Oops I Did It Again

I’m absolutely atwitter about an amazing vintage haul that I made at a friend’s house.  She has been curating ladies clothing from local thrift shops for years and decided to part with many of the accumulated treasures.  Most items were never worn after she had them dry cleaned.  I was lucky enough to comb through the collection!

There were so many fabulous things: sassy little cocktail dresses, colorful silk shirtdresses and jackets for day, ladylike luncheon suits, even an emerald green bridesmaid’s dress that has strong possibilities as a hostess dress for New Year’s Eve festivities.

Resale stores are bustling nowadays; some are packed like the Tokyo subways.  You’ve got to elbow your way through gaggles of chattering art students and other recessionistas who are looking for intact treasures from Betsey Johnson or Norma Kamali to amp up their personal style.  So I was grateful for the opportunity to sift through these goodies in a quiet bedroom.  Here’s the take:

• Black double knit wool dress with faux jeweled mock turtleneck.  No need for a necklace; all eyes will follow this one (pictured).
• Early 1960s peach wool skirt suit with a fur trimmed jacket. Perfect for high tea at the Ritz (jacket pictured).
• Stray cat-grey modified swing jacket with shawl collar and embroidered details all over.  Great for the office with a pencil skirt, dark grey scoop neck and tights, or on weekends with slim pants and ballet flats (pictured).
• A yellow and black 100% rayon dress from the 1970s that only needs to be cinched by a black patent belt to totally rock (pictured).
• Chocolate soufflé-brown wool coat with a fetching fox fur collar.
• Sleeveless black lace cocktail dress with black velvet sash at the waist.  Reminds me of the Audrey Hepburn/Humphrey Bogart film Sabrina.

The key to pulling off these looks is current makeup, an unstoppable hairstyle, and shoes, boots, and jewelry so fierce that you can feel the growl.  Just don’t go vintage from head to toe--you don't want to wear a costume.