Heart of Haute Blog

Matching mother and daughter (and even entire family) outfits were once common. They were particularly popular in the 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and through the 1970s. Celebrity moms showed off their daughters in matching dresses, and the image was seen often in ads.

Patterns for matching outfits that you could sew or knit were available everywhere. I imagine that part of this was convenience; if you are buying the fabric or yarn for one garment, why not get just a little more and make two? Or, perhaps daughter's outfit was made from the fabric leftover from mom's. Why did this go out of style? It could be the fact that few people sew or knit clothing at home anymore.

If you want to recreate this retro fashion family tradition, Heart of Haute has lots of options for coordinated looks. We offer vintage inspired, hand made looks and quality - with no seam ripping or bobbin threading for you! Teresa Becker has been designing "Mommy and Me" dresses for over 20 years.

Our popular Chambray Anchor print is available in three adult dress styles, an adult A Line skirt, and our adorable Baby Sailor dress for girls. Our colorful Russian Dolls print is easy to match with, and is available in our adult Monique dress, adult Gypsy Skirt, and our Enchanted Child dress. A family of animal lovers? Check out the options in our Blue Kittens and the bold black, white, and red It's Raining Cats.

Our girls clothing is available in sizes 2T through 6x. If you have an older daughter who wants to get in on the look, our adult XS is equal to a girls size large or 12, and our adult small is equal to a girls size large or 14. If you are searching for a special look for family photos, a holiday, family reunion, deployment homecoming, or any memorable event - stand out and create new traditions with a mother and daughter look from Heart of Haute.

Follow Heart of Haute's board Ava Adorable on Pinterest.

Prom season is just around the corner!  Heart of Haute has a selection of styles and patterns for a perfect retro inspired prom.

The Marseilles Dress is the perfect dance partner - with the exception of your date!  This full skirted swing dress is made from quality sateen fabric that's shiny and glamorous!  Choosing a black prom dress has it's perks - like the fact that you can pair it with any color scheme of accessories that you love!  Add the Eleanor polka dot velvet heel in black and white for a perfect pop of color.

The Maxine Dress in Aqua Mystique is a lovely pick for those who want a bright color that's adorned with gold throughout the detailing.  Easily matched with gold accessories and teal shoes like the Aglais heel!

A more romantic look in red satin is the Juliet Dress.  This lovely sweetheart neckline dress features lace sleeves and back.  Add a classic heel like the Annalise by Bettie Page Shoes for the ultimate vintage silhouette!

The Amanda Dress has a classic fit in lovely Navy Dynasty print.  Perfectly paired with the Barnet Heel by Bettie Page Shoes. Don't forget your petticoats!

<3 Ali for HoH

As you may or may not know, Heart of Haute was started by and is stilled owned and designed by a mother & daughter team.  Designing fashions for young girls is nothing new to Teresa Marie, as she owned and operated a mother/daughter boutique in Downtown Covina for 8 years.  Even before then, she had a toddler line called "Sibling Rivalry"  So here at Heart of Haute we've had the Ava Adorable line since Teresa's granddaughter, Ava, was born! It's always been possible to match up Ava Adorable dresses with mommy size dresses, but we decided just in time for our Crowned Kitties print's release to put together some matching styles!

 

Introducing our new cute crown kitties print - in a lovely matching set for mamas and their little kittens!  Shown here is the Monique Dress, and the Enchanted Child Dress. We've also brought back an old favorite for the little honeys - the Baby Beverly Dress!  Just like Momma's Beverly, the Baby Bev features a cute square knot around the collar and contrasting belt! Start your lil sailors early!  The classic Sailor Dress for mommy and the Baby Sailor dress for daughter! Another sailor style, the Chambray Anchor print - in the Irene Dress and Ava Adorable Baby Sailor Dress. Also available the Russian Dolls print - shown here in the Monique Dress, and the Ava Adorable Enchanted Child Dress.

