Debutante Clothing

Vintage TV - Happy Feet: Cab Calloway & Nicholas Bros.

2009-07-02T07:00:00Z

I'm so happy the week is almost over. So happy I could dance. This routine by the Nicholas Brothers is said to be the greatest dance routine of all time. Eat your heart out Fred and Ginger.

Vintage Auctions: Ripley's Believe it or Not...Vintage Style

2009-07-01T07:00:00Z

I used to love this show when I was younger and I believe that history does repeat itself. I'm working in the world of auctions now and am surrounded by pieces with a bit or a lot of history which can go for peanuts or a small fortune. Truly some of them are worthy of Ripley's Believe it or Not! Sometimes when I'm sitting in an auction I gasp out loud as I hear the bids increase and increase and increase and usually end up embarrassing myself.

Last week's auction at Kerry Taylor was a great example of believe it or not hammer prices with a number of the pieces well exceeding even her estimations.

For example:

Lot 57 A rare pair of grapefruit shaped bust improvers from the 1890s estimation of £400-£600 with a hammer price of £2400! I'm convinced that these were the original inspiration for the Wonderbra, my how times have changed!

Lot 94 An absolutely breathtaking rare Fortuny stenciled gown sold for £13,000 way over estimate. I can only dream of the wonderful and excitng adventures this dress once had!

Lot 130 A breathtaking Dior evening gown from 1952 with an estimate of £6000-£8000 hit a hammer price of £11,000. Oh the lucky person who won that! Gasp!

And many many more...I've only highlighted some of the older more historic pieces but even items as late as the year 2000 can be profitable. I hope that this update lights a fire under you or sparks a lightbulb so as you are rummaging through items at your local flea market or yard sale keep your eyes peeled for some vintage treasures! They may end up as seed money for your next vacation!

Stay tuned for our vintage antiques roadshow this fall via Debutante Clothing where you'll have the chance to show me and Sandra your latest finds!

Happy Hunting!

Jeanne

Jeanne Suica collaborates with a major auction house in searching for and evaluating pieces for upcoming auctions. Clients worldwide who may be interested in selling or consigning their items can email her images and questions regarding their items via her site www.jeannesuica.com

New Addition & Vintage Find - Sail Away

2009-06-29T15:34:48Z

Fashion is a form of expression right? Nothing could be truer of iconic vintage symbols to express our favorite times of the year when it comes to fashion:
Fall - autumnal leaves and flowers
Winter - holiday symbols
Spring - florals and fruit (cherries, berries)

But summer claims the most aspirational symbol of all - nautical.

For those of us not wealthy enough to be able to spend weekends on a yacht or sailboat, Violetville Vintage has got you covered. Check out this 1970s sailboat print dress and daydream of warm evenings in the marina.

Be sure to check out my latest (and slowly trickling) addition to the store: a perfectly huge sailboat for your neck. One size fits all!

And check out these great sailing themed finds at Awakened Aesthetic.

RIP Farrah Fawcett

2009-06-25T23:44:49Z

What a sad day. Peace to the queen of feathered and frosted.

RIP Michael Jackson

2009-06-25T23:39:41Z

My thoughts and prayers go to his family, friends, and fans...

Zachary's Smile to Sell Vintage by the $25 Bagful

2009-06-25T20:07:25Z

via NYmag.com/The Cut In order to make room for new merch at its Nolita outpost, Zachary's Smile is clearing out all spring items with a blowout sale, starting today. The space, located in the basement of 317 Lafayette Street, has been used as a sale depot for the West Village store since January, but will become a permanent second location soon. Over the next week, all vintage pieces will be priced at $5 per item, but they are also offering shopping by the bagful. For $25, you can shove as many items as possible into a shopping bag: clothing, shoes, and accessories -- anything that will fit. The store's in-house label, ZS, will also be marked down, with cute, solid-color dresses for $15, fitted plaid jackets for $10, and an assortment of skirts and tops for $5 each. The space will be open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. until all the sale goods run out. Entrance at 303 Mulberry St., nr. Houston St.; 212-965-8245.

