Noir City Nightclub

As the finale to Noir City week this year, the "Czar of Noir" Eddie Muller threw a speakeasy-style cocktail party called "Everyone Comes to Eddie's," which Mark and I attended at the Swedish American Hall. The event was fabulous, with great entertainment, tasty appetizers and cocktails, talented dancers, and an exceptionally good-looking crowd of people decked out in noir-style evening wear. My outfit for the evening consisted of my 40's reproduction dress, vintage-styled shoes, and a flower hair clip. The pearl necklace and the bracelet are actual vintage pieces. This is an event that I hope I don't have to wait another full year for; Eddie hinted that he might try to make this a regular occurrence, and I for one would be a regular attendee if he did.

For photos of the Noir City festival as well as the nightclub event, click here.

Dress: ReVamp Vintage
Shoes: Faryl Robin

Bad Girls

The Noir City film festival just seems to get better and better every year. There's a Noir City tradition of having the Thursday night be "Bad Girls" night, so of course that was the show we decided to get dressed up for. This year's Thursday night lineup featured our bad girl icon, Beverly Michaels (star of one of our Noir City all-time favorites, Wicked Woman), in Pickup. Laura, Fawn and I even made up a drinking game to accompany the double feature, the rules of which were:

• Woman applies lipstick: one drink
• Woman puts a hand on her hip: one drink
• Someone lights up a cigarette: one drink
• A slap followed by a kiss: two drinks

It was the cigarette scenes that really did us in. I frankly wonder how people found time for anything else besides smoking in the 40's and 50's. 

Laura wore a dress she got from Modcloth, which just happened to look like it was made specifically to go with her adorable pair of pink and brown John Fluevog shoes. She topped it off with a vintage mink stole she found at an estate sale. Fawn went for a classic secretary look complete with pencil skirt and cardigan, pairing it with a vintage hat that I retrimmed myself. I wore my vintage 50's dress and a vintage fur-trimmed hat I found at Goodwill.

As for being bad girls, we did get a little tipsy, but we weren't even in the same league as Beverly Michaels. We've really got to work on that next year.

50's Style for a Wedding

As I mentioned a few posts ago, Mark and I attended a wedding last weekend atop Mt. Tamalpais (known around these parts as Mt. Tam), which is just a few miles north of the Golden Gate Bridge. It presented the perfect opportunity for me to wear this beautiful vintage dress I bought a few months ago. I don't often go for 50's style dresses because I feel like they aren't ideal for my figure, but this one caught my eye because of the lovely fabric, the cute collar and neckline bow detail, and the best part, the row of giant buttons down the back:

I found this dress at Decades of Fashion on Haight Street, which is an amazing (albeit pricey) vintage store. It fit me so perfectly that I knew I had to have it, and what a perfect outfit it made for a wedding, no? To me there's something reverent about wearing vintage to a wedding; weddings have such a strong cultural significance that it makes sense to wear clothes that hearken back to eras with a greater sense of decorum.

Astoundingly, of all the dozens of hats I have lying around at the house, none exactly captured the vibe I wanted, so I made one special for the occasion. It's made of a thick, braided straw material, which has a nice shine to it that matches the black buttons of the dress. I made a matching bow out of scrap straw and edged the bow with a pale blue silk to match the striped fabric on the dress's back panel and neckline bow detail.

 

I got loads of compliments on this dress, and I felt utterly fabulous. Perhaps I need to rethink 50's dresses; they seem to suit my figure just fine.

 Puppy update: Our puppy finally has a name! After struggling with it all through the weekend, we finally narrowed it down to the last 3 choices, wrote them on slips of paper, folded them up and threw them on the floor in front of the puppy for him to choose from. He sniffed the first two and then enthusiastically grabbed the third, thus selecting Spencer as his new name. And yes, he's only a few months old and he's almost as big as Georgie. Perhaps Goliath would've been more accurate...

Close Enough

This vintage jacket actually found me; it was hanging there in the dressing room in St. Vinny's when I went thrift shopping with my mom in Albany, Oregon. I picked it up, noticed the wasp-waisted shaping and double row of Bakelite buttons, put it on, and found that it fit perfectly. $4.49 later it was mine.

I figured this jacket was the perfect vehicle for my evil-looking cat brooch with googly white eyes, which Katie reminded me I needed to wear. I'm not sure it's from exactly the same era as the jacket, but it's close enough for me.

Jacket: vintage
Brooch: vintage Trifari
Pearls: grandma's
Skirt: Eva Franco
Shoes: BCBGirls

Teal and Yellow

I've worn this dress several times before, but when I put it on for this outfit it suddenly felt too short to me. A simple solution was to put a skirt underneath it, and although I had to keep adjusting the elastic-waisted skirt throughout the day to keep it from riding up, I liked the effect of the fluffy tulle peeking out from under the mod shift dress. I also wore the matching jacket when I was outside. 


