Green Design

The Greenness of wearing vintage is just an inherent bonus to having a fabulous sense of style.

Reusing/refashioning/appreciating items that have had other lives and been loved well by others has always been something that has attracted me to used objects. I have some quirky little vintage obsessions such as vintage linens, soft worn pretty as pie dishtowels, old clocks, and cookbooks just to name a few. I'm no saint and I'm as pro-capitalist as they come, but I think it's important to be connected to your surroundings and to make choices as consciously as possible.

I love that green design is really taking off, it is a niche market that really seems to be finding itself. I think there is a lot of room in the clothing industry for green design as in the refashioning of older items that aren't inherently valuable in their own right, or in reusing fabric that is wonderful but the original garment too damaged.

Keep your eyes peeled for Dame's Refashion line. There is actually a picture of one of my refashion dresses on the blog "new brahmin" a funky boston style blog.

In the meantime check out the great style profile on Boston.com of these other green designers blazing the trail. I'm especially lusty for the marianne french country bed at Chair Couture.

Spring 2008 Inspiration

Anyone who has been by our SoWa booth will see instantly why I'm completely giddy over the Spring 2008 Diane Von Furstenberg collection and oddly enough the summer Jcrew line. I'm a long time fan of Vintage Hawaiian and tiki looks, long summer dresses in bold prints and flowing fabrics, shells and baubles. It's just so fun to see this look finally hit high style again. Even Jcrew, king of khakis, has Vintage Vacation styled to a T. In both dress and accessories, they have some cute bags and I am especially smitten with their Summer Jewelry this year, you might see me sporting one of these this summer if I can swing it and if I can force myself myself to make a choice.







You can shop Nordstrom and Neiman for the modern vision (and who wouldn't want to do that really) or you can wear the Inspiration and wear Vintage.

Spring 2008 Style Inspiration- circa 1972

I'm just throwing out some love for the Summer Maxi Dress.

If there was ever a summer to rock this look it's now, and probably next year too. I could do without the bow in front, but I love everything else about this look. I think long summer dresses look good on just about everyone. If your short they make you taller and if you are tall well then it this is just the dress to show that off.

What is Dame?

Dame sells Women’s and Men’s clothing and accessories.

All items are hand selected Vintage, or One-of-a-Kind Independent Designer Pieces. We will also throw in the occasional modern designer piece if it feels right.

One of the most frequently asked questions this weekend was “where do we get our items?” Our sources are: Wholesalers, Estate Sales and Individual Collections. Each piece is handpicked and individually cared for. We will be showcasing new items each date, so come on down and see what's new. I am also trying my best to get more New Designer's work, so stay tuned.

Reserved Dates:
June: 8 & 29
July: 20
Aug: 24
Sept: 14
Sept: 20 & 21 South End Open Studios

I’m currently shopping for a studio space and may soon be able to add Sat. Studio Sales and Private events. Send along your email if you’d like to be added to our email list for updates, and don’t hesitate to email if you saw something that you were sorry to leave behind.

Sneak Peaks up soon.

Dame of the Day- Who is Dame?

As a huge history buff, I would be remiss not to mention an original Dame. If you go by the "non-hereditary title" definition, then interestingly enough, Anne Boleyn could be argued to be the original Dame. She was the first women of non-noble birth to be raised to noble status by a sovereign (on her own accord), and we all know where the story goes from there.

Described as an "unconventional beauty, brave, smart, aggresive and once toasted in France as the "glass of fashion" I can think of no better representation.

Some of my favorite dictionary tid-bits:

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin domina, feminine of dominus, lord, master; see dem- in Indo-European roots.]

A title of honor equivalent to master, or sir.

A young person, either male or female, of noble or gentle extraction; as, Damsel Pepin; Damsel Richard, Prince of Wales.

A woman holding a nonhereditary title conferred by a sovereign in recognition of personal merit or service to the country.

a form of address to any woman of rank or authority.

Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a woman; female.

The Low Down

I woke up Sat morning at 5 am to ice cold rain with no end in sight. We arrived at the market to a line of monumental proportion. We got into our space which was located on a huge puddle maybe a half hour before the Market opened. I have to give major props to the Dames for rallying in that awful weather. We did however manage to score a corner space and amazingly, by the time we opened the sun was beginning to shine and it turned into a beautiful day.

Sometime around noon, my only original design by Dany that I brought along was snapped up by a total Dame of a lady who just knew exactly what she wanted. It sold so fast I never even took a picture of the finished product. It made my day and made the morning rain and the puddle and the line all worth it.

Sunday we were put on another corner lot and it was another great day. I hope this gorgeous weather is a sign of the summer to come. There was so much great style coming in and out of the booth, not to mention a little star power which I'm going to keep on the DL. The best part for me was watching people try things on and seeing how much fun people were having. Vintage clothing is one of the easiest and most cost effective ways to stand out in a crowd.

If you purchased anything this weekend, be a Dame for a day and send a photo and we will post it on the blog.

Stay tuned for new sneak peaks for June 8th, (as soon as I can find my camera battary charger) it's somewhere under the vintage!

A little Dame goes a long way....

