Like all great collections, it started with just one piece.

In this case, it was a pillbox.

But not just any pillbox. A Judith Leiber pillbox.

Bob Maier purchased it for his wife because she was “completely taken” by Judith Leiber pillboxes. And then, because it pleased her, he discovered a mission. He educated himself about Judith Leiber and her bags and continued to surprise his wife with outstanding Judith Leiber pieces on Christmas, Valentine’s Day and other occasions.

“I graduated from pillboxes to full purses quickly,” Maier says. “Each time, I got to see my wife’s face light up as a new bag she’d never seen would appear from its wrapping.”

Before long they had amassed quite a little collection!

Now this South Dakota couple is approaching retirement and they’re offering over 250 pieces from their collection at Bonham’s Entertainment Memorabilia sale on December 12.

“Don’t worry,” says Maier. “My wife is keeping a selection of her favorites, but the rest of her amazing collection we offer to you. Give them a good home, show them off, and most of all, have fun!”

I’ve shared my favorite pieces from the Maier collection with you here. Now it’s time for you to hop on over and discover your own favorite. You can view all  the lots available here.

For more information about this auction, including information on how you can bid, visit Bonhams.com.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Bonhams. Used with permission.

Earlier this week I was blessed to share a stimulating conversation with Mark Levy, the brilliant founder of Levy Innovation, who has been described as “a positioning guru extraordinaire,” “a Superman of the mind,” and “a horse whisperer for writers and thinkers.”

With accolades like that you might correctly surmise that our talk included phrases like externalized thinking and thought leadership but, surprisingly, Mark and I also mulled over the origin of the cape, its use by both men and women, and yes, even its association with superheros.

Then Mark recounted a story about a time he was speaking at an event and was introduced to a client’s brother who just happened to be a vintage clothing dealer.

Well, Mark thought this was a fascinating profession and starting asking the man questions about his job. And it didn’t take long before he hit the taboo question that every vintage clothing dealer dreads:

So, where do you find your stuff?

But this dealer handled the question with extraordinary style and grace:

Sorry, I’d love to share but that’s a trade secret.

Bingo!

You see, as Mark quickly realized, asking vintage dealers to reveal their product sources is like expecting magicians to reveal the secrets behind their magic tricks.

And with quality vintage becoming harder and harder to find, you can bet that vintage dealers are guarding their sources with the same zeal that Coke uses to guard its secret soft drink recipe.

So while I’m not gonna share my own favorite out-of-the-box people and places that I’ve used to source great vintage myself, I will share a super-secret weapon that may sound a bit woo-woo but still works like a charm.

You see, I believe that the dealers with the best stock don’t always find great vintage as much as they ATTRACT great vintage.

Once you acknowledge that our world is made of energy, you soon realize that setting an intention to discover great vintage and then exhibiting gratefulness when it arrives seems to beget more great vintage.

At least that’s what seems to happen in my world. And I’m always amazed and delighted when the universe provides just what I’ve asked for.

For instance, if I have a designer on my mind, I’ll often discover one of their pieces on my next trip to a thrift store or flea market.

Or I’ll be thinking about something I’d like to acquire and then open an email announcing an auction that surprise, surprise, has that exact piece on the auction block.

Or I’ll bump into someone who knows someone who knows someone looking to sell what they call old clothes but what I think of as a vintage collection.

Which brings us to today’s VPODs. Both of these lovely micro-beaded vintage evening bags hail from a series designed by Pierre Cardin.

The bottom golden version is from my own collection, discovered at last fall’s Vintage Expo in Santa Monica. Since it’s one of my favorite pieces I won’t be parting with it anytime soon.

But you can grab the top version done in primary colors for your very own. And while you’re welcome to inquire with the dealer where they discovered it, don’t be surprised if they choose not to tell.

Of course, whatever its path to you, it’s a beautiful gem for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Chic Antiques. | Discovered at TheFind.com.

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

It’s a SALE-A-BRATION!

Zuburbia and Ann’s Fabulous Finds, the premier site for designer handbags, have teamed up for the When Modern Meets Vintage Pop-Up Sale.

Starting today, you can choose from dozens of classic vintage handbags that have been paired with some of the hottest pieces from recent runways.

Chanel. Gucci. Louis Vuitton. All your favorites are represented.

And whether you choose an authentic vintage bag or you opt for a more modern bag that will be your favorite vintage bag someday, they’re all Guaranteed Authentic.

CLICK HERE to drop by and see what happens when Modern Meets Vintage!

Surely we’ve all become used to seeing women sport brand logos on their arms in the form of logoed handbags, shoulder bags and clutches but now Ecko wants you to take your logo love even further and brand that logo on your actual arm!

Yes, Ecko Unlimited is offering 20% off its goods FOR LIFE to anyone who gets a tattoo of the brand’s rhino or shears logos.

Now I understood Ecko’s street style may not match your own and saving $4 off a t-shirt and $10 off a pair of jeans every now and then might not make up for the pain of a needle piercing your skin thousands of times.

But would you feel differently if the offer was being made by say…oh, Chanel?  Or Louis Vuitton?

I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that there are a few girls sporting Chanel and LV tattoos right now without any incentives from those companies!

Now please understand I have nothing against tattoos. But wearing a logo makes you part of a tribe and announces to the world who and what you associate yourself with. And tattoos are pretty permanent.

Could you imagine walking around with a Christian Dior tattoo on your arm when Galliano was in the headlines for his rants a few weeks ago?

That’s why I think it might be best to keep logos off your body and on items that you can hide in your closet if a company ceases to be one that you want to promote.

Today’s VPOD is a fine example.

This Pierre Cardin logo handbag has a stylized logo print that isn’t quite as common as some other designer logos that we see way more often.

It’s a lovely logo find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Verseau 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.) (Via HuffingtonPost)

In a little while, after the worst of the rush hour traffic is over, I’ll be heading out to inspect some Judith Leiber handbags at an auction preview. As part of my due diligence and pre-auction research, I’ve been Googling to find every vintage Judith Leiber handbag hiding in cyberspace—and there are quite a few out there!

Of course, with their quality and craftsmanship, it’s easy to understand why Judith Leiber bags are such perennial favorites. And I’m not ashamed to admit that I love my early Leiber gold lion minaudiere so much that I keep it on display on my dressing table!

And I think it’s time that more of Judith Leiber’s evening bags see the light of day.

Take today’s VPOD, for instance.

This pre-1990s bag is certainly elegant when the lights are dim but it deserves to have sunshine reflecting off those crystals, too. Like when it’s worn with a classy suit at an elegant lunch perhaps. Or when it’s playfully worn cross-body style for a trek through city streets.

After all, if the fashion police haven’t arrested any gals wearing beaded and sequined UGGs during the day, then surely we can all tolerate a little Judith Leiber eye candy too!

Like this delicious find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Jill’s Consignment. | 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.)