I'm Gonna Need a Bigger Jewelry Box...

... or I'm gonna have to list more on Etsy.  I recently decided that in addition to my jewelry armoire full of interesting modern junk jewelry, I needed a vintage jewelry box to house my vintage stuff.  It's full.  I started slowly incorporating color into my wardrobe a few years ago, and I knew it would be dangerous.

I sold one just like this a while back.  Maybe I should have kept it.  I used to have a big white jewelry box like this, given to me full of old jewelry from the 50s and 60s.  I was also given another one full of miscellaneous junk.  Both were mistakenly thrown out by someone who is not me and I don't wanna talk about it.
At any rate, I've been finding some pretty things here and there recently.  Here's the first one- clear faceted beads in hues of fallen leaves:

The next one was found in the same place- orange pearls in more muted tones- I think I have to keep these.  They almost match some pearly orange earrings I found a while ago.

And every girl needs a strand of pearls, even if only faux.  Some of us have several of them, but that's because we're compulsive shoppers.

This next one is my new favorite.  I saw this set at the Burnout http://theburnouthouston.com/ and forgot to go back to the booth before we left.  When we went to the Hot Rod Revolution http://hotrodrevolution.com/ it was there again!  My honey bought this beauty for me from the lovely ladies at Pinup Accessories.  They have an Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/PinupAccessories, a website http://www.pinupaccessories.com/ and are at just about every car show around.

I love me some green!  I've also developed an affinity for the clip and screwback earrings that tortured me as a little girl with unpierced ears. Anyone who knows me knows that I have an penchant for interesting shiny things altogether, not to mention a glitter obsession.  I think I have raccoon dna.

I'll be listing more on Etsy http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrorockit?ref=si_shop...who knows what'll turn up or how long they'll be there.  A few things I listed last night sold while you slept.  (insert suspenseful music here)  I'll probably be posting Etsy coupon codes here, so keep checking the shop and keep your eyes peeled here for coupon codes, dear readers.

Fur-tastic!

It's a touchy subject, I know... fur is viewed as cruel and extravagant by some, killing innocent animals inhumanely for the sake of fashion, parading around in suffering and pain.  Vintage fur has been dead for a long time, and if I wear it, then it's still being used and not wasted. Besides, I can't keep a normal human body temperature on my own, let alone in cold conditions.  Seriously, my temperature is below normal average, and at the risk of being lectured, re-educated, and generally frowned upon by vegan and animal-loving friends and acquaintances, the long-gone creatures sure can help me stay warm.
That said, I happened upon an thrift store in a neighborhood I never go to, just the other day.  It used to be a very nice neighborhood once upon a time, and some very nice things were hanging on the racks priced cheap and then marked down on top of that.
This beauty is a very heavy wool coat from the 50s, with a fur collar.  I initially thought it was fox, but upon doing a little research, I suspect it could maaaaybe be a type of marten.  I'm gonna have to get Alyssa to take a look and play "name-that-fur".

I'm pretty happy about this find, especially since I'm afraid I'm wearing my modern wool coat into the ground.  If I told you how much I paid for this, you'd say "no way" and then come steal it from me.  They practically gave it away.  The cherry on top is the label:

 "Shagmoor".  Rrrrrewwwwrr!

The first thing I found when I walked into that store is this beauty, priced cheap and marked down and practically given away.  It's one of those things that made me quit breathing for a minute when I found it-  another case of thrift-apnea...

I initially thought it was blond mink, but there's a chance it might be some pale fox instead- fur is not yet an area of expertise for me; I'll be calling some people who can learn me a thing or two.  It does have a few splits on the sleeves, which I will be mending as soon as I get my hands on a leather needle.   The inside had embroidered strawberries and appliqued monogram patches.

