Summertime Update

 Here's a peek at what's been trickling into the shop lately. I seem to be in a feminine mood lately with lots of pink and purple tones. All of these summer-ready pieces are in the shop now (images are linked).

The Bride Wore La Poubelle Vintage

Two weeks ago, the lovely Stephany Byrne stopped by La Poubelle headquarters (aka my apartment) in search of three dresses for her wedding weekend, wedding dress included! She was going for a 1970's boho vibe to match the wedding's laid-back Hudson Valley setting. For cocktails the evening before the big day, she chose a '70s cotton dress, below. She didn't snag any pictures the night of but here's a shot of the dress from the Etsy shop.

For her wedding ceremony, she settled on an ethereal '70s white cotton maxi dress. Doesn't she look amazing?

 

And for brunch the next day, she chose the '70's printed maxi dress below, which suits her so perfectly! Stephany added her own vintage touch by attaching a silk flower pin that belonged to her mother at the waist (something borrowed and something blue!).

We're so glad we were able to be a part of Stephany's big day and we wish her the absolute best in her newly married life!

Vintage Designer: Lanz Originals

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Perhaps I'm a little biased (I do share my last name with the vintage dress brand...perhaps I'm a descendant of vintage royalty?!), but Lanz Originals are some of my favorite vintage pieces to find. They aren't known for being particularly showy, but the cuts are always quite classic and the prints adorable. Plus, their tags are darn cute! I just found a couple of lovely Lanz dresses (pictured below) which inspired me to do a little digging into the background of the brand.

Lanz originated in Austria during the early '20s and made a name for themselves by blending traditional Austrian folkwear with the current trends of the time. Why the folkwear base? Lanz originally produced clothing for Austrians at the Salzburg Music Festival and soon tourists began buying the designs to take home, according to the Vintage Fashion Guild. It wasn’t until after WWII that Lanz started designing clothes for American women that were still inspired by traditional Austrian culture.

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Here's where it gets a little tricky...By the late '70s, two Lanz labels existed in America–Lanz Originals and Lanz of Salzburg, which was focused on making women’s sleepwear. This is likely why many people associate the Lanz name with nightgowns, I know my mom had one. Today, Lanz Originals still focuses on traditional Austrian clothing and dirndls while Lanz of Salzburg continues to produce women’s sleepwear in the U.S.

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A Mobile Shop Update: The End Is Near

It’s been awhile since I’ve updated you guys on the progress of my mobile shop venture and I’ve got tons of details to fill you in on since April.  

First things first…the clothes! One of the most fun (and indulgent) parts of launching this new facet of my business has been getting to stock up on lots and lots of vintage to fill the trailer with. Above are some peeks at what I have in store for you Brooklynites but believe me when I say that there is much more where that came from. My bedroom is literally exploding with vintage clothes and I can’t wait to share it will all of you!

My trailer-towing machine!

Aaand here she is getting towed away after a highway breakdown!

Also…I bought a car! The trailer isn’t going to tow itself, so naturally I needed a vehicle to pull it with. I decided on a Ford Escape since they’re affordable and powerful enough for towing. I’ve had a couple of major breakdowns (and just as many anxiety attacks) since buying my wheels but all in all, my vintage sourcing has been much more effective now that I don’t have to rely on friends and Zipcar for transportation. Learning how to drive with a 10-foot monstrosity attached to my car has also been, in a word, interesting but I keep telling myself that trailer towing will be a good skill to have if this whole vintage thing doesn’t work out...right?

The trailer primed and ready!

Me getting my construction on and sanding the trailer.

And we can’t forget about…the trailer construction! Since buying the trailer, I’ve gutted the inside and replaced a lot of missing wood paneling with the very generous help of my friend Zach who has a carpentry business and has donated his time and power tools to the cause. The inside is almost ready for finishing touches like a new paint job, hanging racks, checkered flooring and the deadstock 1950s floral wallpaper that I just ordered! I’ve also primed the outside (as you can see in the above photo) and it’s all ready for its teal paint job as soon as I can get a few clear days in Brooklyn...are you listening Mother Nature? 

And you can’t leave without hearing about…my new website! I finally have a domain name to call my own and pretty soon lapoubellevintage.com will be up and running. My super talented friend Hannah Rawe did some amazing drawings for the site (that is actually being coded as we speak). Above is a sneak peek at what the home page will look like.

All in all, these past few months have been a combination of amazingly exciting/incredibly stressful/creatively stimulating/physically exhausting. Getting this thing up and running has been a TON of work with lots of unexpected twists and turns and also one of the most satisfying experiences of my career thus far being able to actually create something that I’ve been conceptualizing for so long.

Thanks for reading and sorry for the very wordy post! Follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more daily updates and stay tuned for the launch date (and backyard party!) of the mobile shop!

1940s Shoe Porn

 

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Everyone loves a good ‘40s frock but what I’m really keen on are shoes from the decade. The footwear styles look modern enough to be sold at any shoe boutique today but the bright colors and whimsical details make them amazing vintage pieces. In honor of this pair of ‘40s leather pumps that are in the shop now, I’ve rounded up some 1940s shoe porn for you. A lot of the photos I found on Pinterest, follow my pins here!  

 1940s shoes now in the shop!

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Joan Crawford's shoe closet. Source.

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Vintage Designer: Gunne Sax

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Anyone who knows me knows I love a good easy, breezy bohemian dress and Gunne Sax always fits that bill. The brand, a highly collectible vintage line, is known for its super cool peasant dresses, usually featuring lace and ruffles. Its name actually developed out of the “gunny sack,” a burlap trim used on their first dresses. Many of the styles sport a renaissance and medieval look, typically full length cuts with floral patterns. Jessica McClintock invested in the brand in 1969 while it was still a small San Franciscan line. She now remains the head of the business, and has since joined it with her company: Jessica McClintock Inc. In the 1980s Gunne Sax, originally a junior’s line, took on a more prom dress style, with tight bodices and full skirts. In 1989 The New York Times reported that it was the lead seller at Macy’s for prom dresses. Though the brand is still churning out gowns, the earlier pieces from the '60s and '70s are my favorites. Here are some lovely styles from around the web and check out the Gunne Sax frock I have currently in the shop!

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A Summer Shop Update

1970s Dress / Floppy Hat / Reversible Halter 

 There's something about summer that makes me want to wear dresses that are a little brighter, prints that are a little crazier, and silhouettes that are a little more bohemian. The weather in Brooklyn has officially reached 90 degrees so here are some summer essentials to keep you looking easy and breezy!

 

1960s Silk Dress / Polka Dot Dress

 

1960s Dress / Macrame Bag / Needlepoint Necklace

 

1960s Bell Bottoms / Floral Maxi Dress