The Ladybug’s Leather Midi Skirt Goes Retro!

First of all, let me say how proud I am of this skirt! It’s real leather and I found it on sale (last one!) at H&M. I was gonna pass on it, even if I liked it so much, because it was a size L (too big for me), but I decided to try it anyway. I’m not sure if it’s a smaller cut or if I just had more weight on me when I tried it (I prefer the first option!), but it just needed a belt and a little work to fit perfectly!
I don’t wear it a lot because- I must confess that for a short person midi skirts are really difficult to pull off; that’s why I always wear it with my Jeffrey Campbell Lita boots to give me height!

I decided to give the skirt a retro style by pairing it with a polka-dot Zara blouse and vintage accessories: a clear Chanel cuff with strass, a diamante vintage necklace and gold ’70s bangles.
I also added my mum’s original Gianni Versace ’80s suede green belt (it is incredible to see the old Gianni Versace label on it)….one of my favorite vintage pieces ever!

The Ladybug’s Vintage Coatigan

It’s finally time to take our coats to the laundry and wishing them a good time in the wardrobe until we’ll see them again!
Still; nights are a bit fresh here in Italy in Spring, so I decided to pull out this lovely salt and pepper ’80s coatigan from my wardrobe for tonight!
I’m keeping it simple with a peter pan collar silk shirt (handmade!), a black pencil skirt from Zara and my lovely wedge-boots from Aldo. I added a simple black ribbon and some sparkling jewels: a Mango leopard bangle and a pair of ’80s earrings!

The Ladybug’s Vintage Book Club Goes in the Author’s Office: Introducing the Amazing Naomi Thompson, author of “Style Me Vintage – Clothes”

Being an avid reader and vintage addict, I spend a lot of time on Amazon or in bookstores (especially abroad) looking- not only for vintage books- but also for books about vintage.
I have two entire shelves full of books about vintage fashion, vintage style, vintage furniture and even vintage cooking and tea parties. The “Style Me Vintage” collection is one of my favorite so far: the first two books “Style Me Vintage: Hair” and “Style Me Vintage: Makeup” are an incredible source of ideas and tips to create great hair and makeup in a perfectly vintage style. They’re also a very interesting journey through different eras and concepts of beauty and hair style.
This is why, when I read the third installment of the collection, “Style Me Vintage: Clothes,” was coming out soon this year- I jumped online to order my copy! When I read that Naomi Thompson (one of my vintage gurus!) was the author I really got excited about it and checked the waiting list every day to see when the book would be in stock and I could finally get a copy of it!
If you don’t know about Naomi Thompson let me say that she is THE vintage reference not only for those of you are just approaching vintage fashion, but in general- for all vintage lovers! She is one of the most important and recognized vintage stylists and personal shoppers in the UK. Her site www.vintagesecret.com was immediately included in The Guardian’s “What’s Hot” list, and she is unbeatable in finding the best quality vintage items at the right price. As I told you, she’s my vintage guru!
When I finally received her book I immediately sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and read it all that afternoon! “Style Me Vintage: Clothes” is full of tips, looks and useful recommendations for everybody loving vintage. After a very interesting introduction; with many tips on how to date vintage clothes and how to find your personal vintage style along with great tips for buying vintage, Naomi starts a beautiful journey from the 20s through the 80s, providing many beautiful pictures and descriptions of the characteristics and features of each decade and amazing looks that re-create the daily and evening looks typical of those years.
The last part of the book is all about very useful tips: from vintage swimwear and lingerie to how to repair and maintain your vintage clothes, from the best labels and online shops to the most interesting books and online reading. A special mention goes to the casting of the models: the pictures are really beautiful, but the models are simply perfect! Fleur De Guerre is still at the top of my list of my favorite vintage models, but I also loved Annie Andrews, Hazel Holtham and Jennifer Siggs!
What I liked most about this book, is the fact that it is open to everyone: there’s advice and tips for those who wants to create their own vintage style as well as for those who are already into vintage. But for me the very important part of it is that Naomi doesn’t give general rules to follow blindly just to get “ a vintage look.” She helps women define their personal vintage look. The wide range of looks presented are not a model but an example to help women find their personal style. If you look at vintage bloggers, for example, they all are very different from each other and this is what makes them unique. Their style is considered vintage or vintage inspired but everyone uses the vintage touch infused in so many different ways. This is why I fell into vintage: it allows me to be myself, to wear things that nobody else wears and to mix it in my very personal way.
When I finished the book I contacted Naomi to tell her how much I loved it and how interesting I found it; I also asked her for an interview and I found out that she’s also one of the loveliest people I’ve ever met!