With these two pieces in hand for less than a Jackson, it took a bit of self-control not to dance out of that place singing a gloating song sprinkled with happy obscenities.  I know, I'm a mess.  I do have a lot of mending on my hands now, though.  In addition to the aforementioned fur coat, I've also been meaning to repair these pretty things:

I bought this chocolate mink cape from my friend Foss.  There's one split on the back that I need to stitch up, and then it'll be good as new.  It appears to be postwar 40s.  Those are not sleeves, but slits that are gathered underneath, making a nice little hammock for your hands.

Cozzzzy. And the label?  "Lurch".  What better name for luxurious ladies' furs? Ha!

Last, but not least, I acquired this baby in a hand-picked lot at a private sale.  It's Persian lamb from the 50s, but it needs a lot of love.   It had been improperly stored for a long time and has a lot of little splits that I'll be repairing soon.

One of the splits on the shoulder is visible on the photo, but there are a lot more across the back.  With some love and my conservation training, it'll be beautiful and wearable again in no time.

Seriously, how could I not salvage this piece?  It's lined in faille and has a pleated ruffle at the collar, for bleep's sake!  Not to mention that it's from an old Texas department store!  This one will be a challenge, but I will make it happen.  

Until next time, stay warm and toasty, and continue to have Happy Holidays. <3

Holidays, Schmolidays...

Despite my scatterbrained tendencies (I still stand by my statement that I used to be organized and punctual, really.... I did), I usually have all of my holiday shopping done by Thanksgiving.  Not this year.  I have to run out into the madness, where people threaten each other over parking spaces reserved in their own minds, and grab a couple more things for my family and my mancreature.  On a happier note, I also have to pick up a vintage pearl-encrusted bolero and a Victor Costa dress that a very sweet colleague thinks should live in my closet instead of hers.  (Thanks Barbara!)

So while blitzing a local charity shop, I did come across a box of records from the 80s.... all 45s and all in flawless condition!

The top row is all Duran Duran, some of which are still sealed and include posters.  I did find one more record, but I can't show you 'cause I know my mancreature reads this blog and it's already under the tree anyway.  Some of these are going to a friend's collection, a few to my brother's collection, but the Cinderella one is definitely mine. Not only are these in great shape, but they also cost less per piece than a gumball out of a machine these days. (Remember penny gum machines? Those were the days...)

So I bid you "adieu" as I prepare to brave a couple of retail stores (resale is my natural habitat) and wish you good luck if you have to do the same.  I'll be watching Charlie Brown, the Grinch and Pee-Wee's Christmas specials tonight. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wed1lI3B7Xk  Amidst the holiday hustle and bustle, Merry ChrismaHanuKwanzikah...Solstice... Whatever you celebrate, make it a good one, and count your blessings.

Jackpot!

I stopped at an estate sale last week on my way from one job to the other (I would have told you earlier, but I just found my camera).  Lucky for me, acting on my impulses, it was CHOCK FULL OF VINTAGE PATTERNS!

I bought most of them. :)  The lady told me there had been more.  (I have GOT to get on estate sale mailing lists.)  This type of stuff really makes my day!  All of these are from the 40s and 50s.  I'm particularly excited about some of the older ones.

I acquired a few more party dress patterns in Austin over the weekend, and another I'll tell you about later from eBay.  Patterns make me happy.
I have some more stuff to purge and reorganize, a new shelf thanks to Alyssa, and need to learn how to upload photos from a new camera courtesy of Erin.  There will be more, I promise, and I still owe you a delayed lingerie week now that I found my camera.  Thanks to those of you following my blog, especially my estate-sale-thrift-store-garage-sale-blitzing-partner-in-crime Carlos. <3

Once Upon a Time....

...I used to be organized.  Then I got busy and I think I have ADD.  At any rate, if you follow, you may have noticed Lingerie Week didn't happen, or that nothing happened and I haven't posted an entry in a long time.  I'm bad, I knowww.
I've been up to a lot.  I've been reorganizing and making messes and reorganizing again.  I've been lifting patterns from vintage dresses and blouses (although not nearly enough).  Since it got cold in Houston, I've been cashmere hunting.  I hunt angora, too.  A few friends call me Ed Wood.  I just decided about two years ago that there is no room in my closet or my life for ordinary sweaters.  Therefore, I hunt cashmere and angora, and I can spot it on the rack without touching anything. 
Hunting habits aside, I will be blogging more frequently.  Lingerie Week will happen.  Then, you can see the vintage nylons I found today, among the other treasures I've come across recently.

