Enter the Dragon (Dress)

Summer may be gone here in the Great Southern Land, but the sunshine still lingers! After torrents of rain and flooding, the sun has broken through and it is a balmy (humid) 27 degrees. I can finally say, "See ya, sucker!" to the clouds and don an oriental-inspired dress (or three!).

I'm a hopeless romantic when it comes to Asian prints. Oriental-inspired fashion was very popular in the past; particularly in the 1940s and 1950s. Many fashion designers incorporated this look into their clothing, through elements such as frog clasps, mandarin collars, Asian-inspired prints and the much-loved cheongsam dress.  In a tale of East meets West, I would like to share some of my favourite summer dresses with an oriental flavour.

The truly amazing Trixie dress in Pearl Harbour print from Trashy Diva. This dress is made from a silky rayon fabric with a red halter tie and a full circle skirt to boot! The fabric is deliciously cool and lightweight: perfect for those sultry summer days. The fusion of Hawaiian and Asian designs in the print is nothing short of magnificent. This dress is discontinued on the Trashy Diva site, but eventually I found it here at Miss Bamboo (UK). Miss Bamboo is a great store for finding some culturally diverse, vintage-inspired gems! This dress has elasticised smocking at the back for comfort. I was able to size down from medium to small for this one. The Trixie dress has been released in a variety of prints and fabrics. Be sure to check out Trashy Diva to see the new colour ways.

Here we have the Garden Party dress in Vintage Dragon print by Dixiefried. This was an impulse purchase that I got here.  At first, I was concerned about the crossover straps at the front and elasticised neckline, but when the straps have been adjusted (much like bra straps), it fits comfortably and securely. There is very little stretch in this dress, so follow the size chart carefully! I believe (but could be wrong) that the crossover style of this dress was based on a dress Marilyn Monroe wore in 'The Seven Year Itch'. This dress also comes in white like Marilyn's and a cute bandanna print. The dragon print appeals to my Asian heritage, I guess. I'm wearing a size medium and it is a fairly snug, but not uncomfortable fit. It's made from a luxurious, heavyweight sateen.

Last, but not least, is the Frenchie Dress in a sweet oriental flower print. The dress has a gathered shelf bust and halter ties. Hidden lipstick pockets and a full circle skirt make this dress extra sweet. The colours are vibrant and contrast well with the metallic gold pattern throughout the print. Whilst this particular print is discontinued, the style is not, and it can be found on Bernie Dexter's website. There are also a few L and XL sizes left at Miss Bamboo on sale at present. I'm wearing a size medium and it is very fitted in the waist and bust. This dress is cotton and has zero stretch, so make sure you follow the size guide!

A back view of my Trashy Diva Trixie dress in Pearl Harbour print.

If you're thinking of incorporating a little Asian influence into your wardrobe, I'd say, "subukan ninyo!" (that's give it a go in Tagalog).

Happy Sunday x

The Deadliest of Dames

Tired of looking a little ho-hum? Are the Peter Pan collars not channelling your inner badass? Need something that will make your cleavage pop? Then Deadly Dames, the vampy and super sexy clothing line designed by über-babe Micheline Pitt, is just what you need!

Didn't that sound like a 30 second commercial? Maybe, but I stand by the above statement.

The Deadly Dames line has been through many evolutions, each season more different (although equally fabulous) than the last. Micheline states that her clothing: "is what happens when you mix doll clothes with 50's sex kittens and, well, possibly John Waters" and are clothes for "girls who want to be their own Barbie doll, but with an EDGE!"

Micheline's first season teamed the rockabilly/psychobilly style with cool cuts and prints. Here are a few of my favourite pieces from the beginning of Deadly Dames:

Left to right: discontinued Green Leopard Babydoll swing with added collar for cuteness and re-designed Malibu Tiki dress.  I'm normally a sound size medium in Deadly Dames, but I can get away with a small in the Green Leopard Babydoll. At first, the fit of the Malibu Tiki was a little snug, but after a bit of wear (and maybe a small tug on the fabric at the waist) everything hugged the body perfectly. Because of the well-structured and padded cups, this dress doesn't necessarily require a bra. Malibu Tiki available here.

