Green is the Color...



 

If ever there is a "showin' of the green" my pick is this apple-green vintage late 50s strapless ballgown. The subtle silk faille sweeps into an apple shape from the waist down with two petite petals as the bust followed by a fringed waist sash that ties in back.  What a big bow at the bottom!

This gown belonged to a Dallas Debutante.  The quality of construction with such richly weighted fabrics is one of the main reasons I adore the late 50s, early 60s fashions. I'm sure this was a pretty penny when brand new.

I made the cocktail hat (or "Fascinator" as some like to call it) from a basic 60s veil and a 20s curled ostrich plume.  I love the three different greens together. Tell me what you think!

Wedding Bell Blues

I am married...it was twenty-eight years ago and my husband (still!) and I, after living together for about ten years, decided to elope. I wore a vintage 40s skirt, an 80s blouse (this was the eighties!), my grandmother's jewelry, and the certainty of love. It worked well for me, but I tell anyone getting married not to elope, have a ceremony with family and friends, and celebrate LARGE. It's corny alright to keep that little-girl dream of the dress, the wedding, but it still resonates. That is why I am particularly thrilled with the wedding shoot I did with Wes Naman, a fabulous photographer who not only brought my girlhood fantasies to light, but was able to get my styling vision from the first frame on. I have finally launched my VINTAGE WEBSITE and the first series of photographs is the wedding shoot with Wes, a marvelous way to begin a new project - hope and love and fashion all "married" into this vision. The images above are a small sampling of that vision. Please flatter me by going to my website www.offbroadwayvintage.com to see more, and be sure to subscribe to email alerts for further updates. I will be launching more vintage images in a unique, fashion-forward styling that I truly hope you respond to. It is, after all, the wedding "season", and with Albuquerque weather like it is, a sweet glimpse toward spring.

All About Shape

The 80s seemed to take fashion to over-the-top-heights, and this fabulous jacket by the Italian designer Krizia is a glorious example.  I paired it with black velvet pants - part of a suit by St John.  St John tends to be a bit staid for my taste, but when styled correctly, their pieces can be really fun.  These pants have a wonderful peek-a-boo ruffle in the back (as does the jacket).  I often separate sets to make them contemporary.  The 40s ribbon taffeta peplum is a good transition between the jacket and pants, and balances the amazing hat by a past well known Albuquerque milliner, Paula. Shape and how it translates two-dimensionally is the inspiration for a lot of my photo-styling.

Chiapas Ole!

The embroidery on this folklorico skirt and top from the Chiapas region of Mexico is just stunning.  In twenty-eight years of business I have had only three of these in my shop.  It's folk art pieces like this that give me chills.  I love doing show-and-tell when someone expresses an interest in older hand work. They are so much better in person. Stop by for a tour!

Skirt & Blouse: large flowers and shields embroidered in vibrant silk thread on sheer netting, from Chiapas, Mexico

Hat: mini straw faintly striped sombrero 

Matisse Stripes

 

I have loved Matisse's work since my teens, and this dress brings to mind the smaller works he did of exotic women reclining on Middle Eastern prints and stripes. I was lucky enough to see his paintings in Nice and Paris, but truly fine works are in the Chicago Art Institute, and there is a whole wing of the National Gallery of Art in D.C. devoted to his enormous cut-outs (oh my fabulous!).  He's had a big influence on my paintings and styling. Google his work and you'll see why he's still so thrilling, and let me know what paintings you love and where you've seen them.

Dress: 1930s sheer striped silk

Hat: 1960s boater straw, with fuchsia silk belt

Veil: Victorian silk scarf



Tree Chic

Montauk will be "tree chic" when this jumpsuit romps on it's beaches.

Jumpsuit: 1970s with B&W tree branch print, backless

Sash: 1940s silk corded tie with large tassels

Hat: 1960s Audrey Hepburn-style picture hat

From the Tropics to the Desert

Maxi Dress: 1960s hand printed on layers of Thai silk and made in Hawaii by designer Pauline Lake
Head Wrap: block printed bold plaid Thai silk shawl
Feather: 1920s ostrich fan
Wrist: bronze metallic 1970s belt


From the very beginning of Off Broadway it has been my philosophy to sell vintage clothing as contemporary fashion. Much more on that subject to come!.