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Glamourai Giveaway and Other Goodies to Come

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:21:05 -0500

I am so dying to talk about last week’s amazing vintage score—it involves a small rural town and an attic full of deadstock 20’s costumes, not to mention dozens upon dozens of 30’-60’s dresses! Sadly, I am way to busy to fill you in on the whole story so I’m going to wait until my next trip (hopefully this week!) to the attic of vintage dreams to share my new finds and a bit of their history.

I have a more immediate tale to tell today. I’m sponsoring a giveaway on the oh, so, inspiring blog The Glamourai. If you’d like to enter to win the 70’s glam hippie dress below visit The Glamourai for details!

Here’s a long overdue shop update. The gray coat is a really special piece. Last year I found...

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:25:47 -0500

Here’s a long overdue shop update. The gray coat is a really special piece. Last year I found it in a local vintage shop about a month before christmas. I totally fell in love with it and completely bombarded my poor husband with not-so-subtle hints about its wonderful X-mas gift potential. He came through and on Christmas morning I was a very happy woman—until I tried the coat on—way too small! I don’t know why I never tried it on in the store, but I guess it worked out okay because now I can pass it on to some other lucky lady! This is just the begining of a HUGE shop update I’ve got planned for next several days so keep popping into the store to see what’s new.

40’s/50’s Wool Princess Coat

80’s Cashmere Blend Crested Blazer

80’s Izod V-neck

40’s Black Velvet Party Dress

Bags and Shoes

Needlepoint Bags Bring out the Hippie in Me

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:33:47 -0500

Maybe this is the result of growing up with hippie parents but I am a huge sucker for vintage needlepoint bags. I have one that I carry almost everyday and I just got a new from Lucky Vintage Seattle on Etsy. I think I love this one even more than my old one, check it out:

This one should have satisfied my appetite for bohemian bags but instead I’ve found myself searching for yet another one. I found all of these on Etsy and all at great prices so I’m really tempted to get another bag. I think the green one is my favorite, but oh I do love those straps on the tapestry bag and who couldn’t use another oversized clutch!

Come on Winter!

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:39:05 -0400

The frequent buying and selling of vintage coats that I’ve been doing for the store has me so anxious for coat weather. I know I’ll regret this in January when the daily highs won’t even rise above the twenties but…speaking of the twenties… I’ve got something special to share! This coat is probably the crowning glory of my vintage collection. This type of thing is usually well beyond my means so when I found it hanging in my local antique store for a very reasonable price I was nothing short of flabbergasted. The last two pics are of the carved shell buttons and the silk lining. Unlike some of my other older vintage pieces I intend to wear this one every chance I get!

I hope to chronicle all of my vintage coats on this blog over the course of the winter. You can check out two of my forties coats (one of which is in the store right now) here. Although I’ve collected a few more since this post was done so if you’re a fan of forties outerwear stay tuned!

Speaking of Vintage Coats...

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:44:57 -0400

I have an absolute obsession with vintage outerwear. My favorite era is, of course, the 1940’s and subsequently I buy up almost every 40’s coat I can get me greedy hands on. The coats shown above include two 40’s furs that represent just a fraction of the winter wear that I collected during the warmer months. The first coat, however, is by far my favorite lising this week. It is a late 20’s or early 30’s velvet and lamb coat that beautifully represents the fashion of the early 20th century. The last picture is a simple black 50’s clutch coat with a striking striped satin lining. Click on over to the store to see more of these coats and to check out what else is new!

Damn, why'd I sell that?!

Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:10:54 -0400

I have been such a bad blogger lately! For some reason Tumblr has been scrambling my html code so after trying for like three days to do a shop update I finally got frustrated and gave up. If I had been able to do my shop post I could have shared this 60’s coat before it sold. It was such a great piece that it went on reserve within a few hours of being listed. I couldn’t resist showing it off on the blog though. This one is definitely going in the “damn, why’d I sell that?!” file.

A Few of my Favorite Things

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 17:46:01 -0400

Blazer: Vintage (1989), thrifted
Dress: brand?, local second-hand shop
Socks: Target
Boots: Frye, local western store
Bag: Vintage (70’s?) Valentino, thrifted

This blazer is one of my favorite vintage items. The crest reads: “Coast Guard Academy 1989”, it is a warm, cozy, navy blue wool and it has a fantastic scarlet red lining. I think I love it because it is just so darn wearable. I can dress it up or just wear on a casual day of running errands—it seems so right for any occasion. I paired with this 70’s or 80’s Valentino bag that I recently thrifted. It was one of those amazing scores that I couldn’t stand to part with. I also broke out my Frye boots for the first time this fall. I can’t possibly describe how much I love these boots so I won’t even try!

Shop Update

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:32:27 -0400

Here’s a quick shop update, all of these items were listed this week or will go up within the next couple of days. I sooo wish I had time to go on and on about these clothes. The 30’s pink nightgown has amazing details and that 40’s brocade dress must have been a serious wartime extravagance! My favorite though, is definitely the Nina Ricci. I swear the dress must weigh three or four pounds, the pleats are unbelievably intricate which gives the skirt incredible weight. It would be so much fun to wear this dress—sigh, if only it were like four sizes bigger.