The Deadly Dames Polka Dot Wiggle dress - a classic. This dress is very form fitted and requires nude undergarments. I believe this garment was in Micheline's first collection and it is a big seller. I find this frock very true to size with just the perfect amount of stretch. It's available here.

One of her later seasons was inspired by Marie Antoinette. This line featured floral motifs and lingerie-inspired silhouettes. Muted palettes in satin, lace and velvet came together to produce a very decadent line. Girls were falling over themselves to get their hands on the beautiful blue Victorian numbers. Ooh la la!

Victorian Courtesan Swing Dress. The thick sateen of this dress has a slight sheen and the Victorian rose print is delightful! The lingerie-inspired bodice adds an element of burlesque for a bit of fun. I'm wearing my normal size medium in this dress. Available here.

The latest Deadly Dames line is called 'Fetish Folly' - a culmination of the kinky teamed with vintage flair. The Victorian print will make a new comeback in a new colourway - red and pink floral! I particularly look forward to the special edition Haunted Housewife dress in this revamped print.

From the latest Deadly Dames line comes the Tie-Me-Up dress in fetish print - yes it's really as  flirty as the  name suggests. The print includes women with whips, bondage, corsets, high-heeled boots and a general dominatrix feel. Not for the faint-hearted, particularly with the cleavage aspect. I was able to size down to a small in this dress. The tie straps cater for a range  of bust sizes and sateen always has some give. This whip-crackin' wonder is available here. 

Each and every Deadly Dames piece I own features clever construction and asset-enhancing design. I often find myself being asked where I buy my clothes from whenever I wear one of these garments. I look forward to seeing what daring designs the future holds for Deadly Dames!

Happy Sunday x

My Prints Charming

Yes, I have been swept off my feet by vintage inspired prints. Is there anything sweeter than a swing dress that hearkens back to a bygone era? Hardly. Novelty, atomic, floral... all these prints are reminiscent of simpler, more easy-going (and dare I say, happier?) times.

I  purchased a few dresses recently that reminded me of my grandma's fabulous fabric collections! The fabric of these dresses really have a retro feel to them, particularly the circus print Zooey by pinupgirlclothing.com. As usual, the fit and quality are superb!

The Ginger halter dress in turquoise atomic print is available from pinupgirlclothing.com. This dress came with a thin, black, poplin-covered belt, but I think that it detracted from the overall look of the dress. Sometimes, belts can shorten the look of your torso by giving your body the appearance of two "halves" - I find the belt that came with my Ginger had this effect on me.  This dress also comes in a myriad of stunning prints and colours.

The Zooey pink circus print dress is available from pinupgirlclothing.com. This is fast becoming my favourite summer dress. The stretch cotton sateen feels luxurious and the bust is lined for a little bit of modesty ;) The vintage-inspired print on this darling dress is rather quaint, with animals in outfits, a man on stilts and pretty pin ups. This dress also comes in a red 'tablecloth' print and grey birdcage print.

This dress is the Netti in Tiki print. The Netti dress comes in so many fabulous prints, but this one is my favourite by far!  I feel like hosting a luau party, BYO ukulele! I can picture a vintage Hawaiian shirt in this eye-catching print. Again, available from pinupgirlclothing.com. Be sure to jump onto the website and check out their wide range of precious prints!

Naturally, many reproduction brands have produced their own beautiful vintage inspired prints. Here are a few from a range of different brands that I would love to share with you.

Left to right: Bettie Page Paradise dress available from  https://www.bettiepageclothing.com. Trashy Diva Sweetie dress available from  http://www.trashydiva.com. I have the Sweetie dress and the rayon fabric is simply perfect for a hot summer's day!

Left to right: Hell Bunny May Day dress available from MANY places, including eBay,  http://www.attitudeoz.com.au,  https://www.retroglam.com to name a few... On the right is a Hawaiian halter sun dress available from  http://www.bluevelvetvintage.com.

Left to right: Katrina dress by Australian brand, Retrospec'd ( http://www.retrospecd.com). They have a brick and mortar store at 486 King St, Newtown, Sydney. The Bernie Dexter Pearl in Cherry Tree Lane dress is just that: a pearl. You can pick up this head-turner from  http://www.berniedexter.com/bernie-dexter-dresses.html.

