shop preview: black satin, red plaid cotton, navy gabardine

A 1940s navy gabardine suit with V for Victory pockets, black crepe and satin, aubergine crepon, cozy black wool...this shop update is a bit on the dark side (my favorite, fashion-wise), but is still looking toward spring with some spots of color in red plaid cotton and pastel print chiffon.  All items arriving in the shop starting today!

1950s black wool dress with bow belt, by Adele Martin.

1940s sheer white blouse, by Cindy Collins.

1950s red plaid pockets dress.

Speckled patchwork sweater.

1930s or 1940s printed chiffon dress with shirred bodice and lace trim.

1960s blue herringbone wool shorts.

1940s aubergine-black crepon dress with rhinestone buttons.

Oatmeal silk blend wrap style sweater with lacy sleeves and peplum.

1940s midnight blue gabardine V for Victory suit.

1960s pastel chevron print scarf collar blouse.

1940s black crepe cocktail dress with satin inset at bodice, and buckle-back belt.

1950s blue chevron lambswool and angora blend sweater.

xo

K

will it fit?

1938 Cotrell and Leonard Schiaparelli ad via Albany Group Archive on Flickr.

I know many of you are veteran online vintage shoppers, and you know how to tell if a garment will fit you (or what questions to ask to find out if it will).  But I still get that "Will it fit me?" question often enough that I thought I'd write a little here about sizing and selling clothing online.  This isn't meant to be a definitive guide or anything.  It's just how I do things for the shop, and what I believe works best.  Please chime in with your further tips and comments!

Vintage sizing is different.  Vanity sizing means that a size 10 of yesteryear can be more like a size 2 today.  There is no set rule for this, as sizing can vary so much from manufacturer to manufacturer, as well.  So measurements are very important.  Any good vintage seller will provide a wide range of measurements in their item listing--and will be happy to provide additional measurements that you request.  The measurements I give are those of the item itself, and I recommend that buyers compare the measurements given to those of a similar style garment to determine fit.  Thus, you would take the bust measurements I give of a cotton shirtwaist dress and--ideally--compare them to those of a cotton shirtwaist dress you already own.  Comparing them to a sweater dress, or dress made of stretchy material, won't be helpful, as the fit of that type of garment and material will be so different.

I also often get asked things like "I have a 27" waist; will this dress fit me?"  Now, if the dress has a 25" waist, I'm going to tell you no.  I think you should allow about 2" (maybe a little less, maybe a little more) for ease of movement and so you're not straining against a (possibly) fragile vintage fabric.  So if you have a 27" waist, a dress that measures 29" at the waist should be ideal.  But if the waist is elastic, or the fabric has some stretch, or you're a whiz at reducing your waist size using foundation garments, this 2" space might not be as necessary.

It is also true that aspects of a garment can be altered to make an almost-fits item fit.  I always give the hem measurement for dresses and skirts in my listings in case the buyer would want to let it down for a longer length.  I often get questions about inside seam allowances for items, to see if there's some room to let a dress out.  I admit to not having much personal experience with this, but there are great seamstresses and tailors out there who can often alter a garment to make it fit.

1961 Roman's ad via Classic Film on Flickr.

I do use a size chart to give estimates of current day sizing on my listings, and include it in my listing title.  This isn't meant to be the definitive size, but rather a guide to let you know if it might fit you; you still should go by the measurements.  But I know how frustrating it is to muddle through hundreds of listings, and having to click each one just to see if it might be your size.  The Etsy shop search isn't foolproof, but generally speaking, you can search by size within my shop by typing an "M" or the word "medium" into the "Search in this shop" box at the top of my shop to see all listings that are in that range.

It is true that a lot of (most?) vintage clothing tends to be on the smaller side.  However, not all of it is, and I find plenty of vintage that ranges from medium up to XL.  We do find vintage in plus sizes, but it tends to sell quickly.  Plus size shoppers on Etsy need to have some patience, as I think sellers seem to use that term quite loosely.  My shop has a lot of XS in it right now, but it also has a great selection of M-L in it (XL tends to sell quickly, too...when I don't keep it.  Which I don't always.  Really!).  

If you know how to find your size, Etsy can be a great place to shop for vintage.  My favorite vintage sellers on Etsy often offer a great range of sizes, and always offer full and detailed descriptions and photos of their items.  If you're unsure about fit, ask questions!

Buyers, what do you like to see in listings to help you figure out fit?  Sellers, what have I left out?

xo

K

shop preview: bright plaids, 1950s dresses, and stalker kitties

Some bright plaids, lovely 1950s dresses, and a fantastic kitty cat novelty print in this week's shop preview!  All items arriving in the shop this week.

1970s Kitty Stalker novelty print dress, by The Vested Gentress.

1950s gunmetal blue polished cotton stripe dress.

Purple fair isle stripe wool sweater.

1960s Pendleton plaid skirt/pants suit.

1960s gold plaid wool pleated skirt, by Pandora.

