A Schizophrenic Vintage Life

When asked, what my favorite period of clothing is, I automatically freeze up. There was a time when I had a favorite, but that was long ago. I have given up such delusions of youth. I have developed an appreciation for fine construction and nice lines. I do have a soft spot for good fabric. After that, all bets are off. I have yet to come to love the 1980s, but I was an adult then and buying clothing, so it's not like I haven't given it a whirl. I don't want to degenerate into a Vintage Fashion version of the "all the children are pretty and above average" mindset, but I have come to see the good points of a lot of styles. After all, we all thought we looked pretty great when we wore them.

Hence the schizophrenia of two recent aquisitions. These within 3 days of each other.
First: a really fine ca 1902ish black chiffon over silk 2 pc gown with velvet ribbon and wide panels of handmade lace. And a NYC dressmaker label, to boot. Now this plays into quality fabric, neat ornamentation, lots of fine technique and the late Victorian period. All very wonderful in my book.

Available soon @ http://pastperfectvintage.com

And second:

A very sleek and pared down 1960s Givenchy Couture silk dress in a yellow and pink floral. Beautifully made, lined in silk, hand set zipper. Also very wonderful.

available soon @ http://pastperfectvintage.com

Pretty much the antithesis of the Victorian dress, wouldn't you say? All they have in common is: Silk, good quality and lady's dress. And that they are both floor length.

How can I be equally pleased at finding and acquiring each of these? Note to self: must introduce left brain to right brain some day soon.

White on Vintage White

There is something so crisp and clean about vintage whites. And not just the Victorian cotton lingerie dresses and undergarments, lovely as they are when they are laundered and pressed. There's a wonderful warm tone to vintage white leather and white textiles that new white fabrics and leather don't have. They are stark. Clinical. Vintage is Soft. It Glows.

It isn't easy to find vintage whites that are unstained, so a buyer should expect to pay accordingly. And should respect the labor it takes to launder and press those Victorian ruffles! When I finish with one of these, I feel like have been channeling my Inner Washerwoman. But do beware when you find vintage whites that are 'too' bright. They may well have been bleached, which will eventually shorten the life of the fibers. Most white silks and many white wools will age to an ivory or champagne tone. Nothing wrong with that color, either.

This is what I am talking about:

1940s White leather open toe pumps now available @ http://pastperfectvintage.com

1940s Chiffon dress now available at http://pastperfectvintage.com

Two Cotton Summer 'lingerie' dresses, 1905 - 1910, both now available at http://pastperfectvintage.com

18th Quilted petticoat from our personal collection

A Weakness for Ladies' Tailoring Rears It's Head

Some women love lace, some ruffles and frills. Others find joy in satins and feathers. And then there's the gauzey, floaty chiffon crowd. All good, all fine.

For me, it's good wool and tailoring. Is it because of the clean lines? The technique demanded? Because there is no room for error in tailoring. You can hide behind a ruffle or gather. But not a tailored lapel. It certainly isn't because I wear loads of suits. I haven't had a job where a skirt suit really be appropriate for 25 years. I have never been a Lady Who Lunched. My forays onto non-profit boards have not required this level of dressing.

And yet, show me a vintage suit and I am enthralled by the workmanship and interpretation of classic lines.

Let me show you 4 suits we just added to www.pastperfectvintage.com

Left: Frank Gallant 1950s suit - good wool, bound velvet collar (talk about hard to get right!) crepe lining, bound buttonholes, good details. Right: Jablow feminine 1950s suit, intricate front construction, more crepe lining and bias (these are also hard to do) bound buttonholes. Both very good well made suits that would cost a fortune today for similar quality construction.

Left: 1948 - 52 Palm Beach Suit by Sacony. This is a midprice suit, summer weight and therefore unlined with machine buttonholes. A very nice suit, but not the level of construction you will see with the better labels. Right: an unlabeled 1960s 3 piece suit in a great weight of silk with beautifully cut, flattering jacket. Fully lined skirt, covered ball buttons, crepe jacket lining and bound buttoholes: again, all the hallmarks of fine women's tailoring.

July is Here & That Means New Vintage at Past Perfect

We are excited. We just added 16 new (to us) items at Past Perfect Vintage Clothing. We will feature more in the coming days, but here's a small preview :

Lovely c. 1910 White Cotton Lingerie Dress in a Wearable Size with pintucks, lace insertion, applique and tiny crocheted buttons, @ pastperfectvintage.com/thevictoriansandedwardians.htm

Charming 1940s Floral Taffeta Dress with shirred bust in peach, blue, roses, green and yellow, @ pastperfectvintage.com/the40sand50s.htm

Great 1940s WWII Purple Felt Toaque Hat with felt streamers and gold topsitched chevrons, @www.pastperfectvintage.com/thehatsandaccessories.htm