your friend, the bandit: vintage

Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts

4/3/10

blue jean baby

How's this for keeping up with the blog? Three posts in the last week! Ha!
Well, as you may have noticed, blue is currently my favorite color, and as i mentioned in my last post, I've found a new appreciation for denim. So this post is dedicated to the blue things I found last time I went to salvation army with my mom.

First up is this awesome vintage 60s(?) trench/rain coat made by Misty Harbor, "a division of Jonathan Logan," that is perfect for spring. As soon as I fished this out from between sketchy flasher-trenches and some really odd, over-priced fur coats I instantly thought of Rhiannon, who has been talking about finding the perfect spring trench for ages now. I think I have found mine! It has contrast top stitching, is the perfect length, and has the cutest buttons and pockets without looking too contrived. Plus I was in serious need of a raincoat with all the rain we've been getting lately.

Next up is two button downs; I've been practically living in the lower one for the past few weeks. I've been on the lookout for chambray shirts for the past few months, and luckily I've found two that are perfect! The top one fits closer to the body and is good for tucking into high waisted jeans/skirts, and the bottom one is incredibly soft and easy and looks pretty wild my my great-aunt's vintage sequined vest. I'm loving these right now!

I grabbed this denim dress the other day at salvation army, and fell in love with the collar. Doesn't it look familiar? I swear I've seen another dress with the same exact collar in some spring collection, but I have no idea where. I cut it shorter as it was awkwardly ankle length, maybe a little too short because now I can't hem it (oops), but I'm crossing mt fingers that the edge won't fray!

And lastly I wanted to show off my (growing) 70s jean collection! I have six pairs now, five of which were thrifted and one bought off of eBay (from Australia, no less!). The only pair that fits me is the ebayed pair, but I'm thinking of selling the rest...that is, if anyone actually reads this and would be interested in owning 70s high waisted denim! Anyone out there? Hello?

Oh, and before I forget, my first post was this time last year, right after Easter! How weird is that? A whole year has gone by! I can hardly believe, when I look back on the past twelve months, how much I have changed. I feel like I'm a bit more mature, and my tastes have definitely changed, but what do you think? Am I totally the same? Totally different? Let me know what you'd want to see more/less of! (less text probably, haha)

'til next time :)

12/6/09

be my baby

Sorry for the hiatus; it's been a busy past few weeks, and with finals coming up and last minute holiday preparations I can't see the end of the craziness anytime soon!

I pinky swear I'll be back to posting regularly as soon as I'm on break, so if any one's out there hold on for me for another twelve days? Please and thank you!

For now I'll leave you with a little (okay, huge) holiday/birthday wish list (some of it is just wishful thinking on my part, but dreaming is free, right? haha). I can't believe how fast time has gone by!!

1) a leather backpack, preferably vintage. I've been on the hunt for one forever, but I think I'm just too picky about the size and style and way too wish full about the price! This one's from here; it isn't exactly what I had in mind but it's pretty close.

2) A pretty vintage blue dress. Ever since Rhiannon did a post a while back about her search for the perfect vintage blue dress, and since I saw 500 days of Summer and fell in love with the idea of an all blue wardrobe, I have been dying for a sweet blue dress! Can't you just see one like this with black tights and heeled black oxfords? Or leather boots and a thick long sweater? So many possibilities; a dress like this is the holy grail of dresses!

3) An octopus ring from here. I already have a pair of earrings from this site that my mom gave me for my 18th birthday, but I've been wearing a lot of rings lately and an octopus tentacle ring would be a perfect additions to my collection of quirky silver jewelry.

4) These boots from Anthropologie are the epitome of cool in my book. The heel is sturdy, the craftsmanship is flawless, and I could totally go for a strong boot for the winter. Too bad the price tag is a bit steep, but here's to hoping!

5) Some albums for my collection! I've been pining away for Johnny Cash, Elvis, Elton John, David Bowie, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones all Autumn, so having the vinyl counterparts would be pretty spectacular. Youtube just doesn't so the music justice.

6) Lola by Marc perfume. It smells wonderful!

7) Benefit's Posie tint. Such a great color for the lips!

Alright, so that's pretty much the extent of my wish list. All together it could be the perfect outfit; vintage blue dress, leather backpack, and chunky heeled boots, posie tint as the only makeup and lola perfume on my wrists, a cool ring and listening to my favorite albums!Perfection! I also want a few good books, some DVDs, and anything high waisted, light blue, cranberry red, knit and wool. Oh, and some black oxford flats. Although I wouldn't mind an all expenses paid trip to Paris, or a shopping spree for Lover, Lyell, and Chloe! Please? Haha, happy holidays everyone!

10/7/09

paper doll

So, here is what I wore on Monday (and I can't even remember Tuesday, so I'm assuming I didn't wear anything all that great). The dress is vintage, from that same store that I got my awesome boots at (woot!), the cardigan is J Crew, shoes are Chloe (lovelovelove, but so painful, lol), belt is thrifted, and necklace was handmade by my mom when she was about my age! I wear this thing everywhere, and people constantly ask me where I got it/ what it means. I just think it's cool, and it reminds me of mom when I'm away. :)

Other than the obligatory outfit shots, I wanted to let anyone who lives near New York City/ has some free time this weekend to check out The Manhattan Vintage Clothing
Show! I went last year and it was so cool; basically a bunch of Vintage dealers show up and have booths stocked full of really awesome vintage clothes/shoes/accessories. It's alsmost like a bazaar of vintage! The only downside is that most of the stuff is priced pretty high (dealers plus new york equals crazy prices!) but since the recession has hit everyone hard I'm thinking some stuff might be priced to sell...all the more reason to make it out there for some hard core vintage viewing! Unfortunately there's no photography allowed, but I promise I'll try to sneak some shots when I go this Friday! I'm so excited, and I'm on the hunt for a sweet little blue dress like Liebemarlene posted about. Fingers are crossed that I find some cool stuff!

10/4/09

these boots are made for walking

Do you guys have a place that no matter when you go, you always leave with something amazing? I do, and although I've only been there three times, each time I've left with a treasure, and for really cheap too!
Today I was able to cross off that long-awaited wish list item, the perfect fall boots! I initially didn't see these packed away under a table at my luckiest/favorite vintage store, but when I saw them I literally stopped in my tracks and grabbed them. I didn't even think that they would fit, but they do! I'm so excited, I've wanted a great pair of boots, preferably vintage, for the longest time, and I just happened to find them today! I can already see that these are going to be my favorite shoes, perfect for all the fall things that I'm so psyched about (especially pumpkin and apple picking!). I also crossed off a long awaited fall activity this weekend; attending a cold Friday night football game complete with eating way too many pumpkin flavored things and drinking hot cider. Sooo good.
Oh, and you know what the best part is about these covet able boots? They were twenty cool dollar bills. Now that's a deal ;)

So many great fall outfits are whirling around in my head, I gotta go write them all down before I forget!
I think I'll outfit-post tomorrow, we'll see how my brain feels after all the work I have to get through tonight. Yuck, haha.

UPDATE:
wow, just went on urban outfitters and found the exact same boots for nearly $300!!!
so glad i got them, lol!

8/21/09

a day in which the sky echoed my words

once again, an unfortunate sounding "estate sale" turned out to bring me some great stuff, and for mad cheap!

sometimes things are just meant to be. let me count the ways...

1-we pulled up to the sale after waiting at my brother's school for his football practice (it was cancelled...damn) and NO ONE is there. usually a bad sign, right? nope, this meant that there was very little jostling of arms and things when maneuvering around the home. YES

2-we go inside, at first not much looked too promising...how i was wrong (thank god). then we head upstairs...KA CHING VINTAGE CLOTHING COLLECTION! and everything was like, $5??? YESYES

3-the true stroke of fate, after seriously only 5 minutes in this place i have a nice little pile set aside for me and as i go to pay the grand total is $20 (WIN). and it gets better, because i ask who lived in the house and i am told a 90 year old woman named GENEVIEVE (yeah that's my name, holy hell weird!) had died and left all her glorious things for me to buy, haha. now that is fate!

the only true "vintage" dress i bought was this blue 50s/60s pleated number. it reminded me of 500 days of summer (which i have to talk about in another post, so i don't rant, lol). i've been craving all those beautiful blues from the film, though!

next i picked up this sweet little pink striped/lace accented/rosebud buttoned day dress. no tags, but i think it must be 80s? late 70s? it's in good condition if it is old!

my favorite piece by far has to be this ADORABLE (caps are necessary) white sailor blouse! the label Lover is old hat by now in the blogging community, but i lusted after that sweet (but exorbitantly priced) sailor blouse for months, and now i think the one i have here (for $5! ok, enough gloating, i'm bad, lol) is way better! it has the perfect almost-elbow length sleeves, a nice sized sailor collar, and pretty little details. and i wasn't all too happy with the split collar on the back of the lover shirt anyway, so i'm really glad that this blouse is sans unsightly split!

i also picked up these two interesting little purses in the basement of the home. i love the saddle style of the black one, and the fact that the strap is long like an across-body bag. and i wanted a picnic-basket type purse for some time now, and i like the gold/white combo. the picnic one is also vintage, judging by the label.

so yeah, other than waiting for my brother's football practice in a thunder/lightening storm, today was a good day =) and i might just go back tomorrow, because i left behind piles of nubby vintage sweaters and some good dresses that i'm now regretting not buying...haha!

8/9/09

tiny dancer

isn't it funny how some things work out, like when you blow something off but end up checking it out anyway, and it turns out to be pleasantly surprising?

that's how it was yesterday, when i was on my way to the thrift store with my mom. i usually check the newspapers for weekend estate sales, but after going to so many that were misleading in the advertisements (a few old sweaters and ortho shoes ARE NOT VINTAGE people, sheesh. don't lie to me!!) i decided that unless i actually go by a sale that looks promising, i won't bother hunting down the undoubtedly disappointing ones that advertise. so that's what i did this weekend; looked in the papers and saw some that might be promising, but blew them off for my trusty salvation army.

so there we were, driving down this windy road, and what do i see? an actual estate sale, and not only that, the exact one that i blew off! we had a crazy parking spot at the end of the road, and had to walk up a steep hill with people whizzing by in their cars. the house had a lot of cool stuff, although there was a lot of playboy in the basement...and sketchy old men buying said playboy...eww...

but other than that i got some AMAZING steals, making out like a bandit as always ;)

the people who lived in this home had a lot of antiques, and i wish i could have taken more home!