Category: vintage

Revive Your Closet at Revival Outpost

Post author By Christy
Post date November 10, 2011
No Comments on Revive Your Closet at Revival Outpost

If you are looking for a new place to buy cool, old clothes Revival Outpost on Magazine Street should be your next stop. Located inside a charming old house, you instantly feel welcome in this spacious boutique. There’s lots of vintage pieces, from funky 70s flair to retro 90s with a lot of quirky, locally owned indie labels mixed in as well. Love & Penguins (10% of proceeds benefit Autism), Rearrange Us, Le Fox Rouge, Matilda B, I’m Your Present,and Eklektik Ekhos are just a few of the handmade goodies they carry.

Starting December 1st Revival Outpost is teaming up with Blue Dream Vintage to offer shoppers even more more vintage and men’s items as well.

Can’t wait that long? On Saturday, November 19th the two will be hosting a trunk show/sweater themed event with some fun DIY projects. There will be free wine and a few new jewelry lines will be featured that evening. The crafting starts at 7:00pm and runs until 10:00pm. For more information and to RSVP head over to their Facebook event page.

Revival Outpost
3512 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70115

Mon – Wed:11:00 am-6:00 pmThu – Sat:11:00 am-7:00 pmSun:12:00 pm-5:00 pm

Follow them on Facebook and Tumblr.

Disclosure: I was compensated for this post.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

mannequin mondays vintage

Mannequin Mondays- Old Yet New At Lili

Post author By Christy
Post date December 13, 2010
2 Comments on Mannequin Mondays- Old Yet New At Lili

At this time of year many people’s thoughts turn to the golden yesteryears and traditions that have been handed down from generation to generation. We fondly look at vintage inspired holiday decorations, Christmas cards, and everyone has a classic movie (preferably in black and white) that they like to watch every year.

If you are longing for a piece of the past than look no further than Lili Vintage in their new location in the Garden District! The boutique is housed in a charming old New Orleans former residence turned retail space.

Having been in business for many years before the recent move Lili has garnered a regular customer base. They even ship worldwide!

Lili Vintage Boutique

3329 Magazine St.

New Orleans, LA 70115

(504)833-0818

Mon:11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Wed – Fri:11:30 am – 5:30 pm

Sat:11:30 am – 5:00 pm

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

baton rouge etsy jewelry vintage

Odelma Vintage- Great finds in Baton Rouge

Post author By Christy
Post date November 14, 2010
2 Comments on Odelma Vintage- Great finds in Baton Rouge

When I think of my favorite shopping excursions I always think of destination stores. Retail spaces that guarantee a certain feel, from the music and lighting to the decor, even down to how the staff is dressed. Few online retailers, much less small scale ones, give you a total package feel. Odelma Vintage based out of Baton Rouge certainly creates a whimsical, old timey experience that makes you want to buy a little part of that.

Lucy dress

Mattie is a fashion merchandising student at Louisiana State University and started her business in 2010 as a way to keep herself occupied between semesters. She’s now turned her thrifting, estate sale rummaging habits into a shop where everyone can reap the rewards of her garage sale excursions.

Seashell brooch

In a typical sweet southern girl manner Mattie got the name for her shop by combining the names of her grandmothers, Odell and Ethel Delma.

cameo clip earrings

Keep up with Mattie’s great looking blog or follow her on Twitter for shop updates and sale announcements.

green purple drop necklace

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

etsy secondhand tennessee vintage

Old School

I met Kristin Irine through Twitter and we instantly bonded over our love of Jersey Shore and clothing. Okay, maybe not the clothes they wore in the show but y’all get the point. Le Saispas Vintage is an Etsy shop with refreshingly priced vintage items. While Kristin promised to do this interview after knocking back a few margaritas a la Snooki I can’t promise any levels of sobriety.

1980s strapless floral dress

Tell us about how you got started selling vintage clothing.

Well, I’m 42 so thrifting and vintage clothing have been huge to me (and the bulk of my friends my age) for a loooooong time! I first seriously got into buying & wearing vintage in 1985, but started wearing 60’s clothing of my mom and aunt’s after seeing Peter Pan collars and pedal pushers in Archie Comics. I was ridiculed, but whatever. Cool hipsters, older than me in 1985, in local punk bands in Memphis were already wearing vintage, so I copied them. Back then you could go to an Amvets and regularly find 40’s gabardine suits or rayon print dresses for $2. No, I’m not exaggerating!

I started selling myself when I was hired in 1991 to work for The Wasteland in Berkeley, California. I moved to Oakland when I graduated from the University of TN and came with an already stellar vintage wardrobe and a particularly encyclopedic knowledge of 60’s-70’s clothing. Most of the women there were 40’s-50’s vintage experts, but a few of us weirdos were way into the crazier styles simply because we were odd-looking art students, more than likely!

When eBay started for me around 1997, I started buying more designer vintage (esp. Alley Cat by Betsey Johnson and Sonia Rykiel, both of whom I still collect) and selling too. I basically stopped thrifting a lot after 2000 when I moved to Portland and really threw myself into my career as a social worker/therapist. I’d thrift for me, but not to resell. That all changed this past April when I knew I needed some more $$$ and learned of what I call “hidden thrifts” that I can stock up on 80’s & 90’s gear that seems to be so popular now. I find it hard to see those eras as true vintage–esp. the 90’s–but I’m not averse to making money!

Vintage 80's Buff SUEDE SADDLE OXFORDS 7B 1980s saddle oxfords

What’s the fashion scene like in Memphis and what are the big trends there?

I love my hometown (just moved back in 2008) and hate to disparage in any way, but Memphis is about 10 years behind everywhere else. OK, maybe 5 years. Since thrifts often get picked over by vintage sellers, the normally hypercreative dressers (young, relatively poor college kids) don’t have a cheap resource to experiment with style. I suppose this sad truth is happening everywhere. I’m not one of those people who thinks that tossing together some cheap skirt some secretary wore in 1982 with a chambray work shirt and some oversized 1982 glasses frames speaks to possessing loads of style (see that young Tavi blogger for a reference). I feel for the kids of today. Vintage is so overpriced these days that fewer people can afford to experiment with style at the age when they can most afford to do so.

To make a long story short, Memphis is a mostly poor city and the thrifts are picked over. Even the shops with new clothes are basically boring chains for the most part. I’m hoping that even having an Urban Outfitters sometime soon can help light a spark with kids here…as sad as that is.

Vintage 1950s or 1960s Midcentury Modern Boomerang KITTY CAT Pin Mid-century modern cat pin

It seems like almost everyone is wearing some form of vintage, be it a complete look or just a piece of jewelry. How has the vintage “industry” changed since you first started out?

See above for some of this answer. I’d say the explosion in etsy vintage and ebay shops has created a craze for it. I’m hopeful that those who know and do best with reselling vintage will end up surviving and some that don’t even try that hard to get it end up failing and trying their hand at something else! I’m also really wishing there was not such a trend to overprice vintage. I saw a stellar Cavalli jumpsuit in a Nashville etsy vintage shop that was deadstock and yes, gorgeous. But she had it priced for $3600! WHAT???? People can buy a damn car for that. Ludicrous.

Sale 1970s RED Canvas and Jute Platform ESPADRILLES by FAMOLARE 1970s bicycle espadrilles

What are your future plans for Le Saispas Vintage?

Well, I’m currently saving to buy a good dress form so I can shoot better shots of the cool non-shoe and accessory clothing I have boxes and boxes of just waiting for the site! I’m doing it on hangers now and it’s hideous, but I gotta list it so I’m not earning what I should on some of it. I plan to hit 100 items in the shop and keep it at that level. I also plan to keep my prices FAIR and appropriate. I’m refusing to get into that gross habit of selling what my boss at The Wasteland called “Mall Fabric” rompers for $50. When I see that I totally shake my head. It was crap when it was new and it’s still crap. Stop trying to make kids believe they look cool in some sage-colored poly/rayon romper with gold plastic buttons. And if you insist on helping kids look bad, sell it to them cheap.

RARE Vintage 80's GIL AIMBEZ African Tropical SAFARI Jumper 1980s safari jumper

Define southern style.

Depends on the season and the area. The South is only a singular thing in a very few ways. Memphis style differs from NOLA style, but both NOLA and Memphis are more similar to each other than either is to Atlanta or Nashville. There is an appreciation overall in utility and function, especially in the ridiculously hot summer months. People stereotype Southern Style as over-the-top and frilly; while there is certainly that element, every Southern type knows how to layer better than anyone, even those Pacific Northwesterners. We also understand how to wear attractive hats and scarves/headwraps better than any other US woman and this is a direct result of needing these things to block sun and protect hair from humidity. I’d say Southern Girls wear the casual look better than any other US girl, hands down. We could probably take lessons from out grandmoms though b/c there are too many slobs running around these days, myself included!

