Saturday, December 02, 2006
Today I spent the day finishing the setting up of my newest venture at Specialistauctions.com. I opened a branch of Born Too Late Vintage there with the hopes of branching out and reaching some new customers. The site is very user friendly and also economical to say the least. I look forward to some very good times there and I've already made my first sale to a fellow member of the Fedora Lounge! Of course I just have to do the obligatory Austin Powers link to my newest selling site just because those movies make me laugh. So without further ado here is the newest branch of Born Too Late Vintage. Check us out!
Saturday, November 25, 2006
Today's Specialist Auctions interview is with Chris of Alley Cats Vintage. Chris is based in Virginia.
Viviene: I've noticed you have a lot of beautiful Fred Perlberg evening gowns. Why Fred Perlberg?
Chris: Fred Perlberg was a moderately priced design house starting in the early 1940's. I especially love his heavy satin gowns which were designed for bridesmaid’s gowns with the gauntlets and wide brim open crown hats. His gowns can be spotted s in many newsreels from the WWII era big band dances. The 1940s was a time when not much flesh was displayed and shoulders were more often covered than not. Later in the early 1950's Fred’s gowns became strapless and therefore sexy.
Viviene: If you had to pick a favorite era what would your favorite vintage clothing era be?
Chris: 1940's to early 1950's.
Viviene: Where did you learn all the knowledge you have about vintage clothing?
Chris: I’ve always loved "old" clothes, even as a child. I remember my Mother’s suits and coats from the 1950's (wish I still had them). I’ve been a fashion watcher all my life although not so much a fashion dresser.
Viviene: When was the first time you bought a vintage treasure and what was it?
Chris: When I was 15 years old I bought a box of depression glassware at an estate sale. I took it home as a gift to my Mother. She said ‘why did you bring this old junk home?’ I realized at that time my mother was from a generation who always had to make due with the old and she loved new things because it meant better times.
Viviene: If you could purchase any piece of vintage treasure what would it be?
Chris: Pairpoint, Bradley & Hubbard or Handel Reverse Painted Table Lamp.
Viviene: What makes a vintage piece a treasure? Is it the name, the age, the condition or a combination of all three? Is it sometimes just that a person wants it because of a memory from childhood?
Chris: Childhood memories play a small part but does not increase value, may run the bid up somewhat. Condition is everything and rarity defines the value.
Viviene: Chris' Specialist Auctions store, Alley Cats Vintage can be found at:
Here are a few of Chris' treasures:
Viviene: I've noticed you have a lot of beautiful Fred Perlberg evening gowns. Why Fred Perlberg?
Chris: Fred Perlberg was a moderately priced design house starting in the early 1940's. I especially love his heavy satin gowns which were designed for bridesmaid’s gowns with the gauntlets and wide brim open crown hats. His gowns can be spotted s in many newsreels from the WWII era big band dances. The 1940s was a time when not much flesh was displayed and shoulders were more often covered than not. Later in the early 1950's Fred’s gowns became strapless and therefore sexy.
Viviene: If you had to pick a favorite era what would your favorite vintage clothing era be?
Chris: 1940's to early 1950's.
Viviene: Where did you learn all the knowledge you have about vintage clothing?
Chris: I’ve always loved "old" clothes, even as a child. I remember my Mother’s suits and coats from the 1950's (wish I still had them). I’ve been a fashion watcher all my life although not so much a fashion dresser.
Viviene: When was the first time you bought a vintage treasure and what was it?
Chris: When I was 15 years old I bought a box of depression glassware at an estate sale. I took it home as a gift to my Mother. She said ‘why did you bring this old junk home?’ I realized at that time my mother was from a generation who always had to make due with the old and she loved new things because it meant better times.
Viviene: If you could purchase any piece of vintage treasure what would it be?
Chris: Pairpoint, Bradley & Hubbard or Handel Reverse Painted Table Lamp.
Viviene: What makes a vintage piece a treasure? Is it the name, the age, the condition or a combination of all three? Is it sometimes just that a person wants it because of a memory from childhood?
