I think it is a symptom of my wedding-overwhelmed brain that I am spending so much of my free time surfing eBay and for fashion inspiration! Do you ever find that you have a “I can’t take this anymore!!” activity that you use to distract your mind and relax a bit? Fashion really is my guilty pleasure when I’m feeling like it’s all too much. lol. Or sewing, which I have been doing, but that will have to wait ‘til Friday…
As you know, one of my chief inspirations when it comes to fashion is the past; specifically the 1930’s through early 1960’s. I love recreating the looks of those decades and working the ultra-feminine styles into my modern life and wardrobe. Contemporarily-speaking, there are a few women who manage to pull off the glamour-girl look of the mid twentieth century very well, and Dita von Teese is probably one of the top on my list of retro-stylish women. While I have reservations when it comes to her profession, you have to admit that her off-the-stage looks are utterly fantastic and inspiring!
I honestly think that her style has gotten a little watered down, a little too modern, in the past year. But overall her look is very consistent and elegant, which I really admire that she always stays with her signature look. It’s a hard thing to do! But I find her mix of vintage and new very inspiring; she manages to look extremely unique constantly.
So what are the essentials for that retro look? Here are some links for places that can help you put together an oh-so sweet outfit from head-to-toe!
- ♥ Lipstick Vogue
- ♥ Etsy has a number of fetching flowers for your hair!
- ♥ Trashy Diva I have been coveting the TD dresses for years…
- ♥ Mode Merr rockabilly style basics and more
- ♥ Remix Vintage Shoes be still my beating heart!
- ♥ Denise Brain one of the most consistently well-edited offerings of vintage on eBay
- ♥ Faryl Robin yummy retro-appropriate footwear
- ♥ Boring Sydney the place for glamour girl hats!
- ♥ Etsy vintage dress category I’ve found some great stuff here!
These are obviously just a few of my favorite places to look drool over. Do you have any favorite spots to browse and shop for retro-inspired or vintage pieces?
I LOVE LOVE LOVE Dita but I do agree with you that she’s becoming a little more modern these days. I am a daily retro dressing gal myself and rely very heavily on PinupGirlClothing.com and BettiePageClothing.com for my dresses. Whenever I am in Vegas I love going into the Bettie Page boutique and trying on absolutely everything. StopStaringclothing.com also has some really great outfits.
xoxo
dolly
100% agree about Dita. Her style is lovely.
Love Dita!
I used to be more authentic 40s/50s Gal,but now that I have a child I rely heavily on repro. Isaac Mizrahi’s line at Target has some great 50s daydresses,but my absolute favorite for reproduction is Whirlingturban.com.
They are a splurge,but very worthy. Definite drool worthy hawaiin heaven.
Great inspirations!
So pretty and chic! I hope you have plenty of time to relax and surf the web! You deserve some relaxation!! 
she is so lovely, non!? She reminds me of Elizabeth Taylor (a little). Such inspiration!!
I found you by searching for me, LOL, and I’m so glad I did! First, thank you for putting my shop on your list…I love the idea of assisting to get Dita’s iconic style. Second, kudos to you for a beautiful site, and for your own great style! It was a pleasure to look at every page.
The difference beween her and you is that she looks like she’s trying sometimes with her ultra pale skin and peeeerfect make-up( perfect never looks real to me…..) you always look naturall in your classic clothes. She’s got nothing on you.
And Oh my, those shoes sites are more than my stimulus check armed self can even bear.
That’s so sweet that Maggie from Denisebrain came by your blog personally – but I’m not really surprised either. Maggie is my absolute favorite seller on ebay and a sweet, thoughtful person to top it off!
Much as it pains me to share the knowledge I hoard
, here are some of my favorite stylish, and perhaps not so well-known, places on the web:
Modern clothing but with a vintage feel (I’ve never bought from them, but I like to windowshop!):
Shabby Apple Clothes:
http://www.shabbyapple.com/
Vintage reproductions (and ditto, I’ve only just windowshopped):
ReVamp Vintage
http://www.revampvintage.com/
Beautifully packaged and presented cosmetics (I’ve bought from many times!):
Besame
http://www.besamecosmetics.com/
Vintage patterns, reproduced and some in multi-sizes (I’ve bought one or two patterns and enjoyed them!):
EvaDress
http://www.evadress.com/
Oh my gosh, agreed on Dita’s lovliness. Fantastic post.
dita is just lovely and such an inspiration, even though i’m not very retro-stylish at all.
I was shopping in one of my favourite vintage shops the other day and in strolled this woman who seriously looked like she could have been Dita’s little sister. Thing is, she was wearing a suit-dress almost identical to the black and white checked one Dita is wearing on the first picture, only in mossy green check with a big brown belt. I was in awe and I seriously couldn’t stop staring – not to mention that I felt so plain and dumpy next to her, hahah.