over the top

Its hard to imagine Rosalind Russell in any film without an extensive wardrobe of outrageous and stylish 40s tilt hats. The epitome of 1940s glamour, these sweet little hat perched forward on the head, secured by combs, pins or a strap back beneath hair and were often as whimsical as they were dramatic.

You can imagine our delight at finding this hat recently, just added to the website. Pale shell pink sculpted sisal with 2 lucite accents perched atop in the folds...chenille dotted black veiling. Mint condition!

~Ang

When Vintage Looks This Good....

Why shop the mall and wear what everyone else is? On a nearly daily basis I hear people express that they "can't" wear vintage or don't get how to wear it without it looking like a costume. Well, here's how. And swing by the site to check out a page devoted to showing you other WAYS TO WEAR VINTAGE....either head to toe, mixed eras or pieced into a modern wardrobe. Its hot AND eco-chic!

40s appliqued skirt with an 80s sequined tube top and 30s velvet corset lace dirndl with an Edwardian crocheted bonnet...

Here, a red rose print chiffon 50s dress with 70s belt, red velvet cape from the 1930s, 50s bottle green scarab beetle brooch and 40s feathered cocktail hat....

Early 1920s very Mary Pickford babydoll style wedding dress with organza ruffles and silk ribbon worn with a hat from my line, SUGARLIDS designed from a vintage fox pelt & millinery pieces....

We could mix it up all day, but these shots give a great idea of how vintage can be worn with a very modern attitude!

~Ang

Vintage Vogue

My recent inclusion in the September issue of VOGUE MAGAZINE lead me to several conversations at my boutique with clients who found the photography of the Steven Meisel shoot unusual. I wasn't surprised at all when I saw them, rather, I was impressed at how true to 40's Vogue styling they appeared! Here is a 40s shot (credit to MY VINTAGE VOGUE...

And here is an image from the 2009 Meisel shoot (hat available on the website!)...

Something a little more unusual for a vintage Vogue is an outdoor shoot, like this one from the early 40s...

And the 2009 spin on fresh faced, outdoorsey types, both hats from my site, hat on left still available...

Another great shot, which happens to show a model holding a 1941 Vogue I have here at the house, aquired from Jean's estate!

For more vintage Vogue eye candy, be sure to peruse the MY VINTAGE VOGUE WEBSITE!

~Ang

the 40s are "In", and Dorothea's is IN Vogue Magazine!

The September issue of VOGUE MAGAZINE has hit the stands! Not only does it declare on the cover that the 40's are in (yay!), but to prove it there is a fantastic photo shoot by reknowned photographer Steven Meisel (styled by Grace Coddington) on pages 502-517. With powerhouse design greats like Dolce & Gabanna, Lanvin, Donna Karan and Calvin Klein recreating 40s styles nearly to a t, its amazing the stylists chose to add in some genuine vintage pieces. Nice to see the real deal mingle with the modern interpretation. And they're from none other than DOROTHEA'S CLOSET VINTAGE!.

These 2 hats are both from the website, though the one on the right already sold but the large brimmed black one is top of the page on the 1st hats page at the site. Clothing by Michael Kors & Louis Vuitton....

On model Karen Elson, dress by Calvin Klein, coque feather hat available on the website....

We recenetly worked a 40s look with a modern angle on model Emily Svec here at the shop....

Hat tip to Vogue for using real vintage with a vintage themed shoot and a thank you for the opportunity!

~Ang

Lets Vogue. Hat News!

Cannot contain my excitement any more over this latest turn of events at Dorothea's Closet! I was recently contacted by VOGUE MAGAZINE requesting use of some 40s hats for an upcoming shoot for the August issue. Its a 40s themed shoot being done by none other than STEVEN MEISEL! That. Is. Exciting. Some of his work...

