Real Men Wear Vintage

Shop members of the "Vintage Fashion Guild" for guy stuff galore!

Highwayman Motorcyc... walkbymoonligh... $295	ON SALE Vintage 60s... CatseyeVintage $94.25	Mens Vintage Cortef... RetroWear $49.99	Vintage Mans Wester... alleycatsvinta... $98
1940s Mens Rayon Sc... decotodiscovin... $34	Preppy 70's Men... MisterBibs $65	Stingy Brim Fedora ... StelmaDesigns $34	70s Hawaiian Shirt ... JoulesVintage $48
Mens late 1940s ear... EndlessAlley $69	Vintage 1960s Mens ... sewingmachineg... $29.99	POLYNESIAN SAILING ... FastEddiesRetr... $50	Vintage 40s 50s Swi... soulmanvintage $32
Vintage Handy Shave... hepcatnewyork $35	Vintage 1950s mens ... StellaRoseVint... $75	Vintage 60's Wo... MisterBibs $69	70s Levis Men's... MagsRagsVintag... $20

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Lost in Yonkers: Bakelite Comes Home Again

In June of 2010, I had the opportunity of attending Bakelite’s “return home” --  back to the city where it was founded -- to its hometown of Yonkers, New York.

The special exhibit “Bakelite in Yonkers: Pioneering the Age of Plastics”, was housed at the Hudson River Museum, traveling from Amsterdam, a former home of Belgian founder Leo H. Baekeland, to the place of its invention and birth.

The egg shaped Bakelizer, 1909

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Overlooking the majestic banks of the Hudson River, the museum  provided an overall look at the synthetic plastics industry from its inception, with focus on brand name Bakelite as its most famous product.

Colorful displays of the aged thermoset plastics in every size, shape, and function, were exhibited throughout the large and spacious hall.

Touted as “The Material of a Thousand Uses”, there were utilitarian objects such as car parts, typewriters, and cooking bowls, as well as vanity items including hair combs, make up sets, and carved "gems" of rings, bracelets, necklaces, brooches, and every imaginable kind of plastic jewelry.

“You can’t melt it, burn it, or bend it”, echoed the 1930's voice, from an early promotional movie reel.

No longer "lost" and since rediscovered by a new generation of vintage loving Bakelite aficionados, the popular exhibit has long since returned to Amsterdam, while a myriad of Bakelite products continue to be appreciated and enjoyed today. 

Here is a fine sampling of vintage Bakelite jewelry offered by Vintage Fashion Guild members.

Vintage 40s Carved Amber Bakelite Hand Tussie Mussie Pin Brooch

by Glad Rags & Curios on Ruby Lane

40's Vintage Red Carved Bakelite Earrings

by MorningGlorious on Etsy   

Mid-Century Bakelite and Laminated Wood Demi-Parure

by Linn’s Collection on Ruby Lane

 




Large Vintage Carved Black Bakelite and Rhinestone Swordfish Sailfish Pin Brooch

by PinkyAGoGo on Etsy

1940s Vintage Butterscotch Bakelite Horse Head Pin

by Falls Avenue Vintage Fashion on Ruby Lane












Written by Laura Milera, Metro Retro Vintage

Dress It Up With Dress Clips

A selection of clips from the author's collection.

What was once a “must have” fashion accessory during the 30's and 40's, is today largely forgotten – the one time ubiquitous dress clip.

From fine and elegant rhinestones to whimsical bakelite and wooden figurals, vintage dress clips continue to be some of the most versatile jewelry around.

Basic Types

There are two basic categories of clips, depending on their metal findings or mechanism used for gripping fabrics -- dress clips and fur clips, however they are essentially the same in purpose.

Other traditional types of clips may include shoe clips, scarf clips, and hinged hair clips.

A Unique Touch

Dress clips can be worn in pairs or singly, on dresses, coats, hats, belts, or even on a purse strap.  Clip them onto a shirt pocket or add one to a tied scarf – you’ll soon find a multitude of ways to wear these wonderful adornments.

Ann Sheridan wears a pair of rhinestone dress clips to one side
in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" (1942).

 

A Few Tips To Keep In Mind

* Be sure to check the tension of the metal clip.  When lifting the back, there should be a bit of resistance at first and then it should open freely.

When closing, the clip should snap back into place and maintain a firm grip on the clothing.

