This is an open letter to vintage clothing sellers and vintage buying customers everywhere. Regardless of whether you sell or buy at Specialist Auctions, Main Street Mall Online, Babylon Mall, Etsy, Wagglepop or have your own website most of us have either sold or bought vintage on Ebay.

Unfortunately pricing changes and the inability to leave valuable feedback has many of us trying to decide how to proceed.

Four times a year the Vintage clothing sellers of Ebay have a VBO sale. Items are priced $19.99 and under. It allows the sellers and customers to both benefit. This year due to the changes in pricing on Ebay the sellers will make less than they ever have from VBO.

At Specialist Auctions we are hosting a VBOE sale. This stands for Vintage Buy Out sale. This is for the sellers who can't afford to do business like this anymore. It provides everyone an alternative place to list their items with no listing fees, no store fees and a final valuation fee of only 3%.

By listing your VBOE items on Specialist Auctions in the next week and a half the items will upload to Google base (fixed price listings are uploaded every Monday) prior to the date of the sale (February 14 through the 21st). By using the keyword search VBOE our customers will be able to find what we have to offer.

The free listings and free stores are not a promotion. It is always that way at Specialist Auctions. You only pay your FVF of 3% when your sale is completed. You can invoice people via Google checkout, cash, check, money order and a whole host of other payment sites. You can also accept payment through Paypal if you wish.

So if you'd like to make some money without it costing you a fortune this sale is a great alternative. Below are listed logos which can be used by anyone participating in the sale. Make sure you put VBOE as the first four characters in your listing title (you have 80 spaces to work with).

Feel free to list Non VBOE items as well. Customers like to combine shipping when they are able to.





















So come on over to Specialist Auctions and sign up!

Valentines Day is coming up and what better way to treat yourself or the woman you love than with a gorgeous vintage dress, jewelry or underpinnings from Specialist Auctions Vintage. We have a wide variety of dresses, underpinnings and jewelry to fulfill your wardrobe fantasies.

Check out these fabulous dresses from
Bodaciously Yours Vintage


VINTAGE 40s PINK COTTON STRIPED LACE TRIM DRESS M


VINTAGE PURPLE & RED BOBBLE-TRIM WOOL KNIT DRESS XL B42


We also have this fabulous slip and necklace from eHappy Vintage



Vintage 50's Pin Up Van Raalte Red & Black Embroidered Suavette Nylon Slip S



Vintage West Western Germany Amber Glass Confetti Lucite Necklace Bead Choker


Or check out these scrumptious dresses from Vintage Vineyard


Vintage 60s R&K Originals Blue & Green Daisy Dress B34


VTG 80s Ivory Silk Gold Sequins Glass Beads Dress


Now we don't want to forget the gentlemen on this day so check out the fabulous fashions at
a'Venir Fashions



Authentic 60's 2pc Suit bespoke Pete Campbell madmen approx. size 44 tall


Fleet Street Custom vintage Suit brown 70s bespoke

and what's a beautiful suit without a classic fedora to top it all off from
Born Too Late Vintage


Vintage 1950s Dobbs Twenty Fedora Hat Size 7 1/4



Vintage 1950s Lee Fifth Avenue Fedora Hat Sz 7 3/8



So whatever tickles your fancy come check out the fabulous vintage clothing and accessories at
Specialist Auctions Vintage

What really makes an outfit come to life? Is it the outfit itself or is it what we adorn ourselves with to contrast or match an outfit that does the trick?


While some clothing items need no adornment (think Ossie Clark crepe moss maxis), some things are just made for accessories (consider the Jackie Kennedy style New Look suit). What would that suit be without a gorgeous pillbox hat to go with it or a great pair of stilletoes with a matching Kelly bag?


Whatever look you're aiming for we have it for you at Specialist Auctions Vintage. Our sellers have a wide variety of items just waiting for you. What do you have that would go with....


Mojogeno Vintage and Collectibles






What's a classic outfit without a smashing pair of shoes and a great looking purse from Wyoming Vintage in hot looking red?

Still, if these items are not your style we have still more accessories like these

hats from Wyo Gems Vintage

Or this great collection of hats from Bodaciously Yours Vintage

Maybe purses are your passion and if so then DVG Vintage is the place to fulfill

your handbag fantasies with these lovelies!

These are just a few of the sellers at Specialist Auctions Vintage

so make sure and take a virtual shopping trip with us very soon. You'll

be glad you did!

So have you found your dream outfit yet? No! Well come on over and take a look at what the wonderful sellers at Specialist Auctions have for you! They cover the 1920s all the way through to the 1980s! If you want it they've got it. Looking for something you don't see listed? Then sign up as a member of the site (free) and tell us what you're looking for!

Now here's just a smattering of what we've got to get your mouth watering!


Red Box Vintage


ROSE PRINT Vintage 50's RED Roses HALTER Party Dress



ORGANZA ROSES *Vintage 50's ILLUSION Bubble Party Dress


Alley Cats Vintage



Vintage 1950s Blue Butterfly Rockabilly Shirtwaist Dress by L'Aiglon B 40


Vintage 40s Navy Blue Rayon Swing Dress B 40


Nelda's Vintage


Halvor McGarth Vintage 1950s Dress



Vintage 1950s Black Net Dress



Fuzzylizzie Vintage


Vintage Early 1950s Strappy Sandals



Vintage 1950s Black & White Print Gathered Circle Skirt


So check out Specialist Auctions for the best in vintage wear! You'll be glad you did!

