Vintage Fashionista Friday: March 5, 2010

There is always a degree of excitement when I begin a new type of post that is set to occur regularly within the pages of Chronically Vintage. A clear sense of eagerness accompanies that exhilaration, as I begin to tentatively create the layout design that future editions (in this case for the brand new “Vintage Fashionista Friday” series) will adhere to – or at least be guided in some measure by.

To date one of the most popular posts on this site (not to mention one of my absolute favourite to put together!) has been Seven Stunning Vintage Holiday Season Outfits, which appeared in the early days of last December. That holiday season article – and the immensely positive response it received – really got the ball rolling in terms of what inspired the idea behind this new “end of the work-week” post.

In that piece I created seven distinct looks based on different vintage styles (such as “The Jitterbug” and “The Bombshell”), handpicking a number of items for each style. I think that for this budding series of fashion centered posts, I’m going to adopt a somewhat similar approach, however, instead of classifying each look by a title (for example, “The Girly-Girl”), I’m going to bestow a female name upon each weekly look.

As I was mentioning just the other evening on the phone with my step-dad (while discussing an entirely unrelated matter), I’ve always had a passion for naming things. Growing up I named nearly everything in my bedroom, including the beloved down filled pillow that saw me through my whole childhood (it’s name, if you're wondering, was Squishy), and that passion for bestowing monikers onto things has scarcely waned over the years (to this day any doll, plush toy or anthropomorphic item that comes into my house gets its own special name).

There’s something soulful and endearing about giving an item – or in this case, a handful of items grouped together – a human name. Doing so is certainly not a new act in the world of fashion; just think of the many clothing, shoe, handbag, and jewelry designers that assign monikers to their items and/or collections, some of which – like the Hermès Kelly bag – have literally become household names amongst those with a passion for style.

Of course the sort of look that one person might conjure up in their mind for the girl’s name “Evelyn”, for example, may be entirely different from what you yourself would picture someone with that name wearing. If you ask me, that’s part of the fun in assigning handles to things! The names I’ll bestow on each look are the product of my imagination; they’ll be based on anything and everything from a passing whim to a lifelong association with a direct source of inspiration.

In giving a ladies’ name to each weekly outfit (which is composed of a selection of different wardrobe pieces, accessories and related items that tie into a particular style), I feel that it embeds an extra level of depth to the very title “Fashionista”. For just as with women themselves, beautiful looks should always have a name to be remembered by.

And on that very note, let me present Chronically Vintage’s first ever edition of “Vintage Fashionista Friday”, staring a lovely, excellent for the beginning of March ensemble I’ve dubbed “Daphne”.


♥ ♥ ♥


{Sensuous curves and a fabulously elegant shade of steely-lilac, paired with gold toned arm bands, combine to make this stunning set of 1950s aluminum cat eye style frames a true work of art for your pretty peepers. Vintage women’s eyeglasses frames (which do not include lenses, so that you easily have them filled with your own prescription), $82.00 (US) from etsy seller Vintage 50s Eyewear.}



{Cardigans are a wardrobe staple all year round, but few times call for them more than when winter is slowly beginning to transition into spring. This immensely cheerful vintage button front sweater (labelled as size “M”) in the hue of fresh churned butter would pair well with everything from sun dresses to wool skirts, making a great piece to have on hand no matter the season. Splash some sunshine into your wardrobe with this cute cardi, which can be found from etsy seller My World of Wonder’s shop for $28.00 (US).}



{When I think of a woman named Daphne, I imagine a bold mix of sultry allure and girl-next-door charm. She’s the type of gal who wears a fragrance that is both feminine and powerful, such as Galanos (by Galanos), a classic scent that’s been on the market for over thirty years now. Mixing cedar wood with geranium, rose, carnation, oak moss, musk and other heady floral and earth notes, this scent would be perfect for the ethereal lady I envision in today’s vintage look. A 60ml bottle of Galanos eau de toilette can be had for $43.24 (Cnd) from FragranceX.com.}



{A cacophony of gorgeous leaves in rich shades of blue, plum and yellow swirl to and fro across this immensely pretty 1940s/50s cotton day dress (complete with rhinestone buttons down the front), which is fits up to a 40 inch bus/32 inch waist, and is available for $118.00 (US) from etsy seller The Greedy Seagull.}



{This glistening set of elasticized rhinestone bracelets from Forever 21 would be the perfect way to add a pop of sparkle to another wise understated outfit – or they’d do just as nicely as the finishing hit of pizazz for a to-the-nines look. No matter what you match them up with, there’s no denying their sticker price of $10.80 (US) for the entire set is real gem of a deal!}



