spring 2016 – calivintage

fashion, spring 2016

lotfi bags

July 20, 2016 1 Comment

it’s crazy to think that summer is already winding down, but here in southern california, it kinda doesn’t end? so hopefully you don’t mind me sharing a few more spring collections before the season is over. even though lotfi handbags have been around since 2011, i only just recently learned about this cool california-based brand. it was started by designer sharareh lotfi shortler after the birth of her daughter because she was looking for something minimal and un-fussy that was practical without being boring. this is something that i can personally relate to 100%, so you know the designs are right up my alley. all of her spring 2016 bags are made with sturdy organic cotton canvas and robe, lending a subtle nautical vibe without being too literal. and being a san francisco based company, it’s great to know that all of the designs are also produced right here in california.

shop lotfi bags

fashion, spring 2016

pansy co

June 22, 2016 2 Comments

i don’t know if it’s just me, but it feels like i am forever on the hunt for the perfect pair of undies. i’ve always preferred a high rise style, and i particularly like wearing them under breezy dresses. but they’re not always easy to find, especially if you’re looking for something made in the usa out of organic cotton. enter pansy co. this bay area-based brand makes all of their undies in san leandro out of organic cotton that has been grown and milled in south carolina. from there, the underwear is dyed in novato, ca. before it makes it’s way to your doorstep. they have a simple selection of underwear, from a classic high rise to a low rise and a cute little bralette. but it’s the colors that really get get me! they have the most beautiful shades of apricot and pale pink and rust. not colors you can ordinarily find when you head to the department store.

shop pansy co.

fashion, spring 2016

elizabeth suzann spring 2016

June 17, 2016 3 Comments

the new elizabeth suzann spring 2016 lookbook is out and it is so good. if you’re looking to build a versatile wardrobe with clothes that can be worn during any season and mixed and matched in countless ways, then look no further than elizabeth suzann. she has figured out the art of dressing with easy pieces in quality textiles like silk, linen, and cotton. in addition to a signature collection filled with the best basics, she has been hitting it out of the park with her seasonal collections. on spring, she says:

“I’ve never been a warm weather person. I’ve written before about how I prefer fall and winter – I’m uncomfortable with my skin exposed, I am much more at home swathed and wrapped in protective layers. And yet, despite all that, my most fond memories are of times spent in the sun and heat. It seems, in my mind, that there is simply more real living to be done in the bright, warm, light of day. How can I make myself, and other women like me, feel at home in their own skin and able to freely enjoy the incredible experiences these warm seasons have to offer? What are we lacking, what have I longed to dress in on those days I remember so fondly?”

she was heavily inspired by shapes for the season. from the triangular shape of the elodie work belt to the rectangular shape of the caftan to the spherical form of the olina jumpsuit. i own some of her clothes and i can attest to the fact that each piece drapes perfectly on the body giving off the air of such minimal effort that it feels more like a second skin.

shop elizabeth suzann.

fashion, spring 2016

caitlin she fall 2016

June 14, 2016 1 Comment

i have to admit that after blogging for all of these years (eight, to be exact), i don’t always get that pure, unadulterated excitement about collections as i once did… but when i got an email from caitlin shearer announcing her new fall 2016 (southern hemisphere) collection, it really brought me back! i have been a fan of hers since my very early blogging days, but at some point in the last couple of years, i kinda lost track of what she was up to. i have always loved her illustrations, and still occasionally regret that i never bought one of the first beautiful dresses she made with her signature hand-illustrated prints! so yes, i basically died and went to heaven when i saw this collection titled, “the caitlin she school of arts & crafts.” my style has veered into all of these very simple basics as of late, but looking through these images i am suddenly questioning everything in my wardrobe and asking myself why i don’t have a pink pottery printed jacket or an epic wide leg jumpsuit covered in naked ladies! not even remotely kidding. everything is just so so good that i can’t get over it. if you aren’t familiar with her work, caitlin shearer is a melbourne-based illustrator, seamstress, curator, and clothing and textile designer. and this latest body of work is definitely my favorite to date! i’m sharing some of my favorites, but you really need to head over to the site to see everything, including a selection of awesome printed t-shirts and prints.

shop caitlin she!

