Archive for the ‘1960s’ Category
What Would Mrs. Roper Do?
Just three days into August, my favorite month of the year, and I’m already feeling a tinge of sadness for the end of summer. Still, as much as I relish the heat and humidity, when the thermometer ascends to triple-digits, my wardrobe inevitably suffers. It’s times like this a girl needs some fashion inspiration to see her through. It’s times like this a girl must ask herself, “What would Mrs. Roper do?”
A sassy and liberated woman of the 70s, Mrs. Roper wouldn’t let the dog days of summer bring her down. She would throw on her finest caftan (or kaftan), sexually harass her neighbors and insult her husband, all with an air of freedom and panache.
Short, long, cinched at the waist or wide open, an airy caftan is the sizzling summer secret to adding a languid air to your ensemble – without sacrificing style. Below are some of the more wearable caftans we found on etsy and eBay this week. Click on each image to see the full listing.
Make your own caftan! Vintage Simplicity 5680 caftan pattern from mbchills on etsy. $15.
Vintage 1960s or 1970s red gold caftan with cinched waist. Current bid $42.95 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s desert princess caftan from charlialana on etsy. $34.
Vintage floral mini caftan from fabledfancy on etsy. $48.
Vintage 1980s Christian Dior caftan from poetryforjane on etsy. $26.
VIntage 1970s plaid maxi caftan from midnightflight on etsy. $30.
Yellow striped batik caftan from EastAsiaHeritage on etsy. $35.
Handmade eco-friendly cotton kimono from ecofriendlybeauty on etsy. $60.
Vintage 1970s or 1980s lilac caftan with floral print from heidihodge on etsy. $26.
Vintage 1970s lion’s head, semi-sheer caftan from renouveauclothing on etsy. $58.
Hand drawn batik caftan from EastAsiaHeritage on etsy. $38.
Vintage 1970s striped tunic from PomPomClothing on etsy. $42.
Vintage 1970s ivory caftan with palm fronds from jantiques on etsy. $38.
Peachy rose short caftan by fivestonesvintage on etsy. $75.
Vintage 1960s pleated Hawaiian caftan on eBay. Buy it Now for $28.73.
1960s or 1970s Alfred Shaheen luxe Grecian caftan by closetcaseVNTG on etsy. $118.
Vintage 1971 abstract kimono-like caftan from ranchqueenvintage on etsy. $120.
Vintage mini caftan on eBay. Buy it Now for $42.
Vintage 1960s pink jersey caftan from luckyvintageseattle. Nice fitted waist so you won’t get lost in it. $165.
Vintage pleated, knee-length caftan from LuvStoneVintage on etsy. $58.
Vintage Hollywood glamour caftan from BoudoirBarbie on etsy. $48.
Vintage metallic rainbow pleated caftan on eBay. Current bid $9.99.
Vintage 1970s embroidered caftan from LoveStreetVintage on etsy. $150.
Vintage flying hearts caftan from FabulousDresses on etsy. $27.99
Vintage 1970s caftan blouse from heidihodge on etsy. $20.
Vintage Essentials for Men
When you combine a bad ass vintage leather jacket with the intoxicating scent of aloofness, it’s like pouring pheromones all over your body. But first, you need to find the right jacket. Therein lies the dilemma. Scoping vintage clothing requires patience and focus. The kind that comes with dos equis chromosomes. But fear not my comrades, for I am here to help you.
There are a number of ways you can go with a vintage leather jacket. Café racer, Brando, bomber, Fight Club, safari, Members Only, blazer, Donnie Brasco, pimp. I tend to prefer the belted spy or military styles. However, that length can be difficult to pull off for some. Consider what length best fits your body type. Resist the urge to buy a roomy jacket. Fit is everything. A guy in a slouchy or boxy leather jacket just looks awkward. Buying online is tricky, so know your measurements. You can also measure a jacket you currently own (one that fits well) and use that as a guide. I like honey, cognac or caramel browns over black. Below are some of the best vintage leather jackets for men we found on eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image below to see the full listing.
