May 7th First Thursday Premiers Nikki Belfiglio

Meet the Artist Reception Thursday May 7th 5-8

Nikki Belfiglio grew up in the Mid-Hudson valley region of New York, inspired by her photography teacher Sue Foss, she began taking photographs. With her teacher's constant support and loads of artistic freedom, Nikki learned the art of Black & White fine art photography and found her stepping-stone into the art world. After being awarded a grant from the School of the Museum of Fine arts Nikki came to Boston to study photography and to explore the mediums of Film, Painting, Sculpture, Performance and many other arts thanks to the Museums School's unique system of learning. Nikki is most often inspired by the location in which she finds herself. Her film, "Time in Science" shot in Super 8 and filmed on the streets in Science park, shows the beauty of light and movement of an industrial area and was recently exhibited in the film Annual at the MFA.

Nothing says summer like a jumpsuit! ?

Speaking of trends, the talk on jumpsuits is never ending, we've got a few really cute ones in the store including this strapless number that is totally wearable and perfect for summer on the town.

May Event Fashion Show at Station 8 JP

Save the date. We are honored and totally excited to be a part of the Centre/South Kick off event for First Thursdays. Join the party and help us welcome more than one new business to the block. We are psyched to be a part of this and hope to see you there.

Spring Inspiration

With all talk of florals and long dresses buzzing about, I thought of Prada's 2008 Spring collection. I was and am still inspired by this line of 80s does 50s party dresses.

Remember the big bold puffy flower print dresses of the 80s. I've been so wanting to deconstruct a few and turn them into something magnificent. Even if it's been done before. And as much as I've seen love for the long Maxi dress going around, I have yet to see this arc really hit Boston. Is it too demure for even conservative Boston?

What will you be doing when you are 105?

At 105, and only 5ft tall, a lady after my own heart, the last surviving Ziegfeld Girl: Read on

DAME is Three Months Today!

More 30s Inspiration and links update

I've been searching for some beautiful 30s and 40s dresses for myself, and while we've got some great pieces in the shop, you know as well as I do that it's all about fit. There are several web-businesses that I adore and love to scour, if even just to look at the great photos of hard to find garments, but I'm also hoping to find a perfect dress for myself.

At some point I came across Dorothea's closet who shows the finest collection of dresses from the 30s that I have ever seen anywhere. Fine clothes from the 30s are particularly hard to find, mostly b/c there were less people buying and wearing fine clothing during the depression and when they did they were worn much longer and or altered to reflect the newer styles of the day as time went on.

How lovely is this:

My Current Obsession

Is 30s fashion. Before Dior introduced the cinched waist in 1947 with the "new look" and after woman shed their corsets in the roaring twenties. Fashion went through what I consider to be the epitome of feminine glamour. Clothing was made to glide and fall over a woman's natural form, instead of pinch and prod it into some idealized shape du jour... We have Madeleine Vionnet to thank for the bias cut and Madeame Gres draping and pleating on the body. I digress.

My Vintage Vogue has a flickr site cataloguing Vogue Photos by decade for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.

Seriously Wow and Thanks and Stuff

So I had no idea this was coming, guess it's time to put a 'contact me' link on the blog. I'm so super excited about our Editors' Pick selection in the Boston Phoenix Best of of Boston 2009!

For real, we have only been open for about three months, so it is incredibility gratifying to see that all those sweltering and drenching market days were worth it. We are also excited to be going back to the SoWa market in June!

Big thanks to all the Dame friends who helped make such a splash in 2008 and 2009, and super big thanks to those that nominated us. I'm am so happy, proud and pleased.

And some of the Market days were just right.

Dames of DAME #4! Now you know us all!

NAME:
Sarah Elizabeth Williamson

NICKNAME:
Sally Beth, Sally B., SB, S.Biz

WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SHOP?/SUPERPOWER?
Sell beautiful things to the beautiful people who come in, organize displays to suit my fancy, make the clothes come to life at night by dressing up and playing in the window, wish I had the kind of life where I lounged around all day in my boudoir wearing beautiful dressing gowns.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE SHOP FOR WORK/PLAY?
I'm a massage therapist with a practice here in JP.

