Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston Premiere

I am super excited to be going to the premiere of the documentary "Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston" at the Tribeca Film Festival this evening!  The film is directed by Whitney Sudler-Smith who said of 1970s New York, "You wish it still existed, but it will never happen again."

After the film, Pat Cleveland! Andre Leon Talley! and other special guests will be discussing the legend of Halston.

We have had some amazing and iconic pieces of Halston at RARE and beneath the glitz and glamour of the clothing is a creative genius and perfectionist.  Halston may have captured the 1970s New York party scene in his easy designs that came to represent American Chic and Studio 54 but he also worked with the brilliant couturier, Charles James, and only wanted the very best cashmere and silk chiffon.  He thought nothing of devoting yards of chiffon to a bias cut dress and worked rigorously with his pattern makers to eliminate seams, closures and trim.  

I am wearing an unbelievable Halston to Monday night's Party of the Year at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and although it wraps seemingly like a bath towel, I will be lucky if I decipher the intricate way it wraps in time for cocktails!  Stay tuned!  I will let you know how it all works out.  And I hope that you have a chance to the film Ultrasuede soon!!  The idea of the film, said the director,  "is that you come away wanting a glass of champagne".  Cheers!

Take your Chanel for a Roll in the Hay!

Karl understands a good roll in the hay.  He understands that in every Madame, there is a Mademoiselle and that is what keeps the House of Chanel vibrant and young.  Here is some Chanel bling with a rustic, bucolic attitude.  A long pendant in wood with hammered gilt CC.  Very luxe bohemian for a girl who does not mind a bit of straw in her hair!

1996 Chanel CC wood pendant.

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Security! RARE vintage has an Hermes Alert!

So, you have to take off your shoes before going through airport security and tip toe barefoot over a questionably clean floor.  You have to throw away your water.  You can't carry on eye cream, hand cream or a camomile spritz  from Dr Hauschka for your face.    The airlines charge for head sets, pillows (pillow being a word grossly overused by the airline industry) and  "food".   Do Pringle potato chips really qualify as food?  Alright!   I admit it!  I love the Pringle potato chips!   I also love the Bloody Mary mix with the tiny bottle of vodka.  But still!   I know it sounds like urban legend, but you used to get roast beef on a silver platter in First Class with actual silverware.  

But now silverwear, shoes, bottles of water and eye cream are potential deadly weapons so what is a girl to do?  Mais bien sur!  Hermes to the rescue!

A limited edition Hermes Kelly just to keep the line moving and get through security in style and with a little dignity!

Spring/Summer 1996 Hermes 'Security' Kelly.

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Chanel Haute Couture Black Lace Dress

This dress was worn by one of our favorite actresses, Kyra Sedgwick, to the Critics Choice Awards.  It is beautiful, glamorous and elegant.  It is slightly vampy (black lace always feels slightly dangerous) but is also very sleek.

I know, I know, do we really need another black dress?   The real question is do you have a thick lace strapless Chanel haute couture dress that hugs your curves and is finished off with a wide silk bow and a tiny little fish tail hem...

That you can wear with simple hair and bold jewelry?  Or with a fitted tuxedo jacket and colorful strappy sandals or how amazing would the red Christian Louboutin Lady Lynch Strass high heels be? So you see a little black Chanel couture dress is so basic we all need it!

1980s Chanel haute couture black cotton lace dress.  Size 4.

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We HEART Christian Lacroix - Literally! Day Three

Day three of our RARE vintage HEARTS Christian Lacroix brooch a day.  This brooch makes me wonder if Christian Lacroix is a member of the secret society of Freemasonry as it seems very mysterious and full of intricately worked obscure symbols.  It is a mystery wrapped in an enigma!  Of course, Lacroix could not resist a little Lacroixism with the jeweled center star.  What does it all mean???

Christian Lacroix signed but not dated 'symbols' brooch.  
Measures about 3" tall and 3" at its widest. $275

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10,9,8, 7...

Much like Nasa we have had some technical difficulties with our Enter to win... contest.  But it looks like clear skies for the relaunch later today.  Stay tuned!

Oscar de la Renta January 1969

Jacqueline Kennedy famously wore a Halston backwards because Halston's dresses which, looked very simple, could actually be quite complicated to put on.  