1950’s Nina Ricci Day Dress

1960’s Ruffle Front Hobble Dress

1940’s Satin Brocade Dress

1970’s Velvet Prairie Maxi

1960’s Navy Trench Coat-Dress

1930’s Lace Trimmed Nightgown

I Love Autumn!

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:13:47 -0400

The weather here has been unusually cool. I’m not a fan of cold weather and I’m begining to dread the coming yucky winter. I must admit, however, that the temperature has hit a perfect equilibrium that makes it incredibly easy to get dressed. With highs in the upper 60’s/lower 70’s and lots of sunshine I can wear pretty much anything I want and still feel comfortable.

This dress seems so perfect for early fall and I was quite thrilled when I discovered it hiding in the back of the closet. Its color scheme is very autumnal but it’s super sheer and lightweight so its hard to wear in the cooler months. It was just right for yesterday, though, and I felt super 50’s feminine on my little trip downtown to sip coffee and hit my favorite vintage stores.

Dress: vintage L’aiglon, thrifted
Oxfords: 80’s vintage, thrifted
Clutch hidden behind dress: 80’s vintage, thrifted

Punk Rock Vintage

Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:45:41 -0400

Does anybody else feel a bit nostalgic looking at biker jackets and Docs? It’s like I’m seeing Fugazi for the first time all over again! Anyhoos, all of this fall gear has just been added to the shop.

Shop Update

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 18:44:12 -0400

I went vintage shopping in the city again last weekend, check out these new lovlies! These late 40’s to mid 50’s dresses will be added to the shop tonight in addition to a few other new items.

Earl Carroll's Vanities

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:13:00 -0400

A couple of weeks ago I took a lengthy drive to a rather isolated little Kansas town to find a fabled thrift store that had aisles paved with gold…in the form of vintage clothes of course. I did find the store but sadly, it really didn’t warrant a blog post. I did however stop by a strange little roadside antique store. It was tiny and quiet and looked as if it hadn’t seen another customer in years. I was all alone in the place for several minutes until a very sweet woman in her 80’s, maybe even her 90’s, popped in the door and said: “oh, I’m sorry, I was out picken’ tomatoes and I just kept finding more stuff to do out there”. I was quite impressed by the whole scene. I sort of wished that I was looking into my own future. How great would it be to spend your golden years picking tomatoes and collecting antiques! I found one little treasure in the store that I just couldn’t resist:

This Earl Carroll promotional postcard was quite the source of amusement to this lovely older lady. When she saw what I had chosen she squealed and laughed and remarked that this card must have been quite racy in it’s day. Racy indeed! Earl Carroll was a club owner and producer from the 20’s through the 40’s whose shows could have made a modern burlesque dancer blush. A search for similar Earl Carroll cards and images turned up some fun promotional shots that I just had to share:

How funny is this one? I guess everbody loves a good ‘girls and guns’ photo op!

Thirties Dresses and Other Vintage Finds

Fri, 11 Sep 2009 10:54:39 -0400

I’m in a big rush to head off to a fantastic estate sale so I’ll just say briefly…check it! The top two dresses date to the late 30’s or early 40’s and they are now in the store. The rest of the items date from the 40’s to the 60’s. Over the next couple of days I’ll be filling the shop with mid-century Mexican jackets, wiggle dresses, luxurious coats, and mod day dresses so click on over and visit me on Etsy!

Fall Preview

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 10:25:51 -0400

I guess I’ve been on a bit of an accessories kick lately because this is a sample of the items that will go into the store today and tomorrow. I’m going to spend this afternoon photographing some older vintage items that I’m really excited about, along with some fun fall dresses from the 70’s. I’ve got a fantastic 30’s/40’s novelty print dress that I desperately want to keep but it’s a little on the small side and I’m afraid if I try wearing it regularly I’ll split the seams while trying to squeeze the dress over my big shoulders! It will be making an appearance here this week and I hope to begin thinning out my massive collection of coats from the 30’s through the 60’s this week as well so stay tuned!

Cloudy with a Chance for Sunflowers

Fri, 04 Sep 2009 11:37:00 -0400

These amazing sunflowers seemed to emerge from the cornfield overnight. I’ve been dying to take some pictures in front of them but the grass is so tall that it provides good cover for rattlesnakes and copperheads. I had to wait for a nice, cool day, when snakes would be hidden away or inactive, to venture out to the field. I can’t even describe how much I love living out here. My surroundings seem to change everyday and sometimes the vegetation becomes so lush and full that it looks like it’s going to swallow the house whole.

It was so cloudy and dark this week that I decided I needed something colorful to brighten up the day. I bought this 40’s plaid dress a couple of years ago from a local vintage shop. It doesn’t come out often so every time I wear it it makes the day a little bit special. Vintage dresses are such a great way to neutralize the rainy day blues.

My Middy

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:05:00 -0400

There is a particular kind of dress that seems to occupy a brief moment in fifties fashion history. The dress, known as the “middy”, had a drop waist seam and a beautifully contoured waistline. The middy was introduced by Balenciaga in 1952 and in ‘54 Dior followed suit with his “H-line” collection. It was one of the more original innovations of the ealry fifties.

