Comments on: Where can I get an amazing retro dress?

Question: Where can I get an amazing retro dress?

k8t — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 05:56:22 -0800

My university is having a prom / formal dance for grad students. (woot) Where can I (and my friends) get AWESOME retro ironic dresses? We'll check out the local thrift shops, but any websites that you know of that sell vintage '80s dresses for cheap? Link to event.

By: methylsalicylate

methylsalicylate — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:06:08 -0800

Checking eBay for Gunne Sax should hit right in the heart of anything from 1979 farm girl fantasy to 1986 permed hair-and-lame goodness.

By: methylsalicylate

methylsalicylate — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:08:04 -0800

...please say one of you will wear this (preferably with sheer black stockings and frosted highlights).

By: k8t

k8t — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:17:55 -0800

Related, anyone know the formal name for the dresses that were crinkly spandex and then poofed out at the bottom.

By: methylsalicylate

methylsalicylate — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:35:22 -0800

Poofed like a balloon skirt or poofed like a tiered skirt?

By: methylsalicylate

methylsalicylate — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:43:21 -0800

(If you mean like a balloon, we called them bubble dresses and eBay also seems to. Wow, you can get both balloon and tiers together! This question makes me want this dress so hard.)

By: chunking express

chunking express — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:25:41 -0800

Vintage stores like Value Village are probably a good bet.

By: houseofdanie

houseofdanie — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 07:26:21 -0800

Oh, this brings back such memories.

k8t, I think you're referring to the mermaid dress. Back in the day, the term did indeed refer to the shimmering, crinkly tight-and-then-POOF! style, but the word's still used for a lot of different fit and flare styles.

By: Mr. Gunn

Mr. Gunn — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 08:02:46 -0800

Metro Three. Home of the "Make Levees not War" T-Shirts and other fine retro goodness.

By: philomathoholic

philomathoholic — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:20:33 -0800

Mr Gunn: Your "Make Levees not War" link doesn't go where you might think it goes. Unless Natalie Portman was wearing one of their shirts?