The Fitted and Fabulous Forties

The 1940’s are of keen interest to me.  The war had an interesting effect on fashion.  During the war, women were thrust into jobs previously filled by men, and access to fabrics was limited.  Due to the nature of the new class of working women, sportswear became more popular and the image of the woman was inching into the man's fashion world with suits, pants, and jackets.  Elsa Schiaparelli popularized attention to the shoulders, adding pleats, padding and enhancing the silhouette of the 1930’s.  This trend remained popular throughout the decade.  I enjoy the fitted frocks and how women maintained a feminine look with a red lip and curls.
This vintage navy and green frock is from the 1940's.  It belonged to my dear friend Betsey Brooks, who was a long time vintage “brick and mortar” owner in Brookline, MA.  Betsey was known for her keen sense of fashion and dresses to die for!

Elsa Schiaparelli suit ca. 1939 via The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art  (Source: omgthatdress)

Schiaparelli jacket 1940's (Source: metmuseum)

Elsa Schiaparelli suit ca. 1938 via The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (Source: omgthatdress)

Looking to own a beautiful 1940's frock:
Lilli Ann 40s Vintage Suit Jacket - Size S at Vintage Dress UpGal
LILLI ANN Suit Jacket. Nipped Waist, Peplum Black Copper Boucle Fabric. Size S, XS at EndlessAlley Vintage
Vintage 1940s suit lilli ann collectible black white stitching and rhinestone details at SHES A BETTIE Boutique

Cream of the Frock

White is ultimately my favorite shade.  It may be simple but always elegant.  I love how Zara added a touch of studs to the collar of a simple white sheer blouse.  I paired it with a pair of vintage YSL cream high waited cropped pants.  I'm an advocate for 50 shades of white year round!! Cream is surely a way to be the cream of the frocks in any season.


Shirt- Zara (similar here), Pants-Vintage YSL, Belt-Vintage, Earrings-Vintage Carlisle, Sunglasses-SEE Eyewear
Shades of White in all 4 Seasons:
Fall- Cream Flowing Pants

Winter-Cream Cable Knit Cashmere 

Spring: White Dresses & Skirts

Summer-The Perfect White T-Shirt

Laced in Fun

Brides aren't the only ones who can get laced! 60's and 70's boho chic style dresses are resurfacing in high end fashion; such as designer Phillip Lim and most recently in Valentino S/S Haute Couture 2012.  I love how lace is incorporated in modern eloquent ways; where bridal lace no longer applies and fun frilled lace can hit the town!  I love attention to detail.  This vintage lace frock was a true original beauty.  This dress made me feel so empowered and carefree.

Dress-Vintage, Sunglasses- Vintage Tossa, Shoes Alexandra Neel

Phillip Lim Lace Shift

Valentino S/S Haute Couture 2012 Collection

The Sunny Sixty's Shift

Finding the perfect Sixty's Shift is a hard task for the modern woman.  Women with figures do not want to look like they are wearing a potato sack.  Even Marilyn Monroe, infamous for her killer curves and terrific figure barely pulled off the burlap look, and even then it was only to silence a naysaying newspaper columnist.

This lovely Citron yellow dress, however, from the adorable Etsy shop Coral Vintage couldn't be further from formless. It was a fabulous find from an equally fabulous place. Coral Vintage is an online store specializing in vintage with a modern twist. When I first spotted the dress, I jumped for my wallet, enlarging the photos as I rushed to purchase this beauty.

The common refrain amongst dedicated shoppers like myself, is that when you order vintage online, you can't inspect the items prior to purchase, leaving the evaluation of year and determination of quality solely up to the seller.  This fear was gone to the wayside after shopping at Coral Vintage.  When the dress arrived it was in perfect packaging, pristine condition, and Christine Power, owner of Coral Vintage, had incorporated a nice touch with a cleverly designed logo tag pined to the dress so eloquently.  I was impressed with the fact that I was buying a dress that was over 40 years old and I felt like I had just gone to a fancy boutique and purchased a three figure item.   For those who love a good vintage find, you should shop at Coral Vintage.  The thrill, the quality and the beauty are enough to keep your closet full for years.

Dress-Vintage, Shoes-Alexandra Neel (here), Watch-Michael Kors (similar here), Bracelets-Vintage

The PinUp Girl's Swim Suit

Bridget Jones made the retro comeback for her scene with the infamous "Granny Panties."  High waisted swim suits or as some men like to call "Granny Panties" are a very elegant and feminine look taking us back to the 1940's and 50's.  I was pleased to see the pinup style swim suit this year circulating in the fashion magazines.  Thank god!  The "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Wheenie Bikini"  that leaves nothing for the imagination has now transformed our beaches into the "Slender Whender Wonderful One-Piece."  I was lucky to score a beautiful black and cream eyelet swim suit from this lovely vintage store in Jamaica Plain, MA called Cafe Society. 

Good Harbor Beach-Gloucester, MA

Vintage Swim Suit Advertisements

If you are looking for a lovely retro find for the beach this year, here are a few of my favorites for sale:

Vtg 50's PinUp Swim Suit at Starving Dog Vintage - $60.00
Vtg 50's Blue Roses at TallulahsJunkTrunk - $50.00
Vtg 1940's Pinup Swim Suit in Rare Floral Print at DivingHorseVintage -$295.00