{Sometimes it’s the most agelessly precious of items that can add extra life to an outfit or a room. Case in point, this darling Bukowski of Sweden plush bunny rabbit, which so wonderfully echoes the approaching spirit of spring and Easter time. This sweet little bundle of faux fur can be found for $10.00 (US) from etsy seller Hello Darling! Vintage.}



{Imagine you’re strolling through a field of vibrant daffodils as you go about your day in these upliftingly lovely “Lemon Meringue Heels”, complete with their playful matching bow. These stylish citron hued pumps are available in women’s sizes 5.5 to 10, for $34.99 (US), from ModCloth.com.}

♥ ♥ ♥


I truly hope that you all enjoy and garner your own wardrobe inspiration from this blossoming series of weekly Friday articles. I must say, I'm even more giddy about the idea of Vintage Fashionista Fridays then when I began writing at the start of this post (surely that's a positive sign of things to come!).

Wishing you each a gorgeous weekend filled with countless reasons to smile, my eternally stylish dears!

A small handful of photos (of me) from 2009

As we sit here on the 26th day of the first January of this new decade, it feels almost unreal to reflect upon the fact that more than a month has now passed since Christmas – or, from a different perspective, that 2010 is nearly 1/12 complete!

Before this fresh year starts feeling like an old friend, I thought it would be wise to post a few photos (of myself) from 2009 that I’ve thus far not had the chance to blog about. Aside from the fact that I’ve been wanting to share these images here on Chronically Vintage since the moment they were each snapped, by posting them I will be able to clear the photo slate from last year and henceforth share snapshots from 2010 (without the lingering feeling that I should be posting ‘09’s images first).

I made a bit of a promise to myself last year that I would post images on my blog as a means of helping myself work on my self-esteem level and related issues pertaining to sharing photos of myself publicly. Prior to 2009, I’d never been able to work up the courage to post my own image online, but (happily) having finally gathered the nerve to do, I want to make sure I don’t revert to my former photo reclusive self – and what better way to ensure that doesn’t happen to put together posts just like this one?

Two of three separate days featured below are presented in mosaic form, the last entry however is not, as some of the photos taken that night were snapped in such a way as to capture my whole outfit and I didn’t want those particular images to get cropped by the photo tiling application that I use.


{My sun-kissed 25th birthday}


{Captured in the gloriously invigorating, crystal clear July light, these photos document what I was sporting fashion wise on the loveliest birthday I’ve thus far experienced as an adult. I hope they also transmit the immense joy I was enveloped in that wonderful afternoon, for my sweet husband showered me with surprises, gifts and countless reasons to smile from dawn to dusk, and truly made turning a quarter of a century old one of the most memorable days of my life.}


{An autumn evening with Madame Butterfly}


{Notes of opera swirled through this past fall, upon the discovery of a local programme which allows those under 30 years of age to purchase opera tickets a deeply discounted rate (reduced price tickets are highly limited though, so you have to try and snap them up as soon as they’re released!). As a result of learning about this, we able to take in not one, but two, absolutely splendid opera performances last year: The Nightingale and Other Short Fables (blogged about here), and Madame Butterfly.

The images above show what I wore to see the tragically, sublimely beautiful masterpiece that is Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly (I honestly cannot recommend a viewing of that opera highly enough, even to those who profess to dislike opera – it is a tale that transcends its medium and speaks directly to the heart), as well as a serenely lovely, vintage style poster for the play that I discovered online and wanted to include with this mosaic.}


{The hills were alive with the sound of theatregoers}






{It’s not every day I get to take in a live musical performance, let alone one featuring my favourite Julie Andrew’s film of all time, The Sound of Music – not mention get the chance to see such a show with someone who had never watched the movie before. Though this classic and inspiring tale is beloved the world over, my husband – who grew up in Italy – had yet to view the film and only had a vague idea of the plot.

It was with immense excitement that then that we headed off downtown to catch the show (the fact that I was wearing a new dress that I found on sale for $40, also bolstered by happiness that eve), and I’m delighted to report that we both adored it! All through the evening I sat there singing along in my head to the familiar tunes, captivated by the talented cast’s performances and the utterly magnificent prop work the show included. Though it was the first musical we’ve had the pleasure of seeing together, I sincerely hope it’s only the beginning of our mutual theatre going adventures!}


Looking at these photos of some of the days I really cherish from this past year, I can’t help but feel a bit giddy with excitement thinking of what new memories (be they of fancy nights out or more run-of-the-mill day-to-day happenings) lay ahead in the coming months of 2010.

