LABOR DAY SALE

If you've been eyeing something in the shop, now is the time! 

Everything is 25% off through Monday, in honor of Labor Day!

Enjoy your long weekend!

xo,

J&A

Memorial Day SALE!

(And yes, these amazing size 8 shoes are unbelievably still in the shop...) 

Hope you all have a wonderful long weekend! We are thankful to the women and men who have served our country well and to those who continue to do so.

 xo,
J&A

Collection: Vintage Brooches

I love vintage accessories of all kinds, but brooches are on the top of my list. They add a little sparkle and flair to sweaters, blazers, and dresses.  And with so many varieties, I use them to express my personality and style.  My collection really started with a hand-me-down family piece, and now, I try to pick up a few every year. As we speak, I have a sweet little cherry brooch coming my way that didn't make it into this photo! But I'm sure I'll share it soon in an outfit post!

1. Red and White Polka Dot Flower-  Gift from Q for my birthday this year!
2.  Mini Scissors- To express my crafty side.
3.  Rhinestone Lipstick-  Because you all know how I love a red lip and cosmetics.
4.  Rhinestone Typewriter- my newest. This was a congratulatory reward to myself upon finding out my first short story is being published this fall (stay tuned!).
5.  Enamel Anchor-  Because any aspiring modern pinup girl needs a nautical brooch in her life.
6.  Pearl Flowers-  I think this came from a random grab bag of vintage costume jewelry somewhere along the line.
7. Bakelite Star Brooch-  This is actually crafted from recycled bakelite pieces. I bought it from an artist in West Virginia last summer on our family vacation.
8.  Rhinestone Lizard- a Christmas gift from my mom and dad.
9. Red Rose-  a gift from my student teaching mentor. It belonged to her mother.
10.  Round Opal Brooch- This belonged to my great grandmother, and it was handed down to me after she passed away.

I have been gifted quite a few brooches, but I have also gotten good at finding what I want on eBay and Etsy.  Be sure to check both places to find the best price and condition! It's amazing how different people will charge things for the same pretty little pin.

Besides the cherries in my near future, I'm also keeping an eye out for a 1950s umbrella--like this one, a real 1930s Bakelite animal or fruit pin (these can be absurdly expensive-$700?! Really? They aren't diamonds!), and A, M and Q monograms. Plus, I never can pass up those pretty enamel flowers from the 1960s, though I love giving those as gifts!

Hope you enjoyed a little peek into my collection!

xo,
Amanda

In love...

I am head over heels in love....with a dress.  This floor length gown with sweetheart neckline and ever so slightly puffed sleeves was thrifted by Amanda when I was about 7 months pregnant.  The dress was beautiful on the hanger but was not going to budge over my growing belly.  The baby in that growing belly is now 8 months old, so I figured I could take the plunge and try on the dress.  It fits to perfection--the zipper just pulls shut without a millimeter to spare.  But alas, I have nowhere to wear the dress so I figured I would take some photos of it and send it out into the world...or into our etsy shop.

40s floor length dress with navy polka dot bodice and cream mesh layered skirt

Fully lined (no slip required!  In the photos you can see two sets of 'bra straps'--one is my bra, the other is the interior of the dress).  Outer layer of skirt is about 4 inches longer than under layer and hem is unfinished (so it may need trimmed/mended).  $125.

Flat Measurements:  

Shoulder to shoulder- 13.25 inches

Pit to pit- 15.5 inches

Waist- 13 inches

Length (to hem of inner slip)- 57 inches

If you're interested in purchasing this dress before it goes up in the shop, please contact us!

xo

Jayme

Shop Preview: Neon

Believe it or not, we came across these pieces all in one weekend.  The overwhelming theme:  bright colors with an emphasis on neon.  Pretty interesting that the items range from the 1960s to the 1980s.  I guess bold colors never go out of style!

These items will be going up in the shop this week!  As always, if you see anything you want just let us know and you'll get first dibs!

xo

Jayme

Coming Soon: BRIGHTS!

Amanda and I spent the past weekend visiting...and planning some exciting new things for the shops.  We're hoping to up the ante and bring you MORE lovely vintage (at lovely price points) and share more of our personal style here on the blog.  First up though--a little peek at this week's shop update.  We have some super fun saturated colors, perfect for perking up your summer wardrobe.  We love BRIGHTS.

Pleat front Coral and Magenta Mini, $14

Ultra Blue Watercolor Long Sleeved Mini Dress, $35

Multicolor Silk Striped Button Front Skirt, $16

As always--you can email us if you'd like first dibs!  Here's to a fresh, BRIGHT outlook on this new week!

xo

Jayme

Splurge vs. Steal

Today's version of "Splurge vs. Steal" is a little different than usual.  Instead of showing you multiple Miskabelle 'steals' that in total cost less than one 'splurge' that would complete the outfit, we are simply showing one STEAL (from the shop) and its SPLURGE equivalent (from a non-vintage store).

