The Best of 2010...

aureliaLT

When I decided to make this post I had no idea how many memories I would have as I looked back on all of our sales for the year 2010. Here it goes...
**MY FAVORITE ITEM IN 2010 NOT IN OUR SHOP (but wish they were) AWARD goes to these Gorgeous Black Handmade Felted Mittens from aureliaLT,because I wish I had thought of making them...warm, vintage looking and raw egdes...absolutely to die for.
**MY FAVORITE BAG IN 2010 AWARD goes to this unique bohemian leather tooled number, because I will probably never find another one like it and probably should have kept it.
**MY FAVORITE DRESS IN 2010 AWARD goes to this bohemian (there's that word again) sundress,
words can not explain my joy when I found it.
**MY FAVORITE BAG 2010 AWARD ... oh yeah...I already chose one, but this one is a tight second to the previous one because of the size and practicality of it...that's right practicality.
**MY FAVORITE SHIRT (by far) 2010 AWARD goes to this beautiful pink, cotton, embroidered top from India. They don't make them like this anymore. I also love the model wearing it.
**MY FAVORITE CROCHETED WHITE DRESS 2010 AWARD ... oh yeah...I mean the only white crocheted dress in 2010, because I will never find one like this ever again...so beautiful. My only consolation is I know it went to a good home.
**MY FAVORITE SWEATER 2010 AWARD goes to this absolutely incredible wool cardigan with the cutest intarsia village knitted into it. Right out of a fairy tale.
**MY FAVORITE COAT 2010 AWARD goes to this stunning 70s camel wool, trench coat. At the time it was my most expensive sale yet, check out the pockets...LOVE LOVE!
**MY FAVORITE SHOES 2010 AWARD goes to these unbelievable ankle boots. If they had been my size I would have certainly called them my own...alas my feet were too big, but Sarah was the lucky buyer and kindly sent me a picture to thank me.

As I was going through all these sales I not only remembered selling them I also remembered when I found almost every one. I counted selling 150 pairs of shoes and 30 bags and 220 pieces of clothing. I learned more than I can say about taking pictures, pricing items and organizing a warehouse full of clothes which will make the year 2011 even better. I got a smart phone, learned how to text, started a blog and found out I enjoy twittering. Goodbye to old friends and hello to new ones.

Cyber Weekend Sale-

http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintageurbanrenewal

 
Check out our shop this weekend when we will be having a a great SALE

FREE SHIPPING on $100 worth of items

or

HALF OFF SHIPPING when you buy two items

Anywhere in the world----11/26/10-11/29/10

Kooza Costumes...

Whenever I see a movie, a play or stage performance my mind is always admiring and taking in the costumes. This weekend my family and I went to see Cirque de Soleil-Kooza in Portland. I sat there in awe of the performers, the set and the music. If you are not familiar with Cirque de Soleil, all I can say is GO AND SEE IT! This particular show had a Moroccan influence in the set and the music as well as the musicians costumes. A large tent was created on stage that was made of handpainted, gauzey, sheer fabric in muted lavenders and maroon colors. The costumes reflected the grandeur with gauzey, sheer dresses in the same color palette with halter tops and flowey tent style skirts. Very bohemian and beautiful without being overly glitzy. I tried to find pics to post, of these dresses, to no avail. I did find however a picture of one of our favorite acrobats wearing an amazing bodysuit stenciled with lace tattoos. I kept thinking, someone will love this so much they will go out and have their entire body tatted that way. As I was researching these costumes I find out some very interesting statistics on Cirque de Soleil:

-The costumes have a lifespan of 20 shows, with multiple costumes per performer costing about $10000 to produce.

-the BEATLES LOVE show in Las Vegas has 2500 costumes and uses 300 wigs

-Since the start of LOVE in 2006 they have gone through 6000 costumes

-Many special effects are built in to costumes, such as the Pig costume in LOVE gets blown up with air every performance prior to coming on stage.

-there is a studio in Montreal where most of the Canadian cirque costumes are made, they source fabric from all over the world, most are handpainted and custom dyed as well as the sets.

On the Ledge...

Three Pairs Vintage Shoes, originally uploaded by vintage urban renewal.

Catch these three great new additions coming soon...Minetonka moccasins, white huarache's with a heel, black ankle boots.
Buy these upcoming items @ our shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintageurbanrenewal

Upcoming Bohemian Leather Finds

Upcoming Bohemian Leather Finds, originally uploaded by vintage urban renewal.

Soon to be appearing on the etsy stage... Don't miss out on two fabulous large leather briefcase/luggage bags, wingtips, oxfords, ankle boots, needlepoint purses and more. Buy these upcoming items @ our shop:
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintageurbanrenewal

Blame Etsy...

I really have to give blame where blame is due... and that is to etsy because I have been so busy just keeping up with my sales and convos I have not had enough time to keep up with all the things I want to write about on this blog. I can blame etsy for giving me the opportunity to connect with people about something that I am truly passionate about. I have sold on other sites and without naming names or putting them down, I just want to say there is just a friendly, supportive attitude towards sellers as well as buyers on etsy. I blame etsy for connecting with people who shop on etsy, because they are passionate about buying what they love and are interested in finding out more about it. Everyone is not just looking for the best bargain they can find, they are looking for a good product and someone they can trust to sell it to them. I wish I had more time to keep up and maybe some day I will, but right now I guess I will just blame etsy.

What Do I Look for When Buying Vintage...

I have finally gotten a chance to sit down and answer the question I get asked all the time... What do you look for when your buying vintage? Well for me that question changes with the seasons, what is trending now and what catches my eye at a particular moment. Lately I would categorize my finds as Romantic Bohemian with a little touch of France thrown in. I have also been on the look out for a few specific things lately:

#1 Striped Navy and White Tops (must be the French in me)

#2 Wooden Platform Sandals from the 70s ( the higher the better)

#3 Leather or Straw Bags (Bucket Bags - large-large-large)

#4 Anything with Lace (especially dresses and pastel shades)

I love, love the 70s bohemian style of just about anything and find myself constantly buying pieces even if they are a little distressed. Sometimes distressed items feel more authentic to me (ie. leather, suede). Leather, linen and natural fibers and muted pastel colors attract me every single time. Next week I will be doing a photo shoot with my most favorite Spring 70s dresses.

Fashion Week Could Be Boring...

I was cruising through pictures of Fashion Week and just loved Calvin Klein designer, Francisco Costa's group of dresses. Beautiful muted, neutral tones of pinks, tans, taupe and white in a simple tank dress. You think this could be boring... but look at the sheerness of the fabric with the slight shimmer as the light catches it, as well as the way he pieces the garments together to create pattern and fit. The weight of the material is so light n'airy that it creates a drapey, flowey feeling to the garment. The ruffles and torn edges give them a textural dimension. These are anything but boring!

So this dress created by Jolis Paons out of phone book paper is my new inspiration for dressing some of my mannequins in Urban Renewal and in my etsy shop vintageurbanrenewal. Please check out her Flickr photostream http://www.flickr.com/photos/jolispaons/2447284360/, she is amazing! While your at it please check out my Flickr Lookbook http://www.flickr.com/photos/vintageurbanrenewal/ where you will see upcoming items that will be posted to my store soon... you may just see a paper creation of my own.

clearing out ... to make room for new...

Just thought I would put up a few pics of my boutique for everyone to see. This building has fabulous windows and was and old print shop. It was built in 1910 and has lots of vintage charm.

So I know I am slacking on putting my Spring items on etsy, but I need to clear out inventory so I can make room for the new. In the next few days I will be putting on as many items as I can. Look for ... dresses, sweaters, jackets and shoes.

Growing Pains...

Don't you just love these Burberry Ads?!!!!!!

I am new to this whole blogging thing.... so I have decided to use this as somewhat of a diary of sorts.

Today I packed up all of my inventory and moved it out of my house and to my store. Being a mom and owning a business has taught me:

#1 That My family is #1.

#2 It does not work well when you mix business with home.

If you own your own business you are nodding your heads right now in agreement. Trying to balance both parts of my life is what led me to sell on etsy. To grow my business both at my boutique and online I realize once you reach a certain amount of success you must make some hard decisions. Inventory management of my boutique is what brought me to etsy. I thought it would be a good way to get rid of excess inventory...what I have found is that I love the idea of creating an online store (much like my brick and mortar store) with it's own identity and feeling, rather than just sell what I am trying to get rid of.

So I went out and bought a brand new camera and have set out on a journey I never intended on taking. In the next few weeks I will be trying different ways of shooting items on mannequins as well as models and grouping items in different ways. Such as getting ready for Spring with long, 70's, bohemian maxi dresses and bright, 80's, colors and prints, which are two of my favorite fashion styles. I will be testing out different ways of catagorizing my items---

By the decade: mod 60's-bohemian 70's -retro 80's

By the item: dresses- skirts- tops

I am also thinking I might suggest pairing one of my dresses with a necklace, hat or accessory from someone elses store.

And who knows if any of this will get done in the next couple of weeks since I have to do taxes, sew costumes for my daughter's upcoming play Prince and the Pauper, go on a buying trip oh yeahh ....and did I mention be a mom and a wife?

Oh well thanks for listening I'm sure it will all get done eventually.