Christmas is almost here! Gah, I can hardly stand the wait – nog, carols, presents and my nieces in adorable Christmas attire (I’m just assuming). With only a few days to go before Santa comes to town, its time for one more Christmas post – exploding with vintage-holiday glam!
A few weeks ago, two of my gal-pals were over the moon about their newly-aquired vintage finds. These two style mavens made a trip to Downtown Dundas, and discovered Andrian’s Armoire – a consignment shop with vintage finds all hand-picked by the owner. Now, consignment shops can be scary territory for thrifters like me – what price tag are are we looking at here? Can I still call it a steal? My friends assured me that all clothing was reasonably priced with a variety of vintage finds and quality brands, which means I’m headed there ASAP. Kristin picked up an incredible gold 60s cocktail dress that fit her like it was MADE for her, and Sandra got herself one of the more fabulous coats I’ve ever seen – a furlined hood, New York-made, amazing! So, we did what any normal girl would do – schedule a photoshoot!
I called on my two sisters to round out our crew of Mad Women. Adele wore a thrifted bright orange shift-dress I picked up on Queen Street in Toronto four years ago (and no longer fit). And Laura wore a mid-calve white beaded number I’ve been hoarding, right out of Betty Draper’s closet. (I’m going to do another post on that find, its got some interesting history.)
I took a break from standing behind the camera for a few photos aswell, in my favourite polka-dot dress. All in all, it was a fantastically fun time. It also spoke to the pure quality you can aim for when shopping second hand – thrifting doesn’t mean cheaply made! All our looks were beautifully crafted pieces from bygone fashion periods. And, at the risk of sounding like an old bitty – they don’t make ’em like they used to!
Note the added details – what fascintor! Kristin thrifted the above hat for her “Mustaches & Hats” birthday party last summer, and was delighted to have a reason to wear it again. It’s from from Weird Stuff – Antiques, Collectables & Nostalgia in Hamilton. Kudos to her for not being scared off by the website. It’s weird!
What bunch of stunners. Merry Christmas all!
Such a cute & fun idea! Your photos look fantastic too! Happy Holidays!
LikeLike
WOW! They really had a blast, like suffragettes who won the fight! So admiring…
LikeLike
hi
i love ur blog
pls. visit my blog (http://writer-nathi.blogspot.com/) waiting for ur comment and ideas
thanks
LikeLike
Congrats on FP! Great post.
LikeLike
aahhh I just love your blog specially this post. your photos are really good!
I’ve got this crazy thing about shopping too. Great ideas!!
http://dubaimumz.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/i-can-hear-lv-and-burberry-talking-to-me/
LikeLike
Amazing!! You all look gorgeous!
LikeLike
A vintage consignment shop just opened across the street from the food co-op I shop in with regularity. I was planning to stop in “one day” but reading your post makes me want to stop in today! Great photos!
LikeLike
oh my goodness! Love it! Such fabulous finds. Plus- they fit so well. VIntage can be very tricky since there’s no Lycra in it!! Makes me want to pull out my pearls!
LikeLike
for our christmas party (with old highschool friends), we decided to wear modern interpretation of disney cartoons, but your idea is really much better! i shall tell my friends that we should revisit more mature themes too 😀
LikeLike
Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
I love Mad Men and the glamorous 1960’s style:) you guys look awesome!! Joan Holloway and betty draper ain’t got nothin on you:) loved this post!
LikeLike
High praise indeed! Thank you!
LikeLike
I graduated with a degree in fashion design and I agree that clothes were made so much better back then. My whole family & I shop for clothes at thrift stores all the time..we hate the malls. Great post and Merry Christmas 🙂
LikeLike
Love the dresses!
LikeLike
Nice post! Playing dress up will ALWAYS be fun! Congrats on being Pressed!
arbohl.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Love your photo shoot! looks like so much fun you had.
Though not thrift a lot of sewing magazines have had issues with specials on these styles. I made my christmas dress from an 50’s revival issue (1959 style).
I like a lot of the styles,more feminine and less flesh. Even my mum commented: “I used to have a dress like that when young. Looks better on you”
LikeLike
It sounds lovely! My mom always says “I had stuff just like that” and I’m like “you should have kept it!”
LikeLike
You guys look amazing! They don’t make them like that anymore! A little glam always makes it feel more like Christmas. Hope your holidays are wonderful!
Mona
LikeLike
So much fun!!!
LikeLike
i am loving these pictures! i am sure someone has already asked this, but are you using a particular app or editor to gain this vintage effect?
LikeLike
Thank you! I do a lot of editing in Photoshop.
LikeLike
Beautiful ladies, love the dresses, really like that polka dot one! So cute, I found a red one with smaller dots at Goodwill for 6 dollars, it’s really retro, I get more compliments when I wear that dress than anything. They don’t make them like they used to the classics never die.
LikeLike
great smiles really great smiles loving the clothes too
LikeLike
A Don Draper Christmas. Whiskey was never so classy haha. Beautiful style and photos!
LikeLike
Beautiful outfits! No, you don’t sound old for saying “they don’t make ’em like the used to”. I worked at a thrift store over the summer and thought the same thing many times! Also, it appears that back then there was something in between floor lenth and ultra short when it came to formal and semi-formal dresses. Not so much anymore!
LikeLike
Too true! It’s either mini or maxi if you buy new today.
LikeLike
Love the photos.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas to you too! Great pictures and a great post.
LikeLike
what a beautiful way to spend christmas 🙂 love all the outfits 😀
LikeLike
This is a fabulous photosession! Looks so so cute and elegant. Ladies are gorgeous!
http://dressupforme.wordpress.com/
Greetings to you and Merry Christmas!
LikeLike
Cool Layout
LikeLike
love it! my daughter (13) has been wanting to try out our local thrift stores. she’s coming into her own little style and is looking to venture out. thanks for inspiring me to go for it with her!
LikeLike
what fun and great finds!
LikeLike
Gorgeous photos! You all found some great pieces. I’ll definitely have to check out some consignment shops. This looks like an awesome girls day/night out idea.
LikeLike
The outfits and the photo’s are great! Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find clothes like that at triftshops. Hope you had a good Christmas!
btw.. your last name (Huizen) is the name of the city I live in 🙂
LikeLike
the holidays look fabulous in vintage!
LikeLike
This was an awesome idea to spark some holiday fun! Love it ladies! http://dontbuyathing.wordpress.com
LikeLike
so lovely! perfectly vintage christmas gathering!
LikeLike
Great Pictures! Love the style!
LikeLike
Love the vintage theme!
LikeLike
this really doe look like fun. Can boys do it?:)
LikeLike
Of course! Suits and skinny ties and hats, oh my!
LikeLike
This is my first time on your blog! Seriously an awesome idea! Happy Holidays!
LikeLike
Lovely! Makes me want to host a party like this!
LikeLike
this is so gorgeous ! you, girls…the post, the pics….fabulous ! love it ! are you in the film ? …you should !
LikeLike
Thanks for reminding me of the shift dress, found one for myself after I read your post 🙂 http://www.flickr.com/photos/redreplicant/6830699933/in/photostream
LikeLike
Wow! Beautiful!
LikeLike
My brother suggested I may like this website.
He was totally right. This post actually made my day. You can not believe simply how
much time I had spent for this information! Thanks!
LikeLike