As I ran my fingers through a vibrant Marimekko dress from 1963, something amazing happened—I was no longer in my modest vintage shop surrounded by racks of clothing. I was dancing carefree at a sunny picnic, the bold, unfettered lines of the dress swirling around me as if to say, "I’m alive, I’m free!"
If walls could talk, they say, but I think it's the clothes that hold the real stories. Each stitch, each fold of fabric, is imbued with the spirit of its time, an era of boundless innovation, of women taking bold steps toward expressing themselves freely.
Marimekko was the fabric (quite literally) of that change. It was revolution sewn into cotton—fearless prints and designs that broke the mold, straying from the cinched waists and reserved palettes of the '50s.
When I slip into an original Vuokko design, it's as if I'm right there, in the throes of a fashion upheaval. I'm not just wearing a dress; I'm draping myself in history, in the legacy of women who dared to stand out.
At The Best Vintage Clothing, we don't just offer clothes; we offer you the chance to wear a piece of the past, a slice of rebellion, a dash of timeless fashion innovation that pronounced every woman her own work of art. Our treasure trove of vintage Marimekko and Vuokko pieces is your link to that illustrious heritage.
Your wardrobe isn't a silent collection—it's a cohesive narrative of the journey, your own and those of the women who paved your path.
As you choose a Marimekko dress or a Vuokko tunic from our collection, remember: you’re not selecting an outfit – you're choosing to become part of a story that never grows old. You’re embracing a time where fashion was freedom, and wearing it loudly, proudly, in the present.
Here's to the women of then and now—may your spirits be as audacious and vivid as the prints you adorn yourselves in.
Be bold, be brave, be chic,
Miss Kitty
P.S. Want to make your fashion statement with a piece of history? Check out our Marimekko collection and make your wardrobe a testament to the audacious women of the '60s.
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We have exciting news!
Now, you can Book a Fit & Style Session with Miss Kitty!
]]>Wishing you could see that unique vintage item that you’ve been eyeing at thebestvintageclothing.com up close and personal? Have questions about how it will fit? Looking for style tips on how to wear it?
We have exciting news!
Now, you can Book a Fit & Style Session with Miss Kitty for all of the above!
Booking one of these sessions can help you to be absolutely sure that you will LOVE your purchase!
PLUS get $50 off of your purchase of $200 or more after your session!
Each session is virtual (via Zoom) and is with the shop owner, Miss Kitty, herself. She can help you zero in on your vintage personality, preferences, and much more to create a fabulous look that can bring out your most confident and stylish self.
How can you book your private session?
It’s simple!
First, click here to get started. Then, click the Select A Time button. After you have selected the date and time that’s best for you, click Add to Cart. When you are ready to checkout, go to your Cart and click Checkout. Enter your payment information to pay $50 to book and hold your session. Then, get $50 Off your purchase of $200 or more at the end of your session!
Have questions? Email Miss Kitty at kitty@catspajamas.com and ask away. She’s always ready to help!
]]>She loved trying on vintage hats! (Who doesn’t?) Here's a picture from our first meeting! (The quality isn't the best—it was the 80s!)
After Frances was nominated AND WON this year's Oscar for Best Leading Actress for the movie Nomadland, it made me want to search through some old photos to find one of my favorite pics of her from our second meeting.
We had crossed paths again in New York City at the Manhattan Vintage Show in the late 90s. (This was sometime around her first Oscar win for the movie Fargo.)
This is Frances hamming it up while trying on yet another vintage hat while shopping at my booth at the Vintage Show.
One of the fun things about being in the vintage business is the opportunity to occasionally meet someone famous because of our shared love of vintage.
And every once in a while, I get to see the vintage items that I’ve carefully curated in a TV show or movie that takes place in the past. (Think Titanic or The Goldbergs.)
But what I love even more is getting to share the unique vintage items that I just adore with other vintage lovers all over the world.
Thank you for letting me share my one-of-a-kind vintage finds with you!
>>To see my latest vintage finds that have recently been added to the shop, click here.
Among these new arrivals there are several gorgeous vintage hats that I know Frances would absolutely love! (Get a sneak peak below.)
Happy perusing!
Miss Kitty
]]>We wanted to say "Thank You" to all of our newsletter subscribers with an extra 20% off of everything on our site until January 31st, 2019. And if you see a fur coat you like, those are all 30% off! But don't wait! You only have until the end of the month for these great deals on true vintage style!
VINTAGE FUR COATS NOW 30% OFF! USE CODE: GIMMEFUR30%
EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE STORE IS 20% OFF FOR OUR NEWSLETTER FRIENDS! USE CODE: 20%FRIEND
30% off fur coats with code: GIMMEFUR30%
]]>The two day vintage shopping extravaganza is almost here! The 2018 Manhattan Vintage Clothing Show & Sale is April 6th and 7th and we couldn't be more excited! They will have over 80 vintage clothing, accessories and antique textile dealers under one roof. That represents over 100 years of style, fashion and design that's all specially selected, organized and ready for us to shop and shop and shop. It's truly a unique shopping experience and a fabulous opportunity to add to your unique personal style and stand out from the rest with amazing vintage pieces. We are especially excited about this show because The Best Vintage Clothing is going to be there! We will be featuring the best of our Marimekko and Vuokko collections both days at the show. Here is a sneak peak of a few of the one-of-a-kind pieces we'll have at the show: Win Free Tickets To The Manhattan Vintage Show! Follow us on Instagram @thebestvintageclothing for your chance to win a free ticket to the show! We will be posting details soon! Or you can get tickets online before the event for only $15 each at ManhattanVintage.com. Or print out this VIP invitation and bring it with you to save $5 off the regular admission price of $20 at the door. Save 10% Off Of Your Purchase At The Best Vintage Clothing Booth Receive 10% off of your purchase from The Best Vintage Clothing booth if you print out or mention this newsletter. Would you like to shop these amazing collections of rare vintage? Are you planning on attending? We'd love to see you there! Come find us at our booth #69 and say hello! Leave us a comment below if you are planning on attending, or you can send us a direct message on Instagram @thebestvintageclothing. See you in Manhattan!
]]>Well, it’s officially been fall for over a month already and this week it actually feels like it. There’s finally crisp morning air, changing leaves and golden sunsets. And I'm loving it. It's time to layer up and head outside with a blanket scarf and a statement trench coat. This season's fashion trends have incorporated several vintage elements that can make any outfit stand out as unique and stylish.
The Fall trend we are loving the most right now:
According to the streets of New York City and our favorite online fashion experts at Elle, Harpers Bazaar, and Cosmopolitan, vintage plaid is a huge fashion trend this season. Not lumberjack flannel plaid, or 90's grunge plaid, but the plaid of the 70's. Plaid is showing up everywhere in blazers, coats, pants and evening gowns in muted neutrals to bright and colorful plaids.
Here are a couple examples of some true 1970s vintage to inspire you:
This 70's vintage Malcolm Starr plaid black and silver dress definitely makes a statement and is sure to make anyone's waist look tiny. I love this 6" wide black waistband!
This Marimekko Suomi Finland Pant Suit in brown, rust and tan plaid is anything but boring. Vuokko Nurmesniemi was a principal designer for Marimekko, and is known for bold color and shape combinations creating whimsical looks. How fun (and incredibly comfortable) would this be to work into your wardrobe?
Sybil Connolly was a fashion icon of the 60's and 70's. She was a favorite designer of First Lady Jackie Kennedy and this wool, black and white plaid suit highlights her amazing style. Don't you just love these huge pockets and the kick pleat in the skirt?
So, what do you think? Do you like the plaid trend this season? Are you considering giving it a try? Or have you been wearing it already? Leave us a comment to let us know. Thanks!
