Vintage Finds of the Week: Train Cases

Oh how I wish I could go on a trip this summer. I love carrying vintage suitcases and train cases are my favorite. Who wouldn't want a case exclusively for all of your toiletries and make-up? I love the mirror, the compartments, it all stays neat! For my vintage finds of the week I found some beauties on Etsy. If I can't get away, hopefully you can take one of these on your vacation!

Above- Vintage Train Case- White American Tourister- $44- Sophistikate

Vintage Mock Tweed Mod Train Case-$25- vintagecarliss

Vintage Edwardian Gibson Girl Ladies Train Case- $165- nineteenOthree

The Canary Yellow Train Case- $50- jessjamesjake

My Projects: Custom Wedding Dress

Now that the swimsuit cover ups are done, I can fully concentrate on this very special and very exciting project. I have been commissioned to make a wedding dress based on my own design shown above! The Bride to be found me through my Etsy store, The Sparkling Cocktail, where similar styles are for sale. The dress, although made from my own pattern not a vintage one, is very retro inspired with a bias cut skirt and side godets. We decided on the most gorgeous shade of champagne silk charmeuse to replace the black, and a special champagne French lace with a slight metallic silver thread to replace the chiffon in the side godets. The photos below do not give these fabrics justice but will give you an idea. I will show photos of the finished product soon!

My Projects: Bathing Suit Cover Up

I finished making the two cotton pique bathing suit cover ups from the 1960's McCall's pattern I bought awhile back (pictured above). They are one of a kinds as I bought the last yardage off the bolts. Yesterday I modeled the finished products in Coney Island. Here is how they came out:
White cotton pique with red and white stripe linen bias piping and side tie bows. Three red buttons decorate the front.

White embroidered floral cotton pique with red grosgrain side tie bows and a larger grosgrain ribbon bow off center.

I have entered these cover ups in the Singer/Craftzine Swimsuit cover up contest! Wish me luck! After the contest is over I will be putting them up for sale in my Etsy shop, The Sparkling Cocktail. If you are interested in one of these beauties before I can get them listed send me an email.

Weekend Reading: Links a la Mode

Summer Staples

Edited by Jennine

In the midst of Summer many of us take refuge by the fan and some of us miraculously make do with the heat in all but the best ways. In this roundup we’ve got Summer Festival tips on Unfunded, Hong Kong Fashion Geeks Resort Redux, Krislyn’s chic summer essentials, Fashion Cent’s essential white jackets. And on the indie front Dramtis Personae finds eco friendly clothing for people of all sizes, and Oh Canada…Tatiana’s showcases Canadian Indie Designers. And last but not least… Twins… mode.ulation wonders if are they the modelings industries next new thing?

Links à la Mode : July 9th

• 39th and Broadway – AMAZINGLY Stupid Fashionistas?


• A Few Goody GumDrops – Look Tres Chic with Tres Sleek!


• Broke & Beautiful – ECIG: Abigail Glaum-Lathbury


• Confessions of a Fashion Editor – Beauty kills… beauty, Rant, bebo


• dramatis personae – Eco-Friendly Clothing Options For All Sizes


• Fashion Cents – Summer Staple — The White Jacket


• Fashion is My Crush – DIY Embellished Heels


• Fashion Pulse Daily – Givenchy Beauty Set Giveaway


• Felicia Sullivan – first look: leanne marshall’s bluefly collaboration


• Hong Kong Fashion Geek – Buying Time: Resort Redux


• Hot Beauty Health – Become An Elle Video Star!


• Independent Fashion Bloggers – So You Want a Review Sample


• Krislyn Diaries – DIY: how to dress summertime chic pt. 2


• mode.ulation – Model Moment: Fashion takes double


• Retro Chick – Spectacular!! Spectacular!! Burlesque Event in Cambridge


• Style Symmetry – Mix and Match Polka Dots for a Fun Retro Vibe


• Tatiana Supports the Arts – Indie Designer Spotlight: Canadian Edition


• THE COVETED – Interview with Astronomically talented Julie Eilenberger at Berlin Fashion Week


• Think Thru Fashion – A Search for the Longest Lasting Lip Color


• Unfunded – Der Festival


• Work Chic – Win a Scarf from The Vintage Scarf!

Newly Listed This Week!

It's been a busy week but I managed to get a couple of beautiful vintage hats listed in my store. Available either at femmefatalevintage.com or on Etsy!

Delicate Vintage Ballet Pink Feather Headband Flapper Fascinator- $28

Vintage 1960s Carnaby MOD Navy Woven Raffia Straw Hat Grosgrain Bow -$35

Mid-Week Inspiration: Marilyn and Summer Activities

Summer starts to go by really fast after the 4th of July. Every year I panic that it will go by before I can do any "summer" activities! I stumbled upon these photos of Marilyn Monroe that have inspired me to not let time go by with out taking a little break.

I need to get to the beach!

I need to get hooked in a good summer read and sit in the park!

Vintage Finds of the Week: Swing Dresses

Midsummer Night Swing starts tomorrow in Lincoln Center, so I thought it'd be appropriate to find some lovely dresses to kick off the season! I'd love to learn how to swing dance, maybe this year I will go and get a lesson. For now, I'll just dream about what to wear. For this week's Etsy vintage finds I have selected some real pretty swing dresses, perfect for dancing or just watching. Either way, it's a good time.

(Above) Vintage 1950s Rockabilly Pleated Full Skirt Sundress- $125- CorkSpork

Miss Martini Vintage 50's Jerry Parnis Polka Dot Full Circle Dress- $68- Planet Claire Vintage

Vintage 1930's Coffee Swing Dress- $120- Dear Golden Vintage

Vintage 1950s Yellow Floral Flocked Velvet Swing Dress-$92-Femme Fatale Vintage