Pretty Vintage Dresses

Some of the vintage clothes I got within the last week.

Estate Sale Recliner

Finally.
My husband has been bugging me about the need for a recliner, but I hatehatehate the way they look.
This weekend though I found one he likes AND I like with a nice retro flair.
My son bought it, $56 and the husband is happy.

Ossie Clark?

The guys over at Project RunGay wonder if Cara Buono's (Dr. "you are better without him" Faye) dress is vintage.
I wonder Ossie Clark?

EDIT:
I'm gonna edit this due to Catwalk's good comment.
Yep she has a point, it does seem short, but we all know that there sellers/stylists who have no problem hacking off dresses for whatever "vision" they might have for a look.

Whiskey-A-Go-Go Megan

Last night on Mad Men Megan wore a great dress for her night in LA that looked almost like this:

In black with a bit of sequins at neckline...there might have been a cutout?
Need to find a still from the scene.
The pattern above can be found on Sew-Retro Vintage Patterns.

Vintage Dresses Coming Soon

Thought I would post a few of the vintage clothes I got at an estate sale last week that I'll be working on and listing in the next 2 weeks.
It was a great sale, tons of vintage in a house that generations had lived in (or had moved all of the stuff from one place to the other) and never threw things away.
Here's a few of the dresses:

Pretty Vintage Dresses

New Vintage clothing and patterns added to both Sew-Retro and Damn Good Vintage!

Vintage Photo Contest

Above dress can be found at Damn Good Vintage!

Heads up vintage lovers.
Carol over at Dandelion Vintage is having a contest!

Enter a photo of yourself dressed in one of your favorite vintage outfits. The public can vote daily for their favorites.

The 1st Place winner will receive a $250 credit to spend at Dandelion Vintage – www.dandelionvintage.com

2nd Place winner will receive $100.00 credit to spend at Dandelion Vintage

3rd Place winner will receive $50.00 credit to spend at Dandelion Vintage.

You can view the entries and enter the contest here.

A Subtle and Frightening Novel

Lesbians!
Oh my!
These awesomely bad covers are part of a collection of the covers from Lesbian Pulp Novels:

Included here are twenty-five illustrated front and back covers from pulp fiction novels dating between 1935-1958. This small collection of novels is part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library's growing collection of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer materials representing the fields of history, literature, cultural studies, popular culture, the arts, and design. These novels, named after the inexpensive wood pulp paper on which they were printed, could be found at magazine and newspaper stands, drugstores, and bus terminals.

They amuse me and make me a bit sad.
You can more on the Yale website for the Beinecke Rare Books and Manuscripts Library.

Down To The Foundation

Nice interview with Janie Bryant the costume designer for Mad Men.
The money quote is this:

Now the woman behind the Mad Men phenomenon has disclosed how the show’s unique style was created.Janie Bryant, the show’s costume designer, says it's all down to shapewear. Or what the lingerie department calls foundation garments. Girdles and longline bras - a cross between a bra and a corset - reform Mad Men's female bodies into hourglass shapes. And when the antique and reproduction bras and garters cause the actresses too much pain, assistants provide them with pads of moleskin to cushion their skin.

I say it all the time, but so many customers just do not want to hear it...if you are going to wear vintage you need to have the right foundation garments.

Pat Premo

"Far East to Far West
Inspiration: Eastern
Interpretation. Western: with the wonderful fresh stamp of California talent."

The above text is from a 1956 ad for this amazing dress by American designer Pat Premo now listed at Damn Good Vintage..
Silky rayon woven fabric...it almost feels like Egyptian cotton.
The textile is slightly textured with horizontal stripes, which Premo felt were more flattering to a woman’s body, in varying shades of burgundy, green and black.


A bit more information on Premo can be found here and here.

Today in Wingnuttia

So much to choose from:

So Sarah and Todd and Joe Miller are fighting because Joe Miller did not say that Sarah would make the "BEST PRESIDENT EVAH" when asked. Twitter and FaceBook...how old are these people?