I’m also excited (silly as it may sound to those who are much less shy than I also) about the fact that I’m gaining a bit more self-assurance when it comes to posting photos of myself. I have each and every one of you, my terrifically sweet readers and friends, to thank for this, as your supportive feedback on past photo posts have done wonders to help boost my confidence.

Many thanks for taking a quick stroll down some of the events that stood out for me last year, everybody, I can’t wait to share some of the best days of ’10 with all of you, too!

Where have you been all my life, Worn magazine?

Fashion magazines are like peoples’ taste in their mates, sure there's certain common ground that the bulk of us strive to find, but ultimately it is the uniqueness of an individual, or a fashion mag, that draws us to it beyond the initial infatuation stage.

For many years now I’ve test drive magazines of all sorts, a good chunk of which centred around the fashion universe. Though there are a couple of glossies I subscribe to year round, the majority of magazines that cross my threshold do so on a trial basis. As in love, once burned, doubly cautious.

Having scrutinized my taste in magazines rather meticulously – and having brought home copies, at one point or another, of most fashion spreads that the North American market has to offer – I’ve come to understand what it is that I want, and expect, from a fashion publication.

Ideally I long for glossies that neither assume I’m a jet-set millionaire or a fashion idiot who wouldn’t know toile from tulle. I prefer fashion mags to centre around fashion (as opposed to, say, scores of pages of useless celebrity gossip or reams on the latest “It Diet”), a concept that I think fewer and fewer publications are staying in touch with. I like a magazine to feature real women in addition to the usual slew of lithe, taller than a giraffe models. I’m 5’2” and a curve bedecked hourglass with a petite frame, I have never, and will never, feel like I can see myself in something a magazine is promoting if the woman wearing it looks like Barbie after five hours on a medieval rack.

I like a hearty dose of imagery and intelligently written articles on a broad range of topics that actually relate to the kind of clothing that I wear and/or love, and a magazine that’s not afraid to find its own voice (and though this should go without saying, spell checking is an absolute must! Now I don’t claim that my writing is typo free, but there’s a substantial difference between being a one woman blogging show and a nationally syndicated magazine with a whole staff behind it – Nylon, I’m looking at you in particular when I mention this point). Creativity is a must, and diversity throughout an issue is a big plus.

My criteria is not impossible to fulfill, though the market is not exactly heavily saturated with publications that met my fashion magazine expectations. A couple of beloved titles aside, it seems that the hunt for further glossies to inspire my sartorial tastes is an ongoing adventure. It was with great excitement then I recently read a copy of a heretofore unknown to me Canadian fashion magazine by the name of Worn.

Published biannually out of Toronto, this independent publication, while not the largest (in terms of page numbers) of spreads, is by far one of the finest I’ve ever encountered. To say that Worn is nothing short of a breath of fresh air in a world of chain smoking fashion magazines would scarcely be doing it justice.
While issue number nine is the first I’ve had the pleasure of reading, if those that proceeded it and those that lay in store are to be judged on the same merits, Worn may be one of the few fashion magazines that I’ve ever fallen in love with after reading just one copy.


{Worn’s ninth issue sports one of their very own, Kate the copy editor (who did a marvellous job with this edition, may I add) on the cover.}


Worn, which bills itself as a “fashion journal”, feels just like that. Refreshingly its pages are not comprised mainly of ads, nor is it filled with the same sort of articles we’ve all read elsewhere about seven thousand times this year alone. In this edition many of the topics covered have a decidedly vintage feel to them that would make Worn a welcome read for anyone with a passion for old school style.

From an interview with renowned fashion collector, expert, author and museum curator hopeful Jonathan Walford (and his partner in vintage fashion collecting Kenn Norman), whose book Fashion Forties takes pride of place on my vintage related bookshelf, to a frank and excellently written piece on the legendary Italian muse (and all around wildly eccentric fashionista of yesteryear) Marchesa Luisa Casati, the fascinating articles in this edition of Worn ensured that I consumed it cover-to-cover in one sitting.

I did not rush through my time with this publication in the slightest though, instead I savoured each one of its 44 pages, adoring the fact that Worn spoke not only about vintage fashion, but also featured real world models, mentioned (and shot some of their images in) Toronto, and left me truly wanting more. Though 44 pages may not sound like much in a world of Vogue and Harpers Bazaar behemoth sized glossies, I gleamed more enjoyment from those well crafted and beautifully presented (nearly ad free) pages than I have from all the fashion magazines I’ve read in 2009 combined – hands down.

Worn is the kind of magazine you wish was published as frequently as the daily newspaper. While the paper version itself does only come out twice a year, those like myself who instantly find they’re craving more of all the insightful, fascinating goodness Worn has to offer can get their fix from the magazine’s frequently updated blog.

I fully believe in promoting both indie designers and indie publications, and so wanted to share my first encounter with Worn with you, my readers – especially since the current edition covers a broad array of vintage fashion related topics. I sincerely plan to keep on reading Worn and am definitely going to grab a subscription for myself. After a year of dismally lacklustre fashion magazines and the articles they housed (if I see one more piece toting the merits of boyfriend jeans and leather-look leggings I’m going to start throwing vintage shoes at the mainstream mags), Worn has given me a publication to eagerly look forward to reading in 2010.

If you’re interested in trying Worn out for a spin yourself, copies can be obtained from their website and etsy shop, as well small selection of online retailers and better bookstores across North America and abroad.

Thank you, Worn, for creating the sort of insightful, relevant, enjoyable fashion magazine I’m proud to leave out on my coffee table, happily rereading with gusto until your next stellar edition appears and I can fall even more in love with you!

Vintage Deal of the Day: November 24, 2009

{Add an elegant and delicate hint of sparkle to any holiday ensemble with this delightfully lovely little pair of clip-on snowflake earrings. Their gold tone and subtle red and green rhinestone detailing are sure to make the perfect addition to your festive jewelry box. If you’ve melted over these beauties (which would also work so prettily as brooches or hair clips), whirl your way over to etsy seller Ava Firenze, where these 1950s earrings can become yours for $14.00 (US).}


Good morning, sweet dears! I want to extend a very warm, heartfelt thanks to those who stopped by to wish me a joyful “Stellaversary” yesterday. Reading your own touching stories about your believe pets and about how much you also adore animals brought tears of happiness to my eyes. There is no denying what a profound and wonderful impact a pet (or pets) can have on a person’s life, and I love knowing that many of you have also been deeply touched by your furry (or feathered – or finned) friends. Thank you again so much (from both Stella and I) for helping to make my happy celebration even more joyful and memorable!

On this Tuesday morn, which marks one month until Christmas Eve, I hope that you’re all doing splendidly, and that as we head full on into the holiday season, you each have a truly amazing remainder of 2009!

Blue Velvet Vintage is holding a blowout sale!

It’s not every day that an email arrives in your inbox informing you that an online vintage fashion site is holding a big sale on some of their merchandise. So when I received such a message from Blue Velvet Vintage, I instantly knew I needed to share it with all of you!

BVV is a treasure trove of both fantastic vintage pieces and modern vintage inspired re-creation items (from such brands as Bettie Page Clothing and Trashy Diva). Their site offers up a wide selection of everything from evening gowns to day dresses, swimwear to coats, all of which usually retails for reasonable prices, making the 20 to 50% off deals on their clearance page all the more enjoyable for your pocketbook. (Do note that not all of BVV’s merchandise is on sale at the moment, just the items in the clearance section.)

When I go for an online vintage window shopping trip, BVV is often amongst my stops. I haven’t actually bought from this shop before, but I wouldn’t hesitate to if I had the means to do so. Their site is charmingly pretty, easy as pie to navigate, and continually stocked with a fantastic roster of very covetable vintage pieces.

If I was going to spoil myself this very moment with some of BVV’s sale items, the following pieces would certainly be the type I’d aim to add to my closet! :)



{1940s pink formal gown with peplum, fits a 26” waist/34”bust; $37.99.}



{Navy blue and white Bettie Page Clothing “Captain Flare” dress with full skirt, currently available on in size XL; $105.00.}



{Black silk 1950s cocktail dress with velvet collar, fits a 29” waist/38” bust; $19.99.}



{Red and white 1960s hibiscus print sarong dress, fits a 26” waist/35” bust; $104.30.}



{Black lace over bronze hued taffeta 1950s party dress, fits a 28” waist/36” bust; $34.99.}



{Light blue 1950s lace party dress with peplum, fits a 27” waist/37” bust; $94.50.}



{Pink and black rose floral print 1950s swing dress with shawl collar, fits a 31” waist/40” bust; $93.00.}

{Please note all prices are in US dollars and reflect the current sale price.}


I believe that BVV ships internationally, which means that vintage fashion loves from around the globe can hope on board for this sale. Plus, as a further bonus, if you subscribe to Blue Velvet Vintage’s mailing list newsletter, you can use the coupon code “Blowout” upon checkout to receive an addition 10% off all sale items until September 19th.

