It's said that history repeats itself and nowhere else is that more apparent than in fashion. Whether it's wiggle dresses from the 50s re-emerging in the 80s or slim fitted 40s suits re-surfacing in the 70s, fashion always comes around again.

Even for the male of the species fashion is cyclical. Is world famous footballer David Beckham starting a fashion trend? If a cravat is posh enough for David, wouldn't you love to follow that trend?




In my vintage travels I came upon these two wonderful cravats circa 1950. The cravats were made by Tootal and have not seen the light of day in 50 years. What a wonderful addition to a mans wardrobe. The cravat is more forgiving than a tie as it is loosely tied and gives one the appearance of a dashing man about town who knows his fashion and knows what he likes.

Both of these cravats are available from Braccles7 at Specialist Auctions. Simply click the photograph and you will be linked.

This is a Vintage 1950s MOD Tootal Yellow Paisley Rayon cravat in a wonderful pattern of black and red on a light yellow background. The cravat is just over 41 inches in length.



Or this Vintage 1950s MOD Tootal Red/Black/Grey cravat made of rayon in an unusual regular pattern in dark red & black on a light silvery-grey background. The cravat is about 42 inches in length.



This handsome devil certainly seems to know his way around a cravat and dare I imagine a few other things as well!

Check out Specialist Auctions where vintage clothing is new again!

Today I'm writing about a friend named Chris. Chris' vintage store is called Alley Cats Vintage. Now Chris has a wonderful plan. She is attempting to buy all the Fred Perlberg dresses in the world and become the Fred Perlberg queen of the universe.

So today I'm featuring Chris' Perlberg dresses. You can also find loads of other delectable dresses in Chris' stores, hats, shoes and many other great items at very reasonable prices. I say this with the utmost confidence because I've bought things from Chris and you'll never find another vintage seller who cares about her customers more.

On a personal note, Chris is retiring. Tomorrow is her last day. To my friend Chris I wish a joyful retirement full of doing the things you enjoy so much like gardening, going to the auctions on Friday and the opening of your new collectibles store. We big business women need to stick together!

So now onto the Fred Perlberg extravaganza!

First we have this breathtaking celery green liquid satin formal evening gown from the 1940's. There is gathering on the shoulders. The front has a high V neckline with a lay back collar which drapes around the back of the gown. The waist dips into a long V. There is a small bustle which lies flat just below the waist in the back. The gown closes with a side metal zipper plus hook & eye. The skirt is full and the dress can be worn with or without a crinoline. The fabric is heavy rich satin in a definite celery green color.



Next we have this stunning pink satin Fred Perlberg 1940's evening gown. The fabric is high gloss liquid pink, very true to what you see in the photographs. The construction and details are extremely beautiful, from the rear bustle treatment to the piping around the curved and pointed waistline. The inside is labeled “Fred Perlberg” who designed fabulous evening gowns starting in the 1940's. There’s a side closing metal zipper which works perfectly. The fabric is very dense and heavy.



Not to be outdone by the 1940s Perlbergs Chris also has this dazzling 70s era evening gown designed by Roger Milot for Fred Perlberg. The fabric is a sheer metallic weave with little loose strands of gold raising up, completely lined with a lime acetate blend. The sleeves are sheer and puffed with snaps on the cuffs. The waist has a double looped thick cord made on band and adorned with 4 cris-cross rhinestone pins. All the rhinestones are pink but one small stone is missing on the front. With all the glitter no one could possibly notice.



I'm very partial to champagne and what better way to fill that need than this Fred Perlberg exquisite liquid satin champagne/antique white satin evening gown. The fabric is very heavy satin. The bodice is bone with a wide cuff around the top and tiny cord shoulder straps. This can be worn without the straps. There is a side metal zipper closing. The skirt is full with a circumference of 128 inches. The condition is excellent, only having a pin hole where a corsage was pinned.



And last but not least we have this gorgeous Fred Perlberg classic pink satin party gown which was so popular in the 1940's. It is made with a fitted waist. It is
sleeveless with 21 satin covered buttons up the front. There is a little round peter pan collar and an attached matching satin belt. The gown closes with a side metal zipper. The skirt is full sweep and is shown with and without a crinoline. The inside is labeled “Dance Originals by Fred Perlberg” who designed fabulous evening gowns starting in the 1940's. The fabric is very dense, heavy and in almost perfect condition.



Chris has several store locations where you can purchase some of the best vintage items I've ever come across. She is located at:

Main Street Vintage

and

Specialist Auctions

From undergarments to dresses to swimwear Born Too Late Vintage loves plus size gals!

Who says buxom babes can't wear vintage?!! Come check out the plus size vintage now at Born Too Late Vintage!!

Today Viviene of Born Too Late Vintage is going to venture into NYC and have the adventure of a lifetime at the Manhattan Vintage Show! We can't wait to get back and report about all the trends and who has what and where! So stay tuned!

We're looking forward to summer at Born Too Late Vintage and we have the swimwear to tempt your budget!

It's Friday and time to check what's new at Born Too Late Vintage. We've added some very interesting items from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s! So come check out what's new!

She found it lurking in the back of the hall closet from her 1970s Stairway to Heaven save the whales days. With a sigh she puts it back into the dark recesses of the closet as her waist (after 2 kids and too many twinkies) will never see those days again.