Also, if you're into more of a Mary Blair flair pattern, try the Diamantes print! Shown here in the Aline Skirt and the Enchanted Child Dress, but you can mix and match to your favorite dresses! It's easy to mix and match, whether it be a skirt and top combo, or the matching dresses!  You can also custom order your pair of dresses in any print you like, just send a detailed email to orders@heartofhaute.com and we'll put together your perfect matching frocks! 

Follow Heart of Haute's board Ava Adorable on Pinterest.

 

Love her or hate her, Taylor Swift has some pretty spiffy vintage style these days.  She's always had a taste for Old Hollywood glamour, but has shifted into a more retro look recently. This spring style she's sporting features a gathered a-line skirt in a light spring floral, complemented with a blue darted sheer top with a front tie collar. Of course the whole outfit is tied together with a pop of red in her sunglasses and lips! We love this outfit because of the overall vintage vibe, without looking too dressed up.   Our version is all American made products, such as our very own Estelle Blouse.  The Estelle has the same adorable collar tie, and similar darting on the shoulders as Taylor's blouse.  We paired it with our Twirl Skirt in Adele Floral - a dainty watercolor motif in shades of green and blue on white background. Topped with Tres Noir Sunglasses in Ultra Lux Red for that color pop!   The next look we love on Taylor is this red empire waist dress with small floral detailing.  The Beverly Dress in Red Vines has a very similar shape and print. This look is chic, yet playful and casual at the same time.  The classic makeup look can we done with signature red lips with our favorite lipstick from NYX Cosmetics. Shoes are from Forever 21! In this next look Taylor's wearing a retro button front dress in a light blue shade.  This dress is classically adorable due to it's collar and capped sleeves, much like the Diane Dress.  This dress is a true wrap inspired by Diane Von Furstenburg, and is crafted from an Aqua checked 100% cotton fabric. The classic nude peep toe heel is the Aglais by Bettie Page Shoes, to match the ones seen on Taylor. We wanna know - who are your favorite style icons? <3 Ali for HoH    

We've been adding a bunch of new styles to our line this whole year! And it's only March! :) One of the things that I, personally, am most excited about is - SHOES! I don't know about you ladies but I have a pretty huge obsession with shoes. I only have a small collection myself, but these new Bettie Page Shoes we have got in store are going to put a serious dent in my wardrobe budget! Plus they're all in versatile spring colors! How perfect. The first of the new styles is the 'Annalise' - my personal favorite! It's a t-strap mary jane with lovely little taupe detailing. This style features a cushioned sole, contrasting detailing, and a 4 inch heel. The Annalise comes in Mint, Pink, and Black.

The 'Eleanor' is a bit more fun & funky! This peep toe pump is comfy suede with polka dot detailing on the heel and ankle strap. A perfect pair with a retro prom dress, or classic rockabilly styles.  Available in black, fuchsia, and turquoise.

The 'Anglais' is an adorable peep toe with a 3 inch heel and butterfly detailing! These lil cuties are available in Teal, Black, and Nude.

These are just a few! Check out the entire stock of new shoes! Happy Tuesday Honeys and have a great week! :)

<3 Ali for HoH

 

Just who is this stunning lady?  You may recognize her as one of the models on our website!  This is Teer Wayde - plus size model, fashion blogger, and body positivity advocate.  Teer's aim is to help ladies of all sizes dress for their bodies and be comfortable with who they are.  In her blog, Curves To Kill, she reviews clothing from companies near and far, showing them off with her modeling skills.  She gives an honest opinion on each piece and styles them with accessories and some awesome shoe finds!  Teer has been published several times and is a part of the real size model movement.

 Teer in the Maxine Dress in Rosa Even though Miss Wayde is all the way in Melbourne, Australia, we manage to join forces and get her expert opinion on many of our garments.  She and our founder Mandie Bee even got to meet and shoot together last year when Teer came to the US for Viva Las Vegas!  Here's just a few of the shots she's done in Heart of Haute pieces.

