small earth vintage

shop preview

2012-02-09T10:14:00.000-05:00

A peek at what's coming soon to the Etsy shop. Plaid, jersey, wool, floral and zigzag prints, a flocked dress!, nautical stripes, and ooh la la, satin jacquard!

1940s charcoal wool dress with striped buttons and trim, by Junior Age.

1950s red plaid wool jacket.

1960s brown linen dress with pintuck bodice and Peter Pan collar, by The Art Shirt.

Sage green shetland wool cardigan.

1950s sparkle brocade wiggle cocktail dress with bow.

1950s brown mustard plaid wool skirt, by Barbara Field.

1960s gray jersey dress with contrast stitching and belt, by Jean Lang.

1950s red rose print blouse, by Shapely Classic.

1950s navy voile dress with flocked scrollwork trim and rhinestone buttons, by Kay Windsor.

1960s nautical striped bateau neck sweater.

1960s zigzag print mod dress, by Leslie Fay.

1940s men's wine satin jacquard dressing gown.

january beauty

2012-02-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

January was chock full of beautiful inspiration via the internets. I think this is partly due to my joining Pinterest, which has been a lot of addictive fun. You can follow my pins here, and my Tumblr blog here.

1. 1930s zig zag dress / wondertrading

2. by Czech painter Jakub Schikaneder / via

3. 1967 tree coat by Bill Blass for Maurice Renter / Metropolitan Museum of Art

4. vintage schoolchildren from National Geographic / The Cat's Pajamas

5. Dart Swinger / Jesse Chehak's cool Autotypes portfolio

1. the tartan map / calsidyrose

2. late 1800s-early 1900s Washington Square Park arch postcard / NYPL

3. Anjelica Huston modeling / Quite Continental

4. London street style / Street Style Aesthetic

5. waterfowl in Iowa / Bookworks Chicago

black eyelet

2012-02-06T11:31:00.000-05:00

I've had a windfall of black eyelet dresses lately--two that fit me! (That's a windfall in my life.) This one is my favorite--1950s, full skirt, rhinestone buttons. It's my favorite dress right now. I was going to wait until warmer weather to wear it, but...that seemed silly. So I put on this cute cardigan. It was so freakishly warm and sunny on Saturday afternoon, I didn't need a coat.

The sun was disturbingly bright. Colorado, high altitude-style bright. I know no one will agree with me, but give me an overcast day. Always. Normally, Michigan is very good for overcast days. Okay, I'll stop annoying everyone by complaining about the cheerful, sunny weather now.

We were downtown to see the Rauschenberg exhibit at the GRAM, but we also played some pinball at the Pyramid Scheme, where I had to take some photos of Jeff VandenBerg's great murals.

brighton rock

2012-02-03T10:03:00.000-05:00

I watched Brighton Rock the other night. This is the 2010 film adaptation of the Graham Greene novel. I was excited to see it partly because of the cast--Helen Mirren, John Hurt, and Sam Riley, who was fantastic in Control. I was also interested because of the setting, which for this film is Brighton in the early 1960s, with the mod and rocker riots as a backdrop. Well, the movie is okay, not great...but the fashions and setting did not disappoint. (I apologize--my screencaps are not the best. But you can click them to see them a bit bigger.)

Black dress with white ruffles on left? Be mine!

As much as I loved the mod fashions, Helen Mirren has the best wardrobe in the film. Her character dresses in a style that is alternately demure and bombshell. She looks fantastic in all of it.

I also became slightly obsessed with this pretty pale yellow confection of a dress.

Gorgeous cinematography. I could totally see myself visiting English beach towns in the autumn and fall.

Best shot of the film.

xo

pendleton, l'aiglon, diane von furstenberg

2012-02-02T10:08:00.000-05:00

(Just a few names from this shop preview for you vintage label whores.) All these coming to the shop shortly.

Silky rayon toile print 1940s dress with asymmetric drape.

1960s navy blue houndstooth wool cape, by Youthcraft.

1960s mod polka dot sailor dress, by Contima.

1950s cream confetti beaded cardigan.

1950s taupe chantilly lace party dress with satin sash.

1950s checked pencil skirt, by Personal.

1960s wild print shirt dress, Dauphine by L'Aiglon.

1950s Pendleton cornflower blue and gold plaid jacket.

1940s navy rayon dress with semi-sheer stripes on bodice.

Seafoam Scottish Shetland wool cardigan, made for Harrods by McGeorge.

1970s Diane von Furstenberg blue braid print cotton/rayon knit dress.

1980s wool plaid jacket, by Isaac Hazan.

1920s sheer chiffon flapper dress with red velvet and rhinestone trim (as is).

1955 nesting

2012-02-01T11:11:00.000-05:00

Here are some images I collected from a couple of 1955 Women's Home Companion magazines. See anything that inspires you?

Love the curved sofa, ceiling to floor windows, Danish modern-y chair and table, and that crazy room divider stone fireplace!

When did we stop having bars as a matter of course in our homes? It's a regression, in my opinion. However, the yellow color here might drive me to drink too much.

I don't know if I love this kitchen or it makes me dizzy. Those stools are cool.

Apron matches the...wallpaper. Wow.

I like the floor in this kitchen a bit more. And I love that big ole prosciutto hanging from the pole.

I really love this room. I'd love to get a larger area rug like this one (which is wool) for our living room.

How cool is that top atomic pattern carpet? I also love the green and white leafy print one. And the last one, with the abstract pattern, is interesting.

you can't take it with you

2012-01-31T09:46:00.000-05:00

There is one item in this shop accessories preview that I really wanted to keep, but which I'm going to let go, because I have enough of this item already. Can you guess which item it is? (The answer will be at the end of this update.)

Black leather oxfords by Craddock Terry.