Vintage 1970s belted leather jacket, size 38. $96 on eBay.
Vintage brown leather flight jacket, size 38. $59.99 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s, dark brown leather jacket, size 38-40. $129.99 on eBay or make an offer.
1970s Vintage safari jacket with four patch pockets, size 38. $50 on eBay.
Burnt sienna leather jacket from apocalypsevintage on etsy. $65.
Vintage 1960s or 1970s brown leather jacket, size 40. $68.95 on eBay or make an offer.
Vintage brown leather jacket with zipper pockets, size M. $69.99 on eBay or make an offer.
Vintage light blue, mod leather coat, size M. $99 on eBay or make an offer.
Vintage 1970s or 1980s burnt sienna jacket from StuckOnVintage on etsy. $56.25.
Vintage black, safari-style leather coat, size 40. $130 on eBay.
Vintage burnt orange leather jacket, size 44. $55.24 on eBay.
Tailored vintage rusty brown leather coat, size 36. $78.12 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s, ochre brown leather jacket from icouldbegoodforyou on etsy. $110.
Vintage brown leather coat with woven detail, size 40. $180 on eBay.
Vintage 1960s dead stock, gray leather jacket, size M. $199 on eBay.
Vintage dark reddish-brown leather coat with shearling collar and lining, size 38-40. $140 on eBay or make an offer.
Vintage 1980s light brown leather blazer, size 40. $38 on eBay.
Vintage light brown leather jacket, size 38. $159.99 on eBay or make an offer.
Beat It! Vintage 1980s red leather jacket from 86Vintage86 on etsy. $68.
The Long View
Here on the blog, we like our handbags long and strong and we’re down to get the friction on (apologies to Sir Mix-a-Lot).
Sometimes, a handbag is just a handbag. Nothing more than a utilitarian vessel for your crap. Sometimes they are status symbols, carried by it girls and celebrities and coveted by the middle class. Then there are the rare ones. So astonishing on their own, they become part of the outfit.
I own such a handbag.
At an imposing 22 inches in length, my vintage black leather clutch, with its brass frame and sleek, single compartment, is the first to arrive at the party and the last to leave. One does not take this purse out on the town, the purse takes you.
It’s not easy to find an impressive specimen like mine on the Internet. If you’re in the market for an extra long purse that will command a room, you can’t really search for purses by length, it’s tedious. And length is not just important here. It’s everything. The handbags you browse must be 14 inches or longer. 16 to 18 inches is ideal. For maximum drama, 20+ inches is the holy grail. And rare. If you find one, buy it. Immediately. You’re not searching for shoulder bags here. You want clutches, envelope purses, baguettes. Vintage categories will produce better results.
To help you along on your quest, below I have assembled the results of my latest extra-long handbag search. Click on each image to see the full listing.
22 inches! Incredible vintage burgundy clutch on eBay. A rare find. $99.
19 inches! Vintage black patent super long clutch from NanasMercantile on etsy. $47.50.
18.5 inches. Vintage tapestry clutch on eBay. $45.
16 inches. Vintage 1960s exquisite white clutch from ayek8 on etsy. $24.
17 inches. Vintage 1970s extra-long silver clutch with purple lining on eBay. $16.95.
16 inches. Vintage 1950s to 1960s Cadillac clutch from gokittengo77 on etsy. $24.
18 inches. Vintage, light yellow, woven (possibly silk) purse with plaid interior from dancingwindcreations on etsy. $40.
15 inches. Vintage 1950s dark brown elongated clutch from theswankyfox on etsy. $18.
14.5 inches. 1970s beige foldover clutch from rockthisvintage on etsy. $20.
14 inches. Vintage 1960s black patent leather zippered envelope by anewlife on etsy. $28.
14.5 inches. Vintage 1960s white clutch from charlialana on etsy. $16.
14 inches. Vintage 1960s brown vinyl handbag from newtovous on etsy. $34.99.
16 inches. Vintage 1950s oversized clutch from shhbang on etsy. $60.
18 inches. Vintage extra-long carpetbagger clutch from diddle47 on etsy. $35.
