tales from the flea: holiday shopping i'm thankful for.

who needs black friday when you have the third sunday? 

the long beach antique market is simply magical. i opted to do some of my holiday shopping there this year, and while i didn't find all that i wanted, i did come home feeling satisfied with my purchases. from $1 nostalgia-inducing stocking stuffers, to a legit gas mask for a video game-loving nephew (i'm feeling pretty confident that he doesn't read my blog), i'd say it was a success.

the belle of this ball was a sweet and sparkly top that was introduced to me at the darling brandee tucker's booth, harlem ragshop 1934. 

it was pretty inexpensive too, which even though i just consigned a small portion of my closet, was a necessary element in my purchase since i'm prepping for the holidays and the trip back to florida. i'm thinking this is going to be the signature piece in my christmas outfit.

i also picked up a romantic, flowing frock that is perfect for my new gypsy lifestyle, even if the wandering is only around los angeles, and the blooming seasons are over for a while. the silhouette and somewhat sheer fabric is enchanting...it's practically made to wear with a floral crown. i'll post photos as soon as i can get a good pic.

but it's not all about the feminine fashion. i actually spent most of my day browsing the men's racks and grabbed this cool coat for my guy...

here are some of the other fun finds that caught my attention today:

there were some celeb sightings too, but you'll have to come next time to see for yourself. meet me at the #lbflea dec. 15.

a flea worth catching: long beach antique market

today i went to the mother of all flea markets: the long beach antique market. if you are impulsive and have money to spend (or even think you do), this is not the place for you. as a recovering shopping addict myself, i had to use some major self control.

it takes place on the third sunday each month at the long beach veterans stadium.the guy and i went for a little sunday treasure hunting, but there wasn't much hunting needed. it seems to be never-ending and you don't know where to look first. the place is packed with antique dealers, jewelry craftsmen, vintage clothing sellers and more offering anything i could want in my home...closet.  

even if you're not hoping to add re-purposed furniture, eclectic old signage, antique cameras, old storage crates, a 70s fur jacket, turquoise jewelry or a choice of 100 flannel shirts to your collection, it's a great date spot just to look at all the weird and sometimes creepy items. also perfect for funny gifts.

i'm not sure where to start here...

i was going to call the former photo creepy and this one weird...
but maybe i had it backwards. i mean, is this long beach or margaritaville?

prices are all over the place. some are high, some are low. we personally came home with an antique military trunk and wooden storage box for $32 and $15, respectively, to be the two newest pieces in our living room once we clean them up.

we made so much noise rolling out that dang trunk that it was mildly embarassing...or maybe more than that seeing that i walked in front of him to pretend i wasn't with him. 

i also wanted to add some old high school lockers to our entertainment center, and "a" wanted to bring home dr. martens and a vintage chevy bumper to hang on the wall, but we had no idea how to pack them in our little car. 

maybe next time. because i know where i'll be nov. 17.

mad men yourself: draper style.

earlier this week it it was an ode to hbo's "girls," but today we're showing some old fashioned love to another favorite that's ramping up again: amc's "mad men." season six starts on april 7, and if you can't wait for the show and its mod 60s fashions like us, check out the tv show's app, "mad men yourself."

i went all megan draper "movie star style," adding a fur shrug and lots of accessories, of course...and they even had my new hair color! i was disappointed in that they didn't have any caricatures of outfits like the fabulous dress she's wearing in the season six preview photos though, or the longer hairstyles of the late 60s/early 70s.

my guy and i had fun making the mad men version of him too. and it looks weirdly a lot like him...except that apparently the 60s version of alex wears nicer, non-black clothing. and the 2013 alex would never be caught dead in those shoes.

 

and yes, this might be what i wear to work at sterling cooper draper price...maybe the martini too.

still out of place, this scene is at least a little more fitting.

this app is getting both of us in the mood for tomorrow, when we'll both be working a student film awards show that has a "retro" theme. i'm still planning what to wear, but taking from the app, as well as through costume designer janie bryant's "mad men" style videos. if it turns out well, you may be reading more about "mad men" tomorrow...

channeling cyndi lauper.

i've gone a little awol on the blog lately, thanks to training for my triathlon, working, doing the family thing, and making excuses, apparently. the real reason is i just haven't really felt inspired for some reason and decided to take a short break. what finally spurred me to get motivated today? the 80s, of course!

a friend is throwing a birthday party for her sister-in-law tonight, which includes everyone getting decked out in their finest neon, tulle, leather, lace and leggings (wait...is this the 80s, or 2012? sounds the same) for pre-drinks and dinner before heading to muvico to catch tom cruise belt it out in rock of ages. and if it's 80s, i'm all about it, as you can see from my past experiences...or just a peek into my closet for that matter...

