Vintage & Vintage Couture Heaven

Lavendar and candlelight. Check. Some time alone. Check. The best of online vintage and vintage couture. Oh check! click for larger images


Pucci, Dior, Hartnell


Cardin, de la Renta, Dior


'50's French Cocktail, Balmain,Dior


'50's Cocktail, '40's Silk Evening, '50's Tango in Lace


'70's maxi, '50's organza, '20's Piano Shawl


breathtaking Armani


Balenciaga


Valentino, Mme. Gres, Dior (ok, little Dior obsessed, I admit)


Givenchy, Laroche, de la Renta

bonne nuit!
kvlm

Making it up

I have to take a departure from fashion for a second to share my Saturday afternoon discovery with everyone (you know, the two of you who actually read this).

My recent interest in finding a natural and/or (preferably and) organic skin care line led me right back to where I started. About ten years ago, at the urging of my sister, I started using Origins make-up and skincare. However, over the years I kind of felt like my skin either was entirely too used to it or it just wasn't as new and shiney as all the other great stuff out there (the introduction of Sephora was a big deterrent for me). For my wedding, I entirely switched over to Yves Saint Laurent for make-up and went back to Cetaphil for my skin.

I've been using Cetaphil since, well, birth practically. Being born with highly highly sensistive skin and excema (suckage, party of one), my mom actually used to bath me in Cetaphil completely. Fun times...nothing like putting on your Sugar Plum Fairy pj's feeling like an oil slick. Cetaphil is a very gentle skin cleanser and make-up remover but my skin needs a bit more now that I a) have a kiddo and b) am getting older. I have decided when I'm 40, I have no intention of looking 40.

Saks is fabulous for skincare and make-up you can't find any place else in Raleigh. They have a great soy based organic line that I would kill for but the $130 price tag on the moisturizer was a bit out of my price range after dropping the pre-wedding wad on YSL.

A few months after the wedding and a slow return to my vegetarian mostly organic diet, I noticed that a) my skin was breaking out a lot and b) that YSL make-up is full of things I cannot pronounce. And the Cetaphil? Not really doing me any favors.

So, I've gone back to Origins. And I have to tell you I don't think I'll ever leave again. They have reformulated their entire line to get it even more natural than it was before. I chose their Stay Tuned foundation because, well, it feels and looks like heaven. But before the make-up artist at the Origins store revamped my color, she gave me quite a life-changing cleanse. She used the Dr. Weil's (love you Dr. Weil) Plantidote Line. My skin has never felt softer or glowed more. And right now, for a limited time, they are offering a Dr. Weil's Plantidote starter kit for $49.50!! I know I sound like a commercial but seriously...highly recommend this. It's all mushroom based and filled with organic essential oils. It's perfect for sensitive skin but also for skin that needs calming. If you experience inflammation and irrititation this is the skincare for you! The individual products start at around $35 a piece so it's a great deal.

I'd also recommend going to an actual Origins store. I've not had great experiences at the Origins counters in various department stores because, well, department stores have high turn over. And it when it comes to my face, I want someone who knows their product.

Origins is a great company, too. So while looking fabulous, you can also rest assured that you are investing in a company that isn't just consumed with the almighty dollar. All of their stores are run on wind energy; Dr. Weil gives all of his after-tax profits to his not-for-profit organization that promotes integrative medicine (research, practice, etc....check out his website); and next month they are starting a recycling program where you can bring any of your make-up containers (lipstick, foundation...any brand, any type) into their stores and they will recycle them for you. Make-up containers are hard to recycle and take up a lot of space in our landfills each year.

Even more importantly, among the list of things that Origins products DO NOT include is parabens. Parabens have been proven to disrupt hormone function and quite possibly are linked to the rise in breast cancer over the past few decades. It's found not only in make-up but hair products as well.

It's easy to put just anything on your face especially if it makes you feel pretty right? But why would you?

Take care of those punims. xoxox, kvlm

Shoe-be Shoe-be Shoe-bedo

I was just talking with my sole sister about the shoes that are hot this spring. I'm a shoe addict, plain and simple. However, I can (now) admire a fab shoe while accepting that it will never look hot on my foot or go with anything in my closet. I have bought many a shoe that barely made it out of my closet one time, or had to undergo some sort of extensive redesign to make it out twice (my silver buckle plaid strap bebe heels that are now just...well, plan black bebe heels). Anyway, here are some samples of this season's popular footware: platform, cuffed, and gladiator sandals with a little retro thrown in for good measure.


These Luichiny's, I suppose, fall under cuffed and gladiator. There are a lot of flat options out there this Spring and they kind of remind me of the sandals we used to buy at the drugstore during the summer time when I was a kid (you did this in South Carolina...and Georgia, honestly). Simple and barely there, they look cute with maxi dresses and gypsy skirts. However this particular species of them scare me a little bit. It's the kind of thing that, on the right person (read super long, lean legs with a hint of tan) probably looks great but might only stand to accentuate a more athletic calf (which may be your gig). Which leads me to the next shoe...



I love the idea of these cuffed heels by Report. The coral color is s a bit too California for my taste but given the colors for Spring, there would be a lot of opportunity to rock this particular hue. In theory, this is kind of sexy. In theory. I think the thing you have to be careful with here is, if you, like me, aren't much of a tanner and prefer a more alabaster complexion to buff, the thick black cuff hitting you at the ankle is only going to serve to chop your leg off at the foot...making your legs look much shorter and no one...i mean no one...wants that. The height of this particular heel might counteract that a shade, but it's something, again, I think the average woman will have to be careful with. Chopping your body into sections is never a good idea. Both these and the Luichiny's from Victoria's Secret.

These yummy caramel Marni's combine two trends of the season: platform and cuffed (so see above). I am a sucker for a good platfrom sandal, especially if it's in wedge formation. Thank you, Mr. Shoemaker for making my legs look miles longer than they actually are. Unfortunately, these aren't every day shoes. They aren't really office shoes either (my adorable bow-top black platforms from last year have been downgraded to weekend action only after a few not so accepting stares during the 9-to-5...but then I guess it depends on what kind of office you work in). The thing I love about these shoes, too, is they have that late '60's vibe to them but totally work with all things current. The other thing is that if you notice the way the cuff actually hits her foot more at the crest of the ankle than right around the actual ankle, that's something key to look for. It avoids the aforementioned "chopping" and creates a more delicate ankle and not so much a, well, hoof as some of the others may. Just sayin'.

Ah...Christian Louboutin. Where would the world be without you, Jimmy and Manolo? Certainly a less interesting place to walk around in. I love these gladiators because they also have a slightly dominatrix appeal to them. Not that I'm into that kind of thing but hell, heels make you feel sexy, right? May as well up the sexy ante and add a little "woman in charge" if you get what I'm putting down. I think these shoes would look fab on anyone. Highly recommended even though they have an over $1,000 price tag. Oh well, a girl can dream...

And last, but certainly not least, a little kitsch for your day. I bought these Michael Antonio heels a few weekends ago when it wouldn't stop raining because I needed a little pick me up. I actually bought them on consignment strictly because they looked so very vintage. If I hadn't known who Michael Antonio was I would have sworn they were straight from the '50's. There's a lot of pin-up girl influence this Spring, especially when it comes to resort wear. Now honestly, buying a white shoe was kind of a big deal for me, since I swore it was something I would never ever do but the blue platform of these with the blue piping is going to look super hot and flirty when (and if) I can find the perfect vavavoom blue sundress. Little cleavage, some red lips, fabulous sunglasses...every girl needs a little Vargas in her life.

xoxo, kvlm

It's Raining

I love rain. Lots of people do. I love it for a couple of different reasons. The biggest being that rain makes people slow down. It makes getting around at our speedy pace a little more challenging. At base, I'm more that slow poke than anything so this tends to work out nicely for me. My life is so constant and hectic, a good "slow" day is always welcome. Second, it's terribly romantic isn't it? And that little romantic inclination lends itself to some rather cute rain gear.

I'm a sucker for old coats anyway, so perfect opportunity to break out my late '60's topcoat I bought from a local vintage shop while I was in college. I have literally worn this coat every time the weather drops below 65 and there's one cloud in the sky. I've worn it with jeans, over dresses, with hats, to school, to parties, to work. I'm not entirely sure how it's still "standing." I lived in it in England. Of course there, it was necessary since the sky will just suddenly open up at any given moment and while those clear plastic rain slickers are sold on virtually every corner and at every tourist stop, I have never longed to hang out in a see-through Hefty, thank you very much. My coat is almost identical in cut to this:


So I've set out this morning to find some more to add to my collection.