If your wardrobe could use a dash of fun pay Le Saispas a visit on Etsy. Also be sure to check out her $3 sale section! It doesn’t get much cheaper than that.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

etsy mississippi vintage

Out of this world

Affordable art? Vintage clothing that I’d actually wear? Pffft! You’ll believe it when you check out Jupiter & Mars and Poppyart, two sweet little Etsy shops based out of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

Y’all run two shops, Jupiter & Mars and Poppyart. Can you describe what y’all do and how you got started with both?

We initially had one shop, Poppyart, selling both vintage and art but found it too demanding so we opened up the second shop, Jupiter & Mars. We started selling items on Ebay but found we didn’t really enjoy the venue. Several friends told us about Etsy so we checked it out, liked it and started up there.

Southern Belle drinking glasses

Both shops have a really fun, upbeat aesthetic. What’s the deciding factor on the vintage pieces that make the cut?
Anything we personally find interesting and that’s not in too bad of shape generally makes the cut.

Tweet birdies halter top

I noticed y’all stress recycled materials. Was maintaining an eco friendly inventory a conscious decision?
Yes and no. We receive previously used packing supplies and also use remnants of vintage items such as ribbon, jewelry bits, and fabric to make a lot of our art pieces. We didn’t start out trying to be ‘green’, we just thought how wasteful it would be to toss all these things, which are still perfectly good. So our instinct to not be wasteful has turned into being very eco friendly.

Out of the forest bangle bracelet

Any plans for the future that y’all would like to share?
For the future of the shops, who knows. For our personal futures and as artists- to never be stagnant, always growing and evolving, always learning. To be happy. To be true to ourselves and do good.

1950’s Moroccan circle skirt

Define southern style.

Subtly eccentric

Available at Jupiter & Mars and Poppy Art.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

eco friendly etsy interviews vintage

She came from the swamps

Today we visit the eclectic, eccentric world of Andree Dupree of Blue Bird Art. Make sure you check out her artwork and vintage clothing on Etsy.

1. On your shop profile you state that you grew up with a swamp as your backyard. How do you draw inspiration from your childhood experiences?

Handmade paper blank book and Talk it Out drawing

I spent a lot of time in “make believe” world growing up- pretending that the giant cypress trees were castles; searching for dinosaur fossils and eggs, trying to catch swamp fairies with “fairy nests”….that sort of stuff. I’d use the clay from around the yard to create sculptures, often collecting the above-ground crawfish “tunnels” to use in my creations. My earliest memories are pulling wet clay out from under the cypress trees, making “cakes” with little drawings etched in and leaving them to dry in the sun.

2. I love that you source your art materials from The Green Project! Do you have a particular idea when shopping for supplies or do you let the pieces form from found materials?

It really just depends on my budget and my available space. I really get excited about good deals. Sometimes I spot things (giant rolls of paper)that get my heart racing…then I have to take a deep breath and remind myself of the size of my apartment and workspace. I’m pretty much a hoarder when it comes to art supplies…I have paints and pastels that I’ve been using on and off since high school 10 years ago…a lot of very tiny bits of things that I like to use until the very end. Generally when I buy new supplies I have a ballpark idea of what I’m looking for; but I don’t really buy new supplies very often.

Taming Sexy eighties underlala and Timid

3. You have an interesting theme of selling vintage clothing and dinosaurs on your site. Can you tell us how you select your clothing items and subject matter?

As of now, all of the vintage clothing on my etsy site comes from the same source: “Hy Fashion’s, The Naughty Corner”. It was a little boutique in Houma,LA that went out of business last year after Hurricane Ike, after having been open since the 60’s. I have a delightful array of vintage clothing and accessories, that I’ve collected through the years from various places (thrift stores, junk shops, old lady’s closets, estate sales, etc.). A lot of the pieces have never been worn, but have been kept as “art objects”. I’m finally to the point where space has become an issue, and I’m also preparing for the birth of my first child in March…so I’m beginning to do a bit of “downsizing” to make way for reality!