Fast forward one year. While her skirt has been in the dark recesses of the closet the mung bean buttons have thirsted for WATER and AIR. Little does she know that her daughter, age 18, has been rooting through the closet. She found the skirt, determined it gross and shoved it back into the dark never knowing she cracked the buttons. MOISTURE and AIR have slowly seeped into the buttons allowing the mung beans to mutate, grow and spread their tendrils into the darker recesses of the closet. Slowly inch by inch the mung bean sprouts invade the hall closet enveloping a Pendleton suit from her 80s dress corporate days. Thirsty and hungry the mung beans slowly devour their way towards the front of the closet searching but not knowing for what they hunger.

Fast forward two years. The hall closet is dank, dark and flowing with life. The mung beans are barely hanging on. They've eaten all but several rayon dresses that have been drycleaned to within an inch of their life. The mung beans just can't tolerate the chemical stench embedded in the rayon and so they patiently wait, sometimes feasting on itself as an act of self preservation.

But wait! She is back. She looks into the closet, wrinkles her nose at the dank odor and says to herself, "it's time to get rid of this stuff." Slowly and carefully she removes the rayon dresses one by one remembering the occasions she has worn each one. The black one for Aunt Martha's funeral. The red one for that first disastrous date after her divorce. The blue one she wore for her first job interview after being a stay at home mom for 15 years. She sighs as she remembers those past events. She takes out that last rayon dress and shifts gears. For this dress is the one that held the promise of a new life. If only she had been able to bend a little but, but no. Time to stop sighing over the past and get on with it. The mung beans wait patiently. This is what they have hungered for. They only have to be a little more patient. Just a little longer. She returns to the closet and steps in. The mung beans strike enveloping her in their sprouts and muffling her cries pulling her into the dark recesses of the closet.

The children call her on the phone. There is no answer. Days go by and they become concerned. They make a trip to see if mom's okay. They find an empty house with nothing disturbed but 4 dresses sitting on the back of the couch and their mother's shoes just outside the hall closet. And there the mung bean button skirt hangs, waiting, plotting and hoping.

Welcome to the vintage twilight zone.

Check out the latest bathing suits at Mirror Image Boutique, our contemporary store located at Specialist Auctions.

Today I'm writing about something more personal. My youngest daughter is making her communion in a few weeks. As I waited outside the door at her religious education class the other day I overheard a group of 3 mothers talking about the parties they were having for their children after the service.

One mother was having a DJ, videographer and sit down dinner at a local restaurant. She kept going on and on about "her party." She spoke of the $300 communion gown she purchased for her daughter. Another mother spoke about having "her party" the day after her son's communion so she could combine his communion party with her daughter's baby shower. Still another spoke about the "open bar" and "buffet" for "her party" and reserving "the mansion" at $34.95 a head and she had to have at least 50 people.

I continued to stare at the wall ahead of me waiting for my daughter's class to be dismissed and wishing I could get the heck out of there. Then one of the mother's asked me, "So what are you doing for your daughter?" I turned and said, "I'm making her dress and then we are having dinner at RIMBY's (a local family restaurant)." She looked at me and said, "That's all? You're not doing more?" I said, "No, that's it." A look of horror crossed the 3 mother's faces. The mother then said, "You are not doing enough for your daughter."

My response was, "My daughter is making her communion. That's what the day is about. Not a fancy party, not people drinking all day and not about my party." They looked at me like I had lost my mind.

Later that night I talked to my husband. I asked him if I was crazy for keeping things simple for what is a big step in our daughter's religious life. She is very excited about making her communion. She has been blessing herself with holy water several times a day. She actually understands that it's about receiving the Lord in a miraculous way. She is so happy and serene. My husband said he has no doubts that we are doing things the way they should be done. Our memories of communion are making our communion, having a few simple family pictures taken and spending time with our closest family members at a small intimate family party with people we see all the time.

He said if I was so concerned over if we were doing the right thing to talk to Kiera, our daughter. So I sat her down and asked her if having dinner with our closest family and the restaurant was still okay with her. She said, "I love RIMBY's and we'll have a great time there." I asked her if she still wanted me to make her dress. She said, "I'm glad you're making my dress because you are making it with love."

So out of the mouths of babes I have my answer.

Today we take a walk into the vintage twilight zone. Eighteen months ago I happened upon a 1960s suit made by Elaine Starkman. What attracted me to the suit was the fact that Ms. Starkman had her boutique on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, NY. My dad had grown up in the Italian section of Greenwich village. Here was something from my dad's old neighborhood. I bought the suit and brought it home.

Over the next six months I researched Elaine Starkman. I found out on the internet that Mary Travers of Peter, Paul and Mary fame had worked at Ms. Starkman's boutique in the village. Ms. Starkman also made Mary Traver's wedding dress when she married for the first time. I also turned up information that Ms. Starkman was one of the first art gallery owners in Soho. But there the trail ended.

Fast forward six months. Every so often I would type in the name Elaine Starkman and do a google search. However, this time something turned up. It was an auction for a pair of custom made leather sandals from back in the 1960s. Evidently Ms. Starkman was also known for her beautiful leather work. Several weeks later I again googled Ms. Starkman's name and found an auction of jewelry that Ms. Starkman had made. Slowly I was finding out that Ms. Starkman was quite the artist in many mediums.