TLC: Naomi, I really enjoyed your book “Style Me Vintage: Clothes,” not only for the helpful tips but also because it is really inspiring for those women who would “learn” how to add a vintage touch in their style. What inspired the idea to write a book about vintage?
NT: Thank you, it is always a pleasure to hear. Unfortunately, the idea was not mine! I was lucky enough, a year ago this month, to be approached by the publishers to make the book. It was a bit of a heart stopping moment. They had followed my work and writing and liked the mixture of clothes, events and social occasions. The format is not far off at all [from] what I would have come up with, and I was very, very lucky that they humoured me in many ways and allowed me to choose the content around the looks. For instance, I was really happy to have the recommended reading section and the page about creating your looks. Half way though making it, it hit me like a ton of bricks that I did not want to make a book that dictated how anyone should dress and I changed the approach to make it more ‘relaxed.’ I think this has been key to its success. I don’t like being told what to wear!
TLC: One of the things that I appreciated most in your book is the idea of vintage fashion as a sign of individuality, a way to escape from the high street diktats to embrace a very personal way of dressing. Can you tell us more about your idea of vintage? What does vintage represent for you and why a woman, in your opinion, should consider wearing vintage?
NT: I feel quite strongly about this. I hate the idea of vintage becoming another slavishly followed trend that people feel obliged to follow. I believe we all need a creative outlet in our lives and our choices when it comes to dressing can provide this. On that note no one should wear vintage if they don’t want to. To me it’s exciting, it makes me feel unique and it’s also an enjoyable hobby, but it’s also a personal choice. There are so many forgotten shapes and patterns to choose from. [Incorporating] the vintage ‘palette’ [gives a] much broader [scope of choice] than if you dressed to be ‘on trend’ in high street clothes. You don’t have to go the whole hog though. I’m a big fan of old and new mixed.
TLC: In the UK, you are considered a “guru” when it comes to vintage fashion and your experience as a vintage personal shopper is clear: how has this experience helped you and what have you learned?
NT: I am quite happy to be a vintage shopping and dressing guru, but I can assure you- there are many people out who know a lot more about vintage than I do. I am no fashion historian. I am completely self-taught, and even that was backwards! My love of cut and colour came first. I still base my choices purely on the aesthetic appeal and garment quality. It was only later that I learnt about labels and fashion history. The personal shopping idea came from years of dressing people in vintage clothing for shoots or styling projects and developing a fairly quick eye when it comes to knowing if a vintage garment will fit someone
TLC: Some time ago we talked about the great success of charity shops in the UK, do you find some of your vintage clothes there? Do you have a favorite one in London?
NT: Yes; I do find them but it’s becoming harder, without a doubt. I also have a bit of a bee in my bonnet with ‘vintage sections’ in charity shops. It’s amazing the vintage that doesn’t end up there. Also I’m sorry to say, I have yet to see a charity shop with a vintage section that is fairly priced. The price range seems to be based purely on the supposed ‘age’ of the garment with no regard for quality or condition. For example I will not pay £19.99 for a smelly stained 70s polyester blouse just because it is from the 70s. I could go to a good vintage shop near me and get a lovely one, in mint condition for £12, that has been washed and lovingly sourced. The best shops are the ones that have a flat price of say £5 for dresses, £3.99 for cardies etc. There is an amazing charity shop in London (all I am saying is it in Hackney) where I have to date, found 6 pre-50s dresses for a fiver each.
TLC: We always try to find new tips about where to buy the best vintage around and you’re definitely the perfect person to ask! Which are your favorite shops or markets where you can find the best bargains in London or anywhere else?
NT: The problem with knowing where the best vintage is, is that after a while of recommending places, they tend to either up their prices or they run out of good stock. This has happened to two shops that I used to adore!
I’ll give you my two favourite shops and leave you to find the rest The best thing anyone can do is to take a weekend and go and have a good rummage in your area. Vintage is everywhere right now.
The Vintage Emporium and Tea Rooms (Bacon Street, just off Brick Lane)
If pre 1950s is your thing then this is worth more than a trip to the V&A. Owners Olli and Jess really know their stuff and the upstairs tea room is the perfect place to relax away from the Brick Lane masses.
Dead Man’s Glory Vintage (Portsmouth)
Luci’s shop is more like the local hang for the vintage obsessed and she always pulls something amazing out of the bag.

