1980’s
Oh Madonna, how we love thy style.  And Prince and Michael…and the movie Flashdance.  Tights, stilettos, off the shoulder shirts, big buttons, and leg warmers; clothes to insure that you were ready to dance anywhere.  Guys rocked suspender action with tight tees and tighter jeans and white was a color of choice for jackets and pants.   I always suspected that this is how bleached out jeans became popular.  Some one was trying to save their white Don Johnson suit and their jeans got in the way.

1990’s
Though technically not vintage, the early nineties were iconic for their grunge wear.  Nirvana’s 1991 release of Nevermind changed the music world and the Seattle music scene changed fashion.  Soft flannel plaid shirts, worn-in jeans and work boots were the uniform of the grunge movement.  Vintage tees also made a huge comeback with the indie kids and a cool tee became an item that all your friends envied.

1960’s
For me, the 60’s are when fashion became a true art movement. Textiles were becoming more synthetic and everyone thought polyester was a dream come true. The patterns and colors that polyester clothing could be made out of were mind boggling. Experimental clothing was all the rage. Ladies actually wore dresses made out of paper! And probably hoped for sunny days, I do think rain would do some damage.  All in the same decade, you’ve got British Mod, Twiggy, Jackie-O, middle class values, Vietnam, the hippies and the Women’s Liberation movement. (Bra burning!) The clothing reflected the instability of the era.

1970’s
Sunhats, Pimp hats, long legged jeans and polyester disco shirts. I guess Saturday Night Fever says it all about disco. The leisure suit ruled in disco-town. But I always loved the Earth look that was still swinging out of the 60’s, less hippie lifestyle and more of a fashion movement. In all genres of 70’s fashion, men and women’s pants were cut extra long and instead of hemming them, everyone wore platform shoes to look tall. They were also very high waisted. Ringer tees and short shorts bridged this decade into the early 80’s. Just check out Season one of Magnum PI!

Here some great 60’s and 70’s ensembles we’ve had at Roulette!

1940’s
The 40’s were dominated by World War II.  Fabric and notions shortages, men on the front, and women in the factories doing a “man’s job” was reflected in the everyday clothing for women. The American economy was being revived by the war but clothing stayed simple due to fabric rationing. Pockets became popular as embellishments, and skirts slimmer.   Zippers made their appearance, and shoulder pads were added to give a man or woman a more imposing figure.  This also could have been because women were given pamphlets on how to cut a man’s suit down to fit a woman.  Unfortunately there were a lot of suits without men to wear them.  Women were asked to put their aprons aside and put on coveralls to work. Dungaree shirts, pants and practical shoes became popular with women, and when the war was over, women held onto them. Men’swear became popular as leisure and work clothes for women, though not really acceptable for dinner or evening wear.

1950’s
The 50’s woke up embracing the “New Look” that Dior debuted in Paris in 1947, heralding a new age of fashion. One where fabric and fashion were not limited by war, but celebrated by a new middle class with the glow of a strong economy and “safe”, happy homes. Women had discovered that they enjoyed working out of the home during the war. With so many men needing their jobs back, the happy housewife campaign was launched to entice women back into the art of homemaking.
Frilly aprons, day dresses, cocktail dresses, sportswear, shopping sets, and luscious accessories were just a few of the fashion bribes. And I imagine that they were hard to resist. Who doesn’t want to look great in a cocktail dress with a hostess apron over it, or lounging in a play set, sipping a martini by your pool? I do! Give me that matching hat and bolero jacket too! I think that the 50’s are when entertaining in your home became an art form. Your hostess outfit had to be as perfect as your jello mold. This need for middle class perfection followed women and fashion into the 60’s, and even the 70’s before coming to a grinding halt at the sight of those 80’s suits for women.

