Sunday, July 29, 2012

San Fran-Cisco!

After two weeks of summer homework doing and two weeks of stressful work doing I am now in sunny (or at least party sunny) California! YAY! Yesterday, My sister, cousin, and friend and I went to San Francisco for a shopping expedition and some sushi. THe store we went to is the reason for this post, it was called "Jeremy's".
 It was amazing. Us small town Colorado girls didn't even know how to handle it. It was kind of like T.J. Maxx or Marshals but for really great designers and fancy stuff, and had much better lighting. When we were there it just so happened to be 80% off all sale items and swim wear. AMAZING! sadly I forgot my camera back in Colorado (stupid stupid Mae) so I cannot show you pictures of what I got, but I will try to find pictures on the magical internet.

First I got a raspberry pink sequin bandeau swimsuit top, like this just pink. Free People swim suit top, originally like $68 or something and i got it for how much? $3.20!!!!!!! HOLY COW

Super Super soft sweatshirt thingy from Alternative Earth for $15 originally $44! I haven't taken it off yet


"We the Free" (sub-line of Free People) cropped vest that ties in the front. I haven't ever worn anything like this before but you know, it was only $1.50 so i just couldn't resist

AND I got  white tiered eyelet highwaisted swimsuit bottoms but i cannot find a picture of them, but they were also $3.20, and are very very cute.


Then! My friend got a St. John pink suede jacket that was originally $1,395, but she got it for, drum role please, $15!!!!!!!!! I also can't find a picture of it, but I'm sure you can imagine the beauty of it


Well, that is about all I want to write right now, I should probs go eat something now

kisses, Mae!

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

The Inventor of the Pant Suit


On Friday My mom and I went to the Yves Saint Laurent Exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. It was fantastic. Better than fantastic, I can't even describe how fabulous it was. Usually at fashion exhibits, actually really at all museum exhibits, I don't actually read the little plaques next to the featured things, either clothes, paintings, or egyptian mummies. But, because I was with my Mom and her friends from work I wanted to seem like a grown up so I actually read all of the additional information, and I actually learned some pretty great things! For example, did you know that Yves Saint Laurent INVENTED the pant suit for women? and he got his first job with Dior at like 20 because Dior liked a few of his designs, he hadn't even gone to school! ALSO, he designed over 15,000 garments in his life time. He was like a fashion GOD.
Not only was he a fashion god, but he also said somethings that I thought were quite inspiring. Here are some of his quotes that I thought are worth sharing:


“The most beautiful makeup of a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy.” 


“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman who is wearing it.” 


“Fashions fade, style is eternal.” 


“The most beautiful clothes that can dress a woman are the arms of the man she loves. But for those who haven't had the fortune of finding this happiness, I am there.” 


Aren't those great? I wish that I could have known him. I also loved the clothes that were shown. Except, "clothes" is not nearly worthy enough a word for what he created. because words cannot describe it, I will just have to share some picture (all of which I have found online because I couldn't take pictures in the exhibit) 


Tuxedo Central

Specially designed for Grace Kelly, probably my favorite dress in the exhibit



PANTS! he was inspired by men's working clothes

Spanish influence


I think it is amazing that he was able to create such fantastic things out of a few sketches and an image in his head. I can only hope to dream of being this good some day. 

kisses
Mae



Thursday, July 5, 2012

Why shouldn't we all behave as Queens?


In a letter to Marie Antoinette, her mother wrote,
 "Do not be negligent about your appearance....I cannot caution you enough against letting yourself slip into the errors that the members of the French royal family have fallen into of late. They may be good and virtuous, but they have forgotten how to appear in public, how to set the tone [for the nation].... I therefore beg you, both as your tender mother and as a friend, not to give in to any further shows of nonchalance about your appearance or court protocol. If you do not heed my advice, you will regret it, but it will be too late. On this point alone you must not follow your French family's example. It is up to you now to set the tone at Versailles"

Poor, poor Marie Antoinette. Not only was she married at 14 and in a loveless marriage, she also had the stress of being a dauphine and then queen (and then later angry mobs came to her house and locked her up in prison later to have her head chopped off). Then, on top of all that, not only was she the Queen of France but also the Queen of Fashion. Marie Antoinette (from now on referred to as M-A) had very, very strict style guide lines. Everyday she was dressed by practically the whole world. At least 15 women, and men, were in charge of getting her dressed, hair done, and makeup on. AND she didn't even get decide to decide what she wanted to wear. The fashion of M-A was not just used for making her look good, it also was used politically. If M-A looked slovenly (as in she was not wearing a corset) then the whole court erupted into chaos and rumors of impending war with Austria were whispered all over France. This may sound ridiculous, but it does actually bring up a pretty good point.

