i spy: laughing ladies, Lanvin polka dots, more delicious Hamm, and summer lushness from Klimt

In this edition of I Spy: laughing ladies in the 1930s, superb Helsinki street style, more Hamm, and a bar that never changes.

See more inspiration on my Tumblr and Pinterest.

* In tribute to what would have been Orson Welles' 100th birthday this year, one of my all-time favorite films, The Third Man, has been restored.  This is a German poster for the movie by Heinrich Stengel.  You can see many more beautiful examples of posters for this film at the following link. | MUBI Notebook blog

* Photo of Woody Guthrie performing at McSorley's Ale House in NYC in 1943. (Photo by Eric Schaal-The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images.)  What I love about this is McSorley's looks almost exactly like this to this day--down to the sawdust on the floor.  And Woody's outfit is terrific. | LIFE magazine on Tumblr

* A wonderful photo, dated 1939, of two ladies laughing, apparently at something in Esquire magazine.  I wish I knew what it was! | roni greenwood on Flickr

* If, like me, you're missing Mad Men and Jon Hamm's handsome (and sometimes ridiculous) face, you have options.  You can re-watch Mad Men, and/or you can enjoy him along with Daniel Radcliffe as a 1930s Russian morphine addict in the funny and dark A Young Doctor's Notebook and Other Stories, based on the stories by Mikhail Bulgakov.  Both series of the show are now available on Netflix.  (You can also see Hamm in A Wet Hot American Summer First Day of Camp on Netflix now.)  And that's your Hamm News for the day. | my screenshot; more on my Tumblr

* Ilka Chase modeling a fantastic polka dot dress by Lanvin in May 1925, photo by Edward Steichen. | Corbis

* Gustav Klimt's The Park, 1910 or earlier. | Wikimedia Commons

* Great street style, Victoria in Helsinki!  Love those pants and the pop of color from her scarf.  I'm so glad that Hel-Looks appears to be back in Helsinki and posting street style. | Hel-Looks

* A circa 1920s vasculum.  Isn't it beautiful?  These were used by botanists to safely collect and store plants without crushing them when in the field. | Live Auctioneers

* A door handle in the Bremen City Hall, designed by Franz von Stuck.  This makes me really bummed that I never got to visit the Museum Villa Stuck when we were in Munich.  Next trip! | Culture Design blog

xo

K

i spy: pink Gothic, a wall of fire, and amazing fashion

An almost futuristic Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, a wall of fire depicted in a dreamy photograph, a pink Gothic interior, a stitched-up park, and amazing fashions from Louella Ballerino.  

See more on my Pinterest and Tumblr.

clockwise, starting upper left:

* The Grand Gallery in the Gothic Revival Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, London, built in 1749 by Horace Walpole. | English Castles and Manor Houses

* Geez, these Louella Ballerino looks, from a 1946 ad, are just amazing.  If you follow my link to the FIDM blog, you can see photos of the top on the right in full color and worn by a woman who owned the top, as well as a little background on crop/midriff tops. | FIDM Museum blog

* A photograph of artist Yves Klein and his work, Mur de feu (Wall of fire), January 1961. | Smithsonian Archives of American Art

* A totally charming embroidered depiction of New York City's Washington Square Park, by Marcia Stebbins, 1930s. | Cooper Hewitt

* Portrait of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney, ca. 1890. That dress and headpiece are just incredible! | Smithsonian Archives of American Art

xo

K 

i spy: sad Don, a gorgeous menu, and great NYC street style

May is over and seemed to go by really quickly, too.  If this collage were a realistic depiction of my brain in May, it would be 95% Mad Men and 5% dogs.

You can see more by following my Pinterest and/or Tumblr.

* I still can't get used to the fact that there is no more Mad Men.  I know.  I'm as sad as Don curled up in a fetal position. | coffee-and-classic-rock Tumblr

* Photographer Dan Bannino decided to help raise money for shelter dogs by photographing them posed as famous writers, and it is a wondrous thing indeed!  How cute is this little dog in Emily Dickinson drag?  Follow my link to Buzzfeed to see more of these great photos. | Buzzfeed

* I've been perusing the many fashion-related items in the New York Public Library digital collections, and the illustrations by André-Edouard Marty are consistently favorites.  This is a 1921 illustrated ad for a Paul Poiret dress. | NYPL Digital Collections

* A simply gorgeous 1960s menu from the Bay View Hotel in Bodega Bay, California.  The Los Angeles Public Library's online collection of menus is a surprisingly beautiful place to browse. | Los Angeles Public Library

* Great NYC street style from The Sartorialist.  I love her outfit (and the touch of mustard from her blouse), but most of all that excellent, Howard's End Helena Bonham Carter hair! | The Sartorialist

xo

K

i spy: 1930s embroidery, Burchfield showers, and a book village

Just a small selection of beautiful images from April.  I don't know anything about the artist Marie Montard, but isn't that book village charming and clever?  And if anyone has seen a photograph of the gorgeous Georges Doeuillet dress in the illustration, please let me know.  It's incredible.

