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!

Winter Sale at Petrune!

Sale, Special Events, Style

This January has been so cold and blustery we can’t wait for spring!

One of the things that has kept us sane here at Petrune is layering up in cozy coats and sweaters.

This weekend (1/31-2/2) we’re having a super winter sale!

50% off of all new winter coats, and 25% off of all vintage items!

If you still have christmas money burning a hole in your pocket, or just need something to take your mind off the bitter cold, this is the time to come in for some retail therapy.

With cashmere, wool or fur you’re sure to find something that makes you smile.

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.

Birds of a Feather

1970-1980, Fashion Time Line, Petrunia, Style

Ahh, May: not only do we finally have some springy weather (this is Ithaca, though, so keep your fingers crossed until July), we’re also thrilled to see the full Petrunia Spring 2013 line in the store and selling well! If you’re a regular, you’ve probably already been accosted by an excited staff member eager to explain the history and philosophy of the line, but if you’d like a refresher, check out the blog post for the Petrunia launch party back in September. Most of the styles worn by the gorgeous local models who walked in our runway show, including the adorable blue stripe button dress, are on sale in our store and online.

But today we want to highlight one particular print that exemplifies what’s special about Petrunia. It came into the store on a 70s dress that had seen better days, and its color scheme of tan, beige, and khaki wasn’t doing it any favors. But something about the whimsical print of overlapping birdcages jumped out at us.

That print, now sharpened into pen-and-ink-style black lines with sky-blue highlights, is the centerpiece of three Petrunia designs: a crisp shirt-dress with sky-blue belt and collar, a sweet sundress with oversized pockets, and a full-skirted dress with a soft navy t-shirt-style bodice (the Grace dress, not pictured here). Each of them shows off this darling print in a completely different way — just one illustration (pun intended, I’m afraid) of how Petrunia gives new life to lost gems of vintage fashion.

Valentine’s at Petrune

Color, Gift, Petrunia, Special Events, Style, Windows

Trust us, we’ve heard the anti-Valentine’s Day backlash. “It forces people to buy things to prove their love!” “It makes single people feel bad!” “It’s a really terrible movie!” We don’t disagree with any of those points. (I mean, Valentine’s Day has an 18% rating on RottenTomatoes.) But hear us out: it’s February. It’s cold and gray outside, and if you’re like us, you’ve been hibernating in a giant coat and/or blanket since the day after New Year’s.

While it’s tempting not to emerge until May, we think it’s worth considering another winter strategy: don’t underestimate the mood-boosting powers of wearing something pretty like a lacy bra, cute boots, or a sparkly necklace that makes you feel like Liz Taylor. Not for anybody else’s benefit, mind you (although if you have a significant other you can expect their enthusiastic support). No one has to know you’re wearing a silk slip for it to feel amazing against your skin, and make that walk to the bus stop just a little more glamorous.

With that in mind, we have a few humble suggestions: we now carry Coobie bras, which are supportive, affordable, and cute—like a cross between a bralette and a less-restrictive sports bra. They’re one-size-fits-most and come in a rainbow of colors, so there’s something for everyone, whether you want invisible support or a pop of color under a sheer top.

Then there’s Honeydew, whose black lace and sheer pink camis, bralettes, and hipsters undies are definitely sexy, while still being comfy enough for everyday wear.

Nothing glams up a winter sweater like a long pendant necklace! This arrowhead probably isn’t Cupid’s, but it’s guaranteed to turn heads all the same. The jigsaw piece is inscribed “You Complete Me,” perfect for fans of puzzles OR Jerry Maguire. And the rest of these necklaces are equally irresistible.

Finally, when bright reds and pinks start popping up everywhere, rather than sighing about how they clash, consider them a signal that it’s time to start alternating those winter browns and grays with neons, jewel tones, or pastels. You’ll be surprised how a drab day brightens up when you’re wearing an emerald-green coat, or purple tights, or a bright red blazer—all of which, coincidentally, are in the store right now. And our very own Petrunia label features date-night-ready dresses in very Valentine colors of red and black!

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!