Wanderlost Clothing

2011-12-03T16:29:00.000-06:00

Well, we're back in the good ol' US of A! Been home almost two weeks now and I think the jet lag has finally worn off. . . although, I've been sick for almost a week now, so maybe my body hasn't totally adjusted. Unfortunately, I don't really have time to take it easy, though. I'm crazy busy getting ready for the "holiday season"- I'll be doing two Vintage Madison one-day sales before Christmas and a sale/party at my house. Which means I need to stock up!
Earlier this week we spent a few days in South Dakota for a belated Thanksgiving with Josh's family. As usual, we ate a lot, drank a lot, went shopping at my favorite small-town thrift store, and then we took pictures. This time Josh's brother and his girlfriend came with, so I had someone to "model" for me, and Josh's little sister got in on the fun too!

Every time we're there, I become more and more fascinated by the landscape of this strange, remote place. . . It's so incredibly different than where I grew up in the suburban South. The light in South Dakota is the most amazing of anywhere I've been- around dusk it's impossible for me to not be outside taking photos!

XO,

Jess

Ireland

2011-11-03T04:56:00.004-05:00

Today we're leaving Ireland on a very nice passenger ferry that could pass for a B-grade cruise ship. We spent the better part of a week exploring the Emerald Isle. It was lovely. The weather was up and down (from clear, blue, sunny days to the typical rain and gloom), but we had a great time. The people here are so kind and genuine and we were very lucky to have friends that put us up for a few nights.
We entered the country through Belfast (by boat from Scotland), and we spent the first night there. I really did not know what to expect from Northern Ireland-- 15 years ago I never would have thought to visit that part of the world. But it's a fascinating place. We stayed in a lovely part of town near Queen's University and Josh found a pub that had an open night so we headed there and ended up staying the whole night. We met lots of friendly folks (kind of crazy folks too, but lots of fun).

sailing into Belfast harbor

nice weather in Belfast

After Belfast we took a (very scenic) bus ride to Dublin. I immediately got a good vibe from the city, but unfortunately we did not have a lot of time to explore that day. Josh played at a pub in a very cool part of town, but it was sort of a bust- basically an open mic type gig that allowed him to play only 5 or 6 songs as part of a 6-person line up. And then, he was supposed to play another Dublin gig but found out (rather last minute) that it was canceled. Oh well, we still love this town.

The next part of the trip was my favorite- we rented a car and drove into the center of the country to County Tipperary. There we spent 2 nights with our friends the MaGraths- relatives of our Irish friend Tim, who lives in Madison. Kay and Donie treated us like family, and their gorgeous house in the country overlooking Lough Derg was a very welcome change from the dingy hostels and couches we'd been sleeping on. We spent both nights that we were there at this wonderful pub called Larkins- just down the hill from where we were staying. Friday night Josh had a proper gig (which was kind of sparsely attended, but loads of fun) and Saturday night we went back for Brendan O'Connor's 50th birthday. It was quite the event- the entire town was there to celebrate. They set up for a band, which Josh ended up leading (he went up to play one song but they wouldn't let him leave).

beautiful scenery in County Tipperary

After Tipperary, we had a few days off so we drove sort of aimlessly south. We ended up spending a night in Killarney (which was touristy, but nice) a night in Cobh (pronounced "Cove")- an adorable seaside town right outside of Cork, and a night in the small town of Kilcullen (about 45 mins from Dublin). Finally, we made it back to Dublin for one more night. This time we got to spend several hours walking around- stopped in a pub in the Temple Bar area for the requisite "trad music" session. And now we're back on a ship heading towards Liverpool for a (very promising) gig tonight!

Cobh, Ireland

By the way- if you'd like to hear another perspective on the trip (plus info on his shows and videos) check out Josh's blog!

XO,

Jess

London

2011-10-22T05:53:00.001-05:00

After a week of hectic travel back and forth across England (Josh's tour schedule isn't as practical as it could be), we finally had a couple days off to hang out in London. We met up with an old friend of mine who I studied abroad with in Italy 9 years ago (I can't believe it's been that long!!), and she and her husband were very gracious hosts.

We spent a good amount of time yesterday walking around the Brick Lane neighborhood. It's a very hip part of town that used to be the industrial corridor, but now all the old factories have been converted into trendy coffee shops, bars, Indian restaurants and load of vintage shops! There were so many, I did not get to go into all of them. . . but Josh was a very good sport, letting me drag him into a good number of shops.
My main objective was to check out Blitz- London's first "vintage department store". I had read about it several weeks ago, so was excited to see it for myself. I have to say, I was a bit disappointed. It was big, but not huge-- about the size of most Urban Outfitters. And they had some nice things, but (like all of the vintage stores in London) it was very pricey and carried mostly 70's, 80's and 90's casual-wear (polyester day dresses galore!). I guess I'm a bit spoiled by vintage shops in the States. . .

Well, now we're heading north-- we'll be in Scotland tonight!

Cheers,

Jess

2011-10-17T04:28:00.000-05:00

So we've been in England for a few days now, and unfortunately I haven't had as much time to blog as I thought I would. . .we've been traveling so much! We spent our first night in London, then drove up to Chester for Josh's first show, then the next day down to Dorset for his second show. In effect, we've already driven across more than half of the country! Yesterday, we were on our way back to London from the South and stopped (very briefly) in the city of Winchester. What a fortuitous stop it was because they happened to be having a vintage fair! The open-air arts/crafts/vintage market led up to this gorgeous old building that housed several dozen more vintage vendors. I was in heaven! Unfortunately, though, we could not stay long because Josh had to be in London for a radio spot. So it was bitter sweet. But I did get to chat with one of the vendors a bit who said that most of their clothing is imported (in bulk) from the States. She was very jealous of all our thrift stores and flea markets. . . funny.
My Vintage Madison friends and I have often talked about hosting a vintage fair in Madison so I found this very inspiring!

I will post more photos soon. . . but now we have to get back in the car and drive North to Sheffield!

XO,

Jess

British Invasion

2011-10-08T10:26:00.000-05:00

This Tuesday we're finally embarking on our much-anticipated five week European tour across the pond! Wednesday morning we land in London and are spending the first week hopping around England, before moving on to Scotland, Ireland and (fingers crossed) Paris and Amsterdam. I started packing today, and couldn't help but think of all the "classic" British styles that I wanted to emulate. So here's a little tutorial (a refresher course, I'm sure) on some of the more popular fashion trends that have emerged from Merry Ol' England.

MOD-1960's
Design characteristics: bright colors, geometric patterns, short a-line shift dresses, knee-high boots, bold eye make-up
Fashion icon: Twiggy

Sunglasses and Shoes for sale on Etsy

Punk- beginning in the 1970's London music scene

design characteristics: denim, leather, band tees, "bedhead", lace-up boots, studs
Fashion Icons: Sid & Nancy, the Clash, the Ramones, Vivienne Westwood

Leather jacket for sale on Etsy

Prep-School
design characteristics: plaid, tweed, blazers, ties, tailored suits, oxfords, trench coats
Fashion Icons: Kate Moss, Burberry models

red plaid skirt for sale on Etsy

Ok, now I have some serious packing to do!

XO,

Jess

Fall Is Here!

2011-09-24T15:03:00.002-05:00

Well, it crept up like a thief in the night. . . Suddenly, it seems, there are golden leaves covering the ground, the high temperatures plummeted from 80 to 55 degrees, and I had to dig through my closet for scarves, mittens and wool tights. Fall is here. Summer is officially over, and while I'm a little bit sad- mainly because my long "to do" list of Summer activities was once again unfulfilled, I'm also excited about the changing season. Fall is the most beautiful time of year here in Wisconsin. Growing up in the South, I didn't get to see the drastic change in seasons that we have up here. Going for a drive out in the country to an apple orchard, kicking around in the piles of muli-colored leaves, having a bonfire with friends on a chilly Autumn night. . . these are things to look forward to. Also, Fall is my favorite fashion season. Layering is key and that means there are endless possibilities.
Even two weeks ago when it was 85 degrees outside, I was thinking about and planning my Fall wardrobe. Josh and I will be in the UK in a couple weeks, so unfortunately (well, not really. . .) I'll miss a good chunk of the season here, but I hear the weather there is sort of comparable this time of year. So, here is my list of my top 10 favorite Fall wardrobe items/looks, and a few outfits from my closet that pull these ideas together.

1. Boots- I have a bit of a boot fetish, with around 10 pairs from cowgirl to biker to ankle (yet I always come back to my favorite pair of beat-up old tall boots)
2. Tights- This is a no brainer. If you're going to wear skirts and dresses this time of year in Wisconsin, you need tights. Luckily, places like Target carry an incredible array of colors, textures, patterns. . .hooray!
3. Black & Brown- My favorite color combination! It's no longer a taboo to mix neutrals. . .in fact, it looks pretty damn good.
4. Longer Skirts- On the runways this year we've seen a lot of "longer" skirts, from the knees to the floor. My favorite length right now is "3/4" or just-below-the-knees. . .with a high waist, of course!
5. Hats!- I'm obsessed. I feel like all these years my head has been naked, but now I've discovered an enormous love for hats. Unfortunately, my head is also enormous, so finding vintage hats that fit me is tricky.
6. Androgynous- Again, this look was all over the runways this season, and there are a myriad of ways to pull it off. I prefer Annie Hall meets Heidi Klum-- not too masculine, but I love a funky vintage tie- paired with a mini-skirt keeps it sexy!
7. Plaid- Mad for it, I am. What's more fall than a plaid wool blazer or skirt with knee socks?
8. Southwest - Funky Native American and Southwestern-style prints have been popping up everywhere, and I love it!
9. Feathers- If you saw the pics from my recent fashion show, you probably noticed the fabulous feather hair pieces, handmade by my friend Emily Neumeier. Of course, I had to buy a couple for myself and have been wearing them frequently. . .now I've commissioned her to make me feather earrings!
10. Belts- Almost any outfit looks chic if you cinch at the waist!

