Wednesday, June 30, 2010

A Few Of My Favorite Things

I thought I'd do a post on some of my favorite non-vintage shops on Etsy. I've tried list some stores that have truly unique items...stuff that you'd be hard pressed to find anywhere else...Just to put an image in your mind: I am sitting at the dining table (in Worcester) typing away, whilst my cat is sitting on the table, haunched over a plate, gnawing away at uneaten pizza crusts from lunch. And now he is trying to drink my iced tea!

Bake it Pretty
For those of you who know me, you probably know that I love to bake awkwardly colored cupcakes and cakes.  Teal and lavender icing cupcakes and green tea, strawberry, and chocolate tricolor cake are just two of the awkward, yet delicious things I have made. Perhaps if I invested in some of these delightfully awesome cupcake wrappers...I might satiate my need for color! These pictures pretty much speak for themselves.

Decoy Lab
I can't say that people have much use for clocks anymore, what with cell phones and alarm clocks and the like. But if I ever needed a clock, these Decoy Lab analogs would be my first choice! My favorite is probably the faux-cuckoo clock...the hardest part is picking which color you like best!

Nothing Elegant
Nothing Elegant has some of the freaking cutest packing materials and office supplies you will ever see. If you are really into paper and tape like I am, this shop will be your mecca. And if you aren't, well, this shop will make you want to be. Search through this shops many pages and find everything you will need for next semester!

Valhalla Brooklyn
Valhalla Brooklyn is definitely out of my price range right now, but if you are willing to invest (around $300), they have some of the best looking handmade leather bags out there! Simple shapes, brass hardware, pockets...what more could you need?

Thief & Bandit

Thief & Bandit is a fun shop filled with colorful braided headbands, tiered necklaces, and really cool t-shirts. What's ridiculous is that I just realized I never learned how to spell the word "thief" properly. Poo. You can also find their stuff at Need Supply Co.

Nadinoo
Nadinoo has some of the most delicate and prettiest clothes I have ever seen. Both pictures above are from the current summer collection...filled with pastels, florals, and art deco inspired patterns.  I particularly love the "petal" collared shirt. How interesting and unique!

I have always been a fan of the mary-jane and these canvas ones from The Generation take the cake. Eco-friendly, pretty, and seemingly durable these flats look perfect for everyday wear.  I think I might snag a pair of the olive green flats with the thick satiny ribbon!

Kate Durkin
These pillows are so cute! I actually got a small coral colored owl (it was one of my first Etsy purchases)...and while the owl is cute, my favorite part is the fabric on its back...little houses with coral roofs and little green trees, all nestled into a hillside. They are incredibly well-made and comfortable, and will look great in your dorm room or wherever!

Whitney Smith Pottery
I've already mentioned that I love to bake, but the one thing I don't have is a proper cake stand. Whitney Smith Pottery carries lots and lots of them! And they are perfect because they have birds sitting on them, little flowers, branches, and come in various sizes.  Don't you love the single cupcake stands? Impractical, yes, but just so magical!

Sunday, June 27, 2010

Wishful Remembering

I've been quite taken by the Morning Benders for some time now...they recently had a free concert on Governor's Island in New York City and I'm so sad that I couldn't go because of work-type obligations... I was so psyched for it, too, because Governor's Island is quite possibly one of my favorite, lesser known places in New York.  Determined to go on a picnic with real grass and sun, my friends and I (sometime before the start of eleventh grade? earlier? later? who can say?) woke up early, made/bought delicious foods, and took the free ferry over to the island. While there isn't really much there, aside from a few Coast Guard buildings, there is plenty of grass and spectacular views of the water and city skyline. We had a particularly good spot and it was a great day!! We wanted to make it into some kind of yearly tradition, but sadly that never happened. What did happen? Who can say?
So anyways, the Morning Benders are fantastic, and not just because the lead singer/song writer is likely to be half-asian. Check out these two videos below.


Yours Truly Presents: The Morning Benders "Excuses" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.


Yourstru.ly Presents: The Morning Benders "Stitches" from Yours Truly on Vimeo.

Thursday, June 24, 2010

A Good Day

In fact, maybe it was even a great day! Every Wednesday is family day at my local Salvation Army, which means that pretty much everything is fifty percent off! (You should check to see if your local Salvation Army does this! It's quite a treat!) While, I am not a family, I do feel worthy of taking advantage of such an awesome deal, and let me tell you, yesterday was the day to do it! I found so many great items for myself and the shop and only spent around $25!
So here's a little preview of some items that might make it to the shop soon:
And here are some shots of items I picked up for myself. All I have to do is hem two dresses and voila!
Now, I tried to remember to take photos while I was at the Salvation Army, but of course I got very distracted by all the lovely things I was surrounded by...and so...no pictures.  You'll just have to settle for a single myspacey mirror shot of me trying on the black dress pictured above. I look a bit mad, no?

