Sunday, November 17, 2013

Tempting Topper


I recently collaborated with Naomi of Arthelia's Attic on a sweet crocheted purse and turban set that will be listed shortly in her Etsy shop. Naomi makes top-notch snoods (the very best, in my opinion), but she also does an amazing job with her other creations too!  I had been wanting a red, white, and blue purse for awhile, and when I came across this 1940s pattern, I knew it would be perfect. And although I don't wear hats often, I couldn't resist having the matching turban made!

Naomi did a wonderful job, choosing just the right shades of yarn and adding a fun coordinating lining (a splashy patriotic star print.) I found a lot of carved Lucite zipper pulls on eBay, and had her add one to this purse.

This shoot was inspired by Hedy Lamarr--the photos were taken by the amazing Doug Monce, who always does an incredible job of capturing that old Hollywood look.

xoxo,
Amanda Lee 









Sunday, October 13, 2013

Pinks and Greens

I have been slowly building a collection of cheesecake military uniforms, and for this year's Rockabilly Rules event, I decided it was high time I joined the Army Air Corps. Vee Vin Tage made my 'pinks and greens' uniform, using chocolate and tan gabardine along with buttons from a WWII uniform and an 8th Air Force patch. After pairing my uniform with a vintage garrison cap and a pair of brown heels, I was ready for duty!

These photos were taken by Matt Carson at his studio--I hope you like them!

xoxo,
Amanda Lee









Thursday, August 22, 2013

The Diner Girl


I am very excited to announce that my image is now gracing the side of the 5 & Diner food truck!  The photo was taken by Doug Monce of Atomic Age pictures and the pose/design was inspired by WWII nose art; Vee Vin Tage created the fabulous Diner Girl 'uniform.' Marketing just revealed a sneak preview of the finished artwork, and I couldn't wait to share it here!

xoxo,
Amanda Lee

Monday, August 12, 2013

One Mint Julep


Given the sweltering heat and humidity that Doug Monce and I endured at our shoot yesterday, I think a mint julep might have been wonderfully refreshing! Luckily, the sweet n' minty 1940s frock that Carla of Jitterbug Dress made for me is a refreshing delight all on its own!
I choose an early 40s Hollywood Pattern with a gathered skirt and puffed sleeves (I am always a sucker for those early 40s looks, and just can't get enough), and I think it turned out just swell made up in mint green cotton adorned with a fantastic novelty print of "threaded" ribbons and bows (from Gertie's Fine Fabrics.)
Carla is a skilled seamstress with a great eye for details—she made covered buttons for this style, overlocked the seams, and made coordinating shoulder pads, all details that I really love to see in reproduction clothing. The fit was spot on too! As I mentioned in my previous post, Carla recently opened up her online shop, Jitterbug Dress, and she is offering custom recreations from a wide variety of vintage patterns. She has an extensive collection of 1940s-60s styles—everything from dresses to pajamas and even maternity wear—or you can send her a special pattern of your own. Although she is based in Arizona, she is able to sew for customers worldwide—just send her your measurements and the fabric of your choosing. I highly recommend her work (and if you are local, she has top-notch alterations skills too), so if you see something you like on her site or have a certain outfit in mind, please drop her a line and tell her I sent you!
xoxo,
Amanda Lee
 









 


Sunday, July 21, 2013

Sneak Peek of The After Dinner Mint Dress

When Gertie listed this mint green bow print fabric in her shop, I wasted no time snapping a few yards up! I immediately started picturing what project would be best suited for it—perhaps a forties blouse and skirt combo or a shirtwaist dress? I eventually settled on a sweet early 1940s Hollywood Pattern design, and Carla of Jitterbug Dress is whipping up this little number for me. I can't wait to see the finished frock!

Carla is a stellar seamstress who has altered and repaired quite a bit of my vintage wardrobe over the years, and sewn some lovely reproduction outfits for me as well. Here is one of the custom creations she made for me, from a late 1930s pattern:

She is about to open up her new online shop, and I wanted to give her a plug. She's specializing in the styles of the 1940s-70s, and has a selection of patterns from each era listed on her site. To order, you select a pattern (or send her your own pattern) and send her the fabric of your choosing, along with your measurements. I think this is a nifty concept, and Carla will be adding many more patterns to her shop as time goes on.

I'll be posting photos of my new dress just as soon as it's ready. Did I mention that I can't wait to wear it?

xoxo,
Amanda Lee

Monday, July 15, 2013

The Primrose Peasant Dress and Purse


Finally, I have full-length photos of my latest collaboration with the amazing Debora of TheBlackPinafore!

This creation is a classic peasant dress, made from a delightful rayon with the most luxurious drape. The cheerful print consists of large white dots accented with sprays of pink and green flowers on a brilliant royal blue background--it's such a happy print!

As always, Debora's workmanship is impeccable, and the dress is finished with great care. Made from a 1940s Advance pattern, the style is a simple one that features flutter sleeves and a drawstring neckline and waist. Debora selected a deep wine-red ribbon to complement the colors of the print, and surprised me by having a coordinating purse made by MyRetroCrochet! The cream crocheted bag is lined with leftover fabric and trimmed with blue raffia. It is a beautifully made purse, and although it was designed to match this dress, the neutral outer color means it coordinates with other outfits in my closet. I've gotten quite a bit of use out of it already, and have to say that I really love the idea of having a matching purse. So be sure to ask Debora about having a purse made to match your own custom frocks!

These photos were taken by Doug Monce of Atomic Age Pictures at the CAF museum in Mesa.

xoxo,
Amanda Lee   
 












   

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Get Noticed in a Novelty Print--Jitterbuggin's Rockaway

When I first saw the Rockaway bathing suit, I was positively delighted with the whimsical lobster print. In fact, I am hard-pressed to think of a more fun novelty print for a swimsuit. So of course, I was beyond thrilled when Kim asked me to model this outfit!

As always, Kim's vintage styling is spot on. The Rockaway is a 1940s-style, two-piece bathing suit, with a gathered top that features straps that criss cross and button (with two buttonhole options, so you can adjust the fit). The bottoms are sailor-style, and Kim selected the perfect red buttons for accent. You can mix and match the sizes for the top and bottoms as well, a very smart feature and a definite sign of quality!

In regards to sizing, I would recommend going up a size if you have fuller hips and a smaller waist. The cotton fabric doesn't have much give, so you will want to select the size that corresponds to your hip measurement (and possibly take in the waist or move the buttons slightly, as needed.) I modeled the size 30 bottoms, which fit my hips/rear well but were loose in the waist. A size smaller fit my waist perfectly, but were a bit too snug through the hips and rear.

As you can see from the "In Style" video, I found Jitterbuggin's Rockaway bathing suit to be a very versatile number! The setting for these photos, taken by Atomic Age Pictures, is Saguaro Lake—its sandy shores being a more "natural" habitat for a bathing suit.

I suspect this little number will be flying of the racks, so I'd snap (lobster pun unintended) one up straight away!

xoxo,
Amanda Lee