Navy and cream oxford heels, size 5/5.5

These navy and cream oxfords with perforated leather and scallop detailing are delicious! The eBay seller says these are a size 4, but my friend Sharon Ferris with a size 4 foot says the measurements are more in line with a 5 or 5.5.

Three piece linen suit, replica 1943 pattern

My heart be still…any man who dons this gorgeous three piece linen suit and asks me to dance will definitely get a spin on the dance floor. At $325 it’s as much as you’d pay for a new suit, but definitely less than this version in Irish linen from Brooks Brothers for $598…

Seersucker jacket and three piece suit ending today on eBay, size 40

Snatch these up before the auction ends today – the price is right!

368383327_tp — Black and white seersucker dinner jacket - perfect for a summer dance!

0141272675952299 — Three piece suit in a unique color blue, with a check!

1940’s alligator shoes, never worn

This is one classy looking pair of alligator shoes that have never been worn, courtesy of a UK eBay seller who is reluctantly selling this beautiful pair because they do not fit. Oh, I have been there…it’s better to just let them go. 😉 Check your foot measurements, ladies, because this pair is awesome!

Field trip: Beggars and Choosers, Pittsboro, NC

(WordPress is being uncooperative with my photos and I don’t have time to figure out the problem right now, but I wanted to get this post up in case any locals wanted to go check out the shop, as they are only open this weekend! I’ll work on the pics soon…)

Yesterday was actually the first time I had been to Beggars and Choosers in Pittsboro, NC, even though I have been to Pittsboro many times. People have been telling me to go for years and I can see why – this shop is full of thoughtful and adorable pieces of furniture, antiques, knick-knacks, a second floor full of vintage clothes and accessories at reasonable prices, and a basement full of furniture and clothes at thrift shop prices.

The shop is only open for this coming weekend, after being closed for some time following a robbery at the store. To kick off the store’s limited weekend opening, Beggars and Choosers had a “preview” night on Thursday, April 29 and for $10 admission you get first dibs on the store’s new inventory, hors d’ouvres, and live music while you shop. The store’s owner, Pam Smith, was a delight and danced around the store, meeting and greeting people, new friends and old friends, with a warm welcome.

I hope that Beggars and Choosers will remain open, if not with regular business hours, with these sort of limited open weekends, because there were some really great swing era items and a lovely selection of vintage faux pearl jewelry. My friend Natasha El-Sergany came along and picked up a pearl necklace for her wedding. Notable items included a great selection of men’s footwear, lots of dead stock items for men and women, a pair of black spats, a 1930’s embroidered debutante/wedding gown with matching embroidered shoes, tons of sundresses from the 1950’s through the 1970’s, tons of men’s and women’s hats, at least 6 pairs of 1940’s heels that make me wish my foot was AAAA width, Art Deco era Bulova watches, a wonderful straw cloche, bakelite bangles, lots of pearl jewelry, a lovely brown evening gown that was promptly snatched from the display, some sassy 1940’s dresses with peplums and draping, and the biggest collection of 1950’s rooster ties I’ve ever seen.

If you are local to NC, the store will be open Friday and Saturday (April 30 and May 1) from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and on Sunday, May 2 from 1 to 5 p.m. It’s worth the trip!

DSCF0109 — The center of the store is this magnificent dress!

DSCF0106 — There was a whole shelf of dead stock men's shirts.

DSCF0111 — Lovely brown evening gown with gold detail on the neck and pockets - yup, pockets in an evening gown! Awesome!

DSCF0112 — A straw cloche for a very small head.

DSCF0113 — These red shoes were adorable.

DSCF0123 — There was a whole box of these little men's accessories bits and pieces, brand new in box.

DSCF0124 — Some of the bits had initials on them...

DSCF0125 — ...and other bits had 1950's men's names on them. 🙂

DSCF0126 — Most of those white/cream jackets are dinner jackets.

DSCF0131 — Adorable flowered dress with peplum...too small for me, but maybe not for you?

DSCF0133 — Who doesn't want a Mr. Tap 'n' Go?

More lovely dresses from eBay

They just keeping coming and I feel compelled to post them:

This sheer black 30’s/40’s dress has some lovely detailing on it. Sheer dresses can be tricky, though, because then you have to find a full slip to go underneath it. I’m a big fan of this slip from J.C. Penney because you can simply cut the slip at the different lace points to alter the length of the slip (no hemming!) and the straps are adjustable.

This dead stock 1940’s flowered day dress is new, with tags on! When I find these dead stock dresses it just seems wild – there must be an interesting story on where the garment came from and why it was never worn.

This black 30’s/40’s dress with scalloped sweetheart neckline is adorable, with asymmetrical buttons going up the front (very similar to the white dress from Putting on the Ritz in this post).

Delicious green satin dress (40’s/50’s?) – check out the embroidery! This would be wonderful at Christmas…

Purple striped cotton dress – I’m loving the collar, the sweetheart neckline, and those GIANT pockets!

Leather and mesh shoes for men

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.