Analogue Chic

Archive for the ‘Inspirations’ Category

Just a quickie visual treat for you today: fabulous, fashion-y album art from the 70s.

I’m not a fan of either of these 2 ladies, musically, but damn that is some cool album art!

Yesterday I spent entirely too much time at a new thrift store in Waterbury, CT, the Red, White and Blue Thrift Store, where I found these lovelies.  Allegedly the proceeds benefit Vietnam Veterans, although no specific organization is named in their signage.

It is HUGE, the size of a supermarket, and omg the shoes! and the bags! were probably the best part.  Also the housewares and bric-a-brac.  They seem to do quite a good job of reselling only newish clothes, which is fine for people who shop thrift out of necessity, but disappointing for vintage fans.  But they do have a decent selection of jewelry.  The furniture section was also pretty disappointing. 

There were several cashiers at the front, a handful of employees returning merchandise on the floor, and a gentleman sweeping the floors.  It was very well organized, clean, and well stocked.

Prices are comparable to Goodwill, i.e. more expensive than Salvation Army, and definitely correlated to good vintage and high end brands.  Clothes are organized by type of garment, and then color.  There are daily sales on certain color tags, like Goodwill.

However, it is CASH ONLY.

Open 9-6 daily except Sunday (I think).  In the Colonial Plaza, Thomaston Avenue, Waterbury.  Red, White and Blue is located in the old Railroad Salvage Store, next to Compare grocery store.

New listing under Fashion Exhibits to See This Summer:

And while fashion exhibitions can be challenging to the imagination—how often have you been to a museum where it seems like they’ve just hung a bunch of dresses on mannequins?—this show comes alive with the help of legendary fashion photographs taken by the likes of Cecil Beaton and Richard Avedon.

Woah.

Quote and images via Racked.

Hello there,

‘Twas just a garden in the rain…

A misty-moisty morning to visit the wedding dress exhibit and flower show at the Danbury Museum on Saturday.  Lovely plants and beautiful dresses, unfortunately served to highlight how badly the Museum needs better exhibit space.  So donate generously!

You can read my write-up, with photos, over at The Mercurial.

[Updated June 15]

It’s more than just "here’s a bunch of clothing from our collection"– it’s a really illustrative survey of what women from this little part of Connecticut were wearing on their wedding day.

I’ve been informed by Museum staff that, with the Flower Show completed, some dresses will be coming out of the glass cases and onto dress forms, with some other items also going on display.  I was just cringing looking at some of those heavy dresses on hangers, and the trains folded up in the case.  It will be great for visitors to get a little closer to the details.

Having been involved with several small museums in Connecticut, I completely understand the limitations of funding on everything from roof repairs to paperclips.  The Museum is quite proud of the recent renovations to the central building, Huntington Hall.  I’m sure it’s a vast improvement on its previous setting.  On a personal note, I just have to say the style of the building is quite a visual jolt when you see it surrounded by the historical buildings and garden.  A building with flexible exhibit space, with climate control and adaptable lighting, on one floor, and offices, etc. on a separate floor, in a more harmonious style on the exterior, would be an ideal starting point for tours of the rest of the buildings.

So again, visit often, and donate generously!

Image via Wedding Dress Gallery

Also, as part of a series of wedding-themed events at the Museum this year, a wedding cake tasting and contest will be held August 14, as a fundraiser for the Museum.  16 bakers will compete on the merits of taste and decoration for a $250 cash prize, with judging by the event attendees.  Champagne will be served, and musical entertainment will be on hand.  Any bakers interested in competing should contact the Museum, (203) 743-5200.

Danbury Museum and Historical Society

43 Main Street, Danbury, CT

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 10am – 4 pm

Phone: (203) 743-5200

Email: info@danburymuseum.org

As per usual, when I want my camera, I don’t have it; and when I do have my camera, I don’t need it so it just weighs down my bag until I take it out again.  I don’t understand this curse…

Today I finally met lovely Valerie (gosh, I hope I remembered her name correctly…) at the library– I have seen her before around town, and recognized her by her awesome sneakers. Unfortunately, her great juxtaposition of colors and prints must suffer to be captured by my crummy phone camera.