Mod. Pants. Suit.
I’ll never forget the first time I gazed upon this mod pants suit. All at once I knew I had to have it, and at the same time, I knew that it could never be.
Mod. Pants. Suit.
An ivory, wool knit pants suit adorned with gold paillettes. Immaculate vintage condition.
Mod. Pants. Suit.
There’s a moment in every girl’s life when she asks herself, “can I pull this off?” It is in that very moment that a girl becomes a woman.
Mod. Pants. Suit. $40 on etsy. Click on the image above, if you dare.
Fashion Files: The Golden Age of the Secretary
After several notorious decades of stenography and coffee fetching, the office secretary eventually became extinct after the 1980s, replaced by administrative assistants and executive assistants. The title of secretary has since been relegated to condo association boards and official cabinet positions like Defense Secretary. Yawn.
To honor our fallen foremothers, today we revisit the Golden Age of the Secretary, from the wiggle skirts of the 1950s to the puffy sleeves of the 1980s. Click on each image below to see the listing. And hold my calls.
50s-era embellished brocade satin dress on eBay. Starting bid $112.
50s-era emerald green wiggle dress in raw silk on eBay. Starting bid $19.99.
50s-era bronze and black plaid secretary dress on eBay. Buy it Now for $24.95.
50s to 60s double-breasted secretary dress in lime green on eBay. Starting bid $16.12.
50s to 60s atomic knit secretary top and skirt on eBay. Starting bid $19.99.
60s orange ruffled secretary dress on eBay. Starting bid $14.99.
60s secretary dress with scarf on eBay. Buy it Now $49.99.
60s silver floral brocade dress on eBay. Starting bid $14.99.
60s two piece secretary suit on eBay. Buy it Now $15.99.
60s to 70s secretary mini dress with ascot and pleats on eBay. Starting bid $9.99.
70s floral peaches and cream secretary dress with tuxedo trim on eBay. Starting bid $9.99.
70s striped secretary blouse on eBay. Starting bid $9.95.
70s stripey secretary dress with pussy bow on eBay. Starting bid $9.99. Buy it Now for $18.
70s accordion secretary dress with ascot tie on eBay. Starting bid $13.99.
70s to early 80s blue and white striped secretary dress on eBay. Current bid $8.05.
80s sheer navy blue secretary dress with Peter Pan collar and cuffs on eBay. Starting bid $19.99.
80s light pink tuxedo secretary dress with wide cuffs on eBay. Starting bid $9.99.
80s purple tiger print peplum secretary dress on eBay. Starting bid $14.99.
80s secretary polka dot blouse with ascot tie on eBay. Buy it Now for $32.50.
80s champagne secretary dress with ascot on eBay. Starting bid .99 cents.
A Creamy Crop of Capes
Get a replica of Kate Middleton's Angora wedding shrug on etsy. $190.
You don’t have to be royalty to drape yourself in a creamy confection like Kate’s. On etsy, “tvkstyle” will make you a replica of the duchess formerly known as Kate Middleton’s Angora wedding shrug for a pauper’s price. Let them eat cape! Capes. Ponchos. Swing coats. Shrugs. Shawls. Crochet. Knit. Angora. Wool. Fur. Leather. Fringe. Here are some of the best in creamy cover ups from eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image to go to the listing.
Oatmeal tweed acrylic cape on etsy. $61.
Vintage swing coat with kimono sleeves on eBay. Starting bid $9.99.
Lanvin cape with neck ruff detail on eBay. $967.
Creamy crochet cape on eBay. Buy it Now for $75 or make an offer.
Vintage sheer lace poncho on eBay. Current bid $10.49.
Vintage 1920s ostrich trimmed cape on eBay. $228.
Hand knitted mohair capelet by ufer on etsy. $49.
Vintage crochet caftan on eBay. Current bid $26.
Vintage cream cape on eBay. Buy it Now for $128.45.
Ultra soft tiered capelet by fashionknitwear on etsy. $92.
Handmade, oversized scarf with pompoms by tvkstyle on etsy. Merino wool blend. $130.
This Week's Look 