From London with Love... Obsession: a shoe story

2009-06-25T13:50:43Z

If you have ever in your life been obsessed with finding the perfect pair of shoes, then you will feel my pain when reading this post. I am totally aware that the pursuit of the perfect shoe might seem trivial to some, but you should know one thing about me: when I want something, there are only very few things that can stand in my way: death, illness and that's about it (knock on wood neither happens, thank you).

found at Etsy.com

For about 2 years now, I have been looking for a pair of simple vintage brown lace up oxford shoes. Not brogues, I don't want any detailing, just plain old 80's granny shoes. I know there are plenty available I have seen them on people, and in several Etsy shops. "Why don't you just buy them, you silly goose?" I hear you say. Well... this is the bane of my life. I cannot find my size anywhere. I would understand perfectly if I was looking for 40's or 50's shoes, since women seemed to have considerably smaller feet then - both in length and width. The thing is I am not looking for 40's or 50's footwear but for 80's shoes. And I know women had the same feet then as we do now. Before you start gossiping about how Mademoiselle Robot wears shoes in a size 23, I will tell you I am a UK 7 (which is probably a US 9.5 or 10). Not exactly Bigfoot, but not small feet either. Mind you, if my feet were any smaller, I would tip over when I walk. I am 5'8" I need my size 7 feet to keep me balancing. But enough about my feet and back to the shoes, I just know they would make my whole wardrobe come together seamlessly, they would go with everything and I would most certainly wear them all year long. So I am not being a spoilt brat here. I just need those shoes. I already made lists of outfit combinations:

Outfit 1: brown shoes, high-waist trousers, vintage tee-shirt, denim jacket.

Outfit 2: brown shoes, white socks, denim shorts, Victorian blouse, black blazer.

Outfit 3: brown shoes, 50's day dress, giant hair bow, vintage boy cardigan, stripy socks.

The list goes on and on, using all the items in my wardrobe, so I will spare you the details, but you get the idea.

Needless to say, I am very angry with vintage shoes at the moment and we are *this* close to fall out forever - even if in my quest for the perfect Oxfords I did find a really cute pair of beige dancing shoes.

Recently, I decided I couldn't carry on without some kind of replacement, so I started looking into some alternatives. I found two: the plimsolls and the jazz shoes. I am not a fan of Ked's and co, so I opted for some white leather jazz shoes (from ASOS, I needed a break from vintage). So far, so good, I have been wearing them a lot, and they go with all the outfits I mentioned above. I do look at them and wish they were brown and vintage but they really are the next best thing.

The morale of this tragic story: sometimes, a girl has to compromise her wishes a little to reach style nirvana.

However, because I am relentless, if you do come across the shoes I have described in this post in a size UK 7/US 10/ EU 40, do let me know.

If you email me (mellerobot@gmail.com) with a link, I will be your slave forever.

- Mademoiselle Robot

Vintage Find - 1950s Novelty Zoo Print Skirt

2009-06-23T07:00:00Z

On a recent shopping trip to the Rose Bowl with the lovely Tina Poppy of Violetville Vintage, I was on a shopping mission. I was hunting for adorable cotton skirts for summer. I didn't end up finding any in my size and budget, so I hit trusty eBay.com when I stumbled across this gem.

I am a sucker for novelty prints, but not the traditional Mexican/Fiesta type prints. I feel those aren't novelty enough since I am Mexican! I really love comical, absurd prints like the whale print dress I featured a few weeks ago. This adorable print of a family at the zoo, complete with cages and balloons is so original! Who would ever think to put a zoo scene on a skirt. I love it. I need it.

available at Mill Street Vintage/Ebay.com

ends 6/19

Vintage Muse - Romantic in Vintage

2009-06-19T07:00:00Z

When I started reading Solanah Hernandez's blog, Vixen Vintage, I was mesmerized by her romantic vintage style. Her hats and girly dresses make me yearn for tea parties and lunches. With an eye for vintage clothing like hers, it's only natural that Solanah own a vintage clothing shop by the same name on Etsy. You can tell she offers clothing she can envision herself wearing - usually with a striking hat and gloves. Meet Solanah Hernandez!

Name and City you reside

My name is Solanah and I live in Vancouver, Washington, just a hop, skip, and a jump from Portland Oregon.

Favorite vintage piece

My favorite vintage piece is my bird hat. It's just a simple little black velvet cap, but has feathers shaped into a life sized bird flying on the side. It pretty much makes an outfit.

Favorite vintage store, brick and mortar or online

The store I work at, The Urban Eccentric, would have to be the number one place I shop. It's very affordable, has tons of items, plus I get a discount ;)

Favorite decade

It's so difficult to choose a favorite decade. Every so often it seems to change, but I think I'm pretty set on the mid 30s right now. In the U.S. its such an overlooked decade for clothing thanks to the Great Depression. Women would use the clothing they had until it was no longer wearable, so to find a 30s piece is much more exiting to find than a 40s or 50s piece. I'm also attracted to the soft, feminine silhouette, and the lengthening quality the clothing, especially skirts have.

