Big Modcloth Sale!

Summer's going out with a bang at ModCloth! Nab 100s of last-chance summer looks and autumn-ready must-haves at up to 30% off during the Go 'Fall' Out sale. 

Want to get in on the sale action early? App users get first dibs on all the deals, so download it for FREE today!

Here are some of my favs:

 




Can you see the theme?  I have been on a red kick lately. Hope you don't mind!





















**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links.

Vinyl Junkies Rejoice!

                                             

I just got an e-mail from Amazon.com that when you buy a CD or LP that is available through their Autorip program, you instantly get the MP3 version for FREE! This is great news for audiophiles like me that love their vinyl, but don't like to play it on a regular basis for fear of not being able to replace it.

They have some good classic music available too. Below are some of my picks:

Plus Size Rockabilly Sailor Dress ON SALE

I came across this adorable plus size sailor dress on Modcloth.com today and it is on sale! Only $48.99 and in 1X-3X (43-53" bust sizes). Snatch it up quick!

UPDATE- now it's only $34.99! Yowza!

Vintage Hollywood Glamour

Pic from historiful.tumbler

Pic from BlueVelvetVintage

There is nothing like the Hollywood glamour of the Golden Age of film during the 30s & 40s. Everything seemed to have a little more class back then, plus the fashion was to die for. Movies had amazing costume designers, like Adrian and Edith Head, and the public was quick to emulate the elegant style they saw on the big screen. If you have never work a garment cut on the bias, you need to add it to your bucket list. It hangs beautifully on your curves and looks great on all body types

Perhaps part of the charm of that time is that celebrities were a bit more mysterious. Obviously, they had as many scandals as we do now, which is made evident by the content in the files of famed Hollywood private detective Fred Otash, recently made public for the first time.

So in the spirit of Hollywood Glamour, I put together an Etsy treasury of some fabulous goodies.

Vintage Hollywood Treasury by Tart Deco

Best Bra for a Vintage Rockabilly Shape

Okay, I am going to "go there" and talk about bras. As a plus-size, hourglass gal who loves vintage styles, I would get SO frustrated with the lack of support and proper shaping with the molded cup bras that are so popular nowadays. Seriously, they suck. 

So after spending a day at a Boston Store trying on ALL of the bras, I stumbled upon the Lillyette Enchantment 3-section cup bra. Once I put it on, in the right size, it was like the clouds parted and angels started singing in the heavens. [OK, maybe not angels, but I started humming a nice little ditty.] The sections in the cup gave me more lift and the slightest point, perfect for Rockabilly styles. Lillyette also has a great 2-section Enchantment minimizer bra that also gives a great shape, especially under a sweater. And it comes in a leopard print- rowr!

Here's the best part- both bras are on sale for $15 dollars right now!! One piece of advice before you order online, go to a department store that has a decent bra section and try on a few sizes of the Lillyette bras. I ended up in a different size than I used to purchase because of the new shape of the seamed cups. Also, the whole measurement formula to find your size doesn't work, especially when you get into plus sizes, so please take the time to try them on. You'll thank me!

Vintage Bangs at Va-Voom Vintage

Brittany at Va-Voom Vintage is having a week of vintage bang tutorials. Day one- Audrey Hepburn. Great start! Be sure to visit everyday for some adorable vintage hair styles.

Shabby Apple

I have been a long time fan of Shabby Apple and their vintage-inspired dresses. A few years ago I even had a giveaway of one of their skirts, which went over like gangbusters. Well, this time, I get to review one of their dresses and I can't wait to get it! I chose the one above, At First Sight, a beautiful plum wrap dress from their bridesmaid line. I went with an XL, which is slightly smaller than my normal size, but being that it is a stretch fabric and a wrap dress, I should be fine. Plus, wrap dresses are extremely flattering to my hourglass figure. I really love the ruffle detail, don't you?

So, if you love vintage clothing, head on over to Shappy Apple and see what they have. Their sale section also has some really beautiful items right now.

UPDATE:
Unfortunately, they ran out of the At First Sight dress in my size, so I went with the Gondola Dress with a red top. Its a bit more playful than the first dress, so more of an everyday look. However, I think it could be perfect for North Carolina summers, which I am still getting used to since my move here. It has a bit of a French flair too, so now I have a reason to wear my beret!

Daniela Turudich Vintage Lifestyle Books Reprint!

I am so excited to see on Amazon.com that some of the Daniela Turudich books are going to be reprinted in July 2013. Right now there are four titles that will be available, but I have a feeling that if they do well others won't be far behind.

Below are the books available that you can pre-order at a really great price. I also included 2 books that are not in print at this time, but still have a few copies floating around.

Butterick Hollywood-Inspired Challenge

Butterick is having its 150th anniversary this year and they are having a contest to celebrate. Create a vintage-inspired garment based on one of their current patterns and you can win some cool swag. For more info, visit the challenge webpage. The challenge ends June 20, 2013, so plenty of time to sew!

I would LOVE to enter this, if I can find some time. An obvious choice would be to pick something from their retro line. But, a quick look at some of their other patterns shows a lot of promise as well. My favorite is the Marfy tunic and skirt. This could easily be modified into a 1920s or 30s dress, don't you think?

Gatsby Overkill?

A piece from Tart Deco  "Blue Magoo"

We knew it would happen. I am referring to the slew of Great Gatsby on the internet. In some ways I am glad because it could mean a boost in sales for my 20s hair accessories, as well as many of my colleagues who make some amazing stuff.