I wish I knew the designer of this necklace, because I'd love to find more of their stuff. Sadly, I got it at a shop on Haight Street which has long since closed, so I fear I'll never know.

Dress: Vintage
Cardigan: Anthropologie
Skirt: Forever 21
Tights: MP
Boots: Bronx

Noir City

One thing I love best about San Francisco is all the opportunities for getting dressed up. Last week it was the annual Noir City Festival at the Castro Theater. Now going to the Castro is an experience in itself; the 1922 theater, with its ornate architecture, Wurlitzer organ that pops up out of the stage, and enormous art deco chandelier, really gives you a sense of stepping back in time. The theater is also located right in the heart of the Castro district, so the calendar of events reflects the lively vibe of the neighborhood (which reminds me that sadly, I have still never been to one of their sing-along Sound of Music events).

San Francisco being a classic film noir setting, the Noir City event is quite popular, and lots of people get decked out in 40's and 50's attire. Luckily I had my 40's reproduction dress, as well as a vintage hat that I reshaped and trimmed myself (I bought it for $6 when I was with Sal out in Minneapolis over the summer). And boy, did I get a lot of compliments on this outfit. The best was from Eddie Muller himself, the organizer of the Noir City festival and author of several books about film noir. When you're at a film noir festival and the Czar of Noir says you look fabulous, you know you've done a good job getting dressed.

But here's the point I was really trying to get to: over a glass of wine after the double feature on Saturday, Laura, Fawn and I ended up discussing the goofy songs we sing to our pets. I used to make up songs all the time for my iguana, Pet; mostly they were just bits and pieces of songs that I inserted his name into. The better developed ones had to do with his scaly lips, his greenness, and his fondness for lounging in the sun. One was to the tune of the Oscar Mayer hot dog jingle. It went:

My Pet-boy has a first name, it's P-E-T... *exaggerated pause where the other two letters should have been*
My Pet-boy has a second name, it's B-O-Y...

I always imagined that Pet really enjoyed hearing me sing to him, but it's possible that he always closed his eyes because he was trying to tune me out. Recently I learned that Mark also makes up songs for Georgie (as do I), and I confirmed with Laura and Fawn that they also both write songs for their cats. It got me wondering if this is indeed a universal habit for people who are really crazy about their pets. So let's hear it; do you sing songs to your pets? Are they regular songs, or do you change the lyrics to include your pet's name and traits? Feel free to share your silliest songs; after all, we're all friends here.

Dress: ReVamp Vintage
Hat: vintage
Pearls: my grandma Ruth's
Textured tights (layered over black nylons): Sock Dreams
Shoes: Steve Madden

Christmas Skirt

Mark got me this skirt for Christmas; isn't it fabulous? I'd been stalking it for quite some time on the Anthropologie website, so I didn't realize how much cuter it is in person. The navy and white stripes are much more obvious in person than they looked online, and the fabric has a soft, almost flannel-like texture. The draping and ruffles are such fun details to find on a pencil skirt, too; I thought the softness of the skirt made a nice contrast to the structural, geometric detailing on the jacket, even though color-wise the two pieces match perfectly. Together they almost have the look of a suit, but are so much more interesting than one.


Jacket: vintage (from a shop in Paris)
Skirt: Eva Franco
Hat: ADS Hats
Shoes: BCBGirls

Bullet-Proof

I've had this vintage cardigan for a long time, but it doesn't come out very often because it requires a particularly cold day in order for it to be comfortable. The reason is that the fabric is astoundingly dense, and I'm pretty certain I know the reason why.

I can tell you the tragic history of this little cardigan as surely as if I was there to witness it myself. Originally purchased in a much larger size, the sweater's heartbroken owner removed it from the dryer (perhaps it was carelessly thrown in there by a well-meaning but unwitting spouse) only to find that it had shrunk considerably and was no longer wearable. Well, it wasn't for her, anyway. It had decreased by at least two sizes and the sleeves were now hopelessly short. There was only one thing to do; donate it to the Goodwill and hope that someone else who fit it didn't care about the 3/4 length sleeves, or else had really short arms. And that that person lived somewhere cold enough to warrant a nearly bullet-proof knit sweater.

You can see for yourself how well the size and the sleeve length worked out for me; 3/4 sleeves are my favorite and although in the sweater's time they probably didn't look right, to my modern eye they're perfect. But the undue warmth is still a bit of a challenge here in mild San Francisco, so I have to bide my time until an exceptionally chilly day comes along. If I'm lucky I might get one more wear out of the sweater before the season is out, but that's okay; I can always take it with me traveling... if I decide to go on an expedition to Patagonia in winter.

