I love google reader

Everyone is loving the Vintage styling on bathing suits, it started to hit high fashion last year, and it's picking up steam. I bet it won't hit it's peak for another season or even two... and then maybe it will even go on and on as trends sometimes do.

You won't hear me complain

DIY Insanity- Not as off topic as it seems

So I've blogged before about things that I find fascinating in other artists designers or entrepreneurs and what always tops the the list is an intense focus on a small idea, thereby making it huge. I admire people with a tight point of view. people who know so clearly what their vision is and with such attention to detail that they just make the smallest things explode with life.

I mean give me a big project a big idea and I can whittle it down to the essential smallest element needed for execution, but I cannot do it the other way around, it is so fascinating the way people's minds work.

I've been watching the work of Ann Wood, via google reader, for a while now, and just have to get on the blogging bandwagon for today. Not only does she have a DIY template and instruction on this wonderful paper installation featuring a herd of horses, but Design Sponge also did a little photo montage of her home and workspace, and wow, I just want to move right in.

I would also love to create a horse heard of my own, but this must take hours and hours... and hours seriously... I find it odd that not one commenter asked how long a project like this must take. In addition to a grand point of view this girl has tenacity, and I can't help but stand in awe

Maybe not today, but the Sun is coming!

And we've got great new suits for summer. I just got back from my first weekend off in about 6 months. The Cape was gorgeous, but it really only made me anxious for August on the beach in a pinup suit and a big floppy hat. I love Vintage swim wear almost more than any other Vintage niche. It's so glamorous and sturdy in way that just isn't done anymore.

I love this one sadly it is not my size.

Dame's got a great little selection of California Inspired beachwear dating from the early 50s on up, we've got play suits, hourglass shapes and bright high waisted bikinis, cute cover ups and swim trunks for the boys or girls whenever we can find them. Then there is also the over the top accessory we see a lot, the swim maxi dress. Here's to martinis by the pool, b/c seriously, what are these for? If you wore one back in the day, I want to hear about it, and I want pictures!

We've got some cute halter tops and pieces that I hope to return to their former glory by designing and adding special pieces. Just saying that out loud to re-commit myself to the summer refashion.

Check back when you can, it will be coming out over the next few weeks.

Here is a question for you, anyone want to see swim caps in the store? British Vogue did a shoot with them last summer and ever since then, demand has been crazy.

Twitter Fun with Karl Lagerfeld

I didn't really get celebrity twitter following until I found Karl Lagerfeld, that's just cool.

And I particularly like this tweet: Karl says...

I have no scene. I go everywhere. I adapt.11:24 AM Apr 11th from web

Serendipity

One of the most fun things about working in the shop are the random acts of Serendipity that pop up every now and again. There was the cool conversation I had with the woman from the Netherlands who came to JP to see Sylvia Plath's birthplace. Then there was the girl who was able to refer me to her father, to fix my gorgeous 1940s Singer 201-2 -- which I found on Keyse's blog Crocodile Tears. This thing is like a puzzle and it really did not want to be taken out of the desk, just check out the great deco lines and the perfect square footprint. The only Singer repair shop in the area won't make house calls to JP, go figure, and this piece is heavy! As we were were struggling and struggling with trying to get it out of the case one Saturday morning (my mother, friends and customers)... she magically appeared and arranged for her father to pay me a service call.

So soon I will be using this baby at home, with it's sweet little singer engine purring away. And I'll be able to bring new refashion and handmade items into the shop, probably only a piece at a time, but I've got a bunch of projects lined up to tackle. If you are into the refashion pieces, there are two in the shop right now, come in and take a look.

All the Extras

We've got some pretty sweet accessories in the shop, from 1940s/1950s party shoes, to 60s "new" old stock eyeglass frames, classics that were never even filled for prescription. We've got a bunch of cute handbags as well which will all be going to the market the first Sunday in June, so if you've had your eye on something, now might be the time...

If your looking for other kinds of styles, let me know!

Duh Apparently I don't even know when I'm open

It came to my attention today that the outgoing voicemail for Dame, which was set up months ago, was still set up when I thought we might open on Tuesdays. When we decided to stay closed on Tuesdays the voicemail was never updated. I'm so used to looking everything up online, that I never thought to change the outgoing voicemail.


I'm really very sorry to anyone who came the shop on a Tuesday to find it closed, that was a complete oversight on my part.






The sidebar on the blog will always have our current schedule with any upcoming changes, but of course from now on I will remember to change the phone mail too.

The new Dress

This is my new favorite dress in the store. It's a 1940s *new* condition flirty and bright day dress. It's hard to tell from the photos but the stripes are a deep eggplant on top of the yellow. It wraps around the back to tie in front, in an ingenious little pattern design. The tag on the inside says "Swirl" and it appears to have never been worn.

A girl tried this dress on Sat in the shop and it was the sweetest fit on her. She opted for another one of our summer favorites a long red 70s cotton Maxi dress with pockets and criss-cross straps.

I'd love to hear what you've got your eye on for summer, now is the time to let me know! Big summer push soon. What do you want to wear?

PS. I just took in a fabulous collection of 1940s/1950s shoes in a size 5.5... So if that is your size it's time to check them out.

My other favorite Dress Spied by Beyond Boston Chic

So I had heard it through the grapevine that Martini, the blogger behind Beyond Boston Chic was in Jamaica Plain this past weekend, and look at the lovely photo she shot. This dress was purchased by Brent Refsland the owner of the new Hallway Gallery at 66a South Street for his fiance, and how lovely does it look on her! He clearly has good taste. I actually miss this dress, so it's more than wonderful to get to see this photo and to know all I have to do is go two doors down to visit...

Brent did an amazing job with the new space and in light speed I might add. The first First Thursday in May was buzz of activity on our block and I'm really excited for the June event. We've got great things in store for South Street!

Photo Credit: Martini, Beyond Boston Chic

Bah Bah Black Sheep- Thanks Eve

The Vintage children's clothing is a fun little add on at Dame, we don't have a lot of it, but when we find fun pieces we totally grab them up. I was actually saving this skirt for fabric, but decided to put it out there as it is to see if there was a perfect fit.

It's a gorgeous 1950s folk printed fabric with matching piping along the tiers. It makes my heart just melt, I love it so. It's long and full and perfect for some little girl somewhere. Maybe a preteen size with a 22 inch waist.

And next to it is the big favorite the Vintage little Brownie Dress, it could even be hung in a child's room as fun wall art.

PS, because I like to talk about writers and where they are buried, here is another Boston Grave site to check out....

June Brides

I was inspired by this vintage garden party wedding photo enough to mention that we've got several dresses in the store that would make fantastic informal/creative wedding dresses. From 70s boho to 60s mod and a to-die-for coat weight 1950s shirtwaist dress made of an Ivory twill that feels like a thick cotton silk blend, with covered buttons and distressing that will make your heart just melt. If any of these ideas interest you, just email me or stop by the store to see what we've got!

Fashion Show Photos

We've got great photos up of the fashion show, I just love this one it looks like something out of a vintage fashion magazine for sure!

All photos by Ryan Drake.

I looked for online profiles to link for Ryan, but couldn't find any. If you're in the know please send me links.

SoWa Shopping

So the market is coming up and the New dresses are flying out the door. I've got Summer and Shopping on the brain.

We are starting to bring out the summer stock. It's worth coming in just to see some of the ridiculously cute bathing suits we have.

Now is the time to tell me what you want to see more of for summer! So spill it!

Summer Shoe Love

Ok while I think $300 is a tad crazy for boots that are only maybe half leather, I love the idea of these Canvas pull ons for spring and cooler summer nights with breezy sundresses, skirts or even shorts if you can rock that look...

First Thursday is here... Big Thanks

I just want to give a shout out and Thank You to Centre/South Main Streets for hosting this event and inviting us to participate. The First Thursdays Kick off party at Station 8 Salon's gorgeous new space with modeling by Dame and Salmagundi, was a big hit. The hair and make up by Station 8's stylists was fantastic, our own SallyB's bouffant-ish do was my personal favorite. Thanks to Salmagundi for working the back room and those gorgeous hats! The Sangria was tasty too!

Special thanks to the individuals who organized this, you know who you are! The one million fittings were not an easy task. And super thanks to the models for making the clothes look so fabulous.

PS. If you want to buy the clothing that you modeled, ask in the store about your discount!

This is super rough and we'll have the pro photos later, but it's still pretty fun.

Dame Summer Reading Julia Child & Meryl Streep

So I picked up My life in France by Julia Child on a recent trip to the bookstore where I gleely picked out 3-4 books for summer, in the hopes that I can carve out some reading time on the porch .... Then I just saw that this movie is coming out this summer (preview here) and I almost squealed; it made my day. If you don't know about the life of Julia Child you simply must investigate. She is an inspiration for anyone trying to carve out some sense of individual accomplishment in this world. Not to mention it stars Meryl Streep. It's coming out in August, which is just in time for my vacation I can't wait! But I must read the book first....


What are you reading this summer?




I'm updating this post to say that when i heard about the movie I didn't realise that Julie was a real story and a real blog, I figured they'd borrowed the idea from the blogger who cooked their way through the French Laundry. I'm trilled to find out her story is real to and the inspiration is real. I'm a big fan of biographies in case you couldn't tell, and now I have something else to read, Julie's Blog.

It ain't easy being green

The leaves are exploding all over town, outside and inside the Dame window. I can't keep the new spring dresses in the store, so you better come by soon!

There will be tons of green at the fashion show tonight. Hope to see you there.