Black and White

Here is a sneak peek of one of the many amazing new items going up in the Castaway Vintage shop this week, taken at our photoshoot session yesterday!  I paired this vintage 1980’s lace bodycon backless dress with some vintage gloves I found at a yard sale this weekend for $1(!!), along with this vintage 1940s/60s style pillbox hat that I found last week at H&M.  I’m growing a bit tired of the boater hat look that I’ve been rocking all summer and love how these accessories take a hooker style dress into something quite classy!

I’ll be going through all the photos this week to get everything listed as soon as possible- don’t forget to add us on Twitter for up to the minute updates, news, and sales!

• Vintage 80’s White Bodycon Backless Lace Dress- Coming soon to Castaway Vintage
• Vintage style hat- H&M
• Vintage gloves- yard sale
• Necklaces- In God We Trust/Boyfriend’s
• Shoes- Forever 21
  

Around the City Vintage

I had the chance to interview a good friend of mine, Kelly, fellow Etsy seller and LA based vintage showroom owner of Around the City Vintage for my LA Vintage Style Examiner column at Examiner.com, about her shop and love of vintage.

Read the full interview HERE

LA based Around The City Vintage is both an online vintage shop carrying clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods from the 1920’s-1990’s, as well as housing a Downtown showroom where customers can shop by appointment with personalized attention.  They say “Around the City Vintage comes from the hearts and minds of Kelly Castaneda and Roxanna Velazco. We present the finest in hand picked vintage goods; Clothing for women, men and children, accessories, shoes, and house-ware from the roaring 20’s, hippie 60’s, disco 70’s, funky 80’s to the rocking 90’s and current trends. We travel often and pick up amazing goodies along our travels.”

Taking the time to answer a few questions for Examiner.com readers, Roxie and Kelly discuss their love of vintage and concept of bringing finds from multiple cities into one cohesive, personal shopping experience.

When and why was Around The City Vintage started?
ACV was started in late fall(2009), we started Around the City Vintage for the love of vintage and vintage buying.

What is the concept behind ATC Vintage?
Roxie– The way you dress is an expression of how you feel. Around the city vintage allows anyone to express their moods and feelings through our garments.
Kelly– Around the City Vintage is also about expressing our love for travel and our love for vintage clothing. We decided to marry the two loves and birth Around the City Vintage. It gives us a platform to share our thrifted or vintage findings from our travels.

Describe the type of person that would love shopping at Around the City Vintage.
Roxie– Anyone who truly loves vintage and is just as excited as we are when we learn the history of all these amazing pieces will love shopping with Around The City Vintage. We love hearing about the story behind each piece and that’s what we try to offer everyone.
Kelly– We have so many people come into the showroom, since our sneak preview opening. People from Mexico, New York, San Francisco. Arizona, Utah and from all over California. Everyone is welcomed!

What makes Around The City Vintage unique?

Kelly– ACV has a more personalized and intimate feel. When you walk into the showroom your immediately in awe by our large treasure inventory. We thrive on one on one shopping, getting to know the shopper as well as befriending them.
Roxie– Around The City Vintage showroom is such a good looking space and every piece in the showroom stands out because it has it’s own character. We love to get to know the shopper and let them know us and give them a little back story on whatever garment/piece they’re interested in.

Who are your style inspirations/influences?
Kelly– My mother, her young days are so inspiring and basically street fashion, I view sidewalks as fashion runways.
Roxie– Brigitte Bardot, Jane Birkin, Edie Sedgwick, Audrey Hepburn

Do you have a favorite decade?
Kelly– 1920’s, 1960’s and 70’s
Roxie– 60’s

Where we can find you/links?
Site: aroundthecityvintage.etsy.com
Tumblr: aroundthecityvintage.tumblr.com
Facebook: facebook.com/aroundthecityvintage
Twitter: twitter.com/ACVintage_says
Showroom location: 1839 South Main St LA CA 90015
Make an appointment today! aroundthecityvintage@gmail.com

Etsy Update- Betsey Johnson, Polka Dots, Plaid, Heels

I have tons of new listings in the shop now!  Some of my favorite include the 90’s Betsey Johnson Daisy Babydoll Dress, the Polka Dot Bandage Dress, the 50’s Blue Gingham Mad Men style dress…but in truth I really love every item I put up for sale.  We got some really great shoes too!  Here’s a preview, see them all at Castaway Vintage!

90’s Betsey Johnson Luxe Daisy Babydoll Dress- BUY IT!

Vintage Polka Dot Cross Back Bandage Dress-BUY IT!

50’s Blue Gingham Princess Peggy Dress-BUY IT!

Vintage Sudini Lace Up Granny Pixie Ankle Boots- BUY THEM!

Vintage 80’s Mary Popps Heels-BUY THEM!

Vintage Charles Jordan by Nathalie M Spectator Oxfords- BUY THEM!

These and more great items up for grabs now at Castaway Vintage

Lilli Diamond

Here’s a preview from our latest photo shoot taken this week for Castaway Vintage, as I’m currently editing and resizing photos like a madwoman to get them listed by the weekend.  I usually end up with somewhere close to 100 photos for one item, which then needs to get pared down to just 5 for the Etsy listings!

This one is a gorgeous 1970’s California designer Lilli Diamond Maxi dress, which even though I never wear long dresses, I just had to get this when I saw it!

