Dear Ethers,

As you all know, I’m a lover of all things vintage.  I treasure finding a one-off piece that no one has and that was worn by someone before I was even born.  And I love the feeling when your heart starts to race when you see a designer label in a great style, in your size, that is actually affordable.  That’s the ultimate triumph in vintage shopping.  The best I’ve ever done is a YSL Rive Gauche black velvet jacket–but it looks almost like  a cape that an aunt gave me when I was only about 12. It sat rotting in my closet for about 10 years and when I was going through stuff after coming home from college, I discovered this masterpiece!  Really heart stopping.  Unfortunately, vintage shops, due to eBay and other outlets know brands—so it is rare to find a deal any more.  But when you do discover a gem……..heaven.  One lady who can appreciate this is Sharon Rose.  Check out her website and drool over her fashion designer finds! 

I decided to pay homage to the king of vintage, Maestro Halston.  I mean, could Studio 54 have BEEN without his amazing dresses and slinky fabrics hugging the girls dancing and probably snorting coke in the bathrooms?  I can just see the tall blondes sashaying into the disco’s in his designs, heavy make-up, red lips, and just looking like goddesses.  To me, Halston WAS the 70’s and if you are lucky enough to find a vintage piece, be prepared to pay an arm and a leg.  

He has a lovely collection out today but what’s great is it still pays homage to his time in his heyday.  The column dresses with the layers, the one-shoulder Roman-goddess gowns, the well-cut shirt dress.  Everything of his is a modern version of what he’s always done.  I love when fashion houses stay true to their roots.  You can still, today, see a Halston from a million miles away, even if it’s from a 201o collection.  

I went with a really classic Halston evening gown in a lovely color–a canary yellow.  I love the tiers.  I just think this is so now, but yet so 70’s.  How can it be?  But it is elegant, classic and just so fantastically retro.  It looks like it would elongate and be light as a feather.  Perfection.  To jazz things up a bit, I went with a really electric blue color to compliment the yellow.  It just felt right.  It felt punk 2009 meets LSD 1970’s.  

I hope you like this Wish List as much as I do.  I didn’t want to add a necklace for this dress.  I see this with hair slicked back in a low bun or a very high ponytail and just showing off those collarbones.  The only bit of bauble is a bad-ass rocker cuff that I thought was really rocker-chick fun.  You know those 54 girls–they liked their dancing, booze and their Jagger.

FYI: Mr. Roy “Halston” Frowisck (who sadly died in 1990) was specifically known for his dresses being worn to discotheques. Born in Iowa, he began his career as a window dresser.  He worked mainly with hats and his big break was when the Chicago Daily News ran a brief story on his fab hats.  In 1957 he opened his own shop (seems very Coco Chanel, eh?) and then moved to NYC working for famous milliner Lilly Dache.  He then was let loose to become head milliner of Bergdorf’s and his big claim to fame was designing the famous pillbox hat for Ms. Jackie Kennedy that she wore to her husband’s presidential inauguration.  He became part of a hip crowd of jet setters and  Bianca Jagger, Liza Minnelli, Anjelica Huston, Lauren Bacall, Babe Paley, and Elizabeth Taylor all wore his goodies. His perfume (bottle designed by Elsa Peretti) became the second biggest perfume of all time.  A great man with an interesting life, he died of AIDS in 1990.  But his name lives on and I am pleased to show you that his lovely clothes still, 3o years later, have remained in the limelight.

Dedicatedly yours,

—One of 365

This stunning, canary yellow, strapless silk-gown epitomizes the Halston of today and yesterday. People might ask you where you got that AMAZING vintage piece, but they also might ask where that couture dress came from. It is timeless. I love the color. I think on light skin it will look ethereal and on dark skin, it will bring out your color beautifully. The dress is simple. It is meant to act as a column--like Greek goddess gown. You are meant to make an entrance, be handed a glass of champagne, put it down and then dance. I think this is jaw-dropping and elegant. The back has a slight cut out, which is very sexy, but is layered with tiers so nothing too revealing. I think this dress would be bland and boring in black or white. Yellow is the perfect match. Strapless Silk Gown, $3,814, halston.com

I love colors and how designers are embracing pops of palettes in their designs. No more matchy-matchy anymore. I think the yellow and the blue make a stunning combination. I like the texture of the snake-skin. It modernizes the outfit and brings the whimsy from the light silk and layering to a more rock-star badass 54 girl making her entrance. With a 4.5" heel, the column dress is going to make you look sky-high which will look amazing and you'll feel like one of Warhol's muses entering The Factory! I think these are all rock n' roll and are a really fun surprise because they aren't expected with the outfit. Penn Snakeskin Sandals, $995, halston.com

I love this bag because it's slouchy, and suede. It looks the part of being 70's and is a total clutch with a removal strap so you can make it casual or dressy. Again, ties in with the shoes and the bright colors of the yellow and the bright blue. Totally unexpected which is what you want with a statement outfit. And hey, the 70's was all about experimenting, right? It's also roomy, so you can stash anything you need in here. Not just a lipstick and a cell phone. The strap will be useful if you start dancing. Just wrap it around your wrist and you are set to boogie! Henry Small Suede Clutch, $1,395, halston.com

All rock and roll babes have cuffs with metal right? Well, yours just happens to be a HALSTON dahhhling! I like this because it's your first introduction to the pop of color blue and it also shows those who see you that your not just some lovely yellow flower walking into the room, but a chic killer in your 70's homage to the king of disco. I think it will lengthen the arm and go nicely with the bag. And if your shoes peep out, it will all tie nicely together. Hey, and if a guy you don't like tries to hit on you, it works handily as a gauntlet!! Stud Embellished Cuff, $995, halston.com

Halston have always been famous for their fragrances. The packaging for 2009 has been revamped by the famous Elsa Peretti (known for her beautiful Tiffany's jewels). To quote the designer of the fragrance, Carlos Benaïm, he says the fragrance is a "floriental woody, and has top notes of Sicilian bergamot, marigold and black currant; a heart of precious roses, orris, jasmine petals, rose absolute and rose essence, and a drydown of patchouli, sandalwood and deep amber." So, grab yourself a bottle, even just to have sitting on your bureau. Stunning!

PS: If you dig my Wish List’s then just click over to your right and hit the side-bar under “Wish Lists.”  You’ll find everything from Net-a-Porter to Sonia Rykiel (great timing too because she just announced her collaboration with H&M).  It’s always such fun!  And if you really LOVE fashion, check out Fashion Fridays on the sidebar too.  It’s a bit bonkers, but a really fun weekly staple from my wardrobe that I make a story up about the look and show the clothes and allow you to visualize the whole sha-bang from the picture I’ve painted.  Again, lot’s of fun for you fashion lovers.

xoxoxo