Sweet Vintage & Fabulous Fashions -- Better Than Peanut Butter and Jelly!

I am now part of the Vintage Roadshow gang -- a weekly round-up of the best in vintage links. Here's this week's edition!

Couture Allure looks at shoes from 1949 and readers share where to find modern reproductions.

Debutante Clothing features a review and images of the private curator led tour of the Valentina exhibit in NYC.

Glamoursplash gives a brief history of 1950's swim cap glamour.

Here's Looking Like You, Kid says, "Maggie the cat is alive."

Speaking of good vintage reading...

The premiere edition of the New Vintage Reviews Carnival debuted and there's some cool linkage to be found, daddy-o. (To submit your blog article or posts reviewing retro & vintage goodness to the next edition of New Vintage Reviews, use the carnival submission form.)

Speaking of carnivals...

One of my posts made it in the latest edition of the Fabulous! Festival, a truly fabulous fashion carnival. (Jaynie of Here's Looking Like You, Kid will be be hosting the next edition of The Fabulous! Festival on May 18th. To submit something you wrote — or read — about fashion that you think should be in next month's carnival, use carnival submission form.)

Not Your Usual Black Bra

Remember when bras had deep -- but narrow -- "V"s? You could play peek-a-boo not see-my-boob.

Stockings Worth Begging For

Aptly named Strutwear, these vintage seamed stockings have amazing flocking and rhinestone details -- and look, there are two pairs in the original box!

Illusion Lace & Working Buttons!

A very unique black vintage nightgown -- just love the buttons down the front!

Deliver Yourselves, Ladies, From The Horrible Gap

While I'm not the world's biggest fan of thongs and whale-tail sightings are on my list of things to avoid, I'm upset in general by vulgar displays of any style panties in public. It's just not appropriate.

The way jeans are made today, low-rise and mass-produced with wide "waists" (use of quotes because the waistband does not sit at the waist) so that women don't need to go up a (dreaded) size, the world is awash with a plethora of panty peeks.

I know this excites some of the male readers here, but honestly, wouldn't you rather have a lady more properly dressed than showing off part of her panties at WalMart?

And ladies, how uncomfortable are you with your current jeans... Either you're squeezing into too-small, too-tight jeans to avoid the gap -- or you're tugging the jeans up, forced to belt them &/or cover them up with sad-sack tops and sweat shirts.

Gads I hate all of that.

So when I heard about PZI Jeans, designed to fit woman with a streamlined waist, fuller hips, and curvy bottom, I was intrigued...

PZI Jeans is leading the crusade in redefining the meaning of fit. Traditionally, most jeans are engineered with gaps at the waist to prevent going up a size to accommodate the hips and rear while neglecting the waist. PZI Jeans eliminate the gaps allowing women to embrace their true jean size. PZI Jeans are available in sizes 4-16, with inseam options of 31", 34", 36" and 38" to eliminate inseam alterations. The jeans contour the hips and lift the rear and thighs to complement your natural shape. PZI Jeans addresses problem areas that women across all body types, ages and ethnicities experience.

So I got a pair to review.

Hip-hip hooray! They fit -- and just how PZI Jeans promised they would! No more annoying gap, no more over-sized & sloppy tees and tops to cover the gap.



Stop staring at my non-model ass; look at these instead.



Now, the only bad thing was that my niece has co-opted the jeans.

She was over at my house and when she bent over to scoop up the cat, well, I just don't need to see that! So I told her about PZI Jeans and bade her to get in them, to see and feel the difference.

The good news: No more looking at my niece's plumber's crack. The bad news: I have to order another pair of PZI Jeans. Because once you go "flat" at the waistband in back, you never want to go back.

Go ahead, ladies, deliver yourselves from the horrible gap and get a pair of PZIs. Now.

The Peter Pan Bra Was Designed To Make Little Boys Grow-Up & Become Men

Vintage ad for the Peter Pan bra -- shhh, "The Secret's In The Circle!"

OMG, Have You Ever?! *Swoon*

Isn't this vintage 1950's burlesque costume just the most fabulous fantasy thing ever? A soft pastel floral print, with lace, sequins and blows -- and a "tutu" made of tulle ruffles!

Laura Antonelli In Stockings & Lingerie

The lovely Laura Antonelli in wonderful lingerie & stockings.

B Is For Bustier -- And Boo-Hoo Too

I warn you that what I'm about to show you is a heartbreaker for many of us... The I.D.Sarrieri Lavender Haute Couture Chantilly Lace Layered Padded Bustier is about as exquisite as it gets in modern lingerie -- but the largest cup size is only a B.




While you're here, don't forget to enter my "Shape You, Shape You Very Much!" Contest!

Spring Flirts -- So Should You

Pretty & flirty Floral Flounce Cami Set in women's plus sizes 14/16 through 30/32 only. Originally $39.90, Now: $19.99

Sweet Polka-Dot Dreams, Marie Claire

Inside today's ShopItToMe Salemail, a delightful whimsical find: the Elle Macpherson Intimates Captive Underwire Bra -- 62% off at Bare Necessities! Just $29.99 for this sheer smoky sea mist green lace-trimmed bra with a happy ivory polka-dot print.


Speaking of sweet dreams...

If you go over to ShopItToMe's blog, you'll see they're celebrating the finale of Running In Heels by giving away one-year subscriptions to Marie Claire Magazine. To enter just leave a comment at ShopItToMe's post with what you consider to be the greatest office fashion faux-pas! (You don't have to have been watching the show; just use your noodle and rant!)

Vanity Fair Celebrates 90 Years In A BIG Way -- But Also Misses The Mark In A BIG Way

In the May issue of Elle magazine, Vanity Fair lingerie celebrates it's 90th anniversary with an eight page spread. The pages contain classic vintage Vanity Fair ads next to modern ads in similar poses and a two-page "centerfold" on the lingerie history -- focusing on Vanity Fair's role, of course.

