Toronto Vintage Society: Damzels

Showing posts with label Damzels. Show all posts

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Your VINTAGE WEEKEND Roundup! Oct 16-19!

Who says we start to hibernate when the weather cold?

This weekend's line up looks like Toronto is just getting started!

THURSDAY, Oct 16th:
5pm – Bourbon Thursdays with Live Jazz at Jump
6pm – Hookerson-Blough Auction at mrs. huizenga
6pm – The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) at Revue Cinema
8pm – Live Blues and Dancing: The Conor Gains Band at Monarchs Pub
8pm – Plenty-A-Jazz Age Carnival at House of Moments
8pm – Rocky Horror Cabaret at Lower Ossington Theatre
8pm - Doll Factory by Damzels 20th Anniversary Gala (pre-RSVP only) atGallery 345
9pm – Miz Debbie and the Don Valley Stompers at Grossmans
10p – THE PEPTIDES at Supermrkt
10pm – Vinyl Rock n Roll with Dj Viv at Sweaty Betty’s

FRIDAY, Oct 17th:
6pm - Ronnie Hayward (rockabilly/county) at Castro's Lounge
6pm – Rockabilly with DJ Catwoman 100.3FM
7.3p – Fort York After Dark Lantern Tour at Fort York National Historic Site
8pm – Rocky Horror Cabaret at Lower Ossington Theatre
9pm - Record Party (50s-70s) at Castro's Lounge
9pm – Retro Replay Friday (gaming) at Back Space Toronto
9pm – Toronto Blues Dances: 3rd Friday Dance at Dovercourt House
9.3p – Fort York After Dark Lantern Tour at Fort York

SATURDAY, Oct 18th:
11a – Uber Swap: Used and Vintage Clothing Swap at Queen St E Presbyterian Church
12:3p - Great Canadian Burlesque: Burslesque Brunch – Halloween Teaser at120 Diner
3pm - Vinyl from the Crypt 89.5FM
4pm - Happy Pals (jazz) at Grossman's Tavern
4.3p – Big Rude Jake (rockabilly/blues) at Castro’s Lounge
7pm – Sat Night Swing: Melissa Lauren Swing Band at Dovercourt House
8pm – Rocky Horror Cabaret at Lower Ossington Theatre
9pm - The Millwinders at The Dakota Tavern
9pm – Oldies Dance (50s) at Legends on Queensway
10p - Shake, Rattle and Roll (50s/60s) with guest DJ Misty at Clintons
10p - Shake-A-Tail (50s/60s) at Sneaky Dee's

SUNDAY, Oct 19th:
6am - Sunday Antique Market at St Lawrence Market
10a - The Leslieville Flea at Ashbridge Estate
12p - Toast to Autumn with The Ole Fashion and The Dreamboats [50s/60s Pop & Rock] at Lithuanian House
1pm – The Great War Tea at Montgomery's Inn
3pm – Bees' Knees Dance: October Tease at Trinity St-Paul's Centre
4pm - New Orleans Connection All Stars (big band/jazz) at Grossman's Tavern
4pm – Ronnie Hayward Trio at The Duke Live.com
4pm – Country Sunday: Songs of George Jones with members of The Royal Crowns , Tennessee Voodoo Coupe, Millwinders and more at Cadillac Lounge
6pm – Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) (classic film meetup) at Imperial Pub
8:3p - Skin Tight Outta Sight! Rebel Burlesque and Great Canadian Burlesque: Grindhouse Ghoulies at Revival Bar
9pm - Watch This Sound (rare vintage vinyl) at Castro's Lounge
9pm - Sinful Sundays at Cherry Cola's
10pm - Toronto Blues Dances: DJ Workshop Dance at Imperial Pub

NOTABLE OUTER GTA:
Sat, Oct 18 & Sun, Oct 19th 10am – Port Perry Antique and Nostalgia Show at 160 Rosa St
Sat, Oct 18 - The Greasemarks at Jimmy Jazz (Guelph)

As always...please forward on any other event information!

#myvintageTO #TorontVintageSociety #Toronto #TO #vintage #retro #antiques #40s #50s #60s #70s #80s #rockabilly #country #burlesque #pinup #jazz #bigband #blues #RocknRoll #swing #fortyork #heritage #lindyhop #shopping #ww1 #greatwar #halloween #oldiesdance

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Damzels celebrate 20 Years!

DAMZELS have been helping us
celebrate our inner Pin Up
girl for 20 Years!

The Damzels themselves!

That is 20 years of of designing and procuring women's clothing for alt/vintage/pin up/rockabilly/repro scene. Not only has their presence helped to solidify a place for us in Toronto, but they have given back to their alt/cult community time and time again.