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I always look forward to the Oscars, not really to find out who won what, but to greedily drink in the fashions! In recent years we've seen 1970s styles sneaking back onto the red carpet, with plunging necklines, bell sleeves, ruffles and maxi dresses starting to make regular appearances (just HOW fabulous Julianne Moore looked in that plunging Tom Ford column dress at the 2015 Baftas? Classic 70s style at it's best). For people who don't want to go down the Kardashian route of flashing as much flesh as possible, the 70s provides some fabulous fashion inspiration. It was a decade which thew off the uniformity of formal wear that we saw on Hollywood stars of the 1950s (the classic cinched waist, past-knee-length gown paired with long gloves as seen on Sophia Loren, Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn etc). The 70s celebrity embraced a relaxed, more individual look. This was a time when red-carpet events were much rarer than today and celebrity stylists were almost unknown. Celebrities wore whatever they liked, whether it was a maxi dress, a crochet hat, or something they made themselves, and we saw some much-welcome individuality. Admittedly, not all of these looks were successful, but you could say exactly the same now, and I for one love the 1970s Academy Award photos, with all the bright colors, and a fun causal but glamorous vibe that you rarely see at the Oscars today. Take a look at our gallery of 70s red carpet style on Pinterest, and you'll see what I mean. Also I've included a few genuine 70s dresses below which encapsulate the award ceremony vibe perfectly from that decade, with their beautiful billowing fabric by Finish designer Vuokko (one of the principal designers for Marimekko). Which is your favoutie? Personally I adore the sleeves on the dress below. The design is called "Tyrskyranta": "tyrsky" is like an old name for storm, or actually the phenomena when water hits the shore or rocks heavily and "ranta" is the shore, and you can totally see how the sleeves evoke this when you move your arms! Click on the photos below to see more pictures, and you can grab your own slice of amazing 70s glamour! See more of our beautiful designer 1970s gowns here. and don't forget to comment below and let us know which is your favorite! Want free vintage? Sign up for our new " Beans" rewards program. This is The Best Vintage Clothing at The Cats Pajamas customer rewards program. This is our way to say thanks for being part of our journey. Our rewards program is designed to let our power customers buy at a discounted price or get free products. How do I spend my vintage beans? Vintage Beans can be redeemed directly on www.thebestvintageclothing.com during your purchase. The option to redeem your vintage beans is available on the cart page, just before checkout. See the link to find out all the easy ways you can earn vintage beans to spend at our store! You'll get 400 beans just for signing up ( equals $4.00) and more for social media and referrals, as well as any purchase. Each item tells you how many beans you'll earn if you purchase it.
]]>One of my favorite dramas at the moment is Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries - if you aren't already a fan then here's a quick introduction to the series. Phyrne (pronounced Fry-on-ee) Fisher is a glamorous, independent female private detective, who assists the lovable Detective Inspector Jack Robinson on investigations around 1920s Australia, despite his reluctance. She always looks amazing, has a rapier sharp wit, and sashays around Melbourne equally at home in Jazz clubs as she is perching on Robinson's desk! Her adventures are as fabulous as her wardrobe, which leads us neatly onto her style. Here are some of my favorite of her looks, with tips on stealing some of her fabulous flapper fashions!
Oriental designs were incredibly popular during the 1920s, from embroidered kimono-style dressing gowns, to turbans and richly embellished exotic fabrics. Above: Miss Fisher entertaining company in her Chinese embroidered robe, and below a genuine 1920s vintage silk dressing gown with oriental design. Below: Antique Chinese embroidered coat from the 1920s
Below: 1920s silk embroidered robe
Genuine 1920s vintage kimono-style coat
Below: Designer vintage evening coat in gold and copper brocade and vintage gold metallic turban.
Vintage designer evening coat in copper bronze and gold brocade by Fernando Sarmi
To get a great 1920s look you'll need a sharp and sleek bob, but why not spice things up with a fabulous hat? The cloche was a really popular style in the 1920s, and quite often embellished with feathers, tassels or with a brooch pinned onto it. Although if you go for a gold cloche like the one below it probably doesn't need any extra embellishment! A dark cloche always looks elegant, especially if it has a beautiful Art Deco ornament pinned to it like this one
Vintage 1920s fur felt cloche with Deco ornament
1920s Art Deco metallic cloche hat
Bold and beautiful prints were popular on day dresses during the 1920s, whether geometric or whimsical, patterns were a big trend!
