Jantzen Suit from Popina Review

I was contacted by the lovely folks over at Popina to do a swimsuit review. A couple years ago, I won a suit from Popina, and did a blog post. Once again it was hard to chose a suit with so many cute ones available. But, I settled on the Jantzen Vamp Maillot suit in red. I was told that these suits run a little small. So, I went with a size ten. I had no trouble getting the suit on. Once on, it was quite comfortable. I could move freely without anything riding or feeling awkward.

This particular suit comes with a detachable halter strap. I chose to wear the strap since I am small busted (no nip slips needed here!). It also has a tie in the back, which is more than just a decorative piece. It allows the top to be adjusted to give more room or to give a better fit. The bust is lined enough to give coverage without looking like a cone bust. Also, the modesty skirt give that extra bit to help hide those insecure areas.

This, like their other suits, are quality suits. I feel like I will have this suit for years to come without the slightest bit of wear. They have that vintage feel without needing to be extra careful, though the suit will still need proper care. I highly recommend Jantzen suits and Popina.

 

My Wish List - Brooches

Every Friday, I become painfully aware of my lack of novelty brooches as I scroll through the many Instagram photos. I hope to be able to participate in #noveltybroochfriday more this coming year. Here are a few brooches on my wish list.

This horse head brooch from Demure Couture , would go nicely with my Atomic Swag Range Rider tee.

I am a secret Star Trek fan. What better way to show it off with this vintage inspired Desperate Beatnik brooch set?

I actually do have a painter's palate brooch that needs to be restored. But, I do like this plain one from Recycle America. 

I like to bowl. I'm not very good at it, but I find it fun. So, this bowling themed bakelite brooch is right up my alley! (Pun totally intended).) It comes from Perfect Surprise.

Another copper brooch, but this time enameled. This bird pin comes from Pie in the Sky Vintage.  

On My Wish List, Work Edition

Since I live in a city without a car, my primary form of transportation are my feet. I don't tend to walk much more than a mile one way, but even that amount of walking can put wear and tear on shoes. I am constantly looking for vintage style shoes that would be great for walking. I keep thinking that once I find these miracle shoes, I'll start wearing dresses to work. But, most likely I'll stick to slacks.  I can still dream, though. Here is my wish list for work appropriate attire.

I really do love loafers. And, these two tone loafers from Rocket Originals are beyond adorable.

I have several pairs of Re-Mix Vintage Shoes, but never seem to have enough. These would look fabulous with a pair of slacks as well as a dress. They could even be worn with shorts on the weekend. 

I love fragrances. Sadly, I don't get to really wear them anymore since I have an asthmatic cat. But, I would love to know what this Besame fragrance smells like.

These slacks are pretty dreamy. This is the kind of style that I tend to wear for work.

And, what better way to top off those slacks with a cute 40s style sweater. This one is from Kitty Lou.

Finally, adding a little pizzazz with Erstwilder cat brooch.

How To Date Vintage Clothing

I am by no means an expert in vintage clothing. But, I have been collecting for just shy of 20 years. Lately, I have seen quite a few listing and questions from people who are either just starting to get into vintage, starting to sell, or purging a relatives items. Most often these items get listed as the wrong decade, because the person is going just by shape or guessing on a label. I've tried to point some of these in the right direction, but doing it one at a time can be quite difficult. So, even though there are many blog posts out there on how to date vintage clothing, I'm going to do one too. I am going to focus on the 1950s, because that's what I know the best. Here are the easiest ways I know to find out if a garment is from the 50s or later. 

Zipper Type - One of the first things I learned, and still the first thing I look for, is the zipper. 9 times out of 10 if the dress or skirt has a metal zipper, it is from the early 60s or older. Though as most of us know, zippers are fairly easy to replace. Metal zippers do tend to last longer, but that doesn't mean they don't have to be replaced after 60 years. Also, living among a large Chinese population, I have seen garments from Hong Kong that used metal zippers into the 70s. So, there are some exceptions. But, most of the time this is a good indicator of age. 

Zipper Placement - Another good indication of the age of the garment is the placement of the zipper. Most pre early 60s dresses had left side seam zippers. It wasn't until the 60s that back zippers became a common practice. Occasionally there will be an older dress with a back zipper, which I have seen most often in cocktail and formal dresses. But, if the zipper is on the left side of a dress, than most likely it is pre 60s.

Union Label - This is the item that I point out to a lot of people. Not all garments had a Union label, but when they do, it is easy to narrow down the time frame. There is a great resource out there, with pictures, that I often refer to (click here). I have been wrong thinking an item was late 50s only to find a Union label that said otherwise.  Now, of course, if an item is hand made, it isn't going to have a Union label. Having a Union label is always a bonus. 

