This past weekend I had the opportunity and pleasure to venture down to Santa Monica and present a collection spanning over 100 years of fashion at the Vintage Expo. This event is serious. Each dealer specializes in an era or genre of vintage, from children’s to high-end designer. If you are looking for something specific and are serious to step up, you will likely find it at the Vintage Expo.

The Goods!: The Santa Monica Vintage Expo. From the Margaret Curby Collection, Vintage Gown Circa 30's/40's.

I shared a booth with the fabulous Kelley of eBay’s My Fabulous Closet. Together we had a collection of apparel and accessories from the teen’s through the 90’s. I was showcasing for the first time, the collection of my dear friend Margaret Curby. Margaret has been collecting for decades and decided it’s time to go! I am so grateful to have had the opportunity for her fabulous finds to enter my world and at the same time help them find their proper place. And that I did, sending items home with Ester of Golyester, the mother-daughter duo of 1860-1960, NY Vintage, costume designer Debra McGuire…just to name a few.

The Goods!: The Santa Monica Vintage Expo. From the Margaret Curby Collection, vintage teddies and silk chiffon dresses.

I have a great appreciation for all eras of fashion but Kelley and I dubbed the items I had “high maintenance”. It takes a skilled hand to care for such delicate items. Dried out fabrics can shred under extreme heat or cold, the oils on your hands can be damaging and many modern day cleaning techniques are just too harsh. So it was a great relief to find the people skilled and willing to revive life back into these pieces. The wealth of knowledge the dealers and collectors have at these events is priceless. I urge you to go and get schooled! The Vintage Expo is multiple times a year in SoCal and San Francisco and on the East Side there is the Manhattan Vintage Show.

The Goods!: The Santa Monica Vintage Expo. Myself with Sandra of Debutante Clothing and Mary of Zuburbia.

I met so many fabulous people! Including (FINALLY!) Sandra Mendoza-Daly of Debutante Clothing and Mary Kincaid of Zuburbia. Read Mary’s write-up on “Tip’s for Vintage Fashionista’s” on the Huffington Post. Ladies, seriously have a read, there are some very important facts, esp. respecting the garments while shopping and trying on!

The Goods!: The Santa Monica Vintage Expo. Jessie's Threads, vintage children's clothing.

Since I was sooooo busy selling I couldn’t get away much to snap photos. I did get to chat with my friends of Mercy Vintage and meet John, the owner of Jesse’s Threads, a three year old company dedicated strictly to children’s vintage and lovingly named after his son, Jesse. And of course a few choice shots of The Goods! that got away…pieces from Ms. Margaret Curby’s collection. Who knew that early wool swimsuits would be so HOT!

Barbie Basics Model No. 9 by Betsey Johnson

A few weeks back we showed you a sneak peek of the CFDA X Barbie dolls that 12 CFDA members designed for the launch of the Barbie Basics Collectors Edition line celebrating the one item every woman should have in her closet, the  “Little Black Dress”. I put on my own sparkly LBD and went down to Openhouse Gallery for the Tweet Up event to shmooze with some other bloggers and witness the unveiling the 12 dolls.

The line of  Barbie Basic dolls each sport their own distinct silhouette of the “Little Black Dress” fashion classic and represent a variety of hairstyles, facial features and skin tones and can be customized to represent your own personal style with 4 different chic accessory packs. The packaging of every doll also comes with a randomized quote about the “Little Black Dress” from 80 different CFDA members like Diane Von Furstenberg.

These designer dolls are currently being auctioned off on Ebay, through February 7th, with proceeds directly benefiting CFDA education initiatives and scholarship program.

Barbie Basics Model No. 11 by Devi Kroell

While at the event I learned some pretty cool facts about some of the designer dolls. While some of the designers were inspired by the the LBD that their doll came with, some accessorized, some embellished the dress and footwear, and some created their own dresses entirely. Rachel Roy’s dress design was made from material from her Cruise 2010 collection, while Lorraine Schwartz embellished and accessorized her Barbie with 6 carats of diamonds worth $10,000. Kate Spade’s design was inspired by Lady Marmalade, a piece in her Holiday NY collection.  Devi Kroell recreated her amazing broken mirror mosaic as a pair of boots for her doll. And Monica Botkier designed and embellished her dress with her daughter.

This collectors edition of Barbies are available in stores en masse, and are available for just $20. The Barbie Basics collection edition will also continue in the future, posing the question “What is the basic?” I’m interested to see what they come up with next.

You can follow @BarbieStyle  on twitter and check out her blog – All Dolled Up, where CFDA designer Justin Guinta (who was at the event) has posted a guest blog about his designer doll. You can also check out a lot more up close and personal photos I shot of the dolls on Flickr.

