If you're curious as to what Florence Welch of Florence + The Machine wore for soundcheck last Friday morning, check out these pics taken by yours truly. And yes, while I was standing in the front row I did happen to scream out that I loved her outfit ;-)
Her sheer shirt is perfectly in style this summer (and you can find similar ones at stores like Urban Outfitter). What I like most about her outfit though is the unique touches that make it scream "Florence." The layering of gold necklaces accents but does not overwhelm the filmy shirt and the hat gives Florence's ensemble just the right unique touch. The final good thing about this outfit was that it wasn't constraining while she was performing on stage. While at one point she did take off her very cool white and beige patterned wedges (for better spinning/dancing capabilities), the rest of her outfit moved with her while she sang.
When the fact that an "over the calf" sock could stay up by itself was shocking and when women's shoes matched their dresses and their earrings. Maybe I'm just in a retro state of mind because of my recent shopping excursions, or maybe it just appeals to my love of old movies, but Down With Love is definitely a fashionable film worth noting. It looks back on the era where Rock Hudson and Doris Day films ruled the silver screen and when the fact that an "over the calf" sock could stay up by itself was shocking...the days when women's shoes matched their dresses and their earrings. With 37 looks created just for Renée Zellweger and a plethora of outfits that transformed this movie's cast into believable New York City residents from the 1960s, Down With Love is definitely retro inspiration. And Ewan McGregor isn't bad eye candy either.
Directed by Peyton Reed with costumes by Daniel Orlandi, here is the trailer for Down With Love:
If you notice it's the fit and the slight sense of whimsy that makes these outfits just so alluring. And you can even apply aspects of them to your own closet this season. For instance, beachy summer outfits (as well as crop tops) are very in. If you notice the cropped shirt with matching plaid shorts that Renée wears in the trailer at one point, you'll see that it's not so far off from something that you might see in Elle or Glamour. I've posted pictures of just a few of my favorite outfits from the film as well as a video of one of my favorite "getting ready" sequences of all time.
Who wouldn't want classic (and classy!) lingerie like this? On a complete side note, the song being played is a mash-up of Astrud Gilberto's recording and Frank Sinatra's version of Fly Me to the Moon (one of this blogger's all-time favorite songs).
Even if bubblegum pink isn't quite your thing, the fact that this cut is so flattering should be. A fabulous piece of clothing can look horrible if it has the wrong fit.
It's been noted in many fashion magazines (including this month's Elle) that re-fashioned retro sunglasses are a complete DO this summer. I've always loved the retro look, especially cat-eye sunglasses, so when I saw this pair at Urban Outfitters for 15 bucks, I just couldn't resist.
Add a scrunchie and a 50s-inspired skirt or an Audrey Hepburn-style trench (Author's Note: Both of these looks did indeed grace the streets of New York City last Thursday and Friday on this blogger) and you're good to go.
There are some people who seem like they can pull off just about anything. Any action, any speech, and most importantly (for this blog) any piece of clothing. There's something about the aura they give off...or more simply put, they have a hell of a lot of confidence.
In anticipation of Florence + The Machine's performance on Good Morning America this Friday, I thought I would showcase the one and only Florence Welch and how she's redefining style across musicians and genres.
When Florence first came onto the scene, her music video for Kiss With a Fist hit Youtube. The video itself isn't as involved or intricate as some of her others (such as Rabbit Heart), but it does show one thing: Miss Welch will wear whatever she pleases and rock it. If you haven't seen the video or heard the song, check it out and note that she is wearing a floral top, purple skirt, and horizontally striped stockings. Although its a definite fashion faux pas that I'm not telling any of you to repeat, she does look pretty kickass in it. And has the shoes to kick your ass in if you don't agree.
In many of her concert photos she has a flair for the dramatic (whether that be in the form of fringe, feathers, exceedingly high heels, or rocker grunge). If you look at the four pictures below, you can see that cheetah print stockings under t-shirts, peacock feather stiletto boots, and yard-long fringe are all in her closet.
One of the primary reasons why there are so many designers out there is that people have different tastes. They like trying on different characters and costumes. This month's Nylon Magazine cover girl, Florence Welch is a flower child, a red-headed Alice in Wonderland, a rockstar, a mystic, and a girl who can pull off just about anything. And while she has a vocal powerhouse to back up her style choices, I think that any of us could rock our clothing choices with just a bit more confidence. So put on a pair of heels and feel a little sexier as you strut down the street or put on a flower dress and feel like the world is at your feet. Watch Florence amazingly pull off running in 5-6 inch heels all around a stage in a live performance of Dog Days Are Over (see video below), get up off your couch or desk chair or bed, change into something you feel confident in, and rock the look. Oh, and watch her performance on Good Morning America on Friday if you need that little extra reminder that confidence lets you rock just about anything you're wearing.
