The Ladybug on vintage pride and prejudice

It has been almost 30 years that I buy vintage and I start having a sort of attitude like: “I know what it’s good for me so leave me alone when I do my vintage shopping”. This is not a very good attitude for a vintage shopper: the fact that we have clear vision on what we like and what we are looking for dors not mean that we can underestimate the surprising power of vintage!

I am wearing here the vintage suede jacket that started my thoughts and considerations on how vintage can still surprise me, as well as the eye of a vintage seller who convinced me to try it even if I did not want to (“It’s not my style” – I said – “I don’t like the color either!”). The good part of it is that the vintage seller was Tiziana from Vintage Afropicks and I have such a consideration and estimation of her work that I always give it a try when I see that she is insisting on something!

And I must confess that she was totally right: not only this jacket was amazing and fitted perfectly but I also loved the style and eventually thought that the color was great on me!! Unbelievable!!

When I left the shop I thought that I should never say no to a vintage try, even if I’m not convinced at first, because I’ve got my best pieces exactly like that, when I didn’t expect them!

For this shooting during a warm end of October day in Milan I wore this beautiful jacket from Vintage Afrocpicks with a handmade green pussycat bow shirt from Madame Ilary and my favorite black trousers from Rouje.

The bag is an old L’Autre Chose piece found during a sample sale, the shoes are vintage from Damsels in Distress. Ginkgo earrings are handmade from the amazing Made in Camper.

You can find women cheap shoes here

The Ladybug has a thing with vintage designer accessories

When I am asked about my style, I used to say that I loved mixing vintage, high street and designer pieces but things have slightly changed lately. In my constant search for fashion sustainability and ethics I am slowly abandoning high street like Topshop, Zara and Mango (although I buy something every now and then) to handmade and sustainable fashion, loving the fact that something has been created for myself only, that I know who made it and how it is made (without human exploitation) and using quality fabrics that last longer. Vintage is still my pillar, as well as designer pieces especially those I can afford, which means thrifted or vintage.

Lately I also developed a real passion for finding vintage designer pieces at bargain or accessible prices, for example at Humana Vintage or online from Opherty & Ciocci, where I got these two amazing accessories that I am wearing in this post: the vintage Yves Saint Laurent scarf (used as an headscarf) and the 70s Celine clutch. Both pieces are still available on their site for a very fair price.

 

My marine jacket with golden buttons is thrifted from a Salvation Army store in New York (I love charity shops!) for a few dollars, while my denim shirt with little pussybow is from Max&Co. It is a quite old collection, I have worn it a lot and I bought it during the summer sale session I think two years ago.

The military green trousers are part of my sustainable fashion turn: they are from 4.10, I love their fabric and shape but more than ever I love the fact that they are ethically made, in Italy. A piece of slow fashion and an example of amazing design, quality and respect of the environment and of people’s work. I really wish one day we could all afford more pieces like that.

90s inspired sneakers are from Dixie, hoop earrings are from Genny Pi in Milan.

The Ladybug latest vintage fashion taboo broken!

When I look back at my old fashion style I realize – as everybody I guess – that my sense of fashion has changed over the years (even if some things always stay the same!). But also some of my fashion habits and credo has changed. An example of this is the vintage jeans: I have been convinced for years that vintage jeans wouldn’t fit me, that I preferred to buy modern ones etc. To make long story short I haven’t bought a vintage jeans for ages (it was a sort of fashion taboo!) until I realized (in a vintage shop in Barcelona last year) that vintage jeans are great on me and that they have shapes (depending on the eras) that suit my curvy body way better that the new ones.

I started with an 80s mom jeans then moved to vintage Levi’s, now I fell in love with a 90s designer boyfriend jeans from Jean Paul Gautier that I found on Opherty & Ciocci site!

I loved the style but I tried to “work it my way” by wearing a vintage 80s blazer from Humana Vintage in Milan and a lovely printed tee by La Bigotta (she is an amazing tattoo artist and she created a clothing line with her most famous drawings; in particular I love these series that my friend Simona got for me in a vintage and handmade market in Rome!).

Final touch the ultra-feminine golden and black Baroque style turban handmade by Madame Ilary paired with a pair of huge hoop earrings from Gogo Philip. Snake-print ankle boots are from Zara.

Photo Credit: Milena Molinari

The Ladybug and the joys of the “total outfit”

I still remember that I was in Japan when I saw that Madame Ilary posted on Instagram a picture in her new Marlene trousers. I liked them so much that when I came back to Milan I asked her to try the new trousers in the different patterns that she made.

When I saw the black pair with the white roses (a very vintage inspiration!) I realized that these were the pants that I wanted: the shape is incredible and fits so well and the pattern…well I just loved it! “I also made a 30s inspired turban with the same fabric” – she said. “Do you want it?”. What you can answer if not “Definitely yes”!

The trousers are super easy to wear with shirts, tees and even thin sweaters and so is the turban, even if the elegance of its inspiration (30s decorations and shape) makes it look a bit more “engaging” (which is not: like every turban it goes absolutely with EVERYTHING from denim to velvet to sequins, you just need to use your imagination!).

BUT, the perfect match for this two-piece combo was the elegant and super chic organza black shirt from Madame Ilary (actually this is part of her HEKA Couture collection). I loved this shirt since it was still in progress: it is so classically chic that I couldn’t help loving it and making it mine!

Of course this is not an outfit for the day but it is perfect for a dinner or a party, although the pieces can be used separately and mixed with other styles. I must admit that this was for me the perfect combination, at the point that Ilaria herself used this trio for her last shooting campaign.

PS: for those in Milan, these pictures were taken at the incredible vicolo Santa Caterina, near the Università Statale. The graffiti were so cool, it was the first time that I checked the area even if it is very close to the University where we often shoot (also near Ilaria show room!).

(Big hoop earrings are from Gogo Philip, black ankle boots from Francesco Milano at Merry Go Round).

What do you think of this outfit? Would you wear it for a night out? Maybe a vintage themed one?

Photo Credit: Milena Molinari