In MO the Tea Party folks are against a bill to limit the size of puppy mills.
Why?
Because the Humane Society is a bunch of commie socialists!!!111!!
That's why.
Also because "the society seeks only to raise the cost of breeding dogs, making it ever-more difficult for middle-class American families to be dog-owners.”
*head desk*

Tea Party and GOP candidates have said such horrible things in the last few months that a number of them are now refusing to do debates or talk to the press in fear they will fuck up their sweet ride to Congress.

But, of course, the worst story of today is the ongoing one about the guy who did not pay his fee to the local fire department and when his house caught on fire the firemen came out end then stood by and watched his house burn down while his pets burned to death inside.
Conservatives, Tea Party types and Libertarians are all over the internet applauding the Fire Chief for sticking to his guns and giving that free loader what he deserved.

Jesus, whatever happened to "Compassionate Conservatives"?

Hating on Onions

Not me.
I love onions, but my husband and son hate them which makes cooking annoying.
I found out last month that if you take an onion and grate it on a cheese grater then sautee for about 10ish min on med/low (don't want to burn them you want them uber soft and mushy) and then put them in whatever you are cooking the flavor is still there, but no one bites into an onion and gags.
Brilliant.


And really?
A 50's TV salt and pepper shaker holder?
That is awesome.
It can be found here along with the onion salt and pepper shakers in the StitchnPost shop on Etsy.

Cats and Dogs

I know, I suck, no post, long time.

Helpful Link

I know, long time no see.
SHUT UP!

BUT I have added a neat link list:
Helpful Links

The first one I added is Who Calls Me.
I hate getting calls that show up as private or wireless caller or just out of state so I normally don't answer them. This site allows you to see who is calling.
Neat.

Standard of the Day

Here is a wonderful blog to add to the Blogs O' Doom:
Standard of the Day

A tribute to the finest genre of popular music in history, pop's direct link to the classical tradition, and one of our nation's most important contributions to world culture, the Great American Songbook. Each day (more or less), I'll spotlight a different popular standard. And yes, I'm straight. So is your grandfather. He loves this music, too--just ask him!

The post from March 15th:

This one's a bit out of my usual jurisdiction in terms of time-frame, but I truly believe this song to be a modern classic that has, without question, become a standard. Written for The Muppet Movie, in which it was sung by Jim Henson as the voice of Kermit the Frog, it stands alongside "Over the Rainbow" and "When You Wish Upon a Star" among the all-time iconic songs derived from children's fantasy film. Wistful, beautiful, timeless.

I agree.
Plus I think it is such a lovely song...so sweet and hopeful that I normally cry when I hear it.



How can anyone not feel good after that?

Haters Heads Go Boom

Gay Marriage good.
Prob 8 bad.

Mazel Tov!

Just Click

Cats For Gold

File This Under "I Thought She Was Dead"

Who knew?
I thought old Phyllis "do as I say, not as I do" Schlafly had kicked the bucket.
But noooooooo, she is still out there being as horrid as she ever was.

One of the things Obama’s been doing is deliberately trying to increase the percentage of our population that is dependent on government for your living. For example, do you know what was the second biggest demographic group that voted for Obama? Obviously the blacks were the biggest demographic, y’all know what was the second biggest? Unmarried women. 70% of unmarried women voted for Obama. And this is because when you kick your husband out, you’ve got to have Big Brother Government to be your provider. And they know that. They’ve admitted it. And they have all kinds of bills to continue to subsidize illegitimacy…

The Obama administration wants to continue to subsidize this group because they know they are Democratic votes.

This is someone who's time had come and gone.

Summer Camp

My son went to summer camp once. It was OK, but he really did not like it.
When we were kids my sister and I went here:
Teamsters Local 688 Health and Medical Camp
(I know, what a hi-larious old fashioned name)

But we had fun.
So much fun.
They still have the same cabins.
Cool.

