Top 5 Laundry Tips

Here are my favorite laundry tips, learned by trial and error since we started our vintage clothing business.

1. Use Biz as a presoak for any protein stain such as blood or gravy. I have found you can use it on almost any fabric, just be careful if it says dry clean only (you probably shouldn't do this then). In a pail, dissolve 1/2 cup of Biz in warm water. Let it cool to room temperature and add the article of clothing, soak for at least 1/2 hour or until stain is gone.

2. Shout Color Catcher sheets for any color, any fabric, anything to keep the dye set and prevent pink undies. It works for towels which often seem to bleed dye forever. I don't know what I did before I discovered these, but I think my things were dingier than I realized!

3. Polyester clothing with discoloration from hanging too long (particularly if there are smokers around) and stains can be cleaned with this "potion": add 1/2 cup of automatic dishwasher detergent and 1/2 cup of non-chlorine bleach to a pail of warm water and soak until the stain are gone, usually best overnight (12 hours). This one is magic!

4. Delicate fibers made from hair are most carefully washed by a gentle slosh in baby shampoo. Wool and mohair are two examples and they can be gently washed and laid flat to fry.

5. Any article with an odor (cat anyone?) including a musty smell can usually be remedied by adding 1 cup of vinegar to the rinse water in the washer. It's cheaper than all the odor remedies!

Bonus moneysaving tip: most laundry can be washed with 1/2 the detergent and additives recommended by the manufacturer. Experiment with the amounts, but mostly the agitation does the work!

NB: I am not compensated for the mention of any specific brand names, nor do I work for any of the manufacturers. These are my opinions on what I have found to work the best.

Pin-ups anyone?

The term pin-up was coined around 1941 to describe pictures of attractive women intended for hanging up like a calendar or poster. Pin-up art existed long before they were called pin-ups. The first pictures like this were drawn about 1890 by Charles Dana Gibson. The "Gibson girls" were thought to be the American standard of beauty. They were pretty, shapely, and youthful. Several illustrators worked for Gibson until the start of World War I. Fashions began to change and the wasp-waisted beauty was not as favored (thank goodness-the corsets needed a rest!) As motion pictures grew in popularity, actresses became popular as pin-up subjects. They were the sex symbols of their day.

One of my favorite early screen stars is Pola Negri. Although there are many others of the 1920's who are better known, such as Clara Bow, Greta Garbo, and Mary Pickford, I prefer the quiet subtle allure of Pola.

and just look at the coat! The '30's brought us Jean Harlow, Gypsy Rose Lee, and Marlene Dietrich along with many other stars of the screen and celebrities. During WWII, the art form really blossomed. All over the globe, GI's hung pictures of their favorites. Pin-ups could be found in many places, including on the planes the military men flew. Nose art on these planes was an art form of its' own.


This picture on a B17 explains a pin-up far better than I can. It was called nose art due to the proximity to the nose of the airplane. It personalized the machine in a special way. For the most part, the military did not approve of the paintings, adding to their appeal.

An artist named Alberto Vargas provided one bridge between these two periods. When he came to this country from Peru, he was quite taken with the beauty he saw in New York City. He began his campaign to glorify the "American Girl". In the '20's, he painted portraits of many of the Ziegfeld stars appearing in the Follies. He worked for various studios including Paramount and Twentieth Century Fox. He also illustrated for magazines, particularly the cover art. He agreed to do paintings for Esquire in 1940, on the condition he changed his name to Varga. The first Varga Girl calendar came out later that year. He parted company with Esquire in 1946, but he continued to paint calendars and portraits on his own (using Vargas again). In 1960, he went to work for Playboy, and the rest, as they say, is history.