1980s perforated caramel leather wedges, by Dr. Scholls.

1980s spats flats, by Pappagallo.

1950s brasstone filigree box purse, by Empress.

Ikat weave handbag by Christine Custom Bags of Detroit.

1940s corde box purse.

1964 Enid Collins Money Tree X box purse.

Tooled leather Jesus Saves belt and buckle.

Framed pictures for your cottage wall.

Kitschy folklore Mom and Pop mugs by Napcoware.

You're in good hands with Jesus (though according to this picture, Jesus wants to slap you dead like a mosquito).

oh, and the item I really want to keep?

....it's the

woven

ikat purse!

vintage dogs

2012-01-30T15:56:00.000-05:00

I know there are a lot of cat ladies out there in vintage world. Well, this post is for the rest of us (though there is a cat here!).

movie star dog / here

French circus dogs (& a cat!) / here

from the WNYC archives, Rolf, the mandolin playing terrier / here

my grandfather, Dan, and Mupsy, 1908

Victorian dog in top hat, smoking a pipe, from the collection of Libby Hall / here

from the collection of Libby Hall / here

love the french bulldog's collar, and that terrier on her lap! / Libby Hall Collection

You can see more on my Pinterest vintage dog board.

macro thrift

2012-01-27T09:47:00.000-05:00

Andy and I took a little thrift trip yesterday, and I snapped some photos.

I didn't buy the Music for a German Dinner at Home vinyl, and I kind of wish I had.

getting crafty

2012-01-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

I am not crafty. I like to leave the craftiness to the professionals. Two years ago, however, I bought this adorable puppy love cross stitch kit from ChezSucreChez on Etsy...and finally started working on it last week. With a brief interruption to purchase more floss when I ran out, I managed to complete them over a period of about three days.

It was harder than I thought it would be to put the tiny Xs into their proper places. Guess which one I did first? I did enjoy the project, and I wish I had another kit on hand to work on. However, my next thing to try is...crochet! I mentioned to my mom back in November that I wanted to try and learn crochet, and she sent me yarn, needles, and a book about it for Christmas. Now I suppose I have no excuse not to learn.

Would I like to learn how to crochet something like this?

photo from wondertrading's Flickr

Well, yes, but...I'm realistic. I think my goal will be some throw pillows for the sofa!

street style, the wintry 1990s edition

2012-01-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

I keep seeing summery, bare-legged looks in the street style blogs that I follow. I don't know if it's just a really warm winter everywhere, if these blogs happen to be shooting in warmer countries, or if they're just reposting old photos because it's hard to get good street style looks when everyone is all bundled up. I happen to love coats and winter fashion, though. (Actually one blog that always has a lot of folks on the streets in coats and scarves is Helsinki's Hel-Looks.) Here are some of the street style looks that have caught my eye since I last did this back in November.

London (Style Sight). Great layering, cute shoes, plaid! Pretty great hair, too.

Kater of All This Happiness. I just love everything about this. The soft blue and gray together, the length of the skirt, the flats, the cute bag. And the beret! I am really digging berets lately.

Barcelona (Face Hunter). So sassy. I love the plaid pants and scarf. And the short bangs remind me of myself in the 90s. (I'm seeing a lot of looks lately that harken back to things I wore in the 90s, and they aren't disturbing to me in the way that 80s fashion reruns are.)

Berlin (Style/Clicker). She looks a little like Elizabeth McGovern! I love the deep green plaid coat paired with the floral dress. And the cool bag. And the beret!

Helsinki (Hel-Looks). This one is a last minute addition. Although she is totally cute, I'm mainly including this because I'm pretty sure I used to own that coat (or its twin)! I recognize the pumpkin color and the buttons. I bought it at a J. Crew sample sale (probably in the late 1990s). Change the Docs to black, pants to jeans or a dress, and hair to a reddish bob--and it's me in 1995!

shop preview

2012-01-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

Lots of cozy, woolen keep-you-warm goodness in this shop update...but it ends on a springy note! Here's what you'll see coming to the shop this week.

1950s sparkly gold sweater dress, by Sue Brett.

Faux fur cape.

Mod pink and green floral dress, by Emilio Borghese.

1950s chunky knit floral cardigan.

1960s beaded blue cocktail dress.

1950s wool shadow plaid pleated skirt.

1960s blue and gold plaid wool shift dress.

Heather green wool cardigan.

1950s lilac jersey party dress with ruched waist and full skirt.

Mustard geometric roll collar knit top, by Carol Brent.

Navy blue swiss dot maxi dress with large collar and ascot, by Coco.

1950s yellow and green plaid kilt.

1950s buff bateau neck sweater dress.

1960s gold lamé checkerboard bow blouse, by Adolphe Zelinka.

1960s pumpkin and sage plaid wool scooter dress.

Striped polo neck cardigan sweater by Sacony.

1970s tribal motif sweater dress.

1970s belted corduroy jacket.

1950s pale yellow beaded cupcake party dress.

pre-fall 2012?

2012-01-19T10:17:00.000-05:00

A couple of Pre-Fall 2012 (whatever that means; I don't understand fashion seasons) collections caught my eye: Erdem and Louis Vuitton. (All the photos here via Fashionologie.com.)

The Erdem collection is full of amazing printed coats, floral prints, and the color orange. My favorite thing, though, is this first look. That skirt slays me.

The Vuitton collection also has some great prints--plaid and florals, but more abstract floral. It also uses a lot of fur accents--collars, cuffs, bizarre shoe thingies--which I like (well, not the shoe thingies so much), but I hope they're not using real fur. It's Vuitton, so they probably are...? But in this day and age, I'd hope it's faux fur. I love fur collars, but vintage or faux, please. Anyway, I kind of half love, half hate this first look--love the sparkles, the fur collar, the tiered skirt. Not wild about the hat. Not sure if this is a hot mess, or a wonderful hot mess. It's kind of that socialite gone mad look, Little Edie for the 2010s, so I guess I'll go with: love it.

sweater love

2012-01-18T09:32:00.000-05:00

Wool sweater, dates from first third of 20th century.

Lizzie over at The Vintage Traveler blogged on Monday about 1930s knitwear. She posted about how hard it is to find sweaters dating to before the 1940s. (Go read her post to see the reasons why, and to peek at some really cute 1930s sweaters.) Lizzie's post made me realize that I'd be much more excited about finding 1930s knitwear than a 1930s fancy gown. Overall, I'm more fascinated by the everyday things people wore in the past. Not to say I don't see the beauty in a gorgeous gown--I do! But...there's just something about day dresses, pants, workwear, shoes...and sweaters. Lovely, cozy sweaters. Look at these first four examples from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, plus--further down--some gorgeous examples of 1930s and 1940s sweaters from vintage crochet and knitting patterns, and see if you don't agree.

Late 1940s cocktail sweater.

1950s Elsa Schiaparelli sweater.

1950s wool deer vest.

The following examples are from wondertrading's collection of 1930s and 1940s knitting and crochet patterns on Flickr.

And finally, how amazing is this jabot print 1930s or 1940s sweater pattern, from Skiff Vintage Knitting Patterns?

pastry fear: conquered!

2012-01-17T10:26:00.000-05:00

Andy does all our cooking. He enjoys it and is good at it. (Yeah, I have it good. I know.) I do like to make the type of thing that's in one dish and requires lots of chopping and slow cooking (I make a mean bolognese), and I do like to bake. Which is a bit weird because I'm more of a savory person than a sweets person. Anyway. I've been avoiding recipes that require making pastry from scratch, ever since a disastrous experience with making gnocchi a few years back. (Yeah, I know, gnocchi isn't really pastry, but dough, pastry--anything involving flour being worked into another delicious substance makes me nervous.)

We came into possession of a huge surplus of apples from the farmer down the road, and so I decided to try something a bit more challenging than the usual apple crisp. Enter the simplest apple tart recipe from smitten kitchen. (That recipe name inspires confidence.) Though I had one moment of panic as I was peeling the rolled-out dough up from the table, it really was fairly easy and turned out tasty. (And looks very cute with all the sliced up apples crowded together, too!)

Yum. Next maybe I'll try a savory tart.

shop accessories preview

2012-01-16T10:03:00.000-05:00

Here's a peek at the shoes, boots, and other items (some really cool 1960s sunglasses!) coming to the shop shortly. (Actually, the first couple items are already in the shop and are linked to the shop.)

Ferragamo pewter and olive green metallic leather bow flats.

1980s black leather boots by Dexter.

1940s black suede scalloped edge sandals.

Ferragamo nubuck pumps with gold decorations at toes.

1960s oversize round tortoise sunglasses, made in France.

1950s browline eyeglass frames.

Tin autumn leaves tray.

1950s Russel Wright melmac leaf plates.

Abercrombie & Fitch leather and wood safari stool.

1930s mink stole.

And hey, remember my post last week where I was wishing for snow? Look what happened!

return of the printer tray

2012-01-13T09:50:00.000-05:00

Remember the printer tray (or drawer) that Andy hung on the wall for me in September? That I found at a thrift last February? It's okay if you don't. Well, I've finally started to fill it up, so I thought I'd show it to you again.

It's brilliant for smaller perfume bottles (and my little self-labeled decants). Most of my larger, more commercial perfumes are in bottles too big to fit on it. But I love how my little bottle of 10 Corso Como (with the red cap) looks there.

Andy found that little circus dog figurine for me. I've also discovered that rings look awfully cute displayed on the shelves.

snow day?

2012-01-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

This winter is turning me back into a kid again. We've had hardly any snow--none that has stuck around anyway. I was grateful for the unseasonably nice weather back in November, when Andy was working on our roof. But now I'm starting to get peeved at the lack of Lake Effect. Yeah, I'm a weirdo. I would like to get out and do a little cross country skiing, though.

Here's a preview of what is coming to the shop over the next week.

1960s cherry red shirt dress, Cobbies by Cos Cob.

1980s Ralph Lauren wool cardigan with lace collar.

1960s blue wool and mohair sweater with roll collar, by Glasgo.

Antique Edwardian tea dress with filet lace.

Pendleton brown wool plaid bathrobe.

Needlepoint tapestry vest, by Aladdin.

1940s abstract mosaic print voile dress with bow and belt.

1950s brown striped pencil skirt.

1980s cream sweater with lace collar, by Koret.

1960s geometric print dress with roll collar, big pockets, and belt, by Herman Marcus.

Mint green nylon slip with ruched bust, satin ribbon trim, and appliques, by Carol Brent.

Cobalt neo-Edwardian sweater with leg-o-mutton sleeves.

1960s Adolphe Zelinka skirt suit with gold lamé checkerboard bow blouse.

Gossamer crochet cape.

1960s folklore print dress with sewn-in belt.

i shopped for you

2012-01-10T10:46:00.000-05:00

Did you get any Christmas money this year? I did, and though I'll probably use it toward a little trip somewhere, it didn't stop me from doing some fantasy shopping on Etsy. And because I'm such a nice person and couldn't afford to buy all these things (even if they were all my size, which they aren't), I thought I'd share them with you.

Keeping track of these finds was made a little easier than usual due to my signing up with Pinterest. Pinterest is, basically, an internet-based inspiration board. You can follow me there at this link.

