Orange Dream

Well, I wasn't here Friday, but I also dropped out (temporarily!) last night; we had some landscaping that needed to be worked on, and by the time we got back in it was late and hot and...Well. *sigh*  Sorry...

To make up for it, though, check out this confection of a dress. A vintage Henry Rosenfeld, were this not orange, you wouldn't be seeing it here because I'd be bidding on it! The stripe, the pleating, the collar, the colours...Oh, it's lovely and darling and sweet, perfect for just about anything you endeavour to do or take part in this summer. 

It's a soft fabric, but also sheer, so you'll need a nice slip or even petticoat underneath. The bodice is perfectly pleated while the rest of the dress just...flows.  (There are pleats at the waist to give the skirt more poofy wonderfulness.)  

This beauty is unbelievable...Three mother-of-pearl buttons march up the front of the bodice, adding a little sparkle, which of course can be added to with pearls of your own.  Obviously, the cut and print (as it were) are very flattering, too.

The voile scarf you see as a belt is included with the dress; it could be used as a scarf or, if you have a belt for this one, you could always make the scarf into a headband or other accessory (or put it on your dog, I don't care). This is probably a small or medium, with measurements of 38-30-full.  Bidding ends July 14, and begins at just $19.50. Really, there's not a thing wrong with this lovely dress...other than blondes just don't look good in orange. ;)

Good luck!

Fun Friday: Vintage Roadside

A man? Featured on girly stop Pretty/Modest?

Yes, I thought that might get your attention. ;) Perhaps as this is the first man featured, we should figure out who he is or something? He looks suspiciously like Clark Kent...

As y'all know, this girl love all things vintage — at least all things 40s and 50s vintage (seems to me the culture began sliding downhill in the mid-60s). So it's no surprise that through Flickr I've met fellow-travellers also savouring the nostalgic wave we have for days gone by — in many cases, days we weren't even around for — and the things that represent bygone years.


Vintage signs and advertising fit right into that affection for me. One of the things I was most anticipating about our planned trip across the nation via Route 66 last fall was seeing all of the old signs and advertisements for the old shops, motels, and attractions along the way. Just because our trip had to be cancelled (something about...buying our first house...) doesn't mean I don't still yearn to hit the Mother Road and visit the many icons gracing her path, though.

And I'm not alone. There's a growing interest in things vintage, perhaps because they remind us of a more optimistic, secure, confident, proud (and I don't mean "pride" in the bad way) time in our past. Even more than nostalgia, though, we can't deny that vintage ads seem to have a lot more personality and spunk to them than the too clever by half advertising we now see everywhere.


One of my Flickr pals, Vintage Roadside, has a shop on their website feeding a small part of this nostalgia through t-shirts celebrating the "golden age of the American roadside". You know...diners, bowling alleys, motels, flashing neon signs, wacky attractions, motor courts, tiki, and more.


Shirts are available for ladies and the gents, so perhaps this is the perfect place to shop for Hubby, Dad, or Grandpa. (You know your dad would love to have a shirt that matched yours. Oh, yes he would. You're still his Little Girl, like it or not.)

Each Vintage Roadside tee features an ad or sign from a real, once-live (sometimes still alive) place fragrant with real Americana cool printed in fabulous swanky, full-colour graphics. Each shirt is 100% soft cotton, pre-shrunk, and ladies' tees are fitted (thank you, Vintage Roadside) and come in sizes ranging from Small to XXL. Even more fun is the fact that on each item's page, you can get information about the represented piece of the American Dream: fun stories, location, whether or not it's still in operation (for instance, the fabulously googie Indio Bowl is now a home and garden center). Not only can you snap up some swank gear, you'll have a story to go along with it!


Tees are a mere $20, and a portion of all proceeds are donated to the National Trust for Historic Preservation. I believe you can even get a complimentary year-long membership to the Trust with a purchase, if you so choose.



Vintage Roadside also offers (gratis) a nice list of retro roadside links for your enjoyment, a list of skating rinks, drive-ins, diners and bowling alleys, links to online photo archives, information about that gorgeous architecture, information about preservation of these links to our past, and more. There's even a list of books about the great American roadside and the places and people that made it such a wonderful place. It should keep you very busy...even after you your tees. It's probably the most informative gift shop I've ever seen.


Have a great weekend, everyone. No post on Monday, Memorial Day, so I'll post Tuesday instead. Please do remember why it is we celebrate Memorial Day: there are men rough enough who will and do defend our liberty, often at the cost of their own lives. If you see a veteran (no matter when), please thank them for all they do.

