It's been obvious to me for some time that Bohemian women's wear (as opposed to Disco Duds) from the 70's was quickly becoming today's chic. Skirts which sold for $10.00 a year ago, are selling for close to $100.00 today.
As an example of this trend towards 70's chic, I submit to you this truly lovely Grecian Goddess dress which I found on Etsy.
This gorgeous dress is an enticing shade of burgundy, and has braided shoulder straps. Full length (60"), the dress has an empire waist, and a timeless quality. It is extremely small and in wonderful vintage condition.
If you're out to have someone exclaim, "That's from the 70's, isn't it?" This isn't the right dress for you. But if you're intention is merely to be fashionable and chic, then you couldn't find a better dress.
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As long as we're visiting the 70's, thumbing through Etsy, I found this fabulous embroidered 70's peasant blouse.
Beautifully embroidered, this blouse has cinch ties at both the neckline and the sleeves. Labeled, "One Size Fits All" the amazing thing about this blouse is the price. Only $25.00! That's a price on par with 70's garments a year ago! If you want this, you'll have to beat me to it, so <i><b>run</b></i> to RedFernVintage and scoop this up! To be fair, I won't buy this until 24 hours after the blog has gone to press. After that, well, all's fair in love and fashion!
It would be appropriate with a flowing skirt, cut off jeans, some cigarette jeans or - of course - a pair of bell bottoms.
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Shown with a chemise which is not included (and yes you must) (Roze insists upon it). This ankle length dress is sleeveless, and has a V neck. It's from the 90's, but has that 70's Boho vibe I love so much. Bi'm not so mad about the shoes here, but the shoes aren't being sold with the outfit, and heaven knows it's s easy to change a pair of shoes.
Through this dress, I had the pleasure of finding a great new (to me) eBay Vendor, and that's always a delight! Offered CrushVintageStore for an opening bid of $19.99 and a Buy-It-Now price of $59.00. And kiddos, that price is a steal!
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Even in the summer, I am a firm advocate for light jackets. You never know when the restaurant, the theatre, or your mother-in-law is going to have the the air conditioning turned up or rather down to 65 degrees. So one needs a jacket. And one could do no better in the subject of light summer jackets than this:
The ribbonwork and the beading are exquisite. And the sheer white background is perfect for 70's chic. It's also perfect for 80's chic, or 90's chic, or 2012 chic. You get the picture, right? And while it's dressy, I can also see it with a red tank top and cut offs. It's 100% silk exclusive of decoration.
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The heat of summer is almost intollerable without the miniskirt. I'm a firm believer in having at least 3 miniskirts: one denim; one of a geometric print, like a stripe; and one floral. This is Ann Taylor simply stunning floral skirt.
I just love the almost-toile simplicity of the fabric. There may even be those who would call it a toile, though I believe a true toile must depict some pastoral scene.
I would it expect it to be size six to eight from the way it sits on the hanger, and the skirt should be a couple of inches shorter than fitting just above the knee, perfect to wear with ballet flats or some white summer sandals, and perfect with any black or white top, though the right shades of red or yellow could go too.
Offered by Sparvintheieletree for $34.00.
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I just recently spent several hundred dollars on some eyeglass frames. Had I seen these first, I'm not sure I've had parted with the cash. This pair is the cat's meow and for a fraction of the cost!
Aren't they the hippest thing since Jack Keroac penned <b><i>The Subteraneans</i></b>? Made of red spotted acetate in the 1980's, they've never been worn! I must confess that there are times when I think all design should be left to the Italian and the French, and all engineering to the Germans and the Japaneese.
Offered by LeLove for $14.99, these shades are guaranteed to make you a sex object and the coolest woman at the swimming pool (or Mom at Soccer Practice).
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And speaking of red... To quote this seller, "It doesn't matter the age, the era, the woman...when red works, it <i>works</i>." I couldn't have said it better myself. And this red dress is one hard working dress.
The double bow, the gathering of the bodice, the short sleeves, the hang of the fabric... This is one lovely dress, and it all <i>works</i>. I'd by the dress myself if I could fit in it, but it is tiny, tiny, tiny. 31"' 25" 32", or a size 4. The dress is from the thirties or forties and still retains it's original tags, "Naturally Natlynn NEW YORK" The dress required some repairs, but none are visible. Made of a fabric that feels like soft velvet, the dress closes with a metal zipper up the back. It is lightly lined and has small slits along the hemline. To have retained its color so well for so long, someone took exquisite care of this dress.
Anyone seeing this dress in a size 8 is encouraged to write me immediately!