WHERE CAN YOU USUALLY BE FOUND OUTSIDE OF DAME?
When I'm not in the store or doing massage work, I'm most likely to be in the front yard of my house Big Rock Candy Mountain or baking to really loud music in my kitchen.

HAVE A FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE LOCALE, PARTY, ACTIVITY?
The front yard of BRCM projecting movies on the house and sitting around the fire listening to friends play music. The Neighborhood or any other DJ D'hana event.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FAVORITE BOSTON AREA STORES?
CITY FEED!!! I freaking love City Feed. Also, Salmagundi, Magic Beans, Gadgets, Brookline Booksmith, and I have to admit to being a total sucker for an afternoon at Target.

LET'S TALK ABOUT J.P.- WHAT'S THE COOLEST THING ABOUT YOUR/OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?
I moved to Boston with really low expectations and no long term plan to stay. I quickly grew to love Boston, although every time I say "Boston" what I mean is "JP" . I like that the city is 5 minutes down the road, and the country is 15 minutes down the road. I like the mix of hippies and hipsters and folks who have lived in the area their whole life.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE VINTAGE PIECE/LOOK IN YOUR CLOSET?
Vintage slips, I wear them all the time.I also have a few dresses that I love, love, love, rockabilly/pin-up shoes, my very green wool coat, hippie blouses of many stripes, and as it turns out I have a considerable selection of vintage t-shirts including some hand me down's from my parents (Dad-Super Bowl XX , his jv football jersey, Mom-a 76 Baryshnikov "Gotta Dance" and lavender sleeved baseball shirt from New Orleans).

WE ALL HAVE THEM- THE PERFECT VINTAGE PIECE THAT GOT AWAY, DIED, YOU GREW OUT OF, YOUR EX STOLE IT, YOUR BFF BORROWED IT AND IT EVAPORATED. WHAT'S YOURS?
An amazing bright turquoise and yellow "mexican" halter dress, that I lent it to the wrong person and never got back. The most perfect cotton/poly blend yellow T-shirt that my grandparents brought back from Costa Rica for my mom sometime in the 70s, which I "borrowed" in middle school and never gave back. I wore that shirt until it disintegrated.

WHAT'S YOUR PICK FOR THE SUPER HOTTEST ITEM IN THE STORE RIGHT NOW?
Everything! We have a couple disco-y poly dresses that are super cute and wearable, and probably my current favorite.

WE ALSO ALL ROCK A LOT OF CLOTHING FROM OUR SHOP. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?
The most beautiful tulle-y twirly gown that I resisted trying on because I was afraid it wouldn't fit. As it turned out it fit perfectly and I took it home after staring longingly at it in the store for a few weeks.A great new green pattern "office dress" that needs a quick hem fix up and then will be seen all over town, a lovely yellow lace bathing suit, my favorite embroidered short sleeve hippie tunic, and a fantastic undergarment or two which is not the topic for polite conversation.

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER, WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING?
Lots of dresses and skirts with out tights! Strappy summer frocks for days and days! Sandals so my toes can see the light again! I'm really looking forward to summer.

IN HAIKU FORMAT, LADIES, DESCRIBE THE VINTAGE EXPERIENCE:
To buy other's clothes
Is to continue a thought
Otherwise forgotten.

Dames of DAME #3!

NAME:
Lucy Barber

NICKNAME:
My real name is "Green" and to this day, my mama still calls me Greenie from time to time (thanks hippie parents)

WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SHOP?/SUPERPOWER?

I sell the most beautiful clothes to the most lovely people and the rest of the time, I daydream about hanging out with Louise Brooks in silk dresses

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE SHOP FOR WORK/PLAY?

I'm in SKEWL, studying Muzak Journalism. I'm a freelance writer for "The Weekly Dig" where you can sporadically read my quippy interviews with the drummer that nobody really cares about.

WHERE CAN YOU USUALLY BE FOUND OUTSIDE OF DAME?

Mostly, I eat.

HAVE A FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE LOCALE, PARTY, ACTIVITY?

