Thrifting

I got this lovely dress in the mail today.  I hope to take a picture with it on later in the week. This was a new, old stock dress.   I found it fascinating that it had these pads under the arms.   Do any of you have dress with these pads still under the arms?  It seems a little uncomfortable to wear them as it's not quite soft.  It has some kind of paper in it.  I'll probably take them out as they really aren't needed.  I'm so glad that nowadays we have great deodorants on the market.

Today, I decided to check out a Goodwill store in a ritzy area.  I thought I might be able to find some cheap vintage well-made items.  Goodwill is certainly not what it used to be.  I think I have better luck on ebay with clothing.  Although, at least you can try things on here.  It's amazing the price they charge for some things.

I noticed this pair of Joan and David shoes that had a vintage vibe.  To me, Joan and David shoes are mid-line nothing exclusive.  I figured maybe $5 for them since they were well loved! When I asked, they said $50.  I'm like "holy cow" for these?

At this Goodwill, they had Chanel and Prada but they also priced them very high.  I doubt anyone who goes into Goodwill is going to pay $300 for a used pair of Prada shoes.

Here's an image of the $50 shoes that were pretty worn (did not buy, of course)..

I thought it was interesting to see such expensive designers at Goodwill.  I believe the jacket was priced at $175.  It could have been a bit higher.   I know that new it would retail $1,000 but still.  This jacket was probably 20 years old and used...it's Goodwill!

It's The Matching Girls

I love it when I see matching ensembles.  Here are a few ideas some cheap some a viewing pleasure:

Etsy  1950's Polka Dot  Love it!

Very cool website called Modbag.  They have some really interesting pieces probably  more for the viewing pleasure:)

Andrew Geller matching bag and shoes:

Or how about this matching gloves with a bag at Dorothea's Closet?  This is not too badly priced at $90:

Look at this one on ebay right now, so cute and with new shoes to boot! :

Hey Lisa, this one's got your name on it...no matching shoes but it's made from beads...how lovely is that!

Talk about a really matching set...look at this one ..

This item sold at Sydney's Vintage but still really cool!

I love this set and very nicely priced at $60 but my foot is too wide or I'd snap it up.   Check it out!  You get a bag, MJ shoes, and a belt.

I showed this one before this would be what I would love in a matching shoe and bag ensemble on etsy:

Vintage Vogue

My first vintage Vogue magazine I acquired a few years ago because it had a lovely picture of a young Audrey Hepburn in it.  It was when Audrey Hepburn was 22 years old and appearing as "Gigi" on the New York theater stage.  Her dress was designed by Adrian, probably before she began her kinship with Givenchy.   I hope to scan a few images from this book but it is a bit on the fragile side.  I love vintage Vogue magazines these truly are an art form and a step back through history.   I could go on and on about John Rawlings but I hope to show some images of his work in another blog post.  I also recently got a bunch of Harper's Bazaar magazines cheap because they were missing some pages.  I hope to also scan some of these.  These I don't mind what happens to with the scanner.

I imagine what it would have been like to visit some of these department stores in the late 40's early 50's and see the women who frequented them.  To see these women all decked out with their hair perfectly in place, posture in model form, and of course dressed to the 10.  This image was published in the March 1952, Vogue magazine.

I also find the dialect interesting.


I'm not quite sure I could get into the fur wearing, I can't imagine wearing a fox around my neck but I'd certainly dig some of the gowns.   It's crazy how these women had private viewings.   Imagine this is 1946 just a couple years after the WW2 ended...

Really interesting fashion show 1938 in color.  Wouldn't it be awesome to locate some of these gowns in a shop today?

Images from a vintage Vogue (1949):

Hattie Carnegie

I have been spending time researching some vintage fashion industry icons and Hattie Carnegie is one of them.  Did you know that when many of her jewelry pieces were created after she died?  But, if you are an astute collector you can determine which pieces were created during her lifetime.  According to a website devoted to her life, you can tell the jewelry made in her lifetime by the signature.  If it is block, it is stamped after her death, if it is her signature it was made during her lifetime.   Also, if it is stamped "HC" it is the oldest of her lines from the late 1930's to early 1940's.

