Betsey Johnson's Comeback - Why Full-figured Girls Should Care

Back in February when Betsey Johnson filed for bankruptcy and closed down all 63 stores the internet exploded. Where would all the kitsch-loving retro-inspired fashion bloggers buy their cupcake dresses and rhinestone cat necklaces? As a fan of the brand for years I have amassed a sizable collection of Betsey Johnson necklaces, bracelets, shoes and bags. As a full-figured girl I was dismayed at the lack of sizes in her clothes--all her stuff only went up to a junior's size large, her bras only to a modest C-cup, some dresses went up to a very slender size 12. When Betsey Johnson stores closed down I did not weep, the one and only time I was in one the only clothes on the sales floor were in sizes 0, 2, and 4--if you wanted a larger size the salesgirl would have to pull it from the back. As someone who works in retail I know these decisions are not arbitrary, Betsey Johnson LLC was clearly sending a message to women everywhere: they don't want chubby women to wear their clothes.  The brand was tailored to Betsey-clones with skinny bodies, small frames, and preferably blonde hair. Girls like me could only stand outside peering through the frost-crusted window into a warm world full of pink tulle, roses, glitter, and lace.

See this dress? It's authentic from the 1950's but there is only one.

This is Betsey Johnson's Tea Party dress. She made it every season in a  new color, just not in my size. 

While Betsey Johnson LLC tanked my local Macy's still carried the jewelry and handbags. Before the announcement of the bankruptcy Betsey fans may have noticed a steep price drop in the brand's shoes and handbags, that's because the accessory part of the brand was sold to Steve Madden in 2010. Steve Madden scaled back the brand considerably and a few months after the bankruptcy announcement the Betsey website was up and running again, minus the clothes. Betsey herself blamed corporate structure and the "stores [that] started knocking off my $250 prom dresses for $49.” I find the statements by the designer very short-sighted when it comes to the changing climate of American retail and the shifting attitudes of the American buyer. Women interested in Betsey's clothes could afford her dresses in the failing economy if only the garments fit and flattered a more mature body, as one analyst said "the younger women that buy her don’t even have jobs anymore, let alone income.” In other words the American women with buying power are not young, rich, AND skinny anymore (arguably the BJ-trifecta necessary to wear her clothes.)

Send in the Betsey clones! Young, rich and skinny only please!

Lucky for us ladies with meat on our bones Steve Madden acknowledges this shift in the buyer's market and will be resurrecting the clothing brand in Macy's and Nordstrom stores. “ 'They’ll be young in spirit like Betsey is, but accessible for women up to 40 years old,' said Lisa Andriulli, a vice president of Macy’s. [She] added that the dresses have classic Johnson touches like fun prints and petticoats, but are sized more generously." Hopefully this means more wearable clothes for a wider variety of women that will still retain that retro aesthetic and young party-girl sensibility. However this is not the first time Betsey has promised diversity in her clothing line only to release Pink Patch in the same old tired junior sizes. Hopefully under the influence of a successful mass-market retailer like Steve Madden Betsey Johnson's resurrection will mean I can finally buy her iconic Marilyn sweater in a misses size large or extra-large and a tea party dress in a proper size 14. 

Margarita Bloom's: Retro Vintage Beauty & Skincare

I've been on a virtual shopping spree for hours, delighting in the website design and hundreds of beauty combinations offered by Margarita Bloom's. The site is comprised of classic paintings, inspiring quotes, and delightful illustrations. Angelfood cake scrub, french milled soap, raspberry lime pinktini soak, and rich drizzle body oil have all made it into my imaginary cart. I'll be imagining opening my parcel and delighting in the scents and packaging that is Margarita Bloom's until my next payday. Has anyone else tried this lovely brand?

Too Faced Holiday 2011

I love beautiful cosmetics more than the average girl, perfectly posh packaging is a bigger seller than the product inside sometimes. Too Faced is one of those brands that combines great products and lovely packaging. Regretfully I do not own as much of the brand as I would like but the Holiday collection will soon change that. I'm in love with the rococo frames and dream-like illustrations, I might have to buy every palette. The products inside promise to be as gorgeous as the fanciful casings.

Daily dose of pretty!

