Golden Girl-A Vintage Outfit Post and a Review of Piplotex's 1950s Cigarette Pants

Obviously I dress up all the time, but I always try to wear something a bit extra special on my birthday.  This year for my 39th it was Piplotex's cigarette pants in gold lame.  

I figured I should celebrate the beginning of my last year in my 30s with something a bit wild and outside my comfort zone, and gold lame pants are definitely perfect for that!

These pant's are just amazing, I adore them.  They are cut just like the 1950's originals with a high waist and slim cropped legs.  They look like they came straight out of a late 1950s Frederick's of Hollywood catalog

except they are much better.  Piplotex sells the in a range of sizes but they will also custom make them to your figure.  Since I'm short that is the option I went for.

 I wore my new pants with my Freddie's of Pinewood Beatnick top, which I've personalized with a genuine 1950s letter K sweater applique, 1950s style gold hoops from Mrs. Polly's lucite, remix flats, and my beloved 1950's novelty cat purse.

I don't usually wear anything as fitted as these pants so I was a bit nervous ordering them,  however Piplotex has absolutely amazing customer service ad worked with me.  The pants arrived amazingly fast and while they are fitted I was pleased that they are not skin tight  and they are super comfortable.  

The gold lame version of these pants has now sold out and I'm so glad I nabbed them when I did, but they are still available in a wide range of fabrics and beautiful colors and for a great price just $64.00, which is amazing for a hand made garment.

I'm hoping my style will get ever more eccentric and wild with every passing year and these pants are certainly a step in the right direction.

Vintage Outfit Post-Poodle Pride from Girl In A Whirl

It should come as no surprise that I love poodles:

Both the in the fur variety, like my darling Mr. Tuvok, and the collectible 1950's variety  as seen on the purse. 

 The 1950's might not have been the golden age of everything, but they where definitely the golden age of the poodle.  Poodles where everywhere.  In advertisements, 

on skirts, sweaters,  

 



knick knacks, purses, book ends, mirrors, lamps

even toilet seat covers!.  

There is a whole book devoted to the mid century poodle collecting obsession.   I've never read it but you can buy it used on Amazon.

Maybe there not everyone's cup of tea, but to me these delightfully kitschy 1950s and 60s poodle images  just put modern dog graphics to shame.   

 So ubiquitous was the mid century poodle that I was actually shocked to learn that according to the AKC poodles where only the decade's 7th most popular breed. Regardless of the ranking, the poodle and the 1950s are forever linked.

Sadly today, I feel the poodle has fallen a bit out of favor.  Doodles are popular but poodles don't seem to get the same respect they used too.  

I am also troubled by the modern trend to groom a poodle into looking like some other breed of dog.  I have written before about how I want Mr. Tuvok to be groomed in a  traditional pet poodle style, and that can be a challenge.  Groomers have told me that most people  tell them to make their dogs look less like a poodle.   A sentiment that really kind of angers me, poodles are a wonderful breed, why would you want to disguise that?  Smart, companionable, athletic affectionate, and in a range of sizes, they really are fantastic.  Let's have some poodle pride!

With my love for dogs and vintage I can't get enough of dog themed vintage clothing, so when I saw that my favorite novelty skirt designer, Girl In A Whirl, was adding 1950's Mexican style tourist jackets to her wares I knew I wanted where my poodle pride on my sleeve with  a poodle themed jacket.  I messaged Girl In A Whirl designer,  Rebecca and told her I was dreaming of a jacket with little black poodles on it.  I wanted the poodles to have the classic well groomed 1950's look and to be wearing red berets.  Rebecca understood exactly what I meant and my new Girl In A Whirl jacket is perfect! 

I've been wearing it at least once a week since I got it and I never get tired of  it (and yes Mr. Tuvok has a red beret, it was actually part of his pug sister Ping's halloween costume a few years ago.)

 The picture's here are from two different occasions.  First I am wearing the jacet  with Freddies of Pinewood jeans and a striped top.  The second time with   with my Marie Guye western jumpsuit.   Both time's I wore my red Chatterblossom hair flower and of course my poodle purse.