Vintage icon

Since I was 14 Coco Chanel has been my vintage icon. Not just for her design genius, but for her fabulous lifestyle. She was skilled at selling her image to promote her label, something I look up to right now. I think above all else she was a business woman, but in a way no one had even realized. After all, her designs are still prominent in fashion today.

Why do you love vintage?

I could fill a book with reasons why I love vintage. I think it's romantic, daring, flattering, unique, powerful, mysterious. It's something everyone can wear, and yet look completely different. I love to be a part of a story that is carried through a dress, or a hat, I just wish I could know what those items saw in their original days of wear.

A New Vintage Blog to Read

2009-06-17T13:30:04Z

For a good part of a year, I have been reading Lucky.com's blog Ebay Obsessed. Jennifer Romolini was the queen of Ebay finds at Lucky. Her voice is so friendly and she has an excellent eye for inexpensive designer finds and wearable vintage. But I always suspected that she had a bigger crush on vintage than anything else.

Monday, Jennifer announced that the blog will evolve into eBay, Etsy, et al. As you can guess, she will be writing her thoughts on vintage and sharing vintage finds from eBay and Etsy. She's asked for ideas and I know we are all vintage freaks so head on over to Lucky,com and join the conversation.

Auction Fever - Special Report from Jeanne Suica

2009-06-17T12:17:12Z

"Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens..." I have the Sound of Music floating through my head. I guess that I may be working too much or just have auction fever!

I just got back from London and was privleged enough to have a sneak preview of some of the fabulous items that will be offered by Kerry Taylor Auction in London on this Wednesday May 17. I've been working with Kerry for years now and in my opinion, for whatever it may be worth this is the most exciting offering that I've seen so far!

"These are a few of my favorite things...."

Lot 17 An Alexander McQueen collar circa 1994-96
Lot 23 A John Galliano Dali-esque hat in the form of red pierced lips
Lot 130 A Dior Haute Couture Brown Tulle Evening Gown
Lot 266 A Gaultier Russian Collection dress
an don't even get me started on the YSL offerings including scare Russian collection items back in 1992 Kerry sold an ensemble for £42,000 hammer price!

And last but not least the avant-garde clothing from the 1980s (my personal favorite era) including Leigh Bowery and various New Romantics items. This exciting part is the largest group of New Romantic/Avant Garde clothing of its type ever to come to auction.

Also I attended the Hermès Vintage preview at Artcurial in Paris at the end of May. Artcurial is know for their art and collectables auctions in Paris and generally doesn't sell couture or accessories. The exception to the rule is their Hermès auctions which are held twice a year. This auction had 766 lots of every type of item imaginable from a riding saddle to Birkins, Kelly bags and every style in between. The space located off the Champs-élyséés is breathtaking and their preview was more of a museum installation which was a nice surprise.Three rooms of perfectly curated items; handbags of virtually every color and skin, a small offering of Hermes clothing, Hérmes china, whimiscal silver jewerly and wonderful prints in vibrant patterns of their famous scarves just to name a few.

I never thought that I was much of an Hermès fan but this was a treat and the explosion of color was just what I needed to see on that rainy day. Kudos to them and maybe one day when I decide to become a bit more classic in my style I may end up buying a piece or two. For now I'm just dreaming of dying my hair purple, turning back the clock a few years and buying that collection of New Romantics items in London next week.

Details:
Kerry Taylor Auctions
Unit C25
40 Martell Road
London SE21 8EN
Tel: 020 8676 4600
Fax: 020 8676 4604
info@kerrytaylorauctions.com
www.kerrytaylorauctions.com

Jeanne collaborates with a major auction house in searching for and evaluating pieces for upcoming auctions. Clients worldwide who may be interested in selling or consigning their items can email her images and questions regarding their items via her site www.jeannesuica.com

Vintage at CFDA

2009-06-16T07:00:00Z

The Council of Fashion Designers of America awards took place on Monday night. I had mentioned that Tracey Ullman would be wearing vintage Claire McCardell - completely appropriate as she is one of the best American designers in fashion history. She also wore a McCardell inspired dress designed by Doo.Ri. I think the neckline is very Claire McCardell - chic without too much fuss.

It seems others wore either vintage or vintage inspiration...

all images from WWD.com

If you happen to see an image around the interwebs of Ms. Ullman in her fabulous vintage McCardell dress, please let me know!

