The 1990s as seen in The Wolf of Wall Street

There has been a big to do about how Martin Scorcese's Wolf of Wall Street is the first 'period' film of the 1990s.  It does not seem that long ago but when you go back and look at photos from the early 90s, you realize with a bit of a jolt, Damn!  It/We all looked so different. Supermodels with big hair, big thighs*, lots of make up, sheer stockings with close toed shoes, big jewelry, lots of gold.  A whole lot of glamore!

Gianni Versace ad campaign. 1990s.

Sandy Powell, the brilliant costume designer of The Wolf of Wall Street and who will surely win an Academy Award for this film, nailed the costumes for the men and women.  Armani big shouldered pin-striped suits, black leather jackets with those big sloping shoulder pads.  And poor Jonah Hill had to suffer  stone washed jeans, pastel colored button down shirts and sweaters tied 90s wasp style over his shoulders.  

Unfortunately, I could not find many photos of Margot Robbie as the wife of Leonardo di Caprio's character Jordan Belfort.  

But she wore an exuberantly beaded Versace from 1991:

and there is no photo that I could find but Robbie walks in on a gay orgy in full swing wearing a head to toe Gianni Versace 1992 bondage ensemble.  You know the collection: straps, golden Medusa.  The total look.  Very fierce.  Over the top.  Perfect for her character.

Something like this:

and then of course, you can not have the 1990s without some body conscious Herve Leger bandage dresses like the one Robbie wore in the film (do you see the gold on her sunglasses - so 90s!  A nice touch):

Looks similar to this one we have at RARE vintage - and Hello!  Herve Leger was made in Paris back in the day:

1990s Herve Leger from RARE vintage

and Alaia too:

and towards the end of the film, she was wearing 1995 Tom Ford for Gucci, a lime silk blouse- no photos here either but it was this one in the runway photo below:

It is a great entertaining film and Margot Robbie, beautiful and stunning, was perfectly cast and wore the 90s wardrobe well - and that Long Island accent! 

*And just so you know, I am not criticizing the 'big thighs' of the 1990s Supermodels - I am only noting the enormous difference in models bodies then versus the extremely thin models now.

love, kisses and vintage,  Juliana

What the Punk?!

What does one wear to this year's Met gala?  Vintage Gianni Versace seems an obvious choice.  Our uber stylish client, Giovanna Battaglia, rocked a leather Versace couture bondage bra she bought at RARE vintage awhile back and made it look very punk chaos to couture at Cannes:

But I wonder if we are going to see a lot of vintage Versace at the gala?  Hmmm... so do you break open a box of safety pins and DIY a dress like Franco Moschino did back in the 1980s?

But I think we may see a lot of safety pins too... so what to wear?  I was thinking about wearing a Sprouse mini dress a la Debbie Harry from back in the punk days but it was so short but my bottom would be exposed as I was leaning over the bar to get a drink so I had to scratch that idea because this is definitely not the punk look I am going for:

I am feeling inspired by this:

More glam punk rock then Ramones punk rock.  

Either way it won't really be punk - it's more funk the punk.  Funk it up a bit and have fun and please no spitting on the red carpet.

Mirror, Mirror on the Dress

The Versace family understands rock and roll glamour better then pretty much anyone in the fashion design business - the Versace rock chick is a glamazon, globe trotting the world via private plane, partying in Cannes and St Tropez, shopping for her art collection at Art Basel...  

This metal mesh dress embroidered with shimmering mirrors is Donatella but harkens back to the mid-nineties when Gianni was designing and Linda and Naomi were storming the runway.  It is cut down to THERE in the back - and is probably the best backless dress since a drunken Julie Christie wreaked havoc at a party in her black sequin dress in the film, Shampoo.  I think you will be wreaking a little havoc of your own in this Versace!  And how fab would it be for the Party of the Year: PUNK: Chaos to Couture?!  Couture is the dress and chaos is what you will cause in it!

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