(NOT) The Goods!: The Ugly Christmas Sweater Is Just That...Ugly.

I don’t want to openly admit that I understand the recent surge in ugly Christmas sweater popularity. Oh the irony, blah, blah, blah. I know it has been a tradition for Holiday parties for years. But this is the first year that it has been so in my face. On recent trips to the thrift stores I keep encountering groups of all ages, combing the sweater racks for ugly Christmas sweaters. Pulling out what they consider to be “ugly” and having a laugh. Um, that sequined 80’s joint is not ugly. Go back to the mall and leave me alone.

There are websites devoted  solely to the ugly Christmas sweater and certain sweaters fetch a premium on eBay, like over a $100. Damn, I must be in the wrong business. I hate to break it to you people breaking the bank on a eBay purchase so you can win first prize at your office party: there is a place called a second hand store and as long as you promise to be quiet and quick you can get an ugly Christmas sweater for $5.99. Really.

1. LED Light Up Sweater

2. What What In The Santa Butt Sweater

3. Made Special For You By Grandma Sweater

4. Alterna Mouse Sweater

5. Coke A Cola Christmas Sweater

6. Santa’s World Tour Sweater

I hate to say it but I do 99% of my shopping ANYTIME on Amazon.com. The other 1% I do on eBay. Buuuuuuut, perhaps if I had any amazing ideas for gifts, I’d go straight to the damn link and buy it. Such is the case here. Here are some Skimkim Yummies that you can buy online to get in good with the folks/grandparents/boyfriend’s mother/receptionist at work/local bartender, etc. Get on this today, you don’t have long! (I can actually say this this year bc I finished my Xmas shopping already. The past few years, I’ve been a schmuck and not even done Amazon but have bought books at Barnes & Noble on Xmas Eve back down in VA. Schmuck.)

1. Skimkim Kimchee Butter

It’s sweeping the nation! It has all the intense flavors of kimchee but without the stink! Ginger, Garlic, Korean Red Pepper, & Chives. The most popular application seems to be for the morning egg regimen. Blam, good morning. Order at sales@skimkim.com as we work on our webstore. Check out the blog, in the meantime.

2. Spoon Lemon Curd

I split my time between Skimkim and Spoon. Jeannie, the most talented pastry chef ever, has created sweet, tart, lemony goodness in a jar. I don’t think I’ve ever put this stuff on bread or a biscuit or anything. I just unscrew the lid…classy. I know. Enter Promo Code SKIMKIM1209 on the payment page and you get 10% off until 12/31. Am I good or what? When life gives you lemons, go to Spoon.

3. Bijules Tastemaker Chain

She may be my twin sissy but that’s not why I love this jewelry. It’s creative and pushes boundaries. Each piece has a story behind it and holds a special place in her heart. It’s been quite a ride watching her start this thing from nothing. Now people copy HER. This chain has a cute mini spoon, fork, and knife each with sparkling little jewels. The better to eat you with…Order directly on the Bijules website.

4. L’asso Red Sauce

This used to be my home away from home. I worked at a dive bar, Palais Royale (I’m sure most of you New Yorkers remember it), down the street and these guys over here at L’asso were family. The best slice in NYC, promise. They are jarring their addictive red sauce and it’s dreamy. Eat The Pizza here.

5. Katz’s Pastrami

For those of you have since moved from New York and long for a taste of what you’ve left behind, here’s a reminder. There really aren’t words for how good this hunk of meat is. Juicy, spicy, salty, life-altering. The corned beef is stupid, too. Either way, you win. Send a salami to your boy in the army.

Karmaswap: The Ebay Alternative?

In a little world called the internet, the go to destination for online retail has been dominated by one name: Ebay. We’ve all heard of the website; it’s probably the one place I can think of where you can find practically anything your little heart desires…well almost everything. In the past I’ve purchased a ridiculous amount of cosmetics, shoes, apparel, and even electronics on the site, and have spent countless hours bidding, rebidding, and searching for cost efficient alternatives to my favorite brands. Although Ebay has dominated the internet retail world, and has made it possible for the everyday person to become their own boss, like every Goliath it has a David. Ebay’s “David”, so to speak, is Karmaloop’s very own Karmaswap.

Being that I’m a avid online shopper and also super cheap, I came to the conclusion awhile ago that although Ebay is perfect for picking up a new or used iPod or two, and if your lucky some designer duds, it’s not street wear friendly. I’ve searched the website high and low for Hellz Bellz (my favorite!), Married to the Mob, MadeMe, and even some 10 Deep, only to come up with a few items to select from, or none at all. In my small part of the world, that is a EPIC FAIL. Where Ebay drops the ball in terms of carrying the alternative contemporary brands I know and love, Karmaswap picks up big time. Built in the same framework as it’s rival, Karmaswap gives individuals and brands the power to sell their new and used clothing, original artwork, accessories, and toys, to a wide range of street wear lovers, thus creating a Ebay-esq world where it’s easier to find a Crooks & Castle tee than a Zara dress.

