The Wiseling Blog

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Street Style: Kasia, photographed in the streets of Poznań, Poland, shows us how to make vintage look modern.

Via the Sartorialist. 

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Book Review: Wearable Vintage Fashion

Incorporating vintage fashion into one’s wardrobe can be challenging. First, you have to track down a decent quality piece that is worth its investment, which is tricky, given the multitude of cheap knock-offs. Then, you have to make sure that it matches the era that you are going for, of which there have been more than a few each with their own design aesthetics and nuances. And finally, you have to figure out a way to work your new treasure into your wardrobe, a daunting task in and of itself. But the reward is well worth the hard work and this new book written by industry insiders Clare Bridge and Jo Waterhouse takes the struggle out of the process, leaving only the joy of scoring that one-of-a-kind piece. By dividing their book, Wearable Vintage Fashion, into chapters based on decade, Bridge and Waterhouse have created a vintage lover’s resource that is easy to navigate. Each chapter contains a brief overview of historical events that influenced the given decade’s fashion, select outfits that demonstrate the key design principles of the era, and a portrait of a style icon with tips for recreating her look. Our favorite section was at the end of the book, where Bridge and Waterhouse had compiled a gallery of street style photos of women who had successfully incorporated vintage pieces into their everyday looks. This book is ideal for both the novice vintage lover seeking shopping advice and the experienced collector who wants a go-to for styling inspiration.

Buy Wearable Vintage Fashion here.

A Wiseling Fashion Fête

A grand time was had by all at our first ever listing party in Soho on Saturday. Wiseling staffers and close friends sipped on fresh-pressed juices and munched on a delicious selection of fruit, nuts and cheese. On view were some of the vintage and contemporary pieces available on the site and some beautiful new designer pieces brought by party-goers. A mini photo studio was erected and all pieces were photographed by none other than omnipresent street style blogger and Wiseling-friend Lord Ashbury who was fresh off of his trip to London Fashion Week. One of our friends scored a brand new pair of Acne jeans and another walked away with a lovely leather clutch, all proving that it’s all fun and games until shopping is involved…then it’s a party. Stay tuned for an announcement for upcoming listing parties in NYC.

Treasure Hunting NYC: Upper East Side

The Upper East Side is designer label heaven. A stroll along Madison Avenue yields such names as Michael Kors, Gucci, Derek Lam, Christian Louboutin, and so many more. Vintage and consignment are not the first words that come to mind in such an affluent part of the city, but we did the legwork and found two stand out shops packed full of treasures (that just so happen to be right next door to each other!).

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Point of Reference: Cardigans

Much beloved by both women and men, the cardigan was adapted from the knitted wool waistcoats worn by British officers during the First World War. After the war, it gained popularity with those in outdoor professions, especially fishermen. It was Coco Chanel, however, that brought the cardigan into the realm of women’s wear as a comfortable yet chic alternative to the corseted fashions of the times. 

Today, the cardigan has many faces, from the tailored Chanel-esque cardigan jacket to the preppy collegiate inspired versions. With as many styles to choose from as there are personal tastes, this omnipresent piece is sure to infiltrate your wardrobe. We love this A.P.C. cardi as a versatile wardrobe staple. 

Wear with jeans and a t-shirt to amp up a casual look or with a jeweled collar button down for a quirkier version. What is your favorite way to wear a cardigan?

Book Review: What I Wore Today

A couple of weeks ago, we reviewed Style Diaries, a book profiling an international selection of personal style bloggers. We had expected What I Wore Today to be something similar, but were pleasantly surprised. This book contains no pictures of bloggers whose fame has granted them free designer merchandise or front row runway seats. Instead, it features images of inspiration collected from flickr and smaller blogs. What I Wore Today seeks to inspire readers with pictures of women like them, posing for small digital cameras and iPhones in their bedrooms, hallways, and kitchens. This is not an in depth inspection of the effect of the internet on street style. However, it succeeds in its goal to make the reader revisit her closet.

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Book Review: Nylon: The Story of a Fashion Revolution by Susannah Handley

One can’t shop for vintage without running into synthetic fibers. Especially for those of us with a taste for 60s attire, there is polyester everywhere. Nylon covers the rise, moment in the shining light of fashion, and subsequent fall of all things artificial. Susannah takes a chronological approach to telling Nylon’s story, starting with its creation by the Du Pont Company in the 1930s and the fashion revolution it ignited. She discusses the importance of artificial fibers in the creation of fast fashion in the 60s and its fall from grace at the hands of disco and leisure suits in the 1970s. This book is an interesting insight into the fashion industry and the things we wear today. In the epilogue, Susannah includes a quote by Japanese textiles designer Hiroshi Matsushita in which he stresses that “it is a mistake to use man-made fibers to simulate natural ones because man-made fibers should be appreciated for their distinct qualities.” Nylon is definitely worth a read for those wishing to know what they are wearing everyday, and perhaps even a place on your coffee table.

Buy it here

Fashion Timeline: Sundresses

The omnipresent sundress or day dress is the go-to piece of clothing for almost all women. They are comfortable, easy to wear, fashionable, and allow for a nice draft in the warm summer months. This summer staple wasn’t always this way though. A century ago, the day dress was long, hot, and contained many complicated layers. Luckily, times have changed; however, a nod to a bygone era can liven up a wardrobe. Here are our favorite sundresses from the last 100 years to use as inspiration.

1900s

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NYFW Kicks Off With Fashion’s Night Out

New York Fashion Week is upon us and what better way to kick it off than with a night of shopping, parties, and shopping? Fashion’s Night Out holds some of the liveliest and fashionable events of the year, but it can be hard (if not impossible) to narrow down which parties to attend from such a wide field. We scoured our sources to recommend some of our favorites. From vintage collaborations at What Goes Around Comes Around to screenings of the 1994 Spring Versace Show at American Two Shot, here are some of the parties we won’t miss. 

What Goes Around Comes Around at 351 West Broadway in Soho from 7-10pm

Artists & Fleas at Chelsea Market (pop-up space across from Amy’s Bread) from 7-11pm

Amarcord Vintage at 252 Lafayette from 6-10pm

American Two Shot at 135 Grand Street from 6-10pm

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Street Style: Alana Zimmer shows us the merits of wearing all denim and leather.

Via I’m Koo.