this first photo is from my 21st birthday when i lived in tallahassee. it's fsu tradition for girls to throw a "waltz," which really just means picking a theme for everyone to dress in before hitting every bar along tennessee street. most girls picked a theme they'd look hot in - barbie and g.i. joe, kentucky derby, playboy bunny, etc. - but not me. i went with 80s prom and rocked a hideous hot pink, off-the-shoulder puffy bridesmaid dress from goodwill; lace fingerless gloves; a cassette tape charm necklace; big strands of pearls; crimped hair and bright blue and pink makeup, hence the ridiculous face i'm making above. only some of my friends were amused by my choice of theme, including my high school girls here, casey and ali, who played along in their cyndi lauper-inspired tutus and side ponies.

i went with something a little classier (or as classy as you can get in tight neon clothing) about two years ago at a friend's house party. shockingly, i already owned all of these items like the leather vest, purple converse and purple houndstooth wayfarers, which you've probably seen in past posts. what i really love about this pic is mark's 80s volleyball player look...complete with socks and sandals.

and let's not forget aly's legwarmers...

want to know what we'll be wearing around cityplace tonight? follow on instagram or check back over the weekend for a new post. 

preview: my husband has some sweet vintage gnr shirts i've been begging to wear for a year now and i finally got approval on one, and my friend julie found a pretty little neon green accessory studded in rhinestones to tie it up with :)

sew cool.

this past christmas my mom asked if my new husband and i had stepped out of a time machine, and rightfully so. the rock and roll fan that he is, i bought him a new record player - made to look and sound antique, of course - along with a couple queen and guns n roses albums. one of our favorite "dates" was heading to goodwill soon after and spending over an hour looking through hundreds of 45s to bring home.

and his gift to me? my first brand new sewing machine, which was one of those things i'd been telling myself i'd buy for a few years. although it is new like the record player, she thought it was funny that i'd want to step back in time to make my own clothes rather than just shop for them like normal people (which hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves. i am never giving that up).

well i loved the sewing machine so much that it didn't stop there. to add to our collection of classic 1970s cameras, video cameras and an old editing machine, last week we finally got a vintage sewing machine and cabinet, all for a steal from craigslist on the same day. at this rate, our home is starting to look like an allsaints store.


the sewing machine is a singer, of course, and i found out from the serial number that it was made in 1905. even better...it's still in perfect working condition. can't wait to test this baby out. that is, once i learn how to properly use my new brother machine first!

one man's trash...

one man's trash is another man's treasure. at least that's the thought behind many consignment and thrift shops, and a thought i've had in my head many times. it started with kids' old little league tees and boy scout button-downs from goodwill when i was in college, and by now i've thankfully moved on to vintage and designer consignment shops.

my latest find is carnaby street at downtown at the gardens. i accidentally stumbled in there after shopping with my cousin and grandmother at sur la table, and am very happy i did. i spent a good amount of time scouring the store and found some interesting items, both new and old. 

newer items included coach wallets, lilly pulitzer dresses and a cashmere kensie sweater (so beautiful, but unfortunately not in my size!), as well as vintage items like ferragamo suits and hand-beaded gowns, some of which were once worth $18,000! and don't forget labels like chanel, prada, valentino and ralph lauren.

i found it to be a personal score though when i saw the section of leather in the corner. i had been looking for the perfect faux leather vest for about a week, so discovering the pieces at carnaby street was pretty exciting. rather than going out and purchasing a fake for close to $30, or spending more than $100 on a new version that will go out of style soon, i was able to walk out with the real thing for only $39! 

that's the great thing about resale shops like these (learn about more in palm beach post fashion editor staci sturrock's blog post on pbpulse.com). if you are willing to spend some time, you can find luxury and trendy pieces in close to mint condition for less than half the original price. plus, some things, like the vest i found, have great stories that are worth reviving on your next night out in your new "treasure."

i uncovered my buried treasure at carnaby street and suggest you do the same. just don't go for the leather mini, that's one thing i'm going back for.

vintage jewelry: who, what, wear...

vintage is undoubtedly hot right now. all the celebs are wearing it and all the fashion mags talk about it, but it can be a difficult thing to translate into everyday wear for the average person. think about it - pepto-bismol pink 90s bridesmaid dresses from goodwill don't exactly fit the "vintage" category girls want to be seen in (unless you were at my 21st birthday "waltz" in tallahassee several years ago...), and you're better off purchasing something new rather than the raggedy dior handbag filled with old gum wrappers from the local consignment. luckily for us, house of lavande's vanessa nedvins (remember her from a few posts ago?) was nice enough to share the "who, what and wear" for going vintage.

