Grlfashionista's Blog

The Vintage God of a Dot Com World

Grlfashionista — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:03:11 +0000

So, I know I have been SUPER lazy with my posting lately and I feel SUPER bad! It’s the wedding! I’m telling you the truth! It’s sucking all the spare time out of my life! Which, while I am enjoying all the painstaking planning of minuet details, I miss being able to sit down in front of my computer and share all my favorite vintage finds with you guys. So, until I get my time back I’m going to make mini posts. Short, sweet and to the point! Hope you still enjoy them as much and I promise to get back to my usual vintage self after my little fiasco is over!

But, back to the actual post! I was shuffling through my favorite online vintage shop, Thrifted and Modern, and I was once again amazed at their vintage selection. They offer so much in the way of eclectic and one of a kind vintage accessories and clothing. I’m sure as you can guess from the post title, I consider them the PREMIER shop of the vintage net and if I was rich I would be spending most of my funds here! Every item stands out, has a distinct personality and is definitive of the girl who picks it up. Absolutely special this store is; taking the time, the care, and the effort to only pick those items which define their store. A bit about them: Thrifted and Modern is an online vintage and independent designer women’s apparel retailer based in the San Francisco Bay Area. We began in 2009, selling a few vintage pieces from our own closet, and have quickly become a staple for fashion insiders with a growing list of celebrities, stylists, and high-profile designer clients. Emphasizing rare and unique hand-selected vintage pieces, we offer some of the best cutting-edge and fashion-forward vintage clothing found anywhere on the planet. Our vintage collection is hand-selected for personality, pre-screened for quality, and is updated daily with one-of-a-kind items that are guaranteed to turn heads.

Check out a couple of my favorites:

$160
Gorgeous 1950s black silky full circle party dress with a full sweep. Unlined. Side metal zip closure. Good vintage condition with minimal signs of overall wear. No tears, stains or damage.

$85 (ABOVE)
Hand knit wool fisherman sweater in cream. Unlined. Good vintage condition with minimal signs of overall wear. No tears, stains or damage.

(LEFT)
$88
Heavy duty oversized cardigan sweater coat. Unlined. Single front button closure. Front pockets. Good vintage condition with minimal signs of overall wear. No tears, stains or damage.

(RIGHT)
$88
Oversized black and white cardigan sweater sure to keep you warm in the colder months! Unlined. Front button closure. Front pockets.Good vintage condition with minimal signs of overall wear. No tears, stains or damage.

(LEFT)
$195
Heavy duty all wool Navajo-inspired blanket coat by Woolrich. Concho detailing with genuine leather fringe tassels. Partially lined. Shoulder pads may be easily removed, if desired. Front snap closure. Good vintage condition with minimal signs of overall wear. No tears, stains or damage

(RIGHT)
$225
A-line coat in cranberry wool with a beautiful fox fur collar. Total vintage ice princess coat. Fully lined. Front button closure. Side pockets. Embroidered monogram “MMD” on the lining. Genuine fox fur collar with wool body. Good vintage condition with minimal signs of overall wear. No tears, stains or damage.

(LEFT)
$118
Vintage burgundy leather lace up roper boots by Justin. Hard leather made to last! Leather interiors. Good vintage condition with signs of overall wear. Heavy scuffing to the bottoms and some wear to the interiors.

Vintage Jewelry is a Girl’s Best Friend..

Grlfashionista — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:14:53 +0000

And so the song goes that “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend..” But, in MY reality, it goes, “Vintage Jewels are a girl’s best friend..” And as a vintage lover I’m sure you would agree! Check out some of the amazing jewels I found over the last couple of weeks!

Blood Milk	Johanna Vintage	Riordan Studio
“Swan Song” What the Seller Says: A emotive ring featuring two unique components, a vintage feather ring has been married to an inverted “diamond”, both cast immortal in stunning sterling. the temple has been polished to achieve a satin finish: matte and pale and ethereal, while the extraordinary ring shank has been oxidized to the gloomy gray/ black	Vintage Art Deco Ring What the Seller Says: Vintage art deco cocktail ring, black plastic oval center, gold fill metal base. Delicate scrolled detail on the backside of the ring. Circa: Art Deco Period/1920s Vintage condition: excellent, there is some slight wear to the black oval center,some fine scratches but still an amazing piece. size: 8 1/4 USA	Vintage Engagement Ring What the Seller Says: This is a beautiful Platinum and Diamond Engagement Ring from the Edwardian Period. It was such a romantic and carefree time (1901-1910) and the jewelry reflected that sentiment. Diamonds and platinum were all the rage, used in delicate floral inspired designs. Zoom in and enjoy! This diamond was graded (as always at RiordanStudio) by a GIA Graduate Gemologist and Accredited Jewelry Professional.

