Vintage Treasure Quest: USO 40's BIG BAND DANCE & VINTAGE FASHION SHOW

USO DANCE VINTAGE FASHION SHOW REVERIE
The June issue of VINTAGE LIFE MAGAZINE's fashion show articles inspired me to go back to the vintage fashion show I created a couple of years ago for the 40's Big Band USO Dance. It was a great creative experience to style each of my 4 models in 4 outfits that spanned the decades from the 30's to the 80's, using clothing from my 2 online vintage stores and jewelry, hats, gloves and purses from my personal collection. Two of the young ladies; Shannon and Justine, had modeled clothes for my store fashion shoots, so they were pretty comfortable strutting their amazing stuff (at that age your body is amazing, those 26" waists you know ;-) Their 2 friends who joined us Quincy and Leina were a little bit shy at first but got into the 'swing' of things. #VintageLifeMagazine

The Magnificent Four getting ready to walk the runway.
Leina, Justine, Shannon, Quincy

The new-bees getting encouragement and a brooch.

1930's Printzess label Navy Suit with Bakelite Button , Myrna Loy style Pixie Hat, 1930s Blouse and giant Sapphire Blue Pot Metal Flower Brooch SOLD #1930sPrintzessSuit

Quincy has the wrong sign, hope it was corrected ;-) 1940's Gold Gaberdine Jacket with Bakelite Button, 1960's Gold Silk Blouse, 80's Green Tweed Irish Pencil Skirt, 40's Slouch Hat and huge Autumn colored 60's Brooch by Kenneth Lane #1940sGaberdineJacket

One of my all time great finds, Eisenberg & sons Original; Navy Wool Suit with Soutache ribbonwork and huge Padded Shoulders, Navy 50's Lace Slip, 40's Tilt Hat and Eisenberg Original Fur Clip. SOLD #EisenbergOriginal1940s

A 1970's does 30's Red Silk Suit, 30's Red White & Blue Tipster, 40's Orange Nylon Sheer Blouse and Red & Orange 60's Rhinestone Dangle brooch. SOLD #VintageRedSilksuit

Mod 60's Hot Pink & Green Knit Dress & Jacket Suit with Olivine and Pink Rhinestone 60's Brooches and 60's Green Wool Felt Toque. SOLD #1960sModFashion

I love this 80's does 40's Black Houndstooth Check Peplum Suit, purchased by the Glamorous Vintage British Singer; Sandy Sparkle. The Soft Black Velveteen 30's Tilt Hat is a fav from my collection, as are all the hats in this show. I do sell hats at my Luminous Lady Vintage etsy store and have a couple hundred to list when that elusive 'spare time' arises. #VintageHats

Quincy is wearing a Sage Green & Bronze Brocade Wiggle Dress from the 50's, with a Soft Green 40's Slouch Fedora Tilt and a Art Stone Green 50's Brooch and the essential 50's accessories; Gloves. Available at Purchase Here #1950sWiggleDress

Leina in a Navy 40's Swing Dance Dress with Lace Insets & Gussets, a 40's Navy Straw Pie Plate Tilt Hat, 50's Navy Gloves, an 50's Eisenberg Brooch and a 60's Juliana Rhinestone Belt. SOLD #40SwingDanceDress

Another favorite treasure on the quest for vintage! A 1950's Navy Gaberdine Coat Dress with Rhinestone Belt, 50's Navy Straw Mushroom Tilt Hat and Eisenberg Fur Clip. So Chic!! SOLD #Vintage50sCoatDress

One of Justine's favorite dresses. A late 1950's Eyelet Lace over Turquoise Party Dress, with 50's Thermoset Necklace & Rhinestone Brooch and Lacy Gloves. SOLD # VintagePartyDress

This Baby Doll Trapeze Red Brocade Party Dress is so so mid 60's. I remember making a similar dress out of Orange Cotton with Green Polka Dots in my early teens (much to my parents dismay and I lived in small town Nebraska, so you can imagine the Carnaby Street influence riot that ensued). Quincy wears it with a smile, a Thermoset Necklace and a Rose Satin Pillbox Hat, and of course gloves though they were on their way out in favor of 'Way Out'! Purchase Here #60sRedTentDress

My sister Lyn and I found this 60's shimmering Golden Yellow Tulip Pattern Chiffon Tent dress over Gold Satin Sheath at the Portland Antique Expo and just swooned, it was soooooo beautiful Here Melia wears it with a Scarf and Gold 70's Goddess Necklace, a literal Golden Girl. SOLD #60sTrapezeDress

Gorgeous and exotic 80's does 40's/50's Retro Floral Silk Wiggle Dress with Ruching, a 30's Black Straw Picture Hat with Red Silk Flowers and Red Thermoset Necklace. Purchase Here #RetroFlamencoWiggleDress

1940's Celery Green Chiffon Party Dress with extraordinarily complex pleating, Cream Sequin 50's Evening Bag, Princess Diadem (that's where the snarky look came from in the next photo ;-) Gloves and Matching Juliana Rhinestone & Dangly Pearl Parure. I do sell wonderful Vintage Beaded Evening Bags on my LLV etsy site, though this one is in my collection SOLD
#VintageEveningBags

I find it so chic to put an Asian style 50's / 60's robe over a vintage dress, gown or lounge pants. This one is a 60's Sky Blue Silk Brocade 'Dynasty' Robe (SOLD) over a Icy Aqua Paisley Jacquard 50's Sheath with raglan cap sleeves, a 50's Sequin Bridal Cap, 50's White Beaded Purse and White Gloves. Purchase Dress Here #50sAquaCheongsamSheath

A yummy 50's Wiggle Dress in sublime Coffee Latte Silk Faille, exquisitely tailored with fun Purple Velvet & Magenta 60's Turban, an Eisenberg Ice Brooch, Gloves and Quincy's cute little ankle boots. Sweet! Purchase Dress Here #LatteSilk50sSheath

Shannon's Hot Lady in Red Jacquard 70's does 30's Dress, with 1920s Pot Metal Pave Rhinestone Brooch belt accent, 30's Red Straw Tipster Clamshell Hat, Red Thermoset 50's Necklace and Gloves. Wish I could find more of these treasures. The Casadei Dresses of the 80's have a similar Retro style but are made of jersey. SOLD #LadyinRed

I can't believe this dress is still up for sale, it's fabulous! A Vermilion Red Feather Print Satin Jacquard 'New Look' 50's dress, with a stunning deep V back neckline and long Chiffon Bow accent. The perfect Swing Dance or 50's Party Dress. It's accessorized with a 'New Look' Black Velvet Beaded Asymmetric Cap, 40's Black Jet Bead Necklace, 50's Wide Orange Glitter Lucite Bracelet, Black Gloves and Crinoline. Purchase Dress Here #VintageRedSwingDress

Swinging 60's Hot Pink Psychedelic Swirl Tent Mini Dress. Just makes you high to look at it, let alone wear it ;-) Purchase Here #Psychedelic60sMiniDress

Our Hawaiian beauty Leina wears a steamy Red Embroidered Asian Style Vintage Robe with a 50's Red Brocade Maxi Skirt and Red Slip The exotic hostess with the vintage most-est. Skirt & Robe SOLD. Vintage Red Slip available. #Purchase Here #FancyVintageRedSlip

What can I say. This 50's Blue Asian Print Brocade Gown was over the top on the beauty scale. Towards the end of this blog you can see a photograph of how this brocade transformed under low light into a shimmering wonder! Shown with a 60's Juliana Blue Rhinestone Belt and 50's Hat. SOLD

I began collecting these 80's Casadei Dresses for my shops several years ago, because I think they are the ultimate statement of Retro Creativity in action. They have a variety of Beading, Ruching, Sequins, Ilusion Yokes, Keyhole Backs with a Retro 20's / 30's / 40's flare. I have 2 of this one available in size 6 Purchase Here or size 12 Purchase Here #Vintage80sCasadei

Another fun 80's Casadei Dress in Stunning Purple. SOLD But I will be listing 3 others in a similar style on LLV in Pink, Peach and a Purple & Black Print in various sizes. Shown here with stunning 1940's Pave Bird of Paradise huge Brooch, 20's Blue Brocade with Lapis Bead Trim Evening Bag and cute little 50's Puple and Black Pixie Cap.

At this point the fear of the unknown cat walk was gone, the audience loved them and they were luminous, having a good time. #VintageFashionShow

This 40's Beaded Peach Cotton Lace Dress was a beauty. I saw the same dress in cream on an episode of the Canadian TV series 'Bomb Girls'. Their costume department had purchased an exquisite piece of 40's Lingerie, a night gown, from me as well as a Persimmon Beaded 40's Crepe Gown. So I had purchased the series from Amazon to see if I could spot them. I'm happy to say that several of my etsy store items have been purchased for films, theater and fashion shoots as well as by avid vintage collectors. SOLD #BombGirls

Why create landfill with cheaply made new clothes, made to toss and replace, when you can find gorgeous, well-made diverse vintage items such as these dresses for every occasion, to suit your personality and pocketbook. It's a mystery.... I know you Goddess Size Ladies (such as myself) have a difficult task in your treasure quest for vintage that fits. My Grandmother was also odalisque in proportion and had beautiful clothes, so I know they are out there and I also know they get snapped up almost as soon as you list them. I practically fall over myself trying to get a plus size vintage item into my cart, I get so excited to find one that fits.

Introducing the Models in my Retro Pendelton 49'er Jacket, Retro Wide Leg Pants and Snood. Look at the sheen on that 50's Asian Print Brocade Dress in low light!!