30 little things you can do with your vintage wardrobe

Are you still needing to be home a lot, as I am? Or do you need some inspiration to try out some new things with your vintage?

Here’s a month of mostly small ideas. I want to know if you try any of these (especially number 26!).

1. Find a new place to wear a brooch.

2 Tie a scarf as a turban.

3. Fall under the spell of vintage jewelry ads.

4. Make a collar with a vintage pattern.

5. Change out boring buttons on a modern shirt, coat or dress with vintage buttons. If you need to find some, try searching “carded vintage buttons” on Etsy.

6 Mix and match eras—mix if you usually match, and match if you usually mix.

7. Discover your new favorite lounge wear.

8. Hang a vintage item you keep forgetting you have somewhere obvious.

9. Try wearing a fancy robe, house coat or shirt dress over another item. No unitaskers here!

10. Try on hats virtually and get ideas.

11. Make a Pinterest board of your favorite vintage looks.

12. Try a visible mend on something that can’t be fixed invisibly.

13. Join a discussion.

14. Wear something vintage you haven’t worn for awhile, and ask yourself why not?

15. Start a display of some of your favorite vintage fashion items.

16. Mend one thing. Threads magazine online has many good quality tips and tricks.

17. Organize your closet by color.

18. Pattern mix: Stripes and dots, leopard and tartan, floral and check.

19. Wear a cardigan backwards, as girls did in the 1940s to 50s.

20. Add a pop of color to a neutral outfit. Shoes, brooch, scarf…

21. Try layering your vintage.

22. Wear a vintage hairstyle for a vintage hat. These look kinda difficult, but beautiful.

23. Add a belt.

24. Make vintage button jewelry.

25. Got a friend who loves vintage? Give them a virtual tour of your closet, and have them choose an outfit for you—then do the same for them.

26. Polish a pair of shoes. Try using the inside of a banana peel! (I can’t promise it will work, but this method has a certain amount of fans—and it made some vintage red leather clogs of mine look clean and glossy without any stickiness.)

27. Wear complementary colors.

28. Vacuum the area (a closet perhaps) that has your vintage clothes in it. This helps keeps critters away.

29. Have a look at some cool closets.

30. Come up with one go-to outfit using vintage, something you know you can rock instantly.

Extra credit:

31. Let me know what other small things you can think of to do with your vintage.

My Mama’s Birthday

Today is the 100th anniversary of the birth of my mother.

My mother at 6 in 1926

I’m sorry to say I lost her 32 years ago, but I think about her every day. She was and is my hero.

I know I could be accused of idolizing a merely good parent who died too soon. You tell me what you think. She was lovely but completely without vanity, highly intelligent (state math and science champion in high school, language study was her college degree), giving without asking anything in return, forgiving when forgiveness would seem impossible, compassionate, tolerant, and more open-minded than anyone I’ve ever known. She fought fearlessly for things she cared about, and never gave up on those she disagreed with. We could use more people like her right now.

It looks like I’m about 1 in this photo, and my brother is rocking a great little Hawaiian suit.

Mama was a natural teacher, always mentoring, always lending a hand. A dear neighbor from my younger days recently told me a story about my mother. Our neighbor’s young son was sick and she wasn’t able to get him to eat. My mother came over with a bag of Goldfish crackers and set him up with a fishing line of some sort for the boy to fish with. She said if he caught a “fish” he had to eat it.

He caught fish and started eating again that day.

Once when I was in elementary school I was very surprised to see my mother tutoring one-on-one in a small room in my school. She was working with kids on their speech problems and didn’t even tell us she was doing this. One of the classrooms that she volunteered to help with (never my brother’s and mine because I’m sure she knew that could be awkward) got the full Marian Wilds treatment: I remember a Seattle newspaper article about the gingerbread village she helped the classroom build. And yes, she baked all the gingerbread walls and roofs.

I still have the angel my mother helped me make in first grade.

When I was sick for an extended period of time in 1st grade, my mother took on a sort of home schooling responsibility, with lessons from the teacher. I remember we had an art project in Papier-mâché, and we went a little overboard, wheeling in a large green dinosaur with a long tail, spikes down his back, big pink polka dots and a smile.

My mother was the oldest of three children and had great inner (and outer) strength. She worked harder than anyone I’ve ever known. She kept the house humming along with many skills including house painting and plumbing, but most especially with her exceptional cooking. She baked dozens of loaves of bread a week, giving most of them away. She made so many different kinds of Christmas cookies for so many people that she had to start a month in advance and freeze some in order to get them done in time. When you said you had to have dinner soon because of an evening commitment, she went into what she called her “Wilds short-order house” mode and whipped up something quick—something like Coquilles Saint Jacques. (Mama loved learning from Julia Child.) I made a cookbook of her recipes after she died because I knew this aspect of her was known and loved by so many.

Try this bread recipe of my mother’s—you won’t be disappointed!