Vintage 1920s pheasants and feathers print day dress
Fur collars and feather stoles were a bit hit in the 1920s, for those who could afford them, and Phyrne of course can afford the very best. A white fur collar or scarf adds a luxurious edge to any 1920s outfit. This vintage white fox fur scarf (below) would be ideal.
Vintage white fox fur scarf
Alternatively you could opt for a coat with fur collar like Miss Fisher has above. Below: Vintage black coat with white mink collar and cuffs
Vintage black coat with white mink trim
For an evening look, you can really have some fun with a 1920s outfit, embellishment was pretty much unlimited! From metallic thread, to beading and rhinestones it adds a real touch of glamour.
Below: Black rhinestone embellished 1920s evening dress. Below: vintage 1920s silk velvet evening dress with matching jacket.
Vintage 1920s velvet dress and jacket
1920s blue velvet drop-waist gown
Violet and metallic vintage 1920s evening scarf
Here are a few creative ideas we love that you can use to display your favorite vintage pieces:
Shutterly Sensational. If you’re a proud owner of a vintage collection, chances are you already know how to sniff out a good deal at local flea markets and rummage sales. Put that thrifty thinking to work by repurposing an item you find at those types of sales. Old wooden shutters work well because they’re stylish and functional. You can paint them to fit the style of the room, add distressed features, or leave them as-is, but they make an excellent hanging space when mounted sideways on your wall of choice.
Via Amiee Weaver
Shadow boxes. For the more delicate vintage pieces that you’d rather preserve than wear, turn your under-the-bed boxes into works of art. Shadow boxes provide safe storage and the opportunity to dress up your walls with sartorial style. Try framing smaller pieces, such as bathing suits, shoes, baby clothes, or even jewelry. You can personalize with custom or painted frames, or even mount the backside with colorful scrapbooks paper for a bolder look.
Via Eddie Ross
Suit Your Display Needs. If there’s an item that’s easy to get your hands on in the world of antiques, it’s old suitcases. Most of the time, they’re not very expensive, and can be used for a variety of incredibly interesting features to a room, including (but not limited to) displaying some of your prized vintage clothes. This is a great way to tie in other elements, too, like jewelry, shoes or whatever else suits your decorative fancy.
Via One Girl in Pink
Hook Hankering. Décor in a home does not have its place in one or two rooms. It is delicately woven within the entire space of the residence, from room to room. When it comes to opportunities to display vintage specialties, don’t forget otherwise commonly forgotten spaces, like mud rooms or closets, as possible feature points for your favorites. Find some eye-catching hooks with pretty detail, and all eyes will be on your stylish art.
Via Modernize
]]>Missing Mad Men? Happily there's a new way of enjoying some fabulous 60s fashions on-screen with the new series: The Astronaut Wives Club. The series is centered around the wives of the space-race astronauts who were catapulted into the public eye, and what makes it look so delicious? The costumes are designed by Eric Daman who made the cast of Mad Men look so fabulous! Above from left: Trudy, Louise, Jo, Rene, Betty, Marge , Annie. If you haven't had a chance to see an episode yet here's the fashion low-down on the different characters. Also, we have many fashions from this era at our online stores: The Best Vintage Clothing BestVintageEver on Etsy Catspajamasvintage on eBay
Played by Joanna Garcia Swisher, Betty is an Indiana girl who wears (to quote Daman) a "frozen vegetable color palette" in yellows, greens and oranges and often compliments this with fruit and veg themed accessories which were hugely popular during the 1950s and early 60s.
Trudy is played by Odette Annable and is the most modern of the wives. She drives a sports car and is also a trained pilot and wears trousers and pedalpushers when it's still considered daring. She also has a penchant for tropical and tiki prints because she met her husband in Hawaii.
