Bombshell of the Month: Christina Hendricks

                         

Where do you begin when describing perfection?  If ever anyone embodied the feminine archetype that Marilyn Monroe represented, it would be Ms. Hendricks. From the way she walks across the room as Joan on "Mad Men," to her breathy, kittenish voice, she is Venus incarnate. 

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Decades

One of my favorite things to do with my mad money is to take a Saturday afternoon and spend it with Jina at Decades Boutique; playing dress-up and coming home with at least one new favorite to add to my wardrobe. I recently interviewed Jina for Zaftig, and had an opportunity to photograph Alex in one of the fabulous dresses that Jina has in stock. One of the best things about shopping at Decades is Jina's encyclopedic knowledge of vintage fashion, as well as her perfect instincts about what will look best on her customers!  Here is our Q&A with one of our favorite Zaftig girls!

                                                                                                                                           

What made you decide to open Decades?

"From childhood I quickly discovered an appreciation for the art, design and textiles of vintage clothing. More than that I realized the therapy- in the form of fashion -that this world of historic beauty offered me. I learned, unlike new clothing, that I could not put on a piece of vintage clothing without smiling. I was a piece of history revived. This, in and of itself, was attractive to me. This business is in my blood. And when I discovered, at age 24, that I could do what I love and offer a house of vintage treasures to Springfield, I had to jump on the opportunity. The miracle of it all was I did it all without having to accumulate any debt. I literally felt like God led me to the right place, at the right time, and all I had to do was show up. It really was one of the miracles of my life, and I can't explain in short what the experience of opening Decades was like for me - from the very start."                                        

  When did you first discover your love of vintage clothing?

"Simply stated, always. I have memories, being super young - I'm talking 5 years old at best,  collecting vintage clutches, hats, and gloves. By age 9 or 10 I had a a fine collection of these items as well as a turquoise 1950s ballerina costume: sequin, tulle and all the layers... it was the most exquisite thing I had laid eyes on, and it was all mine. You can imagine the innocence of a child adoring and admiring such an item. I was never like 'a kid in a candy store,'  rather, a kid in an antique store, for eye-candy of the vintage and antique world fascinated me - far beyond sweets of any kind."

On Alex:

Dress: "Tasty Sherbet"

Decades Boutique

Hair and Makeup: Alchemy...a Salon

 Which era or genre of vintage do you love the most?

"Naturally, I love all of the 'Decades'. There is beauty to be found in each one. It seems every time I pick up a piece of clothing from my endless piles of back-stock, I fall in love with each decade all over again. My most current love is the 20s and 30s art deco movement. I am absolutely moved with the glamour and grace of each piece."

What is your favorite part of the day at Decades? 

"Honestly, there is nothing in the world as fulfilling as knowing you're helping a woman feel beautiful..and not just on the outside. To me, fashion is there to enhance and accentuate what a woman already has, and THAT is what shines through her eyes from within. The best part of my job is making each woman feel the worth that she has and leave Decades feeling like a princess!"

Look how much fun vintage can be!

Which piece of clothing should EVERY curvy woman have in her closet?

"Absolutely the silhouette of the late 40s through the 50s is amazing. With the fullness of the skirt, the hips, thighs and lower abdomen are all made to appear beautiful. I'd say, grab a circular skirt and tuck in a blouse, and voila! Dress it down with cute flats, or dress it up with a pair of heels. Make clothing work for you and your lifestyle."

Do you believe in fashion “rules," or are rules made to be broken?

"Rules are guidelines for the conservative.. at least when considering fashion. Knowing your body and how to flatter your figure is where the real focus should be.  To me every woman is a canvas and how she styles her body is a reflection of who she is inside. 'Rules' are something that are put into place to keep us 'safe'. A woman who knows herself, and her limits, doesn't have to play it safe with fashion.  Fashion is fun, and always flexible!"  

                                        

***

"I would just add that I would love to meet some of the curvy women who are directed to, or stumble upon this blog. For everyone that visits the blog and is inspired to visit Decades, I will give them 25% off any purchase from now until the end of July." - Jina

It was a fantastic day of fashion, beauty, and glamour with Jina and Decades! Look for future blog posts featuring the fashion expertise of Jina, along with photos of REAL vintage on our Zaftig girls! Happy shopping!

