Joni Mitchell, 1970.
No one before or since could smile, giggle and sweetly strum a song with such a powerful punch.
Do we wish we had the pink 1930s dress with the crochet sleeves? Very much.
But one thing we do have - the verdgris 1950s leaf choker.
Today was the first day of school, so now it's not just back to school, it's also back to up early, nagging about shoes and lunch money and homework, sitting in traffic, dropping the spawn at school, and heading to work hours ahead of opening. Which is nice time, I must admit. Sometimes I get things done in the early quiet before people arrive, sometimes I treat myself to breakfast with a friend.
Lots of recent additions to the store soon to come to the site. While I was photographing this dress this morning I realized what was so endearing about the simple faded blue stripe - it looks like the lines on binder paper. Blank and inviting, full of possibility.
Vintage 50s/60s linen dress with blue stripes & buckles.
Icon Phyllis Diller has gone to the great variety show in the clouds.
Comedy has changed.
Iconic and groundbreaking comedienne Phyllis Diller represented the beginnings of women's television and variety standup comedy. Compared to the chic feminine standards of the time, her flamboyant outfits and self-effacing humor were hilariously shocking. But unlike those who followed, and certainly unlike comedians of today, her put-downs were only directed toward herself (and her fictional husband "Fang.") She delightfully exposed herself to her own mocking and riducule, and was able to poke fun at her wacky style while endearing herself to her audience. They rooted for her, rather than joining her take-downs. They laughed with and for her, rather than at her. Diller spoke in every woman's inner voice - the one that tells us our legs are too skinny, our hair is a mess, and gave us the opportunity to laugh at ourselves, to let it go. She was unquestionably one of a kind.
The internet gives us instant access to things half a world away. And once again, the Vintage Fashion Guild has its finger on the pulse. Last night in Sydney, Australia, a wonderful collection of fashion, furniture and decorative arts from fashion designer Lisa Ho was offered at auction. Our VFG friend Nicole Jenkins of Circa Vintage in Melbourne alerted us at the VFG, and ended up making the trip and procuring a few choice pieces. Nicole says that dresses from the 20s & 30s are a rare offering in Australia, so the auction of this collection was an especially wonderful and drool worthy event.
Here are a few choice pieces from the catalogue.
French tulle embroidered evening dress
Floral velvet and metallic coat with fur collar
Silk floral full length dress
Peach velvet cape with applique and diamante detailing
Fully beaded dress with jagges hemline
Lime green feathered coat
Blue velvet & sequinned dress
Via Second Shout Out I happily stumbled onto the paintings of Toronto artist Holly Farrell, whose portraits of vintage objects are a quiet, sentimental twist on the tradition of still life painting.
Shoes by Holly Farrell
Cookbooks by Holly Farrell
Barbie & Ken Vacation Portrait by Holly Farrell
Butterick Patterns by Holly Farrell
Imitating the intricate pleating of a vintage 50s strapless cocktail dress, this whimsical creamy frock is made entirely of masking tape. Via BurdaStyle.
Today is the 106th anniversary of the famous earthquake and fire.
I love the calm, yet determined expression in this woman's face and body in the middle of the devastation.