Serving dinner to my father and his mother in the 1940s

Serving cake at a friend’s wedding in the 1980s

My father died when I was 13, and my mother had to go back to work at the age of 53—not an easy task now, let alone then. She found work as a legal secretary and was a loyal employee in legal offices until her death. She started off with the skills of a great office worker: a typing speed of 100+ words per minute, wicked shorthand, a fine mind and a natural desire to learn more. She became invaluable, a paralegal in all but title and salary. She took a bus to and from work in downtown Seattle, never driving a car.

She used a cart to go grocery shopping over a mile away, and take the wash to and from the laundromat. My brother and I walked and bused with her for our entire youth. By example, she taught me a lot about being dedicated, strong, self-sufficient and capable.

After my father died, my mother had the responsibility for shepherding my brother and I through college. I wanted to study at the best music school I knew, from the best horn teacher. We didn’t have much money but she wouldn’t allow that to stop me. She was my biggest fan, the cheerleader in the front row of my life.

Since I’m so into fashion, you probably wonder, did I get that from my mother? Not particularly. My mother was not oriented to appearances, yet her style was what I would call simple and handsome. She sewed many of her own (and my) clothes, knitted, crocheted and tatted.

My mother with her mother. Mama was always knitting in that period of her life.

I love those shoes!

Classic pieces, hand knits, a trench coat, plaids …and the occasional killer heels. I admire my mother’s style.

I have kept some clothing and accessories of my mother’s, including this 1950s Finnish modern necklace by Seppo Tamminen, given to her by some Icelandic friends.

My mother’s father was a banker in Iowa farmland during the Great Depression. He sacrificed his job by refusing to foreclose on farmers when their accounts were in arrears. He worked with inmates of a nearby prison, helping them learn skills for when they were released. Have you heard of the Sheaffer signature pen? My grandfather helped a forger learn to do custom engraving on these pens. One man became a jeweler with my grandfather’s help. He was so grateful that he made a beautiful gold and glass ring, with glass the color of my mother’s blue eyes. When I found a simple 1940s dress, I decided to pose with the ring the way she had done 70 years earlier.

What have I left out? Mama was a cellist through high school, and she could draw beautifully. She was a voracious reader of history books and historical biographies. She read every word of the newspaper before recycling it. Her favorite movie was probably The Third Man, followed by Witness for the Prosecution. Whodunits, legal dramas, dapper gents and brilliant acting were some key elements of a great film for my mother.

Every flower was her favorite. When I ordered flowers for her funeral, I just said “everything.”

Mama did not spoil us children. We had to learn to do things for ourselves. She taught me to knit, sew, garden and cook; and to get credit, balance books, negotiate, and make important decisions. She also taught me to help others, and to knock on doors for causes that mean a lot. She insisted I take responsibility for the world I live in just as she always had. I hope to be informed and to never quit learning, with Mama as my model.

I’m not a whole lot like my mother by nature—I think I’m more like my father—but I learned from my mother. She once said that if I weren’t her daughter she would want to be my friend. And she would have been that friend that counterbalanced all my problems: The smarter one to keep me on my toes, the one with all the adult skills to help my right-brained tendencies have grounding, the loyal one who would defend me against unwarranted attacks, the curious one who would know countless fascinating things, the fearless one who would stand by me at the toughest times. The humble one who put me ahead of herself.

Come to think of it, she was just that to me, and I’ll always be better for having her as my mother.

Happy Birthday Mama! I love you so much—more than ever, and I’m so very grateful to have had you in my life.

R.I.P. Diana Rigg

Dame Diana Rigg: Avengers, Bond and Game of Thrones actress dies at 82

What a magnificent actress, I'm sorry for all of us.

Mrs. Peel, as dressed by John Bates and Alun Hughes, was one of my first fashion icons. I wanted so much to have her cool black and white outfits.

Whenever I have a chance, I try to photograph vintage fashions with Mrs. Peel in mind. She is absolutely inimitable of course—but I have fun trying.

denisebrain photos

Diana Rigg on the set of On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 1968

Heinz Baumann – Comet Photo AG (Zürich) creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

But it’s always been more than her clothes. For so many of us, Diana Rigg was a super hero—a brilliant Shakespearean actress who could toss diabolical masterminds out of windows as Avenger Emma Peel.

I have her photo up where I can see it every morning, near the bathroom mirror. Almost unconsciously, I derive strength and courage from her.

I'll forever be grateful for the inspiration Diana Rigg has given me.

Vintage fashion gifts for frontline workers

At this point, don’t we all know a person who is doing a risky and important job through this COVID-19 era? Not only doctors and nurses are here for us, but all kinds of health care workers. And then think of the food and grocery workers, delivery people, child care providers, bus drivers, farm workers, and teachers. I know I would like to thank people—with an extra tip for pizza delivery, a cold bottle of water for the postal carrier, a note of thanks to an ICU nurse.