This label indicates that this garment is from 1963 - 1974.

Fiber Content - Though polyester was invented in 1941, a version of it was not used in fabrics until the early 50s under the name Dacron which was mostly used in knitwear. The infamous polyester as we know it was used in clothing much more in the mid 60s and later. Also, in 1960 fiber content labels were required in garments. So, if one exists, it is most likely not older than 1960. 

Sizing - Vintage sizes were different than modern vanity sizing. A size 2 did not exist in the 1950s. Matter of fact, Marilyn Monroe was said to be a size 12, which is by far different than modern size 12s. Like today, women's sizes were even numbers, the most common sizes being from 12 to 20. If a garment has a number smaller than 10 (9 in juniors), most likely that item is not from the 1950s. A 1950s size 12 measures approximately 34 inch bust, 25 inch waist, 36 inch hips. If a garment says  it is a size 12, but is much larger than these measurements, then it isn't from the 1950s.

This label comes from a dress that has a metal side zipper, but the fiber content on the label makes this dress most likely from the early 60s. 

Typically these five items will get you in the ballpark on dating an item. If none of these items apply, feel free to reach out to any of the vintage bloggers out there. They will be more than happy to share their knowledge with you. After all, if we weren't passionate about it, we wouldn't blog about it.

My perfect pair of every day jeans

I hate jean shopping. I don't think they make jeans to fit any shape. My problem is I am much larger in the bottom than I am in my waist. So, I end up getting the dreaded gap back. Or, if I get them to fit my hips/butt, they fall down in the waist. 

I also don't have time to dress up every day. I love my Freddies, but I don't feel comfortable dressing in them when I haven't set my hair (though, I've seen other girls do this and they look fab, I don't think I could pull it off as well). I wanted to find a pair of jeans that I could look vintage inspired without having to plan my whole day setting my hair and what not. Also, over the last six months or so, I've gotten very lazy. My uniform on the weekends have been the same stripped shirt and jeans. I wanted to change that, but couldn't find a pair of jeans that went higher than my mid hip. Nor, could I find something that wouldn't break the bank.

Recently, my go to jeans fell apart. I was dreading plunking down a bunch of cash  for a pair of jeans I didn't totally love. I decided to give Levi's a chance. I hadn't tried them in over a decade. And, at that time, they didn't make jeans for girls with hips. I knew that they came out with the Curve ID recently. So, I decided to give them a shot. Of course, the Curve ID guide wasn't working, which was probably the best thing that could have happened. I decided to go for a pair of dark wash (I love dark wash, and can rarely find them dark enough to suit my tastes) high rise which were on sale for $40 (my price range).  I figured at that price, if they didn't work out, not a lot of money was lost.

But, when they arrived, I knew I was going to love them. I did have to go up two sizes, but they are the most comfortable pair of jeans I have ever worn. They have quite a bit of stretch without looking thin and cheap. They hit me at my belly button; high enough to be able to wear some of my vintage blouses. And, they don't look like mom jeans.  I loved them so much, I went back and bought three more pairs. 

The ones I bought were the 512 Perfectly Slimming Bootcut. I do prefer a straight leg, but the boot cut had the color I wanted. I bought two pairs of the indigo rinse, one pair in black, and one pair of straight legs. The straight legged jeans sit about a half an inch lower - or right at the top of the hip. But, they are still just as comfortable. The beauty about these is right now there is 20% off the sale price by using code FEBPI14 good through March 31, 2014.

Levi's 512 Perfectly Slimming Bootcut Jeans

Levi's high rise jeans line

Saving Mr. Banks

 I haven't seen a film in theater in quite some time. And, I wasn't thoroughly convinced that I wanted to see Saving Mr. Banks in theater either.  I didn't have high hopes it would be a good film. I only vaguely knew what it was about, and had no idea how Mr. Banks tied in with the story. To be honest, I have only seen Mary Poppins a few times, and after watching Saving Mr. Banks, have realized there are parts of it I don't remember.

I am a sucker for any movie - good or bad - that is set in decades past. So, I decided that I should go see this film. I am so glad that I did. It was a great film. Way better than I expected. It didn't just talk about the difficulties Walt Disney had with the author of Mary Poppins, but it explained why she was so difficult to work with. It taught that we shouldn't let our past experiences allow us to be bitter and hard-hearted. I even got a little teary eyed at times.

What I also liked about the film was Emma Thompson's costumes. Even though she was playing a character who was supposed to be stuffy and uptight, I really enjoyed most of what she wore.

If you haven't seen this film, I highly recommend it. If you have seen it, please leave me a comment telling me what you liked, or disliked.

This was my most favorite look.

Vanity Fair

New Items in the Etsy Shop

I just listed a bunch of new items in my Etsy shop. I hope to have some new stuff on EBay coming in the new year. Here is a preview to some of the items listed.