Left to right: The Beverly Cerise cherry print dress available from  http://heartbreakerfashion.com and the Comic inspired dress available at http://www.limb-clothing.com are cute and quirky novelty prints. Although they each have a different feel to them, they are equally awesome.

Do you love a vintage print as much as I do? I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic and see some of your personal favourites, reproduction or vintage!

Happy Saturday x

Wiggle or Swing?

Different styles of dresses can have different effects. Lately, I have been wondering whether the wiggle or swing style suits me best, which got me to thinking that each style has its benefits and pitfalls. Some dresses suit particular occasions better than others. I only have one vintage wiggle dress, and that is my glorious Alfred Shaheen sarong dress (oh how I love thee). The rest of my vintage frocks are swing style. I have decided to look to my vintage-inspired collection a la pinupgirlclothing to see which style I'd prefer.

Let's look at wiggle dresses first. Do me a favour and disregard the ridiculous poses - I was just having a bit of a laugh with my poor husband who was wrangled into taking these photos.

Here we have the following dresses, left to right: Pinup Couture's Plum Jayne Glamour dress in satin, Dixiefried's Tiki Twist! in Asian-print brocade, and the Niagara dress in dark fuchsia stretch taffeta (a sample that I scored off a lovely PUGette via PUG Swap/Sell Community). The only one of these dresses that is still available is the Tiki Twist! at pinupgirlclothing.  You can still purchase the Niagara dress in a few different colourways though.

Forgetting the fact that I am obviously no model, wiggle dresses can be really flattering (in my case, when teamed with an awesome bra and shapewear). Not everyone is comfortable with a form fitting dress. Unless I'm wearing hardcore shapewear (Spanx in this case), then I'm not really confident with it myself - I am quite a hippy girl with a tendency to get a little bloated after I eat. I find that these are the kind of dresses that can make a gal feel sexy, but not necessarily like she wants to put away a large meal! A great style for a night out, special event or cocktail party, maybe even a black-tie wedding where you don't feel like wearing a full-length gown, leaving the legs free to party! That being said, I do love the hourglass effect that this style has on me. Pinupgirlclothing makes a super-duper range of wiggle dresses, well-cut from high quality fabrics. In fact, there are so many great choices it's hard to pick just one dress sometimes ;)

 Swing dresses... A different look for me, entirely!

Available from pinupgirlclothing. Left to right: Pinup Couture's Evelyn in rose print, The Courtesan Swing in Victorian Print from the Deadly Dames collection and the Pink Psychobilly Skull swing dress, also by Deadly Dames (no longer available).

I find that swing style dresses have a sweetness about them. I love the flowing fabric and the circle skirts which hearken back to the femininity of the 50's. I get a real kick out of wearing these dresses and I especially love it when old women say, "I used to wear something similar back in..." A swing dress, to me, seems less formal than a wiggle dress and it hides a multitude of sins (a great way of disguising my tummy when I overeat!). I feel comfortable enough to wear one shopping. As a teen, you would NEVER have got me into something like this, but as a young child, I loved that twirly effect that you would get from spinning around in a circle skirt. Well, there you go. I must have reverted back to my childish ways - I love twirling in my swing dresses! Perfect for a garden wedding, high tea, impressing your nanna... the list goes on.

So, which one? Choices, choices!

Two stunning women in two different styles. Photography by Laura Byrnes. Dresses (Micheline Pitt in the Vamp Dress - left,  Masuimi Max in the Netti Dress - right) available at  www.pinupgirlclothing.com

I have concluded nothing (must go back to pinupgirlclothing to look again!).

Which do you prefer? I would love to know what YOU think.

Happy Friday x

Suit Up!

It's been a long time between drinks, but today I have a little time on my hands to share with you a trend that went unnoticed by me until recently. Suits. 1940's suits more to the point.

This year I was lucky to attend the 'Love Vintage Show' which travels around Australia and New Zealand. Many vintage exhibitors come from all over Australia and New Zealand to show off their vintage wares and conduct master classes and seminars. One of the free workshops I attended was hosted by The Lindy Charm School For Girls. Sounds like something out of an Enid Blyton novel, right? The workshop was run by the lovely Headmistress Chrissy, who gave us an insight into the 1940's. Besides showing us tricks of the trade to get ourselves looking like a 40's dolly (and scaring us with stories of 40's frugality!), Headmistress Chrissy modelled a fabulous 40's suit. Apparently, in those good ol' days, women had to make do with a couple of garments and sew for themselves. That's right ladies: SEW FOR THEMSELVES. That being said, garments were made to last, and a new dress wasn't easy to come by. Households were money savvy after the war and due to the Great Depression. Having seen Headmistress Chrissy in her stunning suit made up my mind. I had to have one!

