Jazz Age Lawn Party Style 2018

It's the Bees Knees baby! I danced the day away at the Jazz Age Lawn Party this weekend at Governor's Island. It was a celebration of all things of the 1920s in the spirit of a Great Gatsby party, flapper style, and jazz. I love that New York comes out in full for an event like this. The full lawn was covered in elaborate picnic set-ups of fans fully dressed for the period. I love that I saw lots of children to lots of seniors from every ethnic group embracing the music and culture of this era. 

There were lots of beautiful beaded and fringe flapper dresses as you would expect. Due to the warm weather, vintage 1920s style swimwear was a big hit for both men and women as well. I saw more gender fluidity where there were women who embraced the male collegiate looks with other men or more casual suspenders and men's tailoring for a dapper look. Daywear fashion and nautical looks also made the cut.

Charleston lessons were taught at the beginning, leading to a Charleston competition later in the day. Vintage cars were on display as well as vintage fashion vendors. There was a booth from the Penumbra foundation, making old-style tintype portraits using original techniques involving varnish, silver and bunsen burners.
Music was the driving force behind the event produced by Michael Arenella and his Dreamland Orchestra. The awesome vocals of Queen Esther kept everyone dancing. I really love that there was a Gramophone DJ spinning on original machines in between live music.
How lovely is spending a summer day on an island dressed up in some glamor? The bright sun brought out lots of handheld fans and beautifully crocheted parasols, pagoda umbrellas and paper parasols as well.
I missed the Coney Island Mermaid Parade also happening on the same day. My subway car was full of fish people and flappers! How amazing is New York City that there are enough fans of both eclectic events to populate them with crowds on the same day? How great is it that I actually have to choose which one to go to?
I call this a summer crowd-sourced vintage show. You can indulge in retro-themed cocktails while you dance the day away. They do this again in August! Come and show me your best moves at the next Jazz Age Lawn Party baby!

Photos by Mariana Leung

Read more >>

Steampunk Fashion Show from The World's Faire

Are you hungry for more corsets? In addition to the fabulous Steampunk fashion street style of the event, the Steampunk World's Faire hosted a formal fashion show with models showcasing the work of seven designers.

Redfield design organized the event and led the charge with vintage and period-piece inspired costume designs. Rachel Belladonna had a sweet collection of Lolita dresses. As They Sew In France (love the name) displayed Victorian and Edwardian fashion for men and women. My favorite was the collection from Midnight Orchid Designs. Designer Ginger Seibert specializes in costume design, Steampunk and belly dance garb. Her collection had some terrific silhouettes and witty fabrications. That blue dress on the right had a dramatic bustle and a corset that looked like it was pieced together with tiles on one side.

The fierce man in the top hat is "Professor Adam Smasher" of the performing duo Eternal Frontier. He and his partner Baron Von Zipple MC'd the event with humor and admiration. Just so you know, all Steampunk men are either "Professor", "Captain" or a "Baron".

Enjoy more looks from the Steampunk fashion show at our video below:

Read more >>

NYC Easter Parade 2014 - Millinery Chic

Do you love hats? Retro style? The NYC Easter Parade is a tradition that dates all the way back to the 1870's.  Along Fifth avenue on the blocks around St. Patrick's Cathedral, ladies would parade their "Sunday best" for a flamboyant display of fashion on Easter.  The American tradition was immortalized in Irving Berlin's Easter Parade .
Today's parade was a mix of characters.  My favorites were the coordinate groups of retro fashion fans that dressed to the nines in the spirit of Judy Garland and Fred Astaire.  There were some chic parade guests with exquisite millinery sculptures.  There are the arts and crafts bunch who glue gun every flower, bird, candy egg and piece of plastic grass they can get their hands on to create a loud DIY exercise on their head to gain as much attention as they can.

I like that there were a lot of men who participated in the festivities.  Then there are the ones who include elaborate matching ensembles for their dogs  that skirt that fine line between creative and creepy.  I found several children who were more than happy to get dolled up with Mom and Dad in their holiday outfits.

I found street style photography legend Bill Cunningham shooting the Parade fashions right beside me.  Rockefeller Center extended the Easter style procession as they had all of the Faberge Big Egg Hunt sculptures gathered around the big rink for these few days before they are moved back to their original locations.

So how did YOU celebrate Easter?

Read more >>

Blogger Love: Blast From The Past

Blast From the Past

Ever since the cave people started wearing loin cloths and furs, we humans have had fashion history. This week's roundup delves into the past and how it has inspired our future. From the swinging 60's impact on sunglasses, to a look at Eurovision's pop music style evolution. For those of us who can't get to the MET one blogger shares her experience and for those of us who haven't yet seen the Great Gatsby, we have a look into Gatsby style in the mix there as well. So get your cup of tea, reflect on years gone by and check out these links!

Links à la Mode: The IFB Weekly Roundup

• Attire Club: The Two Sides Of A Coin: Men's Body Image Considerations
• Beauty and the Budget: The Evolution of Bangs
• Caught in a Tale: Shopping in Marrakesh Souks: Top 5 Tips
• DressCode:HighFashion: Colour Trend S/S 13: Ink / Royal Blue
• Fashstash: Swinging Sixties | Sunglasses for SS/13
• Folio V: Denim Deco
• From Runway to Style: Dior's Cruise 2014 Sensual Freedom
• Jessy Dust: Photo Editing Apps for Instagram
• Jolly Caucus Race: Eurovision Style Evolution
• La Vie en Couleur: Grab Some Popcorn: 7 Must See Fashion Documentaries
• Le Simply Classy: Minimalism in Fashion
• Ms. Fabulous: PUNK: Chaos to Couture
• My Bougette: The Great Gatsby: extravagant excess
• Rising Colors: Maxi - The Classic Stunner
• Rose and Pine: My 5 Favorite MAC Shadows (and drugstore dupes of them all!)
• She's All Smiles: Friday Finds: Rings For Cat Lovers
• Stylonylon: Hair Tutorial With ghd Candy Collection Stylers
• Tangles and Chains: Promise Ring: Why, How and When to Wear it
• The Core Wardrobe: The Core Wardrobe: Essential blazers for every occasion
• What 2 Wear Where: What to wear to the Royal Ascot (My Fair Lady)

SPONSOR: Shopbop style Flight001, Isapera, Graf & Lantz, Ileana Makri, Nu Bra, Deux Lux, Gorjana Clutches, McQ, Vera Wang Flats, Costume National, & YFB dresses

Read more >>

Joy Cioci Spring 2013

It's almost holiday season, don't you just want to get away?  Joy Cioci showed a whimsical fashion presentation for her spring 2013 collection. It was a vintage mermaid fantasy, with lace swim caps, retro swimwear silhouettes.  Pearly pailettes embellished a dress like a pearly fishtail.  The model's nails were a three dimensional manicure of tiny pearl caviar.  

The bare feet digging into the sand just looked like fun, that I was envious.  The prints on the separates and dresses were taken from nature.  Some looked like lichens, stone or rippling water.  With HBO's Boardwalk Empire and the upcoming The Great Gatsby on the big screen, it looks like 1920's chic is here to stay.

Read more >>