More Great Fashions - Grey Gardens (2009)

I'm just slightly behind times. After it's showing three years ago, I finally sat down to watch the 2009 drama Grey Gardens. I honestly forgot it existed until I found a photo of Drew Barrymore in a fabulous costume. I did watch the first Grey Gardens several years ago. Well, really I only watched half of it. I found it really hard to sit through. Though I know most people think it is the most brilliant documentary made, not being a huge fan of documentaries, I found it painful. However, once you see even a portion of the film, you do not forget the two characters, Big and Little Edie. 

Because their life was so fascinating, I wanted to see the HBO special starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange, who did a fantastic job of portraying the Beale women. I enjoyed this drama based on their lives. Switching from the 70s when the documentary was being filmed, and back to more pleasant times in the 30s, it gave me a sense of sadness for the plight that these women found themselves in. Big Edie, the mother, was an attention starved adult who did not learn the responsibilities of adulthood, and in turn neither did her daughter, Little Edie. Sadly, she could not let go of her daughter, which eventually led to the demise of both women. Though, maybe that is just looking at it from an outside point of view. Maybe in reality both women needed each other.

I am not sure how much of the film is based on fact. I read that a lot of what was shown was taken from Little Edie's recollection of the past, and her personal diaries. How much of that was truth is hard to say. It is quite possible that Little Edie had some underlying mental illness. What is known, though, is that she was a model for some time. Pictures show that she was a very beautiful young woman. She also had beautiful clothes. I noticed that some of the outfits were recreated for the film. This is what I would like to share with you in this post. 

I think that the person who did the costuming for this film did a fantastic job. Though primarily into the 50s, I found myself wishing I had most of the outfits that Drew wore. There was one dress in particular that really caught my eye. It was a blue velvet frock in simple 1930s line, but it was paired with an off white beret style had, blue gloves, and a blue woven hand bag with a cream plastic handle. So divine! Below are some pictures of the real Edith Bouvier Beale and Drew Barrymore.

Picture from Huffington Post. More photos at this link.

Photos from Sexuality in Art. More photos at link.

Photo from Tongue Chic. More photos at link.

There were far too many great photos of Edith Beale. It was hard to keep them to just this many. She really was a fashion icon. Be sure to do a Google search for more images for more fashion inspiration.

Hitchcock (2012) Fashions

After seeing the trailers for the new film about Alfred Hitchcock during the shooting of Psycho, I was reluctant to see it. I personally do not like Scarlet Johansson in most rolls (i.e. The Avengers). Seeing this trailer didn't convince me to the contrary. But, when a film comes out that is set anywhere from the 1920s to the 1960s, no matter how awful it looks, I typically can't help but see it. So, yesterday when my movie buff and Hitchcock fan friend asked if I wanted to see it, I said yes.

The film wasn't as awful as I expected it to be, though it wasn't a blockbuster either. As I figured, I did not think Scarlet made a very convincing Janet Leigh. Anthony Hopkins did alright. He was convincing enough. And, if I had to choose another actor, couldn't think of someone who could do it better. I did not know, however, that Toni Collette would be in the film. I think she is a very under-appreciated actress. I have been a fan of hers ever since seeing her in Muriel's Wedding many years ago. 

I also thought that Ms. Collette had the best costumes. There was not an outfit she had on that I didn't swoon over. I also really liked her hair. Below are the only examples I could find of her costumes. I just randomly picked them out of a search. So, I apologize that I do not have photo credits.

Have you seen Hitchcock yet? If so, what do you think? Which outfit is your favorite? I'd love to hear your opinions. 

*Images taken from a Google search

New Things Coming to My Etsy Shop Soon

Half of the work is done. I got this batch of stuff photographed, thanks to a dear friend who modeled for me. Now I have to find the time to list everything. Hopefully, I'll be able to do it soon. In the meantime, I wanted to give you all a little sneak peek. All of this stuff is from my closet. Most of it I bought with the intention of wearing, but never did. I've been doing a lot of purging over the last several months, trying not to refill as quickly as I purge. I still have a bin of older stuff (from the 50s & 60s) that I can't yet bare to part with, though it no longer fits me. You may see that stuff in the near future - or maybe not. 

Oh, how I had to have a capelet! Because the long black cape with the mink collar wasn't good enough. I needed one that I could wear with jeans. The problem is, it never came out of my coat closet. Sure it's cute, but I just never wore it.

Another jacket I had to have. Everyone else looked cute in their brown leather jackets. So, I wanted one too, but I couldn't just go down to the store and find any ol' jacket. I had to search and search to find the right jacket that wasn't brand new. I even got this dry cleaned, which wasn't cheap. I just couldn't figure out what outfits to wear it with. By the time I did, it had become snug.