Maybe you know a vintage-loving frontline worker. If you can narrow down their interest (is it ‘90s sports teams, art deco era or ‘60s mod for instance) you can come up with a vintage gift specially tailored to the person. If, however, you don’t know what they like, here are some suggestions:

Vintage Christian Lacroix brooch available on Etsy

1. Have it be vintage in excellent condition. You don’t need any rough edges if you’ve been working an incredibly long and hard day.

2. Have it be something that doesn’t need to fit. A bag, a scarf, a necklace—one-size-fits-all!

3. Have it be personal: Something green to match her eyes; an initial; something that complements what you’ve seen on the person, or something they have commented on to you.

4. Have it reflect what the person is doing as a frontline worker. Vintage slippers for the guy on his feet all day; hand lotion and the softest pair of vintage gloves for someone who has to constantly wash her hands; a vintage kimono-style robe for someone who has to be covered in PPE during working hours; a hat for someone making deliveries.

Please keep washing your hands, distancing no matter how painful the separation, and wearing a mask. Our frontline workers are counting on us.

What you Might Have Been Wearing When (Some) U.S. Women Got the Vote

It’s 1920, a year of transition. Prohibition begins on January 17th. World War I has taken a horrific toll, and the deadly 1918 flu pandemic continues into April of 1920.

And on August 18, 1920, Tennessee is the last of the necessary 36 ratifying states to secure adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The amendment prohibits the states and the federal government from denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States on the basis of sex. For many of the 26 million women in the U.S., the 1920 presidential election is their first chance to cast a ballot. There are limitations: African American, Asian American, Hispanic American, and Native American women are not fully enfranchised. African American women struggled for suffrage alongside their white compatriots, but the history was not smooth, and it took the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to ensure Black American’s voting rights were protected by law. (Of course the issue of voting rights is still significant in 2020.)

Almost immediately after the passage of the amendment, Alice Paul and the National Woman's Party begin work on the Equal Rights Amendment, which they believe necessary to ensure equality. (The ERA was passed by the Senate in 1972, but was not ratified by enough states.)

Alice Paul toasting (with grape juice) the passage of the Nineteenth Amendment. Library of Congress photo.

And of course you knew fashion would come into this post eventually.

A celebratory Alice Paul is shown all in white on August 26, 1920. The movement’s colors were purple for loyalty and dignity, white for purity, and gold as a nod to the sunflowers of Kansas where Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton campaigned. (Green, as a symbol of hope, replaced gold in Britain.)

White was strategic: Suffragists had been sharply criticized for looking “intimidating” and “masculine,” and women in demure white dresses, it was thought, would give them a greater chance to be heard. White clothing was something that almost every woman already had, making it a choice that wasn’t difficult to adopt. And in black and white photos of suffrage marches, white stood out. The colors purple and gold were often worn as sashes.

Women's Suffrage envoys from many states brought petitions to Congress. Five thousand women massed on and about the East Steps of the Capitol singing Ethel Smyth's HYMN OF THE WOMEN. May 9, 1914. Harris & Ewing, photographer/Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.

Shirley Chisholm wore all white in 1968 when she was sworn in as the first Black American woman in the United States Congress. Geraldine Ferraro wore all white in 1984 when she accepted the nomination for Democratic Vice President. Hillary Clinton wore all white to accept the Democratic nomination for President in 2016.

You may recall the 2019 State of the Union address, with Democratic congresswomen wearing white—the history continues.

I’ve picked out the outfit I’d like to have been wearing on this day 100 years ago.

Collection of Jay Thorpe, New York : 1920 Fall. Costume Institute - Digital Collections from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries

P.S. Whatever color you wear, please don’t let our mothers, grandmothers and great-grandmothers down: VOTE.

Behind the Scenes at Denisebrain Vintage

The finished product of my work, an item of vintage fashion in as good shape as I am able to make it, is what I offer up most of the time. But my vintage world is filled with many things that lead up to that finished product. I’ve been working at home every day for months now (as I’m sure many of you have), and I have lots of time to consider my surroundings.

Pulling back the curtain, here are some of the scenes

I live in a house that is a not so huge for two adults—698 square feet. When all the vintage I gathered was entirely in our house my husband said that we didn’t need insulation, and that he could fall over anywhere in the house and not be hurt! Yes indeed, vintage took up ALL the house. Now my business takes up about half the house, and I have two storage units which have saved our home from being seriously overstuffed.

To give you an idea of the storage space:

A few more scenes

• Clothes gathered for a photo shoot, ready to leave storage for my home where they will get cleaned, mended, and steamed or ironed as needed.

• My photo studio—a corner of our living room with a white seamless background, lights, and the camera and tripod. The homemade folding screens block all this when it’s not in use.

• Some of my own vintage shoes on a rack in the living room—and in boxes, and on the floor.

• One of my jars of white vintage buttons. There are jars and drawers of buttons, sorted by color.

• A few of my vintage fabric books, and some other books I often reference. There is also a large bookshelf with vintage fashion magazines and more books.

• The backyard laundry line with vintage swimsuits out to dry.

