The Maxi Effect

I've been selling vintage for almost 10 years now, and without fail every spring the big news amongst sellers is that the maxi dress is "back". And we all get excited and hope we will finally be able to get people to see the value in these fantastic dresses....that people will finally stop hacking them off into minis and appreciate the full effect of a dress actually designed to come to the ankle. Granted, the shorter amongst us often can't pull off the look but you have to respect those that can and have the nerve to go for it.

So every year the word is maxis are hot, and every year the stores get a few, and every year I watch and no one ever wears them or buys them here at the shop. But this year....this year somehow is different. Target has them, Old Navy has them...I've seen girls rocking them shopping at Home Depot. And you know if we're wearing them here in Des Moines, Iowa, the maxi truly IS back.

With that in mind I culled some of my faves and shot them on my friend and model AMBER PIRILLO, who clearly has the ideal maxi-wearing figure. These are available in my etsy shop, SCARLETBIRDVINTAGE...

Maxi skirts....

70s Kamehameha swim gown...

These are available in my new shop on MARKET PUBLIQUE.....

70s gingham halter....

60s poppy print silk palazzos...

70s pink jersey disco dress....

Lastly, I had her put on this insanely fabulous LANVIN 80s one shoulder gown with art print on cotton, with O ring shoulder and loooong side zip to do an ad locally, also available on Market Publique or on the website (click pic)....this dress is the perfect vintage desiger piece for summer!

~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

eVintage WEDNESDAY BLOG TAG!~ The Maxi Dress

I've been tagged by SYDNEY'S VINTAGE FASHION RUNWAY of the eVINTAGE SOCIETY!

"We’ve been hearing it nearly every Spring the last few years....the maxi dress is back! Vintage sellers rush to their stashes of full length 70s dresses ready to supply the fashion forward with the real deal. A newer spin by the industry touts the maxi length as a “patio dress”, as does ELIE TAHARI with this gorgeous full length, floral silk dress offered for spring....

So. Ready for the maxi?"

MAXI OR PATIO DRESS, AND WHY?

I’m likely to use both if its what will get the modern buyer to see them and keep the traditional vintage buyers able to find them by the commonly used term. Though this post makes me realize I don't think I have ANY of the ones on my site called a patio dress, mental note to get busy on that!

FAVORITE MAXI DRESS IN YOUR INVENTORY?

I adore this jersey knit piece in black with 2 tone twisted waist sash and a brushstroke print of birds in flight...

AS A TREND, WILL IT BE A HIT OR A MISS?

I think to a degree. The trick here for sellers to remember is what's going to sell, and what translates to the looks like the one above, is flowing jersey fabrics, sexy necklines and bold, interesting prints. Your average maxi length bridesmaid's dress isn't going to suddenly be a hot item.

DO YOU WEAR MAXI DRESSES OR SKIRTS?

I would, but I’m a curvy 5′2″!

PROS AND CONS?

Pros.....the maxi can cover some body flaws. Lumpy things, pudgy knees, chubby ankles. Cons....the body type required to wear that kind of length and typically a bolder print usually doesn't have a lot of flaws to cover!

DOROTHEA'S CLOSET VINTAGE/REAL-VINTAGE tags Julie at DAMN GOOD VINTAGE.