5x5 Summer 2013!!

 5x5Clothing

Oh ladies! It's summer 2013 and we couldn't be more excited!! Bring on the sunshine, flowers, bicycles and sun hats! 


White denim sailor shorts and watermelon halter top, say yes! 

Cupcake Skirt and Top Set for summer parties!  

Sheer Peacock Print Dress for cruising around town! 

The Tennis Cut-Out Jumpsuit for sporty jaunts. 

And the Carmen Skirt and Top Set for everything in between! 

Rita Hayworth: Spanish Margarita

    

5x5 Clothing
RA RA

Rita Hayworth.  Ultimate glamorous 40s babe known as one of the most talented dancers and actresses of her time. Lusty pin-up girl, femme-fatale and Spanish dancing queen.


She lived a glamorous life, but one that was wrought with bad dudes, alcohol and a troubled relationship with her on-screen personas.  

Rita was born Margarita Carmen Cansino.  Her father had immigrated to America from Spain, descended from a line of famous Spanish dancers. 

Margarita began taking dance lessons from her father at the age of three, and had spent most of her girlhood rehearsing. She danced with her father on stage professionally, and supported her family through the depression with her performances.

After her father moved the family to Hollywood, Margarita began her transition to Rita. In order to give her a look that would appeal to wider audiences, Fox studio heads encouraged Rita to de-ethnicize herself, to moderate her 'foreign' look. Rita lightened her dark hair into a deep red, and actually underwent electrolysis to raise her hairline on her forehead. 

Transformation complete, Rita went on to become a babe with some of the most amazing clothes in history.  The three following gowns were all designed by Jean Louis for her role in Gilda. 

Top to bottom sequined mermaid gown.   

A bare mid-driff two-piece evening gown   The bare mid-drift is a classic 1940s look, used widely from gowns to playsuits.   

The  black satin gown she wore for the famous one glove strip tease scene in Gilda.  The dress even has its own Wikipedia page. 

A barely there floral lace bodiced knock-out gown worn in You Were Never Lovelier 

 Rita also had an astounding, enviable and unparalleled collection of playsuits:

Here is Rita's white sharkskin picnic playsuit, complete with a high waisted shorts and broad shoulders.  Sharkskin is a type of rayon fabric, if you're wondering!

Off the shoulder deep v neckline with three quarter length sleeves? Yes!  

Spanish flare playsuit with matching boldero? Yes!  

Although she never felt like the seductive Gilda character, and often tried to retreat from Hollywood to seek a more simple lifestyle,  Rita was one of the most beautiful and alluring women of the 20th century.  A top-notch babe!  

5x5 will be taking our playsuit clue from Rita in 2013. Look out and get ready!   

Deap Vally: Rockin some heavy style

RA RA 
5x5 Clothing

Deap Vally is a bluesy two-piece hailing from San Fernando valley in Southern California. Guitarist Lindsay Troy and drummer Julie Edwards are starting a buzz among lovers of dirty rock and hot ass alike.  

Described as Juliette Lewis covering the White Stripes, the girls are pushing the bad ass Thelma and Louise lifestyle.  I'm not quite convinced but, hey, I dig the style.  





The drummer rocks a body suit of sorts with white-fringed arms. Basically a must for a hot girl drummer.  Fringed white vest-shirts are a standard for the guitarist, as well. Nice work.  

Petal pink see-through camie-jumper in the hills, into it.  

A Bam-Bam style cropped vest-halter in leopard print and high waisted shorts. Yes pls.  

So, check out their new vid, see what you think.  There's a chance all that ass and sexy pizza eating may distract from their music though!! 

PS I hope that car is theirs

5x5 Clothing: CSS Bitches are Hot!

5x5 Clothing
RA RA


So, in December last year I went to Barcelona, Spain. And as I'm looking through Le Cool  to see if any cool shows are going on, I was thrilled to realize that CSS was in town--the sexy ladies of Cansei de Ser Sexy, the super fun Brazilian electropoprock band.


Of course, the show was awesome and I got a bunch of awesome pics of singer Lovefoxxx and my hot guitarist crush Luiza Sá. Unfortunately for me, my phone was stolen at a male stripclub in Thailand on New Year's Eve.....all pics GONE!!


Either way, I wanted to include Cansei de Ser Sexy in a 5x5 post: Although the name means 'tired of being sexy' the girls put on a ridiculously sexy show, especially cuz I got a thing for girls that look like hot badass boys. 

The whole band had an awesome vibe, smiling, laughing, jumping around, lookin' as though they were actually having a blast.  

Singer Lovefoxxx is always looking ridiculous, seemingly not taking herself seriously. Love it! She's known for full sparkly spandex suits, but at the Barcelona show, she came out wearing a curly haired wig and like 5 layers of sweatshirts that she slowly stripped off. 

