If you've shopped on ebay, you've seen her auctions. Floozees Vintage - has been selling on ebay since January 1997 and has over 40,000 transactions! She's been a longtime favorite of mine, I've bought several cute dresses from her over the years, and I've been outbid many times by her other loyal fans. Her auctions start low, and her fixed store prices are very reasonable. She's definately someone that you want to put on your favorites list so that you can check out the store regularly.
So this seasoned Vintage Clothing selling pro was an easy choice when I was deciding who I wanted to interview for the blog. I sent Jill a list of questions, and here are her replies -
1. Please give a brief history of how you ended up selling vintage clothing -
Jill: Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth aka Before Ebay, I was a picker for a vintage clothing dealer in Dallas and a few of her friends. I've worn vintage since High School. I wore 40s and 50s suits to work. The quality and workmanship can so rarely be found in more modern clothing, plus it fit my body type.
2. What kind of vintage clothing can customers find in your store -
Jill: Floozeesvintage sells wearable vintage from the 1930s-1980s. I've expanded to include more 70s and 80s as that has been more of the trend. I'd prefer to only sell designer 30s-50s but let's face it, it's harder than ever to FIND and we like to pay the mortgage and eat. I hate to admit it, but more of the 70s and 80s stuff has grown on me, it's what I came of age wearing. Some of the prints are great. You have to smile when you just look at them.
3. Do you have a philosophy on buying, collecting or selling vintage clothing -
Jill: Buy it to wear because you LOVE it and it makes you happy! If you're wearing vintage, chances are pretty good that you won't see the same outfit on someone else.
5. What makes you excited about vintage clothing, what keeps you interested in it?
Jill: The Thrill of the hunt, the huge adreline rush before the doors open and closets are yet unexplored. Let's face it, sleeping in my truck on a Wed night in January in Mn ,parked in front of an estate sale is not as much fun as it sounds...
I'm partial to killer 40s suits and print dresses with interesting details. I love handknits from the 30s and 40s-think of the labor of love it involved from a previous generation.
6. What sort of items do you collect personally - vintage clothing, antiques, weird stuff or otherwise -
Jill: I collect manniquin heads, manniquin sewing dolls, art nouveau and art deco lamps, cottage needlework from the 40s, 40s suits and handknits(LOVE old knitting pattern books).
7. What are your future plans, where do you see yourself in 2-3 years with selling Vintage?
Jill: Someday soon, I'd like to get my website up and not just picture storage for ebay items! I'd like to add a few more shows now that my son is older and I can be away from home for more extended periods of time.
8. List all of the places where you sell - online, walk-in shops, events, shows -
Jill: Ebay, shows, walk-in shop.
9. Do you have a blog - Jill: No. I adore Dress a Day!!
10. What other groups or social networks do you belong to - (myspace, stylehive, stylefeeder, polyvore, flickr, facebook etc.) List them all -
Jill: I'm not a joiner, have trouble keeping up with my laundry.
11. Show me a few of your favorite items that you currently have for sale and explain what you like the most about them -
Jill: Gosh, just started a sale for the Holiday weekend and things have been flying out of the store. I can't believe this is still here:
50s BOMBSHELL beaded SWEATER GAL dress 42-34-42 - Jill: It's loomed, not knit in a nubby rayon/cotton blend. What a great dress for a special event. It's got all the bells and whistles and is a wearable size too.
40s SWING GAL navy wool Coat w/ICE CUBE buttons 36 - JIll: 40s navy blue wool Coat is pretty darn cute too
Jill currently has over 1400 items in her Floozees Vintage ebay store, 900 of those are Vintage Clothing, 400 are vintage patterns, plus there are many other other goodies. Stores items are currently 25% off for the holiday weekend.
Plus, at auction, there are a bunch of late 1950s to 1960s 'Modern Beauty Shop' magazines - which look like they are great resources for creating vintage hairstyles!
Thank you Jill!
I hope everyone enjoys the interview. Watch for the next one!