Karmaswap is great for a few reasons...

After heavy research of the site – and by heavy research I mean purchasing things I probably don’t need – I’ve come to the conclusion that Karmaswap is great for a few reasons.

1) New Brand Exposure – For artists and new designers looking for some exposure, Karmaswap seems to be a great investment. I’ve got a couple of friends who have tried to sell their street wear duds on Ebay, but can’t simply because the website doesn’t have big enough demographic of people who are purchasing those things. Because Karmaswap is connected at the spine with the Godfather of street wear boutiques Karmaloop, small independent brands are exposed to a large group of people who may not only be shopping for those well known brands, but may also be searching for something new and exciting.

2) It’s Cheap - I’ve been lucky enough to be able to snatch deals from out of thin air during the height of my Ebay obsession, but the times I paid $45 for a Hellz shirt only to find it somewhere $10 cheaper, I wish I’d known about Karmaswap. I think it goes without saying that shopping for contemporary brands can be a bit on the expensive side, and in the past Ebay hasn’t made it any better on my poor bank account, but with the Karmaloop alternative you can rest a bit easy knowing you won’t have to pay $150 for that MOB track jacket you didn’t get to snag from last season.

3) It’s Hassle Free - You know how on Ebay there’s that whole bidding war thing you have to endure? You wait by your computer (or if you have shoppers OCD like me, by your phone) refreshing the page 10 million times a minute just WAITING for someone to outbid you so you can in turn outbid them, participating in this back and forth exchange for what seems like eons only to find some jackass nicknamed “CandyGirl348″ has swooped down in the last 20 seconds to steal your beloved Jeremy Scott for Adidas winged high tops right from under you. Ebay’s bidding process makes you do things you wouldn’t do in normal circumstances. Like plot on people and make death threats. I’ve been through this several times, and yes, every single time I have spewed obscenities at my poor macbook and thrown a bonified temper tantrum. Karmaswap is so easy to use and navigate, when I tried it on for size I thought its usefulness was a joke. Gone are my days of sitting by my computer afraid to even pee because of my fear of being outbidded. With Karmaswap, if you want something its as easy as “add to bag”, and of you don’t like the price you can offer the seller a different one. Needless to say, since using Karmaswap my computer has been saved from those inevitable tongue lashings, and I’ve also saved a couple dollars on headache medicine.

Ebay is good for something, but it ain’t street wear. If I needed a new lense for my DSLR camera, cosmetics , or even those Burberry shoes I’ve been dreaming about, I know exactly where to look. But if you’re anything like me and are looking for new talent, or those old faithful street wear labels, don’t be a dummy – Karmaswap is where it’s at!

Eyes To The Sky: Go Clog Wild And Get Ready To Get Clogged!! Clogs from Chanel's SS10 collection.

Leave it to Uncle Karl to get you clamoring for clogs! Yes, those wooden soled things, the things (that I would bet money on) you said you’d never wear. But grace anything with the “CC” stamp of approval and the fashion masses will follow. Thanks to Chanel’s SS10 RTW collection, complete with wooden clogs, you better start thinking about how to work these into you Spring wardrobe.

And if Chanel isn’t in your budget or you can’t walk more than a block in the sky high double C version, then take a look into these more budget and back friendly versions from Scandinavian craftsman cloggers like JanSwede, Sven’s of Sweden, Tessa of Sweden and Dansko. Or try your luck with a vintage find on eBay or Etsy. Ok, who am I trying to kid, nothing compares to the double CC’s!!

Eyes To The Sky: Go Clog Wild And Get Ready To Get Clogged!! Top left CW: Tessa of Sweden, Dansko, Sven's of Sweden and Tessa of Sweden.

Eyes To The Sky: Go Clog Wild And Get Ready To Get Clogged!! Top left CW: Tessa of Sweden, JanSwede and both bottom pairs from Sven's of Sewden.

Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Now, the question at hand: to clog or not to clog? What will you choose?

The Goods!: Welcome Back Charles! Charles Jourdan To Relaunch in October.

1883 was a very good year. It was in that year both  Charles Jourdan and Coco Chanel were born…two greats of the fashion world, to say the least! Jourdan trained as a shoemaker and in 1919 began his solo career as a shoe designer. He was the first shoe designer to advertise in fashion magazines in the 1930’s. 1959 brought about a contract to design shoes under the Christian Dior label, which as you can imagine would do wonders for ones notoriety in the world of haute couture. In the 70’s the house of Jourdan added accessories and women’s wear. It was photographer Guy Bourdin who was responsible for shooting their add campaigns during this time. The Jourdan company made it’s way up until the early 2000’s after having to claim bankruptcy  in 2002. For several years now the brand known for it’s avante garde designs hasn’t been in production but this Fall during Paris Fashion Week, Charles Jourdan is back!

