Now that it’s 2010, in terms of fashion and clothing speak, the 1990s are officially vintage. Contemporaneously in the fashion timeline came something just as cozy as the weathered flannels and corduroys that now are part of the end-of-the century fashion fabric.The first half of the last decade had a fling with a material decidedly more plush and feminine. Ladies and gentlemen, I feel the next fashion must-download will be Crushed Velvet 2.0.
Last weekend I caught myself scouring eBay for such gems, such as this hunter green velvet dress once upon a time found on the racks of a Contempo Casuals near you.
Yet the wonders of velvet are also near you in the here and now. Of course, American Apparel, in Williamsburg at Berry and N. 6th, currently has this bod-con velvet number on offer for $42. But wait, there’s more.
Should the winds find you not wanting to schlep out of a one-block radius of the Bedford L station, the Salvation Army at Bedford and N. 7th, had a few great velvet items to keep you feeling all fuzzy—and likely bona fide 90s holdovers, at that.
Just past the entryway into the women’s section in the back of the store was this amber-colored velveteen collared shirt, going for $5.99. Given its Seattle SubPop-esque styling, perhaps this shirt is 1991 fashion on a hanger
On the next rack: this $3.99 square neck long-sleeve shirt. With a sleek black skirt and long, colored scarf, this shirt offers an easy way to work crushed velvet into the daily style repertoire.
The dress rack had this $8.99 find: a plus-size purple boat-neck crushed velvet dress. Some boots would help make this into an easy segue into 2010.
Or just jump on in and embrace the look, as does this purple velvet lover at the Metropolitan/Grand G train stop.
rutha
January 14, 2010
In the very early 80′s crushed velvet was the rave in Jerusalem and became known in Israel as ” The Jerusalem style”. I visited Israel at that time (in my mid twenties)and was thrilled with how beautiful the women looked in their crushed velvet clothes. I remember I purchased a gorgeous purple velvet shirt from the Jaffa market which I wore for years and an absolutely spectacular silvery-lilac velvet skirt from a market in Jerusalem, which I kept for decades, wearing it only on special occasions. I reluctantly donated it to the Salvation Army Thrift store in Greenpoint about 3-4 years ago after a routine closet cleanout. Perhaps one of you now has it – that would be fanastic.