As a follow-up to yesterday’s post, which featured pairs of Mary Jane flats in a rainbow of colors, I am posting another pair of Mary Jane flats, only this pair is vintage. Etsy seller kittyvonpurr has posted a lovely pair of red 1940’s/1950’s flats, size 11. The seller says it best: “Topstitched in black, rounded toecap, asymetrical front opening, double adjustable strap, faille piped collar and a short chunky heel. A DARLING pair of vintage shoes…super cute, in a rare size and red!” Darling, indeed.
Shag Shoe - my bronze pair on the far right, pictured with their other metallics, black, and dark red
I came across Tic-Tac-Toes dance shoes in the early 2000’s when I decided that I wanted a pair of bronze Mary Janes to dance in. Finding cute dance flats was already a giant chore, but somewhere in my internet searches I stumbled on the Tic-Tac-Toes website. I ended up with a pair of their “Shag” shoes (presumably Carolina Shag) in bronze and was a very happy camper – the shoes are lightweight, with leather soles, and come in 38 colors. That’s right – THIRTY-EIGHT COLORS.
Thus, if you are looking for a very specific color of dance shoe, Tic-Tac-Toes may be the very place to look. They have a number of styles they have designated for Lindy Hop, such as saddle shoes, two-tone t-strap wingtips, and t-strap heels, but really any of their dance shoes could work. If you are worried about heels, all of the Tic-Tac-Toes shoes have a wide heel and there’s nothing on this website over 2 inches.
The shoes are made in Gloversville, New York for men and women, and come in narrow, regular, and wide widths. The soles and upper parts of the shoes are leather. According to the Tic-Tac-Toes website, “We proudly use only domestic finished leather in our dance shoes. Because we do not use backers between our leather upper and our soft foam and tricot linings, our leather will stretch and mold to the shape of your foot thereby adding to the comfort of the shoe. In addition, our leather has a durable top coating of urethane which allows for easy cleaning and less scuffing.”
Here are my picks from the Tic-Tac-Toes website:
Lana T-strapBenny Saddle ShoeBridget T-StrapGoldie T-strap (I do love a good t-strap)Kailey Mary Jane Heel - these remind me of the Mary Jane Dancestore wedges, but with heels, of courseStormy Shoe
The terms suspenders and braces are technically interchangeable, but I tend to use suspenders to refer to the type with alligator clip ends and braces for the type that require buttons. Clips damage pants, so I always go with the button type. Whatever you call them, they’re used to suspend your trousers at waist height. Unlike belts, braces don’t have to be cinched tightly around your waist to keep your trousers in place and in fact, allow them to drape more gracefully.
Trousers worn with braces should be cut more generously in the waist (at least an inch) so the braces can be allowed to hold them up (so if you’re pants hold themselves up, they’re too tight for braces). If your trousers do not have brace buttons, it’s a simple job for a tailor: you’ll need one set of buttons in the back and two in the front, either on the inside or outside (your choice).
Back in the day, you’d never see a gentleman without his jacket on, so you’d never see his braces (or know if he buttoned them on the outside or inside). Braces were a man’s inside joke, they could have the silliest, most ostentatious designs in the world, but it didn’t matter because nobody would ever see them. Things are different, nowadays; seeing a man without a jacket is common (and it’s too darn hot to keep a jacket on all night), so you better be ready to show your braces off.
The finest braces in the world are made in the UK by Albert Thurston and Trafalgar. Albert Thurston (my preferred brand) has been making braces since 1820. They’ve been worn by princes, kings and businessmen for the last two centuries and have even been featured in Bond movies. Fine braces do not come cheap. Trafalgar Limited Edition braces (made of %100 hand-woven silk) cost as much as $195 for the full retail price. Albert Thurston braces hover around the $70-$80 range. The gems below come from an estate sale on eBay by micandgeo. (I was very tempted to bid on several of these for myself).
Trafalgar Limited Edition, Parrots, starting at $19.99Trafalgar Limited Edition, Tortoise & Hare, starting at $19.99Trafalgar Limited Edition, Darts, starting at $19.99Trafalgar Limited Edition, African Animals, starting at $19.99Albert Thurston, Planes, starting at $19.99Albert Thurston, Peacock Feathers, starting at $19.99 (on second thought, I think I'll bid on this set)
For the record, I have nothing against firemen (heck, I’m friends with a fireman).
I’m a firm believer that you can find just about anything on the internet, if you search diligently. The Vintage Shirt Company, based out of the UK, supplies shirts and accessories for use in period costume dramas; everything from the 1700s to the present day. A huge thanks to Lindy Shopper for pointing out this site to me.
