Today I’ve got some delectable beauts to share — let’s take a look.

Vintage late 1930s deep blue mesh dress + puff-sleeved matching jacket with silk organza leaf-motif cutwork collar. Beautifully seamed, the dress closes with two metal zippers with early Talon bell-shaped pulls.

Wear together, wear apart — these are from my East Coast junket, and I absolutely love them.

About a modern small to medium.

Vintage late 1940s “Hal-Mar Juniors” polished cotton sundress with color-block fields of mocha, pumpkin, and chartreuse, dressed up with notched shoulders and angled details finished in cool old plastic buttons.

About a size medium.

Another chiffon I found this summer! Summer 2026 was on fire with chiffon acquisitions.

Lush coral Emma Domb draped bombshell with original rhinestone ornament + sweeping, layered tea-length skirt.

About a roomy medium to large, which is always great to find in this party/prom/special event style.

Side note: it’s funny — back in the olden days I was pretty active on the eBay vintage seller board, and we had a saying:

To this day, whenever I find a Domb, my eyes light up, and I remember that little maxim. (It’s never steered me wrong!)

A sundress that straddles the seasons wonderfully! And bonus: it’s unworn new-old stock, its cool old hangtag still attached.

Vintage 1980s Petticord “Bravo” bra dress. Petticord primarily made swimsuits, and I get the vibe that this was their competitor to DeWeese’s ever-popular bra dresses.

Stretchy, soft bodice with convertible straps that button on both the front and back, so the dress can be worn in various ways, including strapless. Polished pure cotton full skirt with the most beautiful saturated peony + dahlia blossom print. Made in the USA and such nice quality.

Tagged a Large and has lots of stretch for a customized fit.

Rich autumnal late 50s/early 60s soft cotton blend plaid shirtwaist by “D&P Originals.” Wine + navy hue, self-buttons, deep cuffs that can be turned up as you please.

Even more exciting, this easy-to-wear and comfy beauty is a true volup XL with a waist of 36”.

Finishing up with an autumn rainbow plaid! Crisp pure cotton late 1950s to early 1960s shirtwaist by “Philip of Dallas,” prettied up with onyx pearly Lucite platter buttons, tie neck, and jaunty pleated skirt.

Another winner that suits modern large to xl cusp.

See anything that turns your head and makes your heart beat faster?

They’ll be going live tomorrow, Friday, September 4th at 12:30 PM PST. As ever, you’ll find them right here.

You can visit the link early to see what’s available now. My favorite green fur-collared suit flew today, along with a couple of the other new pieces. The two dirndls still await adoption, plus the black mohair + angora cardi.

And other worthy contenders. Give ‘em a look!

—J.

PS: Keeping it brief this edition, but do stand by.

Next week we’ll have ourselves a fresh, juicy Kaffeekränzchen. I’ve been storing up some developments in the AI vintage slop department, things you’ll wanna be on the lookout for when you’re shopping so you don’t get stung.

Hello there, vintage friends + vintage fiends!

September is here, a month that, for me, is always represented by an imaginary bulletin board, a bright scalloped border running around it, a yellow school bus in the middle.

Likewise, I’ve turned my attention to jumblegoods that straddle the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. Think crisp mornings and cozy nights, warm spiced drinks, and hints of the holidays to come.

Should we take a peek at the six I’m working on right now?

We should…

Finally, I can start showing you the exquisite suits I brought back from my East Coast summer buy!

Let’s start with a bang(er).

Vintage 1950s evergreen flecked wool tweed by “Tailored by Kirkland Hall.” Mahogany mink collar, elegant seaming, stabby turnback sleeves + copper lining, slim sheath skirt.

And that lovely dimensional self-fabric rosette highlighting the inset waist, the kinda detail you can’t help but stare at admiringly.

There’s a scarcity of older green suits out there on the vintage marketplace, and for good reason. They don’t last.

Some interesting facts I ran across while researching its label. “Tailored by Kirkland Hall” did a long-running promotional crossover with Life Savers candy company during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Yes, they paired up with the makers of these goodies:

Wild, huh?!

Kirkland Hall produced vividly colored rayon and cotton suits color-matched to these classic flavors. Think lemon yellow and cherry red, lime and grape, and spear-o-mint green.

(Hi. I’ll take one of each, pls.)

Anyhow, this high-visibility campaign offered a bright and optimistic pop of color for the wardrobe, a welcome mood shift after the drab wartime years of austerity and rationing (read more about those years here and here).

The Kirkland label soon became cemented in the public’s imagination as a purveyor of whimsy, playfulness, and forward-thinking Midcentury tailoring.

The ads are plentiful in the archives. I coulda scoured + devoured them all day.

They look like this (1940s):

And this (1950s):

Sweet tie-in, right?!

At any rate, I wasn’t able to find the emerald suit in the mix, and for good reason. It’s drawn not from this lively candy crew, but from one of KH’s higher-end collections.

My emerald Kirkhall Hall is about a modern medium.

Now let’s jump ahead to the bohemian era with this early Lim’s of Jiangsu cotton hand-crochet cardigan top, replete with colorful candy pink, orange, lavender, jade, and delphite bobbles.

I had to add this fever dream to the line-up — not only are the Lim’s label pieces exquisite, but this one really plucks the heartstrings with its lively femme details.

Wish me luck, as I’m giving her a soak to treat a faint spot on the rear waist. Maybe I’ll make a Reel on it…

Stretchy & should suit modern XS to smaller-medium range.

Another wartime rayon beauty for you…we’ve had luck this year scoring difficult-to-find green prints lately.

Vintage early 1940s sleek rayon dress with shirring at the neckline and underbust, rear button neck, and delicate ruffles trimming its sweeping skirt. Whimsical floral + feather print in butter, taupe, and coral.

Features a Waldes Kover zip slide fastener at the side, a neat period detail that helps anchor this garment firmly in the historical record.

About a modern small, maybe small-medium.

I was excited to find a beautiful Midcentury dirndl out in the wild this weekend, right in time for Oktoberfest season.

By the venerable Salzburger Trachten label (founded in 1928), in a jet black border print cotton with pink and red floral trim, embellished pewter buttons, and a flared skirt.

About a modern medium.

We also happened to have this 1960s dirndl in reserve to launch alongside our new addition!

Deep espresso hue with floral embroidery in soft golds, braid trim, pewter findings, and satin lace-up corset style bodice.

About a modern medium to large.

Last up, this vintage 1950s cardigan in shaggy jet black mohair, a coveted rarity with its gold metallic fishnet + buttons paired with fluffy ivory angora rabbit fur trim.

This is one of those garments that really needs a rockin’ real figure to bring it alive.

Roomy, stretchy, and will suit medium to large sizes if worn snugly in a “sweater girl” style, or wear oversized as you like.

See anything that flips your lid?

These will land at 12:30 PM PST tomorrow (Wednesday September 2nd), right here on Jumblelaya in this very spot.

You can visit early to see everything that’s already up for grabs, too.

Pop by @jumblelaya on Instagram or FB for a tag, or click our countdown clock for an extra reminder.

See you soon with more beauties, more sweet history, more candy-colored deep dives.

—J.

Whooooooweeee. Life’s a whirlwind. I just saw my youngest off to his last year of high school yesterday.

At any rate, let’s slow it down for a moment to feast our gazes on six fresh pieces of vintage goodness and talk about them, shall we?

Let’s go!

First up, this most excellent ca. 1960s butcher linen vintage skirt, its label boasting “Sportempos has that Suburbia look!” I adore the warm colors used in this beautifully balanced baroque print: marigold, pink, burnt orange, dark olive.

Side notes on the label: Sportempos quickly gained a positive reputation for their snappy, high-quality line of sporty garments, each piece sold separately (skirts, pants, blouses, and sweaters). Casual, mix-and-match separates felt like a departure from wardrobe rigidity, opening up endless sartorial possibilities. Suddenly the closet was a place of playfulness and creativity.

And the “suburban dream” of the Midcentury was a far cry from the conformist, consumer-driven sprawl characterized in today’s popular imagination. Early suburbs offered an idyllic promise after the austerity of the Depression era and WWII: fresh air, expansive green spaces to raise families, and modern infrastructure and homes. A noble idea that was, ultimately, accessible only to those with the means, money, and privilege to do so.

This gorgeous ca. 1960s Sportempos skirt runs about a modern size Small.

Vintage early ca. 1950s jacket in speckled warm fawn, a wonderfully sleek, drapey textile that feels similar to gabardine. Large, bold shoulder pads, lovely crepe rayon lining, embroidered buttons and bound buttonholes, and dramatic stabby cuffs.

The quality of this one is so high, I half-expected to see a Lilli Ann label inside! Nope, she’s a Lady Renlyn.

About a modern large to xl cusp.

Here we have a vintage 1970s gauzy cotton blend skirt with skinny tie-belt, made by Kayo of California. I’m obsessed! A moody floral + berry print of grey, maroon, plum, charcoal, and taupe. Soft and perfectly worn-in, my kiddo borrowed this skirt briefly to wear to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

Not much in the database exists about the Kayo label. They sold skirts as separates, and their garments were truly made in California.

About a size XS to small.

Vintage ca. 1970s gauzy Indian cotton dashiki tunic in a block print of blood orange, navy, and maroon. Winged sleeves, cozy front pockets, and unisex/anygender. The satin label is mostly gone, but these were imported from India and Pakistan.

Runs about a modern (women’s) size large to XL.

A (rare) decommission from my own extensive sweater collection! Vintage 1970s pointelle knit with darling pastel embroidered rosebuds, pearl buttons, and wasp waist.

About a modern small to medium.

Last up, a “House of Harlow 1960” made in India boho tunic, also from my closet! Quilted bodice with triple-ties; a wonderful and unusual pastel colorway. Soft and airy pure cotton.

I call this sort of thing “future vintage” because it’s not there yet, but will be eventually.

