Just a peek into my own collection of vintage bags:
I’m a fool for a great piece of luggage. On the left is an American Tourister bag that has a great pink quilted interior. It’s from Forrestina Vintage, one of my favorite Etsy shops. On the left is a similar bag that I grabbed from Black Eyed Susie.
I love my rolling suitcase, but I may have to start flying with these guys for weekend trips!
Filed under Accessories, Luggage
One of the beautiful pieces of jewelry at Mercedes Bien
A reader wrote in this week seeking help in preparation for her wedding. She wrote:
Would you know of a great stop, or strip, to find a rhinestone brooch for my wedding dress? I will wear it on my waist, on the side.
She noted that she’s already visited some of the “usual suspects” in the 14th Street area.
I responded:
If you’ve hit the 14th/U Street area, then you’ve probably already been to Legendary Beast, which would have been my first suggestion! A few others I would check out (or at least call to scope out what they have) are Mercedes Bien on 18th Street in Adams Morgan (only open on the weekends), Pretty People in Alexandria and Elinor Coleman’s Vintage Mirage, also in Alexandria. I haven’t visited the latter myself but I’ve peeked in the window and it seems like the kind of place that would have elegant jewelry from yesteryear.
Another thought that just came to be would be It’s Vintage, Darling on 14th just above Columbia Heights. They usually have great statement pieces when it comes to jewelry.
It’s definitely worth a couple of calls before you go to see if they have anything in the range of what you’re looking for. I know that I always have a backstock of items and so when I know a shopper is looking for something special, I can dig into “the reserves.”
Can you help our dear reader find something wonderful for her wedding day? What shops would you recommend?
Filed under Accessories, Jewelry, Wedding
I stopped by Nana today to put out a few new things, and found Daisy in an unusual place: without Internet. That meant no music! No Twitter! No relevant research on the web! It happens, as I so well know. But what’s a girl to do without her lifeline to the fashion world? She gets to know the merch right in front of her. Really well. Really, really well.
“Sometimes you just have to try vintage on to get an idea of how it looks,” Daisy mused through the racks of my little corner. Truer words were never spoken.
This sweater is a smidge too big for Daisy, but that doesn't mean it's not still fun!
"Big is in, right?" Daisy asked. "Big or shoulderpads," I said. "You have to choose one. Never both."
Cute new vintage earrings from costume jewelry brand 1928
These earrings are huge. I love them.
Nana is having an amazing sale right now, so hop on over and check it out. There are quite a few vintage items marked down, too!
Filed under Uncategorized
Vintage handbags and luggage are among my favorite things to find and sell. I love sturdy, structured bags in a whole rainbow of colors. I recently acquired two bags that needed just a bit of love. I thought I’d share the fixer-upper process!
Crafty types, here’s a class for you to get in on. Have a new year’s resolution to learn how to knit? Let Shelly teach you!
When: Tuesdays at 6:30 from Jan. 10 to Feb. 14
Location: The Hill Center—921 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. 20003
Cost: $125
Class Description:
In this six-week introductory course students will learn basic knitting stitches which they will incorporate into their own knitting projects. Students will have the opportunity to choose their own project and get one-on-one instruction on how to complete their own handmade item. Materials will be provided for instruction at the first class, after which students will be asked to bring their own materials.A graduate of the Fashion Design program at Parsons School of Design, Shelly has worked in the fashion industry for over 4 years, including at Nautica and ethically produced artisan accessories line, A Peace Treaty. Most recently she was an Outerwear, Denim and Pant designer for Tommy Hilfiger in New York City before leaving to accept a position working in interior design for a premier real estate developer that builds luxury apartment buildings in the DC area. As an avid sewer she has had several pieces of her re-fashioned vintage pieces sold at Junction in DC and featured in Worn magazine. She has started her own DC based fashion blog, Going Vogue and is working on starting her own fashion line. She currently offers beginning courses and open studios for sewing and knitting.
Shelly hopes to offer more classes on sewing and fashion design in the future. Quarter Life gives this event a thumbs up!
