THE WINTER WARDROBE IS HERE!!!

It's that time of year when the chilly air excites us and holiday aromas ignite our senses … It's a beautiful season, full of surprises. Christmas songs begin to play, store windows begin to sparkle, and we are children once again... allowing our hearts to hope and believe that "anything is possible". Truly the Winter Collection at the Vintage Wardrobe expresses these sentiments in deep hues and rich velvets.

  

The first dress I would like to showcase is the "Autumn Gem Dress". It's shimmery taffeta material is unlike any other dress I have ever seen. Just imagine the elegance that you will bring to a room in this holiday dream dress. The skirt flairs out just enough to make a perfect dance dress if your holiday party is an affair with music and drinks. With it's emerald color, off the shoulder neck line, and fitted waist, you will look like an enchanted character out of The Nut Cracker.

 Pair this dress with some statement shoes, (Available also in the Vintage Wardrobe) a fuzzy faux fur wrap, velvet bucket hat, and handmade choker.

  THE CRANBERRY BLISS DRESS

This regal stretchy- velour dress is comfortable and perfect for a holiday outing. Whether you plan to attend a family dinner, winter wedding, or old fashioned Dickens Christmas, this gown is a slip over the head, no fuss way to look your best and make your day a memorable one. The Biltmore Mansion in Asheville is exciting this time of year, and I can't help but picture how fitting this dress would be to wear within the fine stone walls, and rows of poinsettia. 

SNOW WHITE PRINCESS

This next dress is one of my personal favorites. It reminds me of the 1930's sleek silhouettes, but also the lacy Victorian era; It's the best of both worlds. With it's cold shoulder sleeves, and cross-crossed velvety neckline, this charming gown is a stunner for sure. Pair it with one of our black lace fans, and/or beaded wedding handbags and watch the young men swoon. Whether you plan to visit an Italian Opera, take a holiday Cruise, or just stand out for the New Year....this dress is a purchase you won't regret, especially for under $20!

                                                                              

                                                             LET IT SNOW ENSEMBLE

This outfit is absolutely dreamy. It is a combination of several different eras with it's velvety hand warmer, and fur trimmed caplet. But the best part is surely the 1980's deep burgundy, almost black, party dress that looks 50's. It's one of the most fun dresses I have ever beheld, with it's sparkly but not overdone applique at the neckline, off the shoulder cap sleeves and a line skirt. 

THE LACE MERLOT DRESS

It's 1940's inspired shape, looks straight out of a magazine from the golden era. Miss Bri is undeniably lovely in this satin and lace dress. You are sure to look sweeter than a sugar cookie in this romantic style. Dresses like this don't come around now a days, and it's rare to find one that speaks volumes like this one does.

THE STARLET HANGER DRESS

 It's bright, bold, glamorous, and fun! The soft and shiny material is embellished with sequins and beads, adding a bit of glitz to this already fantastical dress. Wear it to a hanger dance, a movie premiere, or twirl to some vintage records playing in your living room. Whatever the occasion this dress makes you feel like a star, and reminds you "It's a Wonderful Life!"

SCARLET'S FANCY 

There's so much to say about this creative ensemble! From the unique black and grey dress underneath, to the tomato red robe that you can wear over your pajamas or over a formal gown, to the vintage wide brimmed hat with it's velvet embellishments, and the beaded jewelry...

Try on all these wonderful pieces at The Vintage Wardrobe, located in the Art Room Main St. Franklin NC.

    

  MOD MYSTERY 

The 1960's would be proud of this chick look. The soft faux suede dress and jacket can be worn to a sporty event or a more formal occasion. It's a a great office look, or polished outfit for any day out on the town. The long golden rope necklace and tan feathered hat adds to the fine retro quality of this outfit...

Thanks for visiting the blog! Hope you've enjoyed this preview of some of the wonderful outfits available in the Vintage Wardrobe! Please come see them for yourself!

The Vintage Wardrobe Turns One!!

    

Believe it or not the Vintage Wardrobe has hit it's one year mark! It has been such a fun journey so far! From photo shoots to fashion shows, it's been a wonderful experience to sell retro styles in the Art Room on Main St. and watch my little business bring smiles to peoples faces.

Here are some photos of the guests we have had over the last year!

 These Ladies came in during our late night hours for 'Window Wonderland'. They lit up my night with their positive spirits and enthusiasm for my business venture. And yes, all ages are welcome in The Vintage Wardrobe as long as they know how to keep their hands to themselves jk. (I encourage trying things on)

What a wonderful time was had with Miss Mikaela. We met at a Reenactment/Historic Military Event in Toccoa, GA. She drove up all the way to visit my little Franklin town, visit The Vintage Wardrobe and have lunch with me. She is such a sweet heart. I absolutely loved showing her around down town, having ice cream at the Motor Co. Grill (A 1950''s style diner) and talking to folks who stopped us because of the way we were dressed.

