Once you see this week’s “Wow!” in vintage fashion, you’ll agree this sheer black vintage organdy blouse “tops” the list for many reasons.

Vintage Sheer Black Organdy Blouse With Lace And Bow & Dot Pattern

The seller, Marie McLeod, points out that the construction is couture quality, with its vertical black Needlerun lace panels, nipped waist, flirty double rows of organdy ruffles (finished in hand rolled edges!), self covered buttons, hand finished button holes, and hand cast or French seams.

But even a fashion novice will swoon over the pattern of sweet bows and dotted lace alternating with sheer black organdy. They just don’t make them like this — or even looking like this — anymore.

Back of 1940's Sheer Black Blouse

Tags: blouse, Shopping, vintage fashion, vintage glamour

The Little Black Dress always makes the list of fashion staples to have in your closet. Like high heels, I think little black dresses are easy to find and even easier to splurge on — but what one really needs to be mindful of are the more elusive basics, like The Little White Blouse.

Without little white blouses, what will you wear with your vintage suits and separates? It can be terribly difficult to match or coordinate with vintage fashions because their shades are from yesteryear’s color palettes. Plus, as these vintage photographs show, little white blouses with ruffles, pintucks, lace, and other details are the little touches which make an outfit an ensemble.

Dietrich With Dramatic White Ruffles

This retro Saks 5th Ave. lace blouse has a gorgeous accordion pleats!

Retro Saks Lace Bloue With Accordion Pleats

This vintage lace blouse may lack ruffles, but those 3 inch medallions of lace certainly will get attention!

Sheer Vintage Pin-Up Blouse With Loads Of Lace

Ralph Lauren’s sleeveless Forster Ruffle Blouse is less than $30 (sale found via Shop It To Me) and it will work past summer under suit jackets.

Sleeveless WhiteForster Ruffle Blouse

And the Venessa Ruffle-Front Blouse, also by Ralph Lauren, is also a good Little White Blouse choice.

Ralph Lauren Venessa Ruffle-Front Blouse

Katharine Hepburn With Wisps Of White Ruffles

If you’re looking for a ruffle to rise above the call of “just plain white,” the Ruffled Racerback Top adds interest as it adds a soft feminine contrast to more severe suiting.

White Ruffled Racerback Blouse

The Escada Long-Sleeve Ruffle Blouse has an incredible ruffle collar that stands up in back!

Escada Ruffled White Blouse With High Collar

And this retro white blouse has a ruffle that will be visible above most suit jacket necklines as well as a ruffled front and ruffled cuffs.

80's Ruffled White Blouse

Hedy Lamarr With Bits Of Ruffles

Tags: blouse, Fashion, little white blouse, Shopping, vintage fashion, vintage style

You know how sometimes when you buy a vintage suit jacket, the sleeves are just a bit too short? And then there’s no neat way to lengthen them either, because there’s a line of color demarcation or wear at the edge or something that prevents you from getting that wee bit extra length you need, right? Well, if the shoulders, etc. fit fine, why not consider shortening the sleeves, 1/2, 3/4 etc., and then put a blouse with some fabulous sleeves of its own beneath it — everyone will believe that’s how it’s supposed to look!

Via Shop It To Me’s Sale Mail I found this super classic white broadcloth shirt with fluted sleeves on sale for just $59.99 at Ralph Lauren and I just knew I had to get a few for just such “ill suited” moments.

Rinko Fluted-Sleeve Shirt By Ralph Lauren

Tags: blouse, little white blouse, suits, vintage fashion, wearing vintage clothing

Vintage Hane's Stockings Ad

For fashionistas who like to learn about fashions — old & new — I’m proud to share with you this month’s edition of the fabulous! festival. Hosting was fun!

Beauty:

Icy presents L’Oreal Infallible 16 Hours Lipstick Compact posted at Individual Chic.

