Vintage Fall Fashion Preview @ Shuushuu by Lulu

I enjoyed putting these photo montages together. I think next time I am going to try actual collages of inspiring patterns, textures, etc. to combine with the vintage fashion images…we’ll see what happens next time. but for now this is for today!

Fall Preview for Women I

Coro Ice Blue Rhinestone Earrings

Coro Circular Wave Brooch

John Hort Lucite handle Patent Leather Handbag

Anne Klein Autumn Stripe Blouse

Harve Bernard Gray Wool Trousers

Fall Preview for Women II

Army Green Military style Blazer from Escada

Anne Klein Black Wool Pleated Skirt

Nina Ricci Banana Cream Gold Stripe Earrings

Kate Spade Animal Print Pony hair Shoes

Champagne 1970s Bow Tie Bodysuit

Monet Filigree Gold Tone Flower Brooch

Fall Preview for Men I

Croydon Khaki Green Trench Coat

Swank Mother of Pearl Gold tone Cuff Links

Burberry Crisp White Cotton French Cuffed Shirt

Valentino Black and Gold Relief Pattern Silk Necktie

Lorry Green and Black Wool Knitted Cardigan

Yah or Nah on my attempt at Photo Montage?

Blog: www.vintagenorth.wordpress.com

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Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/Shuushuubylulu

I hope that you have enjoyed this post…Till Next Time!!!

Back to School: What’s New in Store

Labour Day is quickly approaching and back to school merchandise is sold by the crate loads. Books, binders, pens, Oh my!!!! What about what to wear? I remember the first day of school was really important, especially if it was a new school, even high school. Even though, I knew some of the kids moving into grade 9, who had graduated with me, I also knew I would be meeting new kids from other schools as well.

Wearing the new duds made a first impression, that spoke volumes about your personality. After my first year in high school it wasn’t so important to keep up those first impressions but more important to be unique. I see so much conformity among young people today that expressing your individuality seems to lead to separation, rather than integration. But I found friends that were like-minded, we shared the same taste in music, we liked to dress in black and shopped in vintage stores.

We were not the cool kids, but we were cool to each other. We didn’t seek to impress anyone else but each other. We bought ¾ length wool car coats, sailor caps, Parachute jackets, Balloon pants and long, ankle length skirts. We wore black sweaters that were way too big and covered from neck to knees.

We wore different colors in our hair, our earrings were long and dangled down to our clavicles and we listened to INXS, The Cure and Siouxie and the Bandshees.

I have chosen some items, which will be uploaded into my store Shuushuu by Lulu for the Autumn. Whether you wear them for school or a new job or an evening out with friends, I think you will be able to express yourself in style! (Coming Soon!!!!)

1970s White Jersey Dress in Vogue vs Diane Von Furstenberg Black Jersey Maxi Dress

This classic style dress can be worn with a contrasting belt sitting on the hips. Because of its shirt design and its length it can be worn so many different ways.

Black Floral 1970s Jersey Body Suit vs 1970s Body Suit in Vogue Magazine

The Anne Klein Black Wool Pleated Skirt, as shown in Vogue magazine September 1973

These two pieces would be fabulous worn together with a great wide belt. The skirt is a beautiful thick wool crepe designed by Anne Klein and features the Lion Head Trademark on the label.

I hope you enjoyed this blog…Till Next Time!!!

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Dating Vintage by Fabric

The Vintage Fashion Guild recently released a comprehensive guide to fabrics, which includes textures, types of printed patterns, weave, and material. As I was perusing the different fabrics listed there were a few items I think needed to be mentioned to aid in dating vintage clothing as well. Some of these do fall under the category of Polyester and have Trademark names, because the fibres were produced/created by different companies. Companies like ENKA, Imperial Chemical Industries and Dupont. Polyesters are made from chemical substances found mainly in petroleum and are manufactured in fibers. I have included the link to this site:

http://vintagefashionguild.org/fabric-resource-a-z

Crimplene: (polyester) is a thick yarn used to make a fabric of the same name. The resulting cloth is heavy, wrinkle-resistant and retains its shape well. Britain’s defunct ICI Fibres Laboratory developed the fibre in the early 1950s and named it after the Crimple Valley in the UK in which the company was situated. Crimplene was used in garments that required a permanently pressed look, such as skirts and trousers. The fabric enjoyed popularity upon introduction in the 1950s in response to its convenient ‘wash-and-wear’ properties. Crimplene was often used to make the typical A-line dress and 1960s fashion. Likewise, it was popular amongst men in British MOD culture for use in garish button down shirts. In the early 1970s, Crimplene began to fall out of fashion. Other, lighter-weight polyester fabrics like Trevira replaced Crimplene for their ease of movement and ventilation.