As Etsy sellers we get a lot of Etsy convos asking for a reduction in price or shipping of an item.  And while yes, we do buy our inventory on the cheap and then sell it for a lot more (isn't that the definition of "business"?) we feel like we price our items really reasonably.  We're bringing our customers vintage versions of expensive look-a-likes in modern day stores.  So they're cheaper and more often than not, they're one of a kind!  Here a few Miskabelle Vintage look-a-likes from Anthropologie (we love you Anthro!  You just don't work well for ladies on a budget!).

Lovely earth-toned full skirts in ethnic prints.  

Miskabelle 'Brown Circle Mid-Length Skirt' vs. Anthro 'Rotational Symmetry Skirt'

Flowy, wide leg black and tan print pants.

Miskabelle Tribal Print Wide Leg Pants vs. Anthro 'Gracious Wide Legs'

Summery woven clutches.

Miskabelle Woven 'Multicolor Straw Clutch' vs. Anthro 'Granny Square Clutch'

I must admit, our versions definitely hold up against the pricey competitors!
Don't you just LOVE vintage?

xo
Jayme

Virtual Vintage: Spotlight on Rose Red Winter

We came across the lovely Kellie Jo of Rose Red many months ago in an inspiration post I wrote about fall trends done vintage-style.  She was modeling a navy plaid dress and looked exactly like her fairytale namesake, with her perfect jet black hair and rosey-red lips.

Her vintage shop carries a variety of things, but seems to specialize in dresses.  I happen to be obsessed with dresses, so it was the perfect match!  Below, I chose six of my favorites, in varying styles.  I want them all--and I could afford this whole dress wardrobe without selling my soul because her prices are also so reasonable! (I am a bargain shopper to the core, another reason I love thrifting so much.)

Besides these awesome finds, Rose Red also features a variety of upcycled fashions, one of a kind pieces with sweet, whimsical touches like hearts and flowers.  And on top of that, Rose Red has recently opened a new shop for her handmade accessories that are equally adorable.

Come next payday, I have my eye (and dollars) on Rose Red! 


If you have a shop you'd like us to check out and feature, drop us an email (miskabelle at gee mail dot com) or DM us on Twitter @miskabelle.

Stay gorgeous,
A

Virtual Vintage: Spotlight on VerseauVintage

Note to our readers:  This is a new weekly feature on our blog...Virtual Vintage--it's online window shopping!  Each week we'll feature one of our favorite fellow vintage sellers and the items in their store that make us drool. If you have a vintage shop online (or know someone who does) and would like us to put the spotlight on you, just drop us a message or a tweet.   

            

This week I made a (virtual) trip to VerseauVintage after seeing a link on Twitter to a pair of amazing red flats (seen below) in my size.  Once I was there, I couldn't stop admiring the wide variety of amazing vintage items in her shop.  I put together a day look and an evening look with some of my favorite pieces.

 

I'd add some skinny jeans and a soft white tee to complete this look.

1.  Varsity cardigan

2.  Bally bow flats

3.  Neon purse

 

Some patterned or color tights would put the finishing touch on this fabulous outfit.

1.  Ferragamo booties

2.  Metallic bag

3.  Mini dress

4.  Poisson pendant

 

In honor of Earth Day, many of our online vintage friends on Twitter (ps:  follow us @miskabelle!) are advocating the green advantage of vintage---and it's an excellent point to make!  Used clothes need love too!  And these pieces from VerseauVintage are easy to love. 

Stay gorgeous,

A

Wednesday Re-Fashion: The Overdone Dress

When we found this dress while thrifting, we fell in love with its details--the animal print-like graphic, the turquoise and black color scheme, and the lacy, sailor-dress collar.  We posted it for sale as it was, but every time we looked at it, there was something missing.  Alas, it became our next re-fashioning project.

The sleeves were long and the skirt came to an awkard length, so we decided to shorten it (for summer!) and take off the sleeves altogether to bring the focus on to the collar and its black edging.  Here's how it turned out:

Now it's the most adorable summery dress!  I love how the edging on the collar creates a bit of a sleeve.  And the fabric design still stands out, even without all that fabric. And isn't J SO GORGEOUS?

This is a one-of-a-kind sundress--ON SALE NOW in our Etsy shop.  You can also browse some other newly-posted redesigns!

There's more work to be done, so I'm off (like a wedding dress...like a light switch...like SKINTASTIC...like....okay, I'm out of cheesy phrases.  Anyone else?)!  Thanks for reading, beautiful babies.

