Bitch Stole My Look: Malocolm McLaren and Pharrell

Have you bought Pharrell's new album GIRL?  Literally, every single song is amazing - and how rare is that?  Pharrell is having a much deserved moment: "Blurred Lines" with Robin Thicke and "Get Lucky" with Daft Punk and now his old school/new school album GIRL.  

And The Hat.  

Pharrell in Vivienne Westwood hat

Vivienne Westwood.  Originally worn by Malcolm McLaren in Buffalo Girls in 1982 from the 'Nostalgia of Mud' and 'Buffalo' collection.

"It's a Vivienne Westwood Buffalo hat from when she was with Malcolm McLaren... it's not vintage - I would've been really stylin' if I had the one from the 80s."

Pharrell

if anyone has the original 'Nostalia of Mud' or 'Buffalo' collection hat that they would like to part with, I would love to purchase for our RARE vintage collection!  212-581-7273 or email info@rarevintage.com.

Vivienne Westwood Nostalgia of Mud and Buffalo collection hat on Malcolm McLaren

love, kisses and vintage Westwood, Juliana

PS... Buffalo Gals by Malcom McLaren:

What to Wear with your World's End Vivienne Westwood: Phillip Treacy

Wondering what to wear with your World's End Vivienne Westwood top?  Phillip Treacy has just the thing!  A little pile of Andy Warhol Brillo pad boxes dancing delightfully on top of your head.

Now why didn't I think of that?!  Isn't that a fantastic image and I really love them together.

Here is a very similar top to the one featured in the photo above and available now at RARE vintage.  FYI, we do not have the hat : ( but we do have the shirt!  We can't do everything - though I would LOVE to have the hat - for me!

Vivienne Westwood World's End Top.  Size 4.  

For more information or to purchase, please email info@rarevintage.com or phone 212.581.7273

My Love Affair with Vivienne Westwood

Didn't you know?  I have had a not so secret love affair with Vivienne Westwood.  I am trying to remember when it all began.  I think it all began with a bit of SEX*.  It was casual SEX with a rock star.  I can't even remember if it was Adam Ant or one of the Sex Pistols.

Adam Ant in Vivienne Westwood.

Or maybe it was when Vivienne was awarded with an OBE by Her Royal Majesty the Queen of England and the newly named Dame Viv did a twirl and showed her little girl to the whole world that I felt a pulse of excitement.  (This is the G rated version of the knickerless twirl).

Or maybe it was when I saw one of her enormous ball gowns in 2006 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in the Costume Institute's exhibit, Anglomania, that I swooned with lust:

Or then again maybe it was Kate Moss and some swashbuckling pirate action that got me all excited and determined to get a little pirate booty for myself.  

Kate Moss in her Vivienne Westwood Pirate boots

Oh, and I almost forgot, for RARE vintage.  So, you see, my love affair with Vivienne Westwood was not just some one night stand but an epic romance.

Here are some amazing pieces of Vivienne Westwood that we have in store for you right now at RARE vintage:

1990 Vivienne Westwood 'Portrait' black patent leather shoes:

Early 1990s Vivienne Westwood chiffon Pirate blouse:

1990s Vivienne Westwood pale striped corset and sea foam green silk draped ball gown skirt:

Worlds End Vivienne Westwood top:

*and by the way, SEX was the name of the shop run by Macolm McLaren and Vivienne Westwood on Kings Road in 1974.  And just what kind of SEX were you thinking of??

Fashion Will You Still Need Me, Will You Still Love Me, When I'm 71? Part 4

There was no anarchy in the UK on Wednesday but there was a gaggle of Dames at a celebration of the British arts at the Royal Academy with the Queen.   There was Dame Joan Plowright, Dame Judi Dench, Dame Shirley Bassey and then there was Dame Vivienne Westwood.  

Dame Viv wore a striped gold lamé dress with her Dame of the Empire pink ribbon on the lapel of her black jacket and a pink flowered headband in her hair.  Just goes to show that it is all a bunch of bullocks that you can't have fun with fashion - and look fabulous - when you are 71.  

Getty images

Beautiful Dresses, Beautiful Women: Cannes 2012

The weather has been dreadful in Cannes and I know from personal experience that it is not much fun dragging a long evening gown through a torrential downpour.  Just take a look at poor Isabelle Huppert's soggy gown:

No umbrella for Isabelle?  It looks like she needed Fonzworth Bentley -  P. Diddy's former umbrella man:

And then the wind caught Lily Cole's dress and she flashed a bit of her very sensible looking knickers.  

But wet weather aside, there have been some beautiful dresses on the red carpet and Diane Kruger in particular has been a real stand out.  She has looked super glamorous and like a movie star and you can tell she really enjoys getting dressed up.   In Giambattista Valli:

Looking very Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief don't you think?

