Lemon Lime by Top Man
Versace
Photography by Shay McGinnis
Check Yourself
Photos by Shay McGinnis
Here's a fun fact: Shopping for vintage and taking photos of your outfits is a blast but in 100 degree heat it starts to get a bit challenging! This weekend topped the heatwave charts in LA at 110 degrees but it did not stop me from finding a killer new head to toe look. Though I could have been shopping for swim trunks and sandals to suit the weather I was more focused on putting a look together that felt quirky meets dressy. As per usual I had some fun throwing vintage pieces into the mix and went for color and pattern featuring:
Vintage Shirt by Versace
Vintage Blazer by Nicole Miller
Jeans by Topman
Creeper Shoes by Pattyes Closet (new favorite vintage shop, so affordably priced!)
Suitable for Summer
Photos by Meredith Snider
A pink suit, a bolo tie, a camera. It's all I needed this weekend to truly make my styling cup runneth over. I have been so busy working that I've failed to keep up with my personal styling posts so here's an update: Sometimes I DO dress it up a notch. Enter this loud pink suit. I don't always wear funky prints and aloha shirts, I promise.
As you know by now I collect bolo ties from all parts of the US and beyond. Lucky for me my friends Katie & Jordan Stecks up in Seattle took the time amidst busy married life (and soon to be expecting baby number one) to source this vintage bolo tie and send it to me snail mail. Not only was it the sweetest most thoughtful act ever I seriously love getting old fashioned letters/packages in the mail. Especially packages with bolo ties! Did I mention bolo ties enough in this paragraph? :) I am so happy.
Western Beige
Photos by Shay McGinnis
I found another killer seventies dress shirt the other day so had to post about it. The long collar and the mural print had me drooling instantly. The shirt looks like a large Hokusai painting on canvas was cut perfectly into a tailored men's dress shirt. It seemed appropriate to throw on a classic brown leather bolo tie recently purchased at In Retrospect Vintage down in good old Long Beach on 4th Street. This shirt gave me western vibes so I styled it accordingly!
Another Sweater
Photos by Shay McGinnis
Summer Shorts
Photos by Shay McGinnis
It's time to pull out the swim trunks guys - but make sure they've got some personality! I was fortunate to receive these swim trunks from my lovely friends who were traveling through Thailand. Apparently there is some media buzz about this quick drying, quality fabric being manufactured in Thailand for swim shorts. Bonus! Check out Timo Trunks for a whole array of awesome swim shorts. Aside from durability these geometric-colorful shorts were fun to pair with a contrasting funky pattern to make for another quirky outfit. To create a more unique out of the water look I decided to throw on my black slip ons by Opening Ceremony, complete with my LOVELY socks by J.Crew. Sunglasses by Traveler by Toms Collection.
Bolo Fishing
Seventies
Photos by Shay McGinnis
I am feeling these seventies men's shirts lately! Not only for the bizarre wall paper like prints but also because those long pointy collars just say "I am ready to have a good time." If you're not in the market for a classic seventies shirt then you should be! It's a nice staple to have in your closet if you want to mix up your basic dress shirts and blazer combos. Also, these shirts always come in handy for a last minute roller disco party, just saying. Be prepared for killer style compliments!
Polyester Palm Trees
Photos by Shay McGinnis
You should wear Polyester! These polyester palms are kind of the bomb - am I right? A little bit Don Knotts circa 1960's (for those of you familiar with the Andy Griffith Show). Keep up with my outfit ideas and inspiration here. #YSW - You Should Wear will bring you all sorts of fun takes on my fave vintage finds, prints, patterns, colors and eccentric outfit choices.
Flowers of the Sun
Photos by Shay McGinnis
One word: Koto. The epitome of eclectic-bohemian prints and powerful patterns. Unique shapes and cuts for Men, Koto has envisioned clothing for a new era of style savants.
This sunflower shirt is just damn cool. It's fashion dandy meets too cool for school skater dude. I am increasingly impressed with the floral print menswear options these days. Men's fashion is being redefined not only by designers producing more gender neutral clothing but also the explosion of patterns and prints that were once considered suitable only for womenswear. Get ready to start seeing this shirt around town, these sunflowers are popping up all over the internet as I type these words. Power to the print!
This shirt is available for purchase at Urban Outfitters
Island Eyes
Eyes (Sunnies) by American Apparel, photographed in Chinatown, Honolulu.
Polynesian Perfection
Photos by Shay McGinnis
It's my second day back on the Hawaiian islands spending time with my family so it seems apropos to finish posting about this beautiful polynesian piece pictured here.
