I've Got You Under My Skin

File under: Morons I don't understand.

Christie's Auction House in New York auctioned off pieces of the wardrobe from The Sopranos today. I'm with them so far, good times, good times. It was to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project, a cause close to James Gandolfini's (Tony Soprano) heart that helps out soldiers injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. I'm all about that, carry on with yo bad self, awesome cause. And while I do really like the show when I catch the edited version on TV late at night because I'm too cheap to pay for anything other than basic cable and yes, I dig the wardrobe with it's rat pack-y flair, there's something about this that makes my cannoli curdle.

Exhibit A:
The outfit he wore when he got shot by Uncle Junior



Guess how much this little slice of Italian cliche went for?...

...I'll wait. Are you guessing?...

...Wait for it...

$187,750.

Ok, see now they lost me.

Let's do a little compare and contrast, shall we kids? Because math is power!


Exhibit B: Marilyn Monroe's dress was up at auction at Julien's. Granted, it's not exactly an iconic piece, but it's still MARILYN MONROE'S. Who's dead, by the way, and not just a dead character in an overrated HBO drama series either, but for real dead. And while she is somewhat of an overdone cliche herself, the girl is a icon.



A picture of her wearing it in a series of photographs taken of her and Arthur Miller in New York City in 1956:



You know how much this sundress went for? $21,000.00. That's like, 9 times less than what the goomba's near-death scene outfit went for.

What would Sinatra do? How would he feel about the image that Tony Soprano created for the mob? Not that the mob ever had a wholesome image but still, it never looked so...cheesy. I love that the money went to a kickass cause, but come ON people. The show hasn't even been off the air for more than what, a YEAR? I'd love to do a little boot partying on the dude who shelled out that much money for an outfit that he could have essentially bought at Hot Topic. What a gavone.

eVintage Society's Blog Tag Wednesday!

To honor the 10 year anniversary of Frank Sinatra's passing (today), the USPS issued a Sinatra stamp and Turner Classics has been running Sinatra films all month.

I've been tagged by Empress Jade Vintage!

1) Show your favorite Rat Pack look in your inventory (early 60s suit, fedora, tie, cuff links, loop collar shirt.....)

So many choices- one of my all time favorite eras of clothing- especially for the menfolk. But my favorite shirt of the hour would be this swanky 50's/60's number in 2tone rayon and corduroy.



2) Favorite Sinatra song?

The Way You Look Tonight!!! Cliche or not, I have sentimental reasons. That song still gives me butterflies every time I hear it. Awww....

3) Favorite Rat Pack member? (Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Joey Bishop, Sammy Davis Jr. or Peter Lawford)

I know I'm *supposed* to say Sinatra but popularity-be-damned, Dino always has and always will hold a ridiculous sentimental attachment for me to the guy, above all those other cats. (ha ha, I said "cats" like I'm hep or something.)

4) Best Sinatra "era"? (40s young & skinny, 50s swingin' crooner or 60s Rat Pack suave?)
I love that late 50's to early 60's period best. For music and fashion. Come to think of it, movies too.

5) Favorite Sinatra wife? (Nancy, Ava Gardner, Mia Farrow or Barbra).
Oh hell, the tumultuous Ava era!

6) Been to Vegas, how many times and best Vegas story.

I guess I can talk the talk but can't walk the walk. Whatever THAT means. Never been there. We're planning on it...some day...when I'm awfully low...

Fly Me To The Moon

Men. Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em. But I'm pretty sure that 99% of them can dress better. And I'm also pretty sure that the pants-at-half-mast, clinging-to-ass-undercheek-for-dear-life look hasn't been cool since Generic White College Guy started saying things like "shizzle my nizzle" and "Compton". I thought this trend hasn't been around since the glory days of Clueless, but apparently all the young dudes are still wearing their pants like that. And while I realise I sound like I'm 80 I DON'T CARE. That look sucks eggs, always did always will, no matter what Snoop says- and is only useful if you plan on doing some pretty major ass burglary, like stealing a 12 pound ham. And if you're not stealing me a meat product, then I say good day sir. I SAID GOOD DAY.


Whatever happened to the days when men dressed like men? When did it become OK to wear baseball caps indoors and Miller Light pajama pants to the grocery store? Why don't men light women's cigarettes anymore or do any of those Little Things that Gentleman Do, like they did in the 40's and 50's? When did women allow their men to go out in public looking like hobo douche bags? And why was I not consulted first?! How dare this happen without my consent. Trixie, take a memo. Time to launch Operation Black Magic.



It's never too late for a guy to dress a little more swellegant, you know. Skinny tie? Check. Pork pie? Check. Pinky ring? Duh. While wearing a sharkskin suit to go to the Quickie Mart may be overkill, it wouldn't kill you to wear a jacket and button-down shirt once in a while. Unless the jacket had hidden scorpions in the pocket, then it'd kill you.

It's the little details that count and I swear we chicks go crazy cuckoo for them. And not *just* me but Extremely Hot Chicks With Big Racks Just Like Me *everywhere*. Cuff links. Cabbie hats. 2tone shoes. A wild 40's tie. Just not a Hooters tee shirt. When in doubt, repeat your mantra: "What Would Frank Wear?". Know it. Use it. Live it.


Swanky clothes. Love them. Buy them, Wear them.

Smoking jackets good enough to actually smoke in, but even cooler to wear out. (And if I hear "Halloween", "Hefner" or "Bosstone" you will fear The Wrath of Kim.) From my stash at Fast Eddie's Retro Rags.






Not just suspenders. But vintage 40's Stork Club suspenders, people. STORK CLUB. Get with it. From Dorothea's Closet Vintage.




Records or martini olives? Depends on how many jack and cokes you've had I suppose, though I'm favoring olives. No, records. No, olives. No, donuts. OK, olives. From Morning- Glorious.

Music To Be Murdered By

Shopping online for something specific can be so stab-inducing in a way that I cannot describe. Oh wait yes I can- it makes me go berserker from all the stupid out there flooding my shopping experience with the crazy-making. I was on a quest for a funny little bowling shirt for myself of the real vintage variety and WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, DADDY-O's? Seriously, bowling shirts with freaking martini glasses or Elvis or *enter any other 50's cliche image here* is a CRIME of fashion, a toilet flush and a bitch slap to the vintage world. Not that I get my hate on with Daddy-O's, because they do sell some covetable dresses and are in fact making a living peddling their wares and props to them for living the American dream. But in reality, WHAT mafioso type in the 50's and 60's EVER wore bowling shirts when they were not in fact, oh I don't know, BOWLING?! And when in fact, did they ever wear bowling shirts with FLAMES AND DICE on them?! Oh, my heart will most certainly NOT go on.


Don't hate me because I'm an Italian Cliche.


Because I'm a loser and don't have HBO and have to watch HBO shows like the Sopranos when they finally come to TNT on basic cable 3 years after the show is over, I'm only now discovering the wrongness of mob fashion and James Gandolfini, you are now on MY LIST. I blame you for brainwashing today's youth into thinking that Today's Modern Mafia dresses even remotely cool and old school when they, in fact, wear VELOUR JUMPSUITS. Call me crazy, but I don't think JLo had you guys in mind with her line of track suits. I do wish TMM would take a cue from the Sopranos and their faux rat pack-esque style and help the vintage community out and actually start rocking shark skin suits and panel shirts again and REPRESENT. Don't you joiks remember Dean Martin and 2 tone shoes and Banlon and the Cool Gangster Lingo? And for the love of god, WHO WILL THINK OF THE PINKY RINGS?


Just say no to repros, kids. Once you get hooked, there's no going back. Do it up right, in real sleazeball fashion. Check out some shirts from yours truly at Fast Eddie's Retro Rags.





This one's coming soon, hold your horses you filthy animals.