This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
Lindy Dandy always does a great job posting sales on this blog, so I thought I’d pass a sale along to you. I always find good things at Forever 21, no matter what day I check in. I can recall a time in my life when I was checking their site daily and they actually do post new items daily during the work week. Here are some items to put in your shopping basket today:
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
All Balboa Weekend is just around the corner, so I’ve got heels on the brain. I already own enough dance heels, but I find myself always coming back to this website, Feliz Primavera, to drool over the delicious tango shoes. Why don’t I own a pair? I simply can’t decide. I want them all!
The vintage styling on these shoes is just amazing. These are the kinds of shoes I would build an outfit around, instead of the reverse. For example, check out the Shanghai 1900:
I love the t-strap profile, of course, but then there’s this added element of fabulousness with the separate strips of leather around the toe woven together to create a checkerboard pattern in white leather and red suede (they also come in white and black). I can imagine the sections allow for additional movement, but there’s enough leather here that they can protect you like a closed toe shoe. Love all of this – so clever!
Here’s what Feliz Primavera is all about:
“Feliz Primavera is a Hong Kong based business set up by tango dancers for tango dancers. All our shoes are hand crafted in Argentina by experienced shoemakers who have been making tango shoes for salon dancers and professionals for over a decade. At Feliz Primavera, we believe that shoes should be custom made to fit your feet. Choose from a variety of styles, materials and colours, or even create your own design. We do, however, keep limited stock for those emergency moments.”
Emergency moments, indeed! I think we’ve all been there at some point. 😉 I’m going to stop gabbing so you can get to looking – my faves:
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Seems like Memorial Day Weekend is the weekend to shop.
Have you heard of Martin + Osa? Â Basically, it’s Abercrombie and Fitch’s answer to J.Crew and Banana Republic. Â I’ve always liked the store, but usually found it outside my range of affordability. Â This weekend, though, their entire stock is 50% off with free shipping on orders over $100. Â Footwear is also on sale including Converse Jack Purcells, Sperry Top-Siders and Havainas flip-flops. Â Like J.Crew and the like, their stock has a preppy American aesthetic with slimmer fits.
There are lots of summer fabrics here: cotton, linen, seersucker, gingham, chambray. Â They’ve got polos, sport shirts, western shirts, chinos and nice, trim shorts.
I’m buying a couple linen shirts; they’re my favorite for afternoon dances.
Ladies, like I mentioned, their entire stock is on sale.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Many guys (myself included) like to dance in white Aris Allen captoes (or other white shoes).  Why?  They look sharp  and they highlight your fancy footwork.  (I love my Aris Allens to death; they’re my “go to” on most floors.  Mine have gotten a bit beat up, but I think they’re full of character).
The detail that’s often forgotten, though, is to match those white shoes with a white belt. Â You should always coordinate your belt with your shoes, especially if you’re wearing dressier clothes (i.e. slacks or other odd trousers).
In fact, you should strive to coordinate all of your [ugh, I dislike the way this word sounds] accessories. Â All leather should match or coordinate. Â The same goes for anything metal (watch, rings, belt buckle, cufflinks, tie clips, grill, etc); either silver or gold. Â Don’t let it drive you crazy; similar colors will suffice.
White dress belts can be hard to come by, but here are a couple choices:
(remember: your belt size is one size (+2) up from your pant size)
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
The L.L. Bean Signature line has a 30% off deal that’s valid through Memorial Day.
L.L. Bean? Â As in that company that sells outdoorsy clothing through catalogs? Â Yup, that’s the one. Â You might recognize their Bean Boots, a Trad/WASP-y staple.
Very recently, L.L. Bean teamed up with Alex Carleton (of Rogues Gallery) to update its classic American sportswear with modern design ideas (particularly regarding fit). Â The result are familiar, classic pieces with a trimmer fit.
Here are a couple polos and shirts that would look good on and off a casual dance floor this summer.
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
Orange is not in my color palette, so I’m not usually drawn to things orange, but there’s something about this pair of shoes that is really attractive and desirable. I love the reptilian texture, the cutouts, the peeptoes, the platforms, and the little flower at the toes. You’ve got to be pretty sassy to wear these shoes – are you up to the challenge? The bidding is at $14.50 on these shoes, size 7.
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
Why should we look like we are in a war? We should look FABULOUS in our army green!
There’s something about the way the Italians make things that is always in keeping with good aesthetics (for those who know me, a certain green scooter exemplifies this aesthetic), so it stands to reason that the Italian Army during World War II would be outfitted superbly. In my eBay searches I ran across this dinner/smoking jacket belonging to an officer in the Italian Army – note the juxtaposition between the cut of the jacket and the shawl collar, which exemplify the elegance of a fine dinner jacket, with the army green so prevalent in military uniforms.