The Ladybug’s the Woman in Black: AKA “Dark Lady!”

As for fur, black is a color that I don’t wear that much in Spring/Summer. I know it makes us all look thinner and elegant, but-except for some rare occasions-I prefer sparkling colors for the warmest seasons. Moreover the trend is all about pastels and color blocking this year, so black is really out of place! For those of us really into black, I advise to turn onto the navy blue, a softer and lighter version, still feminine, classy and maybe even more stylish.
Maybe it’s the weather (Spring is coming late this year!), maybe just the daily mood, but today I went for a total black outfit!
I’m wearing a very fitted Stefanel coat (one of the best “coat finds” ever!) and a last season Topshop velvet dress with white lace collar. Black vintage trilby hat and black Jeffrey Campbell Lita. I just added a leopard print belt from Pinko to lighten up the outfit and a clear vintage Dior frames (great find from the last Forlì Vintage Fair last year).

The Ladybug’s Last Fur Outfit: Vintage Fur & Vintage Turban

Spring is already knocking at our door and these are really the last days of winter! Which is a great news! Although I’m really looking forward to wearing spring and summer clothes, I’m going to miss my winter vintage furs!
That’s why I’m taking advantage of the last winter nights to wear this adorable vintage fur that I bought this January in Florence at Officina Vintage!
Tonight I’m pairing it with one of my yearly obsessions: the turban! I’m wearing turbans and hair scarves a lot this year and I’m sure I’ll bring this trend into the upcoming seasons… It’s stylish and comfortable for those days when your hair is acting naughty and there’s no way to style it!
I found this vintage black turban on Ebay (along with a knitted version perfect for hard winter days), but you can easily find them on ASOS or in a lovely jewelled version and in many different colors on Rokit online shop.
Also wearing Zara leggings and lurex silver sweater, black Jeffrey Campbell Lita and a vintage brown croc clutch.

The Ladybug’s Styling Experiment in Florence: Vintage-styling KNAGUI at Officina Vintage in Florence

When in Florence, a couple of vintage shops were on my visit-list; one of those was Officina Vintage, one of my favorites in town! I visited both shops of via del Giglio 41 and Borgo degli Albizi 85 during my visit in March 2011, so I decided to meet Paolo Becheri, one of the owners, just to take some pictures and talk vintage!

TLC Paolo, Officina Vintage is an institution in Florence! Every time that I come here, I find faithful and usual customers and many tourists hunting vintage gems. Tell us more about your story and how it all began!
PB: Officina Vintage came from the passion of three friends for vintage, and from the desire of doing something new in this field. We wanted to create the shop that we were looking for: a shop where we could find EVRYTHING that a vintage lover could need, from casualwear to classical, from bargains to brands.
We found our own way little by little, because the same vintage area may have a lot of different declinations so that everybody can find theirs.
We choose basically a commercial way: we strive to offer the best quality/price products and we mostly target young people who look for a very personal style and who are not afraid to “dare.”

TLC: I often define Florence as the Italian capital of vintage fashion. Do you agree? Why?
PB: Personally I really do agree with your definition. In the last few years the vintage shops in Florence have multiplied. In the city centre you will find about twelve, not considering those outside the city.
Florence has a rich past of art and creativity; these elements you’ll find fully engaged within vintage- where the seller completely chooses what to sell and with which style to sell it.

TLC: In your shops you can really find anything, from designer clothing and accessories for men and women to sweaters and t-shirts from the 70s, where do you find all these unique pieces?
PB: The most complex but also the most exciting and satisfying part of the job is always the provision! Officina Vintage was established four years ago, but in those few years we made big steps in our search for always aquiring new suppliers.
The most important part of our job is this search for new suppliers, trying to get the cheapest price but with the best quality; buying is definitely a very delicate part of the process.
We mostly buy from Italy, Germany and France; sometimes from UK and US. We prefer a more classic European fashion instead of the American.

TLC: On this blog we always look for interesting tips on where to buy the best vintage around the world. Apart from Officina Vintage, are there any shops or markets in Italy or abroad that you would advise?
PB: There’s a market that I ABSOLUTELY advice for you to go: it’s in Lyon [France] once a year, generally between May and June (this year 2nd-3rd of June), with 340 stallers from all over Europe and about 28,000 visitors. It is completely different from what we’re used to in Italy: simple décor, vintage and modern pieces for EVERY pocket and very rare pieces really hard to find around.
Not only it is a FABULOUS event where every vintage lover would lose their mind, but Lyon is a city not-to-miss so… get comfortable in your car, 8 hours from Florence and go!

So, KNAGUI was with me I decided to style him again after the good experience of his winter gospel tour! Officina Vintage is the kind of shop where you can really find anything! Vintage clothing and accessories for men and women, from sporty to classical and from many different eras. So this time I wanted to try a little experiment… styling KNAGUI vintage style!

I picked similar houndsthooth patterns for jacket, coat and hat… mixed with light yellow shirt and crochet blue tie! He picked a cute Puma bag to complete the outfit!

Very Italian vintage style! What do you think? I think it suits him!
(While styling him, I found the time to try some cute pieces on and came out with a lovely vintage fur!)

Soul Sunday with KNAGUI: My Cool Went Down the Kravitz

A few weeks ago I was invited by a reader to the Lenny Kravitz concert with Raphael Saddiq as special guest here in Dallas at the Verizon Theater. It’s taken me a while to write about this experience because I had completely lost my cool somewhere in the vicinity of the song he opened his show with. I feel myself losing it again, so let me first tell you about Raphael’s performance.

Raphael Saddiq, in my opinion, is a musical genius. His ability to present this vintage music with today’s flare is more than worth a listen. His look was a cross between geek and greaser and although he only had 1/4 of the stage to call his own, he commanded it.

Speaking of the stage, he brought that back in time as well. Pure simplicity like the footage we see from concerts of huge artists of the 50s&60s playing a big show at the local high school or town auditorium. He even had coil-curled cable running from his guitar to his amp. I particularly liked the organist’s costume (yes, the Hammond B3 was in the house!)…a choir robe, and he commenced to take us to the stratosphere with Pastor Ray-Ray leading the way.

His is a show that I’d like to see again! A friend of mine from Luxembourg saw the show when it hit there. She said the people went so crazy for Raphael that they immediately scheduled a headline show with him. That just happened- I should find out how the show went.

So let me back-pedal just a bit: my first post was about Lenny Kravtiz. In it I spoke about how I am a fan of his recording process. What may have gotten lost was the fact that I was not a fan of his music. This is an important point for this post…

I’ve only seen Lenny play live once. It was in the early 2000s at the New Orleans Jazz Festival. He was playing on another stage at the same time as Macy Gray. I was with Macy, so I couldn’t catch his show. But after she finished I went over and caught him performing “American Woman.” Can’t say I was impressed. Loved the song, but it was just a performance. I remember being more excited about seeing Cindy Blackmon on the Jumbotron.

Fast forward to February 22, 2012… I enjoyed in utter euphoria the entire show. I have to admit that as an artist I get lost in “seeing the stage” and noticing everything “behind the scenes.” One of two things was true, the Kravitz camp is one of THE BEST oiled machines in the business or his concert story is so well told, that you can’t pay attention to anything else. I believe it’s a combination of the two, with emphasis on the latter.

