Craigslist and Antique Furniture

I have been hearing about the wonders of Craigslist for quite some time now. I used to use it for theater and music listings. Looking for things to do and jobs and such. Since we are starting our baby room I have to get rid of some furniture. I tried to hand them down with not much luck. Plus, like a lot of things in my life, when I need something done or in this case, when I need to get rid of something, I need it done/gone now.

Well, 24 hours later and it is gone. Sold. Give me a week and it is out of my house. And I made a few bucks!

However, the downside to this amazing speed of goneness. I have been addicted to checking my e-mail every 5 minutes hoping for people to be interested in my furniture. It is all I thought about at work! Have to check my email....have to check my e-mail. As my Facebook status said this morning..."Craigslist is Crack." It truly is. No wonder it is banned in high schools.

Maybe I am in the wrong business of Vintage Clothing. Antique furniture anyone?

Celebrity Style and Vintage Comparables

Great points to make about Vintage Comparables:
1. Style
2. Affordability
3. Uniqueness

1. vintage royal blue all sequin dress with puff sleeves and peplum
Comparable to the $495 Alice & Olivia sequin mini-dress worn by Sarah Jessica Parker at a Unicef Ambassador N.Y.C. charity event.

2. vintage black and white striped angel sleeved maxi dress

Comparable to the $475 A.L.C. jersey chevron black and white stripe maxi dress worn by Rihanna.

3. vintage pretty cream yellow simple spaghetti strap gown

Comparable to Christian Dior yellow pleated gown.

4. sweet vintage fitted long lavender gown with spaghetti straps and belted

Comparable to the $2,830 Roland Mouret Fall 2009 Galerne silk dress worn by Amy Adams.

Some Vintage Christmas Inspiration

As the holidays are approaching, I spent some of the evening designing something more festive for my Etsy Shop. I did a Google search for "Vintage Christmas" which brought up a bunch of pictures of Santa's and little houses. I wanted something a little more enticing! So, I searched "Vintage Christmas Pin-Up" and found the cutest images!

There is something so tasteful and gorgeous about pin-up. It just makes me so proud to be a woman! Even if I feel not even one-onehundreth as stunning as a woman is in a pin-up portait, I feel like a total babe. Just because I am a woman!

I was having a similar conversation a few weeks ago at my friend Janel's performance in Minneapolis. She performed a few numbers in The Midnight Muse Review production at Ground Zero in NE. There is something so fantastic about burlesque! I had never seen anything like it "live".

The group has another show coming up as well!

It's one of those shows where your parents would tell you to look away. But you don't.

The Men's McGregor Coat and the Angel Sleeve Maxi Dress

Here are 2 listings for the fun finds I found this week!

1. men's tweed late 60's McGregor coat

2. black and white striped angel sleeved maxi dress

Thrifting with a time limit is excruciating!

So, yesterday I had exactly 10 minutes to get in and out of one of my favorite thrift spots. I had an agenda (an impossible item for a play I am directing and went in hoping I could have some luck!). Sure enough, the one day I have exactly 10 minutes, I find a rediculous amount of beautiful things.


I think I usually I myself out of a lot of items. This day, I didn't have the time to! I only left the store with four garments. Could have walked with 20 I think. Ugh!! It tortured me to leave!


1. A sweet men's (could this be a new addiction??) gray and black tweed, fur collared coat. Yes, totally died and it wasn't even close to my size.


2. A cute bright yellow, puff sleeved button down secretary top with the bow at the collar (I have blue and white polka dot version I am obsessed with - however, I take the fabric from the bow at the top and use it as a belt around the natural waist).


3. A super cool black and white striped maxi dress with angel sleeves in.....gasp.....cotton?!?! No polyester??!? What?!?! Love it.


4. Lastly, a nice black puff sleeve dress with buttons on the tops of the shoulders and a coordinating fabric belt. Totally my style. Would keep it for myself but I am having a hard time coordinating around my bump these days. Too cute!


I have the afternoon off tomorrow before rehearsal and I hope to post pictures!

Some Sweet Vintage Finds!

I am super excited about the next few days of listings for TOP DRAWER VINTAGE. I found this super sweet teal maxi dress on Saturday on total accident. Sometimes, I find things I have been searching for forever. But mostly, I seem to stumble upon exciting finds that make me gasp. This was the case for the soft brown swing jacket. I found it and gasped... I sold a gorgeous green swing coat a few months back and I am hoping someone can love this coat as much as I do. I feel like feminine vintage coats in good condition are really hard to find. I have been keeping my eyes out for a plaid fur collar coat for years it seems. No luck yet.

The last few weeks I have been obsessed with anything sequin. However, it is hard to find 1970's sequin. I can't even tell you how many bright purple sequin 1980's sweaters I have found. Not a good look in my opinion. I like the sequin items to be a little more sheik and slim. Say, more disco.