The boyish sexy Ana Rezende. 

And my fav, Luiza Sá.

Here's CSS's City Girl from their 2011 album La Liberacion (so not mad at the oversized yellow catman sweater)

And the now classic Alala--zombies and cat fights .  

5x5: Alexei Perry in 5x5 HOT!

5x5 Clothing
RA RA


Wow!


Alexei Perry. In 5x5's Misfit Dress. In her bedroom. Looking super gothed out. Posted on Handsome Fur's blog. 


RAD!  
xoxox


5x5 Loves you!! 


See our O.G. blog about her here

5x5 Clothing: Slouchy Winter Hats!

 Lola
5x5 Clothing 

Yup, it's that time of year again, for us Canadians and others who have to brave the cold weather.  We have layers and layers too look forward too! Endless slushy streets and frost bitten noses!... Can't wait!!  How to look hot during what will soon be a winter wonderland!

 The Slouchy winter hat!  Look for mustard colours, deep greens, and the oh so sexy standard black.

Or try something a lil different

Sexy, sexy sexy!  1930s' inspired hats will be sure to turn heads, when you step outta the crowd! 

Still wanting something a little different?  Get into the ever so popular pilot hat! 

Oh Baby!

Although winter is long and full of layers, you can still look sexy with all the fun accessories! Don't forget about scarves, gloves, earmuffs and the oh so fun winter boots!!

Don't turn into a "track pant lady"  just cuz it's cold, it doesn't mean you gotta give up! 

Embrace the next 6 months with the warmth of your BFF Fashion! 

5x5 Clothing: No Exploitation, All Party

RARA
5x5 Clothing


5x5 Clothing does not steal babies, pillage and/or pilfer, or exploit garment workers. 


We employ seamstresses working out of their own homes for fair wages.


Not to down on anyone's party or be a neg-vibe naysayer, but the modern garment industry, especially in Asia, is a hellish choice for mostly poor women trying to survive and support their families. 


Here is a picture of skulls from the killing fields in Cambodia, a genocide instituted by the maniacal Pol Pot in the 1970s.  Afterwards, Cambodia went through decades of strife and reform, eventually stabilizing and becoming one of the centres of the modern garment manufacturing industry.  


Even though the International Labour Organization has said that its routine checks of Cambodian garment factories ensure the rights of these workers, recent mass sickness at H&M factories in the country have left many skeptical.  

Road in Cambodia leading to the garment factories

Here in Thailand, hundreds of thousands of people from Burma flood into Thailand looking for work opportunities that simply don't exist in their country that has been fucked up by successive generations of military junta, including economic mismanagement and a war waged against the ethnic minority peoples.  
Where do they end up? In the garment factories on the border, working 11 hour days for 2$, locked up, with their ID confiscated by factory owners, modern-day slavery.  


Big name fashion labels, such as Tommy Hilfiger, have been caught using these factories under false company names, only to shut down operations and open up at other nearby plants.


My friend has been involved in investigating these factories; factories are locked up from public view, looking more like jails than factories, security guards keeping people out, and often, also keeping workers in.  


Grooooooooan, right? Ok Ok, you've heard it before, so have I.


So let's talk about something nice: 


5x5 Clothing is big on limited runs that enable us to use home-based seamstresses and give them fair wages that are exponentially more than they'd earn in a factory, and even more than they'd earn as a typical home-based seamstress.  All clothes are cut and sewed by hand, using end of the roll and vintage fabrics.  


Now that is something good!  Party in your 5x5!


p.s for more info on the modern garment industry read this 

5x5 Clothing: Shoes, Shoes & more Shoes!!

5x5 Clothing

Lola


Shoes, a girl's best friend or worst enemy?


Fall is here, and so it goes NEW SHOES!! ('cause you just have to!!)  I, like most females, LOVE SHOES!! The higher the heel, the better for me, even though I'm 5'10 and most times feel like an amazon woman rockin my 4" heels.  Who cares I say, that doesn't stop me and my continued conquest for the perfect pair!

MEOW!!

This fall is all about mixed prints, textures and platforms!!

It's time to put away those old dirty and tired flip flops and start giving your calves a good old work out again!  

OH NO!!  Looks like the duckie/penny shoe had sex and made a baby!

Always a good idea to buy a great shape and colour to wear more than one season! 

So what ya waiting for?  Get out there comb the city and find a great deal and adopt a new pair!  I always try to stay away from the 

"ultra trend", like fur shaggy boots ... 'cause let's not kid, they are never in style.  Just saying!!

um, Harry and the Henderson... Anyone?!?!!