If you happen to pick anything up for yourself from this sale, I’d love to hear about it. Happy shopping to all!

Win a chic Alessi kitchen timer from AllModern.com and Chronically Vintage!

To celebrate the fact that Chronically Vintage hit its 100th post yesterday, I’ve decided to hold my first giveaway ever on this site!

The fine folks over at home decor specialists AllModern.com have a super cute, mid-century modern inspired kitchen timer (valued at $68 US) to give away to one lucky reader of this blog. If you’ve never heard of All Modern before, let me tell you a bit about the company in their own words, “All Modern has a fantastic selection of modern furniture and home accessories from many leading designers. Part of CSN Stores, All Modern is just one of over 260 retail sites that offer a diverse array of products from Herman Miller’s popular Aeron Chair to cookware by Rachael Ray.”

I’ve been a fan of this site, which while teaming with very modern pieces (as one might gather from the name), also offers a range of retro and vintage looking pieces, for some time now and was thrilled to no end when they contact me wanting to know if my readers would interested in winning one of their wonderful products. Naturally I knew my lovely readers would be, so I jumped at the chance to offer you an opportunity to win an All Modern product.

Crafted by well-known Italian designer and architect Alessando Mendini, the sleek, whimsical timer that’s up for grabs here would be perfect not only in the kitchen but for any number of timed tasks around the house. I use my kitchen timer (which is nowhere even remotely as nice looking as this one) at least once a day, especially because the one on my stove doesn’t work any longer. This timer would also look beautiful simply as an object d’art in your kitchen or any other room of the house.

The timer (pictured above) is made of chrome-plated Zamak and ABS plastic, it’s a little under 5 inches tall and about 4 inches wide. It comes in blue, red or black and the winner will be able to pick which of those three colours they’d like to receive.

Please note, this contest will be open to US and Canadian residents, as the timer is being shipped directly from All Modern, and they do not currently ship beyond North America. I sincerely apologize about this to my international readers.

The contest will run until Tuesday August 25th at 11:59pm EST. One lucky winner will selected entirely at random the following day, and will be announced in a blog post here on the 26th. The lucky winner will then need to email me with their name and shipping address (and what colour timer you’d like to receive) so that I can pass your info along to All Modern, who will ship out your Alessi timer directly to you.

If you’d like to try your luck at winning this cool Timer (whose named is Anna, by the way), all you have to do is comment on this post and tell me your favourite recipe (vintage or modern) that you’d use this timer to help you cook, of if you prefer, your favourite use for a timer in general.

Good luck to everyone who enters - and thank you to all my amazing readers for helping Chronically Vintage to reach its 100th post. This blog would not be the same without you!

Are you Mad Men material?

That’s the question Banana Republic, in conjunction with AMC, is asking fans of this popular (and wildly stylish) show. If you feel like you were born to roam the halls of Sterling Cooper, you're invited to swing by your nearest Banana Republic location (between July 21st and August 11th) to pick up an application for your chance to score a “walk on” part on an episode of Man Men.



Along with your entry form, applicants need to submit a photo of themselves – but not just any ol’ snapshot, you need to show the good folks at AMC you very best Mad Man inspired outfit! Tell me, does it get any more thrilling for a fan of this awesome TV programme than to have a chance to show off your impeccable vintage fashion skills?

Whether your inner Mad Man (or woman!) channels the sultry vixen-esque look of Joan, the prim and proper mother next-door style of Betty, or the sweet but ever so slightly flirtatious look that Peggy sports, it’s time to dig into your closet for your best early 1960s pieces and get those camera lenses clicking!



The incredibly lucky winner of this (potentially once in a lifetime) contest will be handpicked by Man Men creator Matthew Weiner himself, and will receive, along with their immortal spot on television, a $1,000 Banana Republic gift certificate. (Please do note though that the contest is only open to residents of America and Canada.)

If you need some style pointers when it comes to nailing the Mad Men era look to a tee, I highly recommend checking out Super Kawaii Mama’s series of posts that cover this very topic. (Should you be looking for a gorgeous pen on a chain such as the one Joan is rarely seen without, be sure to check out the link to just such an item I mentioned in a post last May.)