Valerie is rocking a pink tee with blue and white floral capris.  Her black and pink cheetah print sneakers and ikat-style print bag are from Forever 21.

for Amber Mortensen.

She has created a fairly foolproof guide to mixing prints at About.com.  Read her guide, apply a little imagination, and you’ll be looking amazing– be fearless!

Amber also writes one of the most awesome fashion blogs I have ever come across, Painfully Hip.  She is one of my Fashion 2.0 heroes.

Superwomen of Fashion

Diane von Furstenberg, Superwoman of Fashion

Wendy Mullin of Built by Wendy

Nawruz & Persian Women

Shadi Ghadirian, Iranian photographer

Tahirih

Street Style from 1960s Mali

Malian photographer Malick Sidibe, via PSFK

Almost the only way you could tell these are not modern photos is from the boys’ clothes– wide collars and flared pants– seriously, these girls, in particular the 2 above, look like they could have been photographed for a Bamako street style blog like, yesterday.

Ohhh, this is like finally catching that elusive, big, beautiful fish after trying, season after season…

Introducing Faith, server extraordinaire of Marcus Dairy.

I saw Faith in this very uniform the first time I went to Marcus Dairy, last year, and of course I didn’t have my camera, and I wasn’t even sitting in her section, but I vowed I would document her style for Danbury fashion posterity.

Today, I was finally successful.

I just adore her fantastic (she called it ‘cheerful’–indeed!) plaid bowtie, and coordinating red apron.  I noticed she also always has this sparkly, dangly pin on her collar.

I have several of just this type of apron in offwhite, that belonged to my great-grandmother, I guess from her days of operating the family hotdog stand/diner.

And of course, I didn’t have my camera, so these are phone-photos that are not doing her justice.  But Faith was so charming, and gracious in letting me take her picture.  And she told me about her mother, who ran a farm stand, but was a bit of a fashionista, and was a pioneer of mismatched, multicolor accessories.

Yes, there is a story there, and hopefully Faith will call me so I can give you a full report.

Donna Karan is now a household name, but began her career, as so many of us do, as a lowly student intern.  She launched her own line in 1985 with a system of "seven easy pieces" – a bodysuit, a coat, a jacket, blouse, skirt, pants and something a little fancier for the evening – that revolutionized modern dressing and made her synonymous with New York style.

With her amazing success, Karan has always maintained the sensibility of an artist and the earthiness of a woman, wife and mother. 

"Everything I do is a matter of heart, body and soul," says Donna Karan, chief designer of the international company that bears her name. "For me, designing is an expression of who I am as a woman, with all the complications, feelings and emotions." [...]  Says Karan, "That I’m a woman makes me want to nurture others, fulfill needs and solve problems. At the same time, the artist within me strives for beauty, both sensually and visually. So design is a constant challenge to balance comfort with luxe, the practical with the desirable."

She has leveraged her professional success to promote the social issues that are important to her.

A member of CFDA ’s board of directors, Karan conceived and spearheaded its Seventh on Sale benefits to raise funds for AIDS awareness and education. Karan co-chairs the annual New York "Kids for Kids" events for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, as she has since its 1993 inception, as well as underwrites "Super Saturday," an annual designer flea market/barbeque founded with the late Liz Tilberis in 1998 to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. To facilitate her many on-going philanthropic involvements, in 1999, Karan and Weiss established the Karan Weiss Foundation.

Karan’s Urban Zen Initiative, founded in 2007, is the culmination of Karan’s philanthropic efforts. explains Karan, "I have founded the Urban Zen Initiative to create a working structure for advancing wellness, preserving culture and empowering children. These are the causes that mean the world to me."

 Quotes via DKNY.com

Read more about Donna Karan’s influence and accomplishments here.

Read more about the Urban Zen Foundation here.

So very sad for his friends and family.

Also a true loss for the world.  There can never be too many creative souls who are so dedicated to their craft.

I guess he really came onto the scene when I was in my political phase, and not really tuned to fashion.  But his Fall ‘08 collection totally made me fall in love with his creativity, and craft, and aesthetic – that collection really summarized a lot of the visual influences that have impacted me from childhood.

There’s a retrospective photo slide show at New York Magazine. Also his background and company info, with slideshows from past seasons.  Be inspired…