real-vintage.com

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

eVintage Society BLOG TAG WEDNESDAY ~Tropical Tease!

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

1) Show us your favorite Hawaiian or tropical print in your inventory!

I'm just about to add this fabulous little red sundress with gold and black Hawaiian print with the coveted PEGGY WOOD label! Its another piece from the collection of SPENCER COMMUNITY THEATRE, proceeds go to support the theatre!

2)Favorite era for Hawaiian? 40's exotic gowns, 50s bombshell sarongs, 60s printed shifts or 70's Hawaiian halter maxis?

40s for sure. Beaded tropical print gowns, palm tree print swimwear in satins....so glamorous!

3)Favorite exotic destination if money were no object?

Given that I am terrified to fly, thats a tough one. Maybe a cruise to Hawaii. I'm not really a global traveling type!

4)Favorite exotic destination on a real-world budget?

REALLY tight budget? The local Botanical Center!

5)Best vacation ever?

Always Okoboji, with my daughter!

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

~Ang

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

I Heart (Vintage) Shoes

But finding vintage shoes in your size that fit well and have life left in them is not an easy task! I'm lucky to wear a 7 and can find them occassionally in 40s or 50s, more often 60s to 70s and more often than not, in narrow sizes so while the size is right, they are pinchy indeed.

How to wear vintage and keep the look going head to toe? How to add a vintage edge to a modern ensemble with footwear rather than a hard-to-pull-off hat? Repros!

I'm not often a fan of the repro, many are done poorly and look cheap. But these shoes are amazing!!! And you must believe me when I tell you that A) finding lower heeled, more "casual" shoes from the 40's is a real challenge and that B) said lower heeled, more casual shoes from the 40's are both easier to wear than big heels and lend your vintage shoe wardrobe a day look that may be lacking.

Behold, ROCKET ORIGINALS.....

But wait! There's more! Rocket Originals also makes reproduction 40s style women's sweaters....! Bless their hearts, yet another extremely difficult type of vintage clothing nearly impossible to find in good condition. (Why? Women saved these things; fancy dresses, fur coats, hats and dress shoes...all things they invested in and felt were worth wearing again. They rarely saved an every day sweater or casual sporty shoe. Trust me). Look!!!

Love......now for the figure to wear the high waist slacks with that sweater!

~Ang

Friday, July 18, 2008

70s Bell Bottoms & Disco Chic at KISSMYVINTAGE!

Coming tomorrow....pics already up (more will be added along with details and measurements), the biggest 70s bellbottoms ever at KISSMYVINTAGE on ETSY!

Click the pictures to get there and add to your favorites so you don't miss the details!

Pink knit pants...comfortable and super chic!

Lee blue corduroys with black inserts at wide bell bottom cuffs....

High waist navy blue pants with mammoth bells....

And the psychedelic frosting on the cake, a clingy jersey nylon 70s cat suit by famed Italian disco shirt designer NIK NIK (signed fabric & label!)....

All details to come in the AM!

~Ang at KISSMYVINTAGE.COM and DOROTHEA'S CLOSET VINTAGE.COM

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

National Packard Club Fashion Show!

Accolades and big thanks to all models involved, Amber for doing hair & make-up and Maggie Gulling at Mg PHOTOGRAPHY for pictues! Also, thank you to Rick Hickman (my landlord, no less) who asked me to get involved with his event, showing the National Packard Club my shop-wares.

So! Without further ado....the girls.

Savanna in a 20s beaded tabard (sorry, sold already!)....

Savanna.....

Ginny in a 20s dress by Arthur Weiss, also sold....

30s velvet gown with dramatic back on Amber....

Dulcie in deco (sold, sorry!).....

Megan aka "Princess Fluff" in a killer 40s beaded dress.....

Mary in a gorgeous Jo Copeland beaded dress (sold to an attendee of the show!)....

Nicole in a 50s chiffon bombshell gown (also sold now, sorry!)....

Melanie is a 50s blue rose print party dress...

THANKS to all involved!!! PS, Packards....very. Pretty. Cars.

~Ang

Thursday, July 10, 2008

eVintage Society BLOG TAG WEDNESDAY!~ Summer Sparkle~

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

Its HOT!!! What better time of year to shimmer like the ice cubes in a vodka-lemonade? Refresh those who admire you with some summer sparkle!

1) Show us your favorite vintage sparkling stunner in your inventory! Rhinestones, sequins, beads….show us your shimmer!!

I just consigned this amazing, wool knit 60s column gown absolutely COVERED with beads, rhinestones and sequins in rich shimmering gold....

2)Rhinestones on daywear? Yes or no?
Rhinestones 24-7! Daywear, evening wear, lingerie...anytime!

3)Favorite beaded bag or jewelry in your inventory or personal collection?
Hang on.

4)Colored rhinestones or clear, which do you prefer?

I used to think clear won that battle but have recently become enamored with colored, especially reds and blues.

5)Cubic zirconia, costume rhinestones or REAL diamonds? Be honest!! Which will you wear?
With my lifestyle its likely I'll only wear what I buy for myself (insert canned audience "AWWWWWW")....so rhinestones it is.

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

~Ang

Monday, July 07, 2008

I'm Back!! Vacation= Over. Site News, etc....

Back from vacation! I'm not nearly as excited as that made me sound, but I do have a lot of new vintage to work with which is cool. Right before I left I aquired a large cache of vintage jewelry...mostly rhinestones, clear and coloured. I'm researching and building a page for the site but for now a few pieces are available on the front page! Watch for more from Weiss, Juliana, Kramer, Whiting & Davis, Florenza, Miriam Haskell and Hattie Carnegie.

This is one of my favorites, an Eisenberg Ice crystal clear rhinestone brooch and earrings (quite large in size, too!)

A Weiss attributed clamp bracelet with bright, big rhinestones and matching earrings....

Another clamp bracelet with aurora borealis stones...

Weiss deep blue rhinestone earrings...

Kramer lilac and lavender starburst rhinestone earrings...

Coming soon, 2 pairs of Juliana earrings....

I also spent some time with Bonnie, the head of the wardrobe department at the Spencer Community Theatre in Spencer, Iowa. I'd met her a couple years ago and bought some vintage they were purging out of their packed wardrobe storage area, and as it turns out she was looking to sell AND consign some pieces to make room and salvage some better, older pieces before something bad happened to them! I was happy to be able to help out.....here are a few things I've shot but arent quite ready to sell yet (tomorrow! I promise!)

Two fantastic European themed 40s ribbon knit, two piece dresses.....

A smashing, dramatic stenciled mohair 50s coat by LILLI ANN....

Watch for some amazing things from the jewelry buy AND the theatre to come over the next few weeks!

~Ang

Sunday, June 22, 2008

eVintage Society BLOG TAG WEDNESDAY ~Animalize!~

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

Animals…..we love ‘em, we love to wear ‘em! Prints, that is (fur is another and much more sensitive topic for another blog). Show us your animal prints!

1) Show us your favorite piece of animal print apparel in your inventory!

I loooove this 60s leopard print short sleeve sheath dress and safari inspired jacket set by Abe Schrader....

2)What is your favorite animal print to wear & why?
I love the look of zebra print in the home but not on me. For me, leopard works both in the size/shape of the print and the warmer color tones.

3)Favorite to sell?
Again, zebra, especially if its pre-70s...so hard to find!

4)Favorite pet and best pet story?

I prefer having cats to dogs for the simple fact that I do not have a yard and no time to walk a dog! I have 2 cats now, Buhaki and Basil. I'd feel guilty naming a favorite (as if they read). I had a fantastic cat named Terabithis from highschool til just a few years ago, she was a tux & a polydactyl (mitten kitten), and chock full of bitchy attitude. My puppy-cat, Hobbes, a big loveable tabby, passed away a coupld years ago also....my "best" pet story would be the time his brother/litter mate, Cosmo, woke me up one morning meowing loudly next to the bed and literally led me to an open window the screen had fallen out of. I knew immediately Hobbes would have been in that window and likely knocked it out, so ran down three flights of stairs (yep, third floor apartment), expecting the worst. He was scared but totally fine!

5)Scared of animals? Which one scares you the most & why?
Bats. Bats. BATS.

6) Favorite animal to visit at the zoo or to collect images of?
Gibbons. They make cool noises.

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

~Ang

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

I Smell Pretty...............

Oh so pretty.............

Yeah, thats dorky. BUT, I have been recently introduce via my random and odd obsession with the scent of lavender to an amazing line of bath and scented products available both on etsy and on her WEBSITE by Angel Face Botanicals. Believe me, I'm not tree-hugging nature girl....I don't camp, I don't worry if my use of Target facial products will impact the environment. I'm not saying I shouldn't worry, but I'm freaking busy, yo.

I ended up with some lavender scented stuff after a fashion show I did recently, in a gift bag, and revisited my love of the herb. I used to garden, when I had a house, and grew lavender, sage, thyme, basil, oregano....you name it (all legal!). But in years since with a small child in an apartment I have gotten away from the earth-momma world.

Angel Face Botanicals marries my love of earthy, garden-girl happiness with modern sophistication and makes me look forward to a long hot bath! Thats pretty cool in my busy-book. Check her out, seriously. Good (smelling) stuff!

PS, if you party a lot (um, who does THAT?) she has a Rock Star Detox that will ease your mornings. Sweet.

~Ang

Sunday, June 15, 2008

Jen @ The Rusty Zipper Needs Your Help.

I recently was made aware that the owners of one of the oldest vintage clothing websites on the internet RUSTYZIPPER.com are facing some very tough times. Jen's husband, Rob, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrigs Disease). Rob's prognosis, as with anyone diagnosed with ALS, is not great, and the two of them are raising 2 small children together while fighting this horrible disease.

Read more about Jen & Rob's battle HERE, and please do what you can to contribute to the fundraisers outlined there or donate to the fun they have set up to raise money for in-home health care workers to be able to help Rob and many others in their area HERE.

I don't know Jen or Rob but my heart goes out to them. I hope you will take time to do what you can, get involved, send a message of support or just shop at the Rusty Zipper. Her site was one of the only ones out there when I first got started selling vintage and she is an inspiration.

~Ang

Friday, June 13, 2008

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