MONTANA IS BACK

When I was a little boy growing up in Beverly Hills (cue the harp), there was a corner on Rodeo Drive and Little Santa Monica Blvd that always had a certain awe to me.  In the 1980s it was home to the Claude Montana boutique and I actually worked there on occasion since it was owned by legendary retailer Theodore Fink.  The Montana boutique may not be there anymore, but it seems like that Rodeo Drive corner has been terrible luck for almost every retailer since!  The last one to bite the dust was Missoni, but currently it serves as a location for the Saint Laurent temporary store.  I've been thinking a lot about Montana since he more or less disappeared from the fashion landscape UNTIL two weeks ago in Paris when he mysteriously returned to design contributing three Haute Couture looks to Eric Tibusch's runway show.  I wasn't familiar with Tibusch, but the fact he lured Montana out of retirement is no small achievement.  Montana told the press that he would be back!  Well, speaking of back, this Montana chocolate jersey gown has a delicious back that criss-crosses and drapes across the derriere.  It is hardly typical of Montana's notorious epic 80s shoulder pad looks, but all the more reason why I like it:  it's not obvious.  As for brown, frankly, I have had issues about this color in the past, but there was a lot of brown on the Couture runways from Dior and especially Valentino.  The thing with brown is you need to be extra chic and confident.  Attributes which I think a "Decades Girl" understands perfectly well.  Zanotti sandals.  Statement cuff.  Tracy Anderson arms.  Your dress.

-Cameron

                                                       

Claude Montana brown tank-top jersey gown, c. 1980's. Modern size 4 to 6. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing.

FEELING VERY 80S

So what do you guys think of the Paris collection so far?  I loved what Raf did for Dior.  Woke up at 5 am to watch the show via my friends on Instagram,  I think Balenciaga looked super fresh.  Very interesting proportions and completely 21st century.  Balmain sort of scared me, but I do love all the belts.  Speaking of belts, how about these belts wrapped around one of our epic shouldered vintage Alaia or YSL jackets to create your take on Olivier Rousteing's take on the big shouldered late 1980s?  These belts are from the decade where I first  found my love of fashion so I hope you can fall in love and get wrapped up in Claude Montana and Jean Claude Jirtois who knew their way around a shoulder pad and certainly around a waist, too. Go for an original and trust me these belts will cost 1/10 of the Balmain ones!  I wish the Jitrois ones were in my size.  The buckle is so super-sized and means business!

-Cameron

Claude Montana black leather with metal and leather string detail, measured 30 in. c. 1980's.
Claude Montana black leather with stitching detail and circle buckle, measured 35in. c. 1980's. 
Jean-Claude Jitrois dark green lizard with gold buckle, marked size 70, measured 31 in.  
c. 1980's.
Jean-Claude Jitrois black lizard with gold buckle, marked size 75, measured 33in. c. 1980's.

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-1960. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing.

GOING GAGA FOR GAGA

Ok, ok . . . it's not like we're suggesting that you run out and buy a dress made out of meat or anything like that.

But, with Valentine's Day right around the corner, it doesn't hurt to snag a play or two out of Lady Gaga's fashion diaries. And again, it's not like we're suggesting that you rock a leather bathing suit to dinner at Gjelina either. But, you've got to admit Gaga's got something. After all, Thierry Mugler did tap mini-Madge to strut her stuff down his runway and if Mugler's on your team, then we're betting our bottom dollar on ya.

Though we can't quite put our finger on what we love so much about Gaga--maybe it's her fearless fashion sense or the way that she favors mostly black body-con clothing or maybe it's the way she injects humor into her sartorial sensibility--all we're saying is, why not rock a little Leger number or a fab Ferre frock on February 14th and bring the sexy back?

Wanna get Gaga's look? Here's a sample of pieces we pulled that evoke the precocious pop star.

Vintage Gianfranco Ferre black knit dress with golden metal bar cuffs.

Vintage Claude Montana asymmetrical black skirt with mesh hem.

Raphael Young black suede and gold crackle leather platform boots.

Valentino black leather rosette handbag.

Jump!

Everybody has one of those days when you just can't seem to put an outfit together. In said case there are one of two options,

A) Sport lovely Idaho spud potato sack and hope that people think your just being edgy.

or

B) Slip into a fabulous Claude Montana jumpsuit and be chic n' sleek!

This jumpsuit has two pockets and it zips down the front in case you begin to feel a bit frisky as the night progresses. The seam detailing and strong shoulder that are so indicative of monsieur Montana make this black wool jumpsuit an easy addition to any closet.

Claude Montana black wool jumpsuit, c.1980's. Marked size 40, Contemporary size 4-6. SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting, so may offer you a high level of personal service.

TWIST AND SHOUT

If you twist in this dress, expect someone to shout when they get a load of the sexy back that is revealed. An early Claude Montana design of cherry viscose, the era-appropriate strong shoulders (well this is from the early 1980s) and demure front side, fool an admirer into thinking this dress is modest. The back reveals fascinating criss-cross asymmetric straps and a how-low-can-you-go plunge back that demands a yoga-practicing wearer. The skirt features an unusual fishtail design that flairs both in the front and the back. The seaming of the dress is quite special, too, but sadly it doesn't show up well in the photos. A wonderful design piece that belies convention and goes from demure to devilish with one twist.

Claude Montana cherry viscose criss-cross back evening dress, c. early 1980s. Contemporary size 6 SOLD

For additional information, please email blog@decadesinc.com or call + 1 323 655-0223. You may also visit us in person at Decades 8214 1/2 Melrose Avenue (2nd Floor) at Harper Avenue in Los Angeles, California. Please reference the description above, if calling or emailing. For email requests, kindly include your full name and phone number plus City, State, and Country from which you are contacting.