vintage styles


Vintage inspiration at New York Fashion Week spring 2020

cho cheng nyfw spring 2020

Cho Cheng NYFW spring 2020

The last model has walked off the runways of New York Fashion Week, and we are left with so many trends to get excited about for next year. One of my favorite trends every season comes from vintage inspiration. It is always amazing to see which decades inspired designers for the season.

For the spring/summer 2020 season, designers were in love with the 40’s, 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. We saw a lot of Hollywood glamour, sparkle and shine from the Studio 54 era, feminine touches from the 50’s, sleek and chic 40’s looks, as well as playful and fun 60’s styles. Here are a few highlights from some of the New York Fashion Week runways I attended reflecting the spring 2020 decades of inspiration:

Cho Cheng 60’s

cho cheng nyfw spring 2020 cho cheng new york fashion week spring 2020 cho cheng nyfw ss20

Taoray Wang 40’s and 70’s

taoray wang new york fashion week spring 2020 taoray wang new york fashion week spring 2020

(photos courtesy of Taoray Wang PR-mine came out overexposed and blurry)

Hanh Merriman 70’s

hanh merriman new york fashion week spring 2020 hanh merriman new york fashion week spring 2020

Son Jung Wan 70’s

son jung wan new york fashion week spring 2020 son jung wan nyfw spring 2020

Indonesian Diversity 50’s

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Which one of spring 2020’s decades of inspiration inspire you? I am definitely feeling the 40’s and 70’s, although, I am forever feeling the 70’s, so that’s no surprise. Haha

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy


Vintage brooch and plaid coat

san jose winter stylegucci bag and rain bootssan jose street stylevintage brooch 1960sthe wall santana row

wearing: sunglasses / lipstick / ivory, cz, and silver earrings / red turtleneck sweater (last seen here) / plaid coat (under $100!) (last seen here) / belt (vintage Prada, also love this one) / dark wash skinny jeans / vintage brooch c. 1960s (also love this green one) / Gucci bag / holiday nail polish / black ring / black rain boots /

Disclaimer: I broke my own cardinal fashion rule; never wear red and green together because you will look like a Christmas tree! Ugh! So, what did I do on the morning I planned to meet my friend Dawn for breakfast at Santana Row? I pinned my green vintage brooch to my coat and threw it over a red turtleneck. What was I thinking???

When I looked at these photos a few days later, I took a deep breath. I look like a Christmas tree, but somehow, it’s OK since it is the Christmas/Holiday season! Any other time of year, and I would go for a clear stone brooch with this outfit. Now that my looong explanation of my red and green together is done, let’s chat about this brooch!

This brooch was my Mothers’. Around the turn of the century, I was in a huge brooch mood. My Mom, who loves jewelry, had a fabulous collection of brooches from the 1960s that she bought when they were all the rage. I raided her stash, and she gave me two of her brooches! I couldn’t believe it. I was so grateful! She never got back into the brooch look, so she is happy the two I took are getting some use.

I love vintage jewelry and accessories. I also have a few vintage clothing pieces which I am too afraid to wear. If something were to happen to them, how would I replace them? It would be impossible! At least with accessories and jewelry they are easy to clean and keep nice.

This brooch is my favorite vintage brooch from my Mom’s collection. Its’ stones are crystal clear, and they sparkle so much! The green is a beautiful hue, and I love the design. My daughters love it too; someday they will be able to split the vintage brooch collection, and I am thrilled that they appreciate vintage and understand how special it is in the world of fashion.

Shop my winter outfit:

Shop modern brooches which can pass for vintage:

Are you into anything vintage? If so, what types of clothing and/or accessories?

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO
Cathy

Photos taken by the fabulous Dawn Lucy of Fashion Should be Fun at Santana Row.

vintage broochsan jose holiday style


Embracing overalls after all these years

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Wearing: fuchsia ball earrings / Chanel sunglasses / lipstick c/o Estee Lauder “Blase Buff” / pale pink crew neck tee (so amazingly soft!) / denim overall jumper dress (shorter style under $75) / rose gold cuff / dark brown leather strap watch / Chanel summer nail polish / black satchel / embroidered guitar strap (on major sale!!) / Gucci slides (also love this pair under $80)

Raise your hand if you remember how hot overalls were in the late 1980s and early 1990s?! Oh yes, this was a hot trend. It was back when Kriss Kross made you “Jump! Jump” and we were told to don’t go chase waterfalls. Where I lived, in Marin County, people wore overalls with one strap undone, and styled with Converse All-Stars. In other parts of the Bay Area, I remember seeing people topping off the look with a crooked cap. I always admired the trend, but never actually wore it. This time around, I have decided to give it a go; but in a more mature, Silicon Valley way.

The first time overalls were a huge trend, I shied away from it because I am short. I always felt like overalls looked better on taller people. Over time, I have figured out that just because I am short, or have wider hips, doesn’t mean I can’t find a way to wear a trend, or look, I admire. If I can find the right style, or find it in petite, then I can rock it all I want!

denim overalls for summer

I don’t feel like full length pants work well on me when it comes to overalls. I can wear overalls with shorts, or a skirt, but the ankle length pants make me look shorter, and wider, then I am. Since this is the case, I have embraced the overalls trend by wearing a jumper, or overall dress. Love!

This long jumper is absolutely perfect. Since it has a slit in the front, the silhouette of the dress is broken up, resulting in appropriate proportions. There is also a waist on these overalls, so I feel like my figure isn’t hidden underneath a denim tent.

A denim jumper is easy to dress up or down. In these photos I am wearing it with my favorite pair of slip-on loafers, and a casual satchel. It can also be paired with wedge espadrilles, and a beachy Cult Gaia Ark bag, for a warm weather look. If you wanted to go full-force 1990s, you could even tie a neckerchief around your neck, and find a vintage Dooney and Burke bag to top off the look. Voila! Instant ’90’s vintage style.

It was pretty foggy the day we snapped these photos, but the dress is lightweight enough to be worn on sunny days too. I am looking forward to wearing it more often as the weather warms up this summer!

What do you think of the 1990s overalls trend? Did you wear it the first time around? Will you wear it this time?

Shop my denim overall dress look for summer:

Thanks for stopping by!

XOXO

Cathy

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