Lounge like a retro goddess!

This is Jean Harlow and she lounges like a goddess.

After spending a week's vacation at home I am ready to better my loungewear game. I spent the last week in nightgowns, leggings, pajama pants, boyfriend sweaters, and Snuggies. I let my skin breathe, I cleaned house in a pony tail, and I watched more Netflix than I ever thought possible. It was great for me but not so great for Mr. Anachronistic Style who is used to a lot more primping on my part. Mid-century women excelled at the art of lounging, wouldn't I feel so much better sitting around the house in a beautiful nightgown and bed jacket with pin curls and lipstick? I spend hundreds of dollars on clothes a month yet I can't bring myself to drop a hundred dollars on a nightgown or two! I will arguably wear these lovely frocks more than anything else in my closet so maybe these lovelies would be a better investment?

How lovely is this Soma lavender nightgown ($89) with embroidery and cascading ruffles? I adore the modern cotton fabric with the retro details.

I ask for this Secrets in Lace ostrich-trim chiffon robe ($139) every birthday and Christmas but have yet to receive it. I think hubby is scared of the feathers and sees Big Bird instead of Jean Harlow!

I recently fell in love with the satin pajamas from Victoria's Secret ($69.50.) They are perfect for lounging in warm and comfortable style and come in all kinds of prints and three different lengths to fit a variety of sizes! These pajamas toe the line between sexy and demure with a strong menswear twist, what's not to love?

How frilly and fabulous and yowza is this bed jacket!? This babydoll top from Secrets in Lace ($49) is perfect for covering up from the waist up. A bed jacket is a cropped robe so that the bottom does not get ruffled while you sit in bed, or in my case on the couch with a soft blanket.

What is your favorite retro loungwear?

Retro Education: How to put on fully fashioned stockings

Thanks to the people at Secrets in Lace here's a great tutorial on how to wear a garter belt and stockings.

Weekly Expense Report: Yet More Lingerie

I have a confession to make: I am utterly addicted to lingerie. Any retro purist will say that the proper undergarments set the tone of the whole outfit so what better way to bring old-school glamor into the everyday with retro-inspired lingerie? Your day just goes better when your bra and panties match. My lingerie collection has grown so much that I switched my jean drawer with my bra drawer! I blame my increasing interest in Burlesque and actually finding bras that fit.


How cute is this? The pink corset demi bra ($46) is so cheesecake! Of course I had to pick up the matching garter skirt ($25, check local stores) as well!


The stripes, they slay me. The striped balconette bra ($42) and striped sheer back boyshort ($18) taunted me until I brought them home.


I needed a third panty to get my 3/$29 panty deal so I picked these up. The matching bra was sold out in my size but at least I can enjoy the ribbon slotted hipster panty ($18) with her bows and roses!


I had to get something frivolous for Valentine's Day...we're just going to pretend that all these sets aren't frivolous...so the dotted lace up hipster panty ($18) made the cut. The sheer pindot fabric really appealed to me and it is going to coordinate with a lot of other bras I already own.


The picked up these little beauties from Shoedazzle ($40). Want to stop traffic? These will do it and they are super walkable! I like to pair them with bright tights. These are actually knock-offs of Jeffrey Campbell's Foxy Wood ($120).

More More More!

This Editorial is titled "More More More!" and that's about all I know. A little dowager chic, cotton candy-colored hair, and the artful reveal of lingerie are the unifying themes of this shoot, I just wish I knew more about it.

Happy Holidays!

This vintage cheesecake ad wants you to have a Merry Christmas! Put on your best hosiery and make the season sparkle with glamor and opulence.

Weekly Expense Report: Holiday Glitter & Glam

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While I scramble to finish all my last-minute Christmas shopping I have scooped up a couple things for myself along the way. I'm focusing on injecting more glamour and opulence into my wardrobe with sequins, fur, and retro-inspired lingerie.


This Donna Karan New York sequin party dress ($128) is my back-up anniversary dress in case the teal one doesn't work. Otherwise I'll be rocking it for New Year's Eve. I love the champagne and smoke sparkle--very film-noir in a classic silhouette. A dress this dramatic begs for a fascinator! You can find XS-XL here at Macy's and 14-28 here at Lane Bryant!


My favorite intimate store Cacique has a fabulous new December collection for the curvy and fabulous crowd that features pin-up girl styling. The ribbon slotted bandeau bra ($42) stole my heart with her polka dots and teal ribbon and comes in 36C-36DDD and 38-44B-H. The matching ribbon slotted hipster panty ($18) comes in pant sizes 12-28.


Because artfully lounging is a priority and I am a sucker for polka dots this cami doll set ($40) came home with me. It even comes with matching tap pants.