Basement Safari	JessJamesJake	The Greedy Seagull
Vintage Rose Ring What the Seller Says: This ring is done in the early Faberge style. It may also be part silver, as well as rose gold This is a breathtaking ring. It is possibly as old as the 1700′s but perhaps the 1800′s It’s set on rose gold, with 37 diamonds, one large, all the rest are white, bright, and stunners!!! These diamonds are cut uniquely, maybe an ‘old style’ brilliant cut in very bright white, with the center one being rose-cut.	Vintage Cat Eye Ring What the Seller Says: Fabulous yellow cocktail ring, in a classic deco styling, with a lovely brown cat-eye stone, adjustable sizing and stamped ©Vogue on the interior. Adjustable Fit, ideal for ring sizes: 6 1/4 – 8 1/2 Signed: © Vogue Circa: 1970s In great vintage condition, with only minor signs of age, with 3 missing stones. The gold has slightly rubbed down in certain areas exposing the silver under-layer.	Vintage Edwardian Brooch What the Seller Says: Antiqe circa 1910-1920 sterling silver and dragon’s breath opal (also called a jelly opal) small little pin with a safety catch closure in back. An unusual find in excellent condition, measures 1 1/8″ and unsigned..

Heirra Vintage	Shop Vintage Revival	Jean Jean Vintage
Vintage Stone Bracelet What the Seller Says: Vintage oval bracelet with gold watch stretch band. Unique inlaid crushed stones – moss like texture. Pretty brick & olive tone. Label: U.S.A Vintage Condition: Great Imperfections: gold metal shows signs of age and wear.	“Vivian” What the Seller Says: From the “Distorted Time” collection, metal inner clock workings stacked on top of each other mounted on a brass adjustable ring to give you…Distorted Time! Adjustable brass ring	Vintage Cocktail Ring What the Seller Says: A flapper-era cocktail ring set with a black glass cabochon and complemented with sparkling marcasites. The ring is set in pot metal, or “white metal,” which was a popular jewelry metal before WWII. The face of the ring is wide and showy with a classic Art Deco design. A ring of marcasites frames the black glass feature stone, with scalloped corners (also set with marcasite) adding another border to the setting. The stone itself is cabochon cut with a flat, open back. There are a couple of chips on one edge of the cabochon, as well as some light nicking on the dome, but the stone is absolutely secure (no wiggle) and the overall appearance is outstanding. There are no marcasites missing and the band of the ring is well-shaped.

Handmade Stamps For the Handmade Heart

Grlfashionista — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:55:50 +0000

I have recently decided that I have an inappropriate obsession with stamps. I love them. I want to put them on everything and I’m sure if I could I would design some sort of crazy contraption that I could transfer my handwriting to and stamp for the rest of my writing life! I know, it’s that serious. But, it’s not my fault! It’s the wedding! All I can think of is crafting and thinking of fun and unique ways to create all of the “little things.” A.k.a Save the Dates, Invitations, Placecards, yada yada yada! The one I’m working most diligently on now is my Save the Dates. For the past couple of weeks I have been avidly searching in stores and on Etsy for the PERFECT stamps to cover my Kraft paper envelopes. Finally after hours of painstaking research and tear you heart out decisions I FINALLY found stamps on Etsy that I loved. Well, I found dozens that I loved, but I had to choose just one! Check out some of the shops I found along the way and see what stamps I went with!

What drew me to this amazing shop? The adorable “to” stamp with package tape! So cute and perfect for any occasion envelope (especially a rustic wedding!). Seriously, I almost bought this stamp for my Save the Date envelopes, BUT I needed it a bit sooner than could be arranged. ANYWAY! You would not believe how difficult it was to find a shop that had already designed “deliver to” stamps. And this was after I already shopped around some of your usual craft big box stores. I guess you could buy a “t” and an “o,” place them side by side, draw some lines for the address and call it a day, but who wants to do that! Why not buy a fun stamp and cut the work in half! Ampersandity offers you just that and is one of the only shops on Etsy that carries these pre-made “to” stamps. You can choose from a few styles, all rustic in design and there is even a Christmas “to” stamp! How cute would that be on your handmade Christmas Card! Order early though because these handmade stamps take a couple of weeks to carve and ship. Besides the “to” stamps, Ampersandity also carries some beautifully hand carved address stamps. Quirky, original and rustic the address stamps come in unique designs and prints. Oh the prints! They’re precise, unique, fun and 100% custom! Trust me, if you like things that have a vintage feel to them, you will love these stamps! Something to keep in mind about this shop: Custom orders are welcome and the owner is happy to work with you to meet your specific design needs. Check them out!