Gorgeous 1950s brown party dress / SwaneeGRACE

Buffalo check wool coat / stonecoldvintage

1960s dress with satin collar / DearGoldenVintage

Pringle 1950s wool plaid sweater / PomegranateVintage

1970s stack heel oxfords / IveGoneModVintage

Charmingly macabre mouse requiem locket / shopfeverfew

Danish modern teak ice bucket / thecircamodern

Framed Scottie painting / jbyjosephine

Danish modern teak duck / luola

Victorian steamer trunk wall art / Canal-Side Studio

The Illusionist

2012-01-09T10:55:00.000-05:00

In my holiday movie reviews post I mentioned how much I loved The Illusionist (L'Illusionniste). It's utterly gorgeous to look at; it's the type of animation art that puts anything Pixar to shame. (Apparently, The Illusionist lost the Oscar to Toy Story 3. I haven't seen Toy Story 3, nor will I, but I can't imagine that it approaches the beauty of this movie.) The Illusionist is set mainly in Edinburgh, with a few scenes in the highlands of Scotland, and in Paris and London. There are great interiors, in theaters, pubs, and a hotel, but it's the outdoor views of rainy, foggy, nighttime Edinburgh that I particularly fell for. Here's a whole mess of screenshots I took that will show you what I'm talking about.

sheep to chevrons

2012-01-06T09:59:00.000-05:00

A little shop update with a cute novelty sheep sweater, some great jackets, a perfect 1940s black dress, and a fab jeweltone chevron stripe skirt--all coming to the shop shortly!

Novelty black sheep sweater.

1960s green and gold plaid wool fitted jacket, by John Meyer of Norwich.

1970s kelly green Izod shirt dress, by David Crystal.

1950s blue plaid kilt, by Mode O'Day.

1970s space dyed snowflake cardigan.

1940s black crepe dress with illusion neckline, by Terri Green.

1950s jade green cardigan.

1960s rococo print dress, by Anika.

1970s pleated wool chevron stripe skirt.

1940s gabardine jacket with velvet collar, by Moordale.

december inspirations

2012-01-04T10:54:00.000-05:00

December seemed to fly by, yet I still found time to be inspired by these beautiful images. I obviously want to go live in an old Swedish farmhouse--this isn't the first one to show up on my radar. (If you like what you see here, you might also want to follow my Tumblr.)

1. London street style. (The Streethearts)

2. Gorgeous, only slightly renovated, 1920s farmhouse in Osterlen, Sweden. (Quite Continental)

3. British Sea-Fishermen book cover. (emerging artist2008)

4. Olive green velvet coat, Alexander McQueen Pre-Fall 2012. (RDuJour)

5. A group of skiers at Mt. Kosciusko, circa 1932. (New South Wales State Library)

6. Anchor button. (blue water / black heart)

outfits: the best of 2011

2012-01-03T10:20:00.000-05:00

I'm a bit hesitant when it comes to posting outfits. I love getting dressed up (though Andy will tell you it usually takes me longer than it should), but I don't particularly love being photographed (Andy can tell you all about that, too). But I thought it would be interesting to go through my last year of outfit posts and pick some favorites. I would say my style this year was most influenced by Game of Thrones, Miss Marple, and young girls in the 1930s (as portrayed in films such as Cracks and Hugo). Maybe with a touch of Little Edie Beale.

L-R, top to bottom

1) March 2011. I picked this mainly because I'm wearing a beret and I like it. I hardly ever wear hats. Also carrying my favorite bag and wearing my favorite tights here.

2) April 2011. This is a great 1950s voile dress that is really flattering. I also like the color combo of the cyan blue dress and chartreuse shoes. The colors in this outfit were actually inspired by a street style photo somewhere.

3) June 2011. Love this 1950s red and gray plaid dress!

4) June 2011. 1950s Swirl dress with a ballerina print. Not the kind of thing I'd normally wear (I'm the rare girl who never cared about ballet or horses), but it's a Swirl, has a great collar, and is black.

All November 2011.

L-R

1. 1950s navy blue voile dress, 1950s embellished shrug, favorite purse, favorite silver T-straps.

2. I'd been wanting a black eyelet dress for ages and finally found this 1960s one that fit me! And I just found another in my size from the 1950s with a full skirt and rhinestone buttons--even better.

3. I've had the 1970s dress I'm wearing here since the early 1990s. It has the most amazing print. I'm also wearing my new fur collar, and a new-to-me 1970s fitted tweed jacket.

i sky dive in some sky blue ferragamos

2012-01-02T11:17:00.000-05:00

That's actually a Wu-Tang Clan lyric: "Burst of adrenaline, bungee jumped off the Verrazano/I sky dive in some sky blue Ferragamos." I'm not cool enough to have just known that; I had to use the Google.

No sky blue Ferragamos here--but there is an olive green, gray, and snakeskin pair. Also, this shop preview has the return of hats in kind of a big way with a fancy Pierre Balmain fur number.

Ferragamo alligator skin bow flats (in the shop now).

1940s white perforated oxfords by Dr. Hiss.

1970s brown stack heel boots.

1970s navy blue perforated t-straps.

1970s wooden high heel sandals.

1980s Ferragamo olive, gray, and snakeskin pumps.

1970s Dexter kiltie bow flats.

1950s Pierre Balmain fur hat.

1950s velvet cocktail hat with bows and sequins.

1960s black velvet and gold tapestry turban hat, by Mr. John.

Olive green tooled leather handbag.

1970s International Imperial stoneware Cortina lidded sauce pot.

at the movies

2011-12-31T12:42:00.000-05:00

This is a photo of my grandmother with one of my dad's young friends, taken in the 1940s. I love many things about this photo: the kid's bow tie, my grandmother's whole outfit, the pair of gloves or scarf that can be seen hanging from her handbag, that the photo was taken on the street in the evening, in front of the lights of a movie theater. I assume that my grandmother is escorting the kids to the movies (where's my dad? Taking the photo?). She has something in her hand--perhaps movie tickets.

