I am firmly in the camp that the ✨holidays✨, much like vacation are *actually* the perfect time to experiment with your *whispers* personal style. In fear of further exhausting the discourse around finding your personal uniform (or perhaps lack thereof) I will just say that if we’re really playing by the “everything is made up and the points don’t matter” approach and the “sometimes, stupid and cute are enough” approach I think there’s nothing wrong with “why are you dressed like that approach” - let your Great Aunt Susan say “I don’t understand your outfit” and find it deep within your soul to soft smile and just say thank you. Because if there’s one thing my boomer relatives love to do, it’s make a stand up routine about my physical appearance at the function.
And while I know that not everyone has the luxury to show up to some or all of the holiday shindigs in an ensemble that affirms the identity that aligns with the fabric and desires that shape their soul, I hope this selection of finds helps someone find something that can make them feel weird wacky and wonderful in all the best ways - no matter how softly or loudly the ensemble roars.
If you don’t have an occasion to dress up for - make! one! If there’s one silver lining to the sun setting at 4pm, it should be that almost any occasion is an evening occasion and therefore getting glam makes perfect sense - a solo dinner date, movie date, happy hour or after work grocery store trip - the rules are they ain’t no rules. So stop bedrotting at 5pm and get yourself into some fancy pants!
And if you don’t have anyone else to show off your outfit to - send it to me, I want to see!
masculin et féminin
I’ve had almost a dozen male identifying folks in my inbox demanding menswear and I am here to tell you that today is your lucky day. I realize there’s a huge gap in the vintage and secondhand Substack market for masculine clothing, including one dude who sent this meme not once but thrice lol - I’m sorry it took me so long 🙃
In case it needs to be stated clearly, I am a firm believer gender lives on a very wide, very spacious spectrum. Peering through a delicate balance of therapy tears and breakthroughs, I’ve slowly come to embrace that I have many days where I feel more “they” than “she” and that it’s a gift to be able to shift like sand in an hourglass— to ebb and flow between all the nooks and crannies of my being.
With that being said, I didn’t want to break this curation by driving a hard line between “him” and “her” (which is also probably why its taken me so long to really approach menswear head on) because I think if it calls to you and it’s your vibe, go for it! A lot of these pieces are “pricey” ($200+) because they are true vintage items in pristine condition and I think they fit into the “investment piece” category - things you can have in your wardrobe forever that will get lots of wear. Many feel much more special than most of the things I’ve seen in every Black Friday email coming through my inbox.
Also, you don’t need to buy anything new this holiday season *just* because everyone on the internet is telling you to do it. Let this encourage an exploration of new wardrobe combinations you’ve never thought of or perhaps just a trip to the craft store to upcycle something you already have - get creative, roam the local thrift, or raid your bff’s closet and swap!
I’ve curated finds based off of just a few recent runways, red carpets, and street style vibes that I have saved to my screenshot folder (going on 10k+ lol) that feel appropriately festive for ✨the season✨ and have ✨spoken to me✨ and will hopefully do the same for you.
On that note, let’s get into it.
féminin
pussy bow blouse dress (vintage fem m, $68)
vintage mugler jacket (fem xs, $400, purchase on eBay)
sequin striped oscar de la renta pants (fem 14, $30, purchase on eBay)
celluloid cameo brooch ($19.99, purchase on eBay)
plaid velvet collar evening jacket (vintage fem 12, $30)
tuxedo purse ($30, purchase on eBay)
vintage escada silk ruffle blouse (see measurements, $59.99, purchase on eBay)
vintage french black suede gloves ($275, purchase on eBay)
plaid maxi skirt (see measurements, $62)
velvet evening jacket (vintage fem m, $58.50 on sale)
sterling silver white topaz earrings ($73.59 on sale)
1940s black dress (see measurements, $160)
1930s sheer lace dress (see measurements, $191)
leather cut out gloves ($26.80, purchase on eBay)
saint laurent heels (fem 7, good condition, $141.25 on sale)
masculin
vintage issey miyake dress shirt ($292.50 on sale, masc m, good condition)
cameo bracelet ($265, purchase on eBay)
handmade ruffle collar ($58)
black faux fur peacoat (size 40, see measurements, $89.99, purchase on eBay) (shorter option here)
pierre cardin tuxedo jacket (see measurements, $165, ships from Canada)
celluloid cicada brooch ($44.62 on sale, ships from France)
bakelite domino brooch ($55)
1940s black cabochon & rhinestone cuff link and tie clip ($131.60 on sale)
onyx 10k yellow gold ring (size 10, $300)
celluloid horse brooch ($95)
