Cactus Flower

sweet inspiration: Valentines thru time!

2012-02-13T11:51:00.000-08:00

Desi Arnez & Lucille Ball from I Love Lucy

We love Lucy toooo! We are in a lovey-dovey mood here at Cactus Flower -- here are some of our favorite valentines couples through time:

1. Ginger Rogers & Fred Astaire in Swingtime (1936)

2. Yoko Ono & John Lennon during their bed-in for peace (1969)

3. The Honeymooners (1955-56) ham it up for the camera

4. Mia Wallace & Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction (1994)

5. Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly in Hitchcock's Rear Window (1954)

We have plenty of unique gifts for your sweetie if you still need to pick up a little something, but even if we don't see you on this holiday we hope you have a wonderful time! As you can see we are partial to dancing, holding fresh flowers, and engaging in a passionate embrace with a classy dame. ♥

Shop Revamp and Spring LookBook!

2012-01-25T22:30:00.000-08:00

If you haven't noted yet, the shop has been remodeled! Not only that, but there's an awesome new lookbook to go with, of course with some lovely ladies of Cactus Flower - what else?! We have a slew of new Spring and sun-dresses about to come in, so stay tuned!

every-season inspiration

2012-01-07T13:47:00.000-08:00

The best thing about fashion blogs is that they are always in season. No matter the weather or your state of mind, you can pull up someone's visual diary and feel instantly inspired! Here are a few images that let us escape to other worlds and wardrobes today...

Niotillfem by Sandra Beijer is full of candid yet cinematic images of beautiful people eating beautiful food in beautiful places. If you plan on blowing bubbles in a backyard fete of your own, you'll need the proper accessories to make it look just right. We love the sparkly starfish barrette on Sandra's friend Meg -- Check the jewelry cases on both levels of CF to find your own 40s-inspired hair accessories, from flowers and fascinators to embellished bobby pins and Really Big Bows. They look most lovely pinned on the side, pulling diagonally upward from your eyeline. For the perfect wave in your hair, we just happen to have a vintage beauty expert on staff -- Aya has a YouTube tutorial for practically everything classy dames could dream of... Except a boyfriend as cute as Sandra's, you're on your own for that one.

Karla of Karla's Closet rocked this frock on New Years Day. Where is she on January 1st that she could run around on scattered orange leaves in open-toed stilettos and a spaghetti-strap dress??! We don't know either, but we like it. For more modest but still fancy footwear, try our Jimeny Heels or "You'll Be Sari (If You Don't Buy These)" Wedges.

Ugh. Yesterday's post on The Glamourai makes my heart skip a beat. Swingset on the beach? Tumbling waves behind a flowing maxi dress? Bliss.

Happy weekend!

Happy New Coats!

2012-01-02T15:22:00.000-08:00

Ooh it's a winter wonderland outside in Bloomington right now but we are pretty toasty here inside Cactus Flower... It must be due to the appallingly cute coats that are insulating our sale room! Get in here right now and get one, we know you're freezing!


tweed zip-down coat by Ariella ~~$67~~ now $42!

We are also still stocked with newly marked down layering pieces, sweaters and general fuzzy-cozy goodness at 15-30% off original retail.

orange cropped sweater by Cotton Candy ~~$38~~ now $33!

lovely layering sweater by Gentle Fawn ~~$70~~ now $56!

Here's hoping you gave 2011 a proper send-off and you're having a happy new year so far. Cheers from all of us here at Cactus Flower HQ!

Forever Young Dress and Winter Sale

2011-12-03T22:34:00.000-08:00

Winter is upon us, and as with every change of season, that means big sales! We're having a super-duper amazing winter sale at the shop that you should definitely check out. Many lovelies are going for ridiculously awesome prices, such as this dress we entitled "forever young" sported by blogger Strawberry Koi (and one of our blog-team members).

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-30T23:23:00.000-07:00

{ Images courtesy of WeHeartIt }

Happy Halloween from the gals of Cactus Flower! May your bags and pumpkin-head-baskets be over flowing with delicious candies and your costumes be safe from wardrobe-malfunctions!