Chris: Childhood memories play a small part but does not increase value, may run the bid up somewhat. Condition is everything and rarity defines the value.
Viviene: Chris' Specialist Auctions store, Alley Cats Vintage can be found at:
Here are a few of Chris' treasures:
Today at Specialist Auctions we are interviewing Margaret of the Artizania Vintage clothing store. Margaret is based in the UK.
Viviene: What made you decide to get into the vintage clothing business?
I started to organize and run a specialist antique Fair/Show for the UK Textile Society after graduating. I realized there was no specific event in the UK specializing in antique & vintage clothing, so I started my own event, as mentioned above. I had so many people, from all over the world, who could not come to the Fair/Show so they would ask me to source items for them - eventually I started to purchase items and put them on sale on my website and then on eBay - and I haven't stopped since.
Viviene: What eras do you specialize in?
Margaret: I used to specialize in antique clothing, but over the years have grown more and more interested in vintage clothing - as a result I tend to sell items from all eras and do not particularly specialize in any.
Viviene: What is your favorite era and why?
Margaret: I have two. I love the Regency period (early 19th century) and have a couple of dresses dating 1805-1810 in my private collection. In vintage clothing I especially favor ladies tailored suits from the 1930s & 40s - I think they have a style and quality sadly lacking in todays clothing. I have a couple of suits by Irene and Adrian in my collection - and a great many fabulous suits which carry no tags.
Viviene: How long have you been interested in vintage fashion?
Margaret: For quite a few years now, starting in the antique periods, collecting Victorian clothing - and more recently in vintage as well. My interest grew and grew, and together with a number of other vintage sellers on eBay, I was a founding member - and the first elected President - of the Vintage Fashion Guild.
Viviene: Do you think the English look at vintage clothing differently from Americans since England's history is so much longer than the United States?
Margaret: Yes, I think there is more a tendency towards collecting here than 'buying to wear' which is prevalent in the USA. I owned and ran an international antique Fair (Show) in the UK, specializing in antique and vintage clothing, for 10 years - by far the greater number of visitors were collectors and enthusiasts, though more recently there has been a growing demand for wearable vintage.
Viviene: Do you have a favorite customer story you can share with us?
Margaret: I had a buyer who became quite a regular, purchasing vintage clothing from me via eBay and my website. He favored the 60s period - particularly Ossie Clark - and I sourced quite a few items for him - he even flew over to visit my Fair (Show) one year. It was much, much later that I discovered he owned a very well known vintage clothing shop on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles and sold to the movie stars! I'd love to know if any of my items ended up in the hands of someone famous.
Viviene: Besides your store on Main Street where else are you open for business?
Margaret: I have been selling on eBay since 1997, under the ID artizania, and am proud of my 100% feedback there. More recently I have also been selling at www.specialistauctions.com.
Viviene: So come check out Margaret's stores at:
And here are a few lovelies to whet your appetite.
Viviene: What made you decide to get into the vintage clothing business?
I started to organize and run a specialist antique Fair/Show for the UK Textile Society after graduating. I realized there was no specific event in the UK specializing in antique & vintage clothing, so I started my own event, as mentioned above. I had so many people, from all over the world, who could not come to the Fair/Show so they would ask me to source items for them - eventually I started to purchase items and put them on sale on my website and then on eBay - and I haven't stopped since.
Viviene: What eras do you specialize in?
Margaret: I used to specialize in antique clothing, but over the years have grown more and more interested in vintage clothing - as a result I tend to sell items from all eras and do not particularly specialize in any.
Viviene: What is your favorite era and why?
Margaret: I have two. I love the Regency period (early 19th century) and have a couple of dresses dating 1805-1810 in my private collection. In vintage clothing I especially favor ladies tailored suits from the 1930s & 40s - I think they have a style and quality sadly lacking in todays clothing. I have a couple of suits by Irene and Adrian in my collection - and a great many fabulous suits which carry no tags.
