This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
For a more casual, menswear-inspired look to go with your Lindy Hop duds, check out Steve Madden’s series of wingtip-inspired shoes – with leather soles no less!
Steve Madden Wingtips for Women
Art Deco Ties
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
This post is short and sweet. I intend to do a longer post on ties in the future, but for now, I’ll just post this lot of 5 ties.
These are wide ties, most of them hovering around or beyond 4 inches; ties that would look best tied a bit short with a tie bar and high-waisted trousers, a vintage-inspired look I saw several leads rocking at ILHC this year.
Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governors Island
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
This weekend I will be heading to the Big Apple for the bi-annual Jazz Age Lawn Party, held on the grounds of Governors Island, which is just a short ferry ride from the lower tip of Manhattan. I’m not sure how many years this event has run, but for the past couple of years I have pined over the gorgeous photos of people in vintage clothing, dancing vintage dances to a vintage band, with vintage cars in the background…well, you get the idea. I’m going to get it all out of my system over the weekend at this picturesque event.
There will be vendors at this event, selling vintage clothing and hats – hopefully, I won’t be too distracted so you can get a full report (with photos) when I get back.
In the interim, you can enjoy photos of the July 2010 Lawn Party from The Sartorialist, Metromix, lensjockey, Time Out New York, Citizen Couture, New York Post, a video from the New York Post, and a 3-D interactive mini-site courtesy of Martin Lenclos. Cheers!
Fraulein Marlene on Etsy
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
Hello Fraulein! That is the greeting at the top of Fraulein Marlene’s Etsy shop, welcoming you in to look at her lovely vintage goodies. Almost half of her selections are divine vintage shoes from the 1930’s and 1940’s in neutral tones, like brown, black and beige, so they’ll go with everything in your fall and winter dance wardrobe. The shoes also look like they are in solid condition and are reasonably priced.
Fraulein Marlene says simply, “I love clothing and accessories from the 1920’s-1950’s. Vintage is my first passion —> but i am no professional seller…it is a hobby.”
Here are some selections from this excellent hobbyist:
Lots of Bow Ties and a Bonus Auction
This post was written by Lindy Dandy.
I don’t usually look at clip on bow ties, but after LS’s post on 1950’s bow ties, I’ve decided to give them another chance.
I’ll be honest, I’ll pick a self-tie bow tie over a clip on any day of the week. I like that self tie bow ties cannot be tied symmetrically; I appreciate the imperfections. (The concept of wabi-sabi has always agreed with me, I suppose). Besides, tying a tie is no longer seen as particularly difficult; clip ons feel like cheating to me. When I untie my bow tie at the end of a night of dancing, girls are pretty impressed that I know how to tie it myself. That said, clip on bow ties aren’t as much of an egregious affront to my aesthetic as say, clip on ties. Yuck.
Bow ties aren’t seen often enough anymore, relegated to the stereotypes of nerds and college professors (who can actually have great style). Bow ties are seen as unusual, but I see that as an advantage. Wear one well and you’ll be noticed. Bow ties are classy. There’s a reason they’re the first choice for black tie events. If the fear of tying a bow tie is holding you back, then go for a clip on.
No matter what, pick one that is proportionate to your face, collar, jacket lapels and everything else. (Basically, try not to look like a clown). You can usually find more interesting patterns in clip ons than self ties; in fact, most of the art deco bow ties I’ve found are clip on. Most vintage clip on bow ties you’ll find will be skinny and narrow, fitting the style of the slick, “modern,” Jet age of the 50s and 60s. (Think Rat Pack; though they also wore self tie bow ties).
I don’t own any clip on bow ties, but I might make an exception for some of these. As you’ll see, I’m only posting auctions with multiple bow ties (which can also be referred to as “lots”… Get it?).
Ok, I’ll be on the lookout for self tie bow ties next time. Happy hunting!
Jitterbuggin on Etsy
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
I love the initiative and creativity of those seamstresses and tailors who take vintage patterns and make them come alive again. Etsy seller Jitterbuggin is one of these talented people who create garments of the past in the present, and adds her own bit of whimsy through her pattern and fabric selections.
Of particular interest is Jitterbuggin’s profile: “I am a dancer and stage performer with an enthusiastic interest for fun clothes. I make quality ready to wear ranging in eras, styles and sizes. I use vintage materials when I can and often substitute with vintage reprints. Almost every garment is a one of a kind creation. My garments are made with “danceability” and modern comforts in mind while staying true to the glamor of the eras.” Dancers making clothes for dancers is always a good idea, especially when considering cut, construction, and fabric selections.
Here are some of my favorites from the Jitterbuggin Etsy site:
1950’s Bow Ties
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
There’s something about bow ties that is particularly charming, especially if they have a whimsical print or theme. My grandfather had a bow tie that he would wear every Christmas that was green with a sprig of holly on the knot. Eventually, there were enough protests from the other relatives that he stopped wearing it, but I always rooted for the Christmas bow tie.