The last thing I found out about Ms. Starkman from a friend who told me that Ms. Starkman had moved her business in the mid 1960s out of the village and up to Lexington (between 64th and 65th Streets) in 1966 or so because most of her client base lived in that vicinity. Leather goods were a Starkman specialty.

So two days ago I received an email from a young lady. She said she had seen my listing for my Elaine Starkman suit and wondered if I had anymore information available on Ms. Starkman.

I answered her email and told her that everything I knew was in the listing for the suit and then I asked her what her interest in Ms. Starkman was.

She told me that in the late 70s her grandmother had gone to New York and had an art show at Ms. Starkman's gallery and that to this day they are still friends and live in the same retirement home. Since Ms. Starkman isn't able to talk to her about times past, she was trying to find out more about her grandmother's friend because she seemed like such an interesting person.

And so a piece of vintage clothing that I purchased because of personal sentiment led to me connecting with someone across the country. This person was looking for information to learn more about her grandmother's friend's life in the past. Two people, one suit, one degree of separation. What a very small world we live in. And all it took was this suit.

Spring has sprung and Born Too Late Vintage has the finest in swimsuits and the finest in Easter bonnets, cocktail hats and Sunday go to church hats you've ever seen!

Today I have a guest writer for my blog. Her name is Mary Mcintosh. I found out about Mary from a friend named Chris that sells vintage clothing. Chris and Mary met when Mary purchased a picture from Chris that had at one time been Mary's father's. Mary then sent Chris this wonderful story. Some people may compare this with Erin of Dress A Day, however, Mary wrote this years and years ago, lone before Erin was even born. With Mary's permission it is appearing in my blog. For anyone who loves vintage and wonders about it's past life I guarantee you are going to love this.


REUNION written by Mary Mcintosh


My life began on a board in a hot, steaming cutting room in Manhattan’s garment district. I was created from a deep brown and beige herringbone tweed off the expensive bolt, high on the topmost shelf. Only the better quality cloths, covered with a white sheet to keep off the dust, were kept there.

I heard from other less-fashionable materials that I was carefully cut and sewn together by a young girl named Emma. She seemed much too young to be working here, but she needed the money to help her sick mother. They lived in a crowded tenement, so I was glad she had stitched me. It made me feel special to be able to help them.

After I had been tailored and pressed, I was hung on a rod with many other coats and suits, and pushed down 10th Avenue to a large warehouse. As I rode down the avenue, I felt very debonair with my wide lapels and double-breasted look. What magnificent sights I saw with so many tall buildings. Would I someday enter one of them, I wondered? What kind of a new life would I then have? It would certainly be more exciting than sleeping on that top shelf, as I had done for so many months. I was ready for a new experience.

Like many other fashionable coats and suits, I only remained in the warehouse for a short time. One day, a bunch of us were placed on a rack in the men’s department of Saks Fifth Avenue. Men now began trying me on. Some were portly, and I was too tight for them. Others were thin, and I was too large for them. Finally, on a crisp day in October, Mr. Higgenbottom purchased me.

Since I’d had very little contact with humans, except for Emma who had put me together, I had to rely on my own good judgment about Mr. Higgenbottom. He looked like a nice man, for he smiled as he tried me on and said to the clerk, “I’ll take this herringbone tweed coat, for it fits me well.”

Mr. Higgenbottom and I had a wonderful relationship, and were almost inseparable, except in the summer. I accompanied him to the opera and the theater, to horse shows in the country, on long walks, and on chauffeur-driven rides. As president of a large corporation on Wall Street, I felt proud each day when I entered his plush office with him.

In early summer, a maid would carefully put me into a large zipper bag, and add some mothballs. I did not particularly care for their smell, but I knew they kept me from being eaten alive by these insects. Then each fall I would be brought out again to Mr. Higgenbottom.

I stayed very close to Mr. Higgenbottom for a long time. Eventually, however, I was replaced by a haughty navy-blue serge, and pushed to the rear of the closet. I was crushed!

One day a maid came into the room and picked out several coats and suits. I wanted to stay, hoping I might be worn again someday, but I was also anxious to start a new adventure, whatever that might be. I realized Mr. Higgenbottom no longer had a use for me, for even though I still felt very chic, it was obvious I was now too shabby for him.

All the clothes the maid gathered together were dumped into the back of a station wagon and sent to a church rummage sale. Many people felt me, and then dropped me back onto the table. At the end of the day, when we had not been bought, we were placed in boxes, and put in a dark closet, then carted out again at the next rummage sale, several weeks later. Occasionally someone would try me on, and that made me feel hopeful they would want me. Finally, one day, when the first snow covered the ground, Mr. Swenson bought me for $2.00.

I could see this would now be a very different environment for me. Mr. Higgenbottom had always been surrounded by family and friends, and gave many parties. Mr. Swenson lived alone in a tidy cold-water flat on the east side.

At first it seemed a letdown from the mansion I had once lived in. I knew there would be no trips out to the country, or invitations to banquets where the Mayor of New York City might be in attendance. But Mr. Swenson was very nice, and he did take me to his job every day—not a large Wall Street corporation—but a small grocery store, just around the corner from his flat, where he was a clerk.

Each day I hung on a rack in the corner of the store. As I looked out of the window onto the busy city, and watched people walking by, the snow blowing all around them, I hoped they had someone like me to keep them warm. Somehow they did not seem very happy as they shuffled along in the wintry weather.

