Vintage Reveries is Getting a Fresh Look!
We’re pivoting from a shop catalog to a dedicated vintage archive, blog, and showcase.
5-Star Vintage, No Matter Where You Click.
I am currently behind-the-scenes converting this site from a shop to a fast-loading digital archive and blog (which it started out as in 2011)!
Feel free to explore the latest blog posts, genealogy research guides, and history articles below while we finish updating our layouts!
Vintage Fashion History & Articles
Vintage 1970s Jolie Femme Black & White Diagonal Stripe Dress
Step into the polished sophistication of the 1970s with this Jolie Femme black and white diagonal stripe dress. Featuring a flattering chevron-striped waist, a notched lapel collar, and cuffed three-quarter sleeves, this fully lined, lightweight polyester dress effortlessly balances vintage elegance and versatility. In excellent condition, this timeless piece is perfect for creating standout retro-inspired looks.
Measurements (flat):
- Length: 40″
- Bust: 21″ (42″ total)
- Waist: 17″ (34″ total)
- Hips: 20″ (40″ total)
- Sleeve Length: 20″
Chapter IV: “The Sites” — Where My Family Tree Starts Folding Back on Itself
Chapter IV of Our Seven Children explores the Sites family of Bourbon, Missouri, tracing their journey from West Virginia to rural Missouri and the tangled connections between the Sites, Allen, Blanton, and Pratt families. For me, this chapter opens a fascinating genealogical rabbit hole involving cousin marriages, DNA discoveries, and a possible connection between my maternal and paternal family trees. Along the way, Reverend Sam Bohnenkamp preserves remarkable stories of pioneer life, homesteading, family tragedies, and the people who shaped rural Missouri.
A turn of the century Swedish Girl, German turn of the century photos, & random
This post explores a small but rich collection of vintage images: baby cabinet cards from German studios like Emil Tiedemann and Thiele, a New York portrait by J. Gurney & Son, and a Milwaukee photo by Hugo Broichl—plus later snapshots from the 1950s. Together they trace how families in Sweden, Germany, and the United States used studio portraits and early cameras to capture fleeting moments of childhood and identity at a time when every photograph was planned, precious, and meant to last.
1892 Delineator Fashion Culture Fine Arts Magazine Cover
I scanned the 1892 Winter Holiday issue of The Delineator - a Journal of Fashion, Culture, and Fine Arts. Here is the cover of the magazine... more to be posted here! The high resolution, unwatermarked scans are available for sale - just ask me!
Vintage 90s Gunne Sax Black Crushed Velvet Dress White Lace Goth Grunge Rayon XS S
A moody masterpiece from the early 1990s. This Gunne Sax rayon velvet slip dress features striking white lace and a silhouette that screams “vampire slayer goes to prom.”
Measurements (Flat):
Bust: 30 inches (Fits very petite/narrow bust)
Waist: 27 inches
Hips: 36 inches
Length: 43 inches (Shoulder to hem)
Random Old Slides
These were in with the World War 2 loving couple set... I don't think they belong. Still, they're reminiscent of a previous time... ilke when when boats had flair. Maybe the 1960s? I am not sure what kind of boat this is, nor the model of Navy military plane. These...
Cabinet Cards of Young Men, Children, and Couples
Here are the rest of the 1800s cabinet cards I digitized for the Carondelet Historical Society. I really like the young lady wearing a hat, as shot by Polensky of Milwaukee Ave., Chicago. That photo, of any, gives me some ideas on historical re-creation. The background is so cool, and could probably be made into a photoshop texture or something!
Vintage 1989 R.E.M. Green World Tour Local Crew T-Shirt: A Piece of St. Louis Concert History
This original 1989 R.E.M. Green World Tour Local Crew T-shirt came from the collection of a St. Louis IATSE stagehand who worked local concerts during the era. I saved it from being thrown away more than a decade ago, carried it through several moves, and am finally documenting and releasing it through Vintage Reveries. Explore the history of R.E.M.’s March 3, 1989 St. Louis Arena concert, the Green World Tour, and the stagehands who helped make the show happen.
Décolletage, dots, Types of dresses, and other fashion definitions
These pages contain many useful fashion terms and definitions! Illustrated is a directoire costume, Dolly Verde Costume (1870), different types of dots (differentiating between those applied chemically, woven, or embroidered), and more.
1920s mens and boys clothing ads: Knickerbockers, hats, trousers and more!
Uncover what men and boys wore in the roaring 1920s with these vintage advertisements from the 1924 St. Louis Fashion Pageant! From knickerbockers and tailored trousers to adjustable hats and unique accessories, these old magazine scans highlight the stylish trends and innovative designs that defined the fashion of the era. Explore 5 pages of historic ads showcasing brands like Harris-Polk Hat Co, Apple Hat Manufacturing Company, and Masterbilt trousers by H. Siegfried & Sons—a true glimpse into the past!
Vintage 1992 Def Leppard 7 Day Weekend Tour Local Crew T-Shirt | Rare 90s Giant Tag XL
This original 1992-1993 Def Leppard Seven Day Weekend Local Crew T-shirt has a personal connection to St. Louis rock history. Rescued from being thrown away over a decade ago, it belonged to my ex-boyfriend, who worked local concerts in St. Louis. Discover the history behind Def Leppard’s tour stops at the St. Louis Arena and Riverport, what makes authentic crew shirts special, and why I’m finally releasing this piece of backstage history from my Vintage Reveries collection.
Old Sinclair Gas Station Photos
These captivating photos of a Sinclair Gas Station from the late 1930s offer a nostalgic look at America’s automobile culture. With gas priced at just 18 cents per gallon, the station advertised services like tire vulcanizing, auto storage for $1 per week, and even carried Pond’s skin cream. Discovered on 1960s slides, these images preserve the charm of vintage Sinclair branding, complete with its iconic dinosaur logo, and highlight the significance of gas stations as community and travel hubs during this transformative era.