Falling for Mad Men

I have a confession to make. I had never seen Mad Men until recently. Shocking, isn’t it? With my love of vintage fashion, you would have expected me to be drooling over the wonderful stylings of Betty Draper, Joan Holloway, Trudy Campbell and the rest of the gang for ages.

Of course, the moment I saw the first episode, I was hooked. Thanks to Netflix and Amazon, I’m now caught up through the end of Season 3 and impatiently awaiting the release of Season 4 on DVD on March 29. Until then, a girl can dream…



This last photo of Trudy is from Season 4...
and I can't wait to see what happens!



A Vintage Find

My love affair with vintage style is no secret. You may recall a post earlier this summer in which I mentioned that I was considering adding some vintage looks to my own wardrobe. Soon after that, I came across a fabulous first piece at my favorite upscale resale shop. It's a vintage Lilly Pulitzer skort, which I believe is from the 70’s (though I’m not absolutely certain).

Believe it or not, the proprietors of the shop said they almost didn’t accept it because they weren’t sure any of their clientele would be interested in “something so old.” (I KNOW. What were they thinking?) Two days after it arrived, I walked in to browse their selection of Lilly and asked if they ever get any vintage pieces. Thank goodness I did, because it did not have a size tag and they put it in with the mediums, where I may not have seen it.

Here it is in all its glory:

I paired it with a simple white tee and a necklace from Talbots.

A close-up of the print. Can you see the hidden “Lilly” signature?

The vintage Lilly Pulitzer label.

Book Review: Alligators, Old Mink & New Money

Last week while browsing on Amazon, I came across Alligators, Old Mink and New Money: One Woman’s Adventures in Vintage Clothing by sisters Alison and Melissa Houtte. With a title that intriguing, I knew I had to investigate further. After downloading a sample to my Kindle, I was hooked and immediately bought the rest of the book so I could finish reading.

(Incidentally, this is one of the things I LOVE about the Kindle. If I read a sample that captures me, the rest of the book can be at my disposal instantly. No more calling around trying to find it at a local bookstore or waiting days – or worse, weeks – for it to be delivered to my doorstep. But I digress…)

The book is part memoir, part guide to vintage clothing and accessories. It details how Alison went from being a model to owning and running successful Brooklyn-based vintage clothing store Hooti Couture. Peppered with fun anecdotes about her family, buying trips, amazing finds, pricing foibles and the interesting cast of characters she meets along the way, this book had me at every turn of the page. The addition of a Vintage Shopper's Guide at the end makes this a true gift to anyone with an interest in fashion, who enjoys the thrill of the hunt and the tales that go along with it.

In short, I couldn’t put this book down.

Just Who Do I Think I Am?

I’m sure by now you all know how much I swoon over retro fashion. (Remember this post? And this one?) But it’s been awhile since I’ve attempted to add actual vintage pieces to my wardrobe. (Five or six years ago I had a few less than ideal Ebay experiences with vintage clothing that convinced me to stick with buying what I know… )


Lately I find myself having a lot of Lucy Ricardo wardrobe fantasies.

With all of the adorable, reputable vintage shops now online, I’m considering taking the plunge and ordering a vintage dress or two.

Maybe something like this…

Or this…

Both Dresses Are Listed At Dorothea's Closet Vintage


But the real question is, can a modern mom of three pull this off? (And really, where would I wear these?) Just who do I think I am?

Do you own any vintage pieces? If so, how do you integrate them into the rest of your wardrobe? If you don’t, do you ever consider buying some?

Retro Glam

I apologize for being so absent from blogging this week. One of my twins, Little Mr. G, has been sick. He’s battling a nose and throat infection, and was put on antibiotics on Monday. It’s always difficult to see your children sick, but it’s particularly tough this time because he’s only 5 months old. Fortunately, he is feeling a lot better today so I found a moment to flip through the June/July issue of Harper’s Bazaar while all three children were napping. Have you seen these stunning photos of Katherine Heigl? This is the ultimate in retro chic.

Photographs by Alexi Lubomirski

I am particularly lusting over the Prada dress in this last photo. I feel like I NEED it, but at $3,565, it’s just a wee bit out of my price range, so I guess I will have to adore it from afar. (Actually, I love everything about that last photo – the gorgeous dress, the adorable pumps, that terrace, the wrought-iron patio furniture with the striking cushions, and the vase of lovely hydrangeas... Just heavenly.)

If you would like to see more photos from this shoot and read the accompanying article, visit the Harper's Bazaar website.  And speaking of Harper’s Bazaar, Amazon is currently offering a 1-year subscription for just $8 or a 2-year subscription for $15. I LOVE magazines, and I have a tough time restraining myself at the newsstand, so I jumped at the chance to save some hard-earned dollars on a must-read. I thought some of you might appreciate the tip, as well.

What about you? What magazines do you love? And do you love these 1950’s style fashions as much as I do?

Fashioning “An Education”

Instead of venturing to the beach this weekend, my Hubby and I decided to spend the holiday relaxing at home with our three little boys and enjoying some wonderful food and films. One of our movie selections was An Education, starring Peter Sarsgaard and Carey Mulligan. Set in England in 1961, it is the tale of a young girl’s coming of age. While I definitely enjoyed the storyline, I was most taken with the fashion. This is lady-like dressing at its finest.

If you are a lover of vintage fashion, this film is definitely a must-see.


Photos ©2009 Sony Pictures Classics, courtesy of Hollywood.com.