Viviene: How long have you been interested in vintage fashion?
Margaret: For quite a few years now, starting in the antique periods, collecting Victorian clothing - and more recently in vintage as well. My interest grew and grew, and together with a number of other vintage sellers on eBay, I was a founding member - and the first elected President - of the Vintage Fashion Guild.
Viviene: Do you think the English look at vintage clothing differently from Americans since England's history is so much longer than the United States?
Margaret: Yes, I think there is more a tendency towards collecting here than 'buying to wear' which is prevalent in the USA. I owned and ran an international antique Fair (Show) in the UK, specializing in antique and vintage clothing, for 10 years - by far the greater number of visitors were collectors and enthusiasts, though more recently there has been a growing demand for wearable vintage.
Viviene: Do you have a favorite customer story you can share with us?
Margaret: I had a buyer who became quite a regular, purchasing vintage clothing from me via eBay and my website. He favored the 60s period - particularly Ossie Clark - and I sourced quite a few items for him - he even flew over to visit my Fair (Show) one year. It was much, much later that I discovered he owned a very well known vintage clothing shop on Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles and sold to the movie stars! I'd love to know if any of my items ended up in the hands of someone famous.
Viviene: Besides your store on Main Street where else are you open for business?
Margaret: I have been selling on eBay since 1997, under the ID artizania, and am proud of my 100% feedback there. More recently I have also been selling at www.specialistauctions.com.
Viviene: So come check out Margaret's stores at:
And here are a few lovelies to whet your appetite.
Friday, November 17, 2006
Today is Friday, November 17 and it's time for us to Share Our Wares!!!
So instead of feeling like a mindless rat in a maze next Friday spend some time in your jammies sipping a latte and fill up your cart at Main Street Malls. This is just a taste of what we have to offer and it's all yummy!
So what are you waiting for???? Let's go shopping!!
So instead of feeling like a mindless rat in a maze next Friday spend some time in your jammies sipping a latte and fill up your cart at Main Street Malls. This is just a taste of what we have to offer and it's all yummy!
So what are you waiting for???? Let's go shopping!!
Click Twice And Find Yourself On Main Street!
Main Street Mall Online shopping is friendly, easy-to-use, with low prices, to get great deals and best buys on vintage clothing, shoes, jewelry, collectibles, books and more.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Well folks it's that time of year again when the mind becomes mush in the rush and dash to complete that huge gift list youi have in your hot hand. Instead of spending black Friday in a haze at the Walmart, Best Buy, Kohl's, Penneys, Sears, etc. and grabbing a hot dog and a Orange Julius, why not sit in the comfort of your own home with a cranberry muffin and a latte loading up your shopping cart at Main Street Mall.
There's no pushing, shoving, whining kids, mothers with strollers ramming into the back of your legs and no one giving you the finger as you snag that last parking spot at the back of the parking lot.
So to add some cheer to the holidays we have our own version of the 12 days of Christmas that we'll be sending out every so often. Here we go:
The Twelve Days of Christmas
There's no pushing, shoving, whining kids, mothers with strollers ramming into the back of your legs and no one giving you the finger as you snag that last parking spot at the back of the parking lot.
So to add some cheer to the holidays we have our own version of the 12 days of Christmas that we'll be sending out every so often. Here we go:
The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the first day of Christmas
my true love sent to me:
Friday, November 10, 2006
Ahh, the holiday season is upon us. Visions of stuffed turkeys, stuffed stockings and visions of sugarplums dance in our head. But in today's world how do we accomplish all the shopping for our family and friends without running ourselves ragged.
Well here's the solution. Come to Main Street Mall Online! We have everything you need to have a fabulous holiday. Below is just a small sample of what's cooking at places like AB Cooks Corner, Kustom Kartoons, Timeless Finds, Alley Cats Attic, What-I-Found Books and of course our feature Holiday store, A Vintage Holiday loaded to the gills with Christmas and Thanksgiving items from the years of old.
