Going offline for the weekend. See you Sunday at SoWa

Directions to the South End Open Market

Eye Candy

Swoon Suit

I've always wanted to wear a Vintage pin up style bathing suit. The Brits have been showcasing them in British Vogue since spring of 2007. While high waisted knickers with classic bustiers haven’t quite caught on to this continent, many designers are casting out their own version on the runway just to see if the trend sticks. Michael Kors, Donna Karen and even Vitoria Secret all had their inspired versions for 2008.

Rose Marie Reid is one of my favorite names for Vintage swimwear, her looks were glamorous and the quintessential idea of what we think of as 1950s pinup beach style. Her suits were well made and today almost look like you could go from beach to cocktails, just throw on that white turban.

Any women who would be quoted as saying ""What you really need is a new suit for sunning, last year's for swimming and an extra one just for fun. " in addition to being a self made women in the 1950s, is a full fledged DAME in my book. Ironically enough her business declined as a result of the rise of the bikini.

Mama Maria a company out of the Netherlands, is a premier desinger of retro bathing suits. These are pretty much to die for! I have not yet bitten the bullet, but I might have to. Or maybe I'll just try my own hand at a suit or two.

Mama Maria suits are available online.

If you don't want to order from the Netherlands, come check out DAME's vintage suits by Rose Marie Reid, Cole of California, Jantzen and more. Let's bring a little more glamor back to the beach!

Why buy knockoffs at Anthropologie when you can buy the real thing!

From a real DAME!

DAME Sweetness

This is another example of the early 50s dresses DAME has in stock. This was one of the stunners as soon as it came out of the old box. The fabric, in great condition, is a metallic silver/gold floral print. The blouson sleeves are buttoned with the most precious, original glass buttons. Unlike some of the others, this dress can accommodate a variety of sizes in the bust as well. This dress is available for sale, even tho it may break my heart to let it go.

This is sweetness perfected, it's like cotton candy dusted in gold sugar.

Sneak Peak for the boys

DAME has a great selection of Vintage Men's shirts in a variety of sizes. These are a couple of my favorites. Don't miss the "ACTION" buckle, a DAME favorite from day one.

Sneak Peak Florals - June 29th

We've got some great florals to show this week. I haven't been shy about my love for the jumper this season and we have a few. This strapless number is a great summer example, in a cool cotton, I think you could wear this almost anywhere summer fun is to be had.


Shown also is a *mint* 60s Cotton Maxi, I would love to see these go home on just the right DAME.

Dame of the Day- A Perfect Fit

Part of the challenge of vintage is finding the right fit, in a style that you love. It always seems to me that the dress with the perfect fit finds you. Dame has procured a very special collection of early 50s dresses. All handmade by local east coast Boston-NYC dressmakers, about 10 dresses in all ranging in style from summer to fall all made for a 25" waist. I'd say about a size 2-4 depending on your actual waist measurements.

These dresses belonged to someone who was very dear to me , so I was pleased as punch to discover they were a perfect fit for an old friend of mine who just happens to have a fabulous sense of style. This dress in particular is a beautiful heavy weight textured cotton, still bright white with the prettiest dress makers tag.

This dress has found a new life after being in storage for the past oh 40 years, and I'm glad that a part of my aunt's youth is now out socializing in NYC, galleries, cosmos, the works, somehow it seems just as it should be.

The very picture of Audry Hepburn!! Enjoy, and hopefully another dress will find you!

Sneak Peak-Beach Weather/Wear

All I'm sayin is that there is a certain beach I'd like to be sitting on right now. But I'm working my little tail off for Dame's next date June29th.

Check back for new sneak peaks; bathing suits, straw bags, beach and pool lounge style galore, including *new* designer additions to the collection and Men's beach accessories. For now here's a teaser of some of our great summer items.

Shop Dame and then hit the beach!

Another great showing June 8th

Even if it was hot as hell, literally! The heat wave didn't totally scare people off from the Market, at least not everyone without AC at home. Some of my favorite perfect summers items sold on Sunday, including a darling turquoise flowered pin-up style bathing suit and a mint condition Men's tiki Cabana set. I'm working my best to have the entire collection of bathing/beach wear out on the 29th, including some refashion and handmade items as well.