Above from left: Dress | Dress
Youngest of the wives, Annie (Azure Parsons - pictured in the pink dress 2nd from right) is the all-American girl next door. Shy and modest she wears buttoned-up collars and muted pastel pinks and blues. Above: Blouse, White Dress | Yellow Dress
Rene (Yvonne Strahovski) is the bombshell of the wives and loves statement prints and bright colors, especially if everyone is wearing pastels!
From left: Dress | Dress | Swimsuit
Louise (center above) is the most cosmopolitan of the wives and has a style similar to Jackie O: high fashion shapes in sharp black or pastel lavender, blues and greys. Above from left: Dress | Dress
Jo (left) is a typical society girl complete with pearls, white shoes and headband, and loves beige and muted colours. Team a dress like this with a string of pearls, a headband and some neat white gloves to get the look. Above: Dress | Pearls | Shoes
Marge's style harks back to the 1940s gangster glamor in earthy tones and deep purples.
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Whether you prefer sheer lace or a more preppy look, the tailoring of a 50s vintage blouse will look great in the workplace. Team a blouse with a smart pencil skirt and you'll look fabulous!
Above: Sheer vintage 1950s nylon blouse in a blue floral. The blouse has cap sleeves, darted bodice, and buttons in back. Wide boat neckline and cute bow trimmed peplum. It is lined in a sheer buff nylon.
Sweet! Buff pink vintage 1950s sheer nylon blouse with a textured body and unique V shaped lace inset on front and full lace back. Sleeveless, with a sheer peplum. Glass ball buttons with rhinestone centers.
Fifties soft gold silk faille blouse, front close with covered ball buttons, darts for great fit and an Italian designer label to boot. It has flaws, see below.
Vintage 50s ivory sheer nylon blouse is comprised of vertical pleats topped by a round lace yoke, and a finished straight hem, waist darts and button back. Label is Debcraft.
Very sweet vintage blouse of 100% cotton in a lovely red rosebud print, on white. White pearlised plastic buttons. Darted at waist and bust. Label is Rhoda Lee.
Vintage pale pink nylon blouse, sheer as can be, with pleated front and a flower detail in the center. Long sleeves, button back, no label.
No decade enjoyed bold prints and bright colors the way the 50s did!
Cute vintage blouse of 100% cotton, cherry red, in fact. The front of the vintage blouse has a cool triple accent edged in white with bows at the top.
Cute vintage black and tan linen set featuring a whimsical people print. The top or blouse is a button front classic sleeveless with waist darts only. The skirt has a set in waistband with the black border at the top. Left side zip closing. No label. Doesn't appear to have been worn much if at all. Very versatile, as you can wear each piece separately. Not lined.
Get inspired by the Pink Ladies and grab yourself a pencil skirt or pair of cropped jeans to wear with one of these Rockabilly style 50s blouses. If you've got the abs for it tie your shirt at the waist to catch some of the spring sunshine!
Lovely vintage Dupont Dacron Polyester ( when it was new!) blouse vertical mini pleating in front and darts for great fit! Short cuffed sleeves and beautiful faceted clear glass buttons closing front. Perfect Rockabilly top. Label is "Pilot". Super easy care , wash and wear!
Cotton plaid blouse with cute patch pocket on the front. Short sleeve style. Perfect backyard barbecue top! Original paper tag, and Kerrybrooke is from Sears & Roebuck. It has a shirt style hem. Not ever worn. Grey and red, we also have an identical one in yellow and red.
Pretty lipstick red cotton vintage 1950's blouse with vertically darted waist for great fit! Sleeveless style. Perfect Rockabilly top. Label is "Starlight".
Glamorous and elegant, this is the 50s blouse at it's most sophisticated. Neutral tones of gold and yellow work brilliantly with tweed, leather or even denim!
This very vintage " Mad Men" 3 Piece set consists of a top with peasant blouse lines- raglan 3/4 sleeves, left underarm zip and shaped waist. It is unlined. The pencil skirt is lined, and the cigarette pants are lined with a beige colored rayon knit. There are two matching belts. The label is Gotham Original".
