Archive for the ‘1950s’ Category
Bells Will Be Ringing
Ye merry gentle men and gentle women and gentle persons will definitely need some rest when you enter the party in this 1950s-era wiggle dress. Who needs tinsel? With this dress hugging your curves, you will be the only decoration they will see. Imagine the twinkle lights bouncing off every gold sequin right down to the devilishly low-cut back. Current bid on eBay is $42. Click on the images below to see the listing.
Because You’re Worth It
This week we’re thrilled to show you this vintage 1950s to 1960s cocktail dress. This vixen boasts a waist-nipping fitted bodice embroidered with pastel metallic floral appliqués under the bust and a dramatic sheer mesh overlay that cascades into a unique bubble cape effect. This is an expensive vintage piece, but the seller is currently accepting offers. Anyway, can you really put a price on awesome? Click on the images below to see the actual listing.
Featured Seller: Vintage Eyewear
Warby Parker has done a lot for people that are both visually impaired and into vintage style. And their flat fee pricing (only $95 a pair) is quite revolutionary in the vision correction biz. However, if you prefer authentic vintage frames as opposed to vintage-inspired frames, you can spend hours combing through junk on eBay and etsy or you can visit one of our favorite sources for optical quality vintage frames, Thayer Eyewear.
Thayer specializes in carefully curated 1950s cat eye glasses, 1960s squared zyl, rhinestone and embellished frames, high quality American and European frames from the 1800s to the 1990s, as well as dead stock ready-to-wear sunglasses. While some of Thayer’s stock is used, they also carry tons of dead stock/never worn frames, many of which are priced under $100.
Below are some of our favorite vintage frames as seen on Thayer Eyewear’s etsy storefront this week. Click on each image below to see the individual listing.

Vintage 1950s rare and unique hand made cat eye frames with boomerang brass studs from THAYEReyewear on etsy. $214.50.
Vintage Cuff Links
I love vintage cuff links, especially when paired with an oversized ruffle-front tuxedo shirt over leggings, so you can imagine my delight as I passed by Dustmuffin today and saw these beauties in the window. Dustmuffin’s proprietors are so friendly and have an infectious enthusiasm that isn’t too sales pushy. They’re also quite knowledgeable. For example, I was told that the 1950s-era tropical cuff links below were hand painted and the iridescent effect inside was created using morpho butterfly wings. If you look closely you can see the veins. Fascinating! This is particularly rare nowadays as ripping the wings off of butterflies to make jewelry is somewhat frowned upon.
I also picked up the vintage aurora borealis cuff links below, which are quite stunning. The giant cocktail stones are perfect for women who love to wear french cuffs. Both of these sets of vintage cuff links were under $20 each. And they have more too. I might go back later for the 1960s-era red enamel cuff links I saw in the window.
Dustmuffin isn’t a vintage store, but they do carry some lovely vintage pieces and handmade jewelry made from re-purposed vintage stones, etc. It’s a great local shop to buy gifts. Definitely stop in if you’re in the neighborhood. Dustmuffin is located at 3517 W. Sunset in Silver Lake, 90026.
Winter’s Veil
This Week’s Look is still on holiday but we couldn’t resist a quick post for our voracious readers. Anyway, fashion never really takes a vacation, now does it? Or perhaps it does. How else can you explain resort wear?
Now that we have washed our hands of all that holiday hullabaloo we can start getting serious about spring 2012. As we mentioned last year, pleats and pastels and lace will be everywhere come pollen season and I can barely contain the urge to dust off my canary yellow veiled fascinator for brunch. Oh I almost forgot! I now have one in lavender too! Still, we are sensitive to the fact that some of you have been too busy cramming turkey and egg nog down your gullet to shop for vintage accessories. That’s why we’re here, to help you out of the winter doldrums and into something bright and light for spring. To that end, we searched etsy this week to find you some of the prettiest spring-inspired vintage toppers around. Click on each image below to see the actual listing.
Pictured above: A veiled beanie from Jil Sander’s Spring 2012 collection.
Vintage 1960s white pillbox hat with bird cage veil from BasyaBerkman on etsy. $35.
Vintage 1950s veiled ostrich feather hat in peacock blue from hollywoodhats on etsy. $35.
Vintage red veil with flocked mesh from hipandvintage on etsy. $10.
Vintage 1950s blue velvet headband with flocked veil from Flashbax on etsy. $40.
Vintage pastel green winged bird cage veil from HeartlandVintageShop on etsy. $28.99.
Vintage 1960s pale pink pillbox hat with woven veil from BasyaBerkman on etsy. $35.
Vintage cobalt blue veil with velvet bows from musarraandcompany on etsy. $29.99.
Vintage silvery veiled ring hat from Schmoo1515 on etsy. $18.
Vintage 1950s mossy green velvet veiled pillbox hat from BingoBox on etsy. $19.
Vintage 1930s to 1940s baby blue veiled cocktail hat from kumareeboo on etsy. $60.
Gentleman’s Agreement
I admit we have neglected the men on This Week’s Look lately. To remedy that, we plowed the depths of eBay and etsy this week to bring you some of the finest haberdashery around. Most of these wool coats and jackets are vintage, some are not, but any one of them will surely make you the most debonair dude on deck. Click on each image below to see the full listing.
