New Vintage – The high street hits back.

Hey All,

Right If I’m going to embrace this 70′s thing – knowing that if I do, I’m going all the way through to Autumn / Winter 2011 – then I’m doing it with gusto. I’m thinking 70′s secretary; pussy-bow blouses, big shades; A-Line minis, or midi-length skirts worn with chunky heeled knee-high boots. I’m thinking Jane Fonda’s secretary chic from the movie ‘9 to 5‘:

mixed with the platform sandals,  floppy hats and high waisted shorts of Jodie Foster’s, Iris in Taxi Driver:

With the the rise of vintage and the rocky economy, High Street stores have literally had to take a step back in time to keep their heads above water. Many of the stores on the Irish High Street come from the UK, where there has been pretty subdued sales growth so far this year which is not set to change any time soon. Therefore, these stores have had to up their ante and tackle the fashion-buying-public’s vintage obsession head on.

Luckily, there are a few things that work in their favour when it comes to vintage clothing; for starters there is always a ‘tell’ with vintage that gives its age away; be it colour, skirt-length, fabric etc… So by reproducing a vintage piece for mass production in their stores, high-street designers are able to tweak a design to make it more on-trend and most importantly more commercial.

There is also the fact that most women, don’t have the time or the inclination to rummage through vintage shops and fairs looking for the perfect dress / blouse / skirt, only to find that it isn’t even in their size. Another thing about vintage is that some people just simply don’t like wearing second-hand clothes.

Seeing as the summer has (barely) begun, it’s now the norm that the glossies (see the latest issues of Elle and Vogue) are looking to Autumn / Winter 2011 already. The High-Street’s AW11 collection previews began in London months ago and having seen a few twitter sneak-peaks, this winter is all about the vintage-inspired.

Dropping at the River Island AW11 preview, I saw just how successful a collection that takes inspiration from previous eras and adapts then to a more modern style, can be. By acknowledging and incorporating some of the key elements that make vintage so appealing; voluminous, luxurious-feeling fabrics, bold prints and colours, and attention-getting style, the designers at River Island have created a lustful, AW11 collection that will tempt even the most dedicated chasers of vintage fashion.

Straight in with Wintery textures and fabrics: Faux-fur, leather and wool. All in black and white, with the odd flash of red.

More wool and faux-fur; loving the faux-snow leopard coat.

AW11 colours; notably mustard and cerulean (see ‘Raquel Heels’ shoes).

Loose crochet, Barbour-inspired riding boots, bright Trilbies and gypsy-print shawls…

More mustard and cerulean, along with turquoise, purple and ochre.

The skirt shape I’ll be wearing ASAP.

Faux-Camel-hair anything, makes me crave AW11…

Enter disco-glamour – tiger-print wedges…

Chunky-heeled, round-toe knee-high boots (with (‘Mezzie Tassel’) or without fringing).

Open fronted-silky blouses with huge poet-sleeves (‘Rouge Pusybow Blouse’).

The red secretary dress (‘Blush Pussybow Dress’).

And quite possibly the best shirt I’ve ever seen… Rumour has it there WILL be matching trousers! Oh MY!

‘Story’ names include; ‘Gigi’ – 60′s-inspired pillbox hats, bow-front pumps and carpet bags. ‘White Savage’ – white faux-fur out sized knits and beige leather accessories. ‘London Girl‘ – Brothel-creeper brogues, monochrome and Houndstooth prints. And ‘Hustler’ (see Iris, Taxi Driver reference above) – Cerulean Trilbies, silky shirts, huge wedges and disco-gold accents.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Prints Charming

Hey All,

… After a month or so, wearing black which has been heavily reflected in my blog posts. Summer seems to be waiting, for something… so I think it’s time to go a little brighter. Clashing prints being the main objective. Florals and feathers being the two prints; Palazzo pants and a sheer tie-front blouse being the pieces.

I love the huge 70′s-inspired, almost psychedelic, poppy print on the Palazzos, and the fact that most of the trouser is white. It made mixing it with the mainly blue, tribal-inspired, Navajo Native American, feather print sheer top really simple and quite effective.

Print Details:

Top, A|wear; Palazzo Pants, River Island; Suede Platform block-heel sandals, Carvela.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post: Not maxi, not Mini, just Midi.

