The Ladybug’s Vintage Finds of the Day

Some of my last vintage finds from the September’s Sorrento Antiques Fair “Antiquaria”:

Brown (snakeskin) clutches,

Teal decorated clutch (yes, I love clutches and I love teal! Lol)

and some cute jewellery: a golden 60′s envelope necklace and a golden 80′s cuff

The Ladybug visits… “Antiquaria”

One of the things that I hate most in life is complaining! When other people complain or when I do it myself, my first answer is: Stop complaining and start acting! But there is a small exception to that: I realized that complaining is useful for my blog, because when I complain about living here, no vintage and bla bla bla… people feel obliged to show me that what I say is not true and I discover new places and stuff!

This is what happened with the Sorrento Antiques Fair, “Antiquaria.” I was on the phone with a colleague complaining! and I was trying to explain to him what my blog was about and he advised that I visit this antiques fair which happens the second weekend of every month in Sorrento. I must admit that I was particularly skeptical about it and I didn’t expect that much, but I decided to check it out on the next scheduled Saturday event of September.

I took my Nikon with me and this is what we saw there…

If you’re looking for vintage furniture and objects like that, this fair is simply perfect! There are a lot of rarities and the prices are generally affordable. Jewelry is also on the list: vintage brooches, necklaces, earrings and bracelets are quite in every stall and some pieces are really to die-for! There are some interesting accessories like sunglasses or bags and clutches that are also worthy of a visit.

Ok, I confess that I’ll go again next month!

 

 

The Ladybug rates Alexa Chung for Madewell collection

Collaborations between celebrities and high street brands can be a total flop or simply amazing. This depends, a great deal, on the celebrity- I guess! One of the examples of a great successful pairing was the one between Kate Moss and Topshop. A long standing connection that ended this year with some ‘iconic’ pieces re-created just for the last season. I bought a couple of them for myself in the last few years: dresses, jackets, tops with a slight vintage accent (note: Kate is a great vintage lover!).

Another great example of the celebrity/high street brands successful collaborations was, for sure, the Alexa Chung first Collection for the American brand Madewell. As many other Europeans ladies, I begged Madewell to ship to Europe because I would have bought quite the entire collection made of manlike coats, velvet dresses, blouses and shorts and amazing shirts (see the picture below).

It all sold-out very quickly and it was such a great success that Madewell decided to try it again. That’s why, when the second collection was announced to launch on September 22nd, I immediately called our American correspondent to make sure he could get some pieces for me and send them to Italy (because, once again, Madewell doesn’t ship to Europe). He learned, by the way, that they are better prepared for the launch of this year’s collection. Although they are maintaining a very “boutique approach.”

Now; I must confess that all this excitement calmed down considerably, since a few days ago some images of the collection began running online from the look-book. I don’t know if it is because of the model (possibly some of the same pieces worn by Alexa Chung and styled on her may look much better than in the look-book) or if it’s just that the pieces are not as good as last year’s. I’ll continue to bookmark the gold lace blouse (one of those pieces that I must have- consider this a public warning Mr. American, Sir! lol) and the palm printed combines (shirt, pants and dress).

Although; in preview, it’s not good as expected, I guess that this one will again sell out very quickly. Alexa has a huge fan base in the US and whatever this girl touches, suddenly turns to gold!

I was tempted to show the look-book here, but as I don’t want disappoint you too- I’d rather share this video of Alexa Chung in the making of the new campaign!

 

Alexa-Chung-in-2011-Madewell-Ca

 

 Ok….here’s the look-book too! (Styled by Miss Chung personally!)

The Ladybug meets Lilli Pispisa

A few days before starting my blog, although I’ve had it in mind for years!, I was hanging around in Messina (my hometown) with a friend and we were sipping a cold beer. I was telling her about my ideas and my plans for the blog when she suddenly says: “Come with me, I have the perfect place for you. You’ll meet an incredible girl!”
The place she was talking about is Maison Studio, via Garibaldi 95, Messina, a lovely shop with a vintage flare – opened not even a year earlier. Inside is where I met Lilli, the owner, a tiny girl, with big curly hair and sparkling eyes.
Lilli tells me her story or more accurately, her adventure through her studies at the Academy of Costume and Fashion in Rome, her odd jobs in Bologna but also her encompassing passion for vintage and for tailoring. Her passions can be clearly seen in her shop, where every piece is unique, hand made by Lilli and where amazing vintage objects (found in many different Italian small fairs) can be seen all around.
Lilli is overwhelming with her radiant character and with her mountain of projects and ideas….she shows me her internet site (www.meicomme.it) and we immediately find a lot of things in common. Fortunately, I had my Nikon in my bag and I had fun taking some pictures in her adorable shop!