It was so cold that winter Mr. Swenson took me to bed with him. He really wore me out.
Even I got cold, and I was 100 percent wool!

I stayed with Mr. Swenson for two years, until one Saturday when he was home, a man from the Salvation Army knocked on the door and asked, “Do you have any donations of old clothes?”

“I’m sure I do,” replied Mr. Swenson, who walked quickly to the closet, reached in and pulled me out.

I knew I was still wearable for Mr. Swenson, but he was a kind man, and wanted someone else to enjoy me. I felt dejected, for it appeared every time I got to like someone, I was sent somewhere else.

It was nice and warm at the Salvation Army Hall, where I found myself piled on a table with all kinds of pants and jackets and coats. Many of them smelled. It was awful, for I’d always prided myself on being clean.

As I lay there suffocating, buried underneath piles of clothes, I listened to what was being said. I heard stories of terrible things that had recently happened—things that caused men to stand in long lines waiting to be handed a bowl of soup. I heard about people jumping out of tall buildings, and killing themselves. I did not really understand what this meant, but I remembered Mr. Higgenbottom worked in a tall building, and I hoped this hadn’t happened to him.

When I had just about resigned myself to the idea I was going to have to spend the rest of my days bunched up on the table with all the other coats, a pair of gentle hands reached around and pulled me out of the pile. A kind voice said, “Here’s a nice brown coat that might just fit you, sir.” The man reached out and put his arms into me.

It was Mr. Higgenbottom.

It was the winter of 1929. I had come home again.

Today we are interviewing Lizzie of fuzzylizzie Vintage.

Viviene: What made you decide to get into the vintage clothing business?

Lizzie: I've been selling vintage clothing for over 20 years. I got started because I was buying for myself, and from time to time I would find a great piece of vintage that did not fit me nor suit my style, but I couldn't leave such a gem behind. I soon had lots of inventory. I first started selling by mail order, advertising in a little publication call the Vintage Clothing Newsletter, which was published by Terry McCormick in the mid to late 1980s.

Viviene: Did you start out with your website, http://www.fuzzylizzie.com, or was it something that evolved over time?

Lizzie: My website was started about two years ago. A lot of other people at the Vintage Fashion Guild were starting them and it just seemed like a good idea!

Viviene: What types of resources did you search to obtain your knowledge about vintage clothing?

Lizzie: I've been a collector of books on fashion history for as long as I can remember, so I have a pretty large library. I especially like books written during the era - such as 1940s fashion books as a source of information on 1940s fashion. I love and prefer primary sources.

Viviene: How has the internet impacted how you sell vintage items?

Lizzie: It's certainly made to easy to connect with a large body of buyers.

Viviene: If you had to pick a favorite era what would your favorite vintage clothing era be?

Lizzie: Probably the 1920s. I think I'm a flapper at heart!

Viviene: When was the first time you bought a vintage clothing item and what was it?

Lizzie: In the early 1970s, when I was in high school. An elderly neighbor was cleaning out her house and I bought a 1920s beaded bag for a quarter! I still have it.

Viviene: Do you wear vintage clothing yourself?

Lizzie: Yes, but not as much as I used to. When I taught school, I wore vintage sweaters or jackets almost every day. Now my dress is a bit more casual. But I plan to live in novelty skirts this summer!

Viviene: How did your love of vintage patterns come about?

Lizzie: I was taught to sew by my grandmother when I was 10, and I've loved sewing and patterns ever since. I used to go through her 1940s patterns when I was a kid in the 1960s, thinking how great they were! I sure wish I still had them.

Viviene: Have you seen an upsurge in customers wanting vintage patterns and if so why do you think that is?

Lizzie: Yes, I have. Crafts are very popular right now. Young women have discovered that making a garment really gives a feeling of accomplishment.

Viviene: Is there a particular vintage clothing label that seems to be all the rage that you just don't understand?

Lizzie: I've never really understood the attraction to Gunne Sax, but I think that is mainly because I can remember wearing it!

Viviene: What designer that is around now will be the "have to have" designer in years to come in the vintage business?

Lizzie: I sure wish I knew the answer to this one, but I don't!

Viviene: You are a member of the Vintage Fashion Guild. How long have you been a member and what has the guild provided you that you could not get elsewhere?

Lizzie: I have been a member since the VFG was formed in 2002. It's such a great organization, with lots of different experts on fashion. I know that if I have a question about any vintage fashion item, or about fashion history, that someone at VFG will be able to help me.

Viviene: You are in the process of re-organizing the Vintage Fashion Guild's label resource. How daunting a task is that or is it a labor of love?

Lizzie: It's both, actually. I've worked untold hours developing and refining it, but I've got to say how much I enjoy it. And I'm all the time hearing from interesting people who have information to add. I recently heard from cashmere sweater maker Bernhard Altmann's son. That was very nice!

Viviene: What is the best piece of advice you can give someone just starting out in the vintage clothing/pattern business?

Lizzie: Learn all you can about your items. Sell what you know and love. Don't think of selling vintage as a quick trendy buck, because it is hard work!

Viviene: Lizzie's stores are located at:

The Website http://www.fuzzylizzie.com

Babylon Mall http://www.babylonmall.com/browseshop.php?storenum=54&previewpage=department

Specialist Auctions http://www.specialistauctions.com/shop.php?userid=104537

Today I decided to write about the people who have taken the time to help me broaden my horizons. Some of them are teachers that I had in school and still others taught me without even knowing it.