So I leave you with this:  

Vanity Fair started making novelty prints in the mid 1950s.  I collect their leopard print, among others, and there's more where that came from.  This piece sold a while back.  In addition to posting more blog entries, I need to list more pieces on Etsy here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrorockit?ref=pr_shop

Vintagey Glittery Storagey Goodness!

I'm gonna be one of those old ladies with a bumper sticker that says "I brake for garage sales".  I know it already.  I stopped by an estate sale down the street on my way back from a consignment store (I know, I know, I have a problem).  The place had been the home of an artist (no surprise in the "artsy" neighborhood).  The previous homeowner having been an artist and an animal lover, the place was pretty ick.  I have to admit that I do understand that creativity trumps tidiness, since creativity happens when it happens and not necessarily when you need it to happen.  Still, sometimes you find diamonds in the rough among the dustbunnies and odors, or at least glittery plastic. I found sparkly stackable storage drawers, namely "Vue Chest" by the Pandora Company from the late 50s/early 60s.

And that's not quite half of 'em. Here's a newspaper ad from the late 50s for "Vue Chest":

http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1346&dat=19591013&id=lG9OAAAAIBAJ&sjid=LvoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6871,1876478 

After cleaning with a sponge and dish soap, they're sparklicious.  Anyone who has spent any time living in Houston knows that there's a special kind of dust here that has sort of a stickiness, so cleaning them was pretty gross, but now I have sparkly, shiny, storage drawers.  

I've Been Holding Out on You.

Not on purpose.  I've just been busy.  I've been finding pretty vintage gems, lots of them, all around town and in other nearby places.  Sometimes I find things that make me quit breathing for a minute, like kind of a thrift apnea, and this is one of those things...

 Gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous.  I'll find any excuse to wear party dresses.  This baby needs a little love- there's some dry-rotted stitching that needs to be reseamed, and a split in the silk, but it's nothing my conservation and restoration training can't fix.  Just LOOK at all the polkadotty pleaty dupioni goodness!

I'm in love.  And as if the front wasn't cute enough, with it's wrapped bustline and pencil silhouette, the back will kill you.  There's a full skirt behind that B.  Technically, that makes it the skirt equivalent of a mullet.  Maybe I've just seen too many mullets lately.  It's like a bustle, 50s style.  That's better.

I'm mesmerized by how the pleating from the bust wraps around to the back, and the bow ties it together all so nicely (figuratively, not literally).  I plan on wearing this baby into the ground until it disintegrates on my body, and lifting the pattern from it sooner or later along the way.

So there's another little taste of what I've been finding, but there's more still.  I think next week might be lingerie week...  anyone down for some vintage lingerie deliciousness?

There's MORE, I Promise...

... I've just been really bad about getting on the internet.  I keep finding things, and finding myself busy with real life things and forgetting to get online and post them.  Sorry.  My natural tendencies are to be really reclusive and stay waaaaaay under the radar.  Everything to the contrary is a learned behavior.

So, I went to a local vintage market a couple of weekends back, surprisingly emerged empty-handed, stopped at a consignment shop or two on the way home, and found THIS...

So I immediately called my mancreature from the other side of the store (yes, with my phone- I wasn't going to leave it!) to come and bask in it's vintagey glow, table, chairs, leaf, and all.  I then sat down at it and wallowed in mental turmoil for about 30 minutes regarding whether I should buy it.  It was supercheap (if I told you how cheap, you would throw up), but I was still trying to override my other natural tendency- impulse shopping.  Would it fit in my place?, how to get it there, etc., etc., blahblahblah.  

Long story short, my precious mancreature and his dear ol' dad (and his big ol' truck) moved it into my place days later, and I've been rearranging and restyling ever since.  I actually had started that process prior to finding this gem- my brain messages must have been preparing me for it all along.