According to their “About Us” page, “All the stock is adapted from original garments to ensure an authentic period look. Close attention has been paid to the detailing and standard of finish which means they can confidently be used in film work. We also stock a range of traditional underwear and useful accessories.”
This company features a ludicrous number of stiff, detachable collars. Detachable collars? According to the common legend, the detachable collar was invented by Hannah Lord Montague in Troy, NY in 1827; she found that the only soiled part of her husband’s shirts were the collars, so she snipped off the collar, washed it, then sewed it back on. Nowadays, detachable collars are largely unnecessary as they are very formal and very tedious. If you’re looking to dress in a 1920s to 1940s style, detachable collars are a bit old-fashioned, even for you; detachable collars are more of a turn-of-the-century style. The World Wars forced more practicality into men’s clothing, so attached collar shirts became the norm.
an example of a detachable collar, the Standard Wing Stiff Collar
It’s interesting to see shirt designs from the 1920s onward, if only so you can notice that things have remained largely unchanged since then. The “dress shirt” as we know it, was standardized by that time. Only the fabric, patterns and proportions have oscillated with the times.
just a regular dress shirt, right? This is described as a "1920’s Spearpoint collar attached shirts in White with Blue/Black stripe"
As you can see, this is a pretty simple striped dress shirt, one that you might be able to find in a dozen different places.
The true advantage of this store, then, is that it is a great one-stop shop for vintage inspired accessories. They’ve got a killer collection of braces (suspenders), sock garters, scarves, handkerchiefs and gloves. These are the sorts of details that can take your looks to a higher level. Keep in mind that this one-stop shop is going to be on the pricier side, especially since they’re shipping from the UK.
Here are some of my favorites:
I prefer braces with white fasteners because they match all colors of shoes (though few people are that picky about it), Henley stripe button braces, starting at £35 + VAT.These are a bit whimsical, but I like them. Reading Glass Monocles, £45 + VAT.Arm Bands can really bring together a vintage look. £7.5 + VATThey also carry some handsome pocket squares, £8.50 + VAT.Forgive me for geeking out, but they carry Panthrella socks, some of the nicest (and pricier) socks that are made made in the world. They're hard to find. £8.25 + VATIf you want to be the most uniquely dressed guy at a sleepwear dance party, you could wear a nightshirt. (if you do this, we want photos)If you're putting on some Shakespeare or plan to do some swashbuckling, this is the frilly shirt for you. Square cut frilled cotton lawn period shirt, £54 + VAT.
At the last RDU Rent Party dance I had at least 3 people tell me I had lipstick on my teeth. On each occasion, I would look toward the one bathroom for the studio and it was always occupied and there was no other mirror in sight. Rather than give up red lips altogether, I decided it was time to invest in a compact.
I immediately went to eBay and, rather than my usual bargains, I was blown away at most of the prices (or at least the prices for the vintage compacts I wanted). I did find a few less expensive gems, that I will post below.
Kyle Designs Art Deco Compact
A quick Google search for “art deco compact” yielded a hit for Kyle Designs, which has a custom Art Deco-inspired compact for $25.00. Customization includes selecting the metal, the color plate, and for a few dollars more you can have the compact engraved. I think this would make a great gift for the ladies, gents. *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
I also browsed through Etsy and found ByMIMI, who embellishes her compacts with bits of filligree, vintage jewelry, and some whimsy. Finally, dnacreations on Etsy offered a number of pin-up girl compacts at the low price of $4.00. I’ve posted some samples from these two sellers below, as well.
Now, to decide which compact I want the most…
1930's checkerboard compact on eBay1940's blue enamel compact on eBay1940's Dorset Fifth Avenue compact on eBayArt Deco compact on eBay1934 Deakin and Frances compact on eBayBetty Boop compact ByMIMIUnicorn compact ByMIMIBlack rose compact ByMIMIPinup girl compact by dnacreationsPinup girl compact by dnacreations
Fall may officially begin with the autumnal equinox, but I know that it still feels like summer for some of you. These are some dandy brown and white spectators a.k.a. correspondents. (click the photo for the auction)
Allen Edmonds Broadstreet US Size 9C, starting at $15.99
Summer’s still on my mind (since I’ve missed it all while on deployment). I’m picturing this under a cool-wearing linen or seersucker suit, white shirt, no tie and a panama hat. Oh well, they’ll be ready for you for next summer.
Not one, but two pairs of Remix Picasso wedges popped up on eBay this week. First, a lovely pair in red, new in box, size 9. Second, a pair in basic black, worn twice, in a size 10 with a starting price of $39.99. ¡Amo el zapato de picasso!