3/4 length skirt & belt, thrifted; t-shirt, Alternative Apparel; hat, vintage; leather shoes, for sale on etsy

black & brown skirt, vintage a la Good Style Shop; boots & bag, thrifted

plaid wool blazer, vintage Pendleton (part of two piece suit); 1960's skinny tie, my boyfriend's closet (really); vintage men's fedora, thrifted; bag, vintage Dianne Von Furstenburg (thrifted); skirt, Forever 21; top and boots, thrifted

Southwest-chic via prints and/or accessories
skirt, handmade using thrifted fabric (see tutorial); sweater top, thrifted; bronze eagle necklace, yard sale; handmade feather hair extension, Emily Neumeier (unfortunately, not yet for sale online)

XO,

Jess

Pop-Up Shop

2011-09-15T09:38:00.000-05:00

I've been having so much fun playing "shop girl" this week with Rebecca (of Picture Day)! It is a lot of work to set up a shop in two days, and always sad to take it down. But I think a week is going to be just the right amount of time. . . you know, so we won't take it for granted. Yesterday we got bored and played "dress up". This is a dangerous game, because I try things on and then think 'maybe I shouldn't sell that'.

I'm so into hats right now, and this fuchsia velvet floppy hat is one of my favorites

All the pretty day dresses. . .

Well, back to the store. . . happy shopping!

XO,

Jess

2011-09-13T21:50:00.001-05:00

Oh Lord, the last week has been such a whirlwind! On Wednesday we had the Vintage Madison Fall Fashion Show. All afternoon I was running around like a mad woman trying to finish up outfits and dress the models. Luckily, our friends Emily and Holly from Anaala Salon were there to do all the hair & make-up. Plus, Emily made some absolutely fabulous feather hair pieces! Surgeons in Heat, a fantastic local band, played for about an hour after the show. . . it was great to let loose and dance after such a crazy day. All in all, I think the night was a total success. It's so strange when you plan something for weeks, putting all your heart and soul into it, then it's over in 5 minutes! Ah well, at least there are great pictures to remember it by. . .

check out all the photos on our facebook page!

So, I took the entire day on Thursday and Friday to relax and unwind (and get over a little cold), but then on Saturday we were back at it- setting up our Fall Pop-Up Shop. We had the grand opening party on Sunday, and are staying open all week! This is the longest pop-up shop we've done so far, and I'm pretty excited to have the entire week to hang out and play shop girl. I'll post some pics of the shop tomorrow.

XO,

Jess

Fashion Show!!

2011-09-01T19:53:00.000-05:00

Once again, my poor blog has been terribly neglected due to my hectic schedule and inability to multi-task! This time, the reason for my absence is due mainly to 2 things:
1. Josh and I are going "on tour" to Europe in 6 weeks! I'm terribly excited but we're very, very busy trying to book 'gigs' (last minute, unfortunately), as well as make all the usual plans that go into a 5 week long trip!
2. In less than a week we're putting on our second annual Vintage Madison Fall Fashion Show! Again, I'm very excited, but there's a lot of work to do. I still have to decide on outfits and which models are wearing what, but other than that I feel well prepared. It's gonna be a blast! And a few days after the show we'll be doing another pop-up shop---this time for a full week.

Otherwise, I'm just trying to enjoy the last few weeks of Summer here in lovely Wisconsin!

XO,

Jess

My first interview!

2011-08-10T15:37:00.001-05:00

I was so flattered to be interviewed recently by local fashion blogger, Stephanie Carnes. Her blog, Fashion at Liberty, takes a journalistic eye to sustainable, unique, local fashion. She asked me all about how I started Wanderlost, why I am passionate about vintage, and she even got me to finally photograph some new items!

Read the whole post here

XO,

Jess

Fashion Illustrator Bobby Hillson

2011-07-20T09:57:00.000-05:00

Lately I've been scouring the web, the library and all of my magazines looking for inspiration for the poster design for our second annual Vintage Madison fall fashion show. I'm thinking that some sort of fashion illustration would be fantastic, so I'm trying to draw something myself (no royalty fees!), but I'm not much of an illustrator. Anyways, I'll figure something out, but in the meantime I'm finding all sorts of amazing inspiration.
Some of my favorite illustrations that I've come across are by London-based illustrator and designer, Bobby Hillson. She has worked with all of the major British designers of the last 50 years, and even taught Alexander McQueen!
These gorgeous line drawings from the 1960's are so simple yet amazing! I added some pops of color. . . enjoy!

Learn more about Ms. Hillson here.

XO,

Jess

Tourist in My Town

2011-07-05T22:09:00.001-05:00

So, this past week we have had a lot of family visiting us. First, Josh's Mom, Dad & little sister came to Madison for the first time ever (he has lived here for 8 years)! And then, coincidentally, the same week, my parents made their yearly trip up north. So after being together nearly 4 years, our parents finally met each other! It went very well- I'll spare you the details, but let's just say I have breathed a huge sigh of relief.
The great thing about having people come visit (especially if they've never been here before) is that we get to be tourists in our own town. Josh and I never go to the zoo or the gardens or inside the Capitol (well, unless we're protesting political injustice), but when out-of-towners are here we get an opportunity to take a break from our day-to-day life and enjoy the beautiful city we call home!

Henry Vilas Zoo (it's free!)

the view from the top of our Capitol dome

Olbrich Gardens (also free!)

Bowling at a Clean Water Fundraiser

taking the boat out on Lake Monona

XO,

Jess

Craft Project: Exposed Zipper Mini-Skirt

2011-07-02T14:47:00.002-05:00

I know the exposed zipper look has been hot for a while- I still love it. And luckily, adding an exposed zipper is actually a bit easier than adding a hidden one. Yesterday I found this gorgeous piece of fabric at a thrift store-- I thought it was very on-trend, reminiscent of so many "Aztec prints" we've seen on runways this season. So I decided to make a very simple, 30 minute skirt with it. Here's the tutorial:

Voila!

shoes, belt, hat and bag: thrifted
t-shirt: Alternative Apparel

XO,

Jess

New Dresses on Etsy!!

2011-06-10T17:24:00.000-05:00

Impromptu Photo Shoot

2011-06-09T17:54:00.000-05:00

After our glamorous trip to Fargo, we spent a couple days relaxing at Josh's parents' farm in South Dakota. . .there's not much to do there except take photos-- and boy is it beautiful! Unfortunately, I didn't think to bring along a stash of vintage, so this isn't a lookbook but a collection of fashion photos. Enjoy!

2011-06-07T11:48:00.001-05:00

Well, I just got back from a much-needed 4 day vacation. . . where did I go? Hawaii? no. New York? uh-uh. even better- Fargo, North Dakota! Now, it wasn't my first time in Fargo-- far from it. My honey, Josh, grew up there and began his music career there. This was sort of a homecoming for him-- his new album is finally out (so exciting!!) so he was back to play a show. We only spent 2 days in Fargo, then headed south to Josh's parents' farm.

Every time we go to Fargo it seems to be more and more mature than the last time. Now it seems to have fully blossomed into a pretty cool little city. The main drag, Broadway, has numerous funky shops, restaurants, an old theater and a historic hotel. Our first night in town, we had dinner at the Hotel Donaldson-- a lovely renovated hotel with a beautiful bar and rooftop lounge (complete with hot tub!). Then we went across the street to the Ecce Gallery & Yoga Studio to see an intimate show with our friends from Storyhill. The gallery was in one of many historic buildings on Broadway that have been well-preserved.
The next day, we did some shopping-- of course! There were so many thrift stores in the area, we didn't have time to hit them all. However, I did have good luck at the ones we went to. . .My favorite find was this pair of orange suede wedges.

Also, I discovered a vintage store right off the main drag that I'd never seen before. Revolver is a very nice little shop with very reasonable prices-- I highly recommend stopping in if you're ever in Fargo.

Later that day, we had a late lunch at the Plains Art Museum- another beautifully renovated old factory building. They have a little cafe inside with the absolute best turkey sandwich I've ever had.
Finally, Josh had his show-- at another art space/ yoga studio/ music venue. It was great to see him in his "element" with all of his old friends and fans!

Just goes to show that there are so many places to see in this world, and in this country. And sometimes just passing through a town or city isn't enough- you need to really get to know a place before you can judge it.

Happy Travels!

XO,

Jess

new on Etsy!

2011-05-19T16:42:00.002-05:00

The Post-Prom Post

2011-05-10T18:44:00.001-05:00

Well, the first annual Vintage Madison Vintage Prom was on Saturday night and it was great. After several stressful weeks of shopping, decorating, advertising, and worrying that no one would show up-- I finally got to chill out and enjoy the fruits of my labor. We had a great turn out and it seemed like everyone had a fantastic time. Many strangers came up to me and said "You guys have to do this again next year!!". . . I think we will.
One of the best parts was the photo booth created by Voltaic Visual photography. Here are a few of the shots. . . you can see all of them here.

Me and my ladies

the "Prom Committee"

Me and Josh

Our Prom King and Queen (winners of the "best dressed" contest)

Another awesome feature was the "Cha Cha Chapel"-- a hair & make-up salon on wheels! Our friend Alice of Cha Cha Hair Salon offered pre-prom coifs for $20 and make-up makeovers for $15. Unfortunately, I was too busy to get done up, but the ladies who did looked amazing!

So now that Prom is over, we're discussing our next event. . . which probably won't be until the Fall. For now I'm excited to get back to "normal"- my website and etsy store have been so neglected!