Every Leaf Is A Flower

2011-10-13T21:07:00.000-07:00

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower." or so says Albert Camus, and we feel the same way. Oranges and yellows make the horizon like a stunning oil painting as far as the eye can see, and believe us - we were happy to take advantage of Mother Nature's backdrop with another exciting photoshoot with some vintage-inspired goodies from brands such as Darling and Tulle. Check the lookbook for more photos such as these, featuring lovelies Nora and Rachael and expect these pieces in the shop soon!

the Ghouly-Girls of Cactus Flower

2011-10-12T06:57:00.000-07:00

In case you haven't noticed, it's the fall-times here in Bloomington, Indiana! Pumpkins are appearing in front of your local co-op, the leaves are droppin' like Finite Mathematics students, and everyone's asking themselves the existential question: WHAT AM I GOING TO BE?! While we may not be able to help you decide on your major, our upstairs section of vintage + gently used new clothing is THE source for creating a unique + memorable character for your Halloween night. Here's our first round of ideas, which you can steal at your leisure! You still have to pay for the clothes though.

All items shown below are available in the upstairs level of the brick-and-mortar Cactus Flower, 322 E. Kirkwood Ave in Kirkwood Manor.

Have you been practicing your Dewey Decimal System? Watch out, cause this LIBRARIAN FROM HELL sees ALL your mistakes. Jillian wore this dress, belt, sash, from our vintage section. Gigantic cat-eye glasses with rhinestone accents are from our selection of new, unused costume accessories.

Hilary mixed this cartoon-ey red dress with an official Raggedy Andy wig to create an ode to androgynous whimsy: RAGGEDY ALI! Ali seems a bit unpredictable, mischevious, and has been seen fraternizing with pirates. Best to laugh at all of her jokes and keep her on your good side.

Oh my god. Megan as Bettie Paige Barbie (no wig necessary!) will make your heart stop from sheer beauty. Beware driving the streets if she's roaming about -- you're liable to crash your car, or at the least give yourself whiplash from a double-take! Our black-maned babe is wearing an 80s party dress, never worn hot pink heels & a new sequined headband by Free People.

Pirate flag not for sale. It's all arrrrrrrs.

Lovely Ladies

2011-09-21T13:23:00.000-07:00

Check out blogger Molly Burkett out on the town with some lady-friends---a very well dressed group of dames indeed! The dress on the pretty lady to the right is at Cactus Flower. We only have one left, come and nab it up! The open-backed, lace dress is very flapper inspired, perfect for a night out on the town.

Also don't forget to stop by our website!

www.cactusflowerclothing.com

4th Street Festival

2011-09-02T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovlies!

Stop by and say hi tomorrow and Sunday during Bloomington's 4th Street Festival of the Arts! We'll be outside with lot's of sweet deals and amazing jewelry. Don't forget to step inside to cool down and check out the fall items that are filtering in. And get your fix of vintage upstairs. Lots to see at the Cactus Flower!

We'll be set-up outside during the hours of the festival: from 10-6 on Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday. See you there!

Ready for Fall!

2011-08-11T15:35:00.001-07:00

[01, 02 & 03 By Madewell 04. bag by Steve Madden 05. Steve Madden shoes]

As we've mentioned too many times, we're certainly getting excited for fall around here. What's more fun than layering little dresses over long-sleeve tees or mixing shoes with tights? Nothing, nothing we say. Visit the shop to see some awesome pieces from brands like Steve Madden, Tulle and Wanted...

[ 01. Wanted shoes 02. Tulle top 03/04. Madewell necklace , skirt 05. Steve Madden bag ]

In for Fall

2011-08-08T12:00:00.001-07:00

Just in time for Fall (do you believe it's right around the corner?!), booties, oxfords and closed-toed flats. We're getting excited here at Cactus Flower to wear shoes like these with tights and cardigans (along with adorable dresses, of course!) for cool Autumn days...

...for now they are available at our store location here in Bloomington, but no fear - they shall soon be available to you on our web shop!

Street Sighting

2011-08-06T13:59:00.000-07:00

Kristen looks totally adorable in this royal blue embroidered dark purple dress!

A Gift of Love

2011-07-30T16:32:00.000-07:00

We obsess over things like twine, vintage tags and patterns... so we can't help to throw it all together when we send out items to you from our store!

Customer Love

2011-07-25T13:30:00.000-07:00

We've had a lot of customers come in recently wearing their Cactus Flower purchases. To thank them for showing their love, we're posting their outfits on our blog.

We still have a lot of floral dresses in!

Here a customer is wearing a fun summer shirt from our upstairs vintage section.

We have lots of great new basics! This shirt and bag are from our store.

Fashion at the Farmer's Market

2011-07-20T09:27:00.000-07:00

Cactus Flower on What I Wore

2011-07-18T13:22:00.000-07:00

Cactus Flower was mentioned on Jessica Quirk's What I Wore blog! Here she is wearing one of the beautiful summer dresses that we carry at our store. We have only one of these dresses left in our store, but many others can be found on our online store: CactusFlowerClothing.com

Click here to view her post. Thank you Jessica for showing your love!

