boots, a briefcase, beads, and a buckle

And also, silk scarves!  All coming to the shop over the next week.

1980s taupe leather ankle boots with straps, by Selby.

Vintage Ball-Band rubber boots.

Vintage Marley Hodgson No. 82 Tremont Ghurka briefcase.

1950s champagne and silver beads and sequins collar, by Glentex.

1970s Photographic Magazine brass belt buckle.

Silk tiger scarf, Symphony Square by Handcraft.

1960s red weave print Vera Neumann silk scarf.

Abstract print Jean Daix scarf.

xo

k

cacharel a/w 2012

Collars, great knitwear, red lips, sideswept bangs--these are a few of my favorite things.  And the look below from the Cacharel autumn/winter 2012 show has them all.

I don't love the whole collection, but I do love the fabulous cloche hats, the knitwear, the collars (both the detachable ones and the one on this coat!), and the makeup and styling.  I'm not usually a fan of op art style prints, but I really liked a couple of the Cacharel prints.  You can see the whole collection here.

This last dress makes me think of an owl!

xo

K

shop preview

This week's shop preview is just chock full of autumn and winter goodness.  Embroidered wool, cranberry gabardine, olive green velvet, spruce green corduroy, a festive red and pink sweater...well, just take a look at what will be coming to the shop this week!

Embroidered shepherd loden wool coat, by Hooper.

1960s olive green velvet party dress, by Gay Gibson.

Oversize moss green and cream mohair and wool  Italian made cardigan, by British Vogue.

1960s gray and brown knit dress with striped skirt.

1940s peplum jacket with copper and champagne satin ribbon trim.

1940s turquoise knit skirt and sweater set with belt and gold trim.

1950s spruce green corduroy pencil skirt.

1960s brown knit skirt suit with beading and floral appliques on the jacket, by Aldens.

1960s raspberry red and pink jacquard cardigan with big crocheted buttons.

1950s Exotica print linen dress with gold belt, by Toni Todd.

1960s flower embroidered wool sleeveless sweater, by Evan-Picone.

1940s cranberry gabardine skirt suit, by Schiller.

1950s celery and cream wool full skirt.

xo

k

college experimenting

They say college is a time for experimenting...with fashion!  The following spreads from Life magazine show some of the fashion fads--sometimes silly, sometimes not--that were popular with young women on college campuses through the years.

1938 was all about tweedy jackets and sensible shoes for girls in the east on all-female campuses (and by implication, sexy dresses to draw in beaus for the man-hunters out west).  "Dog collar" watches with matching "dog leash" belts are popular, as are coin bracelets.  And if you wanted to be really unconventional, you wore two strands of pearls instead of just one!  The blouse--or "Sig Shirt"--on the right has the wearer's friends' names embroidered all over it.

The hot college trend in 1940 is men's clothing.  Actual men's clothing, not "sissified versions" of it (that's a quote.  It actually says that.).  I'm on board with all of this--it all looks great!  Well, except for the two-piece socks and boxing-gloves-as-mittens on the right.

Inspirations for the college fashions of 1949 came from the flappers of the 1920s...and the little boys of the 1900s!

1950.  The article says it's all about plaid, but I think it's just all over the place.  How cute is the gal on the left?  She is wearing a sherriff's badge.  I think the flyaway jumper and tattersall check lounge suit (with matching booties) on the right are just plain weird, but I am completely down with the Claire McCardell striped rain boots that match the striped rain jacket.  "Bizarre bags" are popular, and include: an oversize carpet bag (awesome!), a plastic powder horn (?!), a cowhide lunchbox (!!), and a plaid shopping bag (not really so bizarre if you ask me).

1957 is about color.  "The very nervy girl will try stockings, shoes and dress for a single streak of color effect."  I think the very nervy girl will wear that insane hat on the right.  The outfit on the gal hanging off the jungle gym looks very much like something I would wear.

xo

K

shop preview

Here's a peek at what's coming to the shop over the next week!

1950s Rive Gauche hatchmark print dress with bow and full circle skirt.

1980s ecru sweater with tartan trim around collar.

1960s gold glen plaid wool dress with drop waist and belt, by Fritzi of California.

1970s tan crochet neo-Edwardian cardigan.

1940s spruce green rayon peplum dress with a novelty print of clocks, cherubs, and leaves, by Princess Dress House of Chicago.

1950s gold stripe wool full skirt, by Rosecrest.

1970s brown abstract print jersey dress.

1950s blue and gold party skirt with bow at front waist, by Nelly de Grab.

1950s gray and yellow Azteca print cotton dress.

xo

k

artprize, oktoberfest, and some outfits

Between ArtPrize and Oktoberfest, the last couple of weeks in Grand Rapids were pretty happening.  We forced ourselves to take a little time off work and enjoy the beautiful early autumn weather, checking out ArtPrize and seeing downtown GRR buzzing with people.  I don't have much to say about the results, except that I'm really glad that SiTE: LAB won a much deserved prize for Outstanding Venue!  (Also, I loved this comment from critic and ArtPrize judge Jerry Saltz about SiTE: LAB.  I could not agree more.)

This beautiful work, titled Flora Metamorphicae, is by a Norwegian group of ceramics artists.

This is on the outdoor terrace of the UICA, which has lovely views of the city.  I'm not sure it's been open to the public before.

The weather was nice enough to enjoy beers on Hopcat's Lucy-friendly outdoor patio.

Poser.

These two shots were taken outside the GRAM (Grand Rapids Art Museum).  Food trucks!  I'm not sure they show the out of the ordinary concentration of people downtown.  Every day we were outside the GRAM, there was a line of people to get inside.

Sisters by Shie Moreno.

Short Oktoberfest break.  I'm sure Andy's shirt has been on this blog before, but I don't care.  It's too cool not to have a rerun.

The only hat that seems to fit my big ole head.  Looks like I'll be collecting berets!

Prost!

xo

k