Dear New York City dwellers and admirers of vintage,
Just a quick tip that the Manhattan Vintage Clothing show is running now. If you’re anything like me and enjoy the thrill of the search, rare Lanvin and Chanel, Vietnamese denim, and luxurious screen-printed silk scarves, this show is a must.
No need to thank me. See you there tomorrow!
Yours truly,
Chelsey
The Manhattan Vintage Show runs February 1-2 at the Metropolitan Pavillion at 125 West 18th Street
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Street Style: Our favorite street style photographer Lord Ashbury snaps Becca of FashionSheSays in the streets of New York.
Via Lord Ashbury.
Sydney Wayser was looking for an escape from the drudgery of a dreary New York winter and found it in a fictional land. Her new album, Bell Choir Coast, is the result of her journey to this whimsical place in her imagination. A grown-up departure for the French-American singer/songwriter, who split time growing up in Paris and L.A., Sydney has reconciled a childhood spent in two places by creating a world of her own. When first beginning Bell Choir Coast, listeners are immediately transported to Sydney’s fictional coast, but by the end of the album, they inevitably end up in a world of their own, be it sun-soaked beaches or snow-capped mountains. Uplifting and also introspective, Sydney’s music is just what we need to get through what promises to be another wet, gray winter. Here, the singer that has rocketed to the top of our “Most Played” list answers some of our questions.
Did you always know that you wanted to make music?
Yeah! Writing came naturally and I never had any questions as to whether or not I would play music, it was more a question of when I could get out in the world and start making it professionally.
Which musicians have had the biggest influence on you?
Rufus Wainwright, John Lennon, Feist, Damien Rice, Arcade Fire, Fiona Apple, Joni Mitchell, Serge Gainsbourg, Beck… I guess I’d have to throw a little Tina Turner in there somewhere too. I’ll never forget the late night dance sessions I had as a kid. “What’s Love Got to Do With it?” 80’s Classic!
What do you want people to take away from listening to your songs?
My most recent record, Bell Choir Coast, was written about creating my ideal world. I felt stuck in New York and needed a place to escape to. When people listen to the record, I hope they picture themselves floating in the middle of the ocean, or huddled around a fire with their tribe, or kindred spirits.
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration comes in all forms. For Bell Choir Coast specifically, it came from the cities, stories, paintings, authors, films, and countries I love the most.
Do you have any exciting plans for the holidays?
I’m actually moving across the country! I’m packing up my van with all my instruments, boxes, books, my whole life basically, and driving it to LA. The plan is to spend New Year’s Eve in Joshua Tree and coast into sunny LA on the first of January.
What is your favorite vintage era?
The 1920s probably, although I am a sucker for Victorian furniture. Mix a little mid century modern in there and a few hats from the 70s, and I’d be set.
What is your favorite place in the world?
Not sure I have just one, but Paris, the Greek Islands, and Los Angeles would definitely make the cut.
Jacqueline Rousseau’s story reads like the script for a movie. Midwestern born and raised, she made her way out of Indiana to study at the London College of Fashion and has interned and assisted at Diane von Furstenberg, Roksanda Illincic, and Burberry Prorsum. Now, she lives and works on her locally sourced line of ready-to-wear women’s clothing in New York City, where her youthful, graphic designs caught our eye. Here, Jacqueline tells us about her inspiration, experience, and the holidays.
What sparked your fascination with fashion?
For as long as I can remember I have always been interested in color and texture. I was obsessed with Barbie dolls and that led to me drawing ideas of dresses.
When did you know that you wanted to be a designer?
I knew from a fairly young age, 9 or 10. I was always sketching and thinking about fashion, and always interested in what people were wearing. I had an especially stylish second grade teacher and I would look forward to her outfits everyday!
How did going to design school in London influence your aesthetic?
Going to design school in London took me completely out of my comfort zone and allowed me to challenge myself more. The fashion in London is always innovative and exciting, people really express themselves through their personal style.
How would you say your designs have changed since you started your line?
When I first moved to NYC, I was only doing women’s wear; now I am focusing on men’s and women’s accessories.
You assisted in the studios of some pretty big names. What is the most valuable thing you learned?
I’ve learned to trust my instincts, and to not be afraid to experiment and explore.
What were you wearing when you were a fashion student?
Haha. When I was a fashion student I was running around like crazy, working on projects and exhausted. My go-to was an outfit of this denim mini that I loved, thick wool tights and a t- shirt….during the damp London winter there would inevitably be layers (and more layers) of cardigans added. Definitely was more function than style!
What is your favorite holiday food?
Pie. Pumpkin or pecan. I also love to bake Christmas cookies and have been known to whip up several dozen batches to share with friends during the holidays.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
Teleportation! Then I could pop over to London whenever I wanted to, dinner with friends, and strolls in Hyde park- and not miss out on things here in NYC either. :)
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Coming Soon: Vanessa Bruno’s NYC Pop-up
French designer Vanessa Bruno, whose girly-meets-sophisticated spring ready-to-wear show wowed us in September, is planning to open a pop-up showroom in SoHo in time for New York Fashion Week in February. With a flagship store already open in Los Angeles and about 25 U.S.-based retailers buying the clothes wholesale, the brand hopes to expand their stateside presence in the coming years. “It is a first step before we open a standalone store in New York,” Elsa Poncet, Bruno’s international sales director, told WWD. “The U.S. currently represent around 10 percent of our business. Down the road, it could represent 20 to 25 percent.” Personally, we love the idea of infusing a little Parisian cool into American style.
Image via The Cut.
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The Rad Vintage America crew made a stop in NYC on their cross-country tour. They arrived fully stocked, coming from a big pick in Mohawk, New York where they visited an estate full of vintage heirloom treasures. On Sunday, they spent a day at the Green Flea on Manhattan’s Upper East Side selling pieces from the pick. We were lucky enough to pull them away from their busy film schedule early this week to chat about their on-the-road documentary on the business of finding and selling vintage. Here we sit with Kate Jones, the beautiful and inspiring mastermind of the show, over tea at Cafe Gitane in the Jane Hotel.
We headed over to the Met today for an exhibit we’ve been buzzing about at Wiseling headquarters. If you’re in NYC and love fashion as much as we do, “Schiaparelli and Prada: Impossible Conversations,” open to the public today, is a must-see.
It’s unbelievable how modern Elsa Schiaparelli was, not only with her designs but also her opinion about liberating woman in society. Miuccia Prada and Elsa Schiaparelli share many similarities in their designs, but their creative process and many of their opinions differ. The juxtaposition of their work and attitudes make the exhibit most fascinating. Though Schiaparelli focused on decorating the upper body with hats and blazers and Prada emphasizes the lower body through skirts and shoes, one still gets the impression that they design with a common goal. One thing they agree on is the non-commercial beauty of their designs and the balance of being feminine while still obtaining power. “If I have done anything, it is to make ugly appealing,” says Miuccia Prada.
The short videos with semi-fictional conversations between Schiaparelli, played by actress Judy Davis, and Miuccia Prada as herself are both insightful and amusing. We couldn’t help but laugh when Elsa Schiaparelli raised one eyebrow and asked with a Italian accent “what is globalization?”
The exhibit is arranged in seven arrangements, all of which include a short video with Schiaparelli and Prada discussing a relative topic. They argue whether fashion should be considered art or not, Schiaparelli for and Prada against, but in the end agreed that they would probably be friends if they both had lived during the same time. Though they never settle on whether fashion should be considered art or not, the exhibition is truly amazing and inspiring, and so are these two strong and iconic women.
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