And if you can manage it, sneak-pay their bill or something (they won't let you do it any other way than sneaking, believe me).

Thank you, vets. We can never repay you.

Blue, Green, and White Monday

And y'all thought I could only bring out fun prints on Fridays, eh? No, no! We must have fun! We only live once, and should enjoy ourselves while we're here (why, yes, I will have another soft serve, thank you). Check out this cute 60s - 70s shirtwaist dress. Darted bust, the folded cuffs...the adorable print. Interesting little periwinkle and white flowers dance across a field of blues and whites. Is this perfect for spring and summer or what? It's just so adorable. Flattering in cut and easy to wear...its' just 99 cents. That is under a buck. 38-36-42.

But the auction ends tonight. Tonight. So buy now, now!

As a topper, I really like this green chalk turquoise necklace from An Original Jewelry, or Clevergirl's Lime Loop Earrings. Voleur de Bijoux offers these gorgeous Mata Hari earrings featuring aventurine and pearl, or if you just want to head out the door free and easy, why not this cute ring with a green coin pearl (for only $4.50 to boot)?

Have a great night!

Fun Friday: Ah, whimsy

Novelty prints are a wonderful thing. These days, they seem to be be limited to kids' clothing, but diligent searching will scare them into the open. And thankfully, there are always vintage items made from these fun little prints available for squealing over and purchasing.

Tonight I found two darling treats from Snappy Shop. First, we have this button-front blouse, aptly titled The Cutest Blouse in Town. You have kitties, puppies, and bears literally dancing their way across while a puppy tries to escape his yard, kittens fly kites, bears are walking about with balloons, and everyone in general seems to be having a jolly, merry time. It's all rather fantastical, to tell the truth, but isn't that what we want sometimes? The blouse is actually a handmade, one of a kind item patterned after 60s blouses, and it is topped with vintage seashell buttons that have metal shanks. Mahvelous!

It will fit a medium: the bust is 36.5", the waist 32.5", and the hips 40". $32.




Also capturing my eye was this extremely joyful wrap skirt made up of several different whimsical fabrics, resulting in a very playful and delightful multi-coloured skirt sure to make plenty of folks around you smile. There are funny chefs, Eiffel towers, polka dots, gingham checks, florals, pups & kittens, musically-themed prints, elegant toile, and even sock monkeys adorning this skirt. Even the model wearing it seems to be having a blast!

To provide some continuity, the waistband is black. As a wrap, this flared skirt should fit a broad range of sizes; it's 42" across in total with 18" ties. I daresay just about anyone ought to be able to wear this, but no matter her size, she's sure to love every moment of being in it! Handmade with loving care, it's $52.


Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! It's supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so no roto-tilling the spot we've selected for our garden just yet. *sigh* I have decided we'll be putting blueberry bushes in front, though; they're the right height and apparently make nice shrubs, turn a gorgeous blazing orange in the fall, and the branches themselves are a lovely hue. Best of all, though...our own blueberries! I very much want to have a veggie & fruit garden from whence we can gather much of our own food, at least as far as produce is concerned. And as much as I love food...it's a good idea. Anyone else ever done this?

Anyhow...see you Monday!

Ohhhh, if only this were my size...

Wow. This is a dress that, were it my size, I would be utterly evil and keep from you in order to buy it myself. I am not kidding.

But...alas. It's too big, and it's also way too cute not to point out. It's also a nice opposite to the dress I featured on our not-really-fun (but still pretty) Friday. This vintage sundress features white and red trim on navy cotton. By Sherbet Originals (how cute a name is that?), it includes a truly fantabulous red, white, and navy patent leather belt. There's even a pocket on one side that is perfect for dropping in a lip balm and a few bucks for ice cream. It's a 40-32-46 and features very flattering clean lines that are far from boring. It zips up the back with a sturdy hidden metal zipper, and
bidding starts (yes, it's another auction, but you really expect me not to share the eBay cuteness with you!?) at just $20.

Were this my dress, I'd finish it off with red slingbacks for dress or my cute little slides for just bumming around town (though my white sandals would look nice, too...). Add cherry-red beads on the wrist and I'd be good to go, don't you think?

Bid now, the auction ends Sunday!

Up and down...

Another vintage cutie for you from the fantastic closets of eBay, this one an NOS (new old stock - meaning it's vintage, but never worn) day dress from 1960 (ah, right on the cusp of cultural craziness and some clearly questionable sartorial selections).