5x5 Clothing: Anita Pallenberg "Sexy Fucking Bitch"

5x5 Clothing 
RA RA


If Keith Richards calls you a "sexy fucking bitch," I pretty much think that means you get to rule the world, at least for a couple decades.


And it appears that is just what sexy bitch Anita Pallenberg did..and depending who you talk to...still does.


So I hope I don't have to introduce who Keith Richards is but honestly, I had to "remind" someone who that was recently--I almost screamed 'the guitarist of the Rolling Stones, you fiend'.  


Ms Pallenberg was the girlfriend of said Keith Richards, and eventually gave birth to two of his children, but only after she was the long-time girlfriend of the other Stones guitarist, Brian Jones.  She later had some sexy relations with Mick Jagger as well. Holy!


So I've been reading Keith Richard's autobiography Life, and while most of it is about music and touring, there are glimpses of all his fab ladies over the years, including Anita--her style and position as Queen of Kool back in the early 60s and on.  

Richard's notes that Anita had a "huge influence on the style of the times" and that he usually just wore her clothes, anything that was "lying around".  Full lace berry-juice coloured blouse, with grape mini skirt and low slung belt, and matching rock boyfriend.....shit.  

Not just a rock girlfriend, she had roles in a bunch of movies at the time and knew all the avant-garde directors and performers throughout Europe and especially in Rome, where she was born.  Her roles included The Great Tyrant, in Barbarella [pictured above].  

 T-shirt jumper! Camel-toe!  

And according to Marianne Faithfull:  "She gave this incredible smile, which was quite frightening too, all those teeth. Like a wolf, like a cat that got the cream. . . She was gorgeous because she was so beautifully dressed, always in the perfect costume".


Glorious sixties hip chick, we salute you! 

5x5 Grrl: Alexei Perry from Handsome Furs

5x5Clothing
RA RA


Alexei Perry.  Super hot broad that tours around the world with her super hot husband in their really cool band Handsome Furs.


The Montreal-based power duo not only tour the world, but hit up obscure locations, bringing their mix of sweaty electronic post-punk dance music to wide-eyed fans in places like Rangoon, Burma, and (you guessed it!) my northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.


I met Alexei a couple of years ago when I interviewed them after their very first show in Thailand. I could not possibly mistake which chick Alexei was: she was rockin' tapered black pants that had circle hole cuts all down the front of them; a blue, shiny short apron-esque shirt, with exposed back; foot-long silver dangley earrings, and ridiculous neon heels.  

booty shorts and guns, what have i been tellin' ya girls??!!

Alexei's style-cravings were right at home in Bangkok; she tends toward a sophisticated yet dirty motif, punk inspired sharp edges, layers, with just the right amount of skin showing.  She often rocks long, dangling necklaces and fringes, which look oh-so-cool when she makes out with her keyboard.  

An excerpt from her tour blog on shopping in Bangkok:

There is no limit to the bargains and range of designs you can find here. After two hours, it's hard to determine whether you really like the mesh green jumpsuit or the gold suit jacket or the Aladdin-style stilettos or the batik dress shirts or the knockoff Gucci best.

I attempt at buying it all, but Pot [her guide] adamantly refuses one shop owner, on my behalf, because she doesn't think the price is low enough. Despite the fact that it's a pretty incredible sequined number with a lace tie and strange ducks sewn on to it and it only costs 2$ Canadian, I try to see Pot's side of things and relent.  I do, after all, have armfuls of things that will make some friends jealous and others deeply disturbed/amused by these new fashion leaps I'll be taking.

Haha.  Wicked.  


Check out my two videos from their show in Bangkok from 2009.  


The show:  

And the interview (check out my wicked bust line while you're at it)...sound gets better after the chatty Thais settle down :) 

Really cool Alexei, keep going strong and dirty!  

5x5 Clothing: Paging Dr. Spencer Reid!

5x5 Clothing 
Lola

K, guilty!  I have a total crush on Dr. Spencer Reid!  Umm who is that you might ask? He is the super cute nerdy doctor from Criminal Minds (a TV show, following cases from the behavioral unit within the FBI)

In real life Dr. Reid is Matthew Gray Gubler, former Fashion Model!!

What I love about him, in general, is how he doesn't seem to try when it comes to dressing himself.  Simple, classic cuts that look great and make him look amazing!  He pays attention to what is hot and makes it his own.  

He is for sure my top "Hunk" pick 

Fun fact:  He played an intern in "Life Aquatic"

5x5: New Hotkid Rip It Into Pieces Video!

5x5 Clothing
RA RA


So if you haven't yet seen Hotkid's Rip It Into Pieces video, oh boy are you missing out!