This well made sheer rayon blouse features horizontal pleating front and back, with turned back cuffed cap sleeves and an attached "Pussy Bow". Full back metal zipper. This is a top quality item.
Pretty pullover style vintage acetate blouse has a silk finish. Sleeves have button cuffs and it is darted for good fit. There are loops for a belt but it was not found with the item. Label is Plymouth Shops.
Shop our full range of genuine 1950s vintage blouses here, and don't forget to comment letting us know which is your favorite!
]]>So, the first shop I came across was located at 171 Smith St, Fitzroy Victoria -the Monkey Jar Vintage. The Monkey Jar is a large Bazaar shop with secondhand vintage items, records and bikes for sale. You'll be sure to grab a bargain here! I also picked up a card here for Clubhouse Records, located in the same building--- Vinyl aficionados – and local DJs – Per and Nicky have created a small record haven for every collector north of the river. Punk, funk, soul and blues... you name it, they have it. And if they don't, they will find it.
Above: Monkey Jar Vintage / Clubhouse Records
Next on our walkabout we came across was El’s Retro Fashion: Stocking everything from 1920’s to 1980’s for Men & Woman including hats and accessories, wigs, shoes and more! Good quality Retro Fashion on Smith Street, Fitzroy. We buy and sell Men’s & Woman’s quality Vintage Clothing. There is no website at this writing, but I did find a tumblr page and it is linked to the title.
Above: El’s Retro Fashion
Above: Anna at El’s Retro Fashion
I love this next store, Sixes and Sevens at 259 Smith Street, Fitzroy Victoria, Australia. It was a very cool store with a rockin' black cat as a security guard! I am sad that I cannot find the owner's name but maybe you can find it in the Facebook page.She was very nice!
Above: Sixes And Sevens Vintage Store Front
Above: Sixes And Sevens Vintage Vintage Swimsuit
Above: Sixes And Sevens Vintage Cool Black Mascot Kitty
Above: Sixes And Sevens Vintage
Next, I came across Lucy Slater, owner of Era Vintage Bride, where you can find a wide range of genuine vintage bridal and bridesmaid dresses as well as a unique made to measure service. She also was a lovely shop owner!
Above: Era Vintage Bride, Lucy Slater, Owner
Above:Era Vintage Bride, Lucy Slater, Owner
Lastly, I found this amazing department store of Vintage, The Vintage Garage at 318 Smith Street, Collingwood. They aren't kidding when they say it's a "home for everything vintage"- it was so huge, it would have taken a day and a half just to browse it! They had a lovely hat display, and one thing I REALLY wanted to buy, but it wasn't for sale- a vintage Christian Dior evening gown, 1950s in pink chiffon, as shown in a photo below.
Above: The Vintage Garage
Above: The Vintage Garage
Above: The Vintage Garage-some great hats
Above: The Vintage Garage-some great hats
Hope you enjoyed my little Aussie adventures I know my husband and I did! Please visit the stores when you get a chance, either via the internet or in person if you can- and tell'em Miss Kitty sent you!
]]>I thought I'd do something really nice this Black Friday and offer a massive 50% off my store. Yes, that's a huge half price off all my fabulous collectible vintage!
What's the catch? Well there isn't one! The only thing you need to know is that the offer is ONLY AVAILABLE for 3 HOURS! I'm running this offer together with the lovely vintage blog: Cakes & Cakes Vintage and it is only available between 3PM-6PM est 11/28 only. Use discount code BF14 for your 50% discount!
Here are some of my favourite deals that you'll be able to get:
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Save an incredible $1000 off this magnificent vintage Ferdinamdo Sarmi Evening Coat[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] $740 OFF this vintage designer Rudi Gernreich dress[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Save $640 off this beautiful vintage fur coat[/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] This incredible vintage YSL dress is half price at only $500![/caption]
Make sure you go and bookmark your favourite items ready for my big Black Friday flash sale. I've got everything from Victorian antique clothing, to genuine 1920s and 30s vintage dresses, mid-century fashions and fabulous vintage from the 60s, 70s and 80s too! But don't forget - the offer is only on for 3 hours!
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