This picture was borrowed from the Love Vintage Show Facebook page.  It  shows Headmistress Chrissy in her wonderfully tailored 40's suit. Sweet little checks and a cinched in waist make this look a knock out! There is also the
gorgeous A-line skirt to boot.

I had since been on the hunt for a 1940's suit, in purple no less, and was successful in my search. I encountered the usual problems, few purple garments (and to be honest - I probably wouldn't settle for a different colour, regardless of its social acceptability!), tiny waist bands and poor vintage condition. Eventually, I struck gold! Purple gold!

Before my surprise reveal though, here are a few beauties worth taking a peek at:

Plum Garbadine darling available here for  $160 US

Black Wool Crepe available here for $175 US. Check out the button detail! Wowee!

Powder Blue beauty available here for $78 US

1940's skirt suits are a work of art, without a doubt. So much effort goes into the fine details, whether it be elaborate cuffs, beautiful button detail or an elaborate collar with ornate embellishments. They don't make 'em like they use to - I think think women's 1940's suits are the epitome of this statement.

My suit. From JP Allen Atlanta according to the tag. The label also says that it is a 'Davidow' London, Paris, New York. It is made of a deliciously soft tweed wool; possibly a mohair blend. It's very warm and perfect for winter. The jacket is fully lined with an art deco embellishment applied to the breast and the classic A-lined skirt has a deep kick pleat. And by god, it's purple. Worn here with the lavender vamp top by Deadly Dames available here for $58 US. 

So, some things to look out for when purchasing a vintage suit... Obviously, as you would with any vintage item, inspect the quality. Satin and synthetic lining can pull easily and seems prone to discolouration which might not be too big of an issue for you as this is on the inside. Check the measurements between the skirt waist and jacket waist; you want to be able to shut your jacket! Best to have a difference of about two or so inches. If you can, test the zipper (almost always a metal zipper) to see if will do up the whole way without catching on the fabric or jamming. It's also a good idea to check how secure the buttons are - sometimes threads are loose. If you lose a button, it's almost a certainty that you will have to change EVERY button on your garment to match a new one.

I love how the tailoring of many 1940's skirt suits can cut a sexy silhouette. Another happy purchase for me and one to keep the rest of my vintage collection company :)

Happy Monday x

I Love Lucite

Lucite and Bakelite are plastics that were developed in the early 1900s. Bakelite was developed in 1907, whereas Lucite came a bit later in 1928. Both of these plastics have a myriad of applications (even used in machine gun parts!), but as a girl with an appreciation of vintage fashion, my favourite use of these particular plastics is in the form of a handbag. Hardly surprising.

Your grandmother probably owned something similar to this.

I absolutely adore the craftsmanship of these vintage purses. They are just superb in detail.

Many of these vintage purses are carved in clear lucite to achieve a jewel-like effect. The only potential issue I can see is that the contents of your bag are on display to the world. e.g."Mummy, what's that...?" Well, you can see where I'm going with that comment. An old fashioned trick was to line your beautiful bag with a coloured scarf. This smaller purse can be found on Etsy.

Another popular look was the confetti lucite purse. Some of these confetti purses actually contain real glitzy bits of confetti, others achieve a similar look with metallic threads running through the lucite. Also available on Etsy.

Some are encased in spectacular filigree frames, like this beauty found on Etsy.  It has that 'gilded cage' look minus the  unpleasant analogy.

The marbled lucite purses were very popular. They have a pearlescent look to them which adds greater depth to the overall colour. Common colours in this style are white, red and grey.

In my eyes, this is the mother of all lucite purses. Yes, because it's purple, lucite, purple, carved, purple, dainty... Did I mention purple? Unfortunately it's not for sale as it belongs to a personal collection. Sigh. You can check it out at Vast Vintage.

