Vain Lane » vintage

Brilliant Lips, Shanghai

guest — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 04:34:00 +0000

This little lady is wearing her mothers vintage top and her mother by her side, its hard to believe there are so few chinese women who would dare ware vintage clothing in, even their own mothers.

Let’s make note of her amazing lip color. She mixed YSL Rouge Pur, #144, lip color with a cheapy convenient store color to get that orange coral lip. Love it so much I sort of wish I was pale now. The lips are a perfect compliment to her neutral toned outfit.

Localizing, United States of America

cairn — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 08:47:09 +0000

Shopping at Fashion Island, Melrose, Santa Monica Promenade were all a bit on the depressing side being so scarce in people and product. And with the merely 5%-7% market drop of recent days, I am feeling pretty nationalistic these days. NO, you’re counterintuitive! Though I would probably be operating at a loss, my father-in-law recently spurred an idea of producing in Molokai, which got me thinking. 1st, does he mind me mentioning him in a blog he probably doesn’t want to be associated with? 2nd…

Is the bottom line really all that important? Treading water near the surface for awhile doesn’t seem so bad. Though it’s not much of a dent at all, I want to be patriotic and employ good ol’ Americans, in particular, Hawaiians or Californian, in an attempt to help ease the pain of unemployment.

I am not sure how long this will resonate with me. I predict in 3 years time in 2 years time in 1.5 years time I may be thinking of diamonds again.

But in the meantime, maybe I’ll go with it.

Show Off Your Back, Shanghai

Kate — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 02:32:12 +0000

A back is an under-appreciated thing. Summer is the perfect time to show one off, especially in a sexy sheer fabric.

I like how she styles this vintage-inspired dress with a playful ponytail, but I could also envision it going from summer wedding to cocktail party to dinner event. Throw on a fitted blazer and a pair of dark hose during the colder months and it could also go to work with you.

Versatility in a dress is wonderful. It sort of makes it ok to go shopping, even during a wee recession. No?

Baby Steps, Shanghai

cairn — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 01:48:35 +0000

Cris and I were just discussing how things are improving, slowly but surely, in the Shanghai fashion scene. In baby steps. We’ve started to notice that women are wearing less patches of glued on faux diamond shimmers, less floral on top of lace on top of velvet ruching. Unfortunately, the shoes and accessories never quite fit the look they are going for. Some locals are starting to have an eye for a more classic, simple, flattering dress that can be worn decades later, equipping their attire with whatever accessories they currently own, not knowing the strength and hold good accessories have over an outfit.

The most common problem seen in Shanghai are the mismatched shoes. This lady’s dress is adorable, but I would not only change her shiny copper shoes with white bow ties with nude or off white pumps or flats, I would also change the glasses and hair. You can’t really tell, but she is also wearing those funny little ankle stockings so common in Shanghai, when women wear flats or high heels. It is super disturbing and I wake up in a cold sweat, in the morning, thinking about laundry and those ankle stockings. Ask the husband.

Maybe this is just all part of the mystery to the Chinese consumer.

A Tribute, Worldwide

cairn — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:31:01 +0000

gliving

love dream want look diary love i way bike party

to all the stolen bikes in China.

And Newport Peninsula.

Sweet Ensemble, Shanghai

Kate — Thu, 28 Apr 2011 03:39:21 +0000

I love this! Cropped pants, loafers, a baggy sweater and a light jacket are all things I can definitely get behind. Coordinated but not too match-y (a major pet peeve of mine), and very appropriate for the approaching (well, pretty much here) Spring.

Ankle-baring slim pants are so great. Was browsing the internet the other day, though, and saw Gwyneth Paltrow in cropped trousers on Chelsea Handler. Apparently not everyone loves the look, and one commenter said “Capris are the last resort of the 40-something who knows her legs are beginning to go”. Not true, says I. There’s something very fresh and young but also timeless about them – and you know we love classic things on VainLane (it’s why we love vintage!).

I say great job. Plus those moccasins look really comfortable, and now I want them.

Cropped pants and Gwyneth dis (language is NSFW)
Tod’s has excellent (but pricey) driving moccasins – also great for walking, or just wearing

Lauren Young, Santa Monica

guest — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 04:58:15 +0000

photo and post by Deb Sng

LookBook photos

Out on an afternoon walk along the Santa Monica bluffs, I saw amidst the tourists and joggers a very fashionable young lady. I had to stop and ask for details. Lauren Young, a model and actress who recently moved to LA from the east coast, was very obliging. The Vintage Levi shorts, vintage orange scarf and high socks with Kohl’s boots stood out first to me. Then I noted the cute vintage purse she was carrying and her bejeweled necklace from Top Shop. Lauren’s I Love H81 camisole (received from a photo shoot) smartly overlaid a lace bra-very Carrie Bradshaw-esque. I can really appreciate the effort-less effort put into this outfit, even just for a morning stroll.

Background on Young:
She is with Elite Model Management in both LA and NY. This beauty, originally from Philly, acts and models and now resides in Venice, CA. You can also find Lauren in Purple Magazine’s “Best in Show” shot by Terry Richardson, as well as in the Adidas flirty “Denim Girl Next Door” video. (the video for those in the Asian region)

Liu Wen, International

cairn — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:37:44 +0000

W magazine, January 2011. Photographer Konrath, Writer Larkworthy

Tragically, the only word for Vintage in the Chinese language is second hand, which does not sufficiently define it, in all its glory. Vintage is definitely a new concept to the Chinese, but is fast growing. The young chinese mind is deep rooted in its culture and traditions, but is also malleable and open to new concepts, even if they are old.

GlamAmor, Santa Monica

cairn — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 03:03:33 +0000

“It’s virtually impossible to have a bad day wearing a vintage dress.”

pop up shop at Barracuda

Photographer Stephen Colhoun of CZ Guest, Town and Country

Introducing Kimberly Truhler

A former UCLA marketing exec, Kimberly has decidedly ventured into the world of pop-up shop land with vintage attire, during these tumultuous times.Brave California girl. Well, that’s how they come.

Talk Shop

The GlamAmor shop is adorned with over 100 dresses from the 50′s and 60′s, an era with attire that a woman of any age could wear. It is mostly classic, with a “West Cost Prep, that draws from the WASPy style of the East Coast, but is definitely more colorful since its so sunny here in southern California.” Unfussy and clean.

On Vintage

The vintage style transcends time, which is what makes vintage an anomaly. Although it comes from a certain era, the greatest of vintage is forever. Another attribute to vintage is that, back in the day, construction on these garments was so grand and precise, it is now a lost art. Kimberly can appreciate this art.

Inspired

Kimberly also chronicles all her pop ups and loves on her GlamAmor Blog. She is greatly influenced by Edith Head, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Jackie O, and C.Z. Guest.

A South African in Shanghai

Kate — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 03:43:13 +0000

The fashionable man is a fairly rare bird in Shanghai, so it’s always nice to pay tribute to someone who can work the casual angle, like this cutie patootie cruising the French Concession on his vintage-y China Post-style bike*. He’s from South Africa, and most of what I know about SA comes from watching District Nine and Blood Diamond, but Wikipedia says that South African men are well known for wearing informal clothes with great success (no it doesn’t). But let’s talk about the outfit.

Cardigans (mandigans?) on dudes have become more than acceptable, they’re downright fashiony. I guess we should be thanking Mr. Rogers, who was WAY ahead of the curve on this one.

Now gaze lovingly at the loafers this guy is sporting. What is it about a man in loafers without socks that makes me so giddy? I love this look and hope we’ll continue to see it in the warmer seasons to come, especially with summer suits. I forced my BF to ditch the socks at a July wedding we went to this year and I have no regrets.

Put it on your body:

Ray Ban shades – even if they’re not Ray Ban, the shape, as with aviators, won’t be going out of style any time soon**.
Cardigans on guys: sexy (his is from Paul & Shark)
Casual loafers: do it without socks
· Socks
Denim: we’ve talked about this before…

*I’m told he used to ride a fixed-gear. Good call on the switch up. Brakes = good + safe.
**Friends don’t let friends wear glasses without lenses.