So what the heck are you still doing here???? Let's go shopping!!
Well here's the solution. Come to Main Street Mall Online! We have everything you need to have a fabulous holiday. Below is just a small sample of what's cooking at places like AB Cooks Corner, Kustom Kartoons, Timeless Finds, Alley Cats Attic, What-I-Found Books and of course our feature Holiday store, A Vintage Holiday loaded to the gills with Christmas and Thanksgiving items from the years of old.
So what the heck are you still doing here???? Let's go shopping!!
Click Twice And Find Yourself On Main Street!
Main Street Mall Online shopping is friendly, easy-to-use, with low prices, to get great deals and best buys on vintage clothing, shoes, jewelry, collectibles, books and more.
Friday, November 03, 2006
It's that time again! Time to catch up with all the great folks at Main Street Mall Online. Check out all the new goodies they have!
So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!!
So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!!
Click Twice And Find Yourself On Main Street!
Main Street Mall Online shopping is friendly, easy-to-use, with low prices, to get great deals and best buys on vintage clothing, shoes, jewelry, collectibles, books and more.
Over and over I hear, "Mom, I want that dress. Do you have to sell it?" My heart is pulled in two directions. My girls love vintage clothing and it's fun to see them wear the styles I wore 36 years ago. On the other hand I'm in business and I'm supposed to be selling these lovelies. What to do, what to do. Then comes a great idea. Vintage dress-up boxes. So I started experimenting. The girls are regularly invited to birthday parties. So we started giving dress-up kits as gifts. Well they have been a hit to say the least. The kids open that dress-up box and they stop opening gifts and start dressing up. Moms have had to push their kids on to the next gift with promises they can dress up shortly.
So we've come out with a couple of dress-up boxes. They all come with 3 hats, 3 dresses, 3 pairs of gloves, 6 bracelets and 3 necklaces (some but not all of the jewelry is vintage). The eras vary from the 1950s to the 1970s. Each box is totally different. The dress-up kit is contained in a white square hat box with the name "Pretty Princess Dress-Up Box." We do not recommend these dress-up boxes for children under 3 years of age due to the necklaces and bracelets. All the clothing has some damage, enough that it would not be considered wearable for regular wear but perfect for dressing up.
So without further ado here are some examples of what we have:
So we've come out with a couple of dress-up boxes. They all come with 3 hats, 3 dresses, 3 pairs of gloves, 6 bracelets and 3 necklaces (some but not all of the jewelry is vintage). The eras vary from the 1950s to the 1970s. Each box is totally different. The dress-up kit is contained in a white square hat box with the name "Pretty Princess Dress-Up Box." We do not recommend these dress-up boxes for children under 3 years of age due to the necklaces and bracelets. All the clothing has some damage, enough that it would not be considered wearable for regular wear but perfect for dressing up.
So without further ado here are some examples of what we have:
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Playing dress-up all day long usually requires a model of some sort. The perfect model must be attractive enough to compliment the clothing but not so drop dead gorgeous that no one looks at the outfits. Sometimes the mannequin you use most of the time just does not fit the bill.
Enter the family. You might choose to model some of your own things but being super critical of myself that's just not gonna happen in this lifetime. You might ask your kids to occasionally model something making sure that you don't show their faces or their bodies depending on what they model.
Enter the family. You might choose to model some of your own things but being super critical of myself that's just not gonna happen in this lifetime. You might ask your kids to occasionally model something making sure that you don't show their faces or their bodies depending on what they model.
Check this out at Born Too Late Vintage
Click image to see listing
Or you might beseech your husband to try his hand at modeling because the stuff you have is just too big to look good on a mannequin.
You try your hardest to be professional and take great pictures of your significant other posing in some really nice sweaters. But, no matter what you do he turns you into a giggling fool with a camera. You ask him to take a position and instead he "assumes the position" with his hands against the wall and his legs spread apart. You ask him to try again and as you snap the picture he sticks his tongue out or crosses his eyes. Yet again as you're all but collapsing on the floor in giggles you ask him to please try to be serious and hold still. Finally by some miracle you get a couple of pictures that are good enough so you can list your sweaters.
