Rom Com

Valentine's day brings out the romantic comedies on TV.
Most suck.
‘Tis the truth.
Except for High Fidelity, I really love that movie.
Not really sure why.
Of course they really don't make Rom Coms like they used too.

I think my favorites are the Thin Man movies.
I know they are not really considered romantic comedies, but they are funny with tons of witty banter.
Myrna Loy and William Powell infuses the couple, created by Dashiell Hammett, with an adoration that is romantic without being overly sweet.
Nick and Nora Charles are funny, quirky, and elegant.

Just fun movies full of smart dialogue and fabulous frocks.
Nora really dressed well....very, very well.
Oh and there is copious amounts of alcohol.

Hey CNN, Fuck Off!

Wow, Chez over at Dues Ex Malcontent got fired from his job at CNN because of his blog.

S'rly.
Hell, I had no idea he even worked for them since he never named his employer, all I know is he is a man after my own heart.

I wake up every morning baffled as to why America hasn't thrown George Bush and Dick Cheney in prison, Hollywood hasn't stopped trying to convince me that Sarah Jessica Parker is attractive, gullible soccer moms haven't realized that they share absolutely no kinship with Oprah, and Fox canceled Firefly.

Firefly, sigh....that alone makes him awesome, but you can read here and here* to see why I read
him everyday.

Not sure why CNN cared that he had a blog since for the most part no one knew who he worked for.
I've pretty much given up on CNN since they hired that douche bag Glenn Beck so it is no skin off my nose removing them from the satellite "favorites" list.
It will protect me from being traumatized by Wolf Blitzer.

I guess it is a good thing I work for myself.

*I mean really, who isn't sick to death of The Oprah and that %^&%%$^(*((*)#@ Ann Coulter?

Vintage on the Runway

Project Rungay has a post about Kors's new collection.

Micheal Kors is all about vintage ala Mad Men for Fall 2008.
I am in love.
If I had the bod and the money I'd buy the whole collection.
Of course we all know that we can find the look on any number of vintage websites like Damn Good Vintage.
Here are a couple of my favorite looks:
And you can watch the show too:

It is That Time Again

Fashion week.
So far nothing has really struck me except Vera Wang's show.
And it is not the clothing, but the models makeup.
Or lack there of.
Or maybe the idea really was to send those lovely designs down
the runway on walking corpses.
Who's idea of beauty is this?
Dracula's?



Why would anyone want to make this lovely 12 yr old look like she was dead?

Or at least like she had stayed out too late partying after the Hanna Montana concert.

I guess this is the "fashion is serious business" look.
Ah well, you can see the rest of Wang's show here.

You Can't Save Them All

One of the things I love about buying and selling vintage clothing is being able to take a garment that you think is beyond any hope of saving due to years or neglect and bring it back to life.
In unfortunately there is a flip side to this when something you
have fallen in love with is just beyond saving.
Case in point these two awesome dresses.
They both look wonderful and lovely in these pictures, don't they?
Looks can be deceiving.
Both came in together and both had the same issue.
Dark water and mildew stains all over, but really
concentrated at the hem.

The 40's chiffon evening gown cleaned up like a dream, the
stains just melted away.
I was so happy...giddy even.
The slight shift from pale, pale pink to creamy yellow became more
apparent like a pastel sunrise.
Then I touched it.
The chiffon tore anywhere I moved it.
Sigh....dry rot had taken its tool.
The stitching has begun to tear too.
Whaaaaa!!!

The early 60's evening gown on the other hand is strong and totally wearable, BUT I cannot get a single stain to move.
The same stains that just disappeared on the chiffon are locked in on the acetate taffeta. They will not move. I have used EVERYTHING I have in the way of stain removal equipment short of setting it on fire.
I love the color combination.
I really wanted to save this one.

What can be done? Neither can be altered.

Both would be good "display garments".
In the end the 60's might be good for costume use and the chiffon could live one more time as a dead prom queen on Halloween night.
I think the fabric of the green and brown would be wonderful pillows.

They may become a couple of little girl’s favorite dress-up gowns for a season.

Let this be a lesson to those of you that either collect vintage clothing or are hording your past garments. Make sure you properly store them so they can live again in the future.

And other vintage dealers will be spared the pain and sorrow of not being able to save all the vintage dresses.

More Vintage Purse Scans

Here are 3 scans of my favorite vintage
purses of the past week from my purse calender.
Cushion-top boudoir bag.
1988-89.
Not really sure why one would need a bag in
the boudoir (sex toys, maybe?) but it sure is pretty.


Pouch purse in velvet with decorative cameo. Europe. 1900's.

Satin handbag with poodle clasp, 1960's.

'cause its a purse, with a poodle on it.

Cloverfield

Am I the only one who hopes that the Cloverfield Monster
is The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?


Just asking....

Coming Soon

I know I took a week off, but I am back!
How about some vintage dresses and a bit of shameless self promotion?