On my most recent trip to peruse new vintage stock at American Rag on La Brea Ave I saw much of the usual tiki, tapa and tropical motif hanging on the racks. Until I laid my eyes on this this gorgeous 1950's work of art. This shirt almost looked like a watercolor painting on the hanger, full of vibrant yellow, orange and pink florals. The colors jumped out at me. The collar lays open wide which I am usually not a fan of but not EVERY shirt I wear has to be buttoned up to the neck :) The unique gold buttons and thick woven fabric indicate the quality craftsmanship that went into creating this garment. If you don't already know who Alfred Shaheen is click on the link to indulge in the pioneering of the Aloha shirt back in the early 1950's. Though the traditional Hawaiian shirt became common to most Americans as every day wear it was not widely known as a fashion piece until the great Elvis Presley wore a Shaheen designed red Aloha shirt on the cover of the "Blue Hawaii" soundtrack released in 1961. Boom, you've been educated.
ALOHA!
King of Thrift
Photos by Shay McGinnis
Top 5 Favorite Vintage/Thrift Shops in LA
Los Angeles is by far one of the best places for Vintage and second hand clothing, hence why I live here! I started thrifting when I was a kid growing up in the Northwest. Hunting for grandpa shirts and retro prints was a hobby then and continues to shape my styling portfolio today. I am always looking for original and unique pieces to add to my collection...Whether I am wearing it or I am putting it on someone else! I found the shirt pictured here at Raggedy Threads in downtown Los Angeles. Something about this shirt made me think of Charlie Brown. Story book or cartoon related characters often inspire my wardrobe decisions so I had to add this shirt to my archives. Thank you Raggedy Threads! To see some of my favorite spots to shop in town, click below. Lets just hope we don't cross paths and fight for the same shirt...Remember I am the King of thrift, bow down! :)
1. Slow, Melrose Ave
A wide range of outerwear, shirts, pants and boots from several decades - I particularly LOVE their rack of seventies dress shirts for men.
2. Raggedy Threads, Downtown
A beautifully curated collection of American vintage with a Western flair. Every rack is a found treasure. They even have kids stuff!
3. American Rag, Labrea Ave
One of the best spots for Americana and Tiki in town! As one would imagine I love browsing their tropical shirts :)
4. St. Vincents, Lincoln Heights
Far and wide, the best spot for thrifting. I liken it to the Costco of thrift shops in Los Angeles because it's huge. If you have the patience to dig you will find some awesome stuff!
5. Salvation Army Boutique, Santa Monica
This little boutique is curated just a little bit and sits right next the the Salvation Army main shop. They do a great job of selecting the cleaner more restored pieces, so less digging involved.
City Silk
City Silk | photos by Shay McGinnis
Thrifted Oriental Silk Shirt, Jacket by H&M, Jeans by Uniqlo, Boots by Top Man
Oogle Google Jacket
Oogle-Google Jacket | photography by Amber Sterling
I found this vintage jacket sitting in a thrift shop, all alone, just waiting to be discovered by ME! It's a wonderful color block gem. The detail of each accent fabric along the zipper, the sleeves and the pockets is what makes this jacket an original. I believe deep down that Google will see this post and be inspired to replicate this jacket as a prototype for future employee uniforms...Of course they would have to pay me to have the this jacket in order to create their sample for production! One can dream!
Gem of a Jacket
Gem of a Jacket | photography by Shay McGinnis
Finally an update on some of my latest New York vintage finds! This post is really about the joy of digging through thrift shops and discovering that special gem. In this case - this gem of a jacket pictured here. It takes patience - but if you're truly a vintage shopper than you know it's worth the wait.
I had so much fun shooting this jacket and all of it's color right here in Downtown LA. I've worn this blazer only a couple times, kinda tough to find the right occasion to wear such a vibrant, hippy looking piece. But the second we started photographing this blazer I fell in love even more. The colors and the texture came to life in a whole new way.
While visiting my cousins in Park Slope I came across this lovely vintage/thrift shop called Vice Versa on 5th Avenue (South Slope for all you Brooklynites!). This shop has EVERYTHING and more. Vintage blankets, coats, furs, shoes you name it they have it. The second I laid eyes on this jacket I knew it had to be mine. It kinda has a Portland-hippie-aztec kinda vibe going on which is pretty weird but hey - I like weird! It's especially fun to throw this jacket on underneath something more muted like a denim or leather jacket for a little pattern/color layer. I'm excited to find new ways to wear it. Now it's your turn - go spend some time digging!
Cactus Cool
Cactus Cool | photography by Shay McGinnis
I found this long sleeve shirt/sweater situation last week and I felt that it was mandatory to photograph such a patterned piece among cactus and desert terrain. Something about this piece felt very New Mexico to me. It was also necessary to wear these beige trousers from Urban Outfitters and these fun vintage boots I found in Brooklyn on Bedford Ave. With the help of my lovely friend Shay we adventured into a mountainside in the Inland Empire and discovered lots of natural rock and cacti for days - a perfect back drop for this ensemble! Oh how I love Southern Cali... :)
Sweater Envy
Photography by Amber Sterling
Sweaters hold a soft spot in my heart (pun intended). Though this vintage wool sweater isn't technically soft, I fell in love with the geometric shapes instantly. As per usual I layered the sweater with an obnoxiously loud button down shirt underneath, perfect for a Fall/Winter look.