  *All photos: Paulette Hughes, Canon EOS on Historic Commercial Street

  *Makeup: Sa'dia Luallen, Alchemy...a Salon

  *Hair: Paulette Hughes, Alchemy...a Salon

  *All featured clothing and shoes from Decades Boutique, 213 West Commercial, Springfield MO

  *Model: Alex

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Vintage Style Vixens

It's no secret that there is love here for the beautiful ladies of the silver screen. Here are some of our favorite vamps from the past - and some of the iconic styles they were famous for.

Theda Bara

This woman is terrific. She was the first true femme fatale in film history. And just look at these clothes, if you can tear yourself away from her eyes!  Erte was inspired by her, and the entire Orientalist movement that Paul Poiret and many other designers from the early 20th century pulled from was influenced by this silent film star.  From flowing evening gowns on the runway, and the long maxi dresses that are so in fashion -  modern silhouettes were impacted by this era. Intense! 

Mae West

You have no idea how much I love this woman. She was "sass" personified! From one-line zingers -  "I was Snow White...but I drifted" to that perfect hourglass figure, you just can't deny that Mae was one of the first curvy icons. She climbed to the top of an industry that celebrated the lean and sylph-like flapper body, and made history.  She is the poster-child for what a corset can do for you.

Rita Hayworth

So...do you want to know what the perfect Little Black Dress looks like? Do you want to know the heady power of something left to the imagination? Go HERE.  It's what every burlesque dancer is going for when she does a glove-peel.   Proof that restraint in dressing isn't always a bad thing. ;)

Jane Russell

How do I describe Jane Russell without sounding like a teenage boy? Her scandalous image for "The Outlaw" fueled more controversy and raised more eyebrows than almost any movie star in history. She would only be outdone by Farrah Fawcett and her famous shag and um...other attributes, over 30 years later. In fact, Ms. Russell deserves another image:

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This swimsuit is the perfect cut for a curvy girl, especially if she is busty, like Jane, who was a 38D! I have one very similar, in red, that I purchased HERE. I feel much more fetching in that suit than any bikini!

Marilyn

Simply Sublime.

Goodnight, vintage vixens! Plan your outfits with intention. Whether it means getting up a half-hour earlier, or planning your look the night before, you will feel so much more confident and poised if you put some thought into your dressing! 

PS - I just discovered the Brazilian group, Ceu. I am enjoying Malemolencia. I think our ladies would approve. 

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Oisercage

Remember that beautiful girl in the fun skirt in the Silhouette post? Not only is she incredibly gorgeous, but so is her blog. She has an amazing fashion sense, and I am positively in love with her writing, photography, and soul.  Dyane is a dream come true.

Follow her! You won't regret it. 

Photo Courtesy of www.oisercage.com

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Alive...with Color!

Color can become a fashion pitfall. Go to your closet, look in. What do you see? If your closet is anything like most women, you'll see a plethora of black, with maybe a few of your favorite colors thrown in. Especially for curvy girls, we feel safe in black. True, it can be very chic, slimming, and elegant. But, it can also be boring, and if you are fair-skinned, it can drain your complexion if you wear it alone. Black has its place in every woman's closet. But, consider some color and pattern as well.

It can be very confusing to walk into a store full of clothing, with  bombardment to the senses occurring at every turn of an aisle.  "Will this match anything I already have at home? Does this pattern clash with that one?"  I have been in those frustrating shoes. Then, I started taking some chances.

As hairstylists, we help people determine the best hair color for their features and coloring. We learn to use the color wheel to determine complementary color and tertiary colors. These same rules apply to all areas of design - whether you're choosing a new paint palette for your loft, or the layout for your website.  We see it in nature all the time - just look at the earth-tones in a cheetah's pelt, or the fan of a peacock's tail.  You should use the same logic when choosing your clothing.

Some designers which are inspirational for color and pattern are:

Missoni: This Italian family has been in the fashion industry since the late 1940s. They are unparelleled in their use of pattern and color.  The unique chevron pattern, which is their trademark, is instantly recognizable.  The interplay of colors in their knitwear is a good way to discover new, unthought of combinations.

Pucci: Emilio Pucci was the seminal designer for the jet-set 60s. His brilliant, opulent designs caressed the forms of movie stars and housewives alike. A Pucci print dress or scarf could carry you through many seasons - and this great design house is still turning out brilliant works of wearable art. 

Lilly Pulitzer: This Palm Beach fashion maven designed patterns and color combinations that influenced the golf course, the carpool, and the debutante scene of the South. These colors POP. My vintage Lilly dress is my favorite wardrobe item, hands down. People stop me on the street when I wear it. I got it from Decades, naturally!  If you want to be happy, choose a palette based on Pulitzer prints. It'll be summer wherever you go!

