Category — Way Back When

I miss stickers.  I used to obsess over stickers.  I had Lisa Frank sticker books full of great stickers, unicorns and Strawberry Shortcake, some with glitter, some full of oil.  My sticker collection was awesome.  In truth, I think my sticker faze lasted all of a few months in late Elementary School, but that’s besides the point.  This clutch, decked out in great stickers has me all nostalgic, and I’m running with it.

When we were kids, stickers mattered, now $1200 pumps matter.  Boo.  End rant.

Image via Style Sight // Paris Fashion Week 2012

Long before I strutted in court rooms (i.e., squeaking in front of judges, gulping back nerves; in high heels), I was a bookish English major with a passion for fashion and literature.  In fact, I was so smitten with the two that I wrote a massive thesis on the history of the corset and its influence on feminism.  To this day, I love old books and undergarments, and these stunning 1920s pieces are no exception.

French Brassiere and Underpants, Met Museum, 1920s

Found here

Does anyone else remember jellies circa the late nineties?  They were these gummy rubbery plastic sandals that were the absolute worst to walk in – the gummy straps stuck to your feet and rubbed like crazy and the bottoms were terrifyingly slippery in the rain.  Also, I loved loved loved my jellies (regardless of the pain and danger factors.)  Thankfully, Zara took the look of the jelly and made them grown-up, modern, and wearable … then studded them.

Meet the sweetest studded flats I ever did see …

The Zara Studded Flat Jelly Sandal …

Image Board Created by Glitter & Pearls // Original Images via: 1 // 2

The box clutch, or hard shell clutch, barely bigger than most cell phones these days, is the next big thing (or rather, tiniest thing.)  Until now, I’ve been resisting the latest trend for two reasons: (a) I need a forklift to carry my day-to-day essentials, not a lipstick case {more on that here}, and (b) I was previously under the assumption that only my grandmothers carried these tiny clutches.

Let’s visit example (b), shall we?  My Bubby owned a number of these tiny purses, but all she needed for a night out on the town was a bright hued lipstick and a few dollars.  Also, she was tiny, so how big could her tiny purse be?  Today, we (err, I) require a cell phone, planner (the cell phone doesn’t cut it; Type-A), several shades of lipstick and gloss because you never know what color is hot from second to second, touch up polish (because everyone takes pictures of their nails nowadays), crystal light packets (because I’m ob-sessed), bobby pins, hair spray, headband, band-aids, chic wallet, chic makeup bag filled with all of the essentials, lotion, antibacterial, business cards, business card holder, 5 credit cards, 2 forms of identification (because try as I might, wedding ring and all, I can’t convince anyone behind a rope … or cone – at some of the classier late night establishments … that I am over the age of 18), and other assorted nonsense.

And where, may I ask, does this all go?  In the hubby’s pockets, of course!  Skull-topped teeny tiny clutch – here I come!

Though it’s clear from my homage to McQueen, that I die for the studded skulled numbers, I offer you a mix of dream bags and affordable stand-ins …

Box Clutches: 1. Bottega Venetta Knot Clutch in Shock Pink // 2. Dolce & Gabbana Jewel Clutch // 3. La Regale Clutch // 4. House of Harlow Val Clutch // 5. Alexander McQueen Skull Box Clutch // 6. Anya Hindmarch Marano Clutch // 7. House of Harlow Tilda Clutch

Images 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6

Pyramid studs were all the rage in the 90s – I may have bedazzled my bookbag with rhinestones, but I bedazzled ALL of my denim with pyramid stones.  These accessories, featuring the updated pyramid stud look, appeal to my now-grownup-chic inner-seventh-grader (sans red plastic glasses and unfortunate hair.)

Image on the left found here // Board created by Glitter & Pearls // Dominic Jones Rings – Jaw Ring and Female Ring // BCBG Spike Bangle (Similar Styles by Noir, CC Skye, Kenneth Jay Lane)

And that clutch? It’s Lanvin.

In elementary school there was this enormous (or what seemed enormous at the time) trash compactor in the cafeteria that we had to dump our garbage into.  At the end of each lunch, a child inevitably tossed his or her lunch money, medication, or worse (and far more costly) – their retainer – and the compactor had to be shut down.  Moms and Dads had to come by the school to help sort through the trash, searching for the $3,000 mouth guard.  I threw caution to the wind and often lost my whole lunchbox (seriously – giant trash chomping machine here, people); eventually my mom got wise and she learned to brown-paper-bag-it.

