Prim and proper?

Who says a button-up dress can't be sexy?

Marianne agrees.

Stripes

We are thoroughly enraptured by stripes: pin stripes, candy stripes, stars and stripes, tiger stripes...


Vintage striped wallpaper


1960s stripes



Stripes from Seydou Keita




Stripes as illusions



Whether you're a fan of stripes or have a slight aversion to the pattern, which may cause dizziness and a slight touch of vertigo, we can't help but be moved in some inexorable way. Think striped awnings on a sunny summer day (circus?), stripes on a revolving pole (first haircut?), striped peppermint candy on a cold winter's day... yeah, see what I mean?

Interestingly, the Greek & Hebrew word for "stripes" means wound.


Check out Michel Pastoureau's fancinating book The Devil's Cloth: A History of Stripes for an in depth look into one of our favorite patterns.

Calling forth an awareness of time and place

Can clothing summon a feeling? Absolutely. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to visit Cushing, Maine; home of the well known Olsen house. If you don't know it by name, you certainly have seen "Christina's World" by famed and recently deceased artist Andrew Wyeth.

The past swirls around this lonely house bathing one in a briny history of salt-crusted sea captains and a hard, yet simple life.

Simpler times, simpler pleasures. Thoughts of handmade cotton dresses and cobbled shoes. Blueberry harvests and lobster traps. Salty air and harsh winters.

Come with us for a moment, breathe in the ocean breeze, sit down and relax.

Out, damn spot!

Cleaning and care for our precious vintage garments can be a tricky business. Rewarding when a truly outstanding piece can be restored, and distressing when not. I love the challenge!

Frequently my co-workers will hear me muttering "What was she doing?”, "dirty girl!" or "out damn spot!" It’s so much easier when the stain can be identified, which of course is rare.

I've used a variety of stain removers, home remedies, such as spit for blood spots and baking soda for armpit stains, and various commercial products as well.

My favorite commercial product is Eucalan's No-Rinse Delicate Wash. I use it on almost everything we clean (many times it's the only thing we need to use). It restores the luster to satins, rayon, and wools, and is especially good for spot cleaning natural fibers, as it leaves no water mark.

Whatever the issue might be, of course I'll always first test for color fastness, and frequently I'll need to remove buttons or shoulder pads because they can cause problems during the wash (which then need to be replaced when dry).

When the garment is cleaned and looking perky again, it's with a sense of pride that I can send it back out into the world, hoping that it'll find a happy new owner soon.

Classic Beaded Sweaters

"Chic trims for classic knits" reads a 1961 article from the spring-summer McCalls Needlework and Crafts magazine. Unlimited options awaited the handy crafter - lovely handmade trims made from a cluster of rickrack violets, ruffled white carnations, or scrolls of ruching with pearls - all designed to glorify your favorite sweater.

For those with more time, handy sew-at-home kits were available, complete with washable sequins, rocailles, bugles and Indian seed beads.

For those of us with no extra time - Wallflower Vintage has a large selection of beaded and sequined beauties available!

Sensible Fall Fashions

A level headed woman knows how to dress for the steno pool.

In 1966 one was either grounded, as this ad portrays, or was out promoting scorched bras.

Vintage Suzy Perette

1950s "New Look"
Late 1950s cocktail
1960s Mod look

1960s cocktail dress

If you own a Suzy Perette dress, you understand the allure of this fantastic brand. Funny, it is not the name of a real person! The Suzy Perette dress manufacturing company opened in NYC in 1949 as the answer to the post war French Dior look; high quality, lots of fabric, cinched waists, but also affordable. The company stayed in business until 1970.

We here at Wallflower Vintage have an affinity to Suzy Perette dresses of every era and are always on the look-out to find these rare delights.

Tis' the Summer of the Maxi dress

For those of us who lived through the late 60's and early 70's, these dresses bring back lots of fond memories (or so I've been told). Loose, carefree, cool summer living is back!