Something new…

…to me anyway! I forget sometimes that because others don’t share my out with the new philosophy, when I am stoked to have something “new” I really mean old. Ok, I’ll admit I do buy some items new and underwear immediately comes to mind! But for clothing and furniture in particular, I’d rather knock some dust off than throw away a bunch of toxic plastic packaging and have a poorly made, cookie cutter item. Ikea and H and M, I’m looking at you! Anyways, I am debuting a few “new” items that arrived this week that I won on ebay. This dress is especially appealing to me as the seller described it as being made by her mother many years ago. It’s a designer original! I love to imagine the lady picking out her fabric, deciding on the cut, and making the hem so very short!! It pairs nicely with my dangly necklace, and landing both items for $20 from the comfort of my home computer was rather nice indeed. But how do you think my new old items go with my old old items?
60s homemade psychedelic dress $15 ebay last week
60s white n gold dangly necklace $5 ebay last week
Sheer plum tights, 50 cents thrift store bin last week
Banana Republic plum boots, $40 ebay several years ago
70s furry brown hat, $25 ebay several years ago
60s sunglasses, made in Italy, gift from Stanimal many years ago

Rudi Gernreich dress meets Emilio Pucci tights

When I won these Emilio Pucci for Wolford tights last year on ebay I had a feeling that they may pair well with my beloved Rudi Gernreich dress. I put them together and it was instant harmony, or perhaps cacophony depending on your point of view. This is a new favorite annsemble of mine. Is it something you would love to rock or maybe an outfit you wouldn’t be caught dead in? Do tell!!
Emilio Pucci for Wolford tights, $60 ebay last year
60s Rudi Gernreich dress, gift from Stanimal a few years ago $200 ebay
Love Things doll and vintage mirror, thrifted last year $1 each
Pink shoes with orange laces, $15 ebay a few years ago
Orange and white polka dot sunglasses, $10 deadstock on ebay a few years ago
rings and bracelets, ebay and flea market finds $5-$20 each
opal ring, gift from Stanimal several years ago
Fang the cat, came with our house purchased in 2000, priceless

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!).