You can see more on my Tumblr and Pinterest.

* 1930s embroidered wool dress | millstreetvintage

* Lull in Summer Rain, by Charles Burchfield, 1916 | Avery Galleries

* Village de livres, book art by Marie Montard | mariemontard.com

* A woman named Zola Campbell, rowing a boat on Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, ca. 1910-1913. | Glenbow Museum Archives on Flickr

* 1920 fashion illustration for couturier Georges Doeuillet, by André-Edouard Marty. | NYPL Digital Collections

xo

K

i spy: a tin lady, Paul Poiret's dining room, a folkloric 1930s dress

A lovely if haunting winter scene and a spring green interior . . . some inspiration from the last month.  See more by following me on Pinterest and Tumblr.

clockwise, from upper left:

* The dining room in the Paris apartment of Paul Poiret, 1913.  Those leafy/fern-like designs (painted?) on the walls are so gorgeous. | University of Heidelberg

* I love Charles Burchfield's paintings; this one really captures the end of winter snowmelt period.  Street Vista in Winter, by Charles E. Burchfield, 1957-1960. | Burchfield Penney Art Center

* The tin lady?  This funny little cabinet card is circa 1870-1890, and advertises a hardware store in Cadillac, Michigan. (And it sold for over $500.00!) | Cowan's Auctions

* A very pretty folkloric wool dress, by Luelle Ballerino, 1938. | FIDM Museum

* A page from Floriated Ornament: a series of thirty-one designs, by Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin, 1849. | Clark | Mary Ann Beinecke Collection

xo

K

i spy: a glamorous witch, sparkly Schiaparelli, a pipe-smoking dog

An intimidating yet rather glamorous witch, a post-war ball, sparkly Schiaparelli, and a dog with a pipe!  These are just a few of the beautiful and inspiring images I collected last month.  (You can see more of this by following me on Tumblr or Pinterest.)

clockwise, starting at upper left:

* A 1938 dress from the Nordic Museum in Stockholm. | Digitalt Museum

* Maria Germanova as The Witch in the Moscow Art Theatre's 1908 production of The Blue Bird by Maurice Maeterlinck. | Wikimedia Commons

* Evening blouse by Elsa Schiaparelli, winter 1938-39. | Metropolitan Museum of Art

* A tintype of a dog with a pipe, ca. 1875. | Minnesota Historical Society

* Couples dancing in the Grand Foyer of the Paris Opera House at a Grand Victory Ball.  Paris, France, May, 1946.  Photo by David E. Scherman. | Life Magazine

xo

K

thom browne pre fall 2015

I don't post very often about current womenswear collections.  I do like fashion, am often frustrated by it, and by no means do I follow it closely.  But this collection by Thom Browne (for Pre-Fall 2015) caught my eye.  It is based on the concept of the uniform, and apparently that's something I like (see my somewhat confused love for the Fall 2013 Jil Sander collection, here).  After wearing a Catholic grade school uniform as a child, and rebelling against it ever since, I'm unsure why the concept appeals to me so much.  One thing is certain, though:  the mix of patterns/prints and textures here gives the collection an eclectic feel and really makes the simple shapes used seem less like a uniform.

What else I know I love is the menswear tailoring (and ties!), the short trousers, the coats, and the interesting layers.  Oh, and the accessories--big bags, oxfords, sleek ankle boots, and fun socks.

You can look at the full collection here at WWD.com.

xo

K

street style: summer girls, noir dames and spies, and lots of coats

I haven't done a street style post since January (!), so this one's pretty big.  There are some cute summer looks here, but there were so many coats in my favorites that they make up half of this round-up. But the good news is there's something here for everyone, no matter what hemisphere you're in!

summer girls

*Cute nautical stripes and baggy-ish shorts in Genoa. | The Sartorialist

*Folkloric flower pockets! In London. | The Locals

*I just want to step inside this photo and live in it.  Love the pattern mixing.  At the Rimini Grand Hotel. | The Sartorialist 

spies and noir dames

*I love black, and this lady in Helsinki is wearing it all so well. | Hel-Looks

*She may have a camouflage bag and be sporting shades, but I would totally notice this woman and her perfect cycling ensemble.  In Milan. | The Sartorialist