Hey All,

I watched Grease the other day, it was on Film 4 and I sat thinking how much 70′s fashion had influenced the film’s costumes. So much so that even though it was set in the 50′s – the cars, diner’s, and Letterman sweaters seem pretty spot on – you don’t really realise it all the time.

Then you remember that Barry Gibb wrote the theme tune and you make the Travolta / Bee Gees / Saturday Night Fever connection and authenticity abounds on a whole different level. The movie inadvertently picks style elements from two different eras and slams them together in bright as, COLOURama, and it’s perfect.

A friend recently asked me, if I could have any prop from any movie, off the top of my head, what would it be?

‘The Scorpions car from Grease!’ I replied, completely unexpectedly.

It got me thinking, I’ve always liked the other characters in Grease a little more than Danny & Sandy. I adore watching the leading pair but I much prefer Rizzo and Kenickie. They’re just cooler, plus she dresses in black (and pink of course) most of the movie, and wears incredibly high heels to dance in, I like her style.

Elvis pendant, Made from an old pin my Mum wore on her school bag

T-Shirt,  Topshop

Vintage leather Midi Skirt, Thrifted

Shoes, Christian Louboutin

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post – Autumn Leaves in Spring

Hey All,

My dear friend and fellow blogger Ms White Rabbit over at Quirky Fashion blog, invited me to stay at her rather gorgeous new home in Wicklow (complete with a heluva view of the Wicklow mountains), last weekend. I was on the N81 armed with a bag full of inappropriate clothing for country dwelling, before she’d put the phone down.

After a lazy Sunday morning of fresh coffee, and droolingover reading the latest Italian Vogue and other UK glossies, we decided to have a drive over to Russborough House… which wasn’t open. So after a tiny driving mishap while doing a U-turn (which I am forbidden to speak of) we decided to take my Trilby out for a stroll instead.

I thought the outfit came across a lot 90′s, (pretty grungy) a bit 70′s (see shoes) and a bit Topshop Unique SS11 (see the rust / red colours and the texture in the skirt). Shame I had to wear socks, but those steps were as cold as they look, and then some. I wish I wore watches more often, they’re such a classic accessory, this is a black python print one from Swatch.

On another note the White Rabbit and I are going head-to-head on a mood board challenge. More on this over the weekend… I’m excited.

Trilby, Gift

Crochet Top, Quicksilver

Necklace, House of Harlow at My-Wardrobe.com

Watch, Swatch

Skirt, Once Removed Vintage

Shoes, Carvela at Kurt Geiger

More at HerApparel.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Penney’s (Primark) Spring Summer 2011 pieces

Hey All,

From one end of Irish fashion – Louise Kennedy, to the other; this time it’s the Penney’s /Primark SS11 collection. I have a very volatile relationship with Penney’s. One season you’ll find me in there once a week looking at the latest drop; the next I’ll avoid its crazed, bargain-hunting hordes like the proverbial plague.

Don’t get me wrong I frikkin love a bargain; plus, as far as manufacturing quality goes, Penney’s stuff seems to last longer than the average piece you’ll find at the fashion-forward end of the high street. But, there is only so much basic polyester a girl can handle. Texture is a huge part of fashion / style and rich natural fabrics really make or break an outfit.

Thing is, this new collection is all about new feel to fabrics; less, is the stiff chiffon and basic jersey, making way for new softer mixes of jersey and sheer fabrics. These fabrics feature throughout the two main stories; Heat Seeker and Global Traveller, as well as  the Limited Edition, the neon colour blocking and the new White collection.

Global Traveller (with neon colour blocking)

Heat Seeker Story

Yes, A LOT of fringing…

White Story

Limited Edition

Yours,

Whisty Xx

Louise Kennedy SS11 – Jersey for Sure

Hi All,

Last Thursday, I went to 56 Merrion Square, D2; the flagship store of Irish designer Louise Kennedy. I sat in the most beautiful 5-storey Georgian Townhouse watching her SS11 collection showcase. It was all about neon colour blocking; lace shift dresses and jersey maxi dresses in bubblegum pink, turquoise, buttercup yellow, all mixed with inky blues.

The backless maxi dresses were stunning and in every colour in the collection.