TLC: Lilli, how did you have the brave idea of opening this kind of shop in Messina?

Lilli: I started studying fashion by chance whit a one-year training course as a designer, near Palermo. From there I decided to continue on this great experience. I attended the Academy of Costume and Fashion in Rome for four years. My degree required that I produce a fashion show and with that experience, I started working in Bologna, then Rome again. All during this time, I worked as a free-lance designer for a company in Milan.
After many years and a good amount of experience, I felt the need to express my own style without any external constriction. This need became more and more concrete every day, but the only thing that was clear in my mind was the place where I wanted to give space to my little art laboratory. I also thought, already in Rome there are many shops/ateliers, so I decided to bring some novelty and brighten up my hometown!

TLC: Where do you get inspiration for your creations?

Lilli: Inspiration is a strong emotional moment…it can happen when I travel, when I observe interesting people in town or more paradoxically while I stare at a blank page during a sleepless night! Often the right music helps me when I am in an emotional state of mind. There are no rules, it happens without giving notice!

TLC: What is vintage for you?

Lilli: Vintage is History! I am fascinated by its charm, perfume and poetry. It’s like watching a black and white movie and managing to distinguish all the shades of color. Vintage give us the chance to recycle and take from the past- adapting it to our very personal concept of the present.

TLC: In your showroom there are a lot of vintage accessories and pieces, where do you find them?

Lilli: Well, everywhere! Antiques and vintage fairs in Sicily or anywhere else. Sometimes, when I’m lucky, I manage to find some little shops from the ’50s/’60s that are going to close: one day I dangerously and shamelessly climbed to a dusty shelf just to find some old pieces…isn’t that what we call, “passion”?

The Ladybug’s favorite photo-shoot of the month: Alexa Chung for Harper’s Bazaar UK

When we use the words “fashion icon” or “style icon” we mostly make reference to actresses, singers, divas or just celebrities of past eras. Not only because the word “icon” is usually related to someone or something that made the history but also because, nowadays, it is hard to find a real style icon comparable to the myths of the past.

My personal style icons are Audrey Hepburn, Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot and if we have a look around on all the so-called “IT-girls,” it is hard to find someone with the same charisma and personality of the ladies I just mentioned.

But I must say that I have a couple a favorites… Alexa Chung is on my short list! Mostly because she is a voice that stands out from the chorus. She mixes designer with vintage and high street very freely, and her result is an absolutely stunning mix that makes her look very… well it’s very hard to classify her as anything less than “Alexa.”

For that reason, when I saw her in this vintage inspired photo-shoot on The British Issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK (October, 2011), I couldn’t help but share with you. I hope you will enjoy it as I did!

PS: The picture in the music shop is my favorite…what’s yours?

And please….let me add this one from Alexa’s In Style spread…it’s too cute!

The Ladybug invites you to Rome, the capital of the “Happy Kilo” vintage!

We all know that Rome, the eternal city, is the Capital of Italy. We also know that Rome is the capital of history and that walking down the streets of this fantastic town is like visiting an open air museum. But did you know that on the night of September 15th, Rome will be the Italian capital of fashion with a very special event? Vogue Fashion Night Out has organized a unique event called “La notte Bianca della moda”, a special tribute to fashion. On this very special night, most of shops will remain open until 1am. In addition, many fashion related events will take place in different venues of the city.

 

Vintage lovers will probably find their perfect venue at the “Elizabeth the First Classic and Tribal Vintage”, in via dei Cartari 6/a, from 10 am to 2 am. There you can find the best vintage clothes and accessories from the late ’50s to the ’80s, as well as ceremony and cocktail vintage dresses and purses (the “Evening Edition”).