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

June Wishlist

Ahh...July is almost here and that also means the summer is half over.  While it hasn't exactly gotten that hot here yet, I'm already thinking about fall clothes and colder weather.  But it really is way too early for that, so to get my mind back on track, I decided to show you some of my favorite items of June...things I would buy if I could...I think I might make this into some kind of recurring blog post on my blog. 
 Left to Right: ModCloth $107.99, Anthropologie $128, Anthropologie $138, ModCloth $51.99
These dresses are perfect! My absolute favorite is the red, white, and blue one from Anthropologie (perfect for watching fireworks on the 4th of July).  It also has an open back and an adorable bow...I actually got to try this on the last time I was in an Anthro...and it fit so wonderfully! I hope it goes on sale soon! I love the dresses on the ends, too, because they seem to transcend seasons...I can see myself throwing on a pair of tights or stocking underneath and wearing them all winter long. The second dress is not polka dotted, but rather polka squared...! Its unique and beautiful and casual.
Left to Right: Urban Outfitters $48, ModCloth $47.99, Anthropologie $98, F21 $27.80
I've recently begun to re-embrace shorts. I could never really find a pair that I liked or that looked good on me...Shorts just seemed like a boring staple or something you sleep in.  But it seems like people are starting have much more fun with their shorts! All the patterns and interesting cuts and bows from this past season were very refreshing. I am also pretty happy that the whole "scalloped edge" thing is catching on.  I wish I could have called it, but I got really into scallop edged clothing like a year ago, when there really wasn't much to pick from.  While I'm not too sure I'm the kind of girl to wear something shiny and silver like the dress above, I do love the shape and tiers of the dress! And isn't that crystal and gem encrusted bicycle necklace THE BEST?
Well, apart from shopping online, what else have I been doing? For one, I went to the Massachusetts RMV (why they didn't just use DMV like the rest of the country, we'll never know) and converted my current NY State learners' permit to a Massachusetts one.....making me an official resident of the state of Massachusetts! However, if you ever ask me where I'm from, I will say New York because I love being a New York and did live there for the first twenty years of my life. 
Other than that, I have been house bound for the entire week, while taking antibiotics for this thing I have on my right pinky finger.  I apparently got some kind of chemical burn which got infected, and now I'm in quite a bit of pain.  Luckily, the antibiotics I got yesterday should kick in soon, and get me back up and running in a day or two.  
I I feel up to it...I might even publish my first style post for the blog! Yay!

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Dinosaurs, Bad Movies, and More Updates!

On Sunday, which happened to be Fathers' day, I went to a historical/scientific theatrical production called 'Walking with Dinosaurs," produced by the BBC. And even though it was somewhat catered to a younger audience, I enjoyed it very much. Basically, it was 90 minutes of watching huge-huge-huge dinosaur puppets realistically  interact with one another in an arena. It was pretty amazing. The 15 different dinosaur puppets (really an understatement, more like machines) moved and looked pretty gosh darn realistic...you can tell that a lot of attention was paid to the details...you could even see moisture around their eyes, as though they were alive! Several different attack-type scenes were set up and performed according to a kind of historical timeline plot, all the while narrated by a special time-traveling paleontologist named Huxley.
While the dinosaurs were large and great and all that...they thing I probably most enjoyed was the artistic rendering of the various environments the dinosaurs lived in and how they differed throughout the show. There was a point in time when flowers first came into existence, which in the show was represented by the instantaneous blooming of crazy inflatable flowers, which looked positively alien. They were all sort of colors and shapes and were accompanied by large green inflatable shoots and palm trees.  As I was leaving, I couldn't help but look for some kind of souvenir inflatable plant at the merchandising table...but of course there was none.
Afterwards, I left for work (which was quite hectic), and when I got home I found out that my boyfriend had rented Bruno. We watched it. I can't say I didn't like it, because I suppose the content was okay (and the movies I actually really don't like, such as Lake House, are way worse), but there was just something about knowing that some of those situations were real, that was so off-putting.  I just kept wondering how he could stay in character and keep doing what he was doing (poking people doing it at a swingers' party, walking around a city practically naked chained to his gay lover). How? HOW?
Let's just say it was unsettling. If you've seen it, you know.  I won't say I didn't laugh once or twice. It had its moments. Now....Let's move on!
So apart from these two things, my weekend was also filled with creating new listings for Fancy Dress Parade! I added five items on Sunday and another five today, but I still have about seven or eight to go....After that I'm going to start promoting my business to the best of my ability!
I really do love some of the items in my shop and believe with all my heart that they can really make someone out there happy.  It's been such a pleasure shopping and thrifting, trying to find all these great items, without having to worry about sizes! It was really liberating.  I would love to continue to do this for the rest of my life.

Be on the lookout for more updates very soon!

Friday, June 18, 2010

Another Shoot, A Whole Week of Updates

Here's a look at some photos from today's shoot. It was so much fun! Lots of these photos are actually just extras that didn't make the cut for the shop, but some of them are my personal favorites.  We took photos for about 25 items...so productive! My model, Samantha (both lovely and funny, as I said before), was very cooperative and agreeable. You can watch her dance in the video posted below. I can't wait to update the shop and I will probably start tomorrow.  So look out world!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

I've Got Traveling On My Mind...

