Unless you live in a place with a large garment producing industry, chances are most of your clothes are produced far, far away. In fact having locally grown food, locally made clothes, local anything is a bit of a luxury. Not that I don’t like my imported goods, or enjoy the cost breaks of off-shore production, but every now and then it’s nice to be wearing something that was produced within 50 miles of where I live.
At the Vintage Fashion Expo, I found this gorgeous silk polka-dot yellow dress with a giant boob bow (I can’t say boob bow without thinking of Wendy Brandes). I had resisted boob bows before, but this was like none other. That and the fact that it was hand made by a woman named Lois Leavitt of San Mateo, California, judging by the tags and the design, the 1960’s? My grandmother also used to run a business making custom clothing out of her home, so if you see a dress by Beatrice Tamm of Sunnyvale, California, you’ll all know that’s my gran. If some of you estate sale junkies come across one of those, give me a shout will ya?
The shoes were also made in the 1960’s in San Francisco… I love them so much, but a kind of afraid to wear them outside, not because they aren’t comfortable enough for walking, but to keep them from being damaged too much by the sidewalks and all the urban terrain that I tend to walk on.
The only things left are the sunglasses, made in China (not local) and the Ferragamo belt made in Italy (also not local). One of these days I’ll have to try to do a locally sourced outfit, which is kind of hard to do all the way because where do you draw the line? Where it’s sewn? Where the fabric is from? Where the materials are grown? Oh dear…its making my head spin. We are indeed in an interconnected world.
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That dress is absolutely gorgeous!
Angeline Evans´s last blog ..It’s not you, it’s me
Sweet little polka dots!
You look fab - and yes, shopping local for your clothing is a bit of a moral quagmire in this day and age. Plus, it can be so difficult! That’s why I make a lot of my clothing myself and share it on my blog…I love to make things with my own hands, and it was made VERY locally (in my own home!!) Then you get into the issues of where was the thread spun, the fabrics produced, the closures created…and the sad answer is China, in most cases…so essentially only the fabricated product is the only local thing in this manufactured chain.:-(
You look very chic and the bow is the front makes it so sweet!
xoxox
Carly
http://chicsteals.blogspot.com
carlyjcais´s last blog ..Interview with Maegan Tintari from …love, Maegan
oh yes, i’ve always thought about things like that, like where does everything else come from? like if i buy a shelf from ikea and assemble it in my own home, does it mean it was made locally? haha, you know what i mean… i think it’s great you make your own clothes, more women are making a return to that, and that makes me really happy, and sad because i can’t sew!
I love that entire look-complete with the lipstick! Very chic. I agree that it’s always nice to find locally made clothing these days when it is so uncommon.
wow, what a great find!
love bows!
Tami´s last blog ..The Bird and the Bee: A Tribute to Daryl Hall and John Oates
You are perfection from boob bow to toe.
WendyB´s last blog ..Introducing the Asterisk Ring
inspired by you, lovely!
The dress is lovely, I love the color on you and I’m a huge fan of polka dots
Much love,
Glendy <3
me too! why is so hard to find GOOD polkadots though?
That dress fits you PERFECTLY. Also, I love the hint and flare of San Francisco pride in your mostly local outfit. What a good feeling!
Ashe Mischief´s last blog ..I go out on Friday night, I come home on Saturday morning
Oh my goodness, that dress is adorable! The polka dots make it unique. & it fits you like a glove!
Ev`Yan | apricot tea.´s last blog ..on losing my religion.
You look great! That colour suits you so well. x
Lauren´s last blog ..Hearts and Bows
Oh, I am SO jealous of your gorgeous vintage dress! I’m a fan of the boob bow, although I only have one dress with one, and it’s not as big as yours. You look so classic! Beautiful spring outfit, lady.
Becky´s last blog ..Daily Duds (3/23/10) Wishing for Spring Weather
one is a good start!
The dress looks perfect on you. And altough it’s a tricky color, it looks beautiful against your skin color.
http://lhabitue.blogspot.com/
l’habitué´s last blog ..TEMPEST
Perfect dress and it looks stunning on you.
Sabrina ´s last blog ..Baaahhh Baahhhh, counting sheep
Wow, that dress is divine! I don’t know how I missed the Vintage Expo; I found some great stuff there last year.
Audi´s last blog ..Patchwork
i know, i haven’ seen you yet! we have to change that soon!
That dress is to die for! Gorgeous! I love vintage dresses.
Kaleigh´s last blog ..A little contest fun.
Glad you finally caved on the boob bow - it’s such a sassy detail.
Sally´s last blog ..Trust in Style
This dress suits you so perfectly, from the boob bow to the fit to the colour. And you’re right, the whole notion of “shopping local” falls apart once you look under the surface.
lisa´s last blog ..m0851 Undergoes Spring Cleaning
You have the perfect figure for this silhouette! Love the adorable bow. I’m obsessed with bows right now!
dreamsequins´s last blog ..City of Angels
well it’s good to know my figure is good for something…lately it’s been really hard..
Oh yellow dress with the tiny polka dots and fabulous bow! how i love thee! Beautiful dress and belt combo!
The Obsessionista´s last blog ..I Heart the IRO Spring ‘10 Collection
your dress is amazing! you look fabulous!!!!! the color looks great on you!
simply stunning!
hiyaluv´s last blog ..Phillies Spring Training
Amazing dress. The color is fabulous.
It has become a habit of mine to look at where clothes/shoes/etc., are made before I buy them … being a reformed impulse buyer, it usually helps me put a potential purchase into better perspective. : )
yeah, i try to buy in the usa as much as possible, or from countries that have good labor laws, but it’s not always possible…
you are KILLING IT!!! That color and style is PHENOM!!!!! WERQ IT GURL! I am in love with this look!
wow. such a pretty dress. i love polka dots.
Deepti´s last blog ..Weekend at NYC - Part 2
That color was made for you! Gorgeous!
I love this colour! It looks so so pretty on you
Lola´s last blog ..Choose my video background…..
Gorgeous dress even with boob bow!
Make Do Style´s last blog ..Recreate
dress locally tha tis a true challenge and you do it perfectly. the dress and shoes are perfect and I love the red lipstick you chose to go with it. this is truly your collor.
the dress is phenomenal I love the style and you wear it very well
http://www.iletaitunefoisundressing.com/
dreamylacey´s last blog ..Mariage de tendances
Wow, that is a beautiful dress. I LOVE the fabric! Good color on you. Never heard of “boob bows”. Learn something new every day!
Nickie Frye´s last blog ..Vintage Motorcycle Club Jacket
I really love this dress and the shoes. This whole look is so classic and beautiful on you. I would love to have a dress like yours.
You look GORGEOUS. And I’ll be on the lookout for anything made by your gran. =D
Alicia´s last blog ..…oh, Rinat…
That’s one good boob bow!
Retro Chick´s last blog ..Where’s Retro Chick?
oh wow jennine, i have been missing your blog! this dress: gorgeous! as for the shoes - put some out-soles on them and then you can wear them worry-free!
And the shoes are now among a trend: colorblock striping/stripping.
Not that it necessarily matters of course, but I’ve been vintage shoe shopping and so many are in. In fact, I know Louboutin is actually inspired by vintage.
Ella Mode´s last blog ..(Outfit +) Coming Out of My Own Camera-Shy Closet – Or: It’s Hard to Face My Weight Gain
I love the dress!
Jonna´s last blog ..new room, new wardrobe
Cute dress!!! and great photography!!! come visit me at my site
that’s so funny! i remember seeing that dress at the vintage expo, and loved the print. it looks great on you! and it’s amazing that it was made locally; that’s nearly impossible to find today!
This is such a stunning dress! The color, print, silhouette — everything is perfect!
Mousevox Vintage´s last blog ..DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: HUBERT DE GIVENCHY
you look so pretty!! so jealous of your fabulous vintage finds, i went to 4 vintage shops over 2 days in Denver and I didn’t find anything that appealed to me or fit my price point. I’m obviously going to the wrong stores with the wrong amount of $ saved to go!
And a local outfit? I have no idea where to find that in Chicago. I think I’d do better if I were in France or Italy?
Emily the Panda´s last blog ..-sb photodiary 3-
this is adorable! the yellow paired with the red lips is just beautiful!
Kate´s last blog ..Song of the Week!
You look phenomenal!! That color, the red lips, the sunglasses, all amazing on you! Now that I’m thinking about it, I remember Michelle Williams wearing a dress that color to the Oscars (???) some years ago, with the red lips. It was one of the best looks that night, and here the same combination looks stunning again.
Prêt à Porter P´s last blog ..Summer Bag
I love the print and the fabric!!
Gorgeous! I approve of the boob bow!