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It's not vintage. But it's perfectly vintage inspired, and so rich and yummy that i just couldn't pass up blogging about it. The seller calls it the Modern Day Aristocratic Tee-Shirt and it is quite something.
Made of the softest cotton, this sleeveless top has cascades of tuxedo ruffles down the front with loveli little bows all around the Neckline culminating in a fairly good sized rose, and a simply charming organza bow tied at the top of what I believe to be the right shoulder. But they say the Camera turns everything around, so perhaps it's the left shoulder. Still, you can read a photograph of text, so that makes me think the camera turning everything around is a red herring, and the bow and the roze are on the right shoulder. There's also a glass pearl on this decorated side, but I'll be hog-tied and horse-whipped if I can see it.
It doesn't really show in these photos, but the shirt is a non-bulky extra long, so it should fir perfectly no matter the task you have for it! The shop also has matching cardigans and... Well, suffice it to say that this blog doesn't have nearly as much room to list or show the marvelous shop's inventory. It's one of my favorite games to come to this shop and play, "If I won the lottery..." there are several garments (including the one above) which I would like in every color, and I'd buy enough off white ones to create all the colors in my head.
Offered by Etsy at TutusChicBoutique, your one stop shop for all things ballet and for the crinolines I am always after you to buy. This top is priced at $65.00. This shop is also home too the ever chic "Brown and cream tutu" a skirt so cute I'm going to make you suffer for it by digging through their listings. Now don't make <i>that</i> face! It will be a fun hunt, I promise. And I never break my promises.
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This saphire blue cut velvet shawl jacket</a> simply took my breath away! A perfect example of what I privately call Stevie Nicks chic, it is the very essence of what makes the 70's bohemian cool so, well, cool.
It's bohemian, artsy, gypsie, fluttery, feminine, and just so cool one can hardly stand it. It's everything <i><b>That 70's Show</b></i> never got about the 70's. Cut so that one size fits all, I can't think of a formal occasion (with the possible exceptence of a funeral) for which it would not be appropriate.
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Next is this fabulously purple hat from the 1970's which the New York Times says is everything a womans hat should be in order to be on trend for 2012.
It's got a medium floppy brim (too floppy would be a no-no.So would No Flop) it is largely free of decoration. No use of the hot glue gun and fake flowers here here. And it has minimal banding. Now no banding would be a no-no too. The trick is too have banding, just not to much. I think Mr Galanos got the 2012 hat exactly right. And he did it 40 years earlier! That, ladies and gentlemen is called foresight. And it's why Mr. Gallanos makes the big bucks. If he isn't making the big bucks, he needs to fire his agent, and one by one renegotiate his contracts.
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Also from Lambi99 is this darling Yves Saint Lauren sailors shirt with trim. This 70's Blouse has ruffles with contrasting bows and is so lovely, and wonderfully retro.
In contrast to the accorian pleats at the wrist, therebis something almost floral about the neckline I just love. I would tie the tie, well, like a tie now to bring it into 2012' and because I hate pussy bows at the neck. They make a woman look pregnant and at the same time like christmas present. So no. Uh uh. We'll tie the tie with a Windsor Knot. And this top would look so priceless with a black Hjkirt or pants, but don't limit them or yourselves to black. This is one goes with anything blouse.
Available for the Buy It Now price of $245.99. And kiddos, that's a bargain, no matter how you slice it.
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It's funny how an era will always come with an end, the 40's ended abruptly with the surrender of the Japaneese forces. And for me, and I think for a lot of people, the 60's ended with the killing of the students at Kent State. Gone was some type of optimism, some idea that we could change the world. And this outward facing optimism was replaced by an inward facing drive to deal with our demons. <i> <b>I'm Okay, You're Okay</i></b> was published. Most feminist scholarship took place during this period. And a lot of the solidarities of the Civil Rights movement began to crumble. There was a feeling that we were no longer welcome in their movement.
In fashion this translated to darker colors and more conservative fabrics. The women's business suit emerged. I even found a pattern for the women's "Power Suit" from the house of Dior dated from the early 1970's. And for Pucci, it meant a retreat from the avante garde and becoming a wee bit tamed. You can see all this in the Pucci wrap skirt found below.
Still Pucci, but without the wildly psychedelic patterns of Pucci in the past. This was a Pucci you could wear to a job interview. And women, by the hundreds of thousands were going to those interviews and getting those jobs.
This skirt, found on eBay from foxy_couture for $485.00'
And with that, I shall wish you Happy Shopping,
Best wishes,
Second Hand Roze
- Posted from Deep in the Heart of Uncertain Texas