Fast forward many many years, and a handful of my favorite luxury designers are creating couture substitutes for the coffee sleeve.  Take that, Starbucks!  I don’t care how much I spent (in my imaginary world where I buy things like couture coffee sleeves), I’d toss that sleeve right into the trash – cup, crocodile, and all.  Operator fail or fashion fail?  You tell me.

Via Poise Polish

Visit Glitter Weddings – WEDDINGS FOR THE TYPE-A BRIDE {WITH GLITTER ON TOP}

I love polka dots paired with winter wares – the sophisticated look of a spotted blouse worn with fur, dotted tights, spots in velvet, on blazers and sleeved dress.

But of course, there’s an art to wearing bold patterns. The key to wearing polka dots is subtlety.  Because let’s face it, none of us actually want to look like Minnie Mouse.  Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, wearing a classic polka dot dress in the 1980s – much more inspirational … and doable.  The polka dot print is fun, vibrant, and when done right – playfully sophisticated.

Polka dots also have a whole lot of fashion history.  The spots first became popular in 19th century England, and have survived season after season, worldwide.  Polka dots are a timeless print and never really fall out of style.

The most important lesson in wearing polka dots, or any bold (a.k.a., loud) print for that matter, is to pick only one patterned piece of clothing or accessory and go for it!  A more modern trend is to pair clashing prints together – but you run the risk of looking slightly clownish and just a little bit crazy, if not completely fashionable.  But then, the most stylish of the bunch is the woman who throws caution to the wind and wears what she likes … paired with a touch of confidence, of course.

{Images via here and Pinterest}

Check out Glitter & Pearls on facebook and twitter and blog lovin’!

A little bit of history:  The rounded collar, sometimes detachable, became popular in women’s and children’s clothing in the early- and mid-20th century.  Even today, the style channels an unmistakable vintage glamor vibe.

Michelle Williams (right) was photographed for the March 2011 issue of Interview wearing a detachable Peter Pan collar from Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2011 collection. For the July 2011 issue of Marie Claire, Elle Fanning (left) donned the same collar — and struck a similar pose.  Both photo shoots evoked a classic old Hollywood feel.  Tres chic.

ASOS is featuring the sweetest tops, dresses,  and attachable collars with feminine peter pan accents.

{images a la Pinterest, Fashionologie, and ASOS – a few faves: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and this fab sequin collar}

Check out Glitter & Pearls on facebook and twitter and blog lovin’!

Tapestries, typically woven, but also recreated in prints, have a funky hippie vibe and a whole lot of character.  Like most fashion lovers, and daughters of moms who sew (Hi, Mom!), I adore textiles.  The more detail a piece of fabric has, the more I fall.  Most fabrics are printed with intricate patterns but tapestries derived their historical popularity because of the intense workmanship necessary to weave together the images and patterns along a tapestry.  Kings and Queens once sat on thrones surrounded by walls draped in tapestries.  History + Fashion … be still me heart.

{A la Polyvore}

Check out Glitter & Pearls on facebook and twitter and blog lovin’!

{images a la tumblr}

Vintage high-waisted denim shorts are all the rage lately, and being crafty is always in style.  The latest project must are these embellished jorts (jean shorts.)

This is my favorite kind of DIY – the kind that produces something totally wearable.  (This summer I’m attempting shorts.  I’ll let you know how it goes.)

And, fun fact: denim styles from the 80s and 90s are naturally high-waisted, because before women discovered fitted jeans worn daringly close to the bum, women of all ages wore jeans at about belly button level.  This was considered the style.  Terrifying, I know.  Essentially, way back when (a.k.a., my formative years … thank goodness I moved on), mom jeans were like totally awesome.

Now when it comes to vintage anything, I take my first shopping spree in my mom’s closet.  Trust – your mom owns or owned a pair of Jordache, Guess, Riders, or Levi’s jeans – these are all blissfully boxy and perrrfect for our little DIY.  If your mom weighed 83 pounds in high school or ritually burned all of her tacky jeans, swallow sadness, and head on over to your local thrift store.  Buy the nerdiest boxy mom jeans and head home with a vengeance.  Chop off bottoms, roll up legs to desired short length, and get to embellishing (break out your bedazzler – you know you wanna).  Studs look best along seams, fabric can be cut into pockets, and fringe is the perfect pocket accessory.  Et voila!

Check out Glitter & Pearls on facebook and twitter and blog lovin’!