Inspiration: Jackie Kennedy Onassis

Jackie has champagne tastes on a student budget. That’s why she keeps a close eye on celebrity trends, then scours fast fashion outlets to recreate the look for less.
Inspired by Jackie Kennedy Onassis

I’ve been really into making fashion inspiration boards lately. Would you like to see more of these?

I’ve always loved Jackie O’s style, and not only because we share a first name. I love the chic, beachy style she adopted after marrying Aristotle Onassis. From the beach, to shopping, to reclining on her yacht, she looked elegant and beautiful.

Posted August 3, 2009 in Fashion, apparel

Featured store: Modcloth

Jackie has champagne tastes on a student budget. That’s why she keeps a close eye on celebrity trends, then scours fast fashion outlets to recreate the look for less.

Have you heard of Modcloth? If not, it’s one of my new favorite online retailers. The prices can be a bit pricey, but there is no better place to find vintage-inspired clothing and accessories. Just look at those shoes! They are to die for, no?

Modcloth is perfect if you like feminine, vintage clothing, and if you need a cocktail or party dress, you should definitely check them out.

Items above: Chamomile yellow dress ; Tavern on the Green dress ; Potpourri blue print dress ; Violet bow blouse ; Carriage Ride blue wedges ; Poker Face green heels ; Cocoa Beach yellow wedges

Posted July 22, 2009 in Fashion

‘Tis (almost) the season: holiday picks from Etsy.com

Jackie has champagne tastes on a student budget. That’s why she keeps a close eye on celebrity trends, then scours fast fashion outlets to recreate the look for less.

I’m trying to get started early on my Christmas shopping, and what better place than Etsy.com? I love that most items are homemade, and there are also plenty of cool vintage finds.

For My Sister:

This jeweled headband is made from vintage pieces, making it one-of-a-kind.

For My Mum:

My mom and dad have a black lab they love dearly, and my mother likes to find little home decor items or the like that have subtle appearances of their dog. She’d really like these adorable holiday greeting cards.

The vase is another good find: it’s all handmade porcelain, and the yellow interior would match the colors of the living room and sitting room in my parents’ home.

Get the whole scoop »

Posted November 12, 2008 in News

Best-dressed bridesmaids

Jackie has champagne tastes on a student budget. That’s why she keeps a close eye on celebrity trends, then scours fast fashion outlets to recreate the look for less.

I’m so excited to be getting married on March 15, 2009–only a few months away!

I’ve been working like crazy to plan, organize and pull the event together, but one detail that seems to be difficult to wrap up is what shoes the bridesmaids will wear with their dress. I have five of my best friends and family serving as bridesmaids, and I’m so excited to see them in their vintage-inspired dresses with retro headbands/hair pieces.

But what shoes should they wear?

Here’s the bridesmaid dress:

It’s from David’s Bridal, and is fairly affordable, which is good since several of my bridesmaids are still in college. I love the retro styling. If you are interested in this bridesmaid dress, order it soon! According to a salesperson at my local David’s Bridal store, they are discontinuing this dress momentarily because it was a “trend piece,” the likes of which they bring in seasonally.

The bridesmaids are going to wear a navy ribbon around their waist, tied into a bow in the back.

I’m not going to go all bridezilla and tell them how to do their hair, but I do want vintage headbands and hair pieces (jeweled, perhaps) to give more of a retro flair.

Here are some shoes I’ve considered thus far:

Which ones do you like? Do you have any suggestions?

I’m looking for retro-inspired cream heels, but I’m open to gray, bone or off-white colored shoes as well. It’s March, so closed-toe or peep-toe is preferable.

Thanks for the help!

Posted October 31, 2008 in News

Feelin’ the 70’s

Jackie has champagne tastes on a student budget. That’s why she keeps a close eye on celebrity trends, then scours fast fashion outlets to recreate the look for less.

I’m big into 70’s-inspired clothing for fall. Wave good-bye to your skinny jeans and get ready for some easy, pretty fall fashion.

There’s something really romantic and pretty about 70’s-inspired looks. Just check out how hot the cast of the original Charlie’s Angels looked.

Ready to travel back in time? Try these looks on for size.

