Archive for the ‘Cool Stuff’ Category

Iconic Fidays: Happy Halloween!

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Happy Halloween, my dears! It is with this Hallow-day* in mind that I bring you this Friday’s style icon: Anjelica Huston’s character in 1990’s The Witches.
1940’s silhouettes, jewel tones, fancy hats, bling, and a hatred of children? Miss Eva Ernst (aka “The Grand High Witch”) was ahead of her time! Chic and evil? Always a good look, at least around this time of year.


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Sorry, you’re on your own to find a mask in your likeness. Click here to shop Monster Vintage’s Women Section. All of the garments above list the item number, in case you are interested in buying.
Don’t eat too much candy, this weekend, kiddies!
xoxo,
Sally “Trick or Treat?” Mulligan

*I’m sorry… It’s been a long week!

This weekend in Portland

Tuesday, October 27th, 2009

This weekend my (very lucky!) boss had the opportunity to go to Portland’s Antiques and Collectibles Show at the Expo Center. It’s a very cool event, with no shortage of piles to dig through and goodies to look at. See for yourself!


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Looks like they had just about every imaginable thing.
You can be jealous. I know I am!
xoxo,
Sally

Cloaks, Capes, Ponchos Oh My!

Friday, October 23rd, 2009

Can’t get enough. Also can’t remember where/when I was first smacked in the head with the obsessive wanting of these warm, toasty, wrap-you-up-like-a-hot-dog perfect winter coat replacements. Found a vintage pattern online and am allllllllmost done sewing up a reversible hooded cloak. The runways, my best friend, stylish street girls, everyone is gaga over cloaks, capes and ponchos. We have the originals online. Grab one and make a pattern…

XO | S.

Vintage Cufflinks- & Lighter?

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

Cufflink Lighters
These things are amazing! They are real working lighter cufflinks that were once dispensed in gumball machines approximately 50 years ago. Cufflinks that double as lighters! Extremely rare and hard to find which makes them oh so cool! It’s almost like they belong in a James Bond movie. Imagine offering to light someone’s cigarette and putting your cufflinks to their face. Great conversation starter!

Michael Jordan- The Greatest

Wednesday, October 21st, 2009

With the recent induction of Michael Jordan into the Basketball Hall of Fame, it is necessary to mention the coveted Jordan brand by Nike.  The Jordan brand is what Lexus is to Toyota, it’s what Maybach is to Mercedes. It is an international symbol of the greatest player to ever play the game of basketball. Movie stars, singers, actors and just about everyone else will wear an item of Jordan, not only to look cool, but it is as if the wearer owns a piece of Michael Jordan himself, to “Be Like Mike”.  Above is a rare Jordan brand T-shirt before the official start of the Jordan line of products. The proof of this is on the tag: you see two symbols, one is the Nike sign and the other the Jordan silhouette. Vintage Jordan products include both symbols whereas modern Jordan only shows the Jordan symbol. Currently, the Jordan brand is “retro-ing” all the Jordan line from shoes to clothes by combining modern fashion with 80’s colorways and prints. Retro is comin’ back!

Jordan items are hot stuff and only one piece remains so better get in quick. It’s a Space Jam shirt and it will go great with a the new pair of Air Jordan 11’s Space Jam Edition due to be released this December. Check it out by clicking the link below:
SHOP!

Top 5 Tuesdays: It’s a Plaid, Plaid, Plaid, Plaid World

Tuesday, October 20th, 2009

It’s like the crazy bum fella who walked into the cafe my friend Leigh was hanging out in pointed out, “This must be the Ro-de-oh coffee shop. Look at all them plaid shirts!” You don’t live in a cave (don’t try to tell me different, you’re on the computer right now!) so I don’t have to tell you that plaid is having a “moment.” A really, really long moment. Over at Monster Vintage, we’re here for you. So I present for your consideration, My Top 5 Favorite Plaid Shirts in the shop. Enjoy!


