To escape the heat this sultry summer,you can be at home or at the mall with the AC on blast. But to really enjoy summer,you have to be outdoors at the beach,at a BBQ,or at a California staple – the pool party. Summer heat means less clothes for both the ladies and gentlemen. Gentlemen,choose the tank top when attending one of these summer events. Tank tops are truly a summer classic.
The term “tank top” is derived from its resemblance to a tank suit,a style of woman’s one-piece swimsuit. “Tank” is derived from the 1920s term,swimming tank,which is a term for what we know now as the swimming pool.
1920s Tank Suit
Modern tank tops have been a popular warm-weather option since the 1980s. They were first worn in sports such as track and field and basketball. It has evolved from athletic wear to underwear to casual wear with its use of cotton fabrics and various stylings. They are perfect for the warm summer months,since the arm holes provide much needed ventilation and the thin fabric keeps you cool and comfortable.
Mario Lopez as AC Slater staying cool in a tank top.
My inspiration for my look:1992 classic,White Men Can’t Jump,Billy Hoyle in his 90s bright print shorts and Sidney in his tank top.
“Keeping It Cool In This I.E. Heat”
Tank tops are not to be confused with your 3-pack “A-shirts.” The Tank Top is a close cousin to the A-shirt,which is short for athletic shirt. The A-shirt is unfortunately better known as the wifebeater. Wifebeaters are meant to be worn as an undershirt,and let’s keep it that way gentlemen. For an outer garment option this summer,choose the tank top as they fit a little more loosely and is the more stylish option.
More and more brands are keeping it cool (literally) and adding tank tops to their collections. Check out local I.E. brand,Circle of Success. Here’s one of their tank tops from their summer collection. Grab yours today,before they’re all gone!
Outfit Details: Tank Top:BDG “Triblend Contrast Tank” Shorts: Stussy Boating Hat:21Men Sunglasses: SUPER “Andrea” Shoes: TOMS “Cardones” Beach Towel: Polo Ralph Lauren
Ok,we established that it’s hot. There’s no getting past this heat without wearing the right clothes. Let’s face it ladies,it might be okay for guys to wear pants and and a long sleeve in this type of weather,but we all know we wouldn’t attempt to unless we were indoors with the air conditioning blasted all day. So what do you wear? Skirts and dresses are cute when you want to go out,but what if you have to be on the go and do things where you don’t have the time to worry about your skirt riding up? Thinking about it,I thought bloomers would be the perfect summer addition to a wardrobe. Bloomers have pretty much been around for centuries,circa the 1850s. Bloomers were first designed by Elizabeth Smith Miller of Peterboro,NY but they weren’t made popular till Amelia Bloomer,an American women’s rights advocate,hence the name “bloomers”. They were basically designed for women as a fancy version of trousers or pants. Back then,you wore your bloomers with your skirt. Women were restrained from doing a lot of activity because of the garb they wore. You couldn’t really run a mile in a Victorian gown if you wanted to. The design of bloomers in its inception were really baggy pants with a casing at the bottom that scrunched up (most had lace to keep them dainty looking).
Later on in history,the bloomer would evolve into a liberating piece of clothing for women to wear. With the bloomer,women could participate in sports and get physical without having to worry about who was going to see their underwear. In short,bloomers pretty much revolutionized women’s fashion. Of course the hemlines were a lot longer in the beginning,but then they became shorter and shorter. With time passing,bloomers that were once worn as an undergarment evolved into an outer garment.
So getting back to how I was going to keep cool in summer without worrying about my skirt riding up,I pretty much answered my question. Bring back the bloomer! I’m usually ahead of the seasons when it comes to shopping for them,(since the cheaper or ‘sale’stuff are clothes you wouldn’t wear at the current moment) and I had been desperately seeking bloomers at pretty much all the retailers (From Forever 21,H&M and the thrift stores) once I had come to the conclusion that bloomers were my main piece of clothing for the summer.
After getting tired of finding the same ‘ol stuff,sans bloomer,only regular low rise/butt crack showing shorts,my designer instinct kicked in. If you can’t find ‘em,make ‘em. I made my rounds to the thrift store and found some bottoms that were loud colored solids and prints. I started to cut and sew. For ultra functionality and comfort in something you can actually run around in,I took my thrift store finds and added elastic and/or ribbon to the hem of these already cute pieces and made them into bloomers.
