Debutante Clothing :: The Deblog

Wendy B - That Little Vintage Sniper

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:10:56 -0800

Wendy B has an amazing assortment of eBay delights from vintage Lanvin to Zandra Rhodes. I've got my eye on that Zandra Rhodes jacket. I'm going to make them an offer they can't refuse. And then I am going straight to my local sniper website and picking me up some heavy guns. I'm tired of losing. Does anyone have a favorite sniper tool? I'm a total newbie to sniping.

Costume Institute Gala Vintage Style

Wed, 07 May 2008 20:15:31 -0800

You know you are somebody in the fashion world if you receive an invitation the Costume Institute's annual gala. The theme this year was Superheroes: Fashion and Fantasy. While some fashions were blatantly superhero inspired (Wonder Woman wore gold cuffs), many of the guests went for pretty and fantastical. I was very pleased to see some vintage amongst the sea of couture and high end designers. But I have to admit, some of the vintage pieces weren't as inspiring as some of the new designs, and that was disappointing. Of the many ways to infuse fantasy and a touch of costume to your outfit, you would think vintage would be the way to go. Wearing vintage in and of itself, to an even like this requires more than just a vintage dress - here's you chance to pull out the most outrageous and beautiful pieces known to fashion history. I felt these fell a little short. But I'll let you decide. Photo: Sherly Rabbani and Josephine Solimene Images: Michelle Trachtenberg, in a vintage skirt and top with Kwiat diamonds and a Cesare Paciotti clutch. Kate Bosworth, in vintage Chanel Haute Couture Caroline Trentini, in vintage Thierry Mugler and Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry. Anna Sui, in vintage Zandra Rhodes and boots of her own design. And some notable non-vintage looks: Sarah Brown Maggie Gyllenhaal Dita Von Teese Check out the rest of the images, all 164 of them!, at Style.com Shirmpton Couture and Style It also have some images and commentary on the big event.

Now Open - The Coveted Shoppe

Wed, 07 May 2008 16:32:06 -0800

The ever lovely Jennine at the Coveted has just opened her Etsy shop The Coveted Shoppe. Now everyone can get the global fashionista look Jennine is so famous for. But you'd better hurry - she's already sold 2 items in one day.

Vintage Fashion Mix - Blue Hawaiian

Wed, 07 May 2008 00:21:42 -0800

Mixing vintage and modern is the best way to keep from looking costumey or kitschy. Unless of course that's the look you're going for. But here's an outfit that you could wear anywhere and people would just ask, "Where'd you get that?" dress: hatfeathersvintage.com shoes: zappos.com bangle: myriadlife.co.uk bag: yoox.com

Vintage 101 - Cleaning Your Vintage Clothing

Tue, 06 May 2008 06:52:35 -0800

If you have ever been afraid of ruining a favorite vintage piece by washing it, never fear. Here are some dos and don'ts to think about before you take the plunge and wash or clean your vintage clothing. • Do wash cottons and linens It is fine to wash cottons and cotton blends yourself. The best way to do this is to hand wash each piece individually in cool to lukewarm water with a gentle fabric detergent. Ivory Snow, in powder form, Woolite or Dreft are safe choices. • Don't agitate the clothing Just let the article sit in the water, moving it only to make sure it is soaked completely. • Don't over wash When you are done wearing your favorite vintage piece, do not throw it in the hamper. Hang it up so it can breathe. Washing your vintage too much will lessen its life span. • Do dry clean If you don't know the fabric make up of your vintage piece, do not guess! Take it to a dry cleaner that understands older fabrics. Ask around and don't be afraid to ask dry cleaners questions about their knowledge and experience. • Do use stain treaters (carefully) If you have a stubborn stain, such as perspiration or unknown food, start with the least abrasive stain fighter -- lemon juice or white vinegar. These are natural whiteners. Once you have determined lemon juice hasn't worked, you can move on to harsher stain treatments such Oxyclean or Shout, but use sparingly or use a towel to apply on the spot. • Don't spin dry It is best to hang or drip-dry any garment. Dryers, even on gentle heat can damage delicate vintage fabrics. Items from the 80s could possibly do just fine in the dryer on delicate or air dry, but why take the chance?

