I don't know about you, but the one item I need most, and find hardest to acquire relatively cheaply, is the blouse. I suppose these were considered a cheaper item and therefore not necessarily the sort of thing that one would have kept hold of for future generations to love, unlike a nice dress or coat. I have a few, but the majority of the tops that I wear tend to be knitted, again items that would have more worth attached to them and would have been more likely to have been kept, or dresses that you obviously need not worry about a top. I have skirts that I have never worn because I can't find the right vintage accompaniment for the top half of me.
So I have had a littlle search and here are my picks of vintage and reproduction blouses and tops available to buy at the moment.
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| Swoon!! Sexiest blouse EVER! Buy here (before I do!) |
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| This 1940s back button blouse is an absolute steal! Buy here |
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| It doesn't get much more 50s than this super stripey blouse. Available here |
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This 1930s stunning floral crepe blouse is perfect for Spring. Buy here
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Heyday! has the perfect 1940s repro blouse. The Olivia comes in a variety of fabrics, here.
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If you're a sewer (one that uses a needle and thread, as opposed to a sewer, where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles lived), you could of course make your own (and me one too please)
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| 1940s Blouse Pattern available here | | |
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| If I could sew this Vintage Vogue blouse pattern would be top of my list! Buy here |
Also
Puttin' On The Ritz has some great repro blouses. I hope I haven't made you too miserable by showing you pretty things that you can't afford...as I have myself.
Cheerio.x
Love the first one!
ReplyDeleteI don't actually buy too many vintage blouses - probably because I can find things that are 'inspired' enough for my tastes in stores at a much more reasonable price. I'd much rather save my pennies for a skirt, suit or dress - where I work we have ladies business-wear, and I'm always snapping up anything with a peter pan collar or bow tie blouse.
ReplyDeleteLove these vintage finds!...especially the 1940's blouse...swoon!
ReplyDeleteThe first blouse is stunning! I too have noticed a general lack of vintage blouses out there. Guess I should go ahead and snatch up some blouse patterns.
ReplyDeleteI think my picks would be the gorgeous 40’s cream blouse (oh, the neck detail!) and the 30’s floral crepe blouse….good job they are too big for me, otherwise I would be spending! I suppose a reason why blouses are hard to find, may be due to the fact they were worn until they fell apart (?)- Like men’s and kiddie’s clothes.
ReplyDeleteHappy blouse hunting, Tups x
That black blouse may be the most perfect blouse ever!
ReplyDeleteOh my, I have so many vintage blouses! Most are casual things, like camp shirts, plaids, checks, things suitable for wearing with jeans or overalls (though some can be dressed up on the rather rare occasion that wear I a pencil skirt). As all my trousers/jeans/etc are repro and I don't wear lots of dresses, I think blouses is where I focus most of my vintage-clothes-finding effort. I do have a hard time finding suitable solid-colored ones, though. Those seem much harder to find. In fact, the perfect white vintage blouse has eluded me for years!
ReplyDeleteThat first blouse is so YOU. Ohh, thanks for including my 30s one in there!
ReplyDeleteThe second is just lovely. I bought some blouses from Naomi on sat to put into the shop, it is hard to find good ones!
ReplyDeleteWell if it makes you feel any better I agree, and I've been wearing 50s stuff since the 80s and it was even like that then! The one thing there has always been a shortage of are blouses, fortunately I can sew so I always have some but never enough, I'm going to rectify that this year!
ReplyDeleteI 'might' be doing some sewing to order, a couple of friends have already asked, so if you have something in particular you want making, I might be able to help out :o)
That black blouse is divine.
ReplyDeleteI may just have to take you up on that offer Fiona! :D
ReplyDeleteI have the exact same problem! Though when I do look for or find them I end up spending my $$ on another dress. =\
ReplyDelete-Andi x
No problem, it looks like I'll be doing some stuff for others too!
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of vintage blouses or more the lack of... I purchased two on Sunday from seperate sellers one is a lovely 1940's off white pure silk long sleeved hand embroidered blouse and the other has no sleeves is made by Naomi and is a summer blouse / top.
ReplyDeleteHowever like you say I tend to have lots of jumpers and dress as they have survived in better condition.
I have some nice "vintage inspired" blouses, some old enough to be vintage themselves now being 70s or 80s, mostly from charity shops.
ReplyDeleteI have an Olivia blouse and I love that 40s button back blouse, and it was my size, but I appear to have been beaten to it. Not that I had any money of course!
I have the same problem.I have a few vintage blouses but either nothing to go with them and also an under garment to wear under them.they are shear and just a plain white bra wont cut it.
ReplyDeleteSeperates are always harder to find I think, dresses and suits tend to have been saved for best (so much evening wear out there) and so worn infrequently. Blouses being both delicate fabric and worn daily either died their death long ago or when you do find them they are in poor condition or quickly become so. I'm planning to start sewing my own blouses and have amassed quite a stack of patterns. Just have to haul the old sewing machine out and get started. Eeeks!
ReplyDeleteI do what Retro Chick does- 80s blouses are often vintage inspired and findable in charity shops and jumble sales.
ReplyDeleteBut I know exactly what you mean - I can do skirt/slacks and a jumper in winter (and I have many, many jackets and blazers), but in summer only dresses seem to be around and in my price range. Pre-70s blouses seem to be impossible to find.
There's a stylish blog award for you at my blog, to cheer you up! :)
I totally agree! Finding tops (for me 1940s) that don´t cost an arm anda leg is quite the challange!
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