Field trip: Putting on the Ritz, Winston-Salem, NC

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.

DSCF0079 — White 40's crepe dress, buttons up the front with scalloped edge around the buttons.

DSCF0080 — Pink 50's cotton sundress with matching bolero jacket.

DSCF0081 — Light blue 40's crepe gown shown with wide brim blue straw hat with a velvet ribbon.

DSCF0082 — Union Jack crepe evening gown that did not actually fit me, so I am holding the zipper on the side. This dress is stunning in person and will look much better on someone else.

DSCF0084 — This 20's burnout velvet dress is mine!

DSCF0085 — Navy blue 40's (?) sheer dress with painted on polka dots and matching under-slip.

DSCF0086 — 50's plaid day dress with really cool polka dot detailing where the plaids cross.

DSCF0088 — Leopard print bathing suit - rawrrrr!

DSCF0090 — MGM starlet white evening gown with gold trim and cutout triangle in the front. Made for someone tiny.

DSCF0091 — Brown 40's suede platforms, small size.

DSCF0092 — Green suede 40's platforms with perforated suede and button detail, small size.

DSCF0094 — More gorgeous art deco brooches.

DSCF0095 — Boater hats - gents, sorry there wasn't more for you in the store. The boater on the left with the blue and red ribbon was sized 7 1/8. No size was found in the boater with black ribbon, but I tried on both and the boater with the black ribbon was slightly larger, so I'd say it was about a 7 1/4. Michael Q., here's looking at you to check a boater in one of these sizes off your shopping challenge!

DSCF0096 — View of some of the men's hats.

DSCF0097 — View of one of the main rooms in the store.

DSCF0098 — Adorable sportswear hat of unknown decade. SO CUTE!

DSCF0102 — A view of what I am calling the wedding dress corner.

Vintage picks of the day

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.

Reed shirtdress

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:

Orange/blue plaid, size 6.

Green, size 6.

Navy, size 8.

Orange/blue plaid, size 8.

Green, size 2.

Art Deco era goodness from eBay

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.

WAC, WAVE, and WWII Nurse uniforms

I’ve been looking for WWII uniforms and contemplating getting something similar to these for the Greenville Lindy Hoppers’ G.I. Jive, June 18-19, 2010 in Greenville, SC (Atomic Rhythm All-Stars are playing the Friday night dance! *shameless plug*). If you were thinking about heading to the Virginia Beach Lindy Exchange that same weekend, you could sport one of these looks on the U.S.S. Wisconsin battleship dance.

I couldn’t get a picture to load for the Nurse’s Uniform, but if you hold your mouse over the link, it should give you a preview of the eBay auction page. Or you could just click on it. 🙂

Peplum dress

I’ve been on a peplum kick lately and this dress has a rockin’ print and a nice peplum. I also really like some of the other items this seller, fabgabs, has on Etsy. Check out their “Gilda” dress to the right of the peplum dress – WOWZA, both in appearance and damage to your wallet. Regardles, this dress needs to be in my closet and I am waiting for the lottery to recognize my existence.