Rabbits and Toasters was founded in 2010 and features manually selected articles from the best dance blogs on the web. The site is updated several times a day, check back often. Do you run a blog you think should be apart of the network? Send us an email.

Vintage Clothing and Fashion Archives

Shabby Apple From: lindyshopper.com | July 10, 2010 Special thanks to Julie and Elizabeth for directing me to Shabby Apple, whose dresses are in several categories in my book – vintage-inspired, dance-worthy, clean lines, and work-appropriate. That last category is critical – if I can wear it to work and to dances, I can probably justify paying a bit more for the garment because I’ll get more miles out of it. I can see me getting a lot of miles out of some of these lovely dresses!

1930′s/40′s Party Dress From: lindyshopper.com | July 09, 2010 I am smitten with this red and black party dress posted by Violetville Vintage on eBay. The tucks on the bodice, the short puffed sleeves, the swing skirt, the matching belt, and the shiny applique detail on the bodice and skirt make this dress look perfect for just about any swing dance. It’s fancy, but not TOO fancy, and has just the right amount of detail to make it special

A.J. Machete & Sons Fine Tailoring From: lindyshopper.com | July 07, 2010 Based out of Denver, Colorado, A.J. Machete & Sons offers bespoke, tailored menswear items of bygone eras through its Etsy store. While the suits are in the bespoke price range, their Etsy site does offer some more affordable garments and accessories that you may want to add to your existing swing dance wardrobe, such as custom vests, spats, cravats, and a 1930′s sports jacket.

Lumina Clothing: Ties and Bow Ties From: lindyshopper.com | July 07, 2010 As has been discussed before, the trick to dressing seasonally is all about wearing seasonally appropriate appropriate fabrics.  Is the thought of wearing a seersucker or madras jacket too intimidating? If so, you can always start with something small, like a bow tie.  Check these out!

City Sneaks at Payless From: lindyshopper.com | July 04, 2010 Sometimes cheap shoe makers cut corners that make shoes better for dancing. Case in point, Payless makes a line of shoes called City Sneaks that have a partial rubber, partial slide-friendly material on the sole, mostly in the ball of the foot area where you would need some extra love for spins. The damage is $5.00 and $17.00 for a pair of danceable shoes!

Warby Parker – Glasses with Big Style, Small Pricetag From: lindyshopper.com | June 29, 2010 Glasses: something a lot of us need, regardless of dancing. But dancers need stylish eye-wear and that can be hard to come by when glasses cost…well, I don’t remember how much my glasses cost because I bought them several years ago and nearly choked at the price tag. Shelling out for that fun pair of green frames or the vintage cat-eye frames doesn’t work for some professions, so I usually end up with a practical pair of glasses. If only I could have the work pair and the play pair and not break the bank!

Dressing Up to Dance From: lindydandy.blogspot.com | June 07, 2010 It seems there’s been an increasing awareness of the connection between dressing and dancing, at least in the lindy hop community. (Balboa dancers are nearly ALWAYS well turned out). I think dancers have always seen the connection, but it’s gotten to such a high level.

Lindy Shopper: Advanced Course in Shoes From: www.atomicballroom.com | June 01, 2010 I can’t think of an article of clothing more important to a swing dancer than the shoes he or she wears. Shoes are at the point of most of the impact in swing dancing, they facilitate movement, grace, and athleticism, and they often make a statement about the dancer. Choosing your dance shoes wisely can mean the difference between dancing well and enjoying a night of dancing or a having a night of pain and suffering, either at the dance or after the dance. Fortunately, you do not have to sacrifice personal style to find a great pair of dance shoes. In this article I will make suggestions on shoe selections based on my personal experience and the experiences of my fellow dancer friends and provide examples of shoes that I already love and shoes that I am presently admiring from afar.

Yet Another Reason I’d Love to Live in NYC From: lindydandy.blogspot.com | May 29, 2010 I read this post from the Fine and Dandy Blog and found a link to Wit’s End in NYC. Wit’s End is "a monthly celebration of the Jazz Age" at Flute Bar, a former speakeasy. It’s a cocktail bar and live music/dance venue with a strict dress code (ruffians in casual attire will be denied admission). As the name and theme suggest, they encourage 20s, 30s and 40s era attire. How refreshing! Now, you might think that such a strict dress code would feel... well, restrictive, but I think that these constraints foster creativity and inspiration.

Lindy Shopper 101 From: www.atomicballroom.com | May 07, 2010 After swing dancing for almost 12 years and having serious addictions to clothing and shoes, one can acquire quite a dance wardrobe.  For people just getting started it can be overwhelming. “Where do you get all these clothes?” “I don’t think I’ve seen you in the same outfit twice!” Ladies, if you haven’t been collecting swing dance clothing...