Tuesday, January 31, 2012

YSL's Rorschach Test

What do you see?


I see another great silk dress by Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche



Ruched and gathered at the waist for definition.  Plunging neckline.

YSL silk dress in a 'Rorschach' Print.  Size 6.
PURCHASE

Monday, January 30, 2012

5 Years 5 Gifts Vintage Contest

I want to share the love this week.  One of my favorite things about having vintage store are the stories that people share with me.  They are stories from the closet and from the heart.  

So I thought the perfect way to celebrate 5 years of RARE vintage would be to have a 5 Years 5 Gifts contest and for the next five days we will post a vintage gift a day.  To enter send a photo of you in a favorite vintage piece or just a photo of your favorite piece and a little note why you love it, why you would never part with it, maybe why it would never part with you (I wrote awhile back about my nerd glasses from the 1980s.  I can't lose them.  No matter how hard I try and trust me I try!)  You can share something your grandmother gave you, something you found in a thrift store for a steal, something you bought in Paris, (nothing from RARE vintage - no unfair advantages ; ) You can share a photo of something you covet but have not yet found...  anyway I think you get the idea.  On Saturday I will choose my top five favorite vintage stories and photos.  

Please note that some of the photos and stories may be shared on our RARE vintage blog and/or on Facebook.  Email your stories to win@rarevintage.com

Have fun!  I look forward to seeing your photos and reading your stories!    Share the love!

Contest info is below the photo.

Gift 1: Circa 1980s Hermes fringed black lambskin gloves.   


Submissions must be sent to win@rarevintage.com
Please put "5 Years 5 Gifts Contest" in the subject line.
The top 5 submissions may be posted on the blog and or on our Facebook page
The contest is open from now until midnight Friday February the 3rd
Gift prizes are in no particular order and will be chosen randomly for the five winners.
Please include your full name and address so we can send the gift.
Love
Juliana and RARE vintage

RARE vintage Turns 5 Years Old!!

I can't believe that it has been five years since RARE vintage first opened its doors at 24 West 57th Street in the New York Gallery Building stocked with vintage pieces from Alaia, Balmain, Chanel, Dior,  Geoffrey Beene, Halston, Issey Miyake, Gres, Karl Lagerfeld (for Chloe and for Chanel),  Missoni and so on and so on  to Yves Saint Laurent and Zandra Rhodes!  Vintage from A to Z.

New York is a fashion capital and I wanted to open an extraordinary shop dedicated to the best in vintage fashion.  Haute Couture and ready to wear as well as the occasional anonymous fun vintage piece.

It is amazing to realize that my little store in just five years has been featured in Harper's Bazaar, Vogue.com, Elle, Avenue, WWD, the Wall Street Journal, In Style, People and many more publications.  It is also amazing to realize that we have dressed some of the most brilliant, talented and beautiful actresses and musicians: Angelina Jolie,  Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, Anne Hathaway, Rachel Weisz, Lady Gaga... 


It has been a labor of love and I have loved almost every day of it.  I have found some incredible beauties for the store and I have met some really wonderful and amazing people.  Thank you everyone for five amazing years!  And counting...


Kisses in Green Silk

For being so well known for his pant suits, Saint Laurent did an amazing dress: he wrapped them , ruffled them, did them in chiffon, lace, velvet and silk, some were transparent, some were feathered, some were printed with hearts, some with bunnies, some with kisses, some were flocked with flowers.  

Saint Laurent had a thing for the Forties Film Noir Babe.  Dangerous, sexy, beautiful.  A woman in a man's world and the man better beware.  That kind of woman was the YSL woman.

Photo by Guy Bourdin for Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche 

Some things never change.  Vintage YSL forever.  From our single owner Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche collection for all of you film noir babes...

Kisses in green silk (look closely there are little kisses on the dress).  Fitted waist.  Gently defined shoulders.  Total gorgeousness.



Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche lisses in green silk dress.  Size 6


PURCHASE

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Bon Mots from New York on the Paris Couture Spring 2012 Shows

So the couture shows have come and gone.  I adored Giambattista Valli: transparent black lace, black alligator peplumed vests and Oscar worthy gowns, there is no doubt who is ordering these fabulously modern clothes (Charlotte Casiraghi of Monaco for one fabulously fine young girl)  - I know I placed my order on Valli's first couture collection and I plan on ordering a second dress...  


Valentino was wonderfully gorgeous and youthful - so pretty.  Who does not want to feel "giddily romantic" as Hamish Bowles said about those light as air, frothy confections?  I don't know if you follow Little Augury - but you should- she compared the Valentino collection  to William Paxton's painting Tea Leaves.  1,000 hours of handwork went into the elaborately smocked shamrock printed organza dress that opened the show.  So beautiful. 


I confess to be a little disappointed in Givenchy - the nose ring thing was distracting and unnecessary so too Alexis Mabille with the overblown flowers.  I think the clothes are finally starting to become more important then 'the show'.  

Isn't it refreshing that the beautiful Celine store which just opened in New York did it without the paid attendance of a celebrity and a DJ - it just opened and it is crowded and busy with girls and women who covet Phoebe Philo's real girl amazing chic.

Great couture does not come just from Paris but from New York too - just take a look at the crazy gorgeous Bill Blass dress we posted this morning. This is truly Bill Blass at his most amazing and most beautiful from the 1970s!  And it is from the garde robe of a woman who was given 1st dibs on the best of Blass from his studio post show.   Super couture, super amazing and there is more to come from New York!  You can follow us on twitter at @RareVintageNYC!  for the latest and the greatest.  Like more Blass, more vintage YSL and my upcoming trip to Paris - to see a private collection (and not one from the auction house Drouot - which is an amazing resource for vintage couture in Paris).

Bonne Nuit et bon mots!!

Got The Moves Like Bianca Jagger

This Bill Blass dress has got the moves like Bianca Jagger.  Bianca Jagger at Studio 54 hanging out with Liza, Halston, Michael and Andy.



It is my favorite new dress 


and I am OBSESSED with the detached hood that is cut on the bias and is just so crazy gorgeous.  I would wear it with red lips and lots of mascara kind of like


but if you like you can wear it without the hood.


What do you think?  I definitely think Bill Blass has got moves like Bianca Jagger!

1970s crazy beautiful Bill Blass dress with separate  hood.  Size 4/6.
PURCHASE

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Yves Saint Laurent. A Collection.

RARE vintage feels like the Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche boutique on 21, rue de Tournon.  We have so much YSL rive gauche and even YSL hangers that I definitely have the feeling:  Honey, we're not in New York anymore but Paris.  Paris in the 1970s and the 1980s.

Interior photo of RARE vintage.  Oops I mean interior photo of YSL rive gauche 21, rue de Tournon:


Photo of me* at work in front of the Eduardo Arroya portrait of Saint Laurent.  Don't you just love my pantsuit:


We literally have about this many belts:


Mr B (as he is affectionately known amongst the employees) and I* at work:

Photos courtesy of Fondation Pierre Bergé Yves saint Laurent

*Okay.  Well, none of those photos are of me but you know what I mean...

You can see some of our previously posted YSL collection here and here and here.

This evening gown is a classic from Saint Laurent.  In a beautiful shade of teal with a draped neckline and what you can not really see in this photo is that the bodice and sleeves are sheer - which is so wonderful and typical of Saint Laurent.  There is a separate belt in the same fabric for the waist.  Classic.  Timeless.  YSL.

more to come!




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Who What Wear Wednesday!

Who, What, Wear Wednesday is here!

Stylish inspiration from stylish girls for our RARE vintage blog readers.

Last January at the couture shows Victoria Traina wore Nicholas Ghesquiere's for Balenciaga leather and mongolian lamb biker jacket.  

Victoria Traina in Balenciaga. Photo by Tommy Ton.

