Tag Archives: stockings

Fur & Feathers

Posted on by

This afternoon I joined some of the most marvelous fellow vintage gals in the Pacific Northwest for the annual Fur & Feathers Luncheon as hosted by Julie of FabGabs Vintage.  (You can view last year’s event here!) So get ready to see some amazing fur and feathered concoctions on some even more amazing ladies in loads of pictures!

I know, you’re probably tired of seeing Algernon, especially if you’ve been participating in the rather heated fur debate on his debut entry. (Please visit the entry to read my views regarding fur). But it was the first time I was able to take both him and his brother Earnest on a little outing.

Everyone giggled and chatted as we took up a whole corner of the dark restaurant and several people even took our pictures. But who can blame them? We looked marvelous…just look for yourselves!

Solanah of Vixen Vintage looked stunning with the most darling hat and brown mesh (yeah, I know, crazy, right?) dress!

I wasn’t the only gal who brought along a little fox buddy. Fellow blogger Sara of Lilies & Remains brought along her fox, named Tod!

Also I finally got to meet Sarah of Stutterin’ Mama’s! Who had the most delightful hat!

And I nearly died when I saw the skirt that Jennifer of Jumblelaya was wearing!

It was a fantastic afternoon, and our fur actually got a very positive reception.  Multiple people commented on how lovely we all looked and praised us for our no-fear attitude. Although one gal did say she loved our “costumes” … *sigh*

Outfit
Algernon the Fox Stole: Antique Alley, Portland
Earnest the Fox Muff: Anniversary present from Patrick (but I know he bought it on Ebay)
Hat: Expo
Helen of California Suit: Brownsville Antique Show
Stockings: Oh, who the hell knows!
Shoes: Remix by way of Ebay
Nail Color: Skyfall, part of the OPI James Bond Collection

Traveling Vintage

Posted on by

When vintage is all you own, traveling can be a bit of a burden in a way. Between getting folds in garments, worrying about damage on the road, not to mention all of the other travel anxieties, it can get a little hectic.

Your Suitcase

I travel using vintage luggage.  This is for a handful of reasons.  First they look awesome.  Secondly, if you are flying and you check your luggage, your suitcase will be much easier to spot when it comes out onto the carousel.  Additionally, hard suitcases prevent any extra pressure put on your clothes (causing more wrinkling) by other people’s bags being placed on top of your suitcases in travel.  And if you’re fearful of bed bugs, you really may want to travel with a vintage suitcase.  Bed bugs may find a new home for themselves (and thus possibly follow you home) in the crevasses of an upholstered suitcase, where as they will not with a hard suitcase.  I currently own a medium sized suitcase (which fits the carry-on size restrictions), a small day suitcase, a round hatbox and a train case.  However, for most trips I only take the medium sized suitcase and the train case.

Continue reading →

The Foundation

Posted on by

Recently my dear friend Angelica introduced me to what has become one of my new favorite shops in town. The Foundation: From Billie to Bettie. It’s a little shop located at 4831 SE Davision here in Portland that sells everything (and more) that I included in my Vintage Must Have Foundations Series (Read more on bullet bras, girdles, seamed stockings, slips, and crinolines).

If you’re a Portland gal who has ever been hesitant to purchase a bullet bra off the internet, then The Foundation is the place to go! Not only does the shop carry the What Katie Did bras, but a selection of new-old stock 1960s bras, all in addition to more modern bras.  When I walked in I felt like a kid in a candy store. Corsets, garters, stockings, girdles, bras, crinolines! Even pasties and tiny burlesque hats!  There is a wide array of shape-wear available, including vintage inspired Rago girdles.  There is also a large selection of stockings, crinolines of varying lengths, and steel boned corsets! Since I’ve been dying to own a steel boned corset since I was a freshman in high school, I went ahead and purchased one, along with a few bras.

And for those of you who have ever wanted to bring out your inner pin-up girl, shop owner, Tami has teamed up with Tammy Kravitz, a photographer who does classic boudoir and pin-up photos in their portrait studio.

Proprietress Tami is a wonderful gal who doesn’t just cater to the specialty market of bullet bras and corsets, but she also sells beautiful contemporary slips, sleepwear sets and panties. So there’s something for the vintage gal as well as the modern woman.  She was also very nice and patient with me when I was trying on my corset. She explained the best way to loosen the laces, how to properly fasten the front, and tighten the back.  The Foundation is open Wednesday through Sunday, twelve to seven.

What this all brings me to is a new series I am starting on bullet bras.  There are a few out there, and most with mixed reviews, so I figured I’d throw in my two-cents on various ones on the market.  So tune into tomorrow for the first in my new Bullet Bra Review Series!

Sizzling Vintage

Posted on by

This past weekend brought one of my favorite events of the year…the summer antique show at the Portland Expo Center.  Hosted by Palmer Wirfs, the summer Expo has over a thousand dealers selling various items ranging from fine furnishings from the turn-of-the-century to vintage clothing to collectable toys.

I attended all three days of the show this go’round, including day one with Rhiannon of Garb-Oh Vintage (and my latest sponsor I might add!) and we bumped into Lulu of Lulu’s Vintage, day two with my dad, and day three with Patrick and my friend Angelina who had never been before.