When I started my business 21 years ago I had trepidation about having what I knew would be a very large quantity of things to take care of, house, store, fix, clean, curate, understand, package… I love it though, and every bit of this makes me happy.

And my husband appreciates the insulation.

Vintage fashion things to do online, part 2

For those who need a few more vintage diversions (part one was on April 2), here we go!

A few of the fashion history podcasts I try to catch (these are links to Apple Podcasts but all are available elsewhere too):

Dressed: The History of Fashion 
Bande à part
Pre-Loved Podcast
Dress: Fancy
Fashion History with American Duchess

Allow me to introduce you to

The Pink Lady of Hollywood

…and The Green Lady of Brooklyn

Pioneering women in art and gender equality (and, I might add, fashion), meet the Bauhaus Girls via Creative Boom.

The Washington Post had a great article about the most refreshing designer in American history: Claire McCardell.

Messy Nessy recently Zoomed (that’s a word now, isn’t it?) with the remarkable Dr. Colleen Darnell, The Vintage Egyptologist.

Look and learn

You can take some free fashion courses at your own pace, including the 500-year history of British Royal Fashion, courtesy of Future Learn.

A fashion historian takes on the relationship between clothing and disease throughout history.

Fashion repeats itself in intriguing ways at the MET Costume Institute.

Wearing Memories from the Museum of FIT, helps tell the story of particular items of clothing with special meaning to their owners.

Wedding dress, 1957, Cristóbal Balenciaga. Photo via Google Arts & Culture.

From Google Arts & Culture:

See some of Balenciaga’s most iconic looks.

Then see the gorgeous illustrations of equally gorgeous Parisian fashions, 1912-14.

Be in awe of Schiaparelli and Surrealism (the close-ups are a revelation).

Fortuny gowns up close are also revelatory. (Can you believe I know someone who found a Fortuny Delphos gown in the lingerie section of a thrift store?)

Witness the genius dress construction of Charles James.

See the over-the-top fabulous costumes worn by Carmen Miranda in Copacabana.

Take a spin around places where fashion is made and displayed all around the world.

An hour well spent: 'Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams' at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.

mother’s day is coming

Check out this Pinterest board of mostly vintage Mommy and Me matching outfits.

First worn in 1962, last worn in 2013

Take a look at the young women who wore their grandmother’s and mother’s prom dresses to their own prom.

Fun with vintage hair and makeup

Lisa Eldridge has highlights and lowlights of makeup history.

She also has quite a few vintage makeup tutorials, including this Tippi Hedren-inspired 60s look.

Might it be time for big hair again?

Learn to do a bubble flip! (Be careful you don’t tease your hair to death!)

Have Fun

Three minutes comically spent: Schiaparelli might just approve of these 50s kitchen-themed hat fashions.

Now THIS is a cat walk!

Want to shake your groove thing? Messy Nessy presents: If You Can’t Go Out to the Disco, Bring the Disco to You

Finally, the FIDM Museum blog has a word search—find 20 fashion designer names. (If you are feeling competitive, beat my time of 12 minutes, 19 seconds and tell me you did!)

Let me know if you have some found some great vintage fashion things to do online!

Denisebrain is 21!

It was on April 22, 1999 that I sold my very first vintage dress on eBay, and that was it—I was hooked. I loved it then, and now, about 14,000 vintage items later, I still love it.

You might think that I started my fashion recycling business on Earth Day symbolically, but it was really just a happy coincidence. It turned out to be the perfect day to get into it, because vintage fashion is good for the Earth—smart, beautiful and green. And now more than ever, on Earth Day’s 50th anniversary, it is imperative we consider how we can help the world with our actions, including what we wear.

Would you like to help celebrate denisebrain’s 21st anniversary? On April 22 and 23, you can take 21% off your purchase of $20 or more using this link, or use HAPPY21 as a coupon code at checkout.

$20 or more gets 21% off on April 22 and 23. Got it?

Vintage fashion things to do online

Do you love vintage fashion and currently find yourself looking for some diversions at home? Here are few:

Visit a Museum—Virtually

See beautifully photographed items from the Kyoto Costume Institute.

Over 400 items from the Chicago History Museum Costume Collection can be viewed online.

The Fashion Museum Bath Dress of the Year has been selected by a respected expert ever since 1963.

Great for upping your wear-at-home game! Woman's Jumpsuit (Hostess Pajamas)

Addie Masters (United States, active California, Los Angeles, 1901-1983)

LACMA has 160 costume items pictured online.

I doubt you could see all 1,424 costume items from the Cooper-Hewitt in one afternoon.

Then there’s the Museum of FIT (“The Most Fashionable Museum in New York City”) online collection.

454 costume and accessory objects from the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s collection of over 227,000 pieces are available for viewing online.

The V&A has quite a few wonderful articles which the museum has the luxury of illustrating from items in their vast collection. You can download a free pattern for a Mary Quant “Georgie” dress, listen to a Christian Dior mannequin discuss her work for the legendary designer, and so much more. Just like the V&A in real life, you could spend days going through their website.