XO,

Jess

Post Pop Up Shop Photo Shoot!

2011-04-30T19:16:00.000-05:00

So, a couple days before we closed up the Pop Up Shop, this guy named Jerry wandered in. . . He's a photographer with a serious passion for vintage, and an expert in pin-up style photography. He was very impressed with our collection of clothing and offered to do a photo shoot in the shop. So on closing night, as soon as the last few customers left the shop, Jerry set up a backdrop and lights and went to town! It turned into a fantastic last-night party, with all of us Vintage Madison ladies (and Pete of the Good Style Shop!) playing "dress up" and getting our turn in front of the camera. Here are some of the best shots!

photos courtesy of Pop Pics!

XO,

Jess

Pre-Prom Pop Up Shop!

2011-04-27T16:03:00.000-05:00

What a crazy week it has been! In anticipation of Vintage Prom, we 3 ladies of Vintage Madison are hosting our second Pop Up shop. We set everything up in one day, last Thursday, and that night we had our "sneak peek" party. So much fun! Since then, it's been great having a whole week to play "shop girl". I love talking to all the couples who come in looking for coordinated vintage Prom outfits.

We have to take everything down tomorrow, which will be kind of sad. . .But I am very, very excited for Prom- it's only 10 days away! And I have 2 fabulous dresses to chose from (I would post pics but they're both at the dry cleaners).
Well, back to the shop. . .

XO,

Jess

Prom Fever

2011-04-16T17:59:00.001-05:00

So, I'm in the final stages of Vintage Prom planning. . . It's only 3 weeks away! (and just 4 days from now, we'll be setting up the Pre-Prom Pop Up Shop) I'm really busy but really excited- it's going to be a lot of fun! Even my mom is getting in the spirit-- Last week I got a letter from her with some photos. . . This is my mom at her prom in 1971:

Notice how she and her bff are basically wearing the same dress but in two different colors- cute! And I LOVE the white gloves!
Also, she sent me a pic of my Aunt Jean before Prom-- Must have been 1968 or 69.

Pretty in Pink! Classy. And again with the gloves. . . I need to find a pair.

So, I haven't settled on a dress to wear yet-- I'm still considering a few from my collection, as well as searching etsy. . . Ideally, I'd love a tea-length tulle number from the late 50s/early 60s. I'll tell you what I will NOT be wearing-- this hideous silver Cinderella gown that I rocked 11 years ago at my own Prom.

Ok, maybe hideous isn't the right word-- ill fitting? yes. my style? no, not at all. I remember frantically dragging my mother through shop after shop in the mall the day before prom looking for a dress (of course it was slim picking that late in the game-- why didn't Etsy exist back then?) because I had just decided to go to prom a day or so earlier. I didn't want to. I was too cool. . .it might hurt my "image". But my swell friends (most of whom had boyfriends, I did not) talked me into it. So I went. And I do remember having a good time. But now I am SUPER excited to have a second chance. I'll do it right this time. . . hot date, great dress, and I can order drinks at the bar instead of taking swigs of Southern Comfort from the same flask as 12 other people!

XO,

Jess

2011-04-11T23:22:00.002-05:00

So, once again I find myself apologizing for the lack of posts. . . I have been incredibly busy, plus we are FINALLY getting some decent Spring weather, so I've been outside as much as possible. Last week, however, I got to take a break from my hectic schedule to celebrate my 29th birthday. I can't believe my 20's are almost over. . . It really, really flew by fast. But, enough lamenting my fleeting youth. . . My birthday was lovely, thanks to my friends and my sweetheart, Josh. Somehow, he managed to plan a "surprise party" and I didn't find out about it until the day before! Not bad, for someone who can never keep a secret. Luckily, the weather was nice so we grilled a feast of seafood, veggies, steak, and of course (this is Wisconsin)-- brats. And my friend Kylie put together a pinata filled with candy, mini bottles and "adult" goodies.
The next day Josh and I went for a lovely drive out of the city. . . We were looking for thrift stores but didn't find many that were open. Oh well, the scenery was great!

Busy, busy

2011-03-20T18:34:00.000-05:00

My poor blog has been so neglected lately! I've been so busy protesting and getting ready for Prom that I haven't had time for much else. . . well, except for a little shopping and lots of creative projects! Yesterday there was yet another pro-worker's rights rally at the Capitol (looks like there will be one every Saturday for a while. . .) and I finally got around to making t-shirts to sell! I call them Solidari-tees!

I printed about 20 of these and took them to the Capitol with me-- they were very popular! Of course, a lot of people are capitalizing on this event, and I feel a little bit guilty about making money off a cause that I'm so passionate about. But, they were the only "unique" (non-mass produced) shirts for sale, and I was selling them very cheap-- It's all about spreading the message!
Also, in preparation for the Vintage Madison Pop-up Shop and Prom I'm making t-shirts. . . haven't started printing them yet, but here are the designs.

We're also getting buttons made with the first design!

Finally, with what little time and creative energy I've had left lately I've been working on this line of collaged/painted suitcases. The first one is finished and up for sale on Etsy.. . .

The good thing about Winter is that it keeps me indoors and crafting. . . but now it's finally starting to feel like Spring. I'm super excited to bring my bike out from hibernation, put away my wool coats and feel the sun on my face! I just hope I can still be productive.

XO,

Jess

It's Prom Season!

2011-03-05T11:55:00.000-06:00

So, in case I haven't mentioned it yet-- I'm planning a big event for this Spring. It's a vintage-themed prom. It will be the third event that I've planned with the other Vintage Madison ladies, at the same venue as the Fall Fashion Show that we held back in September. I'm so excited because I think people will really get into the whole theme-- asking a date "to prom", finding the right vintage dress, going out to dinner beforehand, dancing the night away. . .
Last week we started working on our advertising campaign by having a Prom-themed photo shoot. Our talented friend Alice Ezrow did the hair and make-up, inspired by outfits from three decades: the 1960's, 1970's and 1980's. I put together this lookbook and included some "real" vintage prom pics that I found online. Enjoy!

Open publication - Free publishing - More vintage

The Requisite Post-Oscars Post

2011-02-28T11:07:00.002-06:00

I love film. But I am also very cheap and almost never shell out 12 bucks to go to the theater. I'd much rather wait til it comes out on video (Netflix to be exact), so I can watch from the comforts of my own couch. That being said, I have not yet seen any of the 10 films nominated for "Best Picture" this year at the Academy Awards. That didn't stop me from watching them, though. As you might expect, I watch for the fashion (and awkward celeb speeches & interviews). This year, I was both pleased and disappointed to see that there were very few fashion disasters on the red carpet. It seemed like a lot of actresses played it safe, choosing classic, sophisticated looks. Personally, that is how I would go if I were in their shoes-- it is always in style to evoke the "Old Hollywood" glamor. . .vintage chic!
The only celeb that I saw who was actually wearing vintage was Marissa Tomei in a 1950 couture Charles James dress. I have seen her on at least one "worst dressed" list, but I thought she looked stunning!

Otherwise, most of the dresses seemed to fall into one of three color palettes: red, purple or neutral. Jennifer Hudson, Anne Hathaway and Sandra Bullock all rocked the classic "princess syle" red satin gown-- personally, I think that look is a little bit played-out, so I'm not going to post those pics. I am, however, going to share my favs in the "purple" and "neutral" categories.

Both ladies nominated for the film Black Swan, Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis, went with violet-hued gowns, and I think they both look gorgeous (and Natalie with a bun in the oven!)

Natalie in Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Mila in Elie Saab

Also, I fell in love with this Dolce & Gabbana gown that Scarlett Johansson wore (I'm a sucker for lace)

These ladies looked amazing in shimmering shades of white, pale pink and silver:

Michelle Williams in a beaded Chanel Haute Couture gown-- she always looks classy and beautiful, although I feel like she's been doing the Twiggy-meets-Mia Farrow look for so long, maybe it's time for something new?
Mandy Moore in Monique Lhuillier looked amazing (could this dress fit her any more perfectly?)- I don't enjoy her music or her movies, and frankly I was stunned when she married one of my favorite musicians, Ryan Adams (he should be with someone much more hip). . . But I got to give the girl props-- she's a classy dresser.
Anne Hathaway-- one of the prettiest, classiest young ladies in Hollywood-- changed several times last night, since she was hosting. This stunning Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci gown was one of my favs-- very Old-Hollywood glam!
How cute is Hailee Steinfeld? At only 14, she is the epitome of style and glamor. This amazing 1950's-inspired pale pink tea-length dress by Marchesa was a perfect choice!

XO,

Jess

Kill the Bill!

2011-02-19T18:52:00.000-06:00

Ok, I know this is technically a fashion blog, but permit me to get political for a moment. I find myself suddenly living in the epicenter of a historic American political situation. My town- Madison, WI- has for a full week now been buzzing with protest and rioting due to our moronic new Governor's "budget care" bill. In case you don't watch the news and haven't picked up a newspaper this week- you can get the low-down here.
Basically, it just really saddens me that anyone in this country could agree with taking rights away from overworked, underpaid public employees like teachers and nurses. But at this point, I'm sick of debating it, sick of looking out my window and seeing it. I just want all of the Tea Party-ers, carpetbaggers, politicians, reporters and celebrities to leave. I want my city back.
Anyways, that's my explanation for being sort of m.i.a. this week-- every day I've been up at the Capitol showing my support for Wisconsin workers. . .and taking lots of pictures.

I wish my country wasn't so divided. I wish we had leaders who stood up for our best interest. And I wish we didn't have to have protests like this. . . But at least it's refreshing to see people standing up for themselves and their ideals!

peace and love,

Jess

2011-02-14T11:01:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm off to spend the day with my sweetie!

