Look at the time fly!

So.

Since last I posted, a lot has changed in my life. 

My (grand) Papa passed away in April 2007 and thus began the long, hard process of clearing out all his stuff.

Papa was the man I inheirted the "old stuff" gene from.

He had a Model A & Model T junkyard in the 50's & 60's, apparently dabbled in the "rag" business at one point, and was mostly a collector of "junk".

He was a man who could put Sanford & Son to shame and it took us a good long while to get the house in order.

Since then, I've moved and finally took the plunge into the world of brick & mortar stores.

After being open for only 5 months, an opportunity came up to move to a much better (bigger, more visible, with a back room!) store location and we jumped at it.

I wish I had a picture for you - but I'll post one soon. I hope.

Business is surprisingly good. The doom & gloom on the morning news always makes me wary - but in my day to day life I only see good. 

But I think part of the reason for that is that BECAUSE times are hard, people are more likely to spend LOCALLY with small businesses - and also because so many people are now realizing the value of vintage. Why buy a prom dress at the mall for $300 when you can buy a better made one locally for $100?

I know that I find myself spending my money locally - with individuals instead of big faceless corporations. At this point, I find myself reluctant to give those greedy SOBs at the top any more money. I'm convinced half those big companies are laying people off just to save more money at the top - after all, the remaining employees will be so thankful they still have a job that they'll do the work of TWO people, right?

Ok, now I'm just rambling.

Anyway -- just a foot in the water. I'm hoping to start blogging more again since I've got a BRAND SPANKING NEW website coming up. Woot!

Horaay for vintage style!

I'm not usually one to promote vintage reproductions -- the genuine article is almost always SO much better! - but if you have boat feet like I do there's very little chance of finding fabulous vintage shoes in your size. Unless you have the budget of Imelda Marcos.
Enter ReMix (www.remixvintageshoes.com). They faithfully recreate vintage shoes, but in modern sizes! And the price isn't bad, either.
I LOVELOVELOVE their shoes!
I even have a a gal friend who wears almost exclusively 1940's clothing (including her frilly underthings!) who swears by them. She mixes them freely into her wardrobe with her authentic 40's shoes... and if they're good enough for her, they're plenty good for me.
Anyway -- I was pleased as punch to have recently found these ReMix shoes in my size for a bargain price:



Black... peep toe... LOW wedge heel (sadly, this is ESSENTIAL for me, now!) and can be worn with or without the little bow. Sweet! I can't wait to wear them with my new favorite vintage dress!

Unanswered vintage questions...

If you ever have a question about vintage -- whether about cleaning or care or history or label info or... whatever! -- then Ask Ms Vintage is the place to ask.
Hosted by the VFG (www.VintageFashionGuild.org), which has a virtual wealth of information on every aspect of vintage, antique & collectible clothing.
Check it out!

Mmmmm leopard!

I don't know what it is about leopard prints... I just love 'em!
And vintage leopard prints are absolutely the BEST - in fact, I've yet to see a single MODERN leopard print that I've fallen in love with as thoroughly as a good vintage leopard printed item - on fabric, faux or real fur!
As always, click on the pictures to be taken to that listing...

Today, I'm in love with this sweet little set from Dorthea's Closet Vintage on Ebay -



And this one from VintageClothesLine.com - How can you resist? It's got a huge, and yet so appropriate pussy bow! And a matching jacket with leopard trim!



And - probably the cutest purse on eBay right now from a seller I don't know (click on the pic to see the listing)


And OH MY GOSH! I can't stand how freaking CUTE this is!! From another seller I don't know.. click the pic to check it out!



Enjoy!

Underrated vintage designers.

Sure... everyone has heard of the greats: Ceil Chapman, Adrian, Oleg Cassini and oh so many more.

But there are a few vintage designers that just seem to go unnoticed. I'm not talking super-high end stuff, though. I mean great designers for those of us on realistic budgets. When's the last time YOU had $600 lying around to spend on a dress?
Yeah. Me either.
So when I do my searches, I tend to look for stuff I know I can afford - R & K Originals often had very cute stuff. Alex Colman had some fantastic prints. But one of my favorites has got to be Catherine O'gust. The dresses themselves are rather sedate - button down shirtdresses with long tie belts and mandarin collars - but the design takes back seat to the fantastic prints.

Here's a couple of great examples I found online -- and then one of my favorite one from MY collection. Just click on the pictures to be taken to the listing:

Very muted organic print. From BeBopDivaVintage on eBay:


A more abstract and Spring like version from The Purse Diva on www.mainstreetvintage.com


And mine, which I'm particularly enamored of, Undoubtedly the most exotic Ogust I've come across - seller Elsewhere on Ebay:

No vintage for YOU!

Why is it that I deal in vintage clothing for a living, but I simply NEVER find anything this cute in MY size? It really puts a damper on my mood.
One of my coworkers suggested that they look somewhat like ghillies - Irish dancing shoes. They almost DO have that look to them.
There's just something so sweet about shoes that are sensible and yet just a little sexy, too, don't you think?

A joyride through the wonderful world of vintage...

I'm re-starting this blog to take note of all the wonderful vintage that can be found online. I am constantly roaming the internet just to see what there is to see, and I'd like to share that with others. Sometimes it might be something I'm particularly enamored of in my own online store... sometimes it may be something from one of my fellow VFG (Vintage Fashion Guild) members... sometimes just a random seller that I don't know from Joe.

I'll try to do most of my blogging after my evening glass of wine so I'm at least a little bit entertaining! ;)