April 28, 2010

Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

Jury Duty wiped me out. I'm not all here. I am very glad I wrote this post before. Good night.
Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

Okay, so y'know how we all have our fashion guilty pleasures? Like some people who really actually like UGGs, or those saddle bag pants, or hippie wear, or grunge? Well I have them too. I mean I was a kid in the 90's who desperatly wanted to wear grunge clothes, and plaid shirts will always make me happy, and in jr. high and high school, I really wanted to time travel to Woodstock wearing crazy hippie clothes (and I still want to time travel to Woodstock wearing crazy hippie clothes), but my most recent fashion guilty pleasure is 50's style weastern wear. I know. Forgive me.


Like TexMex food, 50's weatern wear was not exactly accurate. My favourite scene in the last Back to the Future is the one where Marty shows up in the old west wearing 50's cowboy clothes. With all the ever practical fringe, pastels, satin (I wrote satan at first! haha!), and the Atom symbol, cracks me up everytime! But I really do like the weastern wear that was so popular then. I attribute this to my life long dream of owning a horse named Athena, and solving a crime on a dude ranch. Whatever the reason is, 50's style western wear is actually quite easy to pull off with modern clothing. This is my interpretation of it.

Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender


I cheated a little again (oops!) with this top, which is a late 70's top, but red gingham blouses are fairly easy to find. Even if you can't find one in a chain store, check out your local Goodwill or Salvation Army for modern gingham blouses. They literally are a dime a dozen. This was actually one of the first items I bought after I finally abandoned my jeans and hoodies and it came from Goodwill. I love the gathering at the yoke! I also love the versatility with this blouse. When I first bought it I paired it with white Keds, jean high waisted shorts, and some red lips for a more 40's look, but it looks equally cute with black capri leggings, a black belt, and flats.

Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

For this more fifties casual look I paired it with a demin pencil skirt. This skirt came from a rummage sale and cost me maybe 50 cents. In it's former life it hit my ankles and made me look like a home-school mom (I was home-schooled and my mom was a home-school mom, so I can say that). I cut off a good foot or so and hemmed it and voila! easy-peasy pencil skirt. It's also totally modern. If you aren't into the pencil skirt you could also pair the top with cuffed or capri length jeans. If you're not into denim, maybe think about trying a brown leather skirt. And remember the more fringe the better! haha!

Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

Because I was home all weekend and wanted to keep this casual, I went with my red mock Keds, which I bought at Target in January. I'm normally not a tennis shoe girl, but I love these! They're comfy and cute and have a definite vintage appeal. However, flats, sandals, or some cute cowboy boots would be just as great (my search for vintage cowboy boots is ever on going).
Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

As for accessories I kept it simple for being at home. Just these button earrings my sister bought me from TopShop when she went to London, and these hair clips, which I am 90% sure came from Forever 21. If I'd been going out I would have braided my hair and worn a straw hat. Of course I didn't have a bag picked out to match seeing as I was home, but a vintage hand-tooled bag, or simply a brown leather purse would look great!
Thoroughly Modern Vintage: The Southwest Weekender

The key with all these looks is to go as literal as you want. In 1950 someone might have worn this same kind of outfit with a black circle skirt with some sort of western insignia on it, but personally I like the pencil skirt better. Last week's was my take on the early 60's little black dress, but a woman in the 60's probably would have worn a pair of black skinny heeled pumps, and maybe pearls. For those of you just getting into vintage fashion, it's going to take a little while before you find "your" style. My goal with this series is to inspire you to think outside the box and personalize the things you wear. So if any of you have a better, or different idea on how to wear this, let me see it! I love seeing the way other people put things together based off of one inspiration! The point is, wear what you want, the way you want, and you'll suddenly find yourself so incredibly happy with your clothing.

Also if anyone would like to see a specific look next week, let me know. I had one planned, but I'm afraid it is not going to work out (thank you shipping confusion). So if there's a specific kind of outfit you'd like to see vintage-ified, let me know! Oh and sorry for the long post again! I swear I try to keep these things short!

5 comments:

  1. I love this. It doesn't scream "hey y'all, I'm from the west!" Like those lovely ladies in the saloons giving milk or beer to the cowboys llooolol

    my guilty pleasure is saddle pants. im surprised they're not out yet. :O I also love rompers too... at one point I loved overralls rofl.

    http://bonjourgazel.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I would! I saw a great vintage looking shirt at topshop and I really loved the floral pattern (yes it was floral) and I was just wondering how could I wear a floral shirt and with what kind of skirt, I don't wear pants or shorts so they would not be an option for me but I'd love to see how you can style them if you could. Love the look of the denim skirt and the shirt, very cute.

    ReplyDelete
  3. These are the codes of the shirts so that you can have an idea of what they look like =)
    Topshop:

    13L12WPLP

    13L29WPNK
    Of course I would thrift my shirt I won't buy it from them but that's what i'll be looking for.

    ReplyDelete
  4. you look nice. this interpretation is aptly subtle. And I must say I do love gingham! And I love getting cheap (or "thrifted" as you americans like to say) second-hand clothing! Although I don't always have the best luck with it...

    ReplyDelete
  5. Gazel- Thanks! yeah I was trying to tone it down so that it didn't look like I'd just got back from the Rodeo! haha! Let me tell you, my overalls days were really bad. I think any kid in the 90's had an overall phase! And saddly I still love them.. oh dear!

    MIP- Thanks for the sugestions. I'm working on a Polyvore set to feature with the next one (once my camera is back) Those tops are dreamy!

    Miss Madeline- Thank you! I really hate the word "thrifted" but it seems to be the only apprpriate word on our side of the world! But whatever it's called, I do love the cheap prices! I find that my luck in stores tends to come in waves. I'll do great for a week and then have a month with nothing. Ah the joys of second hand shopping!

    ReplyDelete