Vintage Ceil Chapman

July, 1954

Bad Boys, Bad Boys

COPS is on TV.
Ya'll, there really is nothing better then drunk ass rednecks trying to explain to the police why they drove their car into "daddy's" front room.
Or yelling at each other...
Or...

Jillian!

The guys over at Project Rungay have put up of a preview of the Fall Collection of Jillian Lewis, one of the finalists from season 4 of Project Runway.
I am in love.
And I'm normally not a gal who goes for the ruffles....
If I was skinny and had the cash I would so love to own all those sweaters and that great coat.

Pat Premo

Pat Premo Dress
1954

Lilli Ann

Here is the whole scan of that Lilli Ann dress below:



Fabric of France Finest pure silk "Embossed Jacquard" created exclusively for the exciting new Lilli Ann couturier dress collection. Copper, gray....dramatized by accents of rich Parisian velvet and Austrian hand-cut jewels....about fifty-five dollars at fine stores or write Lilli Ann, 16th and Harrison, San Francisco or 512 Seventh Ave, NY

Good Foundations

Foundations.
No I am not talking about the kind that holds up a building.
I mean the kind that hold in the tummy and push up the boobs.
Girdles, waist cinchers and "all in ones".

Warner's Merry Widow Ad, Vogue 1954

I am also NOT talking about spanx.

I bring this up because I took a return this week for a dress that fit the customer perfect in the waist, hips and bust. But it was a bit too tight in the underbust area.
I did not ask if the customer was wearing the proper foundation garments or not.
If she had been wearing an all-in-one or a high waist girdle the dress might have fit perfect.

I get the not wanting to wear a girdle, but ladies vintage clothing was constructed to be worn over foundation garments. One of the reasons modern women, even skinny gals have a problem getting vintage dresses to fit properly is our problem with wearing a good girdle.

Yes they can be a bit uncomfortable, but look what some of you wear on your feet...how can a girdle be anymore painful then some of the shoes I see gals wear.
And your choices are not just limited to vintage lingerie.
There are modern foundations online and even at your local WalMart.
Playtex still makes those girdles you can get in a box.

Not as awesome as the offerings at Dollhouse Bettie, but they will still do the job.

Strides have been made in fabrics and components that are more comfortable without losing the control that you need to fit into that vintage wiggle dress you have fallen in love with.


Lilli Ann Embossed Jacquard Dress, Vogue 1954

Word.

More pearls of wisdom from Kim over at The Girl Can't Help It...this time it is birds.

"I hate birds. They're flying disease machines with eyeball-scratchy claws and beaks of pokey torture and just the thought of them flying anywhere near my personal space is enough to make me run for the hills. If the hills were made of Xanax. Am I a mental case? Magic 8 Ball says "it is certain"! Ever notice how sometimes they're ganged up in the parking lot and when you walk past them they don't even flinch, but instead give you the "oh no you DIDN'T" look? They're up to something and probably shouldn't be trusted. Those arrogant flying jerks."

Too much Hitch?
I don't know, but some birds do seem to be up to something.
On the list of creepy things birds are below clowns and fucking dolls, but they are above squirrels and giant badgers.

Watch List: Vintage Pattern

On my watch list:
A favorite vintage silhouette of mine.
Very 30's, so Thin Man. All they need are a couple of martinis in their hands.
Love the 2 sleeves options and look at the back detail on the rear.


Swanky.
The auction for this great vintage pattern ends July 22nd.

In case you did not know that NRA symbol at the right comes from Depression Era legislation called the National Recovery Act. It only lasted from 1933-35 before the act was declared unconstitutional.

Dear God.....

Dear God,
When I am 63 I would like to look like Helen Mirren.
K?
THX

Love Julie

Project Runway 5

So I now have a girl crush on Korto.



She is not one of those tiny hipster designers, has amazing skin, great hair, designed a dress made out of a table cloth that did not NOT look like a tablecloth that almost any woman could wear and be happy in (different color though and without the garnish) AND she lives "outside of Little Rock, Arkansas, where she now resides with her husband and daughter"!

