Woodstock: 40 years later and peace, love & fashion still resonate

One fantastic weekend in August 1969 on a remote farm field in New York state more than 400,000 lovers of music, art (and more) converged to take part in what is now the lore of Woodstock. Entranced by the music as much as the culture that the three days of this festival enlivened, I am equally fascinated by the level of fashion culture that is still quite prevalent and emulated by designers even on runways today. The grand bohemian look that defined the latter part of the ‘60s – long flowing hair with intricate braids, wide-leg jeans and belts, rosy red round glasses, peasant tops and sinuous dresses – continues on as an insignia for the free spirited hippie attitude.

From Diane Von Furstenburg's S/S 2009 runway to today's release of Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock," we still find ourselves reminded of the themes and ideas that sprang forth from the fields of peace, love & happiness.


S/S 09 DVF runway look


Fringe, lengthy hair, flowing structure and beaded embellishments pepper the dresses and accessories on DVF's runway.


A shot from Glamour magazine's spread in March earlier this year - young actors taking part in a pictorial reenactment of Woodstock.


Urban Outfitters - Plaid Camp Shirt


Tie-Dye Sandles (in multiple shades) from Shopbop.com


J.Crew Maxi Print Dress with long, fanciful beads to accessorize

From Coachella to Lollapalooza, a myriad of days-long festival concerts have their stake on the summer calendar. A lovechild of Woodstock? One could argue that its influences can be seen throughout these music-and-art fused events. And fashion certainly, at least today, continues to live up to the free-spirited attitude that Woodstock was made famous for.


Style.com has fantastic pictures of Chicago’s recent Lollapalooza concert goers. From attendees to musicians, all embody a very unique and creative fashion flare.


Shots of DVF S/S 09 Runway retrieved from Style.com and Glamour Magazine photo retrieved from Stylefrizz.com

Leave Some Room

As I browse through the incoming Fall trends, I notice everything is either really tight, or really big and loose. So you either have to suck it in and buy spanks, or look like your swimming in your outfit. Personally, I think I would rather swim in my clothes. The oversized clothing gives the facade (to me at least) that I am smaller and helps hide any bloated times of the month. We all know we don't want to be wearing tight stuff during then. Also, I feel more comfortable eating and drinking in these loose tops and dresses, NO RESTRICTIONS!

Alice + Olivia Pintuck Tunic Blouse, $242.

ASOS Oversized Fluted Sleeve Jersey Dress, $37.

A nice slouchy Tee! Heimstone Wallace T-Shirt, $251.

This would most likely be seen on Rachel Zoe. DAY Birger et Mikkelsen Jersey Oversized Tunic, $82.

Whats better than a loose pair of jeans. I love the comfort that boyfriend jeans have. Fred Flare Boyfriend Jean Roll-Ups, $60.

Lust

The YSL Easy Studded Satchel, $1895. My heart skips a beat.

I saw this bag a few months ago, and now it is out for normal civilian purchase!!! It is gorgeous, I will be thinking about this one.... until I find it and buy it. I guess only if a miracle (sale/CHEAP eBay auction) happens.

Booties

Lately, I have been craving a pair of ankle booties to complement some skirts, dresses, and jeans. I believe they are the pefect shoe to transition to fall, and would look absolutely lovely with some tights. Now my problem is deciding if I want a pair of peep-toe or closed-toe booties...

Style&Co Westie Bootie, $69. These booties are at such a resonable price! And I think it is a classic shape to accompany any outfit.

I thought about an embellished boot, for a kind of attitude. Nine West Facade, $129.

These Type Z Rockstar peep toes, $69, are very classic with a little zipper attitude.

So I added a dream pair... Christian Louboutins Miss, $1075.

And Another Addition...

YSL Besace Medium Flap Bag, $1895.

OH HELL NO DID I PAY $1900!! I was lucky to find an eBay auction and won it for $355. I'm crossing my fingers that it is authentic. The details pictures included on the site is impeccably exact to the real thing. Only the arrival of my package will reveal if I was duped or so lucky. Pray, cross your fingers, wishe me luck. This bag I have wanted for years! The anticipation is going haunt me for days!

The Most Fashionable Street on TV

For Sesame Street's 40th anniversary Harper's Bazaar paired my favorite childhood icons to my current fashion icons. They also interview each character... Cookie Monster has the most stylish response!

Taking a Trend Too Far

Givenchy does over the knee boots right!

The latest fall style, the over the knee boot, is a sexy way to vamp up a pair of jeans or a short skirt.  They are definitely a trendy style, but it can only go so far... the Australia Luxe Collective has decided to aggrandize the simple shearling boot, into an over the knee shearling boot.  Honestly, ones who wear these things simply have no poise or they have too much money to buy senseless items.   

The over the knee boot done gracefully, Joie Twiggy Over the Knee Boot, $575.

WTF...  Australia Luxe Collective Slouchy Over-Knee Boot, $350.  Waste of money.  What kind of glorified Ugg boot is this?  

Per Request - Bags

A Chit Chat reader had suggested to me to blog about bags. Now specifically she did not say what kind or type of bags to focus on, so I believe it is up to me to decide on this topic...

