Make your very own Paper Doll Vintage Wish List to get exactly what you want this Holiday Season!

Hello Paper Dolls!

The Holiday Season is upon us and we want to help out your friends and relatives get you just what you want!  If you come into the shop and find a few items you like or saw something on Facebook or Instagram you really love go to the counter, call or email us to ask that the items be put on a wish list for you. We will take your name, number, and email to be sure you're getting the gifts you want!

Then let relatives, spouses, partners, friends and all other loved ones on the gift hunt know to come down to the shop.  When they arrive, we will look up your name and item list to help them pull the items if they are still in the shop.  Super Easy!

Worry free gift giving! Get what you want this Holiday Season, for your Birthday, or any other event that involves getting presents.  See you at the shop!

Love,
Dawn Paperdoll

Baltic Amber, from the Eocene to Paper Doll Vintage Boutique!

Some of Paper Doll Vintage Boutique's Amber for sale

Hello Paper Dolls!

We just got some new amber in from Poland and thought it would be fun to do a little research. Turns out, we've got some prehistoric pieces in the shop!

The Baltic region is home to the largest known deposit of amber, called Baltic amber orsuccinite. It dates from 44 million years ago.

The climate became warmer and trees started to exude big amounts of resin. Scientists say that amber is a fossil pine resin from this region that has achieved a stable state through oxidation.

It ranges from bright yellow to dark yellow or brownish-orange, depending on its age and where it is found, in seldom cases it is either red or blue. Only a small quantity of amber is clear, because of the effects of the sun, most of it is opaque. Enclosures, such as water bubbles, gas bubbles, pieces of bark, twigs, plant seeds and even insects and small animals unmistakably show its origin and give it its characteristic appearance.

There are also a number of other fascinating facts about natural Baltic Amber – it floats in salt water but sinks in fresh water; When amber is touched with fire, it produces an aroma of burning pine, amber electrifies negatively and it is still alive because its internal metamorphosis is still incomplete.

A Baltic Amber fairy tale: There was also a fisherman named Kastytis who chose to cast his nets within Jurate’s underwater kingdom. The goddess sent her handmaids to alert Kastytis that fishing in her kingdom was forbidden. However, Kastytis enjoyed the number of fish he was successful in catching in these waters and so he continued. When Jurate realized he was impervious to her wishes, she chose to go in person to deliver the message to cease immediately.

And as with all great love stories, this was the major turning point for both of them. Once Jurate laid eyes on Kastytis, she fell completely in love with him and brought him back to live with her in her amber palace.

But this was to be a very short and tragic love affair because her father, Perkunas, knew that Jurate was betrothed to Patrimpas, God of Water, and was incensed that Jurate would commit to a relationship with a mere mortal. In his anger, Perkunas destroyed the beautiful amber palace by sending a bolt of lightening that would also kill Jurate’s mortal lover. So the palace was destroyed and Jurate was chained within its ruins for all eternity.

So the story goes that when storms occur in the area of the Baltic Sea, the delicate fragments of the underwater palace are washed up on shore. Many of the amber pieces resemble the shape of tears thought to be from the grieving goddess who still cries for her lost love. These are the most precious pieces of all.

The Birth of the Ugly Sweater Party

Hello Paper Dolls!

As the holiday season rapidly approaches, we started to get curious about a new trend: Ugly Sweater Parties.  The parties around picked up around 2001, and the trend has only grown.  Major stores like H&M and Nordstrom have hopped on the ugly sweater sleigh.  

It's a really fun, easy way to have a theme party.  The pictures at the end of the night are a guaranteed laugh.  Thinking of hosting your own Ugly Sweater Party this winter?  Come in and check out our selection of ugly, and not so ugly sweaters for the faint of heart.

Wear that ugly sweater with pride!!!

The Carolina Parakeet went extinct for fashion...

Conuropsis carlinensis is the only parrot once native to the eastern United States, and it has been extinct since the 1920s. The Carolina Parakeet is believed to have died out because of a number of different threats. To make space for more agricultural land, large areas of forest were cut down, taking away its habitat. However, the bird's colorful feathers (green body, yellow head, and red around the bill) were in demand as decorations in ladies' hats.

