Vintage Sex & The City

I haven't seen the movie yet, but I definitely enjoyed the TV series. I especially love the quirky mix of chic vintage pieces mixed with extravagant couture items which creates a truly unique look for Carrie.

Check out this awesome vintage seafoam gown used in the final episode of the TV series.


Here is another vintage dress with fabulous black polka dots on a rich red ground that was used at the end of season 6. This dress is now in Sarah Jessica Parker's personal collection.

Take a close look at the $5.00 vintage tutu used in the opening sequence.

All of the 3 pictures above are from EW.com article, 'Sex and the City' : 16 Perfect Props, CLICK HERE to see the full article.

A soft Parisian print vintage skirt.

A gorgeous vintage floral print opera coat (from Sarah Jessica Parker's personal collection)

Finally a fabulous vintage fur coat which is convertible from short to long with the help of a hidden zipper.

To see more of the fashion from Sex and the City check out HBO's site for lots of great photos.

Blog Tag Wednesday ~ HAUTE HALTER

Its Blog Tag Wednesday at the eVintage Society!.

I've been tagged by Figure 8 Studio's blog: Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict

Temperatures are rising and its time to show some skin! The halter neckline is a great way to leave a little to the imagination while exposing enough to stay cool and stylish.

Lets talk halters!

1) Show us your favorite halter dress or top in your inventory.
Okay, it's not a dress or a top, but definitely a halter! I love this sleek 70s halter jumpsuit from the fabulous Intime of california. While originally designed as a lounging piece for entertaining at home, the slick nylon is opaque enough to wear out to a disco. It has a completely open back, a deep plunge bodice and wide pallazo style legs. WOW! Currently available in our ETSY store.

2)Marilyn rocked the halter bodice back in the 50s, but it came back big in the 70s…..which is your favorite era for the halter?
My all time favorite halter dresses were those made in Hawaii during the 50s. Think Shaheen and Kamehemeha.

3)Bare backs are vulnerable, what’s your suggestion for protecting skin from the sun?
I'm a firm believer in staying out of the sun if possible, but when it's unavoidable I use Lancome's Soleil Ultra Expert Suncare (SPF 50) for sensitive skin.

4)Halter as top or dress, whats your preference?
I prefer a dress for evenings out, but what looks cuter that a halter top with a pair of capris for daytime wear?

5)A bra can be a challenge…..best suggestion for support?
Most halters either have a low back or no back at all, making it impossible to wear a bra. A good design can take care of that problem. Some dresses have built in bras, or are structured or boned in such a way as to provide support and shaping. Halters with no interal support, such as the jumpsuit featured above are best worn only by the young and firm :)

To continue with this blog tag please head on over to Fast Eddies Retro Rags blog: The Girl Can't Help It

Vintage Frauds on Ebay: How to Find Authentic Vintage on the Net

Whats a girl to do? Ebay is a fantastic hunting ground for true vintage bargains, fabulous designer goods and unique, truly one of a kind fashion items... BUT there are also some unknowledgeable and unscrupulous sellers out there. So how does one protect oneself?

Ebay's New Feedback Rating System. I am hopeful that the new feedback system will eventually weed out unscrupulous sellers and provide a more reliable picture for buyers to review before making their purchase. However, small sellers are worried and with good reason. In my case, under the new feedback system, I went from 100% positive feedback to 99.6% because of 2 neutral transactions in the last 12 months. What really hurts is both of those customers had intended to rate the transaction as positive and just hit the neutral button by mistake :( In essence Ebay is rating neutrals the same as negative transactions, so it may make some sellers look worse than they really are. Get in the habit of actually reading a sellers feedback page before you bid, here's mine.

TOOLS:

If you really want to investigate the true feedback of an Ebay Seller it's a good idea to try some of these useful tools created by independent companies:

Toolhaus Enter a Ebay user ID and check details of all negative and neutral transactions (even those mutually withdrawn ). This very useful tool give's you a very clear picture of what buyers REALLY think. For example, check out my ID, empressjadeoftheuniverse under toolhaus and you can see the neutral transactions without having to scroll through months of feedback. It's a real time saver and gives you additional information ( such as mutual withdrawls) that you otherwise don't see on Ebay.

Goofbay A UK based site that lets you search in many different ways, including mispelled words in auctions.

