15 Vintage Essentials

June 12, 2013, 28 Comments

Awhile ago I was contacted by a reader who recently noticed a fashion trend, 15 essentials for your wardrobe. She liked this idea, but felt that the contemporary trends didn’t help her in building up her vintage wardrobe, so she suggested the idea to me! Just remember, not every piece has to be vintage! Several…

Vintage Must Have: Snood

February 13, 2013, 12 Comments

Okay, so this isn’t really a must have for all vintage-loving gals. But it is for those who love the 1940s. Today’s vintage must have is a snood… Snoods have a history dating back to the Renaissance, had a revival in the mid 1800s, and came back into vogue during the 1940s due to World…

Vintage Must Have: Muff

December 8, 2012, 14 Comments

It’s finally getting chilly, with temperatures not even going above 50 degrees! So it’s certainly time for my favorite winter accessory…a muff! I’ve always had an adoration for the cozy little hand-warmer. The muff was a must for ladies at the turn-of-the-century and made a comeback in a small form in the 1940s and 50s. …

Vintage Must Have: Crinoline

August 1, 2012, 12 Comments

A crinoline (also known as a petticoat) is a must have if you’re a fan of fuller skirts. The full skirts and circle skirts of the 1950s and early 1960s require a crinoline to produce that classic silhouette seen in so many magazines of the time period. I have several crinolines, because, well, I need…

Vintage Must Have: Sheer Blouse

July 11, 2012, 8 Comments

Summer is in full swing, and that means it’s hot, hot, hot! Some of my favorite summer staples are my sheer blouses that I have acquired. Often made of nylon, sheer blouses are some of the best ways to beat the heat while also looking elegant and refined. But remember ladies, slips are quite required…

Vintage Must Have: Slip

June 24, 2012, 8 Comments

Now that we’ve discussed bullet bras, girdles, and stockings, there is one more element in creating the perfect vintage foundation to your garments: a slip. I know many ladies who do not wear slips, and I’ll openly admit, I did not start wearing a slip on a regular basis until a few years ago, but…

Vintage Must Have: Seamed Stockings

June 19, 2012, 13 Comments

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…

Vintage Must Have: Girdle

June 16, 2012, 4 Comments

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 and…

Vintage Must Have: Bullet Bra

May 18, 2012, 6 Comments

Alright, ladies. Let’s talk about your boobs. Your “yabbos”, the girls, breasts. For vintage girls, we live in a very different bra state than the rest of the ladies out there. When I first started shopping for vintage on a heavier scale I came across a common problem. The darts in the breast region were…

Vintage Must Have: Overshoes

January 20, 2012, 2 Comments

As it rains cats and dogs here in Oregon, all I can say is thank goodness for my vintage overshoes. Overshoes, galoshes, shoe covers, whatever you want to call them, are a must-have for any vintage dame who lives in an area with lots of snow or rain. So, what exactly are they? Overshoes are…