pirate chic

Missed it on "Talk Like a Pirate Day" yesterday, but turns out one of my dresses was featured on Etsy's front page! Out of the hundreds of treasuries made daily, its tough going getting one to the front page. A big thanks to VINTAGEBIFFANN for using my 70s white chiffon dress and sequined hot pants (thats some seriously glam pirate chic!)....

~Ang

The Psychology of the Shoulder Pad

The padded shoulder is everywhere these days. Popping up (or out) on runways the last year or so, the trend is finally making its way to the mainstream and appearing on celebrities as well as department stores. And while its easy to compare the look to its most recent appearance in the 80s, women have been dressing to create the illusion of having broad shoulders off and on for over 100 years.

In the late 1800s, the architecture of the shoulder in women's apparel reached massive proportions, achieved by using voluminous fabric with tucks and pleats for support....heavier fabrics often had sculpting pads at the seam. The Victorian leg-o-mutton sleeve is a prime example.

Over the next 30 years, shoulders were left natural, often given attention by being revealed with open designs but not exaggerated as before. By the 30s women's apparel had become long, lean and feminine with more attention to sleeves, the back and neckline than to shoulders. But by the late 30s the shoulder started to assert itself again with demure ruffled caps, slight angles and dainty puffed sleeves.

Maybe its coincidence, but at this point as women's fashion was starting to embrace the masculine and empower them a little with a broad shouldered look, globally we were seeing the threat of WWII building. By the time women in America saw their husbands off to war and stepped up to the workplace en masse, the shoulder had reached unusually large proportions. Women dominated the workplace as well as the silver screen and wore the shoulders to prove it.

After WWII Christian Dior reigned in those shoulders and with the lifting of restrictions on fabric, put the emphasis back on the female form in a more traditional sense, exaggerating the bust and hips with nipped waists and massive full skirts. The look became the silhouette of the 50s to mid 60s, when another fashion revolution mimicking the 20s removed the restrictions of the wasp-waist and gave women the freedom to dress without a girdle. By the end of the 70s, the 30s influence became strong again...long, lean & feminine. In the 70s too, women were steadily gaining in the workplace and achieving things unseen before, finding their place in the white collar world long dominated by men. Coincidentally or not, the fashion world once again began to empower women by giving them the big broad shoulders the men they were competing with came by naturally.

I'm sure in retrospect there will be a reason (other than the predictable cyclical nature of fashion itself) that the large or sculpted shoulder is making a comeback at this time in history. Wars, a new president, the recession....certainly no lack of reasons for women to feel like they need a little help shouldering the woes of the world. Regardless, they're back. Whether you're ready to go large or not, the attention for a while is going to be on the shoulders!

~Ang

eVintage Wednesday Blog Tag~ Swing Town!

I've been tagged by SYDNEY'S VINTAGE FASHION RUNWAY for the eVINTAGE SOCIETY Wednesday Blog Tag.

Last week CBS premiered a new series called SWING TOWN. Set in 1976, the show features 3 couples and their families…..a childless couple with loads of money, toys and an open marriage….a young couple with a teenage boy trying to define their relationship….and a more conservative couple facing a changing world. It also features some fab 70s clothes and music! Lets talk 70s!

1) Show us your favorite 70s piece in your inventory, mens, womens, dress, lingerie…..whatever you LOVE!

How about something purchased by the show to be in a disco scene filmed early this week? I'm guessing it will be on Grant Show. A fantastic rooster print Nik Nik disco shirt....

2)Define disco wear as YOU see it.
For guys, the shirt above....paired with crisply pressed wide leg, hip hugging disco pants and platforms. For the girls, those slinky jersey knit silks and nylons with spaghetti straps and swingy skirts!

3)What was your favorite look of the 70s? The maxi dress? Bell bottoms? Culottes? Do tell.
I was little in the 70s but for grown ups, I envied those girls with their feathered hair and ruffled disco dresses headed out to dance. Personally, I wore a lot of terry cloth and have recently come into a slew of new old stock shorts and short sets, gradually being listed on KISSMYVINTAGE.COM, my shop on etsy.

4)Your neighbors invite you to a wild party where there may be disco music. Do you go?

ABSOLUTELY!!!

5)Grant Show. Sexy then? Sexy now? No idea?
No idea about then, oddly sexy now as swingin' disco neighbor man.

6) Romantic Gunne Sax Prairie/Renn Queen or Disco Diva? Whats your style?
Totally disco, though I did rock my share of Gunne Sax in the late 70s.

DOROTHEA'S CLOSET VINTAGE tags Julie at DAMN GOOD VINTAGE.

~Ang

New Listings on Kissmyvintage.com

NOS 60s mini dresses/tunics....

An unusual purple Catherine Ogust....

Fabulous caftan with interesting cinched waist.....

New old stock 70s & 80s shorts.....

All pics click to the site! Lots more of those shorts to come!

~Ang

Palazzo Perfect

In keeping with a vintage separates theme, I bring you what may well be the most dramatic of the realm.....the palazzo pant. First hitting the fashion scene in the 1930's, typically as part of a loungewear set or beach pyjamas, palazzo pants are defined as pants with VERY wide legs, gently widening as they fall to hem while staying slender toward hips and waist. I recently sold this 4 piece 70's set from the tony boutique SARAH FREDERICKS....

This pattern seemed quite likely to be what the ensemble was based on, from GUY LAROCHE

. While technically a coordinate in this case, the palazzo pant is hardly limited to wearing with a matched set.

Worn as a separate, with a tank or fitted blouse....skinny sweater....cami & jacket, any of the dramatic and elegant palazzo pants below make a serious fashion statement.

From SYDNEY'S VINTAGE CLOTHING (click picture to get to website), this pair mixes a warm colourway with a bold, graphic print....

From MAGS RAGS (click picture to get to website), a pair in perfect purple....

Also at MAG'S, these sweet floral palazzos with matching peasant blouse.....

So put your big pants on and add some drama to your vintage wardrobe!

~Ang