XO,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday

2011-02-10T21:59:00.001-06:00

Wow, I have done a lot of thrifting this week. I've hit up just about every thrift store in the greater Madison area. Also, this past weekend some girlfriends and I went up north to a small town named Minocqua, and we spent at least an hour in this adorable little thrift shop. . . I found a few little trinkets there, like this ashtray and tea tin.

Today I "stopped by" Goodwill, and ended up scouring the entire store. Found some great things, though.

I must have (subconsciously) had Valentine's Day on the mind because I was drawn to clothes in lovely shades of red and pink. . .

I altered this flowered skirt-- originally it was much longer. Now I'm considering keeping it because it makes me long for Spring. But it will be a few months before I can walk bare-legged through the streets of Wisconsin!

All of these goodies will be for sale on the website shortly!

XO,

Jess

Weekly Wishlist: Spring Dreamin'

2011-02-01T10:25:00.000-06:00

Well, there's another huge blizzard passing through the Midwest today. And I have to walk to work in a few minutes. Guess I have the Winter blahs. . . and there's still at least 2 more months of snow and cold ahead!
Needless to say, I'm already daydreaming of sunny Spring days, open-toed shoes, short dresses (without leggings!) and no more need for scarves, hats, gloves and snow boots. Here are a few items I found that made me smile.

MY LADY OF THE FUCHSIAS dress by SwaneeGrace

Vintage Bantam Green Floral Overnight Bag by Plaid Pony

Secret Garden Art Cocktail Ring by Schmooks

Vintage Copper Strappy Sandals by JessJamesJake

Oh well. . . for now I'm going to revisit my post "10 Things to Look Forward to this Winter" that I wrote in November, to remind myself that Winter has its perks.

XO,

Jess

Dior Couture 2011: Modern Art with a Vintage Twist

2011-01-26T23:00:00.004-06:00

I just stumbled upon pictures from the Christian Dior Couture show in Paris this week, via Jezebel. All I can say is WOW. Even though we're knee-deep in a worldwide economic recession, it's refreshing to see extravagant, over-the-top works of art in the form of fashion. Couture has never been made for practical purposes-- most of us will never own a piece of couture, but it is inspiring to see fashion pushed to its limits, and raised to the level of fine art.
That being said, the recent Dior show of couture pieces created by designer John Galliano is inspiring to say the least. It caught my eye primarily because of the obvious reference to mid-century fashion. Familiar silhouettes from the 1940's and 50's have been given new life with incredible modern fabrics and colors, as well as slightly futuristic-looking structure.

This article from style.com gives an interesting insight into Galliano's influences, mainly the illustrator René Gruau, who worked for Dior in the forties and fifties. Looking closely at the fabric he used, you can see how the patterns, colors, and textures mimic an illustrator's graphite and pastel drawings. Galliano himself started his career as a fashion illustrator before turning to design.

Heavenly.

What do you think?

XO,

Jess

Outfit Post: Restaurant Week

2011-01-25T21:00:00.001-06:00

So last night Josh and I went out to a very nice dinner at a fancy seafood restaurant. We're kind of poor right now, but figured that we should take advantage of it being Madison Restaurant Week. This is a wonderful twice yearly event where numerous local restaurants offer a 3 course dinner for $25. . .and when you're dining at a place that usually charges $25-$40 per entree, this is a great deal!
Also, going out to eat is always a great reason to get dressed up. It is difficult, though, to look chic when it's 5 degrees outside. I solved this problem in part by wearing my wool-lined black leggings instead of tights. Here's the outfit:

Vintage gold dress that I recently altered to fit me (it was about 2 sizes too big) and added the black ribbon waisband and black bowtie.
1950's black cardigan with beading and pearls decorating the front and hem that I purchased in Atlanta over Christmas.
Brand new (to me) boots that I found at a thrift store this weekend. . . They're brown suede with snakeskin embellishment and gold-capped toes!

XO,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday!

2011-01-20T22:49:00.000-06:00

Yesterday I took a trip about 20 miles out of town to the mythical Columbus Antique Mall (and Christopher Columbus Museum). I say it's mythical because I've been hearing about it for a long time, but for some reason have never made it out. My friends told me it was so big that we would need to spend the whole day there. I was skeptical, but it turns out that they were right. It just went on and on- booth after booth of antique kitchenware, knick-knacks, vintage clothing, jewelry, collectibles-- it was crazy!

Luckily (I think), it was not super cheap so I didn't come home with a trunk full of stuff. But I did find a few great items, like this pink and white wiggle dress (which I didn't try on in the store but it fits perfectly!), and this amazing upholstered handbag that I've decided to sell.

Happy thrifting!

XO,

Jess

Weekly Wishlist: Winter White

2011-01-18T21:07:00.001-06:00

We got at least a foot of fresh new snow here in Southern Wisconsin yesterday. The temperatures are rapidly dropping and I hear that by tomorrow it will be well below zero degrees. I know there are two or three months of this cold, dark winter still ahead of me. Still, I am finding beauty and inspiration in the in the still, white landscape.

Today I searched Etsy for lovely items that remind me of Winter in Wisconsin.

The perfect folk cape from Shop Grandma June

Hand Crocheted White Collar Necklace from Call Me Mimi

1950s fawn boucle wool fur collar coat from Allen Company Inc.

1970s WINTER BLOOM cream plisse dress from Nautie Godiva

Hope you're staying warm and cozy!

XO,

Jess

New Craft Obsession: Tunisian Crochet

2011-01-17T11:30:00.001-06:00

So yesterday was the 2nd Sunday Craft Party, during which a few of us crafty ladies got together to eat, drink, craft and learn. This week we had a fantastic lesson on Tunisian Crochet--what I am told is a great intro technique to knitting and crochet. Now, I have never knit or crocheted before (I know it's awesome and trendy to knit, but I just haven't gotten around to learning), but I found this method a pretty quick learn. And now, I think I'm hooked (to use a nerdy crochet pun)!

Our teacher was Sheryl Thies, who just released a new book: Get Hooked on Tunisian Crochet.
I also found some great tutorials on YouTube, in case any of you are interested in learning.

How to Crochet- Tunisian crochet or Afghan stitch by Naztazia

My first project is a neck cowl-- fingers crossed that it turns out ok! I'll post pics when I'm done!

XO,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday!

2011-01-13T17:42:00.005-06:00

Today I went back to my new favorite thrift store, where I had so much luck a few weeks ago. Seems they haven't brought in much new stuff since last time I was there. . . but I still found some treasures. This time I took Josh with me, and to my surprise he didn't get bored after 15 minutes (he just doesn't have the stamina for thrifting that I do). He was actually a great resource, because he combed the menswear section more thoroughly than I would have, and that's where we found the most goodies.

Here are some of our finds-- a reversible plaid vest and a bright orange tie with an abstract pattern of people playing tug-o-war, several 1960s/70s plaid suits (one 3 piece!), and a killer black blazer with the most amazing lining. . .

Oh yeah, and also this amazing leather jacket. . . I know, I know, I have been buying too many leather jackets lately. I'm not sure what it is about them, I just love a nice soft broken-in leather.

The only piece of ladywear that I found is this lovely pair of leather flats:

Unfortunately, they're too big for me (size 9.5), but I'll put them up in the shop tomorrow.

Josh also did a good job searching through the housewares section (while I was fruitlessly digging through aisles of sweaters, skirts and dresses). He found a roasting pan and a killer stir-fry pan for the apartment, and also this funky ice bucket:

It's got a silver pirate's ship on it. pretty awesome. But we already have a vintage ice bucket, so I think I'll sell it.
Finally, I found some fabric and other materials for an upcoming craft project. . .I'll tell you more about it once I get started!

XO,

Jess

The Exploitation of Vintage

2011-01-12T12:14:00.002-06:00

Ok, can I rant for a minute? I'm not sure how long this has been going on, but Urban Outfitters is now selling vintage on their site. It's not surprising, given the success of indie sites like ModCloth that sell both new and vintage clothing. Also, I assume U.O. has had success with their "Urban Renewal" clothing line, which involves designers "re-inventing" vintage/second-hand pieces. I usually like their Urban Renewal items-- I certainly am inspired by some of the designs I see-- however I personally never buy these pieces because I think they're a tad overpriced, and I know I can make them myself. Well, the straight-up vintage items they are selling now are beyond overpriced. Take this wool dress from Pendleton. Sure, it's cute. . .but $238 cute?! Pendleton is a brand that I come across all the time. It's not designer.

Now, why would anyone pay so much for this dress when they can go to any number of sites, like Etsy, and find a very similar dress at a fraction of the price? I did a quick browse on Etsy for Pendleton wool dresses, and I came across all of these lovely finds (and none of them over $60!):

photo credits: fine and dandy vintage, vintage perspective, love fox vintage, heart city, tharpstout

I know that vintage has become mainstream and hip, but I think we need to remember that part of the appeal--part of the reason I buy vintage at least-- is the affordability and the desire to promote small businesses over large corporate chains. I hope teenagers today can tell the difference.

Ok, that is all. Thanks for letting me vent. . ,I'm going thrifting now!

XO,

Jess

Craft Project #1: Upcycled bow necklaces

2011-01-10T18:19:00.001-06:00

So, as I mentioned in my last post, I've been toiling away in my studio (and avoiding the frigid temperatures outside) working on various craft projects. I've been making jewelry for a long time, and using bits and pieces of vintage ephemera is my favorite way to create unique pieces. Last week, my friend Claire (of Mamushka Marie) came over and wanted to know how I made the fabric bows that I showed in my "Gift Wrapping" post. She thought they'd be great if we made them smaller and incorporated them into jewelry pieces. I agreed. This is something that had been in the back of my mind for some time, actually. So I went to work making tiny fabric bows and pairing them with charms and chains from salvaged vintage pieces. Yesterday, I debuted the necklaces at the Crafting Social Sunday (which was a blast, by the way-- we made "softies" and mine is very ugly but lovable none-the-less!).

