Spring is a time of renewal and change. And the same can be said of Born Too Late Vintage. We're opening an additional location at Ruby Lane and starting out with a sale!

So what are you waiting for?? Let's go shopping!

Well it's been a while since my last blog. I thought I had made the hard decision to close my vintage clothing business down, but wait! A cry went up from the next generation of Born Too Late Vintage owners. You see, I forgot about the fact that my daughters love vintage! They love the fabrics, the styles and the fact that they can mix and match vintage with their clothing from today. So I had to re-think closing up and decided to stay open. Like it or not, Born Too Late Vintage is part of my legacy to my daughters and so we must go on.

While I'm still selling the things I love the best (1960s and back), I'll be bringing you more of the 70s and 80s things that my girls love best. You might even see this model here, there and everywhere in my stores as well.




















So make sure to check out what's new at Born Too Late Vintage because the next generation is taking control!

It is with great sadness that I share with you that Robert McCardell, of Frederick, Maryland has passed away.

Mr. McCardell was very generous with his time back in August of 2007. He allowed me to interview him about his sister, the world renowned Claire McCardell, break out star of American Fashion.

Mr. McCardell was an absolute delight. I wrote a letter to Mr. McCardell seeking an interview with him about his sister, Claire. He was listed in the phone book of his home town. I presumed with smugness that Mr. McCardell would not have a computer so I chose to contact him via snail mail. Imagine my delight when Mr. McCardell emailed me and agreed to allow me to interview him about his sister, Claire.

Mr. McCardell gave of himself and his memories for our interview. I connected on a personal level with Mr. McCardell as he grew up and lived his entire life in the town that my mother grew up in. I visit his town twice a year to see my grandmother, aunt and uncles.

I just want to say to Mr. McCardell's family how sorry I am for their loss. Mr. McCardell could very easily have brushed aside my request. Instead he helped me learn more about his sister, Claire, and for that I will be forever grateful.

As a tribute I am running our interview for one last time.

Today we are featuring the designer credited as the inventor of ready-to-wear for women, Claire McCardell. My interest was piqued when I discovered through various information on the internet that Ms. McCardell was a native of Frederick, Maryland, the town where my mother grew up and where my grandmother, uncle and aunt still reside.

For a visual appreciation of Ms. McCardell's designs we recommend that our readers check out

The Metropolitan Museum Of Art

as well as the

Fashion Institute of Technology


There is a variety of information available on the internet about Ms. McCardell, some of which conflicts with other information available. In searching for clarification of this information I wrote to Claire McCardell's brother, Mr. Robert McCardell, age 94, who resides in Frederick, Maryland in the family home. Mr. McCardell graciously agreed to answer a few questions to help clarify things for us.

Marge: "How young was your sister, Claire, when she showed an interest in clothing design?"

Mr. McCardell: "Claire was interested in clothes from the time she was a little girl. Several times each year our mother had a seamstress spend a week at our house making clothing for the family. Claire spent a great deal of time sitting by the Singer Sewing machine watching "Miss Annie" make the pieces."

Marge: "What in particular do you believe led your sister, Claire, to choose a career in fashion design?"

Mr. McCardell: "The only reason I can think of is that she always loved clothes and fabric."

Marge: Claire attended Hood College in Frederick, Maryland and then the Parsons School of Design. What led to her decision to transfer to Parsons
rather than staying at Hood College?"

Mr. McCardell: "Claire wanted to go to New York at age 16 when she graduated from high school but our parents thought she was too young to go to the big city so she decided to go to Hood. She made terrible grades at Hood and finally after her sophomore year our mother and father decided to let her go to New York where she matriculated at the Parsons School of Design."

Marge: "Were there any designers that you know of that apprenticed with Claire that later went out on their own?"

Mr. McCardell: "There were several friends of Claire at Parsons who went out on their own but they did not seem to make the impression on the fashion world that Claire did. Robert Turk was the head designer at Townley and Claire was his assistant. He tragically died in a diving accident while swimming on vacation and the owner of Townley decided to give Claire a chance at head designer. This was her big break but she had the ability to make it pay off. Her clothes were labeled "Townley Frocks" until she won awards and her name came to be known in the fashion world, at which time her clothes were labeled "Claire McCardell". In the 2007 August issue of Vogue there is an article about Hollywood Hostess Connie Wald who, according to the article, was one of Claire's models."

Marge: Claire had a love of sports. What role did sports play for her?

Mr. McCardell: "Claire needed diversion from her grueling labor in fashions which she loved but on weekends and on vacations she would go skiing in foreign countries and spend time at her summer home on Fisher Island, NY and her farm in New Jersey. She was not athletically inclined."

Marge: "Are you surprised that all these years later your sister's clothes are coveted very much by vintage clothing aficionados?"

Mr. McCardell: "No, I am not surprised that her clothes are coveted very much by vintage clothes aficionados because she seemed to know what women wanted and she was noted for always being ahead of the current fashion. There is no telling how much farther she would have gone in the "rag trade" as they called the fashion world if she had not died at age 52 at the height of her career."