The “James Bond” double breasted, belted wool jacket on eBay. $95 with free shipping.
The “Pete Campbell” vintage 1960s silk and wool blend sport coat from OneTrickChassis on etsy. $48.
The “Cameo” vintage 1960s charcoal flecked wool coat from TripleGemini on etsy. $145.
The “Don Draper” vintage 1960s wool flannel sport coat from FabGabs on etsy. $58.
Vintage Pendleton single breasted wool coat from KeyAcquisitions on etsy. $40.
The “99 Percent” vintage 1950s Army issued wool coat from BetaPorHomme on etsy. $48.
The “Highlander” vintage hooded wool overcoat with faux horn buttons from BrightWall on etsy. $90.
The “British Invasion” vintage 1960s Carnaby Street wool coat from iandrummondvintage on etsy. $149.
The “French Connection” vintage 1960s navy blue, double breasted coat. Made in France. Current bid on eBay $135 with free shipping.
The “Donnie Brasco” vintage 1970s wool coat with faux fur collar and lining from LiliesValleyVintage on etsy. $125.
This avant-garde, anime-inspired asymmetrical wool blend coat comes in black or grey. $160 on eBay with free shipping.
The “Cowboy” vintage “Crownwear for Carl Putzer” overcoat with removable plaid liner and western yoke. Current bid on eBay $39.99.
The “Officer and a Gentleman” vintage 1970s never worn, Italian Navy officer’s coat. $150 on eBay with free shipping.
The “Roger Sterling” vintage wool overcoat with faux fur collar from BrightWall on etsy. $80.
The “Echo Park” vintage tweed blazer with suede elbow patches from TandemNorthwest on etsy. $40.
Vintage original Swiss Army wool overcoat from BetaPorHomme on etsy. $98.
Vintage wool jacket with Greek key pattern and faux fur collar and lining from bytheway on etsy. $75.
You’ll be ready for smoking cigars and sipping brandy after the fox hunt in this grey wool Trachten jacket. Current bid on eBay $149.
The “Inspector Gadget” vintage extra-slim, belted Donegal tweed trench coat. Current bid on eBay $74.50.
Vintage 1970s double breasted wool coat. Made in Germany. Current bid on eBay $130.
Vintage French Air Force wool officer’s coat from RueBroc on etsy. $61.75.
Vintage Clampers
I have a predilection for vintage clampers, those hinged bracelets that rely on the tension from the hinge to stay closed (although some have clasps as well). Vintage clampers can be found in just about every material imaginable: Bakelite, Lucite, plastic, silvertone, enamel, celluloid. Some are abstract, Art Deco, or Art Nouveau, some even come in animal shapes. Some are flashy and rhinestone encrusted and some are mod and minimalist. I love them all.
As one can imagine, there are hundreds of vintage clampers on eBay and etsy, but we saved you the trouble of wading through all the junk. Below are some of the best clamper bracelets we found this week. Click on each image to see the listing.
Vintage 1950s pink Lucite clamper from griffincat on etsy. $6.99.
One of my favorite vintage jewelry makers. A very collectible, signed Sarah Coventry silvertone clamper bracelet. Current bid on eBay $9.99.
Huge rhinestone encrusted leopard head clamper from TheVintageAngel on etsy. $54.40.
Vintage 1980s red enamel and gold metal clamper from popgoesmyvintage on etsy. $25.
Vintage silver plated crystal rhinestone hinged bracelet from VermontJewelryShop on etsy. $22.
Another one of my favorite vintage jewelry makers. A vintage Trifari clamper in a creamy enamel and goldtone from GillyLynn on etsy. $18.
Vintage 1970s Givenchy lucite clamper bracelet. Current bid on eBay $74.99.
Vintage aurora borealis rhinestone and faux pearl buckle clamper. Current bid on eBay $34.95.
Vintage 1960s two-tone Lucite clamper bangles. This auction is for the blue one, but the seller has more. These are new old stock. Very mod. Current bid on eBay $20.72.
Vintage figural cat bracelet in blue enamel with rhinestones and glass eyes. Signed “Ciner.” Current bid on eBay $104.99.
Vintage black Bakelite clamper with large rhinestones. Current bid on eBay $9.99.
Vintage Trifari brushed gold leaf clamper from VintageGypsies on etsy. $32.
Very wide and striking green and goldtone clamper bangle from duSayeJewelry on etsy. $35.
Vintage 1940s to 1950s thermoplastic with pave set rhinestones clamper bracelet and matching clip-on earrings. Signed by Weiss, highly collectible. Current bid on eBay $150.
Vintage embossed brass buckle clamper from terrasouljewelry on etsy. $59.
Vintage 1950s black Lucite clamper bangle from ANTIQUEANDVINTAGE on etsy. $24.97.
Vintage goldtone clamper from EyeCandyAntiques on etsy. $18.
Vintage chunky cabochon, multi-hinged, brass filigreed clamper from PattycakesPlunder on etsy. $65.
Vintage modernist geometric design clamper from Moderra on etsy. $5.
Vintage chunky and super shiny red orange clamper bracelet from mooivintage on etsy. $32.