Nicole Richie’s line added apparel in 2010, so this shift dress dates sometime after that. I got it secondhand. It’ll go into Jumblelaya’s modern category, priced nicely.

Tagged a modern Small/Petite; I’d say that’s dead-on accurate.

See anything you love? These will be available tomorrow at 12:30 PM PST right at this spot.

Next week, by the way, should be more leisurely, with my son back in the rhythm of high school, fewer appointments for my family and me, and Frankie home from her dental (only one extraction needed, they think? Thoughts and prayers!).

I’m planning to tackle some meatier topics again as we head into autumn.

Thanks, as always, for sticking with me…your kind support is always appreciated.

—J.

Restocks and clearance.

It was all about getting our Military Collection loaded up for autumn, while also moving out older things that never got adopted (but super deserve to be adopted!).

I figured out how to create a Sale section on my website! You can now find our 50% off goodies stashed under the Collections menu or the Sort By menu — or just hop there directly.

(Thanks to those who have already helped rehome some fabulous things!)

Next, I restocked these beauties:

Our world-famous deadstock WWII Royal Australian Navy sailor trousers, still available in various sizes and in both regular style and the harder-to-find lace-backs.

Not only are these collectible historical pieces, but they’re among the highest quality slacks on the planet (you cannot beat vintage Australian wool). Aren’t they nifty?

That’s my kid, btw, rocking those sailors, as well as her natural curls.

If you’ve been with me a while, she is “Baby J,” from the era when I ran 25 eBay auctions per week while my newborn napped fitfully in her bassinette beside me. She’s now a college student and a fierce vintage shopper, growing up to develop her very own style and hunting techniques. I couldn’t be prouder of her.

Restocked these, too — our WAVES late 40s wool side-zipper serge trousers, also deadstock. Some are even in their original paper packaging.

They’re priced incredibly fairly for 1940’s women’s slacks, especially since they’re UNWORN with tags.

As a double-USAF brat, I loooooove these vintage deadstock 60s/70s NWT pure wool women’s Air Force cardigans. We have a couple size 36s left, and that may be it.

Then I gathered up the last of these that I could find — our 40s deadstock Canadian wool vests, perfect for a Dark Academia look or just layered under and over clothes.

As of today, I only have one size 32 left, so don’t delay if you’re in need of an XS/Small.

I also have some size 38s, which run more like a size medium/large.

Annnd last thing I worked on was a mini-collection of these 1970s bell bottom and flare jeans. I listed maybe half of what I have remaining from what originated as a vast and comprehensive one-family collection of denim hailing from Nashville, Tennessee.

My favorite pair has already sold, but these dark wash mega bells shown are a close second. The jeans range in size, with waists from 26” to 32”.

Special thanks goes to our Baby J for bringing this stuff to life!

Now, let’s jump to the fresh stuff coming tomorrow…

Welp, I decided to let this 1940s novelty print go, as I remain committed to not keeping “aspirational” pieces. Life’s too short to hoard things that aren’t my current size.

You can read more about the background on this spectacular and surreal tightrope-walker themed silk dress here. It’s about a size small (waist 26”). The caped tulip sleeves are such a cool touch.

Vintage late 1990s does 1930s deadstock with tags, a hand-beaded rayon lace + Indian cotton slip gown by “Jasmine” done in a serene, mermaid-y seafoam green. Look how the beads follow the blossom pattern on the lace. Also gaze at that lovely trumpet hem of swish. Plus, you get the original bag of extra beads in case you ever need ‘em.

I don’t buy much from the 90s/Y2K, but this side-button beauty was and is a clear and immediate yes.

I even got complimented for my good taste by a stranger at the sale, which made me feel like I’d made the right decision!

It’s tagged a Medium, and I’d say that’s about right — nice stretch and give, too.

Vintage 1950s cotton self-belted sundress, double-breasted and closing with large red Bakelite buttons. The cherry red, ice pink, and white pattern is like…Ikat meets houndstooth plaid? (I love seeing these colors together, too.)

A nifty size large with a 32” waist.

Yowza! Scorching lipstick red jersey vintage 1970s Jody T. of California maxi sundress, trimmed in two calico cottons, drawing together at neckline and rear with ties.

About a stretchy medium — could work for medium-large.

It’s the perfect time of year to adopt a vintage German dirndl dress, with Oktoberfest next month. And so we have a small cache to offer, beginning with this vintage 1960s cotton black + pastel rose print, closing with metal buttons (about a size medium),

or…

How about a cornflower blue dirndl, fastening down the front with hooks and eyes? This one suits a small nicely.

See anything you adore in the previews? They’re premiering tomorrow, August 26th, at 12:30 PM PST right here, where all new things land.

Roll by IG to click on our countdown clock, or set a phone alarm as a reminder. Stuff can go fast!

—J.

PS I’m hoping to do another debut of fresh vintage toward the end of the week. It’ll depend on fitting it all around some personal medical appointments (ugh) and Frankie’s upcoming dental (please buy stuff, smoldogs and their teeth are yikes). If I manage it, I’ll hit your inbox with a second article so you get first look.

I’ve been winging them out your way quickly, too. The overburdened vintage racks are breathing a big sigh of relief. I feel like I can “see” things again.

T h a n k y o u!

What’s also cool is, some garments were leftover listings from last fall and winter, meaning they line up wonderfully with THIS fall and winter. The beauty of older vintage styles is: they’re not tied to any particular year. We call them “classic” for a reason.

Still plenty remaining to tempt you. Give it a looksee, beginning on Page #7.

Caveat: not everything is included in the event (sorry), but you’ll see what is.

I’ve been busy not just with shipping this week (phew!), but with restocks.

Now, if you’ve been with me for a while, you’ll know I was lucky enough to come into an interesting opportunity nearly a decade ago: the acquisition of a huge group of deadstock older women’s and anygender vintage military styles. My shop partner gave me a large batch of representative stuff to try.

And try I did!

These pieces represented a considerable departure from Jumblelaya’s heretofore overarching theme of “super pretty with something extra” vintage.

But the military stuff is so cool and so wearable — of such stellar quality. I had to give it a chance.

We initially launched with our WWII Australian Royal Navy wool sailor trousers in spring of 2018.

Such a fun time. My bestie was here for an extended visit. She helped me sort through hundreds of pounds of identical navy blue pieces. I got them listed on Etsy, I tagged everyone.

INSTANTANEOUS overnight success!

The 21-piece initial debut sold out immediately. I knew the pants were cool, but had no clue they’d do so well. We even did a pop-up event in Portland.

Buoyed by this early interest, I went on to list the rest of the collection, doing it in batches so as not to overwhelm buyers and my own capabilities.

At this point, I’ve shipped hundreds of pieces of our collection out worldwide, encountering much love and acclaim from fellow vintage fiends along the way.

Anyhow, this week has been spent sorting and listing a restock of these WW2 1940s to early 1950s denim Swedish military workwear shorts. I haven’t had them in the shop for two summers, I think?

Cool, huh? If you love old denim and workwear pieces with worn-in character (marks, fade, patina, wartime mends, rust spots, etc.), you will enjoy these.

We’ve got two varieties up for grabs — “regular” and cinch-back. Cinch-backs feature a buckle in the rear to tighten and nip the waist.

Sizes range from 28” waists to 32” waists. Depending on how you like to wear your shorts (on hips, on natural waist, belted, not-belted), they work for a range of modern sizes.

I’ve been wearing my own two pairs to death for years. They remain just as sturdy as day one. I have a hunch these are “lifetime” shorts.

Hot tip! — they machine-wash just fine. I mean, I don’t usually recommend machine-washing vintage this old, but these are already nicely worn-in. I haven’t seen appreciable changes with machine-washing, and it makes me actually reach for them, you know?

I’m pricing these exceptionally fairly for old utilitarian denim pieces. $58 for the cinchers, $48 for the non-cinchers.

They’re not available anywhere else, at least not in their original indigo blue state (there’s a seller out there who dyed a bunch of them black).

Gonna let y’all have a first look before showing them off elsewhere. Grab your own pair here (regular style) and/or here (cinch-back).

Plenty of dog days left to sport them!

That’s all for now, folks.

I’ll be back with one-offs and pretty dresses soonish, but first need to tackle a few more restocks. Keep an eye out for deets.

—J.

Happy Saturday, vintage friends + vintage fiends!

You don’t usually hear from me on the weekends, but I want to give my Substack subscribers an exclusive first crack at something good goin’ down at Jumblelaya.

50% off.

thunk

That’s my jaw dropping to this ca. 1918 wood floor. Look, I can’t remember the last time I’ve slashed (my already rather friendly) prices by half. It’s a very rare thing.

These are scorching-hot deals. I’m talking xs to volup sizes. Loads of 1940s and 1950s stuff. Cool vintage from other eras, too. Mostly dresses, but not exclusively. Lots of stuff that’s perfect for fall and winter!

You see, I run this venture from my home these days. While Amity, my cottage, is nicely proportioned, her closets are antique (read: smol) and her space is not endless. And the racks in my vintage room downstairs are too packed for my taste. I feel tired, pushing things aside to get other things out. Have you ever shopped the racks in a packed-to-the-gills thrift or vintage shop, and your shoulders start to get that sharp ache right between them, like a vulture is perched there digging its claws in, waiting for your imminent collapse?

It’s like that.

Especially heading into autumn and winter (when the true rack hogs come out to play — coats demand so. much. space.).

tl;dr: Please help me streamline the site and its wonderful offerings.

Get something cool for you, for a friend or family member, your one eccentric Aunt Sue, or even to resell yourself (dealers always welcome!).

I’ve already done considerable tidying up today, removing older Solds before getting all slap-happy with my electronic price gun. Prices are as marked, ready to go.

Oh, that reminds me. The fun and games can’t go on forever. There’s a time limit.

Many of these beauties will be heading to my shop partner’s backstock IF they don’t find homes. Here today, gone soon.

How long will I give them to move to new loving homes? Hmmm, maybe a couple of weeks?

Anyhow, I won’t be putting this info on IG or FB yet — it’s for you, dear Substackers. I’ll sit on my hands till Monday. A nice head start to scoop your favorites.

One last thing. I’m noticing my site designer left out a dedicated SALE section back when they put Jumblelaya together. I don’t want to tinker with back-end code, lest I mess things up. There are things I can do behind the technological curtain with a brash (if unearned) confidence. And then there are tasks better left to somebody who actually knows what the heck they’re doing.

The markdown goodies begin on Page 7 — click here for a quick and easy hop there!

Or you can browse your way past newer stuff till you get into the older listings, and you’ll find ‘em.

See you next week with more peeks at fresh things.

—J.

Without further ado…

Vintage ca. 1950s pure cotton sundress with medallion print in hues of jadeite, yellow, black, volcanic orange. Essentially a full skirt with an attached wide bodice featuring long sashes that you can tie in many ways. Here are some:

About a modern size XS to small.

Vintage 1990s (does 1940s and 1960s) pure silk blouse by Dana Buchman. This label put out a quality garment back in the day! Luscious, fluttery, and clingy-in-all-the-right ways. Features a surreal Versace-/Hermes-esque Italianate print that combines black & white checkerboards with baroque floral scrolls and big, bold hot pink roses. Closes with black Lucite buttons with a subtle space dust effect when admired in the light.

This blouse nails the aesthetics, and reads as quite expensive, too.

Tagged a 6, but cut to fit very roomy (roomily? lol), the way things did in that particular era. Works for a modern large, unless you want to wear it oversized, in which case it would present more like a blazer than a blouse.

Vintage 1950s/1960s Weathervane by Handmacher suit in a nifty purple slubbed sharkskin that reverses to a glossy, satin-woven side displaying its plum red undertone. Peter pan collar, cool inverted V-shaped details, dome-shaped buttons, and elegant A-line skirt.

About a modern size large.

Sharp 1950s “autumn rainbow” gauzy cotton voile shirtwaist in stripes of ruby, olive, emerald, purple, navy, chocolate, and black. Designer label at rear waist was cut and removed, drats.

Note: my beat-up 1960s olive green vinyl belt isn’t included, sorry (you’d be surprised how many times people have wanted to buy this sad old workhorse from me!). Dress itself has cloth belt loops, but you’ll need to add your own belt and accessories.

What’s extra cool? This is a true volup, with a bust of 46” and a waist of 36”. (Note: all garments are clipped to my dress forms to give you an idea of proper fit.)

Anyhow, I was thinking about last week’s flops, and it reminded me that I had been listing quite a few size smalls lately. And maybe, quite possibly, it’s a combo of summer slowdown + size = flop?

Going forward, I’ll strive to maintain a more inclusive size range each week, although there are certain limiting factors in that noble pursuit.

These factors include:

1. A general scarcity of plus sizes in vintage. You can read more about why this is in this good article about survivorship bias. At any rate, it makes going out and finding older vintage in true volup sizes an ambitious task. I don’t always strike it lucky as far as what the fishing trip nets and drags up from the deeps, so to speak.

2. I get caught up in wanting my Instagram feed to look cohesive and attractive, “aesthetic,” so that means each debut (←I don’t like the word “drop” for my mini-collections…sounds clumsy and rough, lol) tends to center around one or two anchor colors, and I choose garments from my backstock to suit that color story. I’ve been thinking about lightening up on that practice. People don’t use IG the way they used to…maybe it’s unnecessarily complicating things for me (adding an extra layer of labor to an already laborious process). And paradoxically making the shop less welcoming for you, my dear shoppers and followers.

3. When I buy a one-owner collection, it can mean a temporary monoculture of styles and sizes. The original owner may have been a size 4 at age 20 in the 1950s, size 8 at 30 in the 1960s, and so on. Or every garment they own might be roughly the same size. This particular issue is baked into the collection I got on my July Boston trip, for example. Lots of amazing older suits, most of them solidly XS to Small. You’ll see them this fall, so if you’re at the smaller end of the size range, be sure to tune in.

I do enjoy a challenge, so I’ll keep striving to present a good range. Jumblelaya is for everybody and every body.

Vintage late 1950s pure cotton self-belted shirtwaist in tones of olive, pale blue, and coral with a very of-the-era embellished baroque geometric print. I love this as a unique end-of-summer look…it’s autumnal, but autumn that whispers rather than shouts.

About a size medium to large.

Last up, a vintage 1950s Bobbie Brooks slubbed cotton windowpane plaid dress in tones of charcoal, wine, ivory. Sailor collar, pert princess seams, and bold smoke grey Lucite buttons, including on the big patch pockets.

Bobbie Brooks wasn’t an actual person, but a wildly successful mass-market junior’s brand. The cultural concept of the “teenager” formed by the 1940s and exploded into the mainstream by the 1950s. Bobbie Brooks’s designers had a keen understanding of what was on fashion’s radar for the younger set. The brand even set up an advisory board made up of hundreds of teenage girls to help “vet” style, colors, fabrics, and prints.

Also…something weird and cool I found out just today is, John Mellencamp’s infamous 1982 hit “Jack & Diane” namechecks the label:

Suckin’ on a chili dog
Outside the Tastee Freez
Diane's sittin' on Jackie's lap
He's got his hand between her knees
Jackie say, “Hey, Diane
Let's run off behind a shady tree
Dribble off those Bobbie Brooks
Let me do what I please”…

Wow, I uh…I guess I never really thought about all that. A vintage brand, right there before our very eyes, enmeshed forever in pop culture’s imagination.

And now you can have your own fabulous Bobbie Brooks! About a modern size small.

Any questions? Any comments? Heck, any complaints??!

Drop ‘em below. I love to banter. Apparently you can even comment straight from your inbox, though I’ve never tried (sounds like I need to give it a whirl).

Meantime, the six treasures previewed above will land right here, tomorrow, Friday, August 14 at 12:30 PM PST. I’ll set up a countdown clock on Instagram. Not sure about tags…they continue to be both something people say they want to have. The actual requests, in practice, are rare. For now, if you ask for one, I’ll honor it.

Oh, and subscribers! Keep an eye out for something special just for you hitting your inboxes soon. If you don’t subscribe yet and you love vintage clothes and all the trimmings, why not give it a whirl? I promise I don’t spam your inbox with constant updates. Only the good stuff.

—J.

Subscribe now

Vintage ca. 1940s cotton sundress set in zingy forest green + pink-plum chambray, shirred at the waist and with bias-stripes ringing the skirt. Matching perfect jacket topper, too.

A harder-to-find size for this style, about a roomy medium to large (vintage size 15).

I’ll never not love an Indian gauze cotton for this time of year. Vintage 1970’s imported block print with silver threads glinting throughout.

Gently fitted at waist, and looks fab with a belt, too.

Fits a range.

Sleek Toni Todd vintage 1970s maxi in flowing black jersey, trimmed with a heavy floral braid in shades of pink and olive green.

Angel-sleeve jacket ties at waist. Here’s what it looks like without — a wonderful sundress that’s right on time for the summer-to-fall transition.

About a modern XS to S.

Bouncy ca. late 1950s to early 1960s self-belted voile sundress with matching heavily-embroidered jacket topper. This might very well be L’aiglon, but there’s only a sliver of remaining label — darn!

The color is that perfect shade of hydrangea that rides the line between pink and lilac. (My camera struggles mightily with pale colors like this.)

About a roomy small.

Vintage 1970s cotton halter maxi sundress in the prettiest shades of pale green, orange, lime, violet.

About a modern XS and will be priced nicely. I don’t stock many XS pieces; they are already plentiful in the vintage world, and fewer of us fit them. This one struck a chord with me.

Last up, this vintage late summer doll from Candi Jones in a gauzy cotton blend, its print a William Morris-style dream of blossoms upon blossoms. Tie shoulders, lace bib front, sash waist, cute midi length.

About a size small.

So, that’s the clothes. Let’s get more personal, now…

Welp, okay, yes. That was a heavy one. But I want to take you with me as a vintage dealer, including into the toughest spots. I want to be honest and transparent as I document this gig, or there’s little point in writing about it.

Anyhow, the six beauties previewed above will land right here, tomorrow, Tuesday, August 11 at 12:30 PM PST. I’ll set up another countdown clock. I’ll cross my fingers.

You can also click that link now. It’ll show you everything up for grabs, including last week’s beautiful “flops.” Hint: that Margaret Newman is bonkers-level good. It likely needs the perfect special event to move it to its next home, so I’ll be patient.

—J.

(This morning from my front yard.)

I’ll be frank. The air here is b a d (worst air pollution in the world at the time of this writing, according to IQAir). Thankfully, it’s “just” smoke. The fires remain physically far from us. My thoughts are constantly with those who are dealing with the wildfires up close and personal.

Anyhow, despite living currently under looming, apocalyptic skies, I still have to do my work, especially with Olive’s vet bills. So let’s turn to a more cheerful subject and take a look at the debut tomorrow, yes?

Starting off with a bang! Vintage ca. 1950s “A Margaret Newman Original” cotton pique princess-seamed sundress with halter/stole-effect neckline, ginormous guipure daisy appliques, and a Pellon-lined, perfectly structured skirt. Blue polished cotton swags meet in the rear and are crowned with a perfect bow, like so:

This one’s dramatic and feminine without leaning into ridiculous theatre. Chock full of charisma and star power.

I wasn’t able to find out much about her maker, Margaret Newman, beyond some tantalizing details. She was working in Florida by the 1940s and was part of the celebrated “Miami Fashion Council” group of designers. She opened a luxury boutique in Miami Beach, and her designs were showcased in New York City, as well. She became known for dramatic colors and innovative resort styles before fading away from the public eye by the late 1950s.