There is only one word to describe this shop…ADORABLE! Seriously, check Cupcake Tree out and you will see what I mean. Olga, store owner, has made the shopping easy for you; creating equally cute categories to match her sweet handmade stamps. Animal stamps (owls!), food stamps, teacher stamps, you name it, she has it! The cutest category? MINI STAMPS! You will seriously grab your heart and gasp when you see these mini-me stamps. It’s not just their size that makes them so irresistible, but it’s what Olga does with them that makes you say,”Now that’s different.” Check out this mini-stamp set and you will see what I mean: Mini Cupcake Set. If you don’t want to buy that just to play with it, then you may want to get your heart checked! But besides Olga’s fun handmade stamps shaped in simple, joyful shapes, Olga can also make custom stamps. A fact that I know to be very true because she made one for me! Like I mentioned before, I was in a desperate search for a “to” stamp and could not find one that I could get shipped ASAP. So, I asked Olga to carve one for me and she so generously did AND she did it EXACTLY how I wanted it! And talk about fast! Oh my goodness, I received my proof the same day and Olga had it carved and shipped within a day and a half and I got in the mail within 3 days. You know if you are a bride or have been one, time is of the essence. So the faster, the better! How did I find out about this awesome shop? Funny you should ask! Olga actually helped me with my Save the Dates. Coordinating with another seller, MonkeysontheRoof, a shop that crafts tree stump magnet Save the Dates, Olga created a personalized stamp for my fiance and I to go on our tree stump magnets. I just got them in the mail last week and let me tell you, I was beyond ecstatic and I am so excited to send them out! Bottom line is, you need to check this shop out. Olga is super nice and will work with you on anything you need. And lets face it, what can this woman not do with stamps! Happy shopping [Check out the end of this post for pics of my stamps and Save the Dates!]

Savethedate is another shop, like Ampersandity, that specializes in lovely self-inking and wood handle address stamps. They were actually the first shop that caught my eye when I was searching for address stamps for my Save the Dates mainly because I loved their designs. They’re not especially grand or anything, but their simplicity is utterly adorable and the print is the main attraction. If you are like me and like that vintage look that exists with typewriter print, rigid lines and simple shapes, then you will know what I mean when you view the stamps. Understated and unique, I had a ridiculously hard time choosing what stamp design I wanted. There were just to many that I would of been happy with and that would fit with my vintage theme wedding. Not only that, but my Kraft paper envelopes (which I also got off of Etsy)! So in my desperation, I actually brought my fiance in and asked him what his favorite was! And would you know it, I ended up buying the one he liked! Go figure. Then from there I designed my “to” stamp which Savethedate also custom designed for me! (I know, I have two “to” stamps! I wanted a bigger one and a smaller one. What gives! I’m a bride, I can do what I want! Hehe..) Tiffany, one of the store owners, was unbelievably patient with me considering I changed the design like 50 times and she had to keep proofing it! But, she was super fast about it and when all my stamps were finalized and carved, she had them shipped and I had them within a week. Which, I was surprised about because I was under the impression that it was going to take longer! I did mention a few million times I needed them ASAP, so Tiffany may have pushed it through faster, but either way, I am a satisfied customer. The best part is that my stamps look exactly like the product shown on Etsy and how I proofed it was how it was handcrafted. And talk about quality! Fabulous! I’ve never had a self-inking stamp before and it is so addictive! I highly recommend taking a gander at Savethedate if you are in the market for address stamps! [Check out my stamps below]

My Stamps!

One Sheet…A Million Possibilities!

Grlfashionista — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:40:30 +0000

On my search for quality handmade paper for my Save the Dates (I know! More wedding stuff! It has consumed me!) I came to the harsh realization that either you buy expensive handmade paper from an independent retailer OR you buy your basic cardstock from a Big Box store such as Michaels. Neither of which obviously appealed to me at all and I began to give up on the idea I would be able to find affordable handmade paper. But Alas! There is hope! In a last ditch effort, which I don’t know why it wasn’t even my first thought, I signed on to Etsy and searched for my desired scrolls of papyrus. Of course it was no surprise when 10000 products popped up! But when I specified my search a bit more, I stumbled upon some beautiful paper and some must mention stores. And not only beautiful, but affordable! I mean, really, what doesn’t Etsy have? I think I’m just going to start shopping for all my needs there! Check out the amazing products I found and find out which one I bought to create my Save the Dates!

FYI: There are endless possibilities when it comes to paper. Scrapbooking, Card Making, Sign Making, Place Cards…name it and you can do it!

How awesome is this handmade paper from torielliot! Made from recycled yellow pages paper, this handmade paper comes in packs of 4 and is perfect for scrapbooking. Original and ornate, these sheets of collaged scraps of paper are in themselves a work of art. To beautiful for you to write on? Stick them in an old frame and spruce up your walls. Imagine the conversations that would arise from them! The best part about these colorful sheets is that they are super affordable. Have a piece of handmade awesomeness for only $3.50 a pack! Amazing!