Super high-res scans are below, but before you get lost in the romance, I have two comments to make.

1) Vanity Fair mentions their specific lingerie garments and styles from their legendary history; however, they often fail to actually show photos of them. Example, the mention of their 1950's "major fashion milestone" of leopard print lingerie sans any image of such pieces.

Tsk Tsk.

2) While it is lovely to recall such splendid designs (both in terms of lingerie and the advertisements), Vanity Fair's juxtaposition of such grand designs only makes the modern pieces and push pale in comparison.

I miss the drama & spectacular of the vintage ads -- but more importantly, I miss the vintage style of the undergarments and nighties themselves. I think Vanity Fair would do well by reinstating their former commitment to the romance & glamour of lingerie and recreate the legendary designs -- make more than bras & panties and for heaven's sake, at least do better than this for sleepwear.

Related Links & Reminder:

Speaking of Vanity Fair lingerie, Deanna's made a cool retro discovery!

And while you're here, don't forget to enter my "Shape You, Shape You Very Much!" Contest:

Two winners will receive a beautiful bustier from ShapeMeBra.com -- which I lustily reviewed here.

With A Name Like Olga...

It's got to be good! When it comes to vintage Olga nightgowns, I'm never quite sure what's the most fantastic thing about them... The heavy, lush, nylon... The Formfit bodice that caresses your breasts before it falls most flatteringly to your feet... Or the rich, vibrant colors -- like this bright berry colored nightgown.



Luckily, we don't have to choose just one thing to love but enjoy all the fine attributes of Olga lingerie at the same time!

Aprons Give Me Heart-Ons

I'm a sucker for cute aprons, and SweetCherry has a ton of adorable vintage aprons right now -- like this sheer white apron with flirty red hearts!

Vintage Liz Taylor Sizzling In Slip

Reminder!

Don't forget to enter my "Shape You, Shape You Very Much!" Contest: Two winners will receive a beautiful bustier from ShapeMeBra.com -- which I lustily reviewed here.

Venus If You Will, Send A Little Panty For Me To Thrill

Today's ShopItToMe alert contained the news that La Perla's Venus Thong is on sale at Sak's. What a pretty pretty panty!



(The matching Venus Push-Up Bra is on sale too.)

Shape Me? No, No, No! Shape YOU!

In my very best Elvis impression, I'm announcing the A Slip of A Girl "Shape You, Shape You Very Much!" Contest because the makers of the Shape Me Bra, which I reviewed here, are letting me shape two of you lucky duckies!

Two winners each will receive the Shape Me Bra of their choice -- in any size they offer!

Loads of lace, boning and underwires to keep you in place, and detachable garters -- pretty & functional... And well-made too.

How do you win?

It's easy, just tell me what you want the Shape Me Bra for...

Looking for a lift for your bosom? Or maybe it's your attitude that needs a lift... Winning contests helps with that! Got a problem with muffin top? Always wanted a longline bra? A bustier, a merrywidow? Have an upcoming wedding or other special occasion? Have a stunning strapless dress you want to spill provocatively from? Or maybe my review just has you thinking of your partner's reaction... Whatever your need, spill it!

You may enter one of three ways:

Email your answer to slipofagirl@gmail.com along with the name/id you'd like used should I mention your entry here at A Slip of a Girl.

Post your entry as a comment -- if you do this, please make sure I've got your email address, because if you're the winner I'll need your email address to contact you regarding your shipping information.

Post your entry at your blog -- if you do this you must include in your post both a link to this post & to ShapeMeBra (the url or specific bra) and email your link as an entry to me so that I do not miss it (and have means to contact you for your shipping information should you win.)

Fine Print:

This contest is open to readers of A Slip of a Girl who reside anywhere in 48 states of the Continental USA.

Winners will receive their lovely lingerie shipped for free (via ground shipping) direct from ShapeMeBra.com. Bras won in this contest are not returnable for cash of any sort; should winners need to exchange for any reason, shipping in both directions is contest winner's responsibility.

Bigger busted ladies, please note that you might want to consider getting a larger back/band size. If you have any concerns about the fit of the sexy & fabulous Shape Me Bra, take your measurements & contact the lovely folks at Shape Me Bra -- they are available via email and phone to help ensure contest winners -- and customers -- get the proper size. So just ask!

Entries must be received/posted on or before midnight, central time, May 2, 2009; I'll pick the lucky winner on May 3, 2009.

Kindly remember that entries without means of contact will not be entered.

Now spill it, sister! (And good luck -- you'll love this bra!)

Spring Is Busting Out With This Nightgown

This pretty blue vintage nightgown has lovely large white flower appliques placed like timid kisses of admiration. And what's not to admire about the woman who wears such a nightgown? Just look at how this vintage lingerie holds and displays the bust!

Sheer Delight -- Butt Full Coverage!

Retro Sheer Panties by Secrets In Lace feature the retro full-cut panty style in the sheerest non stretch nylon. Available in four colors and seven sizes (including plus sizes).

Vintage Sears Reducing Corsets

Vintage Sears reducing corsets, promoted with the usual "fear mongering" in a 1930's booklet titled The New Pathway to Slenderness.

Pastel Easter "Eggs"

Thought you might like to have some Easter "Peeps" at vintage bras, like this vintage circle-stitch pink satin bra, this 1940s vintage sweater girl satin bra in yellow, and this vintage Playtex bullet bra in baby blue.

Vintage Nylon: Everyone Knows It's Slinky

A vintage Kayser nightgown of sinful black Enkalure nylon with an illusion lace bodice.