I know a lot of swing ladies who have this pair of Aris Allen heeled oxfords. 
They are flexible, comfortable, and breatheable and I know I love my pair.
So when I came across these shoes on eBay, I was wondering: do the same principles apply to men’s shoes? Would this pair of oxfords have the same mesh benefits as the Aris Allen oxford heel? Regardless, they are a sharp looking pair of vintage shoes. Gents, feel free to weigh in with your feedback.
When the perfect article of clothing for me comes along I get this feeling in my gut and I know it’s right and I should own this piece of clothing – I got that feeling when I looked at this green gingham dress this morning from the Raleigh Vintage Etsy store. I’m trying to contain myself in describing how perfectly cute it is and how awesome I think it would look on me…if only it were in my size. 😦 😦 😦
Someone please buy this dress so I can enjoy it on someone I know or may encounter at a dance event – you would have my infinite admiration and adoration!
Forever 21 has some of the best bargains I’ve found for clothes, but I usually shy away from their retail stores because of the sheer volume of chaos involved in going to the store. The Forever 21 website is a streamlined way to get through all those racks of clothes in a more organized and stress-free fashion.
Here are some dresses from Forever 21’s website that are sort of a nod to things swing:
I’ve been getting a lot of requests for vests lately, but vests are hard to come by in the men’s stores I’ve been to with my dad and in vintage stores, or at least the ones I am frequenting. EBay has a few right now, so here are some vests in linen, an ideal summer weight fabric:
Tan linen vest I can’t seem to get the photo for…
Plaid linen vest in large and x-large.
Brown linen vest with what looks like some nice weaving or texture.
The heeled oxford can be an elegant shoe and this collection of “granny shoes” on eBay is a prime example of oxfords done well. Most of these shoes are narrow in width, so check the measurements carefully or pick up a shoe stretcher. There are so many of them, maybe a few of you could go in together on the auction…
Special thanks to Milda Matilda for posting the auction and to Heidi Rosenau for suggesting that narrow shoe issues can be solved with a stretcher. 🙂
Yes, I know I have neglected the gentlemen on my blog thus far, but I was waiting for a superior item to post and here it is. Check out this 1930’s navy blue pin-stripe three piece suit for sale on eBay – the suit even makes the scruffy male model in the pictures look sharp!
Note that the suit is custom tailored and “the pants and jacket both have plenty of room to be let out,” in case this suit is almost your size.
On Mondays the eBay sellers get back to work with fresh vintage auctions for the week. Here’s what today’s listing had to offer:
Adorable blue gingham dress with bows on the shoulders and buttons up the side.
Colorful feedsack print dress.
Aqua patterned 40’s day dress with puffed sleeves and rickrack.
Black crepe cocktail dress with beading detail.
I have been in love with Zac Posen‘s clothing since Natalie Portman wore his Empire Dress to the Star Wars Episode I premiere (Pictured here – I still love this dress!). I have followed his work over the years, but lack a movie star budget, so I have admired his work from afar…until today.
Target‘s GO! Designer series has done an excellent job of bringing edgy, creative, and up-and-coming designers to the masses. In the past I’ve picked up a few things to wear to dances from this clothing line at Target, including a black Anna Sui flapper dress, an off-white Libertine 20’s-inspired slip dress, and a blouse and vest by Alice Temperley.
I went to Target this morning to check out the collection, which was surprisingly not picked over yet. The collection was youthful, colorful, and a bit more luxurious and detailed than some previous GO! collections I have seen. I’ll add that Zac Posen knows how to make a lady look good and, where the fit in previous collections has been sub-par, everything I tried on from this collection had an excellent fit. Here are some of my favorite looks from the collection that have swing dance potential:
Run, don’t walk, to Winston-Salem, NC to experience the gorgeous vintage clothing and treasures at Putting on the Ritz. The store owner Hans Hauser has a lifelong passion for vintage clothing and accessories and it shows in every square inch of the house he has converted into a vintage clothing store. Through his vintage consignment sources, friendships with vintage collectors, and his own efforts to retrieve specific pieces from faraway locations, Hans has collected one of the best, if not the best, vintage clothing and accessories collection for sale in the state.