What do you think, my wonderful readers, would you want to enter this contest? Do you think you have what it takes to land a role on the coolest show to ever pay homage to the sixties? While I don’t think I’ll be entering myself, I will certainly be following the results closely online and plan to post information on the winner once it becomes available.

To everyone who participates in this fantastic contest, I whole heartedly wish you the very best of luck! Have a blast dressing up in your favourite Mad Men look, and be sure to flash the sort of confident smile that might just land you the chance to rub elbows with the Drapers!


{*Both images in this post via AMC*}

Twenty percent off sale going on right now at Pinup Girl Clothing!

While there is no denying that wearing genuinely vintage clothing is a rewarding, stylish and extremely enjoyable act, sometimes – for a myriad of reasons – we need (and/or want) to shop for modern pieces that posses a high degree of vintage style. One place (that is familiar to many old school style clothing fans) to source a wide array of such pieces is the online shop Pinup Girl Clothing.

I will happily admit that over the years I’ve spent my fair share of time daydreaming about clicking my way through a wild shopping spree at this terrific site, but alas, such fantasies remain just that. In the meantime though (“meantime” I suppose pertaining to before I somehow find a way to become grandly wealthy ;D) it’s a lot more realistic to imagine scooping up a beautiful piece or two from this store from time-to-time, especially when they send emails my way informing me that they have a sale going on.

One such email was waiting for me in my in-box this afternoon. Pinup Girl Clothing is currently offering their customers 20% off all purchases (including items which are already on sale/marked down) when you use the code ccjul709 between now and July 18th.

There is never – and I mean never – a shortage of items from this site bouncing around on my wish list (hmmm, has anyone else ever noticed how their wish list never seems to get smaller, it just increases in spades each month?), some of which I’ve highlighted below (please note, all prices are in US dollars). Do these items get your pulse racing too?

♥ ♥ ♥



{“The Netti” dress in blue gingham poplin with red trim, $68.00.}



{“Nanjing Navy” vintage sailor style jeans in dark blue wash, $158.00.}



{“The Sarah Top” in houndstooth with red trim, $42.00.}



{“The Jackie Gold Las Vegas” purse with rhinestone brooch, $248.00.}



{“Happy Bows” 40s style chiffon day dress, $106.00.}



{“She Means Business” white satin button down blouse, $89.00.}



{Large white feather fascinator, $62.00.} http://bit.ly/w6whD



{Black and white two tone Mary Jane style pumps, $46.00.}


{“Annalise” swing dress in black with blue swallows, $109.00}


If pieces like this hot little numbers like the ones above aren’t enough to convince you to pick yourself up a little treat, it’s worth knowing that Pinup Girl always offers free shipping on US orders over $150 and on international orders above $250.

Are you a fan of Pinup Girl Clothing? Have you bought from them before, or like myself thus far, have you just lusted after their items from an adoring distance?

Chronically Vintage now has its own domain!

While many people profess to dislike them, I’ve always been a fan of surprises – well at lease those of a positive nature. The routine and/or ongoing chaos of daily life can often result in a need for all the positive, unexpected moments the universe can throw at you.


{Who doesn’t adore a beautiful surprise from time-to-time? Image via myvintagelove’s Flickr stream.}

One such a delightful moment came my way in the very early hours of Wednesday morning when my husband surprised me by registering the domain name www.chronicallyvintage.com! We’d talked about doing so before, but I had no idea he was going to spring a domain of its own for this blog on me out of the blue.

I love Blogger and am definitely going to stick with their platform for the foreseeable future, but it’s absolutely fantastic to now know that we own the domain chronicallyvintage.com! My little corner of the vintage blogsphere now has its own, genuine, certified url!

The old Blogger url (http://chronciallyvintage.blogspot.com) still works and should you type it in/click a link with that url, you’ll be redirected to the exact same blog that’s been here from day one. The only difference will be the url in your browser bar, which will now say www.chronicallyvintage.com.

Darling husband has assured me (he’s the tech expert in this house) that the feed for this site will continue to work just as it always has, and that there shouldn’t be any problems when with either the old Blogger or new “independent” url. (Phew! I wouldn’t want my super lovely readers to risk missing out on any of the vintage goodness that goes on here!).

I’m so happy about having my own domain for Chronically Vintage, and must thank my wonderful husband from the bottom of my heart for sensing how important this blog is to me. You’re the best, my love, thank you for the fantastic surprise!

Introducing Able Grable, a beautiful new vintage reproduction line

If you follow the vintage blogging scene you may already be familiar with Miss Matilda and her fantastic blog (if you’re not, be sure to visit her site at once, it’s chockablock with informative mid-century history, images and photos of MM herself sporting wonderful vintage looks). I’m a big fan of her site and was positively excited when I read a recent post announcing the launch of her own stylish vintage reproduction line Able Grable, which will be specializing in 1930s and early 40s designs.

On her blog MM states that each dress is, “each inspired by the film actresses I admire”. What a lovely approach to art of reproduction tailoring. In terms of the line’s name she goes to say, “I share my birthday with Betty Grable and the name of my frock shop comes from the war time slang for a good looking woman, an Able Grable. So the first frock is a tribute to Betty Grable.”

The first piece in this gorgeous new line is a red polka dot, satin dress with white trim and collar that instantaneously calls to mind silver screen elegance and the sort of styles ladies of the time might have donned for those days when they needed something extra special to wear.



Available in sizes small through 3X, this sweet frock is limited to a twelve dress run. If you’re interested in picking one up for yourself, email Matilda at ablegrable@gmail.com for further information and pricing.

I think this dress is wonderfully pretty and can’t wait to see what other excellent designs Able Grable has in store for all of us vintage frock loving ladies!

On the hunt for summer plaid

Plaid is iconic, ageless and beautiful. It can run the gambit from formal to incredibly playful, with most plaid items falling squarely in between. Plaid has an element of androgyny to it as it can be worn very well by both men and woman. From lumberjacks to the grunge rockers of the early 90s, plaid has played both a practical and trend-setting role in fashion.

I’ve always thought plaid was a wonderful pattern. While it may not instantly convey femininity the way that say a floral or polka dot print does, plaid fabric can be whipped into anything from an undergarments to dresses, and somehow its grid of lines seems to work well in accentuating the curves of a woman’s body.

While plaid can certainly make for some terrific winterwear pieces (think classic plaid jackets from the 1950s, for example), its association with balmy weather through everything from shorts to skirts, camp hats to tops is what has me thinking about this bold pattern lately.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the joy of searching for pieces to add to my summer wardrobe. I set out with a razor thin budget, but I didn’t let that deter me. Along the way there were a number of items I was searching for (some I found, others are still on the lam), one of which was definitely a vintage inspired (as opposed to 80s or 90s style, which have been all the rage for the past few seasons) plaid shirt.

It seemed for quite a while though that luck wasn’t on my side. Every button front short or long sleeved plaid shirt I tried on seemed to drown me in its pattern. I’m petite (5”2) and do not have a very long torso, and didn’t want to end up looking like I was wearing a plaid mini dress.

With my summerwear budget nearly tapped out, I headed to Forever 21. While that may hardly seem newsworthy to many (especially my lovely American readers), it was the first time I’d ever been there before (which is sort of hard to believe given that there’s a location at the mall closest to my house - still better late than never!).

I was surprised by how big the shop was (though I noticed that they didn’t stock some pieces I’d been eyeing on the US Forever 21 website) and while certainly catering to the trends of the moment, how pretty some of their pieces were. I loaded up a mountainous armful of assorted items – including almost every plaid top in the store – and headed to the dressing room.

I’d struck out four times on the plaid front, when much to my surprise a light blue number hit the jackpot! I put it on and instantly felt like I’d popped out of a vintage summer camp post card or calendar page.

I probably stood there for three minutes examining my reflection, adjusting my side parted, freshly curled that morning hair, and loving how the shirt looked with the pretty-much-trouser-cut jeans and black oxford style shoes I was wearing. While none of the other plaid shirts that day panned out, I did also swing an awesome coral-meets-dusty rose hued cropped cardigan that fits like a glove, so I really felt like I’d had a successful shopping trip. The fact that the plaid shirt only cost $17 certainly helped sweeten the day too!


{I’m almost certain this is the same plaid shirt I bought. I found this image of the store’s US website and would be 100% sure if I could zoom in on the fabric, as my shirt has thin lines of red interwoven with the blue. The same and style is definitely identical; on the US site it’s is called the Marla Plaid Shirt and retails for $14.80US (up here in Canada I paid a few cents under $17 for mine). Either way, it’s a good deal for a lovely lightweight, all-cotton summer shirt.}

I’m delighted to have found a plaid shirt and am sure it will get a ton of rotation in my wardrobe this summer! I’m still keeping my eyes peeled though in case I come across any other plaid gems, and using these wonderful photos I’ve spied lately on Flickr as huge sources of vintage plaid hunting inspiration for whenever I find myself near a clothing store.