OMG!
I live "outside of Little Rock"......
Also "She is inspired by rich fabrics and textures and says her designs are intended for real, full-figured women."
"Best Fashion advice? Wear your size..."
AMEN!

I'm gonna stop every woman I see with a big 'fro from now on until I meet her.
Word.

I can't wait to see more of what she comes up with this season.

1955 Vintage McCall's Evening Gown

What a pretty vintage pattern:

Auction ends in 4 days.
It reminds me of this vintage prom dress I sold a few years ago:

Etsy Is Evil

Really it is.
It calls to me....wants all my money ...

Ang, over at Dorothea's Closet turned me onto Spa Goddess on Etsy.
I'm a total sucker for handmade beauty products.
I bought this bunch o' samples and feel in love with this and this and this.
I love the smell of lavender, I love the way the scrub and spray makes my skin feel.
And my skin does look much, much better.

Of course it did not stop there. I also got some yummy lip balm, Pink Lemonade and Dreamsicle, from You Stink Soap. The seller sent along a sample of Birthday Cake soap.
Best.Smell.Evah!

Last but not least I got this great little eyeglass case from Wrightsan.


It is awesome, I loose my keys all the time. I love slipping my cell phone, credit card and driver's license into this puppy and leave the big purse behind. Great barkcloth fabric.

Today I bought this bar shampoo from Dress Green. I'll let you know what I think once I've used it a few times.

Yard Sales

I hardly ever go to yard sales here.
Why?
Because they SUCK.
You heard me.
The yard sales in Little Rock suck.

These gals on the other hand seem to live in yard sale heaven.
I've added Yard Sale Bloodbath (I love that name) to the blog roll.

Making the Sasauge

Normally we vintage clothing sellers prefer the buyers to think that awesome vintage clothes are delivered each night by Fairies who look like Bettie Page and dress from the pages of the 1956 Fredrick's of Hollywood catalog.
Sadly, this is not the case.
Sure, some days you go on a call and in a humidity controlled, cedar lined closet you are presented with a nice assortment of vintage dresses with nary a flaw.
These days are few and far between.
Most days are like this.

So that is the set up.
Lilli Diamond set, red dye stain, never gonna come out.

HA!

Then:

Now:

I let it sit there for 3 months while I thought about it, finally I decided I had nothing to loose and grabbed my handy spray bottle, filled it with Biz and water and sprayed the spots over and over again for about 4 days.
I then filled my tub with water and Biz and in went the dress and coat.
And they sat and sat and sat in in the tub for 2 days.
When I finally pulled them out there was just a wee bit of pinkish tan shadow where the red would be.
So this weekend I repeated the process with the spraying of the Biz and there is no indication there was ever a dye transfer mark at all on either garment.
Let this be a lesson.
Dye transfer will release from rayon at least, I have yet to get it out of nylon.


So it is up on the site, waiting for the right buyer.

Michelle Obama Watch

You all know this already, but I think Michelle Obama is tres awesome.
Super awesome.
I love smart, strong opinionated women who scare the kinds folks who watch FOX news all the time.
Probably why I admire Sen. Clinton too.

Well there is now a Michelle Obama Watch blog where you can get your Michelle updates including what idiot Rethugs are saying about her.
All Michelle, all the time.

I think she would look awesome in vintage, don't you?

Cute

Snake > Troops

Well at least according to FAUX news.

Guy who runs Books For Soldiers was going to be on FAUX, needs the publicity, donations are down....his interview gets cancelled for a story about a snake bite at a WalMart in Florida.

A snake bite in the garden center in a state full of fucking snakes.

Awesome move FAUX.
Some new horror at you local WalMart will trump supporting the troops every time.
BTW, we all know that the folks who watch FOX News would prefer to think that the war in Iraq is awesome and the troops have everything they need, it makes them sleep better at night.

Go to Books For Soldiers and see what you can do to help a soldier today.

Chief Update: 9 Weeks

Awwwwwww........

P.S.

Thank you to my readers who were nice enough to comment on my un-cool mom post.
I'm in a better place and you guys are tops!

Vintage Inspired Runway

This year's Fall Collection from Dior is an crazy mix of gin addled Thin Man and New Look with just a smidgen of Mad Max thrown in.
It is lovely.