So without further ado here are some of the "best" pictures we took during our photo session. Remember that "best" is relative but at least we had fun!
Check this out at Mirror Image Boutique
click image to see listing
Check this out at Mirror Image Boutique
click image to see listing
Consider This Item As Well
click image to see listing
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
I've always enjoyed the month of October for its crisp weather, apple picking and of course my favorite dress-up time of all year, Halloween. When I worked for the phone company we would all dress up in our office. One year I dressed up as "Princess Phone", a Halloween that will live in infamy at least in my mind.
This year my daughters have made their picks and it's up to me to make their costume wishes come true. My oldest daughter, age 9, is going to be a "rockabilly vampire" complete with rockabilly dress, shoes and fangs dripping blood. My youngest daughter, age 8, has opted for the Madame Butterfly treatment with her request to be a "Geisha lady with a white face and big eyebrows." Those wishes will come true as I have plenty of costumes to choose from.
Almost too many. For several years I've had costume sales on Ebay which normally have done very well. Well, that is not the case this year. Despite very good pricing on my part and marketing out the wazoo the costume business on Ebay for me this year is dead. So that's why I'm inviting you to my store over at Born Too Late Vintage. We have rockabilly orlon sweaters, trachten suits for those bold enough to go for the Sound of Music look, 1960s housewife dresses and hippie dresses, etc.
Actually Ebay just now called me about their giving program and I informed them I gave Ebay half of my earnings in fees this past week and I have no intention of giving them anymore. So check these costumes out because they are exclusive to http://mainstreetmallonline.com
and too many others to list!
This year my daughters have made their picks and it's up to me to make their costume wishes come true. My oldest daughter, age 9, is going to be a "rockabilly vampire" complete with rockabilly dress, shoes and fangs dripping blood. My youngest daughter, age 8, has opted for the Madame Butterfly treatment with her request to be a "Geisha lady with a white face and big eyebrows." Those wishes will come true as I have plenty of costumes to choose from.
Almost too many. For several years I've had costume sales on Ebay which normally have done very well. Well, that is not the case this year. Despite very good pricing on my part and marketing out the wazoo the costume business on Ebay for me this year is dead. So that's why I'm inviting you to my store over at Born Too Late Vintage. We have rockabilly orlon sweaters, trachten suits for those bold enough to go for the Sound of Music look, 1960s housewife dresses and hippie dresses, etc.
Actually Ebay just now called me about their giving program and I informed them I gave Ebay half of my earnings in fees this past week and I have no intention of giving them anymore. So check these costumes out because they are exclusive to http://mainstreetmallonline.com
For this German Austrian Trachten Suit
click here for Born Too Late Vintage
For this Rockabilly Poodle Dress
click here for Born Too Late Vintage
For this 1950s Pin-up Bathing Beauty Pink Swimsuit
click here for Born Too Late Vintage
For this Frankenstein's Bride Gown
click here for Born Too Late Vintage
For these saddle shoes
click here for Born Too Late Vintage
and too many others to list!
Friday, October 06, 2006
Unfortunately playing dress-up all day can lead to not enough time for intricate chef worthy meals being served nightly. I've used my microwave on a regular basis until yesterday. The microwave is dead and all heck has broken loose in our home. Gone is making a bag of popcorn to go with that Cheetah Girls movie my daughters have to see now. Gone is perfect rice to go with the pot of chili I made before I found out the microwave was broken. No more 5 minute "baked potatoes." No more thawing that roast out half an hour before popping it in the oven.
We all have our favorite gadgets that help make life easier on a day to day basis and until something in day to day use breaks you don't think much about it. Here are some day to day items from http://mainstreetmallonline.com to make your life easier!
We all have our favorite gadgets that help make life easier on a day to day basis and until something in day to day use breaks you don't think much about it. Here are some day to day items from http://mainstreetmallonline.com to make your life easier!
