suey," which she sang in Flower Drum Song...or at least I think she's singing it!  (Bonus: There are some choice dance moves in the group number towards the end!)

Anyway, let's bring it back to fashion: Juanita's costume in the "Bali Ha'i" scene is surprisingly on trend*...over 50 years later:

She's rocking a topknot, army jacket, long scarf, AND statement necklaces!  Timeless!  I created an identical look using my beloved army jacket, an old Old Navy scarf, a vintage blouse from the shop, and necklaces from Madewell and Forever 21.  Now if only I could copy her voice...

*Okay, not her entire outfit.  I can't really get on board with what's happening below her waist because the pants look like gauchos and she's barefoot.  (Remember gauchos?! Those universally unflattering wide-leg capris?)

Flower Power! Part One!

I love a good floral print.  Not so much the cutesy ditsy florals, but colorful and graphic high-contrast patterns against dark backgrounds have always been a favorite.  This spring, I've picked (HAHA! Get it?) some excellent ones for the shop:

Some of the styles above have already sold (and in the future I'll blog about new arrivals while they're still...new arrivals) but I'll be adding more over the next few days.  The shirt minidress (second row, far right) is still available AND it's from Liz Claiborne AND it reminds me of something Janeane Garofalo's character might have worn in Reality Bites:

(Also note Winona's floral maxi.)

In a later nineties movie reference, this fitted rosebud dress (that I juuuust listed!) channels Bianca Stratford's in 10 Things I Hate About You:

And here it is again worn with a cardigan over it! (Also known as: I need to incorporate this gif into my post.)

Oh, snap!

This gardenia(?) dress is also available in the shop.  I was captivated by the pattern.  The fit is flattering and flow-y as it is, and, if you're inclined to reworking dresses, you could get an entirely different look just by creating a hi-lo fishtail hemline and subtracting the sleeves:

I have a few go-to dresses in my closet and they happen to be covered in flowers.  Golly, floral prints sure are versatile!

This ruffle-hem dress, shown with a cropped tee over it (80s workout wear courtesy of my mom...) appeals to my punk-lite teenager self.  A decade (and a half) ago I might have added round sunglasses and a beret but these days I play down the edginess of the dress with a cardigan.

This romantic number (hello, red roses!) has a bit of a 40s vibe with it's strong shoulder and no frills silhouette.  It's a modest and girlie option for date night with ankle-strap high heel sandals and a contrasting belt.

This is my latest favorite in the floral dress department.  The fit is really flattering and I love the criss-crossing (RIP Chris Kelly) strap detail at the back.  It's an fun strap design but it's a situation that requires a specific brassiere.  I've gotten around that by wearing it underneath my army jacket, last seen here.  When I look at it on my dressform, I'm not so sure I like the proportions the jacket creates...next time I'll try it with a shorter, fitted denim jacket...or a denim vest!  I do like how I accessorized the dress so here's a close-up of those details:

The Aesa pendant necklace is a favorite I got from Totokaelo a couple of years ago.  As a cheapskate, it was a bit of a splurge even at the sale price but since I wear it almost everyday, the cost per a wear is literally pennies. (#fashionistalogic!)  The gold-tone leaf choker was an eBay score, also acquired a few years ago.  The pin belongs to my dad, but it's been on loan for awhile.  The square buckle belt was thrifted and I haven't found a dress it doesn't look good with. 

There are quite a few skirts in this floral collection.  Some favorites:

This one sold a couple weeks ago.  I love the teal/purple/green on navy color scheme and I'm partial to how I styled it.  Stripes (and polka dots!) are the neutrals of patterns, they go with everything and look great with floral prints:

Exhibit A: Pattern on Pattern.

The skirt below was for sale.  And it didn't sell since I decided to hang on to it a little longer.  I showed it with a white tee and denim jacket (far left) but offline I actually styled it as shown on the right.

   

Acquiring things for the shop and then reneging on it happens entirely too often, but  the next few skirts are for sale in the shop...if only because they don't fit me.

There's that Liz top, again!

I'm really tempted to keep this skirt, too.  Unfortunately the color doesn't really flatter me.  I have this weird thing about brown people wearing brown and people wearing flesh tones in general.  But look at that sweet pindot and those blue roses!

Here are not one, but TWO awesome, floral-printed takes on a white denim mini skirt.  I love the coordinating daisy zipper pull of the one on the left (from Esprit) and I don't mind the pastel purple and gray rose pattern happening on the right one.  I feel like both of these could have been taken from Kelly Kapowski's closet.  (Because this blog post hasn't reached it's quota for nineties references.  What can I say?  I'm a nineties bitch.) 

Tune in next time for part two of the florals post: flowers on shoes and blazers and housewares, oh my!