Cardigan: vintage
Necklace: Dana LeBlanc Designs
Dress: eShakti
Belt: Red Dress Shoppe
Shoes: John Fluevog

Manufactured Snow

If you were paying close attention to Monday's post, you might have noticed the mention of a 'holiday party at your realtor's house' as a possible San Francisco event that one might have to dress up for. Well, Mark and I attended just such an event the weekend before last, and knowing that our realtor has a gorgeous, 4-level Victorian house and is also one of the top realtors in the city, I figured the party would be a swanky one and therefore decided to wear one of my most formal dresses. I was not mistaken in my choice; the party was definitely a high class event, with a sumptuous array of food, 2 bands, and even a machine that blew snow from the second floor window down onto the front porch. Yes, it's true -- if we want snow here in San Francisco we have to manufacture it ourselves. Not being a big fan of snow myself, I really prefer this approach.

The dress I wore is from the 1930's and is one I found in a vintage store many years ago. I'm assuming it was handmade, since it has no tags of any kind. And actually it seems like it was handmade specifically for ME, so perfect is the fit.

Speaking of perfectly-fitted dresses, back in 2000 when I bought this one I was also fortunate enough to try on an amazing 1930's gown that had been worn by Myrna Loy. Myrna Loy! One of my all-time favorite actresses! It was a black, long-sleeved gown with a cascade of huge silver stars that ran across the fitted bodice and trailed diagonally all the way to the bottom of the flared, floor length skirt. It was magnificent, truly magnificent, and in a tragic case of non-buyer's remorse, I passed it up because it was fancier than I imagined I would ever need, and it cost $1200. But I have to tell you, if I had it to do over again I'd spend double or even triple that amount to own that amazing dress, even if it meant eating nothing but ramen noodles for several months. It fit me so perfectly, and the fact that it had been owned by the great Myrna Loy made it so very special, that I'll forever regret the decision to let it go. Needless to say, if I ever come across an item that special again, I'll do whatever it takes to make it mine.

I figured this was a good outfit to end my regular posting for the year with; tomorrow my company begins its holiday shutdown, and I won't return to work until January 3. There may be a post or two thrown in over the break if I get around to it, but I'm planning on mostly taking a rest from blogging as well as work. Mark and I are staying in town this year rather than the usual escape to Mexico, but we have some exciting things planned that I'll tell you about later. In the meantime, here's wishing you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday!

I'll leave you with some images of the stunning Myrna Loy. Who, apparently, wore the same dress size as me. It's not as good as owning the actual dress, but hey, it's something!

1912

I think this is an outfit that Tinyjunco (aka Steph) would approve of, with its romantic, Edwardian details. It was cold enough that day that I mostly kept the fur stole on, which I preferred because it brought some rich color up near my face. But it was also fun to wear so much white; I felt like this outfit is something you might wear ice skating... in say, 1912.

The jacket has been lingering in my closet for awhile because it is considerably too large and needs to be altered. But I figured in the meantime I should just belt it up and go ahead and wear it anyway, because the presence of a brand new item in my closet that can't be worn is a torture to me. You can tell from the back of the jacket just how much extra room it has.

The reason this jacket is so large is that I followed the size chart on the J. Peterman site and ordered a size up from my usual. Never having ordered from them before, I didn't realize that not only do the clothes NOT run small as the size charts indicate, they actually run a bit on the generous side, making this jacket nearly 2 sizes too big for me. But, it was the last one of its kind and was marked way down (I'd been stalking it for months), so I figured that even with paying for alterations it was still a fantastic deal.

I also ordered a shirt from J. Peterman at the same time I ordered the jacket; it was also too large, so I sent it back for an exchange. They did finally send me a replacement, but I have to say that it took an inordinate amount of time (approximately 5 weeks), and in the interim the communication was less than stellar. My biggest complaint is that there is no online form for returns or exchanges, so you have no way to ensure it was received or track the progress until the replacement (or refund) shows up -- and my inquires were met with either a vague response, or no response at all. So on the whole, though I'm pleased with the two items I ended up with in terms of style and quality, I'm pretty leery about ordering from J. Peterman again. I know a lot of people really love the company, so it's rather disappointing.  





Stole: vintage
Hat: hand knit by me
Jacket: J. Peterman
Skirt: Noa Noa
Boots: from Scoop in Copenhagen

Shape and Proportion

As promised, here is the jacket that goes with my vintage 1960's dress. What's funny is that several times when I've pulled out this skirt to wear, I've searched for the perfect cropped, boxy top or jacket that would give it the mod flair I wanted, but I just hadn't been able to find the right thing. And here it was in my closet all along, hanging there paired with the dress (in the 'dress' portion of my closet, rather than with the tops and jackets) and not even registering as an option. It has exactly the shape and proportion I've been searching for the whole time.

