Chatterblossom on Etsy: Vintage Millinery Flowers Meet Their Destiny

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

Not all artificial flowers are created equal. Even more stunning than modern artificial blooms are those of yesteryear, reserved for hats and millinery, created with such detail and hues that can only come from the past or be made by hand. Jamie Sturdevant, the mastermind behind the Etsy shop Chatterblossom, has acquired stacks of boxes full of vintage millinery flowers and is using them to create floral clusters, headpieces, and fascinators for her shop. The results are stunning and perfect for pairing with your vintage dresses – like vintage fabric cut into a new dress, these unworn, unused flowers are just like getting a brand new hairpiece from the past. Even better, Jamie does custom work and can work with you to create a custom piece to go with one of your vintage ensembles. Here are some glorious pieces from her shop:

Marigolds, tiny yellow flowers, and straw on a hair comb

Shabby Apple Goes South Pacific

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

The more I see of Shabby Apple, the more I think that these girls are swing dancers. Who are you? I’m very intrigued. The latest Shabby Apple collection has us looking past spring, into a tropical and summery climate. The South Pacific collection is another vintage inspired collection of lovely dresses, with vibrant colors and patterns, flattering necklines, flowers to add to your Floweruary celebration, and breathable, danceable fabrics. I am smitten with the following dresses:

926_1_ — Pina Colada Dress - a lovely shirtdress with buttons and piping

925 — Garden Isle Dress - love the print and the dress pattern, contemplating this one for myself

938 — Pineapple Princess Dress - peplum!

My Baby Jo

This post was written by Lindy Shopper.

My Baby Jo has a little bit of everything to help you embrace your inner pin-up girl, and some essential menswear clothing and accessories for the swing era gent. My Baby Jo has a retail store in Los Angeles, CA, but thankfully they also offer their excellent 1940’s and 1950’s-inspired clothing, shoes, and accessories online.

The website has a great selection of women’s dresses, swimwear, undergarments, hair flowers, jewelry, shoes, handbags, cosmetics and men’s jackets, shirts, pants, shoes, hats, pomade, ties, and vintage watches. The vintage men’s watches are especially good, with watches from the 1920’s through the 1950’s that look like they are in sturdy, wearable condition. Their swimwear selections feature the best of Esther Williams’ swimwear line. The site also offers some fun pieces that may fill gaps in your wardrobe or Halloween costume (like that Rosie the Riveter jumpsuit – where else do you find that?). They also have an extensive selection of men’s hats and hat-care items, including brushes and felt cleaner.

There’s so much goodness here, I’ll try to narrow down my favorites: