December 11, 2013
I've always loved vintage coats, particularly vintage coats from the 1930s and the late 1920s. I'm quite partial to anything from the 1930s though as it is one of my favorite eras for fashion.

Here are some gorgeous vintage 1930s coats from vintage catalogs and a few advertisements as well.

Vintage 1930s Coats from Catalogs and Magazines







These last few coats date into the late 30s early 40s and you can really how wide the shoulders are starting to get and the hemlines got a bit shorter. In my 30s biased opinion, you just can't beat the coat from the 1930s… theta long lean elegant silhouette for outerwear. I just love it!

December 10, 2013
We are back with a new shop update for you guys today, and by looking at the collection you can tell we have been dreaming of warmer weather here at AV! It has gotten super cold here in SoCal and although we enjoy the change, it has definitely got us dreaming of a sunny beach somewhere. Do you travel to a warmer climate for the winter months? A sunny Hawaiian beach sounds pretty good right about now! Tell us your favorite warm vacations spots below and maybe that will help warm us up! 

vintage 1920s cream crochet lace overlay dress | Delicate Seasons Dress

vintage 1920s pale pink drop waist flapper dress | Petal Pivoire Dress

vintage 1920s pale pink night gown | Wreaths of Spring Nightgown

vintage 1920s white gauze cotton lace flapper dress | Valse Musette Dress

vintage 1930s pale pink silk tap shorts | Lovely in Bows Tap Shorts 

vintage 1930s pink silk lace bed jacket | Pale Balanchine Bed Jacket

vintage 1930s white cotton voile dress | Ballade de Eloise Dress

December 6, 2013
As a vintage clothing collector and owner of a vintage clothing store I always have my eyes and ears peeled and perked for new information regarding vintage clothing and just fun random trivia about all things vintage fashion history.

I recently came across several vintage Harper's Bazaar magazines from the 1930s and 1940s and one in particular had SO MANY advertisements for vintage dresses, coats, shoes, and handbags, I just had to share several of them along with the snappy copy from the editorials!

This issue I am speaking of is the September 1945 issue of Harper Bazaar which has in light blue script "Victory" on the front. I love this cover. Just absolutely LOVE it!


Harper's Bazaar Vintage Magazine Advertisement Selects

Dorothy Gray | American Design of Beauty
"Ah - the Right Look"

Fromm Bros | Startling New Fur Strains by Fromm
Silverblue Fox: Breathless beauty of blue, "half-quencht in mists of silver dew." Beloved of brides.

The Costume Room | Famous Barr Co. St. Louis Mo.
Romantic glimmer of sequins on a black and orchid rayon crepe cocktail dress by Nettie Rosenstein. Wear it with this fabulous hat by Reine.

Lord & Taylor
That little jewel of a black suit is the one you always end up by wearing. This one with the knowing touches is a Ben Reig original designed by Omar Kiam.

I. Magnin + Co
Beauty begets beauty/// In the grand tradition of I. Magnin + Co where beauty is a heritage we proudly present our winter collection of dinner clothes

Bonwit Teller of Philadelphia
Monte-Sano's mastery of line sings out in a superlative short coat for city, country, or campus. Trompe d'oeil for your figure, magnificent shoulders that lend a lissome look to waist and hips.

Kerr's Oklahoma City
"Quality wears this label."

Tussy | For That Young, Young Look
Darling, you're stealing the show with that heavenly lipstick. Tussy, no doubt?

Pandora Footwear
So pretty…yet so soft…like a serenade to your feet





Harper's Bazaar Magazine Editorial Selects

The Elliptical Line
An elliptical line is the smarter distance between any two points of the silhouette….your outline is one blown-out curve after another: from corns to forehead, from neck to elbow and neck to belt, from belt to hem. You are tiny only at the wrists, the neck, the waist.

Madam, Why Do You Bend?
…that natural physical perfection depends on six silhouettes: strength (vs. weakness), suppleness (vs. stiffness), speed (vs. slowness), equilibrium (vs lack of balance), endurance (vs. fatigue), skill (vs. clumsiness)

Ballet
It is Paris. It is night. At a street corner a young couple kiss, a clock strikes, a young man meets a woman, his destiny, his death.

