Pin-up Girls

Betty Grable

While there have always been images of pretty women in art and advertisement.... the word "Pin-up" is usually referring to the stylized American art form that really gained popularity during WWII when photos of famous beauties (usually clad in bathing suits) were pinned up in barracks across the World.

Illustrated pin-up girls adorned matchbooks, calenders and magazines.

1948 Esquire Calender Pin-up girl by artist Fritz Willis - available from VintageGoodness

1948 Esquire Calender Pin-up girl by artist Fritz Willis - available from VintageGoodness

While Pin-up Art (particularly the painted kind) fell out of popularity in the 60s, there has been a modern day resurgence in its interest.... although, often inspired by the past, today's pin-up photos usually have a very modern edge.

GoGo Amy modeling for Pin-ups for Troops

XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

New Arrivals

Just a quick post to shamelessly promote my newest items:)

40s Sheer green cotton dress with Swiss dots and black rayon ribbon & lace - Ebay Auctions starts tonight at 6:30 PST


Silky Leopard Print 80s high waisted wrap skirt Ebay Auction starts tonight at 6:30PST



Teal green 70s Grecian maxi dress - Ebay Auction starts tonight at 6:30PST




Ultra short mint green mini dress in lime green - Ebay Auction starts tonight at 6:30PST




FILM NOIR 40s peplum dress in our Etsy Store


Azure Blue 70s Secretary dress with black splatter floral (includes bonus black silk chiffon scarf) - in our Etsy Store



XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

Here Kitty, Kitty!

Bettie Page, Cyd Charisse, Barbara Streisand and Sharon Stone in Leopard Print


Animal prints can be downright sexy, fun, silly, or even classic depending on the item and how it's worn. Love it or hate it, big cat prints have stood the test of time and seem to come back into fashion every few seasons. Personally I think the pairing of rich browns, tans, bronze and black are easy colors to wear, but it can also be fun in unconventional hues. Even conservative women can add a dash of leopard or tiger print into their wardrobe with an elegant shoe or accessory if it's paired with a solid color to tone it down. And even if you're not bold enough to wear it outside, you can always wear some naughty leopard lingerie in the privacy of your own home:)


I adore the simplicity of this 70s zip front leopard print dress from GreyGardensVintage and the red belt it's shown with really makes it pop!

An A-line leopard print half slip in silky nylon from Vanity Fair, in our Etsy store

This slouchy 80s sweater is fun in graphic white and red tiger print!
From ThatGirlNamedGeorge

Groovy 70s Tiger Print Jumpsuit with extra wide legs - being auctioned in our Ebay Store

And this fringed leopard bra and thong set from Undercover Wear would even make Bettie Page proud! In our Ebay store

XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

Vintage Cookbooks

I was going through my large cookbook collection trying to find inspiration for a dinner party I'm planning and I came across this battered old cookbook of my Mom's. It's a Better Homes & Gardens, Vegetable Cookbook from 1965.



The vegetable cooking chart is useless to me because I would never cook veggies as long as suggested.... 30 minutes for fresh green beans would turn them into a grey inedible mush. Some of these recipes haven't graced a table in my family for decades; like creamed onions (YUCK!), or the gag inducing Perfection Jello Salad:



I do remember liking this squash recipe when I was a kid, so I'm going to try it this weekend and I'll let you know how it turned out.


Glazed Acorn Squash With Onions and Walnuts
Ingredients:
3 small acorn squash, cut in half and seeds removed
Filling:
2 cups cooked pearl onions
1/2 cup broken walnuts
Glaze:
1/3 cup melted butter or margarine
1/3 cup light molasses
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Bake squash cut side down in shallow pan at 350 degrees F for 35 to 40 minutes until almost tender. Turn cut side up and season. Fill cavities with onions and walnuts. Spoon glaze over filling and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until squash is tender, brushing occasionally with sauce.

Serves 6

Here are some other cool vintage cookbooks I found on Etsy:

1935 Cookbook from PinkGrapeFruitStyle


1968, How to Keep Him (After You've Caught Him) from Sassydoggs


Barbie's Easy as Pie Cookbook by Cynthia Lawrence, First Edition, Vintage 1960's Book avilable from Sandmarg


Happy Cooking, XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

The Pugilist Gnome

A battered cement garden gnome (BEFORE Picture)

My husband is a total scrounger and is constantly "rescuing" some treasure (aka: junk) to save it from the landfill. Well, one day he came home with the back of his truck filled with a bunch of beat up vintage cement garden ornaments. I'm talking about hundreds of pounds of crusty, peeling, filthy and chipped gnomes and a couple bird sculptures. All of them were charming in a very shabby, kitsch kind of way, but alas too far gone to sell. So I've been slowly restoring them to put in my own garden.