Woman Tribune presents Piggy Paint Finally Makes Non-Toxic, Kid-Friendly Nail Polish a Reality posted at Woman Tribune.

Fashion:

Azrael Brown presents Three Gents In Snappy Hats posted at Infomercantile.

Deanna presents Smoking Hot Fashion: Recycled From Cigarette Butts posted at Kitsch Slapped.

Ed Biado presents Today’s most common fashion mistakes posted at Ed Biado at MST Life | Philippine Lifestyle News.

Ed Biado also presents Sunglasses at Ed Biado at MST Life | Philippine Lifestyle News.

Fabulously Broke presents 3 work environments to dress for posted at Fabulously Broke …in the City.

Pop Tart presents Tips On Darning Stockings & White Satin Blouses Yellowing? at Things Your Grandmother Knew.

Savings not shoes presents How to update your wardrobe after a major weight loss or gain posted at Savings not Shoes.

Personal Style:

Deanna presents The Answer To One Of Life’s Hardest Questions posted at Kitsch Slapped.

Icy presents A handbag of uniqueness, Part 1 & Part 2 at Individual Chic.

Pop Tart presents Kilgallen’s Boo-Boo posted at Kitschy Kitschy Coo.

Tali presents Mexican Pinups - A Cinco De Mayo Special- The Pinup Blog Way posted at The Pinup Blog.

Lastly…

This one may not entirely fit the theme, but I found Matt Curt’s Mafia Looking College Basketball Coaches (posted at NCAA Football 10 News) too clever not to include.

The next edition of the fabulous! festival will be hosted by Barry at 3stylelife.com on June 15 and the deadline for submissions is June 12th. You can submit your posts here.

Vintage stocking ad Found in Mom’s Basement.

Tags: Accessories, beauty, blouse, cosmetics, fabulous! festival, Fashion, handbags, hats, Makeup, pin ups, stockings

This vintage ivory satin blouse is more than a basic every woman should have in her wardrobe, it’s a masterpiece in simple elegance.

Elegant Vintage Satin Blouse With French Cuffs

From the 1950’s, the blouse has a classic notched collar, traditional yet bold large pearlized buttons, and a covered hook & eye to assure the garment’s proper closure and stylish fit. The tailored fit is further assisted & accentuated by both vertical and diagonal darts at the bust — the sort of detailing that I miss in today’s fashions.

But the piece de resistance are the lovely French cuffs which allow you to wear cufflinks!

Tags: blouse, vintage fashion

When I saw this mod hot pink top, with it’s sheer sleeves and outrageous pussycat bow, I immediately thought of Goldie Hawn in that Vogue photo by Stern.

Fabulous Retro Hot Pink Tunic Top

If you’d prefer a more classic little black dress version, the Etsy seller, Catbooks1940s, also has this amazing 1960’s babydoll Mini cocktail dress.

The Little Black Dress Goes Mod

In both cases you’re minus the frothy layered skirt; but you’ve got the integrity of authentic mod 60’s style and those incredible sheer sleeves which are not limited to any season.

Tags: blouse, little black dress, mod, retro, tunic, vintage fashion, vintage glamour

More of Lauren Bacall in To Have And Have Not; this time in vertical stripes.

Lauren Bacall In Striped Shirtdress

Lauren Bacall In Stripes

While Lauren is wearing a shirtwaist dress, you can see how lovely a simple blouse with vertical stripes can be.

Simple Vertical Striped Blouse

Pair it with pants or a pencil skirt, tucked in and belted properly is a must. You might also like to insert a pair of shoulder pads to help with the silhouette. Keep it simply elegant, crisp and classic by keeping the accessories to a minimum.

If you adore the shirtwaist look (and who doesn’t?) but not the stripes (it could happen!), here’s a vintage dress from the 1940’s in that style.

1940s Shirtwaist

Tags: blouse, Lauren Bacall, shirtdress, stripes, vintage fashion, vintage glamour