Sunday, October 28, 2012

Dapper Chap #3: Jonathan Hagey


Dapper Chap #3 is Jonathan Hagey, a gentleman outfitter and haberdasher from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Jonathan coined the term 'vintage fusion' to describe both his style of dress and the selection of vintage 'gentlemenswear' he curates in his shop, Kingpin's Hideaway. Jonathan combines the traditional British approach to men's dress while incorporating distinctive pieces from across the decades of the previous centuries.  Kingpin Chic is his credo:  

"A gentleman always dresses for the day, so he is prepared to do what must be done.  As a man of action and grace, he eschews fashion while partaking in his own personal style; not to be a spectacle, of self-aggrandizement, but a beacon of social respect and elegance."

Kingpin's Hideaway is located at 672 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON. www.kingpinchic.com







Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Chap Hop vs. Electroswing

Wow! I've discovered yet another vintage-inflected genre of music, this one known as "Chap Hop."  What do you think? Personally, I prefer Electroswing, so I've included my favourite Parov Stelar 'mashup' below the Chap Hop sampler.



Friday, October 19, 2012

Cloche Cuteness

So in love with my 'new' 1920s green felt cloche from Ms. Tips.  It's got a sporty sort of air to it, which makes it great for outdoor rambles.  



Thursday, October 18, 2012

1920s Prohibition Whiskey Tasting Party: Edmonton Litfest

Last night I attended the first sort of vintage-y themed event I'd heard about since moving back to Edmonton.  It was the Edmonton Litfest Roaring Twenties Prohibition Whiskey Tasting Party. I really enjoyed learning more about the link between whiskey and Canadian history (the tasting bit was interesting too and there were a few playful burlesque interludes featuring fishnets and feathers).  As well, it was nice to see a few folks accessorizing their looks with vintage pieces!  All in all, it was a fun night! Since I only brought my iPhone, I didn't take many high quality pics and I completely forgot to snap a photo of my own outfit, so I have added an older image of me in the dress I actually wore to the event. 


















Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Dapper Chap #2: Lassi Patokorpi

Dapper Chap #2 is Lassi, a student of English philology and History, from Finland.  In his words, he is “a vintage enthusiast, a lover of all things beautiful, and a devout defender of everything old by heart.” An avid vintage shoe collector, he is also the president of the Finnish Vintage Association, Fintage-ry, based in Tampere, where he lives and studies. You can check out their website at www.fintage.net (the English part explains a little bit about them).

When it comes to aesthetic and design tastes, Lassi enjoys both the organic flourishes of Art Nouveau (esp. German Jugendstil) and the streamlined modernity of the interwar period.  When it comes to vintage fashion, he is particularly partial to the 1930s, due to the ideal ways that 30s clothing was tailored to accentuate the proportions of a man’s body, as well as “the quality of the workmanship, the attention to detail and the understated play with colour” prominent in 30s menswear. Like many vintage wearers, Lassi also gravitates towards vintage because it “stands for recycling and sustainable development plus culture and history.”

As his ensembles below make clear, Lassi has a keen and impeccable eye for detail.  However, he tells me he usually he opts for “a more laid-back and workwear-oriented approach” because “with these clothes I can signal that I love that era, be stylish, and look a little bit disheveled in the midst of it all. If I were to wear a suit, however, it would have to look perfect. Too much pressure there! Also, 30s suits are sadly in the minority in my wardrobe, as I am lean and tall, a bad combination for vintage suits!  Whenever I am out watching burlesque or some other such event I wear my trusted 1930's black tie.”  Whether formally dressed or not, Lassi is clearly one dapper vintage wearer!




Monday, October 15, 2012

A Frock for Fair and Foul Weather

Those of us who live in regions that get all four seasons know how hard it is to pack up our lovely lighter garments and peep toe footwear to get ready for the colder weather.  Recently, I got this amazing 1930s cotton plaid dress, but our weather here in Edmonton has been flip-flopping so much between fair and foul (it even snowed once already), that I thought it wise to start planning how I can get a few more wears out of this cutie before the winter.  What do you think? Do I do ok by adding the red beret, dark sweater & hosiery and boots?  Obviously, on colder days, I will add a coat (I got a peacoat!!).  How do you make your fair weather frocks work when the cooler temperatures come?




Slighty Schia

I love 1930s avant garde hats, and the Piko Paris black velvet 'cossack turban' hat I just found for the shop is no exception.  I see a resemblance to the Schiaparelli hat Cecil Beaton photographed Wallis Simpson wearing for British Vogue in 1935. Would you wear it?


Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Fall 'Lusts & Musts' II: Jaunty Berets

I'm sure I bring up berets every year around this time (oh, just checked my blog archive...yep, posted such last year :)).  Another perennially stylish and functional 'lust & must' on my fall wardrobe list.  I have a couple (including the blue one below and a jaunty red one) coming to the shop shortly...


Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Colenimo Spring/Summer 2013 / Helen Wills Moody

I'll return to my Fall "Lusts & Musts" list shortly. For now, I thought I'd share that I was just catching up on my blog reading and noticed my favourite style bloggers Honey Kennedy and A Thought Is the Blossom have shown peeks of the Colenimo Spring/Summer 2013 collection, which caught my eye, in part because the pieces are said to have been inspired by 1920s tennis star Helen Wills Moody.  I LOVE the outfits depicted below, but after perusing some real-life photos of Wills Moody, it is probably no surprise that this vintage fashion fuddy duddy loved the original muse's style--both on and off court--even more!! In the end, I like the tailored pieces of this vintage-inspired collection (though for some reason I found myself thinking more that these were looks Amelia Earhart would have loved for her fashion line).












Monday, October 8, 2012

Fall Lusts & Musts I: Pretty Pea Coats

After foolishly letting go of my beloved navy pea coat last year (shown in second pic below), I'm on the hunt for the perfect replacement. The one below is from J. Crew, but I found it far too expensive. I know the ideal vintage one is out there....anyway, this is the first item at the top of my Fall Lusts n' Musts list!











Society Song

The Sarah Slean vintage video streak continues.  This one, "Society Song," is particularly great, IMHO. 

Friday, October 5, 2012

Dapper Chap #1: Florian Kremers

Dapper Chap #1 is Florian Kremers, a graphic designer and illustrator, who is originally from the Ruhr-Area in Germany, but who now lives in Wiesbaden.  I think Florian's vintage style conveys an eye for detail, but also a playful dash of sartorial irreverence--an irreverence that, according to him, relates to the fact that his "roots are in the punk rock scene, which makes me keep a healthy distance from rose-tinted nostalgia."  At the same time, his vintage aesthetic, which he tells me he has been honing since 2007, when he first started really getting into vintage clothing, reflects an appreciation for various styles of dress from the past, particularly the 1930s. Taking cues from both "golden age" illustrations and photos of 'real' men, he artfully mixes and matches vintage with repros., and he carries off both formal suits and more casual 'workwear' looks with particular penache! I like his "quality over quantity' approach. Notice how he worked the same shirt, tie, and polka dotted pocket square into two completely different outfits for two different seasons and occasions! Bello recessionisto, this is just what many men in the 30s would do!  All in all, Florian is one dapper vintage-loving chap, indeed.  To view Florian's design and illustration work, some of which is vintage-themed, check out his blog. Oh, and yes, you are right, that IS him modelling some of Vecona Vintage's clothes!   

*Photo by Dirk Heinrich






Musical Interlude: The Rose

Before I forget, I have been meaning to post this amazing song and video by one of my favourite Canadian performers, Sarah Slean. I love it, and not just because it comes from an album entitled "The Baroness Redecorates." :). I love the lines, "HOW HIGH THE MOON? HOW DEEP THE OCEAN? I NEVER KNEW 'TIL NOW." Very profound and relevant to me.  Good night and see you tomorrow with my first dapper chap post!

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Let's Hear It for the Boys AND Benjamin Bixby

After noticing that there is a real dearth of blogs devoted to vintage menswear, and, more importantly, to modern men who are into the vintage life, I have decided to take the reigns and will be doing a series of blog posts devoted to some dapper vintage-loving chaps from the around the globe with whom I am lucky enough to be acquainted!  Before the weekend is up, watch for my post about the first dapper chap!!  In the mean-time, I was doing some online research and came across some fabulous outfits from Andre 3000's Benjamin Bixby clothing (back in 2008). I hear tell it disappeared but in Feb. 2012, Dre announced he would be resurrecting the brand as "Bixby"?  Anyway, WOW!  Menswear inspired by 20s and 30s collegiate fashion and Arrow Collar ads? Yes, please!






Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Thirties Goodies

Round up of some 1930s goodies coming to (or already in) the shop:

1930s Navy & White Apple Print Day Dress

1930s Buttercream Crocheted Gauntlet Gloves

Pattern booklets from 1931 and 1932


Monday, October 1, 2012

Knox Hats Revisited: Fall Hat Show and Cocktail Party


In range of NY, this weekend?  You should check out the Fall Hat Show and Cocktail Party, at 167 North 9th street (Brooklyn, NY), on Friday, October 5th, 6-9 p.m!  I'm told this show shall showcase some amazing headwear, particularly the dreamy hand-draped chapeaux created by Julia Knox of Knox Hats Revisited!  Julia and I are working on an exciting collaboration that I can't reveal yet, but if you love 20s cloche hats and other vintage-inspired draped designs, you'll surely fall for these toppers the way I have!!  Not able to make the show?  Be sure to visit Knox's website, particularly the Winter Hats section, to see some other dreamy styles that could be keeping your head both warm and stylishly adorned this winter!


me, Julia Emily



You'll find a selection of ready made hats through the retailers listed on the stockists page, but my real love is the custom hat, no head is too big, no head is too small, no color, style or era is out of range, talk to me and let's create your dream hat together.