The Jolene Dress in On the Dot Most recently, Teer and Katherine Davis Photography braved the heat of the Australian summer and took a drive out to a gorgeous backdrop to shoot in some of her favorite Heart of Haute frocks. And don't we just adore the results!  You can read all of her reviews on her blog. The Etta Dress in Blue Anchors Teer started pinup modeling as a hobby, and since then her career has taken off.  She loves pinup fashion and all things vintage inspired. This fashionista is an expert at picking a wardrobe that fits her body type perfectly, and is well known and loved for her work.

The Monique Dress in Amber Rose There are definitely still not enough body positive images in the media today.  We're sick of the skinny vs. plus size debate. All sizes are beautiful, and we're all for happy, healthy models! Teer is a role model for gals of all shapes and sizes who want to change the definition of beauty in the fashion world today.  

The Super Spy Dress in Navy Before we changed our name from Heartbreaker Fashion to Heart of Haute, Teer reviewed quite a few of our dresses and separates.  Read Teer's previous blog post where she reviews the Hilary Dress, Tara Top, Beverly Dress & Monte Carlo Dress. Also read Teer's first blog post featuring Heart of Haute where she reviews the Marilyn Tee, Vogue Pencil Skirt, & Super Spy Dress.

The Monte Carlo Dress in Lake Want more Teer?  Follow her on Facebook, Tumblr, &  Twitter, Teer Wayde is represented by Bella Models, and can be contacted at her official website  www.TeerWayde.com <3 Ali for HoH <3

Hey there Haute Honeys! Hope you are all enjoying the first month of the year!  We've been busy bees here making tons of new products, and revamping the favorites with fresh & fun fabrics! Let's talk all about them...

  It's finally here! The long awaited 'It's Raining Cats' print has made it onto the Matey Dress, Ella Top, and Moxie Skirt by Mandie Bee.  I just can't resist these adorable topsy turvy felines. Mandie Bee's collection is form fitting for a gorgeous silhouette, and remember the Moxie Skirt & Matey Dress are slightly shorter than the rest of the Heart of Haute products!  A perfect fit for you flirty rockabilly babes to accessorize with your favorite ballet flats if you're running around all day, or a great pair of pumps for a night out! If you're not a cat lady, don't fret - we are on the lookout for a just as cute puppy print for all the dog mamas out there!               The Amanda Dress is one of those timeless dresses that make a unique addition to any retro-loving gal's wardrobe.  It's a vintage inspired dress that fits like a dream, and this particular print is just gorgeous.  A striking tableau of cerulean, dark blue and bright white flowers with spectacular detailing.  This sophisticated floral print is eye-catching and flattering on all skin tones.               Florance is a one of a kind print, it reminds me of picnics in the meadow, a fun, flirty date maybe? Especially when on the Beverly Dress, oh Bev is such a flirt! The fabulous Florance print is an array of teeny tiny blue and red flowers. Also available in the popular Sweetie Dress and the Amanda Dress.  I think they are best accessorized with the Pinup Couture Wicker Purse in black. I can't resist that adorable dainty fruit charm!             Winter Blossom is sure to make any lady the belle of the ball!  Stunning shimmery ice blue with golden florets that glisten as your skirt twirls.  Sound too good to be true?  It only seems like a dream, but it's the truth!  It reminds me a little of an ice fairy, but really it's a piece that can work in any season.  The fabric has a bit of a pearly sheen to it also, so if you're keen on standing out in a crowd, this dress is sure to make you shine your brightest. Also available in the Amanda Dress for those gals who don't like halters.         Just as a reminder dear Haute Honeys - join us on Facebook through the end of January as we are doing another Test Kitchen.  That's where we show you all the new prints and styles we've been working on and get your opinions on which we should keep!  As always we really appreciate your feedback! Here's just a little sneaky peeky of what could be coming your way! It's up to you!  <3 Ali for HoH <3

