Archive for the ‘Dresses’ Category
Party Girl
I sense a dark cloud creeping in the distance. You feel it too, I know. That foreboding sense of doom is the end of summer, and thus, the beginning of the holiday party season.
So you’re going to need a new evening gown. Don’t even think about wearing that one from last year. It’s tired and you know it. Be adventurous. Wear some freaking color you Quaker; it’s winter not a funeral. Or if you do go with black, make sure there are interesting details like lace or beading. Don’t make the accessories do all the work. And have some fun, man. It’s just a dress.
Here are some choice cocktail/evening gowns we found on etsy and eBay this week. Click on each image to see the full listing. Cheers.
Vintage 1960s beaded chiffon gown on eBay. Buy it now for $299 or make an offer.
Vintage 1950s Kelly green evening gown with embroidered rhinestone bodice and structured hips. $268 on etsy.
Hello Marilyn. Vintage 1950s bombshell evening gown. $300 on eBay.
Vintage Bill Blass two-piece, quilted black satin ensemble with caped jacket and shift dress. Current bid on eBay $275.
Red carpet ready. Vintage satiny red gown. $49.95 on eBay.
Vintage 1960s hot pink scalloped formal on eBay. Current bid $149.
Vintage Lord & Taylor strapless sweetheart gown. $49.95 on eBay.
Vintage Lord & Taylor seafoam green cocktail dress and matching coat. Buy it now on eBay for $108 or make an offer.
Classic floor length dress with illusion lace bodice. Vintage 1940s Emma Domb evening gown from PaisleyBabylon on etsy. $298.
Vintage 1950s beaded yellow gown on eBay. Buy it now for $100.
Vintage 1950s pale pink and black flocked hourglass gown. $260 on etsy.
A walking Tiffany’s box. Vintage 1960s sheer aqua dress with chiffon overlay. Buy it now on eBay for $78.
Vintage late 1960s to 1970s handmade beauty queen gown from zoevintageboutique on etsy. $250.
Redux on the Runway
Prada debuted some fantastic 1960s inspired dresses for the label’s Fall 2011 collection. This little number below is one of my favorites; a dropped waist, almost schoolgirl frock, with a crisp, pleated skirt and low slung belt. I especially love the high, rounded neck and oversized buttons. I’m not crazy about how they styled the dress with those snakeskin boots. I would’ve chosen sleek, white mid-calf boots with a square toe instead, but then Prada surely would’ve been accused of copying André Courrèges.
A drop-waisted shift dress is a classic wardrobe staple and you can always find some excellent vintage pieces on eBay and etsy in every price range. Below are some similar silhouettes we found this week. Click on each image to see the full listing.
Vintage 1960s pea coat dress with chinchilla collar on eBay. Buy it now for $599 or make an offer.
Vintage 1960s pink plaid scooter dress from MissTurnstyles on etsy. $50.
Vintage 1960s black and brown checkered dress set from theparaders on etsy. $56.
Vintage 1960s St. John drop-waisted dress from tripoutvintage on etsy. $59.
Vintage 1960s pleated shift dress by R&K Originals on eBay. Current bid $19.99.
Vintage 1960s preppy shift dress with pleats from OurLadyVintage on etsy. $28.
Vintage 1960s plaid mini dress. Buy it now for $112 or make an offer.
Vintage 1960s drop-waisted dress from Veramode on etsy. $38.
Vintage 1960s nautical shift dress from LaRobedeMesReves on etsy. $34.
vintage 1960s sunshine shift dress from ManicVintage on etsy. $28.
Vintage 1960s color block shift dress on eBay. Buy it now for $28.
Vintage 1960s Sherry Kent drop-waisted dress on eBay. Buy it now for $100.
Vintage 1960s navy pleated shift dress from PopFizzVintage on etsy. $27.
Vintage 1960s striped scooter dress from redangora on etsy. $24.
Vintage floral, belted shift dress on eBay. Buy it now for $90.
Vintage 1960s sleeveless shift dress from snapitupvintage on etsy. $15.
Vintage 1960s dress with tiny houndstooth print. Buy it now on eBay for $49.
Vintage 1960s Fred Rothschild dress on eBay. Buy it now for $100.
Vintage 1960s lavender shift dress on eBay. Buy it now for $90.