BTW-- a few of the necklaces are already on Etsy.

Now onto other projects. . .Happy Crafting!

XO,

Jess

Crafternoon

2011-01-08T12:56:00.001-06:00

Yesterday and today I've had a surge of creative energy. . .I spent all afternoon yesterday in my studio, sewing and crafting. Part of the reason for this recent need to create is that a friend of mine is hosting an impromptu Crafting Social Sunday and After-Holiday Handmade Sale this weekend, and she asked me to bring some hand-made goodies to sell. This was just the kick-in-the-pants that I needed to get going on some projects that I've had on the back burner for a while anyways. . . I've been collecting "inspiration" photos of items I'd like to reproduce with my own aesthetic/twist. I'll share pics of some of my finished projects when they are in fact fini, but for now--INSPIRATION!

photo credits: Anthropologie, Vintage Dutch Girl, Salvage Life, Crooked Sister

where do you look for inspiration?

XO,

Jess

shop update!

2011-01-07T09:30:00.002-06:00

Weekly Wishlist: New Year's Eve

2010-12-31T16:33:00.001-06:00

Well, it's New Year's Eve-- the biggest party night of the year. Unfortunately for me, I have to work. Yes, it's also the most lucrative night of the year for waitresses, so I'm going to suck it up and forgo the party dress for an apron in hopes of making some much-needed mad cash. Ah well, c'est la vie. To cheer myself up, I did some "window shopping" on Etsy today, and here's my wishlist entitled "What I Would Wear" this NYE, featuring lovely shades of pink and silver!

1. Vintage 1940's Everlasting Light Party Dress, by Dear Golden Vintage

2. Afternoon Delight Floral Headband, by Crafts2Cherish

3. Vintage Fluorescent Orange Pink Coat, by Animal Head Vintage

4. 1920's Pink and Silver Beaded Belgium Clutch, by Frocks n Frills Vintage

Happy New Year's! See you in 2011!

XO,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday! on the road in Atlanta

2010-12-30T19:43:00.001-06:00

Happy Holidays! I hope Santa was good to you all. I just returned from a week long trip to my homeland, Atlanta. It was great to spend so much time with the family, as well as old friends. We didn't do much besides eat, drink, watch the snow fall (yes, we actually had a White Christmas in Georgia!), and of course, shop. Josh was such a good sport-- on Tuesday he let me drag him all over town to various thrift stores, antique malls and vintage boutiques. Mostly, I re-discovered places that I had been to before- Little 5 Points is a favorite neighborhood for shopping vintage.

These pics are from a vintage shop that I've been to several times- the Clothing Warehouse. I was really bummed when they recently closed their "clothing by the pound" outlet store on the south side of Atlanta, but their flagship store in Little 5 is always worth a visit. It's a tad pricey (like most stores in Little 5) and very popular with the young hipster crowd, but I love browsing their selection of dresses from the 70's and 80's, and especially their huge wall-o-boots!
Btw-- in case you can't tell from my "Hipstamatic" photos-- I got an IPhone for Christmas! It's a huge step up from the archaic flip-phone that I formerly used. . . I'm so excited!

My absolute favorite vintage store in Atlanta has always been Stefan's, also in Little 5 Points. This place has been there for as long as I can remember. It's very swanky and, of course, pricey-- but everything in the shop is in pristine condition, and most of the items are at least 40 years old. They have a great selection of 1950's party dresses, furs, men's suits and rhinestone jewelry. I splurged on a lovely black cashmere cardigan from the 50's with pearls and beads lining the front and hem.

So, when I googled "great vintage shops, Atlanta" this place came up several times-- Kudzu Antiques in Decatur. I couldn't believe that I'd never been! The place is huge-- we must have wondered around for at least an hour and a half, and I'm pretty sure we didn't see everything. In classic antique mall-style, they have it set up in booths, which vendors can rent and do whatever they like with. The refreshing place about Kudzu is that all of the booths are great-- they have very high standards for what kinds of items people can sell- no junk. Everything is authentic vintage and in great condition. Again, that makes for pretty high prices-- I found some great vintage dresses in one booth but they were all over $100! Still, if I were looking for a special occasion outfit or a nice gift, this is a great place to go.
Well, we're home now, and I'm pretty excited to get back to work on the website. However, I'm not excited about tomorrow- I'm working at the restaurant for their NYE extravaganza which goes until about 6 am. Better rest up!
Happy New Year's!

XO,

Jess

Gift Wrapping

2010-12-21T23:15:00.001-06:00

Tonight I'm staying in and getting some last-minute gift wrapping done before Josh and I head to Atlanta on Thursday to spend Christmas with my family. I think this year I put as much, if not more time into wrapping my presents than I did picking them out. But presentation is important, right?
I know you've probably all seen several how-to-make-a-bow tutorials out there. I've been obsessed with vintage bowties lately (maybe you read my earlier blog post. . . ) and recently decided to make more bows with all of the scrap fabric that is accumulating in my studio. I use them for all kinds of things-- bobbypinned in my hair, safetypinned on a jacket, or sewn onto a piece of clothing, like in this skirt that I recently put up on the website.

Most recently I decided to use fabric bows to decorate gifts. It adds a nice touch because the recipient can re-use them over and over again! Here's my version of the bow tutorial:

In addition to the bows, I found these adorable gift tags to add to my gifts! Download this one and more designs by Amy Moss at Eat Drink Chic!

The final composition (with vintage fabric instead of wrapping paper). . .

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

xo,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday!

2010-12-16T18:23:00.000-06:00

Wow, yesterday was the most amazing thrifting experience I've had in a long time! I was out running errands, and decided to "quickly" stop in this new-ish thrift store to see if I could find a winter coat for Josh. . .Well, 2 hours later, I left with a full cart of beautiful vintage goodies!

As soon as I came home and dropped the bags of clothing on the floor, Hank the cat made himself right at home.

I got everything cleaned, steamed and hung on the rack last night. I was trying to decide what, if anything, I would keep for myself. . .Here are 2 of my favorite things that I'm having trouble parting with:

beautiful 1940's-inspired dress from the 1980's: silky semi-sheer black fabric with a red and blue floral pattern, and the sweetest little buttons at the cuffs. For sale on the website.

Metallic Silver Oxfords! Amazing, right? Unfortunately (for me), they're a half size too big for me. . .oh well- they're on the website too!

So, in case you're wondering-- yes, I also found the one thing I was looking for. . . an amazing 1960's plaid peacoat for Josh. . .and one for me!

More lovely items will be up on the site very soon.

Happy Thrifting!

XO,

Jess

new additions. . .

2010-12-13T14:11:00.001-06:00

I'm finally getting around to putting new items up on the website. . . Some pretty yummy goodies, I think.

1940's Saks Fifth Avenue Blazer

AMAZING mint green and white 1950's party dress

Super-cute black and white patent leather oxfords. . . unfortunately a 1/2 size too small for me :(

You may notice that I'm trying new things with my product photography. . . still not totally happy with it. Any suggestions?

XO,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday! The Wishlist.

2010-12-09T18:50:00.002-06:00

Brrr. . .it's nasty cold outside! It's snowing. It's been dark for hours. I do not feel like leaving the house. So instead of going out thrifting today, I decided to stay in and do some "shopping" from my computer, with a cup of hot tea and my coziest sweater on. I started out looking on Etsy for Christmas presents. . . my sister wants a pair of black cowgirl boots, my boyfriend needs a new winter coat. . . but, of course, I ended up finding several things that I want as well. I'm so selfish. Anyways, here is (part of) my Holiday wishlist:

I mentioned before that I'm obsessed with gold. . .This is an amazing black and gold lace party dress from Maries Vintage! After all, a girl can never have too many party dresses, right?

What a divine peacock blue peacoat from Nickie Frye. I can't have enough blue in my wardrobe, and I always love a pop of fur! Great for this chilly time of year.

Ok, I really don't need another pair of boots. . . I believe I'm up to 9 pairs now- cowgirl boots, ankle boots, snow boots, etc. I'm obsessed. I still don't own a pair of Frye boots, though (well, not in my size. . .I have one pair in my shop in a 6 1/2). I also don't own a pair of camel-colored cowgirl boots. So, these very reasonably-priced Frye boots from Bootmeister are going on my wishlist.

One thing that I do kind of "need" is a new go-to handbag. I currently use (the majority of the time) a wonderful cream-colored leather bag, much like this one, from Valhalla Brooklyn. I simply cannot say enough wonderful things about these handmade bags. For one thing, every time I look at mine, I think How did someone make this by hand? it's too perfect! That being said, my current VB bag is still in amazing condition (nearly 2 years after I bought it!), but it may be time to change things up a bit. I'm thinking something darker this season. . . maybe chocolate?

What's on your Holiday wishlist?

XO,

Jess

Pop-Up Shop Wrap-Up

2010-12-07T22:37:00.002-06:00

So, I haven't been blogging lately because I was so incredibly busy this week with the Vintage Madison Holiday Pop-up Shop! We started setting it up last Monday, opened on Thursday and took it down yesterday. It was a whirlwind! I had a ton of fun though, and was quite sad packing everything up yesterday.
Thursday night was our "sneak peak" opening party, with DJ Record Jammer Slayron (great name, right?!) providing music, and I was so pleased with the turnout. We were really busy all weekend, and everyone who came in was so sweet and wonderful. It made me think even more about opening a "real" shop of my own. . . Well, I've been thinking about it for a long time, and think it would be great. However, I'm aware of the fact that having a shop wouldn't always be as fun as the pop-up shop was. But, still, it's an idea that I'm kicking around.

