Back in Shoreditch, roaming through The Vintage Fair

Once again East London has showed its nonconformist side of things by hosting The Vintage Fair at their Shoreditch Town hall. The place burst with the clothes rails and jewellery stalls, offering a wide range of retro frocks and selected paraphernalia. Nonetheless, the most frequented garments were those of 60's and 70's with a multitude of colourful tea dresses and oversized cardigans.

Eager fashionistas rummaged the clothes racks hunting for the coveted pieces, trying them on as they went. 

Some traditional British cupcakes and tea were served at the cafe.

What I bought. Sorted for the next winter.

Sweetheart devil or seducer the priest

Music rocked the stage and the lights turned crimson filling the room with sensual exhilaration. Even the fellow photo crews  sighed simultaneously, vaguely shifting in their cramped 'nests' (I guess due to another hustle with the change of lighting more than anything else).

Superciliously smirking, boys walked out in impudently perfect  suits in black and grey charcoal colours. The sternness of this collection emphasized the impeccable quality of cut and celebrated a male silhouette.

Ambrosially fitting suits undoubtedly resembled of Russian clergymen cassocks.
Check out this HOT lineup:

Despite of the apparent source of the idea, the application of new add-ons, the exquisite textiles and the sly interpolation of details has a direct reference to current fashion  instantaneously makes the garments to stand out.
Here is an example of typical Russian deacon's cassock:

The rigid elbow-high gloves (is this rubber?) definitely did the trick of titivating the once old-school look, so did the extended

pants artfully escaping into under the mini shorts. Tight.....man.

We nominated the vanquisher of the show the suit with the skirt, knee-high socks and the deacon hat (the first picture in the header); for its emotional voluptuousness, daring provocation and the exquisite quality. The wearability and ingenuity without succumbing into absurd was particularly pleasing.

Remembered that "God is in the details" from Ludwig Miles van der Rohe, but seriously doubting now whether it is God at all....

Dreaming of guys wearing skirts. Any thoughts on this?

Colour shuffling - inspirations from the past

I love the fact that instead of the white fragments on the skirt's pattern designer has used the pale beige. A typical feature of 60's - 80's era. This nostalgic and rather psychological effect gives the outfit a hint of pensiveness and thereby withholds it from the roller-coaster of aggressive rage of colour-smashing.

Although the picture fails to deliver the precise colours, it is still very much dynamic and bright.

Looking at this beautiful flare skirt brings me back to the childhood. My Godmother had the funky curtains in the kitchen to hide the closet section where the rubbish bin used to live. The fabric's print was very much like the one on the left. I always called them 'nuts' to myself. And what about the spherical 'nuts' lamps everyone (including my family) had in those days.

The National Front Museum in Latvia still has got one.

New inspirations- looking back

Following a new fad on 70's.

"The Irony of Fate" 1975 (USSR)

When it comes to fashion I enduringly keep having bursts of 'gut feelings', and this autumn was not an exception.

Before my dear mother rang me, inquiring whether I had seen the recent issue of Bazaar, which I need to admit I did not, she solemnly announced to me me that ‘the browns were back’. 

Colour palettes in fashion are always dictated by season. Changing weather conditions, darker days and maroon folliage makes it compulsorily to replace summer outfits onto cashmere knits.  This is why we find fuscous colours prevailing in autumn and  fairer in spring. But if the last couple of years proceeded under the banner of all shades of grey this time it is overtaken by the old-school browns.

Chloe A/W collection

Jersey, wool and crêpe de Chine (which you won't be able to find these days, but the advantage of it was that it did not crease- at all) accompany the melody of browns.

Due to  evolving manufacturing and cheap production costs jersey was especially popular and broadly available then on the market . 


But wearing jersey-made clothes can gravily disadvantage your look if worn improperly. The fabric has a tendency to visually enhance bodily curves. "Not to be flattered at any times" , these are not sort of curves that you imagine could make you look phisically appealing.  Jersey, along with most of the close-fitting knitted textiles visually enlarges your body provided  that it repeats the shape of your body but also layers that extra thickness. Also it produces multiple  creases and protuberant masses of material in a waist area. In short it does not flow. 


The good thing about repetitive cicles of fashion- it gives you a chance to learn from our own fashion contempts- commited in the past.  But fashion is so intervined with human psychology and perception of emotions that it gets  almost impossible to resist temtation of 'commiting a fashion assault' once again.
Of course repetitive circles do change as the textile industry develops along with other sectors of production. And the 'new era jersey' has become much more flexible and pliable to our desires, still advantageous in providing warmth and comfort.

The advice would be to combine various materials. 

As the jersey top/sweater/polo neck would perfectly go with a wool skirt or trousers. Wool is also heavier which grants you an elegance.

A duet of knits and leather would also guarantee you a  'fashion visa' into this season. Consider something of an aviator look, as offered by Burberry (right). 

And if this seems to be just nice, but feels like 'needing some boost', a bright detail would do the trick. Whether a  bright shirt's collar, a tie, or  an accessory of your own choise would liven up any too 'standoffish' look. Be creative and put some zest into it, just don't overdo.