Welcome back readers to a very special Courtney's Closet entry... my 100th post!
In order to celebrate 100 posts of clothing and challenges I'm going to travel back in time exploring 100 years of fashion and paying homage to the trends of the time, starting with the 1920's. Click the images to enlarge!
The Roaring Twenties
When I think 20's fashion I immediately think flappers! For this look I'm wearing a black flapper dress purchased for my murder mystery dinner party with my Grandmothers pink pearl knotted necklace, glitter gold Steve Madden pumps, pearl studs and a bow headband worn flapper style.
The Trying Thirties
The thirties still had a bit of flapper influence, women wore loose but longer dresses and sported snug and sassy hats. Pearls were of course still presence as well as the use of big coats and fur. To tackle the thirties I'm wearing a loose, long pink dress with flowing sleeves cinched with a black ribbon, a black hat, my Grandmothers pear necklace, pearl studs, black platform pumps, and a champaign fur coat purchased from Goodwill.
The Fighting Forties
The forties were also rather similar to the twenties and thirties with a few changes. The hats grew bigger and floppier while the hem lines got shorter, also women and men both wore trench coats. To embody this time, I wore a tan and black hat with a black and white striped dress, a tan trench coat and black booties.
My Favorite! The Fifties
Awhhh the Fifties, a simpler time ... well except for the lack of equal rights and constant fear of bombing, but forget that for a moment and who wouldn't want to live in the fift
Awhhh the Fifties, a simpler time ... well except for the lack of equal rights and constant fear of bombing, but forget that for a moment and who wouldn't want to live in the fifties! Fashion wise, the 1950's is my favorite decade to date, the diner girls, the poodle skirts, the saddle shoes, the cate eye glasses, the pin-up girls and the chic housewives vacuuming in stilettos and pearls...I love it all! For this look I'm channeling a vintage diner girl vibe by wearing a wrap around yellow skirt and a black and white tie top (both purchased at goodwill) with a red bow headband, saddle shoe inspired keds, pearl studs, my real eye glasses that are somewhat vintage themselves and carrying a red train case.
The Swinging Sixties
Like the 50's the sixties are another decade I adore, so much so that hints of it often sneak their way into my everyday wardrobe (the fifties do as well... its really a problem. I was totally born in the wrong time period!). The sixties were liberating and full of change for every one including women, and the fashion is definitely indicative of the alterations of the era. Shirts got way shorter and colors grew brighter and for the first time in a long time, women began to take control of their sexuality, as evident through their fun and flirty attire. Here I am wearing a psychedelic printed top that's a sixties shape over a orange dress I scrunched into a mini skirt with white chunky Vince Camuto pumps. I accessorized with tan sixties shaped glasses, bright Kate Spade bangles, a colorful pattered scarf, white clutch and red/gold earrings.
The Smooth Seventies
Although the seventies aren't my favorite ear fashion wise (I'm not into the whole hippie chic, beachy grunge, browns and dark greens thing) I do love love LOVE Marsha Brady, hence why I purchased the shirt I am wearing in this look. I found this top at a goodwill in Sacramento and after scanning the label I was able to determine its was made at least 30 years ago and personally decided that I
MUST have belonged to Marsha, Marsha, Marsha. So of course I
had to have it, but never intended to actually wear it, before today! Its tucked into flair gap jeans and a teal belt, paired with Vince Camuto booties, dark lipstick (gross) and big brown sunglasses. Not necessary my favorite outfit, but I think Marsha would wear it, so its good enough for me.
The Explosive Eighties
The Eighties!!!! Surprisingly, another one of my favorite decades, although it differs so much from my other favorites. Everything was bigger, better and perhaps a bitt too much at this time. More was always More! I also consider the eighties to be one of the most epic decades, music, attitude, style, movies and fashion wise. Madonna, one of my favorite famous people EVER became extremely popular and somewhat represented the era, as a result I dare to deem her the Princess of the decade. For this look I am wearing a cropped black jacket over a blue animal print tank tucked into a black skirt and white petticoat. I'm also in hot pink lace leggings, a studded belt, chunky bangles, multiple ring, black dangling earrings, studded pumps and a pink hair tie.
The New Nineteen Nineties
The 1990's was an exciting decade full of new and useful inventions, however, it was also full of y2k fear and frenzies. As a result, fashion as well as other things somewhat came to a standstill and style took a backseat to the decade's dread. Nevertheless, amongst the revere, some young fashionista's did emerge as featured in the 1995 film and later television series ('96-'99) Clueless!! One of the movie's supporting characters, Dionne, is up there with
Carrie Bradshaw on my list of fictional favorites. So for this look, I channeled the movie's style by wearing a sheer blouse (I found this little pretty at a Goodwill and instantly though 90's Carrie and Dionne, so it had to come home with me) with a think black leather belt, houndstooth skirt, maroon knee highs and school girl black booties. With my new Kate Spade bag and a fabulous Dionne-esque black hat, that my boyfriend Paris hates... but what does he know :]
The 21st Century: Melting Pot Millennium
The 2000's (that sounds weird... I can't believe I am referring to years such as 2008... [when I graduated from highschool... OLD] as past fashion years) were a decade of mash-ups! Basically, we as a generation just lumped a bunch of past fashion looks together and deemed it something new! However, one girl of only 17 at the time did bring something new fashion wise that generated a wave of trends that even 12 year old Courtney had to jump on the bandwagon of. So here I am paying homage to Avril Lavigne when she stepped onto the music scene in 2002 wearing boy clothes and skater shoes and asking, "Why you have to go and make things so complicated?". I'm wearing a white lace tank (lace was one trend that was actually worn in a different way in the 2000's) with Gap boyfriend jeans, A polkadot tie I purchased for Paris, studded belt and fire converse (I bought these in my grunge/punk-rock/tomboy phase... only they hardly got any use since I was permanently attached to my giant Osiris skater shoes. The tips of my hair were also pink and flipped out, and all my shirts were black... gross Courtney).
What was your favorite look? What about your favorite decade's style? I would love to hear some feedback! There's ten looks so can we try for 10 comments? Ready, set, comment!
