Vintage Levi's and bonus Jean nostalgia

How come when you can't find something anymore it becomes more desirable to you? It seems you can no longer find jeans without 'stretch.' The problem with them is, if they fit well in the change room, they don't stay that way. They start to 'bag out' once you wear them.  Not so with the jeans of my youth. 

I was intrigued by a pair of Levi's I saw in the vintage store for only $11, with all the tags attached. I didn't buy them right then, but overnight I thought they would probably fit me. I went back and they did fit!

They are super high waisted, and are made (in Canada!) of really thick, unyielding denim. I think I should be able to get away with wearing them with a longer top without it looking too weird.  My internet research on them didn't dig up anything about them. I can't tell from the label if they are late 70s or early 80s.  What do you think?

And thinking about jeans, since living in Alberta I've come across a few references to the Great Western Garment Co. which operated a factory in Edmonton until 2004.  Apparently, it was one of the only places that hired non-English speaking women.  When I was a kid a popular brand, the "GWG's" came from there. I think I had a white pair in the mid-1980s.  Check out a commercial from that era:

Looking forward to Springtime Past and Present

We had some warm weather, but it went down to below freezing this last week.  But, there are still signs of spring!  Longer evenings, blue skies, and the cottonwoods by the river ready to burst into leaves!

 And I am ready to shed my long johns for lighter, breezier clothing! (I don't think I've ever worn long johns more than this winter).

I had a trip down memory lane recently about one of my favourite spring shirts when I was a kid in the mid-1980s.  It was this lovely white cotton blouse with pastel flowers.  I am wearing it in the picture below with white stirrup pants.

It looks like my sister, dog, and I were posing in the early spring (R.I.P. Bessy!).  Luckily, I can give you a closer look at the pattern of shirt because I recently found the shoulder pads!  So here is a blast from the past from over 25 years ago!

When I organized our crap in the basement a couple of weeks ago I had a look in my Barbie box, and there they were! I must have thought they were decent pillows for Barbie's bed.

Then on Friday I had a few minutes to look over the spring fashions in the mall, and found a very reminiscent shirt!

Now, I just have to wait until the temperatures get above freezing again.  Hus agreed it was a very 80s pattern.

Back-to-School Fashions....my way

I wasn't going to buy any back to school clothing.  As a mature student, who has been teaching for the past decade, I have a fairly decent wardrobe.  And, I need to pinch pennies since my professional program is an expensive one.  
But, this weekend my parents visited, and my mom is a good thrifting partner, AND a new Value Village just opened near my neighbourhood.  So mom and I went to check it out.  
The stock there wasn't great.  Perhaps they haven't yet had many community donations.  But we did buy a few things.  Mom got a sweater for dad and an audiobook on CD.  And I ended up buying fairly typical back-to-school fashions...Mary Janes & a plaid jacket!

 The Mary Janes are Josef Seibel, and have been hardly worn, it at all.

Whoever priced them probably didn't know the brand, since they were only $9.99.  Value Village often prices shoes like this for $19.99.

And I love the retro vibe of this plaid jacket from Christopher & Banks.  

Look at the buttons! It was a little more expensive at $12.99. I think it would look great with jeans or a dark skirt or whatever.  It is quite light, so I probably will wear it as a blouse.  Even though school starts tomorrow it will be too warm to wear it, so I'll have to bide my time for a few weeks.

Lemon-Lime Leather Finds

My garage sale/thrift store finds have been pretty slim as of late, but I did manage to stumble upon some good leather accessories in summer colours at a local thrift shop...

 I saw this beautiful sandal peeking out among a shelf full of brown and black shoes.  I snatched it up ecstatically and threw it on my foot, but it was a size too large ;-(  Too bad!  But as I was putting it back on the shelf I noticed that it was a German brand (Ara), was the softest leather and was totally unworn.  I couldn't leave it behind and thought of my sister whose feet are one size larger than my own. I'll give them to her (or my other sister whose feet are a half size and falls between the two).  I looked all around the shelves for it mate and finally had to enlist one of the volunteers to help me.  She had to retrieve it from the back solemnly telling me that they were special stock and would cost more than the regular shoes.  "How much?" I asked with trepidation.  "5 dollars". No problemo, especially since they are still available online for $140! Lets have another look, including the unworn sole...