*Proof that you don't have to be in head-to-toe black to look dangerous.  Love the shades, the silver bag, and the lacy skirt--all of it, really!  China Fashion Week. | WGSN Street

slightly wacky winter

*Another pair of sunglasses I'm coveting, and I also love the furry cuffs on this gingham coat.  Paris. | The Sartorialist

*Loving the striped dress, fantastic cranberry coat, and big black handbag. | WGSN Street

*Only in Helsinki!  You really can't be bummed out about winter if you're wearing a furry lavender hat, pink scarf and platform creepers, and carrying such a fun bag.  And it really looks great on her. | Hel-Looks

somewhat more sedate winter

*I feel like this would have been a winter uniform for me if I still lived in NYC.  Love the layering of that fantastic cropped plaid jacket over a longer shirt, and the platforms with the rolled up jeans. Paris. | Street Style Aesthetic

*Furry gray coat + furry mustard scarf + giant black bag = yes, please.  Milan. | The Sartorialist

*This big tapestry coat thingy looks like it was stripped from an old couch.  And I love it.  Paris. | Street Style Aesthetic

Are you enjoying the weather where you are?  Which of these outfits do you most want to be wearing?  I'm at that stage right now where I'm not quite ready for summer to end, though I'm--as always--looking forward to the arrival of autumn (my favorite!).  So part of me wants to be wearing that chic striped shirt and shorts look, and another part wants to cuddle up in that furry gray coat and mustard scarf.

xo

K

i spy: hearts on frocks, dark glamour and serious moonlight

Inspiring me now: gals wearing their hearts on their frocks, light interiors and dark exteriors, louche glamour, a great writer trying on wooden eyeglasses, and a perfect summer "street style" shot (I want to be wearing that outfit and on that beach in the Sartorialist photo!).  You can see more of this on my Pinterest and Tumblr. 

clockwise, starting in upper left corner:

*La Morphinomane, Vittorio Matteo Corcos, 1899 | Wikimedia Commons

*Schiaparelli Haute Couture, Fall 2014-15 | via

*Boris Lipnitzki, Jeune femme sortant d’une voiture, Paris, 1934 | via

*Lesser Ury, Nelken in grüner Glasvase, 1906 | Wikimedia

*Charles Baudelaire, Les fleurs du mal, Paris: Michel Lévy frères, 1868–69 | Christie's

*Maeve Brennan of Harper's Bazaar trying on a pair of wooden frame glasses, 1945.  Photo by Nina Leen.  This month I read Brennan's book of city stories that she wrote for The New Yorker, The Long-Winded Lady.  I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever lived in or just plain loves New York City. | via

*Apertivo Before Dinner at Rimini Grand Hotel Rimini.  Great outfit, beautiful photo, gorgeous setting! | The Sartorialist

*Martin Lewis, Winter Moon, 1918 | Indianapolis Museum of Art

*circa 1940s German found photo of a young girl in fancy dress | Raymondx1 on Flickr

*artist unknown, Süddeutsches Interieur, 19th century | Auktionshaus Bergmann

xo

K

i spy: dark florals, ladies of mystery, and glowing nighttime scenes

Spring is in full swing here, and the flowers are blooming . . . but I prefer my flowers against a dark background.  Just like I love a small glowing light illuminating a darkened room.  And mystery!

See more by following me on Pinterest and Tumblr.

clockwise, l-r:

*After Van Dongen, photo by Norman Parkinson of Adele Collins wearing an Otto Lucas toque.  Photo was inspired by the 1919 painting "The Corn Poppy" by Dutch artist Kees Van Dongen. | normanparkinson.com

*Polaroid, 2003, Berlin-Mitte, Germany, photo by Sibylle Bergemann | Ostkreuz

*1946 Mallinson Fabrics ad | My Vintage Vogue

*decorated farmhouses of Hälsingland, Sweden (swoon!) | Hälsingegårdar

*Großer Blumenstrauss in einem Holzgefäß (Big floral bouquet in a wooden vessel), by Jan Brueghel, ca 1606-1607 | Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

clockwise, l-r:

*Beim Sekt, photograph by YVA (Else Simon-Neuländer), 1936. | source

*Saint Christopher decorates an archway over a cobblestone street in Bavaria, Germany, March 1974.  Photograph by George F. Mobley, National Geographic | NatGeoFound

*Nächtliches Bankett (“Nocturnal Banquet”) by Wolfgang Heimbach, dated 1640. | Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna

*Patricia Highsmith, author of the Ripley books, which I recently read and loved.  I need to read more Highsmith! | Vintage & Anchor Books Tumblr

*Setting for a Fairy Tale, box construction by Joseph Cornell, 1942. | Guggenheim

xo

K

i spy: luxurious train travel, a fern print dress, a Berlin chanteuse, and dogs!

