A Little Bit of This and That
This outfit is great isn’t it? It’s really more mauve than pink, and the black lace trim is wonderful. I had these Via Spaga retro look shoes that went with it perfectly.
I went with black foundations for this outfit. This is a rare Smoothie 1521 in black courtesy of NancyRomancy on Ebay (see my links) and a black Goddess longlinebra
The stockings are Harlane,and they feel better than they look!
Some Letters!
Dear April
I have heard you mention that you live in the Boston area, and I know your love of hosiery. Is it possible I saw you buying hosiery the other day at Bloomingdale’s? I thought it might be you because you had like a dozen pairs. I was there dressed. I have been told I pass well but I’d like to know what you think if you noticed me.
Anyway, does it seem like Bloomies has less space allocated for hosiery? It certainly seems that way to me.
Patti
Dear Patti,
Well for goodness sake girlfriend you should have said hello! I did notice you if you had red hair and were wearing a blue dress and a black rain coat. I can’t say you didn’t pass, but like most of us I know a lot of the tell tale signs. Plus, you were dressed better than most of the sale mongers trying to get MY pantyhose! Yes you are correct, Bloomies has given less space to hosiery. The Asian woman who was at the counter told me this 3 weeks ago. Get anything good on sale?
April
It’s funny when I consider some of the sales people I have gotten friendly with oveth the years. This Asian woman at Bloomies has been there forever, and she has turned me on to some of my favorite hosiery. She actually lifted her skirt once to show my how far down the control top of one style went
Then there’s the ladies at Lord and Taylor, who hold dresses for me
And the group at Lady Grace, all women in their 50’s who don’t bat an eye when I shop there.
Or the people at Stilletto shoe in New York.
Oops, pardon me a moment.....Ok I'm back
I remember when I was younger going to an Alberts’ store (Now there is a store we could use these days) to buy stockings. The women there were great, and spent all the time I needed.
I found a site the other day that was terrific. It’s a Canadian girl’s site named Brina, and she does this thing called “Lost in the 50’s”. At one point she takes off her dress and slip and changes her stockings Seeing her there in her stocking feet was pretty sexy so I thought I would show you me putting on a slip.
Here's my 2 slips, both vintage with TONS of lace!
Here I am about to put the black full slip on
Checking it our to see that it's falling properly. Isn't this a beauty?
Miss April is a proper lady, and I always wear a half slip under my full slip.
About to step into it....
The finished product
Dear April,
Two weeks ago I scored what I thought was an amazing find at a yard sale near my where I live. I got more than 20 pairs of stockings, all seamed and many black foot for only $20. I am a big “girl”, and these were all 12 longs. The problem is that every pair I put on falls apart, almost exploding. I only paid $20, but as you might imagine I want them. Is there anything I can do?
Dear Alice,
There is hope, but not much! For reasons I don’t understand, some stockings get brittle with age and others don’t. So, take all the stockings you purchased and soak them in the sink in warmish water (Not hot, but not cold!) in hair conditioner. Don’t be shy with the conditioner. I have saved some stockings this way, but not all of them. I hope that this works for you.
April
BTW, I also had a huge score at a yard sale the other day…..13 boxes, all with multiple pairs and lot’s of Hanes. The funny thing is that I only went because I had some time to kill and I drove by.
You all know my love of good cosmetics. It’s been so long since I bought anything at a health and beauty store that I could not even remember when it was. Well, Maybelline of all people is making a fantastic lips gloss called “Diamond Shine". I suggest you check it out, and it’s only 6 bucks
Dear April,
Could you please tell me where you get all those huge rings you wear? I haven’t been able to find any. I am actually a real girl, and my husband likes your site a lot.
Carrie
Dear Carrie,
Your husband likes my site hmm? Well I believe that you are indeed a real girl cause all us “Girls” know where to find this stuff. I bought al lot of rings in London at a place called Mini Diamond. However if you live near NYC go to any of the costume jewelers on 6th avenue. There’s also a lot of stuff on Ebay. Search “Drag Queen Ring”, or just “Huge Ring” or something like that.
April
Hi April
I am hoping you can settle a bet between me and my husband. Do you think Dolly Parton wears a corset? He does and I don’t. $20 is riding on this, and we decided that we would go with your answer.
Mary and Tom
Hi Yourself Mary and Tom
Yes I do think Dolly Parton wears a corset, I always have thought she did. However, even if she didn’t I would probably fantasize that she did! Let’s face it, inch long nails, 6 inches heels, huge hair, tacky sexy clothes,-- she’s a dream come true for lots of us! I hate country music and I watched her show many years ago anyway just to see what she wore. She is the type of woman would goes to great lengths to look the way she wants to, and a corset would be a small price to pay. You lose $20.
April
Then there was a French woman at a store in New York called Cosmo Hosiery on Fifth Avenue. I called before I came one time, and asked her to pull out samples of all the stuff they had tucked away in their back room in my size. She had given me a pretty good deal a month earlier on some things. Well, I got there and she had like 50 pairs. She had gotten 3 of everything because she knew I liked to buy that way. She had colors and sparkles, seamed and textured. I bought ‘em all!
Well last week I was in NYC for the day and I saw her! I never knew her name and I though sure she wouldn’t remember me, but she did. We talked for a few minutes and it was lovely
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