who:

jewelry is a great place to start when testing out vintage, because in my opinion, there are less chances to go wrong and anyone can wear it. age and style savviness are not factors.

vintage jewelry, specifically hol, is seen all over the red carpets and in everyday wear on many celebs. if you're looking for inspiration, take note from ashley tisdale at the mtv movie awards, evan rachel wood at her premiere in paris, emmy rossum out for a walk around the city, or my personal faves rachel mcadams, sophia bush and leighton meester on other stylish outings. nedvins told me she found it especially exciting when nicole richie started wearing hol since she owns her own jewelry line and is such a trendsetter in the industry. when asked about other celebs she'd like to style, she mentioned kate moss or heidi klum since they are both inspirations in the fashion world.

zoe saldana wearing hol

what:

see my "behind the seams" post on hol or visit its web site.

as for what trends are in, nedvins says the "chunky 80s-style, club-kid feel" is and will continue to be popular in accessories for a bit, so vintage is perfect for picking up this trend. stackable bracelets are also in style, as well as layered necklaces (maybe pair one of hols jeweled czech pieces with a few long strands of pearls...), and statement necklaces of course. silver is also being asked about in the store a lot recently, which is interesting since gold had made such a strong comeback for a while.

wear:
wear pieces that make you feel special. nedvins believes customers should choose something that a.) brightens their face, and/or b.) induces a memory. she sees both types of purchases in her store: "many women choose specific house of lavande pieces because of an emotional tie - maybe the piece reminds them of something their grandmother wore. the younger set, however, is wearing hol because it is a way to be different and stand out. they can look stunning without wearing something everyone else can buy at the mall."

1960 hattie carnegie ~ $348

the real where:
like most fashions, styles in vintage jewelry varies from one place to another. places like new york, chicago and palm beach all have different ideas and classifications for vintage and trends. nedvins says new yorkers are more fearless and riskier - think lots of plastic bracelets and other bold pieces - and the only other place similar to nyc is l.a. chicago, on the other hand, is classier and higher-end, rather than experimental like new york. think vintage chanel.

and if you're a regular to my blog or live in the area, you probably know that there is no other place like palm beach. according to nedvins, palm beachers either come in already knowing what they want, or they see something that strikes them and they just have to buy it right then. there's no real rhyme or reason to their purchasing habits. palm beachers are also careful not to be too "old" even when wearing vintage, are slightly more reserved in their choices, and have more awareness between what is real and fake.

when:

depending on the style, vintage can be worn anytime, but hol pieces are perfect for adding an extra special touch to spice up an outfit for an event or interview, or changing a day-to-night look just by switching up a few pieces.

ashley tisdale wearing hol at 2009 mtv movie awards

why:

the real question is why not. wearing vintage gives you a tie to the past. vintage jewels are not able to be replicated and can't be found in regular retail stores today. when you're wearing them you have peace of mind that no one else will have the same thing, which can't necessarily be said if you show up to an event wearing harry winston, van cleef & arpels or tiffany's. and my favorite reason why: in my experience, vintage pieces are always fantastic conversation openers.

1960 unsigned multi victorian ring ~ $1,200

how:

if even after nedvins' tips you can't decide how to wear vintage jewelry, hol offers styling services to help choose what's right for you (which i should have put to good use - notice how some of the pieces i was drawn to tended to overwhelm my weirdly tiny arms!). hol stylists use fabric swatches and/or photos of outfits and their owners to put together five or six looks with various ornaments before purchasing. many celebs and their personal stylists go this route, so you'll be in good company!

81 years of marriage backed by one dress

this past weekend provided evidence for something i've been trying to prove all along: the perfect dress will lead to a lifetime of happiness.

ok, so maybe it was the partner and not really the dress that equated to happiness, but when i looked at my grandparents' wedding photos at their 52nd anniversary party this weekend, i was inclined to think otherwise. my grandmother was breathtaking in her stunning silk gown, with my tall, dark and handsome grandfather at her side. they look like a couple straight out of an old elvis movie.

but what caught my eye when looking through their wedding album were the wedding announcements. they were much more stylish in the 50s! they not only described my grandmother's "floor length gown of off-white rice silk and lace with a sabrina neckline," "long pointed sleeves and a sash at the hipline that crossed in the back," and "fingertip veil...held by a lace crown accented with seed pearls and sequins," but they also detailed the dresses, hairstyles and flowers of the bridesmaids, flower girls and even the mothers of the bride and groom. this is even more detail than you'll find in the new york times wedding pages!

