Heat Wave

If you're as warm as we are here at Cheap Thrills, you might be struggling to find wardrobe ideas to ride out the heat wave. Today, my aim is to assist you in your search for summer style. Here are a few tips:

Stay in Linen.

Linen is a lightweight fabric with a very breathable consistency. Opt for flowing styles that don't cling to the body, and lighter tones. Great for a casual date night where one might be going to an indoor restaurant, then outside afterward. Another great fabric to stay cool with is a lightweight 100% cotton, denim. The denim shirt or short is a great vintage flashback trend that is great for hot summer days when you're tired of the T-shirt.

Skirt Around the Issue.

Ladies! You have the option not to wear trousers! Try a lightweight skirt that flows in an outward motion to stay cool.

Play Dress Up.

70's length maxi dresses are really popular right now, pick your favorite style and try accessorizing with big chunky wooden bangles, and a pair of flat sandals to stay comfortably stylish.

Avoid Pits of Despair

If you're at an outdoor summer social function outside, chances are you'll see a lot of, um, pit stains. Yikes! Gross! That's right, I said it. Ew.

If appropriate, opt for a top that breathes easily, hangs looser around the body, and if you can, is sleeveless! If you're heading to a wedding that requires the shoulders to be covered while inside, just wear a light jacket or cardigan, then when the outdoor reception starts, party on(without it).

If you tend to sweat on your lower half, try this trick: It seems like the opposite of what you've probably heard, but a darker color with a print in a flowing fabric will hide some of those embarrassing sweat marks.

Beat the Heat-Summer Style Photos by David Spence

Whew, its hot outside! Check out these fun summery shots, taken by Tulsa photographer David Spence.

The T-Shirt is a great, casual way to beat the heat in the summer, and what's better than a fun, authentic vintage T? We have tons of different T's at Cheap Thrills, including this one. You can pair a simple t-shirt with many different combinations such as a very hot item this summer, the jean short, or even tuck your shirt in to a high-waisted skirt, belt it and you have another great summer combination.

When its just too hot to go outside, stay cool inside with a good book. When the air conditioner gets too cold, throw on a cute vintage sweater like this one. You can wear just the sweater, or leave the sweater unbuttoned over your vintage T. There are so many fun options to mix and match with cardigans, and since I tend to get a little chilly inside during the summer, I usually pack one in my bag just in case.

David Spence is a local photographer(in Tulsa) and when I sat down with him to talk about his art, he mentioned that the 1950's was one of his favorite era's from fashion. When working with models, he said one of the best ways to make anyone feel more comfortable and look more natural under the camera lens during a shoot was to simply make them laugh. He said he finds that when someone is laughing they relax and aren't trying too hard to pose specifically and don't feel as self-concious. David likes to develop his own creative ideas and strives to take photographs with settings that are originally designed. One of his favorite menswear designers is Armani. David does fashion, event, and art-driven photography and his website can be found at http://david-spence.com.

Fashion History Lesson

Vogue, 1968- over the knee boots designed by Beth Levine

Hey Everyone! So sorry for the recent gap in posting, I've been out of town, so from now on posts will continue to be more regular, as in the past.

I was just looking at some recent designers shoe collections and was reminded of a designer who was largely popular in the 1950-70's, Beth Levine. A lot of modern day designers credit her as one of their key inspirations, and many famous style icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Jacqueline Kennedy wore her designs, not to mention Nancy Sinatra, Shirley MacLaine, Barbara Streisand, Lady Bird Johnson, and Patricia Nixon.

So many designers have used Levine's designs as their inspiration, including Benoît Méléard, a relatively new French designer who has worked in the past for Loewe, Helmut Lang, Jeremy Scott and Alexander McQueen and who recently(in 2001) began his own line of experimental footwear, stating 1950's Beth Levine designs as his primary inspiration. Other designers and fashion critics have also recognized the consequential impact of Beth Levine's inspirational creations as well:

“Beth Levine was an influential free spirit. There is nothing that I like more than seeing a creation coming from pure fun and pleasure, and this is always the case with Levine’s refreshing work. God bless her for that!”—Christian Loboutin

"Before Manolo Blahnik. there was the cutting-edge shoe designer, Beth Levine. Stockinged boots that extended into a wrapped bodysuit, slides lined in Astroturf, and driving pumps in the form of cars- all were part of her rich vocabulary..." Andre Leon Talley, VOGUE

Below are two photos of Beth Levine originals, then below them I've posted two examples of similar, more recent shoe designs by modern designers. I think you'll be surprised by the similarity!