Check out this great panda suitcase set from New Look (a kind of British forever21)...They might be a little too cute to actually use in real life, but I think I could manage, haha. This set is the perfect size for traveling light...which makes me dream a little dream about maybe going on a road trip this summer down south.




You can find them here and here.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The Shop is Officially Open!



On a whim last night, I decided to upload some items into the shop to try and see what it was like...It actually took a lot longer than I thought (I only uploaded eight of about thirty items), so I am going to have to stay in this weekend and LIST LIST LIST! To lighten the load, I am going to be listing a few items more items tonight, so check back often!
I will be listing two great vintage bags (pictured above) for sale in the etsy shop! They are in wonderful condition and are pretty swanky. Helen looks a little bit annoyed in that first photo, but usually she's pretty pleasant. It must have been my unfair work conditions (she was not paid!).
Also, I created a Facebook fan page for the shop! There really isn't much there yet, but check it out and maybe become a fan? I know I'm just starting out, but I have so much in store! And your support would really mean a lot to me.
This weekend I scored a couple of really great vintage finds that should be up in the shop by this weekend. I got a great 2 piece suit (mostly because I love the blazer), a sheer black hand painted party dress, and two cute blue skirts. These pieces, along with many, many others are going to be photographed this Friday.
My lovely and funny friend, Samantha, is coming over to be my next model. The last photo shoot had a kind of Urban theme (what with the brick and being in NYC and all), so I decided to take this shoot in the complete opposite direction. I'm at my home in Massachusetts now, which has a great big backyard and plenty of outdoor charm....
The only thing I really have left to do, is to figure out how to ship things. I already have a plan in place (so do not worry, if you wish to buy something), but I haven't used it yet. I'm just unsure of the protocol...I haven't mailed too many things during the course of my life. Well, I'm sure once I make my first sale, things will begin to move more smoothly.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

First Photo Shoot and Item Preview!

Oooh, is it a time for firsts! Early this morning, my lovely friend and model, Helen, came over to my neighborhood to shoot some of the photos for the shop. I only had about two and a half hours to shoot half of my inventory, so we were certainly on a time crunch (We spent the first half hour eating breakfast at a local cafe, but in any case, we were rushed!). But thankfully, our dedicated and quirky friend, Samson, was there to help along the way: he carried clothes, wore bags, and had about ten clips attached to his shirt. At first we thought it would be okay to keep going from the street back up to my apartment to change...but quickly we discovered this was far too time consuming. We grouped outfits together that were easy to change into and out of in series, and headed to the very sketchy basement of my building. We then proceeded to find a secluded hallway and dress Helen up as quickly as we could. I know that it's a little weird...my building's super even stopped us once, asking us if we needed help...he was pretty confused. However, it was very successful.
Helen looked so freakin' cute it was hard for some people on the street to stomach. She got lots of awkward looks and stares from old people in the park and passersby...and we hadn't even begun taking photos! I think that after seeing Helen's get-up, the older ladies in the park began pining for the olden days of their youth. What a nice thought.
It got a little scary with the weather while we were out there. It drizzled at one point, but we ignored it and it went away (thanks to us and our powers of ignorance!! (heh.)) Anywho, the whole shebang came out way better than I ever could have hoped for. So I just want to take time out to thank my not-awkward model and awesome helpful assistant friend.
I've posted four over-edited photos from todays shoot. These are a little more artsy than the ones that will appear in the shop, but I thought that I might as well have fun with it. All of the products featured will be available when the shop opens....on a date TBA....





Friday, June 11, 2010

Memory Fabric

Here it is! The first post! I figured that if I'm going to open an online vintage shop on Etsy, why not start a style blog, too? I'm pretty sure that I'm embarking on something that is going to be a lot more work than I even realize, but possibly also very fun. Hopefully.
So, I don't have any outfit photos yet, but I can tell you a little bit about myself. I don't think I discovered or even cared about fashion until I was fourteen. By then, I had already passed through my punk/teenage rebel and tomboy phases and was ready to look like an adult, whatever that means. But my quest for grown-up clothes led me down an interesting path of twists and turns, and I became more interested in what was different and unique. Going to high school in Manhattan certainly had something to do with it. What that something is, I'm not quite sure, but for now I will refer to it as a "feeling." It was this feeling I got from the culture and the people I grew up with and complete fashionable strangers...that it was important to dress for yourself. So much of who I am goes into what I decide to wear on different days, that I've come to understand fashion as being one of the most important forms of self expression. People form their likes and dislikes and preferences from memories and experience...so, if you think about it, every clothing item is made out of some kind of awesome memory fabric.
And that's why vintage appeals to me. There is a story behind each piece that you can only guess at. The mystery is exciting!

So there's tons of stuff to come if you choose to keep reading. Soon, I think I will post a preview of some shop items and shop photos.
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