Excited about the inception of my idea,I wanted to share it with everyone as some of my first pieces of upcycled vintage to the world on my etsy website. I designated my bloomers into just bottoms and bloomer rompers for those one piece only type of gals.
For more than just bloomers,visit my etsy for a vast array of summer shorts and accessories to go with those bloomers!
Be sure to follow me on twitter,jfaye,for the most up to date info on my etsy website,along with us,StyleInsights.
RANDOM FACTOID:I also have another personal blog where I instantaneously rant about my latest fashion obsessions called livingspree.
Summer is in full swing and temperatures in the Inland Empire can easily reach the triple digits. It’s that time to leave your socks at home and even out that sock tan. My shoe of choice for the summer is the Boat Shoe,also known as deck shoes or top-siders. It’s the perfect summer shoe to wear sockless. Your feet can stay cool and comfortable without compromising style.
Fashion historians have stated the modern boat shoe was inspired by the Indian moccasin,with it’s water-resistant outer,low profile,and side lacing. They are called boat shoes simply because they were made to walk on the slippery decks of boats. Modern boat shoes were invented in 1935 by Paul Sperry who noticed his dog’s ability to maintain traction on wet,slippery surfaces. He cut grooves on the soles of his shoes to mimic his dog’s paws. That is how the boat shoe was invented.
Paul Sperry (photo via sperrytopsider.com)
Boat shoes are perfect for the summer because they fall in between a formal dress shoe and a casual loafer. They slip-on,so it is easy to put on and take off when at the beach or poolside. They’re versatile and can be worn for a day look with shorts and a polo,or a night look with cuffed chinos and button-up.
I’ll call this the “Weekender”Look. Travel in style this summer. It’s a good time to experiment with bright colors and don’t forget your shades. Pick up a duffle bag that will complement your look. Don’t travel with that dirty gym bag.
Some notable brands that manufacture boat shoes are Sperry,Sebago,Timberland,and Polo. You can find Sperry’s at Nordstroms and at the Sperry outlet in Ontario Mills.
*Outfit Details
Sunglasses:Super “Andrea”,purchased from Acrimony Button-Up with a Buttoned-Down Collar: H&M circa 2009 Watch: Casio G-LIDE Khaki Colored Jeans: Standard Cloth Brown Leather Belt:Vintage Brown Tweed Duffle Bag: Vintage,American Tourister Shoes: Original Boat Shoe in Classic Brown,Sperry Top-Sider
We attended the “[MO]FASHION” fashion show in San Bernardino. It was the inaugural show and also our first fashion show we attended in the I.E. It showcased local thrift store aficionados,designers,and brands. Presenting their pieces were Sugar Wolf,Excess Apparel,SPRFKR,and [MO]Vintage. There was a really good turn out,good music spun by local DJs,drinks,and of course an eclectic collection of clothing with a homegrown feel.
We appreciate all the hard work,time,and coordination put in to produce this fashion show. There’s a laundry list of to-do’s for a fashion show to come to fruition. Outfits and accessories need to be coordinated,models have to be fitted,there’s hair and makeup,and the music and lighting need to be tested. It’s truly a labor of love for a 15 minute show.
The Host of the evening
The first collection,Sugar Wolf,was a cohesive collection of vintage floral prints perfect for the summer.
A Must Have:Dress with pockets
Excess Apparel
Tees were for sale.
SPRFKR
This was the most avant-garde piece of the night and also our favorite. It’s a top that doubles as a head dress/mask,if you will. It’s not an everyday piece,but this is what fashion is all about. Designers can draw inspiration from this and create a consumer-friendly piece that has similar lines.
[MO]Vintage
DenimDress!
Collection of Fresh Prince-esque Board Shorts.
We grew up in the Bay Area,we love the vintage 49ers tee.
[MO]Vintage goodies for sale.
Our insight on the show.
We wished there was better lighting at the venue so that you could actually see the detailing of the garments. It wasn’t completely dark in the venue as there were party lights,but with any fashion show,adequate lighting is a must if you want to showcase your pieces. Also,we didn’t feel as if the models posed long enough to fully showcase their outfits. It was understood that the songs were really upbeat to walk to,but their walks were super fast paced that their pieces didn’t get the full exposure they should have.