The MET offers 36 publications at least some of which are sure to pique your interest (Haute Couture, Poiret, American Ingenuity: Sportswear… ), absolutely free.

Watch a Few Videos

Examine the Christian Dior Bar Suit with a dressmaking expert.

And more Dior: Watch a Christian Dior evening gown get prepared for its trip to Paris from The de Young Museum in San Francisco.

Doris Raymond of The Way We Wore lets us look over her shoulder as she previews an auction of iconic costumes created by Erté, and pieces worn by Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, and Olivia Newton-John. See if you’re as surprised as I am at what receives the highest bids.

How about looking at the future of fashion, as envisioned in 1939.

Actually, all of British Pathé’s Vintage Fashion shorts are worthwhile.

Consider Upcoming Auction Catalogues

Items from the estate of Doris Day are coming up at Julien’s Auctions.

Two 1930s wool swimsuits

Have fun window-shopping, or sign up for online bidding at the Augusta Auctions Spring 2020 auction. Stay tuned to see if there will be a live auction, given the current health restrictions.

Learn About a Designer You Might Not Know

Emilie Flöge, the life companion of Gustav Klimt. He did not conjure up those fantastic dresses in his paintings out of thin air.

Anne Lowe, who designed the wedding dress for Jacqueline Bouvier’s marriage to John F. Kennedy.

Clare Potter ensemble from 1944, shared from Vintage Everyday via The Vintage Inn

Clare Potter, considered one of the founders of American Sportswear.

Movies to see

Check off your list all 37 of these movies with fashion show scenes, dating from 1929 through 2016, although that IMDb list is missing a great one: How to Marry a Millionaire (1953). P.S. If you haven’t seen the 1939 movie The Women, you are in for a HUGE treat! Also see its remake, The Opposite Sex (1956). Here’s a great article comparing these movies, from the Museum of FIT.

Check out what Paper Magazine called the best fashion documentaries. When I saw Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel, I immediately watched it a second time—it’s that inspiring!

Photo from Hollywood Costume Designers on Flickr

Another list you might not be able to get through in a year: Films costumed by Edith Head.

Catch up on television shows

If you have Prime, check out In Vogue, the Editor’s Eye, celebrating the 120th anniversary of the magazine.

L.A. Frock Stars lets you in on some of the high level goings-on from the vintage world in Los Angeles.

See how people are living vintage lifestyles in Vintage America with Ginger.

Visit vintage shops in New York with The Vintage Voyageur.

Is it time to revisit The House of Eliott?

…or to rebinge The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel?

Have a little fun

Check out the matchy-match outfits in these 1970s ads.

See if this What Retro Style Looks Best on You quiz gives you the answer you want—it didn’t work for me!

My Pinterest boards that might help right now:

Closet Inspirations

Dress Like a Star at Home

Vintage Distancing

Then start your own boards. If you’re like me, this is a great way to dream up all kinds of things.

Watch Steve Martin win the Dating Game in 1968 (I like the store he wants to be stuck in all night!)

See the greatest dance sequence ever filmed.

Did you know you can work jigsaw puzzles online? Here are a couple that use images from the Fashion History Museum.

Design an 18th century wig courtesy of the V&A. I clearly had too much fun with this.

Please tell me what you’ve found to occupy yourself with vintage fashion online!

Manatee Appreciation Day

Yes, there’s a lot going on in the world right now, but I can’t let us forget that March 25 is Manatee Appreciation Day. If you follow anything I say or do, you know I appreciate manatees, and can not let this day go by without advocating for my favorite species.

NOAA image/Unsplash

Happily, many of you also appreciate manatees. Some people have actually purchased from the denisebrain Etsy shop simply because they want to support me in giving 10% of my earnings to the Save the Manatee Club.

March is an important time of year for these gentle herbivores, as manatees start moving from warm springs out into their summering areas in the open sea, making them especially vulnerable to boat strikes.

With the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic this year, there is further vulnerability. As the Save the Manatee Club says “When wild manatees become sick, injured, or orphaned, they need to be rescued and provided with around-the-clock care. Save the Manatee Club works together with rescue and rehabilitation partner organizations to help provide care for manatees, like treating injuries or bottle-feeding orphaned calves.” That kind of 24/7 care has become very difficult. Further, stir-crazy people are heading out in their motor boats to get away from home—great for them, not so great for manatees. 20-22% of manatee deaths in Florida waters are caused by boat strikes.

Financial support for manatee care is the imperative message on this Manatee Appreciation Day.

You can donate directly at Save the Manatee Club, or you can purchase any item from the denisebrain Etsy store*, with 10% going to the SMC.

*Exception: The Pink Heart Shop of my Etsy store benefits Dress for Success.