Freshly brewed coffee paper! I loved reading that description when I stumbled across this coffee dyed handmade paper by secondhandwhimsy. It made me feel all warm and cozy on the inside just thinking about freshly brewed coffee. Well, more the smell really considering I don’t drink coffee. But not for a lack of trying! I just never took to the taste. Back to the paper though! Handmade from recycled office materials (talk about conserving!) these parchment sheets can be made with or without grounds embedded. Sold in packs of five and hand tied with twine. How cute!

Besides being pretty, these beautifully twined handmade sheets of paper put the “eco” in “eco-friendly.” Combining the usual leftover scraps of our paper worked lives, this lovely stationary includes a rather unique feature….flowers. Yes, dried flowers. That’s what those little specs of color you see are. How cool is that? Not to mention that sheepstreetdesign also creates its handmade papyrus with tea; an indulgence that I could not live without! Perfect for scrap booking, card making or whatever fun project you may have in mind!

Bare witness, my friends! These are the sheets of handmade goodness that started this whole debacle! I was in a desperate search for paper that would make my Save the Dates POP! And cardstock was just not giving me the effect that I wanted at all. Way to rigid and it was just not fitting in with my vintage theme! So, I realized that I needed some amazing handmade paper…something that would scream rustic. And after searching in shops, I realized I should just try Etsy and VOILA I find my perfect match at WhiteDragonPaper! Made from 100% cardboard, paperboard, and scraps of magazine pages this set of brown handmade paper is 4×5 and comes in a range of pack sizes. To give you an idea, I got 40 sheets for $10! How amazing is that! I never thought that I could get quality handmade materials for affordable prices! So excited to get started on my Save the Dates when it arrives! Fun detail about shop: If you accumulate lots of scraps, send them to me for up to 25% off any item in my shop!

If I was a goat, this delectable handmade cotton paper would be my Filet Mignon! Available in 5 delicious colors, these sheets are ” solid,” as the seller puts it. What the seller says: These papers are what we call luster, which means they glisten just slightly, nothing too overpowering, but enough to add the wow factor to any project you might be working on. Paper size is 19″ x 25″ and has 4 natural deckles. The paper is one hundred percent cotton, internally sized and buffered, a heavy wight paper great for a range of artistic purposes. Just imagine the possibilities!

Journal writing is a favorite past time of mine and I always challenge myself when finding a new journal to purchase something unusual and unique. Just like me I love buying leather bound or handmade journals, but they naturally be super expensive. So when I stumbled across this handmade paper journal from hyperdoggie I was relieved! Beautiful and priced well, this journal is handmade inside and out. The book has a lovely cover with natural paper made from gourd vines, and decorative papers and beads have been added in natural tones to dress up the cover. 20 pages inside are sewn as signatures, and each has graceful deckle edges. Lovely.

Christmas Tree Oh Christmas Tree!

Grlfashionista — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 14:08:58 +0000

I would have to say that my favorite part of Christmas is the decorating! And not just any kind of holiday decorating, but Christmas Tree decorating! Ever since I was a kid this was the one thing that I looked forward to. Sure, I can’t deny that the presents were a nice little bonus, but for me, Christmas was about the Tree. It was about the family trip to Boone (which we still take) to a Christmas Tree farm to find the perfect tree. It was about the chopping of the tree, the hot cider drunk to battle the cold and the excitement of the hayride up and down the mountains. It was the reward that at the end of our trip we would get home, place the tree in its appointed Christmas corner and wait in anticipation as the tree slowly settled its prickly limbs. The smell of pine permeated the entire house and even today when I smell pine, I think of Home, of Family and of heartfelt Christmas memories. I swear I would walk in out of the room where our tree was held just to get whiffs of the mountain pine.

Finally after staring at the tree for days, waiting for it to be ready I would be able to help my mom decorate it. And my mom wasn’t the sort of mom who was super particular about decorating and she didn’t try and make it all Martha Stewart like. The Tree was filled with mismatched Christmas balls and handmade ornaments. It was about the fun of creating and the joy of being with the ones you loved the most. And it’s still about this. Now I have all the ornaments my mom purchased for me every year I have been on this Earth. And she’s still buying them! (Hopefully for a long time too if you know what I mean!) Somehow I manage to make sure that every one of them have a place on my tree. Imagine what it will look like in 20 years! Not to mention that I also like to buy ornaments myself! Yikes! I might need to buy a bigger tree just to fit all of them! But, I would if they were like some of these amazing vintage ones I found:

The first thing that caught my eye about this colorful Vintage Polish Ornament from TheBeesKneesPlease was the word “Dreamcatcher” in its description. I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid I was enamored with dreamcatchers! From the first time my mom told me the story behind the dreamcatcher I was hooked. I actually had one above my bed to “catch” all my nightmares! And I would love to add this beautiful feather “dreamcatcher” to my Christmas Tree! It might not rid bad dreams, but it would defiantly add some glitter and shine! (BTW this shop has 15% off discount code! Check it out!)

