Babylon Blog

  many years ago I lived in Los Angeles and I remember having a few lava rock lady sightings and it would make my day, I was about to create a post about her iconic timeless style, and stumbled upon this post from super rad now...so glad to know she is still around workin' her look. ps, we think she is totally on trend this fall in this witchy velvet number...

you may already be aware that we are big fans of the seventies and early eighties jamaican roots, reggae and dancehall music. tonight we are heading out to see Black Uhuru play live in Portland, OR at the star theater. here's a look at some of our favorite looks from their most famous lineup featuring Ducky Simpson, Puma Jones and Mykal Rose. they were one of the most stylish reggae groups from that era. enjoy!

hey everyone, just a heads up we will be down at portland flea once again next sunday with more fresh vintage finds! you can find us there every third sunday. location is inside union/pine and on the street outside at grand & pine (next to andy & bax). this is a great flea market with an eclectic range of vendors and vintage goods. we will be bringing some halloween costume ideas this week along with tons of new and (cheap) stuff! here are some pics from the pdx flea...  yep - there's even a photographer there who takes old timey tin-type photos... a great place to find something for everyone on your holiday shopping list! hope to see ya there* xo, HB *our brick and mortar location at 4512 ne sandy boulevard in hollywood is closed monthly on the third sunday ;-)

i recently stumbled upon this trailer for upcoming documentary - Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CvE0PPW9wk&w=560&h=315] Diana Vreeland (1903-1989) was the 20th Century’s greatest arbiter of style, an exotic and vibrant character who, during her fifty-year reign as the “Empress of Fashion,” dazzled the world with her unique vision of style high and low. She launched Twiggy, advised Jackie O, and coined some of fashion’s most eloquent proverbs such as “the bikini is the biggest thing since the atom bomb.” She lived a vibrant and remarkable life, and as the star performer in her own drama, Diana began writing the script for it at an early age. She was the fashion editor of Harper’s Bazaar where she worked for twenty-five years before becoming editor-in-chief of Vogue, followed by a remarkable stint at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute, where she helped popularize its historical collections. DIANA VREELAND: THE EYE HAS TO TRAVEL is an intimate portrait and a vibrant celebration of one of the most influential women of the twentieth century, an enduring icon who has had a strong influence on the course of fashion, beauty, publishing and culture. Along the way, the story of Vreeland illustrates the evolution of women into roles of power and prominence throughout the 20th century, and travels through some of the century’s greatest historical and cultural eras, including Paris’ Belle Epoque, New York in the roaring twenties, and London in the swinging sixties. It also spans such historical events as the great wars, the flights of Lindbergh, the romance of Wallis and Windsor, the Kennedy inauguration, and the freewheeling spirit of the 1960’s youthquake, and the advent of countless fashion revolutions from the bikini to the blue jean. (copied from here) i read her biography years ago - what a cool intriguing creative life she lived...i haven't found any showtimes of the movie yet here in portland, oregon....but as soon as i find out when/where it's playing i will be sure to post...i'm dying to see it myself (it's now playing - as of 10/20/12) in the meantime here are a few pic of her legendary style: photo by: Horst P Horst a look from one of the many images she created she was also known for her one liners. here are a few: - The only real elegance is in the mind; If you've got that, the rest really comes from it. - What do I think about the way most people dress? Most people are not something one thinks about. - Pink is the navy blue of India. - Blue jeans are the most beautiful things since gondola - I always wear my sweater back to front. It is much more flattering. - Too much good taste can be boring. - (Balenciaga) did the most delicious evening clothes. Clothes aren't delicious anymore. - People who eat white bread have no dreams. what's not to love? xo, hb Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel now playing at the regal fox tower in down town portland oregon ‎12:25‎ - ‎2:25‎ - ‎4:50‎ - ‎7:00‎ - ‎9:40pm‎

many a fine shoe have passed through our little shop, and as many of you know, shoes are my passion (i occaisionally host popups where footwear is the main attraction) i've always been a fan of unique footwear and was thrilled by the resurgence of platforms a few years back...and they seem to be here to stay. maybe they aren't for everyone, and not everyone knows how to rock them, but they are beautiful as an object at that.   above: ferragamo recently re-produced this style originally conceived in 1938 above: november 10, 1944 - carmen miranda poses with her large collection of wedges above: twiggy posing in biba's kensington store, 1971 looks featured on whowhatwear below