Yes, that is Madonna. And yes, Meisel is THE Meisel that did her SEX BOOK

So hats went, came back today in a pretty keen box...

and then an email saying 2 hats were used (still have to make editing...so we wait...and wait...and hope...) AND an email asking for more hats for an upcoming shoot for the Sept. issue and a shoot with TIM WALKER!

Yeah. Wow. And also wow. Some Walker work...

So its *likely* some hats available on my site will actually be seen in Vogue! And if so....well, wow and right on. And all achieved by mere years of good old fashioned arse-busting, elbow-grease and prayer to random deities! Pretty cool for vintage to get the modern fashion spotlight, right? Yes. So get yourself a Dorothea's Hat!

~Ang

Stuff

I'm slammed, crazy overwhelmed. Perhaps I should put a caveat on my site about how shipping *will* be behind and that I can't answer emails quickly because I was a crazy-person and bought a house. Being a single Mom, end of school year events, vacation plans, family stuff, yard stuff, house keeping stuff....seriously, every moment I spend at my shop or on the site feels so scattered I can't keep up. I suck!

But my shining light in the fog is my friend Kim, who blogs as FAST EDDIES RETRO RAGS. She has her own plate full and still manages to do it right and be funny AND witty doing so.

Hat tip, Kim!

PS, I did shoot some good stuff recently, some of which is on my newly created shop on etsy for vintage bridal...WHITE WEDDING. And this awesome 40s beach hat will be on the site tomorrow (if my damn laptop cooperates)....

~Ang

Introducing....SugarLids!

I'm not spread quiiiite thin enough with the shop, site, Momming and buying a house so I decided to start my own vintage upcycled/vintage inspired hat line....SugarLids! I have tons of vintage millinery supplies (feathers, bases, flowers, lots of netting) from collecting and selling vintage over the years, as well as loads of fabric, ribbons and the like. I've always been enamored by vintage hats (hence 4 pages of hats on the WEBSITE), and after handling them for years I felt fairly comfortable with understanding their construction. I'll be honing my sewing skills and creating a studio within my office once I get moved, but to kick it off I made my first hat today and listed it on etsy, accessible via the website SUGARLIDS.COM.

This first hat is constructed on a modern ring base with vintage ostrich plumes, vintage netting, vintage starched crinoline pieces and a vintage satin rosette. Tilt style inspired by 40s tilt & toy hats, it has an elastic decorative ribbon to go under the hair and hold in place while tilted forward or can be bobby pinned into hair. All hand sewn and designed by me! Watch for more to come!

Yay hats!!

~Ang

Site Updates 6/7...Lingerie, Hats & More

Had a great lot of lingerie come into the shop this week!

60s half slip with sassy little chiffon appliques embroidered with dancing girls complete with fringed skirts and the TWIST!

40s nightgown in black w/ lace trim and pink bows....

Rare colored bright teal slip in size 38 by Carol Brent....

50s slip in pale pink with chiffon & lace tiered hem by MOVIE STAR....

50s half slip with crinoline chiffon and lace flounce in pink and black....

50s half slip by MICHELENE in size L, gorgeous ombre effect crystal pleat chiffon in shades of amethyst....

OLGA nightgown in jet black with soft pink roses and black lace.....

In the non-lingerie realm, this ruched black cocktail dress by Matinee...

A stunning sueded rayon 40s gown in cocoa brown and shimmering gold.....

Rare 60s PAPER bikini in pastel polka dots, in original packaging.....

Hats!!

Gwenn Pennington 60s cello straw hat with HUGE flower accents...

Late 30s tilt hat by French designer SIMIRIS in original package AND shipping box from the luxury liner AQUITANIA, a Cunard White Star ship.....

60s does 20s cloche with sequined detail in pewter grey b y Sears Millinery......

40s tilt hat with sailor inspiration.....

60s hat in cello straw with wide curved brim and HUGE silk and velvet poppies....

40s hat with pinched crown and killer swirled plastic spear across front....

More hats added, and more vintage to come this week!

~Ang