VPOD: Vintage Edouard Jerrold Suede Boots and The Ugg Dilemma


vintage edouard jerrold suede boots

I just spent 20 minutes on the phone with Ugg Australia hammering them with questions about where they source their sheepskins and what standards they have in place for the ethical treatment of animals.

Why?

Because a dear, dear friend gave me a pair of Ugg boots for Christmas.

Yep, Uggs. Made from sheepskin. And as you all know by now, I don’t wear fur.

Since my friend knows I don’t wear fur, what was he thinking?

Well, being a guy, I think he knows that Uggs are a part of LA culture and, as an Ugg-lover himself (he literally wore out a pair of their slippers) he knows that even I can’t deny that they are comfy and cozy.

Plus he insisted that wearing Uggs is no different than wearing leather. Hmmm. Really?

I wanted to keep them — even if I only plan to wear them at home — but could I live with myself if I did?

If you’re gonna talk the talk then you better walk the walk, right?

So I Googled and sorted through the unsubstantiated and confusing claims about Uggs on the web until I found articles by respected journalists including the Wall Street Journal. I reached out to the company itself and to its American distributor to clarify and confirm what I needed to know to feel okay about wearing their product. I even digested an article about how kundalini yogis use sheepskins to enhance their meditation practices. Yes, yogis.

And it turns out my friend was right. If you wear leather, wearing a pair of Uggs is no different.

The sheepskins used to make Ugg boots are a by-product of the food industry. Just like leather.

Still, I try very, very hard to only buy vintage leather, so does this mean I should refuse this gift from my dear friend?

I must confess that I struggle so hard with this animal products in fashion issue. I’m a vegetarian, not a vegan, and there’s still an ongoing war that goes on inside of me because of that.

The intelligent, rational, evolved side of my brain says we don’t need animal products in our lives today. But there is something buried in my DNA that sees them and remembers how an animal hide kept my Cro-magnon sister from freezing. How learning to fashion and use tools and gadgets and products from animals fostered our evolution.

So while I hate that Hermes raises crocodiles to make handbags, I hate even more that seeing their craftsmanship makes me swoon. In a survival-of-the-fittest way, I’m proud to be part of the species that survived to fashion these items and yet I despise that my species still fashions these items in the 20th century and that some deep part of me can still view them as beautiful or useful.

So I struggle with whether to feature any more fur, feather, leather, snakeskin, alligator, crocodile, sharkskin, suede or coral items here at Zuburbia. And I wonder where to draw the line. I mean, according to PETA, 3,000 silk worms die to make a pound of silk, too. Cashmere production is creating major environmental problems.

If you look at the Buddhist idea of ahimsa (non-harm) does it mean we should give more weight to animals than to the good of the planet? Shouldn’t our overall footprint count more than each individual step? And what’s better? To purchase a new leather or vintage handbag today that will last another decade or a vegan version from a discount store that will far apart in six months?

What I learned from this Ugg experience is that these types of ethical dilemmas are very personal and very, very complicated. And while I believe that it’s fine to share our stories and our thinking, as I’m doing here, I don’t believe it’s right for me, or any of us, to judge anyone else for their personal choices. The more I learn the more I realize that moral, green, ethical decisions almost always involve some sort of trade-off and there usually isn’t one single answer that’s best for everyone.

That’s why each of us needs to honestly assess where we are in our individual personal development right now and make the choice that feels right for us right now. And if we want to change our choices in the future, we can. And we certainly will as our awareness and consciousness grows. As Oprah says, when you know better you do better.

And part of knowing better is actually knowing better. So I encourage everyone to reach out as I did and learn what you need to learn to make the best decisions for you. Get educated. Seek out answers to your questions. Then reconcile all the competing issues and voices and reach for that place of deep knowing in yourself that will tell you exactly what is right and best for you and your life now.

That’s why I’m going to accept my friend’s gift and will take a moment to pause, remember the sheep who have provided me this warmth and send out blessings to animals everywhere whenever I slip them on.

And that’s why (at least for now) I’ll continue to feature items like today’s VPOD, a rad pair of c. 1970 Edouard Jerrold suede boots.

Because any thoughtful, conscious fashion choice is the right choice for a Vintage Crusader!

Available at ilovetrash.

