Debutante Clothing :: A vintage clothing and fashion blog for unconventional style where vintage and runway meet.

If you grew up in the 80s like I did, then you worshiped Madonna, to some degree, especially in your early teens. I recall going to the swap meet to buy neon colored studded belts that wrapped around twice, neon ankle socks, rubber bracelets and Wayfarer knock offs. The pièce de résistance? My lace communion gloves of which I promptly cut off the fingers - yes I was grounded for that.

For most of us, we still think about those early forays into fashion and pop culture with warm nostalgia. So when I heard of the Material Girl line for Macy's, I was thrilled to see Madonna and child bring back some of the fun pieces that made the 80s such a great time in fashion.

Madonna's beautiful daughter, Lourdes, is getting a first rate education in entrepreneurship and style. Of course I was concerned with the decency level of the collection. I mean, do you really want your 13-year-old wearing a belt that says "Boy Toy"? But it seems Madonna, at least in promos, is a normal mom. She gives Lourdes a bit of room to express herself through her clothing, but does set some limits. Reminds me of my mom. Minus the empire.

I was quite pleased to see the pieces in the collection. I don't have a daughter, but I do have a niece and I'd love to buy her some of items in the collection such as the plaid shirts and jackets. She's a bit young for the skirts and shorts, but I'm sure she's going to try her luck.

The Material Girl collection is available now at Macy's. How about you? Would you let your teen girl wear Material Girl?

P.S. I had no idea that the photograph in the background, one of the images from the Like a Virgin album, was photographed by Steven Meisel!

The always adorable Lily Allen is getting ready to launch her new, reworked vintage clothing line. Her line is called Lucy in Disguise. A cute play on the Beatles song I presume.

Designer Wayne Hemingway a summer festival celebrating British music and fashion. Sandie Shaw, Heaven 17, Aswad, Buzzcocks and The Damned will be some of the acts performing at Vintage at Goodwood in West Sussex in August.

Earlier this year, Allen had announced she would be taking a break from music. Her new endeavors include this collection of reworked vintage clothing. She is partnering with her sister and some friends.

I know people often criticize celebrities who think they can launch a clothing line, act, sing, and basically anything under the sun. But in the case of musicians, I think they actually have a firmer connection to fashion than actors or socialcelebutantes like Paris and Whitney.

Gwen Stefani has been very successful with her L.A.M.B. line. I own a few pieces and the quality is pretty good. But the reality is that I buy L.A.M.B. because Gwen Stefani's aesthetic and style is similar to mine. A musician uses fashion pretty much the same we do - as an extension of their influences and to express themselves. While onstage costumes are exaggerated for presence, it's easy to translate that look to the real world. With the exception of Lady Gaga, although her sunglasses are flying off the shelves.

Many musician/fashion icons come to mind - Debbie Harry, Cindy Lauper, Madonna. Can you tell I am an 80s baby? Granted none of these women designed a line, but they sure have gone down in fashion history as being highly influential in their style.

Reworking vintage is not new, and am quite surprised Allen has decided at this stage in her career that she wants to redesign vintage, of all things. She obviously really loves vintage looks. I hope Lily Allen is educated enough in fashion history not to go and redesign important pieces. I wait on pins and needles to see her stuff.

I'm curious what do you think - do musicians have what it takes to launch a fashion line?

photo L.A.M.B. Spring 2010/Coutorture.com

Back in November, I blogged about the announcement that John Varvatos would be using the closed down CBGB location as his newest boutique. Well, he has moved in, and brought all of his devil's music accoutrements with him!

The store front was given to Varvatos completely empty, but the graffitied walls plastered with stickers and posters and the theatrical lighting on ceiling remain. Varvatos wanted to leave the history, the memories and the artifacts proving that rock and roll once lived in his new home. "Walking around the Varvatos space at 315 Bowery just confirmed for me that energy doesn't disappear, it only gets transformed, you can feel it - all over the place!" said Arturo Vega, the Ramones Creative Director, who has lived around the corner from the club since 1973.

Alongside his exquisite clothing-styles that even good old punk rock boys wouldn't turn their nose up at-are vintage leather jackets, jeans and rock T-shirts carefully picked by What Comes Around Goes Around.

Varvatos says, "As CBGB's was a unique arena for the music scene, this store will be the same for fashion and rock & roll. They have always been intertwined and here they will live together!"

Photos: Business Wire

Unless you've been living under a rock, or suburbia, CBGB closed it's doors last month. But in 2008, the CBGB location will reopen as the newest boutique of mens wear designer and rock and roller, John Varvatos.

John Varvatos has always been a fan of rock music. And rockers are huge fans of John Varvatos' beautiful mix of rock star silhouettes such as slim trousers, leather hats and biker boots. A clever blend of hard and debonair without a hint of metrosexuality. My total testosterone-laden counterpart. If Alice Cooper wears his stuff, it's not metro guys!

John Varvatos was recently featured in Pasadena Magazine, a magazine I write for. Varvatos was exhibiting the work of legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall.

I love that John Varvatos infuses his love of music into his finely tailored garments for men who may or may not have been punks, but have the soul of a rock star.

It took me so long to write my thoughts about the Eduardo Lucero show in downtown Los Angeles at the Box Eight/Vibiana's show.

But with the downtown vibe theme in mind, last week, I met up with two of my favorite gal pals, Blackphoebe and the Adnostic, at the renovated Little Pedro's now known as Bordello. I have been very curious about the venue, mostly for it's architecture and design, but also because it is one of many hip joints in the growing downtown L.A. scene.

I am so excited to see Downtown experiencing a renaissance. The interior of this place is amazing. A devil's lair/boudoir where the naughty and nice mix it up in an eclectic mix of hipsters, barflies, and artists. My kind of crowd!

There’s nothing hotter than a chick with tattoos and soul. Amy Winehouse is my new girl crush. She’s got style I can relate to and she sounds like she has a Motown mama inside her. And the stylized videos make me want to go into the Debutante stash and put on anything that is tight and sparkles. Swoon.

After reading the Fashion Rocks special publication that came along with my Lucky magazine, Sally Singer reports that Ms. Winehouse is more at home in Betsey Johnson, tanks, skinny jeans, ballet slippers, and liquid liner. It's like we share a closet! A true tough girl, rocker chick uniform. I do wish she wouldn't have lost so much weight though. Curves are part of the uniform too.

I’m actually a little late to the Winehouse party. I’ve heard the Rehab song on the radio, while out shopping, but I seriously thought it was some old obscure original. I was floored when I found out it was a little Jewish girl from the UK. Wow! Work it Amy.