My pocket book full of cash, I walked up and down the aisles on the hunt.  While many things caught my eye, I ultimately walked home with bags full of vintage clothing (a few pieces for me and a few for the shop) including an amazing two piece sailor style outfit, a few dresses, blouses and even a girdle, bullet bra and multiple pairs of fully-fashioned stockings!  These are all things I’m keeping for myself…you’ll have to peek into The Atomic Hideaway Portland location near the end of the week to see if there’s anything you need!

I also scored some stellar anti-LBJ/war buttons (I believe I will soon need to do an entry regarding this collection of buttons), a celluloid reindeer brooch, and a two foot aluminum Christmas tree (which makes it the 16th one between myself and my dad…I think…)

I also snatched up a fantastic birthday present for a friend, but I’m keeping that under wraps…

There are quite a few more antique shows between now and the next Expo, which is in October, that I’m greatly looking forward to attending.

Stay tuned to my Twitter, Facebook or Etsy to see items when they are listed!

Vintage Must Have: Seamed Stockings

Posted on by

Last week I discussed girdles and how essential they are to creating a period correct foundation for your garments.  I also mentioned that I use them mainly for the garters to hold up my stockings.  For everyday use, I wear new seamed stockings.  I do this for a few reasons.  Vintage stockings are becoming increasingly hard to find (and thus rather expensive) and can become brittle.  I have ruined several pairs within minutes of putting them on.  However I covet vintage seamed stockings, buying them whenever possible, and wear them for special occasions.  Recently I went to AlexSandra’s Vintage Emporium  and I asked her if she had any seamed stockings.  AlexSandra brought out a bag full of new-old stock stockings.  Most were seamless (perfect for 60s outfits) however I found some fully-fashioned pairs of stockings…including these with the amusing brand of “Hard to Find”

But don’t fret fellow stocking lovers, I left a few pairs for you!  In fact, AlexSandra just listed these stunning NOS Lilly Dache stockings in her bridal shop, Union Made Bride, along with many more fully-fashioned pairs!.  Those in the Portland area can also visit AlexSandra’s brick-and-mortar shop for vintage delights.  For details on her hours and location, please visit her website.  Additionally, I have two pairs of deluxe stockings (stockings featuring some sort of design or detail) currently for sale on Etsy.  You can view them here and here.

So what does “Fully Fashioned” mean exactly? Here is a perfect diagram to understand:

As for new stockings, there are a range of price points, quality and shops you can purchase new stockings from. Once again, Secrets in Lace (yes! It’s like a one stop shop for all vintage style foundation garments!) offers up new fully-fashioned stockings, including items from Dita Von Tease and Bettie Page collections.  What Kate Did also supplies a range of stockings, including seamed, although not fully-fashioned, stockings, perfect for everyday wear, which is who I have been using lately.  Previously I purchased Leg Avenue stockings from various websites (including 3 Wishes) and shops around Portland.

When shopping for stockings, you want to avoid the items described as “thigh highs” because a thigh high is very different from a stocking.  Thigh highs are of stocking length, however, in the welt they have rubber bands around the inside of them for them to stay on, thus supposedly rendering garters superfluous.  However, these tend not to work, and/or are uncomfortable, resulting in an almost tourniquet like experience.

Additionally, I want to make note, if you travel by air frequently, or do not enjoy being touched by strangers, I do not recommend wearing a girdle or garter belt and stockings when traveling.  Garters do show up on body scanner images and even if you show and tell the TSA officer what is creating the anomaly, they will still pat you down.  At some airports they simply pat down the area which the anomaly shows up, other airports will conduct a full body pat down.  And I am speaking from experience from multiple occasions.  For air travel, I suggest purchasing seamed pantyhose, another Leg Avenue product, available here as well as many other websites.  Although, I will admit, I find them difficult and of poor quality.

I think that just about covers it! If you have any remaining questions regarding stockings or girdles, please do not hesitate to ask!

For more on vintage foundations:
Vintage Must Have: Bullet Bra
Vintage Must Have: Girdle
Vintage Must Have: Slip

Vintage Must Have: Girdle

Posted on by

In the last segment of my “Vintage Must Have” series I tackled bullet bras. Now let’s go a little further south and discuss girdles.  The girdle was the mid-century answer to the corset. And while it can take a few inches off your waist, I find them more necessary for holding up my stockings.  While there are a few variations on the girdle (panty girdles and one piece girdles), my favorite is the open bottom girdle.

The open bottom girdle comes in two types.  The first is one that slips on, but has hook and eyes as well as a zipper for final fastenings.

The other is more like a tight mini skirt that you wiggle your way into.

So, a girdle holds up your stockings, has the ability to whittle your waist, and you want to know the bonus?  It gives you that Marylin or Joan wiggle – and you don’t even have to try.

I have run across vintage girdles everywhere from thrift stores to estate sales to the finest vintage clothing stores.  Girdles are also available on Etsy.  However if wearing what was once someone else’s foundation garment isn’t your gig, you can find new girdles to purchase on-line.  Secrets in Lace offers up some beautiful girdles including ones with leopard print panels! And who doesn’t love a little leopard print?  What Kate Did also offers a small selection of various girdles.

For more on vintage foundations…
Vintage Must Have: Bullet Bra
Vintage Must Have: Seamed Stockings
Vintage Must Have: Slip