Entries Tagged as 'Vintage'

Thursday, February 3, 2011 by Belle

Faux Pas: Free People and the 40 Thieves

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My Twitter followers know how much I love Etsy and in particular, the Etsy vintage shop Dear Golden. Her fabulous, well-edited collection of vintage items never fails to yield a lust-worthy item (or several). Her shop )and a handful of others on Etsy) are so successful, that they’ve spawned corporate imitators.

Earlier this week, the shop owner at Dear Golden tweeted the link to Free People’s new (?) Vintage Loves section where shoppers can purchase items from a “treasure chest of exclusive finds.” For the privilege of buying one of the retailer’s unique (ha!) vintage selections, however, you will pay through the nose. Few items are less than $100, and most hover in the $150 to $250 range.

The first time I flipped through the site, I was shocked by the absurdity of the prices. But more than that, I was horrified by the number of items that were marked as sold. Is it possible that a legion of women, flush with cash, are being lured into the corporate clutches, completely unaware that these items (or something VERY similar) can be purchased for much less elsewhere online?

To illustrate my point, let’s play a little game. I’ve pulled the photos of three items from the site, and then used Etsy to find a reasonably-priced facsimile of each piece.

Sequin Ballerina Maxi (Free People, $158)

Full Length Sequin Skirt (WanderLost, $50)

Why pay three times more when you can buy the Etsy one and have it altered to your liking and still save fifty-percent?

Vintage Needlepoint Bag (Free People, $282)

Needlepoint Bag (Etsy, $55)

Not enough needle point on this bag for you? This clutch is $78 and this heavily stitched purse is $65.

But remember the Free People products are “exclusive finds” not easily procured via simple Google search or Estate Sale trip…

Vintage Sequin Cropped Jacket (Free People, $248–Sold)

Vintage Sequin Cropped Jacket (Bohemian Bisoux, $68)

The jackets are nearly identical. In fact, I’m tempted to write the seller and ask if it’s the same maker as the Free People jacket. But even if they’re just fraternal twins, how does Free People get away with charging four times the price? Stupid people, that’s how.

I am blown away by the insanity of this exercise. These are just three items, but I could do the same thing for any item on the Free People site and find a similar item that costs 50 to 80-percent less.

If you want the vintage look, stay away from Free People and stick to eBay, Etsy and your local thrift store. Because buying your vintage from a corporate conglomerate and paying four times as much for the privilege is just incompetent.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010 by Belle

Fall 2010: Vintage Outerwear

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Once upon a time, women dressed up to for work, for play and for everyday errands. Once upon a time, every outfit included jewelry, hats, scarves, sunglasses and gloves. And once upon a time, a chic piece of outerwear wasn’t a privilege, it was a birthright. Fashionable women didn’t just own one coat, they owned several in different colors and styles. Once upon a time…

This Fall, instead of buying a generic black overcoat from the mall, think about doing something radical like buying a vintage coat with a little pop. Here are some stylish examples from my favorite online retailer, Etsy.

Lilli Ann Yarn Collar Coat ($450)

Valentino Mulberry Coat ($325)

Deadstock Trench Poncho ($60)

Mustard Wool Coat ($185)

Pale Almond Cape ($205)

Avant Garde Wool Coat ($88)

Thursday, June 17, 2010 by Belle

Faux Pas: One Vintage, One Problem

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It never ceases to amaze me what people will spend hard earned money to own. And unlike many fashionistas, I would never consider spending more than $500 for any item of clothing that wasn’t a wedding dress. And even then, there would be mass hesitation.

It’s not that I don’t think the pricey designer fashions are beautiful because very often, they are. It’s that I question the…well, I question the priorities and ethics of women who regularly spend more than a grand on a single item of clothing. So while I love Balmain, Valentino, Chris Benz and others, I don’t think I could plunk down that much money for a single piece of clothing without feeling like a bad person.

But at least if I was buying Lanvin, I would have my beautiful silk bustier dress to comfort me. So I ask you: What the hell is the excuse for spending $2,000 on this monstrosity?

One Vintage Jess Dress (Net-a-Porter, $2,020)

It looks like a tablecloth! And if you really wanted a vintage, cotton, floral-printed maxi dress you can find one on etsy for $38! How do these people get away with this?

The business model of One Vintage is simple: Find a piece in a vintage store that looks unique, jack up the price to some insane amount to make rich people with no common sense think it’s super special, and then get Net-a-Porter to sell it for you as an exclusive service. And despite all reason, people pay these prices. Talk about having your priorities out of whack.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010 by Belle

Embrace Your Inner Nixon

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When you think of First Ladies with style, you probably think of Jackie Kennedy and Michelle Obama. If you’re really into European politics, you might toss in Carla Bruni for good measure. But when asked to think beyond the obvious selections to come up with some other political fashionistas, few (if any) of us would toss out Pat Nixon‘s name. Except fashion designer Chris Benz.

Inspired by mid-century style and Pat Nixon’s sense of fashion, Benz created a resort collection that is simply to die for. The pieces are bohemian meets structured chic, and they are lust-worthy. They are also impossibly expensive, but since I’m still hoping my sugar daddy will miraculously appear, so a girl can dream.

This dress would be perfect for a woman with a small bust and larger hips, which just happens to describe my body type. Imagine that? I also really love the combination pale blue, shimmering white and copper. It’s a soft and modern color palette that would work on many skin tones.

Look for Nicole Richie to show up in this dress on a red carpet soon. The breezy, flowing silhouette is very bohemian, however, I’m not sure how the higher waist line would look on a woman who actually eats more than 1,200 calories per day. That being said, the mix of black, white and blush is one of my favorite color palettes.

At first glance, this look is just basic black. But if you look closer you’ll notice the way that Benz used texture and proportion to create a look that is far beyond basic. The styling of this outfit is also making me think that maybe I need a pair of Ray-Ban Wayfarer’s and some ankle cuff sandals.

Next to the satin gown with yellow trim, this look is my favorite. I love the way the drapey top just skims the body. And with its elbow length sleeve and obi cinched waist, this dress would be flattering on a number of different figures. If anyone out there is feeling generous, feel free to send me a little present (*wink*).

Thursday, June 10, 2010 by Belle

Belle's DearGoldenVintage Favorites

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Over the past few months, I have become a bit of an Etsy.com addict. And while navigating Etsy is a bit like walking down U Street at 1:00 AM on a Saturday morning–wading through the weird and creepy in search of a gem–you can find something wonderful if you are willing to search.

One of the site’s best kept secrets is DearGoldenVintage. This well-edited collection of vintage styles is filled with pretty, prim pieces that would add a touch of style and sweetness to any Capitol Hill wardrobe. And unlike many vintage stores on the site, the prices won’t make your eyes bulge out of your head like a cartoon character.