Mr. McCardell also commented: "Did you know there is a memorial to her in the sidewalk on Seventh Avenue in New York's fashion district? In Frederick on the east wall of the former Francis Scott Key Hotel, there is in process a memorial to internationally known Fredericktonions such as Francis Scott Key, Roger Brooke Taney, Patrick Dulaney, and Claire. It should be completed in the next month."

One important bit of information that Mr. McCardell imparted is this: "Several years ago (author's note: 1996) an outfit in New York produced some clothes with Claire McCardell's label. As soon as we found out about it they stopped production.. Hence, the trade mark on the use of her name. If you should purchase any of her originals make sure they are authentic and not poor "copies". "

Our research (thank you Elaine Schuster!) indicated that, if such a line was produced, it was in the spring and summer of 1996, after which the company went out of business. The family did challenge the label and the case was closed after the company went out of business.

We would like to thank Mr. Robert McCardell for taking the time to help us learn more about his sister, Claire McCardell.

A great way to verify whether you are buying a true Claire McCardell item is to check the Vintage Fashion Guild Label Resource.


The reference has many labels from many designers available for comparison and to assist in the dating process and to help assist in authenticating items as well.

Time's a wasting! Valentine's Day is only 13 days away! There's only one place to get that vintage gift for your sweetie! That's Specialist Auctions!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

Still looking for that Vintage Valentine's gift? Then take a look at another selection from Specialist Auctions!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

Looking for that Vintage Valentine's gift? Then make sure to check out the great selection at Specialist Auctions Vintage!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

"Oh the weather outside is frightful" but our coats are so delightful at Born Too Late Vintage! Come check out our annual coat sale!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

Need a pick me up on a cold winter's day? Then check out the fabulous hats at Born Too Late Vintage! Nothing over $20! What a deal!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

It's been said as the First Lady goes so does the nation go in the name of fashion. Michelle Obama has it all. She has a statuesque figure complimented by her beautiful skin, classic hairstyle and poise. What a pleasure it will be to dress her. Of course if I had my druthers she'd be wearing mostly vintage.

Of course a First Lady has no end of occasions to dress for and the fashion world will be keeping a close eye on what First Lady Michelle Obama decides to wear. I had a great time choosing some wonderful vintage fashions and vintage jewelry from Specialist Auctions Vintage that are guaranteed to make the most of our First Lady's fabulous figure!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

Vintage Purse picks from Specialist Auctions Vintage!




1. Vintage 1950s Cordovan Genuine Lizard Purse Handbag from Born Too Late Vintage

2. Vintage Tri Color Suede Handbag Purse Huge from DVG Vintage

3. Vintage 1960s Adrian Gold Cordoban Purse from Born Too Late Vintage

4. Vintage 50s 60s White Petite Bead Handbag Purse with Pink Embroidered Rosesfrom Wyoming Vintage

5. Vintage 60s Large MOD Vinyl Woven LOG Handbag Purse by Dobbie Bagsfrom The Merchants of Vintage

6. Antique Vintage 1900s Beaded Rose Floral Purse with Suede lining from Born Too Late Vintage

7. Vintage 30s Hand Beaded PAGODA Eve Purse Bag from The Merchants of Vintage

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

It's 2009 and time to put on your boogie shoes available at Specialist Auctions Vintage!



1. CHANEL Vintage 80s Crimson PYTHON Shoes Pumps 38½M
from Rising Phoenix

2. VINTAGE 50s PEASANT EMBROIDERED SHOES LEATHER VELVET from Poprocks And Soda Pop Vintage

3. Vintage 80s leather and suede shoes size 3 from Tinydancer01

4. 1980s VINTAGE 80s HOLIDAY RED SATIN BEADED PARTY HEEL SHOES 6
from Wyoming Vintage

5. VINTAGE 80s BLUE SATIN SHOES WITH RHINESTONE BOWS SIZE 12
from Mad Fashionista's Plus Size Boutique

6. Vintage 70s Silver Braided PLATFORMS Shoes NOS 7.5 B ITALY - PRICE REDUCED! from The Merchants of Vintage

7. ADRIANA FERRARI Vintage 80s White SNAKE ACCENT Peep Toe Stilleto Shoes Pumps 8M from Rising Phoenix

8. 1930s Vintage 30s Black Mesh War Era Chunky Heel Day Shoes 7.5 from Wyoming Vintage

9. VINTAGE 1970'S ITALIAN ALLIGATOR /CROCODILE COURT SHOES
from Rupert and Toby

10. Vintage 1940s 1950s Wing Step Black Leather & Mesh Swing Shoes Size 8 B from Born Too Late Vintage

11. Vintage 1960s Inspirations Rust Suede Pump Shoes from Born Too Late Vintage


So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

We're moving out our stock and passing on the savings to you! Here's only a small sample of what we have in store for you.