Stay gorgeous,
A

Opposites Attract

Like night and day, fire and ice, good and evil...

Like that really bubbly cheerleader and her shy bookworm boyfriend...

Like peanut butter and jelly, sweet and sour, sugar and spice...

<-----Like old school Paula Abdul and a cat... (huh?)

Cartoon kittens and crazy chicks aside, it is a fact of the universe: opposites attract. It may not always be a lasting attraction, but it is certainly an interesting one. Sometimes the attraction is based on passion. Sometimes it's a quest for balance. And sometimes it's just trying to make sense out of chaos.

We have put together some vintage outfits with items from our shop containing opposite trends and patterns--for some truly magnetic looks. We bring pairings you may have once reserved only for Homecoming Week's "Clash Day" into the everyday world of fashion, combining passion and balance with just a touch of chaos. A little whimsical and a little unexpected: like the best fashions always are.

Boy Meets Girl

















We created this casual look by pairing a frilly (ruffles+lace) top with men's suede oxfords. Cute and feminine with just a hint of tomboy to mix things up. Also, we know how many of you feel about the tights+shorts look, but it's really growing on us (mostly because of the winter pasties that illuminate every bump, vein, hair, and vessel on our legs. The remedy? Just add tights).

Black and White






















The sleekest, most basic color (well, anti-color) combination that anyone can make work. We took our favorite new spring blouse and put on some black skinnies tucked into black vintage cowboy boots (to streamline the bottom half) and tossed on a few black accessories (headband and vintage cross-body bag) for added contrast. One piece of advice for B&W dressing: it can get boring. You don't want to go out looking like a waiter/theater usher. Which is why we added some interest with the texture on the cowboy boots and the eyelet detailing on the top. And of course: red lips.

Polka Dots and Stripes






















This look is a bit more daring: bright dots and flowers meet bright stripes. The important thing about mixing patterns is that they need to have the same color palette--this is what makes the look work. This sweet cropped blouse has both flowers and polka dots in shades of pink and purple, so we paired it with a striped silk skirt in a similar color scheme. And white ruffly socks+platform mary janes for that extra touch of whimsy.

Hard vs. Soft






















What could be sexier than leather and lace (and lots and lots of pearls, as well as the prettiest vintage pumps)? This is not a look for the faint of heart, but when worn well, it's appropriate for day or night (and not a night on the street corner). The key here is subtlety: the leather skirt is sexy, but it's a pencil skirt, not a mini. And the top is sheer, so the pearls help to offset the peekaboo with a more ladylike vibe. We made the look even more feminine with nude pumps with a flower accent and a satin clutch in a pretty color.

Floral and Plaid























Again, the key to mixing patterns is a shared color palette, but the scale of the pattern is also important. The small floral pattern on this blouse is a lovely balance with the bolder plaid of the skirt. The thick brown leather belt gives the outfit a focal point to tie it all together. And we can't forget the CLOGS! our favorite shoe trend of the spring season. (This high wedge bright blue suede pair isn't vintage, but J did purchase them several years ago! See? We're always ahead of the trends).

So now that you've seen our little tutorial, go out and mix it up! We had so much fun finding just the right combinations--just call us the eHarmony of fashion! We really take the time to find the perfect match (oh, and we give it to you for FREE on the blog!).

In other news, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our very own website, miskabelle.com. You can access our blog, Etsy shop, Chictopia journal, Twitter, and Facebook page right now--with more updates coming soon! It's your one stop shop for all things Miskabelle. We couldn't be more excited!

Stay gorgeous,
A

Vintage Challenge: J vs. A

(FYI: I felt a little dirty posting this picture. But it's also so ridiculous, I had to. You're welcome.)

Okay, so it's not really a versus competition, but rather an encouragement experiment: we have a room full (and our own drawers and closets full) of vintage stuff, and we realize how rarely we've been wearing it (J, because her work is kind of conservative, aka BORING, and me because I'm in between sizes after baby Aurora and haven't been wearing much beyond sweats).

So we are challenging each other to a 7 Day Vintage SMACKDOWN! We have to incorporate vintage into our outfits every day for a week and document our outfit each day. I'll blog and post those pics here with styling tips for wearing vintage everyday (it really is easy once you get into a groove). Excellent motivation for us to get out of our style ruts--and maybe you too (you know who you are!)

Tomorrow is Day 1 of our journey. Keep checking back as I post our week of looks. Better yet, join us on the journey! Get out of your own style rut...try some vintage! Or maybe just a pop of color...or skirts if you've been wearing jeans every day. Baby steps.

I'm going to finish packing my vintage wardrobe for a long weekend trip to VA. See you all soon!

