With days that are filled with scouting new locations, consulting couture brands, and researching timeless styles for my vintage-inspired blog, Rich in Love Fashion, downtime is clearly non-negotiable – welcome to my vintage life!
At 5:30 a.m. I awake with a burst of energy as I am a morning person by nature and on occasion, a night owl. Reaching over, I promptly grab my IPhone 6 and find myself out of bed, glancing over at a fresh selection of white roses in a crystal cut vase, sitting upon an antique, oak table, which was given to me by my grandmother. A moment of gratitude sets a positive mindset for the day. You might wonder how much you could possibly be thankful for in the first 8 minutes of your day; you’d be surprised! I don’t watch much, if any, television; instead I will turn on the vocals of iconic jazz musicals of yesteryear for white noise to start my morning off.
A quick, low-carb breakfast is prepared before I begin to beautify myself, with a 2 hour deadline to be on-location. It helps having my hair prepared, the evening prior, in pin-curls which I have become accustom to sleeping on, a traditional way women once did their hair. After hair and beauty has been completed, I begin to pack for travel as I never wear any of the garments I feature on my blog. I will openly say that I am quite a perfectionist when it comes to garments that are wrinkled. For particular shoots I will carry a portable steamer, if I sense the fabric may become wrinkled during transport. Departing the water-front resort community of Discovery Bay, which is sixty-two miles east of San Francisco, I always travel with my personal photographer, Rich. I am fairly pampered in the aspect that he always drives, which leaves me valuable time to catch up on my social media and client emails.
Upon arrival at a pre-scouted location, it’s the off-script events that occur, which create the memories that Rich and I welcome. For a production team of two, there are, from time-to-time, dressing room concerns; depending on the location chosen, I will utilize a restroom to change and freshen up, but if a restroom is not an option, well, the “peepshow” in the car begins. Because I mostly wear dresses, the garments changes are fairly easy; though at times, it can be quite comical and pleasing to the eyes of onlookers, if I am not quick enough.
A photo is worth a thousand words – Each week I positively bring my readers a recognized phrase combined with a story of an era gone-by; I find truth from each glamour editorial I conduct solely with Rich. From the start of the photo-shoot, usually during the mid-morning, Rich and I shoot until we have a wide variety of all images that the client has requested and that we feel are adequate. With five hours of travel, four hours of modeling, and an additional three hours of editing – not to mention countless hours prior to the glamour shoot that consist of on-location scouting, stylizing, test shoots, and written editorials – it has become a labor of love. In the late of hours of the evening, with a glass of pinot noir in hand, I find myself compiling images to edit in time for Monday’s blog post. As mentioned above, I am a perfectionist, so I prefer to take the role of photo editing, as I use it as a visual tool to assist me in the weeks ahead with product placement, styling, and garment choices.
After writing for a number of publications, modeling, and consulting luxury brands, I feel the time is right to continue my on-going passion – for both an era of premier fashion and 1940s historical landmarks – in the form of a style book. The initial goal is seen weekly on Rich in Love Fashion, which is tailored to connecting readers with a classic, feminine profile, and silhouette of an era gone by. Each post brings history to life, showcasing to a growing demographic the lost art of dressing up with a lady-like demure, styled after the classic women of 1940s. Creating such a book will be on the horizon for summer 2017; as for inspiring designers, brands, and milliners who are interested in having their garments featured, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
While I live such an enriched life as a vintage consultant and published writer, I must point out that the coined term “vintage” is a French word that was originally used for wine older than twenty years. The older a wine is, the higher in quality and respectable it becomes, and we all know – it only gets better with age.
Blue Velvet Cap sleeve Sheath, Vince Camuto // Crown Trifari Grand Parure Suite c/o Second Wind Vintage // 1930s Gene Doris Velvet Millinery Design // Vintage Fur Shrug, J.Colleen Boutique // Brian Atwood Patent Pumps (similar here) // Red Lipstick “Really Red” c/o Marykay
Glamour is an illusion, a form of mystery revealing a fragile state that changes with time. Glamour, from my perspective, is defined as recreation from all facets of our lives. Perhaps the best way to describe it is with a ravishing red lipstick, a sensual hourglass silhouette, and style inspiration from such mavens as Rita Hayworth, Ava Gardner, and Jayne Mansfield. While many may attempt to aim for class or sophistication, many will miss the mark, for there are so many ways we can make unknowing missteps. Glamour is the feeling of beauty, with an undertone of femininity, while looking like a lady for all occasions.