[start rant] However, there is a part of me that gets steamed because everyone and their mother is tagging items "Great Gatsby" or "1920s", or my favorite "Gatsby Inspired," when the item is not even close! Don't get me wrong, I am a big fan of interpreting historical trends and I do it myself, especially in designing steampunk items. BUT- Vintage does not necessarily mean something can cover multiple time periods, especially when we are talking fashion. For example, there is a big difference between a 1940s silhouette and a 1920s silhouette. 'Nuff said. Even J. Peterman, who I normally adore, sent out an notice today about their newest online catalog called Gatsby Inspired. Sorry kids, I was unimpressed, especially because their amazing beaded "flapper" dress was not included. Perhaps I am overreacting? [end rant]

To end this on a positive note, I created a treasury of items by some of my etsy pals who have been selling and making 1920s/30s and Art Deco items for a while now.

I Had It All Along- 20s treasury

Also, when you get a chance, make sure and check out the latest Hey Doll! Magazine issue, which has a Great Gatsby theme. There a some really nice articles, plus a quick and easy 20s Day Dress tutorial (with pattern!). Let's support our blog pals Brittany Va-Voom and Bunny Moreno!

Click to view Issue Four: May {1920's/ Gatsby} on GLOSSI.COM

I'm Back!

Long time, no post :) I have had just about everything under the sun happen since my last post and I have been trying to get my blogging mojo back. Probably the biggest news is that I relocated to North Carolina and I am the new Music Librarian at Elizabeth City State University. I am actually creating a music library from scratch and it has all been very excited! If anyone is interested in following the process, I have created a blog. Yes. One more blog to upkeep because I have been so great at keeping up this one! Of course, that one is for work, so there is a bit more motivation in a time crunch. 

However, I happened to come across an interview I gave a few years ago on the Simply Stacie Blog that may motivate me to get this blog back up to snuff. There are so many blogs out there that cover vintage lifestyles and items. For those of you that are still with me, is there anything you would like to see in a blog that no one else is doing? Or is there something I used to do that you wish I did again?

Heads up readers- if you give me some input, you will get extra entries in a vintage giveaway that I will be having soon!

Moving Sale!

MOVING SALE! I got a job in North Carolina and now I have to move across the country. My gain is your gain- everything in my shop is 30% off until December 5th! Use the coupon code HAPPYMOVE.

Here's a preview of what is available right now:

Sweet Nothings: Women in Rockabilly Music

Janis Martin, 1956, Age 15

Image courtesy of the WRVA Collection, Library of Virginia

After 6 1/2 years of graduate school and much blood, sweat and tears, my Master's thesis "Sweet nothings: women in rockabilly music: LaVern Baker and Janis Martin" has been published and is available for download (free!) online through my university. It is 99 pages of rockabilly goodness, focusing on LaVern Baker and Janis Martin, of course.

Lewin-Lane, Stephanie P., "Sweet nothings: women in rockabilly music: LaVern Baker and Janis Martin" (2012). Theses and Dissertations. Paper 11. http://dc.uwm.edu/etd/11

The most exciting part is that I was granted permission to include transcripts of several interviews with Janis Martin, and her mother Jewel, that have never been available for scholarship. This was through the generosity of documentary filmmakers Beth Harrington (Welcome to the Club) and Elizabeth Blozan (Rebel Beat: The Story of L.A. Rockabilly).

Do yourself a favor and check it out. It's an easy read, if I do say so myself!

Shabby Apple Sale

Shabby Apple has a new line of clothing that I just adore! It's called Highclere Castle and it is glamorous, with a vintage flair. Kind of like Katherine Hepburn meets Marlene Dietrich.  Right now they are having a sale. Click the picture below to get 10% off.

Craftsy Classes on Sale until Sept 17

Just got an email today that Craftsy classes are on sale for $19.99 until Sept. 17th. So many rockabillies are DIYers so I thought I'd put this out in the blogosphere. Here are some of my faves:

Sew Retro Perfect Bombshell Dresses

Drab to Fab Furniture Upcycling

Product Photography Primer

Red Hot Plus-Size Rockabilly Dress

Modcloth has an adorable plus-size dress that is fun, flirty and RED. It's called the Singing Shirley Dress. The cut looks comfortable and conforming to your curves. At $49.99 the price can't be beat.

Sweet Revenge by Tart Deco

This dress would look super cute with this Tart Deco hairflower...

Vivien of Holloway Hiring

For any of my readers that live in London (or want to and need an excuse to move), the amazing vintage reproduction fashion company Vivien of Holloway is hiring! It looks like they need various positions filled, and they say they are looking for "candidates with a passion for vintage, a hard-working ethic and an open personality. We’re recruiting in many areas from office administration to the shop floor."

If I hadn't already spent $140,000 and the last 7 years getting two Master's degrees to be a librarian, I might think about it...

If you worked there, you would be seeing beauties like this all day!

Sin In Linen- Rockabilly and Tiki Linens

I just came across the Sin in Linen website today and it is to die for! Why sleep on everyday sheets when you can rock it up, right? I can't wait til I am done with graduate school and get a day job so I can buy some of these lovelies. They do have a sale section though, so maybe I don't have to wait.

They carry bedding, kitchen, home decor and bath items. They also have baby bedding! I also like that it is a woman-run business and they have a great tagline- "Try Something New in Bed!" Doesn't get any better than that...

Plus-Size Rockabilly

I put together a fun Etsy treasury today with some great plus-sized rockabilly items available right now. Its called Rock Your Baby and if you get any of the items, you surely will!

Rock Your Baby- Plus-size Rockabilly

Pin-up Playlist

I may have mentioned once or twice that I am now writing for the fabulous magazine Victory Girls, which is a vintage-lifestyle magazine based out of Madison, Wisconsin. My latest article is on 40s & 50s music to play while you get ready to go out on the town. I put together a playlist for people to listen to the tunes, and here it is: