Society Girl of the Week: Margot Tenenbaum

"Ace, Deuce, Backhand, Back Swing"!

In my book, Tennis is by far the most stylish sport! The sport that defines preppy, that brings to mind Lacoste alligators, Adidas sweatbands and one indelible woman.

This woman twisted and darkened the often upbeat, preppy style. She took something and ran with it, and in the process defined a new uniform of savoir-faire. Her tennis dress, vintage slip and dainty barrette are always contrasted by the melancholy of her smoky eye-liner, heavy fur coat and blunt hair cut.

The sadness of her unrequited love is captured in her iconic look. She is our Society Girl of the Week...

Margot Tenenbaum

Thanks to Fiona Grace for suggesting our pick this week!

Quiksilver Update: Launch Party Project

The Quiksilver Sponsorship officially launches next week with a grand 'ole party and that means The Vintage Society has been bustling with activity. Each of the six women being sponsored will feature something that captures the essence and life of their vision, and mine has been a blast to work on.

The last few days, I have been focused on developing, filming and producing a short film called "Society Girls". Here is a sneak peek.. and don't worry.. it will be available for your viewing pleasure next week.

Instant Outfit: Floral Dress

Like I’ve said, I am itching for the spring. Especially this season - with all the “floral-goodness” popping up in stores. This season's florals look as if the painter actually brushed on each petal with perfection. They are decorating skirts, shirts, shoes, dresses.. bascially any open canvas.

Florals are not for only the feminine creature. They can be worn in a million different ways, and you don't have to have a green thumb to pull it off.

Weekend Recap: Me and My Calvin's

"Winter-Spring" is always a tricky time to get dressed. Though I am itching to pull out all the spring trends, shed the layers and romp around in lightweight dresses - it is still too rainy-cold-cloudy outside. So to cheer away the clouds, I mixed in spring brights to my winter basics.

The latest addition to my spring wardrobe is a pair of high-waisted vintage Calvin Klein stretch pants that have a great black and white checkered pattern. They were discovered on my New York thrifting adventure, and just couldn't spend another day in the closet. To keep them weather-friendly I paired them with a black velvet blazer, but kept it light with a pop of red at the waist.

"You want to know what comes between me and my Calvin's... NOTHING!"

(Pants and heels - vintage, Blazer - Express)

(Jacket, Striped Shirt, and Boots - Vintage, Jeans - H&M, Plaid Shirt - Quiksilver Women's)

(Dress and Vest - Vintage, Sweatshirt - Kaitlyn, T-shirt - Urban Outfitters, Socks - Target, Shoes - Michael Kors)

Put On Your "Inspiration Spectacles"

In the last year I have become a big fan! I view the world through my "inspiration spectacles", always searching for illumination - and they have become a go-to resource.

I am talking about ELLE magazine! With last year's transition into Joe Zee world (the Creative Director) this magazine has started to lose it's pages every month.. meaning I rip out editorial after editorial to add to my inspiration board.

With my new found love for the US version of the magazine, I also discovered a love for the international publications, 29 international publications to be exact!

Being a loyal fan and perusing International Elle, I stumbled onto Elle Korea (yes, I also love Vogue Girl Korea) and discovered they have their own AMAZING version of Instant Outfit!

I was salivating at what they came up with for a plain white shirt! The ideas seemed endless...

Here's one set of pieces to work with and to get your brain going:

Just when you think you are on stimulus overload.. they add even more.. and a whole new take.... it's overflowing...

( All photos courtesy of Elle Korea)

Society Girl of the Week: Kate Jackson

She was known to be one of three.. but I think she should be known as the ONE!

She was effortless in her day. She had this great tomboy quality, while at the same time pulled it off with such a feminine flair. I love her personal style.. so relevant to now.. with twists that make her unique. Every image provokes ideas... my mind is reeling.

She is our Society Girl of the Week...

Kate Jackson (of Charlie's Angels)

Those jodhpurs.. and boots!

The peacoat, rolled jeans and boots!

Seriously, the boots and rolled jeans.. I love it.

I can't get enough of the high-waisted jeans.

Simple but bright.

The print...

Ok, the entire combination..it doesn't work.. but IT DOES!

Make A Bold Statement

I'll admit it, I love BIG hair - quirky hair - dramatic hair ... anything that puts style right on top of your head.

Hair is just another fabulous accessory that we can work with. Throw on a pair of jeans and a vintage t-shirt - you look cute! Add Heidi braids wrapped around your head - you look DARN cute!

This accessory is begging to be used. Be daring... make a bold statement.. create a whole new look.

Here's a little inspiration...

(Marc Jacobs Spring 2008 Photo Courtesy: Style.Com)

( Michael Kors Fall 2008 Photo Courtesy: Style.Com)

(Phillip Lim 3.1 Spring 2008 Photo Courtesy: Style.Com)

(Rebecca Taylor Spring 2008 Photo Courtesy: Style.Com)

(Photo Courtesy: The Sartorialist)

Instant Outfit: STRIPES

"I pledge allegiance to the United States of America..." stars, stripes - red, white and blue!

Spring looks to be very patriotic with references to the big USA everywhere. Taking a hint from the grand 'ole flag, the collections were focused on those red and white STRIPES.

Stripes can be preppy, nautical, and even pirate themed.. so how do we decide which direction to take? Instant Outfit explores...