Things overheard at the SoWa Market this weekend that still make my ears tingle.

"It's mine, I don't even need to try it on"

"I want half of what they are selling over there"

"I saw this tie at JCrew for 50 bucks"

"That is so London"

"I love this, I could carry it everywhere"

"They don't make elastic like this anymore"

and the old standby " I love all your stuff", just doesn't get old

Super Big Thanks to Dame's Newest Customers for a stellar premier. Check back here for the newest finds for June's Show. If you are looking for anything or any size, let me know! See you June 8th.

Opening This Weekend at the South End Open Market. We want to dress you up!

This Week's Favorites

My favorite items to look at this past couple of weeks have been this totally swank collection of Vintage ties. A decidedly summer theme, and the sweetest Vintage tags attached. I even wore one myself on Sat night with a matching pair of heels.

Headquarters are getting crazy

This is the aerial view of my living room.

Summer Inspiration

As vacation approaches, I find myself immersed in the ideas of the things I love about summer.

The one thing I love almost as much as frivolous shoes, is looking at art. I'm a gallery hopper for sure and while I can't buy often, this one situation where window shopping doesn't leave me lacking. I really started to take to this when I lived in Portland, ME. There is a really vibrant arts scene in the prettiest sleepiest New England seaside town that you ever did want to live in. It's also one of my favorite vacation strolls. Provincetown has a really fun Thurs evening art walk all summer long and there is nothing better then walking along the ocean, in and out of galleries and stopping for a great meal. This is everything I love about summer.

As the premier of Dame approaches with the splashiest summer palette, I thought I'd share a Painters work that I just stumbled on whose paintings are causing me to daydream about the sun and sand and just taking a break from it all. This work is kind of fluffy for my usual taste but for whatever reason it's just striking my fancy today, maybe because it looks so much like Spring on a plate.

Susan Homer as presented by Metaphor Gallery of Contemporary Art in Brooklyn.

It doesn't show in these pictures, but these are oil on canvas and the texture to these paintings is one of the things that grabbed me about them. Very thick kind of rough strokes, which I like as a contrast to the subject matter and otherwise delicate feel to the pieces.

Speaking of Candy

These shoes are like Cotton Candy for your feet, who wouldn't want just a little taste?

Sneak Peak- Summer Color

It's all about Color. The psychedelic Shaheen dress is to die for. This is THE year of the Summer cocktail dress and for luxe Hawaiian dresses there was no one like Alfred Shaheen. Vacation, Garden Party, Margaritas on the deck? Pick your occasion; what a treat of a dress.

It's like a Dairy Queen cone with cherry dip.

Sneak Peak for the Boys

This is my personal favorite find for the Boys so far. Vintage dead stock from Filene's of Boston-Old school dress shirts with the swankyest short sleeves. Super Preppy MOD

Dame Goes Shopping

So I'm pleased as punch to say that the women of Dame are going on our first official buying trip for the SOWA events this summer. It's a whirlwind trip to Baltimore. A seven hour drive there and back in two days.

I booked one night in a hotel on the harbor and I'm really excited to see a new city. I've never been to Baltimore. If you know me you know I'm partial to harbor towns. A girl in every port or somthing like that.

The best part is going to be trying to pack 200 dresses into my little two door civic. Where there is a will there is a way I say!

Carry this- Vacation Palette

Two things I love: a great bag and vacation. I love the whole "resort" thing. For me it's a sort of alternate reality fascination. Admittedly my take on this is idea is more akin to the 50s tiki-camp culture, Hawaiian dresses, raffia bags adorned with shells and the like. I'm not ashamed to admit I live out my own little resort-fantasy on the Cape whenever I can. There's nothing like basking in the sun and sea, changing clothes 5 times a day and sipping margaritas as the spirit moves. These looks are obviously vintage inspirations and for that, I love them.


Tracy Resse's spring "plenty" bag line is pretty amazing. This is a stand out from the bunch.


St Tropez's aptly named "vacation tote", is also a stunner, you could certainly obtain this look in vintage without spending the bucks.

Here is a great example of something I saw on ebay recently.












Happy Vacation Planning.

Dame Work in Process

This blog need some color. What is it? Stay tuned

Spring Fling for Dame

A space has just been reserved for Dame at the South End Open Market this Spring and Summer. Super spanks, I mean thanks, are in order for the Dame girls who helped me pull this off. Check out the application photos on the sidebar to the right.

These are the reserved dates: Hope to see you there. If not, I might not see you at all until October, since I have yet to quit my day job.

Reserved Dates
May: 17 & 18 Opening Weekend
June: 8, 29
July: 20
Aug: 24
Sept: 14

Sept: 20 & 21 South End Open Studios

More to follow

While on the subject of shoes I cannot afford

I just adore these beauties by Tashkent by Cheyenne, natural linen made in Italy. I obviously can't shake the neutral palette this year. These would go with absolutely everything I own.

Speaking of Jr High

There is something about this jacket I find strangely alluring. This is not the kind of thing I would have worn back in the day. I was more of an REM/U2 girl then a Whitesnake fan. But now, I think I could totally rock this.