I’m starting a new weekly feature that consolidates all of Zuburbia’s posts into an easy-to-read condensed digest. Let me know what you think.
I’m starting a new weekly feature that consolidates all of Zuburbia’s posts into an easy-to-read condensed digest. Let me know what you think.
The first official Mad Men eBay Charity Auction ends this Sunday so get your bids in now!
Vintage fashionistas will be particularly interested in the three costume items that are sure to become future vintage collectibles:
(Click pics for more info)
The lucky winning bidders will walk away with Betty Draper’s 1960s dress worn in the Stork Club during Season 2, Joan Harris’s dress worn on her last day of work at Sterling Cooper and Bobbie Barrett’s lovely paisley dinner dress.
Best of all, 10% of the auction proceeds will support City of Hope, an independent biomedical research, treatment and education institution.
Even if you don’t plan to bid, these are interesting auctions to add to your watch list. Which dress do you think will bring the highest ending bid? Which dress will have the highest value in 25 years? Leave your comment below.
There are definite trade-offs between vintage shopping online and vintage shopping in person, especially when it comes to assessing a vintage item’s condition.
For example, when you shop for vintage clothes in person, you usually won’t receive a clear-cut written description of any flaws in the garment. While most brick-and-mortar vintage stores carefully select pieces with minimal damage, they still expect you to use your own eagle eyes to do a full-fledged inspection of any piece you plan to purchase.
Of course when you’re as picky as I am, that means always asking the sales associate if she’s aware of any damage on a piece, asking to inspect the garment in daylight to better assess any fading or staining, and going over every inch of the item with a fine-toothed comb.
It’s a completely different situation, however, when you shop for vintage clothes online. Here it’s often the pictures of items that can trip you up.
Have you ever noticed that many vintage items look waaaaaaay better in their online pictures than they do in real life?
Unless you’re diligent about carefully reading item descriptions, it’s easy to get all excited by a really great picture, place your order (or bid, if it’s an auction) and then be unpleasantly surprised when the item arrives at your doorstep. That why you absolutely MUST read every word of an item’s description to ensure you’ll be satisfied.
Fortunately, in cyberspace, it’s expected that sellers will disclose any significant flaws in their item descriptions. And while what I consider significant and what a seller considers significant can often be worlds apart, at least you can expect a synopsis of all major areas of concern.
Unfortunately, many items that look beautiful in their online pictures show flaws that will be glaringly evident in your living room. So, if it’s an option, always enlarge each provided picture and use that nifty magnifying feature if it’s available.
Here’s another great tip that’s protected me from many a bad purchase:
If an auction or merchandise picture is not well lit, take a screenshot or download the picture to your computer so you can use your photo-enhancement software to lighten the shadows. Often that stain, fading, snag or break in the lace that was almost unnoticeable in the original picture will stand out like a sore thumb in the enhanced photo—just the way it will when you hold the garment in your own hands.
Today’s VPOD is a fine example of why you need to read descriptions carefully before purchasing items online.
This Edwardian cape is a fantastic find because it’s in pristine condition—on the outside. A quick glance at the first pics and it’s easy to see that the beading, the needlework and the fringed trim are all in extraordinary shape which is very unusual for a piece of this age. You have to look at all the pictures in the listing and read the description to the very end for a clear disclosure that the lining is shredded.
Of course, when you’re buying a beauty like this to wear as a contemporary piece this shredding is not a deterrent. After all, replacing the lining is an easy fix and this piece is truly extraordinary! But you do want to expect the lining damage and not have it take you by surprise when you open your package.
That why I firmly believe that being a satisfied online vintage customer requires responsibility on the part of both the seller AND the buyer.
And when you do your part, and the seller does their part, you’ll end up as one very satisfied vintage fashionista!
Cape available at Simplicity Is Bliss.
(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.)
Used to be that I’d spy a gorgeous but oh-so-tiny vintage 1950s swimsuit like today’s VPOD by DeWeese Designs and be oh-so-sad that I couldn’t squeeze my petite frame into it. But now I’ve learned that there is an equally fun option if you can’t wear one of these beauties—hang it on your wall!
Susan Petrie, founder of Petrie Point Designs, takes magnificent vintage swimsuits from the 1920s to the 1960s and turns them into timeless works of art. One of her pieces graced the cover of Interior Design Magazine last year and her work has been praised by the likes of Coastal Living Magazine, Hamptons Magazine, and Apartment Therapy.
She brilliantly pairs each hand-selected suit with just the right framing to really make each suit shine. Prices range from $700-$1900. So next time you’re gaping with awe at an itty-bitty teeny-weeny yellow polka dot bikini (or a dandy DeWeese like our VPOD), just call Susan and put a frame on it!
It’s a wonderful decorating alternative for a vintage fashionista!
Swimsuit available at Adore 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.)
I have a little styling rule-of-thumb that seems to work pretty well for me and it’s quite simple:
If I’m wearing a contemporary outfit, I pair it with vintage shoes. If I’m wearing a vintage outfit, I wear contemporary shoes.
After all, no one wants to be too matchy-matchy! Plus head-to-toe vintage is awfully hard to pull off without looking like you were styled by a costume designer for a period piece like Mad Men.
So I’ve got plenty of vintage high heels that I love to wear with jeans and plenty of contemporary sandals to pair with my vintage summer dresses.
Of course, when the shoes are as spectacular as today’s VPOD, they’re enough to steal the fashion show. Certainly these were designed with evening in mind, but how sharp would these vintage beaded satin pumps look with a pair of linen trousers, a crisp white blouse and a chunky vintage necklace?
They’re oh-so-chic and I couldn’t help but smile every time I looked down at the beaded coral crabs knowing I got them on sale for oh….about $35 each.
What a pair of pure joy for a vintage fashionista!
Available at Hollywhirl. | 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.)