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eBAY ROUNDUP of Vintage Home Finds


Today’s selections include pieces by Thelma Winter, Lietzke, Royal Worchester and Arabia. Be sure to check out the gorgeous antique French travel vanity set and the midcentury Lietzke porcelain sake set.

vintage midcentury lietske sake setvintage 1930s art deco gold encrusted glass bowlvintage 1930s stag deer bookendsantique royal worcester handpainted porcelain vase

vintage gunnar cyren for dansk parquet teak wood trayvintage art deco figural lamp with slag glass shadevintage 1950s danish modern pearsall chair and ottomanpair of antique porcelain handpainted vase lamps

vintage midcentury thelma winter enamel on copper platevintage 1930s sandoz for gallia + OC animal knife rest setvintage 1950s lucite alarm clockvintage 1977 doug ayers wood weed vase

antique french sterling silver vanity set with leather travel casevintage atomic era candle holdervintage howell aluminum bar stoolsvintage 1960s taisto kaasinen for arabia figurine

vintage 1950s pair of italian gilt tole flower pendant lampsvintage 1970s rattan shelving unitvintage art deco bakelite domino setvintage 1930s leighton grecian coffee set

GET READY, GET SET, BID!!!

CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO EBAY AUCTION

Vintage MidCentury Lietzke Sake Set (skidstuff) | Vintage 1930s Art Deco Gold Trim Glass Bowl (wwolst12) | Vintage 1930s Stag Bookends (yve2007) | Antique Royal Worchester Handpainted Vase (star-lots) | Vinage Dansk Teak Tray (angiesfolly) | Vintage Art Deco Figural Lamp (camperman5) | Vintage 1950s Pearsall Chair and Ottoman (themodernline) | Vintage Pair Handpainted Porcelain Vase Lamps (bkcranston) | Vintage Thelma Winter Enamel on Copper Plate (mjhselect) | Vintage 1930s Sandoz for Gallia + OC Knife Rest Set (lolo1760) | Vintage 1950s Lucite Alarm Clock (dawn24bear) | Vintage 1970s Doug Ayers Wood Vase (20thdesign) | Antique French Sterling Silver Travel Vanity Set (antiquesuncommontreasure) | Vintage Midcentury Candle Holder (tool_fixxer) | Vintage Set Howell Aluminum Bar Stools (the_status_merchant) | Vintage 1960s Arabia Figurine (jumpinacrater) | Vintage Pair 1950s Italian Gilt Pendant Lamps (acidstamp) | Vintage 1970s Rattan Shelving Unit (themodernline) | Vintage Art Deco Bakelite Dominoes Set (macade9) | Vintage 1930s Leighton Grecian Coffee Set (anndan0) | (Disclosure: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia without any direct promotional consideration from Bay sellers but 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.)

eBAY ROUNDUP of Vintage Clothing Finds


This week’s selections include pieces by Bill Blass, Byblos, YSL, Lanvin and Gerda Lynggaard. Be sure to check out the collectible Pucci uniform for Braniff Airlines and the gorgeous 1928 Elgin diamond and sapphire watch.

vintage 1970s pucci braniff stewardess dressvintage modernist dom carvalhu amethyst quartz handbagvintage 1928 elgin sapphire diamond 14k white gold watchvintage 1970s knit cape sleeve sweater

vintage art deco silver and enamel earringsvintage 1970s bill blass metallic evening dressvintage coral glass crystal and enamel ringvintage 1970s ysl tweed blazer

vintage 1950s suitvintage art deco egyptian revival bib necklacevintage 1980s byblos silk and velvet cocktail dressvintage 1960s mink evening bag

vintage juliana book piece starburst necklacevintage 1960s wool princess pea coatvintage 1940s 14k coral ringvintage 1960s graphic print coat

vintage alligator lizard handbagvintage lanvin lederer suede mini purse choker combovintage 1980s camel wool studded hatvintage hattie carnegie three locket bracelet

vintage 1980s tassel print beaded jacketvintage 1960s wool princess coat with mink trimvintage 1980s gerda lynggaard wood cuff braceletvintage 1970s faux leopard shearling collar coat

GET READY, GET SET, BID!!!

CLICK IMAGE TO GO TO EBAY AUCTION

Vintage 1970s Pucci Braniff Airlines Uniform (emo7410) | Vintage Modernist Dom Carvalhu Handbag (space.dwe) | Vintage 1928 Elgin Diamond and Sapphire Watch (holbensfinewatches) | Vintage 1970s Knit Cape Sleeve Sweater (bustownmodern) | Vintage Art Deco Silver and Enamel Earrings (sizer42) | Vintage 1970s Bill Blass Metallic Evening Dress (annie*boomer) | Vintage Panetta Cocktail Ring (trishasvintagetreasures) | Vintage 1970s YSL Tweed Blazer (vtgcaliforniaglam) | Vintage 1950s Suit (raenrob) | Vintage Art Deco Egyptian Revival Necklace (eraglamour) | Vintage 1980s Byblos Silk and Velvet Cocktail Dres (magicalbee) | Vintage 1960s Mink Evening Bag (cowboymuseum) | Vintage Juliana Starbust Necklace (sumnersedge) | Vintage 1960s Wool Coat (thriftwares) | Vintage 1940s 14k Coral Ring (fierygems) | Vintage 1960s Graphic Coat (shoprabbithole) | Vintage Alligator Lizard Handbag (vintagepurseprincess) | Vintage Lanvin Choker Purse Combo (dollface18) | Vintage 1980s Wool Studded Hat (80lovevintage) | Vintage Hattie Carnegie 3-Locket Bracelet (holterrific) | Vintage 1980s Tassel Print Beaded Jacket (breakfastatciscelys) | Vintage 1960s Mink Trim Coat (americanarchive) | Vintage 1980s Gerda Lynggaard Wood Cuff Bracelet (urbantiques) | Vintage 1970s Faux Leopard and Shearling Coat (pamh23) | (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.

(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.)

Quote Me


I’ve been collecting quotes for years and I turn to them often for inspiration. Today is the premiere of a new Zuburbia feature to share my favorites with all of you. Enjoy!

audrey hepburn quote

VPOD: Vintage 1970s Roberta di Camerino Tote Bag and Living As Good As You Look


vintage 1970s roberta di camerino tote bag

Trompe l’oeil is French for “deceive the eye” and refers to an art technique that can create optical illusions that appear very realistic. But the idea of trompe l’oeil isn’t only applied to art. It also finds its way into fashion.

Fashion, by nature, is often used to “deceive the eye” with prescriptions for looking taller, thinner, or more proportional by wearing stripes or wider belts or smaller prints or narrower trousers.

But there isn’t a combination of separates on the planet that can “deceive the eye” into believing that you are a better person than you are.

You may dress like a Queen but if you act like a Wicked Witch, no designer logo, couture jacket or fresh-off-the-runway anything can hide the real you. Rude is rude even if you’re decked out in Chanel.

The point is this:

Are you living as good as you look?

Sometimes I think that we spend so much time and effort to LOOK good that we forget to BE good. To be polite. To be considerate. To have empathy. To remember what’s important.

Yesterday, for instance, I was shopping at The Grove and witnessed two sides of fashionably dressed human nature:

First, I was one of fifteen people waiting in line to check out at Barnes and Noble with only one person—yes, just ONE!—working the register. Sure I may have wanted a word with management to suggest better staffing, but I also wanted to give a standing ovation to the fourteen souls who waited patiently and pleasantly with me in the spirit of the season.

Unfortunately, this concern for my fellow man didn’t extend to the parking lot where I was nearly taken out by someone channeling Mario Andretti in a Prius. Here the sweet sound of Christmas carols was overshadowed by a cacophony of blaring horns and squealing brakes.

Now I understand that you have important people to see and important places to go and important things to do. And I realize that parents with young children, the elderly, and the handicapped may all take a tad more time entering and exiting their vehicles and crossing over the pathways designated for vehicles. But living as good as you look means having as much patience in a parking lot as you do when you’re trying on swimsuits or jeans.

Living as good as you look also means choosing to wear and use products that align with your values. And purchasing those products from companies who have values that align with yours, too.

And living as good as you look means realizing that your personal style isn’t just an assessment of what you wear but is also greatly impacted by things like your tone of voice, your vocabulary, your manners, your morals, your behavior and your ethics.

So if you want to deceive the eye of the masses with a little fashion trompe l’oeil, just carry a fun little vintage 1970s tote bag like today’s VPOD by Roberta di Camerino. But realize that any deception stops there.

You’re not fooling anyone if you’re dressing to look good but not living as good as you look.

And that’s true for all Vintage Crusaders!

Available at thekaliman.

(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.)


© Mary Kincaid 2006-2009
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