jimmy choo patent leather oxfords (masc 9/42, pristine condition, $372)
pleated plaid skirt (vintage fem l, $42)
deadstock 1970s plaid pants (35” waist, $120)
féminin
embroidered evening jacket (see measurements, $61.20 on sale)
wool sailor hat ($69)
1960s saks 5th ave lace mini dress (message for measurements, $95)
sheer crochet blouse (see measurements, $207.81, ships from France)
black silk chiffon flapper dress (fem l, see measurements, $185)
1960s costume earrings ($25)
green satin beaded purse ($95)
vintage balloon sleeve dvf blouse (see measurements, $59.88, purchase on eBay)
white sequin pillbox hat ($248.32, ships from UK)
crochet gloves ($30, purchase on eBay)
black and white sequin evening jacket (fem m, $61.75, purchase on eBay)
1930s blue velvet dress (see measurements, vintage fem l, $250, purchase on eBay)
antique beaded flapper purse ($105)
beaded skull cap ($40)
givenchy gold dangle earrings ($55, purchase on eBay)
manolo blahnik mules (fem 10, $325, very good condition)
1920s flapper coat (see measurements, $228, purchase on eBay)
green velvet laura ashley skirt (vintage fem m, $65, purchase on eBay)
green velvet doen mules (fem 9, $248, excellent condition)
striped sequin purse ($44 on sale)
1920s sheer flapper dress (see measurements, $95, purchase on eBay)
masculin
1960s striped pajama shirt (vintage masc l, $19.99)
vintage cartier watch (great working condition, $949.99, purchase on eBay)
1970s studded velveteen jacket (vintage masc l, see measurements, $175, purchase on eBay)
vintage dior monsieur sweater (vintage masc m, $54.99, purchase on eBay)
polo ralph lauren blanket shawl robe cardigan (see measurements, $400, purchase on eBay)
1930s plastic watch brooch ($29.56 on sale, ships from UK)
1970s striped dress pants (33x31, $59.99, purchase on eBay)
vintage opera shoes (masc 9.5, $300, purchase on eBay)
tassel scarves - lot of three ($119.43, ships from Canada)
beaded tie back cummerbund ($22.49)
gucci dress pants (masc l, excellent condition, $495)
féminin
green oscar de la renta satin evening jacket (see measurements fem s, $149.99, purchase on eBay)
vintage beaded box purse ($70 on sale)
floral brocade striped blazer (see measurements, $44)
manolo blahnik mules (fem 10.5, good condition, $260 on sale)
vintage bill blass bubble dress (see measurements, $295, purchase on eBay)
purple lamé evening jacket (vintage fem s, $90)
la double j brocade pants (fem s, good condition, $335)
prada feather hem skirt (fem s, very good condition, $412.50 on sale)
lucite box purse ($100, purchase on eBay)
oversized pearl drop earrings ($45.99)
beaded gloves ($34.71 on sale, purchase on eBay)
vintage ostrich feather boa ($299.99, purchase on eBay)
gucci green slingbacks (fem 6.5, good condition, $428 on sale)
metallic plaid skirt and top set (fem s, $85)
floral tapestry coat (vintage fem s, $85
chanel glitter boots (fem 6, very good condition, $1075 on sale)
paco rabanne straw hem purse (excellent condition, $521.50 on sale)
masculin
burberry striped dress shirt (masc l, $45, very good condition)
silver tone mesh gemstone belt (see measurements, $49.22 on sale, ships from Bulgaria)
silver gilt and aventurine antique tie pin ($89.34, ships from UK)
1940s two tone red shirt (vintage masc m, $290)
pierre cardin peacoat (vintage masc m, $300, purchase on eBay) (another nicely priced option here)
velvet smoking jacket (see measurements, $148)
antique silver engraved pocket watch (working condition, $275, purchase on eBay)
silver tone pocket watch chain ($25, purchase on eBay)
sterling silver gemstone ring (size 10.5, $78)
gucci oxfords (masc 8.5, $364, pristine condition)
1960s tapestry dress pants (30” waist, $134.02 on sale, ships from UK)
bottega veneta leather gloves (pristine condition, $212)
polo ralph lauren corduroy pants (32x24, $54, purchase on eBay)
blue mohair cardigan (see measurements, $220, purchase on eBay)
rhinestone tennis necklace (14”, $124, purchase on eBay) (less expensive alternative here and here)
plaid mohair cardigan (vintage masc m, $274.95, purchase on eBay)
vintage rolling stones shirt (vintage masc l, $119.99, purchase on eBay)
vintage spam shirt (vintage masc xl, $230, purchase on eBay) (a less expensive option here)
vintage ysl sweater (see measurements, $250, ships from Japan, purchase on eBay)
sterling silver onyx ring (size 10, $75 on sale)
bottega veneta belt (masc l, excellent condition, $365)
prada oxfords (masc 8.5, excellent condition, $676)
vintage black coach weekender ($280, purchase on eBay)
wales bonner x adidas sneakers (masc 8, excellent condition, $395)
vintage plaid dress pants (34” waist, $52 on sale, ships from Malaysia)
Phew!
As always, please let me know if anything isn’t linked correctly since it makes my brain hurt organizing tabs.
Until next time,
xo,
G
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Oh my god this is insane in the BEST way possible. I want to live inside of this article
Thanks to Notes was reminded to come back to visit the féminin board that makes my flapper and Erte obsessed child self very happy. Also, it was fun to read the interview with you!