I love this. It's a nice retro spin on the classic trench without being overly cutesy. The full cut is perfect when you've got a dress you don't want wet or wrinkled but also proves to make great legs look even better when paired with fitted jeans or slacks. Found on meanshopper.



This one I found on TravelSmith and it's very similar to the one I have; it's structured kind of like a man's (mine is actually a man's) which can serve a few purposes. 1) The cut of a man's coat can slim you down because there is no fullness in the fit at all; 2) wearing a man's cut looks quite sexy on a woman, in my opinion (it's a little tomboy but with some killer knee-high boots, no one will be thinking about climbing trees); 3) the print here, which is a really tight houndstooth just like mine, is great for hiding spots (and if you have kids like I do, spots can be a major issue). Here are some more men's cut coats I love (one I found on Overstock, one with a little girly color, a DVF that's a good mix of the traditional with a super feminine twist and of course a mac):






We couldn't discuss raincoats without talking about Burberry, of course. The first look, totally runway, could be replicated pretty simply with a great brown belt and classic trench you can pick up in just about any major department store. I love the slim cut of it, too. The second coat would be good when you have to dress up even though the sky has decided it's Armageddon. I like the color and am such a sucker for blue with black, even if the metallic sheen doesn't necessarily appeal to me for everyday:



I also have a soft spot for white trench coats. There's just something a little unexpected about a white trench on a rainy day; something ironic I suppose. It stands out and looks great with black. These coats: Norma Kamali, Tahari at Bluefly, and Soia & Kyo:




Last but not least, we have to have a little bit of flare to choose from. I like this Venetian red coat from Modcloth although I'm not a huge fan for the traditional slicker (that noise and the overall inflexibile vortex it creates is no bueno); the second coat is from Coast in the UK. (I love love their site; why don't I live there??) It's a little over the top and at first I wasn't sure about the bow in the back but then I had a vision of it with some serious black stilletto's, vintage screw back drop earrings and a squirt or two of Boudoir and now I'm considering hitting up my expat buddy on his next trip overseas. This would look great for a night out at the theatre! I think I need it in my life.




















enjoy the weather. much love, kvlm

Que dans l'enfer ?

Yes, I've just asked wth? in French. I'm trying it out in all languages to see which one fits better. This felt like a francais moment to me.

Ginnifer Goodwin is one of those women whose beauty just kind of sneaks up on you. She definitely has an unforgettable face. Unfortunately, she also has an unforgettable dress. Trust me, I've tried. Taken apart, the dress might make for a perfect bodice to a column gown or, hell, I'd even take a ball skirt. The skirt might be stretched over canvas and sold as imitation Pollock; a very small Pollock (short skirt, party of one). At any rate, together, it just doesn't work. The porportions are just all wrong. Let's all make a note of this and avoid it in the future, shall we?

A Blog Longer than any Mickey Rourke Speech Could Have Ever Been...

Ah, Oscar night. There are a million reasons I sit down at 6:00 and stick it out til the bitter end of the Oscars (which was nearly midnight last night), most of them being the dresses. But last night's Oscar performance really was a departure from anything I've seen since I started watching it at the tender age of 4. It was a SHOW. Not just a snooze fest of long drawn out speeches and thank you's; it was David O. Selznick's Hollywood, it was the Coconut Club, it was pretty damn cool. Hugh Jackman was wonderful, the set was gorgeous and I loved the overall way it was shot. I commend you, Academy, even if I don't always agree with you.

Now about those dresses...I have to start with my absolute favorite. Penelope Cruz definitely won for best dressed last night in a 60 year old Pierre Balmain. She was exquisite; of course I'm a sucker for vintage couture but especially a sucker for someone who wears it as beautifully and non-pretentiously as Penelope (take a cue, SJP). I'm so thrilled she won for best supporting actress; I just think she is a doll.

Let's talk about Amy Adams. I love Amy Adams in ways I can't even explain. Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day should have been nominated and I'm still kind of pissed that it wasn't, if not just for costume design. Wth? Anyway, I'm not sure how I feel about Amy's Herrera. It's kind of like a Jello Mold...interesting to look at but you could kind of take it or leave it for taste sake. Ok, weird analogy but you get me.