[caption id="attachment_1532" align="aligncenter" width="500"] Heart of Haute Holiday Gift Guide[/caption] The holidays have snuck up on some of us again!  For those of you who have been prepared for months now - good for you!  Teach me your ways!  I however am a notorious gift shopping procrastinator.  There's so much pressure to get something creative, something they don't already have, something special that shows them how much you care.... right?  I've put together a useful little guide that's full of fun, flirty gifts for any retro loving ladies in your life.  Whether you're shopping for mom, sister, group of best buddies, girlfriend, or wifey!  Every pin up cutie could use a little Heart of Haute in their stocking this holiday! [caption id="attachment_1533" align="alignleft" width="150"] Pin Up Couture - Amoeba Bag in Champagne[/caption] 1. My personal favorite - the Amoeba Bag by Pin Up Couture. Nothing says I care about you like a gorgeous sparkly vinyl handbag!  It's curvy, eye-catching, classic and basically goes with anything.  Makes a great gift because the neutral champagne color can go from Winter straight into Spring!  This bag is also available in Aqua Glitter for the adventurous spirit and Black Glitter for the classy gals.   [caption id="attachment_1534" align="alignleft" width="150"] Tres Noir Ultra Lux Sunglasses[/caption] 2. Oh la la - every doll needs a perfect pair of cat eye sunglasses. No doubt about it!  The Tres Noir Ultra Lux Sunglasses are an elegant accessory and protect her beautiful eyes with 100% UVA UVB protection.  She'll feel like a diva every day!  These sunnies are available in Gold Sparkle or Black & Pearl.     [caption id="attachment_1535" align="alignleft" width="150"] Betty Bolero by Heart of Haute[/caption] 3. The Betty Bolero - just enough of a sweater, not too light, not too thick!  Perfect for over our Sweetie Dress on a lovely summer night.  In red, navy, white or black, a must have in any retro-inspired wardrobe!     [caption id="attachment_1539" align="alignleft" width="150"] Mitzi and CO 2014 Pinup Calendar[/caption] 4.  What about the men in our lives?  The Mitzi and Co 2014 Pinup Calendar is full of perfect pinups and hot rods!  A great gift for all those brothers, uncles, cousins, and mechanics you have to shop for!  Besides, who doesn't love a colorful pin up girl calendar?     [caption id="attachment_1540" align="alignleft" width="150"] Fancy Rose by Heart of Haute[/caption] 5.  Let's face it, every lady loves roses!  And every lady deserves roses, no matter the occasion!  The Fancy Rose comes in black, red, navy, purple, and ivory - so there is one to match every one of our dresses!  They are the perfect size and make a wonderful accessory to any retro inspired or modern outfit. So sassy!  For twice the sass - Check out our extra large Viva to the Diva Rose!   [caption id="attachment_1542" align="alignleft" width="128"] Seahorse Pendant by Heart of Haute[/caption]  6.  Stocking stuffer!  An adorable aquatic buddy on a long gold chain, is just lovely with any outfit.  This sweet little Seahorse Pendant is a great gift for any of the gals on your list!  With just the right amount of nautical charm.  This necklace is made in the U.S.A. with love!  Check out our whole collection of Jewelry.       7.  Still can't decide? No worries!  If you have no idea, you can always give her the gift of shopping!  That way you can be sure she'll get something she loves!  Thanks to you! We have Gift Certificates available anywhere from $25-$2,500!  You can choose to have the Gift Certificate e-mailed directly to you so that you may print it out and give it to the lucky lady in person OR we can e-mail it to her directly!   Make this holiday shopping season easier on yourself by checking out the Gifts Section at Heart of Haute!  There are plenty of handbags, shoes, jewelry, hair bows, sweaters, and more to choose from!  A gift from Heart of Haute is sure to make her smile.