And I was obsessed!  I love a truly amazing piece of fashion that makes your imagination soar and your heart palpitate with excitement.  So the hunt was on.  I immediately start calculating where I might be able to find the object of my obsession.  Panic set in.  I realized its January and the sales have already been for long enough that everything is thoroughly picked over.  Forget the fur and that it is cold and January, gauzy Missoni caftans and Eres swimsuits are in store now.  

More panic sets in.  Because of the economy most stores ordered very conservatively and this coat definitely looks a tad on the expensive side which means probably no one ordered it.  Relax.  Relax.  Dar!  The Balenciaga store in no man's land on West 22nd Street.  ALL the way over on West 22nd Street where there is no parking and there is always a cold wind blowing.  Why are they there??  Pick up the phone and call.  I don't know if you have ever tried calling the Balenciaga store in New York but no one ever answers you have to leave a voice mail.  So I wait impatiently for the return call.  

The phone rings.  My heart sinks.  The ship has sailed.  Gone baby gone.  

A year later and I am still obsessed.  But you know I am not one to give up and I am just remembering that Balenciaga has an outlet in Westbury Commons...

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

My Heart Belongs to Valli

Because a girl can't wear vintage all of the time...

A little Giambattista Valli Couture for the Spring 2012.  A love story about a dress...



Monday, January 23, 2012

Happy Year of the Dragon from RARE vintage!!!

Happy Year of the Dragon to everyone!   新年快乐

Here is just the thing to ring in the New Year: a Krizia Dragon sweater!  The Dragon is the luckiest symbol of the lunar calendar and one lucky girl will get to ring in the New Year in a super fab, super lucky Krizia Dragon sweater!!


1980s Krizia Year of the Dragon Sweater


PURCHASE

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Issey Miyake "The Dream"

Issey Miyake was inspired by Henri Rousseau's The Dream:


to create "Rhythm Pleats".  

In 1988 there was an exhibition, ISSEY MIYAKE A-UN, at the Musée des Arts Decoratifs in Paris which focused on Miyake's pursuit of cutting edge technology and traditional Japanese techniques in cloth and clothing.

After this exhibition Miyake experimented with pleating fabric by sandwiching it between two layers of washi paper and heating it.  He continued experimenting and improving the pleats.  He developed a technique called 'the twist'.  Two or three people held the ends of the fabric, it was pulled tight and then twisted and then tied with a string and then heated.   In 1993 the line PLEATS PLEASE ISSEY MIYAKE debuted.  PLEATS PLEASE was a dream of Miyake to create an industrial product for everyday clothing. 

What I think is really fascinating is how much creativity and handcraft went into the creation of an 'industrial product'.

I believe that this really fabulous Issey Miyake pleated coat dates from between 1989 and before the debut of Pleats Please in 1993.  It fits like a cardigan with a softly draped shawl collar 


but then on the back of this industrially made jacket is the work of a "couturier" (I know it is a title Miyake rebelled against in the 1960s after assisting at Guy Laroche and Givenchy) but it is the detail of slicing open the back and stitching it by hand leaving open space that makes it very couture - not to mention, A Dream.



Friday, January 20, 2012

All That Glitters is Glamorous Or If I was Going To Studio 54 I would Wear This And Ride a White Horse

I also wanted to add to the title: and If I Was in a Guy Bourdin Photograph I would Wear This.  But that would have made the title kind of long even though if-I-was-in-a-Guy Bourdin-photo, I would definitely wear this.

The 1970s owned glamorous glitter.  There were slinky silks by Halston,  louche voluminous peasant dresses in vibrant jewel tones by YSL rive gauche, and uber glamorous silk jerseys, dripping with diamantee by Loris Azzaro.  I was really thrilled to recently have been offered a small and wonderful collection of Bill Blass from the 1970s.  The collection is also very uber glamorous and the pieces are beautifully made. Our client went to Bill Blass's studio after the shows and picked the pieces she liked the best (sounds like fun right?!).  

So here is our: All That Glitters is Glamorous Or if I was Going to Studio 54 I Would Wear This and Ride a White Horse and If I Was in a Guy Bourdin Photograph I Would Wear This dress!