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What do you think, fellas? Are you rocking plaid this Fall?

xoxo,
Sally “Lumberjack” Mulligan

An Introduction

Monday, October 19th, 2009

I’m Joni and I’m new to the Monster Vintage blog. I’m Portland-born (though I spent some time on the East coast for a while). Most of my professional experience with apparel and fashion is with new, vintage-inspired rockabilly and pinup clothing– specifically ladies apparel and lingerie based on designs and patterns from the 50s and 60s.  I’m really excited to get the chance to explore and write about vintage clothing and retro styles– the real stuff that contemporary designers try so hard to emulate.

Most of my firsthand knowledge with retro fashion lies comes from the eighties, since I… you know… lived through them and all, and wore my fair share of Gunne Sax. Most of that stuff is coming back into style now, and I’m endlessly amused by my 14 year-old daughter and her friends’ efforts to create outfits that look like my junior high school yearbook (did you know the mullet is making its comeback?) My latest fling is with collecting t-shirts.  I also have a thing for pre-WWII Berlin fashion and art.

I look forward to sharing my thoughts and perspectives with you, dear readers! :) Joni

How To Wear It: Capes

Monday, October 19th, 2009

It’s that time of year (Fall AGAIN, I know!) where it’s getting chilly outside- but it’s not too chilly. And it’s almost certainly the perfect temperature outside for a cape or a poncho. The Fall runways were littered with tailored capes and capelets this year, and who are we to go against nature?
A lovely cape is definitely going to set you apart from the crowd, which makes some people too nervous to try wearing one at all. Well, that’s where we come in. Take a look at how we would wear this awesome Monster Vintage Cape.
Mod Striped Cape
Mod, striped, spectacular. Don’t be afraid!


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During the day, I suggest playing up the Mod-ness of the cape with a nautical look. More stripes (you can mix prints, just keep them in the same color family), some simple boots, and little sailor-inspired accessories all help to spotlight this cute capper!

I was always skeptical of trying to pull off a cape with a dress, but I think I have worked out the schematics of it all. Just like with coats, proportion is important. The longer your cape is, the longer a dress you can get away with. If your cape’s hem falls somewhere near your hands, you should keep your dress above your knee. The look is not “Renaissance Faire Worker” this season.* I suggest wearing tights with your dresses in the Fall and Winter anyway, and the rule still applies here. It’s like wearing a puffer coat with flip-flops, as far as I’m concerned. So layer it up, and if your cape is as bright and colorful as this one (or more so) keep the rest of your outfit simple. Use your accessories to pick up the colors in the garment.

See? I told you you can do it. Do you need any advice on how to wear a standout, unique, or seemingly wacky item? Let us know, we’d be happy to help!
Click here to shop for vintage capes and ponchos.
xoxo,
Sally

*or ever, for that matter…

It’s Iconic Friday Again, Higgins!

Friday, October 16th, 2009

I know, I know. It’s barely Fall, and I was jonesing for it too. But it’s been rainy and yucky this week and it doesn’t help that we are adding a whole bunch of Hawaiian shirts to the store right now, so I can’t help but wish it was Summer again…
So with that in mind I present you with today’s style icon: Magnum P.I.


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Admit it:
No one made Hawaiian shirts look better, or swim trunks as street clothes for that matter. This retro style is back with a vengeance.
All of the clothing items featured are from Monster Vintage. Click here to shop for Hawaiian shirts!

xoxo,
Sally

Won’t You Be My Style Icon?

Friday, October 2nd, 2009

In honor of all of the cardigans we are getting ready to put up in the shop, and the fact that fall is all up in our business, we voted Mr. Rogers, everyone’s favorite Saturday morning treat, this Friday’s style icon!


Admit it- Mr. Rogers made cardigans fly!

De we all remember this?

xoxo,
Sally

p.s. If you are now jonesing for a fresh vintage cardigan, check out the shop!