I’d love to see our Margaret Newman worn by an unconventional bride — either for a wedding shoot or for the main event. But honestly, any place you rock this one, you’ll have people eating right outta your hand.

About a modern small.

Remember this little number? Vintage ca. 1940s navy rayon novelty print swing dress with a charming French poodle print touched in jadeite green, delphite blue, and candy pink accents. Cap sleeves, ties at neckline, and flared, gored skirt.

About a modern small (a little too small for me, boo!). I hope a fellow dog-lover will snap her right up!

Dreamy vintage ca. late 1970s sundress by “Isadora” of super-soft white cotton, made in the USA. Clearly Isadora was a Gunne Sax competitor, but they managed to bring their own touches to the picture. Metal grommets for a lace-up, corset-style neckline + pointed, fold-over eyelet accents.

About a modern small…might fit a bit more with the lacing loosened, but I haven’t played with it yet.

Vintage ca. 1950s to 1960s soft rayon (the cottony kind I love) shirtwaist in a layered print of jeweltone arabesques against a rich, deep blue ground. Self-belted, matching pearly Lucite shank buttons.

By Sears! They made great stuff in their time. A modern volup large to XL.

Here’s something different — ca. 1950s sheer pastel blue nylon uniform by “Robbin-Dale” with the BEST Midcentury details! Stabby collar with button trim, long princess seams, turnback winged sleeves, deep and useful pockets, and that full skirt.

So much high style packed into a “utilitarian” garment. Seems intended for an elevated application — perhaps an upscale beauty salon or a fine cosmetics counter. A place where the employees were meant to project polish, clean style, and flair rather than mere sanitation and efficiency.

I don’t know much about the label, other than Robbin-Dale Cameo Uniforms, Inc. was VERY active in the 1950s, but eventually went bankrupt and liquidated in 1972 (eep!).

Ours is closest in style to an ad I found from 1956 which I’ll include in the listing.

It’s really special. About a modern size small.

Vintage ca. late 1960s, early 1970s (probably around 1970) “Ramona Rull Enterprises Inc. of New York” cotton block-print kaftan with characteristic shisha mirror-work + embroidery, beautifully made in Pakistan. (Has pockets! Very nice, deep pockets! More on that down below.)

Ramona Rull is an interesting story — she was a Chinese-European designer and innovator, headquartered in Hong Kong. Around 1967, she began to collaborate with makers in Pakistan to create new clothing designs from traditional block-printed textiles. She then imported these garments to the US, marketing them through exclusive fashion shows, trunk shows, and her own boutique on Madison Avenue in New York City. These dresses and tunics were unlike any seen before in this part of the world. Ramona Rull quickly became known for her eclectic, bohemian garments, helping fuel the 1970’s wildly popular “world fashion” import boom.

And her pieces remain wearable, relevant, and highly collectable to this day.

Ours is maxi-length and will suit many figures, from about XS up to a smaller-busted Medium.

Oh! And here’s a fun bonus clipping from a newspaper article (November 12, 1970, The Burlington Free Press) about her trunk show held in Burlington, Vermont. “American women like pockets,” Rull declares — and we love her for it.

See anything you love?

They’ll all debut tomorrow (Friday, Aug 7th) on Jumblelaya at 12:30 PM PST right here. Set an alarm so you don’t miss your faves. Click our handy countdown clock on Instagram (@jumblelaya) for a reminder.

You can click the link early to browse what’s already up for grabs. As of right now, several choice “dopamine dressing” dresses from Wednesday remain available!

—J.

Anyhow, let’s take a look-see at the shiny, happy vintage beauties I’ve got lined up for you, ready to debut…

(I think I’m being haunted by butterflies lately! Although these look more like moths to me.)

Anyhow, vintage 1950s two-piece summer suit in color block white and shocking pink, beautifully embroidered. The cropped jacket closes with Lucite buttons; skirt is a pert A-line. Wear together, wear apart…these sporty warm-weather suits are not easy to turn up, especially all the way in 2026.

About a modern size small (skirt is a 26” waist).

Vintage ca. 1960s luxe two-piece princess dress & princess jacket set in bright, punchy daisy yellow + white polka dots. Fabric feels like raw silk, and there’s a rather posh-looking store label inside the jacket, attesting to its quality and polish.

You might get the vibe that I’m leaning into “dopamine dressing” today, and you’d be right! Most of us could use a pick-me-up. And this set ticks every joyful, exuberant box possible.

Modern medium to large cusp.

Continuing in this mood-boosting vein, we have this vintage early 1970s organza puff-sleeve maxi gown that I think is drop-dead gorgeous. There are certainly nods to the 1930s and 1940s in this sash-waisted pink floral fever dream.

I’ll put lots of photos in the listing, because I don’t think a static photo like this does her justice!

About a modern small to medium.

Vintage early 1960s “Made in California” chiffon charmer in tones of pink, melon, and chartreuse. Sculpted fit and flair silhouette with a satin bow at the piped waist.

Another chiffon — I told you they’ve been finding me lately (along with butterflies…so many butterflies).

About a modern small.

Vintage 1970s (with a hefty dash of 1930s/1940s influence) coquette’s dream of a frock in pale yellow with a floral print of soft mustard, cocoa, melon, and charcoal. Sleeveless with a caped effect, sash waist, and fullish skirt.

Not only is this thing darling, but it’s a very rare size for this style…a true volup XL. This “junior” style is most often found in very small sizes, so it’s great to see a piece in a more inclusive size.

Last up is another shot of dopamine for you — ca. 1960s “whipped cream” Dacron belted shirtwaist in chartreuse, melon, and pink. A wonderfully juicy, over-the-top floral in a textile that will stand up to modern machine-washing, dry without wrinkles, and stay bright and new-looking.

A nice modern large to XL, too!

Any of these ring your bell?

They’ll debut tomorrow (Weds, Aug 5th) on Jumblelaya at 12:30 PM PST right here. Set an alarm so you don’t miss your faves. Click our handy countdown clock on Instagram (@jumblelaya) for a handy reminder.

Sometimes they go quick as a wink. Sometimes they hang around waiting for the right eyes to land on them. You can click the link early to browse what’s already available.

—J.

PS Welcome to the new faces here! I’m waving and smiling at each new subscriber. I appreciate you.

I’ve got six beauties to show & tell with you today. Let’s get into those previews without any more blather on my part…

I don’t know what the dealio is with me and chiffons lately, but here’s another “in the wild” find I bagged recently.

Vintage late 1950s, early 1960s layered floral chiffon in deep grassy green with cobalt and violet peony blossoms. Sculpted bodice, piped waist, and double-layered skirt.

Many chiffons are pastel hues, and prints aren’t all that common. So when I find chiffon + print + saturated colors like this? I’m a happy vintage fiend, indeed.

This one runs a small to medium cusp, with a 26”/27” waist.

Yeowza! I don’t know the exact date on this one. She’s a one-of-a-kind by her very nature. By the late 1960s, tie-dye had become fashionable in the US, first emerging as a craftsy countercultural trend and soon spreading to the public at large. I don’t think mine is super old…I’m getting a 90s/Y2K festival vibe, tbh — the time in my life when I went to so many of those events. You’d see booths set up, selling this sort of stuff, which was always helpful when you dressed inappropriately for the noon sun and had to panic-buy something light and airy.

Vintage softest gauze cotton (like Indian cotton) hand-made tie dye kaftan dress with draped open sleeves and a versatile midi length. Rainbow dyes with gorgeous shadowy real fern prints, too! The word “Bora Bora” is subtly worked into its pattern, so it’s probably a tourist-targeted piece, and indeed is perfection on the beach.

One size fits many.

Vintage Y2K made in the USA pure cotton corset top in a lurid green, a hue I’ve always enjoyed. Firmly boned, it features lace trim, two kinds of rhinestones, and metal beads. It’s deliciously bitchy, sleazy, pretty + punk.

This one represents the tail-end of the era when clothes were still manufactured in the United States in any quantity. The construction is so, so much nicer than what’s hanging on the racks nowadays. Like, incomparable with what I’m seeing for sale lately, eesh.

Vintage 1970s mega-wide-leg Indian cotton pants with drawstring waist, the ties adorned with decorative metal baubles (←I’m not sure what those are called, but I’m certain there’s a term). Giraffe, elephant, and peacock print.

As I said, I’ve stored up some Indian cottons for you. This time of year is my favorite for wearing it and listing it!

Fits a range from XS to probably M or so? Very stretchy waist.

Ripe citrus orange + silver Lurex 1960s hibiscus print empire-waisted maxi sundress set with its own matching sheer organza blouse or jacket. Sparkly + ready to enjoy all those late summer events!

About a size large (or roomy medium).

Last up, but boy do I love this one! ca. late 1930s, early 1940s (the only ad I found from this company dated 1939) seersucker cotton hostess gown by “Styled by Wen Britton” with two perfectly coordinated prints: a maximalist paisley with deep blue + violet striping and a delicate scarlet poppy floral.

Gently puffed sleeves, sturdy front brass zipper, self-belt, and a darling hip pocket, too.

Even better? This one’s a legit volup size…suiting large to XL.

Well, see any piece you love?

These six will debut tomorrow (Friday, July 31st) on Jumblelaya at 12:30 PM PST right here. Set an alarm so you don’t miss your faves, or click our handy countdown clock on Instagram (@jumblelaya) for a reminder.

Sometimes they go very fast. Sometimes they linger waiting for that perfect new home. You can click the link early to browse the ones still up for grabs.

—J.

P.S. Most of my content is public, but there are things only meant for my inner sanctum of vintage fiends. Join today at the free level, and you’ll be part of the group that gets the bonus content, helpful codes, and more. I’d also love to hit my goal of 365 subscribers and have my Taschen book raffle! We’re getting closer, but not quite there.

