Tips on Vintage Shopping: Rachael from It's Simple Love

Hello everyone-Today we have Rachael from It's Simple Love sharing her tips on vintage shopping. I asked Rachael to guest post on this topic because I would love to learn more about vintage shopping and because she truly is an expert on this topic. Have you checked out her adorable items on Etsy at Ande Monster Vintage

First off, thank you Naina for asking me to guest post! I am Rachael from It's Simple Love and I am pleased to be sharing about vintage shopping, A.K.A. "thrifting". I am crazy about vintage clothing and I am excited to share a bit on what I love. I have always shopped for vintage clothing since my childhood. My mom sparked the interest in me first by taking me to thrift stores when I was young. I loved wearing vintage cowgirl boots and I loved vintage floral dresses. I have always been a dress-lover. To this day, it is my favorite thing vintage item to buy and that's the first place I go to when I shop vintage, the dress section. I opened a shop up last year because I wanted to share my love for vintage clothing. You can find my shop, Ande Monster Vintage, on etsy

So, here are some quick and easy tips on shopping vintage:

Where do you find a good vintage shop?

1.The best way? Word of mouth. Ask around.

2. I use the site The Thrift Shopper. It will give you a list of thrift stores in your area and a rating of each one just by entering in your zip code. I highly suggest using it. I use it every time I visit another city. I love thrifting in every town I visit.

3.You can always go to national thrift stores like Deseret Industries, Savers, The Salvation Army, Thrift Town, or Goodwill

4. Yard sales and estate sales are also excellent places to find vintage clothing. You can find yard and estate sale listings in your local newspaper or on craigslist.

Quick Tips on Finding "The Good Stuff":

1. Take your time. Thrift stores typically have racks and racks of clothing so make sure you have the time to go through the racks thoroughly. Think of it as a treasure hunt.

2. You win some you lose some. Some days I come out with 3-4 dresses that I am in LOVE with. Other days I come home with none. Don't be too depressed if you don't find anything. Typically thrift stores get thousands of donations every day. Which leads me to my next tip...

3. Go often. I go a few times a week because I know the good stuff does not stay for long and the inventory on the floor rotates fast. Go regularly.

4. Get a schedule. I go to one thrift store on a regular basis and I know what time they put out new items.

5. Make friends with the employees. I go thrift stores often enough that I get to know the employees. This helps when I find an item that is slightly damaged the employees often times mark them down for me. I have also had employees "save" items just for me. Not because I ask them but they see an item, think of me, and show me when I go in. I love it!

6. Be picky! Hold the same standards you have for your clothing today. Make sure it fits you and it's flattering (unless your savvy with a sewing machine and can make alterations). Look for holes or stains. Ask yourself "am I really going to make use of this?" but be imaginative and don't be scared to try something new!

7. ALWAYS try it on. Always always always make time to try it on. It may turn out better than expected. Or it could turn out absolutely hideous. Try it on and find out before taking it home.

How do you tell if it is vintage?

1. Know your history. Knowing the history of fabrics and textiles will help you "date" your clothing. Knowing the styles of a particular decade will also help you date the garment of clothing. (Examples: 1940's 1950's 1960's 1970's 1980's)

2. The zipper. Before the 1950's most garments did not use zippers. If you find the garment has a metal zipper it is most likely from the 1950's-1960's. If the zipper is nylon then it will be post 1960's.

3. Check the hem. How the garment was made usually tells a lot about it. If it has a handmade look to it, even if it has a tag, this is a good sign it is vintage. It was more common to make your own clothes in years past. Typically speaking, vintage clothing was better made; " built to last".

4. Check the label. The label often will tell the circa date of the article of clothing. Look at the font of the label and the brand itself. You can look up the label and garment style when you get home and often find the year of the garment and some history. Labels may also have some wear or fade to them.

5. Washing instructions. Washing instructions generally were not added to garments until the 1970's. If the garment has washing instructions, it was most likely made after 1970.

