Let's Talk 50s.

So let's talk. The 1950s have been in demand for quite some time amongst the vintage people. I saw it really get going in the late 70s and early 1980s, when longer fuller skirts came back in style, along with belted waists. Plus it was 30 years old then, ( my parents wore this!) and that's old enough for nostalgia, i.e. Grease.  And then there's James Dean. And Elvis. And rockabilly. And

Party Time! In Vintage Fashion, Naturally

It's January, and yes, New Year's and Christmas have passed, but Valentines is on the way. And you could also have an actual birthday party for George Washington and Abraham Lincoln - oh heck, make it two! Actually, my grandmother did bake cherry cakes with white icing for Washington's Birthday, so hey - why not? Then there's spring proms, and weddings, so yes, party dresses know no season. And

Jacques Fath & Norman Norell are Here!

They are here! Well, I guess it's better to say they are there! In other words, the Jacques Fath and the Norman Norell dresses are up at Past Perfect Vintage. These are from the same source, and my, wouldn't we all like to see what else was in that closet? Oh yes, we would.Now I have mentioned Norman Norell quite a bit lately. He and Fath make quite a contrast. Norell was as American as they

New Vintage Dresses - yes, I know that's a contradiction...........

Oh yes, I feel the contradiction every time I mention 'new' vintage clothing. But what else can I say? we have new items up in our Past Perfect Vintage Etsy shop. And they are vintage. So there you have it. The proverbial contradiction in terms. The classic oxymoron. But I will soldier on and show you the goodies:First, a beautiful cream crepe gown c. 1938 - 40 with a zipper front, gold studs

Dresses, Dresses, Dresses & Some Are Red

It's time for wool. Even though it was 72 degrees today, as soon as the sun went down, the temps dropped fast and it was very cool. And next week the highs here will be in the low 60s and 50s. I can get out my fall clothes at long last.I must say I am really, truly ready. And I am into wool this year, even though I am allergic to it. Camisoles, T-shirts, turtlenecks - I have vowed I will do

Coming Soon to a Vintage Website Near You

It has been the season of catch up here at Past Perfect Vintage. We have spent Volumes of time getting the fall leaves up and building a new porch. A few more studs and some siding, and it would have been another room on the house. All worthwhile endeavors, but they eat up the time. Preparing wonderful vintage clothes for the website has actually felt like playing hooky! When a trip to the

A 50s Assortment

Day 2 of our September Updates at Past Perfect Vintage, and it's a 1950s assortment pack. We have a red rose print in silk from Tabak of California, a royal blue and white hand embroidered Chinese made robe from the post war years, a navy blue silk Oleg Cassini dress with ecru frog details and a black silk Anne Fogarty cocktail sheath dress. Silk, Flowers and Frogs! There was a theme, I knew

August Additions: The Last Fling of Summer

It has been a summer of record heat. Fortunately, no drought as of yet, but my goodness, the heat and humidity. And in the Ohio River Valley, it takes a lot of humidity for us to even notice it. August is the time to start showing the Fall and Winter woolens, which we did - more on those tomorrow- but with this heat I decided I had to add these summer pieces. There's still time to wear them here

Pretty Designer Dresses, 1950s edition

Today's post is eye candy. We have two pretty 1950s cocktail dresses new to Past Perfect Vintage, and it's time to share them here. The first is a striking black silk by the California designer Dorothy O'Hara. The neckline is where this dress shines. It's an unusual cut with nude marquisette yoke to show the shoulder and an inset of backed marquisette to echo the V of the neckline. The back yoke

Vintage Patterns - cool stuff

Just a quickie tonight - it's got way late, way fast. Watering plants at 9:45 in the dark will do that. And it's way too late to attempt something clever. The brain just wants a snack and bedtime. So just a quick notice that we have started posting up 26 vintage patterns from the mid 1950s to 1960s, mostly McCall's and Simplicity, with a couple nice Vogues and Advances each. So keep an eye out at