Coming soon to Damn Good Vintage.
This great vintage 70's dress from Frank Usher.
How awesome it that bodice?


These 40's dresses, very noir looking, one a black crepe with sequined
flowers on the shoulder and the other with a great sculptured peplum .


I love this vintage 50's patio dress from Alex Cloeman.


Last a pretty, pretty new look dress.

I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

It is time for the Bloggies Awards.
You know you want to vote for me.
Go ahead.
Where?
I have no idea.
Just go vote.

Caturday Purse

I take part in a Secret Santa each year and this Christmas I
bought my SS recipient this purse calender.
I liked it so much I bought one for myself too.
Oh, there are some great purses.
Some are vintage and some are not.
I've decided to scan my favorite purses as I come to them.

The scan above is of
"Harle" calico cat bag with thread "hair" and
applique from Priscilla Snyder, 2005.
Yes, that is a purse.

Vintage champagne-bucket evening
bag in black suede by Anne Marie of France, mid 1940's.



Waving "Quelle Idole" (what a doll) Kelly Bag. Hermes, 2000.

A Man Got To Have A Code

I loves me some Omar.

And this Sunday I'll get to begin enjoying him and his code
when The Wire begins it's 5th and final season on HBO.

The truth is this just maybe the best show ever to air on American TV.
If you are not watching it, you should be.
It is a sin it has been completely overlooked by The Emmys for so many years.
(I'm not saying that the folks who vote for the Emmys are racist, but ya gotta wonder why a show that is this well written and this well acted does not ever get a nod except that it is about an American inner city and alot of the time all the faces you see are black.)

If you have HBO take a look.
If not grab the DVDs and begin watching.

I'll Love you Forever

Just a hint.
If by some small chance of fate you decide to clean out all the old cassettes you have in the wardrobe and you come across a tape that has all the lullabies you sang to your teen when they were itty bitty.
Don't listen to it.
In particular don't listen to "I'll Love You Forever" which you sang every night to said teen from day one till about age 7 or 8 when they requested that you stop singing to them.

If you do you will melt into a mess of blubbering, sobbing mommy goo.
I'm just warning you.

Pretty

How much do I love this website?
Polyvore
Go play.

Everything Should Taste Like Bacon

"Everything Should Taste Like Bacon"...that is the motto of the folks
over at J&D's Bacon Salt.
And except for The Boy's "everything is better with pie" there
really have been no truer words.
This is some good shit.
Bacon flavor without the calories.
So far we have used it on smoked turkey sandwiches,
omelets, in potato soup,
on baked potatoes, cheese fries,
Rhamen Noodles and hot dogs.
So far, so good.
The Boy likes the peppered better, I like the original.
They even have a blog with recipes and updates.

Fab But Flawed

Over on Zuberbia the writer has a post on Dec. 21st discussing the value of vintage clothing with flaws.
Finding beauty in imperfection, Wabi Sabi.

Wabi Sabi is the Japanese art of finding beauty in imperfection. Instead of shunning decay from time, weather, love and age, it celebrates it. And for a vintage fashionista, that means learning to embrace frayed edges, subtle color fading, minor snags and other imperfections.

It is a lovely way to live your life.
It is also a great way to buy and wear vintage.
Not only because you will stop worrying about the chance you might get a spot on that mint condition vintage dress, but also you will spend less on it.

The 40's suit above is a great example. Lovely color, sharp Noir lines, but it has flaws.
I would wear it in a minute if it fit me.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas Eve

Here is what I'm doing.

Sent The Boy and Mr. Goddess off to Mass at the Cathedral.
I am home with a Vodka Cran, tons of presents to wrap
and A Christmas Story on the TV.


Before


and after!


"Deck the Halls with brows of Howrey, ra ra ra ra ra rarara....."

Buddy Christ

I've taken pictures of Buddy Christ all over the place.
He likes to travel....don't judge me.....
The newest image is him sitting on top of my signed copy of American Gods by Neil Gaiman next to my Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club mug (yes he is now the Pope, but I've had it since he was just a Cardinal in charge if the Office of the Inquisition) "putting the smackdown on heresy since 1981". Three of my most treasured "stuff".
The things I would grab if the house was on fire.

Good Times.
This was also a reason to try out my early Christmas present a Cannon, PowerShot A570 IS. It has this thing called "image stabilizer" that really makes taking pictures inside without a flash so much easier.

Kitties!

I'm not sure what Nico did to piss off Mr. Kitty, but he spent the evening with his back turned to the rest of us.


Kitty loaves.

Drunk Actors

The Golden Globes will air Jan 15Th.
If the writers strike is still on there will be no script.
This is like a gift from the gods.

Drunk actors on TV trying to not act drunk and show their asses.
This could be one of those golden moments that will go down in history.

I can't wait.
Good times.

If you are in the least bit interested in the strike Deadline Hollywood Daily
is a good industry blog to read. A lot of the folks leaving comments are writers and others
involved in the business.