On a very personal note: I’m sure it must be obvious that I am a vintage clothing seller, not the CEO of a major corporation. The money I am able to give to the SMC is not all that much in the grand scheme of things, but it is quite a lot for me. Since 2007, between online fundraisers, personal giving, and, more recently, 10% of sales, I’ve been able to donate $10,816.14 to the Save the Manatee Club. More important than the money is knowing that people have become aware of the plight of manatees from things I’ve shared through the years. It means the world to me that I have been able to crowdsource help for this awe-inspiring species. #giveuntilyousave

Four Fashion Items You Should Always Buy Used

It may go without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: I like old things.

My house dates from 1907, and I’m just fine with my 1994 Suzuki Sidekick, thank you very much. My dog got to the age of 18 and my French horn was made in 1987. Why buy a new copy of a classic book, a new DVD, a new bicycle, or new glassware? Can I get an amen?

That stuff is obvious. What may be less obvious is that certain clothing and accessories should always be bought used, by everyone. Of course I advise stocking your closet with vintage and secondhand whenever possible (and I give lots of advice on this in my book) but even for the used-averse, there are categories of items that offer inimitable value for the quality.

Jewelry

A few of the antique mine cut diamond rings available from the TheCopperCanary on Etsy

I don’t think I’ll get any arguments on this one. Estate finds have been on most-wanted lists forever. Think of an authentic Art Deco brooch, a handmade Taxco silver and turquoise bracelet, or a glittering mine cut diamond engagement ring. Need I say more?

Silk Scarves

Hermès silk scarves available at TheRealReal at about half the price of new

2nd-hand silk scarves in excellent condition will usually save you a HUGE amount of money—and give you so much more choice!

Designer Fashion

Secondhand dress by Christopher Kane available from AfterHoursStore on Etsy

Now that the stars are striding down red carpets in vintage clothing, I think we can all agree that it is fine to wear clothing that isn’t this year’s model. If you saw something on a runway years ago and can’t get it out of your mind, try finding it now!

Leather Jackets

A jacket with experience, available from ReblSoul on Etsy

And here I mean the kind of jacket that looks and feels infinitely better when broken in. Think moto-jacket-that’s-been-around-the-block-on-a-Harley better.

What do you think? Am I missing another obvious choice?

Why you love vintage

I am currently collecting responses from a brief, anonymous, (and maybe even fun) survey, “Vintage for Spring” (click to take the survey yourself), and these are some of the reasons you love vintage:

It’s always a conversation starter especially with older generations. I'm always excited to hear about good memories or wild times from other decades.

I love knowing the item had a previous life and giving it a new one!

…elegant styles that speak of respect, attention to a personal impression or expression and never the fashion/personal "give up" message of, say, track pants.

Amazing how an 80-year old dress looks better than a 10-year old, isn't it?

Unique, quality, history, style—these are the words you used the most to describe vintage:

I also asked what colors you are most excited to wear for spring, and green was the clear winner, followed by pink (are you trying to make me happy, or what?), then various shades of blue.

From your survey responses, I might just have the perfect 1950s spring frock on eBay! It’s all cotton in a stunning rose bouquet border print. Bonus: 50% of the sale price will go to Save the Manatee Club!

I am busy listing greens and pinks, so keep an eye on my Etsy shop—And keep an eye out for spring!

The pink dress is in my Etsy shop now, the green will be soon. Model: Selah French

And we have a winner!

This morning I spun the wheel and chose someone that I get to play Vintage Fairygodmother for! I can’t wait to put together a look for her!!

Thank you to all aspiring Cinderellas! This isn’t the last time I’m going to be doing this, so hang on to that glass slipper—I’ll be back!

Let me be Your Vintage Fairygodmother

My February 2020 vintage fashion resolution is to give someone a vintage makeover. When I wrote that resolution, I didn’t know exactly what I meant, but since then I’ve crystallized the idea: I want to play Vintage Fairygodmother! That’s why I have a giveaway going on over on Instagram:

Now, as much as I love the idea of waving a magic wand, this isn’t actually about me. What I really want to do is to offer a person some vintage clothing from my collection that will both fit and be a bit surprising. What the surprise will be has to do with the person I choose (by random selection). If the winner is new to vintage, anything could be surprising—but if I pull a vintage expert, my job as fairy godmother will include quizzing the person to see what I might do to surprise her.

I’m not going to give someone a suit tailored by Christian Dior (which I’d think would be very surprising to almost anyone!) but I may surprise a 1950s maven with a mod getup, or a 1970s boho-wearer with a WWII home front sweetheart fashion.

This is going to be fun!!

If you’d like to join in the contest, you need to go to my Instagram page , follow denisebrain_vintage and comment on the contest post before midnight PST on Friday, January 31. I’ll be drawing a name on Saturday morning and will post the winner on my Instagram feed.

2020 vintage fashion resolutions

Do you make New Year’s Resolutions?

I like to make one resolution for each month when possible. Think about it: If you have 12 resolutions at the beginning of the year, how many are you keeping up with by December 31? On the other hand, if you give each resolution one month of its own, it has a greater chance of being accomplished. Of course, getting healthier might be something you choose to do all year, but you might, say, switch up your exercises every month.

