Thrifting Our Way Across the USA: Goodbye California

Apologies for the delays and lack of posts and new listings- we just spent the last month moving from Los Angeles to New York City!

It was a good two years spent in California, and most importantly the time that Castaway Vintage was created- but just can’t compare to the 8 years spent in New York City.  So, with making the decision to move back to NYC, bringing Castaway Vintage along for the ride I promised to share our travels and encounters with thrifting cross country on the blog, in a series “Thrifting Our Way Across the USA”.

I start off our series with a goodbye to California, and a look at my last month there, and the start of trip across this country!

Our last month in LA- within one week, we were able to see a free secret Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros show at the Frank Lloyd Wright Ranch in Malibu- completely catered with gourmet food, waiters floating around with trays of wine, full open bar, blankets, dessert shots- the works- possibly one of the most amazing live show experiences I’ve been to!

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

That weekend we went to Coachella in the desert and had a great time attending parties at the Vestal ranch, Philip Lim house party, Mulberry party, Flaunt Magazine party, along with others I can’t remember, and found some amazing thrift stores as well!

floating around at Philip Lim party- in horizon

After coming back to LA from Coachella, that Sunday we saw Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks at the outdoor venue Hollywood Bowl- a truly memorable experience!

After finally moving everything out of our 2 bedroom house- not an easy feat when moving 3,000 miles- selling all of our furniture on Craigslist, having a yard sale for all the odds and ends, then shipping $800 worth of boxes to NY- we had our last night going away party at 4100 bar in Silverlake.  We  headed to Orange County for a week to spend with Ray’s family and hitting up the beach every day, having our last night out seeing Black Heart Procession play in Long Beach.

Our last night in LA

Hittin up the beach before heading off to NY!

A last impromptu photo shoot before we left….

Finally, our last night in California with friends in Long Beach and seeing Black Heart Procession!

Black Heart

Goodbye California!!  Stay tuned for cross country drive and thrift store adventures!!

Castaway Vintage is Moving to NYC!

Please pardon the lack of postings, updates, and product listings while we are in this transition period!!  We are doing our best to keep up and list as often as we can- and will be picking up all sorts of new merchandise for the shop when we begin our 3,000 mile drive across the country starting tomorrow!  I hope to highlight all the small towns we drive through and thrift store finds that come our way in a new blog series called “Thrifting Our Way Across the USA” coming this weekend/early next week.

While it’s true Castaway Vintage was born in the heart of Southern California- Los Angeles, the owners of Castaway Vintage have our roots firmly planted in NYC, as we both lived there for several years before transplanting to LA.  It’s been fun, the weather is amazing, and the flea markets are hard to beat- but the excitement and energy of the city has been calling us back home.  Hardly and end to Castaway Vintage- but just new beginnings and fun in finding treasures for the shop on the other coast of the country!!  I’m excited to find my new secret shopping spots for all the best vintage for all the loyal Castaway Vintage customers that have helped us grow in the past year and a half- starting with a mere 12 listings on day one, now just 14 sales away from 400!!

Our 1st Etsy Sale- Nov 11, 2009

Please, bare with us, we have all of our stock with us on the road so orders will ship normally, and stay tuned for all the upcoming products and changes!

We love you!

Castaway Vintage is MOVING!! BIG SALE!

Yep- we are MOVING!!  We aren’t ending Castaway Vintage, but we are driving 3,000 miles across the country from Los Angeles to New York City, and we don’t really have room to bring all of the inventory so this week we are offering EVERYTHING in shop at 25% OFF!!  Now til Friday April 29.  Once we start our drive cross country, we will be hitting up all the thrift stores and flea markets we can find- and posting here on the blog as a “Thrifting Our Way Across the USA” series- stay tuned!!

Grab your favorite items at unheard of discounts as we don’t do this very often, and prices return to normal Saturday- items moving fast!!

A few goodies still left:

Vintage Pink Ikat Navajo Cropped Jacket- was $54, now ONLY $40.50

Vintage Universal Studios Wardrobe French Bodycon Dress- was $48 now ONLY $36

Vintage Levi’s Shorts- were $35 now ONLY $26.25

Vintage Leslie Fay 1960s Houndstooth Plaid Dress, was $54 now ONLY $40.50

Vintage 60’s MOD Red Checkered Mini Dress, was $44 now ONLY $33

These and MUCH MORE at CASTAWAY VINTAGE !!

All Vintage Everything

Friends in Los Angeles- come see Castaway Vintage tomorrow at Space 1520, for All Vintage Everything; a one day vintage only pop-up marketplace!!  Presented by DNA (designers+artists), co-founder Lirany Vasquez states that:

“DNA (designers+artists) nurtures and promotes up-and-coming fashion & accessories designers, graphic artists, painters and photographers through special projects, social media, events and shopping parties. Our goal is to expose fresh talent to the cultural and retail markets of San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. We strongly believe in supporting the fashion community as a whole, which is why we also work closely with established designers and vintage retailers– who’ve become so influential in today’s market and trends.