Sigi Scheiber Tyrol Austrian wool cardigan.

Ice blue and gray Nordic wool sweater.

1950s gray dress and jacket set, by Roseweb New York.

1960s cherry red scarf sweater, by Fashion Bar.

1950s navy blue shantung dress with buckle at waist and doily lace collar.

1940s striped skirt with button pocket and side pleat.

xo

K

shoes, boots, slippers, and fancy frames

Yesterday I think I did my biggest photo shoot of shoes ever!  The shoes range from 1940s deadstock to 1980s boots to cute and comfy slippers.  And I fit in the two extremely cool pairs of Tura eyeglasses we recently acquired.  The results are below...all items arriving in the shop starting today.

1950s jeweled pale pink aluminum Tura eyeglasses.

1950s silver aluminum Tura Turanette eyeglasses.  The ornate braiding details at the sides were meant to hold a woman's hairstyle in place!

Black suede lace-up boots, made in Spain, with colorful plaid lining.

Deadstock 1940s black suede oxfords with cut-outs and ribbon laces, Duo-Flex by Hagerty.

Deadstock 1970s caramel leather brogue oxfords, by Dr. Hiss.

1940s striped satin slippers.

Brown leather boots with plaid ankle padding.

1940s navy suede mesh peeptoe heels.

1960s olive green Pappagallo suede flats with flowers at the toes.

Deadstock red leather and shearling Daniel Green moccasin slippers with red plastic acorns at the toes.

1980s Louis Féraud black suede heels with black and red rosettes.

Deadstock 1940s black leather oxford heels, by Dr. Hiss.

1970s brown suede shearling lined desert/hiking boots.

1960s mod olive green suede Johansen-ettes heels with red and blue striped toes.

Deadstock honey suede Shawnee slippers, by Daniel Green.

Black nubuck suede Ferragamo t-strap peeptoe heels.

Deadstock 1940s black leather oxford heels, by Dr. Hiss.

xo

K

i spy: wintry scenes, a cityscape dress, and a fancy canine

I don't mind the sepia and gray palette that is winter in Michigan; in fact, I rather like it...and it was sepia and gray images that caught my eye last month.  I particularly love that amazing 1920s cityscape print dress, and the idea of making Carte de Visite cards for a dog.  (See more on my Tumblr and Pinterest.)

(clockwise, from upper left)

*Paris street style. / Street Style Aesthetic

*a Carte de Visite portrait of a dog named Dellie, ca. 1860-80, which has me convinced I need to get CdV cards for Pickles. / Cowan's Auctions

*Ice skaters at Vienna's Heumarkt, ca. 1910. / news.at

*German postcard. / source

*December by Theodor Kittelsen / source

*model wearing an incredible cityscape print dress from Stehli Silks Americana print collection, 1925. / Metropolitan Museum of Art

xo

K

a tweedy and woolen new year

Hello, and happy new year!  It's the first shop preview of 2014.  There are a couple suits for those heading back to work (or just pretending to be a horsey type on an English estate), and lots of wool and tweedy things to keep warm in.  And for those in the southern hemisphere (or just dreaming of spring), there's a lovely blue plaid dress with bow-shaped buttons.  All on their way to the shop!

1960s chocolate brown Bill Blass for Maurice Rentner suit.

1960s cream wool bouclé military style coat.

1960s gray linen chevron stripe dress.

1980s Jantzen fair isle wool cardigan.

1950s blue plaid dress with little bow buttons, by Abby-Kent.

1940s tweedy wool swing coat, by Argyle.

1960s camel and gray plaid button front skirt, by Madison.

1970s women's raspberry and honey plaid wool fitted jacket with elbow patches.

1940s navy crepe dress with gold Lurex stripe collar, by Mynette.

1960s wallpaper floral turtleneck sweater, by Jantzen.

1970s gray wool tweed skirt suit, by John Meyer.

New Zealand wool sweater with fringed scarf, by Kowhai Knitwear.

xo

K

2013 in outfits

At the movies, and on my birthday.

I liked you, 2013.  Yes, there were some sadness, but the year as a whole was very good.

And there were outfits.  These aren't necessarily my "best" outfits of the year...they're just the ones I took photos of.  (I don't take a lot of outfit photos, and the ones I take now end up on my Instagram.)  Looking at these photos, I realize that I wore very few items that were brand new to me.  (A quick and probably not totally accurate count: one skirt, two dresses, two pairs of shoes, and one pair of jeans.  Some socks and tights.)  Some of the things I'm wearing here I've had for several years; at least three of the dresses I've had for over a decade!  This pleases me.  Now I just need to learn to not fill up my closet with so many vintage things I never wear.  Yes, I think it will be time for a closet cleaning soon. 

At the UICA; on Record Store Day.

On the West Side; in downtown Grand Rapids.

At Honey Creek Inn; in Vienna.

In Cadillac; in the bathroom of the Amway Grand Hotel.

xo

K