You can even pledge support for my future paid tier; it’s like taking me out for one fancycoffee™ per month. This newsletter takes hours each week. I’m a published fiction author in my spare (ha!) time, and I don’t use generative AI. So mine is a slow but earnest human endeavor in an increasingly fast, mechanized, and unreal world.

For those unfamiliar with me, I own Jumblelaya, one of the longest-running online vintage clothing stores, established in 1997. The Dawn of Time, basically. I’ve got stories and stories…it’s weird vintage stories all the way down. And in 2026, I decided it was time to start sharing all this, plus the knowledge and experience I’ve accumulated along the way.

Don’t want to download the Substack app? No problem — just like a regular newsletter, it’ll show up in your inbox all handy-dandy. You can even like and comment via your inbox.

I’ve got a sextet of darling August-ready things to show you that’ll be debuting tomorrow, and also a bonus sneak peek at cool stuff I bought this weekend that sent me way, way down yon olde rabbit hole...

First, previews:

Finally, something to share from my recent East Coast junket!

Vintage 1970’s draped goddess sundress in shimmery color block jersey, plunging at the neckline, falling in graceful, sarong-like folds through the skirt.

Lowkey, I’m getting these vibes…

Not a one-to-one stylistic copy, of course. But if you’re seeking to create an homage, our 70s goddess would work.

Our dress suits many sizes with leeway owing to its forgiving style and elastic waist.

Next up, vintage 1970s Indian cotton gauze block-printed wrap skirt. Nothing’s better on a hot August day than a comfy vintage Indian cotton.

This skirt is interesting thematically. We’ve got very large squirrels, a fancy elephant parade, and…these two mysterious central figures doing curious things to each other.

Maybe you’re already familiar with the Indian festival called Holi. In addition to the holiday’s bright colored powders (or gulal), you’ll also find playful water fights breaking out with water balloons, water guns, and small hand-held squirters (called pichkaris) like the ones in this print. Water symbolizes purification, renewal, and the washing away of past mistakes as spring approaches.

Fun side note: there’s a sort of “sister” holiday in Thailand called Songkran, as depicted in The White Lotus (Season 3, Episode 4).

Speaking of lotuses…

Well, okay. Technically these are water lilies and lily pads, but in my weird head these plants are filed as lotus-adjacent.

Both skirts wrap and tie to suit a range of waists and figures.

Coming at you backside-first with a gauzy vintage late 1970s dress in jeweltone hues and a patchwork floral print.

Lovely fit and flare style! About a modern size medium to large, with a rare (for this style) 30” waist.

More easy-breezy style from the 1970s…vintage purple and scarlet floral border print rayon sundress with contrast piping, nipped elastic waist, and A-line skirt with side slit.

Suits small to medium.

Vintage custom-sewn 1960s glowing peacock blue, purple, olive Thai dress. You’ll love this one in person, where its luxurious glow and carefully tailored details can be fully appreciated.

(That print placement!)

About a modern medium.

Now I’ll tell you about my favorite purchase this weekend — a one-two punch delivered by the sweetest vintage fairy ever.

Anyhow, Ms. O and I came home from the vet clinic up in Ridgefield (that mysterious rapidly growing bump on her leg is benign, thank goodness, and she’ll be having surgery Thursday to remove it). This darling package was waiting, tucked away on our front porch:

Wanna see what’s inside?

Not bad, eh? Top dress, we’ve got elegant pink and blue French poodles — straightforward and fabulous and DOGS (dogs!!!).

Lower dress, we have…

Well, I’m not sure what we’ve got going on here. It’s a sneaker print — abstract at first, resolving into images under closer study. Even still, it remains obscure, and I haven’t quite cracked its code. Figures on tightropes, shirtless guys wielding wands, waterfalls, Parisian-style street lamps…what does it mean?

So I did some digging. It turns out this silk crepe dress not only has a Herbert J. Michael store label inside, attesting to a high-end custom salon pedigree, but it’s helpfully marked on its selvedge “Styled by Onondaga.”

With further deep-diving (eye-crossing hours of it), I learned that the Onondaga Silk Company ran a program called the “American Artist Print Series” from 1947 until about 1950. They commissioned six up-and-coming US artists to collaborate on a series of textile prints. The artists chosen were all associated with Midtown Galleries in NYC: Gladys Rockmore Davis, Dong Kingman, Waldo Peirce, Doris Rosenthal, Julien Binford, and William C. Palmer. Several big names from fashion were tapped to interpret the resultant print textiles into expressive (and very expensive) garments, including designers Jo Copeland, Ben Reig, Sally Milgrim, Nettie Rosenstein, Sophie of Saks, and more. The whole project came together smoothly and was deemed a commercial success, helping bring together the elite New York City art world, mass industrial manufacturing, and luxury department store retail.

My particular print may be by William C. Palmer, a classically-trained painter with a modernist’s eye whose artistic style favored heady lyricism balanced by skillful restraint. Does anyone have any further information? Please leave your comment below! This quest of mine is aggravated by the many intervening decades and Onondaga’s spotty and/or lost record-keeping (they had a great run, though — in operation from 1918 until about 1973!).

Anyhow, to put all this cool stuff into a larger context: the 1930s and 1940s were the first time in history the public at large was exposed to surreal, artistic print fabrics, a vast departure from familiar rigid, traditional florals and repetitive geometrical motifs. Celebrated designer Elsa Schiaparelli collaborated with the great surrealist Salvador Dali on “The Tears Dress” in 1938. In 1947, Gilbert Adrian also worked with Dali for the textile firm Wesley Simpson, crafting a strangely beguiling print of anthropomorphized faces amid fractured stones. These shocking pieces served to create a trickle-down effect, inspiring and influencing other textile designers (like the Onondaga Silk Company) to quickly follow suit in designing similar conversational prints for the mass market. By the 1950s and the height of the novelty print, art had merged more fully into textile design, becoming wearable, affordable, and accessible for many.

And all this led to the two goodies waiting on my porch for little Olive and me!

That’s all for today, but do note — while the two sneak peek 1940s pieces are not available at this time, the six beauties I previewed above are scheduled to hit Jumblelaya tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28th, at 12:30 PM PST, right here.

Set an alarm to nab your faves. Sometimes these beauties fly in mere seconds! You can click our countdown clock on IG (@jumblelaya) for a heads-up there, too. And you can visit the link early to see what’s already available.

—J.

I had a recent appointment in Gresham, which is not too far from me, but Portland metro traffic can be beastly. I only came away with one thing, but she’s a banger.

In addition, I’ve got five other vintage beauts to share with you that’ll debut tomorrow. They’re pretty, pretty, pretty good.

Let’s take a gander…

I don’t do nearly as many buying trips as I used to (more on that some other time). And I’d hardly call crossing the metroplex a “buying trip.” Especially since I only bought a single item.

That said, I came away with a bagful o’ dress, a big smile, and a burst of fresh dopamine.

(Obligatory front lawn trophy display before whisking her indoors to begin the cleaning and prepping process.)

I like to think this dress was worn to a Portland Rose Festival event back in the day; wouldn’t it be ideal? The extra piece is a matching length of fabric the owner said was meant to be a wrap. You could definitely use it as such.

Let’s take a look at her now that she’s been properly “fluffed and puffed,” as I call it.

Vintage late 1950s pink + olive rose print chiffon strapless dress. Precisely pleated and boned neckline, nipped waist, and super full skirt of three layers, including its own crisp white tulle petticoat. Its designer label is missing, but there’s a Union tag attached inside the skirt. (Emma Domb or similar would be my guess.)

Even more exciting — this one’s a 30” waist, sitting nicely at a medium to large cusp. Most of them I find in this style are 24”-26” waists. Sometimes even smaller.

A dream find. Worth fielding late afternoon traffic in the punishing July sun.

Here’s another candidate for the Portland Rose Festival!

Vintage 1950s “Cabana Original” woven white cotton sundress with embroidered purple + emerald roses. Boned and cotton-lined bodice, contrast piping, pockets.

Look at the lovely bias-cutting on the bodice!

XS to small…fits that modern size 2 dress form like a glove.

Here’s one my daughter flipped over…and can you blame her?

ca. 1970s wide-legged candy pink hickory striped cotton overalls with embroidered hearts on the pockets.

Absolutely adorable.

About a size XS to small.

Back to the 50s we go…with a vintage pure cotton plaid shirtwaist in lavender + grass green. Peter Pan collar, carved shell buttons, and a sweeping tea-length.

About a modern medium.

Sophisticated 1940s to 1950s cusper dress by “Marcy Allen Original” in a pink and grey glossy satin stripe with flange-front concealing a yummy pink metal zipper. Bold collar, stabby turn-back cuffs, hip-enhancing envelope pockets, decorative buttons.

Not 100% cosmetically perfect, but still sturdy, sassy, and ready to rock.

About a modern medium.

Vintage ca. 1970s calico cotton “Vicky Vaughn” sundress in three charming dark floral prints, tied together with a pink satin bow. Tie shoulder straps, shirred tube top, and sweeping tiered skirt.

This suits many sizes — it’s essentially a stretchy tube top with a full skirt. Perfect for hot days when you want something easy that also looks sharp.

Going to keep this issue nice and zippy today, as I’m getting over a head cold and still kinda run down (summer colds are theeeee worst!).

These six will debut tomorrow (Friday July 24th) on Jumblelaya at 12:30 PM PST right here. Set an alarm so you don’t miss your faves, or click our handy countdown clock on Instagram (@jumblelaya) for a reminder.

—J.

PS: Welcome new subscribers! It’s great to have you aboard.

Today I’ve got six new previews for vintage goodies that’ll launch in the shop tomorrow, Tuesday June 21st, at 12:30 PM PST. These are all easy to wear, and I’m liking easy right now. Maybe you feel me?

You’ll want to bookmark this spot, as that’s where the new stuff lands. (You can also visit this link early to see what’s already up for grabs!)

Set an alarm or give our Countdown Clock on Instagram (@jumblelaya) a click for an extra reminder.