Vera Neumann:  In the 1960s-70s an artist named Vera created functional works of art for the home, scarves, and apparel for chic women everywhere.  Jina at Decades and I are crazy for her.  Her trademark watercolor and screen-printed scarves are great color informers.  I found a Vera scarf at a flea market two days ago for $1.95!  Always be on the lookout for unique accessories. They can take that black t-shirt in your closet to "WOW" in an instant. 

Another fun option for planning a wardrobe palette is very simple: go to your local home-improvement store, grab a palette booklet that has complimentary colors grouped together, and take it shopping with you.  Adding color to your wardrobe doesn't have to be complicated, and you might be surprised by what you come up with! 

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Bombshell of the Month: Nigella Lawson

What could be better than a beautiful woman who cooks? A beautiful woman who eats what she cooks, and still looks like a million bucks! How can we not love Nigella? This domestic Goddess fills out a dress, AND fills our tummies with the best recipes this side of the Pond.  Tasty!

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Silhouette

Here is some inspiration for you, and general style madness. Silhouette is very important for the voluptuous figure, and learning how to accentuate a slim, tapering waistline, hoisting the bust, and emphasizing a rounded derriere are all intrinsic to flattering your form. Here are some pictures that I found on Pinterest to inspire you:

This beautiful girl has proportion down to a science. Note that she has drawn attention to the most slender parts of her body: her waistline, arms, and collar-bone with the light-colored sweater. The belt adds a nice definition to the waist.  As a rule, pear-shaped women should stay away from extremely busy prints on their lower body, but in this case, it works, because the attention is drawn upward. Make sure you wear a high heel or a wedge to keep things elevated and airy!

If you have an hourglass figure (think Christina Hendricks and Marilyn Monroe), congratulations! You're ideal. Remember to accent your curves with a fitted and tailored look. Pencil skirts are a Godsend for this body type. Have your skirts altered to fit - find an excellent tailor. My personal favorite is Jonathan from Alterations Plus. Notice how, as a fuller busted woman, this model has chosen a darker top. The necklaces help add a bit of glamour to the neckline, and the bangle bracelet draws the eye to a slender wrist and hand.  Within reason, you can get away with almost anything. Just try to focus on one fabulous body part at a time and save a life, because you are a traffic hazard, love.

Jeans and casual wear for curvy women can be a challenge: in fact, there is a whole blog that is in the works on this subject. Jeans shopping is a nightmare for lush dolls. We find a pair that fits our butt, but then they gap at the waist, or we get the mid-day skinny jean creep. No one wants to see your thong, honey, unless it's in the bedroom.  Low-rise jeans, on the whole, are NOT good for us. Try a mid-rise from Earl Jean, or Ariya - a company specifically geared for the zaftig girl. Here, the model shows us that casual can be super chic. The dark rinse of the jeans, and the knotted sweater - again, emphasizing her waist, are stellar. Check out Girl With Curves for even more inspiration.

Here we are with evening wear. This would be a perfect look for a wedding or a cocktail party. The vintage lace look is super hot, and she has kept things monochromatic - always super flattering for an odalisque, especially if you are petite. The line of her body is only slightly interrupted with the darker shoes, fine if you are average to tall. Personally, I would have chosen a nude heel,  to lengthen the legs, but I'm a little stubby. ;)  Also,make sure the dress is properly lined.  I once wore the wrong underwear with a peekaboo lace dress, to my embarrassment. The 3/4 length sleeve is a prime flatterer. Most of us hate our arms -  it's a fact. Even though no one ever tells me I have fat arms, I prefer to cover them. 3/4 is perfect. For the most part, curvy girls should avoid a cap sleeve, unless you are an apple shape with lithe extremities. Cap sleeves are my kryptonite. 

This is the 101 lesson on proportion and silhouette. Remember, it's all about the waist. Show that puppy off - it's where your man or woman grabs you to pull you in for a kiss, and it deserves a little attention. Invest in a collection of fabulous belts, scarves and sashes. It's well worth it!  I have two or three camel-colored belts in varying widths. They match everything, and tie my look together.  If you are on a budget, small investments like these extend your style vocabulary immensely.  Happy wardrobing!

All images courtesy of Pinterest, with referring URLs linkable. Pin It