Someone in charge of uniforms must have thought about this question: “What does an Italian Army officer need?”
Gas mask? Check.
Durable pants? Check.
Dinner jacket? Double check.
I am amused. Things like this make me love Italy even more.
It looks like the jacket may be a size 40, based on the measurements given. I think the great thing about this jacket, aside from juxtapositions, is that it comes in a wearable size and could be paired with something casual or dressy. I’d love for someone to pick up this jacket and then see what they pair the jacket with to go out dancing. 🙂
Ciao!
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
The little black dress originated in the 1920’s from Coco Chanel‘s revolutionary designs, which took the black dress from a mourning garb to the quintessential cocktail dress. Hollywood costumers of the 1930’s and 1940’s re-envisioned the black dress for the film industry because black showed up well in black and white film. Eventually, the black dress became a staple in closets everywhere, from silver screen to secretary. For me, the little black dresses of the 1940’s lend themselves to two sorts of character interpretations: first, as the femme fatale of film noir fame and, second, as a quintessential big band singer dress, a la Marilyn Maxwell in Swing Fever.
Perhaps there is a tie that binds these two categories, aside from the dress, as both the femme fatale and the big band singer can be irresistible. I think the dress helps. 😉
There was usually nothing little about the dresses themselves, as they may have been outfitted with sequins, embroidery, shoulder pads, cutouts, elegant draping, peplums, or other dress details that give the dress that 1940’s look of elegance with a dash of vamp. eBay has a sampling of these dresses right now, so get them while they’re hot! My picks from eBay:
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
There are certain things that people associate with Lindy Hop. When you associate Lindy Hop with a garment or object, that term can yield some interesting results.
As I was pilfering through the Etsy listings a few months ago for 1940’s dresses, I happened upon this jumper, which had the words “Lindy Hop” in the item’s title. Something about this jumper does evoke Lindy Hop and the youthfulness of the swing era in the 1940’s, which made me think, “How appropriate to list this particular item with the words ‘Lindy Hop’ in the title!” I’m sure there are other communities that may be looking for 1940’s jumpers for adults, but something about this was just spot on for a Lindy Hopper (or at least this Lindy Hopper) to want and have in her wardrobe. Needless to say, it has been a match made in heaven. 🙂
Can this success be replicated by searching for items listed under “Lindy Hop” on Etsy? For the most part, yes. There are a few irrelevant items, such as some random non-swing era jewelry, a child’s dress, and some Hello Kitty hair clips (arguably dance functional, but not necessarily evoking Lindy Hop specifically); however, there were some really great listings and item associations with the phrase:
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
It’s that time of year where some of us (myself included) feel compelled to rid ourselves of the trappings of winter, of items that don’t fit anymore, or items that are simply not being worn. In that vein, my pal and swing dance Wonder Woman Kristy Milliken (seller ID rhythm.is.my.business – indeed!) is selling some stylish castoffs from her closet on eBay, all with free shipping so you don’t have to do that extra calculation in your head. Here’s what she’s listed:
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Gents, here’s a great opportunity to stock up on the versatile and necessary basic, chinos. Â Quick class for you: chinos are a type of pant; khaki is a color.
Many people call all chinos “khakis,” even Docker’s, apparently, but maybe they do it because of common use. Â You can use them interchangeably, but now you know.
Like I mentioned, chinos are versatile and a few should be included in every man’s basic wardrobe. Â Wear them with a polo and boat shoes or trainers (sans socks, of course) and they’re perfectly casual for the summer. Â Match them with a button-down, tie, blazer and wingtips and you’re dressed up enough for a dinner at any restaurant. (This particular outfit was the basic dress code at my all-guys high school, so I still look can’t at khaki chinos (required for freshmen) without a bit of nostalgia).
Either of the above ensembles would work just as well at a dance (with dance shoes subbed in, of course).
Khakis/chinos are one of America’s greatest contributions to the world of men’s casual dress. Â The U.S. Army adopted khaki during the Spanish American War. In 1941, khaki was approved for wear by senior enlisted and officers. Â The American public was then able to see these sailors out on liberty.
Another plus, chinos are made out of cotton and breathe a bit better than denim or wool. Â Be wary about sweating in them too much, though. Â People will notice; sometimes at your expense. Â Here’s an example!
You have been warned.
Oh, man, I *heart* that video. Â FYI, It didn’t stop them from winning, either.
