Recent Infatuation: Gunne Sax

I don't know where it started - I suspect Etsy - but at some point I began to long for a Gunne Sax dress. To be specific, I adore the coquettish, prairie designs of the 1970s.

 

Gunne Sax, so named for the "gunny sack" or burlap trim used on some of the earlier dresses,was founded in the 1960s. In 1969 it was purchased by Jessica McClintock. Yes, the very Jessica McClintock who made your coveted homecoming dress in 1995.

via The Dusty Dog Vintage

The brand is often associated with its 1970s prairie designs with Victorian and Edwardian details.I adore how the designs took classic elements such as lace, gingham, and calico, and combined them in a way that turned late-19th and early-20th century American fashion on its head.
 

via Rosebud Vintage

Gunne Sax also manufactured renaissance- and medieval-inspired designs, with empire waistlines and middle plackets, and used other historical costume elements such as corset-like laced bodices.

via The Vintage Bazaar and possibly my personal favorite

Despite all the Victorian-ness these babies are actually rather sexy. Everything is (mostly) covered up, but designs with decolletage-baring necklines, corset lacing, and tailored bodices are, as I said above, coquettish. The body-skimming tailoring doesn't hurt either.

via Hellhound Vintage Clothing

Sign. Me. Up.

Stuff I found while looking around

If you follow me on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter you already know that I am spending my morning with the orthopaedic surgeon having my tendon reattached. Don't be jeal.

To keep it short: My finger was caught between two large mirror fragments; the tendon is severed and must be reattached; the nerves are also cut so I'm not in much pain (yet); I finally get to live my elementary school dream of having a cast for all my friends to sign.

Since my hunt and peck finger gets worn out pretty quickly that's all the verbiage you get today. Instead, I thought I'd share some things I found while futzing around on the web. Click on the images for source info and details. Enjoy!

P.S. Any tips on how to handle my inevitable DIY withdrawal?

Oh, what to wear?

Since I was talking about an out-of-the-box host gift yesterday my mind was whirring with thoughts of holiday parties. I doubt I'll be throwing any, but I might get to go to one or two. What to wear?

Originally, I was just going to show this chic bronze, bedazzled number recently featured on The Coletterie.

Bronze dress from Dear Golden via The Coletterie

Then, I started clicking around in Dear Golden's shop and Oh. My. God!

I'll take this for a Christmas Eve reception.

1950s wool plaid wiggle dress from Dear Golden.

For this I'll have to find tickets to The Nutcracker followed by cocktails.

1940s green taffeta gown from Dear Golden

And for New Year's Eve I wouldn't hesitate to trade my LBD for this beauty!

1920s beaded chiffon dress from Dear Golden

Smashing, aren't they? I've shown you my holiday dream closet, so now you tell me about yours!

Fab Vocab for the Fashion-Minded

My Emily helped me pick the name. When she asked me why I wanted her help I explained that I want my blog to be read by cool chicks and since she among the coolest chicks I know her opinion was important to me. She was adorably flattered.

Let's face it: fashion comes with a language all its own. Fab Vocab is a new feature on NPJ Designs where we'll look up and behind the meanings of weird and confusing sartorial words.

I learn a lot of things from my friend Carrie. She's savvy in both print and in vintage fashion so it seems fitting that my first post about fashion terms should cover a phrase I learned while hanging with her.

Vintage Deadstock

old but new; never used or worn, often with the original packaging or labeling

Carrie found an amazing office chair at Lavender Hill. Must've been the hat creating good karma.

For example, Carrie browsed antique stores with me while sporting an amazing fedora she'd found through some dude with an attic full of never before sold hats. She had absolutely no problem letting people know that her highly complimented topper was, in fact, "vintage deadstock."


To be clear, "deadstock" does have a different meaning outside the sartorial context.  Farmers, for instance, know use the term in reference to unused but outmoded equipment and parts. And unless you are at an auction specifically for vintage clothing, bidding on deadstock my land you with vacuum tubes or some other warehoused antiquity.

Other terms used to refer to deadstock:
NOS,meaning New Old Stock, New Original Stock, New Obsolete Stock, or Never Off Shelf
Dead Stock
Etsy finds for deadstock, dead stock, and NOS

Vintage 1970's Floral Print Summer Dress $49.00

VTG Polo Ralph Lauren Suspenders $40.00

Vintage Aviator Wrangler Sunglasses $20.00

60s White Handbag $31.00

Vintage 1950s Bow Tie $24.00

A search on my local Craigslist using the same terms turned up a lot of sport's shoes and even more car parts.Go figure.

Do you sport deadstock?  I want to know all about it! Feel free to share your finds in the comments or even e-mail me a photo. But please, no farm equipment.

References:
Carrie Keplinger (she rarely discusses vintage clothing, but you can find her here)
Wikipedia
BusinessDictionary.com
About.com - retailing
About.com - vintage clothing

Do you have a fashion term that leaves you wondering?  Let me know in the comments and I'll see what I can find.

Once upon a fashion era...

Isn't it amazing to think that something considered underwear a hundred years ago would now be thought of as "overdressed."

B. Altman & Co. silk and linen Petticoat at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Just look at those details - the stripes! the lace! ribbon and scallops too! In 1905 all that intricacy would be hidden under a Parisian woman's skirt. It seems like a shame. Then again, some of the things ladies wear today are pretty shameful too.