 I also picked up two leather belts for $1 each.  These are for me...

 I love this mustard colour, but can't wear it near my face, so the belt will be a nice addition to my wardrobe. I have one dress to wear this '80s inspired olive-green belt with but with some experimentation I should be able to wear it with other clothing.  When I got home I showed it to Hus exclaiming "look at this awesome '80s belt!"  He replied "'Awesome' isn't the word I'd use for it."  He'll love it once he sees a put-together look!  Or more like he won't even notice it when I wear it!

Sundresses and Vanity Sizing/Size Inflation

Last Spring I thrifted a bunch of new (to me) sundresses, but they didn't see the light of day since we had such a horrid and cold summer in British Columbia.  But, when we went to Mexico in February, I finally got to wear them.  Hopefully, I'll get more chances this summer.  Two are vintage (late 1980s) and the other one is newer - but all are made in Canada.
First the vintage ones...

 I got this one at a clothing swap fundraiser for a donation of $2.  Made by Les Mode Jolibel Inc, is is 100% cotton.  Notice how snug and well-fitting it is?  Size 10.  It is totally something I would have worn back in the day.  When my mom (who was in Mexico with us) saw it, she said I looked like I did back in the 1980s.  I take that as a complement!

 This one was purchased at Value Village in Coquitlam, BC for about $17. I love the pattern.  Although it feels like linen, it is also 100% cotton made by Seaqueen beachwear and swimwear.  I have a little shrug that dresses it up nicely.  It is also a size 10.  I also love that both of these vintage dresses have pockets.  So handy!

And finally the new one....

 This is Joseph Ribkoff, a Canadian design house that has been around since 1957.  Purchased at Value Village in Prince George, BC for about $15.  No pockets, and a synthetic material.  It also fits my torso well, but as compared to the size 10 1980s dresses, this one is a size 4!  Obviously, there is some discrepancy here.

And it is not just this dress. I have recently purchased a pair of jeans in a size 4, a few skirts, and many tops.  There is some controversy whether this trend is 'vanity sizing' (manufacturers purposely putting smaller sizes on clothing so vain consumers purchase the clothing) or 'size inflation' (manufacturers changing their sizing to reflect today's 'average' which is heavier and taller than it used to be).  Of course, studies show that even men's trousers (ostensibly measured in inches) do not reflect an accurate measurement.  A size "31" may actually measure as a "35."

All I know is that I never wore a size 4 when I reached adulthood and started shopping for myself.  Twenty years later, even with changing sizes, I still can't think of myself as a size 4.  I prefer to think of myself as a perfect (size) 10! Ha Ha! 

Vintage Cardigans

Now that I've started this blog, I've jumped feet first into what the internet has to offer.  So, I've also made my first online purchase at Etsy.  I am awaiting a 1950s off-white wool cardigan to be sent to me!

In anticipation, I thought I'd give you a fashion show of the other vintage cardi's I've acquired over the past few months.

First, my favourite...and it was free.  A friend purchased this lovely lemon-yellow angora cardigan at a thrift store for a halloween costume, and then didn't need it anymore.  Thanks Moe!  It always get compliments.  It is paired with a stick pin I bought at Value Village for $1.99.

Next up, is a neat cardigan made of Orlon, with a mesh over-weave.  I bought this one at a $5 bag sale from a store that was getting rid of its vintage section.  The other two pieces that I threw into the bag didn't end up fitting, so I guess you can say that this one cost $5.  Since it is gold, I have only worn it once to a Christmas party.

I only purchased the last one a few weeks ago at Value Village for $7.99.  So I haven't worn it yet.  It is a bright blue merino wool cardigan.  I've washed it two times and it still faintly smells of an elderly woman's perfume.  At first, I was a little freaked out about this, but now I rationalize this by thinking that the sweater must have really meant something to someone since it is holding on to their scent.  It is paired with a 'made in Italy' scarf I bought this summer for .50 cents at a Salvation Army.

 All these sweaters have fantastic buttons and reinforced button-holes.  The only problem is that they are all a tad short, but I'll compensate by layering.  Hopefully, my Etsy one is as nice.