I think we had a pretty good variety of clothing, accessories, Holiday gifts. . . And people were amazed at how well we transformed the space in only a couple of days. So, I'm curious-- what do you like about your favorite vintage shop? Or, better yet, what makes you excited about any shop in general? Now that I've gotten my feet wet, I'm thinking of ways to improve the next pop-up shop (or full-time shop).

XO,

Jess

Lust List: Gold

2010-11-29T09:40:00.003-06:00

I'm so glad that fashion is cyclical. Lately I've been noticing all of these amazing metallic hues on the runway, in fashion mags, online. . . And I don't think it's just because it's the Holiday Season. No, gold and silver are back in a big, bold way. From clothing to jewelry and accessories, home decor, even make-up, I just cannot get enough of this decadent shade!

Luckily, I've been able to indulge my obsession with these hues (gold in particular) while shopping for the site. Anytime I see something sparkly out of the corner of my eye, I go for it! It seems that this color was particularly popular in the 1960's and early 1970's, so I've found some really great pieces from that era.

Need a pick-me-up when the weather's gray and dreary? Wear gold! It'll make you feel like a million bucks.

XO,

Jess

Thrifty Thursday. . . err, Friday!

2010-11-26T17:53:00.000-06:00

Ok, obviously I got behind on my posts because of Thanksgiving. Mine was lovely, by the way-- how was yours? I've been spending the Holiday in freeeezing South Dakota with Josh's family. When we arrived yesterday it was only 5 degrees! Luckily, there's not much to do around here besides stay inside and eat. . . oh yeah, and then there's the best thrift store in the world 20 minutes away.
So, this is our Thanksgiving ritual-- spend Thursday with the fam, stuffing our faces, then Friday ("Black Friday", haha) we bypass the mall and go straight to our favorite shopping center: the thrift store in an old school. I hope you won't hold it against me that I must keep its name and exact location secret. . . You see, in just the last 3 years, since I've been going there, I've seen their prices nearly triple as more and more "hipsters" (well, the South Dakota version) discover its treasures.

Poor Josh, I dragged him (and his little sister!) through every room of this schoolhouse. And we were thorough. . . He got lucky and found an amazing pair of vintage speakers for only $10. I had great luck too, I picked out a slew of gorgeous dresses from the 50's, 60's and 70's, as well as two coats, a sweater, some jewelry, ties. . . I don't even remember everything I bought! I figure, between the Vintage Madison Holiday Pop-up Shop (which is next weekend-- ahh!), and on-line sales, I can justify buying a lot right now. So, you want a sneak peek? Here are some of my spoils. . .

I have beaucoup work to do when I get home!

XO,
Jess

2010-11-25T18:09:00.000-06:00

10 things to look forward to this winter. . .

2010-11-20T12:46:00.005-06:00

Ok, I'm in a funk. This week, it finally feels like winter has made it to Wisconsin. . . The days are so short (it's dark by 4:30!), there's a bitter chill in the air, and I fear I'm on the verge of the usual "change of seasons" head cold. My mantra is "I'm not getting sick. I'm not getting sick." Having moved here 5 years ago from the Sunny South, I still find Winter a bit fascinating, and I do love actually having 4 seasons (in Georgia there's only 2: hot and not-so-hot). But, still, the feeling of being on the verge of 4 months of bitter cold is a little bit daunting. So, to counter-act the beginning-of-Winter-blues, I've made a list of all the things to look forward to about Winter.

1. Snow days

2. Hot toddies, hot buttered rum, hot cocoa, hot cider

3. Holiday Parties

4. Wool leggings, wool-lined boots, scarves, fur coats

5. Eating whatever I want because there are no beach days in sight

6. Walking/skating across the frozen lake

7. Fireplaces (ok, our fireplace doesn’t actually work, but I plan on finding a restaurant/coffee shop with one that I can curl up next to)

8. Sleeping in (because it’s just too cold to get out of bed!)

9. “Indoor Activities” (i.e. sewing, cooking, crafting. . . )

10. trip to a cabin in the woods

What are you looking forward to this Winter?

P.s.--I'll leave you with some beautiful Winter-themed photos. . .

a la New York Times

a la W Magazine

XO,
Jess

Thrifty Thursday--Back from Minneapolis

2010-11-18T21:06:00.001-06:00

Well, I think I've said it before, but Minneapolis is one of my favorite thrifting towns. . .I never spend more than a day or two there at a time, but I always make sure to stop in at least one or two thrift stores. This week, Josh and I went up for a night because he was playing a house concert with our friend Brianna Lane. We had a great time-- our hosts cooked an amazing spread of food, and all of the guests were so nice and welcoming!

Brianna is wearing an adorable 1950's-style dress with a watercolor bird pattern (*she bought the dress from me-- I'm so happy when my clothes find a good home!)

OK, so onto the thrifting. . . On our way out of town, Josh and I stopped at a couple of good thrift stores. Value Thrift (on Hwy 94) was one of the absolute best thrift stores I've ever been to! First of all, it's enormous! Like a whole thrift store mall. . . Unfortunately, I didn't really have the time to properly devote (like a whole weekend), but in about an hour I was able to the at least skim the whole place. Now, the prices are not as cheap as many thrift stores, but the selection is amazing, the garments are all well maintained, and the place is pretty clean, so maybe that makes up for it.
Here's what I found: boots, boots and more boots! As well as some great leather men's jackets.

All of these new goodies will be up on the website soon. . .Promise!

Holiday Lookbook!

2010-11-17T18:54:00.002-06:00

So, in preparation for the Vintage Madison Holiday Pop-up Shop, Claire and I decided to have a photoshoot. It was tons of fun! We staged a sort of Holiday party at our friend Alice's house. . . complete with cocktails and very yummy cupcakes. My sweetheart, Josh, was nice enough to "model" for a few shots (doesn't he look handsome in the 3 piece suite--so Don Draper!)

We also had two sweet girls, Erica and Victoria, model for us. I think they had a lot of fun playing dress-up!

I did all the photography myself, and was pretty nervous about it because I had just gotten a new camera (a Nikon D5000 digital SLR-- it's pretty sweet). So I had to quickly browse the manual and familiarize myself. I think the photos turned out not-half-bad, actually.
Check out the entire lookbook here.

Thrifty Thursday!

2010-11-11T17:43:00.001-06:00

I am so inspired and overwhelmed with projects right now! I can't wait to get started! I don't think I've mentioned yet that we're having another Vintage Madison event (following the success of our Fall Fashion Show/Sale). . .This time were doing a Holiday "Pop-Up" Shop!

I'm so excited, because we're able to have it at this great art gallery/concert venue/general-use artists' space called the Project Lodge. This morning, I met with the director of the Project Lodge, along with my Vintage Madison co-sponsor, Claire (of Mamushka Marie Vintage). We started brain-storming display and decorating ideas, and came up with some great ones! Claire is making jewelry and vintage ornaments to hang on our faux-tree. So, I got inspired to make things as well--I'm thinking pillows, for starters.
So, after the meeting, Claire and I went to Goodwill to find more inspiration (and, of course, there was lots of shopping involved!) We found all kinds of cool display items, as well as things to sell. I got an armful of funky vintage plaid fabric to make pillows out of. Claire found a funky red suitcase and several adorable garments. . .

Besides fabric, I found the most wonderful thing-- something I've been looking for for a long time. . .

Yes, it's a birdcage. But Jess, you might say, do you even have a bird? Well, no. . . but I've always thought that birdcages were the most beautiful items. Now, it needs some work, but I will turn it into a piece of art. First off, I need to spray paint it (probably bright gold). . . I'll post some "after" pics when it's done.
Time to get crafty!

Guest Blog Post

2010-11-09T10:19:00.003-06:00

So, this week I had a chance to do a guest post on one of my favorite blogs: Little Chief Honeybee. It's called "These Are A Few of My Favorite Things. . . " Please check it out!

Also. . . I'm running a little GIVEAWAY on the website.

Thrifty Thursday!

2010-11-04T17:00:00.000-05:00

OK, I have a confession to make. . . I'm a thrift-a-holic! I absolutely cannot control my compulsion to walk inside every and any thrift store that I pass (as well as yard sales, flea markets, etc.) because who knows what treasures may lie inside? What if there's a pristine 1950 Chanel dress for only $4?! I have to rescue it! Well, maybe that's a little dramatic, but you catch my drift. . .
Anyhoo, I thought I'd start a weekly post about my thrifting adventures and conquests-- Thrifty Thursday. I didn't have a ton of time today, but thought I'd share a few pics of what my shopping yielded this week.

This gorgeous black and silver dress is my favorite thing from this week. Originally, it was a full-length dress but as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted to make it a mini. . . It was a bit tricky, bringing the hem up, but I think it worked out beautifully. Unfortunately, it's a bit small for me, so I immediately photographed it and put it up on the website. It's going to make a damn fine Holiday party dress for one lucky lady.

I'm not sure what to do with this one. .. It's pretty cute on it's own-- I love the color and the pleating on the chest. I may take the hem up to make it shorter, or do something with the sleeves. . . Any suggestions?

love this shirt. definitely keeping it for myself :)

I can't have enough mod mini-dresses. . . This one also required a lot of altering, but I think it'll be a great staple for the winter.

It's hard to tell from this photo, but this is a really gorgeous semi-sheer red dress with lovely black floral patterning and funky bell sleeves. Again, not my size, so it'll definitely be up on the website soon!

New Lookbook!

2010-10-22T10:19:00.001-05:00

So, we have been having some unseasonably warm weather for October, here in Wisconsin. I can't complain, though, because it seems we've had the best of both worlds-- beautiful Autumn foliage paired with sunny, warm, summer-like days. Josh and I have been taking advantage as much as possible-- riding bikes, going out on our boat, and taking long drives through the countryside. A few days ago, we took off in search of an apple orchard (my craving for apple cider was insatiable!), and along the way we took some pictures. . . et voila! A Late Fall Lookbook is born!

stopped into a small town bar for lunch and a beer. . .