This is a good a start for fashion shows in the I.E. that showcase local brands. One important thing we were missing was an emotional connection to each brand. We wished each designer would have given an introduction to their collection,so we can understand the inspiration behind the pieces as they walked the runway. We’re sure this is the first of many. We hope to experience more fashion shows in the Inland Empire!
We created this website to showcase the best the I.E. has to offer in style and fashion. We discovered the best streetwear shop,Humidor Boutique,located in Upland. They carry brands such as 9Grand,Barely Broke Intellects,Crooks &Castles,The Hundreds,Black Scale,10Deep,and Clae to name a few (visit the shop to see their complete offerings). The shop has a clean layout and a room in the back for their Pop-Up Shops that feature a brand. It was previously dedicated to 9Grand and now currently featuring IMKING. We visited the shop on the night of the IMKING satellite shop launch party. There were free drinks,great music,good vibes,and IMKING’s full collection. Their tees consists of big bold graphics and are true pieces of art.
Browsing through online retailers,our favorite shirt of the collection has to be the “Petits Rebelles” tee. It’s a play on the iconic Les Miserables graphic of Cosette,who in the story is a girl from a broken home and is misguided. In this tee,Cosette is depicted as a “Rebel Youth” with a six-pack and gun in hand.
“Petits Rebelles” tee (photo credit Attic online shop)
The collection consists of more than just tees. There are well engineered jackets,hooded oxfords,denim,and accessories including a IMKING x Flud watch,hats,pouches,glasses,and a duffle bag.
Keep this brand on your radar. From the looks of their cut and sew pieces and accessories,IMKING will have you fitted and ahead of the game. Support local retail and shop at Humidor Boutique for all your streetwear needs!
Humidor Boutique 172 N 2nd Ave. Upland,CA 91786 Open Monday-Saturday 11am-7pm Closed Sunday ph:(909) 920-3338
Since there haven’t been really any formal introductions on our blog as an actual post instead of our vague “About Us”section of our website,I’ll start off by introducing myself. My name is Jeanna,I am one half of Style Insights and I currently finished my Fashion Design Certificate from Chaffey College in Chino. Prior to getting my Fashion Design Certifcate,I had no formal training in sewing so all my life (pretty much),I’ve self taught myself how to sew.
During my childhood,I was introduced to thrift shopping since my mother was a single parent and could not afford to buy me new clothes every single time I outgrew them. I used to dread going to Goodwill and would get embarrassed going into the Salvation Army. I wanted to be a “normal”kid. I can remember being in grade school and being teased for wearing an empire top with flare jeans because the top made me look bigger than I looked (some even calling me a “pregnant little girl”). Situations like that at a young age left me feeling self-conscious about my clothes and how they looked. As I grew older,I grew accustomed to actually wanting to go to the thrift store for my clothes because I knew that no one else would have what I was wearing. For me,there was nothing especially mortifying than wearing the same exact outfit as someone else since I pretty much faced the monotony of uniforms on a daily basis in Catholic school. There was always something I wanted to change about my clothes whether it was the way they fit or fixing a design element about the garment to modernize it so it didn’t look so “old”. Even with me being made fun of in grade school for my fashion sense,I guess you could say that the commentary on my outfits just kept coming. Whether positive or negative,I was sure to get attention for outfits I put together because they did not fit the mold of the current fashion trends. In a way,during my free dress days in Catholic school,I was a rebel trendsetter.
Most of the time growing up,I would do all these repairs and alterations by hand with the most basic of sewing skills taught to me by my mother’s limited knowledge of construction and sewing. The first time I really got my hands on a sewing machine was in high school. It was my best friend’s aunt’s sewing machine and we were using it in high school as part of a project. We had to come up with a commodity to sell to our peers as if we were running a business. Our product was a bracelet of sorts with a whole bunch of frilly things to make it look very “accessorized”. We used nylon webbing and satin ribbons to make these bracelets. I found myself sewing these simple things to learn how to operate the sewing machine. Before I knew it,I was heading over to my best friend’s house with clothes I wanted to “alter”. I started making and re-vamping my wardrobe on someone’s sewing machine until I saved up enough money to go and get one for myself at Walmart. From that point until I got formal training,I pretty much was a self taught sewer.
