Saturday, February 26, 2011

We are the vintage clothing preservation society






It's a cause near and dear to my heart, the preservation of fine vintage clothing! We are proud members of the vintage clothing preservation society, with over 20 years of manically haunting thrift, flea and church sale alike. Hoarding is a word that gets thrown around a lot, but that's ok with us. Esteemed vintage clothing seller Denise Brain put it well in a blog post she did several years ago about saving the maxi dresses. Also making a convincing argument to preserve and stay long is fantastic blogger and shop owner extraordinaire Nicole of Crimson and Clover (and dig vintage, and flaming hag folkwear!! ) fame who wears maxis with aplomb! If the vintage clothing has survived decades intact it should stay intact. I will professionally alter to fit and if the hem has been carelessly taken up crooked ( as is usually the case, grrrr) it has to go up higher to correct. The most heartbreaking of all is to see a once beautiful maxi dress chopped off into a tunic length shirt. Anything shorter than 32" from shoulder to hem is a shirt, and this opinion is coming from a short waisted 5' 2" lady!
I thrifted this gem of a dress a few years ago on my birthday! Goodwill was good to me with this $5 treasure. It fits perfectly (length and width!) and it's a novelty print with naked ladies splayed throughout. It was made by San Francisco Dress Works, est. 1971 A.D. I'm wearing it with thrifted pull up faux patent boots I got at thrift town for $4. Also included over the gown is a favorite custom made velvet trench coat I found on ebay and won for $40 several years ago. I'd cry to see either maxi garment get chopped as they are in such good shape. I thrifted these sunglasses so long ago I can't remember where! They are 70s cool ray by polaroid. My necklace is a 70s cameo I fished out of a huge pile of tangled up jewelry at the local antique fair, $3 (down from $5, a discount for my effort!).

6 comments:

  1. phew, found you! following now.
    i love the print on that dress (and i love san francisco dress/shirt works garments)!
    hope you all are having a great weekend.

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  2. I love this outfit! The coat is amazing! I love the print of the dress. You look so great with the sunnies and those pink lips! Taking your photo in front of the roses is perfect with your outfit! Simply stunning!!
    www.fashnlvr.blogspot.com

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  3. That's so funny - I was listening to the Kinks' Village Green Preservation Society yesterday! That coat is beautiful.

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  4. Wow, that is an absolutely fantastic dress, it would have been a crime to make it a mini.

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  5. that coat is to die for! Love it.

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  6. I absolutely love this dress.ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
    Fabulous!!!

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