My New Old Shoes

I’ve grown so accustomed to buying vintage shoes that I’m finding I don’t even like new shoes anymore. Whenever I try on a brand spanking new pair my feet suddenly feel very conspicuous, like “Hello! I have feet! And I’m wearing NEW SHOES!” Vintage shoes are already broken in; creased and scuffed in all the right places. I also find that vintage styles suit my aesthetic more than new styles. I’m not much for pointy toes or neon colors or skinny heels. Give me a sturdy pair of chunky-heeled, round-toed, granny-esque shoes any day. Hence, my favorite new pair…

Have you ever stumbled across something on EBay that you knew you just had to have? Something that had your name written all over it? Say, a lovely pair of granny shoes for example? And the thing about EBay is, even if you know you want to buy the shoes, you still have to sit and wait days and days for the auction to end, all the while fearful that some one else is going to discover your shoes and want them too. How dare they?! Well, lucky for me the EBay gods were on my side this time and my bid held out. I woke up this morning to discover that someone else had not stolen my new shoes from me. Whew! I can’t wait to wear them with black tights (or better yet some long grey scrunchy socks) and a little mod dress this fall .

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do

Bat For Lashes - Whats a Girl To Do

My boyfriend and I just got tickets to see Bat For Lashes when they play the Troubadour in October. I love their dreamy, dark melodies and I can't wait to see them. Natasha Khan and her band have an avant-garde, quirky hippie meets Ziggy Stardust style and I'm sure it will be quite the stage show.

Humane Recipe

A huge thank you to Jesse from Humane Recipe for her feature on my sewing post! It's a great blog with loads of tips on being earth friendly and fashionable. Definitely check it out.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

I purchased these shoes from EBay more than a year ago. They've been my favorite pair of shoes in my closet ever since. The problem? They don't actually fit on my feet. I really don't know why I've kept them this long. I guess I keep hoping that the next time I pull them out of the closet they will have magically grown or my feet with have mysteriously shrunken (shrank? shrunk?). It hasn't happened yet. I think it's time to say goodbye so they're going up for sale in the store tomorrow. Somebody find them a good home!

Out and About

My best Susie Bubble impersonation.

For the first time in several weeks, I went out vintage shopping over the weekend. Not having a car has put a damper on how often I can make it out to all of my favorite store. So Sunday I put on my walking shoes and headed out to La Brea to hit up a few stores. It seems the problem with vintage shopping here is that there seems to be two types of stores; the ones that have amazing stuff that is all priced very high, or the ones that are populated by hipster employees that grab all the good stuff before anyone else gets to it. At the first store I found a million great pieces but every time I fished out the priced tag, I had to back away slowly. At another store I only found a few pieces but the staff was impeccably dressed in head to toe vintage. My suspicions were confirmed when I complimented the girl at the register on her dress and she said she got it from their stock. Next I headed out to a parking lot sale where everything was a dollar but you had to dig, I mean literally dig, through piles and piles of clothes. At the end of the day, I came home with a couple bags of goodies, all of which will be going up in the store in the next couple of weeks. Here are a few undercover shots from the day (taking photos in the stores here is a big no-no!)

Sneak Preview

Here's what's in store this week at Sally Jane Vintage - lots of great Fall looks! Are you as ready for the seasons to change as I am?

Girl Crush

Last summer I happened to catch a story on NPR about a young recording artist by the name of Regina Spektor. I was intrigued by the music and the stories she was telling, but as things sometimes do, it slipped my mind to follow up and find out more about her music. A few months passed and I noticed that she was going to be playing a show at the Avalon in Hollywood . I still had not heard her music and I’m usually reluctant to go to a show where I don’t know any of the songs. It’s not that I don’t like live music, I do. I would just rather be familiar with an artist before seeing them perform. I feel like I can be more involved with the music that way. Well, despite my usual hesitations, I decided to give it a whirl. I gathered up a couple of friends and headed out to the show. Needless to say, I was completely blown away. The voice, the songs, the command of the stage; she has it all. Just her, a piano and an occasional drum stick. When I got home, I hit up iTunes and loaded up with songs from a variety of her records. Not only is she super talented in the music department, she has a killer look and style. I love that her type of beauty challenges the standards of what we see in magazines and movies today. She’s timeless, as if she stepped right out of another decade. Lucky for me, she’s playing LA again this October. If she comes to a city near you, I highly recommend it.

Things I Love Today

• A vintage train case would be perfect to use as a sewing box.
• A embroidered tapestry bag and black granny boots to complete an outfit like this one. I think it's the perfect ensemble.
• This little sweater from Topshop would be perfect for my Faye Dunaway as Bonnie dream outfit.
• I think Joanne Olian's series of fashion books provide endless inspiration. Right now I'm loving Everyday Fashions of the Sixties as Pictured in Sears Catalogs.

Tyra Mail !!!!

There are so many reason I should hate this show. Tyra Banks' over the top performance. The catty bitch fights that break out amongst the girls. The cheesy photo shoots. The make-over episode that inevitably leaves at least one girl in tears. The fact that none of the winners have ever gone on to actually become a "top model". But I don't hate it. In fact, it's the one TV indulgence I'll allow myself to get sucked into. Until "Project Runway" comes back, of course!

Little Brown Dress Project

When I set out to create Sally Jane Vintage, I had reasons both selfish and unselfish. On the selfish side, I love vintage clothes and shopping and this gives me an opportunity to shop for vintage clothes. A lot. How convenient! On the other hand, the consumerism that plagues our daily lives makes me cringe and this is an outlet for people to satisfy their wants and needs in the way of clothing without worrying about sweatshop labor or how their latest purchase is affecting the environment. Vintage clothing provides a unique opportunity to recycle and I love taking advantage of that. Thinking about this has me revisiting the Little Brown Dress Project. The website chronicles a year in the life of a Seattle woman that decided she was tired of giving into the whims of the fashion world and set out to wear the same homemade brown dress every day that year. She allowed herself to accessorize the dress with items she already owned, layering for weather conditions and such. It was the ultimate in wardrobe remixing. While the dress she made is not quite my style, I find it to be quite an interesting social experiment. I wonder if I could go a year wearing the same dress. Would I have the restraint to not purchase a single item for one year? For now I think I’ll settle for making the majority of my purchases vintage.

Sally Jane Vintage

Take a look at all of the great pieces that will be going up for sale tonight at Sally Jane Vintage. I've listened to your requests and have added a wider range of sizes. Be sure to check it out. Thanks!

Color Me Peeved

Hello? H&M? Please, please don't put these lovely socks in ALL your new ads and then not stock them in your stores. Seriously? Are you trying to kill me?

Sewing Class

I'm almost convinced that something in the universe is trying to tell me to not take this sewing class. I had my new bus route all mapped out, printed, and in hand so there was no way I could screw it up this time. Well, when I got to the bus stop, this is the scene that greeted me:

I think half of West Hollywood was on fire. Of course that's the corner my new bus stop was on and there was no way a bus was getting through there. Luckily, I was able to call my boyfriend at work and he went online and found a new bus route for me. Unluckily, I wore my favorite wedges and had to sprint half way across WeHo to catch the bus. Sadly, they paid the price.

I've actually had this problem several times lately. I buy a pair of vintage shoes in pristine condition and a few months later they are falling apart. I think the rubber heels are dry rotting. Is there any thing that can be done to prevent this? Anyway, I digress. Two buses later, I made it to class right on time. Here's a shot of my future dress. I look at the pieces and I can't imagine they're going to actually be a dress. I guess we'll see!

Fall Look

This girl has nailed the look I love for fall. Black tights with brown shoes? Check. Graphic print mini dress? Check. Swingy short coat? Check. Well done, love!

Things I Love Today...

• 1960's Yellow Pages vintage Pop Art paper dress. Recycling at its very best.
• Vintage Lanz mini dress with a graphic black and white print.
• Berets, berets and more berets. Every color of the rainbow.
• Celia Birtwell printed scarf.
• I always want tights in every color, but today I want yellow the most.
• For those of us who aspire to not buy leather, these faux leather high heel oxfords.

60's Fashion

If you have the patience to sit through the nearly nine minutes of this video, there is some amazing fashion to behold! Viva la Biba!

Sewing Class Project

Assuming that I actually make it to class tonight (after last week's bus debacle) I'll be starting work on a 50's inspired house dress. It buttons up the front and has a collar and either short or 3/4 length sleeves (I haven't decided which yet). I also have the option of making an a-line, gathered or pleated skirt for the bottom half of the dress. I think I'd like to learn pleats.

At the fabric store on Saturday, I was having a hard time deciding on a fabric. Budget is definitely a factor, as they have many beautiful fabrics that cost $40 a yard. Not exactly learning materials.

I finally decided on this robin's egg blue cotton with a brown and white floral design. The silhouette of the dress is very 50's house wife and I thought the color palette here would suit that nicely. Also, the flower pattern on the fabric is not directional, so I don't have to worry about keeping all the flowers going the same way when I'm sewing.

Here's the pattern that I'll be using. Not really something I would pick to sew on my own, but for class purposes it does in corporate a lot of skills I am excited to learn.

And I couldn't help but include a shot from the "Wall of Fame" at the fabric store. Yes, that is Britney Spears and Rob Schneider.

When Fashion Meets Film

I recently ran across an article about the greatest fashion captured in movies. That got me thinking about what movies have influenced my way of looking at fashion. Below I offer my very own list of movie fashion infuences. Mind you, I do not in any way consider this a list of the greatest fashion on film, just the ones that have had an impact on me.




First, I should say that I am not a fan of musicals. There are a few exceptions – holdovers from childhood (“Grease” for instance). But I’d sooner blind myself than sit through a showing of, say, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Musical numbers aside, “Funny Face” has to be one of the greatest fashion films of all times. Audrey Hepburn channeling Suzy Parker, France Sinatra channeling Richard Avedon all the while dressed to the nines in every style imaginable, living in a dreamy mid-century modern world. Thank goodness for the mute button.



After she married Frank and before she got involved with Woody, Mia Farrow donned amazing little dress after amazing little dress all while battling the ultimate evil in “Rosemary’s Baby” . No one’s ever looked as cute while carrying the devil’s spawn.


Just as she did with “Fast Times at Ridgemont High”, Amy Heckerling created a time-capsule of a movie with “Clueless”, capturing all the nuances of fashion in the mid-nineties. I coveted all of Cher’s school girl dresses and knee socks. I still haven’t quite gotten over the knee sock thing.

In “Singles”, Bridget Fonda with her flannel, combat boots and fishnets epitomized my perfect high school wardrobe. I spent much of my adolescence in baby doll dresses and Doc Martens. I actually consider myself lucky to have grown up under the influence of grunge fashion; to have come of age at a time when being fashionable wasn’t about dressing in a revealing or overtly sexual way. I can’t imagine what it must be like for girls growing up under today’s fashion influences.

While fashion is not exactly a major topic in this movie, I couldn’t help notice Maggie Gyllenhaal’s bow-neck blouses and tailored skirts in “Secretary”. It was almost enough to make me want to get a job as a secretary just so I could wear the outfits. Minus the sadistic boss, of course.

No doubt the decade that is my biggest fashion influence is the 1960’s. I even love the 60’s interpretation of previous decades. Case in point, Faye Dunaway’s 30’s inspired wardrobe in “Bonnie & Clyde” . No one’s ever rocked a scarf and beret quite like Faye’s Bonnie. I go through a Bonnie phase at least once a year, every time the weather starts to cool.

I love the dreamy color-saturated world in which Audrey Tautou's Amelie resides. She has a timeless quirkiness to the way she dresses that, while I don't think it exactly works for me, I very much admire.

The Making of a Dress

This weekend I decided to tackle my first sewing project outside of class. I went with a pretty simple vintage dress pattern and picked out some inexpensive vintage fabric so I wouldn't be out big bucks if things went terribly wrong. Well, I managed to finish the dress yesterday afternoon, but not without a few set backs. Let's just say the seam ripper and I became very good friends. It's not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but I'm chalking it up to a learning experience and I'll definitely be able to make some improvements the next time I tackle that pattern.

So many to choose from!

My final selections from the store all ready to go.


Hard at work on the gathers for the neckline. For some reason attaching the neckband gave me fits. I sewed it on three different times!


Still sewing. There were points that I felt like scrapping the whole thing and starting over.


Here's a shot of the finished piece. I was happy to finish it, but it's not with out its flaws (if you can't see them in the photo, I'm certainly not going to point them out!) It'll be fun to wear it around the house. Maybe the next one I make, I'll actually wear out in public!

Sally Jane Vintage Sneak Peek

Here's a peek at a few of the items that will be going up in the store this week. I've had lots of requests for larger sizes and I was happy to comply, so look for a wider variety of sizes for sale. Check back on Thursday for a full update!

Painfully Hip

A huge thank you to Painfully Hip for featuring me for the second week running in their Thrift Stars of the Week post. If you haven't checked out their blog, what's wrong with you? Seriously. Go. Now! ;)

Los Angeles Street Style ???

As mentioned previously, one of my favorite time wasters at work is perusing the street style blogs that are popping up all over the internet. In all of my searching, what seems sorely lacking is a Los Angeles street style blog. Now, I’ve run across a few attempts here or there, but none that post regularly or have very artfully taken photos. If there’s one out there and I’ve missed it, I’d love to know. While I find that on the whole, Los Angeles as a city lacks the soul necessary to cultivate the creative dressing you see coming out of cities like NY and Paris, I do see quite a few people walking the street with inspirational style. I would love to start incorporating some street style shots into my posts but I haven’t quite figured out how to approach complete strangers and ask to take their photo. I’m afraid they’ll think I’m completely crazy, or worse that they’ll be completely crazy. On the way home from work yesterday, there was a woman at the bus stop that I found had an endearingly crazy-old-lady thing going on and I so wanted to take her photo. Well, I didn’t ask, but I did sneak this one in while she wasn’t looking. I love the yellow beret perched on her head the most.

Wardrobe Remix

dress: vintage

socks: ???

shoes: Payless

glasses & bag: H&M

I love finding vintage dresses that were homemade. I know how attached I get to every piece I sew and I'm sure someone felt that way about this dress at one time.

Vintage Fabrics

Anyone interested in sewing or crafting with vintage fabrics should check out the Repro Depot. They have tons of great vintage cottons for garment sewing and heavier fabrics for decorating and crafts. They also have loads of cute notions. I'm partial to the sci-fi buttons myself. I mean, who doesn't want space men and ray guns decorating their clothes?

Things I Love Today

• This window pane print mini dress on Ebay is currently $24.99 and no bids. Hmmm.
• I've been searching for the perfect brown oxfords.
• Over The Knee socks: I'd like them in grey, please.
• If I can't find a winter cape, this plaid jacket would do.
• The all time greatest accessory? A vintage fedora , of course.
• This Katie Box geranium fabric would be perfect for my next sewing project.

Capes, Capes, Capes

I recently ran across this photo on Face Hunter and it reminded me of the hunt I was on last year for a vintage plaid wool cape. I saw a couple on EBay that got away from me and spotted one at Zachary’s Smile on a trip to NY but it was out of my price range. The Face Hunter photo mixed with my recent desire for all things wintery has put me back on the trail. The blue one and the hounds tooth one were on sale at Posh Girl Vintage but have already sold. I like the print on the hounds tooth one but the blue one looks like it would have been too long anyway. Topshop has a couple of half cape concoctions that I think I would like if they were longer. The crochet one is on sale at Rusty Zipper but I think I would rather have a wool one. Preferably plaid with a satiny lining and big brass buttons. No, I’m not hard to please at all! I guess I’ll keep looking.

Today on Sally Jane Vintage...

Lots of new items are posting on Sally Jane Vintage today. I've got everything from maxi dresses to mini dresses. From hippie to hipster. Be sure to check it out!

Wardrobe Remix

dress: vintage
shoes: vintage
socks: who knows
bag: H&M
glasses: H&M

On my way to work again. The dress I bought for my store but now I don't know if I can part with it. I love the 60's print and the big pockets and it has big buttons all the way down the back. I was inspired by the other girls on Wardrobe Remix to try the sock/sandal combo. Also, now that I'm taking the bus to work, I have to walk a lot and I have the blisters to show it. The socks are definitely helping!

Last night was supposed to be my first night in the third installment of sewing classes that I am taking at the Santa Monica Sewing Arts Center. But since I no longer have a car and I'm new at this bus-taking thing I ended up on the wrong bus and never made it to class. Actually it wasn't so much the wrong bus as it was the right bus going in the wrong direction. Fortunately, I called my instructor and she's going to let me make up the lesson at her studio over the weekend. Soon she's going to be opening a Stitch Lounge in Silverlake where people will be able to go and hang out and sew. Sounds like heaven to me.

In the first class I successfully made a pair of drawstring pajama pants that, while fully functional, have ended up at the bottom of my pajama drawer. In the second class, I made a skirt, complete with French seams and an invisible zipper. Yay! In the third class I am going to be making a 1950's inspired house dress and will be learning some pattern making, how to sew sleeves, darts, pleats, collars and button holes. Whew! That's a lot, but I'm so excited to finally be learning this stuff. I've sewn for years, but in a please-don't-look-at-the-inside kind of way. I feel like I really need to practice my new found skills so I've picked one of the simpler vintage patterns that has been sitting in my sewing bag for years to start with. I'll be going to ISW to pick up some vintage fabric and all the notions that I'll need. Hopefully it will be finished by the weekend. Here it is:

I'm going to make the one with pockets for now and when the weather cools a bit, maybe I'll try the one with sleeves. I've got my trusty Sew-U book handy for reference and all my new bits and bobbins from class so wish me luck!

Wardrobe Remix

dress: vintage
shoes: vintage
bag: vintage
iPod: gift from my wonderful boyfriend

I love those days when you realize that everything you are wearing is recycled. I'm on my way to work here and I look unhappy because there were about a million people on the bus and it's about a million degrees outside.

Wardrobe Remix

dress: Aardvarks on Melrose
boots: vintage
glasses: Fairfax Flea Market

This dress was huge and long when I bought it. I chopped it off and took it in down the sides and under the arms. The bell sleeves are my favorite part.

Evidence of Life

Besides fashion, I also have an interest in photography. I’ve been greatly inspired by Rob Dobi’s site New England Ruins. On a trip back home to Alabama, my boyfriend and I spent a day exploring an abandoned neighborhood. The homes had been exposed to frequent flooding and were unfit for living. When the homes were abandoned by the residents most left all of their belongings behind. It was astonishing to walk into these homes and see clothes still hanging in the closets, shoes still stacked on the shelves, and coats strewn across the floor. Every home told a story of a family that used to live there. Here are a few photos from that trip.

All rights reserved for photos.

Wardrobe Remix

top: American Apparel
skirt: self-made from vintage fabric
shoes: thrifted
belt: thrifted

The skirt is my first completed item from the sewing classes I am taking at the Santa Monica Sewing Arts Center. It even has French seams and an invisible zipper. The vintage fabric I scored from ISW. They have a whole section of vintage fabric stacked from floor to ceiling. I could spend hours in there.

ISW (International Silks and Woolens) is a fabric store in Los Angeles. For those of you in LA, it's on Beverly just east of La Cienga (very close to the Bev Center).

It's Officially Official

I've been bitten by the Fall bug big-time. Here's what I'm looking forward to once the weather cools a bit.





Mini dresses of all varieties. The first two are from Topshop (thank goodness they finally decided to delivery to the US). The bottom two are Delia's and Forever 21. All are meant to be worn with...





Lots of colorful tights. All of these are from Urban Outfitters. I love knee socks too, but feel they look a little too young on me on their own. Layering them over tights is the perfect solution...





The first two are criminally cute and from Anthropologie. Their prices seems to have skyrocketed in the past couple of years but these aren't so bad at under $30 a pair. The third pair is from Urban Outfitters . The last three are from American Apparel and I'm sure I can come up with a less slutty way to wear them. Working our way down, we come to the best part. Shoes! I'm wishing for all shapes and sizes in shades of burgundy and brown.




The top two pair are from Topshop again. Too bad the pound is killing the dollar. Damn exchange rates! The bottom two are from Urban Outfitters. The oxford is the "it" shoe of the moment and I'm certainly not immune to its appeal. The boots got an earlier mention in my vegan boots post. I'm still smitten. If not brown shoes then certainly a pair of colorful vintage inspired shoes would do the trick.





I would wear these with black tights and a vintage mini dress. The first pair is Urban Outfitters in felt. The second pair is from Anthropologie and surprisingly come in just under my self imposed $100 per item limit for this blog. Sorry for the tiny picture but that's all I can get from Anthropologie's new site. The bottom two pair are Topshop again.

Sneak Preview

With the second week of auctions now closed, I actually feel like I'm getting the hang of this. There are lots of great pieces posting this Thursday so be sure to check in with the store then. Here are a few shots from over the weekend.

Lining up the shoes and accessories for easy access for the photo shoot:


And here's me trying to change clothes inconspicuously outside my apartment building. It's tiring have to go up to the fourth floor to change so...




















And a HUGE thank you goes out to my lovely boyfriend for being my official photographer and all around everything. Thank you!

Early Fashion Inspirations

These days it seems the hippest names to drop when citing fashion inspirations are Jane Birkin (and her entire brood of children), Kate Moss, and even (gasp) the Olsen twins. Undoubtedly, these women are of substantial style and I have been known to admire an ensemble or two. But my interest in fashion started at a fairly young age. At eight years old I was no where near name dropping Birkin, Doillon, Gainsburg or even Hepburn for that matter. I was more concerned with which jelly shoes went with which jelly bracelets and if I could really pass off my Palmetto jeans as Guess jeans. So, here are my early (slightly embarrassing) fashion inspirations.

I guess it all started with Punky Brewster. I loved her tom-boyish, mismatched outfits. I headed off to school many a day sporting one pink sneaker and one aqua sneaker, my pigtails swinging. Those were good days.




Anyone remember Blossom? Yeah, that’s right. I said it. Blossom Russo. As in I actually watched a show that featured Joey Lawrence as a regular character. Whoa! It definitely wasn’t the riveting story lines that kept me glued to the show. Something about Blossom’s off beat clothes and floppy sunflower hats appealed to the budding fashion-hound in me. Call it a sign of the times.

Only slightly less embarrassing is Nickelodeon’s own Clarissa Darling. Again, it was not the situational family comedy that kept me coming back for more. Clarissa never failed to disappoint with her quirky combos. Mini skirts with colored tights? Check. Overalls rolled up with combat boots? Check. I’m guilty of it all.

New at Sally Jane Vintage

Last week’s inaugural auctions were a smashing success. I was so excited to see items selling not only here in the U.S. but as far and wide as France, Germany, Italy and Australia! Keep it up out there! Here are all of the new items that will be posting today. Check back every Thursday for all my new finds. Thanks again for shopping at Sally Jane Vintage!

Paper Doll Treasures

I can trace my fashion interest back to hours spent as a child, colored pencil in hand, filling in my Tomy Fashion Plate rubbings and playing with the vintage paper dolls at my grandmother's house. So, you can imagine my how utterly thrilled I was to run across Kattis Klippdockor. This Swedish (I think - nothing is in English and my knowledge of Scandinavian languages is nil) website is a treasure trove archive of vintage paper dolls dating from 1914 all the way through the mid-nineties.

The Året Runt section is my personal favorite. It runs the gamut from fashion icons to Bond girls, from activist actresses to unheard of fashionistas. Names as familiar as Twiggy, Audrey Hepburn and Mia Farrow to ones unfamiliar like Samantha Juste, Sylvia Vrethammar and Fleur Forsythe. If nothing else it serves as a beginning point for lots and lots of Google searches. Who are these fabulous women and why don't I know who they are?!?

And guys, don't feel left out. The collection features everyone from Robert Redford to David Bowie and from Peter Sellers to Donnie Osmond. There's literally something for everyone.

Here are a few of my favorites. Of course I favor all the mod 60's girls but I'm sure you can find whatever fits your fashion fancy. These are really just the tip of the iceberg, so be sure to check it out. I'm sure you'll have a few favorites of your own.

Twiggy: Living Fashion Legend

Mia Farrow (minus the devil's spawn):

Audrey Hepburn, of course (but where's the LBD?) :

Catherine Deneuve:

Cat Woman herself, Miss Eartha Kitt

Wardrobe Remix

dress: yard sale in Santa Monica
boots: vintage
bag: thrifted in 'Bama
glasses: H&M

The dress is actually a little girl's dress but it makes a perfect summer mini. Alabama has some of the best thrift shops I've seen anywhere and the prices are to die for. I think this bag was about 75 cents. The glasses are from H&M because I can't bear to spend more than five bucks on sunglasses. I'm constantly breaking a pair or loosing a pair or dropping them and watching them slide across the pavement.

Wardrobe Remix

Skirt: vintage - Wasteland
top: American Apparel
shoes: vintage - EBay
sunglasses: Fairfax Flea Market
necklace: vintage

This skirt came down below my knees when I got it so I chopped it off and sewed a shorter hem. I love the high waist and anything with pockets is great. The glasses I picked up at the flea market to wear to a 70's costume party and ended up adopting them as my everyday sunglasses. As usual, the vintage shoes are from EBay.

Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sew...

With my second of three sewing classes I'm taking at the Santa Monica Sewing Arts Center ending tomorrow night, I can't wait to put all the new skills I've learned to use. What used to seem like rocket science now seems so simple I can't believe it took me this long to get out there and learn it. My first project will be trying out the vintage patterns I got at So Vintage Patterns. They have an entire section dedicated to 60's Mod as well as a variety of patterns from other decades all the way back to the 20's and 30's. I'll be sure to post the results (good or bad) here.

Sneak Peak of Sally Jane Vintage

New auctions will post this Thursday. Keep an eye out for these gems as well as much more!

Wardrobe Remix

I got this vintage dress at Aardvarks on Melrose. That place is kind of a mess, but if you're really willing to take the time to dig you can find some great stuff. It looks like it was handmade, which I love, because that means it's truly one of a kind. The front square panel at the chest snaps out so you can have two different looks with one dress! Who knew a dress could be convertible? The Chloe knock-offs I got on EBay for a steal. Perfect for vegans that don't want to wear leather!

Completely Adorable

I’ve been seriously coveting these little dresses by New York design team Mooka Kinney. Since they are a bit (well, a lot really) out of my budget, I’ll be scouring flea markets and vintage shops for a comparable substitute. I’ll let you know if I find anything!

Wardrobe Remix

dress: vintage - EBay
belt - vintage - thrifted in 'Bama
shoes - vintage - Slow on Melrose
bag - vintage - thrifted in 'Bama

I love those days when you leave the house and realize that everything you're wearing is recylced. This is currently my favorite vintage dress. I love the black and white tigers hiding in the jungle print along the bottom.

No Animals Were Harmed in the Making of These Boots

I have been a vegetarian for quite some time but some how have never ventured over into vegan territory. I blame my two great weaknesses – cheese and leather. More so the former than the latter, but still. I do my best to avoid purchasing leather but every time I walk through a shoe store all the cute flats, mary-jane heels and scrunchy boots seem to be calling out to the fahionista in me. Imagine me with a little devil fashionista on one shoulder and a little angel vegetarian on the other and you’ll get the idea. Occasionally I will assuage my conscience by purchasing vintage leather items, reasoning that I am recycling the resource rather than directly supporting it. I think that argument can only take me so far. In that vein, I have been researching options for Fall boots of the vegan variety. Most of what I have found out there directly marketed to vegans is either incredible hippie-granola or very femi-nazi. If I ever find myself in need of a pair of vegan Birkenstocks or faux leather combat boots, I’ll know just where to look. When I began looking outside the realm of vegan websites, I was pleasantly surprised to find quite a few options available. Here are my favorites:

First up is the Donya Boot from Alloy. It’s a nice basic, flat boot that looks like it could be worn tall or scrunched down a bit. It comes in black or white for $39.50.

Next is the American Eagle Slouch Boot from Payless. It reminds me of the short boots that were being sold at Topshop last year. Of course Payless being Payless is about a year behind the trendier stores but it’s still a great, versatile boot for $24.99.


Third is the Sunburst Shortie Boot from Urban Outfitters. I’m a fan of the pleating details around the ankle. It comes in charcoal, ivory, black and turquoise for $68.







Last and certainly not least is the Scrunched Knee High Boot from Urban Outfitters. I’m usually a flat boot kind of girl but I don’t know if I can resist these. In black, ivory and wine (my personal favorite) for $78 I think these may be my new Fall boots. Finally the angel on my shoulder can give it a rest!

Face Hunter Wannabe

One of my favorite time wasters at work is perusing the street fashion blogs that have become so prevalent. Among the best are The Sartorialist, even though it tends to cater to a more, shall we say, affluent crowd and Face Hunter who tends to lean towards the painfully hip kids running amok in London, Paris and Milan. If you meet them somewhere in the middle you can find loads of inspirational, doable looks. For instance, this look as recently posted on Face Hunter:

I love the simplicity of it all. It's chic and hip but not so much so that you'll look back in a year and think "What the hell was I thinking?" Here is my attempt at not so much recreating the look, but interpreting it with items already found in my closet.

Wardrobe Remix

tank: American Apparel

jeans: Lux high-waisted from UO

boots: vintage

scarf: vintage - yard sale

This is currently my favorite scarf. You can't see it but it has peacocks printed around the edges. I snagged it at a yard sale in Santa Monica a couple of weeks ago. The key word today is comfortable so I broke out all the basics. Jeans, white tank, boots. I could live in this outfit.

New Listings at SallyJaneVintage.com

New listing go up today on SallyJaneVintage.com. Don't miss out! Here's a peek at a few of the goodies:

Zooey Deschanel

One of the great things about living in LA has to be people watching. My daily existence in West Hollywood has given me a unique perspective on the phenomenon that is the parade of self-absorbed starlet after self-absorbed starlet we see splashed on every newsreel and magazine cover. In that vapid sea of spray-on tans and hair extensions it is refreshing to see what appears to be a gal with her own sense of self and style. Her accessible beauty and kooky, original style is what makes her our inaugural “IT Girl of the Month”. Plus, who can resist a girl that loves to rock my favorite outfit - a vintage dress and black tights. With no further adieu I present to you Ms. Zooey Deschanel. She does cute without being “cutesy” and kitsch with out being “kitschy” better than any one else out there. She possesses a bit of that Old Hollywood charm that so many young starlets reach for but never quite obtain. And of course, there's that other little thing that so many young starlets strive for – talent! So, thank you Zooey for being an inspiration.

Wardrobe Remix

Dress: Fairfax Flea Market

Tights: Urban Outfitters

Shoes: Old Navy

Sweater: Anthropologie

Belt: From a different dress