Meliciously Yours The Blog

Coco Chanel and Joan Jett: Fashion Arbiters of Black, Boldness, and Bad-Assness

There is no hesitation on my part at all to name my two favorite female innovators of all time –  designer Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel and rocker Joan Jett.  In fact, when I’m asked what my style is, I always give the same answer:  An amalgamation of Coco Chanel and Joan Jett.

Both ladies embody edgy-femininity with a rebel yell that makes them unmistakable fashion icons.  You’re probably combining their looks already and you don’t even know it.  How many times have you slipped a jacket or blazer over a designer tee and jeans with a cascade of pearls or chains to pretty up the look?   See, not so far-feteched now is it.  

Coco Chanel died over 40 years ago and yet her style remains timeless.  Her tweed fabrics, collarless jackets, neutral colors, gold chains, and of course little black dresses, helped define fashion for women.  A feminist of her time, she forged the path for decades of women to come. Her design philosophy is simple but elegant, classy but comfortable, replacing the rigid, structured fashions of corsets, petticoats, layers, and long hemlines.  She used soft jersey, typically reserved for men’s underwear, because it draped well over the female form and was simple and practical. 

And how many of you have ever thought of Joan Jett as a style or beauty icon?  Well, have another look.  I can sum up her innovative influence in four words:  sexy, bad-ass, chains, and black leather!  Joan personifies the image of a true female rock-and roll icon fashionista and inspired so many ladies to don leather, gunmetal, spikes or studs and still keep it full on glam and feminine with sequins and satin.   

As many differences as you might think the women have, there are even more similarities that they share.  Both epitomize the independent female woman of their time.   From their fashion forward haircuts, their love of black and neutral colors, to their addiction with accessories, both ladies know how to make a statement.  That’s why I’m proud to say both women are the inspirations behind our Innovator designer tee from Meliciously Yours.  The elegantly-clad, bejeweled lady sitting atop an amp with an electric guitar draped around her invites us all to breakout the leather and the pearls and not be afraid to wear them all at once.  You can be all lady… and still kick butt and take names!  

Happy New Year!

 

My Top 5 Modern Fashion Trends, Victorian Redux

As you all know I’m in love with Victorian culture and fashion and am truly an old soul So last year when I launched my designer t-shirt business, Meliciously Yours, I felt lucky to be able to live in the Victorian era every day – even if it was in spirit.  It is exciting to see Victorian fashion trends over 130 years old still influence modern design.  I want to share my 5 favorite Victorian-influenced fashion trends of the last year.    

1). Dior, Dior, Dior!  Need I say more?  Dior has always flirted with Victorian elements and they’re still prevalent in the 2011-2012 season.  

Fall Fashion Week 2011 showcased leather ankle boots and thigh skimming stockings with a Victorian flavor.  And bloomers!  Expect to see more in 2012. Dior's fascination with Victorian fashion had a big influence on my own designer t-shirts.  

2) My second favorite trend, popular for several years now, is “Lolita” a fashion subculture if you will that originated in Japan and is based on Victorian clothing with a dash of Rococo period costumes.  It’s quite often associated with punk or steam punk trends with a quirky mix of modesty and seductiveness. Imagine a 19^th century hooped skirt, only above the knee layered with a petticoat and thigh-high stockings like this design by Angelic Pretty.  Think pin-up meets Harajuku.  If you can't tell, the Lolita influence is prevlenat in the product photos of our designer t-shirts.  

3) Ruffles, flowers, lace, oh my!  Femininity is the one word that can truly define Victorian style. Designers like Valentino and Badgley Mischka incorporated elements of romance into their spring 2011 shows evoking a sense of femininity, draping silhouettes with cascading ruffles and lace.  Lady-like accessories like parasols and lace gloves are making a come back.  