I hope these little tips help you find the vintage clothing you have always been looking for! If you are not one to search thrift stores, there are plenty of vintage shops online and on the streets. Don't be afraid to shop and wear vintage. All styles come back! Whether we embrace them or disgrace them. Find excellent vintage stores on Etsy.  And don't be afraid to say hello on my blog It's Simple Love.

Guest Post: Are You A Proactive Shopper?

Guest Post from my good friend and colleague Monchiere’ Commodore:

Monchiere’ Commodore currently is a national trainer for a major Biotech company. She has been in the fashion industry, particularly as a model, for over 10 years. Her modeling career has included modeling for various department stores such as Saks Fifth Ave and Dillards for an array of designers including Chanel, Escada, Tory Burch, Dianne von Furstenberg and St. John. She has also made appearances on Wheel of Fortune and various other television programs as well. Monchiere has a passion for wardrobe maintenance and organization with her mantra being taken care of what you have and so you can have what you want. She is married with one child and resides in New Orleans, LA.

As we get ready to close out 2010 and bring in the New Year 2011, its the perfect time for an end of year closet cleaning and reflection. We have all seen tips on how to determine what items to keep in ours closets. Such include the need for the items to have been worn at least once in 2 yrs (unless its classics or specialty pieces), be in good or repairable condition, and it must be comfortable, well fitting or part of your wardrobe personality. But I would also like for you to reflect on your shopping in 2010. What were your best purchases? Any regrets (like those cute shoes you may never wear because of a really high heel)?

Reflections like these are all important as we prepare for the New Year. My goal in 2011 is to be a proactive shopper. How about the idea of planning out most of my 2011 shopping? I've started by asking myself What are my most important items I need to buy for 2011? Which for me is a black handbag and pumps. Honestly evaluating what's missing in my closet then developing a plan on how best to shop for these items. Reaching out to my favorite stores to see when they will have their largest sales on my future purchases. Or maybe it's shopping out of season for some of these new additions.

Like many of you I have to be wise with how I spend my resources (time/money/etc) in this upcoming year. Living on a budget (for both shopping and living expenses) and really sticking to it is critical in this economy. Shopping smart means buying the best quality my money can buy without any buyers remorse. No remorse in 2011. Also by shopping smarter I can actually get more.

So join me in 2011 as I aim to not only enjoy my shopping experience (which I really love to shop) but also get some great additions to my wardrobe. Let's be the best proactive shoppers in 2011.

Monchiere-thank you for sharing your goals for 2011. I must admit I like this concept of being a proactive shopper. I will certainly plan more and be mindful and smart about the items I purchase in 2011.>

What are your thoughts? Will you be a proactive shopper in 2011?

Traveling in Style: Part II

With the Thanksgiving travel this past week, my recent business trips,  and more upcoming holiday travel,  I have been packing and re packing my travel handbag.  The good thing is I am getting closer to mastering all the items I need to bring in my large travel tote.  Now if I can just master packing for business trips and vacations I will be all set.

Here are my top "must have" travel accessories for traveling in style. (And here is Part I in case you missed it!)

1. Cityslips Travel Flats $28.00

These flats are perfect for the airport security line and for those times when you  have been wearing  high heels for too many hours.  They fit perfectly in most handbags and they come in a pouch that converts to a full size tote bag.  They are also available in this luxe leopard print at Neiman Marcus.

2. Black Cashmere Wrap $149.50 on sale  

This medium weight single ply cashmere wrap functions as a cozy wrap on the airplane and converts to a stylish scarf during the day or a wrap on a cool evening. I have several non-cashmere shawls but my favorite one to use is a beige soft cashmere wrap I received as a gift.  I think I might need a black one next.  It really does make a difference when it is cashmere!

3. Saffiano Media Sleeve $75.00 pre-order

I just saw this and I LOVE it.   This media sleeve is the perfect way to protect your  IPhone when you travel. It comes in purple and orange as well. The black one is not available yet but I am thinking about pre-ordering this one or getting the orange one.

