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Vintage 1990s Chanel Silk Blouse (claireinc*) | Vintage YSL Bracelet (mrbmax) | Vintage Evening Dress and Coat Set (efind894) | Vintage 1970s Goddess Maxi Dress (sistersoftheblackmoon) | Vintage 1950s Satin Party Skirt (pmainstudio) | Vintage 1960s Adele Simpson Kilim Coat (promking59) | Vintage 1938 Geissman for Coro Brooch (kaysglitz) | Vintage Ossie Clark for Radley Maxi Dress (sunny1968_0) | Vintage 1960s Ann Barron Cocktail Dress (afro*chic) | Vintage 1970s Deerskin Embroidered Purse (indiecultvintage) | Vintage 1970s Plaid Coat (bustownmodern) | Vintage 14k Gold Mabe Pearl Ring (urbantiques) | Vintage 1960s Leather and Coyote Jacket (indiecultvintage) | Vintage 1960s Bohemian Suede Coat (redhousevintage) | Vintage Pauline Rader Ram Head Necklace (batmobile$) | Vintage Hermes Ostrich Clutch (lovesurf1) | Vintage Gucci Bangle Watch Set (jamie52282) | Vintage 1980s Colorblock Dress (orangesuitcasevintage) | Vintage Hermes Henri de Linares Scarf (jajezus) | Vintage 1970s Peacock Print Maxi Dress (sistersoftheblackmoon) | Vintage 1970s Roberta di Camerino Bamboo Print Dress (slini) | Vintage 1970s Pocket Boots (thriftwares) | Vintage North Beach Leather Jacket (sleepyheadvintage) | Vintage Alfred Philippe for Trifari Bracelet (trifari.com) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without promotional consideration from Bay sellers but Zuburbia is an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network)

PLEASE NOTE that Zuburbia does not endorse the use of fur, feathers, leather or animal skins in fashion. These selections are offered only as more thoughtful and eco-friendly alternatives for contemporary fashionistas who have not yet eliminated animal products from their wardrobes.

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Perhaps you’ve heard of Eric Ripert, famed chef and co-owner of Le Bernardin, which just happens to be ranked 18 on S. Pellegrino’s World’s 50 Best Restaurant’s list.

Or perhaps you’ve seen him on one of his appearances as a guest judge on Bravo’s Top Chef or hosting his own PBS series Avec Eric.

Or perhaps one of his four cookbooks is sitting on your kitchen bookshelf right now.

Well, I happened to read an old interview with him recently from Food & Wine magazine and this Emmy and James Beard award-winner, who also happens to be the recipient of France’s Legion d’Honneur, shared some food wisdom that has particular relevance for us Vintage Crusaders.

In the interview he was asked to elaborate on a statement he once made where he claimed “to cook for the food, not with the food.”

And in explaining the distinction, he compared chefs to jewelers saying the fish is the diamond and a chef’s job is to find the right cut and the right setting for it.

He further explained that “to elevate the flavor of the fish, I will probably add fewer ingredients, but the right ingredients.”

And  I immediately saw how applying these principles could elevate a gal from a mere one star to a coveted five stars rating in an imaginary Zagat Guide for dress.

Because isn’t our job simple?

First, we need to be honest about the shape of our bodies and learn how to play up our assets and minimize our deficiencies by choosing the right cuts with the right proportions for us. Even if that sometimes means shunning our favorite silhouettes from the current runway trends.

We also need to have an awareness of what’s appropriate to wear where and opt to wear clothes in the right setting. Even if that sometimes means waiting patiently for the proper social invite to debut a new outfit.

Plus we need to recognize that just like the finest cooking, the finest dressing is about choosing the best quality ingredients and learning how to make them work together so that no one flavor overpowers. So that the flavorings (accessories) enhance the main dish and bring out its best features. So that the final dish (the whole outfit) is greater than the sum of its ingredients.

Finally we need to recognize that less is very often more. That choosing fewer pieces for our closets but choosing each of these pieces with greater awareness can lead to a more cohesive wardrobe and a stronger sense of personal style.

Yesterday I shopped at my local farmer’s market and roasted fresh vegetables for dinner with just high quality olive oil and sea salt to accompany them. It’s probably one of my favorite meals — pure and delicious.

Likewise, sometimes our style can be pure and delicious without any fancy accompaniments.

Take today’s VPOD for instance.

This vintage Ossie Clark blouse is pretty and feminine and completely stylish all by itself.

And so you see how thinking like a chef can help you dress like a Vintage Crusader!

Available at Resurrection Vintage.