Bye for now, Carol
http://www.dandelionvintage.com/
I have always wondered where those advertising illustrators of the 50's and 60's got the models to draw for shoe advertisments. You know the ones, the carefree looking gal with the pageboy haircut. She wears peddlepushers tight to her legs, One leg kicked up behind, her other leg on tiptoe and appearing to be floating in mid-air. What kind of woman was she really, did she really fit into those long skinny pointed shoes?
I came across an ad for Edith Henry Shoes long narrow slim pumps. The lady they used in this ad was real but her shoes didn't look long and slim to me. I have a pair of Edith Henry pumps listed and they aren't long and narrow. They are cute, real person shoes. But the Edith Henry ad states "The touch of Edith Henry can be yours in any of these sizes:2 1/2 to 14 AAAAAAA to C", ( yes 7A's!). Its amazing to think of shoes that narrow. And just what is a 7A's shoe?
Well after all my years of wondering about this illustrated model with the skinny feet I finally came across what must have been her shoes. A pair of skinny, pointed, white cotton canvas sneakers. I came home laying them on the table. I decided to leave them there to ponder over them some more.
Coming in for a visit, my sister picked them up and exclaimed they were creepy! Creepy? Why? She could only think of a woman with her feet flopping madly around long and slim, with long bony toes shaped to points. She pictured boney legs that held these flopping feet. The thought then crossed her mind, what if she got a bunion did it throw her off completely? What happened to the woman with these feet when she got pregnant? Did the law of gravity tip her over sideways? Or did the length of her foot keep her up? Did her feet help her with swimming? Did she skim across a pool quickly with her feet flopping madly slapping the water? Was she really happy and carefree as the ads made her seem, or was she in pain from her skinny feet? Did she play tennis? And if she did, what happened to her feet when she jumped down on them? I imagine her teetering back and forth.
What one gal finds creepy another finds fascinating!
If you wish to purchase these sneakers I am selling them on the babylon mall.
Vintage Late 50's White Canvas Single Tie Sneakers Shoes Long Narrow 6
Vintage 1940's 1950's Two Tone Edith Henry Buckle Bow Shoes
ChiChiChambers
Lulu asked her blog readers to vote for their favorite vintage websites. And the winners are...
Dorothea's Closet Vintage
Sweet Cherry Vintage
Dandelion Vintage
Vintage-a-Peel
Denisebrain
Daisy Fairbanks
Damn Good Vintage
Vintage Secret
Fast Eddie's Retro Rags
Sydneys Vintage Clothing
Because I am a plus-size woman and an actress in my spare time, I often model dresses that I think need a little "oomph." Sometimes, my (reluctant) husband will take the pictures. That is not a lot of fun for either of us, because he doesn't quite know how to use the camera, and he likes to say things like "Why are you making those strange faces?"
Other times, I use my tripod and 10-second delay on the shutter. There have been some pretty funny mistakes rushing to the background. I chose this dress that is on my Specialist Auctions site, because it is pure wool...and I am incredibly allergic to wool. In fact, I'm allergic to wool, cashmere, angora, you name it! I live my life in cotton. I can tell if a garment has wool in it by doing my own personal "burn test"--I rub it vigorously between my palms. In less than a minute my palms start burning!
However, this dress needed "oomph," and my mannequin, Bodicea, was not providing it! It's handmade, with gold bobbles around the hem and gold piping on the neckline.
http://www.specialistauctions.com/auctiondetails.php?id=1098551
It was one big ITCH! There's the old saying, "You must suffer to be beautiful." I will paraphrase that: "You must suffer to be a vintage seller"!
Elisa aka hoardmeister aka The Mad Fashionista
Mad Fashionista's Vintage & Modern
This Thursday starts the Memorial Day VBO on ebay.
Never heard of VBO? It stands for 'Vintage Blow Out' and it's a special sale where participating vintage sellers list some great buys, all priced at $19.99 or less, all in 'Buy It Now' format.
Search VBO from May 22nd to the 29th for great vintage clothing and accessories bargains.
If you see a good deal, buy it fast - because they don't last!
If you are a seller and you want to join in, check out the VBO Me Page - for details and guidelines.
25% off of all stock!!!
www.dandelionvintage.com
From now until next Satuuday night - 5/24.
Discount will be subtracted in the shopping cart.
Regular shipping charges apply.