My subject matter is directly inspired by my childhood. I was always amazed to see alligators, armadillos, egrets and crawfish (creatures that look like direct descendants of dinosaurs) making their homes around my home. The dinosaur images I use are a bit more “cutesy” than the real deal, which I think speaks to something about wanting to tame or control unpleasant things in life.

Bold bright eighties vest

4. Your work sends an eco friendly message in terms of materials used. Is that a deliberate effort on your part?

For a while I didn’t even think to mention the fact that I was using re-purposed materials in my work. It was just something that I had always done. I was brought up to repair and/or reuse old things instead of buying new things; that “don’t waste” mentality has definitely stayed with me.

5. Define southern style.

Dressing for the weather! Waiting all year for those few weeks of cold (or cool) to break out the amazing vintage polyester pieces and getting creative with hot weather wear!

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

events vintage

Stormin’ of the Sazerac

The newly reopened Roosevelt Hotel is having a “Stormin’ of the Sazerac” tomorrow at 2:00pm. Prior to the original event women were only allowed to drink in the bar on Mardi Gras. Revelers are encouraged to wear 1940s attire or a glamorous vintage getup. If I wasn’t doing the unglamorous task of having my tail lights fixed I’d be dressed to the nines and fashionably late.

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

secondhand shopping vintage

Fashion at any cost

With all this talk of high end goodies a representation of a lower priced option is needed. I’ve always had a penchant for well designed, well made clothing while retaining a budget frame of mind. I like to think of myself as less frugal, more smart shopper. The trick to outfitting yourself in high quality goods without spending high quality prices is scouring second hand shops, something I’m literally a professional at. The beauty of these shops is that many take clothing on consignment or better yet, buy pieces outright so you can swap out your gently worn garments for new (to you) items. I’ve listed my top three second hand stores in New Orleans. Feel free to add to this list in the comments section.

Seahorse earrings

In my slightly biased opinion Buffalo Exchange is the best in terms of selection, price, and style. The company was founded in 1974 and is still run by the original owners. This much loved chain has a location in the Garden District with men’s and women’s selections. There is a large range of price points and brands, from Forever 21, Urban Outfitters, Nine West, Coach, Gucci, and Tory Burch to name a few.

Swap Boutique is the newest consignment shop in New Orleans, located Uptown. This certainly has an upscale boutique feel immediately when you walk in. While they specialize in high end labels there are many mid to lower priced pieces to be found as well. They stock a good selection of sunglasses, bags, jewelry, as well as clothing. On my last trip I found Chanel sunnies, J. Crew blouses, and formal wear.

Native American Turquoise ring

If your style is more vintage than Funky Monkey is the store for you. This is Magazine St. mainstay is a given for costumes as they stock them year round, in addition to a great selection of vintage/retro jewelry, t-shirts, and more. I often find finishing touches for costumes here.

More terrific pieces I’ve procured thanks to secondhand shopping. All items were purchased at Buffalo Exchange. I apologize for the shoddy pictures and promise better photos in the future.

Lucky Brand handbag

J. Crew Collection flats

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style

etsy interviews vintage

Beloved Light Vintage

I’d like to introduce y’all to Aimee Boudreaux MacIver, a native New Orleanian, high school teacher, and owner of Beloved Light Vintage. Her store combines both her love of vintage and her hometown pride. Each piece is lovingly handpicked as an extension of her personal wardrobe and appropriately named after southern icons. Please read on to find out what makes her Etsy shop so special.

1. Please tell us a little bit about yourself.

I consider myself something of an old soul. I’m drawn to anything with a story–objects, books, cities, and especially people, which is one reason I love teaching high school so much. I’m sort of a contradiction in that I have both a deep sense of home and a passionate lust for travel. I also love learning, reading, writing, creating, and thinking. And nothing beats watching the New Orleans Saints win a game.

2. How did you get in the business of selling vintage clothing?

I think I’m like a lot of vintage sellers who really are just vintage collectors who ran out of space for their treasures! Essentially, the more I collected, the more intrigued I became with all the possibility of vintage shopping. Sharing that thrill of discovery was the natural next step. And now I truly enjoy rescuing great vintage finds from obscurity so that someone else can fall in love with them.