What really caught my attention regarding this dress — other than the overall comeliness — is the pattern on it. At first glance, this seems to be a pretty demure, simple daydress like so many others. A closer look, though, reveals that atop the lightweight, minty-green pinstriped dress sit little chenille-like "arrows" and bright, turquoise-blue tufts. It's simple but fun, lending a spark of interest to this classic style.

The size 18 dress is also, believe it or not, Scotchguarded. How cool is that? The tag alone might be worth keeping, just for kicks. As you can see, it says "Penney's"; not sure if that means J.C. Penney's or another shop. The seller gives us measurements of 43-32-open hips.



Bidding starts at $24.99 and the auction ends this Sunday (May 4). Good luck!

More Dots!

Oh, am I enamoured of this dress. The swish, the float, the completely bearable lightness of polka dots on navy. Chiffon with a tuxedo ruffle from the waist to the flirty hem, this vintage cutie will be perfect (and perfectly comfortable) for spring and summer weddings, parties, date nights, or just for good, old-fashioned "I want to be pretty" days.

It's a larger size (38-34-36) and flattering style. Though the belt is not included, it's easy enough to finish this one off with a navy, red, white, or maybe even springy green ribbon. Better yet, it's priced at just 99 cents right now from eBay seller 2tryhard. The auction ends Thursday, so bid now!

Pretty dress, pretty lady!

Please forgive me for daring to choose an eBay item that ends tomorrow, but the size and style of this are so lovely I simply had to point it out, in the hopes that some wonderful woman will see it, fall in love, and snap it up.

A vintage dress from the 40s, this pretty navy blue crepe rayon beauty has an ultra-flattering, ultra-feminine cut. The model's somewhat uncomfortable-looking pose nothwithstanding, this is an elegant, sophisticated, very classic dress with great touches like a batwing bust (wowza, how cool!), darted waistline, and a slightly flared hemline that will swish and sway with every move. The seller reports it's in great condition for a dress this old, though a button which had been re-sewn on is a bit loose; an easy fix. One of the skirt's seams is a little bit separated, but again - super easy fix, even for an inexperienced sewer. The lace sleeves feature tiny, sparkly beads and rhinestones for that extra-special touch.

Best of all, this dress is in a larger size: 40-36-42. Definitely worth every penny of the $9.99 the dress currently calls for, and more than that besides. She's a beauty, so are you...snap it up!

Fun Friday: Gentress Fishies

Oh my. Not much needs to be said about this fantabulous dress.

Vested Gentress.

Classic lined sheath dress.

Larger size, a vintage 12: 40-34-42.

Great neckline detail.

But best of all...

...that totally adorable fish print.


The world is lucky (maybe) that this is not my size.

But perhaps it's yours?


$24.95 starting bid. Auction ends Monday. Buy it. This is a steal, and you'll likely never see anything like it again.



Have a great weekend, everyone.

Field of Flowers

Clearly, vintage frocks are completely irresistible to me. Here's yet another eBay find, this one an auction ending Monday. The super-broad, stand-up (stand up-able?) collar is wonderfully fabulous, and check out these cotton-candy colours! Pale lemon, pretty pink, and bright blue blossoms are scattered gaily across an icy blue field. The ribbon belt isn't included — as is typical with vintage dresses — but it would be easy enough to replace, or perhaps you could even find someone on Etsy willing to make one for you.

Aside from its classic appearance, this cotton dress has something else in its favour: it's in a larger size. I always try to make a point of bringing dresses for the more cuddly-ly curvaceous ladies, because attractive, chic, modest clothing for some sizes can be difficult to find. This one has measurements of 52-42-open hips.

Bidding is presently at just $2.25, and again, it ends Monday. Jump on it, this one's a real beauty; I was very disappointed it wasn't in my size. Better for you, right?

Two marvellous dresses

In wearable sizes and at fantastic prices, no less. What did we do before eBay?


There is a caveat, though; both auctions end late (late!) tomorrow. Decide now or forever hold your regrets if you like either of these cute dresses.

First up is this 50s crepe party or cocktail dress in a fabulous retro floral paisley print (of course, back in the 50s, this print was quite nowtro). In addition to the delightful print, the collar and comfortable 3/4 sleeves are classic and fabulous. Any wearer of this charmer will be the best-dressed lady at the soiree, don't you think?

It's a large, with measurements of 42-33-free hips. Of the two frocks, this has thus far garnered the most attention, with the price going from $4.14 when I first saw it this morning to its press-time price of $27.65. Still, it's more than worth the fight, isn't it?