The 70′s were a big influence for this latest collection, the glamorous dresses reminded me of Faye Dunaway’s post-Oscars, pool-side chic.

The prim and pretty Marly sequinned dress was given a modern twist, worn with the Lulu Fox fur collar…

A token skull-print; in this case, on a cashmere wrap…

Prices: Dresses, €595 – €1,295, Cashmere Wrap €895.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post – Flowers and Florals

Hey All,

White and pink blossom, yellow Daffodils and purple crocuses, hazy sunshine long shadows and fresh-cut grass. I love when spring arrives. It also wants me to wear this shawl with its floral embroidery.

I have a park near my house that always has people in it; I ventured out on a much-needed walk, yesterday afternoon having dealt with a major laptop malfunction… 

How to mix vintage and High Street; hat, T.Shirt and Jeans and Shoes – High Street

Jacket, Belt and embroidered shawl – Vintage

More photos and outfit details on HerApparel.

I took a few pics of the flowers too…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

A Style Post – Going Against the Green

OR: Happy Birthday Whisty. You are Two.

Hi All,

On this day in history, 2009 whisty.wordpress.com was born. I loved it as much then as I do now and over the last 24 months, I have posted a mere, 523 posts but, more importantly I’ve received, 2,253 comments. And it is without a doubt the comments I receive, that make the blog so rewarding. So thank you, all.

So… a style post it is. The third post in a row I’m in a hat… The boots are about 5 years old, and until two weeks ago they were pretty much destroyed. I bought some brown boot polish in Dunnes and gave them a well needed shot in the… um arm. The Fisherman’s jumper, however is brand new. (River Island). It’s in a really loose knit-stitch and stretches and moves as you wear it; sort of sagging to a much looser jumper by the end of the day. (It goes back to shape when you take it off though).

All outfit Details at HerApparel.

Yours,

Whisty Xx

AWear SS11 Highlights

Hey All,

Continuing the new season collections review – Hard when there is a hurricane blowing outside, I know – AWear have launched their latest offerings. I was in store on Monday and had to stop myself buying a fantastic pair of ‘peg-leg’* Chinos let alone anything else.

Their major trend  is a kind of soft Safari-Chic. All subtle animal prints and pretty neutrals; think tan, beige, cream and Khaki It’s been launched with RTÉ‘s The Model Scouts winner, Tabea Weyrauch (IMG). Click here for AWear‘s behind-the-scenes blog post on her shoot.

In case you missed it the first time… and if I could’ve tried anything on at all, it would’ve been this skirt (€35)… I haven’t seen anything like this so far on the High Street this season.

‘70′s Glamour’

‘Festival Festivities’

See that stripey jumper? That’s GOING to be mine…

Yep, there are definitely a few pieces there that blow my skirt up, so to speak. Oh and their shorts…

Yours,

Whisty Xx

*You know the kind, high-waisted with a tapered leg that ends just around or above the ankle.

Oasis SS11 highlights

Hey All,

Hoorah! It’s February; the sales are officially over (be gone skanky sale rails) and all the shops are selling their new Spring / Summer ’11 wares. (See River Island SS11 highlights here).

Because vintage, clothing / style / everything when stratospheric last year, the high street seen to have hit back with hugely, vintage-inspired collections. And Oasis are no exception, calling their collections things like, Retro Knits, Clean 70′s, Roman Holiday (after the Hepburn movie) and Farrah (after Farrah Fawcett).

Here’s a few snaps…

‘Clean 70′s’

‘Feminine Neutrals’, left – ‘Farrah’, right

‘Farrah’

‘Retro Knits’, left – ‘Boho Chic’, right

‘Retro Knits’This look is in the campaign imagery, w/out the scarf and with fewer bangles, and it looks better really pared down. Baggy jumpers and shorts are doing it for me right now.

So because I can’t be in a room of clothes on rails and not try something on, I went for what in hindsight is a very typical Whisty choice. Though I was told I looked a bit bridal-y in it. But hey, I’d like to meet the kinda broad who’d wear a black hat to her wedding.

Anyway, I like it.

NB: The China Blue and Roman Holiday collections add a zip of colour to an otherwise very neutral / natural toned collection. Here’s a quick snap, not my bag, (far too clean-cut) but you may dig.

I’m taking me and my retro vocabulary off now…

Yours,

Whisty Xx