Monday, November 19, 2012

Empress Jade Vintage is getting ready for the Holidays and New Years so I wanted to remind customers to order early to ensure things arrive in time.  There are already lines at the post office and the postal system gets clogged up with all the extra volume.

So with New Years just around the corner I wanted to show you this amazing red carpet worthy gown by Louis FĂ©raud that we really fancy.  It has dramatic tiers of pleats and a petal bust.  Size US 10,  medium. 



Sometimes something a little sleeker and simple is called for like this 1950s Luxite taffeta slip.  Yes, yes I know this is lingerie but it is opaque enough I would happily wear as a cocktail dress. Size 34

If you want a really sparkle and like to disco you'll love this vintage 70s - 80s sequinned butterfly top in silver and black.

Make sure you sign up for our new mailing list here: 




Sunday, October 14, 2012

Warm Fall & Winter Fashions - Vintage Style

We had the most extraordinary lovely Indian Summer this year on Vancouver Island with beautiful sunny warm days all through September and well into October that we started to take it for granted.  But now I must accept that it's really over as I'm sitting in my loft office listening to the torrential rain pounding on my roof and the wind is blasting the leaves off the trees into a sticky wet mess on my lawn.  This means I need to reassess my wardrobe and drag out the warm snugly hats and boots and wet weather gear.  It always is a struggle to stay stylish when Canadian West Coast weather gets nasty,  it's all rather drippy and damp.

In my opinion an essential tool to keep warm is owning several great sweaters:

Add a bright shot of color to your outfit to make people smile, even on the dreariest day:


Vintage 60s crinoline circle skirt in blue lace & red beaded cardigan (coming soon to the shop)


I love the snug Pin-up Girl fit of this little vintage 80s grey angora pullover


Another cute vintage sweater in a lively shade of magenta pink,  vintage 80s angora pullover with beaded accents  M -L


This one has a lovely soft angora silk yarn in muted pastels on cream, vintage 80s striped sweater, size small

Stay warm and dry,

love Empress Jade

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

20% Off Fall Vintage Fashion Sale

Everything in the Empress Jade Vintage Etsy Store is 20% Off!!! 


Everything, even the new stuff!


All Vintage Lingerie is on Sale!  Including this stunning topaz blue nightgown from Linda Lingerie, Small

All Vintage Dresses on Sale!  A flirty vintage 50s 60s floral dress, size small

Get noticed on the dance floor in this awesome vintage 70s 80s sequin butterfly top,  fits most

Sale ends Sept 30, 2012

Monday, July 23, 2012

Vittoria

Some of the latest additions to Empress Jade Vintage 
Somehow summer never came to Victoria BC this year, so it doesn't seem too early to list Fall Fashions. 
Modelled by the lovely Vittoria


An abstract autumnal floral on a sleek and simple A-line maxi skirt.  Vintage 70s


A silky sheer vintage half slip in navy blue.  I really like the lace hem on this one, size medium.



Slouchy black vintage 80s angora cardigan with double breasted pearl buttons, size L



The autumn colorway on this groovy vintage Hawaiian dress is really unusual. 


The watteau pleats give it that Hollywood drape back effect.

XOXO Empress

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Vintage Hats

I love hats!  Nothing can take an ordinary outfit and turn it into the extraordinary as easily as a hat.  Check out this newly listed vintage women's hats at Empress Jade Vintage:

Steel blue wool felt by M'sieu Leon of Montreal.  It has a black ostrich feather in the back and tendrills of peacock feathers.  Vintage 70s, possibly 80s.


Vintage 70s sheer black floppy hat with raffia flowers

Vintage 80s emerald wool felt cocktail hat with veiling and feathers


A stunning vintage 80s mauve cocktail hat with veiling and great feathers and felt flowers

A vintage 60s mod hat in pretty yellow and white straw
Shown with an adorable vintage 60s dress with sheer white lace over yellow

Midnight Blue vintage 80s veiled pillbox hat


CLICK to see more vintage hats

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Vintage 30s Mae West Scrapbook

I recently lucked into a vintage Mae West scrapbook and I've spent hours pouring over the pictures examining the elaborate hair, makeup and fabulous gowns.  The book was made by a really big fan back in the 30's.  It's pieced together from clippings from fan magazines collected during the early part of Mae's movie career.

According to actor Tony Curtis, Mae's famous walk was due to special 6 inch platforms that were attached to her shoes to give her extra height and stage presence.
Mae West was a fascinating woman and far ahead of her time.  To me she epitomizes the glamour of 1930s Hollywood but is now known mostly for her witty quotes and sexual innuendos.  She worked in vaudveille theatre from the time she was 5 years old as a dancer, singer, actress and comedienne.  She wrote her own plays which were notorious for their racy dialogue; her 1926 play "Sex" actually landed her in jail on obscenity charges. A couple of years later she was a Broadway star in her own play " Diamond Lil". 

Weird beauty ritual: Mae had a daily enema every morning to keep her skin like silk and left her "smelling sweet at both ends".

She didn't start her movie career until 1932 at the age of 38 when she got a small part in "Night after Night" which stared George Raft.  He career really took off when her second film, which she wrote, "She Done Him Wrong" was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar.  She continued to work until Her last film  "Sextette" in 1978).  

Mae West & Cary Grant

Mae died of multiple strokes in 1980.


An amazing gown from "I'm no Angel"



This is just a small sample of the pages in this one of a kind book.   It is now up for sale here:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/116763843 .

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Ginger Kittens

We did a photoshoot a couple of weeks ago with local burlesque dancer "Ginger Kittens" of the Victoria Cheesecake Burlesque Revue  and this is the first chance I've had to post the photos.  She's a fiesty red headed Showgirl, with great gams and loads of personality!  Enjoy.


A flirty turquoise chiffon Emma Domb party dress, size M - vintage 60s

An 80s striped sundress tricked out with a wide blue vinyl belt and a huge white ruffled crinoline


A stunning green brocade vintage 50s dress with drop waist and fab flayaway skirt panels, size M


Vintage 50s red dress with inverted pleats - size L


Check out Ginger on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/sarah.miron.smith

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