While most folks define a KnitWit as someone who has a flair, knack or talent for knitting, I give the word a whole new meaning. After all, I can’t knit a stitch and yet I also can’t resist scooping up every vintage knitting book I can find. So I’m either a KnitWit or a Nitwit and I think the former label is far more flattering.

And Knitwit that I am, I found a real treasure at my local library book sale this weekend. Just take a peek at this little sampling of the oh-so-fab designs in the out-of-print book, Glorious Knits. I mean who could resist right?

Then today I come across today’s VPOD, a beautiful vintage 1970s sweater from Neiman Marcus with the most amazing details.

Coincidence? I think not.

I think the Fashion Gods were reminding me that while I might not be talented enough to spin yarn into gold, I don’t have to settle for boring, ho-hum, ordinary sweater choices this fall. After all, this vintage find is anything but ordinary with embroidered panels on the kimono sleeves and a very unique yarn-stitched open back.

Which, by the way, is a great little idea to incorporate into one of your own knitting projects if you happen to be one of those talented yarn-into-gold types.

And if not, then this pre-made beauty is a sure-fire way to be a Knitwit-ed vintage fashionista!

Available at Swank Vintage. | Discovered at TheFind.com.

(To receive the VPOD via email along with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time. | Disclosure: Zuburbia is an Amazon affiliate.)

If you own a computer then you fully understand the concept of re-booting, the process that shuts down your machine and reloads the operating system. But re-booting isn’t just good for electronic gadgets. It’s good for your closet, too.

Just like a computer can reach limits on its RAM or end up with a cluttered cache, your closet can reach the confines of its walls and become a cluttered mess if you don’t take the time to re-set it occasionally. And what better time than now?

Once you’ve spent some time evaluating what you’ve got, eliminating (or storing) items that you won’t be using, re-assessing the gems that you’d forgotten about, and re-arranging things in a cohesive way, your creative fashion muscles will be firing at full speed—much the way your computer always works better after a re-boot.

And speaking of re-booting, you might want to reward yourself for your Closet Re-Boot by leaving room for one of today’s VPODs. Classic, Hip, or Boho—these vintage boots from the 1960s and 1970s can satisfy a variety of fashion looks with style.

They’re a quick and easy way to re-boot for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Kakkoii Mono. | Discovered at TheFind.com

(To receive the VPOD via email along with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

I was at the Pickwick Vintage Show on Sunday and so I missed watching all the Red Carpet arrivals at the 2010 Emmys. Instead I had to settle for paging through the pictures on the Best and Worst-Dressed Lists yesterday.

And since I was raised with the understanding that if you can’t say something nice about someone you shouldn’t say anything at all, I won’t call out any one particular lady  for her unfortunate dress selection. I will say, however, that I thought the Worst-Dressed lists could have been twice as long and the Best-Dressed lists correspondingly shorter.

Three cheers for Keri Russell, though, who was a sure-fire fashion winner and an oh-so-stunning vintage fashionista.

Think you need to run out and buy a new dress for every occasion? Think again!

This lovely lass chose to wear a vintage 1970s Jean-Louis Scherrer chiffon gown that had been sitting in her closet for a decade. Lucky for us she pulled it out and paired it with tastefully chosen Jimmy Choos and a Judith Leiber bag to create a young, fresh look that really allowed her to shine.

And that’s my biggest beef with what I saw at this year’s Emmys. I believe that clothes should accent a woman’s natural beauty and best features. I believe that you should notice the woman first, and the dress and accessories second. And while I completely understand the Hollywood process that allows so many unflattering dresses to appear on so many gorgeous women, it really makes me sad.

Why? Because at Sunday’s vintage show I saw several evening gowns and cocktail dresses that would have been far more lovely than some of the the new designs that were flaunted at the Emmys. So today’s VPOD features four vintage Red Carpet-worthy frocks:

I’ll let you guess which dress I’d put on which worst-dressed celebrity but surely you’ll agree these these lovelies would have made several of the women appear much more lovely on Sunday night.