Web Snob - June 12

2009-06-15T12:34:34Z

MAC girls vs. Sephora girls - Stiletto Jungle visits "the other side." All Lacquered Up has reviews of the first of the Fall matte nail polish collections - OPI Matte Allie is Wired shows off pictures of Kristen Stewart's new Joan Jett hairstyle. Bag Snob reveals Ungaro red studded clutch for Fall 2009! Beauty Snob must have summer accessory- don't beach without the Sun Mate! Coquette loves the edgy look of fashion's updated trend in zippers. Tracey Ullman wears Claire McCardell to CFDA - Debutante Clothing gives us the fashion history scoop! Fashion Pulse Daily compiles the 10 best looks from the resort 2010 collections. KRISTOPHER DUKES is wanting, using, and hating Vibrating iPhone Apps. Second City Style has found the best of summer shorts! Shopping and Info loves Kellie Pickler's silver platform shoes from the Taylor Swift concert. Beat the heat in style with StyleBakery's ultimate summer survival guide Having Gossip Girl fashion withdrawals? Stylehive has the next best thing- check out our tips for getting Leighton Meester's sleek, sophisticated look. The Beauty Stop falls for Bulgari Gem Essence skincare line. It's high time to invest in a hot watch! Thankfully,The Fashion Bomb compiled the season's most stylish timepieces. The Shoe Goddess talks shoes with designer Nicole Brundage! V-Style is giving away LashFood to the reader who craves luxurious lashes.

Links à la Mode - June 11

2009-06-15T12:30:08Z

Happiness is being a free bird...

Edited by Jennine of IFB & The Coveted

Oddly enough since we moved over to the editorial selection, I've never selected the links, and I really have to tell you choosing this week's roundup was tough, so many great links, I had a hard time picking!

Well, here we are in the midst of summer, this year you can't click twice without hitting a blog giveaway, as we've got great giveaways on Bobbins and Bombshells, Style Symmetry, Fashion Hippo and The Coveted, and if that's not enough, IFB has a couple of great links to more contests. Whew. And while 'free' doesn't always mean stuff you don't have to pay for, it can also mean free as in stuff you can't pay for, Decline Designs takes inspiration to two free spirited cinematic heroines with vivid imaginations, Brick My Lane will add rock and roll to your dancing feet, and free minded bloggers 39th and Broadway, Curvy Fashionista and Pursed Lips question the fashion industry.

39th and Broadway - What the end of an era of fashion excess means for the industry

Bobbins and Bombshells - Celebrating first anniversary with a beauty of a give away! The prize: Pin-Up Cosmetics!

BRICK MY LANE - How to give shoes a rock'n'roll edge using simple DIY ideas.

CUTEMESS - How Trevor the horse and an Australian Kangaroo Paw flower came to rest on a Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent dress.

Debutante Clothing - Interviews celebrity favorite vintage costume jewelry maven Carol Tanenbaum

Decline Designs - Defining Your Personal Style, Part Three: Using Your Inspiration

Dirty Dirty Laundry - KABLUEY! Check out my venture into the world of blue monochromatic fashion.

Fashion Grail - Love the way Chloe Sevigny perfectly combines the elegance of a scalloped Chloe blazer and cut off shorts.

Fashion Hippo - Three lucky readers will receive this tee as a prize. Loved by Kate Moss and many other celebrities. Ends June 18th.

Hong Kong Fashion Geek - Update your look for less - Resort 2010 looks for recessionistas

Independent Fashion Bloggers - Giveaway sites for freebie junkies.

MissRedLips - In Defense of Brooches

Pursed Lips Magazine - The CFDA Fashion Design Awards Promotes their Photoshoot, with None of the Women Nominees. Is something fishy?

Retro Chick - Mary Queen of Charity Shops - The Review

Style on the street - Alison Stephens, the new it model

Style Symmetry - Vintage Snakeskin Bracelet Giveaway!

Super Kawaii Mama - Meet Aleshia Brevard. A Vintage Style Icon you'll never forget!

The Capitol Fashionista - Fashion Nostalgia: The Beautiful Covers of British Vogue

THE COVETED - The perfect giveaway for vintage lovers... win at Rice & Beans Vintage.

The Curvy Fashionista - The State of the Curvy Community Panel Discussion at Full Figure Fashion Week

the nerdlings - The photo shoot started off well. But words were spoken that shouldn't have been spoken and everything else just descended into chaos.

Vintage Find - 1920s Jazz Era Dress

2009-06-11T07:00:00Z

The Sartorialist has launched his annual pictures of the people frolicking in jazz era vintage clothing at the Governor's Island. I look forward to these pictures every year. Everyone always looks so happy, dancing and flirting for the camera. I especially love the image of the girl doing a back flip and the hot young man smoking a cigarette. The photographs inspired me to find a pretty 1920s dress that can be worn out or to the park for a day of dancing. I love the poppy flower at the hip and the layers of lace on the skirt. This dress makes me think of long cool drinks at someone's outdoor party. So pretty.