The very most important teachers I have had in my entire life are my parents. Even though they are gone, they remain with me in a very constant way. They built the base on which all my other teachers were able to instill knowledge. My parents dealt with life with humor, kindness and above all unconditional love. Their lives were not without sadness or drama, however, how they handled that sadness and drama taught me so very much. There was also much happiness packed into their lives as well. Without that I would never be the person I am.

With my school teachers, we'll start with Mr. Thornburg. He was my freshman English teacher. I slumped my way into his class just after having my braces put on. I didn't want anyone to know I had them. I handed him my note from the office and he smiled at me with his crooked teeth and horn rimmed glasses and said "Smile because in a year you are going to be dazzling." This from a man who at that time must have been at least 60 (ancient in my eyes at that time). The lesson he taught me? You are beautiful! Smile!

Another freshman teacher I had was Mrs. Grundy, for my first year of typing (yes on a manual typewriter). Mrs. Grundy had bad breath. The freshman of my class (including me) decided to wrap up a bottle of mouthwash and put it on Mrs. Grundy's desk. Imagine our dismay when she opened that package and darted out of the classroom tears streaming down her face. The lesson she taught me? Be very careful what you do in jest because it can and will haunt you for the rest of your life. ( I apologize Mrs. Grundy. I was careless of your feelings and that was so very, very wrong).

Then there was Mrs. Allison of General Business class. She instilled in us the knowledge of how the business world worked. We studied advertising, work skills (which is why I took typing and shorthand) and the proper way to dress for an interview. She also had the no chewing gum rule and would make you put your gum on your nose for her entire class if she caught you chewing it.
Lesson learned here? How you present yourself the very first time can make or break if you get a job. Don't chew gum!

Sophomore year I had Mrs. Ross. She was my second year typing teacher. She tortured us with number drills, number drills, number drills and still more number drills. She also killed us on 4 page contracts with carbon paper (yes I am an old fart). Because of Mrs. Ross I was a whiz on the typing test when I applied for my first job as a mortgage typist where we used 4 page contracts with you guessed it, carbon paper. I was also a whiz on my typing test when I applied at the phone company (where I worked for 17 years). Those number drills saved my life as a service representative typing in orders for service, repair visits, etc. because, you guessed it, numbers, numbers, numbers!

Sophomore year I also had the pleasure of having Mr. Babcock for History. Now if school is anything like when I went, you learn up to the civil war and anything beyond that is never covered. It's the same history class over and over again. Not with Mr. Babcock. We studied the Kennedy assassination (which was heady stuff as I was in Mr. Babcock's class in 1975 which was a scant 12 years after the assassination). We watched the Zapruder film over and over again and scoured the library for any and all information about that day. We had to write a paper drawing our own conclusion as to what really happened. Lesson learned here? Your opinion is valuable and history is destined to repeat itself if you don't learn its lessons. It didn't hurt that Mr. Babcock set all the sophomore girls hearts aflutter either.

Junior year for me was all about band. I played cornet from the time I was in third grade. Mr. Bearden was my band director for 3 of my four years in high school. Mr. Bearden taught me that hard work did get you ahead. By practicing and refining my skills I was able to withstand trumpet challenges from other players vying for my spot because I was nitpicky. When I sight read music during challenges I was the one who saw the specifics and time and time again it won those challenges for me. Lesson learned here? Details are very important and can mean the difference between winning and losing.

During the summer between junior and senior year we moved to California. I was to be the editor of my high school paper but with moving that opportunity disappeared. So I went to my new school in California and became the editorial page editor of the newspaper and joined band.
School in California was less structured than attending school in Phoenix. The schedules were set on a seven day week and we had modules of free time. That time was spent honing my writing skills and cornet playing skills. The band was one of the best in the state of California and we went to many competitions. We won some and we lost some. I also competed state wide in a writing contest held by a local San Diego newspaper. I came in 10th in the editorial competition. Lesson learned? Competition is healthy and necessary. It helps you accept your triumphs and disappointments in your later life. Always winning teaches you nothing.

Onward to real life. Over the last 20 some odd years I've had many teachers, some professional and some not professional. I've had 3 careers. The first was with the phone company for 17 years. Here I learned about bureaucracy and how to survive and flourish in it.

My next career was as a medical transcriptionist for 6.5 years. On this job I learned that regardless of how hard I worked more was always expected and that there would never be a pay raise because I did an excellent job. Working for a very small business is much different than working for a bureaucracy.

My third career is the one I have now. I am a vintage clothing store owner, albeit my storefront is on the internet. Over the last 4 years I've learned from such knowledgeable people as Artizania, Scott, Daniel, Panda, Joel, Ikwewe, Holly, Joan, Betty Blackbent and a score of other people on the Ebay Vintage, clothing and accessories board. I lurked on that board for a good year before I ever posted a question. I soaked up their knowledge like a sponge. Now it's been said recently that we don't need these people. We can learn what they know from books. Well, I don't agree. These people aren't paid to come to the ebay board and spread their knowledge. They do it because they'd rather see the people there learn the correct information and build the vintage community. I'm also learning from the Vintage Fashion Guild members as well. Jonathan, Hollis, Lizzie and plenty of others add to my knowledge of vintage clothing and accessories on a daily basis. These people are more valuable than gold. They understand the value of educating the up and coming vintage sellers.

I've expanded my business beyond my wildest dreams. I've had very good experiences listening to my "gut." Very recently, as a matter of fact on Saturday, I applied for membership to the Evintage Society against the feelings of my "gut." On Sunday I was emailed that I had been turned down for membership. Evintage Society does not tell you why you were turned down, just that you are. At first I was bewildered. Had I done something to offend those on the new membership committee. Was I not a hard working individual? What possible reason could there be for not accepting me, a former Ebay seller with 100% positive feedback? Lesson learned here? Listen to your gut! If it doesn't feel right then it isn't for you.

So on I go learning my life lessons and learning more about the wonderful world of vintage clothing and accessories. I'm hoping that the "old guard" from the Ebay Vintage clothing and accessories board will start posting more often. I for one miss my "teachers" very much.

Remember by your actions and words you too are someone's teacher. Choose your words wisely because the internet will record them forever!

"That price is just too high." "I can find a coat like that in a thrift shop for $5." "I'll find a dress like that myself and pay a lot less."

These are things I've heard in conversations all over the internet about vintage clothing. I've heard the wails of people saying sellers are pricing things too high. I've heard people saying they can find the same things themselves for $5.

So here's my honest opinion about buying vintage clothing and pricing. Remember this is my blog and my opinion so it does not represent anyone's opinion but my own.

Vintage clothing is not my hobby. It is my business. Like any business I have bills I incur to promote my business. That eye candy website I have has a monthly fee. The auctions I list on Ebay have fees regardless of whether the item sells or not. That advertising link I have with the Vintage Fashion Guild is an expense as well. I also pay fees to Specialist Auctions but unlike Ebay that's only when I actually sell something. I have business cards, stationary, flyers, etc. They are necessary to my business and are also an expense. Let's not forget the shelf full of fashion books that I consult when looking at styles, eras and details to make sure I am dating these vintage items correctly. And of course there's my internet connection for how else would I be able to draw on the expertise of the Vintage Fashion Guild members when I have a question that I can't answer after researching a dress for hours on my own.

How does that vintage dress you buy from me arrive at your door all nice, clean and ironed? Why Viviene cleans that dress with specialized products that are friendly to vintage textiles. Viviene irons that dress and checks it over with a fine tooth comb before it's packaged for shipment. And those products and new steam iron are an expense as well.

But the biggest expense of all is hunting for that perfect vintage dress that someone is going to buy from you. It means spending time in places that might have one nice piece of vintage for sale even though you've traveled 50 miles to find it. It means spending time with a family who is selling their loved one's home and they are selling vintage clothing that may or may not have been stored properly. It means listening to the clothing's past and where it was worn (which I absolutely love!). It means bringing home things that you hand wash only to have them disintegrate in the wash bin in front of you because they were touched by cold water and very, very mild soap for the first time in 50 years.

Oh, and lets not forget the displaying of the dress on a mannequin, half form or model. Then the photographing the dress in just the right light so that all the wonderful features stand out (which you will need a decent camera and lighting set-up to do).

Then comes writing the auction itself trying to describe in words what you've just tried to capture in a few images and hoping that whomever decides to buy your dress has actually read what you wrote including those oh so important measurements because vintage clothing does not fit like the clothing of today.

So when you are looking at my auction or the auctions of hundreds of other vintage clothing sellers and think in your head "that dress just costs too much" I hope you'll remember the time, skill and dedication it takes to bring a vintage dress to life in an auction listing. We are your personal shoppers. We use our skills to bring you the best the past has to offer. You're not just paying for that dress. You're paying for our expertise.

Viviene is going all out for Viva Las Vegas! Make an offer (or as we say in the UK "Have a haggle!"). Check out the great things available now!

Happy Valentines Day to you all. This date brings back wonderful memories of my parents. I don't know when the tradition started but my Dad would come home from work each Valentine's Day with small heart shaped boxes of candy for my sister and I. My Mom would get a 1 pound box of chocolates in a gorgeous heart shaped box as well. Growing up it never occurred to me that something so every day and ordinary would melt my heart years later. It's not that I didn't appreciate the gift or the thought but when you're young you just don't understand what's happening behind the scenes in the adult world. You're insulated in your own little world of going to school, playing with your friends and tolerating your siblings.

Flash forward to years later. My father has passed away almost two years prior. My mom is dying and we are talking as one does when you know time is short. I brought up the annual Valentines Day candy gift. My Mom divulges how hard it was for my Dad and her to afford to get those boxes of candy. Mom was a full time homemaker at the time and Dad was going to night school to get his degree in Chemistry. Money was really tight, so tight in fact that Mom said Dad might have $2 left out of his paycheck each week to put gas in our station wagon to get back and forth to work. So I asked Mom how they managed to pay for that candy. She said that Dad would brown bag his lunch for a month and she would cut down the grocery bills as much as she could so he could get the candy for us.

Of course this was a revelation for me. The four of us (myself, my sister and my two brothers) always had what we needed, plenty to eat, nice clothes to wear and a really great place to live. We were surrounded by friends and tons of family. It never occurred to me how hard it must have been raising 4 kids on one salary and of course my Dad going to night school for his degree. Pretty daunting if you ask me.