I’ve never experienced an artist who has the ability to connect with his ENTIRE audience. I’d like to say that after his show, I’m going back to the shed and work on my “stage presence,” but I’m afraid that level of connection may be God-given. Either way, I’d love to sit in a week-long master class if he ever offered one.

So exactly how much of my cool did I lose? Let’s just say, I didn’t realize my new iPhone was missing until I was almost home. It must have popped out of my pocket when I hopped over a couple seats to get a close up of…Mr. Kravitz as he passed by singing “Let Love Rule.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ps On one of my flights from Bologna to Amsterdam, I met a trumpet player. He and I had a great conversation. He was mad cool, downplaying his artistry…the whole nine.  I’ll be dog-on if that wasn’t him on stage. LOL I love crap like that!!!

If you’d like to see more of my photos from the show, check out my FaceBook page (www.facebook.com/knagui); and like it… if you like it.

 

 

The Ladybug’s Furry Moment: I’m the Leopard Queen!

Leopard print is really my thing! When I was younger, I was a bit afraid of using it. I remember that I liked to add a few touches of animal print like a scarf or a tiny bag or sometimes a skirt, but I always used it with all black because this print was fascinating and scaring me at the same time.
Since I defining my own style and likes over the years, my love for leopard became stronger and I’m not afraid of using it- even mixing it with other colors! I love it! So much so, last year I got this wonderful vintage inspired faux fur from Topshop (a very coveted piece that I had to wait until they restocked for the third time – this is what happens when Alexa Chung decide to wear something cheap that you like too!).

Yesterday I wore it with a Zara pencil skirt and lurex sweater and my new obsession from Jeffrey Campbell: the Foxy T-bar wood sandals in brown! I added a touch of sparkling vintage with my star green earrings (a present from Sabrina, my lovely friend from Lady Jane Vintage Boutique in Florence!)

The Ladybug’s Fashion Experiment: Spot the Differences!

Every now and then I like making fashion challenges with myself! The challenge this time: can you create two completely different looks by using the same basic outfit?
Spot the difference! Have a look at these two outfits… They look completely different, but they have a lot in common…

Ok I’ll help you! I wore the same shirt and skirt, but I completely changed the outwear and accessories!
In both looks I’m wearing a silk camel Topshop shirt and a camel skirt from Zara.

In the first outfit I created a “dressed up” look by adding my vintage fur (my vintage find in Florence at Officina Vintage), a vintage floppy hat (one of the great finds at the Forlì Vintage Fair), a vintage necklace and belt (all my mom’s!), a vintage croc clutch (one of my finds at the Sorrento Antiques Fair) and my suede Jeffrey Campbell Litas.

I dressed down the second outfit, adding a leopard print touch! I left my lady-like fur for my Mango’s parka, I touched the ground with Topshop leopard ankle boots, I changed the belt to a leopard from Topshop, added a chain to my vintage animal clutch (from Lady Jane B. Vintage boutique in Florence) so that I could wear it across the body and I added my vintage tortoise frames from Maison Studio (my lovely friend Lilli’s shop in Messina) and a cute pair of animal earmuffs from ASOS!

Which one do you prefer? Dressed up or dressed down? But before that… did you really spot the differences?!

Soul Sunday with KNAGUI: On Assignment – Marni at H&M

So; Ladybug usually lets me do what I want to do on the blog, but this time she asked me to take on an assigment. Cover the Marni at H&M … thing.

Well; unfortunatly, I was a little late because I didn’t know what it really meant for a luxury house to collaborate with whatever H&M is considered.  I walked in the store and asked, “where’s the Marni stuff?” The young lady looked at me as if I were a fashion dult and said, “the other day it was in this entire section here, but all we have left is on this table.”

Luckily there was a nicer guy who told me that there was still some men’s clothes from the collection upstairs. … so this is where the surprise of my post comes in.  And honestly, I can show you better than I can tell you.

Enjoy My Marni Moment… (special thanks to Detorion, Christopher & Jamel)

ps since I failed at my assignment, I thought I might get a little of my shutterbug wannabe on…