Heffy loves all things pin-up, so he has plenty on his website heffyscollections.com
'50's cashmere sweater

I keep coming back to this dress in my blogs, but it is the perfect piece for this subject!
Blakely dress

Catwalk for Charity

Our favorite goalie, Ryan Miller, has announced this year's Catwalk for Charity event. It will take place on November 8, 2009 at the Town Ballroom. This year the theme is the "Fabulous Fifties"! Every year Ryan and the Steadfast Foundation choose a vintage era to focus on. Last year it was the 1920's. Heffy's Collections loves the vintage themes since it's right down our alley.

The Steadfast Foundation was established by Ryan to help provide for the psychosocial needs for families dealing with cancer, particularly in children. We feel this is an especially worthwhile event. It also gives us an opportunity to show off some of our '50's clothes-and we hope they may make it to the event!
First two little black dresses perfect for any occasion:
black sweater dress from Janzten
a dress by Pavelle

Or an entirely different look in a classic shirtwaist:
beautiful floral dress

yummy strawberry shirtwaist

Separates work well too, like these pin-up sweaters.
mock turtleneck

cashmere soft

And two random pieces to round out the fifties:
Amana cardigan
gorgeous sheer rose skirt

We hope to add more soon. If you would like more information on the fifties, check out Heffy's earlier blog, Fifties Fashions.

We're Two!

It should say TO Heffy's Collections! We reached our 2 year mark on July 25th. We have undergone a lot of changes since our inception and a few recently (somewhat related to the lateness of this blog).
Heffy's Collections continues to operate our website at heffyscollections.com and we have added Specialist Auctions and our newest endeavor is on Bonanzle. We continue to add new (usually vintage) items. Here is a collage of some of our latest:























Becky is working 3 jobs now, the latest is training horses and riders at Butch Bokman's. She loves it and we are hoping to find a new place with enough room for horses and a vegetable garden. Preparing to move has kept me away from this blog (or allowed me to procrastinate more!). We continue to tend to our customers and provide the excellent service they expect. One recent customer left us this wonderful feedback:"Great communication, item and quick postage even though overseas!" And a bit ago, another left this: "This item was perfectly described and was exactly what I was hoping for. Shipping was fast, and this was a very positive shopping experience! I received very personalized care and attention from the seller while they went out of their way to ensure that it arrived in time for me to include it with a Christmas package to my sister. I will definitely shop with heffyscollections in the future."
So come see us and participate in the Heffy's Collections experience!

The Flowers of Summer

Here are some of the current offerings from Heffy's Collections. You can find us at http://www.heffyscollections.com , www.specialistauctions.com , and www.bonanzle.com !

Heffy's Collections has a New Marketplace!

Heffy's Collections has added one more way for you to browse and buy our cool vintage and retro clothes and accessories! We are now on Bonanzle in addition to specialistauctions.com and our own website, heffyscollections.com. Check us out at any of our online locations:
http://www.bonanzle.com/booths/heffyscollections

http://www.specialistauctions.com/shop.php?userid=114929

http://www.heffyscollections.com/

We have new items and are adding more all the time-please check us out!

Here's Becky's latest teaser to entice you to take a closer look:

Vintage Newsmakers

It has been way too long, so I am struggling with way too many thoughts for one blog. Guess I'll have to get my mojo workin'. Vintage clothes have been hitting the news recently, on several different fronts. First the celebrities: Penelope Cruz wore a gorgeous vintage Balmain gown to the Oscars. It was a spectacular white strapless gown and she was smashing in it. One of our Canadian neighbors, singer Melissa McClelland, wore a dress from Caberet Vintage in Toronto to the Juno Awards. Other frequent vintage wearers include Kate Moss and Julia Roberts. So for those of you already touting vintage style, you're in popular company.

News items regarding vintage clothing include many things I have mentioned in previous blogs: it's green (eco-friendly recycling at its best), it's economical, and it makes your style uniquely you. The "credit crunch" has been making a lot of news lately and it's hard to avoid it with all of the bailouts and big league bankruptcies. An unlikely source (at least I thought so), was an article in Better Homes and Gardens on how to save money on clothes. The article mentioned saving last year's shoes by adding shoe clips. Or taking a blouse and adding lace or ruffles. If you're clever, these are really good ideas, if not terribly new. I've been reading hints like these to save money for a long time. I thought it would be better to take the idea one step further. Part of my reasoning was cost-the shoe clips shown started at $25. The lace at $4 per yard is economical enough, unless you have to pay someone to sew it on. One outfit was reborn by the addition of a $59 necklace. Whew.

My idea is that for these prices, you could go to your local thrift store and practically buy them out for that much! Not really, but if you had $60 to spend, you'd most likely come away with more than one outfit. And accessories like costume jewelry (a personal favorite), can be inexpensive. Or you could go online to a shop like Heffy's Collections and shop without leaving your chair.

Guaranteed not to break the bank:
$2.99 at Heffy's Collections

$3.99 for vintage Czech chic

A timeless shift for $19.99 and it's adorable!

Becky has made our home page a collection of items for under $25 that you could have a real good time with and save money too! Check it out at heffyscollections.com

Flares Up

Heffy's Collections has promised bell bottoms and flares for some time. They're here now! You can custom design your pants with several choices. We have a variety of fabric available (or you can send us your own), and you can get bell bottoms that will be the envy of your friends. If more subtle is your style, then flares are more for you. If you send us your measurements (waist, hips, inseam), we will find a gently used and wonderfully broken-in pair of jeans to make into your bell bottoms. If you prefer new, we can do that too. Here are some of the fabric choices we have in stock:

purple butterflies on black

tie dye
unique stripes with flowers
Becky in a pair of bell bottoms by Heffy's Collections

Bring out your free spirit and try some today!

A Wink at Haute Couture

Heffy's Collections specializes in vintage clothing from the 20th century, primarily from the second half, at least the part of it that is "vintage". We have a fair amount from the '60's, 70's and '80's, with an occasional item from earlier. All of the items are ready-to-wear. That doesn't stop us from being interested in the finer things, or from looking at the special one of a kind items haute couture offers.

The term haute couture originated in France in the mid 1800's. It connotes clothing especially made for an individual. The clothing is designed and fitted to the person and is made of the finest fabrics available. Usually several fittings are required and the pieces are hand tailored by experts. The fabrics are so expensive, the first mock-ups are often done from muslin or similar fabrics. France has requirements for a design house to use the term haute couture and to be classified as such. Over time, many of the designers have survived with their ready-to-wear lines, but they continue the tradition of haute couture as a minor portion of their trade. I'm sure there are many of you who enjoy watching the awards shows to see the celebrities and what they are wearing. Sometimes the clothing is much more intriguing than the people wearing it!

There have been many designers over the years, so this will highlight just a few. Perhaps at a later time, others will be added. Coco (Gabrielle) Chanel was one of the most influential designers of the 20th century. She opened her first shop in 1913 in Paris. Many women worked in factories during the war, and Coco designed simple, "manly" clothes for women. Later, she designed her trademark Chanel suit with its boxy jacket and slim straight skirt. After a hiatus, she brought back the Chanel suit in the '50's and regained her status as a leading designer. She is credited as the originator of the little black dress, the Chanel jacket, and bell bottoms. That's quite a range! The House of Chanel still operates in Paris with Karl Lagerfeld. Heffy's Collections has a suit similar to the Chanel style:
Butte Knit suit

Christian Dior is another fashion designer whom I believe was very influential. See the blog "Fifties Fashions" for information on him. His "New Look" revolutionized '50's fashion.

Lucien Lelong designed his first collection in 1903. He served as President of the Chambre Syndicale de la Couture, the organization in France that determines the designers of haute couture. In 1926, he employed 1200 workers, which seems like a lot to me. He is credited with bargaining with the Nazis, saving Parisian couture and preventing 12,000 couture employees from being deported to Germany. During his lifetime, Christian Dior, Pierre Balmain, and Hubert de Givenchy all worked at Lelong.