  1. This loose chiffon blouse brings to mind the easy-breezy looks of the 70’s.
  2. I adore these wide-leg, high-waisted jeans. Perfect vintage style at a great price.
  3. Bangles add a bit of rock-and-roll.
  4. Sky-high green wedges add a modern color to a decades-old style.

Get the whole scoop »

Posted July 14, 2008 in Fashion

Wardrobe remix…Remixed!

Jackie has champagne tastes on a student budget. That’s why she keeps a close eye on celebrity trends, then scours fast fashion outlets to recreate the look for less.

One of my favorite spots for fashion inspiration is a Flickr group entitled Wardrobe Remix. Regular girls and guys can submit head-to-toe shots of their outfits and then fashion voyeurs, such as myself, can partake in the thousands of great real-life looks.

I recently found two looks I really liked and decided to recreate their outfits for as cheap a price point as possible.

First, I found a photo of night.owl, whose outfit was quite basic but had a fun pop of color.

  1. Start out with a basic white dress, as night.owl did. I chose one that’s a bit more full in the skirt, which is more universally flattering.
  2. I love the edgy jacket that night.owl is sporting. The dark charcoal gray also adds a modern, casual feel to the dress. Try this one by Forever 21.
  3. Gray shoes are harder to find in the summer, but come fall/winter they should be much more plentiful. For now, try this pair.
  4. Red tights completely made night.owl’s outfit. They added a punchy color and a quirky element that really stood out to me.

Get the whole scoop »

Posted July 7, 2008 in Fashion

Roses are Red, Robin’s Eggs are Blue

Lori’s got her hands full launching a new handbag line, but she still has time to scout the latest in independent design for awesome accessories.

What’s your favorite first sign of SPRING? Mine is waking to the sweet sound of chirping birds outside our window, even though it is only FIVE-in-the-morning!! I also think one of nature’s most perfect compositions is that of speckled robin’s eggs ‘blue’ against a nest in shades of brown. It isn’t just the color brown that Robin’s Egg Blue looks great against, though. This cheery, happy color is a great compliment to just about every color in the rainbow. So, in honor of those chirping little birdies let’s take a look at some vintage inspired accessories in Robin’s Egg Blue to get us in the mood for a crisp spring day!

This Rusty Blue Necklace by MARIE FLY FLY is a great example of vintage meets modern. The speckled Czech glass beads combined with the industrial look of the hammered copper hoop and chain really pop…and at just $34, they’re a steal!

Isn’t this clutch sweet?! This is by MOSEY who’s tag line is: “Recycled, Reconstructed, Re-loved,” so you can’t beat that. This Araucana Pocket Clutch is made of soft, felted, boiled wool with a vintage button. Check out the sweet surprise on the back: egg shaped cotton appliqués in a vintage calico print….too cute. This piece measures 6” x 5” and is a mere $22!

Get the whole scoop »

Posted April 1, 2008 in Fashion

Revving up the traditional handbag

Lori’s got her hands full launching a new handbag line, but she still has time to scout the latest in independent design for awesome accessories.

What do you do when you discover a warehouse full of never used automotive fabrics from the 70’s and 80’s? Well, if you’re Kim White, you buy up the whole lot and turn them into a hip line of vintage handbags. It turns out these upholstery fabrics meant to cover the seats of a 1983 Camaro or a 1975 Chevy van are perfectly suited for handbags because they’re incredibly durable. When you buy your favorite eco-friendly style, it has a tag marking the year and make of the fabric, from say a 78’ Ford Mustang…doesn’t get any groovier than that!

Oh, and one more thing, you’ll never guess where Kim lives. She’s just minutes from the Peterson Automotive Museum in L.A…how fitting! All Kim White handbags are proudly made in the USA.

You won’t need a tag for this clutch. It has CAMARO written all over it! A 1983 Camaro to be exact. This bag has a great spring frame that allows it to open and shut with a snap. The cut-out gives you the option to hold it in your hand or under your arm.

It’s hard to find an optical print like this on a handbag! This vibrant blue with black version (from a vintage 1980 Ford Mustang print) is so striking and versatile from weekend to work.

Get the whole scoop »

Posted December 3, 2007 in Fashion, News, People, Tags