Crimplene Label on a 1960s Tennis Dress

Trevira: is a thermoplastic polymer resin of the polyester family and is used in synthetic fibers. Polyester is naturally resilient, meaning it doesn’t wrinkle easily and wrinkles tend to fall out overnight. There were a selection of Vintage Advertisements for this fabric in the 1970s in Vogue magazine.

Trevira Star Vintage Ad Vogue May 1970

Dacron: 1960/70s trademark for a polyester fiber. Dacron is a condensation polymer obtained from ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid. Its properties include high tensile strength, high resistance to stretching, both wet and dry, and good resistance to degradation by chemical bleaches and to abrasion. The continuous filament yarn is used in curtains, dress fabrics, high-pressure fire hoses, men’s shirts, and thread. The staple fiber is ideal for mixing with wool in men’s and women’s suits, as well as in dress fabrics, knitted wear, and washable woven sportswear.

Dacron Advertisement as seen in Vogue 1970s

Celanese Arnel: 1940/50s. AAn Acetate fiber. Just defined as ”synthetic fabric”. Later, you may get your knuckles rapped by the Celanese Corporation, which happens to make Arnel with a capital ”A” and points out that it is a triacetate fiber and not a fabric.

Celanese Arnel Fabric Vintage Advertisement. Cute Skirt!

Orlon: Acrylic. The Dupont Corporation created the first acrylic fibers in 1941 and trademarked them under the name Orlon.

Bianchini Silk: Vintage fabric of silk made by reknowned manufacturer Bianchini- Ferier. Bianchini Férier (originally Atuyer Bianchini Férier) was created in 1888 by three former employees of one of the city’s renowned manufacturers of high fashion silks. They embarked on the manufacture and sale of the highest quality silk fabrics, the haute nouveauté. This was the sector of fabric manufacture most closely linked to Parisian high fashion dress design

Tricopaque: A blend of fibers, including Nylon. I have seen lounge wear in this fabric, most notably from Vanity Fair.

Some of the fabrics or fiber names you may come across in vintage clothing are trademarks and may be mentioned on the labels. These include Vycron, Encron, Corfam, Qiana, Avril, Antron III Nylon and Mylar.

Vycron Advertisment in Life Magazine August 1960

For more information there is a comprehensive handy guide here:

http://reviews.ebay.com/Identifying-Fabrics-amp-Fibers-Details-amp-Burn-Tests?ugid=10000000000951489

Sandra Leichman- Fashion Illustrator

I could not find very much information on Stephen Keyes, so I tried Sandra Leichman. There wasn’t very much information on the internet about this American fashion illustrator either. Although both artists had features in Vogue magazine presented in different advertisements, there isn’t very much biographical info out there. Sandra Leichman was a staff artist for Fairchild, which also included artists like Antonio Lopez and Steven Meisel among others. There is a book called WWD Illustrated in which Sandra Leichman is featured. As well, a curator named Charles Kleibacker did an exhibition of these works for an Ohio institution back in 2008. The purpose of such an exhibition, featured some 50 garments and more than 100 illustrations, allowed it to expand on the idea of the interplay between garments and their illustrations.

Here are a few examples of Sandra Leichman’s Work as seen in Vogue:

Sandra Leichman- Fashion Illustrator Vogue Nov 1973

Sandra Leichman- Fashion Illustrator Vogue Nov 1975

Sandra Leichman- Fashion Illustrator Vogue Oct 1976

If anyone has information regarding this Fashion Illustrator, I would greatly appreciate it and I will add it to the blog post. Thank you!

I hope you enjoyed this post…Till Next Time!

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Store: www.etsy.com/shop/shuushuubylulu

 

 

Who’s been spotted in Vintage-Lily Allen

Lily Allen is an English recording artist, actress and fashion designer. In her teenage years, her musical tastes evolved from glam rock to alternative and later to electropop. Allen abandoned school and concentrated on improving her performing and compositional skills. Afterwards, she created several demo songs and, near the end of 2005, she created a profile on MySpace where she made some of her recordings public.

Her popularity on MySpace led to a recording contract and further release of albums and her rise on the charts, with songs like Smile.

She likes to mix genres in her music and her tastes in clothing are about the same. I found an image of Lily Allen in a 1970s Style Summer Dress with chevron stripes in a rainbow of colors.

Lily Allen in A Summer Rainbow Vintage Dress

Lily has chosen to wear her dress with gold necklaces, rings and bracelets. because this is a fun style and great summer, you can dress this up with big bauble necklaces, and layers of of bangles in bold, fun colors. Pair this dress with a great set of colorful wedges.