Another bra and panty set in heart-throbbing pink and black French-inspired lace. The passion lace balconette ($38) and the luxury lace trim hipster ($18) are perfect for everyday wear and come in a wide range of sizes!


There is no way I could leave this striped set behind featuring little cherry charms! The striped plunge bra ($42) and striped tanga panty ($18) will nestle their way into my lingerie drawer.


I never knew how much I would appreciate the starry night 2 piece pajama set ($55) until I put it on. I love Cacique sleepwear because the smallest size is perfectly oversized on me--like I borrowed my husband's sleep pants but they are more comfortable and come in the cutest prints. I was attracted to this set because of the D&G inspired print and little ruffle details. I never anticipated just how glamorous I would feel lounging around in these vintage-y menswear-inspired pajamas. I'll go back for more after Christmas when they are on sale so I can pick up a few more prints!



If I'm not buying tights from welovecolors.com then Spanx are definitely my legwear of choice. I love the patterned tights and hosiery with the high-waisted control top--they fit perfectly and flatter my curves better than any hosiery I've ever tried! I purchased the Diamond and Swiss Dot sheer fashion hose ($28) to round out my Holiday wardrobe.

Dita Von Teese on Stockings

Dita recently shared her tips for wearing fully fashioned stockings and her advice is too good to not pass on. Like most things pertaining to vintage fashion stockings are a lost art. Here's what Dita has to say for those of us born after pantyhose were invented...

"Always buy more than one pair of the same style, so if one gets a run, just take another from a new package. Stockings are superior to pantyhose not just because they are more beautiful and feel more free, but because chances are, you may run one leg, but not the other, so the pair is not all lost when you have backups pairs. Next, do as the French do, and put the garter belt on FIRST! Panties (if any) go over the top so you can easily remove them for whatever reason and still have that lovely stocking and garter belt frame. Authentic fully-fashioned seamed stockings never have any lycra, therefore they have that lovely rasp of nylon, the welt with a keyhole in back, and of course, they have an authentic stitched seam and a cuban or french heel. Your garter belt must have stability to keep the seams straight; look for ones with six straps rather than four, one that is wide and sits firmly in place at the waist. Girdles and corsets accomplish this too. The stockings should frame the pelvis, not be too long, nor too short, but the top part of the stocking should rise to about mid-thigh. My signature stockings are made on the true vintage 1940s era mills, with every detail in place. Beware of faux seams and lycra! Welcome to the Cult of the Fully-fashioned Nylon Stocking! Accept nothing less!"

You can purchase Dita's authentic stockings at Secretsinlace.com here!

Weekly Expense Report: The Lingerie edition

This week's shopping has been all about stocking up on basics and some much-needed lounge wear. I always buy new pajamas when I'm going on a trip, you never know when there might be a fire in your hotel.


My everyday go-to bra is the balconette by Cacique. It comes in size 36C and up so busty girls rejoice! It comes in lace and smooth ($36-46). I bought the black, pink candy (hot Barbie pink!), and the dazzling blue lace (looks purple but is a true indigo/blue-purple!). I'm eyeing the fern green (bright true green) lace next! This bra pulls the girls up and together like nothing else!


While I was shopping Cacique I picked up some PJs. The smallest size they carry is perfectly oversized for that stolen-from-your-boyfriend fit but comes in cute girly prints. I bought the coffee cup rolled leg sleep pant ($33) since I am such a coffee addict. So of course I needed the Latte print muscle tank ($27) to wear with the pants, the coffee cup says "Hot Stuff" and the heart says "I love you a latte!" Mr. Anachronistic Style finds it adorable, he is also a coffee addict. I rounded out my Cacique trip with the Vivid dots cropped sleep pants ($30) since I am a sucker for bright colors.


I went ahead and bopped on over to Lane Bryant. My jeans of choice are dark, flare leg, and high-waisted so the Dark wash flared jegging ($60) fit the bill nicely. They give me the perfect, relaxed 70's vibe for fall!

Shoedazzle was having a buy one get one free sale so I was able to score Mira and Sailor for only $40!

Corsetry and Petticoats, Oh my!

Every lady needs a foundations wardrobe, while Spanx may be effective they won't fill the vintage requirements of an anachronistic fashionista. Enter Vivien Hoffpaur of Candy Violet's retro waist cincher ($36) and petticoats ($39-56) to carve pudgy middles into a sleek hourglasses. The cincher's lace panels, waist bands, steel boning and garters make a girl feel sexy under her lolita frock or retro wiggle dress. Viv's classic fluffy petticoat now comes in four colors--pink, blue, black and white. Perfect worn under 1950's full dresses, lolita skirts or on their own as street fashion (think Betsey Johnson!)