Give thanks for Golyester

A couple weeks ago I took a jaunt to Los Angeles (mostly to get this old childhood itch called “Disneyland” scratched, but I may post on that later), and on our last day we took a walk down La Brea Ave for some vintage shopping. Attracted by the over-the-top display in the window, we decided to investigate.

Golyester

Bowled over.

Immediately to my left as I walk in the door is an astonishing pair of the most pristine vintage pumps I have ever laid hungry eyes on. They look like they came right off Ginger Rogers after one light-footed traipse across the stage and directly into a life-preserving oxygen chamber just for the delight of my unsuspecting eyeballs.

vintage pumps

Agape, I realize they are not alone. Every single pair. Immaculate.

vintage pumps

vintage shoes

vintage pumps

True, most people I know won’t have $400 built into their clothing budget for a pair of museum quality vintage shoes, but walking into this place is like walking into a glittering, well-preserved cathedral for anyone remotely titillated by historical fashion. Its a museum you don’t have to pay for – unless you have a difficult time keeping your credit card in its holster. Perhaps in spite of my starry-eyed idea of “in focus,” you can get some vague notion of the opulence from these quick snapshots.



vintage boots





scarab necklace vintage jewels
scarab necklace
vintage swimwear
amazing unworn maillots



They also have a few interesting historical torture devices, like this belt someone named Charlie lovingly welded for his new, and likely short-lived, girlfriend.

chastity belt

Thanks to Golyester for letting me drool all over everything for 45 minutes!

Golyester
Vintage Clothing and Textiles
Specializing in 1900-1960′s
136 S. La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA
323.931.1339

I am moving to a new place which doesn’t yet have internet, so posting may be slightly sparse the next few days. Hope your Day of Gracious Gluttony was dually gratifying.






Forkably Hip!

So I’m in Chicago and two of my best friends in the whole world are putting me up (putting up with me?) for a whole month. So Andrea, of the mouth-watering Forkable Blog, is going to collaborate with me on an fashionably forkable event for highly-hip Midwesterners. Forkable really is sort of the food-centric version of Painfully Hip in that it’s all about creating captivating concoctions on the cheap. Oh man, you have no idea what you’re in for with Andrea’s droolicious cooking.

If you’re in Chicago and you’re painfully hip, you best be up in there! Any excuse to don your favorite cocktail dress, right?

forkably hip
(click for more info)

RSVP or request more info here!

Mentionable Unmentionables

Sorry for the bad cell phone photos, but I’m waiting for the camera I accidently left in Joshua Tree to be mailed back to me…

Anyway, take a peek at these adorable neon lace panties I got at Wal-Mart…

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Disclaimer: Wal-Mart is evil. Yes, I realize this is a popular opinion (er… fact) and yes, I realize that because I shop there for their $4 prescriptions and whatever else I grab during the pharmacy’s half hour long wait (sham!), that makes me a hypocrite. I am well aware of my shoddy integrity, thank you very much. But these? Cute, comfy as all hell, a flattering cut and less than a dollar each.

My roommate works at Planned Parenthood, who are now promoting these rad condoms.

unmentionable.jpg

Which come in these elegant cigarette-style boxes that say “Proper Attire… Required for Entry.” How obvious is that? Not just the saucy slogan and the discreet, purse-sized 3-pack box design, but the fact that you’ll be so stoked to show off how classy your condoms are that you’ll never “forget” again. Well-played, Planned Parenthood’s marketing team. You too, safe sex.

proper attire condoms

Ahhh. Now I’m well prepared for… my, uh, “legendary” boyfriend. His name is, um… Beau. Beauregard Smith. Yup! He’s totally epic.

NORDSTROM.com Shoe Clearance

Parfait, my new favorite ‘zine

Emily K. Larned of Red Charming recently sent me a copy of her awesome ‘zine, Parfait, “…in which your discerning editor turns her sartorial eye to antiquated books seeking fashion inspiration for all.”
Pretty much like Painfully Hip’s thrift stars, but with vintage photographs …and good writing.

parfait

Obviously right up my alley- I absolutely loved it. It came beautifully hand-bound and packaged and was entertaining as f#$%. Here’s an excerpt (and a regretfully bad scan):

skateboarder.jpg
ALL WHITE ALL THE TIME

It is 1965 and dude is on a skateboard vying for our attention, but who are we really looking at? That’s right, dude all the way back all in white. We’re looking at you. We like your look. Note how he does not ruin his all-white awesomeness by not wearing white shoes. He’s on it. None of his friends are as stylin’ but he doesn’t care. He doesn’t judge.

I’d recommend sending a copy to your fashion-obsessed penpals in lieu of a lameass christmas card. seriously, they’re only $6!

She also sent a beautiful hardcover book she wrote packed with titillating photography called Thrift Store, The Past & Future Secret Lives of Things, another perfect gift for the insatiable thrifters in your life.

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thrift stars of the week! (amber’s picks from wardrobe remix) 2 Oct 07

click on photos for more information or see the wardrobe remix flickr pool for more photos. for some reason these sort of ended up in order of least to most colorful…

louise
hello, ms. brooks! shall we go riding this fine day? yowza.

pixie
painfully hip just can’t get enough of beautiful fin, piksi and her high-waisted skirts. love the peekaboo of purple tights.

sweater leggings
her awesome leggings match her awesome sweater! love the pose.

schoolgirl
more purple legwear! this outfit is pretty close to perfect.

curtain
sherbet tone (pictured below) described this outfit in the comments as “roman aristocracy.” lovely.

agathe
i adore this dress. i need a navy cardi to go with my navy knee socks, dammit.

leatherjacket
this leather jacket is made of pure magic.

VSociety
this is what the vintage society girl wears to run errands? damn, i just realized what a stumblebum i am.

yokoo
yokoo is amazing. not only can she dress herself like nobody’s business, she’s also an amazing photographer. she took the last 2 gorgeous photos in my geek specs post.

sherbettone
sherbet tone‘s tee is one of those sparkly 80s prints that reads “i’m huggable” yet i would almost describe this outfit as elegant. touche!

boboniaa
i think i’m dreaming. that dress is just… gah.

slip
it’s beautiful Adore Vintage again. just outside the frame is an insane mob of boys being held back by a riot squad.

sallyjane
sally jane jackie o’s it up. can she do any wrong? um, no.

nag
not that this sweater is especially ugly, but don’t you love how ugly/festive sweaters are actually hip again? and these little knickers are to die for.

colorexplosion
i’m not sure if this color explosion would work without the black bag anchoring everything, but i love it!

…i also love painfully hip reader discounts! i have a serious obsession with both flower sleeves and mustard (both only $24):
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