Meet my lovely and supportive friends Pamela and Victor. Pamela and I became friends a year before when she had visited Franklin from Mexico. While in my area she met Victor her family's friend from Mexico. The two hadn't seen each other since they were young. Pam and Victor kept in touch after she left from America to go back to her family, and he eventually asked her to go on a missions trip. On that missions trip they fell more in love. This time Pamela came back to America to marry Victor. Her and her new husband enjoyed seeing The Vintage Wardrobe and Victor bought her a dress from the shop to wear on their vacation here in the mountains.

 My lovely Spring Fashion Show team; Laura, Tiffany, Kristan, and my Mother Belinda. What a blessing to have good friends who love fashion. This was a day we all won't soon forget. My friend Tiffany went into the Navy after this, and I am anxious to see her again when she gets leave this summer! We will definitely have some photo shoots when we reunite! Laura's help and friendship has been invaluable this past year! and  quickly became my main model for the Vintage Wardrobe! Kristan makes every day a fun day, whether at the Wardrobe or at the Biltmore wearing our finery...And Mama, well all you have to do is look at that face and you know why I love her. She has waited many a day while I color coordinated the stock, dressed up the manikins and shuttled me from place to place for the business. What would I do without her?

And here are some pics of my favorite Norwegian Customers! The Pettersens came all the way from Norway to perform their music in my little country town. Rani Pettersen (on the right) loves Vintage Fashion and couldn't wait to check out my little shop corner while they were in town. What an exciting time it was for her and her daughter Johanna to try on pieces and purchase a trunk full to bring back to Scandinavia with them! Both ladies picked out some things to wear for our outing to the Biltmore Estate. It was so much fun! Thanks Ladies for making October the best month for my business! I miss you guys a lot.

And bellow are some other pics of friends from far and wide who stopped into the shop and bought dresses that they loved. First we have a pic of Krista and I. Krista bought two silky retro style dresses from the shop that looked wonderful on her and also some earrings to match!
The beautiful blonde on the right is Miss Judy Trapani. Her and her husband visited the shop last August, and her husband bought her a pretty pink night gown set that they both took a liking to. Bellow is a photo of me and my dear friend Meadow who married a man from the U.K. in the Spring. Her and I stopped by the Vintage Wardrobe on the last day of hanging out before she got married. She bought a delicate fuchsia honeymoon dress that can't be beat!

 And lastly there is a pic of my sister from another Mother, Samantha, who has come on many occasions to support the Vintage Wardrobe and buy unique things to wear.

Thank you so much to all my friends and return customers at the Vintage Wardrobe! I love you all so much. Having people come up to me and tell me how much they appreciate my efforts and merchandise, makes me glad. My goal has been to encourage creativity and joy through the ministry of clothes. Fashion has brought us together in many ways, and it is just one of those things that makes my heart happy. I believe that the business has brought a lot of happiness to many people so far, and it has decorated my heart with laughter and hope. I thank Dianne Maclean for the opportunity to sell vintage style clothing in her shop, and thank God for His favor in providing everything I need. Here's to another year of open doors and cheerful displays!

Much Love,
 AJ. Childs
The Vintage Gal

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Victorian Style Head Toppers

The Whimsical Collection continues to shine at the Vintage Wardrobe this month! Yesterday new handmade creations were added to the November inventory! 

Here the lovely Melissa is wearing a floral retro dress which she bought for herself from the Vintage Wardrobe! Doesn't it look stunning on her? Here it is paired with a lightweight taffeta 1860's inspired jacket and an antique brooch of a black swan. (Be sure to go check out the wonderful new holiday pins available now in the shop!) Also, the vintage velvet hand warmer is up on the shelf, so you might wanna go snatch that up before it's gone!

         

Now let me talk about these exciting new head toppers! 

Above is a pic of the first one I created using lace, feathers, tan satiny material, pearl buttons and just my imagination for guidelines. You may not believe it but everything including the shoulder pad that I used for the body of the hat was indeed recycled! The white tule was once part of an old bridal veil from the 80's and the lace...once lingerie. But you'd never know it! Everything looks so new and well placed. This hat is something straight out of an Anne of Green Gables day dream. $30.00

This wool hat once had a small brim, but I deconstructed it and added the vintage detailing. Keeping in mind one of Scarlet's hats from Gone With The Wind, I re-imagined the flirting travel hats of the 1800's worn especially by the ladies in western films such as Maverick. $30.00

And this is my favorite...the beautiful satin, turquoise blue, side hat with gorgeous dangling beads. I might be keeping this one for myself folks, I just need to find the right dress to go with it. Material recycled from a lovely night dress, and  I added some faux peals for design. Beads come from a vintage lamp shade - believe it or not! 