Vintage 1960s drop-waisted dress on eBay. Buy it now for $32 or make an offer.
Vintage 1960s chiffon and lace mini dress on eBay. Buy it now for $118.
Vintage watercolor floral shift on eBay. Buy it now for $130.
Vintage 1960s paisley drop-waisted, pleated dress on eBay. Buy it now for $120.
Vintage yellow and navy plaid dress from TheOliveSlip on etsy. $35.
Vintage 1960s Jean Patou wool dress on eBay. Buy it now for $349.
Bohemian Wedding
I’m coveting this vintage, fringed maxi dress I saw on eBay today. You could wear it to your own weird hippie wedding in the forest, as a Halloween costume, to a dinner party, lounging on the sofa, whatever. This dress will find a reason to be seen. Current bid $56. Auction ends 9/8. Click on the images below to see the full listing.
Good Mourning
It’s a dreary Labor Day holiday weekend here on the blog. My Harold returned to France and I stayed here in Self Pity City. Anyway, I didn’t feel much like shopping, so I found some exquisite mourning gowns on eBay instead. Click on each image to see the full listing.
New with tags black silk Chanel gown on eBay. $1,999.
Vintage Halston one shoulder gown. $594 on eBay.
Black Halston one shoulder gown on eBay. $1,249.
Black Imitation of Christ beaded silk gown on eBay. $600.
Black Jil Sander evening gown on eBay. $833.33.
Vintage black and gold, one shoulder evening gown on eBay. So Sharon Stone in Casino. Starting bid $799.
BCBG black tulle, one shoulder ball gown on eBay. $415 or make an offer.
Vintage 1960s “Jane Justin for Don Sophisticates” black wool day dress. $300 on eBay, or make an offer.
1940s Style: The Factory Girl to The New Look
Los Angeles Confidential Magazine recently featured a spread on an updated 1940s look for Fall, which sparked today’s post. But before we get into all of the amazing vintage pieces we found on etsy and eBay this week, we have a mini fashion history lesson.
Women joined the workforce en masse in the early 1940s as all the men went off to fight in the War. From the kitchen to the factory, from making pies to welding ships, women did it all.
During the War years (1939 – 1945), women’s apparel emphasized broad, square shoulders and a trim, fitted waist. Above the waist, tops featured rounded necklines and shorter collars. Below the waist, high waisted trousers, flared shorts and knee-length skirts. Below the knees, oxfords and pumps. Sadly, nylon stockings were rationed for parachutes.
Pictured above: Miss Anna Bland, a burner at the Richmond Shipyards, works on the S.S. George Washington Carver. Circa 1943.
Pictured above: Woman drills on Liberator Bomber, Consolidated Aircraft Corp., Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Howard R. Hollem. October 1942.
Post-War, factory girls retired their dungarees and took on a softer, more feminine look. Christian Dior’s debut haute couture collection, released in February 1947, signaled a triumphant return to glamour, with its sloping shoulders, cinched waist, accentuated bust and wide hips. Skirts were significantly longer and fuller than the War years. The stunning clothes, cut to emphasize the female form and made out of seemingly endless yards of luxurious fabric, were revolutionary. Dior’s collection was pronounced “The New Look” and made him a star.
Pictured above: A look from Christian Dior’s debut haute couture collection, 1947.
And now, here’s what we found on eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image below to see the full listing.
1940s style Ida trousers in red polyester from fortiesfrocks on etsy. $95.
Vintage 1940s hourglass skirt suit. $95 on eBay.
Vintage 1940s blue sheer nylon blouse. $82.99 on eBay.
Vintage 1940s rayon crepe beaded party dress on eBay. Buy it now for $329, or make an offer.
Vintage 1940s brown alligator pumps, size 8, from PsychicHeart on etsy. $62.
Vintage 1940s 3 piece cotton “Originals By Maison France” dress on eBay. $369.
1940s style hand-knitted hair tidy from thebritishhomefront on etsy. $8.
Vintage 1940s navy windowpane skirt suit from the New Look-era. Buy it now on eBay for $249.
Vintage 1940s cream ribbon knit dress on eBay. Buy it now for $249, or make an offer.
Vintage 1940s day dress on eBay. $150.