Hattie was born in Vienna, Austria in 1886 and died in 1956.  When she came to America she changed her last name to Carnegie after the richest man in the US at the time, Andrew Carnegie.  She wanted to be industrious just like him.  During her life her empire consisted of jewelry, perfume, handbags, clothing, and hats.  Hattie couldn't sew but she had an eye for fashion and style.  She also had her own column in Vogue magazine.   She was industrious and had a great head for business.  Isn't it so interesting how successful she could be during the time when it was a man's world in business?

She opened her own shop when she was 23 years old. Hattie modeled her own clothes and the wealthy and elite flocked in.  She was a trendsetter and very fashionable.   She believed in simple, beautiful clothes.  Her company was known for creating the "Little Carnegie Suit" which scuplted the body. Hattie was also very talented at hiring the right people such as  Pauline Trigere, James Galanos, and many other great designers.  She was a trend setter and her name was synonymous with couture and style.

Lucille Ball even modeled for Hattie before she became a stage/TV actress.

Hattie on the cover of Vogue magazine September 1940:

Hatty Carnegie Myvintagevogue.com:

Hattie Carnegie dress for sale at vintagepeddler:

Hattie Carnegie dress for sale at SwankVintage:

Hattie Carnegie dress from The Frock:

Hattie Dress photo by John Rawlings (appeared in Vogue 1945), who I also hope to share about...an amazing photographer!

Color image photo John Rawlings 1945 (Vogue archives (Myvintagevogue):

Her jewelry is very sought after.

Lovely brooch recently for sale on ebay:

I bought the Hattie Carnegie brooch below on ebay recently.   My collecting goals are to get one piece either jewelry, clothing, or hats of the major designers that interest me from the 40's and 50's.  My ultimate dream would be a Dior New Look dress...but one can hope:)  This brooch is really interesting.  I can't wait to find the right opportunity to use it.  It really caught my eye the way that the rhinestones are nestled into the wire nest.  I wonder what the muse was when designing this piece?  I paid $42 for the brooch, which is a pretty reasonable price considering what some of her other pieces go for.

Lastly, here is the lovely Hattie Carnegie infinity pin that is apart of the giveaway.  Enter to win this gem:

Vintage Finds

Can I first off just say how much fun this is to throw yourself back into a different time period with these vintage styles?   I have so many exciting things to share upcoming.  I'm going to start my giveaway plans tomorrow, so stay tuned!

The dress I am wearing I purchased at a vintage shop.  I'm going to talk all about the shop tomorrow and share pictures.  The dress has a silky type material. I'm very happy with it.  It is from the 1940's.  The shoes I picked up at a thrift shop, Cynthia Rowley.  Bracelet is vintage 1950's floral combination.

I bought a book on vintage hairstyles, now I need to invest in some hot rollers:)  I did however use a few vintage bobby pins to pull back my hair.  Isn't this awesome how they still have the vintage holder?

Etsy purchase:

Vintage shop purchase (to showcase tomorrow):

Detail shot of 1950's flower and rhinestone bracelet from ebay:

Make Up Tutorial

This is a really great tutorial on how to get the Marilyn Monroe look.  Lisa also covers Audrey Hepburn and other great tips on other videos in YouTube.  So cool!  It really makes you see make up as art form.  Fantastic make up artist.

I had great success at the vintage shop.  I hope to post photo's tomorrow.

Are you a budget beauty?

This is from the back of a 1950's romance comic.  Does this apply to you?  Don't forget to stroke your hair a minimum of one hundred times each night!  I can't imagine going a week without washing my hair but you should also wash your hair once per week.  These women must have had some pretty thick hair:)

Are you a "Budget Beauty"?  Please make sure you are adequately "de-fuzzed" haha