Customer lovin'

2011-07-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

These two lovely ladies were shopping here at Cactus Flower together and both happened to be wearing Cactus Flower dresses! They looked so cute, I had to snap a photo of them. Adorable, huh?

If you're not in the Bloomington area, but like what you see, check us out at Cactus Flower Online!

Outfit inspiration via The Sartorialist

2011-07-10T12:57:00.000-07:00

After yesterday's post, we thought it'd be fun to take some photos in the outfit we mocked outside! It's sunny & hot, but incredibly beautiful in Bloomington this time of year. Come in and visit us!

Stripes & Polka Dots

2011-07-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

These two shots are some of The Sartorlialist's more recent photos. Did you know that he graduated from Indiana University where we are located? He's such an inspiration! Here are a few outfits picked out from the vintage items here at Cactus Flower!

These will suit you swimmingly!

2011-07-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few examples of the many vintage swimsuits we have to offer at Cactus Flower! Aren't they adorable? In this weather, who doesn't want to be out on the lake?

Don't forget to visit out online store, here!

Fashion Icon: Alexa Chung

2011-06-26T12:19:00.000-07:00

Alexa Chung is one of my favorite fashion icons. Even if she's wearing something simple, she puts it together so well. Who better to model some outfits after? Here are a couple of outfits put together from items at Cactus Flower. Who is your biggest fashion inspiration? Let us know!

Eyelet you have my heart!

2011-06-18T14:33:00.000-07:00

Falling in love with eyelet? So are we! These two eyelet dresses are available at Cactus Flower! Aren't they adorable?

Don't forget that Cactus Flower offers menswear in our vintage section! This shirt was a good find, huh?

Fashion Icon: Zooey Deschanel

2011-06-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Get these Zooey Deschanel-eque looks from Cactus Flower!

1. Forget Me Not Dress (purchase online)
2. Eyelet You Go Skirt (purchase online)
3. Vintage Navy Pocket Dress (only in store)

New Jewelry This Week At Cactus Flower!

2011-06-11T13:33:00.000-07:00

We received lots of unique new jewelry in the shop this week! Come on in and check it out! They'd go perfectly with a cute summer dress, a blouse with a high-waisted skirt, or shorts!

Also, we have been adding new items to our online shop every week! Hop on over and let us know what are some of your favorites!

Shop Cactus Flower Online!

2011-06-05T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! We wanted to share with you some of the items we have for sale in our online shop! Here are just a handful of the adorable summer dresses we have to offer. Check out Cactus Flower Online to see the rest and definitely let us know what you think!

Summer dresses galore!

2011-06-02T15:10:00.000-07:00

Here are a few outfits put together from different vintage items from the upstairs here at Cactus Flower! We have an incredibly variety of summer dresses and other vintage finds that would be perfect for pairing!

We also have added some great new styles to our new website! Please check them out here.

Lastly, we have created a fun Cactus Flower tumblr. If you have one, follow us! We'll be posting new styles in our store, fashion inspiration, music we love, and more. There's also a 'submit' button on the side of the page where we would love for you all to share with us how you're wearing Cactus Flower! Send us a picture and we'll post it!

Madeleine of Die Melange's visit to Cactus Flower

2011-05-22T10:25:00.000-07:00

Madeleine of Die Melange featured Cactus Flower on her blog last month! Thanks so much, Madeleine! She took some wonderful photos and we wanted to share them with you!

Check out the rest of her post here.

Some Like it Hot!

2011-05-04T09:37:00.000-07:00

So far, there are some hot new styles for this summer and fall! These new styles have been so hot, in fact, that the building where one of the shows we were attending caught on fire! Our shopping expedition was put to an early stop because the building was evacuated, but no worries, we are forging on trying to find the best upcoming styles! This twist of fate led us to this cute number, the red gingham dress, which would retail for $99. We are trying to determine the future of this dress... Should we bring it to Cactus Flower? We need your help with the decision! Is it too expensive, too bright, or just right? Leave us a comment and let us know!

On another note, the Kentucky Derby is coming up this weekend! Anyone headed to the event? We have the perfect hat for the occasion! If you plan on staying in Bloomington, doesn't a Kentucky Derby themed get together sound fun? Who doesn't love an excuse to wear the biggest, floppiest, most decorated hat of all time?

Vintage Love

2011-04-23T22:09:00.000-07:00

Don't forget about our vast selection of vintage items! We have so many one-of-a-kind pieces that are to die for! This is just a little taste of our summer dresses, vintage swimwear, and unique jewelry.

We're still accepting coupons from our newly launched website! Go here to print yours out and bring it in to the store for 15% off!

Follow us with bloglovin

Are you ready for the warmth?

2011-04-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

We are here over at Cactus Flower! Come in and check out our spring clothing! Here are some of our newest spring dresses. They are perfect for graduation or senior portraits. Did I mention the beautiful floral? Don't forget, if you visit our newly launched online store, there is a 15% coupon for you! Visit us here or print out the coupon from the post below. If you don't have a printer, feel free to bring in your phone and show us the coupon!

Take a Coupon!

2011-04-04T15:21:00.000-07:00

Click the coupon for an expanded, printable version,
Or visit our online store to retrieve this coupon!

New for Spring!

2011-03-11T12:32:00.000-08:00

Hi there from all of us at Cactus Flower!

If it's been a while, that's because we have lots of exciting projects going on, including the construction of our first ever retail website! Visit us online at www.cactusflowerclothing.com and don't forget to check back often, because we are going to be adding new items all the time!

We have a lot of spring arrivals in the shop from our most recent buying trips to NYC and Las Vegas. Be sure to come in and check out all of our spring floral dresses, lace tunics, and sheer layering pieces.

As a thanks for visiting, Here's a sneak peak of some of the new accessories we have that will soon be available for sale on our site. If you'd like to purchase anything now, just let us know!

Also, we are having a sale in-store on shoes and boots. If you'd like to order any of these, call and ask us to check for your size!

If you have any questions about anything, feel free to stop by the shop, give us a call (812 325-7184), or email us at cactusflowerclothing@gmail.com. Have fun browsing!

Love, the guys and gals of Cactus Flower!

Shop Cactus Flower Online!

2011-02-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

Are you stuck inside, unable to make the trek outside to go shopping?

No Problem! Check our blog for items available for sale online!

Please contact cactusflowerclothing at gmail dot com for payment options, shipping details, and any other inquiries!

Thanks for looking!

Item #1: Vintage Ferragamo Pumps.

Soft brown leather loafer pump, slightly worn on the bottoms, size 8.
Price is $25 plus shipping.

Item #2: Summer Time Casual Pumps

Cool, casual, white and blue heels with metal rope detail. Size 7.5 W.
Price: $20 plus shipping.

Item #3: The Black Bag

Classy 50s bag with gold lining. Slight scratches and dents on back side of bag.
Price: $30 plus shipping.

Item #4: The Blue Bag

Blue 40s bag with suede lining. Cute green arrow insignia on the inside.
Slight scratching near bottom of bag, otherwise in amazing condition!
Price: $30 plus shipping.

Item #5: The Fancy Bag

50s clutch bag with metal strap.
It's a snazzy bag, but it's missing a few of the shiny gems along the top.
Price is $30 plus shipping.

Enjoy your shopping, remember we're open during the week from 11-7, on Friday and Saturday until 8, and on Sunday from 12-6:30. See you soon!

New Year's Evening Gowns

2010-12-24T09:21:00.000-08:00

Hello, lovely Cactus Flower clientele!

If you seek an amazing N.Y.E.-worthy dress this December 31st, pop into our shop and check out the selection of evening wear and party dresses. We'll hook you up with a fancy little number that will make your evening grand.

Sara & Sophie are wearing (left) a gold sleeveless taffeta dress by Many Belles Down and (right) an open-back 50's-inspired dress by Ark & Co.

Photograph by : The amazing Rachel Ankney!

Fast Jack Mulqueen, 80s Knockoff Virtuoso

2010-12-12T11:07:00.000-08:00

Upstairs at the Cactus Flower, we recently came across a lovely vintage Jack Mulqueen silk blouse.
After researching this designer out of sheer interest, we found him to be quite the character.

Here are a few tidbits, mostly from an archived People article dated November 9, 1981.

Jack Mulqueen is known for unabashedly knocking off tons of high-end designers in the 80s.
He would apparently straightforwardly offer designers royalties for copying their designs. If the designer refused to allow him to "bite their style", he would do it anyway. Without the royalties.
By doing this, he got some big-name designers like Valentino, Mary McFadden & Zandra Rhodes to design under his label and sell for much lower prices (under $200!).
He and his designers would search through Women's Wear Daily for runway photos that they could base their designs on. They would then have factories in South Korea make the garments and ship them back in a matter of days.
Mulqueen: "I copy only shining stars like Kenzo, Ungaro, Yves Saint Laurent, Claude Montana and Giorgio Armani."
Ellen Saltzman, corporate fashion director of Saks Fifth Avenue, who apparently carried a lot of Jack Mulqueen in the 80s, said, "He didn't get the name 'Fast Jack' for nothing. He seems to copy collections before they are created."
Stores like Bloomingdales would carry both Mulqueen's knockoffs and the real thing.
At the time this article was written, Mulqueen was living in a Sutton Place co-op across from his estranged wife, had an equestrian daughter, drove a $115,000 Ferrari Boxer and a $110,000 silver Rolls-Royce, and was negotiating to buy a Canadair Challenger aircraft for $7.5 million. He "gambled in Monte Carlo, shopped on Savile Row and dined at Maxim's".
"I'm more extreme than most," Fast Jack concedes, "but like I tell Whitney about her horses: If you come in second, you might as well come in last."

Some Jack Mulqueen pieces:

Jack Mulqueen black silk pintuck ruffle pleat mini dress, Circa 1970s

Jack Mulqueen tag

1980s Mary McFadden for Jack Mulqueen silk peplum blouse

80s black cocktail dress

Jack Mulqueen 80s acid wash jean jacket

Valentino for Jack Mulqueen, for sale here

1980s silk blouse

Zandra Rhodes for Jack Mulqueen tag

As it turns out, according to this article, Mulqueen's career is started anew in 2000 with an exclusive sports wear line at Neiman Marcus/Bergdorf Goodman. The author, Eric Wilson, refers to him as "Fast Jack, the knockoff king of Seventh Avenue".

New! Betsey Johnson Tights at Cactus Flower

2010-11-29T18:35:00.000-08:00

Tights: Betsey Johnson. Boots: Thrifted. Top and skirt: thrifted from the vintage section of Cactus Flower.

We just got several pairs of these amazing Betsey Johnson tights. Wear 'em under skirts, cutoff shorts or even dress down a cute floral number! When it gets cold, you can play around with layering different patterned tights.

Not only are they lovely and well-made, they allow us to represent a wonderful designer who has been a big name in the fashion industry since the '60s.

Betsey Johnson in 2004.

Some Background on Betsey:
Betsey Johnson, now in her sixties, got her start fresh out of college (Pratt Institute + Syracuse University) when she entered and won a guest editor contest at Mademoiselle magazine. She continued advancing in the fashion world and was a large part of the late sixties "youthquake" fashion movement and Warhol's factory scene, along with colleagues like Edie Sedgewick and Lou Reed. She was actually married to The Velvet Underground's John Cale, but divorced him almost immediately.

Edie Sedgewick wearing Betsey Johnson, late 70s

She opened her own boutique on the Upper East Side of NYC in 1969, after a brief stent as the in-house designer at a Manhattan boutique, Paraphernalia. In the '70s she ran the rockinest of rock n' roll fashion labels, Alley Cat!

Betsey in the late 60s, Paraphernalia days.

A Betsey Johnson for Alley Cat label from the 1970s.

She started her own line in 1978. She is known for coming out at the end of her fashion shows to do cartwheels on the runway.

Her penthouse in NYC, which she designed and then sold for $3.6 million. Whoa.. 1,660 square foot of pink!

A Betsey Johnson label from the 1980s.

Next to the Betsey Johnson Legwear, you'll also find tights and knee-highs from French Curve and Free People.

Come into the Cactus and explore our accessories!

Wine, Women, Song & Fashion

2010-11-06T15:26:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, October 21 we participated in a benefit fashion show for My Sister's Closet, a local second-hand store that specializes in affordable professional attire for women.

We had four girls from our shop modeling four different outfits, including a vintage 40s dress from upstairs, and two new items from Many Belles Down. The event was sponsored by The Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.

Winter Warmers

2010-11-04T13:25:00.000-07:00

Midwest Novembers are chilly...stay warm!

Jessica is wearing :
*a single-button coat with an amazingly giant hood, THEME
*a hooded scarf, David & Young
*fingerless gloves, David & Young

2010-08-25T07:21:00.000-07:00

Samantha took her Cactus Flower skirt all the way to NYC! How far does your Cactus Flower item travel? Email us a picture and we'll put you on the blog!

cactusfloweronkirkwood@gmail.com

construction

2010-08-13T17:24:00.001-07:00

...Sorry, this page is presently under construction... Please check back soon though!

COINZ

2010-08-13T17:24:00.000-07:00

Where you gonna keep all that spare change? Cute coin purses, only $8!

OH NO IT HAPPENED AGAIN!

2010-08-13T17:07:00.001-07:00

Great minds continue to think alike!

Indianapolis Girls

2010-08-09T00:50:00.000-07:00

Mel and co. drove all the way to Bloomington from Indy JUST to go to Cactus Flower in search of the perfect fanny pack!!

Mel ended up finding the perfect dress and sandals, too...

Round Two of the Yellow Dress!

2010-08-09T00:40:00.001-07:00

Mckenzie rocked this dress for a wedding earlier in the summer. The aviators are perfect. She paired it with a pastel scarf after viewing it on this blog post!

BEAT THE HEAT!

2010-07-12T11:29:00.000-07:00

Dan Coleman of Spirit of '68
cools down with a handkerchief
from his favorite downtown
clothing shop, Cactus Flower!

2010-07-05T07:43:00.000-07:00

Caitlin in a cute red and white striped Ya Los Angeles dress from the Cactus!

Tulle Dress @ the B-town Farmer's Market!

2010-06-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Nicely paired with gladiator sandals.

Update from THE APRIL 18th SAVVY BAZAAR!

2010-04-28T15:07:00.000-07:00

A bit of a late update on the Savvy Bazaar two Sundays ago ;
It was a beautiful, sunny day - perfect weather. I even got a bit of a tan - ahem, sunburn.... well, it turned into a tan over the course of last week!

We sold quite a bit of stuff, mostly rings and vintage dresses, along with a few Poketo wallets and new necklaces.

Here's what our booth looked like:

We had quite a nice array of shoes, most of which ended up selling!

We had to keep our friends and customers refreshed! Here's Maggie of Hair By Madgeline:
Here are a few shots of the whole thing, from a distance:
We met Rachel of Red Lips Vintage!

Our very own Aya Smith of Strawberry Koi even made an appearance for a blogger meet-up with Rachel.
DJ Gabby Love kept the beats goin' and the mood high.
Teddi's Booth:

We met the lovely Brandy Akers of Muffin Kitty Vintage!
Katie of Savvy Salon's son, Gabe, kept us refreshed with his lemonade stand:

We eventually moved out front so that we'd get more foot traffic from passing cars/bicyclists/pedestrians: (It totally worked)
My helpers Nick and Maggie of Hair By Madgeline model some glasses and hold down the fort while I snap a few photos:
Maggie uses an array of CF glasses to protect her eyes while staring directly into the sun.

Here's Young Gabe and his big purchase of the day - a dream catcher.

All-in-all it was quite a fun & successful day! We're doing it again on May 15th, so don't miss out!

2010-04-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

We have a booth at the Savvy Bazaar! This Sunday in Broad Ripple! 1430 Broad Ripple Avenue.

We'll have some great finds - including some lovely vintage bathing suits & summer dresses - as well as vintage, new and handmade accessories..

COME COME COME COME COME COME COME COME COME COME COME

COME TO THE WONDERFUL SAVVY BAZAAR!

FRIVOLOUS FAKERS!

2010-04-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

I generally don't see the point in wearing glasses with clear lenses overtop my nearly 20/20 eyes, but as our Molly Burkett said, "Fashion is frivolous."

And these fakers just look so darn cute with a vintage nautical dress from upstairs at good ole CF!
(iced coffee courtesy of Soma next door)
Here's our little Leah wearing a pair of CF fakers last summer.

There are many more styles of fakers to choose from, but they always sell out fast... come get some!
<3
SARA

2010-04-02T08:32:00.000-07:00

SOFA gallery

2010-03-28T11:23:00.000-07:00

Lookin' cute in a black snap up dress with pockets from CF accessorized with red tights! CLASSIC, KILLER COMBO!

2010-03-19T13:51:00.000-07:00

These shoes just came in from Seychelles! All sizes from 6-10 are in stock! Come on in and give them a try!

2010-03-17T10:47:00.001-07:00

Sarah rocks these horn earrings!

yeah girl.

Friendly Cashier

2010-03-12T10:05:00.001-08:00

Maria from Sahara Mart keeps it casual and cool with an Alternative Apparel tank and cardigan, both purchased at Cactus Flower!

Get it local!

2010-02-14T10:13:00.001-08:00

Our newest employee, Aya, is blogger of the month on ModCloth.com!!! (ModCloth is arguably the cutest and best-known online vintage and new clothing store!)

We carry many of the same or similar items as those found on ModCloth. Stop by and look around the Flower! You won't have to pay shipping or wait for it to arrive.

Here are a few items we carry that can be found on the site:

This adorable 40s-inspired purple dress from THEME was $64.99 on the site and is now sold out.
We have it for $54 and we've still got one each of sizes Small, Medium & Large!