Andy and I have watched a lot of movies this holiday season, both at home and in the theater. Here are some brief reviews for you.

*Hugo. Awesome! A great film to watch during the holidays, and you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it. Beautifully filmed. I posted a little about it here. We watched in in 3-D. I thought Scorsese utilized the 3-D to great effect.

*Sherlock Homes 2. Meh. Made me sleepy. I didn't particularly care for the first one, either.

*Melancholia. Gorgeous. Disturbing. Loved it. Afterwards, Andy and I had strangers talk to each of us in the restrooms. A woman asked me what I thought of the movie. In the men's room, a guy told Andy, "Guess I won't be getting any tonight." !? They turned out to be a couple, and they followed us to the cocktail bar around the corner and then left almost as soon as they entered without ordering anything.

*The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Good. But as expected, didn't add much to the Swedish-made original film, other than sexing up Mikael Blomkvist by casting Daniel Craig.

*Beginners. This was a Netflix rental. Pretty bad. Considering the great cast (Christopher Plummer, Ewan McGregor, Melanie Laurent, an extremely cute terrier), I was disappointed. Also--and this was my bad, since I picked it--a depressing choice for Christmas day. I thought this was going to be quirky and heartwarming. It was quirky. (And I am not one of those people who likes "feel good" movies. See: my positive review of Melancholia.)

*The Illusionist (L'Illusionniste). Wonderful! An animated film based on an unproduced script by Jacques Tati. This was made by Sylvain Chomet, the same director who made The Triplets of Belleville, which is also delightful. Absolutely gorgeous, and bonus: set in Edinburgh.

Happy new year to all!

new year, new clothes

2011-12-30T09:14:00.000-05:00

Here's a wee shop preview--of items that will probably mostly arrive in the shop in the new year!

1950s horse and horseshoe suede pullover jacket.

1950s ocean blue shantung dress with wide collar and belt.

1950s floral print cardigan.

1980s dots and stripes dress with belt, by Kings Row.

1970s Harris Tweed fitted jacket, by John Stephen of London.

1950s plaid fringed kilt, by Aljean.

1950s mustard yellow crochet flower and rayon dress.

1950s black cape with scarlet lining, Travelcoats by Naman.

1970s Vera Neumann butterfly print tunic blouse.

holiday

2011-12-27T10:02:00.000-05:00

The pairing of Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn most likely brings to mind The Philadelphia Story (1940) or Bringing Up Baby (1938). But Holiday (1938, directed by George Cukor) is possibly my favorite. It's the story of Johnny (Grant), a self-made man who has proposed marriage to heiress Julia. Johnny wants to quit working so he can travel and experience life. Julia can't understand why he doesn't want to just make more money, but her sister, Linda (Hepburn), a fellow free spirit, understands Johnny completely. You can imagine what happens next.

There are some lovely late 1930s fashions in the film. A New Year's Eve/engagement party showcases some evening wear, but I really enjoy seeing the daily outfits and shoes (and wild hats) the sisters wear.

Linda is usually dressed a bit more simply and less flashy than Julia, though still always very elegantly. I prefer Linda's black satin dress here.

Hepburn is dressed in a simple black gown for the party, but wears a necklace that sparkles more than anything I have ever seen captured on film. I really think Cukor used some kind of special effect for the glittering jewels on this necklace.

I love this scene. Ned (Lew Ayres), the sisters' hard-drinking, frustrated musician brother, marches in with champagne. Ayres plays this role with the perfect mixture of humor and pathos.

Grant and Hepburn perform some fantastic tumbling moves in the film.

some things never change

2011-12-23T10:58:00.000-05:00

I was looking at some old photos and realized that perhaps--like so many things--our sense of style is set at an early age. For example, I still think I look best with bangs.

(See what I mean about the bangs?) I still love plaid.

I can't say I wear a lot of animal prints these days, but I do love my leopard coat. And still rock serious bedhead sometimes.

A yellow dress with floral applique? Yeah, I'd still wear that.

The nautical look? Absolutely!

A plaid poncho? Sure. And I appear to have inherited a penchant for nerd glasses from my parents.

A scratch and sniff pizza t-shirt? Nah, probably won't do that again.

shop update preview

2011-12-22T09:55:00.000-05:00

Here's the fresh batch of lovely vintage, coming to the shop shortly.

1950s true blue chantilly lace party dress.

Wool plaid cape with fringe.

Mod 1960s grid print dress and matching coat.

Beaded flowers cardigan with rhinestones.

Koret of California olive glen plaid skirt suit, with attached scarf!

1950s blue corduroy inverted pleats skirt.

1960s folklore paisley print dress, by Butte Knit.

1980s cream Irish wool cable knit sweater, by LL Bean.

1940s nubby brown rayon blend dress with belt, by Eve Carver.

1950s houndstooth coat with giant buttons, by Skinner Chamberlain.

1960s bohemian silk taffeta dress with sash belt.

1960s ski sweater.

1940s pastoral print rayon dress with big buttons.

xo
K

fancy slankets for 1955

2011-12-20T09:24:00.000-05:00

I promised you some more holiday snippets from the December 1955 Women's Home Companion. This article is about festive yet comfortable outfits for Christmas day or for holiday evenings at home. Apparently they did not have Slankets or Snuggies in the 1950s.

Hey, if Dad's going to wear a suit, the least you can do is put a skirt or pants...or velveteen pants, for the kiddos.

The Clare McCardell "nightshirt dress" on the left reminds me a little of a Japanese kimono and does indeed look comfortable enough for an evening in. And the blue velveteen outfit and cardigan on the right are totally cute.