Twitter Virgin

Yes, it’s true.  I have never used Twitter.  I have never ‘tweeted’.  I’m old school and I’m a Taurus stuck in my ways and not much for change and learning new technological devices.  I used the most basic camera flip-phone for years until I caved and bought the iPhone last year.  Today I caved and joined Twitter.  Not a day goes by without me hearing, or reading something Twitter related at least 20 times per day.  So I did it.  I put aside my ‘un-twitter’ stubbornness and signed up today for Castaway Vintage.  So, in addition to this blog and our Facebook page, please follow us on Twitter for all the latest shop news and updates at https://twitter.com/CastawayVintage!!

Stay tuned for the lot of new dresses coming this week!!

New Etsy listings: Vintage Glamour Girl Swimsuits

For the glamour girl inside you, I have some lovely new vintage listings up now at Castaway Vintage.  There’s the lovely bright pink Sears JR Bazaar 1950’s-60’s textured one piece pinup style Barbie suit, the red deep V neck adorned with white button detailing 1950’s Marilyn Monroe style straight leg suit, or the 1980’s high society original legendary designer Rose Marie Reid black suit encrusted with gold trimmed faux pearls!

1950’s Pink Sears JR Bazaar Barbie Suit- BUY HERE

Red 1950′ s Marilyn Monroe style suit-BUY HERE

Vintage 80’s Rose Marie Reid Pearls Suit-BUY HERE

We also have a massive photo shoot planned tomorrow, so keep your eyes out for more great new listings this week at Castaway Vintage

Raggedy Threads

After straightening out WordPress’ forced theme change on me and reverting back to my very first one (not much for change, or re-adding all my fonts or widgets), I’m back again… I interviewed fellow Etsy seller and downtown Los Angeles vintage shop owner, Jaime Wong of Raggedy Threads about her shop and passion for vintage clothing, and learned of a new location opening this weekend!

See the article HERE

Raggedy Threads Vintage Shop

Jaime Wong, the owner of the hip downtown arts district vintage shop Raggedy Threads, answered a few questions about her shop and gave some insight to her passion for vintage clothing, treasure hunting, relating to her customers, and announced their second location opening this weekend, August 14, in Little Tokyo.

When and why did you start Raggedy Threads?
I have always had an obsession with antiques and rummaging. Even as a child, I would obsessively dig through drawers and of course kept me occupied for hours at end. Thus, finding out about Thrift / Antique stores and remembering the smell of old musty clothing- I loved it and loved the way it [clothing] was designed.
Raggedy Threads was started in the summer of 2002 in the city of Covina and nested there until 2007, when I decided it was time to grow a little out of the suburbs and into the city. It was the dream of mine to not have a costume type vintage store, or an outrageously overpriced store, but an affordable casual, everyday wear place where you can find original pieces that you wouldn’t see twice.

What types of vintage clothing can be found at your shop?
For ladies, men & kids:
As early as 1900s-1940s Victorian clothing & jewelry
60s-70s Hippie/ Bohemian tops & dresses
Early 80s – Softy Tees, tanks, and tops
Accessories- boots, bags, jewelry, hats, sunglasses
Pretty much anything that’s really special!

What makes Raggedy Threads unique?
We put a lot of care into the clothing and the customers. Everything is hand picked, washed & pressed. We also offer on the spot free alteration services in case you wanted a dress shorten or the sleeves taken in, and of course, if there’s a small tear, we will patch it for you! Everyone knows Vintage is not perfect but we try and make it perfect for you.

Who are your style influences and inspirations?
My customers

What is your favorite decade?
40s & 70s

What is your favorite vintage item?
Can I name more than one? 🙂
Owls, Toys, 70s Sheer India blouses & dresses, Intricate embroideries like bedouins, 40s Hungarian/ Romanian blouses, Concert Rock Tees, Distressed leather bags & shoes

What vintage trends do you see picking up for Fall?
Stripes, floral prints
Mixture of the 30s and the 80s Industrial Americana look

Any tips for vintage shoppers?
Be daring, try everything on! Have fun!

Where we can find you?
Arts District (826 E 3rd street) and coming soon August 14th, will open a second in Little Tokyo (330 E 2nd street) while slowly transiting out of the Arts District by the end of the year. By January, we will be permanently in Little Tokyo, in the Cultural Center, adjacent to Pinkberry
Shop online: http://www.etsy.com/shop/RaggedyThreads
Web: www.raggedythreads.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/RaggedyThreads

what happened?

I wanted to do a new post today, and noticed my theme is all f’ed up.  I do not approve of how this looks and need to get this atrocious appearance fixed, with my widgets back before I can proudly claim this as my blog……………

Tired…. more stripes

Too tired to write too much today.  I give you more stripes from this lovely summer jacket up for sale now at Castaway Vintage

BUY IT HERE

Have a lovely weekend everyone. xxoo

Cheap n Chic

I strongly believe that you do not have spend a ton of $$ to look fashionable.  For those skeptics who may think I don’t have any money, well you may be right at the moment, but in the not so far recent past I worked for high end retailers including Barney’s New York and Ron Herman/Fred Segal, had a celebrity clientele and a big fat discount along with my big fat paycheck.  Instead of blowing my cash on clothes- I saved my money and took a $20,000 year long trip around world (I did the “Eat.Pray.Live” before it existed).  I flew to places like Fiji, Australia, Bali, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei, Qatar, South Africa, Argentina, Peru, Costa Rica amongst other locales and experienced things no $200 shirt could give me.  Don’t get me wrong; I still buy designer handbags that I will use everyday and last a lifetime and shoes when I *must* have a pair, but I get quite a kick over saving money on clothes, and passing along fashionable vintage items at affordable prices to my customers.

Here is my $40 outfit:

Top-Thrifted, $4, Belt- H&M, $10, Skirt– H&M, $6, Sunglasses-Urban Outfitters, $12, Boots– Thrifted, $6

Shop VINTAGE

see the world. xo