There are so many more designers with so many contributions. Chanel first used jersey as her fabric, which was novel at the time. It's wonderful drape kept it in her reportoire. Balenciaga brought us the "baby doll" dress. The list goes on and on. Hopefully, I will be able to shed just a bit of insight into other designers in later blogs. Until then, I'll keep hoping Heffy finds some designer clothes we can feature here!

For Your Valentine

Today I am taking a Valentine's Day theme and there are several options. One capitalizes on the last blog, Create Your Own Look. You could use February 14th as the beginning of the new you. Accessories, vintage clothes, or retro, you can be as bold as you like (or as shy). Another approach is to find the perfect item for your sweetheart, and it can be a little trinket or a whole outfit.

Let's start with a perfect dress for a romantic night:

Hot Pink Dress

Impress her with the luxurious softness and sharp look of this gorgeous shirt:
Van Heusen Qiana shirt

Say it with flowers:


Rose pin

This week, AKC announced the top 10 list of favorite American purebred dogs. The outstanding winner, once again, is the Labrador Retriever. I think this is the time to show off Heffy's brother, our favorite Lab.
Captain McLeod (Mac)

Create Your Own Look

Every new year, there is talk of resolutions and change. This is the year I'll ----. You fill in whatever it might be. Today is the 8th, probably late enough that some of those promises have been broken or given up on. It's not too late for more though, and if you harbor hope of a new you, you can do it now. This is a promise you can pick up on any time of year. Now. Spring. Any time. And if you're like many of us, there is a bit of belt tightening going on too (not the weight loss you hoped for either). One way to economically gain a new look is by buying vintage. It's the perfect time for it too. Vintage clothes and looks have been getting a lot of press lately, and are very popular. New looks for 2009 include some retro styles like the metallic, futuristic look of the Jetsons and neo-classical Grecian. So check out some of the goods from your favorite vintage shop, thrift store, or even Heffy's Collections. One piece is enough to start. Here are a few to pique your interest:
'50's cardigan by Amana

a great-looking tie
an awesome beaded belt
butterfly skirt from the '70's

You can come up with your own ideas and just run with it. Have fun. This could be the start of a whole new you!

1980's Fashion: Do it BIG

The '80's were so over the top, styles usually evoked one of two reactions-either you loved it or hated it! There was nothing meek about it. Clothes were wild, bold, and overdone. A lot of the looks were retro too: '80's does '50's, '40's, almost every fashion decade found a place in the '80's. First a sidebar regarding the 1980's and vintage clothing: many "vinties" do not consider the '80's as old enough to be vintage. The Vintage Fashion Guild does not even include the '70's in their fashion timeline. Becky and I (aka Heffy's Collections) feel this is a sad oversight. I covered the '70's in last week's blog and there was almost too much going on in style trends to do it all in one blog. And it was a big era. As for the '80's...well, frankly, we love it! So it too is included here and in the clothes we seek out for our store. We just couldn't do vintage without the '80's! So take a look and make your own choice whether you want to include it your personal look. Leave a comment with your vote! Would you include it in vintage?

There are several style points leading to the consideration of the "80's as over the top. I will go through a few here. First is the outrageous, bright, bold colors used. Turquoise with berry pink, yellow with red, or combinations of neon colors were very much in vogue. If you thought of a color palette one would dare not use, it can be found in '80's clothes! Arguably the biggest go-to trend was shoulder pads. Squared off, huge shoulder pads could be found in jackets, blouses, or suits. Now most shoulder pads are removable, but in the '80's, they were sewn in to stay. I look like a linebacker in just a t-shirt, so this was a particularly trying time for me. I got to be good at assessing how something would look without the pads and then would remove them before venturing out anywhere. The look has stayed, albeit softened, so it helps a lot of people look polished. Miniskirts were popular, usually in denim. They were often worn with oversized tops or sweaters and leg warmers. To be really cool, the top was belted over the skirt. Pencil skirts came back. Pants varied from parachute pants (first debuted by MC Hammer) to stretch pants with or without stirrups.

