rochas spring 2010

I'm loving what Rochas has lined up for Spring. Okay, it's true, my bank account sadly cannot afford me actual Rochas, but I'll definitely be looking to this line for inspiration from now until...

It's as if Marco Zanini pulled the best of from the 20s, 30s and 40s to create this vibrant vintagy collection. And the colors. Oh the colors! It's refreshing to see a Spring line that strays from the usual girly pastels and opts for more traditional Fall shades.


Corsages on belts? Yes please! I already see a few DIY projects and craft store visits in my future. And those sunnies are perfectly 1940s although I can't say if they're Rochas or not. I'll be on the prowl for an inexpensive pair that's for sure...Any ideas?


What I'm really loving about this collection though, are the tap pants. I need to get a pair stat. Aren't these gorgeous? The cream and tangerine numbers are especially adorable. They remind me of a slinky 1920s swimsuit, something I would also love to have in my wardrobe.

what's to come

I love lazy Sunday afternoons with a dash of work thrown in. I'm about to break for an Irish Coffee, then back to work as I'm hoping to have this update for the shop finished by bedtime!

jackson, johnston & roe

I love it when there's an interesting story behind a name, especially when it's a simple tribute to the women in your life. The ladies behind Jackson, Johnston & Roe, for example, simply strung their mother's maiden names together and their Brooklyn-based baby was born! (Insert little know fact here: Dalena Vintage is actually a combination of my name with my two best lady friends, D'Arcy and Nancy.)

And oh how happy they've made fashionistas with their laid back frocks and easy-to-wear separates. It's nice to invest in pieces you can just throw on and instantly look put together, no?


Can I please throw a tea party in this space? Hot tea. Fizzy Swedish mimosas. Thick clotted cream. Fresh strawberry jam. Flaky Scones. If you're drooling at this point, have a look at Kitchen by Michele Cranston. Best. Cookbook. Ever.


Speaking of cooking, wouldn't you just love to put one of these aprons to use right now? Bake a batch of deliciousness, then throw on one of those dresses and lose all your worries?


Aren't these images just lovely? They're from Riley Salyards, one of three ladies behind Jackson, Johnston & Roe. LOVE + An extra helping of hearts.

the 1920s bra a la leslie

Combine one part lack of motivation with one part procrastination, and Tuesday's project easily becomes Friday's! I had planned on whipping this up earlier in the week but didn't end up picking up the hankies until yesterday morning and then waited until this afternoon to delve into stitching. So really I'm only a few days behind schedule, not too shabby for someone who is quite talented in the art of procrastination!

Et voila! Here's what happened when I followed that 1920s tutorial on crafting a bra from hankies I posted earlier this week...



The video was not exactly detail oriented, so I ended up straying a bit from the tutorial along the way and doing several alterations to the final piece, including darts to make the cups a bit more shapely. I don't know if you'd ever catch me wearing this as an actual bra, but it is definitely comfy for bedtime!

the 1920s bra

Sometimes, okay quite often, I have no self control when it comes to opening my mouth about something I'm excited about. This morning I was trying to find fashion videos from the 1920s and came across this lovely video tutorial from the 1920s on how to stitch a bra from those two handkerchiefs you've got just milling about in your linen closet. I wanted to wait and post the video along with my own tutorial and photos of my very own finished bra, but alas, I could not wait!



After watching this I wondered, just why exactly are these tiny pieces of fabric laced with ribbon and elastic considered a bra? I mean, after all, they barely seem to offer any actual support!

Lo and behold, after a bit of research, I found out that bras made in the early 1920s were usually hand-stitched from white cotton. Support? Forget about it, they were really no more than a bodice that served to separate your two little ladies. And for those larger ladies, well they often took to bandaging their breasts flat to accomplish that ever-so-stylish boyish figure. Ouch!

I'm saving this little project for tomorrow afternoon and will be sure to post photos and hopefully a tutorial that's a little more detailed. Given my history of procrastination, you better hold me to it!

what's to come

So here are the final finds from my recent San Antonio thrifting adventure. I'm quite the lucky gal to get to spend days thrifting with my mom and aunt. Twins, yes, and both of whom were uber stylish ladies in their time. What am I talking about...It's still their time! And they're still quite stylish!

My favorite is the Catholic sailor blouse which is actually fit for a kiddo. If I were to keep it, I'm pretty sure it would be making a weekly appearance in my wardrobe. Anywho, enjoy the finds. They'll be up in the shop within the next couple days.

what's to come

Nestling into a quite night of work while watching Paul Newman in Sweet Bird of Youth and eating chocolate pudding. Delicious. Mr. Newman that is! And I suppose the pudding isn't bad either.

You'll be able to find the following lovelies in the shop by morning. I am oh so excited about the 1940s Georgia Wells dress with double peter pan collar!