Tag Time!

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  Well, time for another round of eVintage Society tag! One blogger asks the questions, then tags another blogger to answer...and on and on! This week, I've been tagged by Fuzzy Lizzie!
  
  
  
  
  
  1) WHAT ITEM DO YOU CURRENTLY HAVE FOR SALE THAT COULD HAVE BEEN WORN IN A MOVIE?
  
  
  
  
  
  Okay, if ever you've seen the corniest roller skating disco movie from 1980 called Xanadu,
  
  
  
  starring Olivia Newton-John...and you actually remember it, I love you. HAHA! I feel like I'm talking to myself when I talk about this movie - like I just get blank stares and expressionless faces. But it was one of my fave movies when I was a kid. I've gone and watched it again, and it did seem much better way back then...with an adult perspective it definitely comes off as corny now. Oh, well!
  
  
  
  
  
  Here's the synopsis from imdb.com:
  
  
  
  
  
  The Greek muses incarnate themselves on Earth to inspire men to achieve. One of them, incarnated as a girl named Kira, encounters an artist named Sonny Malone. With the help of Danny McGuire, a man Kira had inspired forty years earlier, Sonny builds a huge disco roller rink.
  
  
  
  
  
  Okay, so although the movie's a bit cheesy, I think this item would go great in it!
  
  
  
  2) WHICH MOVIE STAR DO YOU SEE WEARING THE ITEM & IN WHAT MOVIE?
  
  In Xanadu, I'd love to see Olivia Newton-John skating around in it!
  
  
  
  
  
  3) WHAT MOVIE STAR QUALITIES DOES YOUR ITEM HAVE TO MAKE IT PERFECT FOR YOUR STARLET?
  Hmm, well it's
• floral
• ruffley
• makes you want to dance
• disco era
• innocent yet sexy
  
  
  Yep, definitely.

Okay, it's time now for Jersey Girl to have her say...cuz she's it in the game of tag!

XO Angie aka Renee aka www.ehappyvintage.com

Taggerific! A friendly lil game of tag eVintage Style!

I'm it now! We're playing tag, thanks to Tressieof Funkoma Vintage Style Recycle Blog, who happens also to be a proud member of eVintage Society.

1. What is your favorite piece of spring vintage wear in your inventory?


It absolutely has to be this Serbin sundress with green four leaf clovers, PINK lady bugs, pink trim and green buttons down the front. Cutesy, no?


2. Why is it your favorite?
Well, whenever I wear people tend to smile. I like smiles. But really, lady bugs are my favorite. I even have a lady bug tattoo. They just signify happiness, wishes come true, and love to me so to have found some pink ones on a dress along with four leaf clovers...well, just know that I'll probably never give it up!

3. What is your favorite spring flower?
By and large, it's a honeysuckle. That sweet smell and even sweeter nectar simply holds so many childhood memories for me. It's divine!

4. Favorite memory of spring?
Well, when I was a school aged kid, I always looked forward to spring break because I was out of school...now that I'm into adulthood, I think my most favorite memory looking back was definitely meeting my bestest of friends in May 1990. What a blessing to have met her. She remains my best friend to this day, and May (spring) will always hold a special place in my heart because of her.

5. When does spring arrive where you live?
Well, I'm in Kansas. Spring usually means tornado season...yay! Kansas has really weird weather patterns. Until you're mid season, the weather tries to hold on from the previous season. So it could literally be 30 degrees one day, and 70 the next. But usually beginning of April starts our 'spring' weather...with no 30 degree'ers in between like March.

6. Most exciting fashion trend?
Hmmm, I tend to not follow 'trends' and mostly go with what I like. It works! So, selling vintage allows me to kind of have an eclectic mix of everything that just 'works' together.

Who's the next to be tagged? Well, let's see what
kitsch-y-cool Vintage has to say!

Olga history

I'm looking to find more history on the Olga lingerie company, and here's what I've found so far. Please let me know if you see anything amiss or want to add more information!

• Olga Erteszek, founder
• The company was one of the pioneers in designing comfortable, supportive undergarments and bras for fashionable women
• Olga, as she was known professionally, is credited with several design innovations, including the seamless bra and the nightgown with a built-in bra. The nightgown evolved from a hospital stay for a slipped disk, she explained in an interview in The New York Times in 1966. She tested it during her convalescence, found it satisfactory and made it part of her line. It was an immediate success. ''This is comfort, security,'' she said at the time. ''This is hospital tested. I know.''
• After years of "support" of woman's breasts, with sad irony, Olga succumbed to Breast cancer in 1989 at the age of 73.
• The designer had immigrated to California from her native Krakow, Poland, in 1941 with her husband, Jan Erteszek, a lawyer. Shortly after arriving, they started a business with $10 and a rented sewing machine. Their first product was a lacy garter belt she had learned to make from her mother. Bullocks-Wilshire bought all the samples and the young couple were in business.
• Between 1950 and 1973, Olga secured twenty-three patents for girdles, brassieres, and lingerie combinations, initially testing the designs on herself.
• Many Olga styles have been in production for over 15 years
• Sold in 1984 to Warnaco for $28 million
• Style names: French Secret bras and girdles (1955-1960), Polonaise girdle (1950), Olga Sweet Flattery full figure & padded bras, Lure of Lace by Olga, The Perfectionist, Flowering Lace, Simply Perfect Olga, The Best of Everything, Simply Classic Olga, Body Tapestry, Sheer Tapestry, Secret Shapers, Invisible Shapers, What a Body, Shimmerlace, Sensuous Solutions Bodysilk, Reflections, Bodysilk Classics, Suddenly Smooth, Secret Hug *patented scoop design panties*, Body Contour
• "Behind every Olga there really is an Olga" advertising campaign ran from 1964-1978
• Olga appeared in advertisements for her own company as early as 1952

The JOY of jewelry...specifically, crystals & rhinestones

Some of you that know me already know I ADORE vintage jewelry. It's like a second love...I'm like a magpie and I pick up all things sparkly, regardless of the name. I have a vast collection of jewelry, and recently my favorite jewels to collect are crystals and rhinestones. Let's review the history of rhinestones, then we'll talk about crystals. Perhaps I'll get to it all in one night? Who knows!

Rhinestones were originally referred to as Czechoslavakian or Bohemian glass dating as far back as the 13th century in Bohemia and the Czech Republic.

Rhinestones:

• man made artificial clear or colored stones that are intended to simulate diamonds or precious gems


• made of glass, paste, or gem quartz (the best rhinestones are cut from quartz crystal)


• natural crystals from the bottom of the river Rhine in Germany were early substitutes for diamonds (thus the name rhinestone)


• often foiled on the back which increases their brilliance


• paste is ground glass which was molded then melted, producing an opaque dense glass frosted stone


• paste had many air bubbles and marks


• can also be called strass and diamante


• in 1891, Daniel Swarovski created a new glass cutting machine which could cut faceted glass in a very short time


• Swarovski rhinestones are recognized as the highest quality in the industry


• over 80% of rhinestone jewelry manufactured in America use Swarovski rhinestones

I'm always on the lookout for stunning rhinestone jewelry, and I've found this one by Born Too Late Vintage over at Specialist Auctions...

WOW! Is it stunning or what? A great, classic rhinestone bracelet that will make any vintage outfit sparkle with joy...who could resist?


More on rhinestones throughout fashion history later!

The Joy of....Van Raalte

Truly, you just don't know what you're missing until you feel the supremely soft fabrics and designs by Van Raalte...lingerie at its finest!

The company was started by Emanuel Van Raalte in 1913 and was first known for it's gloves, veils, stockings, and underwear. Eventually, the company transitioned into nightgowns, slips, peignoirs, and 'underthings'. Their tagline became "Because You Love Nice Things". An in-depth timeline and history can be found here at empressjade's blogspot.She has done extensive research and the blog is fabulous for helping to date your vintage Van Raalte piece.

One of my personal favorites is the petalskin line from Van Raalte. The nylon feels just like rose petals sweeping across delicate skin. Wow! You've got to try it for yourself...and this is the perfect place to start...

A Coral Pink Van Raalte Nylon Gown in Size 36 by Affaire d'Amour Vintage...ballet length gown features lovely embroidery, chiffon banding around the bust, fitted inset waist, and the color is woah! Valentine's Day is fast approaching, loves...get this!



I'll be back with more Van Raalte dreamy things later!

So...in the process of researching

So, in the process of researching

various vintage lingerie items I plan to sell in the near future, I stumbled upon some of the most intriguing end prices for these vintage delights. Some of these coveted panties, slips, or other intimates are being bid to upwards of $200. Why you may ask? Well, I see a number of similarities in the items being sold. Let me tell you about it!

The highest prices are being paid for vintage Vanity Fair - typically from the late 50's to early 60's era. Consumers of these goodies are enchanted with the quality and lustre of Vanity Fair nylon in the form of panties. The panties are delightfully sheer, with extra wide double mushroom brushed nylon gussets, and include lace or other girlie, feminine adornments. Apparently, these undergarments are becoming increasingly hard to find therefore the demand is rising. Notably, the ones fetching the highest prices are women's size 7, 8, or larger.

Well, let's explore the 'who' behind the demand of these sensual, sleek underpinnings shall we?

For that, I take a journey to the reviews section of Vanity Fair items found on many websites. Here's a few comments:

Full coverage, very comfortable, fit extremely well. Like the selection of colors. Nice waistband. Launder well and dry quickly. (do not put in the dryer!) Seem to last forever.
- Jon

I love the nylon Vanity Fair Panties. They are great to wear everyday with a pair of jeans or going out dressed up in a skirt and nylons. They feel great and you still feel sexy with the full coverage which I like.
- Joey,
These are my VERY favorite Panties. Great fit, construction, great colors, and a very super-silky nylon. I have tried many-many different panties, but I keep coming back to these. Certainly and absolutely the the best panties out there.
- Dawn

I love all of vanity fair products. The quality and workmanship of the product are excellent and have lasted me for a number of years. I would recommend these product that purchase at least one product to see how well they are made.
- Carolyn

You'll notice that the names not only include women, but men. What an interesting concept and marketing group to cater to, eh? So, I wonder, how does one market successfully to men in this market compared to women? Is the marketing concept the same? Different?

Things to ponder I guess...off to do more research!

For the love of vintage...

Whether it's rockabilly swing, old hollywood glamour, disco diva, or Carnaby mod style you enjoy, I'm here to blog about it!

My name is Angie, and I own www.ehappyvintage.com, a website where I offer up the best vintage goodies around including shoes, accessories, clothing, lingerie, and more. I am also a beauty consultant for avon, and you can find my avon website at www.youravon.com/adewitt.

Originally, I started offering my son's baby clothes on eBay and it has since morphed into this wonderous love for all things vintage. I don't know how it happened, really, but it did and I find myself on the quest all the time for retro prettiness - to be able to offer them to you!

Nobody really understands my obsession. My boyfriend thinks I 'need to get rid of the stuff I have' before I acquire more but gosh, I have a hard time doing that! *smiles* My friends think I'm a little bit loony...

but

It's the joy of vintage! Stick around!

XOXO Angie aka Renee