side note: this bridal gown (and the veil!) has actually led to a total of 81 years of marriage and counting, since my mother also wore it when she married my father in 1980. she made it her own by wearing it without the hoop and lacing the sleeves. though my mom wore it for sentimental reasons and not for the sake of fashion, she is so lucky she made this classic and timeless choice...have you seen any of the poufy-shouldered disasters from the 80s?!

now since both my mother and my grandmother both weighed less than 100 lbs on their wedding days, i won't be able to fit one leg in the dress, much less wear it on my special day. my hope is to take pieces of it to add to my own when the time comes.

shop for designer duds at red cross rummage sale

looking for designer duds on the cheap? ya, well you'll have to run faster than me then (p.s. i'm a marathoner - i'll at least attempt to out-run you all day long).

i'll be shopping at the american red cross' rummage sale put on by the greater palm beach area chapter in jupiter tomorrow morning. like any good rummage shopper, you'll have to get there early - the sale opens at 9 a.m. - to get the best of the goods (and beat me to them!) that are said to include designer clothes and handbags.

the proceeds from the rummage sale benefit the american red cross greater palm beach area chapter, which for more than 90 years has provided relief to victims of disasters at home and abroad, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and families.

not only can you add to your wardrobe while giving back to the community, but you can also snack on some tempting treats as you shop because the event also inlcudes a bake sale. sounds like my kind of day out. anyone who knows me will tell you, shopping and sweets are definitely my two downfalls...ok fine, that was an understatement...addictions.

i'll try to post pics of some of the hottest finds at the event, and you can follow me on twitter for live updates, but if you want to come shop the rummage sale with me - or race me for the prize picks - here are the details:

saturday, aug. 1, 2009
9 a.m.-2 p.m.
north county service center
2074 w. indiantown rd., jupiter, fl 33458

for more information, call: 561.746.1532 or visit http://www.redcross-pbc.org/.

see you at the finish line!

behind the seams: house of lavande

whoever said "out with the old, in with the new" must have never worn house of lavande. from sweetheart bracelets and victorian lockets, to cocktail rings and museum pieces, house of lavande's vintage costume jewelry collection is not only "in," it's all over the red carpet and covering the pages of the world's top fashion mags.

kristen bell wearing house of lavand at the 2009 mtv movie awards

so when a few weeks ago i had the chance to stop in hol and pick the brain of director of operations vanessa nedvins, i jumped on it to learn more about the collection...

...it all began about three and a half years ago when jewelry connoisseur and palm beach native tracy smith took a look at her personal collection and realized she possessed so much that she needed to buy a display case just to view her own jewelry. since then she has scoured tons of antique fairs, flea markets and estate sales across europe and visited private dealers all over the united states and abroad to create a curated collection of more than 9,000 pieces priced between about $300 to several thousand dollars. the collection is currently housed in four locations - including harrod's, henri bendel, on pedder and, of course, palm beach - with still more stockists coming soon. the first and main hol spot located on royal poinciana way in palm beach resembles a lavish paris boudoir...just look at the shot of the gorgeous shop below.

i felt as though i could spend hours and even days browsing the shop, which mind you, is not all that big, and still not view every piece. it is easy to see how one could get (joyfully) lost while shopping. the staff is more than knowledgeable though, and happy to help navigate through the thousands of vintage treasures. though there are no set standards for vintage, the individual pieces are chosen based on a "wow" factor - those that bring out some kind of emotion. each piece is tried on and checked for how it sits, who it's by, when it was made, etc. before it's added to the collection. hol was designed to take the labor out of finding something special.

czech purple bracelet~ $1,800

there are exciting rarities from huge names like yves saint laurent and chanel included in the collection, as well as unsigned masterpieces from the early 20s through 70s. there is czech jewelry composed of faceted crystals, the remants line made from several necklaces clasped together creating one piece, and contemporary pieces that use vintage stones, clasps and other findings from the 50s, 60s and 70s. i even found some 80s pucci sunglasses in the mix! most are statement pieces, but there are finds across all spectrums.

middle eastern unsigned ring ~ $348

not only are the pieces stunning to view, some have pretty amazing histories. hol once visited the estate of a boca woman who had begun performing at the age 14. every piece she owned had a story - there were plumes from when she was 16 performing as a lounge singer, display boxes from her great aunt, and even jewelry from the estate of old hollywood star ann miller from the 1940s. it's accessories with stories like this that make the outfit all the more thrilling to wear.

now that you have heard the initial story behind house of lavande, be sure to check back in the next couple days to get my inside scoop from vanessa on who's wearing it, how you can wear it, and what trends you should capitalize on in the upcoming months.