Last week I styled and shot a collection of looks for Threads of Stardust curator Michelle Cunningham, a magic-forward vintage purveyor who will be at next month’s Lost & Found Vintage Market [see her collection on February 2nd at Brick South, Portland, ME].
Threads of Stardust launched a little over a year ago. With an eclectic mix of 90’s femme, cottagecore, and whimsigoth, Michelle’s collection spans everything from soft pastel sweaters to lacy slip dresses; a-line skirts to kitten crewnecks. Not to mention a very impressive variance of floral prints, including a jacquard 3-button blazer printed with what can only be described as an english garden’s worth of bursting blossoms.
The stylistic approach for this lookbook is a collaborative effort between myself and Michelle. Of course she had her must-show pieces, the ones that represent her vision of the brand — and then I did a little curating of my own, pulling quieter pieces that flowed together, bringing forth another layer of the style narrative in the Stardust collection.
COTTAGECORE
collection pieces: pastel picnic-print vest, silk crewneck tee, hammered gold earrings
Michelle is a self-proclaimed cottagecorist, and her collection pays monumental homage to this niche known for pastel colors, soft knits, and delicate fabrics. We know how much I love a vest (see MENSWEAR2025), and this vest was a first-round pick for Michelle when deciding which pieces would be featured in the lookbook. From the printed latticework pattern, to the soft cotton piping, all the way to the floral buttons — this vest probably even straddles the line with grandmacore (credit to Michelle for introducing me to this niche within a niche!)
PASTEL MEETS ACADEMIA
collection piece: v-neck logo cardigan
Nothing like a little emblazoned buttondown sweater to showcase your academic tendencies; but how about in this electric shade of pastel blue? I fell in love with this sweater both because it felt so Stardust but also because of the darling little possom embroidery. A vintage sweater tributing Possom Trot (which appears to be a golf course in Myrtle Beach), in an exceptionally eye-catching in color — for the vintage logo lovers among you, this is your piece!
A 90s DAYDREAM
collection pieces: straw hat, knit purse with wood button detail, crochet vest, white buttondown blouse, candy-print silk pants
I love this photo because it totally embodies the spirit of the Stardust collection — lighthearted, carefree, photo-finish-femme. So many weaves going on: the straw hat, the knit bag, and the crochet vest. Perfect accessories for those interested in toe-dipping to cottagecore, but also exceptional additions for anyone already dressing to this tune.
The candy-printed silk pants are a total gem! They have little multicolored bon-bons on a backdrop of black, making them wearable with practically any color. Complete with a higher hitting waist, pleats, and an ankle-length hem, these are the pants of a 90s daydream.
CRUSHING ON VELVET
collection pieces: crushed velvet shift dress, beaded kitten purse
Crushed velvet juxtaposes silky black fabric to create a block-print effect showcasing just how much texture plays into the look of a garment. Can’t you see Phoebe Buffay wearing this shift dress at Central Perk?! Here we’ve done it a bit more formal, and it totally works for a revised edit of the 90s black dress.
The beaded kitten clutch might be just the slightest nod to whimsigoth, with simple gold chain and hoop earrings to accent the look.
TAILORED & LACED
collection pieces: wool tailored jacket, lace trimmed slip pants, pearl vine earrings
Pick an era, any era — no doubt you will find an iteration of this jacket. The wool cropped blazer, ever flattering to the shoulders and waist, bringing an effortlessly tailored energy to the ensemble. To offset what might be considered a “buttoned-up” vibe, it’s paired with lace hemmed slip pants and black slide heels. It feels a bit like a housefit, but don’t let that stop you from putting it on as the put-together-meets-laid-back hosting outfit of the year.
BROOCHWORTHY
collection pieces: black square neck corset top, candy-print silk pants, floral brooch, pearl chainlink brooch, leaf cluster brooch
Take notes on the versatility of the candy pants. Coupled here with a fitted black top, featuring exposed shoulders and open neck — this becomes a much more sophisticated look, with a hint of whimsy. I’ve been thinking about brooches a lot lately — I even met someone recently who has a very extensive brooch collection — and it got me thinking: why aren’t we doing brooch clusters? We layer necklaces, pile on multiple bracelets, even double up rings on our fingers, but I have to say there is a noticeable lack of pin-stacking happening out there.
The results of this thinking are the 3 clustered brooches you see at the corner of the neckline. Maximalist in its presentation, the cluster makes the black top decidedly more interesting, and plays off the repeating yellow pattern found in the pants.
I can’t say enough about Michelle’s enthusiasm for her collection, and the mantra that I kept hearing as we picked out the lookbook styles: creating a collection where there’s something for everyone. Michelle has built a brand centered around inclusivity, magic, and whimsy — and there really does seem to be stardust among the threads.
Until next week,
Georgia
Shop the Threads of Stardust collection at the upcoming Lost & Found Vintage Market — taking place Sunday, February 2nd at Brick South in Portland, ME.
Connect with Michelle on Instagram @threadsofstardust ~
Loving these looks! Can’t wait to check out Lost & Found!