Matching golden paisley shirt and pants set by Reid and Reid.

film fashion: hugo

2011-12-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Andy and I saw Martin Scorsese's Hugo (in 3-D!) this weekend, and we really enjoyed it. It's a charming film that is not just for children (something I was a bit worried about). It's set in 1930s Paris, and naturally, I found myself obsessed with the look of one of the characters: Hugo's young friend, Isabelle.

I'm not sure what it is with me and the clothing young girls wore in the 1930s (see also my post about the film Cracks), but I love it and find it very inspiring. Maybe it's because these girls (at least in the films) don't dress particularly childishly, but rather like young, if quirky, adults. Anyway, Isabelle wears pretty much the same outfit througout the film: beret, striped sweater (boatneck, with buttons at the shoulder), plaid skirt, tweed jacket, and knee socks with brown boots.

I found some Isabelle-esque pieces on Etsy to recreate this look. I might try it myself (well, sans kneesocks)--or at least I will make an effort to start wearing a beret again!

1. Harris tweed coat, from VintageChicago.
2. Brown ankle boots, from JLVintage.
3. Black Mr. John beret, from PoppycockVintage.
4. Tartan skirt by Ben Nevis, from CustardHeartVintage.
5. Handknit striped merino boatneck sweater, from corieangel.

gift shopping, 1955

2011-12-18T10:39:00.000-05:00

The December 1955 issue of Women's Home Companion is a real treasure trove of vintage holiday stuff. I'll be bringing you a couple more bits from it over the week, but first I wanted to show off this great gift guide with beauty products for women, men, and children. (Click the photos to enlarge.)

The children's products are especially cute. Love the Tinkerbelle Trip-lette toilet water and soap set in the little suitcase, the car-shaped soaps, and the cologne and the bubble bath bottles with animal heads! And for the men, of course, a set of Old Spice. (I bet you didn't know Old Spice was originally made for women. True fact!)

Some gorgeous packaging on these women's perfumes. I especially love the idea of the Yardley Lavanesque (far left, I think) "Coinette" purse flacon that comes with a dispenser for coins or tokens. I picture a woman spritzing her Lavanesque about the smelly subway after she drops her token in the turnstile. 1950s multitasking!

More beauty gifts. That Jergens lotion in the Christmas tree packaging (upper left) is nifty! I'm also loving the holiday "dress" on the Revlon Aquamarine lotion. And intrigued by the "Harriet Hubbard Ayer's Midas Touch gold spray for hair"--hmm.

And a bonus section of accessory gift ideas for her. Those handbags--the white one is faux fur and has a bamboo handle! Fun floral embellished shoes in the center. And at the bottom, jewelry--rhinestone, mock topaz, and goldtone jewels by Kramer, Bobley, Ciner, and Castlecliff. The rhinestone and faux ruby cocktail rings (B and C) are pretty fun!

dr. zhivago shop preview

2011-12-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

Well, the first item here inspired the title, but the rest of the items could work in a Russian film set in the midst of winter. Put on a fancy party dress, but bundle up to travel to the Ice Palace in a horse-drawn sleigh!

1960s deadstock Russian princess needlepoint tapestry coat (already in the shop!).

1940s black evening dress by Samuel Grossman.

1940s nylon blouse with passementerie trim, and rhinestones and pearls around the Peter Pan collar, by Perry.

Afghan crochet sweater dress.

1950s beaded black angora cardigan.

1950s sepia floral taffeta and chiffon dress, by Joan Dell.

1960s deadstock with tags black silk shantung long skirt with side slits, by Adelaar's Aristocrat.

1960s knit dress with faux leopard cuffs and collar, by George Small.

1970s suede and shearling jacket, by Split End Ltd.

1930s black velvet dress with smocked sleeves.

1980s Italian sweater with satin passementerie.

1980s red plaid prairie dress with belt.

1960s ethnic tapestry pullover jacket.

1950s earthy mosaic print silk taffeta dress with belt.

1955 couture dreaming

2011-12-13T09:17:00.000-05:00

A little vintage couture dream shopping for you, courtesy the October 1955 issue of Women's Home Companion. The article shows photos and sketches (by Tom Keogh) of the original designer looks from fashion week in Paris, and then gives the reader more affordable adaptations--shown in black and white photos--from American dressmakers like Suzy Perette. A vintage Dior might not be a likely wish to come true--but you might well be able to find a vintage Suzy Perette adaptation that comes close!

Sketches of Balenciaga, de Rauch, and Fath designs, and photo of an emerald Dior satin gown.

Dior's Chinese Opera-inspired sheath dress and caftan coat.

I love the Abe Schrader dress and fitted jacket at the top of this page, which is based on a fabulous Dior wool dress (see brown sketch on next page).

A wild button-up stole, by Leonard Arkin, based on the Dior jacket in the yellow illustration in the upper right corner. The little black mandarin collar dress in the lower photo is by Suzy Perette and was adapted from Dior's Chinese-inspired line.

A bonus article from the fashion department on fall sewing patterns. My favorite is the mustard-colored blouse and brown tweed skirt set--love how the blouse buttons!

boots, shoes, belts...and cuteness

2011-12-12T11:19:00.000-05:00

Here's a preview of boots, shoes, belts, and other accessory-type items coming to the shop. Plus a cute surprise at the end!

1970s oxblood leather stack heel boots.

1980s silver flats.

1970s Dexter kiltie loafers.

1980s deadstock black leather moccasin boots.

1980s forest green leather flat boots.

1970s silver metallic corset lace pumps.

Honey brown velvet sneakers.

1980s Eastland hiking boots.

Ferragamo strappy booties.

Etienne Aignier kiltie loafers.

1970s brown leather high heel boots.

Barb's tooled leather belt.

