Saturday, November 27, 2010

Xtabay Holiday FASHION SHOW This Saturday!

Click on image for full view. Photographed by Holly Andres.

Xtabay will be hosting a vintage holiday fashion show this Saturday at 7pm. Come and see our most fabulous holiday wear as well as pieces from the Xtabay "private collection". Ha ha....
Enjoy complimentary champagne and cookies while oohing and aaahing over the best vintage dresses in Portland.
We look forward to seeing you!

Monday, November 15, 2010

New Arrivals!

Fabulous 1950's bubble gum silk taffeta skirt with silk jersey top. 

Early 1960's Herbert Sondheim silk cocktail dress with matching jacket (not shown).
Turn of the century cotton skirt and blouse with balloon sleeves and boned bodice.
1960's silk chiffon and chantilly lace cocktail dress from I. Magnin.
Edwardian era organdy dress with empire waist and cap sleeves.

1940's jersey wrap dress with ladies and floral print.
Joanne in silk velvet 30's gown and ostrich feather hat.
Joanne modeling 1930's straw hat with gown.

Just a few of the treasures that came in this week. Joanne models a violet 1930's silk velvet gown and yours truly tries on an incredible 1930's ostrich feather hat. Come in and try them on before they're gone!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

The Art of the Scarf

If you'd stopped by Xtabay this afternoon, you would have seen me and Liz at the back of the store surrounding by squares of gorgeously painted silk. "The woman who owned these scarves lived in a fabulous apartment up by Washington Park," Liz said. "The walls were covered with paintings, and the furniture all looked like this." She pointed at the Hollywood Regency loveseat now festooned with chiffon and silk twill scarves. "She had brilliant jewelry, great bags, and all these scarves."

The scarves, a dozen or so, were each painted by hand and signed "Charlotte B., Paris" and dedicated to "Louise" or sometimes "Loulou." Some were painted with extravagant vases of flowers, and others with animals or people. Right away I snatched for myself a silk twill square painted with a stylized hunter, red-collared greyhounds, and stags in each corner, all in pumpkin, sage green, and charcoal. In the middle was painted the name "Saint Hubert."

"There's one I'm keeping upstairs," Liz said. "It's the bondage scarf. It has naked women painted around the border, each attached to the next with chained bracelets. In the middle is a key." Genius!

But, as Liz pointed out, no one really wears scarves nowadays. In my opinion, these scarves should be framed for display, but what about the average silk square? How do you wear it? Here are a few ideas:

  • Wear the scarf as a shrug. Take a large, square scarf and tie two of its corners together to form a sort of tube. Put your arms through the armholes you just created, and presto! A shrug. A silk scarf shrug is perfect worn over a 1930s bias-cut, sleeveless gown (or nightgown worn as a gown.)
  • Wear the scarf as a top. You can do this two ways. First, just fold a large, square scarf on the diagonal and tie it as a halter. Second, lay the scarf flat, pattern side down, and tie a small knot right in the middle of the scarf. Now, hold the scarf up to your chest, and tie two corners around your neck and two around your back. This looks terrific under a dinner suit.
  • With a little fiddling around, you can make a square scarf into a fanny pack or even a sling. Imagine how chic it would be to whip a scarf from your bag and say, "Darling, did you sprain your shoulder? Here, try this sling."
  • Definitely, definitely wear a scarf in your hair. My favorite way is to wrap it twice around my hairline when my hair is up. Very 1940s beach.
  • More: tie a scarf on your purse Jackie-O style; wear it as a warm but itch-less competitor to the wool scarf; wear it under your bike helmet for a shockingly elegant way to be ecofriendly, keep your ears warm, and be gorgeous at the same time; and I won't even bore you with all the round-the-neck ways to scarf up.
  • Still looking for ideas? Try this website by Hermes, called J'aime mon carrĂ©
If you're interested in a one-of-a-kind scarf, don't waste a minute. Get down to Xtabay now and tell Liz you want to see her scarves. They won't last long. As of today, she hadn't even put them out, so you stand a chance if you hurry.

As for me, I clipped my scarf over the valence of the wooden blinds in my bedroom to act as a curtain. Divine.

~ Angie

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Charles & Victoria Winter Collection Sale this Saturday

This Saturday, Xtabay will be hosting a Charles & Victoria sale for our good friend Rachel Ancliffe. Rachel is an extremely talented local designer who created this line while living in New York. Her pieces are ultra luxe and made from the finest italian silks and melton wool. Xtabay was carrying her summer dresses and tops last spring and people went wild for them. This Saturday Rachel will be bringing in her fall and winter pieces, including gorgeous embroidered coats and the most sumptuous high waisted wool trousers that are straight out of Katherine Hepburn's closet. You must see them to believe them. Best of all she is selling them at 75% off retail!

For more info on the sale go to: http://charlesandvictoria.blogspot.com/

Sale starts at 12pm and goes until 6pm. We will have wine and goodies to help celebrate!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

New Arrivals!

Fabulous 1950's iced pumpkin shantung party dress with pearl encrusted bolero jacket.



Stunning sage green 1950's taffeta party dress with Vendome crystal necklace.


THE Betty Draper dress, rose print chiffon quintessential early 60's party dress.



Sassy little green silk taffeta mini dress, perfect for a holiday party!

Fabulous 1960's polka dotted lace party dress!

Early forties striped overcoat with big patch pockets.


One of a kind 1950's couture jacket and dress by California designer Mara Terese.






Early 1900's brass chain statement necklace.

Vintage Miriam Haskell oversize crystal statement necklace.


Little black dress in silk crepe from the early 60's. Perfect!

Gorgeous 1930's satin crepe evening gown in Claret.


1930's crystal necklace.


Here's a little peek at just a few of the items we got in this week. I've been stocking up on holiday dresses and jewels....Things this beautiful are bound to go really fast so come in as soon as you can!