Kustom Kartoons for this custom mousepad
click for Kustom Kartoons
AB Cooks Corner for this chili pot
click image to visit AB Cooks Corner
Eagles Legacy Entertainment for this movie
click image to visit Eagles Legacy Entertainment
Christine's Glass and China for this Pyrex Divided Baker
click image to visit Christine's Glass and China
Kathy's Custom Creations for this quilt
click image to visit Kathy's Custom Creations
Personal Touch Gifts for this personalized childrens book
click image to visit Personal Touch Gifts
What-I-Found Books for this cook book
click image to visit What-I-Found Books
Jan's Fluff 'n Stuff for this homemade fudge
click image to visit Jan's Fluff 'n Stuff
Okay, I threw the fudge in there because candy makes everything better!!!
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
I've always enjoyed playing dress-up as a child and as an adult. How often have we hid behind the facade that clothing provides? How many times have we bought a new outfit to offset a really bad day or the wrong special someone in our life. How many times have we thought "this is going to knock him dead" as we're looking for "the outfit" to do just that. Time passes and you get older. But the lure of playing dress-up is always there. It's a game that you play from the time you're little until the day you're no longer with us and you play that final game of dress-up.
If you're lucky like me you're able to make your living playing dress-up every day. If you didn't have a lot of dolls when you were a child you make up for it now with a mannequin. You may also have lots of wigs to complement the dress-up clothes you have for your mannequin. And if you're really lucky other people share your taste and you can make a living playing dress-up.
So today we are going to play the ultimate game of dress-up. I'd like you all to visit Main Street Mall. Check out our shops. Put together a great outfit combining things from as many different stores as you like. Pick out some great jewelry from our jewelry stores and check out our apparel stores in the vintage mall and the clothing, shoes and accessories mall. Drop me a line at btlvin@yahoo.com with your outfit. On Monday, October 9, I'll pick two winners, one contemporary outfit and one vintage outfit. I'll provide a $10 gift certificate to each of the winners for either of my stores "Born Too Late Vintage" or "Mirror Image Boutique."
Now here's my favorite outfit for my dear husband's annual Christmas party from some of our shops at http://mainstreetmallonline.com
If you're lucky like me you're able to make your living playing dress-up every day. If you didn't have a lot of dolls when you were a child you make up for it now with a mannequin. You may also have lots of wigs to complement the dress-up clothes you have for your mannequin. And if you're really lucky other people share your taste and you can make a living playing dress-up.
So today we are going to play the ultimate game of dress-up. I'd like you all to visit Main Street Mall. Check out our shops. Put together a great outfit combining things from as many different stores as you like. Pick out some great jewelry from our jewelry stores and check out our apparel stores in the vintage mall and the clothing, shoes and accessories mall. Drop me a line at btlvin@yahoo.com with your outfit. On Monday, October 9, I'll pick two winners, one contemporary outfit and one vintage outfit. I'll provide a $10 gift certificate to each of the winners for either of my stores "Born Too Late Vintage" or "Mirror Image Boutique."
Now here's my favorite outfit for my dear husband's annual Christmas party from some of our shops at http://mainstreetmallonline.com
The Purse Diva for these shoes
click image to visit The Purse Diva
Born Too Late Vintage for this purse
click image to visit Born Too Late Vintage
Damn Good Vintage for this coat
click image to visit Damn Good Vintage
Born Too Late Vintage for this dress
click image to visit Born Too Late Vintage
Emmalizz Vintage for this slip
click image to visit Born Too Late Vintage
The Vintage Peacock for these gloves
click image to visit The Vintage Peacock
Alley Cats Vintage for this hat
click image to visit Alley Cats Vintage
Timeless Finds for this necklace and earring set
click image to visit Timeless Finds
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About Me
- Marge, Mod Mary's Vintage
- Dingmans Ferry, Pennsylvania, United States
- We are the owners of Mod Mary's Vintage on Etsy.