Vintage Charles Jourdan booties from The Goods! and the original advertisement by Guy Bourdin.

In the world of vintage, Charles Jourdan footwear is desired by both designers, collectors and fashion savvy consumers. The 70’s and 80’s brought forth aggressive and wild designs, notably in heel shapes. The cantilever heel was made popular in the 40’s and is a heel style associated with Jourdan styles of the 70’s/80’s. For me it is always the heel shape that gives away a vintage Jourdan, from cantilever to cone to cut-out, the heels are like a signature. I’m looking forward to the relaunch and am hoping that Alexandra Neel, former designer at Celine and Balenciaga will look to the past to create for the future. Finger crossed!

Vintage Charles Jourdan Espadrilles from The Goods! available at Marmalade Vintage NYC.

First Image: All Vintage Charles Jourdan. From top right: mules and handbag from AlexSandras, sz. 6.5 $195, heels from Vintage Designer Clothing, sz. 6.5 $138, mules with box from Cherdeals87 sz. 8, $89.99, patent/chrome cantilever mules from Vintage Textile sz. 7 $450, cork and leather mules sz.5 $39 from Planet Claire Vintage, orange/chrome cantilever mules from Rbuck7 sz. 5 $285 and lower right advert from 123euroser, all other images Guy Bourdin from Charles Jourdan Shine.

The Goods!: Urban Cowgirl. Western Ankle Booties Of The 90's

I have had a love for these kooky little shoes for sometime. I’m not a huge fan of traditional cowboy, er, uh, “cowgirl” boots but something about these cut-down versions get my heart in a tangle! Part cowgirl, part loafer, a little rockabilly…something for us “Urban Cowgirls”. Paired with high waist, tapered at the ankle trousers, skinny jeans, a skirt and tights or dress you can work these into your life in a million ways. I know some of you ladies have been keen to these for sometime but I’m campaigning for an all out, full blown fashion frenzy! Who’s with me?

1. Brand unknown, sz., 8.5, Marlatumour, $34

2. Sabreé, sz. 8, Rocky Mountain Retro, $55

3. Nine West, sz. 7/7/5, The Goods! at Marmalade Vintage, $95

4. Capezio, sz. 7, 20Twenty Vintage, $36

5. Vintage Nine West, sz. 8, Linden Lane Clothing, $49.95

6. Leather Craft, sz. 10, Rocky Mountain Retro, $52

7. Mooties Tooties, sz. 7.5, Blue Butterfly Vintage $19.99

8. Mooties Tooties, sz. 8.5, AdVintageous $26

The Budweiser collection from Supreme NYC.

Beer drinkers unite! I guess. Or maybe those of you that are nostalgic for Grandpa’s beer can hat or those funny shorts your uncle used to wear for the Fourth of July BBQ…they were red, white and blue after-all. NYC’s Supreme team recently dropped a collection of Budweiser apparel that is straight back to the future. Back in the 60’s and 70’s there were many clothing products made by different companies from Anheuser-Busch’s Budweiser logo. Fabric was even made available to the retail market, so if you couldn’t find what you wanted you could sew it up yourself…perhaps you wanted to cover your whole living room set. Now that’s serious. Of course there was (and still is thanks to the BeerCanHatLady on eBay) the oh-so-memorable beer can hat. Even my own Grandma used to crochet these bad boys up. Speaking of which, it seems to me that some sort of Bud beer can head gear is clearly missing from the Supreme collection…hmmmm. Although Supreme is a dude’s brand, a “lady” can rock most of these beer gear items and call them her own. Yes, I used Lady and “beer gear” in the same sentence. Just go with me on this one.

Beer gear from the past

From top left: Vintage button-up from Buddajuice, vintage shorts from The Goods!, beer can hat from Beer Can Hat Lady, top from Retrozpekt and t-shirt from Aardvark25.

Carrera, the eyewear company whose vintage shades have been sought after and collected, has been relaunched. The brand was re-introducted in Europe in 2007 and now the brand will be coming state-side. Four styles have been updated, come in up to 26 color options and retail for $150. The Carrera sunglasses will be sold in 95 Solstice boutiques and hit stores this Friday! It’s really exciting to see retro brands come back better than ever. It seems like they’ve stayed true to the original aesthetic. I hate when brands we love try to reinvent their look and alienate loyal fans. The ad campaign is weak but thankfully, the glasses are strong enough to hold their own. Check out more styles and an ad after the jump . . .

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