Btw, I think I’m going to phase out tags on Instagram and FB…nobody is asking for them lately, and it’s extra work on my part to keep track across the two platforms. Or at least, I could ditch them for now; tags have a way of coming back again, I’ve found.

What do you think?

Meanwhile, let’s take a gander at tomorrow’s crew, yeah?

Vintage 1940s/1950s fit and flare cotton house dress from Simplicity Frock in a deep ink blue with white scribble print. White decorative buttons + contrasting trim define the notched neckline and helpful hip pockets; sash waist nips to fit you perfectly.

You might think the label has got something to do with the Simplicity Pattern Company, but it’s actually its very own thing! Simplicity Frock produced off-the-rack garments that were durable enough to hold up to chores, yet stylish enough for running errands or welcoming neighbors. They published many ads over the decades…I dug around, but could not find an exact style match for this pretty dress.

She’s about a modern size Large to XL.

ca. 1930s feedsack cotton chore dress in jaunty red, blue, and butter yellow blossom print. Closes up the rear with old red galalith buttons and trimmed in white rickrack. Not perfect (there’s gentle fade along a shoulder and some wear on those ancient buttons), but the dress remains quite sturdy, filled with character + charm!

About a size medium to large.

I wanted to make sure I got this one listed now while it’s summer here, but this ca. 1960s/1970s sheer black nylon cutie works as both a swimsuit cover-up now and as a lightweight jacket when spooky season begins closing in (yay!). Mystical pierced moon pattern, cute black plastic buttons, wickedly pointed hood.

This will suit a range of XS to Medium sizes.

Vintage 1970s huipil or tunic sundress, in the most dreamy white gauzy/airy cotton with satin ribbon accents and beautiful, intricate embroidery featuring birds in unicorn hues of pink, plum, peach, lavender, blue… Likely Mexican-crafted, intended for the tourist market.

Absolutely magical, filled with charm. Super comfy for summer…pile on your most beautiful bangles and add a slouchy shoulder bag (and a floppy hat to ward off the fiercest rays).

Nicely scaled to suit a range of XS to about modern mediums.

Sharp vintage 1950s pure silk cocktail party dress in a layered scarlet red rose print. Draped/ruched waistline, and the sexiest of rear views:

About a modern XS to small.

Finally, a ca. 1950s belted doll in floaty flocked chiffon of ivory. Prim Peter Pan collar, self belt, and a sweepy wisp of a skirt.

Layer it up for a peekaboo look. About a modern medium.

That’s it for now. It’s sunny out and I need to go feed myself something, too.

Oh! Don’t forget to tell a friend or two to join us…we’re steadily making our way toward 365 subscribers and our first-ever giveaway. Drop back here to take a gander what one of you will win; it’s a really cool coffee table book, offering hours of fashionable eye candy and browsing enjoyment.

And, to recap, the above six vintage garments launch in the shop tomorrow, Tuesday June 21st, at 12:30 PM PST. You’ll find them right here, as always.

—J.

Today I’ve got six fresh previews for stuff that’s gonna launch in the shop tomorrow, Friday the 17th, at 12:30 PM PST. You’ll want to bookmark this spot, as that’s where the new stuff lands. You can also visit the link early to see what’s already up for grabs!

Next up, an extra-salty/-spicy Kaffeekränzchen sesh. I’ve got updates on the dreaded AI front, eesh. You won’t want to miss what I have to say!

Let’s start on a positive note and gaze at the pretty stuff first.

Vintage 1950s black, olive green, and blue pure cotton shirtwaist dress by that stalwart Midcentury label, Mode o’ Day. Gilt metal buttons, self belt.

The print strikes me as heraldic, somehow…I picture fancy iron gates, cloistered + regal spaces. Maybe a queen’s rose garden? I don’t know. Vintage just puts these vivid pictures in my head.

Bonus? It’s not tiny! Size large to XL with an unbelted waist of 34”.

Vintage Western blouse ca. late 1950s to early 1960s by the powerhouse company, H Bar C. Woven silver Lurex-threaded aqua plaid cotton with Rau Klikit “pearl” + metal snaps and a neat compact collar with tiny celluloid button at top; unbutton or button up, as you like. A classic!

About a small to medium.

Dreamy ca. late 40s, early 50s cusper Nelly Don dress of soft, thin, semi-sheer cotton tissue batiste in tones of terracotta, teal, chocolate, white. Jabot neckline + self belt. Just a ghostly hint of autumn in this one, but it’ll carry you wonderfully through the doggiest of dog days.

So light, so airy! Do ignore my neighbor across the alley’s sloppily-painted turquoise murder shed missing its window.

Nelly’s original shoulder pads have gone wandering, but she still has the interior snaps — I’ll throw in a pair, if you want them.

Another wonderful volup frock, an XL with bust of 48” and waist of 36”.

Yeowza! Vintage 1950s pure cotton novelty print skirt with a rare and coveted newsstand print. Magazines include LIFE, L’Europeo, Oggi, Grazia, Arbiter, Epoca, Frankfurter Illustrierte, and more — a plethora of historically significant international magazines associated with the highest standards in photojournalism, fashion, and lifestyle. Some of the “issues” shown are dated 1955 in tiny print, likely the same year the fabric itself was made. Full sweep and includes an attached white net petticoat hemmed in a narrow bias-ribbon of blue cotton.

About a modern small (waist 26” - 27” and has room on its waistline tab to nudge it a little larger).

Vintage 1950s to 1960s super-soft cotton shirtwaist in an ethereal pastel blue with very fine white embroidery blossoms + butterflies. (Listen, I’ve been on a real bug trip lately!) Cool catseye pearl Lucite buttons.

About a modern small.

Dreamy-soft cotton late 1950s plaid shirtwaist in a wild chartreuse green, pink, white, ink blue plaid. Self buttons, wide self belt.

Nice length on this one, perfect for taller figures! About a modern medium.

Now for a dose of Kaffeekränzchen, where we huddle up and deep-dive some of the thornier aspects of the vintage community at large.

So, yeah, we’ve circled the drain some more recently, and we’re right back to the slippery AI slop issue. But with an all-new angle I’ve noticed in the past week or so. I’m putting the word out so others can be on the alert, too.

It’s this new style of image that, ostensibly, is “just” a well-styled shop photo — beautiful lighting, appealing crispness and colors, pretty backgrounds, and no AI models in sight.

Let’s take an example I ran across on one of the major selling platforms:

Pretty vintage dress, right? Neat photo compilation?

But immediately, my senses tingled with that uncanny feeling of something being “off” (and I’m not just talking about that odd sizing…the 28” bust).

The next photo reveals the stark truth about what you are actually buying:

The sock/toe photobomb notwithstanding (hey, it happens to the best of us)…look at the difference between the compilation/dress form image and the flat lay image. Specifically, examine the many differences in the embroidery…the different bird/peacock, the different style of flower along the hem.

Sigh. All AI hallucinations.

Just, sorry, a bunch of made-up shit, obscuring the fact that this is a seller who doesn’t even bother to sweep their floors before tossing a piece of merchandise down and snapping some quick shots. And I hate to mention such petty things as debris on the floor in a photo, and usually I wouldn’t. But I’m disabled (I have Marfan syndrome and my spine is completely inflexible and frozen, fused T3 to L4 with body-length metal rods and 23 bolts/screws). Still, I’m forever furiously mopping, vacuuming, and sweeping before I take my own photographic flat lays on my home’s wood floors. This is a seller who is using AI slop to cut corners. The proverbial gloves come off.

Next, we have a photo that shows the actual condition of the item for sale:

I do appreciate that the stains are shown here up close and clearly, but this raw condition is not reflected at all in the AI images, which present a very crisp, blindingly clean white dress. If I bought this halter dress, I’d be hopping mad when the real deal showed up in my mailbox.

Kind of like the situation with the infamous AI-hallucinated romper I bought — read it and weep.

Anyhow, I’ve seen numerous examples of this new style of AI imagery popping up in the vintage community. It’s as though folks are realizing we are “on” to the ghastly AI-modeled photos. They have had to figure out a new tactic to skate by our BS detectors.

Well, here’s a fresh idea: stop wasting our world’s dwindling resources and concocting fake photos of fake items for sale. It’s clotting up the search engines; it’s alienating your buyers. We’ve all managed just fine for almost 30 years — I started selling vintage on eBay in 1997, and I’ve been through it all. Dress forms or human models or flat lays are all quite adequate. I’ve sold thousands of dresses, suits, coats, skirts, and more without once having to jump on ChatGPT to spin me an appealing lie. I’ve done this despite considerable physical challenges. I take my own photos and I write my own copy. In doing so, I also strengthen and preserve my middle-aged brain, its faculty for language, spatial awareness, creativity, and critical thinking.

Using generative AI is a cheapskate, scammy way to avoid doing hard work. And I’m not giving this topic up — I will continue to call the practice out whenever I see it.

What do YOU think about the new AI compilation imagery? Would you buy something that relies AI-generated images because the imagery is pretty and the boho vibes hit right?

Sound off below, and let me know your thoughts!

Welp, now that all that’s out of my system for a minute or two, let’s wrap up with a fond adieu for the week, and a reminder:

The six previewed in today’s issue will appear tomorrow, Friday the 17th, at 12:30 PM PST right here. You can also shop the earlier listings from this week via the same link; still plenty of eye candy to snap up!

I’ll see you next week with beautiful new (old) things and my assorted vintage ramblings, too.

—J.

Oh, and we did a little shopping for vintage. Naturally!

Ended up doing a nice buy from a lifelong collector, which included older dresses, a 1930s velvet coat, and some great 1940s suits. This sweet bulk buy, unfortunately, dropped in my lap less than 24 hours before we were heading home, creating a bit of a panic state. We only had two large suitcases between the four of us. Those suitcases were already packed tight. How would we get all this beautiful, bulky clothing home to the West Coast safely (and without breaking the bank)?