I have the stamina of an eighty year old woman so it's usually a 9pm curtain call for me. Though, since recently turning twenty-one I've been enjoying new found hangouts like Delux in the South End and Publick House in Brookline.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FAVORITE BOSTON AREA STORES?

Cafe Society is up there. The owner finds the most wonderful vintage pieces in hard to come by sizes. Also, my boyfriend punches the clock at Boomerangs and has found me some amazing treasures (a mint green typewriter, a turquoise vintage cardigan- yes please)

LET'S TALK ABOUT J.P.- WHAT'S THE COOLEST THING ABOUT YOUR/OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

When I came to Boston for school in '06, I sort of felt like I was living in "Children of Men." Downtown has a median age of about twenty-five and is so gentrified. I love that JP is full of families and that I am in the minority being a student. No thanks Allston.

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE VINTAGE PIECE/LOOK IN YOUR CLOSET?

I have a hearty collection of fifties dresses. I've been chronically overdressed since kindergarten when I showed up in a costume wedding dress. I'm a firm believer in not waiting for an "occasion" to go all out.

WE ALL HAVE THEM- THE PERFECT VINTAGE PIECE THAT GOT AWAY, DIED, YOU GREW OUT OF, YOUR EX STOLE IT, YOUR BFF BORROWED IT AND IT EVAPORATED. WHAT'S YOURS?

I actually just missed out on this breathtaking forties blouse on etsy. I keep trying to tell myself it wasn't meant to be but I can't help cursing the lucky lady who snatched it from me... Damn you

WHAT'S YOUR PICK FOR THE SUPER HOTTEST ITEM IN THE STORE RIGHT NOW?

Well, I had a fit when I got a look at all of our new spring/ summer loot. There's a great eyelet dress that's absolutely perfect. I also am in love with peterpan collars which are all over the store. So sweet.

WE ALSO ALL ROCK A LOT OF CLOTHING FROM OUR SHOP. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

Where do I begin...

A gold cocktail dress from the eighties that is fashioned after forties evening wear (I donned it for my birthday and felt so glamorous)

A black and white houndstooth cape

A blue and black striped wiggle dress with the most fabulous oversized black buttons and, drumroll, pockets!!

A pair of cropped gray accordion pleat pants

A mustard mod dress with beaded fringe

(this is getting excessive, I mean, this list is making me confront my Dame addiction)

And for spring,

A striped circus style skirt- this might be my favorite so far

A sweet green button down

A purple skirt that is so Mormon chic. Watch out Chloe

Whew, finally, a floral button down with the coveted peterpan collar

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER, WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING?

Lots of skirts, and dresses. Red lipstick. Straw hats. My Annie Hall coke bottle sunglasses. I avoid pants during all seasons, especially summer.

Dames Behind DAME: #2!

NAME:
Lisette Murphy
http://roguefemmeart.blogspot.com

NICKNAME:
"Mama"

WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SHOP?/SUPERPOWER?

I dream up and manifest the front window displays & endlessly toy with the floor layout. I am a set designer at heart. I'm also frequently tha Dame photo-shoot mistress, print designer, muralist, and am on the Dame buying team where I have a knack for finding really good men's plaid shirts and a keen eye turned towards leather. I'm also magnetically attracted to caftans.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE SHOP FOR WORK/PLAY?

I am an animator, a graphic designer, and a leather worker. These things alternately feel like work and play. I love making things, I love to drive, and I love a good long evening in the garden with my friends, card game nights, and getting back out to the west coast when I can.

WHERE CAN YOU USUALLY BE FOUND OUTSIDE OF DAME?

My studio. Or in a make-shift version of my studio spread out over a few lawn chairs in our beautiful front yard, drinking large amounts of very strong coffee.

HAVE A FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE LOCALE, PARTY, ACTIVITY?

Me and my friends are a musical bunch. We have a monthly hootenanny 'round the campfire at our house in the warm months which makes me smile just to think about. And my partner DJs a monthly dance night at the Midway Cafe called The Neighborhood that's uniquely energetic and not-scenestery. Just hot.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FAVORITE BOSTON AREA STORES?

