The 80s Prom: Why Only Live It Once?

Jen's good friend Tabitha lives for Halloween, and nothing makes her party more fun for her than having a theme. Last year, we were all fairies: good fairies, bad fairies, rocker-chick fairies, etc. This year, we thought it would be fun to have an 80s prom night. And look what Jen just scored on eBay!

Naturally, as soon as we're done wearing them, they go straight to Bridgett for remaking for putting in our book, 27 Dresses. Jen can't wait to see what she does with these. The photos were cribbed off eBay, so you can't really see what great patterns and colors and textures these are. But we're sure you can use your imagination.

The Aforementioned Cape

Jen has a feeling you were curious about the cape she mentioned in the first Paris blog. She found a picture of herself in it, posing in front of the golden gates of Versailles (you can't get more vintage than that!). So here it is. Cute, right? Especially over a tank and skinny jeans. It was chilly and breezy that day, so here she's got it layered over several jerseys--not exactly how she had planned to wear it. But it did in a pinch.

It's important to note that vintage boutiques often stock a rack or two of original collections from up-and-coming local designers who reflect the shop's philosophy. Jen has scored a number of quality, original, non-expensive items this way (she'll post another one soon), and Bridgett's designs are frequently showcased in such places. So even if you're not a total vintage freak, but love unique pieces, stop into your corner vintage store for a look-see. You never know what might be there.

To Wash Or Not To Wash -- That Is The Question

Jen's mom brought up a valid point when they were browsing vintage wear in Paris: Does she always wash something she buys before she wears it? Of course she asked this question hoping Jen would reply "yes," but sort of knowing that the answer was, "well..."

The truth is that Jen only sometimes washes or dry cleans an item before wearing because she's lazy, and also likes to wear her new items, a bunch of which she finds while traveling, immediately. But in truth, reputable boutiques should have already done the necessary spot removals and so forth. In the course of setting clothes out for display, proprietors not only dry clean the lots of estate clothes they've picked up on their rounds, they steam clean for wrinkles and also make minor repairs such as adding or replacing buttons. (This can add major value.) For instance, in this picture, taken at the window in the Rodin Museum, Jen (right, in green 1940's polyester) is wearing a freshly purchased item from the day before, found at Le Marche aux Puces in a little shop at the beginning of Les Halles de Dauphine.

However, if the item comes from a yard or garage sale, or if the piece comes from a place that has moths in the woolens--like a store did in Montclair, NJ, where Bridgett and Jen purchased a wedding dress for 27 Dresses (more on that particular adventure in another post to come)--it goes for cleaning, yes. Moths fluttering out while you're going through the racks are just one indication that nothing in the shop is being cleaned, let alone cared about.

Restraint in Gay Paris--an Oxymoron?

So here's the first item Jen scored from a vintage boutique in Paris, on the outskirts of Le Marais, in a little shop called Venus au Cour. (Ignore the ugly bedspread; the Hotel Cadet is not the most charmingly designed of lodgings). She also bought a hand-crocheted, rust-colored, cropped cape that was not vintage but made by a friend of the shop's owner. But that's it--though there plenty of items that could have gone in her sack, the prices were too high and the Euro too strong. Yes, Jen actually stuck to a budget! (Sort of.)

The cape's a keeper and looks adorable over a tank with jeans, and not a candidate for renovations as a) it's not vintage and b) it would fall apart when it's cut. As for the flamenco-style skirt, Jen's not going to give it to Bridgett for a while--or maybe not ever--as it fits perfectly and looks totally hot with a sexy black shirt and heels. Remember, not everything needs to be cut and redesigned. If you find a piece of vintage that you like, is wearable and fits you, keep it as is. There's always another item that can be subjected to scissors.

Born-Again Coats

You wouldn't believe what you can do with retro jackets and coats. This used to be a structure-less winter jacket with a terrific paisley print. With a little trimming, it's a take on tails! And below was a waist-length coat with long sleeves, giant buttons and a fur collar that was both itchy and sweaty. It looked like a bed jacket for a rich old lady. But the material was irresistible. Now it's a funky piece that makes unique use of that great color and cloth, perfect for hip chicks of all ages.

And you can get useful clothing not only from coats, but from the linings of them. This was the zip-out lining of an 80s black trenchcoat with huge padded shoulders that looked dated even though trench coats came back in style. With its original zipper but trimmed sleeves and an added ruffle, this is a great piece to wear over leggings or skinny jeans.

Find Our Book

Madhousewife's Vintage, who sells cool vintage trinkets and duds on eBay (http://cgi3.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=madhousewifesvint), wrote to us to let us know that she was MADly in love with Born-Again Vintage and had checked it out of the library three times. Where could she buy it? 

The answer, most obviously, is Amazon. But if you want to help us out, go to your local bookstores and ask them to order (or re-order) it. Because the initial print run was only 5,000 copies or so, the bigger bookstores didn't display it and no one knew it was there. So we didn't sell a ton of books, and the stores are already sending them back. This, as you can imagine, is a sucky situation! Especially because we want to write a follow-up called 27 Dresses: How to Alter, Up-Cycle and Remake Your Bridal, Bridesmaid and Prom Gowns.

That said, if you are an independent bookstore or vintage boutique and want to stock our book and/or Bridgett's designs--they go great together, naturally, and are perfect gifts for the sustainable recessionista in your life--let us know. We'll be happy to send you info on how to do so.

Miami Book Signing and Fashion Show

We had a blast at the Biltmore Hotel, promoting our book and Bridgett's fashions this past spring, thanks to our hostess with the most-ess, Tara Gilani. The models looked gorgeous in B.Artise Originals! Actually, they'd look fab in anything they wear, but they loved Bridgett's designs and really wore them well. It was a fun evening :-)

A couple of these designs are now available at Rebel, located on Biscayne Boulevard, Upper East Side, Miami. Don't look for this green dress, though--Jen's friend Michaela snapped that up pronto!

Jen bought parts of this brown-and-gold brocade dress (below) in Atlanta at a great vintage boutique called Stefan's Vintage Clothing (http://www.stefansvintage.com/; stefansinc@aol.com). They've got terrific formal wear and an excellent men's department, for you guys who like to wear the classics. The've also got a great big black cat in the shop, who sleeps on the counters just waiting for you to pet him. Incidentally, this dress came with a jacket, which Jen now wears as is with jeans. Remember, you don't always have to cut up everything you find...