When it comes to fashion inspiration, sometimes I find the best ideas not by flipping through a magazine, but by looking to the past. There’s a reason they called Old Hollywood fashion timeless, it’s because the styles and silhouettes are classic. While I do love vintage, no one wants to look like they stepped out of a Halloween costume store or their grandmother’s closet. It’s all about putting your own twist on vintage styles to make it modern. Recently I watched a film with one of my favorite actresses of all time and well, personal role model, and original sass-giver-outer, Katharine Hepburn.
While Hepburn was famous for her killer pants, and masculine style, in the movie, The Philadelphia Story, she gets to dance about in gowns while the leading men fight for her affections. One of my favorite outfits from the film, was an elegant twist-front dress she basically wears as a swimsuit cover-up. I can’t say I’m quite as glamorous at the beach, but she looks like a Grecian goddess in white robe. This type of knot-front draping has been popping up all over the place in different interpretations. The draping and style make a flattering cut for anyone since gives you the appearance of a small waistline and the extra twisted fabric gives you some breathing room in the front since it’s usually made from stretchy soft jersey fabric and not body-hugging satin.
This knot-front dress by Akiko is a great modern twist on Hepburn’s style. Obviously it’s showing off a lot more skin, but hey this ain’t 1940 anymore. I also love the vibrant color and pleating on the bottom for even more vintage influence. This is definitely a more cocktail-friendly version, but you don’t want to go too long in length or else people might ask if you you’ll be attending a prom theme party later that evening.
For something a little less flashy but with the same attention-grabbing twist, this knot dress by Nanette Lepore is a virtual vertigo to the eye. I never thought I could even dream to afford Lepore, but her new laid-back line, Oonagh, is chocked full of budget-friendly and no less fashion forward pieces. The pattern on the dress is really interesting and the colors are muted so as not to be too loud. And it’s a great alternative if you don’t want show off so much skin. I guess you could do this one for day and the turquoise one for night. After all, if Ms. Hepburn can undergo multiple costume changes in one day, why can’t you?