Honestly, a really good day for me starts at Michael's Crafts, heads to AC Moore, and finishes up at JoAnne Fabrics...but...
I love the gift shop in the MFA- I want every book there.
City Feed in JP!: Best coffee in New England.

LET'S TALK ABOUT J.P.- WHAT'S THE COOLEST THING ABOUT YOUR/OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Wake up the Earth!

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE VINTAGE PIECE/LOOK IN YOUR CLOSET?

I just found a turn of the century beaver fur top hat. It's all kinds of rubbed away and fraying. But it's incredibly gorgeous and fits my head perfectly. I almost cried when I found it.
I also own a leather jacket my father made in the late 70s that is both incredibly beautiful and sentimental.
My vintage boots will always have the hold on my heart, though. Knee-high, golden, lace-up 1960s Fryes. Sterling silver toe-cap, snip toe cowboy boots with spider-web and black widow embroidery.
I own a pair of deep brown, 1940s, roach-killer toe, quadruple wide, slung heel, handmade cowboy boots. Nothing compares. I have run them into the ground.

WE ALL HAVE THEM- THE PERFECT VINTAGE PIECE THAT GOT AWAY, DIED, YOU GREW OUT OF, YOUR EX STOLE IT, YOUR BFF BORROWED IT AND IT EVAPORATED. WHAT'S YOURS?

I had a 1950s slim-fitting corseted gown I wore to my Junior prom. It was a blue-lavender satin, twisted and gathered over the bust, fit through the waist and slim down the legs with a floor-skimming train that showed a sea-foam green on the interior. I wore it with my grandmother's amethyst necklace and elbow gloves. I wish I had kept it after I outgrew it, but like so many things, it met it's end when I needed cash. ...It was the epitome of glamour.

WHAT'S YOUR PICK FOR THE SUPER HOTTEST ITEM IN THE STORE RIGHT NOW?

It's hard to keep up with what's still in the store! I know we haven't moved them onto the floor yet, but the vintage bathing suits we have this year are the HOTNESS.

WE ALSO ALL ROCK A LOT OF CLOTHING FROM OUR SHOP. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

-The floor length black, red, yellow, blue, and cream striped caftan I refashioned to slink off the shoulder. I call it affectionately "The Circus Tent".
-The palm-frond-and-gazelle print polyester caftan...I just call that awesome.
-A woven white leather fold-over bag. My permanent "vacation" purse.
-A leopard print handkerchief
-Shoulder-grazing pounded silver hippy earrings
-My original issue PeeWee Herman tshirt!!!
-A spaghetti strap cotton tube dress. Stripes, flowers, comfy.
-A beautiful wine colored carpet bag. The most complements ever stem from this bag, I think.
...I am certainly omitting some things from this list....

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER, WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING?

Nude lips or orange lips, shimmery nude eyes, and lots of coconut oil. A serious tan. I'm making a deer skin halter top to rock fiercely in the hot months. Handmade sandals. Lots and lots of vintage poly dresses: Strapless vintage dresses that nip at the waist and flare over the hips, vintage dresses with pockets!, my hot orange maxi refashion. Polyester vintage dresses always pull through for me as awesomely hot and fitting of a larger Amazonian frame or easily updated with a refashion. Halters and spaghetti straps. Fluorescent green. My usual rotation of shredded vintage tee shirts, black. Big, huge, gritty, fringey, delicious leather bags. I make those!

IN HAIKU FORMAT, LADIES, DESCRIBE THE VINTAGE EXPERIENCE?
it's vintage now too
but nothing did vintage clothes
like the nineties did

Dame loves Prom

Dress it up or down, we've got some super fun stuff for Prom. I heart this yellow duchesse satin (yes silk) dress lined in a matching charmeuse styled out with a pair of early 50s pink satin strappy sandles.

We've got lots of fun little pieces, bow ties and cuff links and one of my favorites, a preppy whale embroidered cummerbund! Not to mention some totally cute Women's tux inspired shirts and jackets.

For the boys, we've got a couple of special items if you are going all out, We've got a 1950s shawl collar men's wool tux sized at about a 38 short, and 34 on the pants.

The star the of the day.... a 1930s wool and silk high buttoned tux jacket, in a smaller size, probably about a 36 or a very slim 38....