The party invitation says "cocktail attire." What makes  a dress a cocktail dress? It is a dress typically worn for evening events, whether it is a work party or a night out on the town. They tend to be bolder and a bit more attention getting -  think metallic accents, and unique shapes or prints.  It can be comparable to semi-formal attire, but a little sexier and brighter - more fun. Semi formal for women typically means skirts at or below the knee (but not long gowns). Cocktail dresses tend to be knee length or shorter. Formal attire calls for a floor length gown (and tuxedos on men) - not very common for most women today outside of military balls. Heart of Haute has a great selection of cocktail dresses. Our vintage inspired styles will help you stand out from the crowd while staying classy. Cocktail parties have a strong association with the 1950s and 1960s - a dress inspired by these eras will fit right in. Our cocktail dresses can be styled to look retro or modern - look for shoes and jewelry that make a bold statement. With our many shapes, there is one to flatter you - A line, full skirts, or fitted (pencil or wiggle) shapes, sleeves or bare. For patterns, try some of our gold accented metallic Mystique prints, or the striking Peacock Royale. Our popular Beverly and Monique styles come in evening fabrics, and our Milan and Vanessa Dresses are made from a smooth, refined sateen fabric. For a business event, try our dramatic yet full coverage Heart of Haute Monte Carlo dress. Looking for some drink inspiration? Check out the Mad Men Cocktail Guide. A couple of my favorites  are the French 75 (gin, champagne and lemon), and the Sazerac (rye whiskey and bitters). Don't let anyone give you a hard time about being a woman who likes whiskey! Planning a cocktail party at home? Try some retro appetizer recipes. Going out for drinks? A few of my favorite places for a wonderful mixed drink experience are Smuggler's Cove in San Francisco, Arnaud's in New Orleans, Violet Hour and Sable in Chicago, Bryant's and Foundation in Milwaukee, the Molokai Bar at the Mai Kai in Ft. Lauderdale, and the House Without a Key in Honolulu. A real martini is made with gin, AllisonV    

Hello! Katrina Marie here! (How's it going?) I don't normally like to get too serious, or post entries that can read like a novel, but I really wanted to take a moment to bring up a topic that happens to be very near and dear to my own heart: body positivity (YAY!) I know from my own experience that there seems to be a lot of confusion regarding what body positivity actually is. Some have even dared to argue that body positivity promotes unhealthy lifestyles and obesity (Nope! Keep reading, please.)   Body positivity focuses on self-love, and learning to be comfortable in your own skin, regardless of what number the scale happens to hit.  It's also about educating people (including yourself) about body autonomy by helping others realize that no one really has the right to comment on or judge someone else's body.  Unfortunately, the media has an idea of what beauty should look like, and they have no qualms constantly reminding us that we, the every day Janes of the world, do not fit their mold.  We're constantly shown images of women in their photoshopped “perfection,” and then we're told what steps to take in order to achieve said “perfection.”  This is not only damaging to women (for obvious reasons,) but men are affected as well.  We live in a society where women everywhere are kind of tricked into working to achieve some spoon-fed notion of what beauty is, and men are holding women to the same, unrealistic standards.  This doesn't just apply to overweight women of today.  Back in the 1950s, women were often criticized for being underweight, and for bodies lacking in curves (wait, what?!)

 Vintage weight gain ads.

Let's take a moment to break down what that tells us:  The media has been dictating to women how we should look, and teaching men what they should find attractive in a woman's physical appearance for decades! Let that sink in just for a second. I don't know about you, but realizing that alone, was enough for a lightbulb to go off inside my ever-analytical brain.  I thought, “No amount of energy I spend trying to make others happy with my body image will do, because there will always be someone who will object. You can't make everyone happy. So, why not focus on making sure you're happy with yourself?” Now, I'm not saying I've managed to get to that point of ultimate and complete self-love.  In all honesty, it will likely be a lifelong fight. What I have learned so far, is that once you get to the point where you can accept your body for all its perfect imperfection (see what I did there?), then other people's opinions don't matter so much. If it doesn't bother you, other people can't use it against you. This is why I look up to the women (and men) that constantly defy and rebel against the media to remind us that beauty truly does come in all shapes and sizes.  Mindy Kaling, Tess Munster, and Christina Hendricks are just a few that come to mind.