1920’s
The Roaring 20’s were a traumatized generation’s reply to the utter horror that was World War I. The western world discovered that life was short, it can end horribly and you should be as happy as possible during it. In America, this decade of utter abandonment was fueled by great jazz, prohibtion and secret speakeasies. The 20’s were, fast, furious, and probably a bit dangerous. Prohibition sparked the American gang movement and the various Mafias were your bartenders. Moving Pictures glorified fashion and allowed the world to see what the stars wore. Hats with the brim pulled down and double breasted jackets looked great on men with a slinky ladies on their arms, wearing short beaded dresses, boas, and feathers in their hair. Jazz and a need to dance with abandonment was a great excuse to wear nothing but silk slips, a cloche hat and heels out on the town.

1930’s
Enter the Depression and a decade of very little change in fashion. Hems dropped back down to the calves and lower, and dresses were made and remade from practical fabrics and colors. People were existing on the littlest amount possible. A positive note was that jazz was gaining in celebrity, and suits reflected the jazz musician’s taste. Ladies would revive a well worn dress with handmade broaches and corsages of fabric flowers and bits, put on a hat and go out dancing all night. Movies and their stars began to influence fashion more than ever. And as the economy began to recover, people wanted to dress like the stars. In 1937, Lana Turner wore a tight sweater in They Won’t Forget, and started a sweater fashion trend that extended all the way into the 50’s.

With the cold weather starting, there is no better time for Mi Scusi to bring back her wonderful, one-of-a-kind knits.  What I love so much about her work is that she is giving vintage yarns a second chance at life!  Its amazing to see her take what would have been discarded materials and reconstruct entire wardrobes out of yarn.

Using a diversity of colors, she constructs different scarves, hats, shawls, as well as camisoles and dresses (which are not pieces solely made of  yarn).  All perfect for this weather! Although marketed as uni-sex, in my opinion, most of her pieces have more of a feminine touch to them (which is perfect for me!).  Right down to every detail like her cute vintage buttons, these pieces scream Roulette and everything it stands for.

So next time you stop by, try one on and feel the beauty of each unique piece for yourself.

Love, Melissa

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We’ve been inspired this Halloween, and created “costume ideas” for you.
We’ve put together lots costumes for men and women, all with Costume Idea Cards telling you what you need to create the complete look.  And we have lots more ideas so stop by and see us!

Other great local resources for costumes and accessories:
Time After Time
Surplus Sids
Balloons & Toons

and in Pittsboro: Beggers and Choosers

links we like for more costume ideas:
www.costumeideazone.com
www.halloween-blog.com

I am so excited about the new book by Kayte Terry,  Applique’ Your Way!

My New Favorite Craft Book

I am a big fan of Applique’ and am always looking for new ideas. This book has 35 great projects. Usually you find ideas about applique’ in quilt books but this book offers great ideas for clothes, shoes, pillows, dog blanket, coasters, and much more. I just got mine in the mail; the photographs and layout are wonderful. I know I am going to have to give a few of these away for gifts.

Kayte Terry has a wonderful blog that I love to check out weekly called Love Forever. I became a fan of hers after my sister gave me her book Complete Embellishing for Christmas.

Always try to buy your books locally if you can. I am going to try to talk Jenny into carrying it at Nested.

~Rebecca

I guess we should love the Carrboro Artisan Market, since we started it with Sarah McLane.  But the actual event was so much fun that we love it more than we expected to.  All of the artisans were amazing, and so many people came out.  It takes more than a misty grey day to keep Carrboro away from hand crafted goods!

It was so much fun that we’re going to do it again in November!  The actual date will be announced soon.  You can check out all the great vendors at the Carrboro Artisan Market website and check out it’s photo album on Flickr.

We’ve posted new pics of our booth on our Flickr, and we’re now carrying craft bundles, vintage button cards and vintage linens at the store.  If you too have a weakness for vintage fabrics and notions, you should come by and check them out.   You can geek out with me and Rebecca about all the cool things to do with a button or a pillowcase.
Kara

I found this great blog,  Urban Weeds:Street Style From Portland. I love the photography and the style of each person featured. Many of the featured people are designers that have really interesting ideas. One example is Sarai, Owner of Colette Patterns.

“These patterns are designed to be made into clothes that you will love forever. They are timeless, beautiful designs that can be made in a variety of fabrics to suit the season. They are wearable, practical, and pretty.”