Lucille's tooled leather belt with buckle.

Silvertone leaf and rhinestone pin.

Wicker and leather handbag.

Shabby tabby framed paint-by-numbers kitty.

november inspirations

2011-12-09T10:56:00.000-05:00

Some inspiring glimpses of November's internet wanderings. Make sure you enlarge the collage (or click through the link to the source) of photo #5. It is mind-blowingly awesome!

1. Painting by John Atkinson Grimshaw on the Penguin Classic cover of The Turn of the Screw. (NYT)
2. Gloves. (Life archives via whatgraybirdwears)
3. Cute, bundled-up Helsinki street style. (Hel-Looks)
4. A Victorian era gentleman in traditional Scottish attire identified as "Captain Forbes." (xmarksthescot via Retire to the Parlour)
5. Amazing photo of Dr. J and his wife Turquoise in their kitchen, from a 1978 Sports Illustrated photoshoot. (mpdrolet)
6. Migration of Birds, 1952, cover illustration by Bob Hines. (Montague Projects)

shop preview

2011-12-08T10:59:00.000-05:00

Here's what's coming to the Etsy shop shortly!

1940s black crepe dress with braided decoration at shoulder.

1950s purple vine print cardigan.

Pendleton red plaid shirt jacket.

1980s striped sweater dress.

1960s jacquard funnel neck sweater.

Pendleton black watch plaid wool shirt.

1950s pink chantilly lace party dress with sash.

1950s red velvet pants.

Shadow plaid wool coat, by Chippewa.

1960s plaid taffeta and velvet party dress.

1960s mod swirl print blouse, by Aldens.

1950s jade green floral vine print dress with rhinestone buttons.

goin' out west where the wind blows tall

2011-11-28T19:00:00.000-05:00

Eurailpass train travel, July 1970, photo by Carlo Bavagnoli, via Life archives.

Small Earth Vintage is taking a small vacation. No, we won't be train traveling around Europe (I wish!), but rather automobiling it out west to visit my parents. Doesn't this photo make train travel look fun?

We'll be away from Wednesday, November 30 until Thursday, December 8. The Etsy shop will remain open, so feel free to shop, but tomorrow is my last day to ship. All orders received before 2:00 pm EST tomorrow, November 29, will ship tomorrow. Otherwise, orders will ship when we return on December 8.

late autumn light

2011-11-28T09:28:00.000-05:00

Those who celebrated: was your Thanksgiving good? Mine was very nice. This Thomas Keller leek bread pudding was my favorite part of the meal (along with leftover turkey/cranberry sandwiches).

Our friend Stephani came to visit, and we checked out the very cool Warrington Colescott exhibit at the Grand Rapids Art Museum. I love this wool cape Stephani is wearing...it didn't come from Small Earth Vintage, but her shoes did. My outfit is all old stuff, but the vintage fur collar and gray wool jacket are newer acquisitions.

I love how the light and shadows looked outside the museum on the afternoon we were there.

You'll see in the next photo why we look all squinty here. The fur collar is (only partially) due to my Game of Thrones obsession. We spent the holiday drinking Manhattans and watching GoT, which Stephani hadn't seen. I was in nerd heaven.

Speaking of Game of Thrones and fashion (well, hipsters, anyway)...

Goodness, I love Hipster Jon Snow!

thanksgiving...and a sale!

2011-11-23T09:16:00.000-05:00

Mmmm...pie! I'm not actually that big on pie, but I think the acorns on that center pie are pretty adorable. (Photo is from a 1955 Women's Home Companion.) We're having pumpkin cheesecake, not pie, but I hope your Thanksgiving holiday is wonderful no matter what you eat.

Because we are so very thankful to our customers and friends, Small Earth Vintage will be having a 15% off sale in the Etsy shop from Friday, November 25 through Monday, November 28.

And just a heads up, we'll be closed from November 30 until December 7. The Etsy shop will be open for purchases, but items will not be shipped until Thursday, December 8.

our new home

2011-11-22T11:01:00.000-05:00

Small Earth Vintage finds have been available for years now not just on the internets, but also in a variety of fine vintage shops from Ann Arbor, Michigan to Montpelier, Vermont. Andy and I have been wanting to branch out a bit beyond consignment though...to be able to sell in a brick and mortar space, but without the great expense and responsibility of our own store. Well, we've found the perfect place here in Grand Rapids--Lost & Found.

We've been fans of Lost & Found since they opened. Mark and Christian run the store--which is located in an old furniture factory--and have it beautifully merchandised with an amazing selection of industrial, mid century modern, and primitive furnishings and antiques. I always kind of want to move in when I visit.

I want that rug!

Isn't this awesome? An old lighted sign advertising the various dining areas in Grand Rapids' old Pantlind Hotel. I totally want to have a cocktail in the Cypress Cellar!

We stopped in for a visit Friday night. I'm wearing one of my favorite new finds: a black eyelet lace dress. With pockets!

Here's Andy in the pea coat I made him start wearing. Handsome!

And finally, here's a peek at our corner of Lost & Found.

If you're in Grand Rapids stop by and visit! Lost & Found is located just south of downtown at 445 Century SW (check out their Facebook page for more information on them and their location; they regularly post great new finds there). We'll be loading our space up with some pretty cocktail and party dresses soon, to have on hand for the Lost & Found holiday open house on December 2 and 3.

red and black

2011-11-21T09:08:00.000-05:00

It's starting to look rather festive here--a lot of red and black in this shop preview! All these items are coming to the shop shortly.

1940s cranberry crepe plissé party dress.

Floral pointelle cream fringed sweater cape.

1960s green and navy blue houndstooth wool dress, by Majestic.

1960s embroidered red cardigan with satin trim.