Now, I thought that there was nothing challenging about this ruffled Oscar de la Renta dress.  Just a great dress, beautifully made, each ruffle edged in a thin strip of horsehair, from the 1980s. Wrong!  And wrong again!  So here I sit with the proverbial egg on my face and having to eat crow!  Two cliches in a row!  How frustrated would writing my teacher at Bard be reading this?!  

It is Oscar de la Renta but it is actually a very rare early example of Oscar de la Renta that was featured in Bazaar in January 1969.

We also had the dress on the mannequin backwards!  Seeing the photo, I instantly realized, how great it looks worn properly with a plunging front.  The dress is still available by the way!

Here is the description from Bazaar:

The Spanish ruffle; the International plunge.  Castanet brilliance of silk organza in reds, purples, blues. Flutter lighter than air.  In Gourdon fabric.

And here is the dress at RARE on the mannequin backwards.  Dar!

1969 Oscar de la Renta ruffled dress.  Size 4.  $1400

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Lucy Liu in RARE vintage!

We are very happy to share with you this amazing image of Lucy Liu from L'Uomo Vogue having fun in a 1970s Yves Saint Laurent Spanish ensemble.  

 (The ensemble is no longer available)

We HEART Christian Lacroix - Literally! Day Two

This Lacroix brooch is very Marie Antoinette in her Hall of Mirrors at Versailles rocking Noel 2007.

Noel 2007 'mirrored' heart brooch.  Signed and dated on the back.  4" long and 3" at its widest. $275


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We HEART Christian Lacroix - Literally!

When the pouf is gone what remains?  The fact that RARE vintage still hearts Christian Lacroix.  To pouf or not to pouf may be the question but new generations of young girls will always thrill to the flamboyant designs of Lacroix. All of this week we will post a different heart brooch from Lacroix every day.  These brooches are all limited edition pieces that were gifts at Christmas time.  

Our first Lacroix heart is a darkened bronze intricately worked with little pieces of mother of pearl and a teeny tiny cameo.  It is from Noel 1994 and is signed on the back. 

Noel 1994 Chistian Lacroix brooch.  2 1/4" long and 2 1/2" at the widest point.  $295

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Che Bella!

I love finding original images of our vintage pieces and it is also a good for the value to know that it was photographed and published.  I just received this image from a client of our dinosaur sized Chanel jeweled belt from Italian Vogue on the beautiful and amazing Linda Evangelista and styled by Carlyne Cerf Dudzeele.  Looks like from the photo if you wear a big belt you carry an even larger bag!  

Oversized jeweled Chanel belt.

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Still a Buffalo Gal at Heart

I was very sad to learn about the early death of Malcom McClaren.  Incredible music, incredible fashion, incredible times.  

Here you go:

An AMAZING Donald Brooks Ensemble!!

Let me just say that again: this is an AMAZING 1960s Donald Brooks ensemble!  And truthfully ladies - and gentleman (we have lots of male readers for the blog so don't want to forget the men!) this piece would never have seen the light of the day on the blog because it would have been comfortably squirreled away in my closet - if it fit.  Damn it! 

Now, did I say yesterday that we were having July in April?  What I meant to say was that we are having August in April here in New York!  And what better choice for August in April then this Donald Brooks ensemble with applied poppies.  The skirt can be worn on its own or with its original tiny top that is covered in poppies with an open back.  The top attaches to the skirt by little tabs on the side.  Very glamorous.  Very haute bohemian.  Very happy.  Very delightful!

You can see that the top is tiny - it will not close on our mannequin - butshe is sort of broad through the back.

Just a note of caution:  while wearing this amazing ensemble, you will be the focus of attention, girls will lust after it and men will lust after you.  If you are looking for something plain, that will blend in, this is definitely not the outfit for you.  But if you are looking for something incredible..!

1960s Donald Brooks ensemble.  Size 2.

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Gloria Guinness in 1966

1966 Harper's Bazaar asked Gloria Guinness if she always wear white sharkskin tousers and men's cotton tops in black or navy when she is on holiday in Acapulco.  (Her answer: Yes I do, is that wrong?)    They ask if she has anything special for the evenings.  (Her answer is: that she combs her hair.)  

