Vintage/Retro Clothing & Accessories Pop Up Sale

Here's just a tiny preview of some of the candy-colored vintage goodness that will be for sale at the "Pop up" sale going on at Vintage & Modern Boutique in Newington on March 31 -- just in time for Spring!   This sale is special because it will also include pieces from several other vendors (like Fits & Starts of course!). I got a sneak peek tonight while I was there for a meeting....tons of cute hats and racks of pretty dresses....mark your calendars!

Bring this flyer with you to receive 10% OFF one item! 

Hope to see you there!

Mildred Pierce

So in preparation for the HBO remake of Mildred Pierce with Kate Winslet reaching the top of my Netflix queue, I watched the original 1945 version with Joan Crawford.  The film is a nice example of film noir, with its dames and femme fatales all decked out in quintessential fashions from the 1940s: fur coats, strong shoulder pads, whimsical hats, high heels and white flowers behind the ear.  I won't get into the plot or other elements of the film (as I rarely will here anyway, but especially with this being a murder mystery and all)...so without further ado, here's a taste of the film's fashions.

It's this 1940s look -- as exemplified in these pictures -- that actually first drew me into the world of vintage fashion many years ago. I'm working on getting authentic pieces for the shop from this era (and my inventory really is growing in fits and starts) so you will soon be able to shop Fits & Starts Vintage for this look!

Which retro look first drew you into the world of vintage clothing?

Happy Leap Year / Partial Snow Day!

Today I left work early (because of the snow) and celebrated by adding some new items to my shop...Perfect for daydreaming about warmer weather!


How did you celebrate?

Tom Palumbo

Tom Palumbo was a fashion photographer for Vogue and Harper's Bazaar during the 1950s.  His photos depict a kind of elegance and beauty that is rarely seen today (and when I do see it, I immediately think that 50s fashion photography must have been the inspiration behind it). 

 Jean Patchett, 1950

for Harper's Bazaar, 1954

‘Desert Trees’ (model:Anne St Marie) via wardrobot

Palumbo also did some great candid photographs in 1962 taken in a week long span at cafes and nightclubs in Paris.   These have a different sensibility than his editorial work, but one that is still all-together inspiring for vintage lovers today.

 Bella

 

Kissing the Hand

 Pout

 Young Lovers Embrace

 And the girls get drunk...

I found all these photos from 1962 on the blog Chasing Light, so if you like these, you can head there for more!

Happy Valentine's Day!

In true Valentine's Day spirit, my house has been a flurry of flour the past couple of days, as my roommates and I have been hard at work baking cupcakes and cookies.

Also in the spirit of Valentine's Day, I offer these red Ferragamo shoes at $5 off for one day only:

1960s Ferragamo Slinkbacks

19th Century Costume Exhibit

You learn something new everyday.  Yesterday, I learned that the UConn Home Economics Department's collection of Historical Clothing and Textiles is the largest of its kind in New England.  


Many of their garments are on display now at the William Benton Museum of Art (on the Storrs campus) for their exhibit, Women of New England: Dress from the Industrial Age, 1850-1900.


Has anyone gone to see it yet? What did you think?  (I plan to check it out soon and when I do, you can be sure I'll post something about it!)

Sneak Peak

January has always feels like longest month to me. You know, the one directly following a whirlwind of fun holiday festivities, the one when the long days & frigid temperatures really hit me.  The one preceding the spring (and my birthday) by about 2 looonnnnng months.  The month I typically spend hibernating away inside with savory food and equally savory movies on Netflix....but not this January.  Maybe it was starting the New Year in a different place than last year, both literally and figuartively,  but my January has so far been chock full of fun trips and inspiration.  

Between sunny Key West a couple of weeks ago and snowy Vermont this past weekend, the contrast in temperatures has gotten me seriously jonesing for springtime.  Fuel for my day dreams arrived in today's mail in the form of some vintage merchandise.  Here's a sneak peak (yes, they are purposely grainy...not just for the sake of looking old and artsy, but also for a little tease until these items go on sale in my shop)!