Luxury on a Budget

There's just no getting around it: This belted loden-and-cream coat is absolutely stunning — and uber feminine. Who wouldn't look like a midcentury goddess with miles of soft silver fox fur framing their face?
If you're into a more recent era, the sleek sheared mink bomber was once worn by Bianca Jagger. (Just kidding. But can't you just see her wearing this over some slinky disco duds?)
RetroMania is kind of excited about finding this Russian "watch" hat. Julie Christie looked so great wearing a fur hat in Dr. Zhivago — girls with long, straight hair can really rock that look. What's extra-cool: It's from the U.S.S.R., comrades! Inside are the letters "CCCP," the Russian abbreviation for the Soviet Union. Do svidanya!

Cutting-edge Vintage Fabrics

I love beautiful vintage fabric and I can't say no to some of the fantastic midcentury textiles that I come across from time to time. Yet I haven't operated a sewing machine since I was in junior high!
But the hoarding had to stop. Here are some fabrics that have left the dark drawer and are now in RetroMania. It's high time for some creative Etsy types to let these beauties shine — as amazing skirts, dresses or tops; on pillows or chairs; or as very cool curtains. For more eye candy, get a load of one of the midcentury master designers, Lucienne Day, whose designs went on everything from carpets to towels to teapots. It'll take your breath away.

Sporting Vintage Letterman Jackets

Letterman jackets look so cool. Always have, always will. Apparently, celebrities and fashionistas think so, too -- The New York Times ran an article about letterman jackets in spring, saying the trend was heating up. In the article, Jack Marcus, the owner of Cheap Jack’s vintage clothing shop in Manhattan said, “Designers started buying them from me about a year ago, so I knew it was coming. About two months ago, I’d say, customers started buying them, too.” Well, then. Never one to be left behind, RetroMania is representin' with this awesome vintage letterman jacket (left).

Vintage clothes at RetroMania

We love vintage clothes as much as the next Fort Worth and Dallas midcentury freak. So while we were rearranging things at RetroMania recently, we decided to add some coats, dresses, heels and assorted accessories to the mix. Take a peek and see what you think — we'd love your impressions. The orange silk heels are about a size 7 or 7.5 (oh, so close!) and most of the dresses/coats are about a size 8 to 10. I think the little '70s dress with diagonal bands of brown and cream would look so great with tall ankle booties and ratted-up hair (man, I miss Amy Winehouse!). There's also a very ladylike double-breasted nubby green coat with fox collar -- just screams for a poofy ponytail and sexy shades. While we're at it, we need to give a shout-out to the latest cool local blog. It's called Mosey! and it chronicles local street style. Hey, maybe we'll spot someone on Mosey! wearing our stuff! BTW, thanks, Fortworthology, for spreadin' the news!

Say Hello to "The Ghost of Goodnight Lane"

We realize it's unbecoming to brag, but we've never been good about doing what we're supposed to. We're psyched about playing a part in an independent feature film called The Ghost of Goodnight Lane. It stars Billy Zane, at right, (so gorgeously creepy in Dead Calm and, admittedly, less exciting in Titanic) and Lacey Chabert, who's been in tons of things but whose biggest movie was probably Mean Girls. Producer/director/writer Alin Bijan is directing and co-wrote the film, which is being shot in Dallas. The movie is -- get this -- based on real paranormal events that have taken place for years at Bijan's production company, Media World Studios in Dallas. Apparently, paranormal investigators have confirmed the hauntings. This is serious, people. But back to us. Actually, our furniture, linens and housewares appear in the movie -- we don't. (Though RetroMania was promised a mention in the film credits.) We've had a blast with our little cinematic foray and made some new friends, like the movie's production designer, Adam Dietrich. There was one casualty during filming: the side table that was part of the Tropitan set we wrote about in our last post. The good news is that our two chairs and ottoman are fine and dandy and the price of the now-three-piece set is $295. We gladly suffer for art.

Midcentury Bamboo Furniture by Tropitan

We came across this four-piece set and couldn't resist. It's by Tropitan of California, world renowned for its quality and style. The lines of these pieces are wonderfully sculptural, very Paul Frankl.
We don't come across vintage bamboo and rattan pieces of this caliber nearly often enough here in Texas, not to the extent that we have seen them in Palm Springs and elsewhere on the West Coast. You can see them -- two chairs, an ottoman and the yummy side table ($414 for the four-piece set) -- in the front of RetroMania.

Packed and Ready for Fort Worth's Music 4 Mutts Festival

We're as nuts about animals as we are about everything mid-century. That's why we're so excited about a certain outdoor party next weekend right here in Fort Worth. It's called Music 4 Mutts, and it's a music festival aimed at raising money for local dog & cat rescues and Fort Worth's only public low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

While everyone's having fun and listening to local bands, we'll also be raising awareness for the need to spay & neuter pets, adopt from rescue groups and showcase local businesses that invest in our community. There'll also be pet adoptions, a costume contest for the doggies, food and beverages (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), and a silent auction.
Here are the deets:
Saturday, Oct. 23
9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
2301 Scott Ave., Fort Worth
(I-30 & Beach Street, just east of downtown.
Look for signs at the intersection.)

Admission's $15 for adults, but it's free for everyone 18 and younger.
If the price bugs you, think about this: Fort Worth kills about 60 dogs per day due to space constraints in our shelters. We can begin to stop this by getting more dogs and cats spayed and neutered, helping local rescue organizations get these babies out of the shelters, and educating our community.

These are the groups who will benefit from Saturday's shindig:
Canine Soulmates Rescue (based out of North Richland Hills)
Cattailz Rescue (a low-cost spay & neuter program for feral kitties in Aledo, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Weatherford, Brock, and Fort Worth)
Homeward Bound Animal Rescue (in Bedford)
Texas Low Cost Spay and Neuter (the Texas Coalition for Animal Protection)

Hope to see you and yours there!