Thirties Fashion Icon - Greta Garbo

A Swedish actress that became an Icon during Hollywood's Silent & Classic film era. The American Film Institute recognized her as the 5th Greatest Female Star of All Time. She was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and stared in 28 films.

Stiller & Garbo arrive in Hollywood

Discovered by Mauritz Stiller, a famous director, at the age of 17. He named her Garbo and cast her in "The Saga of Gosta Berling'', which became her break out role. She stared 28 films including "Anna karenina"(1935) & "Camille"(1936). 

Known as the "Swedish Phinx" due to her mysterious nature. She rarely attended premieres, signed autographs or gave interviews.

Greta Garbo's style and fashion influenced women of past and present. Her choices in dresses, suits, impeccably-tailored coats with a slightly masculine look and love for mens shoes, glasses and bags have now been described as Avant Garde

Her website describes her as "The first woman to be viewed as both assertive and feminine." 

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Fashion by Decade - 1930s

The fashion from the 1930s was influenced greatly by the Great Depression. (Wall Street Crash Oct. 24, 1929) Women were unable to change several times a day like in the past, they had less money and learned to remake, reuse & patch their wardrobes. The styling was much more feminine than the 1920s.

Many Styles Changed: 

Waistlines returned to the natural waist

Hemlines returned to mid-calf or floor length

Dresses & blouses had a broader shoulder, which gave the illusion of a smaller waist

Necklines were lower with V-neck & crossover styles embellished with ruffles, lace and scallops. Women also used feed-sack to make dresses and children's clothing

Feedsack Dresses

Women's business suits were tailored and slim at the waist, they were still masculine to help women be taken more seriously. 

Evening dresses for the first time, were being influenced by Hollywood actresses like Jean Harlow & Greta Garbo, more than Paris. Dresses were backless, floor length, silky and biased cut to flatter a women's curves.

The Cloche hat faded and the Pillbox hats, Rimmed hats worn tilted & Turbans were popular.

-Thanks Y'all-

Ashley

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Birmingham Fashion Week & ANTHONY RYAN

As y'all already know, I LOVE PROJECT RUNWAY. 

I just finished their newest book this week & I am beyond excited that Birmingham Fashion Week landed Project Runway Allstars newest Winner & one of my FAVORITE designers from the show 

ANTHONY RYAN

He will be showing his line on Friday March 1st. I love him! He is a southern boy from Louisiana & was always such a gentleman throughout both seasons. Not to mention...he makes some gorgeous dresses. He has a very clean artistic aesthetic and this season I feel like he was the clear winner.

 (HERE For Tickets)

Also showing is Project Runway Season 9 Runner-Up and All-star 

Joshua Mckinley

-Thanks Y'all-

Ashley

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Valentino Ready To Wear Spring 2013

Nothing makes me happier than vintage inspired clothing for a modern gal!

Valentino's Spring 2013 Ready To Wear Collection is perfection...

well for a modern gal with large pocketbook. HEY, a girl can dream! 

Lead designers for the label, Maria Grazia Chiuri & Pierpaolo Piccioli, created this amazingly effortless collection.  It  channels the 1930's  feminine style, with fluttery blouses, puffed sleeves, small floral prints & bias cut dresses.

Styles from the 1940s and 1950s were also seen with more structured coats and nipped waists.

-Thanks Y'all-

Ashley

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Sewing: The Basics

As you know, I sew.

My Mom gave me a sewing machine a few years back for Christmas & I just jumped right in! I thought how hard could sewing 2 pieces of fabric be? (as I struggled to thread my machine for 2 DAYS) 

I WAS A PRODIGY, my talent was far to great to bother with knowing the right way to do it!!

The next year I asked Larry for a Dress Form. I had decided I was going on Project Runway! (HAHAHA)

 Not long after my decision to win that season of Project Runway I realized how little I knew. Being frustrated or stubborn I stopped (for the most part)...recently I started sewing again, I decided to really pursue it & CORRECTLY this time.  My 1st class is on Sunday with my Mom, sis & her Mother-in-law. It's a BASIC class (no prodigies allowed)....I am so excited! 

With my new interest in sewing "by the rules" I have found tips from experienced seamstresses on the web. 

 Here is my favorite so far...

 

-Thanks Y'all-

Ashley

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Lovely Vintage Coats

Vintage coats are definitely a weakness of mine.

Which is a bit of a problem considering I live in Alabama and its never chilly enough for me to justify buying every coat I see....oh well.

Look at these gorgeous collars, unique buttons, bright colors and how fabulous they are! 

Audrey Hepburn

Lana Turner

 Grace Kelly

-Thanks Y'all-

Ashley

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Twenties Fashion Icon - Clara Bow

CLARA BOW

 An American actress who rose to fame in the 1920s acting in silent films. Her role in the film It launched her into the global spotlight and gave her the title "the it girl".  She personified the "roaring twenties" rebellion and almost instantly became the first sex symbol. Silent movies of the time rely solely on the actors/actresses to speak through their eyes...and hers spoke volumes. From those gorgeous giant eyes to her undeniable sex appeal, it comes with no surprise that another iconic sex symbol was based on her - Betty Boop.  

No wonder so many woman of the past and present look to her as a Style and Fashion Icon.

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