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Vintage Boucher Art Deco Necklace (joyas78) | Vintage 1930s Patou Evening Gown (lestervintage) | Vintage 1950s Gene Shelly Beaded Sweater (f.o.bob) | Vintage 1960s Pucci Bikini and Matching Mini (bellwether-vintage) | Vintage 1920s Flapper Dress (heartnsoul1) | Vintage 1940s Lizard and Bakelite Clutch (timetosale8) | Vintage 1940s Beaded Wool Blazer (pennylanetradingcompany) | Vintage 1950s Alfred Shaheen Dress (tomorrows_envy) | Vintage 1980s Sheer Beaded Jacket (tinroofvintage) | Vintage Teal Traina Dress (splendidthreads) | Vintage Whiting and Davis Charlie Chaplan Bag (scavenger-deals) | Vintage 1940s Beaded Peacock Dress (wolforuscio) | Vintage 1950s Lace Dress (splendidthreads) | Vintage 1980s Saturday Evening Post Magazine Clutch (1860-1960) | Vintage 1950s Linen Skirt and Blouse (louluu) | Vintage 1970s Ossie Clark Dress (kittygubbins) | Vintage 1960s Pucci Purse (vergeclub) | Vintage 1960s Christian Dior Demi Parure (barbj1986) | Vintage 1960s Bonnie Cashin Leather Coat and Pants Set (skeletons_in_the_closet) | Vintage Lanvin Pendant Necklace (i4glass2) | Vintage Karl Lagerfeld Large Treasure Scarf (wpq652) | Vintage 1960s Chimayo Boots (bigduke-6) | Vintage 1960s Christian Dior Schreiner Necklace (horse-ladyii) | Vintage 1970s Ossie Clark Dress (kittygubbins) | Vintage Juliana Necklace (jewelryobsession) | Vintage 1970s Missoni Skirt (promking59) | Vintage 1980s Chanel Necklace (redefinedvintage) | Vintage Hermes Cadre Noir Scarf (michaav) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without promotional consideration from Bay sellers. Zuburbia is an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network).

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In a font size usually reserved for the death of terrorists like Osama bin Laden or what one might assume will be used to declare a cure for cancer, yesterday’s LA Times Image section proclaimed Vintage as the niche trend that has gone mainstream.

The first clue? That large retailers are appropriating the trend for their own commercial advantage.

Lucky Jeans and J. Crew were singled out as just two of the retailers who are capitalizing on the rising popularity of vintage clothes. But good luck finding any actual vintage clothes in either of their stores!

With Urban Outfitters mixing a few authentic vintage pieces among their new stock, and thrift stores like Crossroads and Buffalo Exchange being called vintage when they’re really resale shops, the move of vintage onto Main Street has just blurred the definition of vintage more than ever.

Now I’m all for choosing secondhand, consigned, used, vintage, or antique clothes whenever possible. It’s the responsible green choice and it will often leave you with more dollar bills in your pocketbook (or a larger credit limit remaining on your Visa or Mastercard).

But I must say I particularly liked this proposition put forth by Jennifer Oldham in her LA Times article Old, New or Both?:

With the “vintage” label becoming more ubiquitous, designers, clothing dealers and retailers may find they need a new term to describe clothing that truly is several decades old and made with fabrics, handwork, and other processes that are now too expensive to replicate.

Please join me in a collective “Amen!”

Yes, yes, YES, we need a new term for authentic vintage but what shall this new term be?  Any ideas ladies?  I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below, or on Facebook or Twitter.

Because responding to a compliment on your dress and saying “It’s vintage” when it’s actually vintage-inspired or five years old just doesn’t measure up to responding “It’s vintage” when you’re wearing an authentic treasure like today’s VPOD.

This honest-to-goodness vintage 1970s dress by Ossie Clark for Radley is oh-so-lovely and features the outstanding fabric and craftsmanship that drew us early-adopting Vintage Crusaders to the wide and wonderful world of vintage to begin with.

It hails from Lily Allen and Sarah Owen’s website which also offers lovely vintage-inspired dresses for when you want a vintage look but just can’t find the right piece in your size to fit the occasion. But these vintage-inspired pieces are clearly offered in a separate section of the website just to make sure there’s no confusion with the authentic vintage goods, like today’s little Ossie.

Make no mistake. This baby is a real-deal find for a vintage fashionista!

Available at Lucy in Disguise.

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Vintage Christian Dior Gripoix Bracelet with Box (plasticplanet) | Vintage Crochet Capelet (bek-bek-bek) | Vintage 1970s Mini and Maxi Dress (kukuvintage) | Vintage Wool Coat (astuddedrose) | Vintage 1970s Tribal Sundress (thriftwares) | Vintage Wilsons Patchwork Suede and Leather Jacket (ndbvintage) | Vintage Lucille de Paris Ostrich Handbag (cdlc5280) | Vintage 1960s Lace Cocktail Dress (jonque) | Vintage 1970s Silk Embroidered Kimono (sistesroftheblackmoon) | Vintage Takahashi Hummingbird Pin (diane11122) | Vintage Christian Dior Beaded Little Black Dress (starlightboats) | Vintage 1960s Handbag with Jewel Compartment (trycomp) | Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Set of 9 Grace Collection Bracelets (willowbrookantiques) | Vintage 1920s Flapper Dress (heartnsoul1) | Vintage 1990s Moschino Skirt (smashinfashion!) | Vintage Halston Evening Gown (my-things-of-splendor) | Vintage Ossie Clark Maxi Dress (foxtrotellie) | Vintage Coro Owl Fur Clips (vintagestuff4sale) | Vintage Vendome Pearl and Crystal Necklace (coutequecoute) | Vintage 1920s Sequin Flapper Dress (heartnsoul1) | Vintage Harvey Berin Cocktail Dress (collezioni_prive) | Vintage Lanvin Silk Ruffle Blouse (09houseoflola) | Vintage Vibrant Raincoat (pennylanetradingcompany) | Vintage Whiting & Davis Clark Gable Enamel Purse (ellabruno) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without promotional consideration from Bay sellers. Zuburbia is an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network).

(To receive the eBay Roundup via email, 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.)