What's inspiring me lately?  Springy green fern prints, dreams of luxurious train travel, a Berlin cabaret performer...and dogs.

See more by following me on Pinterest and Tumblr.

clockwise, l-r:

*wool skirt suit by Victor Stiebel, autumn 1942 / V&A Museum

*bar car on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express / Poppytalk

*German cabaret performer, Katie Kühl, 1933 / Cabaret Berlin

*model in a fern-shadowed dress by Herbert Sondheim, photo by Herbert Matter, 1948 / Pleasure Photo

*autumn in Bucharest by yony_ro / yony_ro on Flickr

clockwise, l-r:

*hungover pups / WonderfullyStrange on Flickr

*Nora, a terrier mix / The Dogist

*Vienna, a dachshund at the NY Pet Fashion Show / The Dogist

*photo of a girl and her dog, early 1860s / KaufmaNelson Vintage Photographs

*a World War I German mascot dog with his own jacket, hat and Iron Cross Second Class.  Oh, and pipe. / Wooway1 on Flickr

xo

K

street style: tartan, granny chic, and bundled up Finns

It's time for another street style post.  And since it's winter in the northern hemisphere, I've seen many fantastic, inspiring outfits!

*Manchester, UK / The Mancorialist
*via
*Helsinki / Hel-Looks 

Tartan!  I love how the gal in that first photo is echoing the fella's red plaid coat with her scarf.  They match without being grotesque.  I could not find a real source for the fellow in the center, but I think we can all agree that he is killing it.  I love a man in a duffel coat.  Or a pea coat.  The girl on the far right is adorable, and I would have definitely worn a version of this outfit (creepers, plaid shorts with tights) in the 1980s. 

*Paris / StyleSight
*London / StyleSight
*Paris / Street Style Aesthetic

70s chic, granny chic, Wednesday Addams chic.  I love it all.

*Helsinki / Hel-Looks
*Helsinki / Hel-Looks
*Helsinki / Hel-Looks

The ladies (and men!) of Helsinki seem to have the most fun of anyone in the world getting dressed--if the Hel-Looks site is anything to go by.  And they certainly know how to wear cold weather gear and look great doing it.

Got a favorite among all these looks?  I'm leaning toward granny chic in the yellow coat, but I've been dressing like the female half of the Mancorialist couple a lot this winter.

xo

K

street style: coats, boyish tailoring, and perfect layers

I prefer cool weather fashion to that of warmer weather, so I guess it's not a huge surprise that the last time I did a street style post on this blog was in March.  What is surprising (or not, I guess) is that the looks that caught my eye over the summer were all pretty autumnal.  In fact, there aren't really any surprises here if you know me.  If it's plaid, has a great collar, is kinda boyish or interestingly layered, or involves contrasting prints--I love it!

This first set all involves stylish women in coats.  That first gal is my favorite.  I'm 100% certain I could not pull off socks and pumps, but she can--and I love the plaid fur-collared coat over the plaid dress.  Magnificent!

1 / Soho NY / Lord Ashbury

2 / Milan / The Locals

3 / Paris / Street Style Aesthetic

4 / Melbourne (?) / StyleSight

I love tweed and tailoring--for ladies and gents.  I wore wool knickers in 5th or 6th grade similar to those of the gal on the left.  I don't think I'd try it again, but boy does she look cute in them!

1 / London (?) / StyleSight

2 / Milan (?) / StyleSight

3 / London / Street Style Aesthetic

Cardigans and big bags (or suitcases, in Vanessa's case).  I love the yellow and gray outfit (with her orange hair!) on the left...really love that cardigan and the dress' collar.  And Vanessa, well...Vanessa can do no wrong as far as I'm concerned.  I am always inspired by her outfits, and this polka dot dress and flowered cardi is perfection.

1 / London / Street Style Aesthetic

2 / Vanessa of Two Squirrels Vintage in New Zealand / Two Squirrels blog

I'll try not to wait so long before the next street style post!

xo

K

transitional dressing

Andy and I went out on Saturday to see a Japanese film at the UICA and to visit our local favorite, Vertigo Music, for Record Store Day.  I had a sudden desire to wear this this pink and white embroidered skirt.  Let's call it a spring craving.  Because this spring has been the polar opposite of last spring, at least in western Michigan, and the weather has stayed pretty cold.