While I was away on vacation a reader named John left a comment for me which stated:

Hello Viviene,

While your blog's theme is not really up my ally, it is clearly well done. I came across it while doing a Google search for information on cravats.I have some cravat questions, if you have time for them. What style shirts and jackets are acceptable for wearing a cravat? I would like to start wearing them for casual/semi-formal security related work overseas. Any recommendations on solid colors vs. patterns, and ways of tying them? If it matters, I tend to wear brown/gold sunglasses, and wearing a vest is not an option. Thanks Viviene.

Well John I appreciate the compliment. Since I don't wear cravats I decided to ask the gentlemen of Specialist Auctions who have worn or wear cravats to answer your questions. This is what they had to say:

From Sutrinalta Thom, simply - "one of the finest painters that`s still alive...":

I was given a couple many moons ago by a dear old lady by the name of Joyce C. who lived near Brighton. The pair I was given had patterns that were akin to tri colour silk ties, two lines of colour on one colour, and I was told by J.C. that I should only wear these with white shirts. They were not meant to be tied but pinned with a cravat pin. The pair I had were beautiful, 1920`s, for some reason I seem to remember them being styled by Mappin & Webb. I hope this helps.

From Braccles7:

Unfortunately I only had the two cravats which were owned by my grandfather and they have both sold on here. I remember he used to wear them (in the 1950's) with Harris tweed type jackets but can't remember anything about the shirts he chose.

From Bob:

LESSON ONE - HOW TO TIE A CRAVAT - FORMAL LOOK
1. Drape around your neck and take short end in your left hand (if you’re right handed).

2. Cross long end over short end.

3. Bring long end underneath short end.

4. … and wrap over again.

5. Bring the long end up through the loop you’ve created.

6. ... and if you want a self tie cravat, just bring the long end down, tighten the knot and secure with a cravat pin or pearl headed corsage pin if you have one or adjust the cravat for the 'look' you are trying to achieve.

LESSON TWO- HOW TO TIE A CRAVAT - INFORMAL LOOK
Day cravats are suitable for wearing beneath a shirt, and make a fashionable alternative to wearing a tie. They are very easy to tie, just a simple end over end knot is needed, and then simply shape the cravat to suit.

LESSON THREE - CHOOSING AND WEARING A CRAVAT
Now, this really is down to the wearer and their personality. Cravats can be worn with plain, striped or check shirts, my own preference is for a fairly subtle pattern with a bolder stripe or check and and a bolder cravat with a plainer shirt - simple ehh!.

In general terms a day or informal cravat is worn inside the shirt and outside for formal wear. Formal cravats are nearly always either plain or extremely subtle patterns.
At the end of the day it is how comfortable the wearer is and confident in their choice.
There really are no rules other than to be confident and happy with your choice!

By the way, if you find it difficult to tie a tie well - for example, a Windsor knot, you may well get very frustrated with a cravat which is of course, shorter and wider than a tie and more difficult to get just right. If this is you, then there are an increasing number of ready tied cravats available which you might like to consider!

Regards,
Bob

I hope this helps you out John. If you have further questions don't hesitate to get in touch. Thanks very much to the gentlemen of Specialist Auctions for their assistance on the art of the cravat!

Born Too Late Vintage now has the best selection of plus size Viva Las Vegas dress patterns that you've ever seen as well as the best in plus size vintage patterns period.


Vintage 1950s Newspaper Pattern 4722 Sun Dress
size 20 Plus Size VLV Uncut



Vintage 1954 Simplicity Pattern 4709 Dress & Bolero
size 22 1/2 Plus Size



Vintage 1950s Simplicity Pattern 3443 Dress sz 20 1/2



Vintage 1956 Advance Pattern 7984 Size 18 1/2 Dress



But wait! If you're not a plus size we also have vintage Viva Las Vegas patterns for all figure sizes!


Vintage 1955 Simplicity Pattern 1160 Dress 14



Vintage 1950s Simplicity Pattern 1762 Suit sz 13



Vintage 1960s Butterick Pattern 2237 Dress size 14 VLV



Vintage 1954 Simplicity Pattern 4713 Dress size 14 VLV


This is only a very small sample of what we have available so come check out our vintage patterns and clothing!

Today we're continuing our visit to the 70s with more maxi dresses from Specialist Auctions Vintage!

Wyogems Vintage





METALLIC GLITTER LAME COSMIC FLORAL
GLAM MAXI DRESS M





70s BRIGHT Rebecca COUNTRY GIRL
PINAFORE MAXI DRESS S




VTG 70s ROSE MAXI SUN DRESS
CANDI JONES CALIFORNIA S




Fuzzy Lizzie Vintage



Travilla Floral Chiffon Casual
Evening Dress ~ 70s


Born Too Late Vintage



Vintage 1970s Brown Floral Halter
Maxi Patio Gown




Vintage 1970s Peggy Barker Peasant
Maxi Patio Dress B 32




Vintage 1970s Black Crepe Like
Maxi Coat B34 W 38


So for all your 70s needs come check out Specialist Auctions Vintage!