A is for Ascot

Ascots, descendants of the cravat, are a pretty awesome finishing touch when it comes to dressing up or adding a pop of color to just about any outfit.

Ascots come in two basic styles, the ascot scarf, which is a square of silk loosely gathered around the neck. And the ascot tie, which has a pleated neckband and can be worn either under or over the collar, and tied in a multitude of ways (thanks, e-bay).

1880s  Ascots were traditionally made of patterned silk, formal, folded and fastened with a stickpin or tie tack.

Ascots of the casual day cravat variety were popular fashion in the United Kingdom for teenaged and young adult males from the mid 1960s to the mid 1970s, coinciding with the mod and psychedelic movements (thanks, Wikipedia).

found via Pinterest, original source unknown

Although women have probably always adorned their necks, they did not wear neckties until the later 1800s. Feminine versions of men's neckties began to appear along with the more tailored clothing women wore while bicycling, skating, hiking, or boating. Even more women began wearing ties, and trousers, during World War I, as millions of women headed to offices and factories to fill the vacancies created by men at war (thank you, Patrick McMurray).

These days it seems like just about any neck wear outside the bowtie and necktie falls into the category of ascot. Most men stick to classic, wide silk numbers, but the ladies have reinvented the ascot several times over.

1960s era flocked blouse with ascot tie from Sally Jane Vintage

Peter Pan Collar Dress with Pop Art Ascot at dadadress

side note: Hello! Peter Pan collar! Can I call 'em or what?

I adore these bridesmaids sporting Lady Ties made by the bride and owner of Ginger Root Design! Photos are by Tiffany Bolk.

What are your thoughts on ascots? Or really, on neckwear in general?

Treasury Tuesday: Long Live Sweater Girls

Yup, I really know how cling to a topic. Speaking of clinging, I put together a little treasury of (mostly) curve-hugging sweaters. If you click on the image you can see the treasury at its Etsy home and get more information on any of the comfy cozies that may strike your fancy.

Another Never a Plain Jane treasury

Sweater Girls

Over the weekend, my sweet neighbors invited Em and I over for dinner. There has actually been something of a snap in the Florida air, and my neighbor had all her windows open and a homey, roaring fire. Finally! Autumn! Well, the Tampa brand of autumn.

still, it was enough to get me thinking about my sizable collection of sweaters and that mid-century Hollywood Icon:

The Sweater Girl

Carole Landis* via Film Noir Photos

A much much, more modern Milla Jovovich, shot by Carter Smith

Lana Wood in "A Place Called Today (1972)"

Christina Hendricks rocking late 1960's fashion on the contemporary series Mad Men

Anne Francis in "Girl of the Night (1960)"

Sophia Loren in "La donna del fiume (1954)"

Dying to be-sweater your own inner silver screen siren? I thought you might so I found some modern-day sources.

Pair your preppy with pattern

Soft knit + heavy metal

Argyle. Perfect.

Belted and bedazzled!

 What sort of sweater style will you be sporting?

* I found this photo posted in several places but could not find the photographer or movie credits.  It must have been taken between 1937 and 1948. Any additional info would be much appreciated

heart-to-heart

Thanks to the Etsy favorites feature, I have hearts, you have hearts, we all have hearts! Here, we’ll hop from heart-to-heart each week, progressively adding to our heart trail as we follow the favorites from one seller to the next.

When we last wandered along our heart trail we stopped at

...ouma {Ombre Ruffled Skirt} who hearts

...Kroowka {Black Tulip Parasol} who hearts

...TwilaJeanVintage {Lilli Ann Mid-Century Coat} who hearts

...souvenirsouvenir {Black and White Polka Dot Gloves} who hearts

...Retroties {1950s Chocolate Kid Gloves} who hearts

...TheBoominGranny {Shoe Leather Cream} who hearts

...well, that's for me to know and you to find out!

NPJ HQ

It has been quite awhile since I talked to you about my studio space. If you remember, this time last year I was dreaming of a coral and sage work room. This probably comes as no surprise, but that isn't exactly the color scheme that's taking shape these days.

Let's go back to the beginning. I started with this.

I actually like the green and probably would have kept it had I stuck with the original plan. But then I painted Emily's bathroom a gorgeous shade of gray.

Pewter Vase by Behr

It really is as beautiful shade, but it looked ghastly in Em's bathroom and had to be painted over. So sad. But not really because one doorway to the right sat my still unpainted studio.

When I started, it was not pretty. The top photo really glosses over a lot of the issues that were driving me crazy.

Pock marked walls.

Years of grimy dust built up around every receptacle.

Eeeeeeewwwww!

But, finally the room is painted that lovely soft gray and the trim has a fresh coat of glossy white. The original paint was flat, which was great for hiding all the imperfections in the sheet rock but sapped the little natural light offered by the window. I am really surprised at the change made by using a semi-gloss.

I love love love my new gray and white palette! It doesn't compete with many many shades of fabric I work with all day. In fact, it offers a place for my eye to rest.

But my favorite part was actually an accident. I had wanted to make curtains from a beautiful fabric featuring cascades of black-trimmed white ruffles.  Sadly, when the time came to purchase said fabric it was nowhere to be found. But then I had an amazing idea!  I didn't need to make curtains. I just needed to hang a curtain rod. Why? Because of this amazing vintage table cloth that belonged to my late Grandma Belle.

Isn't it gorgeous? Check out the detail!

I love it!  Now to work on getting some stuff on the walls... Any ideas?