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?

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?

Get Waisted!

Since we've been discussing high waisted garments on the ole' Facebook page, I thought I'd post this skirt and sweater combo we have in store right now. High waisted skirts and trousers are really of the moment, actually quite versatile, and can flatter many different figure types. On Friday I'll be posting a few tips on how to effectively wear them to flatter your figure and feel confident while doing so.

The top is actually a sweater vest, worn without the typical under layer but more as a shirt. I love how this sweater-and-pencil-skirt combination give off a slightly preppy vibe, yet are so different from anything classically "preppy". We also have a sweet matching fringe vest that goes with this leather skirt, but you'll have to come in the store to check it out.

Play Your Cardigans Right

This cardigan is very different because it has an embroidered patch on the back; detail I haven't seen anywhere else except Cheap Thrills, though the shops are packed with different types of cardigans at the moment(and will be again for the fall). A great example of how vintage can be worn with modern styles in a casual way, the vibrant color of this piece jumps out immediately, then, the back makes it memorable.

Grandpa would be proud that you borrowed from his signature style, and then suddenly, when you're out rocking out this piece, a round of canasta doesn't sound so bad after all...

Picnics were Invented for Dresses Like This

I like to imagine that our model is about to go to a Fourth of July party. This fantastic 1940's dress was shortened by the previous owner and is made out of rayon. I love the contrast between the white puff sleeves, buttons, and pocket outlining against the bright red of the dress. I paired it with a sturdy leather bag and a few gold bracelets, as well as this fun red, white, and blue hat. This outfit is just begging to be worn to a picnic! It includes a matching fabric belt, but one could even wear a white or blue contrasting belt with it. It could also be worn with a cardigan if the weather gets chilly. I actually love that it was shortened because it can be paired with many different types of shoes. Personally, I would love to wear it with a pair of wedge espadrilles.

Fun Fact: The bag was previously owned by the costumer for the latest Ben Affleck movie "The Burial" that was filmed in Bartlesville last fall.

Love This

Photo by Bryan Bartlett of BCreative Tulsa

Oh spring. Lots of people are planning for weddings and since I've noticed a huge trend of vintage hair accessories at weddings, I thought I'd post a close up of this piece we have right now at Cheap Thrills. We actually have a lot of other pieces like this one, in several different colors and styles. I'll be photographing some this week to show everyone!

Ahhh. I love vintage.

Wearing White Well; Skin Tones

Photo by Bryan Bartlett of BCreative Tulsa

Today, as a continuation of our white series, we'll talk about how to pick the best type of white for an individual skin tone. I find that people don't write about this subject very much because it is really difficult to generalize what will look best on someone by just analyzing skin tone; consider this a basic guide, not final truth, because trying on different colors is always the best way to judge. Different variations of every hue are out there to try, and hair, eyes, and accent colors always have a major role to play.

Basic Skin Tone and White-Wearing Guide:

Dark Skin Tones: Most colors of white will look great especially pure, bright whites, although yellow-ivory tones are least flattering.

Yellow Undertones: Bright white will be most flattering(like our model).

Pink Undertones: Look gorgeous in cream colored whites.

Very Fair Skin Tones: Best with eggshell, yellow-ivory and colors of white that have depth are best to avoid being washed out.

Our model Anna has a great skin tone for wearing different types of white. The crisp white dress best accentuates her darker, golden skin undertones here. Meanwhile while the cream hat doesn't look "bad", it just doesn't brighten her skin the way the crisp white does.

What do you think? Do you agree that Anna looks better in crisp white or do you disagree?

• Check back on Wednesday for a new blog post! Also, the photo shoot with Nathan Presley Photography went really well and we're SO excited to be able to share the photos with everyone soon!

Spring Fling

Why hello gorgeous!

May I have this dance?

These dresses are so floaty and flirty, yet elegant, they embody the essence of spring! They're ideal for someone who wants to look uniquely feminine at a formal party or dance. I've even seen some very similar vintage reproduction wedding dresses, although, why wear a reproduction when you could wear the real thing? I'm so tired of seeing 20 girls at a party all wearing boring dresses that look the same! The great thing about these two dresses is, depending on the height of the wearer and the formality of the party, one could either wear heels or flats.

Check Back at the Blog this Wednesday for a special blog on Ways to Wear White!

Also don't miss out on the FINAL DAYS of the Cheap Thrills 1/2 Off Sale!

Hello Texture

Here are a few shots of yet another dress that has incredible body and boldness. The blue dress, shown in our last post, was dubbed by Facebook popularity as being either Cornflower Blue or Bluebonnet. What specific color name would you deem its red cousin?

Gathered shoulder ruffles and a very full, ruched, skirt(complete with a lace overlay), give this dress dimension and really show off the bold color.

Scroll past the photos to read about adding texture to your wardrobe.

Monochromatic and vertically based accessories such as this necklace, elongate the figure and provide even more texture to this outfit.

A contrasting black velvet hat is a such a fun addition of even more texture and draws attention around the face. All photos by Bryan Bartlett of BCreative Tulsa.

Adding Texture to Your Wardrobe

Adding texture to daily duds is easier than one might think! Here are a few ways to get creative:

• Settle Your Differences: Pair a pattern with a solid or different weights and types of fabric together. For example, try a silk patterned top with a solid cashmere cardigan. Consider wearing a braided belt. Try different combinations.

• Add On: Adding accessories is one of the easiest ways to add texture and spice up any outfit. Neutral colored bangles and necklaces can be interchanged and combined to add dimension. Adding a bag featuring a strong pattern that coordinates but doesn't "match" one's outfit is also a great way to accomplish this.

• Stay Warm: Layering is really in style right now and with the winter weather, why not stay a few degrees warmer? One of my favorite layering fabrics right now is lace. A lace slip peaking from underneath a skirt or dress adds interest, and sheer lace blouses can go underneath or on top of a solid top without adding bulk.

• Think Outside the Outfit: If your outfit doesn't allow for any typical texturing techniques, try opting for a hair scarf, clip, or headband, or try adding a braid or some messy waves to your regular style.

What do you think? What is your favorite way of adding texture to an outfit?

Fun Funky & Fresh

If you're into fun and funky designers like Betsey Johnson, check out this ruffled wonder we have in store right now. Betsey Johnson has several dresses from her latest collection that feature very similar voluminous skirts and ruffle detailing, but the neon colors right off the runway might be a bit too bold(and/or unflattering) on some. This piece from Cheap Thrills is the perfect medium; brilliant blue is totally on trend for the spring season and brightens up skin and eyes. Freshness echos from the featured shoulder ruffles and really make this dress a stand out item.

Friday, I'll be posting more about dresses like this(!) and a special segment on sensational spring colors!

Above Photographs Subject to Copyright by Bryan Bartlett of BCreative Tulsa

Also,

I've had several requests to post more often(thanks for reading!), so if anyone has a style dilemma, fashion question, comment, or a topic they would like to hear more about, please feel free to post here or on the Cheap Thrills Facebook Page.