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).