The terminology of this striking silhouette seems to be a bit below the radar of most vintage fashion collectors and sellers because even a google search turns up only very limited selection. Although, it is also possible that the middy simply wasn’t popular enough to warrant massive production of ready-to-wear versions. However, a couple of weeks ago I stumbled across this rather striking version in a lovely etsy shop called Cali Vintage.

I’m totally in love with this dress, but alas, it is much too small for me. If any of you have a 26” waist you should snatch this one up quick—it’s well-priced and the giraffe print is adorable! I was so enamored with the dress that I set about to find a middy of my very own. Miraculously, within a couple of weeks I lucked out and discovered one in a local vintage shop.

The dress fits quite well and I really love the simplicity of the design and the perfect wintery color. Sadly, however, the dress is made of a very warm wool which doesn’t suit my winter wardrobe at all. I absolutely abhor the cold! I prefer to stay in my nice warm (okay, old and drafty, but still better than outside) country house during the dreary, dark months. If I do dare to engage in any activity that warrants a treasured vintage dress, I prefer to wear something that can be layered with both tights and over-the-knee socks. It’s just much to cold in the Heartland to expose my legs in tights alone. For once I’m going to admit that I’ll never wear the dress BEFORE it lives a sad existence in my lonely closet for months or even years. Therefore, it will be added to the shop today, along with some other fun fifties finds.

New Shoes in the Shop for Fall

Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:17:00 -0400

Here’s a quick look at a few of the shoes and bags that are going into the shop today. Stop by and see what else is new!

How perfect are these?!

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:06:03 -0400

The approaching autumn has me daydreaming about all of the new things that I don’t really need for fall. How many vintage jackets and puff sleeve plaid shirts have I accumulated in the last few months that I haven’t even worn yet? Too many! And how about those green Camper maryjanes that I bought last year and have worn only once or twice? Surely I don’t need another pair of maryjanes but…

How amazing are these Balenciaga pair recently listed and immediately sold by Dear Golden?!!! I could have admired these beauties for a day or two and then forgotten about them but I made the mistake of visiting Super Kawaii Mama who, in a great post about how to keep an inspiration folder, included these awe-inducing red and white spectators.

My fabricated “be happy with what you have” additude disolved immediately upon viewing this second beckoning to maryjane heaven and I am now on an Ebay/Etsy hunt to find a similar pair in my size. Sadly, my first attempt turned up nothing on either site but my resolve is strong so I shall persist. In the mean time I found a lovely, monotone version on Dear Tilly’s Flicker that continue to inspire me while I search for my own pair of perfect wingtip maryjanes.

Shop Update

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 20:50:24 -0400

Here’s a quick look at the new dresses just added to the store. They date from the late 40’s through the early 50’s and I chose them for mid-August because they should transition nicely from late summer to fall.

Vintage Shopping in the City

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 17:26:35 -0400

My husband and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary last weekend with a little trip to the big city. The big city being Kansas City, which to some may not seem very big at all, but to those of us born and raised in the wheat state Cowtown is an impressive metropolis filled with fine restaurants, beautiful museums, and best of all, lots of vintage shops! Here’s what I wore while eagerly browsing those lovely shops:

Sunnies: local vintage shop, not vintage though
Dress: To The Max, local resale boutique, purchased especially for the trip
Sandals: 1803 OrthoSoft, perfect for all-day walking
Flower pin on belt: borrowed from my favorite 30’s clutch, okay, my only 30’s clutch

The first vintage shop we visited, Rerun, was amazing! It was overflowing with very beautiful, very old, very over-priced, vintage.

The cost of the clothing was well beyond my means but in a corner of one of the many jewelry cases lining the stores walls I discovered a collection of Bakelite that made my knees week. The amicable sales clerk explained that the colorful, carved, brooches and bracelets had all come from one estate and that the owner had purchased them at a very reasonable price. They were, therefore, actually within my price range. I tried on everyone of the dozen or so bracelets but finally settled on a large, heavily carved, amber-colored bangle which has made a delightful addition to my collection. Here is the bulk of my Bakelite bangle assortment (I pulled them all out for this special occasion), plus my new one (top, left).

While I was quite impressed the expensive selection at Rerun, my favorite of the vintage stores we visited was a little boutique called Donna’s Dress Shop. This store housed a small, but delectable collection of 40’s and 50’s dresses as well as some choice new items. Here I was able to pick up a pair of 50’s capri’s (sadly not in my size) and one amazing sailor dress. Both items will make their way into the store this week.

We also visited some out-of-the-way, reasonably priced shops where I was able to pick up a lovely assortment of dresses from the 40’s through the early 60’s. They’ll kick off the new addition of fall items to the shop this week.

We topped off our trip with a visit to the National World War I Museum, which is housed inside of Kansas City’s Liberty Memorial (where my outfit pic was taken). It is probably the finest history museum I have ever had the pleasure of perusing and they had many, many examples of early 20th Century clothing that I was able to study closely! If you’re ever out West the WWI museum is a must see!