So I thought back to my middle school and high school days, where I thought I was awesome for carrying around a Kate Spade bag, a classic nylon bag that I bought with the money I saved up from my summer job. After that, I carried around the cool canvas hobo I got from H&M, then a nylon hobo my mom got me from Club Monoco, and in between them all, some Hello Kitty tin boxes that I thought were cute enough to hold my money and lip gloss. Now going through college, I remember seeing the waves of canvas totes and Vera Bradley bags. I chose not to carry one of those types of bags, but my Jansport backpack. I cared about saving my posture with all those books in the backpack. After the school year, I moved on to the summer working my seasonal job. I am trying to remember what exactly I was saving for at the end of the summer with the money I made. Probably back to school clothes and shoes, but now I am starting to think about what I should have invested in with saving that money. Easily knowing that in college, the majority of my money was spent on going out and contributing to the beer fund, but it is nice to have a product of luxury and self-accomplishment that you bought yourself. One summer during college, I saved up enough money to buy a pair of Tory Burch flats. Each time I look at them now, I am proud that I invested my money into a a great pair of shoes that I will be wearing for a while. As for purses, I believe the earlier you start to get out of the canvas totes and cotton quilt bags, the better your more mature, and post-college style will be. Plus, if you bought something of great value, you are more inclined to take care of it. So no more leaving your purse at the bar, because these ones you worked for and earned!

This Foley + Corinna Reversible Mid-City Tote, $485, is perfection! Suede on the inside leather on the outside, you chose! It is a versatile style you can use from day into night.

Or treat yourself to this glorious Rebecca Minkoff Morning After Mini Bag, $585. It comes with convenient cross body strap.

The Kooba Alex Tote, $595. The perfect companion to your jeans, and every other outfit.

Another companion to every outfit, this Lauren Merkin Ava Jeweled Clutch, $325.00.

I want this bag NOW! MARC by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Hilier Hobo, $389.

No...

I do not understand this recent craze for denim leggings. I just think that skinny jeans suffice for the look and style.

Some what unflattering in my opinion.... Left, Aqua Black Denim Leggings $34. right, Juicy Couture Denim Leggings with Zippers, $98.

The rigidness and details of a fly and pockets on these skinny jeans are much sleeker and flattering than the super stretchy counterpart. Left, BDG Blue Green Cigarette Jean, $58. Right, 7 For All Mankind Roxanne Allston Skinny Jean, $189.

Yep.

I'm BAD. Help, enroll me into a shopaholics anonymous group.

Gucci private sale on Hautelook. Half price on this messenger, originally $750. Nuff' said. I like the casual-ness to this bag. It's not a fancy all leather purse, but I think it makes a great statement when wearing jean shorts flats and a chambray top. Something with a casual luxury vibe.

30 Stylish Thoughts

Lee Heyward of Charleston Style Concierge just recently celebrated her 30th Birthday! With that, she has come up with a list or 30 Stylish Thoughts that I believe every fashionista should refer to:

1. Clothing is an extension of who you are.
2. You can learn a lot about yourself just by taking a look around your closet.
3. When you feel uncomfortable, you look uncomfortable.
4. Better to be overdressed than underdressed.
5. It’s great to love fashion, but you also have to love the way fashion makes you feel.
6. You are in control of your clothes.
7. Clothes are not out to get you.
8. If you leave clothes on the bed, the cat will always sit on the ones that are dry clean only.
9. Just because something matches doesn’t mean you should wear it together.
10. When you put yourself back on your priority list, you and everyone else will benefit.
11. The first step to moving forward is letting go of the past.
12. Amazing things can happen when you trust someone else.
13. Part of knowing who you are is owning your look.
14. When you’re feeling lazy and skimp on your image, you are guaranteed to run into someone you know.
15. Anyone can have great style.
16. Personal style comes from knowing yourself.
17. Great style doesn’t have to be expensive.
18. If you try on clothes and they don’t fit, there is nothing wrong with you. They just aren’t the right clothes.
19. Everything changes –so should your style.
20. You are your brand, and your clothing is your logo.
21. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the better you look.
22. Nothing is better than the age you are right now.
23. Most things worth doing take a little bit of effort.
24. You can’t get something for nothing, unless you are at a consignment store.
25. You never know until you ask.
26. A little knowledge can go a long way.
27. An open mind can lead to happiness you didn’t think was possible.
28. Shopping is all about being disciplined.
29. Wearing fabulous shoes always puts a skip in your step.
30. When in doubt, just try it on.

Etsy Finds

Sitting at my desk at work I always find myself wandering into the world of Etsy.com. It is a great venue to purchase vintage and handmade items. I have purchased some killer vintage boots from it before, for only $35!! Searching today for some home items, I've stumbled upon some awesome things:

Look at this jeweled belt!!! What a great embellishment to a plain outfit! $55.

A small company called Death and Texas hand makes bags and accessories for bikes. This Weekender Tote is beautifully handcrafted! $138.

Ya'll, CHECK OUT THIS VINTAGE NECKLACE! How beautiful is it!?

Don't you love when people say, "Oh where did you get your boots?" And you reply, "Oh, they are actually vintage." Because they cannot have the pair themselves (heh. heh.) These embossed leather booties are easy to incorporate with shorts or skinny jeans. $55. I wish they were my size!

Such a classic piece, a vintage leather envelope clutch. I might have to get this myself. $20.

Statement Pieces

I greatly apologize for the long hiatus. I have been going through the stresses of moving, and let me tell you, it is absolutely horrible. Luckily, it's almost over. I've got the small stuff to put away... and the task of putting all my clothes somewhere (yes, that will take hours considering I have a teenie-tiny closet).

While putting my stuff away, I tried to figure out some creative ways to display my jewelry and statement pieces. Then I realized that I needed more to make an worthy display of awesome accessories. So I began searching:

Top Shop Diamond Pendant Chain, $30.

Forever 21 Dada Jeweled Earrings, $6. I am LOVING the other color it comes in as well!

Urban Outfitters Crystal Necklace, $68.