Here are some great places to buy vintage lucite purses:

http://www.lucitepurse.net

http://www.824nothingmore.com

http://www.etsy.com

A few things to be aware of when buying a lucite purse:

• Cracking and scratches - check the bag around the handles, corners and areas where the metal is used to attach parts. Some bags are not stored nicely or treated well by their owners. In addition, plastic becomes brittle with age, leading to fragility.
• Patina - this is a layer of film that develops on surfaces due to oxidisation. As these purses are joined together with metal screws and hinges, the may have developed patina over time. An acidic smell usually gives this away.
• Discolouration - happens with old things, ha ha! On a serious note though, some of the plastic may have yellowed.
• Price - some brands of lucite bags are highly sought after. The book Carry Me! identifies some of the popular brands and iconic styles. 

Don't let these things put you off buying a vintage lucite purse though - it just pays to do your homework and inspect your purchase thoroughly. 

If you still aren't confident investing your pennies in what is potentially an expensive vintage item, there are some modern equivalents. 

''Ice Queen' available at Miss L Fire

'Jitterbug' available at Miss L Fire

'Prom Date' available at Miss L Fire

'Paris' available in red, white and black by Lux De Ville. No longer in production, but some can be found with a little online searching. The white 'Paris' purse is available at Sears.

Hope you enjoying perusing the purse porn.

Happy Tuesday x

The Shoe Must Go On

Vintage shoes can be very fragile depending on the material they are made from. Elastic and rubber becomes brittle and  perishes over time. A few years ago, I tried on my grandmother's wedding shoes (from the 40's I believe) and they broke... Whoops! Unfortunately for me, the elastic straps were worn and they snapped when I wiggled my feet in. Pity, because they were fabulous shoes, covered in a custom-dyed brocade to match her wedding gown (which, thankfully, I  haven't  tried on).

Recently, I came across this spectacular pair of vintage shoes, circa 1940's. The brand is Shantilly and they are in exquisite condition. They are tooled leather shoes with steel plate heels - not for wearing through the airport, I guess! Luckily, these babies were my size and favourite colour. When buying vintage shoes, be sure to get the inner sole measurement and width across the widest area. I think vintage sizes in shoes are smaller than modern sizing.

 My circa 1940's vintage Shantilly shoes. My brother calls these my bowling shoes. Thanks, bro!

There are lots of really cool shoe brands out there, some which emulate retro styles, and others which are just down right out there! Many of these styles team up well with vintage and repro brand clothing. I'm not what you would call a vintage purist - I love to mix and match modern and vintage styles. Here are a few of my favourite shoes from my collection.

My current favourites are my "Deuce Coupe" babies! These are by the brand Miss L Fire. Unfortunately they are no longer available and there was a bit of an international hunt to find these! I got my pair from madness-clothing where there are a few pairs in selected sizes left. Miskonduct also has a pair, I believe. Miss L Fire is still worth checking out - there are so many fabulous and daring styles there!

These sweeties are called "Frankenstitch." They are made by Tuk Shoes. Note the gel inserts in these shoes. I find them a bit narrow and I can only wear them for short periods of time, which is why I have to wear them with gel inserts - otherwise they are just too uncomfortable. Damn, they look good though!

My special edition Zombie Stompers (Yes, ZOMBIE STOMPERS!) actually glow in the dark. These special edition bad boys are called "Moonshine Zombie Stompers".  They were available at Iron Fist but there are still a number of them floating around on the web if you have the time to hunt. I have seen a few on eBay. Are they gory? Yes! Well named? Yes! Comfy? Yes! Look out, undead!

Here are some other fabulous vintage inspired shoes I have come across:

Rachel Antonoff Saddle shoes - available at Bass Shoes

Cutipie Heels - available from Pinup Girl Clothing (I own these and they are super comfortable, despite the height)

Now, I don't own these vintage shoes - but they are timeless classics from the 40's and 50's. If you find a great pair, pounce on them! 

Lucite heels - Amazing craftsmanship! One can often find them on eBay or Etsy,

The famed Spring-O-Lators (as referred to in my post about the Sarong dress). These are iconic mid-century shoes.  Again, if you want to own a pair, your best bet is eBay or Etsy based on my experience. Anyway, how fantastic is this advertisement? No online shipping back then!  (I do love vintage advertising!)

Well, as they say, "if the shoe fits"...

Happy Wednesday x