1970s berry colored sequin gown with a huge flower by Bill Blass.




PURCHASE

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Who What Wear Wednesday!

Who What Wear Wednesday is here!  Stylish Inspiration From Stylish Girls for our RARE vintage blog readers.

I love love love this look.


For one thing a good military parka is hard to resist.  A classic striped sweater is chic and effortless.  The slightly cropped pant with a flair is a personal favorite of mine (I have two pairs of Celine trousers with the exact same cut).  But what I don't have - so sad! are the piece de resistance: the white t-strap sandals.  So you see there are no rules like never wear white in the winter.  Wear what suits you and makes us all  wonder: damn!  why didn't I think of that?!

PS: The girl in the photo is the Milanese accessories designer Giorgia Tordini.  Photo by Tamu Mcpherson.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

If I Was a Boy

If I was a boy, I would hopefully be as proud of my penis as Daniel Craig (you see we really are heading for: forget the vintage let's blog about Daniel Craig here at RARE vintage.  Well. Almost.  Not really.  Previously posted Chester Weinberg jumpsuit made me forget ALL about what's his face...).  

But back to Daniel and his penis - see here.  And besides being very tongue-in-cheek (interesting choice of words!) if I was a boy, I would wear Prada come Fall 2012.  What a cracking collection!  And what inspired casting!  Really fanciful and wonderful - and how many times can you say that about men's clothing (yawn).  But this is really amazing.  For the boys.  Get your credit cards ready...

Gary Oldham:

Willem Dafoe:


For All of Our "Evil Glamour" Goddesses

When Marianne Faithful met Anita Pallenberg backstage at a Rolling Stones concert she dubbed Pallenberg's look "evil glamour".  I think this 1969 paisley gold lamé sleeveless jumpsuit is capable of evil glamour.  The jumpsuit is quite sheer (the evil part) and the long sleeved jacket with a sprinkling of beading is very glamorous. I love a little evil glamour in my evening attire- how about you?   

Here it is in 1969 Bazaar:


and here it is at RARE vintage for all of our evil glamour goddesses:



1969 Chester Weinberg gold paisley lamé jumpsuit and matching beaded jacket.  Size 4. 


PURCHASE

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Bond is Back!

First photos of Daniel Craig in the new James Bond movie, Skyfall, have just been released:


Why so overdressed Mr. Bond?   ; )

An Epic Vintage Quest. Part Two

Whew!  I am back from my epic vintage quest*.  You won't believe the things I saw, the places I went and the things I had to do.  But by sheer grit and determination I found The Dress.

1973 Loris Azzaro crepe jersey dress, slit (very) high on the leg with a heart-shaped strapless décolleté.  False sleeves slip on like gloves.  Dangling rhinestone fringe.



*yes, you are right - I had it all along.  But I am always up for an Epic Vintage Quest!  Anytime, anywhere, anyplace!

PURCHASE

Friday, January 13, 2012

An Epic Vintage Quest

I am loading up the car, getting ready to hop on the next train, packing up my rucksack, hailing the next rickshaw, putting air in my bicycle tires, saddling up the horse, stealing my children's Razor (which makes sparks!  Whew Hoo!), booking the next flight, putting on my Manolos (what? You want that I take an Epic Vintage Quest in something like hiking boots??  Please.  Be sensible!) and getting ready to set sail on an epic vintage quest to  seek out this Loris Azzaro silk jersey dress with detached sleeves dripping with fringed diamantee which I saw in the new little Assouline book, Loris Azzaro - and decided I just have to have that dress for RARE vintage.


Wish me luck.  It may be awhile before you hear from me again...

And PS: don't those two ladies look so glamorous?!  Love the crocheted beanie with an evening gown - and all those feathers!  (and don't you think they are dishing some good dirt?!)

Friday Favorites!

