Dear Vintage Goddess....

Dear Vintage Goddess, 

I keep hearing different words to describe vintage. What's the difference between vintage, thrift and retro? 

Thanks, Jennifer

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Dear Jennifer, 

With the ever increasing popularity of vintage - the terms used to describe it are also becoming more confusing. There are disagreements however, but basically it follows this:

Vintage - an item that is at least 20 years old. So this would put 1992 in the vintage category. However, ask a die-hard vintage collector and they would insist (as I do) that pre 1980s is 'true vintage'.

Thrift- Anything used. So this can mean used from last week. It is not necessarily of good quality nor old nor collectible. It applies to not just fashion, but all second hand items. A.K.A. recycling.

Retro - This is more tricky. Traditionally, retro meant the 1950-1960s era. However, it is now encompassing the 1980s. (We're not sure what happened in the 70s here...). Think Mad Men, Las Vegas and swinging cocktail parties.

Hope that helps!

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!

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

Recognize This Face?

I love poking fun at silly-ness (or is it silliness...feel free to correct me here)


I also love Karl Lagerfeld and what he has done for Chanel and fashion. That's his mug on this bag, but I can't say I would buy it. It's just silly and yours for only $1900. Available at Colette, 23 Rue Saint-Honoré.... Paris of course.

Feel free to think you are 'saving the world' with it.

Vintage 1 Mass Production 0

Apparently consumer complaints are on the rise. According to London's Consumer Complaints Department, there are alot of angry women out there. Now in the top ten list of complaints behind cell-phone contracts and used cars, badly made women's fashions are proving that a vintage garment is far superior to mass produced items.

Clothing manufacturers are faced with alot of competition these days. In an effort to streamline costs and make more money, they outsource their garments from other countries and inevitably cut corners. It's difficult to keep track of a dress being made in say, China, when you are in Canada. A defective product is now common and consumers are getting tired of it.


On the basis of a survey of 3,500 women, Global Cool, a climate change charity in Britain, estimated that in 2008 British women spent more than half of their fashion budget on clothes, shoes and accessories that were never worn – a.k.a. landfill.

That's something to think about.

D'Avila 1970s Blouse