Vintage AND Handmade? You’ve stolen my heart you gorgeous Cranberry Christmas Ornament you! Hand blown to perfection, this vintage ornament from MsTookesMuzes is hand painted in 24 K Gold Leaf in traditional Christmas design. With no scratches or cracks, this fine piece of Christmas Cheer would make a delightful addition to your Xmas collection!

I have to say that I love satin covered ornaments. Not only do they have a smooth shine to them, but I can’t break them! And if you knew me, you would know that one quality would be a major selling point for me! I’ve broken at least two ornaments every Christmas since I’ve had my own tree. I’m just super clumsy! But, this handmade lace ornament with snowflake design (which I adore!) from SnappyTatter would not be in danger of my slippery fingers! Check out the sellers site to find out what this limited edition ball is made of! You won’t believe the quality and care put into this little guy. You could even gift it if you wanted!

So I know that when you usually think of ornaments you automatically think of the traditional Christmas ball. But, what about the other nontraditional ornaments? Like this vintage Lucite Snowman Ornament from OceanSideCastle. How could you not want this adorable snowman on your tree? He’s so jolly with his striped scarf and cocked hat! Makes me think of Frosty actually! Ornaments like these add such a unique feel to your Christmas Tree and are super fun to decorate with. Plus, they’re great conversation starters!

Ummm..this is probably one of the coolest things that I’ve stumbled upon lately! Vintage Crocheted Christmas Ornament Covers from Padurns. How did I not know about these goodies sooner? Take any old Christmas Ball, slip on the patterned cover and VALAH! you have a brand new ornament. Pretty neat huh? We have coozies and covers for all sorts of things, why not ornaments? Such a fun idea! Thanks 1980s!

Satin AND Beads, oh my! Unbreakable and refreshingly original. You know I love it. These beautifully crafted Satin and Velvet Vintage Ornaments from MellowMermaid are in pristine condition. Beaded by hand these ornaments would look beautiful not only on your tree, but even on display on your dining table or hung around the house. They would actually be really pretty on a wreath interweaved with gold ribbon. I would defiantly be proud to hang that outside my house! What would you do with them?

A Turkey Day Outfit Good Enough To Eat!

Grlfashionista — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 16:03:23 +0000

Everyone is on the search for their perfect Thanksgiving Holiday outfit and I believe that I just found mine! Fitted in a bed of browns and oranges (and my fave birdy!) this outfit is the perfect ensemble to eat some delicious holiday Turkey! Check out some of the amazing vintage I pieced together:
(BTW…sorry for the short post today! Super busy with Thanksgiving and work but HAD to show you this outfit! Promise I’ll get back to my old self after Turkey day!)

AnimalHead Vintage	MintMall Store	ModCloth
Check Out That Vintage!
Vintage 60s Mod Orange Button Dress What the Seller Says: Tag reads “DW3 Fashions Inc.” Lovely soft linen/poly blend woven fabric in a bright orange. There is a great texture to the material. Fitted waist, slight a-line skirt with two pleats in the front. Awesome heavy duty metal buttons with matching orange middle. Sleeveless, high neck with sharp pointed collar. Covered zipper down the back of the dress, and built in “belt” that buttons in behind. Great vintage condition	Vintage 70s Choc. Leather Jacket What the Seller Says: Vintage jacket. Boho hippie. Gorgeous deep plum/brown genuine leather with a dark espresso faux shearling over sized lapel. Deep v, patch pockets. Belted. Petite fit. Lined.	Browns-tone and Mood Tights What the Seller Says: You’ve decided to lock yourself into your row apartment all afternoon to force yourself to work on your novel. You cross your legs, clad in these thick, deep navy-based stockings by Hansel from Basel, reminding yourself yet again what your first writing teacher told you about style. You cultivate the basis for this next chapter and decide to create a character around your outfit – the independent, LA-based company that this colorblocked legwear comes from is one that conveys quirky everyday elements in fun, uncommon fashion, and these facets are all defining characteristics of this individual. With a salmon-colored top to match the middle blocks of these tights, as well as a black A-line skirt, the tone of your outfit is sure to inspire a creative chapter!

FromEve WithLove	ChickenLittle Jewelry	Antique Addictions
Vintage 70s Snakeskin Platforms What the Seller Says: Extremely rare vintage EVA platform pumps with twotone patterned snakeskin upper and OH-SO-HIGH heels. The platform measures almost one inch! Very high quality shoes as you can see from the insoles – all leather and very well made. These heels most likely date from the 1970s (maybe early 1980s) but they also have a 1940s touch. Just classical! The condition is excellent – these babies look barely worn.	Vintage 60s Mixed Metal Owl Necklace What the Seller Says: Long mixed metals vintage hinged Owl pendant necklace by Chickenlittlejewelry. This fun vintage pendant measures 5” top to bottom and features a detailed silver tone head with glowing topaz cabochon eyes then a body and tail in “feathers” of bright finish gold tone. He is hinged at the neckline and thought the body and tail and suspended on a multi linked 24” necklace chain.	Vintage 50s/60s Mod Lucite Bracelet What the Seller Says: Outstanding vintage lucite spiral bracelet, 1950s – 1970s. Tapering, thick amber brown lucite was molded into a modernist abstract sculpture for the wrist. Beginning with an end 3/4″ wide, the lucite wraps about two-and-a-half times around the wrist, narrowing to just over 1/4.” The vintage lucite is about 1/4″ thick. About 2-9/16″ x 2-1/2.” The amber spiral truly is wearable art, and an abstract modernist sculpture that probably made its way down the runway. Unusual and rare, and in very good pre-owned and used condition, with no cracks, no chips, no stress fractures like you can find in old lucite. Modernist barbaric splendor, a vintage treasure.

