Need Now: Maison Martin Margiela Ligne 1 Le Smoking

Menswear-inspired dressing is nothing new, but you need only look to the Pre-Fall 2014 collections to see that deconstructed (and amply slouched) suiting is on the rise for the next season. The blazer is a timeless essential; now with stern tailoring, an intriguing mix of juxtaposing textures, and a decidedly non-nonsense vibe, it feels right-on right about now.

The Piece: (above) Maison Martin Margiela's Ligne 1 single-button blazer, featuring softly curved lapels, with the top portion constructed of lightweight wool and bottom half with a satin-sheen finish. Available now for $375.

The Contemporaries: (from left) 3.1 Phillip Lim, Michael Kors, and Preen Pre-Fall 2014 collection looks

The Inspiration: Stephanie Seymour on the cover of W Magazine, circa 2000, looking strong, sexy, and sensually dominant

The Beauty Pairing: Whether you opt for a flash of bra underneath, a la early-'90s Madonna in Gaultier, or get androgynous with a pair of wide-left trousers, slicked back hair is the way to go. Don't be afraid to break out the hair gel. Try Kiehl's Strong Hold Styling Gel ($15).

Inspiration: D&G's Odd Couple, 1999

This late 90's ad campaign for Dolce & Gabbana's D&G line surely evokes more cool than the precise cinematic homages the label has been presenting as of late.

Flashback Friday: Kurt Cobain, Retro Sunnies

Inspiration: 90's Self Styled Icons

While we're digging all of the sober & sleek minimal minded styles showing face on our favorite runways, we'll never tire of admiring the self stylings of some of our top 90's icons. Here's looking at you Chloe Sevingy and Lady Miss Kier.

Vintage Advantage: Giovanna Battaglia at Cannes

Fashion editor and street style photog favorite Giovanna Battaglia made the most surprising red carpet appearances at last week's 64th Annual Cannes Film Festival wearing vintage from two of our favorite labels, Stephen Sprouse and Gianni Versace. Knowing that she understands and appreciates the dresses histories and is able to translate their provocativeness in an alluring and subtle way makes her a big winner in our books. As much as they may have been in the past, this time around we don't think these were chosen based on sex appeal alone, this time it was about recognizing powerful design.

Stephen Sprouse(above), and 1992 Gianni Versace(below)

Smart Buy: 90's Gianni Versace Cap Sleeve Dress

Our latest Smart Buy, this 90's era Gianni Versace dress, not only boasts the kind of forever-chic timelessness you'd expect from an L-B-D, but also serves as a wonderful reminder of the easy sex appeal Versace was infamous for conjuring up. Pair it with sumptuous furs & layers come fall or let its simplicity shine amongst spring's omnipresent energizing neon accessories.
90's Gianni Versace Cap Sleeve L-B-D-$268

Accessory of the Week: Moschino Bucket Bag

This classic bucket bag from Moschino, our latest Accessory of the Week, packs an energetic punch with its bold hue and signature brass hardware.

Moschino Drawstring Bucket Bag-$330

Before Grunge Was Commodified

There was this, the 3rd summer of love issue of the Face (July 1990), then the go-to mag for me and my friends for what was next. Corinne Day shot 16 year old Kate Moss in this seminal spread that really honestly changed the way I felt about fashion then, disarmed me in a way that felt off and good and human. It also represented the way my friends and I were already dressing. It was accessible and real, messy, plain and anti-glamour.

Day's pared down, documentary style pioneered the unfortunately monikered "grunge,"an aesthetic that came to define much of nineties fashion. That's when glamazon supers went out of vogue and insouciant flat chested teenagers were the shit. The impact this magazine editorial had on the industry cant be understated. It changed the way media imagined fashion and how the modeling industry defined beauty. I know it changed and inspired me, which is corny but there you go, I was a grunge kid. R.I.P Corinne Day.

V LOVE vintage Helmut Lang Adverts

Helmut Lang 1998 w Robert Mapplethorpe's American Flag, 1977

Spring 1992 Advert, photographer unknown

Spring 1995 photographed by David Sims

The adverts Helmut Lang did in the late 90's and early oughties always captivated us, still do. They were (and remain) anti-obvious, brilliant, slightly tongue in cheek non-sequiturs in a sea of straight forward fashion poses. Art in a sea of commerce.

Accessory of the Week: 90's Paloma Picasso Belt

Just like the ubiquitous gold Moschino belts that were prominent in the early 90's, our latest Accessory of the Week, this signature Paloma Picasso OXO belt, has once again been spotted on all the cool girls in the know.

90's Paloma Picasso OXO Signature Belt-$118

Accessory of the Week: 90's Romeo Gigli Belt

Our latest Accessory of the Week, this iridescent green cummerbund belt, hails from the early 90's and comes from one of the era's most influential figures, the often over looked Romeo Gigli. Let it highlight your figure over breezy summer dresses or use it to add humor to a classic men's inspired suit.

90's Romeo Gigli Cummerbund Belt Piece-$96

Vnyc Featured on Fader: "The Original 90's Dream"

"VagaBond NYC’s Vintage Gianni Versace Is The Original ’90s Dream"-as featured on Fader.com
-story Alex Frank

"Lately, we’ve been pleased to notice a number of labels showing clothes inspired by Gianni Versace in his silky sexy ’90s heyday. It seems like the time is right for bold prints, peacock colors and shapes that are sporty and relaxed but still somehow look impossibly fancy ($$$!!!). VagaBond NYC has gone straight to the museboard source and found fantastic vintage pieces from Gianni Versace’s reign, and the throwback results are as current as ever."

