Vintage Find of the Week

Or something to that effect. Today we have the lovely wool plaid skirt that I scorned twice, returned to try on weeks later, and fell in love with.

With a t-shirt that has cupcakes on it, of course. It's a wee bit too tight and I already moved the hook and eye in the back over a bit, but still... I limit myself to only 6 hours of wearing it or my ribs hurt too much the next day. That tells you a bit about the extent to which I will suffer for fashion.

 

As  you admire this shot of my bum looking so full and fantastic, what is the best thrift shop find that you can remember finding?

Skirt: Fretex (Norwegian Salvation Army) 30 Nok, ($5).

T-Shirt: Fantastic gift from a  fantastic friend.

Cable Knit tights: H&M

Vintage Patent Black Belt: $1 thrift-ed in the States.

Bathing Suit Roundup.

I recently got into a bidding war on ebay over the most gorgeous 1950's bathing suit pattern.

But can you blame me? This baby is gorgeous! The auction went up to $57 and I just couldn't justify it for one pattern. Why? Because I live in Norway where in the summer, we have 'bathing suit weather' for about 2 days but the water always remains ice cold.
So instead, I dream of moving to Florida and wearing gorgeous suits like these.

Simplicity 1607

Vintage Find of the Week

Well, not find of the week, really, since I seldom make it into town and the thrift shops are run by a bunch of vintage Nazis with a price gouging habit. More like vintage find of never.
But anyways, don't you just love that feeling of seeing a rack full of clothing, and your eye just seems to zoom directly to the perfect 1/4" of a divine vintage print peeking through the god-awful 1980's metallic turquoise and black velvet ranks.

That's what this print did for me, and my heart did a little flutter as I pulled it off the rack, just knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that it would fit perfectly. I love that smug feeling of pulling it on, not because you were worried it wouldn't fit, but just because you couldn't wait to see how good it would look on you, and knowing you were right.
Who cares if it's over priced Nazi vintage? It's meant for my smug vintage closet regardless.

 

What's up for next time? A vintage pattern make up in gorgeous rose colored rayon satin:

Stay tuned.

Vintage Fashion Porn

That's right ladies. Porn. At least, the kind that get's me all twitterpated.


Norman Hartnell's 1938 Spring Collection.

Something New To Me.

I was trolling the internet for patterns today. It's what I do when I'm supposed to be sick in bed. Instead I'm sick at the computer. I know... I have a problem. But I learned something today!
I found this pattern for sale and had never seen it's like before.

Have you ever heard of McCall's Fashion Firsts? I hadn't. So I did a little research. According to the vintage fashion guild (which is brilliant, by the way) it was introduced in 1953 and was a "...pattern line adapted from foreign designer styles. This was a premium line and more expensive to purchase."
They cost $1 as opposed to the usual 25 to 50 cents.
So I did some looking around and there aren't that many of them out there. But the ones that are, oh boy!

McCall's 9677

McCall's 9677 is for sale at Pattern Shop on Etsy.

McCall's 9567

 McCall's 9567 was cataloged on the Vintage Pattern Wiki page. Fan-freaking-tastic.

McCall's 9577

 And if you have $95 laying around you can get McCall's 9577 from So Vintage Patterns. I think it's a steal, look at that dress!

McCall's 9568

 As was McCall's 9568, which had sold recently on etsy and I'm kicking myself that I didn't see it first.

McCall's 9530

And from the Wiki once again, this dream, whose description reads:
"Bouffant, yet fitted, this full length or short evening dress is a dream. The front panel of the long version is separate so it can be interpreted many ways. The brief jacket is in one piece - so easy to make, so effective when worn! The long and short of it ... a flattering style that can be made in many fabrics! For you who need a wedding attendant dress - pretty but practical - wear the dress with the jacket for church. When you remove the jacket you will have a versatile long or short dress." (from printed insert with instructions sheet).

*Sigh* I wish I had all of them... and somewhere to wear them.

Not Suitable for Chubby Girls.

Don't look at me, I didn't say it. McCall's did:

McCall's 8995

Now look closer:

What?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is McCall's 8995, a charming little dress and slip sewing pattern from the 1960's. The envelope blatantly states: "Not for Chubby Girls."
How crazy is that?!  Is this saving masses of chubby toddlers from making a crucial wardrobe mistake or just discriminating against baby fat! You don't walk into a Chanel and see a sign that says, "No fat chicks." Who the hell does McCall's think they are?
That's the end of my rant, sorry.

Spring Cleaning and a Coupon Code

I own too many patterns. I'm an addict. At least that's what my husband will tell me with an indulgent smile on his face. I just can't stop buying them. Maybe I am an addict... oh well. I recently bought a ton of new patterns and to make room in my stash I'm re-opening my old etsy shop to clear out the old to make room for the also old, but new to me.
I spent a ton of time in photoshop putting together the perfect banner graphics and I think the shop came out rather pretty!

So aside from a few really rare patterns that I'll always want in my collection, you'll probably be able to see the patterns for things I've made and blogged about for sale.