08 July 2009

Recent Vintage Finds

a
I had a different post planned for today. A post where I was going to share a little impromptu DIY Rit dye project I cooked up for myself this afternoon. But... things didn't go so well. More on that later. For now, I thought I'd show you a few things that have found their way into my closet over the past couple of weeks. First is this super yellow 60s shift dress. A couple of years ago I wouldn't have dared wear this color, but now I quite like it. I wore it out to our town's First Friday festivities last week and got lots of compliments on it! I also snagged this pretty floral print cotton skirt. I want to wear it with a simple white tank top and sandals since the print is kind of loud.
b
I've been looking for a pair of 30s cut-out detailed oxfords for ages but that's not the kind of thing you come across very often. Instead I found these very 30s inspired brown suede heels that will do the trick. I think they date back to the 60s but that's fine since I have a thing for 30s fashions that have been filtered through a 60s aesthetic - think Faye Dunaway's Bonnie Parker. I also managed to add yet another vintage Coach bag to my ever growing collection. I think this brings my total to five. I'm not usually one to lean towards name brands but there's something about the simplicity of the Coach bags that I love.
c
And that brings us back to the Rit dye disaster. I found a pretty 40s era blouse this morning and was so excited until I noticed it was plagued with some sort of bleached out spot disease. I knew by looking at it a good soaking wasn't going to be the answer but thought perhaps some dye would do the trick. All of the tags in the blouse had long since faded to nothing so I wasn't sure of the fabric content but I figured I'd give it a go anyway since it was unwearable in its current condition. Well, the dye took to the fabric like magic, turning it a nice cocoa brown. I followed all the directions, dutifully standing by the sink for a full thirty minutes, stirring the dye with one hand and eating potato chips with the other. I was so thrilled to see it there in the sink, imagining all the ways I was going to wear it. Where's the disaster you're wondering? It's now hanging in my window air drying - a teeny tiny doll sized version of the blouse you see here. It shrank a good three inches in every direction! Oopsy daisy. Later I'll try to see if there's any way to salvage it, but right now I can't even bear to look at the pitiful little thing.

Ending things on a more, ahem, positive note there's a pretty collection of 60s cotton floral sundresses now hanging on my to-be-sold rack. I found four of them this morning, all handmade from the same pattern. Someone really loved that pattern! I'll be updating the shop on Friday so look for them then. Well, at least three of them. One may have to take a detour through my closet, I'm just not sure which one!

P. S. Rebecca over at The Clothes Horse asked me to plan an imaginary party and she just posted about it on her blog. Be sure to check it out when you get a second. Isn't her blog the best?!

27 comments:

Meggy said...

Oh no! Some of my saddest fashion moments have been when I accidentally shrank something I loved to pieces -- I'm thinking in particular of a sweater that somehow made its way into the wash. I hope you can find some way to salvage your blouse!

Myy said...

I'm sorry about your blouse. I hate when things like that happen!
I am it love with that yellow dress, by the way.

Kate Moore said...

Such a shame but could you salvage by making a pattern off it? The cut looks really interesting and I am guessing that because it shrunk it was wool crepe - looks like it. You could unpick it and use what remains to cut a pattern from it, or donate it to someone who could cut a pattern from it. Like I said, it looks like a beautiful cut, so could be redone in a similar soft fabric, if you can work out the pattern.

Amelia said...

Congrats on the interview! I thought your guest list was perfect :)

Also, I really wish I had your thrifting luck. That floral skirt is lovely and I can't wait to see a little more detail on the dresses.

Katie Burry said...

LOL! I'm sorry! But that "teeny tiny doll sized" blouse just cracks me up! Too bad though, it would have been so pretty! :(

Ooh! Those dresses look very nice! I'll have to check your store next week end, since I'll be gone all next week. :)

~ Caitie

reckless daughter said...

hmm...that's too bad about the botched DIY. but these things happen.

on a sidenote, I thoroughly enjoyed your little party questionnaire on the Clothes Horse. Definitely a party I would want to attend!

Anonymous said...

I checked out your party interview. Great guest list! I'd definitely be a party crasher.

Anonymous said...

vintage shopping is all ive been doing these past couple days but you seem to have been way more successful than i have been..love your blog
you have a wonderful sense of style, keep it up!!

-cma
check out my blog @
cosmicaroline.blogspot.com

Lisa said...

What a bummer! Love the yellow dress though

Love_Again said...

The yellow shift dress is gorgeous, and those shoes are great too!

Gracie said...

ooh, i read your party idea of The Clothes Horse.
and oh my gosh, i would so be one of them going.
sounds so delightful.
xx

p.s; lovely blog.

Anonymous said...

the yellow dress is a great color, it must go wonderfully with your hair! and i would die for those 60s sundresses

your interview with Rebecca was amazing. such original answers!

Little Monarch said...

I love rebeccas blog and i love that she brought me to your blog! you are amazing!

Anonymous said...

you should try ironing the blouse, i have that issue w/ a few vintage blouses and ironing helps bring them back to human size...but i guess it depends on the material...

Stéphanie said...

Just beautiful !

AlicePleasance said...

I read the interwiev yesterday and commented there: it's wonderful!

Have you seen Michelle Obama in Roma wearing that yellow dress + green flower brooch?

Maria @ Chicisimo said...

The floral skirt is beautiful (and sorry about the blouse:(

Yulia Rahmawati said...

hey
I love the skirt

Anonymous said...

Shame about the blouse - hope you can salvage it. Those dresses look so gorgeous- I'll be checking them out in the store

Polly x


Polly Farthing Vintage Blog

VintageRevolver said...

Looks like you had my kind of luck after all! Congrats.

Isabel said...

I read Rebecca's post on your ultimate party, and it was such a good read! You are super creative, and I love Diane Arbus too. :)

Unknown said...

I just read your perfect party over at the Clothes Horse and had to come over here and tell you how much I love it! I'm actually a little depressed that this party and all its amazing guests will never materialize :~( Oh, and that sucks about your failed DIY! Maybe you can sell it as a child's shirt, haha.

Lexie said...

those dresses have caught my eye!

great interview with clothes horse - i'd looove to come to your party!

Alice said...

haha, oh dear, sorry about the blouse..I've had my fair share of disasters, but most of the time they've been down to bad preperation as I'm always in such a rush to get things done!
on the upside the dress and the pattern on the skirt is so lovely, you always come across such wonderful pieces!
xxxx

oscillatingchords said...

I have that same coach bag. totally classic.

Market Publique said...

I can't wait for the DIY!

I actually bought the prettiest vintage silk blouse, only to realize when I got home that it had some weird spots too, kind of like water damage. They're super hard to see unless you have bright natural light, which is how I didn't notice when I was buying it :(

It's so pretty though, with lace insets and stuff, so totally worth dyeing! Royal purple? yes, please!

The Stylist said...

Love it all! and really enjoyed reading your imaginary party.