Vintage 1940s pumps, size 39. $90 on eBay.
Vintage 40s Betty Hartford suit on eBay. $75.
Vintage 1940s iridescent pink silk taffeta dress with fur trim from sazzvintage on etsy. $250.
Vintage 1940s Hattie Carnegie suit from Marshall Field Company. Buy it now on eBay for $284, or make an offer.
1940s repro playsuit made from vintage pattern and fabrics (you choose!) from nudeedudee on etsy. $185.
Vintage 1940s lace beaded gown. $112.50 on eBay.
Vintage 1940s purple blouse from wildfellhallvintage on etsy. $30.
Vintage 1940s WWII high waist flared shorts on eBay. $125.
Vintage 1940s chartreuse gabardine skirt suit on eBay. $349.
WWII era repro cotton day dress from timemachinevintage on etsy. Made from an orginal, vintage pattern. $115.
Marlene pants from VeconaVintage on etsy. $250.
1940s repro 3-piece playsuit from jacksdaughter on etsy. Made from a 1947 Simpicity pattern. $173.
New 1940s-inspired wool fedora, made to order by buygail on etsy. $75.
Vintage 1940s WWII wool plaid peplum dress on eBay. Current bid $9.99.
Vintage 1940s pinafore skirt with removeable straps from KookieKittie on etsy. $110.
Vintage 1940s wool fedora from wildfellhallvintage on etsy. $42.
Cashmere sweater ($1,235) and pencil skirt ($950) by Nina Ricci. Maxi leather shoes by Brian Atwood ($939). Photo courtesy of LA Confidential Magazine.
Vintage original “New Look” era 1940s Christian Dior dress on eBay. Buy it now for $795 or make an offer.
Vintage 1940s silk wiggle dress. Current bid $17.50.
Vintage 1940s bombshell dress with huge tortoise shell buttons on eBay. $108.75.
Vintage 1940s belted wool coat on eBay. $110.
Diminutive Dresses
My neighbor Bich Ngoc is a tiny Vietnamese woman. Not regular tiny. Like when she turns to the side, she disappears tiny. Shopping in the children’s section tiny. Anyway, you get it. She’s small. And because she is so miniscule, her fashion problems are often dismissed because small is viewed by most as an advantageous trait. Unfortunately for Bich Ngoc, few people (especially other women, rawr) have sympathy for her plight. That is, until now. Today, we are featuring a number of diminutive vintage dresses for women like Bich Ngoc, all in sizes extra small and smaller. And not just cute girly dresses, but sexy frocks to put a little sizzle on our lusciously lean ladies. Click on each image below to see the full listing.
Vintage 1960s celadon satin cocktail dress, size XXS-XS, from crushvintage on etsy. $64.
Vintage late-1950s Lanz navy party dress, size XXS, from coralvintage on etsy. $200.
Vintage 1960s mod cage dress, size XS-S, from Thrush on etsy. $118.
Vintage floral halter dress, size xxs, from bitterrootvintage on etsy. $28.
Vintage 1960s white party dress, size XS-S, from Thrush on etsy. $84.
Vintage 1950s mocha latte wiggle dress, size XXS-XS, from retrorocketgirl on etsy. $65.
Check out this sexy plunging halter dress. Vintage 1960s blue Hawaiian maxi dress, size XXS-XS, from CatseyeVintage on etsy. $125. Just marked down! 50% off!
If I were this size, this would be mine! Vintage 1960s mod dress, size XXS-XS, from michelleanna on etsy. $40.
Vintage 1960s black and gold cocktail dress from HepCatClothes on etsy, size XXS-XS. $185.
Vintage 1970s day dress, size XS, from vintagemarmalade on etsy. $46.
So sexy. I love the low back and fitted darts. Vintage tweed and raw edge black lace dress from Samlovesvintage on etsy, size 0. $89.
Vintage red dress, size XXS-XS, from JulesAtelier on etsy. $97.90.
Vintage 1960s silk brocade dress, so Mad Men, size XXS-XS, from leafpeoplevintage on etsy. $29.
Vintage 1950s chiffon secretary dress from VeriteVintage on etsy, size XXS-XS. $124.
Vintage 1970s pink sun dress, size XXS-XS, from HalfPastaFreckle on etsy. $28.
