Tales From A Vintage Wardrobe

Kicking Off Fashion Week at Brown University!

The Red Velvet Shoe will be setting up shop today at Urban Vintage Bazaar at Brown University, Providence, RI!  This Vintage Fashion & Style Event is kicking off Fashion at Brown's annual Fashion Week...see you there!

Today! Sunday, 21 April 2013
10:00 am ~ 6:00 pm
Faunce Hall ~ Brown University
Corner of Waterman St. & Brown St.
Providence, RI 

RSVP & Directions  Here ~~ Don't Forget to Share the Event & Invite Friends!

Welcome, Spring!

March 1929 House & Garden Magazine Cover by Andre E. Marty

 

I Just Don't Get It

Why would you trade this

for this?

 

Vintage Elizabeth Arden, Anyone?

Absence makes the heart grow fonder...and I return with three beautiful treasures to show off and hopefully make up for my lack of posts about vintage as of late.

This rather amazing late 1950s/early 60s Elizabeth Arden New York suit will be availabe soon...Arden spent a rather limited time in the fashion world compared to many designers, but her work and that of her designers is considered to be among the finest.  

We also found this sweet Teena Paige 1950s Vintage ivory lace bodice & black velvet cocktail dress...my daughter has put her claim on it, but I told her we'll see...so if you have to have it, speak now or forever hold your peace....which, ironically leads me to:

this beautiful pair of Kenneth Cole ivory bridal satin pumps with floral garland detail...size 8.  My size, but since I've already walked down that long aisle twice, I'm going to let them go to another bride to be.

SAVE THE DATE:  21 April 2013 we'll be setting up shop once again at The Urban Vintage Bazaar in Providence, RI ....more details to follow.

 

Winter In New England Wardrobe Staple

Today was an absolute "Wellie-Weather" day here in Massachusetts.  If you're a New Englander, you probably have a pair sitting at the back door, if not at every door of your home.  We have wellies with whales, wellies with autumn leaves, navy blue wellies with super warm snow boot-like lining, and my new favorites:  Tommy Hilfiger Women's Viktoria Wellie Boots.   

But I'm letting you in on a little secret (part of why you still read this blog, I hope):  I paid $19.99 for them at Burlington Coat Factory earlier this week...I know it's crappy out, but if that's not going to get you to get out of the house this afternoon then I don't know what will. 

Searching for Mr. T.

 

Dear Andreas Tetzlaff of Koln, Germany,

You purchased this vintage men's dressing gown from me at Christmas time and on Friday morning I received an email from you claiming the parcel had not yet arrived.  I have attempted to reply to your email 8 times since then, to the email address from which you corresponded and that is on your Pay Pal account.  Every one has come back with a "Failure to Deliver - Invalid Email Address" notice.  I have spoken with Pay Pal, and they, too, have attempted to contact you regarding this.  Would you be so kind as to provide a valid email address so we can attempt to resolve this matter?  

 

Sincerely,

 

Michelle @ The Red Velvet Shoe

(If you happen to read this and know Mr. T, could you please refer him to this post?  Thank you.)

New Year's Eve (c1919)

You Do Like to Change Things
Out of Africa — MOVIECLIPS.com

Dire au revoir à 2012 avec un baiser...because it's the only proper way to say goodbye, and hello....2013.

I Watch & Pray

To watch or not to watch the news about the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT ~ that seems to be the question, especially for parents.  I personally CAN NOT just shut if off and go back to life as it was before Friday, December 14th and pretend that everything is just "peachy keen". 

Is it because I have a little girl in Elementary School?   YES.  If you are not a parent, this may be hard to grasp, if you are, you will understand:  The sheer terror I felt in my heart when I dropped her off at school yesterday morning made me want to be physically sick.  But I also know that "normalcy & routine" are paramount to keep her from becoming terrified.  I am the adult.  She is the child.  I had to do the hard thing, I had to do what, as far as I knew, was the best thing for her, while all day long I feared  for her safety and prayed that she truly was SAFE in school...because the reality is that we don't really know that, do we?  A sense of the relative safety of our children in public schools was shattered on Friday.  And we'll never have it back.

Is it because I feel that by having some of the facts I can better process the tragedy and, as a result of that, prepare myself for the best reaction possible physically, mentally, emotionally & spiritually should such tragedy ever affect my life or the life of someone I know/love?  YES.

Is it that by giving those broken-hearted families my silent attention as a long-distance witness to their pain I am, in turn, showing "love of neighbor" and respect for them and those they lost?  YES. 

Though tempting, I can't just turn away, put it out of my mind, focus on the mundane, shallow, every-day things when I know that just a few hours away there are families and an entire community that are "crushed in spirit." 
(Psalms 34:18)

Seeing the faces of those children, and of the adults who bravely tried to protect them and gave their lives doing so is heartbreaking.  It is also a very real reminder that none of us are immune to the threat of this sort of horror.  And that is terrifying. 

So I watch, and I pray; for the victims, their families, for the first responders who have to live with the horror of what they saw that morning, and The Lord's Prayer ~ for God's Kingdom to come...because even if there was world peace, those families will never have peace in their minds and hearts without it, and neither will I.

The Elegant Way to Keep Warm

Snowflakes fell here yesterday...not much left-over today, but the temperature has taken a big dip and that means time to don a winter coat.

This beautiful 1950s Dan Millstein ~ New York ~ Paris label embroidered black velvet coat is cold weather luxury at it's finest.  Lined in rich champagne satin, it feels like butter against your skin.  The sleeves taper into a snug fit, which not only looks amazing, it keeps those cold winter drafts out.  You can find it in our "Vintage Outerwear Department" in The Shoe.

 

You've seen this baby blue before...1930s vintage blue velvet hooded dressing gown/robe/evening coat from Filene's Boston (quite possibly the original store).  Fresh from the drycleaners and now available in our "Vintage Lingerie/Boudoir Department". 
Finally, something warm to wear with a hood that is not fleece or sweatshirt fabric. 

 

 

 

Left My Heart On The Other Side of The Pond....

Granted, I've been back for some 13 days now, but I think I'm still on Irish-time and know I left part of my heart there in that beautiful island...will be back soon, I hope.