 

4. Jewelry Pouch $39.50

I always carry my jewelry in my handbag when I travel and even though I have several jewelry pouch's I love this one from J.Crew. It is made of a soft silk blend, comes in windsor grey or heirloom pink, and it would make the perfect holiday gift for a stylish traveler.

5.  Vapur .5L Anti Bottle $9.99

These water bottles are convenient, reusable, and they are great for on-the-go use. They are flexible so they stand when they are full and the fold up when they are empty. This is the perfect alternative to carrying a plastic water bottle when traveling.

6.Occasion Sequin Framed Large Wristlet $128.00

This past week during Thanksgiving I stopped into the Coach store and I saw these wristlets and the poppy occasion sequin pouch's and I love them.  The benefit of carrying a clutch in your travel handbag is you can keep all your small items organized.  I like to fill my clutch or wristlet with gum, chapstick, hand sanitizer, lip gloss, and other small items.   Then when you arrive at your travel destination you can use the wristlet or clutch as an evening bag.

What are some of your "must have"accessories for traveling in style?

What to Pack: Five Day Business Trip

I am in Atlanta this week for work and I must admit packing for business trips is not one of my favorite things to do.  Even though I travel for work often I still dread this task and I always procrastinate and pack at the last minute.  So I decided to make a list of wardrobe essentials for a five day business trip.  I am hoping this list will alleviate some of the stress I have with packing for trips.

Wardrobe Essentials for a Five Day Work Trip

1. big work bag/tote spacious enough for the airplane and for business meetings
2. black cashmere or other soft cardigan
3. one pair of black high heels and one pair of black flats
4. pencil skirt
5. two to three blouses
6. two work appropriate dresses
7. black pants
8. jeans for casual dinners or non work events
9. jacket (either a trench, leather, blazer, or other light stylish jacket)
10. shawl for the cold meeting rooms, airplane, and to wear out at night
11. black opaque tights
12. accessories such as scarfs, belts, and jewelry to change up an outfit or change the look from a day  meeting to an evening dinner
13. undergarments (of course)
14. gym shoes and workout attire

Additional Tips

-The real secret to successful packing is keeping all the items monochromatic so that everything is interchangeable and you can mix and match outfits.
-Hang up all clothes so that they stay wrinkle free and so you can easily view all items.
-Bring along a flat reusable bag in case you end up doing some shopping or pick up extra items from the trip.

What are your wardrobe essentials for business travel?

Reader Request: Gray and Brown

Gray striped boat neck tee-Loft (30%off), JouJou faux leather jacket-Nordstrom, Stretch denim leggings-C&C California, Boots-Steve Madden, Handbag-Spain

Stephanie (of scrumptious) went out with some friends and she paired up a gray sweater dress, gray sheer tights, and caramel colored knee high boots.  After wearing the outfit Stephanie said she liked the look but she wasn't sure if it worked or not.  So Stephanie asked me my thoughts on wearing gray and brown together. 

My thoughts on Stephanie's gray/brown outfit:
1. I think neutral colors like brown, black and gray definitely work well together.
2. Another great option is to match the brown boots with brown tights to make the legs look elongated and longer. 
3. Tie in the brown boots with the rest of the outfit by adding an accessory that has shades of brown it in. This can be a belt, clutch, or even a chunky bracelet.
4. Consider adding in a third color or a pattern. This can be a cardigan, jacket, or scarf.
5. Most importantly, I think Stephanie's outfit worked because she liked it and she wore it with confidence!

So I was inspired to put together a similar outfit using these colors but I went into my closet and I realized I don't have a lot of solid brown and gray items in my closet and I don't even have a single gray or brown dress.  This is because these colors are not the most flattering on me. However, if I break up these colors in my outfit by adding jeans, a third color such as white or yellow, or even patterns such as stripes, then I can pull off wearing these colors. 

I wore the outfit Sunday for a casual get together with our friends for Halloween.  I also brought along this gray cardigan to wear in the house.

My fairy princess and me

Do you wear gray and brown together?
 
Also, check out the CoolKids blog today. Betsy has launched a new series called Real Life Cool Kids and she is featuring Ariyana today!