A friend of mine, took some great photos of the booth. If you haven't been by, this really shows off some great angles. And you can see there is shot of that bathing suit, I loved so much!

DAME SoWa Schedule Updates....

The Market schedule is shaping up like this:

Check back for updates to this and for Designer Showcases, in clothing, leather and jewelry.

June 8th- More Summer Cocktail looks, Men's resort, and a little beach intro.

June 29th- Summer extravaganza, Sundresses and beach-wear. A double booth- means double the inventory.

July 20th & Aug 24th... Continued Summer Resort and Nautical themes.

Aug 31st- Possible new date.

Sept 14th- Fall Preview.

Sept 20th-21st -ADDED Dates South End open Studios, themes forthcoming.

ADDED DATES OCT?? Do you want to see DAME in October?

Shoes Shoes Shoes

We have some impressively great footwear for Summer.

I'm going to start with showcasing these boots. 80s White Leather, in three different textures with Mod Metal hardware. These would totally work for all 4 seasons, they are in excellent condition both inside and out. Marked a size 9 fitting an 8/5 well.

These are as good as they get and ready for a brand new life. Priced at $84.

Sneak Peak: 70s Summer Sandals. Look at these cuties!! "Made in Italy" leather and plastic strapless slip-ons in a variety of candy colors. It is a crying shame not a single pair fit me. A range of sizes from 7-8....

Probably best fitting a 7-7.5. A real steal priced at $15 each.

Lisette's Favorite Sneak Peak

I can't get enough of long dresses. If you're shorter, they make you look longer. And if you're an Amazon like me, they make you pull up your shoulders and walk like a high priestess. I love, love, love a maxi dress. And I really like the west-coast vintage vibe in this one. It's somehow both a little bit sex-kitten and a little bit sandbox romper... A combo I didn't know would look so good, but totally does.

Everything about the dress is fantastic, from the vibrating summer red color and the fantastic fabric texture, to the buttoned cross back and the fantastic little center panel that will wrap around the waist in the best way. And the pockets! What woman doesn't absolutely love having pockets in a summer dress?

At this point, vintage is just about the only way to find that perfect combo. I love this. I can't wait to see this playful dress on the right dame!

This is about a sm/med, with certainly some flexibility with the added buttoned straps. In great condition and would be easy as pie to hem to fit. Fabric feels like a cotton/poly blend.

Another great inspiration piece to be had, priced at $42.

Dany's Favorite- Sleeping Beauty

One of my favorite pretty Dame dresses is this little 80s party dress. The fabric is an almost sheer, incredibly soft, flowy, clingy cotton. It is styled with multi-layered flutter sleeves and a matching flutter on the hem.

The dress is in Mint condition and shows no marks or wear. In fact I think the age of this fabric has just made it softer. Designed to hang softly over the body.

Hard to see on a hanger, this dress is great on several body types and is just the picture of femininity.

Marked a Vintage size 12, it is a good medium by today's standards and can accommodate a variety of sizes. It is priced at $42.

It occurs to me that we've got just the shoes for this dress. Check back for a shoe Update. What DAME doesn't love a shoe update?

Here are some totally cute 80s shoes for this dress, I'm partial to either the blue or the green. But they are all really cute. All three measure a size 8. The Pink and Blue are canvas and show some wear mostly on the inside and are in pretty fantastic condition for being cotton. I just love the 80s does 50s stiletto style heel.

The green are Vintage 9 West, are suede with leather trim and are in good clean condition showing some wear on the inside.

The summer canvas are a summer buy at only $10 each the Green leather are $20

Great Gatsby

Here is a little sneak peak for the boys. Mid-century with a 20s vibe.

There is no fabric content label, but it feels like a silk/cotton blend. A silk seersucker? It doesn't get any more resort-glam than this. And from one of Boston's own historic department stores no less.

Its is sized about a medium 40" chest and 17" between the shoulders. It has a crisp white background and is in excellent condition, shows no marks or wear. It's priced at $72

All you need now is a retro straw hat. I happen to know that SALMAGUNDI in Jamaica Plain has a very fine collection of summer straw hats.

Pass the mint julep please.