FORUMS:

Knowledge is power, so if you are investing in vintage clothing and accessories you owe it to yourself to ensure what you are paying for is the real deal and not a fake or modern day repro. The wealth of knowledge on some of the vintage forums is outstanding, so check it out and feel free to ask questions.

Ebay Vintage Clothing & Accessories Forum

Ebay Shoes Purses & Fashion Accessories - especially good if you are considering purchasing a high end designer handbag!

Find a Reliable Seller:

eVintage Society This site provides a wealth of useful resources, blogs, and links to some of the best vintage stores out there. Empress Jade Vintage is proud to be a member of the eVintage Society. These are all eVintage Society Members with superb selection, that you can trust!

Abingdon Road Vintage provides a personal stylist service

Affaire d'Amour Vintage

Andapanda's Vintage Clothing

Alley Cats Vintage

Bombshell Frocks Vintage

Booty Vintage

Bring It Back Vintage

Cat's Eye Vintage

Couture Allure Vintage

Daisy Fairbanks Vintage

Damned Good Vintage

Dandelion Vintage

Dorothea's Closet Vintage

Dressed to the 9's

eHappy Vintage

Empress Jade Vintage

Fast Eddies Retro Rags

Figure 8 Studio

Funkoma Vintage

Fuzzy Lizzie Vintage

Glamour Surf's Turf

Gypsy Wear Vintage

Kitschy-Cool-Vintage

Mags Rags

Vintage Vanities

Mom's Patterns

North Star Vintage

Penelopepups Vintage

Posh Girl Vintage

The Purse Diva

Rice & Beans Vintage

Senorita Hollywood

Special Somethings

Sydney's Vintage Clothing

The Ornament Gal

The Rag Rack

Vintage Blue Moon

The Vintage Peacock

The Vintage Peddler

The Vintage Fashion Library

Vintage Lingerie

Viva Vintage Clothing


Finally don't be afraid to ask sellers for more information or additional photos. A reputable seller has no problems with providing additional information.

SLIP OF A THING!

Its Blog Tag Wednesday at the eVintage Society!. I've been tagged by Figure 8 Studio's blog" Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict


The vintage slip. A demure, innocent and simple concotion of fabric and lace….from vintage nylon to sleek, curve hugging vintage rayon to rustling, party ready vintage taffeta. A garment once not considered an option for women wearing a dress or skirt that has become a garment that is actually an option to be WORN as a dress or skirt. Vintage lingerie lovers…..lets talk slips!


1) Show us your favorite vintage slip in your inventory.

We currently have this rare Fabulace full slip by Van Raalte in navy with a emerald green chiffon lining. New with tags too!

2) Lace trim or chiffon trim? Whats your favorite?
I love crystal pleats! Whether it's a sheer pleated bust on a sexy full slip, or a fancy pleated hem, I love them all. This is a stunning example of a Van Raalte Opaquelon slip in the palest pink with lace bodice and crystal pleat hem.

3)Colors or neutrals, whats your preference?
I love vivid colors! Hot pink, red, coral, anything vibrant. But I've got to admit one of the sexiest things you can wear is a slinky black slip with a sheer crystal pleated bodice.

4)Favorite label in vintage lingerie? (Vintage Vanity Fair, Vassarette, Movie Star, Barbizon….)
I love anything by Van Raalte, my favorite company when it comes to fine vintage lingerie. Silky, buttery soft nylons and luxury laces and trim.

5)Full slip or half?
I wear both. However, full slips generally command much higher prices than similar half slips, which means there are lots of bargains to be had.

6)Slips worn as dresses in public…..yea or nay?
Absolutely... Maybe not the sheerest ones, but the more opaque slips can make a fabulous slinky dress. I especially like using some of the 60s abstract pattern half slips as skirts. Check out this one by Gossard, currently available in our ETSY store.



To follow this blog tag head on over to Fast Eddies Retro rag Blog: The Girl Can't Help It

Blog Tag Wednesday~ Sinatra Chic

Its Blog Tag Wednesday at the eVintage Society!.


I've been tagged by Figure 8 Studio's Blog: Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict


SINATRA CHIC!

Out of 50,000 suggested faces to place on a United States Postage stamp each year, only 20 are selected. This year, on the 10 year anniversary of FRANK SINATRA’S death, the USPS issued a stamp honoring Ol’ Blue Eyes. His children, Nancy, Tina and Frank Jr., were on hand for the reveal yesterday….