Whether you’re a fan of the 1980s red satin stunner or the sparkling beaded chiffon cocktail dress, or whether you prefer the 1960s citrus chiffon evening gown over the 1960s Suzy Perette asymmetrical cocktail number, I hope you’ll join me in wishing for more vintage fashions on the rest of this season’s Red Carpets.

After all, any of these beauties would be a fab choice for any celebrity or non-celebrity vintage fashionista!

All available at Mill Crest Vintage.

(To receive the VPOD via email along with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Take a look around and you’ll see that fashionistas often break down into two groups:

1. First you have the women who give their devotion to a favorite designer. You know, like the Gucci gals, Chanel chicks or Lanvin ladies. They may have an occasional fling with another designer but they’ll always come home to their first love.
2. Second you have the women who play the field and can’t ever commit to just one great label.

And today’s VPOD is for you. This vintage 1970s tote bag will allow you express your love for a whole host of fabulous designers while carrying all sorts of goodies in style.

It’s a fab multi-designer find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Legacy.

(To receive the VPOD via email along with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Bonnie Cashin may have passed away a decade ago at the age of 84 but her work continues to be admired by adoring vintage fashionistas. And this one felt like she hit Internet gold a few days ago when she came across an old article that gives a rare and wonderful inside glimpse at Bonnie Cashin and her work environment.

The article, entitled “My Passion for Clothes: A Young Student Remembers Her Fashion Mentor,” was written by Stephanie Day Iverson for The New York Times Magazine. Best of all, it included these fabulous photos of Bonnie Cashin’s living room, office, sweater room and inspiration board.

Wow! I mean, I’ve always been a h-u-g-e Cashin fan but these pics make me wish that I could have really known her, you know what I mean?

And it’s almost synchronistic that I discovered these pics when I did because I was wavering about whether or not to let go of a luscious mohair Cashin sweater with buckle closures. And let’s just say no one should be looking for it in my online shop anytime soon!

You can, however, grab today’s VPOD. This classic 1970s Bonnie Cashin raincoat was designed for the “Weatherwear for Russ Taylor” label and features signature Cashin elements like oversize pockets and lock closures. And what a steal at under $100!

It’s a fabulous Cashin find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Frou Frou Vintage & More. | Discovered at TheFind.com.

Picture Credit: New York Times

(To receive the VPOD via email along with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Here’s a great dinner party question for you:

“If you could have one superpower what would it be?”

The ability to fly? Invisibility? Telekinesis?

NPR featured a piece on this issue over the weekend and the surprising part was that almost everyone knew immediately which superpower they’d choose but no one was interested in using their superpower to help others.

As for me, I’d want to be a caped crusader in today’s VPOD with the ability to take away physical and emotional pain. This vintage 1970s wool cape from Yves Saint Laurent’s Ballet Russe collection is a museum quality collector’s piece and an ultra-chic way to fight fashion crime.

It’s a powerful find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Time’s Up Vintage.

(To receive the VPOD via email with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

We’ve all witnessed young children whining for things they want:

“I neeeeed an ice cream cone right now, Mommy.”
“Please, I neeeed it.”

And certainly at one time or another even we grown-ups have harbored similar thoughts to convince ourselves that our purchases are justified:

“I really need a new dress for the wedding.”
“I need a new pair of shoes to go with the new suit I bought yesterday.”

But of course, one of the hallmarks of maturity is being able to discern the difference between needs and wants.

And while hopefully you will never need a life vest or bulletproof vest, you may certainly want today’s VPOD.

This vintage 1970s long beaded vest is very similar to a white version I once owned that was poached out of my closet by my daughter and that still makes occasional appearances in New York and Chicago. This beauty has the same longer length and oodles of beads, but it’s even more versatile because it’s in black.