Smart Buy: 90's Versace Leather Car Coat

With Phoebe Philo's blockbuster debut collection for Parisian label Celine full of confident minimalism and clean, fuss-free uses of leather, our latest Smart Buy, this 90's era Gianni Versace fitted matte leather car coat, happens to hit many of Philo's movements on the dot, while it's bold yet soothing colorway will set you apart from all of the winter blacks out & about.

90's Gianni Versace Leather Car Coat-$548

Smart Buy: 90's Seductive Sheer Blouse

While it may be in mode and hail from our favorite decade of fashion, the 90's, our latest Smart Buy, this minimal sheer black blouse, is about as classic as Dior's New Look. Over a lace bustier its about as screen siren as you can get, while under say a v-neck sweater, it becomes a fantastic way to show off your decolletage. A beach cover-up, a summer staple, a statement making ultra-versatile wardrobe enhancer, a year-round layering essential, how smart of a buy is that for only $86?


90's Minimal Sheer Black Blouse-$86

Comme Des Garcons Brutal & Inexcusable 1992

Just as fashion videos have begun to take importance, we've unearthed this funny gem from Comme des Garcons circa 1992. Even though it's dated in it's appeal, we'd still wear all of those clothes.

Accessory of the Week: 90's Helmut Lang Gilet

Our latest Accessory of the Week comes to you from the genius of Helmut Lang with this mid-90's metallic gold lame layering device that was so far ahead of it's time that even over a decade later its still down-right too-cool. Its basically a cropped tank that gives any look a strong, urban warrior effect that's cool and collected thanks to its minimal appeal yet decadent fabrication.


90's Helmut Lang Metallic Gold Lame Layering Piece-$158

Smart Buy: 90's Norma Kamali Pearl Blazer

With our incessant ranting on the need for cleaner, more sober palette cleansers, we were more than floored by Phoebe Philo's smart collection for Celine S/S 2010 and equally pleased to see some of our other favorites from Stella McCartney to Chloe also propose practical yet sophisticated offerings that had undertones of one our favorite times, Minimalism. And with that recharged enthusiasm comes our latest Smart Buy, this chic 90's era Norma Kamali blazer that's been given a crisp treatment thanks to Kamali's signature "paper" technique. With its lustrous pearl hue, classic shape, and simple spare composition, we think this is one of the sharpest buys you can make at the moment. Consider it a smart alternative to the classic black blazer for work and think of how smart it will look with everything from nautical navy wide-leg trousers to next season's must-have leather shorts.


90's Norma Kamali Pearl "Paper" Silk Blazer-$188

Smart Buy: Mid 90's Gucci Jersey Column Dress

With the state of the world today, fashion's recent forays into maximalism sound out of the question at the moment, and we find that now more than ever is the time for understated, refined and quietly sophisticated pieces. So long Balmania, bye-bye ethnic prints & new rave and all of the other over-designed accoutrements that came with those heavy-on-the-eye trends. Take our latest Smart Buy for instance, this mid-90's white fluid GUCCI jersey column dress from one of Tom Ford's earlier blockbuster collections for the house, we find it to be a perfect example of beauty in it's purest form.

We like to think of it as a palette cleansing essential, where the true beauty of this piece is reduced to the simple impact of shape and silhouette, giving it that pure, therapeutic ease that we find necessary for today. And since it is so simple while being quietly dramatic, think of how many ways you can wear it year-round! After all, streamlining your look with this languid length & sinuous silhouette sounds like a rather refreshing way to approach the end of this decade.
Mid 90's White Gucci Jersey Column Dress-$294

Grecian Draping: Resort 2010/Versace 1995

It's no surprise given the state of the economy that over the past few season's resort has become a very important collection for designer's as it highlights their statements in a vision that is more clear & concise than runway presentations. And of course we at Vnyc like to look at what's going on in fashion to fuel our own vintage buys to elicit a contemporary feeling.

Looking at Michael Kors pragmatic Resort Collection for 2010 instantly reminded us of one of our favorite new buys, this mid 90's lilac Grecian draped GIANNI VERSACE skirt. Kors used similar jersey draping to full urban effect while evoking the disco-fied glory days of the 70's, while Versace made his romantic draped vision boldly feminine. We love Versace's insightful play on what you could call a more sophisticated sarong and on a breezy day vacationing, what sounds better than an ultra-packable, fuss-free, fluid option in such a soothing palette?

90's Gianni Versace Lilac Grecian Skirt-$188

P.S: Take note of Kor's savvy styling trick, the heavy military influenced belt is a great counter point for such fluid jersey. It instantly adds weight and more substantial focus for the eye.


Looks from Michael Kors 2010 Resort Collection

Hang Tough: 90's Gianni Versace Studded Blazer

Taken from the punk era, studs & grommets have made an indelible impact on fashion over the past decade,with every designer that's keen on keeping-up with what's cool plastering them all over their creations. From Balmain to BeBe, it's one of those trends that one could call a constant now, and with the urban warrior trend continually gaining momentum, it makes total sense. The key trick with studded hardware is to keep it sophisticated, keep it subtle and mix it up with items that are substantially luxe, yet low-key. Take this crazy-collectible sharp-shouldered black crepe boyfriend blazer from the early 90's by mad-maximalist GIANNI VERSACE that to us, looks so contemporary even almost 20 years after its production. Consider the streamlined shape, those structured power shoulders, and those genius ultra-luxe punk brushed Medusa pyramid studs on the cuffs and pocket flaps, it's not punk gone uptown, instead one could almost call it punk does minimalism.


90's GIANNI VERSACE Pyramid Stud Blazer-$1,198