The streets of New York City and Brooklyn may still be chilly, and occasionally damp, but bold print dresses in reds and yellows and pinks are flying out of Hooti, along with big and little clutches, lots of patent leather, and straw and wicker box bags that make us think of Grandma Houtte all dressed up and on her way to a bridge game decades ago in Miami. Good energy, good memories, now if it would just get warm....
If you haven't found your way to a movie theater in a few weeks, consider the very stylish Married Life, where one of our favorite actresses, Patricia Clarkson, is ravishing as a late 1940s-era housewife with good taste, and a nice wardrobe budget, too. And Rachel McAdams, as the other, younger woman, even makes the color brown memorable. Clothes aside, this movie is just fun...
Onto more real-world topics, we're quickly growing weary of the "green" bandwagon—is there anything besides a Big Mac that can't be given a green twist by advertising agencies?—but in our book vintage fashion should top any list of ways to reduce our carbon footprints. And since 2008 will likely find most of us watching our hard-earned dollars, too, vintage has never seemed like a smarter, more thoughtful way to shop...
We continue to be big fans of eBay vintage sellers, but we are taking a break from the What We Like on eBay feature because Melissa has a new book project that requires her full attention. We promise you will be hearing more about The Smartest Girl on Fifth Avenue, which will be published by Henry Holt in January 2010. Smartest Girl is a narrative biography of a woman named Dorothy Shaver, who was president of Lord & Taylor from 1945 to 1959, and who began promoting the first generation of American designers in 1932, and kept at it for the next 25 years. A very smart woman, indeed....
That's it for the moment but we will continue to post as time permits. Until then, Happy Spring to all our friends and fans!
Alligators, Old Mink & New Money, One Woman's Adventures in Vintage Clothing was written by sisters Alison and Melissa Houtte and is available in the U.S. and Canada in both hardback (top; William Morrow/Harper Collins) and paperback (Avon Trade).
You can also buy the UK edition (Orion Publishing) in hardback in England, Australia, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. Orion's paperback edition (below) is also now on sale.
Hello Ladies,
Just discovered your book and am thoroughly enjoying it! It's the perfect pick-me-up after a much-too-long Chicago winter. Am now dreaming of a summer road trip to experience the shop in person. Wishing you a warm, sunny Spring!
Posted by: Joy | April 08, 2008 at 09:14 PM