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.

Not All Polyester Is Evil!

I am a fabric junkie. I love the look, feel, and textures of fabrics of all kinds. In fact, I think that part of the reason I collect, wear, and sell vintage clothing is for love of fabric. The right fabric makes a good design better, and can turn a mediocre design into a masterpiece.

We “vinties” love our silks and rayons, don’t we? But today I’m going to talk about polyester. Yup, that omni-present synthetic “stuff” that appeared en masse in the mid 60s and seemed to be all anyone made clothes out of for about the next decade.

Alas, polyester has a bad rep—in some cases. In others, its reputation as an evil fabric is deserved. Many buyers, sellers, and collectors of vintage apparel shudder at the thought of polyester. I assume they associate all polyesters with the cheap double-knit polys we saw in the “old-lady” pantsuits and outlet-store clothing of that era. Often it was spongy and “saggy,” and when you bent your knee, it didn’t bend back with you. So you walked around all day with knee molds in your slacks!

However, polyester was/is a very well-rounded fiber that lends itself to a variety of fabric types: single-knit jerseys, better-quality double knits, wovens, and pile fabrics. It also blends well with cottons, linens, and rayons—its better characteristics offset the less-desirable ones of those fabrics. For example, a cotton/poly blend won’t wrinkle or shrink like 100 percent cotton will. Linen will drape better and wrinkle less, and rayon is more readily washed and stronger in a blend with poly.

Polyester can be made to mimic many other fibers—we all know today’s smooth, lightweight polys that feel almost exactly like silk, but yesterday’s could be just as nice. I worked in a fabric store in the 70s, and we had high-end polyesters in shantung weaves, crepe-backed satins, drapey jerseys, soft double-knit crepe, fabulous jacquards, etc. Polyester opened up a world of easy-care clothing for the busy working woman: Most everyday fabrics were washable and didn’t need ironing. Throw them in the washer, toss in the dryer, hang, and wear. One could say that if polyester had not been introduced for commercial use in clothing, women would have been even more harried as they embarked upon the modern “Superwoman” path.

And polyester was not relegated to the world of cheap and moderate ready-to-wear fashion. Many, many high-end labels and famous designers used it back then, and still do so today. So, if you think of vintage poly as being the low rung of the fabric ladder, think again! We have here from the 60s and 70s some examples of “good” polyester fabrics. If we can find some of our memorable “bad” polyester items (such as butt-ugly wide ties), we will post them next time!

Recently sold by MyVintageCocktail: Late 60’s/early 70’s psychedelic print dress by Mr. Dino, who was noted for the use of very fine polyester jersey.






Trevira polyester maxidress by Goldworm, another maker that used wonderful knit fabrics in its apparel.

And, from Catseye Vintage, this 70’s men’s Lilly Dache polo shirt, typifying the wild prints we saw in that era.

Alfred Shaheen - The Master Print Maker

Alfred Shaheen was one of the premier makers of Hawaiian wear from the time he opened his first shop in 1952 until his retirement in 1988 and death in 2008.

Shaheen built a Hawaii-based empire that earned him millions and put his unique aloha shirts and dresses on the backs of people all over the world. He brought mass production of textile printing and clothing manufacturing to the Islands and employed hundreds of workers.

Shaheen was born in New Jersey in 1922. He grduated from Whittier College with an engineering degree and spent the World War II years as a fighter pilot in Europe.

After the war, Shaheen moved to Honolulu, where his family had relocated in 1938 after opening a custom dress-making business.

Shaheen decided to open his own aloha shirt manufacturing company in 1948 — Shaheen's of Honolulu. At first he had four sewing machines and four seamstresses who had been taught by his mother. At the time, Hawaiian shirt manufacturers would import fabrics which they cut and sewed into their own designs.

In 1952, Shaheen opened his own fabric printing factory - Surf 'n Sand Hand Prints. All screening was done hand with workers being instructed to force more ink onto the fabric which created deep rich colors.

Soon Alfred Shaheen's Hawaiian shirts and women's dresses were sold in mainland stores and in Europe. He later opened a chain of stores in Hawaii where celebrities and tourists shopped bringing his shirts and dresses back from their travels.

In 2001, the state of Hawaii recognized Shaheen for his contributions to the state with a Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006, the Honolulu Advertiser named him one of the 150 most influential people, events and institutions to effect social, economic, political and cultural change in Hawaii from 1856 onward.

Alfred Shaheen Himself in the Early Years

Elvis Presley Wore Shirts by Alfred Shaheen in his Movie Blue Hawaii and Album Cover of the Same Name

Vintage 50s Alfred Shaheen Cotton Dress Recently Sold by VINTAGE BAUBLES.COM

Vintage 70s Alfred Shaheen Maxi Dress With Matching Shawl Recently Sold by CATSEYE VINTAGE ON ETSY

Today, Alfred Shaheen's daughter Camille Shaheen-Tunberg owns the rights to his designs, some of which she licenses to designer Reyn Spooner who has created reinterpretations of original textile designs from the 1950s and 1960s.

Ms. Shaheen-Tunberg has collected many of her father's original garments and owns the rights to the Alfred Shaheen website.

Today, Alfred Shaheen's vintage sundresses, sarongs, playsuits, and men's shirts are highly sought after and are the prized possessions in many collections of vintage Hawaiian wear.

(Some information courtesy of Investors Business Daily, The Hawaiian Shirt Monarch,
article dated 03/05/2009 and The Honolulu Advertiser, Alfred Shaheen - Giant of Garment Industry dated 12/25/2008.)