Vintage Q and A: Mixing Vintage and Modern

Here is part 4 of my Vintage Q and A series! I had a few people ask me how/if you can mix vintage and modern together in one outfit. The answer(in my opinion) is: Absolutely!!!

There are many ways to wear vintage- some people prefer an authentic head to toe look of vintage from a specific decade, others mix and match different vintage decades together, and some mix vintage and modern pieces together.

How fun is this vintage look from The Dress Fiend, modernized with an assymmetrical turtleneck? Check out her blog for more inspiring ways to wear vintage in a modern way!

I love creating a vintage head to toe look on occasion! For a modern girl's day to day life however, wearing all vintage can be a little impractical and can easily read too "costume". I have days where I feel very confident and don't really care if people are wondering why is she so overdressed and other days where I really just want to blend into the crowd a little. So, how do you blend vintage and modern together?

1. Choose either a vintage dress OR a few vintage accessories. If you are wearing a vintage dress, wear modern accessories and vice versa.

In this outfit I paired a modern, vintage inspired top and high waist pants with an early 60s handbag.

2. If you choose a vintage purse, hat, or jewelry for your look, find a modern dress that is vintage inspired (such as a 50s inspired high waist dress with a gathered skirt...a top of the knee hem length will keep the look more modern).

Here I paired a vintage hat with a modern dress I made from a 40s pattern- I changed the hem from below the knee to above the knee to modernize it a little.

3. If you choose a vintage dress go for some modern accessories. If you aren't sure what accessories "go" with a vintage dress don't worry about it! Just choose something that you like. It's easy to over think what "should" go with vintage but there really are no rules!

4. A lot of vintage dresses have details, details, details. Choosing neutral, simplistic accessories will keep the outfit modern.

Don't forget you can visit CarlaSue Vintage for your vintage wardrobe needs hehe...

I hope this has been helpful! I'm hosting another vintage shopping party in June! Hope to see you all there. I am planning on having a short Q and A session at the party and may do a 'styling' session as well where I show you three different ways to style a vintage dress. What do you think? Yay or Nay?

xxxSarah

80s does 50s

I wore this 80s does 50s dress for a visit to my dad on campus at BJU last week. I found it at a thrift store and thought it might be actually  vintage 50s until I took a closer look at it! 80s does 50s dresses are a great way to get a vintage look without spending as much and they are much easier to clean too. This dress has great 50s inspired details such as an asymmetrical sailor collar and some fabulous sleeves! I was going to sell it, and then I tried it on. Oops. Hope everyone's week is off to a great start!

xxxSarah

Vintage Dress: thrifted

Belt: Vintage 40s

Vintage Q and A: Measuring and Sizing

Here is the third installment of my Q and A series! Today I am covering sizing and measurements. Shopping for vintage online has its advantages, such as having such a vast assortment of things to choose from! However, it can be a bit terrifying to purchase vintage online-most Etsy shops (including myself) have a no returns policy on vintage clothing. How do you know whether something will fit?  Here are some helpful tips:

1. Know how to measure yourself! Use a soft tape measure and keep the tape fairly snug but not super tight(think of the tape fitting you like your clothes would). Have someone help you if you want. There are a few basic measurements you will need to know depending on what you are purchasing:

Bust- measure around the fullest part of the bust; wear a lightly padded bra when measuring.
Waist- this is your natural waistline(the narrowest part)
Hips- measure the fullest part of your hips, usually 7-9" below your waist line
Shoulder to Shoulder- the measurement across your chest from one shoulder to the other
Back Length- measure from the base of your neck to your natural waistline
Length- on a dress, the length from the base of your neck; on a skirt, or pants, the length from your waist line.
Sleeve Length- measure from the base of your shoulder to your wrist.
Wrist Opening-wrap the measuring tape around your wrist
Neck Opening- wrap the measuring tape around the base of your neck
Inseam- measure inside your leg from the crotch(where it connects to your body) to your ankle
Outseam- measure outside your leg from your waist to your ankle.

thriftyvintagekitten.com

retailevolution.net

Write down your measurements and keep them handy for online shopping.