Fortunately the seller disclosed its one tiny flaw: a bit of torn lining near the hem. But that certainly won’t deter a stylish gal who has a seamstress on speed dial.

No, she’ll quickly grab this stylish find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Spanish Moss.

(To receive the VPOD via email with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Ali, this season’s bachelorette, may have found true love with Robert-o but that just means that we won’t be fighting over Robert-a. Roberta di Camerino, that is, the designer of today’s VPOD.

Just like Allie dated and discarded several would-be suitors before settling on her prince, you may have to try several little lovelies on for size before you find the “the one,” but you’ll know you’ve found it the minute you slip into its arms.

And this vintage 1970s printed velvet coat could just be love at first sight. In this fall season’s sea of camel coats, the cherry-red on this beauty will glow brightly and that initial spark you feel can last a lifetime provided you promise to love, honor and cherish it until death do you part.

But marrying this beauty won’t come cheap. While I guarantee it’ll cost less than the Clinton-Mezvinksy nuptials this weekend, it’s probably a tad more than you’re used to paying for a coat. Maybe more than a tad.

Ah, but a love like this is worth every penny for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Enokiworld. | Discovered at TheFind.com.

(To receive the VPOD via email with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

If you think that the sticker price on a piece of clothing is the most important consideration when choosing a wardrobe item, I’d like to suggest that you start thinking of your closet more like you do your car. Most drivers are very aware that depreciation zaps a huge portion of their car’s value during the first five years so it just makes sense to choose models that have high resale values.

If you’re going to build a vintage clothing collection or even just buy contemporary clothes and fund your habit by selling then to secondhand shops at the end of every season, knowing which labels have the highest resale values will really come in handy.

Unfortunately, the annual Kelly Blue Book Best Resale Value Awards only recognize vehicles. But if I were to announce a Zuburbia Green Book Best Vintage Resale Value Award, I would definitely have Ossie Clark on the list.

A perennial favorite of both collectors and plain ol’ women who love to wear his clothes, it seems Ossie’s pieces will always be in demand and thus command good prices.

Today’s VPOD is a lovely example of a 1970s Ossie Clark for Radley blouse in a Celia Birtwell print with beautiful sleeves and a feminine bow. Wear it, love it, pass it on.

It’s a forever popular find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Devoted 2 Vintage.

P.S. Who would you nominate to the Zuburbia Green Book Best Vintage Resale Value Award? Leave me a comment below to vote for your favorite label.

(To receive the VPOD via email with detailed size, price and purchase information, sign up for my growing email mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.)

Wow! A 90-piece collection of vintage Braniff uniforms, shoes, luggage and accessories designed by none other than Pucci, Halson and Narducci of Dallas is now available on eBay.

The collection was amassed by a former Braniff flight attendant who flew for over 20 years. And I guess if you or I had to wear a uniform designed by Pucci or Halston, we might actually tuck it away and preserve it, too!

One of the most exciting finds in the collection is the Pucci handbag shown below (between the two luggage pieces). This is a one-of-a-kind prototype. Keep that in mind when you see the asking price for this collection.

Another very collectible piece is that famous Space Bubble hat. Made to look like a space helmet and protect flight attendant’s hair from wind and rain, the bold idea never really caught on. I guess women just didn’t want to look like astronauts! But there are lots of other pieces from Gemini IV, the first Pucci collection in 1965, through Pucci V, the last collection in 1974, that would take a lot of willpower not to work into a modern wardrobe. The leggings and boots, for instance, would be quite fun.

And let’s not forget about the Halston pieces that are in the collection as well. They are a great contrast to the pyschedelic look of Pucci with their earthy tones, simpler designs and printed logo signature “H”’s.

But before you go digging for your credit card, be aware that this comprehensive collection of Braniff uniforms from 1963 to 1983 won’t come cheap. The current asking price is $250,000, although offers are welcome.

Of course, it won’t cost you a penny to take a peek at all the pieces pictured and read the fabulous history in this eBay listing.