P.S. If you are in the neighborhood shopping vintage, be sure to check out our neighbors at 40 South at, well 40 South Street. You will not go home empty handed.

Happy Spring

Meet the dames behind DAME!

Fabulous vintage doesn't find itself. Nope!

You have to whisper sweet nothings into the thin air, tell it it's still fierce after all these years, clean it up, march it around, and get excited about it. Which we do.

Just who are these fashionable femmes that make up Dame?

Today we are starting our
Dames of DAME posts!

First, we thought you should meet Dany: Dame Number One.

NAME: Danyelle Brooke Pearson

NICKNAME: Dany

WHAT DO YOU DO IN THE SHOP?/SUPERPOWER?

Annie Oakley with an MBA.

Owner, conceptual dreamer, lover of all things vintage and textile. Clothing technician, dater, schemer, planner, buyer, stylist and designer. I’ve been shopping Vintage since high school and have been sewing since college. I’ve been dreaming about this business in some form or another for the last 15 years or more. I really hope to have the time to bring some of my own handmade clothing into the shop--and more refashion for sure.

WHAT DO YOU DO OUTSIDE OF THE SHOP FOR WORK/PLAY?

I have a day job; I’m an accountant for a software company. I’ve been working the corporate life for over 10 years now. I love walking and have various regular routes around the city, which admittedly include shopping. I have two pugs who I adore. I love food, cooking and play and have the most fun when I dress for the occasion, out on the town or entertaining at home. My biggest roadblock to enjoying anything and everything is time. If I had more time, I would add onto this list sewing any number of the designs that float around in my mind on any given day and then tack onto that reading and yoga….

WHERE CAN YOU USUALLY BE FOUND OUTSIDE OF DAME?

I’m a creature of regular haunts including the likes of Ula, James’s Gate and Ashmont Grill and I’ll cross the river for Hungry Mother or Highland Kitchen any day of the week. I’ve got all of my favorite routines that stretch down the Cape and up into Maine. I will never be far from the Ocean and really great seafood. I am occasionally found in Basingstoke, England and Atlanta, Georgia when I travel for work.

HAVE A FAVORITE NIGHTLIFE LOCALE, PARTY, ACTIVITY?

Great friends, food and cocktails. I’m something of a novice cocktail aficionado and love nothing more than throwing a little cocktail soiree and testing out my mixing skills. I’m happiest entertaining and cooking with a house full of friends, but love to shake it with the best of them admittedly most often at the Midway, and that’s going way back. I’ll visit my friends anywhere from Boston to NYC to Maine and really just love to be where they are.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR OTHER FAVORITE BOSTON AREA STORES?

For chains, I love and can’t live without Kiehl’s & Fresh. I love to browse the beautiful, expensive clothes and floor design at Barney’s. For local shops, my friend Amy’s store, Artifaktori in Davis Square, is super fun. I’ve found great scores at Yesteryear and 40 South in Jamaica Plain…. The really sad thing is that with all of this going on with Dame, I really have no time left to shop. It’s very sad, but totally true. I’m due for a new pair of jeans and need to “schedule” that in…. There have been several local shops that have opened over the last year and I’m just dying to visit them. Places like Grand and Acquire, there’s fun new businesses popping up all over the city.

LET'S TALK ABOUT J.P.- WHAT'S THE COOLEST THING ABOUT YOUR/OUR NEIGHBORHOOD?

Oh I love the things that people always say, but are totally true; the mix of green space and urban living, the proximity to downtown. I love to turn onto Amory and see the Prudential just sitting there. I grew up for a portion of my childhood off of Walk Hill and when I was a kid I LOVED riding the elevated with my mom, but the Orange line is certainly best underground. It has the feel of a small town, but you are still a part of the city proper. It’s walkable and has great coffee, shops and pubs. I miss my Saturday Centre Street strolls and love living by the Brewery. I’m very proud of my Boston heritage. I’m a New Englander through and through…

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE VINTAGE PIECE/LOOK IN YOUR CLOSET?