I would be remiss in writing a weekly blog post about fashion in films if I did not mention Audrey Hepburn's classic style. Having grown up a Hepburn fan (and ever since I dressed up as her in Breakfast at Tiffany's in the second grade, a Hepburn obsessor), I came to be consistently inspired by her timeless style. This week's Fashion on Film post looks at my favorite of Hepburn's films: Sabrina.
Directed by Billy Wilder and starring Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, and the lovely Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina hit the silver screen in 1954. In the film, Miss Hepburn's character undergoes a complete style transformation; she goes from being a chauffer's daughter in ratty clothing to being the epitome of French sophistication. Such a transformation would never have been the same had it not been for the exquisite costumes designed by Edith Head. If you're interested in some of Ms. Head's other creations, she was also the costume designer mentioned in my post on the movie What a Way to Go!.
Some of the film's most notable looks include Sabrina's black and white embroidered Ball Gown (see below), which I personally think looks better from the back than the front...
Something very interesting to note about the Ball Gown and the Little Black Dress is that for years they were said to be designed by Givenchy. However, in an LA Times article written in 2010 by Jean-Pierre Dorléac (a mentee of Ms. Head), this rumor was set straight. The article states that Miss Hepburn had gone to a showing of Givenchy's designs and made a few sketches inspired by the clothing. She then proceeded to give the sketches to Edith Head (with special permission of Billy Wilder). Miss Head then took the designs, and made them her own. She is the reason why the little black dress has bows and its final shape. She is also the reason why the ball gown has such an exquisite pattern. In essence, the designs were completely property of Miss Head. However, Hepburn in an effort to win the favor of a major designer, told the world that they were by Givenchy. For the full story, check out the article at: http://articles.latimes.com/2010/oct/24/image/la-ig-edithredux-20101024. How interesting the stories behind the clothing in films can be.
I'll be the first to admit that "The Closet Challenge" was a bit more daunting than I expected it to be. I had forgotten how long such organizational attempts had taken in the past. I had also forgotten how somehow everything that fits into my closet does not fit on my bedroom floor. And while I must say that my ever-changing summer schedule (as well as some built in relaxation time) is a large factor in why I have not been updating this blog, especially with regard to The Closet Challenge, I do admit that I feel bad for such copious amounts of lag time. Therefore, consider this the fresh start to a fresh wave in blog posts. The Mannequin has officially opened for summer.
And now, after that somewhat lengthy introduction, I would like to introduce you to a very good friend of mine:
My Newly Organized Closet
While I do intend to continue on and organize the clothing that I have hanging up by color, it is organized by type. As for the shelving...everything now has its own breathable space. In fact, thanks to some very serious consideration about what clothing I should donate (some things are just meant to go out with the times...and if something's too small for you now or if you avoid it every time you're thinking about to wear, it's time for it to go), each of my larger bags (and hats!) has its own unique shelf. The goal was to keep nothing from looking overcrowded, and I think that I may have achieved that. While the piles of clothing still exist in the back of my closet, they exist with a purpose. For example, over the years I have grown quite the collection of oversized t-shirts that act as pajamas. There is no need for me to take up valuable (visible) hanger space with these. Therefore, I made a pile of all of them. I just take the shirt on top and voilá: pajamas for the night. Next to my shirts lies a pile of pajama pants, followed by sweatpants, followed by shorts. My shoes are neatly arranged on shelves and my hanging clothing is separated by type.
Undergoing such a project has definitely made me believe that I can take on any organizational challenge. So here are a few tips (and wishes!) from yours truly:
Keep things organized by type. Each shelf should have only one type of item on it (whether that be shoes, scarves, hats, bags, etc.).
If it's summer, keep your winter gear on lower or higher shelves. Leave the eye-level space for what you're actually going to wear this season.
If you have some extra cash and extra space, definitely go for The Container Store's Linen Drop-Front Shoe Boxes. I have been eyeing them for weeks now:
If you're not going to wear or use something again, donate it! Personally, I donated six bags of clothing and a few bags of toys to the Vietnam Veterans of America. They pick the stuff up from your house and it goes to people in need of such things. Check it out: http://www.pickupplease.org/vva/veterans-donation.aspx?gclid=CNSzsZ_mw6kCFUlx5Qod2SsXgg
To keep things aesthetically pleasing, don't overcrowd your shelves. In fact, I'm even thinking of putting a white curtain in the very back of my closet to section off shelving that contains toys that I want to keep but that I don't really use anymore.
Get thinner hangers! Once again, if you have the means to do it, make your closet uniform and get hangers like The Container Store's Platinum Huggable Hangers. They have a non-slip velvety surface that holds your clothing better than most plastic hangers, they save space, and they look good.
I could probably go on for a few more bullet points, but I'll leave you with these tips for now. No matter how big or small your closet is, embrace the process. It can be very cleansing to clean out the clutter in your life. Plus, a clean closet means that you get to see and love all of those fabulous shopping finds even more. Give it a try.