Don’t forget to register!
Filed under Events
Two upcoming events hit my inbox today, to kick off the new year with lots of fashionable fun. Mark your calendars!
Studio85 will be hosting a Drop by and DIY event on January 8, where $20 will get you all the supplies you need to make a fun embellished collar. Spruce up some of those outfits in the back of your closet with a new collar!
The Trash Cat Clothing Exchange will be at the Pleasant Plains Workshop through most of February with an ongoing swap, a fashion show, and more to-be-announced goodies. Stop by each weekend for swapping and trading, but definitely mark your calendars for the February 25 closing swap-o-rama.
New stuff alert! I’ve added new dresses, bags, and accessories to my stash at Nana. I think the red and gold number above would be great for a dressy dinner! The teal strapless dress on the left is actually a skirt that can easily double as a dress. Just add a belt and frolick away!
One of the very cool things I found in Florida was a blanket from an airline. A really awesome, comfy-cozy blanket. When’s the last time you found one of those on our discount carriers? (It’s gone already, probably already warming up a fun new shopper I had fun with last weekend!)
Daisy, frolicking with a new suitcase that’s out. Daisy moves pretty quick; my camera-phone moves pretty slow.
New tags! What do you think?
Happy holidays, y’all!
Filed under Accessories, Luggage, Vintage
It’s the holidays. You’re in gift-buying, festive party-planning, dining-out-with-friends mode. So what better time of year to jump aboard the Scoutmob “shop indie”" bandwagon? Make a decision to support independent shops and restaurants, using the Scoutmob app as a compass to discover the best small businesses at a great price near you.
Join us on our mission to support creative entrepreneurs–those fellow citizens who make our cities great. As a reward for good behavior, all pledgers will be entered to win one of three $200 Etsy shopping sprees, the world’s handmade marketplace, and fellow supporter of the little guy.
So here’s your chance to make your dollars count on the local level.
You may know I have a habit of browsing Etsy at all hours of the night, and many of my favorite DC-area crafty-types are peddlin’ away and making their creative dreams a reality. What’s more fun than a gift with a story? Nothin’.
Filed under Uncategorized
Here’s how my life has gone lately:
I came back from Thanksgiving, ran around to get Caitlin’s package in the mail to her after winning Sammy Davis Vintage‘s Gratefulness Giveaway, wrote a quick 20-page paper for ye olde graduate school, and then whoosh—on a plane to Florida for five sunny days cruising up and down the Florida Keys in a convertible. (Thanks, MC.)
Lo and behold, there on the side of the road on the day after our arrival was a Salvation Army that needed a little bit of love. From me. And my wallet.
MC found a jacket from Woody’s, which means that some fashionable Washingtonian made a swift escape many winters ago.
I really loved this coffeemaker travel kit, but it was sort of bulky. And it was missing some parts (never ideal).
MC was like “come look at this desk!” and I said “oh my gosh, kidney desk, I NEED it!” and then I realized I had no way to get it home. $40 price tag. Amazing.
I ended up coming home with these beauties. A standard carry-on case in traditional sky blue, and a monogrammed canvas suitcase from Nieman Marcus. Stuffed full of clothes’n'stuff. Sorry, TSA. I know I made it complicated.
And then I came home and this happened. End of vacation.
Filed under Accessories, on Tour, Uncategorized, Vintage
Congratulations to the ladies of Treasury and Meeps! Big announcement this evening: The minds behind Treasury are taking over AdMo staple Meeps.
It’s a cause for celebration, made clear by the announcement e-mail and this snappy event poster. The fill-a-bag sale sounds so amazing that I might have to swing by and risk being late to class next Tuesday evening.
Only one question remains: will Treasury’s 14th Street location remain, or will the curated wares be rolled into the racks at Meeps? We’ll have to wait and see if there’s another announcement!
EDIT 11:24: Thanks to a speedy Twitter response, @shoptreasury confirmed that Treasury will remain on 14th street distinct from Meeps. The empire simply grows. 
Filed under Adams Morgan, Vintage