2. Vintage sizing is not the same as modern! Use the actual measurements provided by the seller to determine fit.

3. Before purchasing online, read the seller's reviews! A good seller will take accurate measurements but not all sellers measure accurately. Reviews are very helpful.

4. Ease: Your bust, waist, and hip measurements don't have to be exactly the same as the ones listed on the garment you are considering purchasing. If your measurements are exactly the same, the garment will be very tight. If your measurements are an inch or two smaller the garment will be fitted but comfortable.

Once you know your body's measurements shopping online is fun! I've had nothing but pleasant experiences buying vintage online and I've never had fit issues. If in doubt, larger is better than smaller. You can always have a tailor take something in for you but usually you can't make something bigger! 

I hope this was helpful! Visit my shop and take a look at my listings if you want to "practice" shopping online with your measurements!

I'm doing a couple more of these! Stay tuned to see what's next!

xxx

Sarah

Vintage Q and A: Cleaning Vintage Clothing

I hope you all enjoyed my first post in this new Question and Answer series! Today I am going to cover another topic regarding vintage: how to clean vintage clothing. Vintage clothing does require more care than modern clothing...after all, vintage items are 50+ years old! So,

How do you clean vintage clothing?

Some garments are dry clean only, no matter what the age. 40s rayon dresses, silk, and some other fabrics should not be submerged in water. It is VERY important when dry cleaning vintage to find a good dry cleaners that specializes in cleaning vintage. Dry cleaning is very harsh and older fabrics are more susceptible to deterioration. If you live locally in Greenville, you can use Lafayette Cleaners on Augusta Rd. They handle all my vintage and do a fantastic job. If you live elsewhere, ask around. Call beforehand and ask if they are familiar with cleaning vintage.

How dreamy is this 40s rayon dress from Dethrose Vintage?

You can dry clean some things at home using a Dryel home drycleaning kit. They are very easy to use-you basically put a dryer sheet in a bag with your clothes and tumble dry. I have one but have not been able to test it yet because our dryer is broken at the moment(sigh...). These kits can be found at Target in the laundry section and only cost $7. However these kits cannot be used on rayon and I would not use them with super delicate items like this late 50s jacket(also for sale in my shop!) because of the buttons.

Ironing vs steaming: Ironing produces better creases in collars and hems and overall a much smoother garment, but can be harsh especially on delicate fabrics. After snagging a 60s bed jacket with my iron I bought a hand steamer and use it on all my vintage now. Hand steamers are relatively cheap- mine was about $40 and it is super easy to use.

Here are some era specific care instructions for washable vintage:

1. Vintage from the mid 70s-90s: this is the youngest category of vintage and the easiest to care for. I always hand wash vintage to give it a longer lifespan but most items from the 70s and later have machine washing instructions on the tags. If you choose to hand wash, soak items in a tub full of cool water and a gentle detergent(I use dish soap!). Thoroughly rinse the garment (soap can deteriorate fabric over time if not rinsed out completely) and GENTLY press water out of the garment. Lay flat to dry.  I NEVER dry vintage items in the dryer. Always air dry. Be sure to check the label before washing! Just like modern clothing, some items are dry clean only.

This late 60s/early 70s dress is for sale in my shop! Easy to hand wash and it needed no pressing(thanks polyester!)

2. Vintage from the late 30s-60s: these items are more delicate and require gentle handling. Most garments from these decades have metal hardware: metal zippers, snaps, buttons etc. These sometimes rust easily when submerged in water and leave horrible rust stains. Now, when I first began collecting and cleaning vintage I found a beautiful 1940s wedding gown that had been destroyed with rust stains. I painstakingly removed the zipper, about 20 covered buttons, snaps and hooks before soaking it. Even after several 8 hour soaks the stains are not completely gone. This being said, you CAN wash vintage with metal hardware! Before you do, take a look at the zipper: are there traces of rust? DON'T wash it without removing the zipper first or just have it dry cleaned. If the metal hardware looks ok, soak it in cool water but keep an eye on it. I never soak more than 15 minutes. Hand wash and dry in the same manner as in #1.

This cute mod 60s romper has a metal zipper..it was the first item with a metal zip that I hand washed and I was terrified...but it came out fine!

3. Vintage from the early 30s and earlier: these items are very fragile and should be worn very carefully. Cleaning should be done by a professional.

One more quick tip! If you are buying a vintage garment, whether on Etsy or from a local store, ask if it has been cleaned! Often garments look fine when purchased but if they have not been cleaned you may be in for an unpleasant surprise such as color bleeding (even when washed in cold water) or holes in the fabric when you receive something back from the dry cleaners.

I hope this has been helpful! Leave me a comment if you have any specific questions about cleaning that I didn't cover. Next time I will be covering sizing/ measurements!

xxx
Sarah

Vintage Q and A: Incorporating Vintage into a Modern Wardrobe

I've decided to start a new Question and Answer series on the blog about vintage fashion! I've received several wonderful questions regarding vintage and I will try to address them here. Today's topic is incorporating vintage into a modern wardrobe. Some of you may have interest in vintage clothing but don't know how to incorporate it into your existing wardrobe without cleaning out your closet entirely and starting over. Hopefully I can give you all a few tips to get you started!

There are a few vintage basics that can easily be incorporated into your wardrobe:

1. A basic cardigan or jacket.

Take a look in your closet and figure out whether you own more full skirts/ dresses or slim, tailored skirts, dresses and pants. A classic, simple 50s cardigan will complement a skirt with a lot of volume whereas a 30s/40s sweater or jacket will add some volume to a pair of straight cut trousers or a-line skirt. Of course, there are always exceptions! A long cardigan can be belted when worn with a full skirt for a flattering sillouette. Try different things until you find what suits you best.

How about this fabulous 40s sweater? I wish I could see the rest of her outfit..pretty sure it's a pair of menswear inspired trousers or an a-line skirt.

The yellow cropped box jacket in this 50s ad pairs perfectly with the full skirted dress underneath.

Also determine whether your closet contains mostly bright colors and patterns or neutrals and solids. If you own a lot of colored/patterned garments buy a sweater in a neutral like grey or cream; if you already have a lot of neutral dresses and skirts try to find a sweater in a fun color or print.

I recently purchased a beautiful late 30s cardigan to wear for my anniversary. Late thirties/forties styles emphasized the shoulders. To balance the fullness of the shoulders of this cardigan I paired it with a long, slender thirties inspired dress. I tried pairing this cardigan with a full skirted dress with a high neckline from the early 60s and it didn't look right! Always think about balancing the amount of volume on the top half and bottom half of your outfit.

2. A fun vintage dress.

The wonderful thing about vintage dresses is that they have so many beautiful details! You won't need to accessorize much with a vintage dress if you want a balanced vintage/modern look.

Betty Barclay is one of my favorite early 60s labels! No need to over accessorize with one of these dresses. I would wear one of these with a simple pair of neutral heels.

3. A high waist skirt in a neutral color (or a high waist pair of shorts/jeans).

High waist skirts are universally flattering! If you have larger hips(like me) opt for a fuller skirt. I've found that high waist skirts pair well with almost any modern style top. High waist bottoms also work really well with crop tops. I know 'crop top' can sound scandalously immodest but when paired with high waist bottoms you only see a peek of skin.

This is a darling modern interpretation of vintage found on Wanelo

I made myself the pair of high waist jeans below and they are perfect paired with 40s style sweaters and button down shirts tied at the waist. You can find vintage high waist 50s jeans or buy reproduction ones from Freddies of Pinewood (where I bought the repro 40s sweater shown!)