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

I remember from Christmas past the decorating of our family tree. My Mom would be in the kitchen baking cookies and making gravy (for you non-Italians that's sauce for ravioli, lasagna or spaghetti!). My Dad and my siblings and I would be in the living room decorating the tree. When we were too little to really help much I can remember my Dad making the tree look just right, even to the point of moving tinsel around so that it didn't look too clumpy.

As we got older, though, things changed. My Dad would set up the tree and get the lights wrapped on it. Then he would sit in his recliner and direct the decorating of the tree. He'd point out the spots that needed more decorations and we'd do his bidding. At the age of 13 I decided it was time to join my Mom in the kitchen and bake cookies. So my siblings continued to decorate the tree with Dad while I fled to the kitchen to spend time with Mom.

After we had all moved out my Dad took over decorating the tree alone again. One particular Christmas tree is very memorable, not for its beauty, but I'll get to that. Dad, being the engineer he was just had to have everything just right. He decided to take the garland and drape it on the tree so that there were diamond shaped boxes all over the tree. In each diamond shape box an ornament was hung.

I can say without doubt that this was the ugliest Christmas tree any of us had seen, but all Dad could see was the symmetry. When I had finished looking at the tree I went out where my Mom was again baking cookies. I sat down and asked her why she never decorated the tree and spent her time baking cookies (I might also add that when I was younger and helped her bake cookies I was allowed to cut them out but she decorated them).

She told me that there are just some things that a husband and wife are not meant to do together and in their household that thing was decorating the tree. When they were first married they had a Christmas tree decorated in silver and blue ornaments and it was beautiful. The next year they had their first child (me) and my Dad insisted on bringing some bright color to the tree. From that point forward the Christmas tree became my Dad's domain and my Mom channeled her creativity into other things (matching Mom and daughter dresses come to mind as well as Mom designing the programs for the local hospital auxiliary ball and of course baking cookies).

A few years later I married my DH. I thought he was about as different from my Dad as night and day. But then Christmas came. My artificial tree was found lacking so off we went to K-Mart to buy a new tree. Lo and behold K-Mart had a blue light special on Christmas trees while we were in the store so we bought a new tree. The lights were wrapped around each branch so that the wires didn't show. Newly purchased ornaments were hung on the tree (DH is colorblind so ornaments with their varying textures catch his eye more than Christmas balls). It was our first Christmas tree together and while it wasn't necessarily to my taste it was pretty.

As time went on and we moved to a two family house, Christmas decorating took on a new life. Lights were purchased. Each year (we've been married 25 years) we take a trip to Fountains of Wayne in Wayne, NJ to buy another piece for our Christmas display. When we purchased our home 20 years ago, we went all out and are now the proud owners of a full size nativity set (minus the camel that someone stole), Rudolph and 8 other matched reindeer pulling a Santa sled (of course the deer are attached to our deck to look like they are actually lifting off the ground), a North Pole sign, a snowman, two penguins and candy canes.

We've run the gamut of live versus artificial tree from year to year. Since our daughters were born we've had more live trees than artificial. Real trees bear the weight of our tree climbing cats far better than our artificial tree (the tree has a wire wrapped around the trunk and is hooked to two eye loops in the wall).

So what was I doing while DH and our daughters were decorating the tree? Yes you guessed it. I was out in the kitchen making Christmas cookies. I've relinquished my tree duty to my daughters. I have to say that while I thought I was marrying a man completely different from my Dad I did just the opposite. DH is just as obsessed with decorating the house and tree correctly as my Dad was. And somehow there is a lot of comfort in that.

Picks of the Week from Specialist Auctions Vintage



1. Black lace evening dress and matching jacket, c. late 1930s available at Kickshaw Productions

2. Vintage 40s STUNNING CEIL CHAPMAN Beaded/Sequin Crepe Evening Dress S available at Rising Phoenix

3. 50s Vintage Emma Domb Cinderella Gown Sequin Halter w/Pink & Blue Prom Dress S/M available at Wyoming Vintage

4. Vintage 60s Silk Chiffon Ruched Evening Dress XS, S Petite, Handkerchief hem available at The Merchants of Vintage

5. Vintage 1980s Black & Blue Glitter Dress B34 W32 H38 available at Born Too Late Vintage

Here's just a small selection of what's available at Born Too Late Vintage!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!

Born Too Late Vintage is having the sale to end all sales and will be closing its doors.

So if you love vintage clothing and accessories it's time to grab a bargain. Don't forget to use that haggle button!

Thank you to our many customers who have made it a pleasure to do business.

Born Too Late Vintage will be closing its doors.

So if you love vintage clothing and accessories it's time to grab a bargain. Don't forget to use that haggle button!

Thank you to our many customers who have made it a pleasure to do business.

Come to Love Train Vintage and check out our $20 or less category!

There's just something really sexy about a hat. See that sharp dressed man in the fedora with the perfect pocket square, spit polished shoes and debonair air? What about that woman in full bloom looking well loved in a pillbox? Nothing says sexy like a great hat.

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!



and

Need a gift for that sharp dressed man? Then check out what Born Too Late Vintage has to offer. Vintage and modern gifts priced to fit your budget!

So what are you waiting for? Let's go shopping!