Just in: The Little Black Dress by Norman Norell

Thoughts on The little black dress by Norman Norell...

The little black dress by Norman Norell is the fashion world equivalent to the art world’s minimalism by Ellsworth Kelly.

The little black dress by Norman Norell is taking fashion and reducing it to its purest form with clairity of shape, beauty in design and luxury in materials.  

The little black dress by Norman Norell is for the woman who wants to wear the dress and not the other way around.  

If the little black dress by Norman Norell could be anyone it would be Gloria Guinness.

The little black dress by Norman Norell does not shout, it murmurs closely and softly in your ear.

The little black dress by Norman Norell, can stand alone but will tolerate the perfect accessory.

The little black dress by Norman Norell is aloof and distant but warm and welcoming to those who understand it.

The little black dress by Norman Norell is as good today as it was fifty years ago.  And it knows it.

Here is the little black dress by Norman Norell 1960s and available for purchase at RARE vintage...

Just in:

1960s Norman Norell little black dress available for purchase at RARE vintage.
212-581-7273 or email info @rarevintage.com

love, kisses, and vintage, Juliana

Fashion Will You Still Love Me, Will You Still Need Me When I'm 68? Part #9

I am soooo excited about the announcement that THE great Charlotte Rampling will be the new face of Francois Nars for its 20th anniversary in September.  Isn't it wonderful that Francois Nars chose not only a great beauty, but a great talent?  

love, kisses and life is beautiful, Juliana

READ: Veruschka: From Vera to Veruschka

In Rome in 1964 a twenty something Vera Grafin von Lehndorff-Steinort was on her way with Count Rudi Crespi to meet Johnny Moncada and the rest is history.  Vera would become Verushka and her time with the photographer, Johnny Moncada would remain a dreamy and hazy part of the Veruschka legend.  But then on another more recent day in Rome, Antonio Monfreda would sit next to Moncada's daughter at a dinner and she would tell him of dusty boxes filled with thousands of early pictures of Veruschka taken in Rome, Florence and Sardinia.  And now those photos and memories have made their way into a book soon to be published by Rizzoli titled Veruschka: From Vera to Veruschka.  

I am so excited because I love 60s Italian fashion (and have found some really wonderful pieces for RARE vintage : ) and 60s Rome and Sardinia, it all sounds too, too incredibile!

"Everything began in Italy, and it was there that Johnny took my first pictures."

Veruschka

Images from Veruschka: Vera to Veruschka.  Rizzoli.

Can not wait to see more in March!

love, kisses and vintage Veruschka,  Juliana

A Pride and Prejudice Moment at Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2014

Who are you in Pride and Prejudice?  The beautiful, kind hearted Jane, the good time girl Lidia just out for a laugh, the practical Charlotte Lucas, the vile Caroline Bingley or Elizabeth Bennet, destined for the arms of a certain Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy with his 10,000 pounds a year and, more importantly, Pemberley...  well, sister, I  don't know about you but I am Elizabeth : )

and if I was in a drawing room, taking a stroll with Duck Face (if you have seen Four Weddings and a Funeral, you will understand my reference) so Mr. Darcy can best admire our figures, I would wear this:

A Dolce & Gabbana hooded spencer with jeweled buttons and a flowing chiffon empire waisted gown covered with keys... the keys to a modern day Pemberley.  Mr Darcy is, unfortunately, not included...

Dolce e Gabbana Fall 2014.  Photos from Style.com

love, kisses and dreams of Mr Darcy, Juliana

Nan Kempner's John Galliano for Christian Dior 1997 Cheongsam

There is so much wonderful going on here: John Galliano's first ready-to-wear collection for the house of Christian Dior and the American bonne vivante Nan Kempner.  Although I would not normally think of the two together - Nan Kempner, was a famous client of Yves Saint Laurent, this John Galliano Christian Dior cheongsam was never the less in her closet.

So thrilled to have this for sale at RARE vintage!  From Nan Kempner's garde robe and John Galliano's debut collection for Christian Dior:

Tiny pearls, tiny buttons...

1997 John Galliano for Christian Dior cheongsam available for purchase at RARE vintage.
info@rarevintage.com or 212-581-7273

"Wrenching beauty... romantically sexy and beautiful... kept and cared for but jaded too... silent-movie gowns... dresses had tiny pearls sewn onto Mandarin collars... a sharp piece of workmanship..." 

Amy Spindler on John Galliano's debut for Christian Dior.

Spring 1997 Dior ad campaign:

and then Nan Kempner, the woman Yves Saint Laurent called "la plus chic du monde".

