More Plus Size Pretties For the Manhattan Vintage Show!

DAHLINGS -

It is absolutely FRANTIC here, I tell you! I've had to cancel all of my social engagements (Ashley Tisdale broke down in tears, poor thing, and Barbara Walters was extremely ungracious about my not attending her dinner party. Perhaps I will send Rosie O'Donnell in my stead.)

The Manhattan Vintage Show opens this coming Friday, October 10th, and if you love vintage, you will be a fool to miss it!

Here are some more vintage lovelies I have in store for you at my booth, The Mad Fashionista's Plus Size Boutique!

A 1963 gold silk jacket dress with flocked velvet roses, size XL. This was originally designed as a wedding dress for an older bride:



A beautiful boiled wool jacket by Reinalter, with the most cunning big silver buttons:



And for now, a GORGEOUS mink-lined raincoat, custom-made by Weisberg in size XXL. Not only is it lined with gorgeous, soft mahogany mink, it has mink lapels and cuffs. But that's not all--the lining zips out so that you can wear it as a lightweight yet stylish coat! Modern size 16/18/20:



Please bear in mind that my mannequin, Bodicea, is six feet tall and a plus-sized full-figured size 16. Almost as beautiful as I am, although not quite.

For those that have asked, Bucky the Wonderdog will not be in attendance; the insurance risk is too great. If he bites Hamish Bowles, well...one shudders to think.

Next up, hats, hats and more hats!

Ciao,
Elisa & Bucky the Wonderdog

The Manhattan Vintage Show vs. The Recession

Dahlings –

I am still an exhausted shell of a woman after the Manhattan Vintage Show. Who knew that work could be so much…well, work??

Hours on my feet being my fabulous self, turning on my thousand-watt smile to the eager buyers, keeping my breasts inside my dress (an ill-advised wardrobe choice on Friday made that a bit of an ongoing problem; rest assured that Saturday I wore a 1939 peplum print dress with an uncharacteristically high neckline!). In any event I did not wear my usual high heels but instead opted for ballet flats. Not so flattering but practical.

The Matinee New York booth swarmed with the common and not so common folk. An Italian designer bought a number of dresses from my personal collection. Many customers were astounded to find that plus-size vintage women’s’ clothing even existed! As the saying goes, I made a killing.

One theme throughout the show was that there was far less business than in past shows. One seller told me he had actually made 90% less than at the previous show! I am firmly convinced it is the recession; the first things to go are the luxurious necessities. That is so foolish; I’d much rather have Balenciaga than a working gas stove.

I have observed earlier in this blog-thing that at the Manhattan Vintage Show, although many of the dealers are large-sized women, they do not wear vintage clothing, nor do they sell it. This year there was another booth devoted to plus-size vintage. Gracious soul that I am, I am firmly of the mind that a rising tide lifts all boats.

My partner, Sheri Lane, knows many, many people in the film industry, and they were delighted to find a source for plus-size vintage. I also saw my dear friends Lynn Yaeger, who wore what to all intents and purposes was a grey jacket over an open upside-down umbrella; Hamish Bowles, resplendent in green suit and bow tie; and I bonded with Tziporah Salamon, the “star” of the Manhattan Show, who had two breathtaking exhibits of her personal wardrobe.



Ms. Salamon dressed in clothes that defy description; suffice to say the words “stylish” and “unique” fall far short. You can visit her website at http://www.tziporahsalamon.com/. Her male assistant also wore wonderful things; I never did find out his name, but I shall never forget his cinnabar purse.

Several marvelous fellow sellers were at the show, including the ever-delightful Miss Kitty of The Cats Pajamas Vintage and Barbara Kennedy and her handsome husband.

Now I must lie down. Even though it’s been several days, I am still wrung out, barely able to lift a croissant to my plump red lips.

Before I sign off, many thanks to Matinee New York, Lola, Stephanie Schroeder (the best publicist a woman could want), Patricia, Lynn, Vivienne of Born Too Late Vintage (http://www.borntoolatevintage.com/) who provided some lovely things, and to David Ornstein, organizer of the show. I don't usually thank people, but as Ms. Salamon would say, "It's a mitzvah."

Ciao,
Elisa & Bucky the Wonderdog

Behnaz Sarafpour Needs Zoloft - Fashion Week Cont.

DAHLINGS –

Why, oh why did I subject myself yet again to the Behnaz Sarafpour show? Hated it last season, DESPISED IT this time. My dears, if you want to see Depression Strutting, this was your meat. Dowdy, dull, gray, gray, gray.
Ms. Sarafpour must have stopped taking her Zoloft, that’s my opinion. Or she did all of her designing in a very dark room lit by a candle, with the wind howling outside. Actually, that was also the atmosphere at the show, and it had the intended effect. I ate my entire Toblerone.

And the models—once again, hideously skinny teenagers. You think I would be used to it by now, but it also startles me that anyone so gaunt can be mobile.

Of course, several models stumbled, but it was because they were passing by moi, sitting in the front row with my Toblerone. Understandable.

AND THE COLD! Vogue’s Hamish Bowles had the sense to wear a scarf, and some others in the audience wore sweaters and coats, but then of course there were those style-at-any-cost look-at-mes like Piper Perabou who shivered valiantly in a sleeveless summer frock.

Thank God for Bill Blass—or rather, Michael Vollbracht. A beautiful collection. But to be frank, your faithful correspondent has seen far too much of the wildly original these past few days. Many Blass gowns that I plan to order for myself, some LUSCIOUS satin brocade fur-trimmed coats, and a gold dress that is almost the exact duplicate of a gold dress presently being sold by my fellow Ebay seller, underwood_estates. See for yourself:


Underwood-estates is selling it in a terribly chic size 4, otherwise it would be in my shop.

http://cgi.ebay.com/GOLD-BOMBSHELL-Sequin-Open-Back-Wiggle-Cocktail-Dress-4_W0QQitemZ110080334625QQihZ001QQcategoryZ63861QQtcZphotoQQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

My only regret was seeing First Lady Laura Bush dressed in Blass the other day...but one must push those thoughts out of one's mind in order to function, non?

The less said about the Betsey Johnson show, the better. Child molesters would have loved it, and I see the same things on Ebay every day for far less. Nothing original, except for Joan Jett in the audience! I am ordinarily not a rock fan, but I was almost inspired to play air guitar and belt out “I Love Rock And Roll.” Fortunately, I stifled the impulse. My image and all that.

In the midst of all this, I came across a delightful, body-positive way to promote your brand: the company Jack Spade has wants to save the models: by handing out cookies shaped liked hot dogs and hamburgers to the catwalk stalkers as they make their way around the tents. Each comes with note that reads: "These cookies have been baked with extra love and care, please visit jackspade.com to purchase a cookie, a portion of proceeds given to skinny people everywhere."

Must change my outfit again…when will this END??

Ciao,
Elisa (sans Bucky The Wonderdog at present)