I can’t resist posting a tuxedo on here, even though most of you will probably never be seen in a tuxedo at a dance; however, in the off-chance you are feeling dapper and festive, here’s a lovely tuxedo that popped up on eBay from 1932. It looks pristine. The tag on this tux reads “Kennedy’s” and is dated October 10, 1932. I wonder who was buying a tuxedo in the middle of the Great Depression…
Check the measurements for sizing, but the seller is posting this is approximately a 33 inch waist on the pant and a 36 jacket. Note that the seller will not re-list the item if not sold. With two days left on the auction, no bidders, and a $49.99 start price, this could be a fantastic deal!
Trashy Diva goes back to basics for fall, with a collection of basic black dresses in a poly/rayon/spandex that has “the look of vintage wool jersey without the scratch.” With added spandex, these dresses should be extra danceable. My favorite is the Jenny dress, which comes in short sleeves and long sleeves, and has these amazing darts at the waist that look like they will give you a lovely hour-glass, wasp waisted shape.
Another recent collection features two fabrics dotted with the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of New Orleans, which is the home base of Trashy Diva. The more graphic of the two prints is featured on their 1950’s and 1960’s inspired dresses and the smaller print is on their classic 1940’s and 1930’s pattern dresses.
If you missed out on earlier Trashy Diva goodness, check out my last blog entry on this obsession-worthy clothing company.
There have been some beautiful finds on eBay, lately. These ties are great, but I’m really excited about the tie clip. (as always, click the photos for the auction).
These ties would be a great addition to any collection. The shapes and colors are eye catching. Starting at $22.Embroidered silk tie, starting at $24.95 (0 bids with 1 day left!)Handsome white and blue enamel tie clip, starting at $4.99. I can't think about New Orleans and Jazz without picturing a fleur de lis. (Normally, I'd buy something like this for myself, but I really wanted to share this great find).
I really hope someone buys this tie clip; I think it’s the nicest one I’ve posted yet. Happy hunting!
Up for grabs on eBay is this great tweed vest and pair of pants in a lovely tweed with hints of orange, green, and rust. The vest has four pockets and the pants have buttons for suspenders and a high waist. The seller, timeless, has not guessed at a size, so check the measurements carefully for fit. To give you a hint as to size, the seller believes this set was made for someone “tall and lanky.”
A pair of my favorite shoes, green two tone Remix Balboa shoes, have made an appearance on eBay in a size 6, new without box. With a $19.99 starting price, this could be a steal!
If you are on the fence about the color, I’ll add that I hesitated for a long time to get these shoes, even though green is my favorite color, because I wasn’t certain they would go with anything in my closet; however, once I finally stopped admiring them from afar and got them near my closet, I discovered that they go with a surprising number of garments in various shades and amounts of green. The low heel and flexible sole on these shoes are Balboa and Lindy friendly.
I am definitely a sucker for a sailor suit and most things nautical (a casualty of growing up at the beach), so this 1940’s dress from eBay seller Emerald City Vintage was a must-post. The striped fabric, the red piping, the pocket details, the sailor collar…can you smell that salty air? Ahhhh…
Unlike the highly anticipated Zac Posen collection for Target, I had never heard of Tucker by Gaby Basora, so I was not planning on showing up at Target at 8:00 a.m. the day the collection debuted to get first dibs on the goods. However, after I saw an ad in VOGUE for the Tucker collection featuring an Art Deco print dress paired with a wide brim hat and flapper stockings, I changed my mind and set my alarm for 7:40 a.m. this morning to go check it out.
Target was blissfully empty at 8:00 this morning and I had a fantastic time rummaging through this fall collection that has a little something for everyone and some great pieces for work, fun, dancing, and evening. Some of my favorites from the collection are a burnout velvet dress, an orange polka dot blouse, an orange herringbone skirt, a sparkly boucle cocktail dress, several floral dresses, and a pair of herringbone shorts. The fabrics are obviously not the designer’s usual silks, but the fabrics chosen for the collection didn’t feel or look cheap, they draped well, and are much more washable and wearable from this dancer’s practical perspective.
The clothing from the collection is shown in “looks,” but I was more inspired looking at Tucker’s official web site. The intro video was delightful eye candy, with vintage-inspired looks featuring Tucker’s fall collection with vintage jewelry, hairstyles that ranged from Gibson Girl to Marie Antoinette, crocheted gloves, flapper headbands, red lips, hair flowers, and dessert. 🙂
Here are some potentially dance-worthy pieces:
I bought this whole look, work appropriate and danceable - the fit was fantasticI'm wishing this burnout velvet dress had fit me better...or, better yet, that the collection had a 1920's-inspired dress in this fabricBlack boucle dressThis dress looks painfully short on the Target model, but was not terribly short and would be comfortable for dancingThese shorts are awesome - I'd pair them with suspenders and a newsboy cap or a girly blouse
Lindy Shopper 