Our events are really fun! We have great vendors, amazing fashion, great deals, live dj sets– a great shopping party vibe. We love the courtyard at Space 15Twenty because its the perfect place to enjoy an outdoor event like this.  Also, Umami burger is part of the courtyard so you can grab a burger and a beer to refuel from all the shopping!“

So come out and enjoy vintage shopping from 12 hand selected vendors- including Castaway Vintage!!  We will have a $5 rack, and discounted prices on all of our merchandise!!

Vintage Leopard Print

I absolutely adore leopard print.  Such a classic print that’s widely versatile- from 1960’s Mod swing coats, to 1980’s trashy Peg Bundy looks it always stands out and gives a sultry edge to any wardrobe.  I wish I could find more vintage leopard print, as of right now we only have 2 leopard pieces in stock at Castaway Vintage, though they are both amazing pieces!   Here are our lovely leopard pieces, and some favorite pop culture leopard inspiration!   The dress is spoken for an Aussie customer, but the amazing rare 1960’s-70’s Robby Len sexy cutout swimsuit is still up for grabs!!

Vintage Leopard Print Babydoll Mini Dress, Castaway Vintage

 

Vintage 1960’s-70’s Robby Len Leopard Print Cutout Swimsuit, Castaway Vintage

 

Alabama in True Romance

 

Brigitte Bardot

 

Peg Bundy

 

Audrey Hepburn

 

Marilyn Monroe

 

Blondie

 

Jayne Mansfield

 

 

Jackie O

 

Hope you enjoy all these classic leopard finds, be sure to shop Castaway Vintage ♥♥

Vintage 60’s Mod Camel Cape- On Sale!!

One of our most sought after pieces this season, recently featured in the Etsy Newsletter, and with close to 2,000 views and 85 Etsy ‘Hearts’ – the classic vintage wool 1960’s Camel Cape, is now on sale!!  Most recently listed for $145, I have now dropped the price to $95, after noticing a few tiny moth holes on the back acquired over the winter in storage.  Really not too noticeable with how the cape drapes in the back, and still a stunning clean classic piece!!  Compare to over $160 at American Apparel for plain, mass produced generic versions!!

 

Also, we have tons of new listing that have been going up lately, almost daily- and selling out quick!  Be sure to visit us on Etsy at Castaway Vintage for all of our latest finds!!

Etsy Update! Tons of new dresses and boots!

I must admit, we’ve gotten behind (again!) on listings for the shop.  With holidays, birthday vacation to Barbados for the other half’s 30th, and foul weather, the clothing racks in the spare room have been getting filled up with great goodies while we were too busy with life to get them photographed and onto the Etsy shop.  We have been experimenting with taking photos indoors now that it hasn’t stopped raining for a week in LA- there’s room for improvement, but it’s a start and I’m happy to at least get started making a portion of our goods available again.  Just listed this week we have a ton of dresses- 60’s mod shift, 50’s shirtwaist, and 90’s grunge.  Also some great ankle booties and riding boots, which have been selling out quickly.  Check them out at Castaway Vintage!  Hope everyone enjoys the holidays!

Here are a few of my faves:

 

 

 

 

 

 

More items still coming this week, at Castaway Vintage

Navy Winter Blues

As the chilly Fall air rolls in, along with the holidays, brings us that much closer to winter.  It usually doesn’t get too cold here in LA, though it seems to be freezing lately!  Just listed in the shop are some great winter outerwear pieces, especially these navy blue military themed options!

1. Vintage 60’s Zim-Stra Navy Cape, $235
2. Vintage Long Military Coat w Gold Buttons, $120
3. Vintage Royal Engineers authentic British Military Jacket, $160

Hope everyone has a great Holiday weekend!  Check back for our BLACK FRIDAY specials!!  Time to go bake the pies…

SHOP ♥Castaway Vintage♥

 

Stripes

Stripes stripes stripes.  I love the simple clean contrasting lines.  Always classic, but since I already own so many stripes and striped tops, I’ve decided to part with this one and it’s up for sale in the SHOP now!

Shop  ♥CASTAWAY VINTAGE♥

Biker Chic

I’ve just added this great black leather biker to the Castaway Vintage shop, great for Fall and Winter- wardrobe staple with dresses, or skinny jeans and boots!  When I took a year off to travel the world, the only jacket I brought was my trusty black leather biker jacket!

Shop CASTAWAYVINTAGE ♥