Here is a similar dress style from an Etsy Vendor called The Thrifty Kitten:

I hope you enjoyed this post…Till Next Time!!!

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The 1980’s Bold Shoulder

Claude Montana was the king of the big shoulders in the 1980s. His silhouettes were fantastic and futuristic. He made them for women whom exuded the aura of strength and power. They were not in the least romantic and frilly. He brought the waist in tight using darts or belts to create the inverted triangle shape. He added the large rounded shoulder to exaggerate the figure. Claude Montana was a French Fashion designer, whom won many awards for his clothing design. His house went bankrupt in 1997. He favored monochromatic color, worked in leather, and his silhouettes were clean and structured.

Claude Montana Advertisement in Vogue March 1987

Claude Montana Advert in Vogue- model with a Cigarette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If I remember correctly the shoulder pads used in jackets like the ones pictured above curved over the shoulder and had a crease/seam down the center to curve over the shoulder and into the top sleeve.

I did not gravitate towards this shape in my younger days. I had large shoulders already because I was a swimmer. I used to have to take the shoulder pads out of clothing to de-emphasize as I was also hour glass shaped. I loved the look created by designers like Claude Montana, Norma Kamali, Geoffrey Beene and Nolan Miller.

I think this was a Norma Kamali Sweater featured in Vogue

Versace featured Vogue July 1984. Bold Coat with even Bolder Shoulders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kamali used knit fabrics in cotton and cashmere to hug the figure, than added shoulder pads into the garment. Beene used metallics and quilted them onto jackets and boleros to create this look. Miller was the designer to the stars for the TV show Dynasty. The actresses not only had big shoulders but also big hair. It was in the early nineties this changed so drastically to the long lean silhouette. But these marvelous designs from the 1980s were stand outs and defined that era of dressing, whether you liked the big shoulder or not. Here is a dress from the now defunct high end department store called Lipton’s, featured in my shop, Shuushuu by Lulu:

Lipton’s Electric Blue Wool 1980s Dress with Wide Belt (just click on picture to go to shop)

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I hope you have enjoyed this blog…Till Next Time!!!!!

 

I am HAPPY its Summer SALE!!! @ Shuushuu by Lulu

Shuushuu by Lulu has been open two years now!!!! I have listed, wrapped and shipped over 200 packages. I am finally having a great Summer sale. Shop till your fingers drop!!!

INEEDIT16: Get 25% OFF any items in the store from Thursday, July 12, 2012 Noon EST till Sunday, Aug 12, 2012 8pm EST. Not Included are already REDUCED, SALE OR FREE SHIPPING ITEMS (There are no free shipping items for International customers in my shop). Just use the coupon code INEEDIT16 in your check out procedure. I will also give free shipping on purchases over $150USD(before taxes, Ect. And only for Canada and Continental US customers). All other Coupon Codes will be suspended during this SALE!

If you are purchasing more than one item and the combined shipping fee is more than what’s invoiced I will contact you for payment!!!!

If you are having problems using the code on more than one item, let me know I can set up a Reserved Listing for you!!!!

I will be going on Vacation as of Monday August 13, 2012. Any times bought on the last day will be shipped in the morning of August 13, 2012 by 10am.

Have a wonderful summer and Happy Shopping!!! Shipping policies still apply!!!

Here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/ShuuShuubyLulu/policy

Blog: www.vintagenorth.wordpress.com

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1960s Pink Peplum Rockabilly Short Sleeve Blouse (click on picture to go to shop)

1960s White Textured Wide Leg Cuffed Pants by Devonette (click on photo to go to shop)

Thank you for stopping in..Till Next Time!!!!!!!!

Who’s Been spotted in Vintage

Mette Lindberg from the band The Asteroids Galaxy Tour. They came up due to a feature in an Heineken Pilsner Commercial.They used the song the Golden Age from their 2009 album called Fruit. The band is from Copenhagen, Denmark. Here the lead singer is wearing a ruffle dress that is reminiscent of the early 1980s frilly girly look. Mette has paired her dress with a glittery and sparkling jersey like cardigan.

Mette Lindberg- The Asteroids Galaxy Tour in a Vintage Style layered Ruffle Dress

I discovered this photo in an American Vogue magazine from March 1982. I coordinates with the above photo. The dress in the middle look especially like the one Mette lindberg is wearing. These lovely dresses are from Kenzo Takada, a Japanese fashion Designer, who got his start in 1970 but retired in 1999. he returned in 2005.

