Vintage Capsule Wardrobe: Reset! (2022)

So like...if you remember my last post about a capsule wardrobe then you remember I had roughly 5 pieces mapped out that I wanted to make/acquire by this year. Emphasis on wanted...oops! I did a lot of creative things the first half of last year, and quite a lot of sewing, but I ended up…

1950s Starter Pack | How-To Dress

The 1950s is THE most popular decade for vinties and probably the decade even those who are not fashion-minded would associate with "retro" style. Wide, full skirts with nipped in waists and high necklines in whisper-toned pastels are likely what most people think of right away. But true '50s womenswear wasn't exactly what you'd expect.…

Fashion History, Historical Fashion, Historical Costuming, and Vintage: What’s the Difference?

Since about 2010 or so, it seems there's been a trend of...well, old stuff. TV shows like Mad Men, Downton Abbey, The Crown, and Netflix's Hollywood, or films like Hidden Figures, Belle, Emma (2020), and Sylvie's Love* all have cult-followings and although they rarely break the bank (except, of course, the super hit that is…

(Vintage!) Capsule Wardrobe Plans | 2021

New Year's resolutions can be a doozy any year but particularly after the flaming hot mess that was 2020, frankly I think we're all flat-out exhausted. However, sometimes we need a project to kick-start our optimism and I've settled on mine. If you've read some of my earlier work, then you know how important slow…

Sew With Me! Pattern Review: the Stanwyck Skirt by Charm Patterns

Source: https://charmpatterns.com/shop/stanwyck-skirt/ Let's cut to the chase here: sewing can be intimidating when you're a newbie (okay, or even when you're not). It's so frustrating to follow guides who tell you something is beginner-friendly but they don't understand that you, my friend, have only just learned how to sew in a straight line, like, last…

Where Have I Been? Changes at TVG!

We all know 2020 has been...tumultuous, so I won't spend too much time saying what's already been said about an utterly unrecognizable year. But since March, if you follow me on social media you have likely noticed some changes in my content. When I started The Vintage Guidebook, I did it to celebrate my love…

Brand Spotlight: Secrets in Lace

Let's get right into it! Intros are for wussies. About the brand: Secrets in Lace was founded in 1984 in northern Virginia, USA. The brand offers a wide array of stockings and tights, bullet bras, and shapewear, all inspired by mid-century styles. Claim(s) to fame: Every possible stocking style you can imagine. A variety of…

Review: Beauty Bakerie “Lip Whip” liquid lipstick

Whether you're a vintage babe or not, we've all found ourselves in a situation where we want the lipstick look without the lipstick smudge. Sounds like Beauty Bakerie heard our cries. And yes, yes- I know these have been out for, like, ever and I'm late to the game buuuuuuuuuut... A lot of you have…

Brand Spotlight: What Katie Did

Oh, lingerie. The very word inspires images of calculated and sophisticated sexuality. These days, lingerie is almost exclusively associated with the bedroom or adult entertainment, but for women of previous decades, lingerie wasn’t only sensual- it was functional. With fewer items of clothing, pieces had to last, and one way to achieve that was by…

Review: Cover FX (a few complexion products!)

Complexion products are the unsung champions of the makeup world, if we’re being honest. Their goal is to make you look like you’re wearing nothing at all and when you have the right ones, that’s exactly what they do. They are not as glamorous as eyeshadow or highlighter but people will notice if you skip…