Stephanie J is N.E.E.T.

Mon, 05 May 2008 18:51:26 -0800

That Crosby Noricks of PR Couture -- she knows all the cool people. Go check out her interview with Stephanie J of NEET magazine and get your vintage, indie, crafty, style fix.

Vintage Fashion Expo Santa Monica

Mon, 05 May 2008 06:19:50 -0800

Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Vintage Fashion Expo will be stopping by the Santa Civic Auditorium this Mother's Day Weekend. Bring Mom and have a great time checking out the biggest and best curated collection of vintage clothing, shoes and accessories. I'll be there taking video with my new Flip camera. Details: Saturday May 10 10:30 AM to 6 PM Sunday, May 11 from 11 AM to 5 PM Santa Monica Civic Auditorium 1855 Main Street at Pico Boulevard Tickets cost $10, $20 for early buying admission on Saturday at 9 AM (a number of fashion professionals take advantage of the Expo's early buy) All tickets are good for both days For more information, please call (707) 793-0773.

Vintage Find - Chic Raffia Purse

Mon, 05 May 2008 00:00:00 -0800

Yesterday, my husband and I met up with some friends at the Tiki Invasion event in Montclair, CA. The Tiki Invasion was an all day event at one of the only remaining drive-in in California, featuring bands, vendors, burlesque dancers, and vintage B movies when the sun went down. I was able to dip into the Debutante Clothing closet and wore a wrap batik print skirt which was perfect for the warm weather and lawn chair sitting! Because I don't like looking too costumey, I opted for a modern bag. But I was really envious of all of the great summery woven bags the girls were carrying. So I went on an internet quest for a cute raffia bag that wasn't too novelty and was pretty enough to wear to wear with non vintage clothing. I present the perfect raffia bag for summer: available at old-clothes.com

Vintage Fashion Detective

Fri, 02 May 2008 19:31:41 -0800

Sunday, at brunch, I was telling the girls that lately I've been receiving emails from people asking me to help them pinpoint the era of beloved treasures - family photos, vintage accessories. Tink exclaimed, "You're a History Detective!". I had such a good time helping a gentleman figure out who the relatives were in a set of antique photographs. We were able to determine that the mystery family members were alive in the late 1800s due to their attire. He was able to determine who these folks were and what their relation was. He was so grateful and happy. Just last week, a really nice woman named Monica contacted me from Italy and wanted to know about her Gucci medallion clutch. She was trying to decide if she should keep or sell her grandmother's bag. After I told her how much its current value is, she decided to keep the heirloom. The internet has really made it easy for people with specialized needs to connect with people who have specialized skills. It felt really good to help two people answer some questions that they may not have been able to answer if it weren't for the web. In light of all this connecting, digging and detective work, I have decided to add a service to Debutante Clothing. If you have questions about a vintage item, especially if it involves fashion, please email me. The digging is what makes selling vintage fun! Disclaimer: I am not a certified appraiser. I cannot give documentation establishing value for purposes of insuring. The only thing I can ethically (and probably legally) do is give you an estimate on how much the item has recently sold for or an approximate age and some background info, based on my years of experience and resources.

Mix It Up - Vintage & New - Demure Jeweld Peacock

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 05:00:18 -0800

Wearing vintage clothing from head to toe can border on costumey. Why not embrace your favorite vintage pieces and incorporate them into everyday life? Mix it up! Normally, I create the Vintage & Modern mixes using ThisNext, but I've been wanting to try Polyvore since they emailed me last year. Seeing a lot of bloggers' Polyvore sets, I decided to play dress up too. I love that you can move the images around.