I guess I’ve always had a business sense about me also. The previous part to that high school project was me coming up with my own commodity to sell. I was in a group of 3 people (including myself). The people in my group were not interested in the project so I guess you could say that I shouldered the business all on my own. I thought of using an unconventional material that was inexpensive to make my commodity. My product was duct tape wallets. I made the wallets,did the foot traffic,money collecting and all that in high school,even reaching out to people outside of my school to sell them. A 3 person project that I shouldered all on my own made me $300,raising the most money for my business in that class and an A grade. I used that money to go and buy me a sewing machine.
Many people ask me why I didn’t just jump right into Fashion Design after high school. The reason for this was that my mother wanted me to go and get a Bachelor’s Degree for something realistic. Growing up in a third world country where clothes were an afterthought,she didn’t believe in “fashion”. After high school,I moved from San Francisco to Riverside to pursue an education in Business Administration. During my education,I pretty muched worked my way through college with retail jobs. Still fascinated by fashion,I wanted to work for brands that I looked up to. At the time it was “True Religion” when the mass market of designer jeans were on the rise and then “MAC Cosmetics”. Still working at MAC Cosmetics as an artist,I think it is my most instantly gratifying job. I love working with colors to complete a look.
It’s safe to say that I’ve had this love for fashion and makeup and I some how fuse the two together to come up with:J.Faye.
I started an etsy site when I was going to school for fashion design. Some of the first things I sold were these garments that I reconstructed from old clothes and materials:
Excited on how quickly these sold,I realized that there are people that see my aesthetic as a designer,understand it,and want a piece of it. Suddenly,I was no longer that little girl that went home crying in grade school because of her thrifty threads. I was being celebrated for making a piece of a style that I grew up only knowing. Someone actually wanted my designs! This excited me so much that I wanted to expand my brand and include accessories which found more success than the previous pieces I sold. This time,I would model the designs and showcase my makeup in it:
To sum up my aesthetic as a designer;I’m in the market for the demand of unique goods that you won’t find in mass retail. I cater to those that have a taste for one of a kind,handmade pieces without emptying out their wallet.
I have future plans for building my brand. Coming soon,you’ll see more re-worked vintage pieces and some archival vintage pieces also just like the one from our thrift store post. Stay tuned,folks! I’m excited for the plans I have for J.Faye and hope to build it to be a full fledged fashion label complete with clothing and accessories. Currently,you can peruse through jfaye.etsy.com for unique one of a kind pieces.
So the other day as I was perusing through channels on movies to watch on HBO,I came across the ultimate cult fave of those who grew up wishing they had Cher Horowitz’s closet:Clueless.
A wave of wistfulness came over me as I sat there and caught the rest of the movie. Growing up,I could remember rewinding and fast forwarding my VHS tape of Clueless (that I bought on my allowance from doing a week of chores) just so I could memorize the movie from start to finish. I wanted to know the outfits and lines by heart. As corny as this may sound,watching it again on some random day made me realize that the movie was still in my heart.
Clueless came out in 1995 and it has become a contemporary classic for those who grew up in the 1990s. When I first watched this movie I was 9 years old and didn’t really understand the double entendres or the things people almost 10 years older than me talk about. Seeing it again,the movie makes me laugh and understand the jokes now.
Growing up,I dreamed of outings to Rodeo Drive and the Beverly Center to shop like Cher,but I grew up with a single parent working 2 jobs so I know that it wouldn’t happen for me (as a kid anyway). I credit this movie for guiding my style during my early adolescence. I wanted to be Cher with a cross of Amber.
Aside from Cher comparing her life to a Noxzema commercial,calling Billie Holiday a him,and comparing the plight of the Haitians to her Father’s garden birthday party,she really knew her designers and how to put an outfit together (a la the movie’s Costume Designer Mona May). She shopped at Fred Segal and wore an Azzedine Alaia coat and dress at 16. According to Mona May,Cher alone had 56 costume changes. She only used Paris fashion designers in the movie.
