New Items Now Available!

As I am enjoying the 17 degree Celsius weather today, I can't help but look over my shoulder wondering when the snow will fall.

But I think we're safe! Yay for spring!!

Have a splendid weekend everyone :-)

Creative Vintage - Upcycled 1950s black chiffon dress

Bohemian chic - Vintage 1970s Treacy Lowe Silk Gown

1930s bias cut evening gown

1920s lace blouse

Batteries included, war and peace, and lighten up!

The last of my photos from this exhibit in Montreal. Hope you have been enjoying them!

This ain't no War & Peace. Illuminated gown made of book pages, milled paper, typewriter parts, linen rope and binders.

 Renovating? Just grab a shingle from your skirt to fix the roof.

Finally, batteries included!

 

Lighten up! I actually like this dress - it is very ethereal using rows of tiny lights over chiffon fabric. 

Shell casings, doggie poo bags and plastic bottles.

Continuing on our recycling journey from the Montreal Biosphere exhibit. Here are more artistic visions of the fashion of the future.

No need for a shotgun here. Used shell casings of some sort - I think a gun?

For dog lovers everywhere. Never run out of poop bags.

No girdle needed. The stiffness of this gown is due to the plastic bottles melted down.

The HIT PARADE. VHS & Beta video tapes, audio cassette tapes, slides and film create this mini evening dress.

Computer crashing? No worries as you have all the equipment you need here.

Sleeping with the Fishes? That's Some Serious Recycling!

Recently touring the Montreal Biosphere, there is a stunning exhibit of re-cycled fashion. Titled, "O.N.E. Outfits from a New Era", this exhibit demonstrates some unique dresses made from what would otherwise become landfill. 16 artists who excel in different trades (jewelery making, cabinetry, hairstyling, fashion design and the visual arts) took up the challenge and created some intriguing works of art. Bear in mind, these are not wearable - they are simply to send a message, that Canadians produce 35 million tons of garbage a year. I will post the photos over the next few days as there are many! Enjoy :-)

Hair Raising! Made from, you guessed it - human hair.

All wrapped up.

Polystyrene packaging used to create a bubble style dress.

 

Have a drink? Dress made of tin cans - I think this is the Sobe brand...not sure. At least they made it all match!

 

This gives a whole new meaning to sleeping with the fishes. Made of Salmon skins and mussel shells. It has to be kept in a refrigerator!

 New wave in leather goods. This gown was made from car parts - tires, head rests, airbags and fabric seats. It's just missing the engine!

Eco Chic: The Fashion Paradox

Jess from Black Dog publishing in London has offered readers of Some Like it Vintage a great opportunity!

Enjoy a 40% discount for their best-selling book Eco-Chic: The Fashion Paradox

Eco-Chic: The Fashion Paradox is a fascinating and  pertinent examination of the relationship between fashion and environmental  awareness. A new wave of sustainable shopping, affordable clothing, and  ecological thinking has allowed eco-designers to create high-end, design-led  collections rather than merely environmentally sympathetic garments.  Eco-Chic aims to combat the preconceived idea of eco-fashion as a  compromise in style and quality and place eco-fashion where it belongs, at the  forefront of design. Lavishly illustrated, this revised and updated edition  will appeal equally to the fashion conscious and the environmentally  aware.

In a comprehensive survey of this highly pertinent subject, leading academic Sandy Black examines the way the fashion industry is changing to accommodate the environmental concerns of the twenty first century. She exposes the naked truth behind the clothes we wear, exploring alternate practices and assessing their feasibility.

Using case studies of designers from the catwalks and the high street, including Katharine Hamnett, Marks and Spencer and Linda Loudermilk, the book illustrates how these processes are finding their way into the industry, and shows how ethical fashion has moved on from its traditional connotations of hemp shirts and rope sandals.

Fashion and environmental awareness are two concerns that do not comfortably sit side by side. Over the past ten years, high street fashion, led by global chains, has become ever more affordable and disposable. The sourcing of materials, the manufacture and the distribution of clothes have become the dirty secrets of the beautiful industry.

Eco-Chic continues Black Dog’s commitment to the environment and to responsible design. Lavishly illustrated, it is a timely publication that will appeal equally to the fashion conscious and environmentally aware.

To get this great offer, just email Jess directly at jess@blackdogonline.com, include your shipping address and quote in the subject line, "Some Like it Vintage Eco-Chic Book Offer". Then sit back and wait for your book to arrive!

Happy reading!

Newly Listed Creative Vintage Items!

We've been busy once again! For those of you who do not know, we have a line of up-cycled vintage clothing, called Creative Vintage. Garments that were once unwearable have been given a second life! Here are some of our latest additions. View the entire collection here.

Leopard & Chiffon? Works for Me! Creative Vintage Dress $145

Brown Jersey with Floral Skirt and Cross Straps Sz 34 $105

Creative Vintage Purple Lace & Knit Dress Sz 32 $120

Creative Vintage - Dark Brown Crochet, Jersey & Satin Sz 34 $135

Rose & Black Dress with Hoodie Sz 36 $125

Wine Satin Dress with Fringed Bodice CREATIVE VINTAGE Sz 34 $155

Dragonflies - Good or Evil?

Depending on where you are in the world, dragonflies represent different meanings. If you find yourself trekking in Europe, dragonflies are often seen as sinister, even possessed by the devil. For some North American Native tribes, they represent swiftness and activity. As a hobby in the US, they are captured, studied and often released back into the wild similar to butterfly study.

I prefer the Japanese attitude towards them. In Japan, dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness often appearing in art, literature and particularly haiku. The love for dragonflies is reflected in the fact that there are traditional names for almost all of the 200 species of dragonflies found in and around Japan.

That's why I love this dragonfly dress, recently made for our Creative Vintage line. A more modern style, but with the vintage appeal of symbolic dragonflies.

Now available $115.

Playing Vintage Fashion Designer

Being a lover of all things vintage connects perfectly with my recycling lifestyle. Sorting through my vintage clothing shipments, I often find garments I can not sell. There is a certain amount of cleaning and repair that is needed with all garments, but then there are those gems that transmit inspiration. Inspiration to alter them slightly or go beyond just a simple re-sewing of a button - these pieces need extra loving care. I name this my 'Creative Vintage' line of clothing. A garment that is updated or changed by sewing other vintage trims or fabrics; shortening or lenghtening...maininting a vintage style but with an urban edge to it. Playing fashion designer allows me to escape from the administrative side of my business and utilize the creative side of my brain! It is equal to a mini holiday!

Here are some new items now available!

1950s Robins Egg Blue Tulle Swing Dress Sz 34 $165

Creative Vintage Teal Silk Gown with Bows Sz 34 $345

1970s Crepe Halter Dress with Ruffled and Rhinestone Studded Trim, $135

Vintage Suede Dress, TANNERY ROW 1970s, $79.99

My New Favorite 50s Dress

My new favorite. A Creative Vintage item, this 50s dress has been repaired and updated so it can be loved all over again! Don't you love the pop of navy blue on the robin's egg blue? I'm a huge fan of layering in the same tones - two cool colors that just make me want to jump into a pool. (Please, not with your dress on!)

Now available $165.