A Spot of Scotch
Go on a highland fling this autumn…in tartan from top to toe, or a touch of tartan with last year's gray flannels or your old gabardine raincoat.




December 5, 2013
Today we are back with a slightly more winter appropriate shop update filled with coat and purses. 
Just a few of our favorite things :) 
Personally when I shop there are a few things I always spurge on, and coats and bags are at the top of that list. There is nothing better than a fabulous coat to top off an outfit, it can just pull a look together. Not to mention if you get a special and versatile piece it can carry you all the way though a season or two.  Our Audincort Swing Coat is my favorite from this update, isn't is lovely?! The color is neutral and will look good over anything! Take a look down below at today's new set of goodies and if there is anything you are adding to your holiday wish list, make sure to tell Santa soon as these pieces go fast!



antique 1910s triangle frame purse | The View in Veillon Bag

antique 1920s art deco beaded small purse | Grandcour Beaded Clutch 

antique 1920s brown velvet beaded purse | Saint Calais Purse

antique 1930s white beaded purse | Snowflake Patterns Purse


vintage 1950s brown mink fur stole | Chiavenna Mink Stole 

vintage 1950s charcoal wool coat | Shaftesbury Wool Coat 

vintage 1950s chevron grey swing coat | Audincort Swing Coat

vintage 1950s white beaded evening clutch | Forest Snow Clutch 

vintage 1960s white faux fur coat | December Drifts Coat


vintage 1960s wool camel peacoat | Neuburg Square Trench Coat

vintage 1970s dark purple suede fur coat | Isselburg Mountains Coat 

vintage 1970s large black tapestry bag | South Hall Tapestry Bag

vintage 1970s velvet fur black coat | Montcresson Fur Coat


vintage cognac brown leather purse | Lady Derbyshire Purse

December 4, 2013
We are in FULL Christmas mode around here! That didn't take long, now did it?!! We try our hardest to give Thanksgiving it's own time but we are so excited it is finally time to start decking our halls. Even though we have been focusing a lot on the upcoming holidays, we still have found the time to update the shop with a fabulous group of new products this week. There are a ton of great layering pieces here, like the Social Affections Skirt. Add dark opaque tights and a knit sweater in the winter and wear with bare legs and a blouse come Spring time. Take a look at the full update below and head on over to the shop to pick up your favorites. And if there isn't anything catching your eye right now (we aren't sure thats even possible) we have just started offering gift cards! They make the perfect gift for your vintage loving friends and family :)  


antique silk corset cover top | Whispers in the Wind Top

vintage 1940s cloth wood frame purse | French Provincial Bag

vintage 1940s raffia straw clutch | Marari Straw Clutch 

vintage 1950s pale pink cotton skirt | Rue Vellefaux Skirt 

vintage 1970s cream knit fringe poncho | Dakota Peaks Poncho

vintage 1970s light cream striped blouse | Cafe Orleans Blouse 

vintage 1970s pink pleat chiffon maxi skirt | Swept Off Her Feet Skirt 


vintage 1980s pink linen pencil skirt | Social Affections Skirt 

vintage 1980s white cotton a line skirt | As Simple As That Skirt 


vintage 1970s straw raffi bag | Rangiroa Raffia Bag 

vintage 1980s woven jacket with tassels | Chimbote Weavers Jacket

December 3, 2013
Episode 3 and Episode 4 of Miss Phryne's Murder Mysteries, the Australian crime period drama series, had several 1920s outfits I liked. It's also when we start seeing a repeat of some of Phryne's wardrobe and repetitions of other character's clothing. I do love it when a tv show recycles clothing, especially in period series as I feel it's much more authentic to the era.

Without further ado, clothing and ensembles from the set in the 1920s tv series, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries. And as always, screen caps from Grande Caps/Period-Drama.


This cardigan and blouse worn by Dot is one of my favorites. The colors are so sweet.

Isn't this tweed suit just amazing! Phryne looks so good in red!

This red ensemble is a repeat! Hooray!



Dot's blouse with the bow is just so cute! I think my personal wardrobe is a blending of Phryne's and Dot's closet. I'd like to think so anyway :)