Vintage turquoise & white polka dot dress, size XXS-XS, from LolaJeanVintage on etsy. $40.
Vintage plaid mini-dress, size XXS-XS, from DiamondGraffiti on etsy. $12.
Vintage sweet eyelet sun dress, size XXS, from MsTips on etsy. $42.
10 Vintage Dresses Under $10
Simply 10 great vintage dresses for less than $10. Click on each image below to see the full listing.
Vintage 1970s blue plaid Peggy dress, size S-M, from bardotvintage on etsy. $9.99.
Vintage 1960s space age navy blue scooter dress, size L-XL. Current bid $9.99 on eBay.
Vintage 1960s op art geometric print dress, size L-XL. Current bid $9.99 on eBay.
Vintage orangey-red half sleeve turtleneck dress, size M. Current bid .99 cents on eBay.
Vintage 1970s secretary dress, size M/L, on eBay. Current bid .99 cents.
Vintage 1970s tropical floral black palm leaf dress. Current bid $4.99 on eBay.
So Built by Wendy. Vintage 1980s plaid mini-dress from vastlyvintagefrocks on etsy, size smallish. $9.99.
Vintage 1970s Gunne Sax calico dress, size M. Current bid .99 cents on eBay.
Vintage 1970s to early 1980s striped dress from DejaVuExperience on etsy. Size 8-ish. $9.99.
Vintage 1960s floral mini-dress from OhSweetJosephine on etsy. $9.99.
Vintage Red Dress Needs Home
Someone please buy this dress and wear the hell out of it. It’s phenomenal.
Vintage 1970s cherry red draped sleeveless maxi dress. Buy it Now for $42 on eBay.
Fashion Files: André Courrèges
André Courrèges, self-proclaimed inventor of the mini-skirt, launched his ultra-modern ‘Space Age’ collection in 1964 and went on to become one of the most copied fashion designers of all time. A former civil engineer, Courrèges’ clothes were sharp, angular and mathematically designed. His clean-cut collection included trouser suits with immaculately cut straight legs and streamlined jackets. The look was created using heavyweight gabardines and other heavy fabrics to maintain a rigid structure. He also employed PVC, metal and plastic in many of his designs.
Today, vintage Courrèges pieces from the 1960s are rare and can sell for hundreds of dollars. Below are some vintage Courrèges items found on eBay and etsy this week. Click on each image to see the full listing.
Courrèges red wool gabardine mini-dress, 1964. Photo credit: Victoria & Albert Museum. Dress donated by Stavros Niarchos.
Vintage Courrèges “Eskimo” sunglasses. Current bid $162.47 on eBay.
Vintage 1960s Courrèges Sunkist orange PVC jacket from TimelessVixenVintage on etsy. $550.
Vintage Courrèges cap toe patent gogo boots from pamcoco on etsy. $335.
Vintage Courrèges lavender a-line dress from vintagedresscloset on etsy. $395.
Vintage Courrèges purple PVC vest by pamcoco on etsy. $525.
Vintage Courrèges dress with mesh back from violentvintage on etsy. $390.
Vintage 1960s Courrèges structured jacket from EndlessAlley on etsy. $110.
Mod Courrèges orange vinyl wallet from snapitupvintage on etsy. $175.
Vintage Courrèges modernist earrings from popgoesmyvintage on etsy. $40.
Vintage Courrèges black vinyl purse from snapitupvintage on etsy. $285.
Vintage Courrèges “Futur Couture” dress. $690 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s Courrèges ivory wool and mohair dress from thriffany on etsy. Also available in black. $250.
Vintage 1960s Courrèges navy blue handbag from TheMysteryDrawer on etsy. $150.
Vintage Courrèges stamped enamel necklace. $95 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges sheer sweater from violentvintage on etsy. $120.
Vintage Courrèges sweater with drawstring waist. $109.99 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s Courrèges silk scarf. $160 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges “Sport Futur” dress. $213.34 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges sunglasses frames on eBay. $85.
Vintage Courrèges Hyperbole wool jacket. $699.95 on eBay.
Vintage Courrèges sculptural sunglasses. $980 on eBay.
Vintage 1970s Courrèges cashmere blend turtleneck sweater. $70 on eBay.
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.
This Week's Look 