Dress available at Net-a-porter.com Shoes available at Zappos.com Bag available at Retrodesignerdeals.com

LA Modernism Show

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:12:35 -0800

The LA Modernism show is going on this weekend at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium. Decor and housewares from moderne to modern will make your eyes dance and your hands quiver as you attempt to touch anything. It's like an ultra cool museum with wonderful eccentric dealers and collectors running around. Not much vintage clothing and accessories is sold at this event. The furniture is always displayed in potential living arrangements - it's like IKEA but with luxe, rare furniture scored around the globe. SANTA MONICA CIVIC AUDITORIUM 1855 Main St. Santa Monica, CA 90401-3209 Corner of Pico & Main St. GALA OPENING NIGHT PARTY - 2008 May 2nd - 6pm - 9pm REGULAR ADMISSION May 3rd- 11am - 7pm May 4th - 11am - 5pm Admission $15 - includes show catalog

Summer Flats for Work

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:00:24 -0800

This summer will be the first one I have to work in over 7 years. I always try to maintain some level of professionalism, so flip flops are kind of out of the question - especially since I don't really like the feeling of a little stem of plastic or leather between my toes. I created this little wish list of cute little flats that are not only work appropriate, but will keep my feet nice and dry. Enjoy!

See more of my Summer Flats for Work list at ThisNext.

Levi's Jeans - Vintage or Reproduction?

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0800

Levi Strauss & Co. has found a lucrative niche in their 100-year-old clothing line -reproduction jeans. Levi's® newest addition to their line is the 1966 646™ bell bottoms as seen on vintage maven Nicole Richie. Levi takes selvage, dead stock fabric and manufactures a whole line based on the original 1966 pattern. The new/old line of jeans retails for $78-$154 and comes in two colors. However, a quick search on eBay reveals that original vintage Levi's® 646™ bell bottoms have sold for as little as $17.99 up to $170, with a few pairs being new-old stock. As much as I love vintage clothing, sometimes I am in favor of reproductions because clothing from very early decades is impossible to find in good condition or in wearable sizes. But I am torn about the 1966 646™ bell bottom Levis, which truthfully are more of a flare than a bell bottom. Do you think it's better to buy them new or vintage? (Photo © levisstore.com)

Vintage Find - Chunky Hearts Bakelite Necklace

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0800

I was so thrilled when I saw models walking down the runway dripping with chunky, bold plastic accessories at shows like Yves Saint Laurent and Phillip Lim. I anticipate that chunky plastic jewelery will be as big a hit in 2008 as it was in the '20s and '30s.

Chunky, clunky and beautiful plastic necklaces and bangles are the accessories of choice for Art Deco lovers. We can thank Leo H. Baekeland for creating the wonder plastic that was used in everything from radios to billiard balls. After the Depression (or "Economic Slow Down") women who wanted to cheer up an outfit wore inexpensive, but beautiful Bakelite jewelry. And the pretty little plastic baubles caught on - even rich ladies wanted an arm full of colorful bangles. Bakelite jewelry seems to only go up in price and you can still find it at thrift stores, which goes to show how resilient the plastic is. I just found a butterscotch swirled bangle with an embedded serpentine metal ring. Score! The vintage find for this week is a gorgeous set of butterscotch and caramel Bakelite necklace and earrings. The tortoiseshell like hearts really take this necklace the realm of fashion versus collectible. And at only $200 for the set, it's a steal! available at JewelDiva.com

How To Go From a Pear Shape to and Hourglass

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 19:59:09 -0800

I've been in the market for a little black dress with sex and sizzle. I'm not quite the Audrey type - I'm more of a Jessica Rabbit meets Maria Felix girl. I like vavoom with class. But with a pear shape like mine, it's hard to find a black dress that meets all of my multiple shape needs. But I think I have struck gold with this little darling by Stop Staring over at Unique-Vintage.com. She's got a low V-neck with elegant gathering to create a bit of illusion in the lacking bust area, flutter sleeves to draw attention up and make my shoulders appear a bit broader. Her waist is cinched and tiny. It's the one good part I've got - I'm flaunting it. Her hips are sleek because I definitely don't need illusion there, and her flirty pleats balance out the top. This unproportioned pear becomes and hour glass in an instant. Stop Staring dress available at Unique-vintage.com