The Happy Kilo feature (one of the most successful recession-friendly ideas imported from the UK!) will be present with two different themes: the Happy Kilo Shopping; at which you can spend 15 euros for every kilo of vintage shopping, and the Happy Kilo Special “Evening & Night Dress and Purse” Edition for Vogue Fashion Night Out , 30 euros a kilo.

The event is hosted by A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Clothing with the partnership of Elizabeth the First and Opherty & Ciocci Vintage; which deserve a special mention. Opherty & Ciocci is a “master of vintage” in Rome!

Visit their site/online store (www.opherty.com) to find the best Made in Italy vintage, from designers to regional leather craftsmen, or find them in the nicest vintage markets in Rome when you are around!

The Ladybug’s Vintage Model of the Day!

Last week my friend Maria Giovanna posed for my camera at Frendo Vintage in Naples with some great vintage accessories! She’s so cute, isn’t she? And Frendo Vintage has the best vintage accessories around! Don’t you think that the YSL vintage sunglasses in the last pic are to die for?

The Ladybug invites you to Padova Vintage Festival

Dear Italian vintage lovers, it seems that this fall is full of great events and surprises for us! After a full weekend of vintage deals in Perugia and Gambettola (FC) the next weekend too will be chock-full of wonderful vintage.

Destination: the amazing town of Padova (which also deserves a discovering trip: its history carries in it one of the leading Universities of the past few centuries), at the Centro San Gaetano, from the 9th of September at
3pm to the 11th at 10pm, will be the second edition of the Padova Vintage Festival 2011.

This huge free entry fair had great success last year and it comes back this year with great expectation and many exciting events. The heart of the event is, of course, the vintage fashion with many stalls of the best Italian and International vintage dealers (including A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Palace) where you can find unique pieces to fill your wardrobe!
But it’s not all about fashion: art, cinema, design, dance and music are also ingredients of this big event. Workshops, exhibitions and vintage shows are also on the menu!

Many events will be included in the main event: the contemporary art exhibition, the cinema’s Corto Film Festival and to the dance contest Urban Breakfast.

But a special mention goes to the Japanese Beauty, an exhibition brought to fruition by A.N.G.E.L.O. Vintage Palace. It is focused on the innovation brought to the history of fashion during the ’80s by the Japanese designers as Comme des Garçon, Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto. Those new designers, with their new concept of fashion, are considered a bridge between East and West, traditional and modern, past and future.

The Ladybug’s vintage finds of the day

A pair of tan suede shoes from Frendo Vintage,

A red quilted bag with chain from Frendo Vintage,

A teal pussybow sheer shirt from Boudoir…

to pair with my adored Marc Jacobs teal ankle boots!

The Ladybug hearts the “London Midnight Vintage Walk”

All of us vintage lovers know about the social aim of vintage: recycling clothes, furniture, materials and accessories is not only an environment-friendly attitude but also a recession-friendly way of living!

But the Vintage Midnight Walk planned in London for September the 10th at midnight is really worth a mention. Over 1000 women, dressed in vintage clothes will take the streets of London, for a ten-mile route starting in Hackney and pass through Bethnal Green, Whitechapel, The City, Old Street and Shoreditch before returning to Hackney. All this will happen in the name of two important London hospices (the Richard House Children Hospice and the Saint Joseph Hospice) to raise funds to support their charity
projects. Along the way there will be stops with refreshments, tea, cakes and vintage themed entertainment.

The organizers of the event strongly recommend everyone to dress up, specifically in ’20s – ’40s wears. But whatever your style is the most important is putting your best sartorial foot in front of the other- over and over again! This year vintage men are very welcome too… So ladies…get dressed up in your best vintage clothes, bring your BVFs (best vintage friends), your beau or lovers with you and help raise money for a very worthy cause!

Just a little reminder: as it’s a quite long walk, it may be better for you to wear trainers or at least a very comfortable pair of shoes. I
know it may kill the look but… your feet will thank you!

If you are in London and want to register, you can do so on this site: www.vintagemidnightwalk.com

It seems that vintage can be charity-friendly too!