But my parents met the challenges head on and no matter what fate threw in their way they marched forward together facing those challenges. Those challenges did not get easier as time went on. Dad was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 1998 and Mom was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in 1999. Dad passed away in August of 2001 and Mom in July of 2003.

Very early this morning my husband arrived home from his job. He works the evening shift. This allows me to be home with our daughters and run my home based business. My business is new and doesn't bring a lot in right now but I love what I'm doing and that I'm here for our girls. Sometimes after paying the bills my husband has $20 left for the week to buy gas to get back and forth to work. He brown bags his lunch most of the time. As he walked in the door at 2:30 a.m. this morning I saw he carried a plastic bag. I asked him what was in it and he pulled out two small red candy heart boxes of chocolates for our girls. There was also a 1 pound box of beautifully boxed chocolates for me. I knew he had no money to buy the candy and asked him how he did it. He said he saved his lunch money for a week because he wanted to give his sweethearts something nice on Valentines Day.

So we've come full circle now. Whereas once I was the little girl receiving the small heart shaped box of chocolates, I have now become the mother receiving the 1 pound box of chocolates. I'm hoping and praying that my girls meet men who will continue the tradition that has now spanned two generations in my family. Men who give without thought of what they are giving up. Men who love them to pieces and will cherish them. For that is the greatest gift of all.

Today our Specialist Auctions interview is with Marge, co-moderator of the Vintage and antique clothing section at Specialist Auctions and owner of Born Too Late Vintage.

Viviene: How did you first become involved in vintage clothing?

Marge: I was surfing around the discussion boards on Ebay and found the Vintage Clothing and Accessory Board. I started lurking on the board and soaking up knowledge from all the seasoned sellers there.

Viviene: How long after that did you actually buy your first piece of vintage clothing?

Marge: I kept lurking and reading and learning for a year or so. Then I found a great dress and coat set from the 1960s in beautiful condition. I still have that set and I'm actually getting ready to list it right now. That's when I actually came out of lurker mode and posted on the board the first time.

Viviene: So in total how long have you been admiring vintage attire and how long have you been selling it?

Marge: I've been admiring it and learning about it for the last 4 years and selling it for almost 3 years now. There is always more to learn and people are very willing to help you out.

Viviene: When you buy a piece of vintage clothing what do you do to prepare it for sale?

Marge: Well, the first thing I do when I'm choosing stock is make sure it is in excellent condition. Or if a piece speaks to me I have to make sure that I can repair it so that it's restored to its once wonderful condition. Then I research the style to make sure of what era the piece is from. If the item has a label with some type of name on it then I check the Vintage Fashion Guild label resource to see if I can match labels and again verify an era. I also look at the construction of the item, i.e. metal zipper, nylon zipper, fabric content, pinked seams, etc. There are lots of different indicators of what era a piece is from.

Viviene: Once you've done all that what is your next step?

Marge: Then I clean the item, steam or iron the item and then the next step is taking pictures to present the item to my customers. I definitely take a lot of pictures to show all the different specifics of an item such as pocket details, type of zipper, linings, pinked seams and any other specifics that I think are selling points for each particular piece. Then once my photos are taken and edited I measure the items. Measurements are so important in vintage items because size tags are not good indicators as sizes have changed so very much. Women of today don't wear support garments like those made years and years ago. That definitely alters the way a vintage clothing item is going to fit.

Viviene: So once your item is chosen, cleaned, pressed, pictures taken and measurements taken I take it your next step is to list it.

Marge: That's right. That's my favorite part of selling vintage. I love writing descriptions of the vintage clothing I'm selling. If I have a designer label I include the history of the designer at the end of my description. I like to think that people who are new to vintage would value learning about the designer of the item they are looking at. I took my lead from experienced sellers who took the time to educate me by telling me about the designer of their item. I've learned a lot just by reading that information.

Viviene: You mentioned the label resource of the Vintage Fashion Guild. How important has that resource been to you as a seller?

Marge: It's been the base that I've used to learn about different designers, construction details and so much more. The Vintage Fashion Guild has afforded me an education in vintage clothing and accessories that I would not have found anywhere else other than that I picked up from the Ebay Vintage clothing and accessory board. I became a member of the VFG in July of 2006 and I am a very proud member of this esteemed group of vintage sellers and collectors. I appreciate the knowledge of the members there so very much. They have all been very welcoming and very helpful.

Viviene: How did you choose your store name "Born Too Late Vintage?"

Marge: Well, my husband and I have both said that we were born at the wrong time in history. We both love the 1950s and 1960s and have always felt we were born too late so that's where the name came from.

Viviene: What lead you to become a co-moderator of the vintage and antique clothing section at Specialist Auctions?

Marge: Well things have been changing at Ebay over time and unfortunately those things are out of the control of the sellers at large. I grew tired of having my vintage clothing competing with reproductions that were listed in the vintage categories when there is a reproduction category provided. I'm not against reproductions, but rather want them to be presented as such in their appropriate category. So I decided to give another venue a try. I did that for six months but wanted to take my business in a different direction than that venue offered so a friend, Margaret Bolger, who owns Artizania Vintage, asked me to come over the Specialist Auctions as the co-moderator of the vintage and antique section and I accepted.

Viviene: How is Specialist Auctions different from what you've dealt with at Ebay?

