Vintage Shoes & Bags for Everyday Wear!

Lots of folks think "special occasion" when they think about wearing vintage--party dresses and beaded bags or clutches to go with them, opera coats, Kentucky Derby hats, vintage wedding gowns, Springolators for Viva Las Vegas, and so on. But working vintage into your everyday wardrobe is a breeze with bags and shoes. I literally never go out of the house without a vintage shoulder bag--they're all I carry for day use, especially since the last contemporary bag I bought (leather and retailing at over $100) looked like a drowned rat six months after I got it. It makes economic sense, too. You can buy two or three, maybe more, vintage Coach bags, for example, for the price of one new one. Or, probably eight to 10 off-brand, but very high-quality, bags for the price of almost any new designer piece.

Oh, and don't get me started on shoes.... For what gals pay today for a pair of good faux leather shoes, you can get a great pair of real leather, comfortable shoes in sizes that really fit your feet! None of this "you can only get Narrow, Medium, or Wide in one shoe" business. You have medium-width feet but narrow heels, like me? Then buy a vintage pair of shoes in a "B" foot with an "A" heel, or an "A" foot and an "AA" heel. I have to put heel pads in almost every pair of shoes I buy new, but when I get the right size in a vintage shoe, it fits like the proverbial glove.

From the classic Kelly bag to cute wicker bags, and from a 1950s' pair of heels to 60s' chunky-heeled pumps, you can find find vintage styles perfect for accenting suits, dresses, skirts, and slacks and for wearing every day. Vintage is not just for special occasions!

Here are some selections from the sellers here at Vintage Reflections!


From Alley Cats Vintage:

An all-purpose, always-in-style Vintage Handbag Floral Needlepoint by Empress, Large Size Purse




Perfect for the office are these Vintage Shoes 1960s 60s Dark Brown Alligator Heels by Fiancees Sz 8AA




And, these are just the thing to keep your vintage shoes dry: Vintage Smoke Rubber Overshoes Plyron High Heel Galoshes Sz 6




Catseye Vintage has these listed:

This sweet bag is at home anywhere, from the casual to the formal: 1910 Victorian Handbag Purse Hand Crocheted Bridal Drawstring Top Off White with 3-d Pom Poms




This is perfect for those work-to-dinner days: Vintage 60s Woven Metal Box Handbag Purse 1960s VLV Bridal Evening Gold Tone Made in Hong Kong




This Vintage 60s Wicker Box Purse Handbag VLV 1960s Picture Window Purse Horse and Carriage Designer Simon does double duty for fun and for work or school.




Vintage Baubles Too is currently offering these:

Super-comfy and cute Vintage 60s Mod Suede Shoes Pumps Chunky Heel Size 6 1/2, 6.5




This sturdy, stylish everyday bag: Vintage 50s Alligator Embossed Leather Handbag Purse Kelly Bag Duchess




And this bag that's perfect for work or play, especially for a "ladies-who-lunch" outing: Vintage 50s 60s Tapestry & Patent Vinyl Kelly Bag Purse Handbag, Vegan




Be sure to visit our shops for more "very wearable" vintage!

It's Transition Time

While it's still technically summer, it's starting to feel like fall already. Vacations are over, kids are going back to school, and the casual sort of lifestyle we enjoy in the summer is slowly coming to an end. But, instead of bemoaning that, there is much for we vintage-loving folks to celebrate! Fall is a wonderful time to break out great vintage clothing and accessories to wear to work or school. A sheath dress and sweater for the office, a dinner suit, some nice leather handbags and shoes, fall-themed vintage jewelry.... It's a perfect season to break out your very wearable vintage wear!

We at Reflections of Vintage have some great items to help you transition from summer to fall in style!

From Alley Cats Vintage comes this quintessential work-to-dinner ensemble, a Vintage 1950s Andrew Arkin Royal Blue Two Piece Dress and Jacket, B42:



And this versatile dress, for work, school, or luncheons, Vintage Knit Form Fitting Nelly Don
Dress, B38 W26:



Here's the perfect blouse to wear with a suit or to top off a skirt, a Vintage Taupe Silk Tabak Blouse, Sz 10 B38



At My Vintage Cocktail, we have the ultimate three-season secretary dress in this Vintage 70s Atomic Novelty Print Secretary Dress, Pussy Bow, Sz Sm:



This tan dress is perfect for summer-to-fall, can be accessorized to fit almost any occasion, and is very likely a one-of-a-kind item: Vintage 50s 60s Designer Mad Men Shapely Linen Sheath Dress, Sm 4 6



These Vintage Mad Men 50s 60s Leather Stiletto Spike Heels Pumps, Sz 6 are so stylish:




Catseye Vintage presents this fantastic ensemble that's just right for work or a weekend special event: Vintage 1940s 40s Cardigan Sweater and Skirt Suit, Set, Hand Beaded, Blue, Boucle Knit, Size S, M



This "go-to" dress goes shopping, to school, out for lunch, just about everywhere; pair it with a wide belt for even more versatility: Vintage 1970s 70s Catherine Ogust Shirt Dress, Penthouse Gallery, Color Block, Size M, L




And this sophisticated dress is timeless, and yet another perfect "work-to-dinner-or-cocktails" piece--Vintage 60s Dress, Shirtdress, Day Dress, 1960s, Mod, Grey,Gray, Wool, I Magnin, Georgette Trilere, Size S, Small

Alley Cats Vintage: The Auction - Only the Strong Survive

Over my lifetime I have spent many hours/days in strange people’s backyard waiting on that one item I can’t live without. Usually I never get that item but end loading my car with boxes of strange musty unidentifiable objects that I have no use for. My greatest fear is what will crawl out of those boxes as I race down the highway to get home before my husband finds out I’ve done it again.

I’ve made a great deal of new friends attending these auctions since my particular addiction seems to be very common among the masses.

When I was younger I could withstand freezing temperatures and downpours of rain. I’ve always managed to find a friend to endure with me. It’s funny how the word auction makes everyone loose their common sense.

One particular day in April of 1988 I lured a friend to some deceased person’s backyard for the ‘auction’. After hours of severe cold it started to snow. I was lucky enough to purchase a lovely 100 year old quilt. My friend had only purchased 10 boxes of molded books so they were of no use to us unless we could build a fire. When the snow started, of course leaving was out of the question since there was still plenty of broken dishes to buy, I was forced to cover us with my fine quilt. Then I spilled my coffee on the quilt. Ok that could be cleaned. What? There’s an oil lamp for sale...I’ve got to have it...no there’s two...I get them both. ....filled with colored lamp oil. My hands were so frozen I couldn’t hold onto the lamps...over they go onto the couple in front of us and yes all over the quilt which by that time was our only lifeline.

After spending several more hours in the blowing snow and freezing temperatures the auction ends. So we load up and head to the landfill to drop off 10 boxes of books, 2 broken oil lamps and a ruined quilt. And while at the landfill I picked up the finest cat I’ve ever had the privilege of living with. So all in all it was another wonderful successful day.