Erte's Erotic Alphabet + Numbers Suit | Art Deco Design

I came across these beautiful art deco illustrations by famed artist Erte and absolutely had to share with all of you. Here are a few of my favorite letters and numbers. You can view the entire set here



Which are your favorites?

Vintage 1930s Fashion Sketches + Designs

When researching vintage clothing and fashion, one of the best sources is the New York Public Library Digital Image Gallery. You can browse through HUNDREDS of beautiful sketches and illustrations of vintage fashions and really have a better understanding of the trends and fads of a specific era.

Today we are going to be looking at vintage fashion and styles from the 1930s. Our online vintage shop regularly stocks clothing and dresses from the 1930s and most of these styles go fairly quickly. And it's no surprise why, the 1930s was an amazing time for beautifully made and well tailored garments!






One of recurring themes in these styles are the puffed sleeves wether they be short sleeved or elbow length. There is also the appearance of dropped shoulders, draped sleeves, and cape style sleeves. My favorite part about the 1930s silhouette are the bias cut skirts. So incredibly flattering on a woman's figure! I also am very much in love with prints from the 1930s. Just the most charming florals and very elegant and chic deco inspired patterns and textiles.

Vintage Fashion Design of Coats from the 1940s

I have just come across a wealth of pictorial information via the New York Public Library Digital Gallery and I am so very thankful that this website exists to better educate and inform us of vintage fashions of the 1940s (and other decades!) through fashion design illustrations.

Imagine my excitement as I "leafed" through page after page of fashion designs illustrating coats from the 1940s with small notations. Some of these fashion terms I have not come across yet and I have tried to my best ability to include these terms and definition with the images below.


Plaid coat with four bias patch pockets covered with flaps. Spring 1940-1941


Wide cape sleeve on plaid coat. Spring 1940-1941


Frog closure on front of coat. Front flare. Spring 1940-1941.


Faille silk imported (not sure if that is the actual word, hard to read) in sleeves and edging closing. Spring 1940-1941.

What is FAILLE SILK?
I have seen the word "faille" before but never actually knew what it meant. So according to New York Fashion Center: "A slightly glossy silk with strongly defined soft, wide ribs, silk faille is heavy in weight but maintains a shallow, graceful drape. An exceptionally soft hand and readiness to take a crease makes this fabric beautiful for use in tailored suits and jackets. Silk faille retains a light sheen that draws attention to its premium silk fibers, without being too glossy for the workplace or formal settings."


"Dandy" Reefer. Double breasted with deep cuffs. Spring 1940-1941.

What is a REEFER coat?
I have never come across this term up until seeing these fashion illustrations. I always just referred to coats like these as trench coats. But according to Army Navy Deals: "The reefer jacket was of naval origin, and described the short double breasted jacket worn by sailors in harsh weather, when they perform duties such as reefing the sails."

and according to The Free Dictionary: "1. A short, heavy, close-fitting, double-breasted jacket.
2. A close-fitting, single-breasted or double-breasted coat."


Cape sleeve on lounge coat. Spring 1940-1941.


"Dandy" reefer coat with detachable tiered cape. Spring 1940-1941.


Fitted coat, soft bodice (?), set in flare gives front fullness ending in pockets. Fashion drawing 1938.


Yoke continuing to drop shoulder and skirt of matching faille silk or contrasting wool. Spring 1940-1941.


Fox collared boxy tweet coat. Soft nose on body beneath collar. Spring 1940-1941.

10 Vintage Christmas Holiday Cards

I cannot believe how quickly this year went by! Or the month of December for that matter, it's only 4 more days for Christmas! I've been so busy with everything this year I didn't even get a chance to send out Christmas cards, oh dear, maybe next year... *le sigh* I wanted to send out vintage Christmas cards, I found a few at a couple different antique malls, but like I said, didn't get around to it.

Anyhow, to make up for it, I wanted to share these really sweet vintage Christmas and holiday cards I spotted on flickr. Vintage cards are just so cute, don't you think? And some are terribly cheesy which I like. I hope you like these vintage Christmas cards!



credits // one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten

Daily Inspiration: Vintage Children's Book Illustrations

I simply adore vintage children's book illustrations! Some of the color combinations and mix of patterns are so inspiring for fashion. I particularly loved the colors in the top two illustrations and I love the Renaissance feel the "Swan Lake" illustrations have on the bottom.

Image credits: 1.} Every Child's Story book, 1959 scanned by Corduroy Cat, 2.} John Gee by Shelece, 3.} & 4.} "Swan Lake", Prague 1970 illustrated by Ludmila Jiřincová scanned in by josefskrhola

Summer in August: Fashion Illustrations & Patterns from the 1930s

Vintage 1930s dresses and frocks made from silk crêpe fabrics in solid and dainty prints. I especially loved the shirtwaist dress with large sleeves (model 8388) and strangely enough I have those shoes (not from the 30s, but from Neiman Marcus clearance center!)

Image credits: Sue Tarr on Flickr, 1930's Fashion Set

10 Image of Inspirations: I Believe in Fairy Tales

Once upon a time...
in a land far away,
where the clouds never lift,
and the sun is never seen...

There lived a beautiful young princess.

Who escaped into the thick forest
to find adventure and love








Image Credits:
1.} Castle in the Mist 2.} And there the beauty laid 3.} Running, running 4.} The Woodlands Procession 5.} There he is... 6.} The sea maiden upon the castle steps 7.} Journey 8.} Taming of the beast 9.} The recollections of a wandering princess 10.} It was all just a rose petal dream