Ugly Christmas Sweaters or Are The Pretty

Against personal judgement.. I guess these are classified as "Ugly Christmas Sweaters." But, if you've followed my blog, you know i personally love them and think them pretty. I'm the one with the cute little Christmas pins too~ ok. I'm weird. Its fun to get into the spirit of the season, lol.

But ~ Trends rule. No era had better "ugly sweaters" than the 80s. Again, vintage re-surfaces in latest trends, even if not necessarily favorably in this form. So if you are going to an Ugly Christmas Sweater party, here are just a few selections that hopefully win you first prize.

If you are like me, and actually think these are pretty.. wear one to work, to the club, out for lunch or make your students smile as you show Holiday spirit wearing a Christmas sweater.



Red Fluffy Ugly Christmas Sweater Satin Poinsettia, sequins, faux pearls


Silver Sparkle Snowflakes Aqua Ugly Christmas Sweater M L


Vintage Angora Ugly Christmas Sweater Snowmen Small


Wreaths, Beads, Sequin Ugly Christmas Sweater XL

Vintage Pretties New With Tags Lingerie Perfect for Gift Giving

It always amazes me to find vintage items, new never worn. The manufacturer tags still attached, hanging from a sleeve just as it was when it was purchased 40+ years ago. How can someone possess such beautiful items and never enjoy or wear them?

Possibly, the recipient received more items as gifts than they could wear in a lifetime! My grandmother always wore dresses. Always. pants were just not an option. For gift occasions, we always gave her slips or flannel nightgowns. The nightgowns were hard to find unless we bought vintage.. she was set in her ways and only wore certain cotton flannel ones not available today.. And of course, she had tons of slips with the original tags on them.

You have to admit, it makes an even nicer gift ~ not only are you giving the ultimate in recycling, the bonus is better quality fabric, superior construction and often designs, incredible laces and trims just not found in today's garments! A gift you can be proud to give, and hopefully the tags cut and the item enjoyed!

Here are just a few of the Vintage Items I have new with tags, more coming daily!





Vintage Full Slip Snip it Hem size 36 M L








Vintage Nightgown NWT Shimmery Satin Flannel lined








Frilly Ribbon White Satin Hand Embroidered Barbizon Nightgown









Vintage Robe Caftan Hostess Lounger in Lilac S M ~






Vintage Nightgown Demure Sheer Peach M L





Beautiful lingerie for wonderful Christmas gifts~

Patriotic Pretties for Election Day..Vintage Red White and Blue Clothing

It's Election Day here in the States~ Other than the pretty demi parure, while you can't wear these to the polls to vote, you can be Patriotic at home with these Red, White and Blue Pretties!

And of course ~ don't forget to Vote!!!


Sarah Coventry Pin Earring set





Vintage Komar Red Nightgown Peignoir Set Small Med



Vintage Shadowline All Lace Slip Chiffon Lined XS






Vintage Komar Blue Velour Zip Robe Pretty embroidery




all these and more available at
Vintage Pretties

Ugly Sweaters Ugly Sweater Parties .. A Matter of Opinion"

One of my favorite things about the sitcom "two and a half men" is watching to see what sweater the character Rose the quirky neighbor will wear. Sometimes fabulously beaded, sometimes fun, and often outrageous. A matter of personal opinion, as I love them all, but others would beg to differ. Are they really ugly sweaters?

This "difference of opinion" came up last February when my daughter visited from out of state, asked if she could "borrow" a few sweaters from my vintage sweater inventory. She chose a mans sweater in gray mohair. fuzzy vintage 60s with sea gulls woven into the knit. For herself, a most beautiful pink crochet sweater, with orange, pink and yellow flowers.

Smiling, I said she had chosen two of my favorites, and was pleased she was taking them. Her reply? "We're going to an Ugly Sweater Party, and these are perfect."

I was just crushed. Worse, when she called excited a week later to report she and her husband each won first place! Their "ugly" sweaters were a hit.

Yes. Ugly Sweater Parties, Ugly Sweater Pub Crawls and Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties are the trend. They really are fun, as is the search to find what each person terms "ugly."

The most popular are the embellished sweaters of the 1980s and '90s. The more appliques or wild the better.

Big padded shoulders? perfect! Rule of thumb is something your teacher wore when you were in elementary school, or your grandmother wears now.


Stripes are perfect if you are a little more conservative but still want to join in. Contradictory regions also are fun ~ live in FL where there is no snow? snowflakes. Up north where there's plenty of snow? a tropical design. You can always kick it up a notch by adding an ugly tie or wearing a printed turtle neck under your sweater.

If you are like me, you will find the sampling of sweaters shown here pretty, but each would be fun to reflect your personality at a Ugly Sweater Party.

Just try to spare your mothers feelings if you win first prize in her favorite sweater.
Here are just a few for the traditional ugly sweater parties, available at Vintage Outlet















all these as well as Ugly Christmas sweaters are available at my shop ~ Vintage Outlet

Unique Halloween Costumes the Vintage Way for Him or Her

I was always one of those "mean mommies" that never allowed my kids to wear store bought costumes. Part of the fun each year was not only deciding on a costume, but creating it ourselves. There were many years of Princess, Indian Maiden, Hippies, gangster, Sonny & Cher, Cleopatra, Poppin Fresh dough boy, a twister game, little red riding hood, a few poodle skirts. Dating us~. there was also Boy George, and Punky Brewster.

Proudly, now in their 20s, the kids still do homeade, incorporating vintage. They usually win the best costume prize, and they have vintage items they can wear and enjoy again after halloween.

Here's just a few idea. Sorry.. this is one of my favorite times of year, so its a bit long~ and it could have been even longer.. i restrained myself!



Classic vintage Western Pearlsnap Shirt for the Cowgirl


Hippie Skirt vintage Pink Lace Square dance Tiered skirt ~So boho!



Joan from Mad Men Dress



An Oriental Beauty



Add Go-Go Boots and be a Mod Dolly Rocker



Authentic Cowgirl! Midi Skirt, Jacket and pants



For Him~ a Rockabilly Shirt



A Disco King or Hawaiian in a pin up photo print hawaiian shirt

A Sissy Girl

a Sissy Girl in Flocked Dotted Swiss and eyelet

All are available at
Vintage Outlet
as well as Rockabilly shoes, hats and other fun accessories to make your costume the best!

Mrs. June Cleaver ..Rest in Peace Barbara Billingsley

My mother never wore heels or pearls like June Cleaver, and I can't imagine her chasing five kids around the house, walking us to school or running us to Scouts and our other activities in them, but we loved watching Mrs. Cleaver just the same in "leave it to Beaver" each week.

As well as admiring her "mother skills" on the show, she was truly a fashion icon for me with grace and elegance. I loved her dresses then, and admire them even more now on reruns of the show. Dresses that are still in style today, and coveted among vintage fashion lovers.

Barbara Billingsley wasn't a glamour queen with fashions like "movie stars" and she wasn't much different from other TV moms of the 50's shows like Donna Reed, Ozzie & Harriet, and Father Knows Best, but she certainly held her own.

She represented classic day wear styles. Her character favored classic shirt waist dresses with full skirts, rarely a wiggle dress, and always wore her pearls and heels. In almost every episode she donned an apron, and even looked pretty in them.



Ms. Billingsley admitted that she had a "hollow" in her neck that photographed badly, and felt the pearls concealed it. She wore them in real life and suggested them for her role on the show. The heels were to keep her taller than her rapidly growing sons on the show.


Barbara started out as a model, then moved into acting. She was married three times, and ironically had two sons, like her role as Mrs. Clever and admits she was very much like June in life. Years later, we got to see the fun side of Barbara.. The comedienne in her.. Talking Jive in the movie Airplane.

There have been re-makes and movies of Leave it to Beaver, but no one could fill Barbara's heels in the role of June. We'll miss you Ms. Billingsley.




On a lighter note..lets play Six Degrees of Separation. In 1989 a radio station I worked for had a "beaver ball" game.. Listeners could win a chance to play ball on Eddie Haskell (Ken Osmund) or Beaver's (Jerry Mathers) team. I was with the Eddie Haskell crew, but enjoyed meeting Beav just as much. Yes, I did ask what Barbara was like in real life, and they both had nothing but respect and admiration for her.

And since both guys were Barbara Billingsley's son's on the show.. how many degrees of separation?

Fall..Time for a Snuggly Vintage Robe or Lounger or Quilted Mad Men Robe

Cool fall mornings and nights.. beautiful days, glorious colors as the leaves change. Is fall everyone's favorite time of year?

its also time for snuggly's! yes.. wonderful robes for lounging in after work, for sliping into at night to cuddle up with a hot chocolate and watch tv or read. Personally? i love them. just love a zip front robe especially and live in them all winter.

if someone pops in and surprises you, you look cute. You are warm and comfortable.

Vintage robes are available in long, short, zip, wrap, you name it! From velour to flannel, every fabric imaginable and not like anything available today. The older velours are heavenly. The cotton flannel wonderful (do they even still make cotton flannel?)

you can find simple with no frills, to beautiful satin accents on velour. Whatever your taste or style, its available in vintage! And, isn't it amazing the vintage robes are still around and fabulous? You rarely get more than a year out of today's robes.. go vintage!

This is just a small selection of robes available in my ecrater shop,
Vintage Outlet with more added as fast as i can get to them. As a personal favorite item, i actively seek them out to offer to you!









Don't see what you like? we have lots more! just send us an email, we'll be happy to list something for your consideration with never an obligation.

Vintage Outlet