M-A's mother, in the letter I quoted above, warned her of the repercussions of improper etiquette. Although today it is not necessary for us to wear corsets and all that jazz, we could still take a leaf out of M-A's life book. I believe it is extremely important to "not be negligent about your appearance". It is important to always look as if you have everything under control and are a poised and elegant woman. We often forget now a days that dress is as much a part of etiquette as is saying "please and thank you". If you are nonchalant about your appearance, people will believe you are nonchalant about your life. And then next thing you know the whole of Versailles will giving you death glares and whispers about war with Austria will follow your un-corseted body all around and then there will be threats about you and your husband losing the throne to your brother-in-law. Oh wait, that probably won't happen to you, but if you behave as though it might, you will always remember that appropriate dress is just as important as brushing your teeth and pushing in your chair after you eat (of course M-A didn't have to do that, she had people to do that kind of thing for her).

So, all in all, why shouldn't we all behave as Queens? If we behave as if we could potentially set the tone for all of Versailles and France (or even just your house, school, or work) I think we could all look fabulous all the time.

wanna see some of M-A's fabulous fashions? Yeah I do too.
This is her as a child, even though she looks like she is dressed as an adult,
she is only like 8 in this picture (ridiculous right?!)

The just looks uncomfortable, but still nice and poised and elegant.
I just wouldn't fancy wearing it

Beautiful. Just Beautiful

I'm pretty sure this one is from right before she got married

PSYCH!!!! haha that isn't Marie Antoinette!
 That is Kristen Dunst in the movie Marie Antoinette, which is not very historically accurate,
 but still a fun movie with pretty dresses and A LOT  of good looking food
Tata for now!
kisses
Mae


P.S. Fun fact of the day. Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI didn't "consummate their marriage" for over 7 years.


Tuesday, July 3, 2012

Swingin with the 40's





Dear readers, I have been an awful blogger and have not written anything in over a month. I am very sorry. But now I will begin to write again (hopefully regularly, but I do not promise anything) mostly though I am writing because I don't want to be researching for my Extended Essay (a big evil essay for school). Well, lately I have not been doing anything extremely fashionable, I have been mostly working with kids and staying in a cabin in Idaho, where there is no need to dress up. However, a few weeks ago I did go a WWII ball, where everyone was dressed up in 1940's styles. It was great. So I thought I would share my pictures from the event, and then some of my fav 40's styles with you, you beautiful people. ENJOY!
Me. I got my dress at a vintage store called Boss. It is actually from the 40's! very old.
Me again. the dress has shiny things on the hips. I like that part best.

Me and the girls :)

My friend. Isn't she CUTE???? and very 40's


I love the jackets and hats. I think we should all wear hats. all of the time.

a pattern from the 40's. They have tiny waists. 

VOGUE

You go girls!

Well that is that. If you would like to know how to dress in 40's style in today's world, use these simple guidelines:
  • Reuse old clothes, there were many fabric rations in the 40's due to the war, so everything had to be reused
  • "Wartime Sillhouette" Skirts becam shorter and tighter (but not TOO SHORT OR TOO TIGHT!!!! we don't want any naughty looking 1940's girls) and remember your shoulder pads
  • wooden shoes became popular because of rations on rubber and leather
  • play of the hair. Because clothes had lost some of their fanciness, women would often make their hair the emphasis of the outfit (try curls) and HATS
  • simple, but bold makeup. black eyeliner on the lid and eyelashes, red lipstick and blush or bronzer
  • add accessories, like gloves 
Now  really need to do some research. Stop distracting me.