Ah, yes...Red. I love wearing red so much, it truly is a fabulous color. This little head topper is the perfect facinator for your next holiday party! It will make any outfit you put on a show stopper! The best part about this marvelous hat is that it has a rare antique brooch attached to it that shines like a cluster of pomegranate jewel pods. Topped off with scarlet lace, vintage feathers and faux autumn leaves that will never lose their color, this hat will make your eyes pop and your friends smile. $18.00

Last but not least, the impressive "My Fairest Lady" head topper. Every Victorian lover cannot resist the feminine charm of pretty pink, and this bold and yet delicate hat is something that deserves to be displayed whenever it's not being worn. $20.00

Have you seen enough to convince you yet to come take a look?
Don't forget to stop by the Art Room on Main St and see Laura and I modeling these creative head toppers for Winter Wonderland on the 25th of this month and the 2nd of December. We will be in the shop and would gladly help outfit you in any way we can.
 Also keep in mind that Saturday the 25th is "Support Local Business" day in Franklin! We hope to see you soon!

Love, AJ. Childs  "The Vintage Gal"

The Whimsical Wardrobe: Fairy Crowns, Steampunk Corsets and Nerdy Hats

Hello beautiful people! Today I am going to be sharing a little bit about the charming and magical "Whimsical Collection" at the Vintage Wardrobe!

It's that time of year that ignites our imagination and gets our spirits stirring, and with that I am proud to present some HANDMADE costume accessories that will excite the child within us all.

Pictured above is  one of the unique hand-crafted 'Celtic Fairy Crowns' available now in the Vintage Wardrobe. This particular crown won't last long on the rack, with it's intricate copper wire twists, blue beads, and faux pears. In the back of the adjustable crown trails some lovely ribbons, just the perfect "whimsical touch" to complete a one of a kind headpiece. $18.00

Laura is wearing one of the latest arrivals in these photos; a dreamy white lace gown, with sleeves straight out of a renaissance court. She could easily pass off as the enchanting ghost of Juliet, reappearing on the streets of Verona to meet her beloved Romeo (After all, can death truly conquer true love?) Whether you would like to wear this dress to a costume party, a Renaissance Fair, or to your own wedding day, it's not something you'll ever want to part with.

Made in the 1970's, and in pristine condition, this gown comes with a full white petticoat, and can be paired with just a bra, or a tank top for more coverage. Purchase one of the fantastic necklaces in the Vintage Wardrobe to wear with it, and you are ready to make an unforgettable entrance. Size M/L $55

 

I sure do love these fairy tale crowns, this one looks fabulous with the 1960's pink chiffon gown, with it's light breezy material and lacy edged details. I threw on a cardigan just for some warmth in this pic, but you may want to pair this dress with something a bit more fancy, such as a white cape, or velvet cowl. Size XS $25

A few other new arrivals to the Vintage Wardrobe are the reversible lavender corset/vest. It's like nothing you've ever seen, with an adjustable halter neck, and a Velcro back for easy "on and off". The vest has steampunk detailing, and is a one of a kind piece of artwork that you can wear. This piece is something you'll want to show off to your friends, and wear all year round over dresses and blouses with billowy sleeves. It is displayed here over a black velvet dress from the 1980's that would be a great buy for a holiday party. Corset Vest Size S/M $45.00, Velvet Dress Size M $25

Also be sure to check out the wonderful KNERDY KNITS while at the Vintage Wardrobe in the Art Room in Franklin. The Dr. Who Inspired Scarfs have returned, as have the crochet hats that are inspired by different TV shows and movies. Some of my favorites are the Batman mask hat for adults $25.00, Rey's Goggle hat with detachable knit goggles $25.00 AND the new Tangled inspired 'Rapunzel Hair Hat'. Just look at all those beautiful flowers! What a splendid Christmas gift this would make for the little girly girl in your life. Size 6-8 $35.00

   Thanks for visiting the blog, folks! Come back again, and until next time - Go visit the Vintage Wardrobe in the Art Room on Main St, and check out all the pieces in the Whimsical Collection for yourself!

  Much Love, The Vintage Gal