So the springy skirt had to be worn with tights, boots, a sweater...and my faux leopard coat.  And you know, I think this might be the best look for this skirt, ever.  Pink and leopard go together as well as pink and lipstick red do, if you ask me.

Just like handsome guys go together with pea coats.

xo

K

more wintry street style

Winter seems to be having a hard time loosening its grip on the northern hemisphere.  (We still have a frozen lake and snow on the ground here in Michigan.  I have not yet stashed away my winter coats.)  This apparently hasn't stopped many stylish ladies from getting out and looking fabulous, as evidenced by several of my favorite street style looks from the past two months.

l-r: Solanah of Vixen Vintage

Parisian street style via Face Hunter

Helsinki street style via Hel-Looks 

I love all three of these looks so much, and one thing they all have in common (and which I always struggle with) is the wearing of amazing headgear.  Some day maybe I'll learn how to rock a headscarf the way Solanah and that fashionable Helsinki gal do.

NYC street style via Stylesight

Wikki of Luukku

NYC street style via calivintage

Copenhagen street style via The Locals

That red embroidered coat is just amazing, and I love the combination of maroon/burgundy and gray that Wikki is wearing.  My favorite, though, might be the young woman on the left, who is kinda grunge (plaid, creepers, pea coat, knit hat), but super cute.  And I'm loving the coat and big cozy scarf worn in the Copenhagen snow, on the right.  I just love seeing fashionable folk actually out in the snow!

xo

K

it's always fashion week somewhere

So I guess it was just New York Fashion Week?  I honestly don't follow these things very closely, but I do see bits of the collections on the internet, and sometimes things catch my eye.  Usually it's because a collection has vintage elements...but not always.  Here are some favorite looks from three fall 2013 collections that captured my attention.

Tory Burch Fall 2013 RTW / via Vogue

Tory Burch, at it again with the great prints!  And surprising me, too, because I think of her as the Logo Shoe Lady, but whatever.  I need to get over it, I guess, because I love these prints--dense floral and art nouveau prints, so gorgeous!  And the black dress is pretty much the most perfect dress ever.  Also, check out the incredible blue velvet shoes on the far left.  Wow.

Ralph Lauren Fall 2013 RTW / via NY Mag

I would describe this Ralph Lauren collection as 1930s Russian Princess Flees, Disguising Herself as a Sailor.  It is perfect.  The velvet dresses are utterly gorgeous, and I adore the naval style pants and coats.

Jil Sander Navy Fall 2013 RTW / via WWD

My love for the Jil Sander collection confuses me a bit.  I think it's actually my favorite of these three collections...but why?  It's modern and simple--not things that usually appeal to me.  The colors are just amazing.  This is the wardrobe I would have in my fantasy life as an architect in Berlin.  (I didn't even have that fantasy until I saw this collection.  What the hell?) 

So...which is your favorite?  Or did another fall/winter 2013 capture your heart?

xo

K

street style - winter edition

I realized yesterday I haven't done a round-up of my favorite street style looks since last July!  So here's a collection of some of my favorites from this past fall and winter, which are my favorite seasons fashion-wise.  

l-r / Manchester, England via Hoy Fashion / Martell & Donya Campbell in London via Street Style Aesthetic / tartan pants via Stylesight

After I collect my favorites, I usually try to look for themes.  This one--pants!--was easy.  If you look closely, you'll see two pairs of black watch tartan pants here.  All these pants are what might be called "high waders," a style I like.  Especially when it allows the peeking through of cute socks!

l-r / Paris via Street Style Aesthetic / Berlin via The Locals

Both of these looks have a touch (or more) of the folk about them.  I admire the explosion of color and texture the woman on the left is rocking; but I'm really in love with the (more wearable?) look on the right.  That black coat with the fur ruff, the peek of that amazing-looking dress (skirt?), the Docs, and the cool bag.   Fabulous.

  

l-r / London via The Locals / Paris via Stylesight / London via The Locals

These three looks are all about color.  You can see I love burgundy (maroon, oxblood--whatever you want to call it), and it looks amazing here paired with both amber/gold and with navy blue.  Even the girl in the center has a touch of it in her shoes.  Speaking of center girl, I love how nearly everything in her outfit is shiny, yet slightly muted.  It's a very cool look.

You can see more of my favorite street style looks on my Tumblr and on my "they wore it well, now" Pinterest board.

xo

K