With temperatures not set to dip below 100F here

in Austin (hello 104 & to our second cold shower!) for the next few weeks, The Great Depression theme couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time of the year. It’s hot, y’all… really hot. After taking a look at some of the tattered vintage pieces hangin’ on for dear life in our wardrobes, Angel and I got to thinking that we’d gotta take those beauties out for one more spin. Plus, ladies can’t be expected to wear heavy makeup in this heat – and anything we do venture to wear has got to be able to melt and be slid back in place with a finger. Before I left the house, I gave myself a little dust bath from the garden, and wiped the evidence on my embroidered apron.

This month, we collected food donations for the Austin Area Food Bank with admission, and BOY were you guys generous! Thanks so much, everybody! We know our brothers and sisters in need here in Travis County will really appreciate your generosity.

 

Laurel and Dave, our friends at Recspec, set up a soup kitchen, with pumpkin soup, chicken and dumplings, bread + butter, and grapes (of wrath!). It was all so delicious and generous!

Devaki Knowles and her magical Fun Lovin’ Photobooth were set up to capture the evening in glorious B&W Polaroid and Digital. Please visit her Pictage site if you would like to see and purchase any of

the 300+ images from the evening. Also, she’s available for birthday parties, engagement photos, and whatever else. Put that girl to work, y’all! She’s amazing.

Jenn pledged, in the spirit of the times, to spend no less than $10 constructing her outfit. The dress was a find from the Treasure City Thrift 25 Cent Sale, and the shoes are dug out from storage from Amelia’s Retro Vogue and Relics. Each button on the dress is different, adding to the homespun character.

Angel brought a back up feedsack dress, just in case her shredded silk crepe 1930s number disintegrated while she was dancing. No one tried to nibble on her grapes of wrath headpiece – to our surprise.

This mamma and daughter duo were the most adorable ladies! Mamma Baragona was visiting from New Jersey, and has been given stern instructions that she is to go dancing at the next Wit’s End in NYC! Doesn’t Ariele look gorgeous in silver?

Our ever alluring door-girl, Miss Norah!

Lovely Alysa

Julie Gillis (of Bedpost Confessions + L.A.F.F.) + Monique Daviau

Laurel and Dave from Recspec. Lau does all the fancy projections at Angeliska’s other party, Exquisite Corpse!

Miss Riley Do Right did a little wiggle for us on stage to “Why Don’t You Do Right?” – I think somebody’s found a new theme song!

Miss Sassy Delure stopped by to see us before her + Ophelia Moore’s London adventure! Keep abreast of their exploits in the UK!

Aileen Adler really is a welder (and thereminist!) – she came straight from work in what she was wearing, which just happened to be perfect for the night!

Who’s that cute little drummer boy?

Joanna from Keep Austin Stylish wowed us with her gorgeous grapes of wrath hued gown. It was a show-stopper, to be sure!

Amy Annelle debuted with her and Lindsey Verrill’s new band, The Feedsack Shimmys. They played lots of old tyme tunes from the Great Depression so beautifully. Check out her wonderful feedsack skirt! It’s the real deal!

Drew and this eager baby need a job – do you have any potatoes to peel?

Alex Cloutier and Samantha Garfield from Four On The Floor showed us how it’s done!

They were amazing! Check out their Lindy Hop classes and learn how to do it too:
Alex and Samantha teach one of Four On The Floor’s most popular Lindy offerings.
In honor of Frankie Manning, they’ll teach some great patterns and movements
from the ‘30s when Lindy Hop was starting and Frankie was young.

Devaki our photographer, & Natalie of Agent Ribbons

Lynne Koehlinger is another amazing dance instructor we love.
Stay posted for some of her sample dance lessons at an upcoming Vintage Vivant!

Ruby Leigh Young, chanteuse extraordinaire, sang with The Hollywood Revue at East Side Showroom earlier in the evening.

Bold! Daring! True! knocked us out with their sweet, sweet harmonies.

Uzonna + Francesca, pretty as a picture!

Our very own Rag Tag Razzy Dazzy Spasm Band!

Whatta gang!

DJ Shorty Stump and Amelia finally see eye-to-eye.

See y’all in July! Our theme is Love on the Left Bank – La Vie Parisienne … keep your eyes on the lookout for inspirational posts, coming soon.