Runway Disappoints....Spoilers

Spoilers Here.



Color me disappointed.

Jason should have gone home for the backwards kimono and Ivy for talking smack to Nina and making pants out of....pants.
Also she talked about herself in the third person.Thank you, but no.

Don't like the extra 30 min either....but the better lighting on the runway is a plus.

Winning dress?
Logan's Run.
I just saying.
EDIT:
I forgot I added the fabulous Laura "that bitch is living my dream life" Bennett's blog to the Blogs O' Doom.

Comfortable and Dead or Risky and Possibly Rich

1952

Obligatory Mad Men Jantzen post.
The title is what Don says to the morons from Jantzen when they balk at a more sexy ad for their "two piece" bathing suit (yes, it is a bikini gents) that they want to sell more of...they are just hypocritical about what they are selling.
Of course the line is really for Don's benefit, but we will not get into that now.

I looked though the ads I had and none for 64' or 65' but in the 60's they were using the campaign "Just Wear A Smile and A Jantzen" which was used in both their swimming suit and sportswear advertising. FuzzyLizzie has another example on her blog.

1962

From the Jantzen website:

Jantzen harkens back to its archives for its creative inspiration. Whether it’s using an Art Deco 1930s image from Jantzen Beach Theme Park where you could “Dance, Swim, and Play” or their successful 1960s “Just Wear a Smile and a Jantzen” campaign, promoting a form of “happiness” reflects today’s marketing pitch to consumers who are responding to old fashioned values. In a difficult economy, a little happiness goes a long way. Images from the Jantzen

Archives have been seen in the last two seasons of Emmy Award winning Mad Men on AMC and will again be featured in opening credits this fall with images from the 1960s Smile campaign.

Jezebel had a few ads pointing out the difference in advertising between the women's and men's lines, but instead of being from the 1960's they are all 40's and early 50's including this beauty:

And never to be forgotten the "Satan's Spawn" Jantzen ad campaign of 1947:

The Jantzen lingerie ads were a bit risque even in 1950.


What I did notice was that though the 40's and early 50's they were selling sexy and being attractive to the opposite sex, but as society became more permissive (and their competitors became more blatant maybe) Jantzen's ads did become more all about good wholesome fun and how happy a woman would be in a Jantzen bathing suit.

Which if I could find that suit in the top ad in my size I would be very, very happy indeed.

The Boy Who Waited 2000 Years

I loved the finale of this season's Doctor Who.
Matt Smith as the new Doctor is wonderful...not 9 or 10, but engaging in his own slightly creepy way. For me though the addition of Rory to the mix really made the show.
The Boy who waited 2000 years got his girl in the end.

Spoilers!



It was nice for once to have a happy finale.

Gays Ruin Traditional Marriage in Iowa...

Well, except the rates of marriage are up and divorce down in Iowa.
Those sneaky homosexuals, forcing hetros to marry more and divorce less.
How will Gay Marriage ruin America next?
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/07/27/iowa-marriage/

I Don't Care What You Are, I Care What You Did

This is brilliant...how to point out that what someone said is racist without calling them a racist:


Via Balloon Juice

Why You Should Always Have Lemons

Because you never know when the blueberries will be ready and you can cook up a nice Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake like thingee.

Done:

Commie Lemonade

Remember kids There is no "free" Lemonade.


Wonkette's take:Evil Communist Youths Refuse To Let Financial Columnist Pay For Lemonade

Best comment on Ballon Juice:
"Thanks, you shit little communist girls, for ruining this poor free marketeer’s July 4th holiday, which we celebrate for the launching of the first stock market independently of London.

It’s tough having to fight soshullism left and right and vanquishing its young troops in every neighborhood, even the nice rich ones, but somebody’s gotta do it.