A Beth Levine original, circa 1965

Above: Beth Levine original

Below: Marc Jacobs 2008

Marc Jacobs, 2008

below: United Nude 2011

United Nude, 2011 Collection Eamz Pump, black

Versatility with White

www.NjHorton.com - photo by Nicholas Horton

I love this photo first because of the natural light and secondly because of the contrast between such a fancy, party dress and the raw, natural surroundings. I have been noticing a lot of "Winter Whites" in this year's fall/winter collections, and a dress like this gem could even be paired with warm stole to make it winter appropriate. For an early springtime occasion it could be worn with a light cardigan and a skinny belt. Flats, a cardigan and a belt will dress this look down while a stole and pair of heels will cause it to be a show stopper. What would you pair with it?

Updates, SALE, and Photography by Nicholas Horton

Photo by Nicholas Horton; www.NJHorton.com

This week Cheap Thrills is having one of our famous HALF OFF SALES! So stop by to find sweet summer deals on clothes you won't find anywhere else.

In other news, the song "Home" from the video that we posted last week, was on the season finale of 90210 last night! Check out the video in our last post to check out all the featured threads.

We also had a photo shoot with one of Tulsa's great photographers, Nicholas Horton! One thing I personally admire about about him is that he shoots using all film. He doesn't even own a digital camera! And, his photos are just as beautiful if not more beautiful, than a lot of photographers(who use tons of digital editing and all sorts of tricks). Check out his website for samples of his other work at www.NjHorton.com. We'll post more photos from the shoot later this week.

The dress the modeled was worn by a very fashionable bride in 1953. The classically 50's silhouette consists of layered tea-length tulle floating gorgeously around a fitted, strapless bodice featuring two tiers of exquisite pleated detailing.

A nipped-in waist and fitted bodice were particularly fashionable at that time, as was the wearing of corsets and shapewear. Below the photo of the wedding dress, I've posted a few advertisements from 1953(the same year as this dress), that denote the glamourous shapewear of that time. No Spanx here folks!

Photo by Nicholas Horton, www.NjHorton.com

Advertisements for corsets and undergarments from 1953

Cheap Thrills and OKSWEETHEART

Hey Everyone! Just a quick update, we've been super busy over here at Cheap Thrills working on a music video with singer/songwriter/adorable dancer Erin Austin from the band OKSWEETHEART, but we haven't forgotten about you! OKSWEETHEART's song, "Home", will be featured tonight on the season finale of the show One Tree Hill. So tune in tonight and check out the video styled by Sarah Chorley(the writer of this blog...) and local artist Britt Scott; shot and directed by Nathan Presley Photography.

In her video for the song "Home", Erin sings about moving to many different places and throughout the scenes she creates different types of baked goods to take to her many new neighbors. For the shoot we pulled a lot of different looks, including the fantastic 1940's Candy Striper pinafore that Erin wears during much of the video(as an apron). She also sports several different looks when delivering baked goods to different neighbors, including one of my personal favorites, a 1950's black and white large check plaid dress with a collar and 3/4 sleeves. She also wears a 1980's aqua dress with a white sash that we created to go with it, and a 1950's checked romper paired with a navy cardigan. In the last scene she wears a silk crop top with red and blue stripes on a white background paired with a light wash high-waisted jean short. The 1940's-50's pieces were perfect for the shoot because we shot the entire video in a completely restored late 1950's house that had all the authentic bells and whistles; from the restored tile and dining table in the living room, to the built-in rotisserie oven in the kitchen wall, it was simply a vintage wonderland!

The song that we created the video for, called "Home", will be featured tonight on the season finale of the CW show One Tree Hill. So tune in to hear it and check out the video to see the clothes and hear the song.

The Real Deal

Has everyone heard about the Coach Vs. JoAnn Fabric's lawsuit that's going on? Apparently, JoAnn's had produced a fleece fabric (on the bottom right in the picture) that looks very suspiciously like the signature Coach "C's" pattern. Yes, a fleece. I was really hoping to make a home-sewn Coach Snuggie, so I guess since its been pulled from stores I'm out of luck! Anyway, there is now a huge lawsuit going on involving copyright issues.

I can't count the number of times I've spotted fake designer bags. Most often its a bad Louis Vuitton, Coach, Fendi or Prada. I "purse-sonally" do not understand why people would buy a bag that is obviously a fake, because its really not fooling anyone, and the market for fakes is laden with all sorts of shady activity(which one supports if they buy from it, not the designer who deserves the credit).

I would must rather purchase a quality item that is more individual than something that is mass produced, either fake or real; pieces that not everyone can have, but won't break the bank are ideal. So, I've posted a few examples of bags from Cheap Thrills that first of all, aren't fake, and secondly, have lots of personality.

Pictured:

The Ice Cream Bucket purse is an adorable and unique small carrier that is made of wood and is great for someone who really wants something different.

The Dark Red embossed leather piece in the center is a great piece that will transition well from daytime at the office to a relaxed evening out with friends.

The brown leather shoulder strap bag with mushroom motif is so funky and unique, its great for casual days when one needs a little more room to carry around their belongings.

Stop by the store to see more truly unique bags.

What do you think? Is it okay to buy a designer fake? Will Coach or JoAnn's win the lawsuit?