Stay gorgeous,
A

Spring Dreaming (on such a winter's day)

I am staring out the window at crazy swirling snowflakes, covered pine trees, and bundled up folks who are still diligent enough to take their pets out for a walk in the cold...here in the northeast, it seems as though the snow will never stop, like we'll never see green grass again (or sunshine for that matter). So this morning I spent some time dreaming about the upcoming season, pretty things I want to wear once everything thaws...

Some trends I'm really loving for spring, as reflected in these Etsy picks:

• full skirts
  
• fun, ladylike florals (always on trend for spring!)
• clogs/wooden heels
• cutesy, girly cardigans
• the ever-classic trenchcoat
• denim anything (especially dresses)
  

CLICK on the Etsy shop links below for more fabulous spring vintage finds!

Blue Tulip Dress, somethingrenewal
Ruffled Yellow Dress, fingerstaches
Butterfly-Lined Trench, tobedetermined
Short Sleeve Pastel Graphic Cardigan, paperdollvintage
Sleeveless Chambray Dress, dblhappinessvintage
Yellow Embroidered Cardigan, PurpleDeerVintage
Bright Green Wrap Skirt, ClaraPeyton
Strawberries Cardigan, mayfieldvintage
Red Halfmoon Floral Clutch, funkomavintage
Layered Floral Housedress, EyeForVintage
Tan Peeptoe Flats, modesttypewriter
Red Heeled Clogs, RockyMountainRetro
Cut Out Leather Wedge Sandals, jetsetvintage
Navy Military Trench, DiecastMe
Avocado Green Swing Trench, Nerdybird
Full Floral Pocket Skirt, fabgabs


Back to reality now...in my flannel pj pants with some inane soap opera playing on the TV, snow continuing to fall, my head hurting from staring at this screen so long...

Stay gorgeous (and warm and dry and safe, Northeasterners!),
A

Vintage Market Team Valentine Sale

Hiya! Happy Superbowl Sunday (if you watch the Superbowl). It's playing here in the background as we're doing business...I think we're secretly rooting for the Saints (only because we secretly root for Kim Kardashian).

We just posted several new accessories in our shop...many of them included in the Vintage Market Team Valentine Sale! We've been so pleased with the sales so far (thanks, ladies!) and they're continuing until this Saturday, February 13th!


We just wanted to take a sec to give our readers a glimpse into all of the fantastic items featured in our Miskabelle Valentine Sale...if it's red, pink, lacy, or silky, it can be yours for 20% off (until February 13th!)

More loverly items to come. Thanks for looking (and loving)! xoxo

Stay gorgeous,
A
Miskabelle

Make Me a Pin-Up Girl

I recently bought Imelda May's "Love Tattoo" album and her rockabilly, vintage fashion sensibility (and
fun, funky tunes) have had me scrounging Etsy for Pin-Up Girl pieces, a look which I consider to be a little bit Mad Men, a little bit bad-ass. (Think Back to Basics-era Christina Aguilera). Dita Von Teese is another modern-day icon that comes to mind--though her fashion is often more burlesque and tassel-y than is appropriate for every day.

Still, there's something so glamorous...the shiny hair and curls, the red lips, fishnet pantyhose, sensuous fabrics, sky-high heels...it's all about flirtation and girly-ness. Not to mention SERIOUS CURVES.

Here are some of the pieces I have been eyeing up (and maybe asking the Valentine's Day or Birthday fairy for--ten pretty things, plus one for good luck!):

1. Blue Sailor Dress, HollywoodVintageGlam
2. Green Lace Dress, DustyRoseVintage
3. Yellow Wiggle Dress, VintageBungalow
4. Black Pencil Dress with Lace, LightyearsVintage
5. Ivory Beaded Cardigan, BrownBagVintage
6. Pink Trim Cardigan, SlipsAhoy
7. Gray D'Orsay Bow Pumps, FASHIONRERUN
8. Leopard Pumps, Popettes
9. Red High Waisted Pencil Skirt, AgnusDei
10. Blue and White Swing Skirt, JessJamesJake
11. Aurora Borealis Clip-ons, ModGirlVintage

There are so many adorable, pin-up inspired pieces on Etsy...these are just a few that I loved (from a few of our most loved fellow vintage shops). There is also a ton of great vintage lingerie (wear at your own risk!) if you really want that boudoir-vixen vibe. The Miskabelles? We're a bit more innocent...at least in these pin up practice shots (below).

Miskabelle also has some great pin up pieces, from bags, to dresses, to high waisted shorts! Come on over...or should we say: "Come hither?"

Until next time...stay warm and dry and gorgeous,
A
Miskabelle