Vintage methods were certainly not animal friendly, or nature conscious.  It's important to keep in mind what we are truly sacrificing for style.  

Mondrian Inspired Color-Block Fashions

Hello Paper Dolls!
We just re-styled our windows in a "De stijl" style. It was an art movement which started in Netherlands during 1917-1931. This art movement has inspired fashion designers, singers, architects and of course the real artists, the painters. Piet Mondrian’s  Composition II in Red, Blue, and Yellow(1930) can be taken as the prime example for this movement'.

This season Color-blocking is something trending.  It's a great easy look to accomplish using minimalism and straight lines for a clean look.  Use Strategically placed, contrasting, yet complimentary, bold and bright colors paired together to create a color-blocked look for yourself!  Come by the shop and see what color-blocking pieces we have for you!!

Hello Paper Dolls!

The new issue of Glamour magazine touts feathery skirts as a great flirty look for the dance floor.  We have a gorgeous 1950's - 1960's Maribou feather Peplum Brocade dress in a champagne color that can make a huge hit this winter! 

(Size Small, $349.00)

Style Icon Inspired looks from Paper Doll Vintage Boutique

Betsey Johnson:  
Betsey Johnson came up in the "youthquake" fashion movement of the 1960's with the likes of Andy Warhol and Edie Sedgewick.  In 1978, revived by the punk movement, Johnson partnered with ex-model Chantal Bacon to start their own company, the Betsey Johnson label. She once described her style as a formula: "Take a leotard and add a skirt."  Paper Doll Vintage has one of her classic looks from the 80's, a velvet floral mini-dress for sale. (Size-Large, $79.00) 


Bianca Jagger:
Bianca Jagger is known for being both the first wife of Mick Jagger and one of the most impeccably stylish women in the world. Another close friend to Andy Warhol, and muse to Halston.  Off the shoulder dresses, Grecian styles, and her signature white colored wardrobe make her a style icon.  The dress to the left is a sweet lace dress from the 80's we think Bianca would love, if you do too it's available in the shop. (Size-Small Medium, $60.00)

Diane Keaton as Annie Hall:
Diane Keaton pioneered the menswear as women's wear look after starring in Woody Allen's Annie Hall.  Over-sized shirts, waist-coats, bowler hats all a phenomenon of Annie Hall are visible even today. Designers such as Paul Smith and Ralph Lauren still capture that mix-and-match unisex look. Women everywhere still embrace the androgynous look.  Our wool pants and vest set is a perfect start to an Annie Hall inspired look. (Size-Large, $59.00)

How to Dewrinkle Pleated Clothing

While getting ready the other day I was having trouble ironing the pleats back into my white ankle length country club skirt. Here are some tips on ironing the vintage details back into your wardrobe. 

Heat-set pleats: Generally speaking, take these items to a dry cleaner. However, if your garment is made of a synthetic fabric, you can safely steam it.

Knife-pleated skirt: Lay the skirt on an ironing board and attach a paper clip to each pleat’s fold to keep it in place; clip about three at a time. Place the iron at the top of the pleat and burst the steam. Pick up the iron and set it down again farther down the pleat. (Don’t drag it across the fabric or the pleats will pucker.) Repeat on the rest of the pleats. Avoid ironing over the clips.

Tuxedo shirt: Turn the shirt inside out and iron the backs of the pleats, then turn the shirt right-side out, press down on several pleats, and give them a burst of steam. Pick up the iron and set it down again farther down the pleats. Repeat.

Soft folds: Use a steamer, because an iron will create hard creases. As you skim the steamer over the fabric, carefully hold the slack fabric straight with your free hand. No steamer? Spritz the garment with a wrinkle-release spray, smooth out the fabric with your hands, and hang to dry.

Sources:
http://www.realsimple.com/beauty-fashion/clothing-care/how-to-care-for-embellished-garments-00000000025107/page4.html
http://bessgeorgette.com/blog/

Paper Doll Vintage Boutique Blog!

Hey Paper Dolls!

Welcome to our new blog.  We are going to start posting interesting vintage fashion, tips for styling, how-to's, and much more!  

Sincerely Yours,
Paper Doll Vintage Blogger