Wednesday, December 31, 2008

1940's Novelty Print Dress

The front metal zipper closure on this 1940's dress is hidden behind a decorative placket, which is folded back in this photo.

Monday, December 29, 2008

1940s Novelty Print Sarong Dress

1940's dress, sarong, novelty printTwo coordinating rayon prints combine for visual appeal in this 1940's sarong styled dress. Dangling black balls accent the sleeves and add a Latin flair.

Wednesday, December 24, 2008

Vintage Woolrich ShirtJac


The yoke forms the placket for the buttoned pockets on a 1960's mens vintage twill Woolrich shirtjac.

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

1950s Wool Dress with Angora Trim

White angora rib-knit trim like you would find on a sweater is applied along the opening edges of a 1950's dress.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Vintage 70s Jantzen Open Back Maxi Dress


Nylon jersey low scoop back dress has adjustable button shoulder straps that attach to a bra back like opening. Hook at the bra back with elasticized casings on each side of the hook.

Friday, December 19, 2008

1960s Harvey Berin Dress

Corded buttons co-ordinate nicely with the black braid at the neckline of a 1960's Harvey Berin velvet dress.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Vintage 50s Pink Champagne Lace Wiggle Dress Flounce Lace Hem

A 1950's dress has a tiered lace flounce hem line producing a very feminine effect.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

1940s WWII Swing Dress

The neckline and front opening of a vintage 1940's dress is accented with trapunto. Trapunto is a type of embellishment in which a design is outlined with straight stitches and then stuffed from the back of the fabric to achieve a raised effect.

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

1970s Butterfly Collar Wool Coat Dress

A 1970's coat dress sports a butterfly collar. The extended tips of the collar are sometimes referred to as wing tips.

Monday, December 15, 2008

1960s Sequined Evening Gown

vintage evening gown, vintage dressBlack beads and sequins are set alight with scattered contrasting sequins in every color of the rainbow on this late 1960's evening dress.

Friday, December 12, 2008

1950s Car Coat with Persian Lamb Pockets

Curly lamb fur also known as Persian lamb fur is applied to the shaped patch pockets of a 1950's wool car coat.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

1970s Black Velvet Evening Gown

The back of this 1970's evening gown is completely open except for straps that cross over and button.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

1960s Silk Shantung Gown

A lace bodice with peplum is covered with silver seed beads and small pearl beads accentuating the design in the lace.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

1950s Silk Career Dress

1950s navy silk dressWhat appears to be a decorative pleat at the front of this 1950's dress is actually a placket that hides a metal zipper closure.

Monday, December 8, 2008

Vintage 60s Lilli Ann Rose Pink Boucle Knit Suit


Boucle is a textured fancy yarn with a loop pile that is knit or woven into fabric giving it a kinky appearance.

Friday, December 5, 2008

1940s R&K Deco Print Crepe Dress

The crepe fabric of a 1940's dress by R&K is manipulated with small inverted pleats that are sewn down with smocking stitches. This pleated portion forms a bib insert at the front bodice.

Thursday, December 4, 2008

1960s Loop Collar Shirt

A 1960's mens shirt with a loop collar. The loop is formed on one side of the shirt placket and fastens to the other side with a button holding the collar securly in place. These were popular in the 1920's, 1940's and 1960's.

1960s Beaded Boucle Suit

Black scroll braid and dangling beads accent the collar and pockets of a 1960's navy wool boucle suit.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

1930s Couture French Silk Lace Blouse


A 1930's couture French silk chiffon and lace blouse is completely hand stitched creating intricate details.

Monday, December 1, 2008

1940s Suit Jacket

A slot seam with gold embroidered arrows at each end decorates the front of a 1940s suit jacket. A slot seam is a decorative detail that opens to reveal a contrasting backing fabric - in this case the same navy blue crepe that lines the jacket.

Friday, November 28, 2008

1950s Black Chiffon Overlay Lace & Rhinstone Dress

Prong set rhinestones adorn the floral lace bodice of a 1950's dress. The lace is backed with fabric and the chiffon yoke creates the shoulders giving the illusion of the dress having a strapless bodice.

Thursday, November 27, 2008

1950s Bombshell Dress

Point d'esprit lace is gathered between two bands of black and backed with nude color taffeta to form the neckline and cap sleeves on a 1950's wiggle dress. Point d'esprit is a fine net fabric characterized by oval or square dots woven in a grid-like pattern.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Vintage 60s Ombre Plaid Luxury Mohair Coat Jacket


Ombre is a French word which means shading and is used to describe a technique of color bleeding, weaving or drip dying fabric by subtlety fading colors into one another. This 1960's Mohair coat is an example of Ombre plaid.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

1930s Silk Garden Party Dress

Tiny pin tucks follow the curve of the neckline to add visual interest to the collar and skirt of a 1930's sheer silk dress. The same silk is used for accordion pleated trim at the collar and hem edges.