Of course you know I’m not talking about exercise here—I’m talking about vintage. I have 12 months of resolutions to try to accomplish this year. I did this in 2014, and found some things very easy and natural (wear scarves!) and other things much more difficult and time consuming (get through the mending pile!).

I have a repeat or two from 2014 this year, but mostly new goals. Can you believe my closet is still making me happy from the overhaul I gave it six years ago? Win!

So here they are, my 2020 Vintage Resolutions:

denisebrain photo

January: Wear vintage Hats

This is a repeat resolution from 2014. I have been given renewed resolve by the words of my Instagram friend @tiffanybb. She wrote:

On a recent #vintageshopping excursion, I overheard a couple ladies as they were trying on hats for an event that evidently required one. They loved many of them, but felt self-conscious and were struggling over how much they were vs. how much use they’d get out of them. One of the ladies finally said “I just wished they looked right on me.” As a lifelong wearer of vintage, I’ve had people say that to me about clothes of other eras I’ve worn. Here’s the deal: anything looks right on you if you love it and OWN it. If you feel weird, or are constantly fidgeting and tugging at what you’re wearing- THAT is the only thing keeping it from “looking right.” I have owned hats for as long as I can remember but have only worn them sparingly, because it sometimes felt like too much, or how people tend to stare when you’re wearing one (when no one else is). … [but] when I wear them, I somehow feel more fun, playful and pretty. My friend @fbphotogllc has a good friend @redsshoediaries who almost always rocks a pretty hat and one of the first times I met her, I told her I still had a few hats but felt a little over the top if I wore hats outside of an event that called for one, or a weather related one and she said, “Girl, wear your hats!” And it hit me: It’s that same philosophy about wearing your good lingerie. What are you saving it for? So, if it works with what I’m wearing, I’ll be wearing the hat, and feeling good about it. Life is too short not to wear your special stuff, use your “good” dishes and drink the nice bottle of wine you’ve been saving!

I have plenty of vintage hats. This month, I will pull them out and incorporate them in my wardrobe with renewed resolution. Life IS too short to do without.

Unsplash

February: Give Someone a Vintage Makeover

This is something special I have been thinking about for at least a year. I would like to help someone put together a vintage look that they love. They might be new to vintage, or an old hand at it but ready for a change in perspective. I’m not sure how this will take place, but it probably will be something I offer as a giveaway. If you’d like to try out a new-to-you vintage style, keep your eyes open in February (and August)!

denisebrain photos

March: Find 6 ways to wear one item

Here’s the plan: I want to find one vintage item in my closet and find new ways to wear it. This could be an LBD for which I find collars, scarves, gloves, brooches (etc.) to accessorize. Or, it might be a jacket that I wear backwards. Yes, I’m in an adventurous mood this year!

April: Find a New Color to Wear

Public domain

This is another repeat. Last time I came up with chartreuse as a color I wanted to wear, and I still dearly love that choice. What’s the next unexpected color? I’m ready.

I want to do as @zeezsa, and mix my decades with panache

May: Try More Bold Mixing of Vintage

I talk about vintage mixing in my book and I feel like spending more time in that realm. I love the idea of wearing multiple eras of clothing combined with a (take your pick) creative/quirky/interesting/sophisticated eye.

Photo credit: Thomas Vogel on Unsplash

June: Support Small Vintage Businesses with my Purchases

I would like to do this every month, but if you must know, I’m always very careful with money so I can keep my small business afloat. Also, if there’s one thing of which I do have plenty, it’s vintage.

Despite this—or maybe because of this, and my understanding of how tough it is to keep a vintage business running—it is my goal this month to offer a little tangible support to others in my position.

Unsplash

July: Wear Vintage Every Single Day

You may be thinking, just how hard is that? I could, technically, wear vintage every day, but it isn’t always easy for things like physical therapy appointments, or long-distance bike rides. This month, I plan to find a way to ALWAYS be in vintage. I think I should be a walking calling card for my business, and a pied piper for vintage in general, don’t you?

Unsplash

August: Give Someone a Vintage Makeover II

See February, above. I have no idea where I’m going with this, but I so want to do it and hope you are as eager as I am to see how the experiment comes out!

Unsplash

September: Find a fashion trend to interpret (Better) with vintage

I always keep an eye on runway fashion. When I was young, I’d take my favorite styles from fashion magazines and comb through thrift and secondhand stores for items that gave the same vibe.

This fall, I’m going back to those roots to try to show how well a trend can go vintage.

Pixabay

October: Organize Jewelry

I squared away my closet’s vintage years ago, but I have a vintage jewelry mess going on. Lots of potential for improvement here!

denisebrain photo

November: Create Vintage Button Bracelets

I have many, many beautiful vintage buttons and used to make bracelets using them. I miss this creative outlet and plan to get back to it in November.

