 | | | A vintage ensemble from Collector's Choice Antiques Photos Moya Stone
| | | | | | It was a grand time for all who attended the fall fashion show and tea hosted last month by Collector's Choice Antiques in Lafayette. The show was styled by staff member J.B. Kaye and featured select pieces from the shop's vintage clothing collection including cocktail dresses, day dresses and suits. Spanning the decades from the early 1900s through the 1980s, many of the ensembles would be just the thing for the upcoming holiday season. Need a dress for the evening office party? A '60s lace gown would be lovely. Got a date for New Year's Eve? An '80s sequin dress will show you off in unique chic.
Speaking of celebrations, mark your calendars for Collector's Choice Antiques' annual holiday open house at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at 3574 Mt. Diablo Blvd. Refreshments will be served and I'm told there's a special surprise in the form of tap-dancing Christmas trees. Sounds like a stylin' blast to me.
Stylin' on the Television
Way to go Orinda! Our own town was recently featured on "Bay Area Drop In," a local cable television show that highlights the history, lifestyle, real estate and design of various Bay Area locations. For the Orinda episode the show's style expert, Michelle Moquin, dressed the cast in autumnal colors with an emphasis on green. "From moss and emerald to shades of teal, green is the hot color trending for fall," says Moquin. Now in its fourth season, "Bay Area Drop In" can be viewed Saturdays at 6:30 p.m. on KTSF channel 26 or cable channel 8. All past episodes are available on the show's website: http://bayareadropin.com.
Stylin' Stocking Stuffers
Yes that's right, the holidays are fast approaching and Eliza Jamkochian from Glamorous Boutique in Lafayette has been busily stocking fashionable gifts for under $50. Top on the list is the infinity silk scarf, which continues to be a best seller from tweens to great grandmas. Statement necklaces, earrings, and bracelets are also popular choices for the fashionable on your list. Eliza says brooches are a particularly hot item this season. "Also a statement piece," she explains, "a brooch can go on coats, Pashminas, hats, tanks, even belts." She suggests popping a simple cocktail dress by placing a sparkly brooch on the shoulder or someplace unexpected like the hip. Can't go wrong with a Pashmina shawl and Glamorous Boutique has some luscious autumn shades. My personal favorite gift idea is the shoe clip. A popular accessory in the 1930s and '40s, the shoe clip is back to help dress up all our shoe choices from flats to pumps. Glamorous Boutique stocks several motifs - leather bows, silk flowers, and beads.
Stylin' Shopping
I am so impressed that Moraga is home to a fashion design studio. Right in our own neighborhood Mycra Pac designs stylish outerwear for women and manufactures locally in Oakland. Located in the Rheem Valley Shopping Center, the staff at Mycra Pac is currently gearing up for their semi-annual sale set for Wednesday, Dec. 4, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Thursday through Monday, Dec. 5-9, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. On offer will be fall 2013 raincoats, winter coats and accessories, all 60 percent off wholesale prices and ... the sales tax is on them. What a holiday gift to the community and just in time for the cold and rainy season.
Stylin' Fieldtrip
With the holidays comes the opportunity to spend time in the kitchen baking and preparing special family meals. Now I for one like to continue to look stylish while not ruining my clothes with spatters of gravy or cake batter. So, I own and sport an array of aprons. One was handmade by a friend and quite a few my mother passed along to me announcing she was no longer going to be the "family cook." I wear them all and have become quite fond of aprons in general.
The Clayton Historical Society currently has an exhibit called Shakers and Bakers which features aprons from the collections of Clayton Historical Society members and other local residents. (Perhaps one of the Lamorinda Historical Societies might do something similar.) The aprons are nicely displayed on mannequins and hung around the Society's museum, which is located in the old house belonging to the town's founder, Joel Clayton.
Examples of all the various apron styles from the Pinafore in the 1900s to the Cobbler of the 1960s are shown as well as men's working aprons, apron patterns, and lots of photos. Many are handmade with sweet detailing proving that a lady likes to be stylin' even in the kitchen.
Shakers and Bakers runs now through Dec. 29 at the Clayton Historical Society, 6101 Main St. in Clayton. Open Wednesdays and Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. Admission is free. This could be a fun and informative outing for the kids during winter break.
Here's wishing one and all a happy holiday season and don't forget to go forth in style.
Moya Stone is a local fashion writer and blogger at www.overdressedforlife.com.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA