PROM Season!!

So it's that time of the year again. . .time for the Second Annual Vintage Prom on May 12! I can't believe how quickly it's coming up. And just this week we'll be running our pre-Prom Pop Up Shop at the Project Lodge! I have so much clothing right now, it's actually overflowing out of my studio. So, yes, it's time for a pop up shop. . . hope I sell a lot! 

The next couple weeks are obviously going to be very hectic, but I'll try to post some updates on Prom planning and the pop up shop!

XO,

Jess

The Post-Prom Post

Well, the first annual Vintage Madison Vintage Prom was on Saturday night and it was great. After several stressful weeks of shopping, decorating, advertising, and worrying that no one would show up-- I finally got to chill out and enjoy the fruits of my labor. We had a great turn out and it seemed like everyone had a fantastic time. Many strangers came up to me and said "You guys have to do this again next year!!". . . I think we will.
One of the best parts was the photo booth created by Voltaic Visual photography. Here are a few of the shots. . . you can see all of them here.

Me and my ladies

the "Prom Committee"

Me and Josh

Our Prom King and Queen (winners of the "best dressed" contest)

Another awesome feature was the "Cha Cha Chapel"-- a hair & make-up salon on wheels! Our friend Alice of Cha Cha Hair Salon offered pre-prom coifs for $20 and make-up makeovers for $15. Unfortunately, I was too busy to get done up, but the ladies who did looked amazing!

So now that Prom is over, we're discussing our next event. . . which probably won't be until the Fall. For now I'm excited to get back to "normal"- my website and etsy store have been so neglected!

XO,

Jess

Pre-Prom Pop Up Shop!

What a crazy week it has been! In anticipation of Vintage Prom,  we 3 ladies of Vintage Madison are hosting our second Pop Up shop. We set everything up in one day, last Thursday, and that night we had our "sneak peek" party. So much fun! Since then, it's been great having a whole week to play "shop girl". I love talking to all the couples who come in looking for coordinated vintage Prom outfits.

We have to take everything down tomorrow, which will be kind of sad. . .But I am very, very excited for Prom- it's only 10 days away! And I have 2 fabulous dresses to chose from (I would post pics but they're both at the dry cleaners).
Well, back to the shop. . .

XO,

Jess

Prom Fever

So, I'm in the final stages of Vintage Prom planning. . . It's only 3 weeks away! (and just 4 days from now, we'll be setting up the Pre-Prom Pop Up Shop) I'm really busy but really excited- it's going to be a lot of fun! Even my mom is getting in the spirit-- Last week I got a letter from her with some photos. . . This is my mom at her prom in 1971:

 Notice how she and her bff are basically wearing the same dress but in two different colors- cute! And I LOVE the white gloves!
Also, she sent me a pic of my Aunt Jean before Prom-- Must have been 1968 or 69.

Pretty in Pink! Classy. And again with the gloves. . . I need to find a pair.

So, I haven't settled on a dress to wear yet-- I'm still considering a few from my collection, as well as searching etsy. . . Ideally, I'd love a tea-length tulle number from the late 50s/early 60s. I'll tell you what I will NOT be wearing-- this hideous silver Cinderella gown that I rocked 11 years ago at my own Prom.

Ok, maybe hideous isn't the right word-- ill fitting? yes. my style? no, not at all. I remember frantically dragging my mother through shop after shop in the mall the day before prom looking for a dress (of course it was slim picking that late in the game-- why didn't Etsy exist back then?) because I had just decided to go to prom a day or so earlier. I didn't want to. I was too cool. . .it might hurt my "image". But my swell friends (most of whom had boyfriends, I did not) talked me into it. So I went. And I do remember having a good time. But now I am SUPER excited to have a second chance. I'll do it right this time. . . hot date, great dress, and I can order drinks at the bar instead of taking swigs of Southern Comfort from the same flask as 12 other people!

XO,

Jess

Busy, busy

My poor blog has been so neglected lately! I've been so busy protesting and getting ready for Prom that I haven't had time for much else. . . well, except for a little shopping and lots of creative projects! Yesterday there was yet another pro-worker's rights rally at the Capitol (looks like there will be one every Saturday for a while. . .) and I finally got around to making t-shirts to sell! I call them Solidari-tees!

I printed about 20 of these and took them to the Capitol with me-- they were very popular! Of course, a lot of people are capitalizing on this event, and I feel a little bit guilty about making money off a cause that I'm so passionate about. But, they were the only "unique" (non-mass produced) shirts for sale, and I was selling them very cheap-- It's all about spreading the message!
Also, in preparation for the Vintage Madison Pop-up Shop and Prom  I'm making t-shirts. . . haven't started printing them yet, but here are the designs.

We're also getting buttons made with the first design!

Finally, with what little time and creative energy I've had left lately I've been working on this line of collaged/painted suitcases. The first one is finished and up for sale on Etsy.. . .

The good thing about Winter is that it keeps me indoors and crafting. . . but now it's finally starting to feel like Spring. I'm super excited to bring my bike out from hibernation, put away my wool coats and feel the sun on my face! I just hope I can still be productive.

XO,

Jess

It's Prom Season!

So, in case I haven't mentioned it yet-- I'm planning a big event for this Spring. It's a vintage-themed prom. It will be the third event that I've planned with the other Vintage Madison ladies, at the same venue as the Fall Fashion Show that we held back in September. I'm so excited because I think people will really get into the whole theme-- asking a date "to prom", finding the right vintage dress, going out to dinner beforehand, dancing the night away. . .
Last week we started working on our advertising campaign by having a Prom-themed photo shoot. Our talented friend Alice Ezrow did the hair and make-up, inspired by outfits from three decades: the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. I put together this lookbook and included some "real" vintage prom pics that I found online. Enjoy!

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