photographed by georgia blackie and modeled by kim glaser

fashion, spring 2016

reif haus spring 2016

June 12, 2016 1 Comment

as we move into the warmer summer months, i’m really finding myself drawn to the light colors and breezy silhouettes in the reifhaus spring 2016 collection. this minimalist, modern womenswear brand is based in Portland, OR, and spring collection was inspired by “the female artists of the bauhaus movement. a nod to the talented women designers such as anni albers, gunta stÁ¶lzl, and alma buscher, who made a substantial and often overlooked impact to the bauhaus movement and design as we know it today. their simplistic approach to design and color, and texture influenced the latest collection of versatile, modern womenswear.” all of the designs are made in cotton and linen blends with interesting and unexpected details, while still maintaining a very easy, laid back quality that is anything but fussy. i really like the subtle tan and white stripes, and the unexpected berry blue. and i really like the layering possibilities that come with long slits and cut-out panels. i’ve shared a few of my favorite photos, but you really have to head over to the site to see the full collection!

shop reifhaus.

photographed in los angeles by carissa gallo, modeled by ballerina katherine cowgill of m model management.

fashion, spring 2016

lauren winter spring 2016

June 2, 2016 4 Comments

i know that spring is rapidly winding down, but i’m still playing catch up with all of my favorite collection since edie was born! one favorite that i would still love to wear this summer is lauren winter. the spring 2016 collection is full of easy pieces in light denim, indigo linen, and bold brick red. the fabrics are of high quality with each garment hand-constructed right in portland, oregon. in addition to having a wonderful eye for design, lauren winter is dedicated to creating clothes that are sustainable and fair trade. even the packaging is 100% recycled. it’s exactly the company that i am more than happy to put my money behind, and of course, it doesn’t hurt that everything is so perfectly wearable regardless of the season!

shop lauren winter!

fashion, spring 2016

abacÁ¡ shop

May 30, 2016 No Comments

when it comes to anything woven, lately it seems that i can’t have enough! so when i came across abacÁ¡, i was instantly in love. the manila-based brand offers a small selection of woven backpacks, purses, and totes alongside a few select accessories and home wares. each bag is traditionally handwoven using abacÁ¡, a very strong natural fiber made from banana leaves native to the phillipines, which is highly durable, flexible and resistant to salt water damage. obviously, the bags are beautiful, but i also love that their mission is to support communities and preserve traditional craft. all purchases contribute to a sustainable livelihood for weavers in southern luzon, philippines with a portion of proceeds going to right start foundation, a non-profit, non-government organization for underprivileged filipino children.

shop abacÁ¡.

fashion, spring 2016

jane sews slow fashion

May 26, 2016 1 Comment

as time goes by, my style has seen a lot of subtle change. one major focus for me in more recent years has been a movement away from fast fashion, with a focus on timeless, understated pieces that can be worn any time of year, regardless of the trends. so of course, the new jane sews slow fashion lookbook is right down my alley. the collection is crafted from natural fabrics, like pure linens and super soft tencel. i love the pared-down aesthetic with lots of relaxed pieces that can be layered in any number of ways or worn simply with a few key accessories.

if you’re not familiar with the brand, jane sews is an independent clothing and footwear brand based in durban, south africa. each collection is designed in-house by their small team of makers, and they do not outsource or mass produce any of their products. the focus is on quality and classic design translated into key pieces that you can build your wardrobe around, with everything made from quality materials and designed with great care.

photographed by rebecca meissner
worn by monique irma schreiber and philippa godson
styled by amy venter

fashion, spring 2016

clare v. spring 2016

May 16, 2016 1 Comment

when it comes to handbags, clare v is definitely one of my favorite designers. every season, she comes out with a fresh crop of minimal handbags that are never short on style. for spring, she introduced plenty of her signature french-inspiration alongside mini versions of some of her classic handbags, along with a good dose of fun prints and interesting textures. my favorite is probably the round sisal alice bag. it seems like the perfect upgrade from my smaller round canteen bags and simple sisal totes from seasons past. and i am always smitten by the fun designs on her simple flat clutches.

fashion, spring 2016

wol hide spring 2016

April 22, 2016 4 Comments

the spring season is in full swing and i am so ready to start wearing regular clothes again. i cleared out my closet and lined up all of my favorites, just waiting to throw on once this baby is born (in three days, might i add)! among the items that i’m really excited to wear are my new a-tank and easy pant from philadelphia-based designer wol hide. the collection was started in 2014 by knitwear designer leah d’ambrosio with a focus on clean, soft knits in relaxed silhouettes. which is pretty much exactly what i need right now. the a-tank is 100% cotton, but is somehow the softest knit i have ever touched. and while the pants are jersey, the cotton and hemp blend is so fine that i almost thought they were a woven. and of course, everything is hand made in the usa with all of the sweaters hand loomed right in philadelphia.