Adventures in Etsy: Rockford Peach
After a solid month of inventory accumulating, steam cleaning, keyword research, lighting tweaking and photo editing, I’m finally ready to kick off my first solo resale venture: Rockford Peach – a collection of vintage apparel and accessories, thrifted by yours truly and currently available on Etsy!
Firstly, the logo – a dress in a peach tree, because each piece is a peach. Obviously.
Nextly, a few personal faves for your viewing pleasure. (Oh P.S. – I finally kinda sorta know how to take photographs. Lighting kits are a godsend.)
The Vintage 1960s Bonnie Cashin Rain Cape.
A phenomenal fusion of Mad Men style and Superwoman construction, and the best alternative to a trench coat ever.
Bonnie Cashin – FYI – was the reason Coach became the handbag and accessory powerhouse it still is today. I’m learning all sorts of vintage fashion trivia as of late :P
The 1970s Lanvin Floral Shirt Dress.
Lanvin and polyester might sound like an oxymoron, but this uber
pricey brand was all about it, once upon a retro time.
The print on this is bananas – vibrant florals paired with geometric paint splashes, with a vaguely Oriental vibe (aaaand I sound like I’m writing copy for Lucky oy veyyyyy).
Lastly, the most amazeballs skirt ever. Leather. Suede. Fringe. Purple. Oh, with some killer embroidered patchwork on the side. Think it sounds like too much? THINK AGAIN.
The front:
The back:
Know how sometimes vintage leather’s all stiff and shizzz? Not the case here – it’s buttery soft and and crinkled and moves like the purple cow it came from. Handmade in Israel, and the ultimate in wearable leather artistry.
If you’re active on Etsy and want to throw me a favorite (or nine) I’ll obvs be indebted to you fo eva. And to all my fellow label whores: Fret not, chickadees, there’s a contemporary component of Rockford Peach resale in the works. Stay tuned for more vintage AND brandtastic Peach picks.
Valentine’s Day Vintage Baubles, via Etsy
Why should you buy yourself a bauble on Valentine’s Day, in lieu of waiting for a man to bestow one on you? Because the vast majority of dudes have – how do I say this delicately – questionable taste in jewelry. And by questionable, I mean utterly piss poor.
I got a necklace from my college boyfriend once – gold intertwined deer antlers speckled with tiny gems. My best friend told me I looked like I was going hunting with Bjork. She was absolutely right.
Doesn’t matter how well he knows you or how long he’s been dating you. Doesn’t matter if you’ve been married to him for twenty-nine years. After decades of failure, my father finally realized giving Mom something she’d actually wear meant sacrificing the element of surprise. He wants to buy her jewelry; he has her pick out what she wants. Smart strategy.
Oh, and I don’t want to hear any crap about how your man is the exception to the rule or whatever. If he knows how to buy jewelry for you, (I mean, to the point of finding you something as good or better than what you’d buy for yourself) then he’s either wisely attuned to you dropping extensive hints on the matter, or… maybe not totally hetero. Yes, that’s a mammoth and possibly offensive generalization, but cliches don’t just appear out of thin air (aaaand there’s another one.)
You’re single, you say?
Good. You get to bask in the glory of not having to pretend you like what he bought you.
This Valentine’s Day, single, attached or otherwise, let’s all indulge in a little self-appreciation. Some vintage and repurposed jewelry picks from Etsy, in case you don’t know what to buy for… YOU!
(All under $30 – let’s not get crazy. We wouldn’t want you feeling guilty on account of fiscally unsound decisions now would we?).
Vintage Three Hearts Charm Necklace, $27.00; Repurposed Vintage Puffy Heart Necklace, $29.00; 1970s Heart Watch Chain, $15.00.
Vintage Heart Cuff Bracelet,, $16.00; Vintage Monet Rhinestone Wire Heart Pin, $18.00.
Vintage Sterling Silver X Earrings, $8.00; Vintage Avon Red Heart Earrings, $7.00.
Five Fab Leg Warmers
Winter is a happy time of year for those obsessed with eighties cold weather accessories a la moi. I’m talking, of course, about leg warmers.
If you’re down with the leg warmer thang and need a versatile, budget-friendly recommendation, Foot Traffic Super Long Leg Warmers, at $12.00 a pair, are obvs your best bet. But if you’re a bonafide leg warmer fanatic (i.e. you’ll consider paying more than $20 for a really special pair), an Etsy browse yields some stellar (and possibly outrageous) results.
Five drool-worthy options:
Oatmeal Crochet Stirrup Leg Warmers, Mademoiselle Mermaid, $35.00; Cozy Plaid Leg Warmers, SoFine, $22.00.
Strappy Leg Warmers, Youth Diaspora, $35.00; Cashmere Dance Spats, Mia Baggali, $35.00.
And, saving the most kickass pair for last…
The best part? The wrist cuffs are included!
Spiky Fur Leg Warmer and Wristlet Set, Candy Kiss Couture, $35.00.
Would You Rather: Chloe or Louis Vuitton
Sublime Summer Fashion Under $500 is Harper’s Bazaar’s way of getting recession-era real, I gather.
There’s a significant amount of overpriced ridiculousness (the $295.00 Yves Saint Laurent Playing Cards and Case; the $79.00 Lanvin Tassel Keychain – COME ON). There’s a piss-poor attempt to think outside the designer box (the totally meh $49.50 GAP Canvas Tote – aren’t fashion editrixes supposed to have discerning taste?).
There’s also a tempting Chloe Bag.
At $490.00, the Chloe Grey Leather Shoulder Purse isn’t something I’d personally purchase, but it’s not as ludicrous as most glossy-endorsed premium designer bags either. It’s classic, practical, versatile – there’s not a whole lot to argue with. Unless, of course, one could snag a similar bag from an equally coveted designer for less.
This Authentic Vintage Louis Vuitton Capuchin Bag is currently selling for $350.00 on Etsy. (I’m pretty sure ‘Capuchin’ means baby monkey, which is kind of sick and wrong. Then again, one could rationalize this purchase as putting another’s heartless mistake to good use. Whatever. The bag is effing gorgeous.)
The LV probs retailed for at least a grand once upon a time, yet its vintage price is STILL less than its new Chloe counterpart’s.
There’s always a gently-worn alternative, even at the splurgy poo level. I’m just saying.
Unique Upcycled Wares
Recycled, upcycled, repurposed, repossessed, green. All synonyms for an adjective the industry side of fashion continually mucks up – SUSTAINABLE.
Mass retailers might not get it, but Etsy’s got it nailed. Here’s a sprinkling of well-priced green goodness from a few of the site’s rockstar sellers.
Necktie Dress, $72.00, Painted Oyster.
Upcycled Canvas/Leather Bowler, $135.00; Upcycled Leather Messenger Bag (made from vintage stirrups!), $190.00, Lucciao.
Bohemian Rhapsody Upcycled Dress, $34.00, Recycled Glamour.
Recycled Leather Studded Wrap Mini Spat, $14.00, Bagavond – an infusion of color is all those black pumps need to make ‘em sing for spring.
Upcycled Swayfull Tunic, $45.00, lucyvnz – screams Anthropologie, except cooler and cheaper.
Loves it!
