12 Fashion Ads You Wanted to Live In

It's easy to lose yourself in a sea of pretty pictures on Tumblr and Pinterest these days. Still, there's something special about being able to hold an actual book of pictures between your fingers. (If you lean in closely enough, you can almost feel yourself stepping into its pages.)

For old time's sake, here's a look back at some of the greatest print ad photos we've all wanted to step into over the past 14 years.

Prada - Late 90s

It's 1999 and you're in bed in ratty pajamas, flipping through a copy of Vogue. You turn the page and find yourself staring at a brown skirt and tweed shoes, and a woven bag dangling just behind the model's ankles. If only you could have that bag, everything in your life would be okay. If nothing else, the bag would at least give you some semblance of being put together--in a Mrs. Dalloway sort of way. This photo is just a Muppet Babies' view of what your life would look like in Prada.

Gilded and Gunmetal Grace

Thanks to Dolce and Gabbana's Fall 2013 collection, I am now obsessed with sequins (again). In what I consider to be one of the best runway shows this century, they showcased a brilliant collection fueled by Catholicism and old-world beauty. They brought us gems like this:

                             and this:

                              Of course, I do prefer my sequins in silver:

Featuring Mary Our Queen, Fall 2013

Naomi Watts, Oscars 2013

Zoe Saldana, Star Trek premiere

Stacy Keibler, Oscars 2013

  Theyskens, Fashion Week - Fall 2013

 Pinterest

All images provided via, via, via, via.

Spring 2013: A Fashion Quiz

Because you haven't taken enough quizzes in your lifetime, here's another one! What's your Spring 2013 style?

Spring 2013: A Quiz » Quiz maker software

(All images provided via here and here)

Frugal Fashion: A Collection of Common Sense Tips

There's nothing more amusing than watching Extreme Cheapskates and seeing the people on the show go on and on about saving money while wearing stretched-out shirts and shorts bought in the '90s. Sure, clothes are often viewed as an unnecessary expense by many, not just cheapskates, but one can live frugally without looking sloppy. Short of learning how to sew, here are a few common sense ways to save money fashionably:

1. Don't spend extra money copying the styles you see in magazines and online. Buy mixable and matchable items, instead.

2. Purchase clothing from wholesale sites like Overstock.com and one of a kind accessories from Etsy.

3. Hand-wash tights, slips, and other delicate things you want to keep for a long time. Let most clothes air dry to prevent shrinkage and wear and tear.

4. Shop at stores that sell cheap, trendy wear, like H&M, Forever 21, and Burlington Coat Factory.

5. Buy wardrobe staples and sensible shoes off-season. The end of July is often the end of the retail fiscal year.

6. Spend big bucks only when necessary, like on authentic jewelry, cosmetics, and durable shoes that will last for years (e.g., Doc Martens and Birkenstocks).

7. Do your hair at home more often and wear protective styles in between salon visits. Go in for important services like color and cuts, but learn to straighten and curl your hair yourself.

8. Make a book of coupons!

9. Take advantage of the good sales you see. If the store is offering 50% off and above, for example, buy more than one thing. Don't forget to calculate taxes.

10. Try storing some of your older fragrances in the refrigerator to prevent evaporation and loss of pungency.

11. Read around the internet for more tips. Learn to stretch your wardrobe.

12. Shop at outlets. I recently purchased a blazer, two pairs of pants, a sweater, and a sequined top for just 80 dollars from a Talbots outlet. A true steal!

The Top 10 Most Stylish Black Videos

1. Are You That Somebody? - (1998)

 


This video embodies all that was great about late '90s fashion--baggy outerwear paired with tight tops and as many ponytails as you could fit on the top of your head without looking ridiculous.

cc pacifier necklaces:

Blaque

2. Rude Boy - (2010) 

  

 It's Martin meets Love is a Drug meets Boyz-- a bright, crayola box of a video styled with clothes your mother would never let you out of the house wearing. And it's flawless.

3. Runaway - (2010) 

 

We've arrived in Kanye-heaven folks which, for some reason, is full of ballerinas and enough white linen to set a Thanksgiving table. Mr. West looks divine here, in a tan suit jacket and black bow-tie dressed down with denim jeans. There isn't a bad looking person in sight.

4. I've Seen that Face Before - (1981)

 

It's Grace Jones. Enough said.

5. How Many Ways? - (1992)

 

  Here is Elizabeth Barrett Browning's sonnet set to an R&B groove. Toni Braxton looks adorable with her pixie cut tucked under an assortment of baseball caps. Also, check out Shemar Moore. He's ripped. How many ways can this video look great?

6. On to the Next One - (2009)

 

 Nobody wears a jacket quite like Jay-Z.  The quilted one here, paired with leather gloves and his signature sunglasses, nearly drips swagoo. Yeah, I said it.

7. Tightrope - (2010)

 

 In 'Tightrope,' Janelle Monae's suit is tailored within an inch of its life and her hair, deliciously pompadoured.  Watching this video always makes me want to shout out a whole bunch of adjectives. Her style is just so wonderfully James Brown/Marlene Dietrich-esque.

via

8. Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It) - (2008)

 
        Beyonce is the siren of the digital age; somehow, she manages to make black leotards and android parts look luxe in 'Single Ladies'. Also, the styling is minimal, which is refreshing to see on her.
 

  Android Fashion via Obsession Magazine

9. Make it Happen - (1991)

 
Mariah Carey shows us how jeans should be worn -- tight and belted (and preferably on-stage).

10. Real Love - (1992)

     
 Fact: If you did not dress like Mary J. Blige in the '90s, you were not cool. And if you can't appreciate the baseball cap/nose ring combo here, you may not be cool today either, tbh. ;-)

  Tell me your top video in the comments.

Humoresque - 1946

She walks across the beach in shoulder-padded elegance....

Humoresque, 1946

Humoresque, 2012

Set in the 1940s, Humoresque explores the unbalanced relationship between a young musician and his wealthy patroness. It has all the staples of a good, dramatic film: Dvorak, tears, and lots of scotch. Oh yes, and sequins.

I'm not usually big on re-makes, but I think Hollywood should update this film, complete with a score from Janelle Monae, John Williams, or Esperanza Spalding. (I get 90 percent of the profit for this idea, fyi).

Seriously though, stylish character studies like this one are hard to come by these days. Happy watching!

 

Tights

Now is the perfect time to stock up on tights, before the cool of the fall sets in.




Evan Rachel Wood

Zooey Deschanel





Gwen Stefani



Nicki Minaj

Taylor Momsen

Oscar De La Renta Fall 2012

FYI: I'm slipping into my tights like Cyd Charisse from here on out.