This floral tube dress from Sharon Couture is $58. Sizes Medium & Large available.

Get the "Holier-then-Thou" dress from Mystree for $54! All sizes still available!

The "Fine Arts Dress" from Voxx is sold out online but we've still got sizes Small and Large available for $54!!

The "I Love Love Dress" is at Cactus Flower for only $54! All sizes available!

The "Hopleaf" dress from THEME! We have one of each size - Small, Medium, Large - for $48.

This THEME dress is adorable! $40, all sizes available.

Come in and see us at Cactus Flower for locally-owned vintage and new attire!

JACKET SALE!

2010-02-01T10:51:00.000-08:00

Sofa Show

2010-01-31T20:24:00.001-08:00

Two more lovely CacFlou dresses at an art opening at the Sofa Gallery. Sara B and friend pose for a picture!

Jessie the Dog (again)

2010-01-29T13:52:00.000-08:00

Jessie stays warm in her CF sweater. Winter sweaters and coats are marked down, but it's still cold out! Stay warm while keeping those dollaz in your pocket! Also all gloves, hats, and mittens are 20% off! Jessie is warm, are you?

BANG BANG BANGLES!

2010-01-24T15:52:00.000-08:00

Dang! Check out all those sweet bangles that Molly B has around her wrists. Florals, stripes, and solids, we've got 'em at the Cactus Flower!

Spring is coming, and soon so will the dresses! The first bit of our spring collection has arrived, and we're excited about: sweet liberty prints, ruffles (again!), zipper details, and beautiful shades of purple that have begun to brighten the store. Get a head start on warm-weather fashion trends or pick up a last minute coat or jacket, on SALE to make room for spring!

2009 ---> 2010 display!

2010-01-22T15:42:00.000-08:00

Sequins! Glitter! Shiny! Start 2010 with a bang!

Cactus Ladies

2010-01-22T15:40:00.000-08:00

Cactus Ladies have their hands full!

Check out the amazing sites of some of our friends:

Strawberry Koi, it's terrific!

http://strawberrykoi.blogspot.com

Molly Burkett dot com! It's fun!

http://www.mollyburkett.com/

Sara Baldwin, great photography!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sararrr

Three in one!

2010-01-22T11:22:00.000-08:00

At a recent art opening at the Sofa Gallery, three cute Cactus Flower dresses were spotted!

Lookin' good ladies!

Dani the manequin

2009-12-29T15:45:00.000-08:00

Shades

2009-12-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

It might be cold out, but you still need cool shades! Come and get 'em at CF, they're only $12.

Featured on the Miseducated blog!

2009-12-19T08:43:00.001-08:00

read here.

.

Steampunk Fashion Shoot!

2009-12-12T10:16:00.001-08:00

Kristine wears a vintage 80s Zum Zum prom dress and Wild by Apollo vintage silver shoes, both from the upstairs at Cactus Flower.Molly's dress is by Double Zero and is priced at $35, downstairs.

ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT SARA BALDWIN.

2009-12-08T01:35:00.001-08:00

2009-11-02T13:56:00.001-08:00

Cactus Flower skirt!

Jessie the dog

2009-10-31T09:31:00.001-07:00

Jessie the dog wears a yellow Lacoste sweater (top) and a vintage argyle sweater (above) both from the Cactus Flower!

Shoes

2009-10-22T11:01:00.000-07:00

Come in and check out our great shoe selection! We have some great boots right now, and some patterned rain boots to help you get to class in style despite the lousy weather.

2009-10-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

Check out our page on the Bloomington Boutiques website!

http://btownboutiques.com/apparel/cactusflower

Marucha handmade bags

2009-10-19T09:55:00.001-07:00

Cute bag from Cactus Flower worn out at night!

Typewritter key rings!

2009-10-15T11:19:00.001-07:00

A CF-inspired wedding!

2009-10-04T10:13:00.000-07:00

This beautiful couple was married at The Story Inn in Brown County.

The bride found her vintage 60's wedding dress, which she wore during the photo shoot before the wedding, upstairs at Cactus Flower!

She also found her wedding photographer while checking out downstairs...

Cactus Flower's Sara Baldwin photographing the couple at The Story Inn Garden. You can see the barn where they were married in the background.
PHOTO BY: Maggie Arthur!

The Blue Lady Room at Story Inn is HAUNTED.

SB loved the horses.

A lovely dress for a lovely bride, and a perfect place for a perfect wedding.