Norma Shearer wears a single clip on a jacket collar
as a bold statement piece in "The Women" (1939).

* The metal back of a dress clip will have small "teeth" for gripping clothing, while the back of a fur clip will have two sharp prongs for gripping heavier weight fabrics.
  
* Oftentimes, small sized dress clip sets are confused for earrings (ouch!) at sales, so when shopping, be sure to look through any earring selections.

 * Never immerse into liquid cleaner.  The clip back is often comprised of a metal alloy, and can rust over time.

* Clean with a soft polishing cloth if necessary or use a soft toothbrush to carefully “dust” around stones.


Written by Laura Milera, Metro Retro Vintage

Happy Lunar New Year 2013

“Gung Hey Fat Choy” for a prosperous New Year in 2013.

This is the year of the snake according to the Chinese Lunar Calendar, with celebrations beginning February 10th and lasting for as long as fifteen days.



According to the Chinese zodiac, those born under this sign are smart, affectionate, intuitive and aware – traits that all vintage lovers seem to share, so please enjoy this compilation of vintage Asian and Asian themed fashion and accessories offered by VFG members shops.

Colorful Bright Vintage... PinkyAGoGo $125.00	50s SELRO Thai Girl / A... decotodiscovin... $295.00	50s 60s Jacket Vintage ... MagsRagsVintag... $50.00	Early 1900s UNUSED 1923... gaildavid $38.00
Fabulous 70's Red B... MorningGloriou... $125.00	SALE Vintage 60s Men ... CatseyeVintage $136.50	Vintage 1980s Asian The... PinkyAGoGo $39.00	60s Black Brocade Asian... denisebrain $30.00
Vintage 60s Asian Flora... TheSpectrum $45.00	Vintage 14k Gold Green ... daisyfairbanks $129.00	Chinese silk brocade dr... kickshaw $65.00	Vintage 70s Alice of Ca... RetroWear $24.99
Vintage 1950s 1960s Aqu... TheVintageVort... $25.00	Vintage 50s Coty Compac... MyVintageCockt... $74.00	CROSS STITCH TREES Nove... FastEddiesRetr... $70.00	Vintage 60s Novelty Pri... VintageFanAtti... $65.00

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Written by Metro Retro Vintage.

February Fashion Tribute to Black History Month

February is officially Black History Month in the United States and a time to acknowledge and pay tribute to the talent and accomplishments of African-Americans in all fields, including fashion designers spanning many generations.

Originally introduced as Black Negro Week in 1926, Black History Month was the brainchild of scholar Dr. Carter G. Woodson, who sought to acknowledge and celebrate African-American achievements in American culture.

Actress Dorothy Dandridge in a Zelda Wynn Valdes design.


In the world of fashion, these achievements include the works of several successful designers, many having begun their careers at the White House.

A former slave and dressmaker, Elizabeth Keckley arrived in Washington around 1860 to become the personal seamstress of Mary Todd Lincoln, and design the First Lady's inaugural gown.

Decades later, fashion couturier Ann Lowe would design the wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier's wedding to then Massachusetts senator John F. Kennedy in 1953.

Valdes designed the very first Playboy Bunny costume.

During the 1930's through 50's, milliner Mildred E. Blount had a bevy of famous clients, including silver screen star Joan Crawford and heiress Gloria Vanderbilt, and is best known for the fanciful hats she designed for such notable films as “Gone with the Wind”, and “Easter Parade”.

During the late 40's, Zelda Wynn Valdes opened her own dressmaker’s shop on Broadway, helping to dress Dorothy Dandridge, Josephine Baker, Mae West, and Marlene Dietrich, among many other starlets. She is best known for creating the original Playboy Bunny costume as well as stage costumes for the Dance Theater of Harlem.

In 1946, Actress Olivia de Havilland accepts an Academy Award wearing an Ann Lowe gown.

Lillian Rogers Parks worked tirelessly for over three decades as a dress designer, seamstress, and maid at the White House and penned the autobiographical “My Thirty Years Backstairs at the White House”, in 1979.

These are just a few of the many notable African-American designers who have enriched the world of fashion throughout our time, as we honor these accomplished men and women during this special month. The Black Fashion Museum Collection permanently resides at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C.

Written by Laura Milera, Metro Retro Vintage