I found a couple of eBay listings with some whimsical (seasonless), some normal, bow ties. A few of them have never been worn…so here they are, two lots of bow ties at an insanely low starting price ($4.99 and $9.99, respectively):
Lucky Number 9
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
If you wear a size 9 ladies shoe, then the Remix Vintage shoe fairy has come to visit! Available this week on eBay are the Bloomsbury in blueberry, the Piazza in teal, a pair of tooled leather heels, and the Dara in red. While the Dara shoe has a rubber sole and it is not great for dancing, it is a most comfortable and adorable street shoe – it’s also the deal of the day at a $29.99 starting price.
1920’s Black Cloche
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
This 1920’s cloche is remarkable in many ways. The hat is unworn and it is truly rare to find 1920’s deadstock items. But even greater is the styling on this hat – it not only has that wonderful cloche shape, but the details on this hat, like the seaming that is a nod to Art Deco, the baubles on the side, and the mix of materials and textures make this more than just a hat, but also a subtly elegant and eclectic fashion statement.
Off-White Pinstripe 1930’s Vest
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
This Alfred Benjamin & Co. off-white pinstripe vest looks pretty sharp. What would you pair this with, gents? I’m thinking a trouser to match the pin-stripe, but it looks like you could dress it down with a pair of jeans. A versatile piece!
Shoes, glorious shoes!
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
I know the blog has been heavy with shoes from eBay as of late, but I can’t resist posting all these Remix Shoes and Aris Allens. For the price of a new pair of shoes, I could have two or three pairs (and given the price of Remix shoes, three or four pairs) for the price of one. Here’s this week’s lot of goodies (I’m showing the Remix photo instead of the seller’s photo so you can see more of the detail on the shoes):
1930’s/40’s Green Velvet Party Dress
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
It is so hard for me to resist vintage velvet – nothing is softer, silkier, or more delectable. It drapes like charmeuse and feels like a kitten. The season for wearing velvet seems so small in comparison to the amount of time I would like to be wearing velvet.
Perhaps you are contemplating your New Year’s Eve outfit for Lindy Focus or a special holiday dance? I would recommend this lovely dress (and if I’m posting this kind of love, you know it’s not in my size), a 1930’s/40’s green velvet party dress from eBay seller love_kats. The draping, the sleeves, the rhinestones on the bodice…and the twirl potential on this skirt looks really promising! There are a few noted minor flaws and some mending, but I can tell you from several vintage velvet purchases that these kinds of repairs and conditions have been universal for my purchases and have not detracted from the garment, nor been difficult to repair. Love. This. Dress.
RetroSpect’d Clothing: Reproduction 1940’s and 1950’s Clothing for Guys and Girls
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
I first happened upon RetroSpect’d Clothing at All Balboa Weekend 2009, as it was one of the vendors setting up shop outside the ballroom. I heard that a contingency of Australian dancers had come with garments stuffed into each of their suitcases so that the company could sell clothing at ABW. As usual, I was waiting with anticipation as the garments were put onto the racks and quickly made my selections, then headed to the bathroom to try things on.
I left the bathroom with one of the most universally flattering dresses I own – Retrospect’d’s 1943 dress in red crepe. Several other girls, of varying sizes and shapes also tried this dress on and it was simply the most flattering dress on everyone, giving the illusion of or accentuating a tiny waist. A flirty skirt, expert fit, cute tucks and gathers, a simplicity of form, crepe material, and sleeves make this dress easy to wear for a variety of occasions year-round.
Guys always seem to be looking for pants and Retrospect’d has two pairs of reproduction pants to choose from: the New Yorkers and the Californias. The New Yorkers feature (and pardon my lack of menswear knowledge, Lindy Dandy might correct me later 😉 ) a tab front pant with pleats, cuffs, and buttons for suspenders and comes in 5 classic menswear fabrics. The Californias have a similar wide leg and cuffs, but accommodate a more relaxed, belted look.
There are lots of other fun things for sale, including vintage repro jeans, adorable 1940’s shorts, ladies’ pants, a bevy of colorful dresses, men’s shirts, full skirts, wrap tops, ladylike blouses, and the infamous ski bunny knit top.
Another Pair of Greta Wedges, Another Size 8
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
If you love Remix Vintage Shoes and wear a size 8, this must be your lucky week! EBay is offering up another pair of lovely Greta wedges in red. Starting bid is $51.00.
Remix Open Toe Spectator Wedge
This post was written by Lindy Shopper.
Fantastic, adorable, and brand new – eBay delivers a pair of Remix’s Open Toe Spectator Wedges in two-tone white and brown, size 8. Starting bid is only $9.99 for this $180.00 pair of wedges!
Lindy Shopper 