I also wanted to encourage everyone to check out the special deal Wendy Brandes is offering on her Little Woolf necklace. Fellow blogger Sister Wolf has had an incredibly difficult year, having endured both personal tragedy and financial difficulties. Wendy is currently offering the Little Woolf for $50 plus taxes and shipping, with $35 of each sale going to help Sister Wolf repair her crumbling roof. Click on the widget below to go to Wendy's site and purchase this beautiful piece of quality jewelry while helping to support a worthy cause. You can read what Wendy has to say about Sister Wolf's dilemma and the fund-raising effort right here.

Jacket: Violetville Vintage
Sweater: Banana Republic
Skirt: Anthropologie
Belt: Lazaro
Boots: Bronx

International Pie For Breakfast Month

It finally cooled down enough to break out my vintage 1960's wool dress and try pairing it with my black boots, with the cuffs turned up for an over-the-knee length. For this outfit I didn't pair the dress with its matching cropped jacket, opting instead to modernize it a bit with the velvet blazer. But interestingly, when I pulled out the set I realized for the first time that I could use the jacket to give a 60's vibe to other outfits, so I've got one coming up with it. Funny that it never occurred to me before, probably because I always keep the dress and jacket hanging together.

I'd like to digress for a moment and discuss one of my favorite elements of the holiday season: pie for breakfast. Is there anything quite so delightful? A slice of pie is great for dessert, but to me nothing quite matches the satisfaction that comes with eating it for breakfast (especially pumpkin pie, my favorite). If I were a songwriter I would write an ode to having pie for the most important meal of the day, but with my limited musical talents I'll simply declare December as International Pie For Breakfast Month. Please feel free to celebrate accordingly.

Dress: Violetville Vintage
Necklace: vintage
Jacket: a gift from Sal
Boots: Modern Vintage

Boho

It was Imogen who suggested I wear this dress over skinny jeans, and I kept that suggestion lingering in my head for the next time I decided to wear the dress. Funny how I can't remember what someone told me 10 minutes ago if it relates to work or household stuff, but anything in the way of clothing or style gets filed in some instant-access portion of my brain for easy future reference.

Although the boots covered most of the jeans, I thought they were too perfect a match not to wear. Boho isn't a style I don very often, so I guess when I do I ought to go all out. When I walked you could see the jeans as the dress moved around, which I thought looked great. This outfit was also a perfect opportunity to wear this pretty brass and crystal bracelet I got from Gilt recently.

If you look closely you can see how I tightened the boots at the top by cinching the wraparound strap and securing the excess length by doubling it back through the front top loops; when you see these boots again it will be with that excess length taken up in small brass buckles.

Dress: vintage
Harness: Audra Jean
Bracelet: Leslie Danzis
Jeans: Joe's
Boots: Apepazza

A Little Mod

I just realized looking at these photos that I'm sort of doing a Wonder Woman pose there in the first one. She always had her fists clenched, though -- I'll have to try that the next time.

The last time I wore this dress was last Halloween, when I went as Twiggy, and before that I'd only worn it one other time. But a dress like this needs few wearings, because each one makes a pretty strong impression. Plus, there are only so many ways to style a lemon yellow mod 60's minidress, and I don't want to run through them so fast that I have to start repeating with the same accessories. So provided my size doesn't change, I'll be wearing this dress infrequently but for many years to come.

With this outfit I worked with the blueish-gray side panels of the dress, bringing in both gray and blue accents. The tights and boots were harmonious with the mod style of the dress, while the cardigan, with its slashes along the placket, added a modern touch. With an obvious vintage piece such as this dress, it's important not to go so far as to look costumey (unless, of course, you're actually wearing it as a costume). A little mod goes a long way.

Dress: vintage

Cardigan: Cynthia Rowley

Tights: via Sock Dreams

Boots: Bronx

My Vintage Parisian Coat by Ingrid Mida

I am a coat person. My GH (gorgeous husband) likes to tease me on how many coats I have - he says I have one for every few degree of temperature variation. Of all the coats I own, this one is my favourite as it comes closest to portraying the real me. This beauty is a vintage coat from Paris (circa 1955-1960 if I had to guess) and has a glorious turquoise lining. And although the sleeves are about an inch too short for my arms (who was the tiny gamine who wore this coat before me?), I often wear it with fushia pink leather gloves that come to the elbow. The  tweed wool rose which is pinned to the label was an addition sourced from a run-of-the-mill retailer. I also consider it my lucky coat since I wore it to a portfolio review at Wagner Rosenbaum Gallery and was awarded my first commercial gallery show while wearing it!

I hope you will join me in sharing the memories behind your favourite dress, coat or outfit. I'd also like to hear stories and memories of outfits that might have belonged to your mother, grandmother, sister or other female relative. Please email me at artismylife@mac.com with your photo and stories.