I met Hans about 5 years ago when my friend Sharon Ferris directed me to this treasure trove. I purchased a 1940’s bathing suit that I wore to VBLX that year for the battleship dance. Even though I had not seen him in 5 years, he knew immediately who I was today and pulled out the picture I sent him of me in the bathing suit from behind the countertop. My friend Laura Boyes and I ended up exploring the shop and chatting with Hans for about 3 1/2 hours – excellent company and excellent vintage!
The shop is jam packed full of a mix of vintage, designer consignment, and glitzy clothing. The list of notables is long: straw boaters, men’s 50’s hats, Yves Saint Laurent black satin pumps, a white fur capelet, 50’s prom and day dresses (some with matching jackets), 30’s and 40’s gowns worthy of an MGM movie, flowered 40’s day dresses, a velvet trimmed 40’s suit, wide brim ladies hats, art deco costume jewelry, wedding dresses from the Victorian era through the 50’s, delicious 40’s platforms, bias cut lingerie, and a burnout velvet 20’s dress that came home with me.
If you are interested in any of the clothing items I have posted or would like to know more, please contact Hans Hauser at (336) 659-9944. He is happy to work out arrangements over the phone and he also does layaway.
Putting on the Ritz
304 Harvey Street
Winston-Salem, NC
The shop is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
P.S. Pardon my unmade face – I think it’s easier on the clothes if I don’t wear makeup when I try on vintage clothing.
It was a banner day for listing dresses of the swing era on eBay! Let’s get started:
I am not usually accepting of lace clothing, but for this dress I overcame my stigma about lace looking matronly or overdone. The color is cheerful, the cut impeccable, and it comes in a wearable size. Just look at the goring on that skirt! I bet it twirls like a dream…
This yellow crochet knit belted sweater with black crepe swing skirt is just too adorable for words! Someone please buy this and let me know when you are wearing it so I can come inspect its adorableness.
This formal gown is definitely not danceable, but was too gorgeous not to post – love this!
Beach pajamas! Classic wide-leg, high waisted style in one colorful piece.
I love chevrons! This chevron dress has summer dance written all over it.
If you wear a size 5 or 6, this could be your lucky day – I’ve found a pair of Remix shoes and some other lovely vintage shoes on eBay in your size!
Remix Vintage Shoes “Coco,” red, size 6.
Striped heels with matching handbag (!!!).
Purple 1940’s style shoes, UK size 5.5
Is there something for your dance wardrobe that you’ve been wanting or looking for that you can’t find? I love a good shopping challenge and will go to great lengths to locate this item for you. Post a comment with your challenge and I may take it on and blog about it!
Aris Allen plaid Mary Jane wedge, size 7, auction ends tomorrow.
Some of the best dresses, in my opinion, are those you can wear for dancing and for work. Anthropologie’s Reed shirtdress is one of those dresses – it can say 50’s housewife, swing skirted wonder, and associate attorney on a casual day all at the same time. It has adjustable sleeve lengths, so really it could be worn year-round, and it has pockets! I have this dress in the blue/green plaid and I love it.
There are a few on eBay at better prices than you would see in the stores:
I am a Deco-holic, on top of my other addictions. I am always looking for Art Deco jewelry online and in antique shops and, of course, vintage clothing from this era. Here are some of today’s Art Deco goodies from eBay.
A gorgeous brooch that separates to become two separate dress clips – brilliant! And if you think you won’t wear this, it seriously comes in handy and is a really versatile piece – I have one and have worn it as a jacket pin, capelet pin, dress pin both at the waist/belt and at the bottom of a V-neck, and have strung it on a chain and worn as a very impressive pendant.
While we are talking jewels, check out these lovely dress clips! Oooh, and these!
I am also in love with this dress and would hem it to knee length and hem the sleeves for dances if it were my size.
Note: Don’t be constrained by measurements and length! Vintage clothing can usually be altered by someone with experience. If you are in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill area, I have someone I can refer you to.
Lindy Shopper 