Also, in my own collecting, I found that a lot of vintage shops can be overpriced, which just ruins the fun of the whole experience. The last thing I’d want is for vintage collecting to get overly commercialized and then end up homogenized like everything else. Instead, I wanted to create a venue that would allow other people to enjoy the same things I do about vintage shopping, but with more streamlined and efficient access–an online Etsy shop makes an ideal forum for that.

“Clear Creek” horse flounce skirt- $16

3. Is there a set style or item that you hunt for, or do you know it when you see it?

Selling vintage, for me, is kind of like match-making. I never try to sell anything I wouldn’t buy for my own closet or home. (In fact, I often decide to keep items from my own inventory or give them as unique gifts!) I just stay alert for some special detail–a fabric, a print, a color, a shape, some purely fun,kitschy element–that simply deserves to be appreciated.

I do keep a general awareness of current trends, but most of the time I’m drawn to things with a sort of classic eclecticism–retro-mod, maybe a little quirky, always stylish and well-designed.

Yet what most attracts me to vintage is that each piece has been loved by somebody, somewhere, and giving that piece a new home is a way of perpetuating the love story. It’s also a way to indulge a bit of fantasy, because vintage items give you freedom to imagine–for instance, maybe this dress was worn on the first date of a 50-years-long marriage, or maybe this handbag was used to carry the keys to a first home. With vintage, there’s a tactile connection to real, unique people whose individual dreams and lives have already been fulfilled, and that’s so much more appealing than just grabbing something mass-produced at the mall.

“Maison Dupuy” 1970s secretary dress- $24

4. What are some of the more popular items that you sell in your shop?

Our most popular items are the things you won’t find anywhere else–a piece that is unique, yet somehow has a comfortable familiarity that you recognize when you see it. Handbags, jewelry and scarves are a perfect starting entry into vintage shopping. Vintage accessories are so beautifully well-made while also being totally original and affordable. And–as I long ago realized–accessories always fit, so they’re very easy to buy online. We also sell a lot of vintage dresses, which are also easy to fit online. I’ve found that truly retro housewares are also very popular. Why buy expensive mass-produced reproductions when you can get the real thing with free shipping?

“Mystic Tea house”
Pyrex teacup trio- $9

5. I noticed each of your pieces have distinctive New Orleans names, such as Nottoway [Plantation] and Duplex. How do you come up with the names of the items?

I love New Orleans in that borderline-obsessive way that only other people raised here can understand. I’ve never known another city that has a soul of such wonderful contradiction like New Orleans does–lazy yet always simmering with life; deeply mysterious yet warm and hospitable; with a flair for theatrical drama yet always resilient and steadfast. You don’t live in New Orleans; New Orleans lives in you. In that sense, New Orleans captures the mystique of history and romance that I love about vintage things. Naming my items after local streets, sights,and sounds is an attempt to honor that soul.

6. Where do you see your business going in the future?

Beloved Light Vintage will always be about sharing the experience more than anything else. Customer hospitality is paramount, and I believe shoppers appreciate that commitment. From pretty wrapping to fast shipping, we want our customers to feel like they’re receiving a gift package, not just a generic order. As long as we strive to maintain our basic philosophy–that vintage shopping should be fun and satisfying, not overpriced or overly serious–I’m sure we’ll continue to grow.

“St. Tammany” mod daisy scarf- $12

7.What is your definition of Southern style?

I think the magnolia is a perfect icon of Southern style. Soft, lush, and traditional fused with bold, confident, and a bit gothic–a certain elegance paired with a vivacious joie de vivre. I just love how Southern style spikes that sense of old-school graciousness and propriety with a defiant edge. A Southern woman will wear a black-and-gold beaded cocktail dress…to a football game. A Southern woman will wear lipstick, but never be too prissy to crack a beer and peel a crawfish. Southern women know their femininity and beauty are assets, not a liability like women in so many other places believe. I think of my grandmothers and great-aunts, who would fully embraced beauty and style, but wouldn’t dream of sacrificing their beignets just to fit into a tight dress. What fun is being stylish if you can’t have a life?

I’d like to give Aimee a big “Thank you” for being my first interview subject and wish her the best of luck running her business. She is currently offering 20% off all boots and shoes throughout the month of September and as always, free shipping. Also make sure to check out her “thrift scores” and “summer farewell” sections for end of summer markdowns.

All images courtesy of Beloved Light Vintage

Twitter: slowsouthstyle Facebook: Slow Southern Style