A quick line on Jessica Biel because that's really all I have for her. Interesting Prada choice; I realize a lot of critics weren't crazy about it but I think it's...interesting. (Which is kind of like fine, but more...substantial?) I'm just glad she finally looks like a girl and not some anime action figure waiting to kick my ass.

Marion Cotillard can do no wrong fashion-wise in my book. This Dior is heaven.

Viola Davis. Radiant. Glowing. Flawless in Reem Acra. Loved her.


I'm not even really sure who Melissa George is or why she was at the Oscars but she needs to fire her stylist. Like yesterday. She looks like a ballerina shoved into a sausage skin. Just sayin'.

Taraji P. Henson is adorable. Wow, is she super cute and super bubbly. And her dress? Super hot. Roberto Cavalli.

I know I should only pick on people my own size and really shouldn't give a Disney kid any sort of flack but in the name of Hepburn (Audrey and Kate), I'm gonna have to say this to get it out of my system. This is Vanessa Hudgwhateverhernameis. My nieces, I'm sure, love her. I don't know much about her; she's probably a lovely person. But unfortunately she has just bought herself a one way ticket to the island I created for Jennifer Love Hewitt. I GET (trust me, I get) the Hepburn obsession. Love her, or them for that matter, from a distance. Don't copy them verbatim and please please don't compare yourselves to them in public. No one will ever be Audrey or Katherine again. It's just not going to happen. So Vanessa Hudgenfrock said she chose this Marchesa because it reminded her of a young Audrey Hepburn. This is funny on two levels to me because other than the cut of the lower half which mildly resembles Audrey's Givenchy in Sabrina, this dress doesn't look anything like her. It's more Paula Abdul in my book. The other thing is exactly how does one say a "young Audrey Hepburn" when they are like a) 12 and b) unaware that the Audrey was in fact "young" until the day she died. Ugh. Ok, over protective and territorial...coming down off ledge...ggrrr...disney kids....ggrrrr.

Angelina in Elie Saab. Not sure I really dig the dress but it was a perfect fit for the gems because you could see those suckers about a mile away. They must have been special Chernobyl emeralds or something, my girl was aglow.

Heidi Klum can pretty much wear whatever the hell she wants. She's Heidi Klum. And she's married to Seal. Talk about a perfect couple. But what in the name of Tim Gunn was she wearing last night? I mean seriously, gather round. I'm intrigued. And not in a good way. I understand it's Roland Mouret but I'd have worn a Kenley "original" before I'd worn this. The color is bad, the jewelry is bad, the hair is bad, the shoes are reeallll bad. Of course she's still hot even looking bad but Heidi, this is a lot of look. Edit, sister, Edit.


Thank you, dear heavenly gods Dolce and Gabbana for FINALLY putting Diane Lane in a dress that is as sexy as she is. Ever since The Outsiders (ok, I just totally dated myself) I have thought Diane Lane was one of the most ridiculously sexy women in Hollywood but usually her fashion choices leave me longing for a bit of Cherry. She finally nailed it. Hoorah.

You know, I never even saw Virginia Madsen in last night's telecast and that's just a shame because WOW does she look incredible..total honorable mention for her in this Kevan Hall number. She is stunning.

When they fall, they fall hard. Not to say that SJP's dress isn't EXQUISITE, I mean, hello, it's Dior Haute Couture (as she told us on her way into the Kodak Theatre roughly 500 times), but the overall affect? Yuck. I just picked up this month's Bazaar with SJP on the cover; I've been a fan for awhile though I have to say I think her style icon-ism really is at the hands of Patricia Fields (did ya see Square Pegs?). In the issue, SJP depicts Dianna Vreeland in several rather disturbingly Dianna perfect portraits. I love that she did that; Dianna Vreeland was an amazing woman and dare I say we need to "witness" these tales of the Dianna's and the Carmel's so that future generations understand the role they played in fashion as we go down the runway of life. However, rolling the Vreeland look out into public mixed with a typically Sarah ballet dress? Yeah, not so much. And I mean, seriously, I know there are people in the world who don't pronounce haute couture correctly but repeating it over and over only served to make you seem oh so uber pretentious and I'd really like to not think of you that way. So, next time, tone it down a notch; and turn the blond back on in your hair. That color with "barely mint" is barely tolerable.