Wish I Could’ve Seen…

Grlfashionista — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 12:41:02 +0000

Women’s Baseball (AAGPBL)

Who hasn’t seen “League of Their Own” and NOT wanted to be a kick butt chick baseball player!?

The “Jenny” Jacket

Grlfashionista — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 14:36:59 +0000

Sometimes to get a little inspiration for my weekly posts I “window shop” my favorite online vintage stores. Usually after looking through a couple of them I begin to form loose ideas about what I want to write about. And last week when I reverted to this in order to avoid an oncoming writer’s block I stumbled across a fabulous trend for winter. Now it may be just pure coincidence that my fave shops were carrying similar things OR like the southwestern prints post, it could be that this vintage 70s trend is making a come back. (BTW I was out shopping last week and I saw southwestern prints everywhere! I was so proud of myself!)

So, what is this item that I am so elated about? I’m sure you’ve already been able to guess, but it’s a suede 70s jacket. BUT not just ANY suede 70s jacket..the “Jenny” Jacket (as I’ve so cleverly coined it!). “Jenny” coming from one of my fave movies “Forrest Gump” where her hippie character is seen on more than one occasion sporting a suede brown maxi jacket with fur trim. Anytime I see this certain type of jacket I think of Jenny and her 70s hippie self! So, you can imagine how many times my brain processed this thought enough to make me want to dedicate a whole post to it! I desperately hope the “Jenny” jacket is coming back. It’s such a sleek style. Tight fitted with voluminous fur framing the face, smooth suede or leather toasting your body and (in some cases) a wrap around belt to cinch at your waist. Just thinking about what I have in my wardrobe to go with this statement piece fills me with childish giddy excitement! I might have to get one even if it’s not back in style! And it might have to be one of these amazing “Jenny” jackets I found among some of my fave sellers:

MermaidSoup Clothing	MamaStone Vintage	Lotus VintageNY
Check out these FABULOUS “Jenny” Jackets!
Vintage 70s Suede Boho Jacket What the Seller Says: Gorgeous suede coat from the 70s. buttery soft pumpkin colored suede with giant faux fur collar. Beautiful stitching on coat breast with tan leather woven stripes. Self fabric covered buttons. Fully lined, inseam pockets at hips. great condition but there is wear and spots (could possibly come out with a professional cleaning), and there is a missing belt (belt loops on hips)..	Vintage 70s Faux Fur Hippie Jacket What the Seller Says: Vintage 70′s Nutmeg color Suede Leather Hippie Boho Coat Jacket. Light/Midweight Suede. Faux Fur collar and cuffs. Zipper up front. Tiny skinny slim fit. Fully lined on the inside with a light quilted lining. Super cool!	Vintage 70s Chocolate Jacket What the Seller Says: Amazing vintage 70s suede jacket! The HUGE comfy faux fur collar will keep you warm for sure! Soft and pliable chocolate suede with caramel colored collar, two front buttons, attached belt and two front pockets. Chevron stitching design on the chest, back and pockets. Quilted lining. In great condition with no odors, lining is in great condition as well. Made in Argentina of cow hide suede.

SpanishMoss	ThriftWares	ThriftWares
Vintage Lola Suede & Shearling Coat What the Seller Says: Vintage 70′s perfectly fitted suede & shearling mini coat. Princess seaming. High waist. Hook closures. Looks like under one arm was hand stitched up. Excellent condition.	Vintage 70s Sienna Suede Jacket What the Seller Says: Vintage 1970s sienna shearling fur jacket. Soft suede jacket features a zip up front, shearling fur trim. Two front pockets. Lined. Excellent Condition.	Vintage 70s Fur Princess Jacket What the Seller Says: Vintage 1970s sienna shearling princess coat. Soft shearling fur coat features a tailored princess fit, hook eye closure front, two front pockets. Shearling fur lined.

