New in the Etsy Boutique

I'm going to try something a bit different this week and list all of my items on Etsy rather than splitting them between Etsy and Ebay. All of these items and more are being added to the boutique tonight so be sure to check it out. Thanks so much!

Things I Didn't Buy

I know I do quite a few posts about things I buy but there are many, many more things that I see and like but don't buy. If funds were unlimited you could bet that all of these pieces would be hanging in my closet.



The 30s crochet top is being sold in a lot with another 30s blouse on Etsy. I'm quite fond of this pretty peachy one but not so much of the other one. I'd hate to pay for two tops only to wear one of them. The black Lyell blouse is listed on Ebay. I see Lyell pieces on Ebay quite a bit and always watch them but never bid because the price usually skyrockets right at the last moment. As far as I know, they're both still available if anyone is interested.



The 30s crochet dress (I'm sensing a pattern here!) was on Ebay. It ended up selling for $52 which really isn't that bad, I don't think. I'm definitely going to be keeping my eye out for more 30s crochet pieces. The last one that got away wasn't so much because I was being good but because I was just a bit unlucky. It's a pretty silk blouse from the 20s that was being sold on Ebay. The price sat at just .99 cents for days and days. I figured if it didn't budge I'd put in a low bid and see what happened, only the auction was ending at a weird time when I knew I wouldn't be around to bid. I signed up with one of those free auction sniper programs so I'd be sure to get my bid in. Well, it turns out I must have done something wrong when I signed up because my bid was never placed! The top ended up selling for just $8. What a heartbreaker. Oh, well. Somebody out there got a great deal!

I will be right by your side, don't you try to run and hide...*

dress: 30s cotton day dress (see it bigger)
shoes: vintage Ferragamo
purse: vintage
*listening to: Blame Ringo - Lucky Number 9 "Gable Arch"
crab apple blossoms courtesy of The Snail & The Cyclops flickr

Sally Jane Vintage in Little Thing Magazine

I was super excited when I was contact by Little Thing Magazine to take part in their new issue. I'd never been lucky enough to lay my hands on a copy but the scans I'd seen online were so nice I felt honored to be included. I just received my copy in the mail today and I must say, they did such a wonderful job putting the piece together. I was a bit giddy as I flipped through the magazine and came upon all of my photos so prettily laid out on the pages.

And the rest of the magazine is just as nice! Of course I can't read a word of it but with so many beautiful photos to look at, that's hardly an issue. Here's a bit of the Q&A that I sent in (I'm not sure how much of this they actually used):

Can you give us a brief intro of yourself, background?
My name is Jennifer and I live in Pennsylvania. I am originally from Alabama and also lived in Los Angeles for three years. I started Sally Jane Vintage about a year and a half ago while I was living in LA.

How has your day been so far?
Right now it's pouring down snow outside so I'm bundled up on the couch with my cat. The fire is going in the fireplace and I'm drinking hot cocoa. So far it's good!

How would you describe your style?
My style is eclectic and nostalgic. I love mixing vintage pieces with new pieces. It seems I have two sides - one very delicate and feminine and the other a bit of a tom-boy.

If people could take one feeling or message from your styling, what would you want it to be?
Wear what you love no matter the trends. Just be yourself and have confidence and you'll look good in anything. Cliche, but so true!

How do you normally come up with a concept for a style?
I take inspiration from everything around me. It may be a photo on a street style blog or a character in a movie or just colors in a painting.

Who is your favourite designer?
Hands down Emma Fletcher for Lyell. I could live in her clothes everyday.

Can you describe the so-called FASHION in your definition?
There's a quote that says "fashion fades, style is eternal". A personal style is always more appealing than what is "in fashion".

What types of material interest you most?
As much as I am pining for spring at the moment my favorite materials are ones worn in colder weather. Something about tweeds and wools and plaids always make me feel nostalgic.

Name some items you like to collect in life?
I'm a collector by nature. Vintage dresses for one thing! I also collect anything with birds on it, vintage sewing supplies and vintage cameras. I would like to start collecting vintage luggage.

What’s your favorite little things?
My favorite little things are my cats! I have a rescued stray named Jack that only has one eye and one ear and he's my constant companion.


(click any of the pages to see them in a larger format)

Mad Men Illustrations

To say that I'm a fan of the AMC show Mad Men is a bit of an understatement. If all television shows were this good I might never leave the couch (I guess it's a good think that they aren't). But you don't have to be a fan of the show to appreciate the Mad Men illustration series by Dyna Moe. Done up in the early 60s advertising style in which the show is set, they each perfectly capture a moment from the show; Betty's post party meltdown, Joan va-va-vooming her way through the office, Don screwing his life up once again with a bottle and a woman. I love the dichotomy of those dark moments illustrated with such playful style and cheery colors. My only complaint (if I had one at all) is there are only a few of Peggy's big moments. Yes, there's Peggy getting the gay makeover and Peggy taking over poor Freddy's office but I'd love to see more! How about Peggy telling Pete she had his baby?! Or Peggy enjoying the weight loss contraption a bit too much? Can you tell Peggy's my favorite character? I just love her. And while you're checking out the illustrations, don't miss the Joan paper dolls. If we could all be so well dressed!

Showing out, showing out, hit and run...*

dress (see it bigger): 30s rayon with a gazillion buttons
shoes: 30s oxfords
purse: vintage embroidered bag
*listening to: Roxy Music - Siren "Love Is The Drug"

SU Designs

I was trolling the internet looking for some photos or information about the recent Australian Fashion Week and was a bit disappointed at how little coverage there seemed to be of the event. Even the official RAFW site didn't offter much info or great photos of the show. That silly scrolling bar of photos that you have to balance your mouse over just perfectly in order to click was making me crazy! Maybe I'm just not looking in the right place? A lot of the photos that I found weren't labeled as to which designer they belonged so some of the pieces I liked, I have no idea who designed them.

One photo in particular caught my eye; a pretty pink flowy skirt with a lacy rufffled blouse on a model with hair loosely piled on her head. A lot of research and a little luck led me to find out it was from the SU Designs collection from designers Sonia Audino and Silvana Mancini.

The Bond Street Bag

Remember the other day when I mentioned that I was admiring the new (old) bag that I found on Etsy? Well, here it is. I've been looking for a bag just like this for ages and ages so when I ran across this one on Etsy I knew I had to break my buying-ban and snatch it up before someone else bought it. The best part is the seller included the original ad for the bag when she shipped it. The fact that this bag came in not only basic black and brown but also in red and blue is kinda making my head spin. Can you imagine finding this bag in red?! That would be the holy grail of bags, I tell ya!

Cecilia Lisbon Dress

I've spent the morning fawning over the items in Vain & Vapid's "sold items" on Etsy, in particular the Cecilia Lisbon dress. That's one of the things I love and hate about Etsy; you can spend way too much time looking through shops' sold items and lamenting the things you've missed out on. This one in particular is breakin' my heart. How many ways is it perfect? Let's see. Is it all floaty and airy with a ruffle detail, criss-crossed in the back and named after a character from The Virgin Suicides? Check, check, and check.

The Professor's Collection: Chapter II

I've been hard at work over the past few days readying lots of new pieces for the Etsy boutique. All the clothes you see here plus several more pieces will be going up for sale tonight!

UPDATE: All of these pieces and more are now available in the Etsy boutique. Go have a peek!

And I'd like to say a huge thank you to Tom for being my photographer for this round. Thank you!!!

She promises the earth to me and I believe her...*

dress: 30s dress liner
shoes & purse: vintage
*listening to: The Beatles - Rubber Soul "Girl"

Things I'm doing today:

• taking more photos for Etsy listings (Professor's Collection tomorrow!)
• eating a bowl of fresh cherries - yummmm.
• bathing my cat (he has issues)
• admiring the new (old) purse I bought on Etsy (photos to come!)
• rewatching my favorite scenes from Across the Universe (I hate musicals but I loved this)
• watching this video and laughing my ass off
• going to a baseball game with Tom and having ballpark junk food for dinner

Yellow Dresses

I have always shied away from the color yellow. I always felt like it washed me out and was terribly unflattering. But somewhere along the line, just in the past couple of months really, I've begun to change my mind. I've been on the lookout for the perfect sunny yellow dress for summer. I've found lots of contenders - some way out of my price range (of course) and some a bit more attainable.

The one from Anthropologie is just the best. Why, Anthropologie, are you always reading my mind? Yellow? Check. Silk? Check. Ruffles? Check. But then there's that price tag, mocking me and my measly budget. So... in the end I'm passing on all of these lovelies and breaking out the sewing machine. I found a pattern that I like and I'm going to try my hand at sewing again. We'll see how it goes!
3.1 Phillip Lim, Topshop, ModCloth, Anthropologie, Built By Wendy, See by Chloe

Etsy Update

Lots of blouses and shoes in the Etsy boutique today. More to come!

Store Updates

I've got lots of goodies in store for you over the next few days. Today I'm putting a few more things on Ebay and tomorrow I'll be updating the Etsy boutique. And most exciting, I'm heading out this evening with Tom to shoot the next set of the Professor's Collection. I'll be listing those pieces on Sunday afternoon. Thanks so much for stoppin' by!

They hate you if you're clever and they despise a fool...*

dress: Urban Outfitters
shoes & purse: vintage
*listening to: John Lennon - Plastic Ono Band "Working Class Hero"

I feel like all the days spent suffering through the rain and the cold have finally paid off as the sun is shining and the flowers are blooming and the grass is pretty and green. I'm going to do everything I can to spend as much time outside as possible in the upcoming days. Things on my list to do: plan a picnic, go for a long walk, explore a new flea market and take photos for the next Professor's Collection update (coming this Sunday).

Browsing on Etsy

I'm still fairly new to Etsy. Not only new to selling on Etsy but also browsing around and seeing what other people are selling. For some reason I could never figure out the best way to search for things on Etsy and I just gave up and never really gave it much thought. Now I'm wishing I hadn't done that since I'm sure I missed out on lots and lots of great stuff. Oh, well. I'm discovering there are still lots of amazing things to be found. One of my favorite shops to browse through is Beautiful Reign. How can one person have so many pretty things?! If I hit the jackpot I'll be swooping up that out-of-this-world 40s bathing suit first thing! I'm also loving that 20s silk camisole in the perfect shade of peachy pink. And I've never in all my days seen anything quite like the quilt and shams made from old cigarette silks. Talk about being resourceful. All of those things may be out of my price range but the set of 30s linen kitchen towels is perfectly attainable at just $20. They are definitely going on my wish list.

Krazy Kat Klub

"Krazy Kat in 1920 was a "Bohemian joint in an old stable up near Thomas Circle ... (where) artists, musicians, atheists, professors" gathered. Miraculously the structure still stands, five blocks from the White House, as a gay bar called the Green Lantern. " - Independent Gay Forum

Hmmm... I think I want to go back in time and dress like a bohemian gypsy with a bob haircut and rolled down stockings, hang out in a tree house and have my portrait painted by a man named Cleon Throckmorton. Is that really too much to ask?

For the full effect see the photos here, here, here, here and here.

Are We There Yet?

Here is the ghost of a summer that lived for us, here is a promise of summer to be.

- William Ernest Henley

photos from flickr: ennnnnnnnnidan, superbomba, a photos, it girl rag doll, nemrešpobjećodnedjelje, calico courtney brooke, land locked surfer, yankee fan, sasha nikitin, yankee fan, variationsonthewordsleep, thriftcandy, megan abba, superbomba, ennnnnnnnnidan

Dogwoods in Bloom

top: silk camisole from H&M
skirt: 50s wool pleated
shoes: 30s oxfords
purse: vintage embroidered handbag

This morning Tom and I woke early and headed to a local estate auction. It was being held at one of the big, old homes here and really we just wanted to be able to go inside the house and snoop around. The only clothes up for auction were men's and baby stuff (I have a sneaking suspicion that someone got to the women's clothes before the sale) so I didn't buy anything but there were a million other amazing things to make my head spin. The woman that lived in the house was an artist and her studio was still filled with oil portraits and charcoal sketches. She also collected art books and classical music on vinyl. There were also family photo albums filled with tiny tin-types, each lovingly hand labeled with names. Whenever I see something like that for sale I always wonder why someone in the family didn't hold onto it. Perhaps there's no family left? I was most tempted by a collection of well-worn stuffed animals but didn't want to stay all day waiting for them to be auctioned. So in the end, we left empty handed but at least we got to peek around inside the house.

Ebay Update

Here's a little sneak preview of some of the items I'll be putting in the Ebay store tomorrow...

Takin' A Day Off

You know that old saying, "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all"? Today I feel like it should be "if you can't blog about something interesting, don't blog at all". Honestly, I'm feeling pretty uninspired these days. I'm under a strict, self-imposed "no buying" ban so in order to not tempt myself, I'm trying not to look at all the fashion sites I usually look at. I haven't been keeping up with my usual bevy of blogs or flipping through fashion magazines looking for ideas like I usually would. So... I'm basically taking the day off!

But I will leave you with this Hedi Slimane photo that epitomizes everything I'm looking forward to about summer: wearing sundresses, sitting on green grass, hanging out with friends, long hair falling down bare backs, beat up Chuck Taylors, soaking up the sun and sipping fresh lemonade. Of course when summer really arrives with its blistering temperatures and unforgiving humidity I'll look back at this and wonder where in the world I got this romantic vision of summer.

Etsy Update

I'm working on an update for the Etsy Boutique. These and more are coming...

Every little piece in your life will it mean something to someone?*

collage inspired by the lovely ones over at Clever Nettle

dress: vintage from the 1385 collection
shoes: 30s oxfords
purse: vintage
*listening to: Editors - An End Has A Start "The Weight of the World"

First of all, thanks so much for all of your advice and suggestions on getting a dress form. I've already been scouring Craigslist and found a vintage one that I really like that's just 30 miles from me (of course I haven't heard back from the seller yet). If that doesn't work out I'm going to check out a couple of local flea markets and if all else fails, I'll end up ordering one from Ebay.

Today I'm working on getting new items posted in the Etsy boutique. My plan is to take photos this morning and then edit and upload everything while watching True Blood on HBO On Demand. One of my guiltiest pleasures is all things vampire related. Ha! I've just discovered this show and now I think I'm hooked!

Help! Dress Form Wanted...

I would like to purchase a dress form for displaying the clothes I'm selling, rather than just hanging them on the wall or wearing them myself. The problem is, I don't really know anything about dress forms. I do know that my dream dress form is sitting in a local vintage shop with a $375 price tag on it. I also know it's not coming home with me any time soon.

So... I'd like to recruit your help. Does anyone have any real-life-dress-form knowledge they'd like to pass along? My budget is around $100 (including shipping). I'd like one that's sturdy enough to last for a least a few years. It can be new or used. I like the idea of an adjustable one, but it doesn't have to be. I'm thinking that trolling Ebay for a used one is going to be my best bet. Whatdya think?

Summer Finds

I'm really not much of a beach person, but I suppose it's always good to be prepared in life for any situation that might arise. At least that's how I'm rationalizing the need for a vintage swimsuit in my life. I think I can count on two hands the number of times we visited the beach when we lived in LA (and on one, um, finger the number of times I actually wore a swimsuit). But some of our new friends here in PA have pool parties and go floating down the river in inner tubes and participate in other such activities that may, in fact, require me to don a swimsuit. Also required: a large sunhat to protect my shoulders and the highest SPF sunscreen I can find.

Jane Birkin

There are days when I want to just clean out my closet and replace everything with a great pair of vintage jeans, ther perfect white t-shirt, a little black dress and call it a day - a la Jane Birkin. Today is one of those days.

My eyes are blue there's nothing I can't do...*

photos by Tom b.

dress: 50s wool shift dress (altered a bit by me)
collar: vintage from an Alabama thrift store
shoes: 30s peeptoe pumps
purse & umbrella: vintage
*listening to: Blur - Think Tank "On the Way to the Club"

I think it has rained for seven, eight, nine (?) days straight. I'm beginning to feel like I'm going to wash away. I know that spring usually calls for florals and pastels and all things pretty but I just can't seem to get into the spirit. I keep reaching for the same blacks and greys and browns in my closet. Perhaps a little sunshine over the weekend will lift my mood.

The Best Accessory

No matter what's in, what's out... the best summer accessory has to be your girlfriends.


photos: superbomba's flickr stream and the Charles Cushman collection

A Girl, A Thrift Store & Twenty Bucks

THE MISSION:

It seems like everyone is cutting back these days, me included. I've always enjoyed thrift shopping but I know for some it's become a neccesity rather than a choice. But just because you're shopping at the thrift store rather than the mall doesn't mean you have to look any less stylish. So with that in mind I headed to my local thrift store with $20 in my pocket, a mission to put together an outfit and (hopefully) a little luck on my side.



Right now I’m really leaning towards skirts and blouses (as opposed to dresses) so I planned on hitting those sections up first, followed by a run through the accessories section for shoes and a bag.

First the skirt. The skirt section of the thrift store is always a bit intimidating to me! It always seems like it’s packed with suit skirts that got lost from their matching jackets and bad 70s polyester. But every once in a while I’ll stumble across a pretty wool pleated skirt or a perfectly matched up bias plaid number. After thumbing through three rows of skirts I had my choices narrowed down to a cute high waisted corduroy pencil skirt or a navy plaid 60s wrap skirt. The corduroy seemed a bit out of season, so I went with the wrap. Now on to the blouses…

Since I chose the plaid skirt I needed a simple top to go with it so I headed over to the row of cream colored blouses. After passing up one blouse because of a stain, another because it was too big, and yet another because it would put me well over my $20 limit, I settled on a pretty pintucked top with buttons running down the back.

Then I ventured over to the accessories section. I think I spotted it at about 50 paces. The bag I’d been looking for! I must have brought some luck with me after all. There, hanging amongst the faux leather and the scarily sequined bags, was a buttery soft Coach satchel. A perfect compliment to the navy skirt and cream blouse!

Shoes can be trickier. There’s no altering shoes. Either they fit or they don’t. After a few misses I started to feel a bit like Goldilocks. One’s too big, another’s too small. I finally found a pair of light brown woven sandals with a chunky wooden heel. All set!

THE GOODS:

pintuck cotton blouse: $3.99
navy plaid wrap skirt: $4.99
woven leather sandals: $3.99
Coach purse: $6.99

Grand Total: $19.96

THE FINAL RESULT:

I'll never get into your heart, I'm just happy to hang around...*

dress: Topshop
shoes: 30s peeptoe pumps
purse: vintage
*listening to: Travis (seriously, I'm a bit obsessed right now) 12 Memories "Happy to Hang Around"

Someone asked me if all of these places that I take photos are within walking distance of where I live or if I drive around to take photos. The answer is one of our favorite pastimes is driving around and looking for places to explore. That could mean an abandoned building or house, an overgrown cemetery or in this case a centuries old church surrounded by the prettiest graveyard and rock walls. Once there we usually split up, each with a camera in hand to take photos. It's always fun, later on, to compare photos and see how each of us saw the same thing in two different ways.

Etsy Update Tonight

Feeling Yellow

Things I love today: sunsets on the beach, the most adorable girl in the world, matching your hippie van, Jean Shrimpton, finding the perfect place to relax, catching lightning bugs in a jar, botanical sketches, spending the afternoon at the fair, wide open blue skies, funky mushrooms and fungus, giving an old dress a makeover, enjoying a spring garden, a perfectly lacey outfit, favorite childhood books.

A Sense of Place

I've been feeling a bit nostalgic for Southern summers - the air thick and still with humidity, heat lightning in the night sky, fireflies hovering over the ground. There's something about Susana Raab's series of Southern writers' homes that perfectly captures the essence of the south.

The smell of cinders and rain perfumed almost everything...*

photos by Tom b.

top: silk camisole from H&M
skirt: vintage
shoes: vintage Ferragamos
*listening to: Bat for Lashes - Two Suns "Daniel"

Yesterday Tom and I spend a very wet and windy day in Philly. We spent the morning exploring some of the beautiful old cemeteries in the area. The afternoon was filled with walking around Market Street and stuffing ourselves with vegetarian cheesesteaks at Gianna's. Then we saw Bat for Lashes play at the Unitarian Church that night. All in all, a pretty perfect day!