Frieda Pinto is smashing in this blue John Galliano. All the critics have raved and raved about it. I'd like to note that I think she is the only person on Earth who could have pulled this off though. That color on her skin mixed with her effortless grace and beauty are a perfect match.

I have admired Meryl Streep for years; decades even. Not only is she one of the greatest actresses of all time, I also think she is a great beauty. When I rented Mamma Mia, I won't lie, I was scared. By the end of it, I was not only disappointed that it was over but I found myself repeatedly thinking, damn I hope I look like that when I'm that age. Mamma was smokin'. So you'd think a putty colored Alberta Ferreti gown would be the last thing on earth you'd see her in after such an amazing year. Think again.

I joke that Tilda Swinton is really a droid but the truth is, I'm wildly curious about her. She's kind of gorgeous in a very almost Taltos kind of way isn't she? And her style?? Totally avant garde and envelope pushing. Yeah, I love her. And she's in Lanvin. I love her even more.

Another of my favorites: Marisa Tomei in Versace. There's just something about Marisa Tomei that all guys love and most girls envy. Fantastic dress choice.

When Kate Winslet first stepped out onto the red carpet, my immediate reaction was, Dear G-d, she looks just like Grace Kelly. And she did. She's so classy; so demure; and I admire her greatly. She absolutely deserved her Best Actress win last night; it's been a long time coming. On the flip side of that, however, (please, G-d, forgive me for what I'm about to say) after looking at the dress and hair from every conceivable angle, I just cannot say...I love it? Ok, yes, I love the dress. In its cut, design, the fact that it is Yves Saint Laurent. The color is heaven. But it's just too...dowager? A bit old for her, I think that's my issue. You see I just think she is so divine and I'd like to see her in something that is neither of these three things: blue, black or slate gray. I think she'd be smashing in pink or yellow even. Call me, Kate, we'll go shop.

And speaking of those who dress a little too beyond their age range. I go back and forth with Anne Hathaway. I mean, I love the clothes, from a fashion-addict perspective. She has phenomenal taste. BUT just because you love something does not (does not does not) mean you should wear it (a lesson I wish I'd learned about ten years earlier, thank you chiffon 3/4 length jacket over leggings with clogs!) Anyfrock, I love this Armani Prive dress but I just want to see her in something more fun; something that says, yes I kick ass. Not just, yes, look at me, I'm a serious actress above the Hollywood hype. We know you are serious, you are a brillant actress. Just loosen up. Personally, I liked the dress she wore to dance with Jackman far better than this very stately and severe frock.

Reese Witherspoon wasn't the only one to don Rodarte last night (Natalie Portman's bubble gum pink was also a Rodarte) and honestly I didn't really like either of them. This blue and black number doesn't do anything for her at all. Not the color, especially not the cut. Luckily for Reese, she's not only a gorgeous girl on the outside but she's gorgeous on the inside so shortly after she started talking I completely forgot about what looks like a high school mascot got shredded to bits by the rival team and glued back together as a dress. Or something like that.

Last, but certainly not least, Jennifer Aniston in Valentino. For those of you who may not know (ie. those of you don't give a shit about the Oscars unlike your up-too-late on a school night friend here), Jennifer presented two awards shortly into the night with actor Jack Black. In front of Brad and Angelina. Directly in front of. As in they were seated in the front row of what is typically the orchestra pit. As in Angie was on Jennifer's lap. And I can't imagine how uncomfortable that had to be for all of them. Awkward. I think Jennifer is adorable and quite honestly, I feel for her. For all the "uncools" she kind of held it together quite well while the ENTIRE world talked about her love life ad nauseum for what, five years? I'd say she's pretty kick ass. However, I'd like to put her stylist out of a job. Valentino? Gorgeous. Classic. Silver? Ok, pretty, shiney, light colors were very in this year. Braid in hair? Cute, quirky, very California girl. BUT COME ON!!! Can someone please hook her up with some Vivienne Westwood or Alexander McQueen? Or maybe even ask Tom Ford for a favor??? Golden Rule of relationship take 'n bakes: if you have to show up directly in front of the ex and the ex snatcher, do it with a bang! It's kind of like still putting on lipstick when you've had the flu for 2 days. Pointless but oh so necessary.

Represent, girls, represent.


xoxoxo, kvlm