Jackalope Trading	RockStreet Vintage	Vintage Anthologie
Vintage 70s Leather Jacket What the Seller Says: Foxy Brown Leather Jacket from JC Penney. Removable fake fur collar. Size sm. Great condition. Button front with leather tie belt. I think this could easily be unisex. Wonderfully broken in vintage condition… a coat to last a life time.	Vintage 70s Double Breasted Coat What the Seller Says: awesome vintage suede leather jacket – bohemian chic with soft plush lambs wool collar, full quilted lining, double breasted front closure and tie belt… coat has front slouch pockets with gold buckle details… while this little coat is in very good vintage condition, it does show very slight discoloration distress along edges of cuffs and along front edge… adds to her character – she’s awesome!	Vintage 70s Fitted Suede Jacket What the Seller Says: This coat is so retro and so amazing!!! It is tan colored suede with leather zip-up, stitched on pockets and a zipper close. Big bushy faux fur surrounds the cuff as well as the collar and it is lined with quilted orange fabric. The coat in good condition, however has a slight spot on the front right side.

Studs and Lace with a Side of Rock and Roll…

Grlfashionista — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:17:24 +0000

I’m finding it unbearably hard not to purchase every item in the outfit I have created for you dear readers. It’s actually hard for me to look at it because I so desperately want to sport it! It’s like one of those times when you buy your favorite fashion magazine and as you scan each stylish page after the other you undoubtedly find those pieces that your heart just beats for. It almost feels criminal not to desire them! So for fear that you will empty out your bank account in one swoop you toss the magazine to the farthest reaches of your apartment where you won’t be able to catch even the slightest glimmer of it. “Out of sight, out of mind” becomes your motto as you wait for recycling day to come along. (I know someone just gasped here at the mention of recycling magazines that consists of such “bibles” of Vogue and Elle. It’s okay you can keep them. I do!) We have all had our moments and I believe, for me, this is one of them! Check out the outfit that I am trying to convince myself I can live without!

I am loving this Vintage 70s Taupe Crochet Mini Dress from MamaStoneVintage. This type of dress is my ultimate favorite. It’s quintessential Boho: simple, light and easy. And because of its simplicity, this dress can also be easily manipulated to fit any style. Feeling a little dainty one day? Pair this cut- out knit dress with a fitted jacket and your favorite pumps. Feeling a little punky the next? Pair with leather jacket and Jeffrey Campbell platforms and you’ll be set. Whatever the look you can be sure that you will be turning heads in this lovely piece of vintage! (Oh yeah, don’t you just love the sleeves? So relaxed!)

Talk about avante garde! How awesome is this Vintage 80s Draped Wool Maxi Jacket from MintMallStore? I LOVE the hood! It’s so voluptuous and mysterious. The whole jacket holds a bit of mystery to it; hiding whatever lays beneath its black blanket of slouched fabric. (Feeling like a secret agent now?) Simple as it may be with its over sized cloaked hood, long sleeves and buttoned pockets there’s no end to the possibilities. Like the dress in its shade this versatile jacket can be worn with the frilliest of dresses or the spikiest of shoes, your choice. It’s a definite statement piece, for sure. Plus, the fact that it’s fully lined and made of wool ensures that you will stay toasty warm on the chilliest of days.

If there is one thing that is essential to my fall/winter wardrobe it is the legging. I cannot even begin to tell you how many leggings I have in my possession as of right now b/c my cheeks would turn bright red from embarrassment. What can I say? They’re easy, comfortable (especially on those days when you’re not exactly fitting into your jeans if you know what I mean), match with everything and come in a multitude of colors and designs. Why wouldn’t you love them? Slap on a favorite dress or baggy sweater, pop on some bright tights overlaid with a sheer patterned one, zip up your favorite boots, throw on your vintage leather jacket and you’re good to go! That took all of 7 secs and you look killer! Have I convinced you yet? Well if I have then you need to check out these AWESOME vintage 80s black shredded rocker leggings from HoneyMoonMuse. So sick! Love that hard rocker look to them! These would be the perfect pair of leggings (especially when it gets colder) to put a solid colored legging underneath. Such an interesting look!

The Roper Boot. A definite choice favorite of mine among boots. The worn leather, the bent fringe, the skinny laces that go all the way up to your ankles combine together to form THE absolute style. If it has hand punched studs? Even better. Check out these Vintage Studded Roper Boots from MetropolisNYCVintage. They are the culmination of everything I love in a roper boot. They’re vintage number one! But they carry with them a tangible weight meaning when you put them on a certain persona takes over. You walk tall. You walk proud. You stomp when you step and you apologize for nothing. You are complete. And besides making you feel like the dot on an exclamation point, they’re also comfortable. With every step you take you feel the worn leather mutate to fit the curves of your ankle. Your toes able to take a relaxing vacation due to the unique boat shape of the boot. MMMM…I could wear these with everything! Besides, they’re just awesome and go with any look!

