On a trip to Italy, we were checking out a cool warehouse for vintage work wear and wanted to share this interesting place!

The end of World War II wasn’t just the beginning of an era.  It was the end of an era too.  The end of Fascist Germany.  The end of an imperialist Japan.  The end of many long distance romances. And the end of rationing. 

During the war supplies were limited and everything was rationed.  Foods like butter and grain was not exactly scarce, but they weren’t quiet as readily available as today.  And raw materials were strictly regulated.  Things like metal to make buttons and fabric to make clothes.  The fabric restrictions couldn’t help but impact the fashions of the time and things like the pencil skirt and cropped jackets weren’t just the style, they were the result of limited materials.  When the war ended, women everywhere were rejoicing and celebrating with longer lengths, exaggerated extravagant fullness, and with their handsome soldiers back from across the world. And voila: the circle skirt, among other things, was born.  Boom, baby, boom.

Vintage Embellished Circle Skirt

The skirts first became popular when America’s beautiful and famous women were travelling in search of a “the Quickie Divorce.”  In the 50’s many of them went to Mexico to lose one lousy husband and gained some fantastic Mexican “tourist” skirts.  When they returned to the U.S. women everywhere were tantalized by the gorgeous hand-painted and sequined adorned skirts, only adding to the mystique and style of the1950’s divorced woman. Marilyn Monroe is probably the most noteworthy of these women.  Mother’s everywhere were asking their daughters; If  Marilyn Monroe jumped off a cliff wearing a circle skirt, would you?  History has reveeled, the answer was yes.

1950’s Bull Fighter Cotton Swing

The first time the skirt was designed and sold in the U.S., was by an opera singer named Julie Lynne Charlot.  Apparently, opera singers were about as popular back then as they are now, because Julie was struggling to afford a Christmas dress one holiday season.  Her mother, decided to design her a full and flouncy adorned circle skirt out of inexpensive felt, and soon she was selling them out of her own personal boutique in Beverly Hills.  The skirt exploded from there and some designs were hand-painted and unique, like their Mexican counterparts.  Others were worn with petticoats to accentuate the dramatic ration of hips to waist.  And others still evolved to be plastered with poodles, worn with saddle shoes and socks and twirled into the hearts and souls of America’s rock and roll’n youth.

Rare 1950’s Janzten Circle Skirt

Unfortunately, as America’s youth rebelled, the circle skirt slowly faded out as the min skirt became all the rage.  The circle skirt is still a classic shape and silhouette that has transcended time and trends.  Today pair it with anything from a rock tee, to a bustier, to a denim blouse and bolo tie. Do Marilyn proud, because not only is a circle skirt classic it’s also timelessly sexy.  And who knows, your future ex-husband could be just around the corner. 
 

September is a tricky month.  It’s hot, it’s cold, it’s rainy, it’s sunny.  It’s slightly bi-polar.  Unfortunately, Xanax only works on humans, but here at Monster Vintage we’d like to prescribe something else to help out with this tricky month.  A circle skirt it a perfect solution. Wear it with platform sandals and a tank on those sticky days, or chunky boots and a leather jacket during the cold fronts. This month we’re featuring a series of versatile hand-painted Mexican circle skirts that are both beautiful and functional.

This 1960’s skirt has fantastic sequin detailing and features majestic Aztec motifs.

1960’s Mexican Handprint Mexican Circle Skirt, Monster Vintage

The closing of August means one thing, the end of Summer.  With each day you can feel the sunshine and mojitos being slowly peeled from your sweaty, sticky, tanned fingers.

In desperate moments like these, there is only one thing you can do. Road Trip! or… Beach Run! or… Farmer’s Market! Alright, so there are multiple things you can do in moments like these, but whichever method you choose, fight the setting sun with some amazing summer resort wear that will make you forget all about the dwindling weeks, and keep you hitting up that cabana boy, or girl, or both. We don’t judge.

1970’s Tropical Unique Sleeved, Monster Vintage

1960’s Long Summer Dress, Monster Vintage

If humankind has learned nothing else from the Jersey Shore, and it hasn’t, it would be that fist fights don’t solve anything, but they sure are entertaining.  And, if the cards are played well, said fights can be incredibly profitable for the people stupid enough to take a beating for a buck.  And no beating has been more boisterous, more lucrative, more epic, than when Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier met in the ring three times to battle it out for the Heavyweight Title.