The Story Unfolds

President's Day! Hip Hip Hooray! No work.. just play... well for some at least.

In the spirit of the holiday, I interrupt our regular programming (Weekend Recap) to let you in on more QUIKSILVER madness.

Society Girls everywhere will love the new line.. the story unfolds in the video below.

Now check out the whole look...

Something Wonderful

Something wonderful has happened!

Something unexpected. It happened as I painted my nails with their signature color. I was in front of the tube. I looked up, heard this great song, saw this great girl as she pranced through life taking photos looking fabulous. I couldn't peel my eyes away. I wanted to jump into the screen put on the clothes, have the same haircut, giggle and run through the city with my girlfriends.

Then the unexpected came.. the words "OLD NAVY" popped up on the screen.

It was wonderful.. now I just need to stop by a shop and see if for myself.

Check out what is so wonderful!

Society Girl of the Week: Sophia

She is another Sartorialist muse. He captures her where ever she goes. She pops in her colorful coat and juicy accessories. She chooses the unexpected. She has changed her look since the last season of shows (September 2007 - February 2008), but still holds onto similar ideals. She is an all encompassing inspiration.

She is a woman I actually sat next to and chatted with while waiting for a show to begin in New York. The personality and flair that you see in her photos are only a glimpse of this amazing woman. She is Swedish and works for a Swedish television network to cover all things fashionable. She splits her time between an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn and a home in Sweden.

The day I met her she looked just perfect in her vintage silver threaded mini dress, purple tights, RED coat (pictured below) and pearl accessories. What really set the look off was her heidie braids, blunt cut bangs and a crown of pearls pushed into the braids. It was magical!

Our Society Girl of the Week is...

Sophia

(all photos courtesy of The Sartorialist)

INSTANT OUTFIT: Wing Tip Shoes

Now I know that while in New York you should be shopping at all the hot-spots and hitting up the trail of boutiques that line the streets, but I was a girl on a budget. Besides, I was there to see clothes - not to buy clothes...

...But I couldn't resist the lure of a thrift store. Especially when that thrift store was right around the corner from my hotel. I went in with low expectations. In the past, I have journeyed into NYC thrift stores with high hopes, and then departed unsatisfied.

To my surprise, I found bundles! So much stuff that I had to make final cuts to stay within the boundaries of the wallet.

The #1 find of the day? Wing Tip Shoes!

Wing tip shoes seem to be popping up everywhere and they are great if you are into the androgynous look, but they can be very feminine as well. With this in mind, Instant Outfit explores...

Weekend Recap - The Fabulous New York City

The wind swirled around me as I closed the door to the Empire Diner on 10th/23rd. It was the perfect New York morning, and I realized I was heading home - back to California.

The days spent running from show to show, hopping on and off subways and style-sighting the fashion fabulous were some of the best of my life.

Dressing for these four days was part of the fun...

After our first day of shows we headed out to a local joint. Feeling inspired to clown around I took out my oversized polka-dot bowtie and paired it with a school girl cardigan and derby hat.

(Hat, Shirt, Cardigan, boots and bowtie - Vintage, Grey Jeans - H&M)

For our second day of shows I was inspired by an editorial from Elle Magazine's November 2007 issue. Mixing leopard print, faux fur, an accordian-pleat vintage dress and flat granny boots was my pre and post show look - the difference when attending shows? Patent leather platforms...definitely not shoes you want to wear all day!

(Dress, Jacket, Leopard print dinner Jacket, granny boots and slip - Vintage, Large structured bag - Target)

For a drizzly Saturday I went for the three essentials: Warmth, Comfort and Style. I played with mixed prints in my dark floral jumper and bib-front plaid shirt.

(Jumper and boots - vintage, Plaid bib-front shirt - QUIKSILVER WOMEN, wooly tights - Target)

The last perfect morning in Chelsea was inspired by a recent Instant Outfit. As the Bohemian Pilgrim I packed my over-stuffed bags and headed to the subway. The A train pulled away from the 14th Street station and I knew I would miss the corner bagel shop, the walk-up steps of our little lodge, the chaos of the room as we created each days new look and ... everything about the fabulous New York City!

(Dress, Fur Vest, Moccasins, and necklace - Vintage)

WILLOW - Inside Story

Making our way to the second row of the Willow show was a thrill. To be so close to the designs as the paraded down the runway and to catch the details as they passed, was pure perfection.

Once the music faded and the lights came up, we headed backstage to peek inside the world of fashion mayhem. I spoke quickly with Kit Willow...just enough time to tell her she was lovely and took in the view. Models were finding their belongings and headed out the back door, hair stylists were unpinning and make-up artists cleaning up and packing away.

I loved seeing the styling boards for each model with their snapshot and directions on what should be worn with each piece.

Finally, after soaking it all in.. we head out the door and on to our next show...

Show Stopping! Part 2

The last hours of Fashion Week were filled with anticipation... the style elite waiting with bated breath for the Marc Jacobs show to finalize the season. Though we were not part of this crowd, our excitement was just as strong seeing the Willow show on Friday afternoon.

Kit Willow's fall line was beautiful! I loved the choice of fabrics and colors - especially the burnt orange that pounded down the runway.

For me the most inspirational part was the hair style. A little 40's pinup girl mixed with a punk rock vibe. I will definitely be taking cue from the Willow stylists on this one.