Enjoy this 1950's Dior couture dress. Contemplate the rococo styling mixed with mid-century sensibilities. Take a deep breath. Feel the pretty.

Weekly Expense Report - Shoes

Slow week for me on the shopping front. I picked these beauties up on Ideeli but Zappos has the black ones on sale ($81). I've been wanting to try Seychelles for awhile, their shoes are so retrofabulous and seem to be made so well! The soles are cushy and the shoes are leather so I can't wait to receive these!

Clinton Kelly's Must Haves Part 2: The accessories

Now that we have our clothing basics let's add the finishing touches. These are the pieces that you can mix and match with your basics to create a wide variety of looks and that you will wear season after season until they wear out.

10. Trench Coat: Basic but better! The tipped mini-dot trench coat from Black House | White Market ($188) is a classic femme fetale look cutesified with polka dots, contrast piping, and a bow at the back.

11. Psuedo-neutral Day Bag: Why yes, leopard is a neutral. You can wear it with black, tan, brown, or olive so it won't clash with other neutrals. Lucky Me Kiss Lock Leopard Purse by Lux de Ville ($69, Plastic Land) is perfect and the red flower is even removable!

12. Metallic Finish Clutch for Night: I like to balance sexy evening wear with something cutesy so I'm in love with this Juicy Couture polka dot clutch ($119.99). The little metallic polka dots will fit Clinton's bill while still delivering a healthy dose of cute into your evening.

13. Killer Heels: Sky-high and pink. What more could a girl want? Plastic Land's Going Gaga Hot Pink Patent Platform Pumps ($39) are everything a retro diva's play shoes should be.

14. Sandals: The antidote to the Old Navy flip flop these adorable sandals are walkable due to the platform. The print is little hearts! Pinup Girl Clothing has this Retro Style Wedge in Black and Pink Heart Print ($42) for a very rockabilly summer! Also available in less-neutral red heart print and solid turquoise.

15. Ballet Flats: These shoes are made for walking so go for a comfort brand! These cute Born Katherine Lampone Leather flats ($95) evoke 50's charm and are as appropriate with dresses and skirts as cropped pants. The pink color is still neutral without being boring.
16. Boots: A little Lolita, a little Victorian, these great boots are available in great colors. Poetic License Toughen Up boots ($139.27)

Can't miss site: Quaintrelle Life!

I've long considered myself a fringe member of the quaintrelle movement whose style and philosophy I've lived by for years. Quaintrelle Life epitomizes this movement through fashion, do-it-yourself projects and enough information and pretty pictures to keep a girl busy for hours. Don't miss the fashion plates especially! See samples below featuring the lovely Vivien, the one woman fashion army and webmistress of the site. Many of her dresses are available for purchase or commission at Candy Violet.

Designer coats worth the price!

My winter coat bit the dust last year and with impending winter I am on the hunt. I'm coveting the ones from Mackage so much I was actually contemplating saving up $800 for a new designer coat. Then I looked at the size chart and remembered that high fashion is reserved for a size 10 and under. (Honestly, would it kill designers to go up to a 12 or 14 like every other clothier that serves adult women?) The Mackage aesthetic is classic mid-century style done in modern fabrics with modern detail, every coat would look at home on a retro diva as it would on a modern woman. Sometimes a classic is a classic, and sometimes a classic is spectacular.







Be sure to check out Mackage RTW section for Victorian-style blouses and an awesome men's collection.

Music - Kerli - Tea Party (Almost Alice)

I was very unimpressed with the new Alice movie but at least this little gem was discovered on the soundtrack. This video can only be described as a visual feast of fantastical fashions and fetishes. The art of the tea party has been revived in the West by lolitas and time warpians, a set of Wedgwood tea cups is as essential as a BtSSB dress or a top hat to those who practice anachronistic lifestyles. Kerli brings a fresh combination of Marie Antionette's style, lolita, fantasy, goth and fetish to her tea party. Also note her fine collection of Asian Ball-jointed dolls featured in this and her "Walking on Air" video--another testament to the growing popularity of this luxury hobby. I'll be keeping my eye on this artist.

I have a sneaking suspicion she is not talking about tea though...