Spring Makeover!

Beautiful Things, Color, Progress, Style, Windows

The weather outside may still be frightful, but it’s looking more and more delightful inside Petrune Ithaca!

We took advantage of the Presidents’ Day weekend to do a massive spruce-up, changing out clothes, refreshing displays, and topping everything off with a new coat of paint.

The store is bright and cheerful in oh-so-springy colors like robin’s egg blue, grass green, and bubblegum pink!

Now we just have to wait for Mother Nature to catch up…

P.S. Don’t forget the Grand Opening of Petrune Brooklyn this Saturday, Feb. 22, at 5pm at our brand-new Park Slope location, 233 5th Avenue!

Holiday Gift Guide Part Four: Leather Goods from ILI

Beautiful Things, Color, Gift, Lovely Materials, Style

Kids might be excited by an oversized present under the tree—maybe it’s a build-your-own-Death-Star kit, or one of those creepy three-foot-tall Barbies—but adults know that the best gifts come in small boxes. Supple, brightly-colored leather goods from ILI are no exception. We love this brand year-round, but there’s no better occasion than the holidays to snap up an ILI wallet. With a variety of styles ranging from a compact cardholder to an elegant pocketbook, a passport cover, and a zip coin purse, ILI has something that will please any leather-lover on your list. What’s more, wallets and pocketbooks come in festive red-and-gold or black-and-gold boxes, making gifting them even easier.

In addition to wallets, we are happy to carry ILI leather gloves in sizes Small through XL and in three shades—bright red, burgundy, and black. Nothing combines chic and warmth quite like leather gloves! We also have a few purses, in case you fall in love with ILI leather and want to size up!

Happy gifting, and stay tuned for more holiday gift guides from Petrune!

 

Holiday Gift Guide Part Three: Web Shopping Edition

1950-1960, 1960-1970, Beautiful Things, Gift, Petrunia, Style

Cyber Monday may have come and gone, but you don’t have to give up on holiday shopping without leaving your chair—yes, even for vintage clothes!

There are two ways to shop Petrune online: our Etsy shop features vintage items that are particularly delicate, high quality, and/or one-of-a-kind. And our Petrunia shop lets you peruse the offerings from all four collections of our own vintage-inspired clothing line. We ship from both sites at very reasonable rates, so there’s no reason to leave the far-flung vintage lovers in your life out in the cold! (And of course, if you’re local, you can come into the store and ask to see anything you’ve spotted online.)

Here’s a quick side-by-side sampling of some of the pieces on offer.

First, two beautiful faux leopard coats, one from the 50s, the other 60s-inspired:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second, two full-skirted party dresses in iridescent blue, one classically feminine, the other with modern, flirty touches of black:

 

Can you guess which are new and which are Petrunia? (Probably; luckily that’s not the point.) Happy shopping, and stay tuned for more gift guides! If you missed the two previous installments, check them out here and here.

 

 

Introducing the Fall/Winter 2013 Petrunia Collection

Art Show, Beautiful Things, Petrunia, Publicity, Special Events, Style

This is the third collection from Petrunia, and we think it’s our strongest yet. Each collection has built on the one before; for Fall/Winter 2013, for instance, in addition to brand-new styles, we’re bringing back classic cuts from previous collections—like the Grace’s knit bodice and full skirt, and the belted shirtwaist shape of the Margaret—in new colors and prints. The result is a collection that stands on its own, but also adds to the overall vision. Below images are from Dramatic to Demure: A Fashion Show at the Trumansburg Conservatory of Fine Arts this past month where we showed off the Fall/Winter 2013 collection!

Take the High Tea Floral print. Normally we associate florals with spring, but this Asian-inspired motif of windswept chrysanthemum blossoms on a black background is decidedly autumnal. We loved this print so much that we used it on three different dresses: the Grace, the Margaret, and a brand-new style called the Zelda, a long-sleeved knee-length dress cut on the bias so it hugs your figure.

Another new style we’re especially proud of is the Louisa: in burgundy or black, the Louisa’s simple, softly gathered shape keeps the focus on the gorgeous folk-inspired embroidery at the cuffs and down the front of the bodice.

Both the High Tea Floral print and the embroidery on the Louisa dress were inspired by vintage 1940s items, so why not wear them under this season’s Tweed Twirl coat, also 40s-inspired? Its elegant combination of fitted bodice (with cloth-covered buttons!) and full, swirling skirt needs to be seen in action to be believed.

The full collection is in the store now, so we invite you to come see (and feel, and try on) for yourself at Petrune or shop on our online store

Off the Rack & Up the Wall

Beautiful Things, Color, Style

Ask any vintage store owner what’s the hardest thing to display, and we bet they’ll say purses and hats. Unless you have a neverending supply of mannequins, there are very few places to perch a hat that look natural. And those darling purses that you can imagine a 50s starlet carrying to a premiere tend to fall flat (literally and figuratively) when laid on a shelf.

But we love to show off our accessories—a hat can add instant vintage flair to an outfit, and unlike those frustratingly tiny vintage shoes, purses are one-size-fits-all. What to do?

One answer is this funky-looking contraption at the front of the store. Each hat sits on a spring, so all you have to do is pull the corresponding string, and the desired hat will bounce right into your hand.

And if you make your way to the back of the store, you’ll notice that what used to be empty wall space has been turned into vertical displays of purses and hats:

Unlike creeping vines, which can ruin a garden, creeping purses should be encouraged to climb all the way to the ceiling.

 

Pluck a hat off our hat wall and make it the cherry on top of your outfit!

With a little three-dimensional thinking, we’ve lifted–literally!–some of our best accessories out of boringness and into the spotlight where they belong.

Great Gift Ideas at Petrune: Man Gifts!

Beautiful Things, Color, Gift, Handmade, Ithacans, Lovely Materials

Conventional wisdom says that men are harder to shop for than women.  Look around a department store at holiday time, and it seems true  — the women’s section overflows with glittery, jewel-toned, and sumptuously soft offerings, while in the men’s there’s just bathrobes, slippers, and of course, neckties.  Well, we’re pretty sure men get just as much of a thrill from receiving a thoughtful gift as women do, so it should be just as easy to find that perfect present.  We hereby offer this assortment of guaranteed-to-please gifts for the men in your life, from your stylish sweetie to your … less-fashion-conscious dad.

First, socks from B.ella.  Now, we know what you’re thinking — aren’t socks just as bad as ties when it comes to uninspired men’s gifts?  All we can say is…have you worn these socks? B.ella makes cashmere-blend socks that are reasonably priced, warm, and stylish!  Plus they’re long enough to prevent the dreaded cold strip of calf between sock and pant leg…guys know what we’re talking about.

Second, leather gloves from iLi.  These hit the sweet spot of men’s gifts, blending rugged practicality and sophistication.  We also love their wallets and passport covers, for your man-on-the-go.  And if the buttery softness of iLi’s leather tempts you to be your own Santa, we carry their women’s gloves too.

Third, every man needs at least one pair of cufflinks (if he’s an old-fashioned type or goes to lots of Great Gatsby parties, he may need more than one).  And we guarantee he won’t have cufflinks like these—our co-owner Justin makes them from old typewriter keys!  At $18 a pair, they’d make a great centerpiece for a letter-themed gift for the writer or typography nerd in your life.

Fourth, what about an album by your guy’s favorite defunct band?  We do have a healthy assortment of both classic and eccentric titles, from David Bowie to Rick James.  Old records will never break the bank , so even if he doesn’t have a record player, your guy will appreciate a beautiful album as a piece of art…or laugh so loud at a tacky one that you’ll know you won Christmas.

Fifth, bow ties! We are now carrying these whimsical  bow ties from Cotton Bow Tie Co. They are handmade locally from an array of patterned vintage cottons. With such beautiful packaging as well…. Who could say no?!

Finally, what kind of vintage store would we be if we didn’t remind you that vintage clothes make the easiest one-of-a-kind gifts of all?  We have classic menswear, from Italian loafers to cowboy boots, from Pendleton button-ups to cashmere overcoats to goofy t-shirts.  Stop by the store or check out our online store, and remember that at the holidays, it’s better to give than to receive…but it’s ok to do both.

Great Gift Ideas at Petrune : Qtoo

Beautiful Things, Gift, Handmade, Style

Q. Cassetti’s Etsy shop Qtoo promises “the pretty, the teeny, the creepy & the odd,” and we thought that sounded just right for Petrune!  We’re thrilled to be selling Q’s adorable food-themed jewelry, which includes such irresistible treats as a fruit-and-cheese-platter brooch, a chocolate-cake bracelet, and a pendant that looks so much like a dozen tiny glazed doughnuts that it’ll make your mouth water.  They’re affordably priced, too, from $16 for a bitty cupcake ring to $35 for an elaborate bracelet made of nine different plates.

Multi-talented in multi-media, Q also makes beautiful sets of holiday cards in two different designs.  Her extra-long cards feature either a doleful dachshund wrapped with a red ribbon, or three stylized arrangements of flowers.

Check out more of Q’s distinctive designs at Petrune this holiday season!

Falling in Love with Fall

1970-1980, Beautiful Things, Handmade, Lovely Materials, Style, Windows

After a warm September and October, then Sandy making a quick pit-stop in Ithaca, fall has finally fallen! Here at Petrune, we are adoring the autumnal hues and wearing all things cozy! Instead of the Love Story between Oliver and Jennifer… It is  between Petrune and Fall! Falling in love with fall never means having to say you’re sorry… For compromising on the cutest sweater of course!

Here are a few fun shots of our latest window display and some of our favorite fall pieces in the shop!

Stay warm with these beautiful hand-knit wool and alpaca snoods! On your neck or worn as a hood, they''ll keep you toasty!

B.ella Socks and Stocking have been a hit at Petrune for years! Whether as a gift or for yourself... Warm feet cannot be beat!

Always a classic! Our constantly rotating selection of vintage sweaters are sure to please all!

A Fierce Halloween at Petrune!

1920-1930, 1930-1940, 1990-present, Beautiful Things, Petrunia, Windows

Halloween once again has come to Petrune! It is one of our favorite times of year… Since the sparkles, sequins, and fun costumes are adding such punch to our racks!

This year instead of taking the spooky route, we decided to make a ferociously fashionable lion tamer window! The lion tamer outfit is comprised of all vintage pieces, largely from the 1930s, and completed with a lovely 1920s top hat. The lion is our own Petrunia Faux Leopard Jacket.

We have many more amazing costumes and pieces for sale, and also available to rent. For only 25% of the retail price, you can rent any piece of clothing here at Petrune for a full week! Come on down for a total unique Halloween costume!

Mathea Millman for Petrune

1960-1970, 1990-present, Beautiful Things, Ithacans, Publicity, Uncategorized

In Ithaca we are  lucky to have so many talented students with a passion towards vintage clothing. This past month aspiring fashion photographer,  Mathea Millman did a photo project that modernly presented Petrune’s timeless collection of clothing. She incorporated pieces from both our vintage-inspired and pure vintage collection in this incredible field shoot.

To see more pictures of this stunning shoot as well as many other inspiring images, be sure to check out Mathea Millman’s blog, Up and Coming.