Nan Kempner.  Photos from WWD

Nan Kempner whose style and vast wardrobe was celebrated at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the exhibit, Nan Kempner American Chic:

"Fashion is an art.  When you look at paintings in museums, you see a reflection of how women dressed in certain eras.  A designer is as much of an artist as an author, painter or architect. Fashion design is, after all, architecture for the body.  Look at the work of Gres, Chanel, Poiret, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent."

Nan Kempner

love, kisses and vintage, Juliana

PS... I am ALWAYS looking to purchase early John Galliano and  Galliano Givenchy and Dior...

Jeremy Scott for Moschino: Sweet and Sick

Jeremy Scott brought his American pop culture to the Italian house of Moschino and so there was no Nutella but McDonalds and Hershey's candy bars.  Sweet and Sick...

Moschino Fall/Winter 2014

and the influence of Scott's friend, Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele...

a little Ver-saze...

and what Milanese runway would be without Sponge Bob Square Pants... ma certo!

Hersheys chocolate as a gown...

and I think Franco Moschino would have loved Jeremy Scott's tee:

Jeremy Scott for Moschino.  Fall 1014.  Photos from Style.com

love, baci and vintage, Juliana

Just in: French Chic and YSL

One of my favorite new pieces for RARE vintage is a little black skirt fully scattered with black sequins  with a black silk ribbon around the waist and it is the epitome of French chic by the Master of French chic: Yves Saint Laurent.

Just in:

1990s Yves Saint Laurent rive gauche black sequin and silk skirt,
info@rarevintage.com or 212.581.7273

To wear right now: a pair of sheer black stockings and a bitchy stiletto.  Very Carine Roitfeld:

Carine Roitfeld perfect in sheer black stockings

or to wear for the summer: a little tank and a flat sandal.

C'est parfait!

love, bizous and vintage, Juliana

Something New: Acquazzura

In honor of the start of Milan Fashion Week and because woman can not live by vintage alone... my something new column...

Something new

One day while wandering the new gorgeous shoe floor at Barneys, I spied a beautiful flat shoe with a tiny gold heel and a cage/corset style ankle tie.  I was utterly bewitched and so I discovered Acquazzura made in Florence and with a golden pineapple at the bottom of each shoe.

Acquazzura is made by a Colombian, Edgardo Osorio, who studied at Central Saint Martins and the London College of Fashion.  At 18 he moved to Florence and worked for Salvatore Ferragamo, Rene Caovilla and Roberto Cavalli before launching Acquazzura.  He is known for "sexy shoes that are comfortable".  Scrrratch!  What?  Who said that??  A SHOE designer?  Comfortable?  

I was actually in Christian Louboutin one day and there was a woman with her toes squeezed into a pump - it was not attractive and it certainly did not look comfortable but the salesman talked her into buying them anyway (quite easily) and there left another woman in another pair of uncomfortable  shoes and a future of hideous feet.  Because the truth is ill fitting shoes will distort your feet.  And if you have ever seen the feet of a certain celebrity who is always in high, high heels you will know exactly what I mean.

So Acquazzura is made in Florence, home to the craft of shoe making, and they are made from a single sole in soft leather and cashmere suede with additional cushioning for comfort.  Ready to order a pair : ) ?!

The one that caught my eye:

and loving:

love, kisses and something new, Juliana

PS The golden pineapple logo comes from the South of Europe where the villas have pineapples in the entrance...

When Serge Met Jane and Bought Her a Sabbia Rosa Nightgown

In 1976 Monette Moati opened Sabbia Rosa on Rue des Saints-Peres and she said "My shop seemed like a confrontation, a challenge.  Women were not ready then."

Women in 1976 were burning their bras, stockings and garters in front of the feminist book store that was across the street from Sabbia Rosa.

But there was one woman who was ready for French silk and lace.  Serge Gaisnbourg walked in shortly after Moati opened the doors and bought a gift for his girlfriend, Jane Birkin.  And it inspired the song 'Les Dissous Chic'.

and vintage Sabbia Rosa at RARE vintage.  Black silk.  Sheer.  Soft black lace. Open sides with delicate ribbons.  Do with it what you will... 

"Les dessous chic, c'est des dentelles et des rubans"

Jane Birkin

Sabbia Rosa black silk and lace nightgown available for purchase at RARE vintage.
info@rarevintage.com or 212.581.7273

love, kisses, vintage and beautiful naughtiness, Juliana : )

P.S.

Les Dessous Chic

How to Wear a Red Hermes Kelly

I love the way this girl accessorized her red Hermes Kelly with a Fendi bag bug.

Photo by Tommy Ton

and we have the red Kelly at RARE vintage, you just need the Fendi!

Buy me...

Hermes red Kelly available for purchase at RARE vintage.  info@rarevintage.com or 212.581.7273

and add one Fendi bag bug:

love, kisses and vintage, Juliana