Old Catalogs

1929NtlBellasHess-19
Originally uploaded by Old Catalogs

Old catalogs are incredibly rich references for anyone who collects or deals in vintage items. This morning I was cleaning up some bookmarks and rediscovered the blog and flickr page of user "Old Catalogs". This person actually scans every page of the hundreds of various catalogs he has collected (A-Z, not just clothing), and then posts them on his flickr page. Talk about a labour of love--- hundreds and hundreds of pages of irresistible eye candy. Go AHead, click the pic above---but be prepared to spend an hour or two....

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Everyone....
From my ass to yours!


I'm at my Mom's house, rummaging through old photo albums, scanning up a storm. (You have been warned.)

I grew up in the 60s and 70s, both great decades for wild and wonderful clothing. 
The above is Xmas mid 70s.

Below is Xmas mid 60s.
"Oh Santa, didn't you get my letter? I didn't want to be a Mommy, I wanted the vinyl attache case full of Matchbox® cars!"

What's up with the collar on my blouse? One point has horizontal stripes while the other has vertical.  My Aunt Roberta must have made this ensemble. She was ----

Aw shucks- I'm being called for dinner--- Gotta Go- You're spared 'til next week---

Have a Great Holiday!

A Very Barbie Christmas Tree

I know, you didn't want to click on a link with the word "Barbie" in it, but isn't my shop Christmas tree pretty cute? (click on it for larger version)
All the ornaments are authentic vintage 60's Barbie clothes.
I was supposed to put them on ebay but have now changed my mind...

Slow Day Levi's Quiz

Four pair of Levi's jeans. Match the jeans with the price they sold for on ebay.
One pair got no bids, One pair sold for $10, one pair for $600 (the ones I sold -yay!), and one pair for $4,000.

A)
B)C)
D)
Leave your guess as a comment. Winner gets nothing; it's too easy to cheat...

(and please don't everyone use the alias "anonymous")

All that Glitters

Slow day today, so I'm playing dress-up with a small sampling of the great dresses I have here that would be fab for your New Years party.

Please forgive the poor photography, it's tough being both model and photographer, especially when half the dresses don't fit ...

This silver one is not the one I wore last Saturday night (that one had a jeweled neckline, remember?  plus Everyone made me promise not to sell it)...
This off-white wiggle dress is very fitted with a rouched bustline and gold warp threads.  Very shimmery, much better in person...
This green and black maxi dress has an empire waist:
This metallic glittery daisy dress is extra-large and has a matching coat with rhinestone buttons.  The dress also has pockets, a feature those of us who hate to carry purses just love :
This one is x-tra-small and has a velvet bodice with bubbly skirt.  So No Way for me but maybe you can pull it off:
...And More great glitter I was too lazy to model. The deco one on left below is a generous size and the sequined top is just one of many sequined items I have that are perfect for New Years.  

Five and Diamond will be closed most of week next week for Christmas (Mon 22nd-Thursday 25th) but OPEN Fri, Sat, Sun.  Have a Great Holiday!

My favorite Dress? Again?

One of my all-time favorite vintage dresses is a faux bois knit wool sheath from the 60s that I got at the Salvation Army thrift store about five years ago. 

Imagine my surprise when it showed up again the other day, in the exact same store.

  

Do I need another?

 Of course not.

 

So do I sell it? 

Of course not!

Why on God's good earth would I put an identical dress to my own out into circulation ---and thus invite the risk having someone else wear it on the same day I wear mine?

 Oh the horror! The humiliation!

I'm most certainly keeping them both!

Blog Clog

Too many ho-hum blog ideas piling up in my drafts folder...so I'm going to mush them all together into one big easy condensed ho-hum blog post this week. Here we go--

1) Bad Christmas Sweaters.

I was in this store in Chicago a couple weeks ago, and was quite alarmed to see these horrifically bad sweaters

priced in the $18 + range, while fairly-groovy nylon shirts in the same store were priced at only $5-$8. I am totally out of the kitsch loop or something.  Maybe in Chicago there are hip crowds that have really fun bad sweater parties? 
(Hmmm, I have a birthday coming up next week...maybe I'm onto something here-)

Then yesterday I get this email from Style Mob telling me I can win a $200 gift certificate for finding the best "deliciously ugly" Christmas sweater. Here's the link if you're inclined to enter.  I've got more important things to do---like

2)   Working on my new  Hudson Winter Walk "costume".
It's a miniature, hopefully-wearable Hudson Opera House made out of foam core and cardboard. I've got 72 hours to figure out how to rig it with lights, music, and a harness so my hands will be free.  Ack.

3) Fur is dead.

On Black Friday I sold my last fur coat. No big deal, no preaching, no drama .... just no more fur coats. I will still carry plenty of suede, leather, and the occasional fur-trimmed item. 

4). Melissa

Melissa is the rising star curator at Carrie Haddad Photographs, the new gallery at 318 Warren Street.  She wore this for the grand opening Saturday night. It is the most divine shade of acorn squash you have ever seen, and of course she bought it here at Five and Diamond Vintage....

Last but not least

5) Christmas shopping in Hudson 

..... scads of really great, unique gift ideas under $100, all right here in town. 

Scroll sideways for lots of eye candy.

See you at Winter Walk.  Five and Diamond will be open until 7PM.