MetrolpolisNYCVintage you do not disappoint! Not only do you have amazing studded boots, but you have the bags to match! Check out this rock inspired Vintage hand STUDDED leather COACH bag! Do you not swoon over it? They go perfectly with the awesome roper boots we found! And when have you ever found yourself in a situation when you found matching shoes and bag and not been able to purchase both? Ugh! You tug at my heart strings Metro! You know I can’t resist the studding, but to cover a stellar vintage coach bag in them is just pure evil! You know I can’t resist! Readers! Help! I am in dire need of stud intervention! This bag may have just done me in!

Mary Janes: Not Your Childhood Shoe

Grlfashionista — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 11:51:27 +0000

When you were a little girl if your mom was anything like mine, she tended to dress you in Mary Janes because she obsessed over how adorable you looked in them. You on the other hand (if you were a tomboy like me) passionately disagreed. They were uncomfortable, shiny and an accessory when brought out reminded you that with them would come a frilly dress or some ghastly floral patterned top and skirt. Oh yeah, leggings too. And not cute leggings like kids where now-a-days, but those uncomfortable sock leggings that were made out of god knows what fabric and made you itch like hell. I squirm when I think about it now. I think Easter was probably the worst. On top of the leggings, shoes and the ghastly dresses came the gloves. White gloves may I add. And a dinky, wide brimmed straw hat with a pink ribbon tied around it. I unfortunately have pictures to prove it and when I see them I always ask my mom, “What were you thinking?!” To which she would reply, “What? I thought you looked so cute!” ::Cringe::

But, now as I am getting older and have started to appreciate fashion, I am finding that I am re-attracted to the shoe that I disdained so much as a child. Sure, they are not the low heeled, patent leather abominations of my day, but the Mary Jane style is still the same. Low cut front and a strap secured tightly around your ankle or around the lower half of your foot. Sometimes a T-strap follows behind. Fairly basic style that can be easily manipulated into your shoe of choice; platform, heel or wedge. Sure there are still bonafide Mary Janes out there, but when I say Mary Jane I am using using the term very loosely. When I am looking for these I am searching for a pair of taps that fit the basic terms of the MJ, but still have their own special flair. Check out some of these vintage MJ’s I discovered:

Cricket Capers	FabGabs	Salvage Life
Check out these FABULOUS Mary Janes!
Vintage 80s Suede Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Vintage 1980′s brown suede mankiller goth mary jane / pilgrim heels. Round toe shoes lead to a high pilgrim “T” style strap with a side buckle and finished with a shapely stacked 4″ heel.	Vintage 60s “Monkey Girl” Janes What the Seller Says: These cute, chunky heels made me want to put on a barely there mini dress and wild tights – they’re so funky and fun! Made by Sweet Steps, I love everything about them, from the carmelized color to the t-strap, and fun high heels. I think you will, too! These shoes are in very good condition. They have been worn, but remain in great shape with no issues I can find to note.	Vintage 70s Peep Toe Janes What the Seller Says: 1970′s beige leather peep toe heels with teardrop cut outs adorning the toes. Stacked heel and ankle strap. Excellent vintage, there are a lot of small scuffs and marks and the straps are a little brittle. Still very wearable.

LuckyVintage Seattle	IrisVintage Boutique	Pineapple Mint
Vintage 70s Caramel Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Vintage 1970s browned butter leather mary janes with chunky curved wood heels. round toe with raised top stitch detail, ankle strap with copper tone buckle. Chocolate brown stacked wood heel. Very good condition – they have some normal scuffing to the leather from wear and some dark smudges on the inside of one heel. not too noticeable when worn, but definitely not perfect. we LOVE them anyway!	Vintage Peep Toe Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Bright red Mary Jane style heels with a peep toe style front with cut out design. So beautiful! The heel is approximately 1/2” thick and there is a buckle to adjust the size of the strap in front. Shoe appears to be made of a leather or leather-like upper and suede in front (there is no material tag). They are in ggreat vintage condition with some small scuffs on the back heel	Vintage 80′s Two-Tone Mary Janes What the Seller Says: 1980s mary janes pumps with a 1920s/30s style. Grey and cream leather uppers. Leather soles.The maker is Anne Klein. Leather insoles and lining. Overall excellent condition. Light wear on the soles. A few tiny scuffs on the heels.

TheLovedOne	Thrush	LisaZain
Vintage Leather Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Beautiful brown leather peeptoe heels! Gold tone leather trim. Low cut peep toe at toes. Ankle strap with side buckle	Vintage 40s Suede Mary Janes What the Seller Says: Stunning vintage 1940′s rich black suede platform pinup pumps with a very tall heel and platform fronts. Buckled strap at the heel for the perfect fit. Peeptoe, slingback shape and cutouts at the toe. Excellent Condition!	Vintage Wooden “Mary Janes” What the Seller Says: blood red leather strappy platform sandals with criss cross straps over the foot, delicate ankle strap with gold toned buckle and gorgeous curved platform wood soles. foam rubber bottoms with a plastic heel tap. shoes are in good vintage condition. some wear, no flaws to report.