With romantic vintage inspired fashions and sumptuous silk materials, local designer label Chanteuse is an in-house favorite. For this reason we are very excited to announce the arrival of a new color way for one of the brand's loveliest styles. The ever popular Ruffled Babydoll Chemise is now available in a dreamy dusty rose and silvery gray combination. Blending elegance with sensuality and mixing in a healthy dose of classic femininity the new hue looks radiant on nearly any complexion.

This beautiful chemise is fashioned from deliciously smooth stretch silk charmeuse, arguably one of the most comfortable and luxurious materials on earth! The flattering design has a low cut bodice artfully sewn with darted cups and vertical stitching, offering both support and elegance to its wearer. Lustrous rose stretch silk embraces your body's curves and the contrasting gray chiffon ruffles along the mini skirt create a stunning frame for your legs. The piece is available in sizes small through large and is a must have for the sophisticated temptress, or makes an exquisite gift for summer brides.

See the listing for more information and to place your order.

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman immortalized the exotic romance of Morocco with their 1942 film Casablanca. Although the film was shot almost entirely in studios it gives a taste of the mysterious beauty and cultural intrigue inherent in the country and its history. The movie is a classic and one cannot think of the city without hearing a faint echo of Bogart's manly mumble, "Here's looking at you, kid."  

 

While it may lack a Hollywood rendition, Tangier is also a stunning Moroccan port city with a history of old-world glamour and an international flair inspiring modern romance. As a result of the city's location and its proximity to Europe (Tangier sits directly across from Spain, separated from the continent by only the narrow waters of the Strait of Gibraltar) the city has long been a place of contention for foreign powers. The unique relationship between Tangier and Europe sets the stage for an exotic and distinct adventure.

An atmosphere of bohemian freedoms and oriental opulence reigned supreme in Tangier from the 20s-30s attracting a wide variety of expats seeking a more extravagant and exciting alternative to the previous libertine mecca of Paris. Years later it became a pit stop for the hippies and rock stars of the 70s including The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. Famous inhabitants include writers Paul Bowles, Tennessee Williams, Jean Genet, and William S. Burroughs; Beatniks Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsberg; painters Henri Maitesse and Eugene Delacroix and designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Tangier served as a kind of muse for its resident artists who were inspired by the exquisite colors and light, the Moorish influence, and the open-ended possibilities offered by this version of the African Riviera. Visitors today can still sense the exotic glamour in the narrow streets, exquisite mansions, and breathtaking coastal views. 

Jack Kerouac, Peter Orlovsky and William S. Burroughs on the beach in Tangier in late March, 1957.  

One of the most famous celebrities to call Tangier home was Barbara Hutton, heiress to the Woolworth fortune. Hutton was the richest woman of her time, inheriting an equivalent of two billion dollars in today's economy by her 21st birthday. Hutton was known to the public as "The Poor Little Rich Girl" because of her seven unsuccessful marriages and the slew of personal and psychological problems she suffered. Despite her wealth and privilege her story is in actuality one of loneliness and scandal. Her list of husbands includes three princes, a count, a baron who was also a tennis pro, an international playboy and Carey Grant, top that Liz Taylor! Not only did the woman collect men, she also had a penchant for fine art and jewels. Her cache included incredible pieces belonging to Marie Antoinette, Empress Engenie of France, the 40-carat Pasha diamond and original Cartier and Faberge designs. Her opulent lifestyle and poor choice of companions led her to near bankruptcy and by her death in 1972 Hutton had a mere $3,500 to her name. Regardless of her personal problems Hutton remains a legend of glamour in her own right. 

Barbara Hutton wearing Cartier at her home in Tangier in 1961.

These days you can still feel the glamour in the air. Whether it's drinking mint tea at the legendary Cafe Hafa, bartering for goods in the colorful bazaars, rocking the kasbah or simply strolling the labyrinth streets, you can easily transport yourself to an earlier time of opulent luxury and exotic romance.