Next up is this simple, feminine A-line dress, another 50s piece. There's an interesting little bow detail on the front I'll admit to not being crazy about, but my suspicion is that it can be easily removed for a cleaner look. The fluttery little sleeves are very sweet and pretty. 34-36-free hips, with the bidding starting at 99 cents. No, that's not a typo.


Remember, both auctions end tomorrow night.

Red, White, And Pink Week

Bonus points to anyone who tried re-finishing that sentence with "Red, White, and Blaine". No, really (there are simply not enough fans of that man in the world, are there?).


All right, it being Valentine's week, I thought I'd bow a little to the commercialism and at least make everything red and pink. Let's face it (or, as Mara Liasson would say, "Look!"), pink is almost universally flattering. My (2) bridesmaids revolted at the idea of green, or pink and orange, so...pink was an automatic default. Red is one of my favourite colours, and it appears I'm hardly alone (though plain ol' red is the twelfth favourite Crayola colour).

I'll start with red. Tonight we have a lovely, romantic vintage blouse in a fire-engine red. Better yet? It's all in lace. The classic sweetness and femininity of lace are just about eternal, and it's just as perfect to wear on a date as it is for a night with the girls or taking yourself out to the movies and ice cream. Lace is one of those things that can be straight-laced and conservative, at home with a ladylike skirt or dress pants, or equally gorgeous and chic with jeans or a khaki skirt. Talk about your multitaskers!

Yes, another square neckline. Lovely.

This fully-lined blouse from Item Vintage zips up the back and, again, is fully-lined (yay). The seller suspects this will fit a size 6 best, with its measurements of 37" bust and a 28" waist. $20.

Check out the rest of the shop, too...there's a sweet vintage butterfly-print dress in a beautiful print in a larger size, as well as a cotton voile dress with a pleated skirt.

Have a great night!

Another Embroidered Beauty

Lovely dress, don't you think? The flattering champagne-toned base, the beautifully elaborate but not overbearing embroidery, the classic and sophisticated line...the drop waist! What's not to love? It's a perfect party or event dress, flattering and feminine yet modest all the same.



It's a vintage sweetheart from the 50s, made by Jonny Herbert for Pat Tolan, and our seller (it's an eBay pick, so if you want this beauty, snap it up!) tells us it's in perfect condition with no stains or holes. It would probably fit a medium or small large, with a bust of 36-38 and the waistline fitting 31-32 inches (obviously, free hips). You can see more pictures here and bid here. Bidding begins at just $19.99, and ends on Valentine's Day (that would be next Thursday). Happy bidding!

Recycled Vintage

Another remade item, this time from theVintageZoo. What was once a damaged jacquard blouse has been turned into a fun short-sleeved top to which lace and velvet trim have been added for a very romantic feminine blouse. It zips up the back via the hidden zipper, and should fit a medium to maybe a large; the designer writes that she's a size 10 and 145 pounds and this fit her well, though it was just a bit small in the bust.

$34 for a one-of-a-kind top. It is so elegant and pretty, perfect for an evening out and even good for the office, but I think it might look very cute with a pair of jeans too.

Have a great night! Methinks it'll be a late one. ;)

Snap Top, Part Two

While tearing through Etsy for some sort of cute clothing to feature, I couldn't resist this supremely elegant vintage handbag. Look at the detailing of the fabric! Things like this are rare treats indeed, especially in such good condition. What a beauty! It's 8 by 8 and $30 for something that will long be prized in your collection. From UpCripple Creek.

By the way, I'm always looking for new artists to feature, particularly those who sell clothing. Feel free to drop me a line (my e-mail address is on the right side of the screen) if you or someone you know is a designer. There's no way I can cover everyone all on my own, after all.

You're Golden

Or you will be in this beautiful vintage dress presently on eBay (until Saturday). Classic lines, subtle nature-inspired colours, and the graceful embroidery combine to make one heckuva fabulous, classy frock.

The cut is flattering to every shape and comfortable too. Made of linen crepe, the dress — presumed by the seller to be from the 60s — will fit a medium/large, with measurements of 38-32-38. It's sleeveless for warm-weather or party wear, but if a chill strikes, you can don a soft sweater or perhaps find a coordinating wrap. Now, it is January, but that means it is the perfect time to snap pretties like this one up, before warmer weather starts driving the prices even higher. Besides, it gives you all kinds of time to hunt down the exact shoes and accessories to wear with this.


The bidding is currently at $20, and that seems extraordinarily low for such a dress. You've got until Saturday, so bid now!

Welcome to 2008!