The lady must be a fucking riot on Christmases and birthdays—“No I didn’t bring you a god-damned ‘present’, you worthless little 5 year old leach!” “Who invited crazy Terry again?”

hahahahahahaha

Dear God, Not Another LARPing Weekend

The teen is off with some friends this weekend and I assume he will come back missing a fingertip since each time he hangs out with his LARPing group (which he does twice a month...maybe) he comes home sick or injured.
Last time it was bronchitis he is still on meds for and the time before he twisted his ankle so bad he had to wear a boot and not work for 3 weeks. The total price for the medical bills for his LARPing weekends this year have been about $1200ish.


I guess this is payback for a relatively healthy and injury free childhood...

And the reason I say my son (he's 18) will be missing a fingertip is because this was the bottle rocket conversation the other day.

ME: Jesus, be careful
HIM: I am
ME: Put the damn thing in a bottle or can
HIM: NO I can hold
ME: Oh, for fucks sake (I said this as I walked away muttering to myself how I was not paying for it if he put his eye out and how hard it is for a guy missing an eye and a front tooth to get laid unless you are a really hot pirate.)

He has now shot off a few. I am on the deck. He comes up and turns ways from me.
ME: What's wrong
HIM: Nothing
ME: Bullshit, what did you do
HIM: Nothing (while he rushes into the house and into his bathroom all the while avoiding looking at me)
He came back out after a few min and he has a burn mark on his right eyelid where a piece of the burning paper had landed.

ME: Jesus Joseph and Mary.....I told you you would put your eye out
HIM: I blinked in enough time....

*BTW I stole the pictures from one of the guys Facebook pages, hope they don't mind, it is fun to see them in action.
EDIT:The sword he is using is from a couple of boxes of supplies that a wonderful reader sent for free!

Happy Fourth!!

"Vincent and the Doctor"

No wonder Doctor Who was so good last week.
Richard Curtis wrote it.
He, along with Rowan Atkinson wrote some of the Blackadder series (maybe one of the best things ever on TV), Four Weddings and a Funeral along with Love Actually and Pirate Radio which are two of my favorite movies. He also directed the last two.
And Bill Nighy is in both of them.
Of course he is...



Really, Pirate Radio is just a great flick with a fantastic soundtrack...if you have not seen it go rent it.

Harry Potter Y'all

Bell's Day

Making sure the perimeter is safe (she is looking out the window) from strange cats, bunnies and squirrels.

Protecting Jim's chair from intruders....

Yawning and then sleeping....it was a busy day.

(and yes I know my pillow covers are very winkled, I took them out of the dryer and then balled them up...and NO I do not iron pillow covers)

Starry Night

#1: I really, really enjoy Matt Smith as The Doctor.

#2You know how every once in awhile Doctor Who is just brilliant and there is a scene that you won't forget like the one in Family of Blood when John/The Doctor holds the watch with Joan and they see what their life could have been?
This one from last week with Bill Nighy and Van Gogh... was one.

Juliana Earrings and Serendipity

I bought these gorgeous earrings sometime last year for myself at a garage sale, but I've yet to wear them so I decided to list them on Etsy. I had a feeling they might be Juliana (D&E) because of the brightness of the stones, the open rivets on the back and the smoothness/quality of the gold plate.
I inquired over at the Vintage Fashion Guild for a bit more information and low and behold I was right.
Not only right but the response came from the always knowledgeable Linn of Linn's Collection who has the matching brooch listed on Ruby Lane.


How cool is that?
You can see the rivets on the back picture of Linn's brooch. Juliana jewelry was not marked so the rivets are one of the hallmarks looked for to help identify a maker. Also from Linn's listing on RL:
" A variation of this brooch in another colorway appears on p. 45 of "Inside the Jewelry Box" by Ann Pitman. The brooch also matches earrings that have been confirmed by Frank DeLizza."
Frank DeLizza was the owner of DeLizza & Elster which manufactured Juliana (Frank's mother's name) costume jewelry.

All in all a nice surprise...