Along with the oversized tops, killer shoulder pads, and outrageous colors, we had big hair and huge earrings. There was nothing wishy-washy in the '80's looks. Everything went over the top. It was fun, it was showy, it was uniquely the '80's.
Here are a few examples of 1980's fashion, starting with a bold, colorful beaded pattern on black in a sweater dress.

Chadwick's sweater dress

Blue on white boldly accentuates this abstract patterned jumpsuit with shoulder pads and a wrap front top:
Splash jumpsuit

The '80's brought back the bubble dress:
Black bubble dress with pouf sleeves

This black cocktail dress is a good example of the "over" in the '80's with it's pleats and stiff huge ruffles:
Tadashi dress

This blouse is in bold colors with batwing sleeves that are oh so '80's:
Mervyn shirt

Anything Goes '70's

Ah, the '70's. What seemed like a disorganized confluence of styles actually became an era of wear what suits you and don't be driven by fashion trends. Designers are still a very big part of the clothing scene now, but the 1970's brought on a different view toward how much they determine what we wear. If I look better in a midi or pants, then I should wear what looks good and I feel comfortable in, even if minis are the current style. The '70's gave us ready-to-wear, casual business clothes and so much more. It didn't happen all at once, nor did it take hold immediately, but a slow process began during this decade.

The '70's began as an extension of the '60's. Hippie style was still big. Some bell bottoms got wider as the rise (the distance from the top of the leg to the waistband) dropped to as little as 4 inches (think bikini :0) ). Peasant style was very popular. The mod style also continued well into the '70's.
Floral peasant top

Strictly Mod shirt

As the decade progressed, subtle changes or extensions crept in. Jumpsuits were very popular, often for night wear in discos. These were one piece zip front outfits, in all types of fabrics and colors. Polyester became the material of choice for these "catsuits" and the leisure suits for men. We have one jumpsuit currently in Heffy's store, very indicative of the style:

Perfect for dancing
They are still "in", we can't seem to keep them very long before someone snatches them up! Empire waist dresses, halter tops on shirts and dresses, and floral prints continued the popularity started in the '60's. Skirt lengths were all over the place as minis, midis and maxis prevailed. Here are 2 very '70's dresses:
Empire waist peasant maxi dress

Halter maxi

The disco suit look for men led to 3 piece suits being popular, with ever widening ties. The suits had wide lapels and flared pants. Some were in some pretty wild color combos and prints. It's no wonder a lot of people won't admit they ever wore '70's fashions! There just aren't many guys who say they ever owned a leisure suit or wore a 5 inch wide tie, but the pictures tell a different story. I really get a kick out of it! We lived it and of course we wore the current styles. Chunky shoes with platforms were a must for men and women for day and night wear.

Later in the '70's, caftans, muumuus, and ethnic prints and styles were big. People traveled more and fell in love with the clothing in other countries. Pants and pantsuits for women were seen everywhere. It was finally okay to wear pants for almost any occasion. Mix and match separates were available for the first time and helped make dressing easier. Many of the trends brought forth in the '70's are still around today-and thankfully some of them aren't!

On the Move

I have really enjoyed writing the blogs on fashion decades. I managed to go from the '40's through the '60's. I have been away from it far too long and I apologize. I am working on the 1970's, but have been slow because Becky and Heffy's Collections moved! We're not done, but most everything is at the new place. We're settling in and hope to be up to speed very soon. So stay tuned-the '70's will be along shortly!

Heffy's store hasn't moved, so please check out our vintage wares:

Perfect for fall '60's dress

Be sure to wear flowers

A review of the sixties isn't complete without the hippies. This counterculture movement spawned a completely different dimension to '60's fashion. The hippies were the '60's beatniks, the flower children, and they literally danced to their own tune. In addition to the drugs such as LSD, psychedelic rock by groups like Jefferson Airplane, Big Brother and the Holding Company, and the Grateful Dead opened a whole new influence on American life. Whether the style was an accident or deliberate, the hippies introduced a casual dress that was pretty much integrated into the mainstream culture by the '70's.