4. A vintage accessory: You can instantly add vintage flair to a modern outfit with a vintage purse, hat, or jewelry.

Neutral accessories are a good investment. I own a black patent 60s clutch and I use it all the time. Vintage gloves are classic and never out of style, and I find the same to be true of vintage jewelry. I have so many beautiful pieces of jewelry from my grandmother and I wear them with everything! (another blog post? hmmm...) A simple modern dress is the perfect backdrop to show off a stunning brooch or necklace.

It can be overwhelming to shop vintage with so many choices! When you go vintage shopping I suggest either

a) have a plan and stick to it! Write down your shopping goals before you leave the house. If you find a cardigan that you thing will work with a dress you have at home but aren't sure try to find a similar style dress in the store to try on with it.

 OR
b) browse with nothing in mind at all and just pick out what speaks to you! If you absolutely LOVE a vintage 50s novelty print skirt with toucans on it but have absolutely no idea what you will wear it with, get it anyways! You will find a top that goes with it later.

I have found Forever21 an excellent place to find cheap cropped t-shirts and tank tops that pair well with vintage high waist bottoms!

I hope this has been helpful! Leave me a comment if you would like more information or have specific questions about this post. I hope this post hasn't been too lengthy!

xxx

Sarah

Vineyard Rendezvous

My husband and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary this past weekend! It's hard to believe we've been married 3 years...we celebrated by visiting Burntshirt Vineyard in Hendersonville, NC. We toured the wine making facilities and did a wine tasting on site. It was a beautiful afternoon!

Dress: Francesca's

Cardigan: vintage 30s from PetalPink Vintage

Box purse: vintage 50s from an antique store

Photos by my hubby of course!

I added a video to this post! You can also watch it on my YouTube channel.

Easter Blue

Happy Easter everyone! Nathan and I got up super early for a sunrise service this morning so we had some time to take pictures of my Easter dress before we headed out for Easter Brunch. I usually make my Easter dress but I've been so busy I decided to buy one instead! I did hint in a previous post that my I wanted a gingham dress and as you can see I found one! This darling frock is an early 60s Teena Paige dress from Pleasing Ivy Vintage, owned by a wonderful vintage fashion blogger in Australia. I'm in love with it! Hope you all are having a wonderful Easter day!

xxxSarah

Photos by my wonderful husband

Dress: 60s vintage from Pleasing Ivy Vintage

Purse: 60s vintage thrifted

CarlaSue Vintage

I have an announcement to make! I've decided to change the name of my Etsy shop to CarlaSue Vintage. When I started my Etsy shop I was focusing on handmade but over time my shop has evolved into mostly vintage so I decided to choose a more appropriate name.

Why CarlaSue? Carla Sue is my mother's name(and quite a lovely one!); she grew up in the country in a small town in Ohio. You know that perfect little nostalgic town you always see in movies but wonder if really exists? Yep, that's it! My mom's family lived in a beautiful 1920s home surrounded by fields full of ponies, a pond, a vegetable garden, and apple trees. My grandmother would can home grown vegetables and homemade applesauce and bake black raspberry pies. I remember as a child going up to their huge walk-in attic full of my mother's childhood toys and being full of awe. I always loved my mom's room especially, with its white walls and furniture,  purple shag carpet and purple velvet  bedspread, reminiscent of Ann Margret's room in Bye Bye Birdie. I hope that with the vintage treasures I add to CarlaSue Vintage that I can capture the essence of the nostalgia I felt every time I visited my mom's family home in Ohio!

My blog will remain Pink Mackaroon and I'll keep my Facebook and Instagram accounts too but I am adding a separate CarlaSue Vintage page on Facebook and you can follow @carlasuevintage on Instagram.

Top and Shorts: Made by me

Basket purse: thrifted

Sandals: Target

Photos by my wonderful husband.