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.

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...

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.