My family is incredibly patient. We figured it out. I’ll share the clever travel tip I learned, in case you, too, find yourself happily overburdened with a bunch of old, heavy wool, far from home and with a flight to catch.

But first, I have sneak peek of six vintage Midcentury beauts. As ever, these new pieces will land right here, tomorrow, Tuesday July 14th at 12:30PM PST. Set an alarm reminder or roll by IG/FB to click our official Countdown Clock.

Let’s see take a look…

~dreamy sigh~

Beautiful ca. late 1950s voile sundress, lavished with embroidered olive and pink daisies. Tie shoulders, self belt, full, bouncy skirt. I get a strong L’aiglon feel from this one. The fabric, the style, the flowers.

But this one arrived here sans designer label, alas.

(It also was a dirty birdie…with yellowed underarms, ring-around-the-collar, and the overall dinginess of passing decades. I shot some footage of the cleaning process to bring back that snowy beauty, which I’ll transform into a new Reel soonish.)

About a modern medium.

This one IS a L’aiglon!

Vintage late 1950s tea-length dress in pale pink cotton blend voile, pintucked and printed with charming butterflies made of blossoms. Note: there’s a “sister dress” out there right now with a print of floral guitars instead of bugs, and I think I found the original ad for this one, too, from 1959.

Hot dating tip, via the Vintage Fashion Guild: if you find a letter R (the trademark symbol) next to “L’aiglon” on your label, your garment is post-1963.

About a modern XS to small.

Vintage late 1940s to early 1950s cotton sundress with a spooky, Escher-esque tree print, reversing from summer green leaves to autumnal browns. The decorative button trim and curved seams offer the look of an integrated bolero jacket. Self belt, flared skirt.

About a small.

Classic ca. 1950s vintage dress in candy pink gingham plaid cotton. Bow + floral appliques at the neckline, bands of bias trim, full skirt.

By Toni Todd, who marketed their sartorial eye candy using full-page, colorful advertisements in popular fashion magazines like Seventeen, Mademoiselle, and Charm.

About a modern size medium.

Another charming voile beauty, ca. 1950s to 1960s cusp. Crisp white with tan toile novelty print featuring men fishing, graceful foliage…and also, uh, some guys lighting off cannons (??). You know, peaceful, bucolic stuff. Matching grosgrain bow belt, too.

By Jonathan Logan in about a modern size XS to small.

Last, we’ve got a cutie from the late 50s to early 60s. Pure pink cotton with scalloped embroidery/eyelet panels down the front, finished off at center bodice with decorative buttons.

About a roomy medium to large.

Okay, time for that tip/hack/“one weird trick.”

As I said, we were in the Boston area on vacation when a random buying opportunity came up, putting us in a time crunch as far as transporting this stuff home. Much of it heavier, bulkier wool.

Not as easy-breezy to tuck away in your home-bound luggage than, say, that cache of skimpy French bikinis you picked up in Saint-Tropez.

We went over the options.

There’s boxing and shipping, with cross-country FedEx and UPS options running a hundred bucks or more, not to mention the cost of boxes and shipping tape.

I’ve purchased duffel bags from military surplus stores and stuffed them with new vintage (and then struggled to get them off a baggage belt later, all cranky and red-eyed).

I’ve bought big Home Depot boxes, loaded them with vintage, and sent those through baggage. Which makes for an awkward ride on the bus shuttle and then requires wrangling your suitcases along with these big, awkward boxes through a crowded major airport.

There’s even Greyhound Bus for especially large buys — once, I found myself in Cincinatti, having purchased hundreds of pieces of vintage from a warehouse, worth around 50K retail. Greyhound couldn’t tell me how fast my precious vintage duds would make their journey, when they would arrive here at the Portland, Oregon bus depot, or even IF they would show up at all. There was no insurance available to purchase. I had to just cross my fingers and toes (and mutter a prayer to the Great Old Ones who handle that kinda thing). It made for a tense week.

This time, though, we brainstormed a new, cheap way to get our new beautiful junk home.

See that price tag on the bag on the right? This luggage is from Savers. Yep, the thrift store. We nabbed these gently-used, clean bags for less than $20 total.

No, they don’t match, but who cares…we recycled two gently-used workhorses, and they handled their job magnificently. Believe me — nobody is checking out your luggage while hanging out at baggage carousel #8 late at night, their backs aching and eyes glazed over.

Everything went on the same plane as us at no added expense; summer clothes are lightweight, and we still had space for two more suitcases to travel with our family of four. No stress, no biting my nails as I wait anxiously for my goodies to arrive a week later…

So next time you find yourself traveling, overloaded with last-minute buys, why not give this method a try?

That’s all for today’s issue.

Don’t forget, the six previewed above will show up on Jumblelaya right here, tomorrow, Tuesday July 14th at 12:30PM PST.

And oh! Thank you for shopping my vacation sale, whether you utilized our early, subscriber-only code or you waited till the proverbial doors opened to the public. You really came for your favorites. It freed up room and will help me pay for all the newly-acquired stuff, too. I can’t wait to show you what I got.

—J.

Instead of previews of upcoming items, I’d like to turn our attention to the hundreds of worthy contenders already listed and up for adoption.

Yep, I’m running a top-secret (shhhh) sale just for my loyal subscribers and readers. Now until Monday June 29th at 7AM PST, you and you alone get a running start at our summer blitz!

This means, you get first dibs at 25% off everything that’s currently available right here.

This gives you a running start on the later public sale that begins Tuesday the 30th and will run while I’m out of state on the east coast. Everything purchased in the public sale will ship on my return, Friday July 10. Everything purchased before the doors open I hope to ship this Monday before I go.

Anyhow! Want to know the secret discounted back door in? Here you go:

(Fancy, eh? That looks rather h u g e on my big desktop screen, but should shrink down nicely on more portable devices.)

Too huge, you say?

No problem — just dispense with the QR monolith and use a good old-fashioned shopping code; we ain’t fancy! That code is:

SummerSubstackBlitz

Drop that puppy into place during checkout to nab the 25% off sale price.

I’m hoping both sales will serve to create some room on these stuffed racks by making our already friendly prices even friendlier. Due to the vagaries and mercurial whims of the all-mighty algorithm, many pieces went unsold the first time around not because they aren’t amazing but simply because their posts were buried or hidden.

Thanks for being here, and happy shopping! Be sure to dig backward in the pages to see the very best stuff, including all our cool military separates (summer shorts!!).

Next up, the bonus part many of you enjoy…

It’s Kaffeekränzchen time, where we huddle up to enjoy some hot sips and cool tips (←omg, please never-ever let me type that particular cringy string of words again).

Ahem. Anyhow, I actually have a little good news to report today? (Hey, it happens now and again.)

As you know, the whole generative AI thing has become a drag in our vintage community…I’ve had plenty to say about it here and here and here and even a dollop more here.

Meantime there’s been a rising crest of backlash forming against AI practices, and you know what? Between us all, it’s starting to have a positive effect!

Because remember when I told you I was running into nonstop fabricated images of thrift store, antique shop, and estate sale “finds” all over my vintage feed on Facebook? Including vintage dresses?

Look here at this new example I found a few days ago…there’s been a subtle but important change Meta has recently implemented:

(Blech, this fake post is wrong and abhorrent in just about every way possible!)

Anyhow, blink and you might miss it, so I’ll zoom in on the important part for you:

That’s right, AI slop posts are now being flagged and Meta is labeling them for what they are.

Official Meta word is as follows:

“You must use the ‘AI Info’ toggle when sharing or subtly editing realistic images, videos, or audio. Meta's systems scan for hidden industry-standard watermarks and metadata (like C2PA) and will automatically apply labels if you don't.

Content rated as ‘False’ or ‘Altered’ by independent fact-checkers—including AI posts without disclosures—will be automatically demoted in the feed to limit its reach.”

Hey, not bad…there might be (and probably are) ways to circumvent this new labeling system, but maybe it’ll be too much work for scammers and engagement farmers, who are looking for easy money at low effort. If it helps push down the fake garbage and allows actual vintage fashion to rise back to the rightful top of my feed, I’m all for it.

What’s also heartening is that I saw folks in the comments of the AI-labeled post sorta blinking and looking around, as though coming awake from a foggy dream. They’re beginning to question what they see. Not everybody has yet caught on to the little AI info flag, as it’s pale and sorta wishy-washy, almost as though Meta is hoping it’ll be overlooked altogether. But some are, and they’re speaking up, letting it be known that they don’t appreciate being fooled by sentimental bot-written captions and bad AI hallucinations.

The problem isn’t solved, but it’s certainly a start.

Because the overwhelming truth coming in is: people crave seeing real, authentic stuff that exists, you know, somewhere in the world instead of a fantasy birthed from a data center that’s guzzling water by the gallon.

Welp, that’s it for now, but I’ll be back soon.

Do take a special early bird browse at the shop and use the Substack-only discount code SummerSubstackBlitz at checkout to lop 25% off those listed prices.

Wish me luck in my travels…who knows, maybe I’ll even find you a few cool vintage pieces? Until then, a girl can dream.

—J.

For today’s perusal, I have sneak peek of six vintage bangers dating from the 1940s to the 1970s. As ever, these new pieces will land right here, tomorrow, Tuesday June 23 at 12:30PM PST. Set an alarm reminder or roll by IG/FB to click our official Countdown Clock.

Ready? Let’s take a gander!

Vintage 1930s sheer lace summer goth with deco seams, darkly angelic split-cape sleeves, and buttons traveling to mid-skirt. This beauty is a redingote, a nifty word to throw into your next Scrabble game.

What’s a redingote, you might ask? This fancy dress jacket is said to have evolved originally from historical riding coat designs. It was usually designed to open down the front, offering an elegant peek at a coordinating gown or slip underneath. The effect was a cohesive, sophisticated, and flattering look that also was more than a little flirtatious. Nowadays, it makes for a great dress or duster that you can layer as you please.