1966 Bazaar is filled with images of 'The Blithe Sleep Dress', Francoise Dorleac in Pierre Cardin and Catherine Deneuve in Dior, the rage for redheads and Paris when it floats.  It also has a Donald Brooks gown.  

We have the jumpsuit in the same fab fabric.  It has a halterneck and would be perfect on a warm evening with a cocktail and a pair of flat sandals and well, combed hair!  After all, Gloria Guiness is an Icon!  

1966 Donald Brooks Jumpsuit.  Size 4.

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What Comes Around Goes Around

We are having July in April here in New York and with this beautiful warm sunny weather a girl's thoughts turn to the ideal summer wardrobe.  You know the kind of easy, light pieces that you fantasize about having but can never quite find?  Pieces that are pretty, romantic and look good with a great pair of flat sandals?  Something that you can wear in Manhattan but also pack for a trip to Sicily or Greece or a weekend in the Hamptons?

This beautiful linen and lace ensemble is perfect part of the summer wardrobe.  You just need a little light tan, a pair of colorful sandals (or wouldn't this look amazing with the fun Miu Miu shoes covered in daisys or cats?!), a great sheer lipstick and you are good to go.   

Victoria Falls was a vintage store in New York in the 1970s that reworked antique pieces beautifully.  This ensemble is attributed to Victoria Falls by the original owner.  I usually do not buy anything that has been redone and would certainly never redo anything myself but the blouse and the skirt are so beautiful, I could not resist.  And soft!  Not at all a hard, starchy linen.  And since you really would not go around in your great, great, great Aunt's petticoat but you absolutely could put this on (the skirt is lined in layers of linen as well) for a little fun in the sun.

1970s Victoria Falls (attributed) linen and lace ensemble.  Size 4.

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Slinky Does It

Bill Blass does slinky, clean-cut and precise.  But he also does playful.  A black jersey column dress that clings suggestively to the body with its bodice embellished with a single enormous pleated linen 'leaf' is a standout dress.  There is a single asymetric strap across the back.  Perfect for a garden party or a more elegant event.

Late 1970s Bill Blass 'Leaf' gown.  Size 4.

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Alexandra, Nan Kempner, Givenchy and Bazaar 1968

As I was relaxing in Paradise surrounded by Vogue and Bazaar magazines from 1963 until the mid 1980s - I happened to find this image of our Nan Kempner Givenchy which was just featured on our bride, Alexandra in New York Magazine Weddings issue.  Great isn't it?!

One Woman's Paradise is Another Man's Hell

This is my idea of paradise and my husband's idea of hell!  Hey, the vintage store was really inadvertently his idea - but I think he thought that I would be getting rid of things instead of acquiring even more!!

RARE vintage's Bride in New York Magazine Weddings

You see, we told you Alexandra was the coolest bride!  And the most beautiful.  And the most lucky - not too many women could fit into Nan Kempner's Givenchy haute couture!  Here is the article in New York Magazine Weddings and tips from Juliana Cairone on how to buy and store your vintage pieces.

The Search is Over: Halston

Ultrasuede: In Search of Halston is debuting this month at the Tribeca Film Festival. There is going to be a conversation after the premiere with Andre Leon Talley, Ralph Rucci, Pat Cleveland and the director, Whitney Smith to speak about the beautiful people and the beautiful designs of Halston.    Sounds like fun doesn't it?  There are few designers who really capture an era in their designs the way Halston did.  Maybe it is because he not only dressed the glittering stars of those days but he also hung out with them.  So, basically he not only made the coolaid, he drank it too!  

Whenever I buy a piece of Halston for RARE from a client they always smile when they remember the piece.   They are good time clothes.  But they are also beautifully crafted.  I think that the technical brilliance of his clothing is sometimes lost in the myth of the man.  The clothes may have appeared effortless and simple - which they certainly were to the wearer - but there was thought and innovation in the construction.  

Purple is one of Halston's typical colors.  He loved different shades of purple from deep to a dusty lilac. 

 The dress has this wonderful draped scarf across the front that ties in the back. 

Late 1970s purple jersey Halston dress.  Size 6

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