Before opening retail stores in Leslieville and Roncesvalles, The Damzels sold their dress brand wholesale to boutiques. Damzels in this Dress; designed by Kelly Freeman and Rory Lindo, were a vintage/rock n roll inspired dress label. Their dresses were sold across Canada, the US, and internationally. Damzels collections have been shown during Toronto Fashion Week, featured on Fashion Television, Canada's Next Top Model and Much Music.

Damzels - past and present!

The brick and mortar gave them a chance to build their house brand but also bring great clothing, shoe and kitsch brands to Toronto. Why pay for shipping when you can get brands like Pin Up Girl Clothing, and Trashy Diva right around the corner...while you are at it - pick up some fab shoes, accessories and cheeky gift items all in one shopping trip!!

Girlie and Kitschy greatness!

The accessibility to these unique brands, allows us to live and breathe this unique style daily! Damzels also gives the "curious" a chance to dress up and add a little sass to their lives.

Some of their amazing (and loyal) clientele!

You would think that running 2 stores and an international online business would keep them to busy to breathe...well Kelly and Rory never cease to amaze with their in-store events that help keep that cult community strong. Their Back Lot Bonanzas, Beat Caves and Seasonal Extravaganzas give their clients, friends and fans a chance to celebrate what they've built on an intimate level.

Everyone should attend a Damzels event at least once in their life!

The Damzels let us get to know them...and if you have been lucky to meet these great, energetic, generous and often wacky ladies...then you will see why everything they have built is so infectious. They are are as lovely and unique as the brand and community they have built.

Kelly and Rory!

We sat down with Kelly and Rory to asked them a couple questions about turning 20:

1. How did you meet and how did Damzels get started?

We met in the fashion program at George Brown College Kensington Campus in 1991. We had sewing machines next to each other and shared the same taste in rock n’ roll, vintage clothing and beer! In 1993, we started buying rolls of fabric together and making clothing that we would sell at outdoor festivals, craft fairs…even a Medieval Festival (yes, when we went vintage we went really vintage like 1500’s ) We started building a following of gals that would come out specifically to buy our dresses. Next thing we knew we were getting orders from local clothing stores so we decided to open our first design studio on Spadina and the birth of Damzels in this Dress in 1994.

2. What did the "scene" look like when Damzels got started?

That was 1994! Grunge, rave, glam, it was all part of the scene at that time.

However, around ‘96 we started Lindy Hop lessons and it became a way of life for us for several years. Our line had always been inspired by the past, and we fell in love with the fashions of the 30’,40’s and 50’s while part of the dance community. We were very fortunate because at that time the originator of swing dance, Frankie Manning, and his dance partner the “Queen of Swing” Norma Miller were regularly apart of Lindy Hop workshops that we attended. It was an incredible and special experience to get the opportunity to learn from the folks that basically invented the dance.

Pretty crazy because at the same time, the bright shabby chic of rave culture was in full force, so it was a fun challenge to try and incorporate our love of vintage into the mid 90’s mayhem of wide leg pants and soother necklaces.

3. How does vintage inspire what you choose for your stores?

Our passion is being able to bring modernity to vintage styling. We love mixing periods to make something fresh and fun. Ultimately, we’re looking for styles that are going to be flattering on women of all shapes and sizes, and the vintage aesthetic fits the bill. Our brand specializes in dresses because we love the simplicity of being able to put on a single garment, and look great from head to toe effortlessly.

4. What has changed for Damzels over the last 20 years?

We opened our retail shops Doll Factory by Damzels in 2006 and now only produce the Damzels label for our stores instead of selling wholesale to other retailers. This gives us the opportunity to do small, unique runs, really get to know our customer base, and offer something that is exclusive to our locations.

5. What is up next for Damzels?

More dresses, more parties, more rock n’ roll!

This picture of Kelly kinda sums it up!

Join in the 20th Anniversary celebration in-store on Thursday, October 23rd at Damzels East or Damzels West and enjoy 20% off your purchase from 11am to 9pm. Treats to be served after 6pm.

You can also submit a picture of you wearing Damzels (the older the better) to their Facebook page #Damzels20th

...AND if you were lucky enough to RSVP in time for their GALA event...then we will see you there!

#Damzels #Damzels20th #DollFactorybyDamzels

#HappyAnniversary

A Damzels timeline of awesome!

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

TIKI LANI LANAI pictures - TEASER!

Words can barely express the amazing thing that happened last weekend at our TIKI LANI LANI party at the Cadillac Lounge.

The vintage community, despite all their diverse and specific interests came out in colourful droves to celebrate with us.

We want to THANK - everyone who attended, everyone who couldn't make it and everyone who loves vintage - for helping us to make a place in Toronto for the vintage lifestyle.

We could wait for all our pictures to come in....BUT the Labour Day Long weekend is fast approaching...and it is an unfortunate signal of the fall season to come.

So perhaps we can collectively *sigh* together while we revel in all the colourful glory we brought to the world!