Grunge and the Nirvana-look-with-baggy-pants-and-greasy-hair-look was really popular during the 90s. Thinking back at all the movies with that same style (Reality Bites,The Craft,Wayne’s World,etc.) Clueless,in my mind,is the first standout movie in my memory to bring a femininity to fashion without too much black,flannels and Doc Martens. It was the first movie I saw with pretty fashion in brighter colors. The guys were pretty dressed up too considering that most guys during that era did dress like “Travis Birkenstock”. Seeing Christian dressed up like one of the members of “the Rat Pack”was refreshing to see.
With all the influences that this movie has made on me,it made me look around to see the inspiration of other designers. Turns out I’m not the only one. Alexander Wang said the movie pretty much changed his life. The whole Miu Miu Pre-fall collection looks straight out of the first scene of the movie (with Cher and Dionne in plaid suits),House of Holland AW 2010 looks like remixed Clueless, the Chloe Sevigny for Opening Ceremony Resort 2011 looks like a fusion of Cher Horowitz and Angela Chase (Claire Danes in My So-Called Life).
Clearly the following season is going to be about the fashion re-invention of Clueless.
Thrift stores are always our go-to outlet of shopping when we simply can’t find what we want in the mass produced retail market. We love thrift stores because we always end up leaving with at least one unique piece to add to our wardrobes. Mall shopping has left us frustrated at times. For instance,we would find the exact thing we were looking for,but not willing to pay the outrageous retail price. Or,we would find something at a reasonable price,but want to change the fit or a design element. We had the itch for some thrift shopping. So we did a quick Yelp search for a nearby thrift store. One that had decent reviews was Great Deals Thrift Store in Montclair. Believe us when we say that it lives up to its name. There are three pieces of criteria that we judge in a good thrift shop:
Selection: This is a large store with lots to choose from. When we walked in we immediately thought of our worthwhile experiences at “Savers Thrift Stores”. Besides a large floor of clothing and accessories,this store also carries furniture,electronics,housewares,sporting goods,and sewing machines.
Organization: Overall,we were impressed by the organization. The shoe section was organized by color,as well as accessories like hats and purses. The staff was constantly making rounds to ensure the racks were neat (making sure there wasn’t anything on the floor) and in their appropriate section. Their clothes weren’t as nearly as organized as their accessories. For me,shopping in the women’s section was a little confusing. Although the categories were separated properly,(i.e. Pants,Shorts,Dresses,Tops,etc.) I couldn’t decipher or determine if there was a sizing system in place. The men’s section was easy to navigate. T-shirts,collared shirts,jeans,shorts,and suits were all separated. Although not sized,the T-shirts were organized by color.
Display case of “Designer”Purses
Price: The prices lived up to their name. This had to be one of the cheapest thrift stores we have ever been to. Their marked down clothes went as low $0.10 a piece! The price range of the garments we bought at regular price were $0.98-$4.98;proving they are a thrift shop full of “Great Deals”. They also offer Student discounts on Wednesdays and a Saturday Early Bird Special as advertised below.
That’s not security,that’s the Ice Cream Man.
After this experience,we would definitely go back. We can definitely see ourselves having future field days in this thrift store. With a little patience to peruse racks of clothes and a keen eye for fashion,you can definitely find some pieces here to enhance your closet. Some of our amazing finds were:
Navy Blue 5-button Wool Vest:$2.98 Plaid Dress Shirt with a Button-down Collar:$4.98 Rest of the Outfit:Newsboy Hat by Dorfman Pacific Co.,Nudie Jeans,Saddle Shoes by Cole Haan
Tribal Print Romper:$1.98 Rest of the Outfit:Vintage Purple Pleather Belt,“Splendid” Platform by Jeffrey Campbell,J.Faye Metalfall Bracelet Ring Chain
Great Deals Thrift Store 5407 Holt Blvd Montclair,CA 91763 (909) 988-8086
Summer brings shorter dress lengths,shorts,and clothes that would cover less on our bodies. So,naturally the same would be thought of for outfitting our feet. You wouldn’t wear thigh high boots on a 90 degree sunny day would you? Exactly. Summer is a time for those bi-weekly pedicures for all the open toe shoes you wear on a daily basis until…well,it gets colder. And I hope you gals do have those toes polished if you are going to show your toes. There’s nothing more unattractive than seeing an amazing shoe with less than amazing chipped polish on those toes. So here is the obligatory post on the “it”platforms for the summer.
Actually,I originally intended for this post to be about summer platforms,but when combing through brands of shoes that appealed to me the most for the summer,there was only one:Jeffrey Campbell. I have been obsessed with with this particular brand lately. Standing tall at 5’2″,I need all the help I can get from their platforms. My first pair of platforms that I bought were the Splendid that I purchased on Nordstrom’s website. As much as I loved the silhouette of all of his other shoes,I wanted to try them out to see how comfortable they were.
Comfort is very important to me when it comes to shoes. As a former avid collector of Jordans and Nikes,I went to shoes that were comfortable. Since I can’t really wear sneakers to work,I’ve been finding myself looking for alternative shoes to flats. You would think that these 5 inch platform shoes would give me hell because of their height but I surprisingly lasted a whole 8 hours at work without being in agonizing pain or wanting to change out of them. They looked amazing and felt comfortable.
Like an addict,I wanted more. Browsing through their collection for summer,I’ve narrowed down my picks for the summer. Hopefully I’ll be able to have these in my possession someday.
1. Xenon: I originally saw these on the Karmaloop website,but they were sold out before I had a chance to purchase them. I really hope that these come back in stock somewhere soon. At $109 for Jeffrey Campbell shoes,the price can’t be beat. These babies have a 5″wedge and a 1 3/4″platform.
2. Mesh Wedge: If your feet sweat profusely in leather or PVC,then this wedge is for you. I love the mesh and suede detailing of the wedge. Another 5 and 1/4″and 2″ black platform shoe,perfect for my line of work.
3. Splendid: These were the first platform Jeffrey Campbell shoes that I took a spin around the block in. These are the ones that got me hooked and are beyond words in describing how comfortable they feel. I think they would look perfect with any summer dress,romper or jumpsuit. They have a 5″ heel and 1 3/4″ platform.
4. Mariel: After seeing Rumi in these on her blog by Dolce and Gabanna,I became obsessed with these more affordable versions. Though the python print is a little loud for me,I am obsessed with the silhouette and hope and pray to the shoe gods that a size 6 in black is re-stocked somewhere.
5. Snick: I’ve been loving the aesthetic of shoes like these lately. Like the Splendid they have the antique gold tacks on them. I love the 60s-70s vibe I get from these shoes and the fact that they’re 5″with a 2″platform makes me lust after them.
6. Foxy:Ok,I can’t stress how much I absolutely love these. Finding a knock off of the original Charles Anastase platforms came the Jessica Simpson Dany platforms that I just could not for the life of me get my hands on. They were pretty much sold out before I had the chance to bust out my credit card. Then I found these on Nasty Gal with only the Camel color up on the website. I much prefer the black over it but still love the silhouette on these babies as well. A timeless element in fashion,its T-Strap design element make me want them even more. I’ve loved t-strap shoes a long time and feel like these would stay in my wardrobe for years.
pictures from shopnastygal.com,footnotesonline.com,solestruck.com
Suspenders,also known as Braces,should be a staple in every gentleman’s wardrobe. I just love how it completes and adds personality to an outfit. Traditionally,suspenders were attached to trousers with buttons at the waistband. Nowadays,most pants aren’t made with buttons at the waist for suspenders to connect to. Don’t worry,suspenders have evolved to have clips and can attach to any type of bottom.
They are made to hold up your trousers comfortably,but when worn to accentuate an outfit,it’s a fashion statement. It creates a unique look for the style conscious gentleman. Suspenders come in a vast array of colors,patterns,and widths. Choose the one that will complement the color combination of your outfit.
Suspenders have never gone out of style. It may have lost some popularity when belt loops and belts came into the fashion scene around the 1920s. Suspenders are a timeless accessory and is still relevant in today’s fashion. You can dress it up for a formal event for a dapper look or dress it down for an adventure in the city for the urban gentleman look. Bring life back to your suspenders and wear them in a sea of belt-wearers.
Summer is in full swing and temperatures in the Inland Empire can easily reach the triple digits. It’s that time to leave your socks at home and even out that sock tan. My shoe of choice for the summer is the Boat Shoe,also known as deck shoes or top-siders. It’s the perfect summer shoe to wear sockless. Your feet can stay cool and comfortable without compromising style.
I started an 