This garden gnome is 14 inches high and very heavy, solid cement. I'm guessing he's 1950s vintage, but there are no signatures or markings, so it's hard to tell. I rather like the curve of his hat and his pointy little boots, but as you can see, he was in extremely bad condition. His surface is still very pitted and he has nips on the tip of his nose and a cauliflower ear.... which is why I say he looks like a little pugilist. He had multiple layers of peeling paint which I striped off, and then repainted him in several coats of exterior latex and applied a sealer. In our wet, Vancouver Island weather he will no doubt start to peel again in a couple of years, but he should be at home in my backyard with all his beat up friends:)


XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

To Someone I Love

A 1930s pop-up valentine with romantic soft graphics from nwpickings

Tired of the same old Hallmark sentiments? Well if you're not up to making your own Valentine's day card there is still time to order an antique or vintage Valentine. If you look on Etsy and Ebay you can find an astounding selection of Victorian embossed cards, honeycomb novelties and the most beautiful graphics imaginable. I especially like the children's cards of the 40s and 50s which often feature cheeky animals. These cards were truly cherished and were stored for decades in scrapbooks; so many are in remarkable condition considering their age.

A beautiful Victorian die cut card with delicate paper lace and two appliques of a Dutch boy and girl. Absolutely charming! From Melindas1957


Beistle 3d honeycomb tissue card. Stunning Victorian style lady with circle skirt. The patent # on this card dates it to 1926.
Courtesy of Backstashandbygone


Super cute grey tabby card from Grandmothersattic


Another card from Grandmothersattic, a quirky Elephant, so very Dumbo-esque!


And finally, my favorite! There's just something about the coy little grin on this charmer of a Fox.
Courtesy of CLUTTEREDmind


XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

The Boudoir

Boudoir - definition:
n. A woman's private sitting room, dressing room, or bedroom



Madame de Pompadour's Boudoir


Every woman needs to treat themselves to a little luxury and extravagance from time to time and the perfect place to splurge is in the boudoir. A little haven of girlish excess where you can listen to your favorite music, put on your make-up and just relax. Perhaps you may want to invite a special friend to join you, but really a boudoir is all about indulging yourself. Decorate it with fine French antiques, mid century modern or shabby chic finds; the style of your boudoir can be anything that suits your fancy.

First of all you need some luxurious bedclothes like this 1930s satin bedspread from Violet64

Or this fun vintage chenille bedspread with peacock tufts from Catnapcottage.

Decorate your walls with this fab shabby chic French wall sconce with crystal drops from BerryLane

I really love this jadite green dresser set in celluloid from HauteCountryVintage

Another extravagance is this gorgeous cobalt blue Lalique Bottle which remarkably still has half the contents of the Dans La Nuit Perfume by Worth. I wonder what it smells like? On sale by CarolsNeedledEwe

And get dressed in style with some vintage lingerie. One of my favorite full slips is this pretty baby blue slip by Kickernick with embroidered rosebud chiffon and ruffles. In my Etsy Store.

XOXO Empress Jade Vintage

Vintage Wedding Dresses & Accessories

Paris Fashion Illustration, La Mode Illustree 1885, Wedding Dress. Courtesy of Wednesday's Luck on Etsy. A lovely gift idea for the bride.

VINTAGE BRIDE

If you are a bride to be, consider buying vintage instead of new. There are so many advantages:

• Vintage Style is glamorous.
• Vintage Clothes are better made.
• Lower Cost. The cost of a fabulous vintage gown is often hundreds if not thousands of dollars less than a mass produced store bought one. It's even better if you can use your Mother's or Grandmother's gown. Even factoring in the cost of alterations you will be far ahead and can spend the difference on the Honeymoon instead :)
• Good for the Environment. The average wedding has a huge adverse impact on the environment. Just think about the fuel it takes to get your guests there. The sheer waste of items purchased for that single day can be mitigated somewhat, if you can incorporate some vintage items into your wedding day.

Like this romantic pleated and embroidered tulle 50s gown.

Or this lacy 50s dress with trailing bow

Vintage Accessories:
Antique veils, head pieces and jewelery can complement a vintage dress, or be worn to personalize a modern ensemble. The choice available is really quite extraordinary and I was excited to find such a variety of fabulous items on Etsy:

A delicate 1920's wax orange blossom headpiece from Damosel on Etsy

An exquisite 1930's lace cap with tulle rosette from Dollsandlace on Etsy. This company also has a incredible selection of vintage veils, headpieces and vintage bridal accessories on their website http://www.dollsandlace.com/

A Chic Tulle Fascinator from Mycreativeinstincts on Etsy. I could really see this being worn with a sharply tailored suit for the nontraditional bride.

And Something Blue:

I love the color of this marquis cut large rhinestone brooch from aPassionForFashion on Etsy.
This would be stunning worn as a choker necklace; just pin it to a wide white satin or velvet ribbon.

XOXO Empress Jade Vintage