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This Valentine’s Day, Society for Rational Dress wants to give one of you amazing ladies the chance to snag the gorgeous, pale pink silk kimono shown above. To enter to win this luxe piece, which retails for $500, simply sign up to become a member of their website by 12 a.m. on February 14th. Membership [...]
Today marks the Winter Solstice, the official start of of the new season. As the temperatures continue to drop, we are bundling up in our winter best. Make the seasonal transition easier by entering to win a cozy crotchet sweater by Woodleigh Clothing. Designed by Monique Moizel, Woodleigh utilizes mixed media fabrications to create laid-back, [...]
We are huge fans of Vanessa Bruno’s luxe knitwear and layered look. Thanks to her newly released perfume mist, L’eau, we have another reason to love the French designer. Created in partnership wtih Biotherm, L’eau is a limited-edition perfume mist that has notes of Bulgarian and Bourboniana roses, as well as subtle hints of musk [...]
Let’s face it. Finding the right pair of jeans can be a painstaking task. This holiday season we are making the search a bit easier by offering one of our fabulous readers the opportunity to snag a pair of Frankie B. Carpenter Trouser Jeans for free. Retailing for $158, these jeans feature the signature Frankie [...]
A Current Affair will be hosting their fifth pop-up shop this weekend and we have just the ticket for you…make that ten tickets. To celebrate the occasion Joey Grana and Richard Wainwright, co-curators of the famed vintage marketplace, will be LIVE Twitter chatting with us this Friday from noon to 1 p.m. PST and will [...]
Anyone who has ever kept their Saturday night party going into the wee hours has likely heard Marion Hodges’ musical stylings on KCRW. The popular DJ, whose been spinning since 2007, appears on the beloved local station from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. every other Sunday morning. And she can also be found on the tables in downtown L.A., where she provides the tunage for Tony’s Saloon, Wurstkuche and Grand Star Jazz Club in Chinatown. Little did we know, the soundstress is also an avid vintage hunter whose wardrobe is comprised of “at least” 85 percent previously loved clothing.
“When I want to put together an ‘outfit,’ at least a few of the pieces involved will be vintage,” Hodges says of her style. “Plus the idea of mixing unique and classic sounds with more contemporary music — which is what A Current Affair does with fashion — is exactly why I became a DJ in the first place.”
As Hodges readies to play the next weekend’s incarnation of A Current Affair pop-up vintage marketplace , we got her to make us an exclusive playlist inspired by goods that will be offered at the show.
Her picks are below the jump. Be sure to download her tracks to tide you over until Saturday, when Hodges will be kicking off A Current Affair’s opening night soiree that also includes an open bar, natch.
Tickets regularly $10. Snag them for $5 on Gilt City through Wednesday.
Song: “Ya Yo Se” by Chico Mann
“Everything about this jacket says either “matador,” or “mariachi band,” so my first impulse would be to offer a track from the the punk band turned mariachi maestros, Mariachi El Bronx. But I could also see the piece worn in a way that was more laid back, and casual. Going with that vibe, I’m going to pair it with “Ya Yo Se,” from Chico Mann. The track nicely blends elements of funk, electro, and afrobeat to create a super cool concoction that would be equally at home on the dance floor, or just hanging out at the table a few feet away from it. And someone at that table is probably wearing this jacket.”
Song: “Last Night Changed it All” by Esther Williams
Someone else at that table is probably wearing these purple pants. There are a lot of different directions that you could take these pants in, but to me they just scream, “I’m vintage, but I could still make almost any outfit look fresh and exciting.” That’s why I’m pairing them with Esther Williams’ “Last Night Changed it All.” The song first appeared on a full length record in 1976, but gained more notoriety when it was released as a 12″ single in 1980. It still sounds incredibly fresh to this day, and it has one of those often sampled drum breaks that will make you pause to think that you’ve heard the song before. But have you?
Song: “Synchronize” by Discodeine
Joseph and his amazing technicolor dream coat have nothing on this baby. I’m putting this dress together with the French duo Discodeine, and their track “Synchronize,” because this bright and shiny piece needs some element of darkness and danger. And what could be better for that than a slinky, modern disco track backing the coo of not so sweet nothings from the resident Lothario of the Britpop era, Jarvis Cocker.
