Category: Fashion Reviews

Information about vintage, pinup, and repro fashion brands and sellers.

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Seasonal Fashion: Fuzzy vintage sweaters, perfect for fall!

Pink Vintage Sweater
Beaded pink vintage sweater.

I know I beat you guys over the head with my cardigans all the time, but having just acquired a new one, I thought it might be handy to remind everybody what a super accessory a vintage cardigan can be!

Not only are they practical – they tend to be well-made, warm, and competitively priced (beaded vintage is almost always a better deal than the contemporary alternative, for example) – they’re adorable! My latest is a pink wool, Angora, and nylon blend from Hong Kong. It’s lined and profusely beaded, which makes it perfect for work or a fancyish event of some sort. Continue reading “Seasonal Fashion: Fuzzy vintage sweaters, perfect for fall!”

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Outfits of the Season: Fancy Fall Fashion

Jade Ava Dress
Ava dress in jade, worn with vintage 1950s paste jewelry and a dopey expression.

With the holidays fast approaching, you may find yourself in need of a fancy new frock or two. Yes, I realize that technically, a frock is just a dress that buttons in the back. But let’s suspend that reality for the sake of my prose. Anyway. I have some spiffy suggestions for what to wear for your Christmas parties, New Year’s Eve shindigs, spruced-up goings-out, and maybe even a Thanksgiving dinner or two.

Continue reading “Outfits of the Season: Fancy Fall Fashion”

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Outfit of the Week: Easy Black Cat Halloween Costume

Laura Byrnes Janelle Dress
Here, kitty kitty! My black cat Halloween costume is centered on Laura Byrnes’ Janelle dress.

This year, I’m revisiting my black cat Halloween costume from elementary school. I’m still wearing a kitty-ear headband, but I’ll be trading in my old black turtleneck for the Janelle dress in black from Laura Byrnes Black Label!

Its slinky black stretch satin and knit fabrics and cute buckled collar make the Janelle a perfect cat costume, but it’s also wonderful cocktail wear for any fancy occasion. Drawing inspiration from the art deco and futuristic aesthetics incorporated into the science fiction/film noir classic, Blade Runner, Laura’s created a beautiful dress suitable for an impressive Halloween ensemble, holiday parties, or a special date night! For those who want a little variety in their colorways, the Janelle is also available in a vibrant red, a deep blue, and a lustrous pewter gray. Continue reading “Outfit of the Week: Easy Black Cat Halloween Costume”

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Outfits of the Season: A very vintage autumn!

1920s Dress
Embroidery detail: 1920s cotton dress

When the 100+ degree weather finally subsides, I suddenly remember why fall is awesome:

  1. I don’t have to run the AC at night
  2. Halloween is coming
  3. Christmas isn’t far behind it
  4. I can wear nifty dark colors and heavier, fluffier, more luxurious fabrics

I just so happen to have a crap-ton of spiffy fall fashions from some of my favorite vintage purveyors. Continue reading “Outfits of the Season: A very vintage autumn!”

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Autumn colors, autumn wishes: Fall 2012 Pantones and more!

Yeah, it’s that time again. With autumn starting…tomorrow…the moment’s arrived for me to dig up the official Pantone fashion color report for fall, 2012. You may remember my dismay at last year’s muted, somewhat muddy palette. This season’s colors are a welcome change, incorporating clearer, cooler, crisper colors:

Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2012
Pantone Fashion Color Report Fall 2012.

Continue reading “Autumn colors, autumn wishes: Fall 2012 Pantones and more!”

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Outfits of the Month: August vintage fashion finds

Blue Taffeta and Velvet Dress
1950s blue taffeta and velvet dress from Sneaky Tiki Boutique in Long Beach.

From time to time I like to raid my favorite vintage fashion shops to see what I can find. Since I’ve lost enough weight to fit into common 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s shapes and sizes, the endeavor’s become easier and tons more fun! On a foray to Long Beach’s Fourth Street vintage district, I discovered a gorgeous taffeta and velvet dress at Sneaky Tiki Boutique (left).

On my last visit to the Haight in San Francisco, I found several beautiful pieces at my two favorite stores, Relic Vintage and La Rosa. Both shops feature beautifully-curated selections in wearable women’s sizes up to at least 34″ in the waist. The staff is super-helpful at both stores and the quality is amazing! Continue reading “Outfits of the Month: August vintage fashion finds”

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Outfits of the Season: Blue and white wiggles!

Custom Mad Men dress by Morningstar84.

While not as comfortable in super-hot weather as their swing-skirted cousins, wiggle dresses can still look sharp in summer colors!

My current favorite is this stunning version of the blue and white linen dress worn by Christina Hendricks as Mad Men‘s Joan Harris, created for me by Esther of Morningstar84 on Etsy: Continue reading “Outfits of the Season: Blue and white wiggles!”

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Outfits of the Season: Surviving summer work

Ginger in Circus Print
Pinup Couture Ginger dress in Circus print.

Since I live and work in a region where temperatures shoot well above 100 degrees Farenheit, it’s always difficult for me to balance summer comfort with professional elegance. Some days it just isn’t possible to trudge across scorching hot parking lots and up four flights of stairs in uncomfortable heels and sweltering Spanx, so I try to mix things up with lightweight fabric swing sundresses, white summer cardigans for coverage and for their reflective and sunscreening properties, flats, and “flatform” shoes. Continue reading “Outfits of the Season: Surviving summer work”