Vintage Archives - Be Kind, Thrift and Rewind

I found this lovely 1950’s Kenrole paisley print dress at David Owens Vintage at 161 Rivington Street, in Manhattan. I bought it when they were at 154 Orchard Street but I just saw an article online that they moved. I really liked that I could wear it year round, and that it had stripes in the design as well as paisley. Plus it is conservative enough that I should be able to wear it to an office when I find more work again. It was already on sale, yet there was another twenty percent taken off due to a national holiday. So I ended up with a really good deal and I just had to rearrange the positions of some of the vintage buttons, due to some of the rhinestones having fallen out.

The vintage bracelet with various colors of glass and crystals I bought at a garage sale years ago. The small champagne-colored glass and crystal earrings are from 1981 when I started making beaded hanging earrings and selling them. The little black belt I found after scrounging around at Green Village in Queens.

My friend Bill Bernthal took these photos of me for the blog before I had foot surgery. I haven’t been able to get out much the last month, as I am still recovering from foot surgery. Bill has taken a lot of candid shots in the past, those are what he typically chooses to photograph. Anyway, he wanted to take some shots of me for the blog. We went to Prospect Park and took a nice walk. There are some lovely wooded areas in the park, plus some seating areas near the water that offer lovely views of the lake and the birds at the lake. Those areas are very shaded though, so not the best for blog post photos. Bill took these out in the more open areas of the park. A few of the shots were taken in my community garden a couple of blocks away from where I live. There are a lot of auto body shops in my area, so they are in the background.

Several readers expressed that they wanted me to do another post on paisleys. I am working on one that has more facts and tidbits about the paisley pattern. I will post that one after I can get out and walk about again and get over to the David Owens Vintage shop to take some pictures of his vintage paisley collection. As of next week I should be able to walk outside again and go buy a pair of oxfords to wear for a while until I can wear my other shoes again.

I am so looking forward to getting out and enjoying fall. The past month of healing and staying home hasn’t been easy. My foot has been in pain for years though so the surgery was much needed and a great relief to get it behind me!!

I hope you are enjoying the changing of the seasons. Fall is one of my favorite times of year, as I really enjoy seeing all the beautiful colors as the leaves change, and then seeing those colorful leaves cascade down the streets. There is something sort of magical and calming about it all, as the nip comes back into the air and then winter prepares to blow in. I am not really the biggest fan of summer so that is where that sentiment comes from!

Outfit details

1950’s Kenrole dress from David Owen’s Vintage, New York, New York

Vintage black belt from Green Village, Brooklyn, NY

Vintage wrap bracelet from garage sale

Vintage earrings from 1981. I made them years ago.

Black Dansko shoes

Blue socks from Muji, dropped yarn.

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David Owens Vintage Clothing in NYC

Vintage & Retro Dress Up & Family Fun

When I began to upcycle this men’s shirt, I had a totally different design I was planning on doing from the Cut-Up Couture book. After cutting off the sleeves I completely changed my mind. I was faced with either totally taking in the sides of the shirt (the arm holes were just too large) or doing something completely different. I chose to do this tank top I found in the book. I felt proud of myself for having done enough upcycling now that even if I didn’t do this design I could have figured out another way to alter the shirt.

I liked the idea of this tank with this cotton vintage slip. It is one of the reasons I decided to make the tank. It is a Koko Yamase design from her book Cut-Up Couture. The mix of vintage and the more avant- garde look of the button plackets, that were changed into neckline straps seemed appealing to me. I mean, why not? That is what makes fashion fun, finding new twists to looks and being unique. I usually don’t wear all white, so the little blue flowers also appealed to me, to help soften the look of the total white. Eventually I will most likely tea dye this vintage slip a soft brown with black tea. I wanted to wear it for a while in white, to try it out. I was concerned that I needed to find a way to wear the slip as a skirt, and for it not to look dowdy or matronly. I also have a vintage black long sleeve cotton blouse. I think I may try it with that, as an alternative way to wear it. The black blouse would make a nice jacket with a white tank underneath, and perhaps a black thin belt.

The cotton vintage slip was a gift. It has a soft brown ribbon running through the white lace. It had a slit in the top side and a string holding the waist. I repaired it by sewing up the side opening, then lifting the hem a bit by folding over the top, than I ran elastic through the top. This gives me the option to wear it as a skirt as well as a slip. I prefer for things to be more multi- functional if possible.

Those brown shoes are a pair of Dansko shoes. They were a birthday present from my family. Unfortunately they never broke in since my bunion is too messed up. My big toe is misaligned and well, it isn’t good. I finally scheduled surgery in August, so I will be on the road to hopefully a better right foot soon! I am so relieved that this is finally being taken care of! I plan to do another outfit post or two before the surgery, or at least prepare one!!

I have a few other upcycling projects I have done recently or am in the process of working on. I will try to get to posting these soon too. It is a joy to get a chance to work on these things. It is rewarding to alter upcycle, mend and reuse either vintage or thrifted items!

Be Kind, Thrift and Rewind

To be conscious of recycling

Tag: Vintage

Vintage Paisley Dress from David Owens Vintage Clothing

Upcycled Men’s Shirt with a Vintage Cotton Slip