Photo credit: Kira auf der Heide on Unsplash

December: Give Nothing New for Christmas

This, ladies and gentlemen, sounds difficult. Many people are not yet attuned to the value of vintage and used items. Can I find something that is absolutely appropriate and wanted by everyone on my list? Especially for my dear husband, The Modernist? I’m not sure, but I am going to give it a go, for vintage, and for the Earth.

Do you have vintage resolutions for 2020? Please tell me in the comments!

Denisebrain best of 2019

I’m back with another (I’ve done this since 2007) round of greatest hits from the year just passed, and as usual, it is very hard for me to cull favorites. It’s like trying to name your favorite child!

Looking over my sold items, it appears that red was the most wanted color in 2019.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Also clear: You love your faux fur, and anything with a leopard print.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

There were a few big moments for denisebrain this year, including celebrating my 20th year in business.

Once again I’ve donated 100% of the profits from the Pink Heart Shop section of my Etsy store to Dress for Success and 10% of the rest of my earnings to the Save the Manatee Club.

Do you have a New Year’s Resolution? I’d like to suggest wearing hats—and having them be vintage. Here are a few from my shop that found new homes in 2019.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Then there’s the maximalist trend—strong and bright in 2019. Do you hear me now?

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

I don’t care what year you are talking about, gold vintage is always popular. Here are some of this year’s gilt-y pleasures:

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Another perpetual favorite: We’ll always be glad for plaid.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

There needs to be a special mention of the items that I got to see on customers. As an online seller… Well you don’t know how much this means to me!

Thank you to these four and many others!

Have you been watching The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as avidly as I have? Imagine the thrill as these items were sold to the show’s wardrobe department:

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Kendra, who models for me, is also a big fan of the show, and although this outfit didn’t sell to them, we couldn’t help but think of the Maisel costuming when photographing this outfit.

Speaking of costumes, how about a full Western suit? Or a vintage blouse to wear to Disneyland? I love how vintage lets you try on different roles!

View fullsize

View fullsize

A perpetual favorite category, the vintage novelty print, was well represented in 2019.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Special mention for autumnal New York City novelty prints:

View fullsize

View fullsize

We all fell for fall: Autumn shades and prints in general were strong in ‘19.

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

To vintage wedding dresses, I say I DO! And I have plenty more where these sold dresses came from!

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

Do I need to remind you that vintage is always suit-able?

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

In some ways, 2019 was hard. U.S. and international news was disturbing and chaotic. We’ve become more aware of the increasing damage we as humans are doing to the environment.

On a personal level, I’ve been in pain caused by psoriatic arthritis, and finally had to have another hip replacement surgery in December.

2019, I’m glad you’re over. And I’m glad it’s 2020.

But there have been some developments that fuel hope for the coming decade. Above all, people have become much more interested in living sustainably, including wearing vintage clothing. Aren’t you glad you are already clued in?

Really big for me was finishing my book in 2019. I hope it helps many feel more confident in choosing, caring for, and wearing vintage. You can purchase it from most anywhere, but if you buy it from my Etsy shop, or here on denisebrain.com, the author will sign it! :)

Here’s to a 2020 of hope. I hope you get as much joy as you give.

And I hope you wear vintage!

My best,
Maggie of denisebrain

12 days of denisebrain vintage

Ask yourself, do you really need French hens when there's vintage to be had?



12 Vera scarves
11 winter coats
10 vintage velvets
9 beaded things

8 black shoes
7 red dresses
6 winter skirts

5~golden~things

4 reversible coats

3 49ers

2 copper parures

and a red box bag made by Delill


🎄

Hope the holiday looks good on you

The book is here!

Wear Vintage Now! (signed by yours truly) is available for in my Etsy shop!

Edit 2/22/20: The book is also available here on denisebrain.com.

Update on Save the Manatee Club Donations

November is Manatee Awareness Month.

Wait—MONTH? Why should the manatee get an entire month for awareness?

I can tell you that even though I loved animals as a child, I didn’t know of the manatee’s existence. When I finally came around to finding out about them as a teenager, I was shocked that such an endearing animal had slipped by me. You will be forgiven if you too didn’t know that manatees have barely any fat on them, that they are related not to seals or walruses but to elephants, that they can’t turn their necks, that their tails are called paddles, that the species is between 30 and 60 million years old, that they have flipper nails, and that they are absolutely gentle. Hardly anyone lives near manatees and sees them in the wild.

Photo courtesy of Save the Manatee Club

One thing I can say about this manatee awareness stuff: Once you know them, you love them. So it is of vital importance that people learn about manatees, and how to protect them from our boat propellers along with other encroachments on their environment. With no natural predators, man is the manatees only “enemy,” and the toll we take is pretty terrible.

In honor of 2019’s Manatee Awareness Month, I’ve made another donation of 10% of my earnings to Save the Manatee Club, bringing the total to over $1200 this year. I trust SMC (THE human voice of the manatee since 1981) to get the word out about this wonderful species, to advocate for their protection, and to help rescue them when they are injured or sick.

To all my customers who appreciate my donations of earnings to manatees—Thank you for caring right along with me! You keep me afloat!!