Kenzo Ruffle Dresses an Advertisement seen in American Vogue March 1982

This lovely confection of a dress is found in an Etsy store called zwzzy. It is pink perfection!! It is a combination of trendy vintage style and country chic.

Ruffled dress featured in Vintage Etsy Shop zwzzy. just click on photo to go to shop!!!

I hope you have enjoyed this blog…Till Next Time!!!

Who’s been spotted in Vintage?

Well if you haven’t heard of Florence Welch from the Florence and the Machine and her song the Dog Days are Over, then you will be glad to hear she adores wearing vintage.

I knew from the moment I heard her; I liked her. Then I found out she wears vintage as a major part of her wardrobe. She is heavily criticized for her choices and combinations in the media as well. I think as a person, she is free to express herself any way she wants. There are far too many critics out there anyway.

She certainly has given a boost to Vintage clothing over the past few years. I found this image of her in a forties style, loose flowing dress in a pretty pastel pink.

 

Florence Welch in a Vintage 1940s Style Dress

She has been spotted on the beach when on vacation in her variety of 2 piece vintage bathing suits (you can find these photos elsewhere on the internet).

I hope to bring more photos like this found in various sources in the future and feature a similar item from a fellow Etsy Seller!!!!

This dress is from Gay Retro located in the UK:

 

Vintage 1940s Dress from Gay Retro on Etsy

Just click on the image to buy this Dress!!!

I hope you enjoyed this short but sweet Blog post…Till Next Time!!!!!!!

Prom 2012- Ideas for a Fabulously Unique Outfit

When I was a teenager a movie like Pretty in Pink by director John Hughes epitomized what to wear to a 1980s Prom.

Pretty in Pink andy’s designed dress

There were candy colored dresses with loads of ruffles and layered skirts. It was the bigger the better including how you styled your hair. The dresses were expensive by my standards. I made my prom dress. The fabric was a Raspberry satin moiré. It had ruffled straps and a big gathered skirt with a plain fitted bodice. It was quite “Pretty in Pink” but it was a nice dress.

That night in 1986 we listened to Madonna, George Michael, Boy George and Karma Kameleon, Michael Jackson, ect. I cannot remember if the night ended with the Classic Stairway to Heaven, which was played at every high school dance for the four years I attended. But it was probably something slow for a guy to grab a girl and get close for the last chance of the night.

Now that I am out of there and it’s been a long time, in reflection I think I would have gone for something more unique to wear. I always wore vintage clothing throughout my high school years, but chose to wear something I made because I was enrolled in fashion design school.

 How to dress up these dresses to get ready for Prom:

I like to mix colors, metals, in a very non-kitchy way. I think it makes the outfit original and personal. I used to be very conservative and everything had to co-ordinate but I changed my mind ( I am a woman and I am allowed to do that). I have given a few options on dresses I carry in my store. Any items that are not listed in my store are available by contacting me for a reserved listing. ( I do not carry any of the items on the right of the image, these are just suggestions…Thank you)

Sunny Choi Red Silk Skirt Sleeveless Dress

• Sunny Choi Red Flirty Skirt Dress-Gold Necklace, Thin Gold Leather or chain belt, Fuchsia clutch, Nude stockings with Nude Platform heels or a Red Patent leather Shoes.
  

  Sunny Choi Black Blue Tank Dress

• Sunny Choi Black Blue Tank Dress-Blue Stockings with Blue Platform shoes, Silver Clutch and silver jewelry, a beautiful abstract print silk wrap.

• 

  Wayne Clark Black Shift Dress

  -Silver will raise this dress to the stratosphere, A great pair of strapy high heels, A chunky necklace and studded earrings.

• 

  Vogue Gold Paisley Lame Shift

  -This dress is so much on it own that it will go well with more subdued accessories, a great sandal in cream tones, and a similar tones clutch. Keep the jewelry either simple or over the top but mediocre just won’t do!!!

• 

  Mary Korolnek Black Silver Lace Dress

  -This is a spectacular dress, it is old Hollywood glam, it needs to be dresses to the nines. In other words go big or go home. For example big bauble bling earrings, and huge silver heels.

Albert Nipon Silk Organza Plaid Dress

• Albert Nipon Silk Organza Plaid Dress-This dress is very pretty and has bold color. A thin sparkling gold belt would lift the color of this dress. Fuchsia accessories such as earrings and clutch with dark shoes maybe in a Navy Blue.

( I do not carry any of the items on the right of the image, these are just suggestions…Thank you). Please visit Shuushuu by lulu on Etsy for more!!!!

Till Next Time!!!!