{Timeless Plaid Beauty}


1. 40's Plaid Dress, 2. Innocent World British bear jumper skirt (details; red) 2, 3. Plaid picnic tins, 4. Blue and brown plaid vintage circle skirt, 5. new boots!, 6. Vintage 70's Multi-Colored Box Plaid Button Down, 7. Red plaid cuff, 8. Plaid School Girl Skirt, 9. DSC06423aaa, 10. plaid is rad and makes me glad, 11. Large plaid fabric flower brooch, 12. Red Plaid Vintage Aladdin Thermos, 13. 2 of my favorite vintage shoes{Click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information}

I think that plaid is a pattern that ultimately, with a little sleuthing around for the right piece, anyone can pull off and look fantastic in. It’s a lovely print that for all its historical roots, doesn’t seem to take itself too seriously, preferring to be a chipper, lively pattern instead.

Are you mad for plaid? Have you discovered any marvelous summer pieces in this classic pattern? I’d love to hear about your finds if you have – one plaid shirt is awesome, but finding a second might be even sweeter! :)

Dress like an Egyptian

Few places in the world conjure up the allure of mystery rooted in history that Egypt does. Dotted with incredible feats of engineering such as the pyramids and Great Synx, divided by a great serpentine river and boasting one of the most impressive and technologically advanced civilizations of the ancient world, it’s little wonder that this desert land has been inspiring travelers and world culture lovers for centuries.

Just as the sands, monuments and places of Egypt have been beckoning people to it for ages, so too have people strove to adorn their homes and/or bodies in Egyptian inspired looks. In the early 1920s when archaeologists unearthed the tomb of legendary pharaoh Tutankhamen, it seemed as though overnight the world was swept up with Egyptian fever. In fashions of the era one can clearly see the influence of Egyptian style in pieces bedecked with, or shaped to look like, such symbols as lotuses, mummies, scarab beetles, pyramids, ankh crosses, and beading and stitchery that invoked a distinctly Egyptian feel. If you’d like to read more on how Egypt influenced clothing styles of the 1920s, I highly recommend a detailed article entitled Old World, New World: Fashion is King.



{Beautiful hand-coloured vintage photo featuring four women in Egyptian style costumes from the early twentieth century, discovered via Inspiration Resource.}

As the century progressed the hype around the discovery of King Tut died down, but Egyptian influences still continued to touch the fashion world, especially the use of dark kohl eyeliner, something that both men and women on this ancient culture had been particularly fond of. In 1963 Elizabeth Taylor’s striking performance of Cleopatra in the Joseph Mankiewicz film of the same title saw Egyptian eye make-up taken to the extreme, yet even then it remained sophisticated and beautiful. (If you want to learn more about authentic Egyptian make-up, including how to apply kohl liner the really, really old school way, be sure to check out the article Ancient Egyptian Eye Makeup by Judith Illes.)



{Colour movie still of Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra, complete with ravishing eye make-up, via Hecklerspray.com.}

In the mid-twentieth century misses and ladies wear – particularly skirts and dresses – sometimes featured wonderfully whimsical patterns of the sort that you’d be hard pressed to find on a newly produced garment (think large pineapples, Scottie dogs, and Parisan street scenes to name but a few). Recently while browsing etsy I came across an absolutely charming cotton summer dress featuring a fabulous Egyptian motif around the bust and at the bottom of the hem, that would be a sublime way of adding a jolt of Nile style to your vintage look!



{This cheerfully fun Egyptian print summer dress with full skirt can be yours for $89.00US from etsy seller Virginia Who.}

The title of this post is a play on the 1980s Bangles hit song “Walk Like An Egyptian”, which I thought might be a fun means by which to highlight some of the ways that Egyptian culture has touched peoples’ closets over the years. If you’d like to incorporate more elements of Egyptian style into your wardrobe this can be achieved with the use of certain colours (think gold, brass, turquoise, saturated jewel tones, onyx, cobalt blue, and creamy white), lightweight fabrics such as linen and hemp, and (reproduction) Egyptian style jewelry.

Whether you go for an Egyptian inspired look from head to toe such (such as the dress above) or prefer to stick with thick black eyeliner, there is no denying that this fascinating culture has helped to shape not only the development of human history but also the world of twentieth century fashion.