I found the yellow veiled hat at a church garage sale this summer. I actually found for veils that day. Too cute. I highly underestimated that sale. I forgot how the church ladies clear out their basements with all kinds of goodies for us vintage lovers. I made out with a lot of vintage crafts that day too. I have probably five yards of red sequin trim about 2" thick. Still am playing around with it. I bought some gold belt clasps and am hoping to make some creative accents for my plain black shirts. Keep you updated on how it goes.






REMINDER: our BLACK FRIDAY Sale ends today. Tomorrow I will have the daunting task of re-pricing everything! Fun fun....

Click to learn more about these amazing pieces!

1. sweet teal and white polka dot sleeveless maxi dress

2. vintage yellow veiled hat with bows flexible positioning

3. gorgeous soft brown swing coat with full collar and stylish buttons

Black Friday Sale

 


TOP DRAWER VINTAGE will be extending it's 7 Day Sale through BLACK FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27!


Support TOP DRAWER VINTAGE and other ETSY Shops buy getting your gifts for the holidays NOW!


Support Vintage and Hand Made!!


xoxo

Going Gobbly for Gowns!

Happy Thanksgiving week!! Now is the time for holiday parties and more importantly....

Holiday Dresses!!

New listings of a few gowns I have aquired over the past year or so! Nice thing about the holiday season is we can dress up a little or a lot! These gowns are great because they can be dressed up or down. For example, the yellow gown was paired with a slim red belt and yellow costume jewelry to jazz it up a bit. I am sure we all have accessories in our drawers that help make simple pieces more special. There just seems to be something exciting about taking something semingly ordinary and having it come alive with a fantastic accessory.

Visit the links below to learn more about these gowns!

1. lavender fitted gown with spaghetti straps and belt

2. maroon lace collar and sleeve gown

3. pretty butter yellow spaghetti strap gown

TOP DRAWER VINTAGE 7 Day Sale

Well, TOP DRAWER has been open for two months! Time to move some inventory with a sale!


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TOP DRAWER VINTAGE 7 DAY SALE!


http://www.etsy.com/shop/topdrawervintage


Prices will return to original price after this week! Get your favorite pieces NOW!
SALE runs November 17-24. THIS WEEK ONLY!
In addition, new "10 Dollar Sale" section added!


Dresses at $19-$34 now only $10-24!
Tops at $16-$19 now only $10!


PLUS - free shipping on accessories when paired with another item!


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SEQUIN Listings!

My new favorite obsession this month is SEQUIN. I can't get enough of it. Seems like sequin can make a seemingly ordinary garment special. I recently aquired a roll of vintage sequin ribbon (a-ma-zing) a few weeks ago. Still planning out something fantastic with it....keep you posted.

1. gold and silver sequin tunic with short sleeves

2. royal blue sequin dress with puff sleeves and peplum
3. multi-colored sequin long sleeve jacket

New Day Dress Listings!

There is something really fabulous and flattering about the faux wrap day dress. I feel like I own hundreds! They can be dressed up, or dressed down. They are appropriate for so many occasions. They also carry well through the seasons. Pair with flip-flops and an oversided bag in the summer. Wear a pair of boots and a chunky necklace in the fall. Throw on an oversized cardigan and scarf in the winter. Go dressy for holiday parties with rhinestones and a little clutch bag. Maybe some sparkly sling-backs? Love it.

1. lavender faux-wrap day dress with white polka dots
2. cocco brown paisley day dress with wide collar SOLD

New Items Listed Today!

1. navy geisha-like fitted dress
2. romantic yellow and powder blue puff sleeve maxi dress
3. cotton navy mexican embroidered dress SOLD

TOP DRAWER VINTAGE Blog

I am super excited to get underway with my TOP DRAWER VINTAGE blog!


I created TDV a few months ago. A working project I have been trying to finalize over the last few years it seems. With baby #1 on the way, I wanted to have something I am passionate about that I could focus on when I take the time off from my "normal" job.


You could call me a soon-to-be "stay at home Mom". I like to think of myself as a soon-to-be "work at home Mom".


I have never really had a "normal" job...not a 9-5er.


I am extremly passionate about vintage clothing. When people ask me, "Where do you get your vintage?"
I like to respond with, "It's my collection."  Over the past few years I have bought and aquired a large quanity of what I consider fabulous pieces.


But I can only look and love so much.


And my husband can only look and love so much...


It is time to let other lovelies enjoy the pieces I have collected. Plus, my racks of clothing that are in my "sewing room" are now racks of clothing in what will be "baby #1 room". This will not do...


So why blog?


I have seen some amazing and inspiring things in the last few months on websites and blogs pertaining to vintage and hand-made crafts. I appriciate the journey involved in being passionate about creative things. This blog will help share my journey. When I find that truly exciting piece. It can also help promote TDV and get exposure. People with an interest in vintage need to find me as well!


If you have gotten this far, I am all about hearing about your creative journey. Share your blogs with TDV!
Thank you for reading.