You can’t talk about Sinatra without talking about style!

1) Show your favorite Rat Pack look in your inventory (early 60s suit, fedora, tie, cufflinks, loop collar shirt…..)
We'll this may be a stretch, but this pale yellow cabana shirt with tiki embroidery would be perfect to show off a tan around the pool.... a martini is a necessary accessory!

2) Favorite Sinatra song?
The Lady is a Tramp - Sinatra just sounds like he's having so much fun singing this one!

3) Favorite Rat Pack member? (Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr. or Peter Lawford)
Dean Martin... gotta love Dino.

4) Best Sinatra “era”? (40s young & skinny, 50s swingin’ crooner or 60s Rat Pack suave?)
60s Rat Pack Suave.

5) Favorite Sinatra wife? (Nancy, Ava Gardner, Mia Farrow or Barbara).
Ava for sure. So beautiful and glamorous!
.

6) Been to Vegas, how many times and best Vegas story (keep it clean!).
I've been to Vegas twice. Three years ago my husband and I eloped for a quickie Vegas Wedding. We got married in a funny little chapel downtown wearing shorts and cowboy hats and hit the casino afterward. We had so much fun and none of the pressure of a conventional wedding (although I think both of our Mom's were disappointed we eloped). We've going back June 2nd for a little holiday.

To follow this blog tag head on over to Fast Eddies Retro Rags' Blog: The Girl Can't Help It


Check out the fabulous vintage clothing at Empress Jade Vintage: Pin-up Glam to Groovy Kitsch!

80s New Romantics

My sister has been a die hard Duran Duran fan since she was a kid. But when she met Simon Le Bon in Seattle last month she didn't tell him that she named 7 different hamsters after him; Simon 1, Simon 2 etc...

This event got me thinking about 80s style and about how English bands like Duran Duran influenced fashion during this period. The New Romantics borrowed heavily from dandified regency designs with over the top lace and frills that evolved into a swashbuckling pirate look, usually with plenty of makeup! Think Vivien Westwood's designs for Adam Ant during this period.

Other than Johnny Depp, we haven't seen men sporting this look for 2 decades!

Blog Tag Wednesday: Swim with the Fishes

It's time again for the Evintage Society Member Blog Tag. I've been tagged by Figure 8 Studio's Blog, Diary of a Mad Vintage Addict.

SWIM WITH THE FISHES!
The temperature is on the rise and its time to think about swimwear….what better way to stand out on the beach than in a vintage swimsuit?

Lets hit the beach!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SWIMSUIT OR BEACH WEAR OFFERED IN YOUR INVENTORY?

Check out this Abstract Green Psychedelic 60s Skirted Swimsuit from Roxanne. Auction ends tonight in our Ebay Store.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ERA IN SWIMWEAR, TO SELL OR WEAR?
For some reason I rarely find good vintage swimsuits in Victoria, but I'm always on the lookout for good 40s, 50s & 60s era pin-up style suits. Molded cups, sarongs, interesting ruching all catch my eye.

FAVORITE DESIGNER OR LINE?

I love the sexy glam designs of DeWeese, and sarong playsuits done by Shaheen, but really I like anything with interesting shaping. Take a look at these vintage swimsuit ads from Cole of California. The bikini would have been pretty racy in 1946!

FAVORITE BEACH RESORT?
Anywhere in beachside Mexico for it's great value and fun. But if my husband gets to choose it's invariably Hawaii.

FAVORITE POOLSIDE, TROPICAL COCKTAIL (WITH OR WITHOUT ALCOHOL)?
At home I love an icy cold Bombay Sapphire and tonic with lots of ice and lime, but when I'm on a beach holiday I usually indulge in some kind of tropical girly drink.

FOR YOU, BIKINI OR ONE PIECE?

I'm kind of a vampire and do not tan, so I generally prefer a one piece for more coverage. I do make exceptions, so I would wear a fab two piece suit like this one being offered by Glamour Surf, one of the cutest 40s swimsuits I've seen. Make sure you check out her site, she has a particularly good selection of vintage swimsuits.

To follow this blog tag head on over to Fast Eddies Retro Rags' blog The Girl Can't Help It