This black redingote’s a true volup/size XL.

Note: I get a lot of requests for this more elusive size, and I sure wish I could shimmy my way through a time portal into the past to gather up even more to share with you. Until then, I’ll have to keep hunting the opportunities available in 2026. I’m always looking to present the most inclusive size range possible.

Super cute cusper 1940s to 1950s plaid chambray + waffle pique cotton sundress by Teena Paige, a label known for stylish fashions targeting teens and younger women.

But wait…

A matching topper! If you’ve followed me a while, you know I luuuuuurve a good set.

This one’s about an XS to small.

Bonkers-amazing ca. late 1960s to early 1970s maxi skirt in that cool textured nylon barkcloth fabric that took to the era’s DayGlo dyes perfectly! Ultra-high waistband with butterflies, echoed again in the large-scale print below.

I believe this is an unlabeled Young Edwardian, as there are examples in other colorways floating around.

A summer scorcher if I’ve ever seen one. About a medium.

Vintage ca. 1940s to 1950s cusper pure cotton sundress in a chartreuse, purple, and red print that reminds me of Fruit Stripe gum (RIP!). Coat dress style with all its red celluloid + rhinestone buttons still intact.

About a small.

Sassy vintage ca. 1950s sundress in the softest black cotton with an olive green “patchwork” print…meant to look like repairs on hickory stripe fabric. Matching buttons + contrast trim at the waist.

About a size large.

Last but not least, can you believe we’ve got another deadstock World War II-era dress?? This time, a rayon crepe in a highly coveted olive green hue printed with ivory flowers caught up in romantic bows.

Much like the two previous deadstock with tags war-era dresses we sold recently, this one comes with a dated March 1942 “ceiling price” tag. You can read more about this labeling phenomenon in my previous newsletter article right here, “The $3.80 Legal Mandate: A WWII Mystery Solved.”

This frock has an adorable plastic side button placket instead of a metal zipper, having been produced when this resource was strictly rationed. Manufacturers reduced zipper sizes and lengths to help conserve materials like brass and aluminum, and consumers were encouraged to salvage metal zippers from old clothing to reuse them in their sewing projects. Metals were shuttled over to build ships, tanks, and aircraft, as well as to manufacture weapons and munitions.

I gotta say — this unworn WW2-era dress really plucks my heartstrings, so you’ll have to move fast on it before I change my mind! About a size medium.

Don’t forget, this fabulous group of six will debut right here, tomorrow, Tuesday June 23 at 12:30PM PST.

You can visit this link early to see what other stuff we have up for grabs currently, and nab something special.

Also…keep your eye peeled for something cool for subscribers only, coming in the next newsletter. If you aren’t subscribed…what’re you waiting for? It’s easy, it’s fun, and you’ll be entered automatically into our upcoming raffle for the killer discontinued Taschen book shown in this issue.

—J.

PS Got another pledge for the future paid tier — thank you, thank you! I’m incredibly grateful for these votes of confidence. It takes time and work to pull these newsletters together (more than you’d think, ha ha). Joining at this level is like buying me one fancycoffee a month.

There are other ways to support, too. If you have any questions or vintage-adjacent topics and ideas you’d like explored, do drop a comment or shoot me a message. I have almost 30 years of online vintage fashion-slinging expertise and have managed to stay relevant, active, and busy in 2026. Interaction here helps me plot out the next thing I’d like to deep-dive.

Admission:

I find old knitwear and crochet pieces verrrry difficult to resist. Imagine the hours, skill, and dedication it took someone, somewhere, way back in time?

So when this peachy-pink beauty crossed my path — complete with blown-out sleeve elastic that needed to be replaced — I said yes very quickly! The repeating crocheted pattern reminds me of full sails on a windy day. This particular pink color is often found in the slips and lingerie of the era, a sexy wink of a hue.

Vintage late 1930s, early 1940s with that shapely silhouette + dramatic balloon sleeves.

About a modern size small to medium, quite stretchy and suits many figures..

Fabulous vintage early to mid 1970s jersey-knit jumpsuit in shades of blue, rust, pink with a wild mod psychedelia print. Flutter sleeves, wide banded waist, wide legs.

About a modern size small.

Vintage late 1940s sundress in a deep rose pink cotton with white trim + novelty ship’s wheel print. (I love finding a swashbuckling, high-seas motif!). Wide straps, princess seams, and flirty 4-gore skirt with side pocket. This one is mildly as-is and will have a great price, a sturdy and guilt-free summer run-around number.

About a size large to xl (waist 32”/tight 34”).

Dreamy vintage late 1940s, early 1950s ballet slipper pink shirtwaist in lace + tulle over acetate. Shoulder pads, self buttons, turn back winged sleeves, matching belt, sweeping layered skirt. Features a nifty dyed-to-match Waldes brand Kover Zipper up one side…the only fabric-covered metal zipper available at that time, according to their ads.

About a modern size medium.

Vintage 1950s pale blue print cotton sundress with cheerful proto-Mod flowers + jaunty ties at the neckline to form an adorable bow.

About a modern size small.

Cutest little vintage 1960s sports dress with tangerine + lavender tennis rackets and tennis balls. I always struggle with photographing dresses this pale within my north-facing studio with its “moody” light and shadows, so I’ll provide some flat lays in a different room using my iPhone, as well.

About a size medium to large.

I have a couple different summer trips coming up out of state. So that means some special promo opportunities will be heading your way. If you subscribe to this newsletter, you’ll get extra perks I know you won’t want to miss.

Now I absolutely don’t mind if you read these newsletters directly from the links I share online. But why not subscribe and take advantage of the goodies only those on the “inside” get, as well as access to interesting opinion pieces and early peeks at everything? You have the option to read and comment this newsletter on the Substack app or just open it in your inbox…easy-peasy.

We only need 30 more subscribers as of this writing, and we’ll unlock my first-ever raffle and giveaway! Drop back an issue to see what you could win…

Subscribe now

Also, don’t forget! The above previewed dresses will land right here, tomorrow, Friday June 19 at 12:30PM PST. Stuff can go fast sometimes. You get a running start by signing up for an account on the Jumblelaya website ahead of time.

That’s all for the mo’…but plenty next week, including a collection peek you won’t want to miss.

—J.

Let’s get goin’, yeah?

Vintage 1950s exquisite hydrangea print chiffon, layered over violet acetate + tulle. All the bells and whistles: cleverly “woven” neckline treatment, rhinestone studs, flattering princess seams, super full skirt.

I showed this beautiful dress on my IG Story a few weekends back, plucked from a Portland garage sale. I bought it from the original owner, who told me about wearing this baby for a Mardi Gras ball in 1959.

About a size small to medium.

Vintage early 1960s Carol Brent organdy dress fully embroidered in olive + lemon + white daisies. Trimmed in butcher linen + featuring original sash belt to nip tight.

About a size medium to large.

Fabulous vintage 1980s Robbie Bee pure cotton sundress with a zingy blue ground covered in a gorgeous rose + daisy print of pink, red, violet, teal, yellow. Wide straps that can be spread apart as shown or worn more pleated, princess seams, shirtwaist bodice, sash to belt in the rear, super full skirt.

An excellent example from back when high-quality USA-made brands were still a common thing.

About a size medium to large; waist is roomy and is intended to be nipped down by the sash to fit.

Vintage 1950s William Morris style tulip print cotton shirtwaist dress. This one is special in at least two ways!

First:

Art glass faux opal buttons in multiple colors! Smaller versions are even used to highlight this dress’s smart design. Amazingly, all are still present and attached after nearly 70 years out in the world.

Next cool thing:

(Sorry for my giganto hand.) Pockets! Each pocket is actually TWO pockets crowned with “opal” glass buttons.

This dress. Oh my, this dress.

I probably paid too much for it. But it had me in such an immediate chokehold, I had to bring it home.

Vintage 1950s pure cotton daisy bed + lazy river print, done in the best colors: turquoise, hot pink, black, white, olive green, violet… Shirtwaist style with crystalline buttons, original matching turquoise vinyl belt with dangly-dangles on the tips, sweeping pleated skirt.

Superb!

About a size medium to large.

Vintage ca. 1940s midi dress in rayon (the cotton-y kind I love, with an airy drape & sway to it)s. Gorgeous blue-grey hue with roses in tropical brights: acid green, orange juice, sunny yellow, volcano red. Inverted V-waist + flowy soft pleats. I don’t run across too many sleeveless 40s day dresses. And with the current scorcher we’re having in the Portland area, I’m so here for this sun-kissed (and religiously SPF’d) skin-show!

About a size small to medium.

The above beauts will hit Jumblelaya tomorrow — right here, Tuesday June 16 at 12:30PM PST.

You can also click the above link early if you like to check out other gorgeous stuff already available. Some of you took my advice last issue to dig more deeply past the first few pages, bravely exploring the mysterious Jumblelaya Backrooms, and you rewarded yourself with some true treasure plucked from these shadowy, liminal spaces. Thank you!

Now that we have previews behind us, let’s take a gander at the P R I Z E up for grabs in my upcoming raffle.

This particular Taschen is big and chonky, like a doorstop, and it’s chock full of fascinating vintage fashion ads that span the last century — one for every day of the year. Behold:

This hardback big boi is out-of-print, too. It looks loud and proud displayed artfully on a coffee table or burgeoning bookshelf. The drawing will happen after we hit 365 subscribers. We’re closing in on that goal — not too shabby for a newer Substack!

It’s free to join my human-powered newsletter. You can read right in your inbox on your device or on the handy Substack app. I try to keep it to 1-2x a week so as not to spam you, and pack it with some extra vintage insider info you won’t find elsewhere.

There’s even a (future) paid tier you’re welcome to pledge, if you’d like to support the work and love that goes into each issue with a little extra.

I appreciate each and every one of you!

—J.