(insert sound of angels singing here)

MMmmmm.... faille....

Faille isn't used a lot anymore, but it used to be.  I LOVE it.  Imagine grosgrain ribbon as a fabric- that's faille.  I found this faille beauty not long ago.

Not only is it made of faille, but it has some badass style lines, forming a "v" from the princess seams on the front bodice, and another at the back waist from the shoulder darts.

And as if that weren't sufficient, it has upward horizontal pleats across the back hemline that slope diagonally up the front.  KILLER!

Return of the Killer Cherry Dress!

So, as I was posting about my last Betsey Johnson find, another one was lurking.  Another brain message and another stop at a resale store in an adjacent neighborhood, here it is:

  

  

The fabric is a burnout, and the slip is missing, but that's nothing I can't remedy with my admittedly obsessive collection of vintage slips.  It's a 30's-inspired bias-cut design, so it accommodates my curves nicely. What are the odds of finding another Betsey Johnson Cherry dress?!  And, it brought friends....

 I'm a sucker for novelty prints.  This appears to be handmade, right down to the mismatched vintage buttons.  If the fabric is a reprint, it's a damn good one- border prints are really uncommon these days.  It took me a minute to see that these are closed umbrellas dripping with rain (or blood, whatever...).  The waistband is a coordinating print of tiny umbrellas and raindrops.

And then there's this...

 Some things make you quit breathing when you find them- asphyxiation by fabulousness.  This is one of those things.  It's all handmade, with couture-quality stitching, no joke.  The major seams are done by machine, and all of the interior finishing- blind-stitched hems, finished edges, are all done by hand and done very well.  Someone either had this made professionally or was very adept at sewing themselves. There are even bound buttonholes and covered buttons. 

 The details on the design itself are great, a split bubble skirt, the knot at the hem, a cropped bolero.  The sketchy vines of yellow roses on sateen gorgeous!  They don't make fabric like this anymore... I wish they did!

More vintagey goodness is on the way!

Moral: Impulse Shopping is Your Friend

Sometimes, when I don't buy something I've been wanting, I think I'm being good.  The truth of the matter is that I'm deceiving myself.  I may be behaving, but it's bad for me.  It's a setup for torture.   Let me tell you a little story.
Once upon a time, I found a Betsey Johnson knit dress with a print of big, fat, hot pink cherries.  I wasn't sure about the material, if I wanted a retro-inspired dress made out of comfy knit like a t-shirt.  I wasn't sure how I felt about the cherries being hot pink.  I didn't know if I'd wear it, with it's slight a-line cut.  I put it on hold, waited too long, went back, and it was gone.
As I waited, I decided I neeeeeded it.  I spent the next few years sporadically combing eBay, as well as resale shops locally and while traveling.  Another case of reverse-buyer's remorse; I constantly kept an eye out for it.
http://youtu.be/s-Xl17B-Z0A
Then, one fateful day, I came across another.

The cherry dress and I now live happily ever after.  That's the story of how I came to own a Betsey Johnson pink cherry dress.  Now if only I could keep my antenna up and work some good juju on the Trashy Diva "Anna" dress in their green Ming print.  I recently let one get away from me... the search continues...

It came in the mail... (insert suspenseful music here)

There are a few prints I covet, and one of them is a 1940s reproduction of a fruit print commonly found on tablecloths.  Back before Dixiefried was bought by Pinup Girl Clothing- after the eBay auction of her production patterns didn't meet the reserve price (you better believe I was watching that one), they used the print I love.... a lot.  I only know of 2 other clothing companies that have used the same print; one used rayon like Dixiefried, and the other used a cotton.
Aaanyway, I perpetually search for pieces in that elusive print on the internet, like a ghost of sorts, and I found something.... Dixiefried... in my size.