Not only do you get to see Shiloh ascend to the skies in a Bowie Labyrinth inspired handmade faux-leather, one-armed jacket, but you also get to see glass boxes of squished wrestler-painted Toronto indie rockers.  To that I say, YES!


Since Shiloh is a 5x5 Girl, we knew she'd have the fashion visuals of the video down, so I asked her to give us some of the details on inspiration for the video.


RA RA: How did you come up with your warrior-esque goddess costume?


Shi: I had a vision of myself suspended in air wearing some elaborate flowing gown, some ridiculous unreal costume, that would just be really visually stimulating.  I told the director, Alon Isocianu, my plans to make such an outfit and he was into it.  A week before the shoot Alon asked how the dress was going and if he could see a picture of it.  I told him it was going well, "almost done," when in fact I had not yet started said costume.  So I got some material from Value Village, and Lens Mills (wicked end of the line fabric store in Cambridge, ON) some tassel material and tools from downtown T.O. and started construction.  I wanted something long, big and dramatic but not too overwhelming so i made a bustle half skirt thing that could be worn over a shorter skirt.  I wanted a more structured top, referencing Lady Gaga;    
         

Or even Karen O from the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

After watching Labyrinth before going to bed one night, I was struck with the inspiration to make a Labyrinth-Bowie style jacket.  

I had used this cheap stretchy fake leather material once before for a Halloween costume so I grabbed some and started hacking it up.

I embellished it with rhinestones I had off an older dress and friend's collection of metal trinkets she had since high-school.  In a manic high i actually beaded an intricate pattern on the front tassel loin cloth piece, which you obviously cannot see in the video, but they are there believe me. The one arm tassel was probably inspired by the Macho Man - may he rest in piece.     

RA RA: how about your jeans and shirt ensemble?

The jeans I got at the Value Village in Cambridge on a 50% off day.  The very sheer undershirt material tank I've had for quite some time, not sure where I got it.  The boots are Aldo and I've had them forever as well.  The necklace was sent to me my by foster child Marsella from Indonesia; It's got an awesome energy to it, I think it helps me stay grounded when I have it on.  

I wanted to try and elongate my legs so high heeled boots and high waisted pants was the trick. I also wanted to contrast the crazy outfit with something really simple but still sexy.      

RA RA: And the hair and makeup?

My good friend, hairstylist Jenny Smylie did the hair for the shoot.  She brought the long feathers and the blond extensions for the up-do with my costume.  We had to keep in mind that Alon was going to be working with the green screen so we had to keep the hair rather clean - no big frizzies because it would be impossible to substitute the green screen in post production.  I loved the big hair! We also had two wonderful make up chicks workin with us that day - they drew on 80's wrestlers and traditional war paint for the extras. It was the first time I ever had airbrushed makeup on--pretty neat really!                                 

Check it out fer yourselves, ladies! Girlfriend knows how to rip it up!

                      

5x5: I Just Can't Get Enough of Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. Bags

5x5 Clothing
Lee Lee



Anyone that knows me and knows me well, is aware of my love affair with all things L.A.M.B.

L.A.M.B. (Love, Angel, Music, Baby) is the creative outlet of Gwen Stefani. It all began as a purse collaboration with Lesportsac in 2003 and lasted only a few short years. Together, they created super cute purses, wallets, coin purses and duffel bags in a ton of shapes, styles and prints. After the collaboration ended, Gwen went on to build the L.A.M.B. brand into a clothing, footwear, and accessory line.

My first L.A.M.B. bag was given as a gift. A 2nd generation Large Backstage Bag in red. She was beautiful and so unexpected.

My love affair continued on when I discovered my favourite shape, the Hella Hobo. I have since made it my mission to own almost every single print.



All of my hobos on display. I'm only missing a few hard to find prints.
Because these are now practically extinct I'm not sure I'll ever have them all.



Two of my faves are first generation bags and feature the beautiful guitar strap and are super rare.
Of course my second gen leopard hobo is right at the top of the list.
Like you already know, I'm a sucker for all things leopard.                                                           





And as if having a bizzillion bags wasn't enough, I can't forget about all the accessories. Not so practical, the heart shaped wristlets are super cute and just big enough to hold a few bills and ID.

I love my hot pink metallic wallet I purchased on Boxing Day but the pink paint is starting to wear. Sadly not the best quality.

My most recent L.A.M.B. was a gift from my dear bf Lola.

Mostly leather, this bag is a step up from my other painted canvas totes (I have three others), and features a monogrammed silk lining.  Ooh la la

And my love affair with LAMB doesn't end here... It branches out into Gwens more youthful line Harajuku Lovers (dare I mention my canvas tote and matching shoes?) but please don't get me started... that's a whole other blog...