For the past 14 years I’ve rounded up favorite vintage sold in the year gone by, so this blog is just the latest in a series. However there’s never been a year like 2020 before. January 2020 seems like years ago, doesn’t it?
With my psoriatic arthritis making it hard to do my own stunts, I’ve been getting modeling help with my listings for several years now, and this year I finally had to start relying on myself again for new images due to pandemic precautions. I found it personally helpful—smiling at a camera has had an uplifting effect on me. I hope you have found something to lift your spirits in this most difficult of years. Maybe this gallery will provide you a reason to smile.
If I had to pick my customers’ favorite color of the year, surprisingly (or maybe not!), it seems to have been yellow. There is a fashion trend toward yellows, specifically bright marigold, and one of the Pantone colors for 2021 is a bright yellow they call illuminating. It feels hopeful.
Soothing lavender was also popular.
I guess it should come as no surprise that vintage tops might be, well, tops with buyers in a year when our primary mode of face-to-face contact was through the computer.
Likewise vintage robes and lounge wear: A blue velvet robe from the late 1930s? It sure beats sweatpants!
My book Wear Vintage Now! came out at the beginning of the year, and it has made a lot of friends. I heard about it being a beach read, a convalescence read, and a comfort. One customer wrote “In these strange times, this book keeps me sane and makes me happy. I just love it and adore the personal touches.” I hope you have or will pick up a copy for yourself.
Now here’s a perennial: It doesn’t matter what year it is, novelty prints are favorites.
Mod fashion always seems forward-faced and upbeat. May it be a harbinger of good to come.
In 2020—for sitting in one’s own backyard, or taking a stroll—I offered sunhats. These date from ca 1920, 1940 and 1960.
Then there are the four 49ers (don’t anyone sing three french hens, two turtledoves…). Since I live relatively near Pendleton’s home in Oregon, I have the good fortune to find their famous jackets, made starting in 1949. Bonus: They are put-together yet comfortable.
Another perpetual vintage favorite, and a good reminder: Flowers mean spring, which means hope.
I can never have enough green to offer, especially on the beautiful red-haired model Selah. Nothing flew out of my shop faster than that early 1940s yellow and green dress by Lanz.
Once again this year, I have donated 10% of my profits to the Save the Manatee Club. The organization kindly informed me that over many years, I have been able to donate over $12,200 for the protection of this beloved species. I will always continue with this, and I’m so grateful for all the support I get from caring customers, readers, colleagues and friends.
Through the Pink Heart Shop of my Etsy store, I also continued to support Dress for Success in their mission to economically empower women all over the world. This has been a crisis time for many of their clients, and I was glad to offer what I could to help.
Next: To say that late 1930s to early 1940s hats are interesting is unnecessary. Just look at them. This is one of my favorite categories of vintage fashion so this year I gave myself the pleasure of showing these.
There were some mighty spectacular beaded items this year. The 1970s Sister Max dress in the first photo weighed an astonishing five pounds. Sarah (the gorgeous model) said it was her favorite thing she’d worn from my stash of vintage.
More comfort! This time via soft wool bouclé knits.
Beautiful Bakelite, Lucite, acetate surah and rattan—they all run circles around modern equivalents.
And one more vote for spring (you may call me a petal pusher): Alternative petals.
I loved the pink hat’s review “If a hat were to be designed for me, this would be it. It is exquisite. This is a hat that makes me happy.” Isn’t that what vintage fashion is all about?
This was a tough year. Many of us were alone, but we were alone together. If I had just one wish for the year ahead, I’d use it to wish that we would all understand that we are together in everything. Whether it’s wearing a mask and keeping a safe distance for each others’ health and safety, or watching out for neighbors who are less fortunate, or standing by people who are not treated equally, or caring for our planet.
Since I have more than one wish, I wish you and yours a healthy, safe, and hopeful year ahead.
My best to you,
Maggie of denisebrain