Once again everyone had the cutest off white dresses. I wanted one too. Trying to find one was harder than I had thought it would be. I even found booties to go with this dress. Those were never worn either, and I sold those recently.

I did eventually give up trying to look like everyone else, and got something that I wanted to wear. I wore this blouse mostly with a v-neck sweater. But, I got two similar blouses. It became time to sacrifice one.

Not all things are 20+ years old.  I got lots of compliments when I wore this Anthropologie sweater, but haven't worn it in a year. It is time to move it along. Though, because it is newer, it will be sold on EBay.

Another cape that I never wore. I ordered this from Tulle, and never took the tags off. Again, an item that just sat in my closet. It was a hard decision, but I decided it must go.

When I am able to list these items (and more), I'll make another post. In the meantime, I'll think about parting with those other items, and see what else I can purge from my closet. Stay tuned!

Modern Pants With a Vintage Silhouette

Leaving the house at 7 am for work every morning leaves me very little time to dress vintage every day. Usually I am in such a mad dash, that I barely have time to blow dry my bangs. As much as I would love to be able to set my hair for work, it usually is not practical. So, I try to find ways to express my vintage style while still being appropriate for work.

Another factor is my commute to work. I walk over a mile each way. I  also walk through some pretty dirty streets.  This means that I have to wear comfortable shoes, usually athletic shoes. Another issue I find, is wearing dresses typically requires the freedom of both hands to keep from showing off more than I'd really like to in the San Francisco wind. And, despite having a passion for vintage, I really have to be in the mood to wear dresses. I don't particularly like to wear them every day.

Now that I've stated all of my excuses for not dressing vintage at work, I want to share something I have found. I had been searching, for quite some time, for high waisted slacks. What I had found, though, were slacks that were marked high wasited, or stated that they sat at the waist, but in fact - at least on me - sat just at the top of my hip. This left a gap between the ends of my vintage blouses and sweaters and the tops of my pants. Not very work appropriate.

Several months ago, Talbots introduced a new fit; the Hollywood Fit. The description states that this fit sits "above the waist." Well, this sold me. I had to try these pants. I was looking for something that I could machine wash. So, I bought the Hollywood Fit Ultimate Double-Weave Pant, which come in five colors (tan, black, gray, brown, and off white). Finally I found a pant that fit at my waist. I was so happy with them, I bought three pairs. I am hoping that they decide to make them in navy and red. But, if they don't add colors, I am still happy that I finally have slacks that are high enough to be worn with my vintage tops.

Creating a Wardrobe

Below is a list taken from Betty Cornell's Glamour Guide for Teens published in 1958. It is her suggestion for the average high school wardrobe. Though, it could, with just a few tweaks, work for someone of any age.

1. A few well-fitting washable slips.

2. One or two half-slips - some nylon, some cotton (cotton to starch for wear under summer skirts).

3. Three or four bras.

4. Panties - preferably shirred to give good curve control.

5. Girdle.

6. Two or three pairs of nylon stockings - one pair of mesh for school, since those are least prone to runs.

7. White wool socks - these for school and sports.

8. Several pairs of colored socks to match your sweaters and skirts.

9. Assorted sweaters - some with long sleeves; classic standbys in classic colors: beige, gray, navy, green; and some with short sleeves; these fit well under suit jackets and can take the place of a blouse.  They can be dressed up with scarves and jewelry.  Pastel colors look pretty in short sleeve pull-ons.

marlcal

10. One good basic suit, neutral in color and simple in line, to wear with everything.  The kind that takes a long time to go out of style.

11. Skirts - in dark colors and in bright plaids.  Wool usually wears the best.  Have various styles, some pleated, some plain.

mgrabois

12. A raincoat - for really sloshy days and to use for hiking and biking trips when you need a covering that can take it.

estelle_and_ivy

13. A good basic coat - perhaps a classic camel hair, but something that will give you service and be in style at the same time.  Here look for a box cut or flare cut so that i can slip easily over jackets and sweaters without bunchiness at the armhole or waist.

14. A dressy coat - here you can take to fitted lines, for you will wear this coat with party dresses and well-cut fitted suits.  Keep to basic color, though, unless you want to tire of it and discard it before its time.

15. A party dress.

mgrabois

16. A formal.

bjebie

17. Low-heeled shoes for school (not "on-stage" ballet slippers, please).

18. Dress-up shoes with Cuban heel - in calf or suede.

19. Evening slippers.

20. Warm gloves for school - mittens or crochet string ones.

21. Dress-up gloves - a pair of white cottons, kept clean, will fill almost every bill.

22. A hat - for church and formal afternoon parties.

collectoratorone