Don't forget your casserole, Marge!!!!

Renee Spina Deardeuff walked into my store a few weeks ago and I nearly chewed off my bakelite bracelets. She had been a visitor at my old store, so I was familiar with her unique style, but on this particular Sunday she blew my fishnet stockings off! Dressed in natty nautical trousers, wide brimmed sun hat (a la Renee Perle!) huge wooden earrings and to die for shoes and sunnies. THIS was one of those customers that you KNOW you are going to fall in love with.
As the day was hectic, I didn't get to interact with her right away. However when she pranced out of the fitting room in MY favorite Tori Richard palazzo jumpsuit I took notice...AGAIN!
We started speaking about different fashionable dames and when she knew who Michelle Harper was, well my heart stopped.
The girls and I quickly fell in love with her infectious laugh, mannerisms and damn spot on fashion sense. When she told us about her alter ego, Marge, we were ready to keep her hostage.


Renee returned that week for a KILLER pair of Prada shoes and I knew...just knew that we would be life long friends.
I had the chance to interview her this past Saturday and it was a blast. (the bottle of red didn't hurt either!) Read on and fall in love with Renee yourself...or with her alter ego: Marge.
Chi-Chi: what is your favorite piece in your collection right now?
Renee: the sassy little number i purchased from here (Her Tori Richard's jumpsuit from Chi-Chi and the Greek.) I love the way it fit, the boldness of the print, the wide palazzo pants and the adorable jacket! It was the first thing I saw when i walked in, and when I went back to it and realised it was palazzo pants I died!!

Chi-Chi: Who are your favorite designers?
Renee: Chanel, Gucci, Dior, Prada.
Chi-Chi: With that said, do you shop vintage for labels or just for the piece?
Renee: I don't care...as long as i love it! if it looks great than I'm in!
Chi-Chi: When did Marge come into the picture?
Renee: late 80's, early 90's. She showed up in a leopard bathing suit and "Marge" hair at a friends pool party. Then she was involved in a bowling league and on Halloween she showed up as ..herself. Then 5 yrs ago i went to a drive in party as Marge. She became more popular than me!! No one asked about me anymore, they just wanted to know if Marge was coming. Sometimes she socializes, other times she passes out hot dogs with a cough and a cigarette. (a FAKE cigarette that Renee fashioned from dryer lint, by the way!)


Chi-Chi: What women do you look upon as style icons?
Renee: My grandmother and my Aunt June. Aunt June stood out, she was loud vocally and in her way of dressing.. I connected very easily to her. She said what she felt and was always put together from hair to bauble! She had and wore an array of Caftan's that she would pair with really great marabou feather slippers or strappy sandals. I loved her really big, bright necklaces and bakelite bracelets too.
Chi-Chi: What kind of music do you listen to?
Renee: Everything from the blues, jazz, Edith Piaf, old school rock and PUNK!


Chi-Chi: favorite beauty products and fragrances?
Renee: Coco,Annick Goutal,Issey Miyake & Kiehl's original musk for fragrances. Beauty products:Natural Crystal Rock(keeps the bees & the flys away...HaHaHa) Loose Face Powder,Eyeliner,Mascara & Blush.
Chi-Chi: Lastly, what are some of your favorite stores?
Renee: Seriously? Well let's see... Off the top of my head...
Chi-Chi & The Greek(Shocking) Ella's Vintage, Paris, Lost and Found, Mother Fletcher's. Anthropology, H&M, TJM, Scout, Etsy & EBay
Thank you Renee for a lovely day and for sharing your stories with us!

"Marge" and myself!

Beatrix Ost Style Icon

Often i look for stylish women of my own age to gather inspiration. Yet, i notice that here, in Michigan, there seems to be a style "uniform" that is a bit...well, bland. On a recent mall trip with my family (I know, I know, "the mall?" it was NOT a good day!) I pointed out to my children that every woman over the age of 40 looked exactly-the-same! (so did every woman under the age of 40, but that's another post!)
Same flared jeans, same leather blazer, same wedge boots, same nondescript large leather bag, same highlights. it was like watching a loop of the same person walking back and forth.
Distressing? YES! Scary? Definitely. Only in the sense that individualism has left the building for most women.
Imagine, yes sit back and just IMAGINE, my delight in seeing Beatrix Ost on Style Like U blog!!
"Breath-of-fresh-air-in-a-closed-hospital-room."
I fell instantly in style love.
Blue hair!
Victorian inspired clothing!
Grace!
Artist!
Writer!
Over 40!
Fashion icon!







Take a look at her editorial at Style Like U blog...which, by the way is my other "breath-of-fresh-air-in-a-closed-hospital-room."