4) Vibrant and bold colors reminiscent of the innovation of aniline dyes of the Victorian era inspired shades of the season like dark purples, violets, and mauves and opulent taupes.  Aniline dyes allowed colors to be very vivid like bright reds, blues and greens.  Expect to see a continuum of these colors on the 2012 fall 2012 runways.  Last fall we featured deep violet and cobalt blue designer t-shirts of rich, vibrant hues. 

5) Meliciously Yours designer t-shirts... of course I had to include these!  The force of Meliciously Yours tees is based on a dash of Victorian femininity with a pinch of modern day elements. The super-soft cotton and fitted cut of our designer tees transform the idea of a casual t-shirt into an elegant staple of feminine style. 

I can totally envision Queen Victoria donning a Meliciously Your designer t-shirt today accessorized with a cameo and her crown of course.  

 

Vroom...Vroom... Adventure is Always in Fashion

Meliciously Yours’ new designer tee, “Adventurer”, is inspired by so many wonderful outgoing, athletic, courageous, free-spirited women that I’ve had the pleasure of knowing personally or reading about them.  None of these women waited for life to happen to them, they made it happen first.  We’ve all heard of Amelia Earhart, but what about the Van Buren sisters?  Augusta and Adeline were the first women to journey from New York to California on solo motorcycles in 1916.  Born near the end of the 1800’s in New York City they were high society girls who had a pension for adventure and proving girls could do just about anything boys could do.  And that they did.  Their spirit and open-mindedness resonates in our new design, a lady riding a vintage motorcyle in full Victorian regalia.  

So ladies, don’t be afraid to challenge your femininity, because adventure is always in fashion.  Whether you traverse cross country on a motorcycle, windsurf into the horizon, jump out of an airplane, or barrel race horses, don't be afraid to take some risks.  So grab your favorite t-shirt, tie on that Victorian tea hat, and head out on the highway!  In the immortal words of Augusta Van Buren, “Woman can if she will”.   Will you?  

If you’d like to know more about Augusta and Adeline Van Buren, check out this great article by Louise Reeves for Cycle Connections or visit the official site of the Van Buren sisters and relive their historic journey.  And don't forget to check out the colors and styles of our Adventurer designer tee at www.melicioustees.com.

 

 

Victorian Fun Fashion Facts…

In the Victorian era it was not considered appropriate for women to participate in most sports or athletics, but that began to change toward the end of the 19th century.  However, the sportswear available to them was quite often a hindrance.  Can you even imagine!

• bathing suits for women were costumes which covered the entire body from head to toe with only bare arms from the elbow down showing.  Their legs were completely covered in black stockings. 
• women who played golf typically wore high-neck tailored blouses with long sleeves and long, full skirts. 
• For tennis playing, women wore long heavy skirts, tight-sleeved jackets and decorate hats.  
• Cyclists wore "bicycle cosutmes" which meant buckling her skirt around her legs to keep her ankles from showing.  Other cosutmes also included big poufy bloomers and skirts to preserve modesty. 
• Horseback riding was similar with its own elaborate costume of a riding habit, gloves, boots, and equestrienne tight, all social necessities for a lady.

Expressive Tees for Toddlers in Training

I have Spring Fever in a biiiggggg way.  For one, the weather is improving and the sun is out, and second, Meliciously Yours launched it's victorian-image inspired toddler tee version of the adult designer tee Beauty & Brains last week and nothing says spring like short sleeves! 

As we geared up to put our tee for little girls on the market I was reminded of an article I recently wrote entitled "5 Ways Every Young Woman Can Brand Herself Positive."  Our conduct and our image is all an "advertisement" for who we are as a person.  I'll use a related anecdote:  t-shirts are like billboards - they provide a glimpse of who you are and what you want people to know about you. And that impression can be judged in a split second.  So do toddler girls need to be empowered with such a message at that young of an age - maybe not in a Gloria Steinem-kind-of-way - but girls are never to young to think about themselves positively, and never to young for their parents to impart that positive message to them.  I hope our toddler tee will appeal to style-conscious parents seeking appropriate and expressive clothing for their little girls!  GAHJJ6Y7C9FJ