Both men and women sported long hair. Bell bottom jeans became popular along with peasant shirts, dashikis, and tie-dyed clothes. The colors were bright and vivid. Long flowing skirts and vests were big. The hippies enjoyed taking cues from other places and Native American, Asian, African, Indian, and South American motifs were frequently worn.

The most important aspect of the hippie movement is the legacy it left in fashion and many other parts of our culture. In fashion, the colorful and often ethnic clothes stayed and are still popular today. Ties began their downturn and a much more casual look became acceptable. It continues still. Do your own thing man, do your own thing.

Here is a sampling of the "hippie style":
Becky in her own bell bottoms
peasant shirt at heffyscollections

a beautiful hippie dress
ethnic skirt

Note: I have been asked to add information on the title of this blog. In 1967, John Phillips wrote a song to promote the Monterey Pop Festival. That song was "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair). Scott McKenzie recorded the song which was an instant hit. Many people who went to San Francisco did wear flowers in their hair and carried flowers they gave to others. They were dubbed "flower children". The lyrics of the song start: "If you're going to San Francisco, be sure to wear some flowers in your hair". Peace.

The Sixties: Fashion in Flux

The "60's were a time of change. The beginning of the decade was a continuation of the '50's and the New Look Dior introduced stayed in fashion. As the decade progressed, a more youthful trend emerged and styles with it. The sack dress introduced in the fifties became the shift in the '60's and it really grew in popularity. The Paris designers are credited with bringing a shorter skirt that Mary Quant in London took and made even shorter. The mini became standard wear for the younger set and by the latter part of the sixties, with their moms as well. First, let's take a look at the early '60's.

Fashion continued to be influenced by couture. JFK's arrival as President put Jacqueline Kennedy in the public eye. She favored suits with 3/4 length sleeves and a very polished look. It was a continuation of the '50's Paris designer influenced look. Her popularity gave American designers a chance to shine. Oleg Cassini designed the sheath suits-a fitted plain dress with a boxy jacket and very little decoration. Jackie loved the look, so it became the thing to wear. Here is a gorgeous simple sheath of brocade:

vintage dresses at heffyscollections.com

This sheath has a sheer cape over, adding drama to the style:

cerulean blue outfit

Slowly, as the baby boomers grew in numbers, a younger look evolved. The shorter skirts became the norm in length, becoming mini skirts, and dresses were usually a shift style or baby doll. Colors went wild, with bright prints and vivid palettes. Yves St Laurent brought the Mondrian look to shifts, a block color print based on the artist's paintings. Emilio Pucci did wild psychedelic prints. It was definitely different from the earlier '60's and '50's styles.


mini shift from the '60's

I can provide a slightly different perspective by taking a little walk through what we wore in the sixties. In junior high, I started wearing what was at the time a very collegiate look. Pleated skirts with buttondown or peter pan collared shirts with a sweater over top. The sweaters were crew, v-neck or cardigans buttoned down the front or the back. I don't know why we did it, but it was quite the thing to wear cardigans on backward buttoned all the way. Colors tended to be fairly straightforward, but new combinations were appearing. One of my favorites was pink with maroon. If we had realized it at the time, we were hedging toward the color explosion of the later '60's.

The skirts got shorter and shorter into high school when teachers started sending people down to the principal's office for a scolding and a trip home to change. The London look had arrived and we embraced it. Mod dresses, hip-hugger pants, wide belts, hats were all part of it. I don't think we realized how much our age group became the fashion trendsetters. This dress is mod with an op art print on the bottom. The dropped waist was a feature of mod styling.
mad for mod at heffyscollections

During this time, synthetics were gaining also. Polyester, acrylics, vinyl and many other synthetic fabrics were seen more and more. The easier care these provided made them popular very quickly. Op art, pop art, psychedelics, and space age prints were done in smashing colors and an array of materials. It was great!