Vintage 1940's Girl Scout of America Dress - On sale now at Alameda Vintage.
xo,
Sabrina London
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Impulse Vintage
Vintage 1930's Black Velvet and Satin Dress - $20
I purchased this dress today with little to go by but an out-of-focus snapshot. The auction ended at 2 PM on a Wednesday so yeah, I got an insane deal.
Proper photos should be heading your way once I get it in my grubby paws. I'm hoping it isn't too "cocktail" to wear out and about. Velvet can be tricky, and satin, trickier still. But I feel like a super long pendant necklace and some gladiator sandals could squeak out some of the fanciness. I needn't look dapper going to the UCB.
Much love,
Sabrina London
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Handcut Hem
When it comes to vintage treasure-hunting, sometimes a dress just needs a little tender love and care to reach its full potential. The number one rule of thrift-shopping: keep an open mind!
When we found the charming mini pictured above, it had about 4 feet more length to it. Although the accordion skirt was magnificent, it was made of a stiff, thicker dacron poly, which was common in the '60s. The result? It was too cumbersome and heavy to wear. But the pink crocheted lace top caught my eye and I knew just how to save it.
I bought this dress for $1. If I took it to a seamstress, I could pay $10 for a professional hem, and it would still be a worthy investment. But in the interest of saving money, I decided to perform a handcut hem. Amongst my vintage-obsessed (albeit sewing-inept) comrades, this is the smartest way to go. 
If you are going to cut a dress by hand, you will need:
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Measuring Tape
- Clean Open Space
Step 1: Lay your dress on a flat surface. Make the shoulders align. Keep the waist line straight. Sleeves outward. And spread the skirt completely open.Step 2: Measure the length you would like the dress to be, starting from the shoulder. Most mini dresses are between 30"-33" inches in length depending on the person's height (my default is 32"). Make a small mark.
Step 3: You will create a series of marks to guide where you want to cut. Each mark should be the same distance, either measured from the waist to the new hem, or the new hem to the original hem (whichever is easier). So my new hem will be 16" inches from the waist line, therefore I will make marks at 16" inches all the way across.Step 4: Do this on both sides. Most seamstresses would scold you if you try cutting straight through both sides at once. You run the risk of cutting the bottom half unevenly, crooked, or shorter.
Step 5: Okay, take a deep breathe. Chances are, if you picked this up from a thrift store, you probably didn't spend too much to begin with so try to relax. Take your scissors (DIY tip: I use a pair of cutting shears from the kitchen) and slowly start cutting along your trace marks. Cut each side one at a time. Take your time and make nice, even cuts.
If you have an A-line hem, remember to cut appropriately (it should be a rounder edge, not directly straight across).
Step 6: Almost finished! Now waft the dress out and lay flat once more. Check to ensure the front and back hem line up and are the same length. Make any quick snips to correct.If you're working with a dacron polyester like this one, it should not thread or fringe. However most fabrics over time will start to fringe. This is perfectly kosher in the world of vintage wears. Most thrifters in Hollywood are perfectly comfortable rocking a totally DIY vintage dress. And remember, you can always have it professionally hemmed.
Voila! The finished product. On sale now at Alameda Vintage.
xo,
Sabrina London
Thursday, March 24, 2011
10 Under $10: Vintage Necklaces
Goldtone Owl Necklace - $10
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Grab some comfort food and a sharpened weapon: it's an Friday, March 18, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Sneak Peek: Festival Style
As the last band packs their emergency guitar strings for Coachella, festival style is back with a vengeance. This time the capes are longer and the colors even brighter, as we're seeing more gypsy-inspired looks.
My favorite iteration of this trend uses a bold centerpiece graphic on the back. I recently thrifted this incredible silk vintage Italian men's shirt with the most elaborate sun graphic (reminds me of Versace). Combine the slouchy, over-sized fit and lightweight silk, and it's a PERFECT pick for concert season.
I'm also slack-jawed over this vintage burnout silk gypsy cape at Bustown Modern. The translucent cut-outs and female graphic are just insane. I'm a little weary of wearing tassels (as a general rule), but if any coat could dissuade me, this is it. Just magnificent.
xo,
Sabrina London
Monday, March 14, 2011
Don't Paint: Innovate! Decal Wall Art
My husband and I are a pair of 20-something-year-old screenwriting/comedy improving/vintage hawking/Myspace workin' folks with very little time for much else. But ever since we moved into our new apartment, we've really wanted to make the space feel like home. Much hipster fag debate has transpired, arguing the merits of "modern minimalism" vs. "indie shabby chic" as an aesthetic.My husband is of the modern minimalism persuasion. He likes black clean lines and maybe the occasional Japanese toy art. My taste is much more "Not Urban Outfitters, but Like Urban Outfitters." I don't want my home plastered with the same canvas-litho ironic artwork as every college freshman in America. But in theory, I really dig the quirky, vintage-inspired look: antiquey picture frames, maple wood furniture, wallpaper, and pea-soup colored couches.
So what to do? Two polar opposite tastes. One apartment.
Raising our white flags, we decided to paint an accent wall in our bedroom as a compromise. Whilst researching paint, I incidentally stumbled across a fascinating alternative we both jumped onboard: wall decal art.
This technique uses easy-to-remove vinyl that won't damage or permanently stain your walls, which is perfect for renters. Instead of painting (or in addition to), you can instantly transform a room with customizable decals. Many shops let you pick the colors, size of the decal, even text (Sean's idea: a giant I ♥ COCKS in our hallway. Quickly vetoed). The bigger pieces cost upwards of $250, but if you shop around, you can find a good steal (the milk and cookie decal below is only $35!).
Suffice it to say, I am totally geeking out over this. These are a few of our top picks, which we will probably narrow down to 3 or 4 for different rooms. I can't wait!
xo,
Sabrina London
Friday, March 11, 2011
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