Despite the previous crude comparison, Ali and Frazier were more than the latest reality TV grade celebrity, They were pop-culture icons, political lightning rods, and physically supreme beings with bodies sculpted by the Gods themselves.  They were the rippled forgers of the boxing frenzy that was beginning in the very bowels of manly America.  When Frazier and Ali were to fight, they were the highest paid athletes ever, each pocketing 2.5 million per fight (which today, after inflation, would be equivalent to a million billion dollars).  Their heavy weight match-ups were so anticipated people were literally dying.  Ok, they weren’t literally dying, but there were some small riots and probably an injury or two.

The high-pitched frenzy didn’t impact anyone more powerfully than Frazier and Ali themselves, who in the weeks leading up to the famous fights, talked more crap than a scatologist.

Ali, refused to sign up the the selective service in ‘68, and was an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam war.  He was also a well known “black power” advocate, and personal friends with the controversial Malcolm X.  His failure to comply with the draft, caused him to be stripped of his Heavyweight Championship title, and banned from boxing.  With the unprecedented removal of his title, the boxing world was thrown into utter chaos, and thousands of grown men cried themselves to sleep without the solace of a Heavyweight Title Champion.

1980’s Vote for Peace Tee, Monster Vintage

“Smokin’ Joe” Frazier, on the other hand, was significantly less anti-establishment.  During Ali’s absence, he swooped in and won the title, though many didn’t consider him the true Champion because he never had fought Ali.  Frazier called himself a proud patriotic and while he had supported Ali’s return to boxing, he carried himself with the proud seriousness of a Southern Gentleman.  The favorite among older and more conservative fans, Joe Frazier was a glass of aged scotch amidst a sea of PBR.

1950’s Formal Tux Smoking Jacket, Monster Vintage

Coming from two very different backgrounds, as well as being in very literal opposition, these two athletes exchanged some of the most bombastic name calling and game talking in sports history.  Much of it stemming from the young and cocky Ali, who referred to Frazier as a “gorilla” on a regular schedule, usually following his daily bowl of Wheaties.  He also called Frazier ignorant, ugly, and an Uncle Tom. Rest assured, none of that went over well with the mild mannered Frazier.

When the two finally met for their first match, dubbed “The Match of the Century,”  in 1971, it was as climactic and ridiculous as was predicted.  Frazier barely won in a split decision.  But Ali won their second match, in what was by all accounts considered to be sort of lame, BUT they made up for it with their third and final tie breaking match; “The Thrilla in Manila.”  Both men fought to the brink of death and back again and then turned around and did it again.  It was a glorious sight to be seen.  A sight now only available to the lucky few who have the patience to search for it on YouTube.  It was bigger than the Jersey Shore. Bigger than Shawn White.  Bigger than those mini burgers they serve at bars that are so overpriced.  It was the stuff of legend.  The stuff you could only understand if you’d lived it yourself.  But you know what they say;

Those who can. Do.

Those who can’t. Teach.

And those who can, but just don’t really feel like it right now. Wear the awesome T-Shirt.

1970’s Muhammad vs. Frazier Tee, Monster Vintage

Anybody with style, stands out because of their own personal touches.  To create a unique style you draw from your hobbies, your experiences, your personality, and your life in general.  So what has been happening recently in the world in general and in millions of lives in particular? Soccer. Soccer. And more Soccer.  The Women’s World Cup has consumed the time of millions around the globe as of late, and there’s no better way to show your soccer savvy with some slick vintage sports wear.

Vintage US Soccer Federation Shirt, Monster Vintage

 1970’s Adidas Soccer Shirt, Monster Vintage 

70’s Mickey Mouse Soccer Shirt, Monster Vintage

The US Women’s team had not been in a World Cup Final since they beat China in shootouts 12 long years ago.  The chaos following the US victory that summer was a first for women’s sports.  The year was 1999, and the entire US proceeded to party as such.  Anyone who remembers that glorious match, would love to display their American pride in something a little more patriotic.

Original Spirit of 76 Jersey, Monster Vintage

Retro Americana Striped Suspenders, Monster Vintage

70’s Cherry Knit Doe-lon Varsity Jacket, Monster Vintage

Yesterday afternoon, millions of American hearts broke however, when Japan triumphed in a gut wrenching World Cup Final game. It is surprisingly difficult, however, to remain angry at a team nicknamed the “Nadeshiko,” which translates to beautiful flower.  We could not have lost to a more deserving opponent.  Well played Japan. Well played.

Vintage Pink Cheongsam Dress, Monster Vintage

1950’s Japanese Embroidered Silk Jacket, Monster Vintage

1960’s Emerald Japanese Robe, Monster Vintage