2009-09-07T11:08:00.000-07:00

Allie and puppy! Ally wears a Gentle Fawn belted tank (on sale for $32), Puppy wears wrinkly white coat (not for sale)!

JEANS ADDICTION

2009-08-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

This is our cleverly-punned 80s/90s denim display, inspired by NYLON Magazine.

Come check out our amazing vintage collection of acid wash and colored skinny jeans from brands like Stretch, BLANK, Gloria Vanderbilt, Lee, Levis, and more!

Downstairs we have Free People skinny jeans in a variety of colors, and the infamously well-fitting and affordable CELLO brand skinny jeans.

Also COMING SOON to the Downstairs - BLANK jeans!

Summer Stylin'

2009-08-29T08:21:00.000-07:00

On a steamy Bloomington afternoon, this customer was rocking one of our lovely lightweight Mi&Rena ruched jersey dresses!

2009-08-18T08:11:00.000-07:00

Marie lookin' cute as a button in this dress from CF!

Wheelin' a round

2009-08-03T13:28:00.000-07:00

Molly outside of Boxcar Books in some CF shoes!

Taste-y Style!

2009-08-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

Melissa servin' up style at the Runcible Spoon in a Cactus Flower short-sleeved hoodie.

Chic Lady!

2009-08-01T19:01:00.001-07:00

Publish Post

Molly lookin' so cool and collected in her top from the Flower!

2009-07-15T18:41:00.001-07:00

These shorts came from Cactus Flower! Carolyn wears them well!

Interesting Fashion Choice, Anders...

2009-07-13T15:32:00.000-07:00

Some dudes just know how to rock vintage Hawaiian button-ups.

Keepin it cool!

2009-07-11T19:21:00.000-07:00

Alicia lookin sweet on Saturday afternoon in a white eyelet skirt from
the Flower!

2009-07-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

Be the only (well) dressed person at the hair pool this summer! Hop on in with or without swimtrunks, but if you're going to wear anything, make it a sexy vintage suit from the Cactus.

Celebrating our country's birth in stlye!

2009-07-04T12:24:00.000-07:00

Kacie lookin great on the mornin of the fourth in a denim jumper
dress and patterned tote bag, both of which she found at Cactus Flower!

2009-06-27T20:34:00.000-07:00

Evan keeps the party casual on Saturday night with a printed cotton tank from CF!

From Russia with Love

2009-06-25T18:10:00.000-07:00

Katya pairs a floral print cotton Soundgirl dress that she purchased at Cactus Flower with red shoes and a gold purse. Cute!

Location and Contact

2009-06-24T05:36:00.001-07:00

Cactus Flower 322

E Kirkwood Ave
Bloomington, IN

47401

Or Call! 812-333-8279

2009-06-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Oops! KJ & SB showed up to work wearing the same cute CF dress. (It was a perfect dress to bike in on a hot day!)

It's good to look good, but what if all of your friends want to look good too? Although we only receive a limited number of each item, sometimes great minds think alike.

Shop at cactus flower---with a friend!

2009-06-21T23:24:00.000-07:00

Someone needs to come purchase this adorable handmade jumper. It is located upstairs in the vintage section, and is priced at $16!

Jennifer modeled for Cactus Flower at a train trussel on the south side of Bloomington, along with some other cute chicks. (HA!)

Photos by Sara Baldwin.

About Us

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Cactus Flower is a treasure box of new and vintage goodies, where you'll find treats like brogue oxfords, novelty socks, bomber jackets and little 50s dresses all in one glorious location.

Cactus Flower is a well established, blossoming business that broadens and grows every day. Jill Shaffer, the founder and owner, has been grooming our brick and mortar store since the 70's. Since a modest start, the store now carries a wide variety of vintage and new, and brands such as Free People, Tulle, Flying Tomato and much more as well as jewelry and accessories.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit Molly Burkett

Visit Strawberry Koi. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Visit Thom Lennon Photography

Visit WINDOW WINDOW. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Cactus Flower on the street

2009-06-20T12:07:00.000-07:00

Amy looking great on Friday evening in a floral printed dress by Free People that she picked up at the Cactus!

Cactus Flower in Bloom

2009-06-14T14:04:00.000-07:00

When you pick up the latest issue of Bloom Magazine, be sure to turn to page 36 for a little tidbit about the vintage selection at Cactus Flower.

In addition - come take a look upstairs at our selection of 70's cotton sundresses--perfect for lounging at the pool while you read your Bloom!

Premier Post!

2009-06-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Here is a taste of what we'll be posting for you. Check back for more images of sweet items you can pick up at Cactus Flower!