And here it is in all it's fruity glory!  And to think I expected more bills in the mailbox. Ha! Today, my friends, is Christmas, because I got a present. And yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but sometimes you have to buy presents your damn self.  :)

 

And that's the story of how I became the happy owner of an out-of-production Dixiefried sarong-style dress. Good night. 

More brain messages...

So the other day, while driving home from work, I was compelled to stop at Buffalo Exchange- not because they always have things I want, but because my antenna was receiving brain messages.  I thought I might be wasting my time, until I saw the edge of this peeking out among the skirts:

It's a 1950's cotton circle skirt, lined, with a sketchy print of sombreros and God's eyes.

Anyone who knows me can vouch for my weakness for vintage Mexican circle skirts.  I have several painted ones, and now this printed one, which is gonna look badass with my red and black Code West boots with the red "devil tails" on them.  And to think I thought I might be wasting my time... nothin' makes my day like a good vintage find.

And so it begins...

I came home to this the other day.

My neighbor left me a Halloween present, 'cause that's how we roll.  We know it's August.  We're aware it's 106 degrees.  We love Halloween so much that we give people presents for the occasion as soon as the goods are available.  Micheal's already has some Halloween.  Hobby Lobby has all of their Christmas.  (Don't even get me started on that.)
I'll be perusing the aisles of craft stores for more spooky goodness, and waiting with baited breath for what is usually the best really cool Halloween stuff: Target.  Now I have to find a spot in the house for my spider cameo, courtesy of my thoughtful spooky neighbor/friend, Paul.  I need to stitch up my costume, too- the fabric awaits...

Everybody loves presents...

I've been busy... and yes, I've been thrifting.  My name is Dana and I'm a compulsive shopper.  I even shop for other people, not just for thrift wardrobe makeovers for hire, but randomly.  Sometimes you have to.  Sometimes you find something awesome that happens to be your friend's size, so you can't pass it up. And that is how presents are born.

I found these gorgeous 1940s reproduction heels by Faith.  Faith is a UK company that's been around since 1964, has changed hands, and still makes great quality shoes.  They weren't my size, but they're Karen's size.  The shoes now reside happily in Karen's closet and enjoy outings on her feet and spending time with beautiful vintage dresses.

More thrifty goodness is yet to come, I promise. 

Hunting Instincts, Antennae, and Brain Messages...

I get hunches.  My former Textiles professor Lisa would say my "antenna is up".  I get brain messages and I have to act upon them.  I trust these hunches-  the brain messages tell me to go to thrift stores, sometimes along the way, sometimes completely out of my way, but I have to listen 'cause they're gooood.  They're damn good.
I have a penchant for vintage, particularly vintage lingerie, and deadstock is even better.  I found some treasures.  some of them will be in my personal collection, and some of them will be on my Etsy soon. http://www.etsy.com/shop/retrorockit?ref=si_shop
I found girdles with garter tabs, sheer nylon with fringe, and slips made of "Taffreda" (yes, really- a nylon/poly blend).

This is what the thrill of the hunt is all about, awesome stuff that no one else has appreciated, candy colors. solid construction, interesting fabrics and trims..... vintagey goodness!

Frank was right.

glamourbomb- (noun/verb) a random thing or act of beauty in an otherwise ordinary setting.

Dr. Frank N. Furter was right.  "Don't dream it, be it."  I'm not one of those obsessed with The Rocky Horror Picture Show,  however there is some wisdom in it.  Mahatma Gandhi said "You must be the change you want to see in the world. ",  and if beauty is your small-scale way of being the change, do it.  That said, be your idea of beauty.  It feels much better than being someone else's idea of beauty.  Try it, you'll like it.  Promise.

Here begins my blog, at the request and suggestion of friends and colleagues.  I love beauty, making myself and others and my surroundings at least cute if not downright glamourous.  About ten years ago, inspired by various subcultures, old-school glamour, and the work of the late, great Kevyn Aucoin, I decided to make myself the embodiment of my idea of beauty.  This blog will explore various facets of beauty and style, as well as random stuff I love (like old movie monsters, Halloween, craftiness, music, etc).