A good manicure, like a good man, can be hard to find.  But I am now involved in a monogamous relationship with one amazing manicurist, Gaby.  Gaby was kind enough to let us do a quick, fun little movie on one of her signature manicures - which I call her Over the Moon Manicure - Chanel Vamp nail polish (a vintage classic) with the moon of the nail left exposed (a vintage style manicure in itself).  I also did a little interview with Gaby which is below the video.  Enjoy!



Nail polish: Chanel Vamp.  Manicure by Gaby at the John D'Orazio Salon. 
 872 Madison Avenue.  212.772.1111 

I may stray from time to time but I always return to my BFF: Vamp.  The color of dried blood.  Originated in 1994 (was it really that long ago??) Discontinued and then thankfully re-released in the 2000s.    

About Gaby:  Gaby has been working as a manicurist extraordinaire for thirty years on the upper East Side of Manhattan.  She has worked with many well known socialites such as Audrey Gruss and Ivana Trump.  Celebrities like Raquel Welch, Goldie Hawn and, drum roll please... Barbra Streisand.  You remember the co stars of the film, Prince of Tides?  Yes, that is right, Barbra's perfectly manicured nails.  Done by Gaby. I don't think any more needs to be said but I thought a little interview might be fun.

Juliana Cairone: What is your speciality?
Gaby: Problem nails.  My focus is on the health of the nails, followed by a glamorous manicure!  I am passionate about my work and love what I do.

JC: What is your number 1 tip for a great manicure?
G: Healthy nails start with the correct filing.  That is the main thing.  And maintaining a healthy nail.

JC: What would be your number 1 no no?
G: Filing your nails at home.  (JC: Gulp.  Guilty!)


JC: If you can't make it to the nail salon what do you recommend?
G: Putting a little cuticle cream on while in the shower and pushing back the cuticle with a wet wash cloth.  I like Orly cuticle cream.


JC: Your favorite nail color?
G: Naked Nude by Essie, Wicked by Essie and doing a personalized color based on skin tone.

JC: Whose manicure do you most admire?
G: Barbra Streisand.  I went to Madame Trussaud's wax museum and they had Barbra Streisand and I was very upset because the nails were not perfect.  The lengths were all different, one was jagged.  Those were not the nails of Barbara!  And I spoke to them and they had me teach the artist how to do the nails right.

Gaby believes that a manicure completes an outfit.

A note from Juliana: A bad manicure drives me bonkers.  Because I can do a so so manicure myself I don't want to go out for a so so manicure,  I want to go out for a great manicure.   Gaby...  is simply amazing.  Clean beautiful perfect nails.  And the pedicure... you will just have to make an appointment and see for yourself... 

Gaby.  My Friday Favorite!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Loris Azzaro Via Carnaby Street Via Rome

Designers are sometimes influenced by each other.  The writer and director John Houston said that there are no new stories, it is just how you retell them and I think the same could be said of fashion.  Now this dress:

The great Marisa Berenson in Loris Azzaro

certainly inspired this dress:


The label reads, Carnaby Street, Roma.  Carnaby Street was famous in the 1960s as THE place for hipsters.  So some design house in Rome was doing an early 'fast fashion' version of the Azzaro dress and it must have been a store that catered to eager young stylish clients who wanted Azzaro's ultra glamorous, ultra sexy chic with a bit of rock-n-roll Stones/Marianne Faithfull vibe at more affordable prices.  Whew!  That was a mouthful!  What I mean to say is simply that the dress is super cool and affordable - no matter who designed it and where it was from!

PURCHASE

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

YSL Safari





Fun Fact: The first safari jacket (saharienne) was not made at first for a collection but for a safari-themed photo spread by Franco Rubartelli for Vogue Paris in 1968.

The iconic photo that started it all:

Photo by Franco Rubartelli for French Vogue

If you look at the photo of Saint Laurent, Betty Catroux and Loulou de la Falasie, you will see that Loulou is wearing a safari jacket similar to the one we have at RARE vintage.  A classic closet-must-have for every lover of vintage and Yves Saint Laurent!

Yves Saint Laurent safari jacket.  Size 38.
PURCHASE

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