<![CDATA[A Vintage Wedding Too - A Vintage Diary]]>

<![CDATA[A Vintage Wedding Too - A Vintage Diary]]>Fri, 13 Sep 2024 11:25:40 -0400Weebly<![CDATA[Shiromuku, Uchikake, Shirouchikake, Irouchikake - What Are They?]]>Wed, 11 Sep 2024 16:03:06 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/shiromuku-uchikake-shirouchikake-irouchikake-what-are-theyAll of the above are the Japanese names for various bridal kimono and you'll be able to discover, and more importantly, visualize their meanings when AVWToo launches its very own Vintage Kimono Shop!

Full of authentically antique & vintage 100% silk Japanese wedding kimono, dozens of non-bridal kimono, as well as proper kitsuke (kimono dressing) accessories, the Kimono Shop will be THE place to find 100% silk kimono here in the U.S.! All are imported directly from Japan. All are simply GORGEOUS!

If you've ever wanted to own an authentic Japanese silk kimono, this will be the place to find the perfect one. I'm excited! I've always loved Japanese culture and dress. Photos of petite Japanese women in amazing hand-dyed, hand-painted, and hand-embroidered silk kimono always seemed so ultra-feminine & other-worldly delicate to me. Reminders of a by-gone era, perhaps? Yes and no. While Americanized/Western clothing has become daily wear in most of Japan, the Japanese very much embrace their heritage and culture and many still wear kimono today, especially for ceremonial events. I cannot tell you how much I respect that - their love of culture and heritage. In certain cities, like Tokyo & Kyoto, geisha (geiko) & maiko still dress in the most breathtaking formal silk kimono! They (geiko & maiko) are deeply honoured & respected by locals for continuing the ancient Japanese traditions and the ancient way of dress.

Why am I offering Japanese wedding wear to American brides? Many reasons, really. Uniqueness, femininity, vintage-ness, elegance, quality of the fabrics, but also because brides-to-be are always looking for something different. Something that not all other brides are wearing. Something that makes them, and their wedding day, special. So why not a long, white (shiro) kimono, as the 'coat' over a modern wedding gown? Why not dress completely & authentically as Japanese brides do? Why not wear a non-bridal kimono as your honeymoon dressing gown? The silk fabrics are so lush and of such high quality that a bride will truly feel special wearing one.

I have recently listed (just) one of my non-bridal kimono in my Etsy shop and will be uploading more in the coming weeks. Be sure to stop in and take a peek.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/1752660501/antique-japanese-100-silk-handmade

]]><![CDATA['Bridgerton' Popularity]]>Mon, 24 Jun 2024 14:10:40 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/bridgerton-popularityWhile I, too, am a fan of the Netflix series, 'Bridgerton', I have always been a fan of the Regency style of fashion that that particular show embodies. With the current, wicked resurgence in popularity, absolutely because of the 'Bridgerton' series, the Regency style is back in vogue! Nothing wrong with that. I'm all for it.

The Regency period (c.1811-1820, but more broadly accepted as c.1795-1837) offered women a style of dress that, while still corseted and generously layered in various underpinnings, allowed more freedom of movement, thanks to the empire (properly pronounced 'ahm-peer', not 'umm-PIRE', like a baseball home plate referee) silhouette. The empire silhouette was originally meant to mimic the flowing robes of ancient Greece, with a high waist that began just under the bustline, and a long, full, flowing skirt. The fabrics could be as simple as muslin, linen, wool, or cotton, or more elegant and expensive fabrics like hand-painted, embellished, or embroidered silks, accented with beautiful laces, usually worn for eveningwear.

A more recent era, where that same empire styling was all the rage, was the later 1960's & the 1970's. Probably one of the reasons why I so love the 60's & 70's. Many of the gowns for sale on this website are from that era and they're absolutely beautiful, imho. :) Feel free to check-out those gowns' pages here and here.

As for bridalwear, the Regency look is the most forgiving of all gown silhouettes, since it snugs just under the bustline, then flows loosely. Because of this, it's the ideal gown for brides with below-the-bust imperfections (thicker waistlines, fuller abdomens). It's also an excellent gown choice for the maternity bride.

Because the onlookers' gaze is drawn upwards towards the brides' face, as it absolutely should be (!!), I consider an empire silhouette to be the most versatile, bride-friendly wedding gown choice.

Bridal fashions, like all fashions, come and go. They are cyclical. While many bridal companies want to sell you the newest, 'most fashionable & popular' designer wedding gown, I am of the belief that wearing a gown that is best suited to your particular physique & personality (and, partially, your theme/venue) is always the best choice. If that gown happens to be vintage, well then, even better!

]]><![CDATA[I'm Still At It.....]]>Wed, 05 Jun 2024 19:24:25 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/im-still-at-it...the Great Revamp, that is. Anyone who works in web design will understand how time consuming it is. Tedious, actually. Very monotonous in its endless repetition. But, with that said, all that 'negativity', I love it! I honestly do. The process of choosing a gown/dress/item, purchasing it (if not donated), receiving it and reviewing it (for flaws, stains, &c), inventorying it, mending/beading/handwashing it, photographing it, editing those photos, uploading those photos, writing the descriptions and gathering measurements, adding convenient payment buttons.... It's obnoxious just reading this, right? So, imagine how time-consuming it is to DO all of this. But, again, I love it!

My point? Please be patient with me while I am undergoing this revamp. Many hundreds of gowns, yes, but also thousands of other items, all to be added into new categories, is in the works! It should be great. Better than great, actually! I just wish that my fingers could fly faster, and my brain didn't bog down after hours (usually about 8-10 hours in one sitting) of staring at a screen.

Sounds like complaining, but it's not. In the meantime, if you, the reader, has anything in particular that you are looking for, ALWAYS feel free to contact me. I might have exactly what you're looking for in my inventory. If not, I might know exactly where to get my hands on it.

Thank you for your patience! Please stay tuned.....]]><![CDATA[The Great Revamp]]>Thu, 08 Feb 2024 13:22:21 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/the-great-revampThis has been a long time coming ~ the complete revamp of this website. As mentioned in a previous blog, the desire for vintage fashions, including vintage bridalwear, is cyclical. It's either in or it's out. For me, it has always been 'in'. There's a classic, more classy, look to vintage bridalwear. More demure, too, because the brides' parts & pieces are exposed for everyone to see. I prefer lack of exposure, actually. IMHO, the 'parts' should be shown during the honeymoon, not the wedding, but I realize that my thinking is old-fashioned. ;)

With COVID, vintage bridalwear, in fact nearly ALL bridalwear, was completely out. Weddings were postponed or canceled completely. Group gatherings were not allowed. Purchasing bridalwear was pointless. Very few brides-to-be wanted to spend money on a gown when no one could gather for the wedding.

Now that life is getting back to normal, I'm looking forward to adding photographs of the gowns and vintage fashions that are currently in inventory ~ over 600 gowns, as well as hundreds of pieces of additional vintage clothing (outerwear, retro clothing, hats, gloves, purses, and the like)!

Thank you for your patience and please stick around to see what's coming!

Terri G]]><![CDATA[What's Old is New Again...?]]>Tue, 01 Feb 2022 13:41:12 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/whats-old-is-new-againIn the fashion industry, the tongue-in-cheek mantra is 'what's old is new again', as styles are constantly dying-off, then resurrecting (some of which should NEVER come back, ugh). And so it is with vintage wedding fashions.

Modern gowns will always be the 'in' thing to wear, because the industry has created it to be so. If you are a bride-to-be, you are indoctrinated at a young age to want THAT particular designer (because she's all the rage on the fashion page), or THAT particular look (the look is everything, isn't it?), or to purchase your gown from THAT particular salon (gosh, everyone who's anyone goes there!).

I have no qualms with anyone who feels ^ that ^ way. To each her own.

I am here, however, to expressly cater to those who march (down the aisle) to a different drum! Those who want to begin their marital journey by also proudly representing the past. That's my tribe. Those are the people who speak to my soul.

This is my 25th year. A quarter of a century matching brides-to-be with vintage gowns. I've coordinated whole wedding themes via long distance. Matching each gown to the ideal b2b is a personal challenge that I relish. I ensure that every gown/dress will fit and that it suits the personality of the wearer and the theme of the wedding itself. No small task, really. I just hope that I'm able to continue for another 25 years.... :)

]]><![CDATA[Corsetry ~ Yay or Nay?]]>Tue, 24 Oct 2017 19:34:23 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/corsetry-yay-or-nayMost females are usually clearly defined on this issue. Those who love corsetry (not the cheap corsetry purchased for Halloween), have a kinship to those ladies of long ago; while those who are not fans of corsetry....well...they usually have not actually tried-on well-made corsets that have been properly seasoned to their bodies.

In any event, I am here to say that I am a huge fan! Would you expect anything less?!

While there are numerous photographs of ladies with insect-like wasp waistlines, as well as articles purporting grotesque maladies of the internal organs and ribcage, most women of previous eras were used to wearing corsets and, therefore, did not suffer dire consequences, as is often seen/shared, horror-story-style.

Back in the day, young girls wore training corsets (not pulled as tightly as an adult woman's corset) and, eventually, grew to wear the more tightly-fitting corsetry as their bodies became accustomed to the fit and feel. Adult women often wore nighttime corsetry as well ~ a much gentler version of its daytime counterpart.

No matter what your thought on the subject, it is a known fact that corsetry (or even girdles in more recent times) aided in flattening the stomach, smoothing-out hips, pooches and 'muffin tops', and lifted & supported the bustline. None of which are a bad thing. :)

Shall we also discuss what MEN think of corsetry?? I think that that's rather obvious, don't you?

Please let me know what you think! I'm all ears..........

]]><![CDATA[Q: What's your vintage wedding gown memory? :)]]>Wed, 22 Feb 2017 22:09:34 GMThttp://avintageweddingtoo.com/a-vintage-diary-blog/q-whats-your-vintage-wedding-gown-memoryIt has been awhile since I launched this page and I have to be honest and say that my blogging skills are sadly lacking. My apologies.

I'm interested in hearing from others regarding memories of their (their Mom's/Grandmother's) vintage wedding gown. Do you recall how it looked? High neckline? Long train? What about your/her bouquet?

My grandmother (photo on 'About' page) was married in 1923 and, from what I can tell from her photograph, wore a gorgeous dress, typical of that time period. I can only go by her photograph, however, because I was never able to actually see her dress. Do you know that she threw away her wedding dress? Apparently, not too long after she and my grandfather were married, she tossed it. Yup.
Now to me, that's sacrilege!! I would KILL for that gown, not only for its age and fashion value, but for the incredible sentimental value.

Did you/your Mom throw away or giveaway her gown? Should it have been passed down?

Tell me your thoughts.....I'd really like to know.......

(I would hope that it goes without saying, but just in case, please no vulgar commentary or links ~ thanks.)]]>