Josh got to play "fashion photographer". . . Not bad right?

Finally, we found an orchard-- complete with pumpkins!

Check out more photos, and shop the lookbook here!

Back to my roots. . .

2010-10-13T17:51:00.001-05:00

So, I grew up in Georgia but have since migrated north to good ol' Wisconsin. I love it here in the Midwest, but of course there are some things about the South that I miss: my friends and family, winters that stay above 20 degrees, and the food. Fried chicken, cornbread, collard greens. . . Bring it on! When I was 18, I moved to beautiful Charleston, SC for college, and there I discovered the treasures of "Low Country" Cuisine: gumbo, she crab soup, low country boil, shrimp and grits. . . Most of the food down there has seafood in it, of course.
A couple nights ago, the Mermaid Cafe, a darling little breakfast and lunch spot down the street from us, hosted a special dinner in the style of Low Country South Carolina cooking. Of course I had to go. Get back to my roots, you know.
Here's what I wore:

I found this adorable plaid dress at a Theatre Costume sale for $2! Do I look like a Southern Lady? Ok, maybe the plaid is more Scottish Lass. . .

The best part is the back:

And when the sun went down and it got chilly, I threw on this cropped navy jacket that I picked up at a yard sale last week

Finally, I went through my collection and "borrowed" this adorable kelly green handbag (It will be up for sale on the site very soon, i promise)

Ok, finally, I just have to say-- How cute are these shoes?!

And just to leave your mouths watering, here are some pics of the amazing food (served 'family style'--LOVE IT!)

Here's a pic of my honey, Josh, looking like a Southern Gentleman in his vest. . . And YES, those are peanuts floating in the Coca-Cola (according to our host- this is a common Southern snack, though I don't remember doing that growing up!)

More from Vintage Madison

2010-10-05T09:16:00.001-05:00

People keep sending me great photos from the Vintage Madison event & fashion show, so I'll post a few more. . .

photo credits: Yonda Photography & Fitzgerald Photo graphy

Lust List: Bowties!

2010-09-25T10:49:00.001-05:00

I am obsessed. I recently acquired this fantastic set of vintage bowties, and I am finding so many uses for them! I'm selling several of them on the website as-is, but I am also saving a few for experimentation. . .
My current favorite use for them is in my hair (secured very easily with a mere 2 bobbypins).

I am also working on some pieces of jewelry incorporating bowties. I absolutely adore this vintage cameo necklace by junkyardglitter on Etsy.

Fashion Show Wrap-up

2010-09-15T19:57:00.002-05:00

Well, I put on my first fashion show last Sunday. Even though I was stressed out and spread thin all day, I had a blast! And I think all the models, shoppers and spectators had a great time too. I didn't get a chance to take out my camera at all, but luckily several other people had theirs out. . .

before the show....

Models...

behind the scenes...

shoppers...

photo credit: Rachel Dolnick see more photos here

Inspiration

2010-08-22T16:32:00.000-05:00

So, I'm beginning to plan this fashion show for next month. . . Turns out it's a lot more work that I thought it would be. But, luckily, I have some awesome girls helping me. Claire, of Mamushka Marie Vintage, who is also participating in the fashion show, showed me a gorgeous picture of classic beauty, Brigitte Bardot, and we decided to use her as inspiration.
Then, yesterday I was flipping through the newest issue of W magazine, and there was this photoshoot featuring Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Jerri Hall and Mick Jagger. I absolutely love the documentary style that the photos are taken in, and the styling of the hair and retro clothing makes her look like Brigitte Bardot incarnate. Lovely!

Vintage Madison Event

2010-08-16T20:17:00.001-05:00

So, in preparation for the "launch" of the new website, I am planning an event. Along with 3 other local vintage mavens, I will be selling my wares at the East Side Club in Madison on Sunday, September 12th. Hopefully the weather will be nice, and we can sip cocktails at the tiki bar as the sun sets over the lake!
Also we are putting together a fabulous Vintage Fashion Show, and funky disco band V05 will be playing. . .So put on your platform dance shoes and get down!
More info available on facebook.

New Items on the New Site!!

2010-08-09T17:27:00.006-05:00

I have soooo much photographing to do right now, and I'm slowly (but surely) filling the new site with fabulous vintage items!

Lust List: Mad Men

2010-07-29T09:34:00.001-05:00

Ok, I know every vintage fashionista on the planet has latched onto Mad Men by now, but can you blame us? The amazing wardrobes alone are more than enough to keep me interested. Then you throw in the dashing leading character, Don Draper, great dialogue and a historically rich plot and I'm hooked! Unfortunately, I am way too cheap to buy cable, so I have to languish in the darkness for a few more months until Season 4 comes out on video. . . I need you Don Draper!
Meanwhile, I am trying my hardest not to read about the first episode on-line, and if I hear people discussing it I will act like a spoiled child and put my fingers in my ears. But, I can look at photos. . .

*I'm usually more of a Joan than a Bette, fashion-wise, but check out this killer blue lace number!

BIG news!!

2010-07-22T12:32:00.000-05:00

So, I've been sitting on this for a while-- but the big news is that I bought a vintage store! Ok, to clear things up, I am not opening my own brick-and-mortar store (yet), but I did purchase the contents of a store that had to close suddenly. Now I have a storage space full of beautiful vintage dresses, jewelry, suits, hats, scarves. . . even some furniture! I'm a little overwhelmed, but I've been hard at work the last couple weeks designing a new fully-functional e-commerce site to sell on. There aren't many products on it yet, but you can take a look here. Now, my plan is to put a lot of time and energy into this website, and eventually (when the timing is right and I can find the perfect space), I will open a store.
Well, I've got a lot to do-- back to work!

Retro Chicago

2010-06-21T23:10:00.000-05:00

So I only live about 3 hours from the grand city of Chicago, but unfortunately I've never been able to take the time to really know it. It seems whenever I'm there, it's only for an afternoon or maybe one night. I'm always desperately trying to squeeze in a couple hours at the Art Institute, or a tiny bit of shopping in Wicker Park, or a meal at one of the many, many restaurants I'm dying to try. Well, this weekend was pretty special because I was finally able to spend 2 whole nights in the windy city. Of course, that's still only scratching the surface, but I got to do everything I really wanted to do, and in the end it was a lovely retro-themed weekend.
Friday evening we grabbed a drink at the oh-so-famous Signature Room bar on the 95th floor of the Hancock Tower. It was kind of annoying waiting in line to ride the elevator, and of course the drinks were a little over-priced, but the bar was really beautiful as was the view. We caught the last few minutes of daylight, and as the sun turned bright pink and faded out of view there was a magnificent thunder storm in the distance.

Afterward we headed over to Wicker Park for a little Italian food at Club Lucky. The restaurant was charmingly decorated like a retro diner (although I think they were going more for martini bar), and the food was fantastic.
On Saturday, I was left to fend for myself most of the afternoon. . . which was fine with me. I, of course, headed straight to the vintage shops clustered mostly around Wicker Park. Unfortunately, I didn't have a lot of luck shopping, but I did see a lot of cute things-- especially in this place called "Lenny and Me". They have a small boutique that carries an array of lovely vintage clothing and accessories, and then in the back there's a surprise gallery. Also, a block or so down they have a sister store: Lenny and Me Home. This store is quite large and filled to the brim with vintage and repurposed furniture and decor as well as more vintage clothing.

Saturday night I met up with some girlfriends for a bachelorette party. We stayed at the beautiful and chic Hotel Allegro. The decor was clean and modern with a funky retro twist. Here's a sneak peak at the wallpaper in the lobby. . .

As you can imagine, a Saturday night bachelorette party in Chicago can get pretty wild. But before the debauchery and dancing started, we stopped in for a quick drink at the Beauty Bar. Ok, the crowd was a little lame at 9:30, but this is the most adorable bar I've ever been in. . . the walls have glitter in them! And you can get your nails done while you sip your martini. Amazing.

Market Day Iowa!

2010-05-27T17:49:00.000-05:00

I'm sooo excited about this Saturday! Market Day Iowa in Des Moines is going to be a ton of fun-- dozens of vendors with funky vintage and handmade goodies. . . Awesome!

2010-05-25T11:25:00.000-05:00

No, I wasn't in Europe this weekend. . . the next best thing, though-- VEGAS! What a strange place! We wandered around in a sort of daze, admiring the Disney-esque architecture and the totally American, completely over-the-top decadence. Vegas is a really strange, unique mix of high and low. For example, you can be shopping at Marc Jacobs in the Bellaggio and a group of guys without shirts on, carrying "yard stick" margaritas might walk by. So, just to balance out these "glamorous" Vegas pics, lets see some not-so-glamorous ones. . .

I especially love the "American Hot Dog" billboard behind the showgirls. . . .

I did have a blast, though. And I didn't lose any money (didn't win any either). . . . Unfortunately, I also didn't get to do any vintage shopping. Although, I did come across a beautiful shop in the Venetian, called "Designer Vintage". It was a boutique filled with lovely, insanely overpriced "designer" vintage items (though many things didn't even have tags on them). I suppose most of the women who shop there don't know what things are worth, and don't have a problem paying $500 for a 1950's cotton dress. Ah well. Viva Las Vegas!

Busy Bee

2010-05-13T12:23:00.001-05:00

Wow, sorry I have not posted in so long. . . but I've been a busy, busy bee. After a short trip to Atlanta, which yielded a hearty supply of new vintage items, I've been busily updating the etsy shop (which will continue into next week-stay tuned!). Also, I've been applying for summer craft fairs. I'm particularly excited about Market Day in Des Moines, IA because it features sellers who make things, as well as people who sell vintage. . . so up my alley, right?!