Marge: Well for one thing, there are moderators for each section. One of the responsibilities of the moderator is to police their section to make sure that what is offered is authentic. If we see an item that is a reproduction for example, we will contact the seller and have them move their item where it belongs.

Another thing that the moderators are doing in the vintage and antique clothing section is promoting the sellers of their category.

We have a myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/specialistauctionsvintage where we preview items in our sellers stores and listings. Each month we have a theme and present the items that are listed that pertain to that theme. Every seller we have has a different way of presenting their items. It's refreshing to see so many different ideas. We welcome anyone who would like to come over to the site and list items or even open a store if they wish.

I also have a blog called http://alwaysplayingdressup.blogspot.com/. I have been featuring interviews of different sellers at Specialist Auctions. This allows our potential customers and return customers to get to know the sellers better. It's also been very interesting for me to learn more about the sellers as well.

Viviene: What is another difference between Ebay and Specialist Auctions?

Marge: Well, a big difference is the fee schedule. Your listings on Ebay are charged for as are your store fees. Whether you sell an item or not you incur fees.

At Specialist Auctions, there are no listing fees or store fees. There is a flat rate valuation fee of 3% regardless of what your item sells for and that fee is only charged once you actually sell something. So if you have a store and list say 100 items and sell nothing you have no fees to pay.

Viviene: I understand you also have a contemporary store as well called Mirror Image Boutique.

Marge: Yes I do. I decided to branch out a bit and sell excellent quality modern clothing as well. Both my stores are located at Specialist Auctions and I also have my own website at http://www.borntoolatevintage.com and http://www.mirrorimageboutique.com.

Viviene: So come check out Marge's stores "Born Too Late Vintage" and "Mirror Image Boutique" at Specialist Auctions:

Today's Specialist Auctions interview is with Sara, owner of Yesterdays.

Viviene: How long have you been selling antiques and collectibles and
how did you choose vanity items specifically?

Sara: I have been a dealer in the antique & collectables trade for just over 15 years, but I started selling vanity items purely by accident. I was already trading at fairs and had been for about 5 years, and buying at auction, and was always on the lookout for something different. So when a job lot of girlie stuff turned up, I decided I HAD to have it so I bid and I won. I must have priced them way too low as the next fair I was at I sold ALL 15 compacts, ALL 10 perfume bottles, and various other powder boxes, dressing table sets etc. I thought hmm I'm onto something here, so picked up a couple of books, trawled the internet (although there wasn't much there 10 years ago!) and started paying real attention to the vanity sellers whilst I was at fairs etc. Then there was no stopping me!

Viviene: Once you learned more about your area of expertise did you join any
groups that pertain to your area?

Sara: Eventually I joined the BCCS (British Compact collectors Society) and I attend their annual convention, which is compact heaven for collectors and dealers alike. Their website is http://geoffpowell.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bccs02 . Before I knew it I was a specialist!

Viviene: Do you recall a piece that you bought for sentiment alone and if so
what happened to that piece?

Sara: I once purchased a rather sad specimen of a compact, and most dealers said "that won’t sell its damaged" as it was a silver & guilloche enamel example which was chipped. I didn't pay much for it, but I loved it because it had an inscription inside "To my darling Florrie - I will always remember Cairo - forever Yours Freddie 1940". Anyway, about a year later a young lady came to my stand and we were talking about compacts and she mentioned that her grandfather had given her gran one years ago but it got lost. She said she would love to find one like it to give her and on she went to describe what she was looking for. Well, I got my box of "also rans" out and pulled out the damaged compact which she thought looked like what her gran had described. Then I showed her the inscription and she nearly passed out as they were her grandparents names and her grandfather had been posted in Egypt during the war where he met her gran! I happily reunited her with the compact for what I had paid for it as the story was profit enough.

Viviene: Once the bug bit you did you expand your business into other areas?

Sara: I also branched out into barber shop collectables, so I could appeal to the men too, and I get some strange looks and comments when I am out buying at trade fairs etc when I ask the "best price" on a cut throat razor, or shaving set. I am now fascinated by the variety and beauty of some of these rather mundane items.

Viviene: Do you attend fairs and other shows in your area with your items?

Sara: I sell at various fairs around the country including Magnum Fairs at the Grange Midhurst - 1st Sunday Bi monthly (I am there this Sunday) and their fair at the Leisure Centre on Bank Holidaysin Winchester. I can be found at DMGs weekend fair at the Kent county show ground at Detling, and Shepton Mallet Flea Market at various dates throughout the year. I also do the odd fair up in Lincolnshire where my folks live so I do get around!

Viviene: How long as this been a passion for you?

Sara: About 10 years. So 10 years later a bid for something different has become a bit of an obsession - I love what I sell, as not only is there a vast array of items but they are all usable too (although I probably wouldn't use a vintage perfume!) and the bonus is I get to look at them and enjoy them all before I sell them.

Viviene: Where do you sell your vintage vanity and barbershop items?

Sara: I have a store called Yesterdays at Specialist Auctions where I am also the Moderator in the vintage vanity and barbershop category. I have my own web site http://mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/sara_compacts. I also have a unit at Dolphin Quay Antique centre. http://www.dolphin-quayantiques.co.uk/ . In addition I am also the Consultant for Vintage Powder Compacts for DK Collectables yearly publication.

Viviene: So come check out Sara's store at Specialist Auctions and Sara Compacts.