film fashion: hugo

Andy and I saw Martin Scorsese's Hugo (in 3-D!) this weekend, and we really enjoyed it.  It's a charming film that is not just for children (something I was a bit worried about).  It's set in 1930s Paris, and naturally, I found myself obsessed with the look of one of the characters: Hugo's young friend, Isabelle.

I'm not sure what it is with me and the clothing young girls wore in the 1930s (see also my post about the film Cracks), but I love it and find it very inspiring.  Maybe it's because these girls (at least in the films) don't dress particularly childishly, but rather like young, if quirky, adults.  Anyway, Isabelle wears pretty much the same outfit througout the film: beret, striped sweater (boatneck, with buttons at the shoulder), plaid skirt, tweed jacket, and knee socks with brown boots.

I found some Isabelle-esque pieces on Etsy to recreate this look.  I might try it myself (well, sans kneesocks)--or at least I will make an effort to start wearing a beret again!

1. Harris tweed coat, from VintageChicago.
2. Brown ankle boots, from JLVintage.
3. Black Mr. John beret, from PoppycockVintage.
4. Tartan skirt by Ben Nevis, from CustardHeartVintage.
5. Handknit striped merino boatneck sweater, from corieangel.

xo

K

stripes forever

My dad--second from left in plaid shirt--and friends in cool striped shirts, circa late 1940s.

The first items of clothing I ever bought for myself were two striped shirts, identical except for their color (one was red and white, the other blue and white).  I was 12, it was 1981, and I bought these with allowance money earned mowing the lawn.  I think I bought them at the mall.  I was a few years away from being a cool thrift store shopper.

I'm feeling the stripe love again lately.  (Well, honestly, it never left me.  I've posted here previously about my chevron stripe love.)  It started up again in earnest when I saw the Coco avant Chanel biopic, specifically when Audrey Tatou wore a version of the wonderful outfit below.

This got me searching for Breton stripe shirts and sweaters.  (You can read a really interesting history of the Breton sailor shirt in fashion in this old article from The Independent.)  Which also led me to a sometimes-frustrating trip through Etsy on a search for Breton striped items.  So I expanded my search to just striped items, and did find some neat stuff.  Check it out!

Adorable felt Claude brooch, from poosac.

Obviously, it's not just the stripes that make this sundress amazing.  From MsZinski.

Stripes and a bateau neck on this fab sweater from pineapplemint.

Gorgeous 1940s olive and black striped skirt.  From HeyViv.

This striped knit cap with anchor applique from dollsandrobots is so cute--I'm quite disappointed it only comes in children's sizes!

I really wish this amazing green dress from TopSpecialVintage was my size!

xo
K