Next weekend, I'm also very excited to be a part of Confectionique: A couple of local gals (in Middleton, WI) have put together this adorable temporary "store" where they display unique and handmade items about once a month. This month they're doing two themed stores: one for Mother's Day, and one for Father's Day. I went to the Mother's Day store last weekend, to see what it's all about. It was adorable!

So, for the Father's Day store, I will be selling mainly my screenprinted ties. Unfortunately, I will not actually be able to be at the store that day. Fortunately, the ladies of Confectionique do not require artists to be present, we simply drop off our items and they arrange them artfully and run the store the day of the sale. Now, if I was going to be in town, I would certainly be there, probably buying up amazing one-of-a-kind gifts for the special men in my life. However, I will be out of town. . . . In . . .

That's right. Vegas, baby! I never before had a particular desire to spend four days in "Sin City". . . I've always found the over-the-top American decadence of such a place slightly depressing. But my good friend, Kylie, recently broke up with her boyfriend of 2 years, and REALLY needed a girls' weekend away. So, when we found an incredibly cheap package deal to Vegas, I thought "why not?"! As long as the hotel has a pool and a bar, I'm happy. . . And who knows? Maybe some good thrift stores?

To alter or not to alter. . . that is the question.

2010-04-22T14:42:00.000-05:00

So here is one of the personal purchases I made on our trip. . . A beautiful blue velvet mini-dress I found at a Vintage shop in Montana. I'm thinking of wearing it to a wedding that I'm going to next weekend. The question is: to remove the bow or not? I kind of feel like 28 is too old for large satin bows. . . but then there's the ethical dilemma of altering pristine vintage pieces. hmm. . . any thoughts?

2010-04-17T15:41:00.001-05:00

2010-04-09T21:12:00.000-05:00

Well, the road trip is winding down. . .we'll be back home tomorrow. This past week has been especially good shopping. On Sunday we left Western Washington and spent the night in Spokane. On Monday I discovered the most wonderful vintage shop called Finders Keepers. They specialize in Vintage Estate Jewelry, but they're vintage clothing collection was just as impressive. . . and very reasonably priced.

Two days later we stopped through Butte, Montana on our way to Bozeman. Butte is an interesting town-- there used to be a lot of money there because of mining, so there are all these gorgeous old brick buildings built into the hill. Unfortunately, now most of them are empty and some are condemned. So I was somewhat surprised to find a very upscale vintage boutique amongst the ruins. Rediscoveries is run by a passionate older man who takes vintage very seriously. His collection of gowns/dresses is one of the best I've seen, plus a great stock of men's clothing, jewelry and shoes. It's a little on the pricey side, but everything is in pristine condition.

Our last stop before heading home was in Billings, MT. Josh met up with some musician friends in the morning and while they practiced for the night's show, I wandered around downtown and found a few good thrift stores and one great vintage boutique, Montana Vintage Clothing. Again, a great selection of just about everything, and very reasonably priced. I tried on 3 or 4 dresses and ended up buying a beautiful purple/blue velvet number from the 1960's with silk ruffles on the neckline and hem. . .

Well, I'll be home tomorrow and I plan on getting started right away on updating the etsy shop, so stay tuned!

Vintage Mecca

2010-04-02T12:12:00.000-05:00

So, yesterday we arrived at Josh's brother's house in Washington for a much needed break. . . from driving, playing music, and from shopping! We spent a day and a half in Portland-- the amazing city that I consider "Vintage Mecca". I was fortunate enough to spend a summer there a few years ago, and I fondly remember riding my bike around the city's four corners just about every day, seeking out all the vintage and thrift stores in the city. Turns out, there are so many it really does take an entire summer to visit them all.

Obviously, I was anxious to return. This being the first time I've been back in 3 years, I felt overwhelmed by all that I wanted to see (in only ONE day!). Unfortunately, it was too rainy and cold to bike around (imagine that! rain in Portland!?), so I dragged Josh from neighborhood to neighborhood in the car--- quickly pulling over (and nearly causing a few accidents) whenever a vintage store was spotted. I lost count, but I think we found at least 15. . .

I just found this blog: Shop Vintage Portland. I really wish I had found it earlier, so I could have organized my day. . . ah well.

One of the last places we hit, and by far the biggest was House of Vintage on SE Hawthorne. I remembered it from before, but had forgotten the shear enormity of it. After a full afternoon of thrifting, I'll admit that I was a bit overwhelmed and exhausted by it. Honestly, it deserves a full afternoon of its own. But I managed to quickly scour the whole place in about an hour-- eventually deciding on two purchases: a simple wool 1960's shift dress in an amazing bright pink color (which I'm keeping for myself) and a matching wool pea coat (which will be available on etsy as soon as I return).

On the road again. . .

2010-03-23T15:29:00.000-05:00

So for the next 3 weeks I'm "on tour" with my minstrel boyfriend, Josh. I was very sad to have to temporarily "shut down" my etsy shop, but my goal on this trip is to stop at as many thrift/ vintage stores as possible- I plan on having a slew of fabulous new items when I return!

Today we are stranded in Laramie, Wyoming. Apparently, it is not uncommon for them to have to shut down the roads during the lightest blizzards, because the ferocious wind causes "white-outs". Josh is missing his show in Park City, Utah (bummer!). . . but I'm content to sit in a coffee shop and catch up on blogging, emailing, etc. I wonder if there are any good thrift stores in Laramie?

Yesterday we drove across the entire state of South Dakota. . .not too exciting until you get to the Black Hills, which are amazing! We made a quick stop in Pierre to check out the local St. Vincent de Paul. Not bad. They had all of their vintage clothing separated out, which saved me some searching. . . but, of course, they priced the "special" vintage items accordingly. I picked up a couple cute things for the shop though.

Hope the weather clears up. . .next stop, Boise!

One last winter photo shoot. . .

2010-03-15T14:28:00.000-05:00

So, today is the first day that feels like Spring. It's 55 degrees, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and the lakes are almost completely thawed. Just a week ago, though, I walked across the frozen lake at sunset and took these photos. Crazy how quickly things change. Anyway, the fabulous black fur-trimmed coat I'm wearing is currently for sale on etsy, and the beaded white purse, earrings and kelly green sweater will be up shortly. . . along with a lot of other goodies!

Happy Spring!

Adventures in Vintage Shopping

2010-02-24T14:19:00.000-06:00

Ok, It's been a while since I've posted. My apologies. I just returned from a week-long trip in Atlanta. My plan was to ravage the city's many, many great thrift stores and vintage boutiques. Unfortunately, I got sick the day before I left, and felt mildly crappy all week. So I spent more time languishing on my parents' sofa (watching cable- such an extravagant luxury!) than I would have liked.

I did, however, make it to my favorite spot, Last Chance Thrift Store, which had just moved to a new location around the corner from their old spot in Decatur. I have to say I was sorely disappointed. I did not find anything. The next day, though, was magical. My dad came home around noon and insisted that I get my sick self off the couch and do something. . .So I asked him to drive me all the way across town (that takes about an hour in non-rush hour Atlanta time) to this "clothing by the pound" thrift store I'd heard about. It's an extension of the Clothing Warehouse, an awesome but over-priced vintage store in the Little 5 Points neighborhood (also a chain of stores with locations in New York, Florida, North & South Carolina and Texas) .

The clothing-by-the-pound store is adjacent to their warehouse where all the clothes for all of the stores initially pass through and are sorted. I expected the cbtp store to be dusty and bare-bones, but it was very nice- decorated like their flagship store in Little 5, but with most of the clothes in bins instead of on racks. Some of the items were in rough shape-- holes, stains, etc. But a little digging proved worth-while. I found a slew of amazing snap-front men's cowboy shirts in excellent condition, a few dresses from the 1970's and 3 pairs of amazing cowboy boots!

My latest obsessions. . .

2010-02-05T18:02:00.000-06:00

Dear Creatures- This clothing line is amazing, but even more amazing is the photography in their lookbook. . . and the interior design. I want to live in these photographs.

Camera Obscura. My new favorite band. . .and they just happen to be playing 1 mile from my house on my birthday in April!

Milly Jewelry. Beautiful, funky vintage-inspired. . .We're selling it at the store I work for, so I got to play dress up. Still out of my price range, but great inspiration for jewelry-making.

NEW! Men's Clothing!

2010-01-30T18:03:00.000-06:00

Just added some new men's clothing pieces to the etsy shop. Thanks to my very obliging boyfriend, Josh, for modeling. . . although he insisted that I crop the photos below the chin.

Recently Added to the Etsy Shop!

2010-01-27T21:46:00.000-06:00

Saturday Afternoon Photoshoot

2010-01-26T11:41:00.001-06:00

All of these pieces (except the fabulous hat) are available in my Etsy Boutique

Welcome!

2010-01-25T14:41:00.000-06:00

Welcome to my blog! My name is Jessica, but everyone calls me Jess. I have been an avid vintage clothing collector (and wearer) since I was a very young girl. Lately I've been selling bits and pieces of my collection on Etsy . . .I like to think of it as sharing the love. . .and making room in my packed closet.
Wanderlost started out as a line of screenprinted t-shirts, ties, handmade bags and jewelry. I still love to make stuff, and will be including these items in my Etsy shop. The word "wanderlost" is a hybrid of the word wanderlust (which I definitely have) and the quote "not all who wander are lost." I love to travel, and when I am in a new city the first thing I do is find the local thrift/vintage stores and markets.
I dedicate this blog to all the other girls out there who love to wander and appreciate a well-preserved piece of vintage clothing- because "they just don't make 'em like they used to!"