Clinton Kelly's Must Haves Part 1: The basics

These basics in a well-defined color palette means that your wardrobe is infinitely mixable and matchable. Look for timeless cuts with tiny details so you can embrace your anachronistic style yet still possess basics with mileage.


1. Dark Wash Jeans: Get yourself a pair like from The Limited ($70), they lengthen the legs and make them look thinner. Choose a pair with a medium rise and skinny silhouette so you can tuck them into your boots in winter or flip the cuff a few times for '50's style capris!


2. A pencil skirt: So basic, so essential, but who actually owns one? This pencil skirt from White House | Black Market ($78) is perfectly stretchy and hugs all your curves so you can embrace your inner mid-century secretary. Wear this on the weekend with your ballet flats, a tee and pearls for Audrey Hepburn chic.


3. A Day Dress: You want this dress to be something you can dress up for work with accessories or throw on with your sandals for a quick weekend look. How cute is this one from The Limited ($90) with the little shoulder detail and baby blue color?


4. A Jacket/Blazer: Look for good seaming to create an hourglass figure. This one from Mod Cloth ($59) is a little goth, a little prep, and a little Victorian all at the same time. Love the shawl collar and shoulder details, wear this with the pencil skirt for work or pair it with the skinny jeans worn open for a casual shopping trip.


5. The Cardigan: Choose a basic color with not-so-basic details and a good weave suitable for your climate. The Limited's Bow Pocket cardigan ($50) comes in white and cream for cool- and warm-toned skin respectively. Imagine this with those skinny jeans and ballet flats!


6. A Colored Cocktail Dress: A lady should remember that it is better to be overdressed than underdressed so it is important to keep cocktail wear on hand for gallery-openings, anniversary dinners, evening weddings and more! The Madison Dress from Candy Violet ($165) comes in silver and gold brocade. The elbow sleeves and full skirt make a great 1950's statement!


7. Cotton blouse: Beyond basic, choose a pretty color and pretty details. A woman's blouse is all about making you feel pretty and should never be mistaken for a men's shirt on a woman's body. This one from Banana Republic ($50) promises quality construction and details that are just...well...pretty.


8. The LBD: This is the dress to end all dresses so spare no expense because you will wear it every week. This one from Kate Spade ($355) is perfect with the full skirt, sleeveless style, and waist-defining bow. So many ways to wear it but if you've fallen in love with the pink tights you can pick this up from WeLoveColors.com.


9. Walking Shorts: Summer happens so shorts are a necessary evil, the key here is to make them as lady-like and polished as possible. Choose a short that hits you right above the knee in a crisp, clean white that is easy to dress up or down. This pair from White House | Black Market ($60) will look great with a summer top and heels or a feminine tee and ballet flats.

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.

V Magazine: Uptown and Down

Your daily dose of pretty...Victorian ladies with Marie Antoinette hair make me ready to hit the Kool-aid again.







Photographer: Mario Testino

Crystal Renn + Elle Canada January 2010 part 2

In the second fashion editorial Crystal's character has moved from 1950's Manhattan to 1960's Hollywood. I love the sense of movement where the previous editorial was all about sitting around and looking pretty. Where's James Bond when you need him?

Crystal Renn + Elle Canada January 2010 part 1

The big-girl du jour Crystal Renn did some yummy photoshoots for Elle Canada earlier this year. If the modern rococo background was not enough to make me fall in love Crystal is rocking some '50s Hollywood glamour complete with "frills, feathers, sequins and dazzling diamonds"--like sugar and spice and everything nice this is what girls are made of.

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.