I also added gold tone poodle scatter pins to the neck of the jacket.  I have had these forever and I forget where I got them but they only cost a couple of bucks and they are perfectly at home on the jacket.  Proof that it always pays to take advantage of a vintage deal even if your not totally sure what to do with the item.

Because Rebecca is so  talented the details of jacket are incredible.

The front of the jacket has red whip stitching and the poodles are wearing red bow ties to match their berets.

The pocket's have red whip stitching and pom pom trim

There is even a little K on the collar!

So the front is perfect, but the back is even better.  The poodles on the back are playing with a red and blue ball.

They have  little sparkly blue eyes and light blue bows, as well as berets:

I really think they look just like Mr. Tuvok!

Even the red ball is carefully stitched with blue ribbon to match the poodle neck bows.

I'm just so happy to have this jacket in my collection and so grateful to Girl In A Whirl for making it for me.  I know Ill be enjoying it, along with all other things poodle, for years to come.

A Staycation Week of Vintage Outfits

I had my winter break from work last week and John too off too.  I spent it doing my favorite things spending time with the dogs and cats, eating, watching Star Trek and Mystery Science Theatre 3000, and of course dressing up.  

As I mentioned in previous posts I have been selling off a lot of my clothes in order to fund new ones.  I have decided that in order for me to keep it an article of clothing needs to fit several criteria:

1. It must be fun.  I'm old enough I'll dress as I like and I only want fun, happy clothes that make me smile.
2. It must be comfortable. Despite what people thing full skirts and petticoats really are comfortable.  Nothing, not even sweat pants, are more comfortable then full skirts.
3. Preferably it will be something I can wear while biking.  This isn't a total must but its a big plus.  Thankfully, most things can be biked in.  I find biking in high heels easier then walking in them and petticoats are a breeze to bike in.
4. I have to love it.

Most of these outfits I have featured on here before, but some I have, the one's I haven't will get their own posts eventually but I thought it would be fun to record the week (actually 9 days with the two weekends.)  This was a very unusually warm February with temperatures in the 60s, hello global warming, so that is why so many of these outfits are spring like, and no I didn't wear them any place special.  I wore them to go out to lunch, to get bubble tea and to bike with the dogs.

Outfit Number , Saturday:  Jumpsuit from Maria Guye and Mexican Tourist jacket from Girl In A Whirl:

I bought this jumpsuit to wear to the NYC commicon but then we wound up not going due to massive lines that meant even ticket holders like us would have had a 3 to 4 hour wait in the rain.  I was very upset, but at least I love the jumpsuit! It, and the jacket, will get their own outfit post eventually.

Here are the accessories:

 

1950s gold tone poodle scatter pins, a red Chatter Blossom hair flower, cat's eye sun glasses, and my poodle purse (oh and of course pug and cat hairs).   The shoes are remix flats.

Outfit Number 2, Sunday:  Bernie Dexter Kitten Dress and Doll Me Up Cardigan:

Accessories: A pink snood from Arthelia's Attic (I love her snoods), a little 1950s or 60s  mink cat brooch with googly eyes (I think this was someone's craft project which is why I love it so much, pastel bakelite braces, Remix Baby Doll Pumps in ivory, a pink crinoline fro Amazon, pink dotted What Katie Did seamed panty hose, and my 1950's Siamese cat purse).

Outfit Number 3, Monday: This was my only outfit that consisted primarily of true vintage pieces.   1950's vintage western shirt, 1950's vintage western wool jacket and Freddies of Pinewood jeans.

Here is a close up of the embroidery on the blouse

Accessories: 1950's Western Barette, Luxulite Western Novelty Brooch,  Bakelite Bangles, and 1950's Novelty Horse Purse.

Day 4, Tuesday-A  1930s Winter Drindl by the Black Pinafore:

I did a full post on this outfit here.

The accessories: A 1940s Deer Brooch, Chatter Blossom Hair Flower, 1930's Embroidered Gloves and 1920's Needlepoint bag.

Day 5, Wednesday-Bernie Dexter Dress in Let Me Entertain You Print:   

This is my first Bernie Dexter dress in her long sleeved Nichole style and I love it!  This, along with short sleeved Kelly, is probably my favorite style of Bernie Dexter dress.