And then she wore this ridiculously fabulous Vivienne Westwood gown

Which has a really wonderful late 19th century silhouette but in a futuristic and shiny gold.

I also loved the Versus laced dress that she wore:

and with friends like Karl Lagerfeld you are reportedly given gifts like antique earrings to wear with your Westwood gown: 

It's the End of the World as We Know It: Vivienne Westwood's Pirate Collection

The great split personalities in film and television are: Joanne Woodward in The Three Faces of Eve, Sally Field in Sybil and Toni Colette in The United States of Tara.  I am not sure if psychiatrists have delved into the mind of the fashionista suffering from split personalities but I am proud to admit to suffering from a severe case of 'fashionista split personality-itis'.   And just so you know the symptoms are:

a. Your Style Icons are: CZ Guest, Brigitte Bardot, Jerry Hall, Millicent Rogers, Bianca Jagger, Daisy Fellowes, Marisa Berenson, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Debbie Harry.

b. In your closet or you covet: 1950s Christian Dior, 1970s Yves Saint Laurent, Tina Chow's Fortunys, 1960s Balenciaga, early Helmut Lang, Stephen Sprouse, Romeo Gigli, early Gianni Versace, Alaia, 1970s Loris Azzaro, Valentino Couture, 1930s Schiaparelli, Early Prada (and the amazing Spring 2012 collection), Duchess of Windsor's Mainbochers and Vivienne Westwood.

c. Your fashion film icons are: Grace Kelly in To Catch a Thief, Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean, Vivien Leigh in Gone with the Wind, Madonna in Who's That Girl, Catherine Deneuve in Belle de Jour, Faye Dunaway in Bonnie and Clyde, Diane Keaton in Annie Hall, Renee Russo in The Thomas Crown Affair and the documentary of Little and Big Edie in Albert and David Maysels' Grey Gardens.

So, are you suffering from 'fashionista split personality-itis?  Well if you are, you will surely love this Vivienne Westwood for World's End 1981 Pirate collection top as much as I do.  

Vivienne Westwood and Malcom McClaren rocked the world with their romantic and historically inspired Pirate Collection.  

Vivienne has said that she wanted "that rakish look of clothes that didn't fit".

It was the end of the world as we know it and I am feeling fine after discovering this brilliant 1981 Pirate's Collection top for RARE vintage.

1981 Vivienne Westwood World's End pirate Collection Top.  Size 4.

The next meeting of the self indulgent self help group 'Fashionista Split Personality-itis' will be held at RARE vintage next Wednesday evening.  Please rsvp at info@rarevintage.com.  Say it loud and say it proud!

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Editorial: RARE vintage in Vogue Japan!

I love a piece that can multitask.  I love the unexpected.  I love the mix of vintage with the new.  I love how Vogue Japan styled our late 1980s Vivienne Westwood Rocking Horse shoes in the July 2011 issue.  Enjoy!

Walk Tall

The original and iconic Vivienne Westwood black patent platform shoe.  I think this shoe speaks for itself.  (Just so you know, I don't want to sound paranoid, but the shoe is taunting me!  It is saying, you really, desperately want me but you can't have me because, Stepsister, your foot is too big!)  

1989 Voyage to Cythera Collection Platform Shoe.  Size 7.5


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You have a much better life if you wear impressive clothes - Vivienne Westwood

I adore Vivienne Westwood because of her amazing and refined design and historical sensibilities mixed with a wicked sense of bodacious naughtiness.  

At one point, I believe that Vivienne Westwood desired the job at Christian Dior that went to John Galliano and I think it is interesting to imagine what she might have done as much as j'adore John Galliano for Dior.  Call me crazy but I see some remarkable similarities in this Anglomania ensemble from 1993 and this Dior haute couture ensemble from Spring 2010.  Hmmm...

So what do you get when you mix a little tartan, a corset that makes your bosoms swell and wonderful draping?  You get an ideal piece from one of London's most influential designers.  But there is more to come!  Stay tuned!

Vivienne Westwood corset top with leather ties.  Size 6.

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Icon Week: Thursday 1990 Vivienne Westwood Portrait Dress

My dream dress by Vivienne Westwood is one of her mini-crinies 

or a great big gorgeous ball gown 

but this velvet dress with gold stenciling from the Portrait collection is pretty dreamy too.    

Inspired by the marquetry of André-Charles Boulle from the 18th century it is a blend of beautiful, sexy and punk which of course is Vivienne's Westwood aesthetic.

Fall/Winter 1990 Vivienne Westwood Portrait Collection Dress.  Size 4.

Price available upon request.