Jo Copeland and the New Mannequin

We acquired this lovely dress by Patullo-Jo Copeland several months ago. But it just didn't look right on my old Teens dress form. Or the size 34 bust Wolfe dressmaking form. Or the size 32 bust white display form. The age old Vintage Dealer Dilemma: lovely dress, no form to show it off. So she has languished a bit.I finally summed the courage, really energy, and started the hunt to replace Miss

A Contrast in 50s

As frequent readers know, this is not an authoritative blog on vintage clothing. It's not even a terribly well organized look at past fashions. This is a blog for pretty and/or interesting garments, a few observations, the odd whimsy. Whatever strikes the author on a given day. In that vein, the contrast between these two dresses made me muse a bit today.Item the First: Earylish 1950s black

The 1950s is Black

More and more 50s. We found even more 50s in our hunts. The Delmans make me want the small feet I don't have. Haven't worn this size since I was oh, in 5th grade. Maybe 4th.But they sure are pretty. Doeskin with beaded buckles,slingback, peep toes and a nice slim heel. 1950s Delman shoes now available at Past Perfect Vintage And they would be perfect with this Luis Estevez dress. Lovely scoop

Spring in the 50s = Silk Flowers

Even more 1950s fun. This time we show you 2 silk twill dresses in a late 50s silhouette. Very Slim, very Sleek. These two dresses were most likely one woman's. Both are dressmaker made and beautifully done, with silk linings and silk bound seams. The red poppy dress has a clever dropped hem panel with a belt, although it is made with a piped waist seam so as to look finished without. The gray

A 50s Fiesta!

The 1950s. The 50s dresses are fighting the 1920s for supremacy here at Past Perfect. First up is a blue, black and white abstract print in a silk twill with a black faille inset waistband.The nifty button tab detail doesn't show in the photos, but it's there. The bateau neckline and dolman sleeve combination is a favorite of mine. That's the price of entering the adult fashion market in the

Rain+ Sunday+ Spring = Vintage Florals

It's a Sunday. A Sunday that can't decide between sunshine and rain. Typical March. Typical Ohio Vally March But the daffodils are still out, the tulips and lilac have buds, and a few trees are starting to have that wonderful green haze.So onto Spring. And it is time! They say florals are hot for spring. Well, Of Course. What else would be? Black wool tweed? We aren't crazy out here you know.

Carolyn Shnurer

I must admit that Carolyn Schnurer was a name that had not even wandered through my consciousness until, say, 5 years ago. This is what happpens when you focus pretty exclusively on pre-1945 vintage clothing. You miss out on a lot. And you find yourself trying to catch up with a lot of great work from the 50s and 60s that you always were a little shy of because it meant revisiting your own past.

Think Pink! ( & yellow, & green &........)

Is there a more evocative color than pink? Girly, feminine, candy cotton pink? Shell pink? Rose pink? I doubt it. I am too old to wear most pink now. Maybe a deep fuschia or magenta, or a even a shocking pink in small doses, but not the lovely pastel or shell pinks. But I enjoy it nonetheless. And in Vintage clothing, it's grand color. Summery, Springy and Fresh. That and jonquil yellow and

The Real McCoy ( 1950s, Vintage Version)

This is the Real McCoy. Marian McCoy, that is. Do I know who she was? Sorry, no. There were a lot of good California based designers in the post war years. They brought a lot to the table/dress form. This three piece set has the breezy style of 1950s California in a pale aqua blue wool knit with cream applique and aurora borealis rhinestones. Give this gal a convertible, and she will be as happy

That Past Perfect Vintage Sale? It Ends Soon!

Don't Forget!The First Ever Vintage Designer Sale at Past Perfect Vintage ends so very soon - Dec 31st!There's still time to get a great Vintage Dress or Gown for New Year's Eve if you hurry..............there's always Express Mail, you know. If you can't decide whether to go short or long, there's this great pink chiffon 1950s gown in our The 40s and 50s section with a Fabulous beaded bodice,