I was boooorrnnn in a class 5 hurricane!

Actually the lyrics go, "I was born in a crossfire hurricane" though I like to sing class 5 anyway...

This is a very popular misheard lyric.

As we all know by now, Irene (that bitch) is coming our way -- so get your candles out and flashlights and be sure to fill your bathtub (if you have one) with enough water to bath, flush, and drink with!

GIMME SHELTER!!!

Brand-o

Ooooooo-Weee
Who is dat hotty p'toddy?
Oh, it's just that strappin young lad Levi Strauss!

Levi Strauss and Co. have been making denim jeans for quite a long time now. Named after the inventor,  a 24 year old Jewish German immigrant, ( i know, crazy) Levi moved from New York to San Francisco in 1853 in hope of marketing his rough canvas for creating tents and wagon covers. A prospector who came across his product implied that his strong canvas would be put to better use if used to create a strong, long lasting pair of work pants. And so, Strauss started producing waist overalls out of his canvas that eventually became quite popular with miners. After a while, however, they started complaining that the material chaffed easily so instead of using canvas he switched to a twill cotton blend from France referred to as "serge de Nimes" which would go on to be called "blue jeans."

In 1873, Levi Strauss & Co. modified their brand to include the famous pocket stitch design, reinforcing the pants with rivets and officially patenting their product known for it's durability and style. To further expand their notoriety they sewed a red tab to the left rear pocket in 1936 which would identify their jeans at a distance. This trademark is still in use today and Levi jeans remain the most popular brand associated with denim material.

I think I'm going to buy me a pair of 501 shrink to fit originals and sit in my bathtub while they tighten around my bod. I'll let you know how it goes...

Brando wore them -- get yours!

The Roaring '20's Roar On

This past weekend we attended a Jazz Age lawn party on Governor's Island. From the vintage Model Ts parked on the lawn, down to the bottomless St. Germain cocktails being served, it was a decadent Gatsby-worthy bash! In my opinion, costumes should have been mandatory for entry, as the occasional band-tee and blue jeans really killed the illusion. Although those who did dress up (and most did) made for a roaring good time.

The 1920's was an important decade in women's fashion. 1920 was the year that women first got the right to vote and this new-found liberation is reflected in the dress and attitudes of the era. Both hemlines and hairdos got shorter as women discarded their corsets in exchange for flapper styled fringe dresses and feathered headbands. The drop waste came into popularity and, as this was the first decade when women could show off their legs, shoes became an important part of every outfit. Mary Janes with a buckle strap, rounded toe, and a small heal (just thick enough not to sink into the grass at all the prohibition era lawn parties) came into style (similar to the "character shoes" of today).

Hats were all the rage in the 20's. For women, the floppy wide-brimmed sun hat was popular towards the beginning of the decade, while the clouche hat took over the mid to later years. I myself invested in a lovely gray felt cloche hat this weekend, complete with the twisted brim and decorative flower. The intention of the cloche hat was to show off your 20's style bob haircut (of course!). You can find your own 1920's inspired hat at the Village Scandal and shop for other flapper style garments in the village at Angela's Vintage Boutique.

And don't forget to get your tickets to next years Governor's Island Jazz Age Lawn Party!