Enough history, let's cut to the retail chase. Shopping in Tangier is an adventure of its own. Make sure to hone your bartering skills before you come, no price is ever fixed and negotiation is a part of the experience. The vendors in the Medina, the old center of the city, have a wide variety of souvenirs for sale ranging from luscious Berber carpets to colorful camel leather goods. However, if you find yourself in Tangier and want to shop like a local get to the Casa Barata. For all you vintage hunters and scavengers who get a thrill out of burrowing for hidden treasure you have met your match. This open air flea market is a wild mix of old and new, anything, literally anything, can be found here be it typical Moroccan brass goods, construction materials, industrial sewing machines, dried fruits and nuts, vibrant caftans or piles of mix-matched shoes whose mates are long gone. It's a site to see!

The one and only Casa Barata. Roll up your sleeves and let the search for treasure begin.

We hope you have enjoyed our travel blogs. The international focus of the past weeks are meant to serve as fresh perspectives of fashion, beauty and glamour that will hopefully inspire your own wardrobes and attitudes. Come next week we will be back in the Bay Area, serving up local dishes to all you fashion plates! 

South Korea is a fascinating country, it juxtaposes the ancient with the modern and all in one breath. This particular combination of past customs and contemporary fashions are perhaps the basis of the county's unique sense of style, blending the old with the new for a look that is distinctly Korean. Some of the culture's most notable fashions hinge on the marked femininity pervading the Korean mode, where traditional ideas of beauty blend with 21st century designs. 

Every society has particular archetypes of beauty defining the particular set of aesthetic ideals its people, in this case its female population, strive for. Historically Western women have yearned for a curvaceous, hour glass figure, flaxen hair, plump lips and a golden tan, modeled after our childhood idol and first beauty icon Barbie. Of course this is a generalization and we are far from advocating that look, no disrespect Barbie, but it's a little over done... 

Koreans have a different ideal. Unlike American women who happily hand over our hard earned dough for suntans that come from a bottle or indoor tanning beds (aka human rotisseries) Asian beauties are hell-bent on maintaining an alabaster complexion. Over there fair is in, whitening creams are a top seller, women of all generations carry parasols on sunny days, hats and visors are standard and gloves are in style in all seasons. The difference is particularly notable for a California girl who spent summers baking on the beach, but it fosters a new appreciation for the "San Francisco Tan," for you out-of-towners this means a complexion a single shade darker than Cate Blanchett....

Korean women in Wonju rock the parasol.

The Eastern penchant for pale allows for some lovely accessories that get overlooked on the other side of the Pacific. The parasol for example. What could be more feminine, or practical, than a lightweight umbrella designed to shade you from the sun whether on the beach or on the street. Take a hint from Scarlett O'Hara, Monet's romantic women, or the Japanese geisha and you'll soon realize the parasol not only serves to protect your head, neck, shoulders and arms from premature age spots and unwanted sun exposure, it also provides an infinite number of gestures with which to flirt and pose on summer afternoons.

There's a parasol to suit every woman's sense of style.

We have a selection of fashionable paper parasols in our Haight Street location. These accessories are perfect for summer's trips to the beach, picnics in the park, or promenades down Main Street. They match nearly every outfit and make a great prop for pin up shoots or your everyday eye games.

Keeping cool in downtown Seoul.

Dainty gloves are also a romantic accessory the Koreans flaunt. They exude an old fashioned daintiness too often overlooked in modern styles. Again, this elegant detail not only keeps your hands soft and smooth, it also lends a delightfully feminine air and can be a loaded weapon in the game of seduction. With some practice the act of removing a glove can be more erotic than baring it all. For inspiration see Rita Hayworth's tantalizing scene in the classic film Gilda.

Rita Hayworth's unforgettable performance in Gilda.

We have a few pair of vintage crochet gloves in stock available exclusively in our shop. These ivory lovelies are a simple way to refresh your summer wardrobe, adding instant glamour when paired with a party dress for the season's outdoor weddings and garden soirees.

The many different concepts of what is beautiful or perfect go to show that no ultimate ideal really exists. Its up to each of us to fashion together our own definition of beauty and find ways to express our unique loveliness as we see fit.

Our own stunning vintage crochet gloves can be seen below, visit us at 1641 Haight St in San Francisco to see them in person. Or take a look at our selection of gloves for other styles available online.