Happy new year's to you! I truly hope your Christmas or Hannukah and New Year's were wonderful. Many of you are still waiting for Ephiphany, which is of course this coming Sunday. Regardless, it's nice to be back on a regular schedule again, and I'm particularly glad that every one of the 15 dozen cookies I baked are no longer in our home.

How about you? Anything spectacular happen over the holiday break?


Tonight we're back with this simple, classic, extremely versatile lined grey woolen skirt. This vintage beauty is tagged size 12, but vintage sizes are of course far different; in modern terms, that's a 28-inch waist and 39-inch hips; the skirt is 28.5" from waist to hem and a very paltry $17. Thanks to the inner lining, you won't suffer from scratchy legs all day.

Now, the listing says the kick pleat belongs in front, but I think that's mistaken, thanks to the questionable, knee-length(ish) front-slitted skirts we saw several years ago. That's a rather modern interpretation for shorter skirts like this, and that's why I am pretty sure the zipper-button closure the seller says belongs in back actually belongs in front.

That aside, though, this skirt is one that will quickly become a staple in your wardrobe. Equally at ease with a turtleneck, blouse, or even a big, fuzzy, snuggly sweater, it's a perfect example of classic style. Again, that low price makes this subtle beauty a real steal, too! From Nerdybird Vintage, who also runs accessory shop SnipSnap. Anyone who uses Elsie the Cow gets my vote as a cool person, and her handmade accessories are really lovely and ladylike; in fact, several would make fine extras worthy of addition to whatever outfits you build around this skirt.

Have a great night!

Well, it's a print, all right

In all honesty, I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this vintage dress. The cut is beautiful and classic, of course, so I've no beef with that; slightly off the shoulder; a nice clean, long sheath; a kick pleat long enough to be useful; the belt. Even the label is adorable!

I think it's the print that's throwing me off, though the more I look at this dress, the more I like it. The print itself is made up of a golden knit stretched out over the silk dress in a pattern reminiscent of fish scales. Really...it's quite pretty (like I said, it grows on one). Definitely unique, this lovely dress' base colour, a pale aqua, flatters many skin tones is definitely not for the hourglass figures out there with its measurements of 35-33-36. The dress is fully lined, and bidding starts at just $20. Unfortunately (kind of, I suppose), it's an eBay listing that ends Friday evening, so if this looks to you like the perfect New Year's party dress, hurry and snap it up!

Icy Cool

This vintage dress is a definite stunner. Straight from the swank Sinatra-fied 50s, this blue wiggle dress has metallic roses all over its pretty little self. Definitely a classic look, this dress will, trust me, never be out of style; it's not hard to imagine Deborah Kerr in this beauty. The pale, icy blue is flattering to many different complexions, and would be set off beautifully by silver or blue jewelry. The original matching belt is included; the previous owner of this dress must have really loved and treasured it. It looks to be in mint condition.

I'd say this would fit a medium to a large, with its measurements of 40-32-44. It's great for winter weddings, the company Christmas party, New Year's Eve, you name it. Bidding starts at $49.99, but you've only got until Saturday (the 9th) to make this yours. Good luck!

Striped Perfection

Well, this dress isn't exactly wintry-weather wear (though I am certain some of our more sartorially intrepid readers could easily figure out a few ways to make it so), but after I saw it and continued looking, it just wouldn't leave my mind. It has to be the snappy collar and the pretty puffed, 3/4 length cuffed sleeves. Wonderful touches, aren't they? The collar has got to be my favourite part of the dress; quite stylish!

One thing I must admit to not being a fan of is the wearing of pants or leggings with vintage (or any) dresses. It seems that this trend, however lamentable, began when people began wearing leggings with tunics, because tunics are of course too short to be worn as dresses. While I appreciate this nod to modesty, it's just not necessary to wear leggings or, worse, pants with a dress, especially a vintage one, particularly if it's longer like this one. Doesn't that negate the point of wearing a dress? Yes, it's cold, but that is why God made boots and warm stockings (I hear old-style patterned cotton is back). Certainly it's all right to wear leggings under your dress during the run into the office, but...all day? It makes me sad. For me at least, they distract from the dress at best and look plain sloppy at worst (yes, there are worse things than distracting one's eyes from a pretty dress...!).



Anyhow. I'm not positive regarding the sizing of this vintage dress, as we're not told whether it's measured flat or not, aren't given bust or hip measurements...The listing says it's a medium/large with a waist that measures 20.5" across, but if that is a flat measure, this is definitely a large dress with a 41" waist; if you're lookimng for that size, definitely email the seller, good wiu!