1930s black crepe dress with velvet collar and rhinestone embellishments.

1950s red velvet full skirt.

Sequin bodice party dress, Pellini by Von Bramlett.

1950s child's buffalo and cowboy cardigan.

1950s ice blue lace party dress with satin and rhinestone bow.

1950s red diamond pointelle sweater, by Talbott.

1960s navy blue knit dress with belt, by Rodier.

1950s plaid taffeta party skirt with velvet waistband, by Rosecrest.

1940s black crepe evening dress with rhinestone and beaded collar.

Pendleton green and red plaid vest.

1960s lace mini dress; matching jacket has a big satin bow on the back.

1950s red plaid corduroy pencil skirt.

1940s pewter gray whitecaps on a a stormy sea dress with rhinestone buttons.

feet, eyes, home

2011-11-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

Things in this shop preview for all three. Coming here soon!

1980s chestnut brown cowboy boots.

Beaded Minnetonka moccasins.

1950s men's work boots.

Wingtip Dr. Martens brogues.

Suede and faux fur winter wedge boots.

Black Nocona cowboy boots.

1950s aluminum feather embellished eyeglass frames, by Tura.

1950s black plastic and silver metal browline frames.

Set of 4 Vera Neumann sunset geese print napkins.

Framed cute mod couple Fallarda print.

fancy legs

2011-11-16T10:48:00.000-05:00

I saw this image of patterned stockings from Life magazine on Tumblr the other day, and I've had legwear envy ever since. I used to have a couple plaid pairs similar to 1895 in the late 1980s/early 1990s. They looked awesome with my combat boots! Right now, my patterned legwear runs to a couple pair of pointelle/crocheted tights (though I also own fishnets that I never wear). I'd love to have all of the pairs shown above, though. Do you wear patterned or printed legwear? Do you have a favorite brand for tights?

I did a little internet searching for patterned tights and turned up these nifty options.

Anna Sui flower crochet tights from Sock Dreams.

Look from London peacock feather tights, from ModCloth.

Textile tights, Hansel from Basel.

Paisley Due tights, Hansel from Basel.

i'll take manhattans

2011-11-15T10:29:00.000-05:00

The Manhattan is my favorite cocktail, especially in cold weather. It is a bracing drink, spicy but smooth, and easy to drink if made properly. It--along with its Scotch brother, the Rob Roy--is my go to wintertime cocktail. I'm going to show you how to make one. Now, before any cocktail purists get all upset with me, this is not the definitive Manhattan or anything. It's just how I like a Manhattan.

What you need:

*Whiskey. Rye is the preferred, traditional brown liquor, but if all you have is bourbon (like my Old Weller Antique), it will do.

*Sweet vermouth. Now this is important. I use Carpano Antica, which is a bit pricey, but completely worth it. It is spicy, rich, and sweet, and quite drinkable on its own. I tried using grocery store sweet vermouths like Martini & Rossi, but they lent my Manhattans a funky flavor. I've heard good things about Punt e Mes and Vya sweet vermouths, but they--like Carpano Antica--are a bit harder to find. I think the search is worth it, though.

*Bitters. Angostura are traditional, but ever since having a deliciously orange-y Manhattan at New York's Von, I use Fee Brothers Orange Bitters.

*Dry vermouth. Actually, this is an alternate ingredient. Manhattans only have sweet vermouth in them, but I prefer a Perfect Manhattan, which uses half sweet and half dry vermouth.

*Ice

*A cocktail shaker or pitcher for mixing

*A jigger or something to measures 2 ounces and 1 ounce of liquid

Put a few cubes of ice in your shaker/pitcher. (I have a metal shaker with a strainer I sometimes use, but I also like using my Blendo pitcher, especially if I'm making more than one drink.) Pour in 2 ounces of whiskey.

If you're making a regular Manhattan, you'll now add 1 ounce of sweet vermouth. If you're making my preference, the Perfect Manhattan, you'll add 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth and 1/2 ounce dry vermouth. Shake in 2-3 drops of bitters.

Stir. Vigorously. For a full minute at least. You could shake, but I prefer stirring. It's purely cosmetic, in my opinion. I don't think it makes any difference in taste, but stirring makes a clearer, less cloudy drink.

You can serve it up (no ice) in a chilled glass (cocktail or martini glasses are often used), or on the rocks in a tumbler. I prefer mine served up. Manhattans are traditionally served with a Maraschino cherry as a garnish, but I prefer a twist of orange peel. I didn't have an orange on hand though, so I made this one with no garnish.

Chin chin! Cheers! Sláinte!

fancy dress

2011-11-11T10:13:00.000-05:00

I commented on Twitter last night that I think this latest shop preview might be too fancy for me. But now that I look it over, it's really not--especially with the holidays (and holiday parties) coming up. And there's a lot of "meat" (i.e. everyday wear) in this preview, too.

The first and last dresses kill me, by the way.

Look for these in the shop soon!

1950s party dress with asymmetric hem bubble skirt.

1970s tribal pattern sweater.

1960s Azteca print dress.

1950s navy blue squiggle embroidered evening jacket.

1940s wine red Arthur Weiss dress with gathered button-back peplum and belt.

1950s red plaid wool skirt, Chestnut Hill by St. Mary's.

1960s olive green wool and brown houndstooth dress, by Majestic.

1940s embroidered and beaded shawl neck wool sweater.

1940s pewter gray silk suit with mushroom and flower print, and velvet and rhinestone collar.

1950s mink stole or capelet, by Capitol Fur Co.

1970s gingham taffeta maxi/halter dress with satin collar, Young Edwardian by Arpeja.

Men's Pendleton red wool plaid robe.

1950s cornflower blue party dress embroidered with silver thread, and with a rhinestone decoration at the neckline, by Henry-Lee.