New Gowns

More new Ball gowns.

On deck!

A few things coming to our site:
marc jacobs
whiting and davis mesh shirt
velvet vintage cape
hawaiian dresses
evening gowns
authentic mini dresses
from th sixties.
I love our new "model"...ant ideas for a name???

New Look

Confession time, again.
I have a secret style crush on katie holemes.
Don't even say a word.
I make no apologies.
I will admit that my style crush surfaced after her marriage, when she cut her hair. Magnificent. When she wore a belt with her bathing suit at Cannes?? Uh, love. Forever.
Now she's wearing this grunge type look that I am really, really digging.
Perhaps because it mimics my own style right now. I am a bit bored with the tight jeans, flowing top, wedge heels, look.
Ladies, (or guys, I don't judge,) that look has been over. For at least a year. Lets bury it together, please?
Now is the time for a white v-neck, a boys Hanes will do just perfectly, your husbands ripped jeans, circa 1980-something, high-end heels and some tights. You can, if you wish, cut those jeans for a loose short look. Or not.
Just step it up, okay?
This look will be EVERYWHERE in about one year. Trust!
Alexander Wang is kicking it right now, you need to jump on it!


And while you are at it, check out the awesome article Angela did on our store. Angela's Eye is a fashionable blog that details the, well, fashionable going ons in Metro Detroit. It's slick, sassy and very addicting.
Check it out at www.angelaseye.com

Deadly Vintage

One of my absolute favorite vintage sites is Deadly Vintage. Betsy has an amazing eye for fashion and composition. Her site is different than most sites, I always feel that I'm visiting an artist site rather than shopping the usual vintage sites. There are hundreds of stores out there, that sell vintage, but Deadly Vintage is so unique, so visually fun that it has always been my inspiration. It has true vintage gold there! I wished she lived in Michigan...we would definitely work together. Check out her MYSPACE page it's gorgeous!

Daphne Guinness

Comme des Garcons + Daphne Guinness are debuting her new fragrance in September.
I personally adore Daphne, her sense of style, the black and white palette, her hair everything about her screams "eccentric" to me.
love it!

www.chichiandthegreek.com

30% off sale!!!!!

VINTAGE SALE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SUMMER SALE 30% OFF ALL ITEMS!






WWW.CHICHIANDTHEGREEK.COM

PRIM magazine.

New magazines pop up all the time. In print online, whatever the case I usually can't keep up. The new online mag, PRIM.,is one that I am constantly looking at. Strong visuals and a Studio 54 vibe keep me mesmerized, it's like a portal to uber coolness. Let's face it you, me and all you other's will never be this cool. So it goes.

AFRICA

Curse this retched spring cold and all it's amenities!! I need a rest and soon, however I was able to get De to take some shots yesterday.
It was one of those weekends where I felt horrible and pretty much wanted to cancel Monday, like everything else. Dee was a bit overwhelmed herself but what the hell we went on and got some of this!
NEW PICTURES OF AFRICA.
NOW excuse me as i drink som more of this whixkey/lemon/honey potion.

Ines de la Fressange

One of my earliest fascinations was with French super model, Ines de la Fressange. Perhaps it was her mastery of effortless French Style. It could of been the fact that as a young girl I rarely saw anyone who resembled me. Dark bushy eyebrows, chocolate unruly hair and belle laide features were not prevalent in Missy or whatever they were called, those fashion magazines for teens in the eighties. Oh sure once in awhile I would see a Gia type in my mom's Glamour, but in my neighborhood it was dishwater blond hair and blue eyes...EVERYWHERE. My dark unconventional looks made me an outcast and quite unsure of my own person. It wasn't until we moved to a Jewish/Arabic neighborhood that I finally felt like I fit in. Never mind that we were not Jewish or Arabic, I had finally found my people!
But Ines always reminded me of a cousin or Aunt I wished I had. She embraced her looks and made them work for her. She never wore frosted pink lipstick, purple eyeshadow or highlighted her hair. She didn't try to fit in or fit the mold of blond, busty American models. Plus that infectious smile is still the sexiest I have ever seen.I love her for it.
Yesterday I saw a picture on The sartorialist that looked exactly like Ines, her sense of style is so consistent with who she is and really has not changed over the years. Yes, she updates her hair, but it still stays in that short, tousled look that suits her so well.
She is my favorite model in all the world.

1960's and 1950's Fashion

A few more items we are working on. I love the different styles of the 1960's and 1950's. Floaty, beaded chiffon goddess and ethnic hand painted swing dress. What's not to love??