The print is super fun movie theatre themed novelty print that called for equally fun accessories. A chiffon hair scarf, primary colored bakelite bangles, a red crinoline from amazon, Miss L Fire shoes, and luxulite earrings and necklace.

Day 6, Thursday-Rocket Skirt from Girl In A Whirl and Swell Dame 1950's style Blouse-

This was my 38th birthday outfit last year, you can read about it in this post.   The skirt is a copy of the cover of my favorite children's book, a Trip to The Moon, by M. Sasek.  It's about the early days of NASA in Cape Canaveral.

The accessories for this outfit where a Chatter Blossom hair flower, gold remix shoes, a white crinoline from Amazon, lucite purse,  and bakelite bangles.

Day 7, Friday- Bernie Dexter Kelly Dress in Ticket to Ride and 1960s Pale Yellow Cardigan:

This dress is in my beloved Kelly style, short sleeves and zip front, with a nice full skirt.  The print is adorable, different tickets!   I also low the color of the cardi, such a pretty soft yellow.  This is an outfit I definitely plan to post in more detail soon.  

Here are the accessories:

 

Yellow Chatter Blossom hair flower, pastel bakelite bangles, 1950s or 60s novelty train brooch, 1960's flower purse, Miss L Fire pumps, and a green crinoline from Amazon.

Day 8, Saturday-Mexican Dress and Jacket by Maria Guye:

This is actually a bit of a sneak preview.  I purchsed this dress as my gift to myself for my upcoming 39th birthday.  It was so beautiful though I couldn't resist wearing it early.   Like all of  Maria's clothes the construction is exquisite.
I'll definitely be writing more about it.

The accessories I paired with this are my beloved 1950s horse novelty purse, red Chatter Blossom hair flower, and Remix sandals.


Day 9, Sunday-1950s style Zip Front Jump Suit by Kim Clark 

Kim did such a great job with this jumpsuit!  It is so comfortable and the fabric is  a gorgeous sea foam green with gold thread, real vintage fabric.  I wore this is in August to Star Trek Mission New York and had my picture taken with LeVar Burton, see this post.


Accessories: 1950's Cat's Eye Sunglasses, Gold Belt from Amazon, 1950's Novelty Cat Purse and Remix flats.

I dress in vintage style every day for work, but I definitely take it to the next level on weekends and vacations.  I had so much fun dressing up this week. I definitely think I'm getting younger, and crazier, in my style with age!

Valentine's Day Outfit Post-Romeo and Juliette Skirt From Girl in A Whirl

Despite the saying on the adorable 1950s Valentine above I have always been pretty neutral about Valentine's day.  I like vintage cards and who doesn't love candy, but I'm not one to make a big deal about the day.  However, I'm perennially a sucker for seasonal dressing and Valentines is  no different.

About 6 months ago I was perusing Etsy when I came across the most amazing 1950s Novelty circle skirt depicting Romeo romancing Juliette on the balcony.

The skirt was beautiful but it was also tiny and astronomically expensive, think major veterinary bills price level.  Still I liked it so much I kept thinking about it and I decided to ask my favorite 1950s reproduction seamstress, Girl In A Whirl, if she could make me a similar skirt.  We decided on a different color scheme, lavender and pink, as opposed to black and pink, which would have shown to much pet hair anyway. The resulting skirt, is like all of Girl In A Whirl's creations, beautiful, in fact I think it really is prettier then the original.

The details she included in the skirt are amazing: the figures, flowers, hearts, and leaves are all cut from felt and hand stitched.   The skirt is light and comfortable and like all circle skirts it is beautifully full when paired with a crinoline.

                                          

Of course you can get a little tangled up when walking dogs in a full skirt, but that just adds to the fun!

I wear my Romeo and Juliette skirt with a soft knit pink top from Freddies of Pinewood that I really love and my purple snood from Arthelia's Attic.  My hairs a little short for a snood these days but I like it so much I wear it anyway.

This is a perfect fun outfit not just for Valentine's Day but for any day, and like my other Girl In A Whirl skirts it is totally unique.  

Recently I have been selling off a lot of my vintage and reproduction pieces so I can have room and funds for more!  But I haven't sold a single one of my Girl In A Whirl pieces and I never will.

Happy Valentine's Day!