Wow, this is hard, because it changes all the time. Right now I’d have to say it would be some of the accessories. I have a pair of 40/50s kitten heel booties with Mink trim. They are a perfect fit, but I’ve actually never worn them. I love them and will wear them…. next winter… And we scored a perfectly worn emerald green 40s leather pleated envelope clutch purse, in a generous size on our first buying trip, with the sweet diamond shaped leather pull still attached. I offered it for sale last season at a STEAL at $45 and everyone touched, but no one bought it, so it’s mine now.

WE ALL HAVE THEM- THE PERFECT VINTAGE PIECE THAT GOT AWAY, DIED, YOU GREW OUT OF, YOUR EX STOLE IT, YOUR BFF BORROWED IT AND IT EVAPORATED. WHAT'S YOURS?

Oh boy, I was a collector/lover for years and always trying to figure out how to start some kind textile related business. A few years back I went through a stage where I thought I’d give it all up. I had all these fantastic pieces and either sold or gave them away… I’m such a geek when it comes to vintage, the older it is, the more I love it. What’s coming to mind right now, is this classic 40s green and black tweed suit, the jacket had these dramatic shoulders and full circle peplum flaring from the waist… too many dresses and coats to count. Sigh….

WHAT'S YOUR PICK FOR THE SUPER HOTTEST ITEM IN THE STORE RIGHT NOW? Right now without a doubt, the classic 1940s rayon WWII era swing dress. The print is a to-die-for navy bamboo graphic with red accents, perfect red buttons, and buttoned sleeve detail. Hand gathering at the waist and pleating on the sleeves…

WE ALSO ALL ROCK A LOT OF CLOTHING FROM OUR SHOP. WHAT HAVE YOU GOT?

-Bright Emerald 1960s Mod Crop jacket with perfect covered buttons.

-Baby Blue linen A line 1960s Mod shift, portrait collar with a sheer lace embroidered front panel the length of the dress, fit is perfectly cropped under the arms and has added box pleating under the A line Skirt for “kick”

-Vintage Cashmere, whenever I can

-Dark Floral, hand/homemade 1940s kitchen housedress. Hand rouched at the waist with matching piping, the skills of the vintage home seamstress blow my mind

-Mint Green Poly 1970s sweeping strappy Maxi dress

LOOKING FORWARD TO SUMMER, WHAT WILL YOU BE WEARING?

This is my year for dresses from fit and flare to Maxi, and skirts with bare legs and sandals, short suede boots or leggings and flats, bringing back the flats. But I will always love crazy huge platforms and cropped jeans with pretty feminine 50s blouses, or anything drapy and disco esque. I’m going for a 1920ish pixie cut as soon as I can and love the shades of apricot and carnation. I can never get enough green, but love all manner of blue this season and am revisiting my coming of age in-and-rejection-of the 80s –love of black, grey and off white.

IN HAIKU FORMAT, LADIES, DESCRIBE THE VINTAGE EXPERIENCE:

Fine fabric and Cut

Not mass produced by machines

Perfect for a Dame

Local Literary Dames

I've known for a while now, that ee cummings was buried under a sweet little headstone and garden memorial in Jamaica Plain's Forest Hills Cemetery, but I did not know that Anne Sexton was also buried there. This is something I stumbled upon while researching Sylvia Plath's birthplace in, yes... Jamaica Plain.

A woman traveling from the Netherlands, who had been walking all over town in search of the house, stopped into the shop on Saturday and told me about the little place on Prince Street.

What was so strange about this is interaction is that I had just been thinking about Plath that very morning after hearing the news of her son's passing. Having read and studied the work of these woman as an English major undergrad, I was profoundly affected by their passions and fates. Without didactic commentary, these woman added great work to the human experience, maybe in exchange for their own lives.

The woman who came to JP in search of the house, hadn't even heard of Plath's son's recent death and she commented on how nice it was to run into someone who could share her moment. I'm amazed and still even a little spooked at this random cognitive collide with a complete stranger and all because of the Shop and being there.

I'm revealing a little bit of my geeky side, but I think it is relevant to Dame in that sort of existential way that I love to talk about to anyone who will hear it...

The last of the sweaters are clearing out of Dame...