Mindy Kaling, Tess Munster, Christina Hendricks

  While it's awesome that celebrities, and others in the public eye, make a point to take a stand for body positivity, it's just as important for us to take a stand to make a difference in our everyday lives. (This is the part where I tie everything together, I promise!) One of my favorite things about pinup culture, is that pinups are known to have voluptuous, hourglass curves.  (Of course, this may have been indicative of what the media's idea of beauty was at the time, but that's another point for a different day.) This aesthetic has managed to withstand the test of time, and is seen in modern pinup culture today. That being said, the difference is that with modern pinup culture, even women with less than hourglass curves can dip their pointed toes into the “pinup world” by picking out their favorite vintage inspired looks (Heart of Haute dresses included, of course!) and booking a pinup photo shoot with a local photographer. We've had the pleasure of working with Miss Tara of Tara O. Photos. While Tara is a talented photographer all around, she specializes in pinup photography, and always proclaims that ANY woman can try pinup modeling (and she's right!)   While plus size fashion seems to have really only adopted contemporary trends in more recent years, it's still an area of fashion that I believe is often overlooked. Luckily, it's really caught on that “the chubby girls” have as much fashion sense as anyone else. So, plus-size girls (myself included) are starting to have more options when it comes to self-expression through clothing. Heart of Haute is proud to offer several styles in our plus-sizes (1XL and 2XL.) We're also proud to feature plus-size models who are not only rocking our clothing and working it in front of a camera, but who are also doing really awesome things to makes waves in the industry and beyond it.     Miss Shana Nicole hails from Houston, Texas. In addition to the numerous pinup magazine covers on which she's been featured, she is also the Owner and Editor-in-Chief of Atomic Bombshells Magazine. She's also proud to be a founding member of Benefit Betties, a Houston based, non-profit pin-up charity group.  You can even catch this bombshell as a guest performer for the Houston Burlesque Revue.

Shana Nicole in the Diner Dress in Black (Photo Credit: Paper Moon Photography by Charlie Girl)

Shana Nicole in the Sailor Dress in Navy (Photo Credit: Paper Moon Photography by Charlie Girl)

Shana Nicole in the Beverly Dress in Black Gingham (Photo Credit: Paper Moon Photography by Charlie Girl)

    Miss Teer Wayde is a freckled beauty from down under, Melbourne, Australia. She is a fashion and editorial model signed with Bella Model Management in Australia, and she also runs the popular fashion blog Curves to Kill. You may remember her from an interview with Mandie Bee that was featured here on our blog in the past.

Teer Wayde in the Hillary Dress in Black Dot (Photo Credit: Nic Doncon)

Teer Wayde in the Monte Carlo Dress in Lake (Photo Credit: Nic Doncon)

Teer Wayde in the Marilyn Top in Stripey & the Vogue Pencil Skirt in Black (Photo Credit: Nic Doncon)

Teer Wayde in the Marleen Dress in Black (Photo Credit: Tara O. Photos)

  Two different ladies on opposite ends of the globe with at least one very important thing in common (aside from their killer fashion sense, of course): they know they're beautiful (inside and out) and they know that no one's opinion of them will change that.  So the next time you look at yourself in the mirror (whether you've decided to strut your stuff in Heart of Haute that day or not,) take a moment to remember that you are wonderfully unique, and your perfectly imperfect awesome self is top notch, Heart of Haute loveliness!  You go, girl! ;)     With Love & No Regrets, Katrina Marie   **Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Heart of Haute or any of its other employees.**