I was there for that competition too; it was awesome. Â (Oh BTW, ILHC is coming up. Â It’s one of my favorite dance events of the summer. Â I’ll be missing it this year, which deeply saddens me. Â So, you should be there so you can tell me all about it. Â Have you registered? Â Tip: stick around ’til the end, because that’s when they do the Invitational J&J).
Also, just say “no” to pleats and cuffs when it comes to chinos. Â Flat-front and slim (but NOT tight) are the way to go. Â Choose a leg length that will allow the bottom 3 inches of your pants to gather on top of your shoes. Â (i.e. longer than your uncuffed suit pants and slightly longer than jeans). Â They’re casual trousers, your socks should never be seen when you’re standing up. Â Great examples, below.
Here are some well-priced ($35) chinos from Docker’s: flat-front, slim, straight leg. Â They’re just about perfect. Â (I find it funny Docker’s call them all “Clean Khakis.”)
Here are a couple “rules” from Esquire, that I think are very helpful.
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
When Mod Cloth was discovered online by one of my friends, news of the web site spread like wildfire in my circle of friends because we were starved for a place to get modern retro-inspired clothing at a reasonable price. Variety is the spice of life and Mod Cloth takes this to heart by offering clothing from many different sources, including Trashy Diva, Stop Staring!, and Tulle, thus, giving you maximum exposure to brands offering what you want to wear. The really great clothing items sell out quickly, but I find that if they include the brand or maker in the item description, that the item that is out of stock on Mod Cloth may be in stock at the source web site.
Perhaps the reason Mod Cloth is so great is in large part due to the philosophies of its founders:
“Founded by high school sweethearts, Eric Koger and Susan Gregg Koger, and built on a foundation of love for vintage and retro clothing, ModCloth.com is an online clothing, accessories, and decor retailer that aims to provide a fun and engaging shopping atmosphere for you, our customer. We do this by interacting with you via social network sites like Twitter and Facebook, requesting your feedback through the ModLife Blog and product reviews, and asking you to vote on potential inventory with the Be the Buyer program, all with the intention of running a fashion business in a democratic style. Supplying you with the opportunities to have your voice heard is what keeps our company fresh, relevant, and growing by leaps and bounds. This is what allows us to continually accommodate your pioneering passion for modern trends. We invite you to comb through our clever product descriptions, flip through our stylebooks, shop our vast assortment of indie designs, find some unique one of a kinds, and get in touch with one of our friendly customer care representatives if you have any questions. We want to be the fashion company you’re friends with!”
A fashion democracy? Hear, hear!
The web site is so full of goodness that I’ll limit my favorites to the most recent arrivals:
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
You shouldn’t wear these at a dance (unless you’re dancing at the beach), but every man needs at least one good pair of sunglasses.
If I were stuck on a desert island and could only bring one choice of shades, I would bring avaitors. Â They’re classic, American, and another great style icon from the military (like chinos). Â Ray-Ban makes the most recognized models, but there are other options out there.
For my money, the best choice is American Optical. Â This is the same brand issued by the U.S. Navy to flight students and are sold at military exchanges. Â I “discovered” these during my first Navy ROTC midshipman “cruise,” when I stumbled upon them at the Navy Exchange in San Diego. Â Fortunately, they also have an online store. I also found decent prices on Amazon. Â Don’t forget about Army/Navy surplus stores too.
You can choose different temples (bayonet, wire spatula, cable), frame color (gold, silver, black, matte chrome), and lenses (polarized and non-polarized). Â I wear 52mm gold Original Pilot’s with bayonet temples. (pictured above)
Thanks to Sart Inc for reminding me of this great brand. Â Check out his blog; he’s got great (Trad, preppy, classic American) style.
On a slightly related note: I think girls in avaitors are hot (but I like your cute sunglasses too).
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
The latest batch of eBay offerings are as sweet as refined sugar, with florals and pastels in abundance.
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
Believe it or not there are some dance events where you’ll be able to wear these finds.
First, a bathing suit. Â I’m probably just strange, but I’ve always been fascinated by men’s vintage bathing suits. Â Manufacturers didn’t have access to the man-made fabrics we have today, so they had to make their suits out of natural fibers that could survive sea water. Â Many were made out of wool, a material we usually associate with suits and sweaters. Â Hmm, this one is actually in my size.
There are several exchanges with dances at the beach:
Second, tails. Â It’s too often that you can wear clothing this formal to a dance event (or any event for that matter), but I would get tails if only for the New Year’s Eve party at Lindy Focus. Check out the details on the lapels and buttons.
Lindy Shopper 