From a sense of seduction that cannot be afforded, I find it to be inherited to one’s genetic makeup rather than being perceived in any other form. My grammarian persona exudes through my vintage style and writing, which I use as a visual platform to embrace glamour as an inspiration. Both grammar and glamour embody a set of rules that assist people to articulate themselves and be understood as a form of confidence – which is the goal.
In many cases, I am seen by the public as a glamorous Hollywood scarlet who possesses many European attributes, often being referenced to Australian actress, Cate Blanchett. That’s not to say I am always glamorous; few can be, and certainly I constantly aim to maintain such an appearance but can’t say awake in such awe. I find one of my preferred moments of glamour is when I am walking down the street, particularly Market Street in San Francisco, surrounded by a historical archive of landmarks that to this day carry such glamour and enrichment. I’m garnished in a vintage-inspired dress say, a bias-cut black sheath that hugs at the hips, the donning of rhinestone earrings, a millinery design, and (of course) the reddest lipstick I own. When I’ve achieved such a level of glamour, it’s an immensely satisfying spot between the public and private spheres.
The trick to glamour is quite like black magic; you see me, and yet you don’t. You only see what I bring to my outer self or how I create it as my own. You only see what I want you to see. The beauty of glamour is that I actually control how much you witness, and I promise to not cast any spells on you.
Best Actress LBD by Kate Hudson for Ann Taylor // Hobe Black Stone & Rhinestone Brooch c/o Second Wind Vintage // *Vintage Rhinestone Earring (Purchase this rare vintage piece from my collection, here) // Vintage Satin Opera Gloves // BCBG Fur Wrap // Kate Spade Patent Pumps // Red Lipstick ‘Really Red’ c/o Marykay
~
Follow FSD the UK’s leading Fashion & Style Directory for an array of luxury brand news and glamours style tips that Canny Site offers.
From a heightened focus of confidence you will find in a woman’s closet a Red Dress, which in many cases is a women’s social armor. While screen sirens throughout the ages have donned the crimson shade to project a sense of sex appeal the truth of the matter is, what we wear authentically has power over others. With the ageless cliché of the “Lady in Red” a strong mindset is conjured of a women who is sexy, confident and vivacious with a comeback, that woman is the “Davis Woman”.
Los Angeles native and designer Davis Brimberg of DAVIS Fashion is experienced in dressing women head-to-toe in a style that exudes the utmost glamour, while remaining true to her spiritual commitment of producing garments that are vegan and 100% cruelty-free. Since starting her namesake label in 2014, Davis has established herself as an activist to non-profit animal organizations as she finds herself volunteering as a handler of injured and orphaned owls at wildlife rescue center’s. With a celebration of life, her clothing line also presents the timeless elegance from the 1940s-50s pin-up eras, which in return creates a blend of sex appeal and sophistication. “My collection is for a sexy, sophisticated and confident woman who wants to be noticed,” states Davis in reference to her graceful attention to bombshell elegance.
Enjoying a spring afternoon basking in a woven sun hat, a lady-like silhouette is achieved with ‘Karen’ an off-the-shoulder red cocktail sheath by Davis Fashion. This luxe design is the epitome of true imagination with its red rose lace overlay made from 100% nylon. Adding a subtle combination of a cluster pearl earring and coordinating bracelet, finishing off with a ruffled white glove which in return completes the entire ensemble. This elegant design could easily be fancied up for a cocktail atmosphere or dinner date for two. 
Red Lace ‘Karen’ Sheath Dress c/o DAVIS Fashion // Vintage Pearl Cluster Earrings & Bracelet // Unlabeled Wide-Brim Straw Hat with Velvet Trim // Vintage White Ruffled Gloves // Needlepoint Tapestry Rose Floral Purse // Brian Atwood Patent Pumps (similar here) // Red Lipstick c/o MaryKay
richinlovefashion.com 