Staying with the sequins, but switching the musical vibe completely, this black, dramatic sequins and fringe number needs a song to match. I’m placing it with relative newcomer Anna Calvi’s deliriously, and intensely beautiful “Blackout.”
Song: “Discotheque” by Bad Dream Fancy Dress
Since this skirt is so sophisticated, I wanted to give it a sound that reflected that, but in a slightly off sort of way. Bad Dream Fancy Dress is one of my favorite musical acts to have come out of the 1980s. It seems that only a handful of people know about them, which
is a shame as they wrote some seriously brilliant, and wonderfully weird pop songs. There is a singularly English, and buttoned down feel to their naughtiness which I feel suits this skirt to a T. Particularly in regards to the song that I have selected, ”Discotheque.”
Song: “World of Pauline Lewis” by Television Personalities
This print might actually be my favorite thing out of all of the items that I saw while sifting through my options for this playlist. Fittingly, I had the hardest time selecting just the right song to match it. My first impulse was to select a lullaby, to bring the playlist to a close nicely and gently. However, the more I looked at this shirt, the more I realized that it needed more of an anthem. The Television Personalities song, “World of Pauline Lewis,” kept calling to me, and once I listened to it while looking at the shirt I knew that was it. ”In the world of Pauline Lewis, everything is fantasy.” goes the main line of the song. The same could (and should) be said of the best fashion choices.
December 1st is World Aids Day, and Fidelity Denim has partnered with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to launch their first ever DedicatedDenim initiative. To support the cause, the luxury denim brand has produced a special edition red signature pair of their popular Ace Skinny Jeans. 100 percent of the profits will be donated [...]
Just in time for the Christmas and New Year’s parties, famed celebrity stylist Jessica Paster has released a line of shoes for online site Just Fabulous. The monthly VIP membership site has style experts create a custom collection of on-trend items based on users’ personalities and preferences. Shoppers can choose to select one shoe or [...]
We’ve made no secret of our obsession over Keel’s Simple Diary. Created by Philipp Keel, an artist and part-time L.A. resident, Keel’s Simple Diary is a charming take on the everyday journal. Each page asks how your day was (A. A jewel, B. Banned, or C. A Brown Banana) and poses questions like “what makes [...]
In our internet age of instand gratification, creating a meaningful holiday gift list is no easy task. Which is why vintage costume jewelry makes the perfect gift.
“It’s such a personal item,” says Richard Wainwright, the co-curator of A Current Affair pop-up vintage marketplace and owner of New/Found, which happens to be one of Kelly Wearstler’s favorite vintage spots in town. “There is the fact that each piece is unique or one of a kind and it really takes time to choose the right item. It’s not as easy as, say, walking into a local boutique and buying a bracelet that everyone in town already has.”
Wainwright has some pointers on picking out the perfect piece of pretty vintage costume jewelry for everyone on your list — whether they’re your twin sister or your favorite barista. ”If you’re buying a gift for someone whom you’re close to, you should find something that really reflects that person’s style,” he says. But not every recipient might be into an oversized 1940s rhinestoned broach that could give any Dynasty character a run for her money. “If you don’t know someone too well you’ll want to stay on the safe side and choose something more versatile.”
In addition to Wainwright’s expertise, we also checked in with a few of the nearly 30 vendors participating in A Current Affair pop-up vintage marketplace, which next goes down on December 3 and 4 at the Cooper Building downtown, to find out what jewels they want to give and receive come holiday time.
“Native American silver rings and coral necklaces. Turquoise of such amazing quality just draws the eye to these pieces and they are becoming harder and harder to find.” Gisela Marin, Nyali
“Statement pieces! The bigger the better in everything — necklaces, bangles, earrings —
size matters! People want items that standout. I feel that jewelry is an easy way for someone to be a bit flashly even when their wardrobe taste is a bit more subdued. Someone might not be comfortable in a neon jumpsuit or an architectual frock but feel right at home in a large bangle, over-sized stone ring or a chest covering neck piece.” Liz Baca, The Goods!
“Anything unique, less mass production.” Lisa Yesh, Lux Revival
For a stellar selection of vintage jewelry from nearly 30 vintage dealers, visit A Current Affair pop-up vintage marketplace, December 3 and 4 at the Cooper Building, downtown L.A. Tickets $10. itsacurrentaffair.com
