This bomb is all about clothes. I spend a lot more time than I care to admit on the 'Net looking at retro clothes and accessories, thinking of the different things I'd do with them if I owned them, putting together outfits in my head. If I had the money to dress the way I truly wanted, I'd be in something retro, rockabilly or pin-up inspired at least 70% of the time. I love the way the clothes look, I love being reminded of the era they were created in, and I think that the silhouettes are very classy and feminine without being revealing or risque. Demure sexiness I think fits it best--at least for my vocab it does. lol I've chosen a few of my favorite items as well as some sites that I often visit to keep building my dream closet...you know, the one in my head. lol If you want to check the items out in this post, just click the photo to go to the product page directly.
This dress is from Stop Staring! and I adore it. It's subtly military-inspired, which was a big thing between the 30s and 50s. It's form-fitting and helps draw the eye to an hourglass silhouette. This dress comes in two other versions; a black dress with pink detailing and navy with red detailing. For some reason though, I like this version, probably because I don't have much clothing in this shade and that's what makes it appealing to me. Typically this is known as a drab color nowadays and I like taking something that would normally be called drab or ugly and wearing the hell out of it. This would be one of those times. lol
This black beauty is also from the Stop Staring! line and again, in love with it. Have been since the first time I saw it. It doesn't look like much when its alone on the rack, but it really shines once you put it on. I think this is so sophisticated in a feminine way without being over the top or filled with a bunch of prints and accessories. It still showcases the feminine silhouette which I love, because I'm very petite and I need things that give me more of a shape--I've got like a baby hourglass. lol You can do so many simple things with this outfit to take it up a notch, its very work appropriate but different from what other female professionals are wearing. Don't get me wrong, I love a modern tailored suit, but I love this just as much, if not more.
These capris, modeled by one of my modern-day pinup idols Bernie Dexter, are so cute! These are from Bernie Dexter's line of rockabilly-inspired clothing and are a bit pricey at $144, but I have come to realize that most of the authentic looking clothing retails around that price, unfortunately. Buying an entire wardrobe of clothing for those prices is what I call dedication on a level I just don't have. lol But how beautifully vintage are they?? They nip the waist, look really fun and you can wear so many types of cute tops with them, and even though I usually don't like the heels+shorts combo I would wear a cute pair of kitten heels with these.
These shorts, once again modeled by the lovely Bernie Dexter (who I will be talking about in another post) are called the Grable Pin Up Sailor Shorts, and I can see why. The pose on the right is a throwback to the infamous Betty Grable swimsuit pose she did back in the day but even if they weren't, I love these shorts to death. These are also from Bernie Dexter's line and come in black if you don't want blue. I really like the sailor and military inspired clothing that was such a hit back then and seems to be making its comeback today and I think these shorts capture both a retro feel with a sailor-inspired twist perfectly. These shorts are much more affordable than the capris above; these are only $25. These shorts showcase the gams, are very affordable and cute to boot. Sign me up!
This poplin dress is from the Pin-Up Garage and is called Hairspray Mekko. This is a UK-based company, so have your euros-to-dollars converter on hand if you want to buy anything from the site. I think this dress combines the flirty loose dresses from the 50s with a more modern design and looks like a lot of fun for an outdoors party or something a little more dressy casual.
This Heyday! Vintage top, modeled by Fleur de Guerre (another model I'll be featuring in another post) would go so cute with the Bernie Dexter capris a few photos up, right? When I was a kid I loved the tie-up shirts but supposedly the style was only for kids, until I discovered the pin-up style and realized that 'for kids' mess was a lie. lol This shirt comes in a few variations; this particular one is called the "Strawberry Sundae." It's light, summery, and too cute for words.
I apologize for the blurriness of this picture, but since the larger picture doesn't let you right click I had to take a thumbnail. You can see the dress in full when you click the photo and go to the product page. Now...is this a wiggle dress or is this a wiggle dress?? 20th Century Foxy made this 50s style black wiggle dress and I think its positively gorg. Two good things about this site--one, most of the items come in plus sizes; and two, even though the prices are listed in euros there is a conversion link on the page so you can get an accurate price right then. This dress has the ability to be seductive without being revealing, formfitting without being suffocatingly tight, yet demure without taking away its appeal. Again, you can do so much with a dress like this and you can dress it up or down. It's another pricey one but if this is a special occasion type dress, it looks to be worth the splurge.
I saw this dress referenced in one of Fleur de Guerre's posts on her
website and fell in immediate love-lust with it. The site advertises a
mint green one with black dots but I personally favor this one. I don't
know where I'd wear this to, but I swear I'd find a place just so I
could. Whirling Turban
created this "Mermaid Dress" and I advise you check out the product
page; the back is just as stunning as the front. The type of design
definitely isn't for everyone, that much I'm aware of, but how could you
not feel sexy in this? And the model totally owns the dress and
the photo. That could be you, showing up some bride--ok not that, that's
disrespectful lol--or turning the most heads at some fancy schmancy
event. I can guarantee you that nobody else will be wearing your dress,
so you can avoid fashion mishaps, stand out and totally own the place at
the same time. Total boss behavior if you ask me. lol Fleur even said
in her post that she'd wear it for a wedding dress; something I hadn't
considered but for a retro-style wedding could totally work. 
These ModCloth shoes are so vintage but still classy to wear to work today. The good thing about shoes is that even if there's a retro feel about them, you can easily bring them into modern times if you so choose. You can modernize these with jeans and a blazer, or you can keep it retro with a silk suit or something of that nature. 70s retro would be a polyester suit but I digress. lol I chose these shoes because they're a great height for work, you can still get away with wearing jeans with them (although not all jeans--I better not see any of you wearing these with skinny jeans! lol) and they aren't too high, so chicks who suck in heels (like me lmao) will be comfy enough to walk in them. 
I had to finish off this list with something sexy, so I picked this Cabaret Torselette from What Katie Did. Not only does it help maintain your shape for when you wear things such as the wiggle and swing dresses (some of which are pictured above), but its also pretty sexy once the outer clothes come off. It's amazing how sexy the body can be without having to be completely naked or in some complicated contraption with a bunch of frills and/or lace. I also have a longstanding obsession with suspenders, and I happen to think the notion of having sexy suspenders holding up your stockings while out and about is such a naughty little secret kinda thing. It's like wearing sexy panties under something completely inconspicuous; nobody's expecting you to be wearing a lacy thong underneath sweatpants and nobody's expecting you to wear a sexy corset with suspenders holding up the stockings underneath a totally unassuming dress. To wrap up this link bomb, I'll include some links for you to check out more of what these companies have to offer. I'll start with the sites I featured in this post. Keep in mind that some of these companies are UK-based sites, so I'd find a euros-to-dollars converter before checking them out in case you'd like to buy something during your visit.
1) Stop Staring! --Multiple celebrities have been spotted wearing SS! designs so the popularity of this line goes without question. Cocktail, formal, and casual dresses are all featured on this site, plus sizes are included and even business attire, so you can go here for all of your fashion needs.
2) Pin-Up Garage--This site has everything from jackets, sweaters and even petticoats to hair accessories, skirts and swing dresses like the one I featured in this post. There are even a few men's products on the site so if you've got a dude with retro tastes in your life, you should take a look.
3) Bernie Dexter--Bernie's shop is categorized by shirts, shorts, dresses, etc. and this link takes you to the main page. She's got a lot of fun swing and halter-type dresses on the site; you really should take a look.
4) 20th Century Foxy--Another site with all kinds of goodies--underwear to outerwear and accessories--and a totally authentic look to the items. They even categorize the era (40s and 50s, etc.) so if you're new to the world of vintage clothing, you'll know what era you want to buy and the typical things worn during those times. Informative and fun.
5) ModCloth--This site was originally only for vintage clothing but has since expanded so you can get both a modern and vintage shopping experience; best of both worlds if you ask me. Everything from swimwear to is on there, and an added perk is that for those of you who have a creative streak there is currently a contest for you to win a year of ModCloth dresses; go have a look!
6) What Katie Did--This site is primarily for lingerie and undergarments of various kinds and hot, hot, hot is all I can think of when I see the pieces. How could you not feel more like a woman in one of these items? I think that 'what Katie did' was create a beautiful line of garments. Did you catch that little pun I threw in there? Corny yet effective. lol
7) Whirling Turban--One thing that sets this site apart from all of the others on this list is that they also cover vintage bride and bridesmaid options as well as accessories. Fans, tiny bags, hair bows and belts are also featured on WT and are just as cute as the tops & bottoms that they accompany. Give it a looksie.
8) Secrets in Lace--I included the link to the Bettie Leopard Collection because it is so unbelievably sexy and beautifully retro. The makers of the collection think Bettie Page would have liked this collection, and I can agree. Check it out and take a look at the rest of the site, too.
9) Dollhouse Bettie--This site is all about sexy pieces of lingerie, sleepwear and even swimwear from different eras; I've seen pieces from the 30s and pieces from the 70s so it's got good range. You get a choice of sexy or demure, sheer or covered, long or short; the site has great variety and it shows in the options that they display.
10) Pin Up Girl Clothing-- I wanted to include some links here so bad during my featured products but I couldn't get a link out of the product photos. Please for all that is holy check this site out. The clothes are gorgeous, just looking at them make you feel sexy, and they come in plus sizes as well so nobody is left out. I love the clothes and can't wait til I can buy my first item of clothing.
Well, this concludes ATV's first link bomb; I really hope I gave you something new to peruse or at least gave you a little better of an understanding into vintage fashion. I'm thinking the next LB should be about vintage interior design and furniture items. That one's going to be a challenge; I haven't even seen that many yet. lol
**OAN: Don't forget our TNT tomorrow night; we're watching Rebel Without a Cause at 6pm EST. If you aren't home from work or are busy around that time, you can always watch it online with me here. Hope you join me!**
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