This weekend's theme: Mad Men.

Looking at this weekend's activities,  my excitement for the two-hour season five premiere of Mad Men has been obvious the past few days:

 

peacock blue early 1960s bridesmaid dress (with removable over-skirt and matching veiled fascinator!) / bar stash for tonight's vintage cocktails / Art & Copy (a great documentary about the creative rise in advertising in the 1960s) / vintage-themed Newsweek 

a 1960s goddess gown.

I really need to get a model to show off all of these vintage dresses. Even though my little mannequin gal shows things off better than a hanger would, there's no replacing a human being to highlight all of the little details of a dress. This Petty Hite gown, for example--the cape-like detail on this dress, pinned up on the right shoulder. I think the intention is for it to be worn almost as an asymmetrical sleeve. Loose, flowing, romantic, goddessy.

I'd love to meet the woman who wore this dress in the 1960s.

An orange cocktail shimmy.

From what my googling gathers, Lisbeth Wolfe was a swanky shop on Main Street in Columbia, SC. This dress pretty much proves it. It's in unbelievable condition, with not a bead out of place. It fits like a dream and I might cry a secret tear when someone buys it.

A little mod number.

I'm still pretty fixated on some of my recent finds, so I thought I'd highlight some of my favorites. My mannequin does this dress no justice. The color, the beading, the fit--it's all perfection.

All shapes and sizes.

Added a handful of new things to seek vintage, with no particular theme in mind. Well, there is one theme, I guess. I LOVE everything and am fighting to not keep this all in my own closet.

 Austin Reed black wool blazer, size 2

champagne colored pleated midi skirt, size 6

 Creations Joseph Ribkoff tank, size 8

butternut squash pencil skirt, size 2-4

early 1960s fur collar coat, size 6-8

Playing dress-up.

I am 27 years old, and I have a dress-up box. Maybe a future blog post will be dedicated to its contents. If you're curious, this is one of its items. I also occasionally like to put on my senior prom dress, just for kicks.  If you're someone who appreciates the joy of playing dress-up, then you might enjoy this gown I listed on seek vintage SOLD:

The tint of these photos isn't 100% accurate. The blue is actually lighter--almost a seafoam green. The skirt swishes when you walk, and the side zipper and hooks squeeeeeeeze your waist into its tiniest size. My dress up box is weeping that this isn't one of its contents, but I'm hoping this dress goes to a high school girl with a romantic heart--someone who has vintage sensibilities and wants to dance the night of her winter formal or prom away on the shoulder of a handsome gent with a side part and a dimpled smile.

Out-there Dresses.

I generally try to avoid kitschy vintage looks unless there is something compelling about them. Lately, I've been gravitating toward patterned 1960s-1970s dresses. I think they'd make such an interesting look this autumn, with their bold prints peeking out of blazer cuffs and collars and layered over textured tights and the perfectly worn riding boots now living in the back of all of our closets.

1960s Henry Lee shirtwaist dress

1960s patchwork shirtwaist dress

By the way, seek vintage now has a Tumblr! Visit seekvintage.tumblr.com for product photos, vintage inspiration, treasure hunting photos and whatever else tumbles out.

A Single Man.

A Single Man was gorgeous and heartbreaking. I was so impressed that Tom Ford not only directed this, but also wrote the screenplay, based on Christopher Isherwood's novel of the same name. What can't the guy do? In the making of the film, all the actors said that he showed up every day in a crisp white shirt, waistcoat, and cuff links. Now that's class. As is the film. 

Mad Men...gives me the shivers.

Season 4 Teaser. I. Can't. Wait.

Classic '60s style.

It's been days since I've seen An Education, and I still can't stop daydreaming about the styling of the movie. The clothes were all fitted printed sheaths with gorgeous swing coats, and the outfits are all accessorized with little hats and gloves and Ray-Bans. And the make-up--nude lips and copious amounts of liquid eyeliner, faux lashes, and hairspray.









Now if only Season 4 of Mad Men would start right now to help me fuel my obsession...

Mad Men Season 3 Style

Fashion from the upcoming season of Mad Men, as seen in August 2009's InStyle.

Only three and a half weeks until the premiere!

Mad Men is coming!

You can bet your bustiers that I'll be hiding from the August heat and, instead, staying in with Mad Men and a chilly gin and tonic.