Last year John Galliano showed up as a Pirate, this year I guess it was the "homeboy" look.....I love the whole "how crazy eccentric is he going to look this time?" aspect of Dior shows.
It really does not matter since the man can do amazing things with fabric.
The only thing that is cringe worthy?
These tool belt/waist cincher things on some garments that I can ONLY hope is a belt.

If You Give A Family A Goat

Here is a feel-good story for the day from the NY-Times.

All because Beatrice Biira's family received a goat from Heifer Project she is now on her was to earning a "master’s degree at the Clinton School of Public Service in Arkansas and then return to Africa to work for an aid group."

sigh

It seems I embarrass my teenager.

I know it is not Monday or even Rainy, but really this is how I feel right now.



I'm just feeling kinda ~meh~

I thought I was a bit cooler then most of the other moms.
I guess not.
I'm just old.

I miss my parents and I can't go visit for various reasons.
I wish they had not moved.

sigh.
Just not in a good place.

Monkeys Are Not Babies....

It just had to be said.

Post over on Jezebel about women who fill the baby "want" with a, get this, MONKEY.

Jebus, that takes "crazy cat" lady to a whole new level.

You know those monkeys are just waiting to kill their owners in the night for dressing them up like a freaking doll.
Best comment:
So when I pick the lice off myself in public and throw shit at people while wearing a sailor onesie it's WRONG AND DISGUSTING but when they do it it's cute? That is so goddamn unfair...

I think these gals need re-education in what sane baby lusting gals do....I give you the Crazy Cat Lady Starter Kit.

Weekend Vintage Finds

Went to a couple of estate sales this weekend.
I think I missed out on patterns at one because I did not have the van on Thursday so had to wait till Friday to attend. There were still some 70's patterns and all indications of a major sewer, sooooo.....
Didn't find anything for the site, but I found some great stuff for myself.
(i know, i know i need to spend money like i need a hole in my head)
But look what I got!
New vintage kitchen curtains (the copper on the curtains is a metallic paint), another vintage chrome chair (I was all about the kitchen) in turquoise and yellow, a couple of tablecloths

(I might sell these) and a nice deco bowl.
And a 70's (?) red with silver piping bowling bag.
Cool.

Vintage Fashion Show, NBC

Probably early 50's...maybe 52 or 53.

Sportswear Workshop

Don't forget that the Vintage Fashion Guild is hosting a Sportswear Workshop given by Lizzie from Fuzzielizzie Vintage:

Part One; Swimsuits
Part Two; Private Sports
Part Three; Public Sports and Sportswear as Casual Wear

If you are vintage clothing lover or a history buff this is some great reading.

Blueberries

The first of the blueberries on our bushes are ripe.
Yum.
I picked them this morning and had them with lemon cream cake for breakfast.

One Of My Heros Has Died

George Carlin died on Sunday.
A true non-conformist, a man who pointed out to us that the Emperor has no clothes and who was an artist with the word "fuck".
He was always reminding us that there are no "bad" words, just bad minds.
Free speech is never free....

Terry Gross replayed an interview she did with Carlin in 1990 today on her radio show.

and for your viewing pleasure a few of his routines.

Pogues on YouTube

Well I'll be damned.
Rainy Night in Soho.


I think "you are the measure of my dreams, the measure of my dreams" is one most romantic, best lyrics ever.

Oh and Body of an American.....



Bonus, McNulty's Wake from the final episode of The Wire with the above Pogues tune.
Enjoy.

No Context Needed

There is no fashion-forward or vintage-loving folks around here, no rockabilly hipster scene, no nothing. But we have hippies. Dirty, stinking college hippies. The WORST kind of hippy known to man.

and

Men should never, under any circumstances, wear sandals. This also applies to hippies and their Birkenstocks, who also should never wear them in the winter with socks. You know what? No one should wear Birkenstocks. Men's feet are the second ugliest thing on their bodies and should not, under any circumstances, be on display in open-toed footwear.

No context needed, funny no matter what.
From Kim over at The Girl Can't Help It.