Vintage Inspired Summer Fashion

Our weather has been a little wacky, so the warm season is really just getting started here in Northern California. I went to the pool with my kids the other day and was struck by how run of the mill the swimsuits were. They all were similar cuts and similar colors.

Similarly, when I walk down the street in town, I notice we're all mostly in shorts & t shirts.

Looking on Etsy I found some fabulous retro inspired clothing that have an added bonus-they're very flattering & hide parts you might not want exposed.

1940's Inspired Play Suit: Short, Skirts & Midriff Top

Isn't this 1940's design charming? I think it's adorable. Put some cherry red pumps on & ooh la la!

1940's MultiColor Stripe Two Piece Swim Suit

This suit is so flattering! Having had 3 beautiful babies, my stomach isn't what it used to be. (despite my valient efforts) This suit has a stylishly high waist, provides more coverage around the hips & has a very eye catching design. What a brilliant design!

Vintage inspired Wrap Sun Dress

What a eye popping dress! The colors are exceptional and are so flattering. They distract the eye from any of those bits you want to hide. I love the cherry.

Have some fun this summer! Play dress up. Bring vintage into your wardrobe: your confidence will soar,   heads will turn & you'll be the belle of any event.

Unexpected Edible Vintage

I love quirky little surprises. I love seeing things out of context used in new and unfamiliar ways. When those elements incorporate vintage, I'm all the more amused. 


I ran across these charming buttons today and was taken. They're sugar. How perfect for scattering across the surface of a cake, or around a dessert buffet. What a way to bring a little added flair to a fashion related event! Or for that button collector-what a way to bring their birthday cake!

Edible Buttons by andiesspecialtysweets

I love the differences in color, texture & sheen. Real buttons! They just happen to be edible. 

New Vintage Directions

This last week two things happened to cause Nachokitty to branch out into new directions. First, Suuzi, my fellow Nachokitty seller, found an amazing collection of vintage mid century fashions. Second, a local baker who buys organic eggs from us (thanks chickens!) remembered that I am an estate liquidator and gave me a call.

The fashion items Suuzi found ranged from dresses to coats to purses. The pieces were iconic ones-fabrics you can find in photos of Studio 54 next to Andy Warhol or in London shots of Twiggy's fashion shoots. I was hooked. We've never really done fashion. It's in every estate but I've never felt that knowledgeable about it, until now. Suuzi has an amazing eye and can spot a piece of 1940's silk from across the room. Very handy when out hunting! She's teaching me and I'm learning fast.

After this I remembered a large collection of high end 1960's & 70's Italian shoes I had squirreled away a decade ago and avoided ever since. (That ignorance about fashion strikes again) Once we decided to embrace fashion, I brought out the shoes. Wow. Platform disco shoes in alligator!? We've been having fun. The leathers smell amazing and every shoe is handmade in Italy or Spain. So Nachokitty is going to be expanding the Vintage Fashion Section in a big way!

Middle of the week, my phone buzzed. The baker (who whips up amazing delicacies that I can only dream of creating) needs items for a wedding she's staging. She's also catering it. She got the clever idea to bypass the party rental stores with all their common everyday items and go vintage. She remembered me and found my shop on Etsy.

Yesterday we worked and set out a bunch of sterling, crystal and silver plate items. We used my kitchen island since the space is so large. Using a late 19th century lace tablecloth set the tone nicely and dressed it up. I didn't quite realize we had quite this much sterling!

She ended up renting several pieces for the back of the buffet for the wedding, as well as my large vintage trays. It's going to give the wedding a wonderful one of a kind flair that will wow guests. I can't wait to see photos! I'll do my best to share them here. It's in May.

So Nachokitty is helping out with cool vintage weddings & getting hip with Fashion. Being open minded and flexible sure has brought us some neat opportunities!

Vintage Fashion: Hip, High Quality, & Unique

Vintage 1940's Fashion Photograph

I have been happily spending my time combing through estates. 14 estates are vying for attention right now.

1940's Brass & Vibrant Orange Umbrella

My favorite picks lately have been in the realm of fashion. Be it a simple brooch that adds a splash of color, a hat that finishes your outfit off perfectly or a colorful umbrella that brings cheer to the dreariest of days, vintage fashion is hip. I wear a lot of jewelry from the 1940's. People will stop me on the street to comment about my Miriam Haskell necklace that was my grandmother's. While a half century ago such pieces may have been relatively common, now these pieces are somewhat rare and truly make a unique fashion statement.

1930's Velvet & Silk Pillbox Hat

I recently came across a small collection of hats from one estate. Looking at the different styles of hats, I could almost pin point the changes in the wearer's life: when she was young and looking for Mr Right, when she was newly married, after children came along, and as she reached her 40's. Her hats started out very frivolous and stylish. As she grew older, her hats remained stylish, but the quality of the materials improved. I wonder what our closets say about us?

Mid Century Hermes Purse

Mine would see a busy Mom with a variety of stains on my many t-shirts from the Gap. You'd also get a glimpse of a woman with hopes...a silk suit (ok, it's 1 size too small), perfect for holiday shopping in San Francisco. The red dress that was worn 17 years ago on my honeymoon-which I haven't dared to try on since having my daughter 7 years ago. And 6 pairs of jeans that see daily use-and have lots of little marks all over them from tiny hands.

Vintage Matisse Copper & Enamel Necklace

But as busy as I am, I still love fashion. So, I will throw on a vintage hat when on an errand. I will wear that art deco necklace when I go over to a friend's for lunch (or even a play date!). I have a vintage jacket from my grandfather that is perfect for when the weather turns cold. I want my daughters to look back on my vintage fashion pieces and think "we can see the life of our mother right here in these things".

Vintage Platform Heels in Red Glitter

So, what do you have in your closet? I hope you have a mix of items you take for granted, items you adore and items that remind you of other lifetimes. A little variety is the spice of life, right?