Monday, November 24, 2008

Vintage 70s Folkloric Ecuador Mustard Yellow Embroidered Bell Sleeve Dress

A 1970's mustard wool dress is expertly accented with wool embroidery. Note how the embroidery is hand stitched over the side seam.

Friday, November 21, 2008

1950s Harry Keiser Evening Gown

Petals of tulle extend up from the waistband to cover the bust on a 1950s strapless tulle evening gown by Harry Keiser.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Vintage 1940s Wool Applique Mexican Folkloric Jacket

A 1940's wool jacket has an appliqued and embroidered Mexican design. Contrasting wool fabric appliques are hand stitched on the jacket panels and finished with a variety of embroidery stitches.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

1960s Brocade Cocktail Suit

A thread wrapped hook and eye, bound buttonhole, and silk-covered snap are small couture details that denote a garment of the highest quality.

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

1940s Fagoting Stitch on Swimwear


Fagoting is a form of stitching and fills the space between two finished edges. The space between the edges can be 1/8", 1/4' or 1/2" or finer. Fagoting is used in this 1940s swimsuit top.

Monday, November 17, 2008

1960s Beaded Evening Gown

Hand stitched silver beads add another layer of sparkle to a 1960's silver and white brocade evening gown.

Friday, November 14, 2008

1930s Jantzen Diving Girl Patch

This is the 1930's version of the Jantzen Diving Girl Patch. The Diving Girl went through many revisions to her body and suit during her evolution with the Jantzen brand.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

1950s Tulle Wedding Dress


A small cluster of red silk roses accents the skirt of a 1950's full skirted tulle white wedding dress.

Wednesday, November 12, 2008

60s Mr California Windowpane Matched Pocket


A 1960's Mr. California short sleeve shirt has a matched chest pocket. A matched pocket is created when the pattern of the materials of the shirt match the pocket and line up to create a seamless look.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

1950s Party Dress

A small row of rhinestones accents the shoulder line on the ruched cap sleeves of an otherwise unembellished party dress. A nice subtle surprise!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Vintage 50s Brown Mink Fur Headband

Mink fur is attached to a 1950's spring coil coil headband and lined with grosgrain ribbon. Mink can be identified as a soft dense and lightweight fur with lustrous guard hairs (longer hairs on top) and lush, soft under fur (the thicker shorter fur).

Friday, November 7, 2008

1950s Party Dress

Loop braid and beads add interest to the bodice and upper skirt of a 1950's circle skirt party dress.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Vintage 40s Baby Blue Flocked Fabric Dress


The satin fabric of this 1940's dress is made with a flocked surface creating a textured floral design. Flocking is a process where the fabric has been coated by an adhesive and fine fibers are applied over the adhesive. The finished fabric has a velvet like appearance.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

1950s Rappi Evening Dress

Black Guipure lace is layered over golden yellow chiffon on the bodice of this 1950s evening dress by Rappi. Guipure lace is made without a net background from heavy yarns. The motifs are joined with thread bridges.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

1970s Ruby Red Floral Satin Shoes

Daniel Green makes timeless vintage boudoir slippers with a satin ribbon gathered to create a floral rosette at the peep toe.

Monday, November 3, 2008

1950s Silk Day Dress

The long streamers of the bow form a color-block effect on the skirt of a 1950's silk day dress.

Friday, October 31, 2008

Vintage 40s Mocha Boucle Knit Sweater Skirt Suit

The rib knit radiates from the neckline creating a funnel type collar on this 40's boucle knit skirt suit.

Thursday, October 30, 2008

1940s Strapless Dress and Bolero

A large oval pocket at the right side of this 1940's strapless dress has a teardrop opening at the center which is adorned with pink bow appliques.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Vintage Albert Nipon Knife Pleated Grecian Goddess Gown

A knife pleat is a type of sharply pressed pleating, in which all of the folds are turned in one direction.

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

1950s Sequined Print Dress

Sequins in matching colors accent the print of a 1950's Anne Starr fitted dress. The sequins are applied in swirls and squiggles to blend into the abstract floral print.

Monday, October 27, 2008

Vintage 50s Black Suede Springolators Shoes

Springolators are a patented design of a 50's mule. A hidden elasticised band in the sole holds the shoe firmly in place.

Friday, October 24, 2008

1960s Sequined Cocktail Dress

The sequined and embroidered designs on this 1960s silk cocktail dress are perfectly matched at the back zipper opening. This is a sign of high quality.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Vintage 60s Kamehameha Surplice Neckline Palazzo Pants Jumpsuit

Sleeveless surplice neckline with 3 small sewn tucks at the center bodice. Surplice is defined as having a diagonally overlapping neckline or closing.

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

1950s Cocktail Dress

A band of black Guipure lace is backed with white satin. It along with a band of black velvet ribbon curve under the bust on a 1950's cocktail dress. Guipure lace is made without a net background from heavy yarns. The motifs are joined with thread bridges.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

1940s Black Corde' Handbag Purse


During the 1940's corde' handbags were created using rows of gimp in unique patterns stitched to a fabric background.