Discount does not apply to items already on hold.
Discount cannot be combined with any other offer.
Some of your favorite vintage sellers also sell on Etsy. Etsy.com has been known as a great resource for buying unique hand made items from a variety of crafters, sewers and artists for several years. Now they are opening their doors to vintage items, and even recently changed their search feature so that you can search specifically for vintage clothing, fabrics and household items.
To find vintage on Etsy, you can go directly to the Vintage category on the lower-left side of their main page. Or you can search using keywords at the top of the main page, just remember to choose 'Vintage' from the drop-down menu next to the search box.
You can still find these sellers at their regular locations, but now you can also find them on etsy too! Here are brief profiles of some of the great sellers that you can find on etsy.
Tribecca Vintage - Vintage clothing and accessories have been a passion of mine for over 20 years. However, my love of vintage doesn't just stop there! Here at Tribecca Vintage on Etsy, you will find unique vintage fabric, notions, linens, and paper goods for all of your crafting/handmade needs!
Glamourstitch - specializes in Vintage and contemporary sewing patterns, notions and supplies to create that perfect vintage retro look for the modern day fashionista.
Retro Wear - We have a wide selection of vintage fashion ranging from dresses, skirts, swimsuits, lingerie, pants, costumes, purses, hats, outerwear, jewelry, scarves etc. For Women & Men. We also offer vintage kitchen items. WE LOVE VERA and have an assortment of Vintage VERA table linens and scarves available.
Treasure Turf - We've traveled the globe to uncover a wealth of vintage trinkets and treasures to help dazzle your wardrobe. Our baubles and beads are sure to delight your inner desires. Take a trip through our TreasureTurf of vintage jewels and rhinestones and help them find a new home!
Morning Glorious on etsy - I have been selling vintage on eBay for 8 years under the name morning-glorious. And, I'm a proud member of the Vintage Fashion Guild. I'm excited to now bring fun, fresh-to-the-market 50's, 60's and 70's vintage and retro collectibles here to etsy for your enjoyment!
Dandelion Vintage on Etsy - a little division of my website Dandelion Vintage! On Etsy, I'll be selling clothing from the late 1960s through the 1970s and some other vintage accessories, household items and crafts that I make.
DaisyFairbanks - strives to bring fabulous vintage to the fashion conscious. Our items are hand-picked to be the best affordable and authentic vintage clothing, jewelry, accessories, and more.
The Spectrum - We have sold antique, vintage, classic & designer clothing, hats, shoes, purses, accessories, jewelry, sewing patterns & antiques worldwide since 1969. Victorian, flapper, noir, swing, pin-up, New Look, rockabilly, mod, lounge, goth, new wave, dolly, Western & Hawaiian.
Northstar Vintage - Mid-century to mod accessories and housewares. I have over 3000 transactions on eBay, a 100% feedback rating, and tons of repeat buyers. Happy customers make me a happy seller. So buy with confidence, and check back often - I list several times a week, and I have some damn cool stuff.
Sister sites of Dorothea's Closet -
Kiss My Vintage! - the best vintage wear from the 60s to the 80s. why? because we said it is.
Moralfiber - sources, upcycles and recycles vintage textiles and patterns. Because its the right thing to do.
andapanda's Reproductions - This is a wonderful, creative site! I am very proud to be here. Please visit my sister Mickey (wildhareart) on etsy! She makes the most oplulent tuffets and tables. And my Mom paints! Find her on etsy as beverlyoriginals.
Retro Vision Vintage - your source for authentic vintage fashion from the Mod 60's to the New Wave 80's. We know you want to look unique and individual, and that your style can't be found at the mall!
Empress Jade - offers an outstanding selection of groovy vintage clothes and accessories. Pin-up Glam to Groovy Kitsch! We have been selling vintage for several years and are an EBay Power Seller with 100% positive feedback.
Fast Eddie's Retro Rags - is now rocking it up on etsy! What you'll find is killer vintage clothing and accessories for your inner b-movie bad girl or greasy juvenile delinquent. I'm a sucker for terribly ridiculous kitsch, so check out the crazy vintage collectibles and housewares I'm selling too! A house isn't a home until it's packed with tacky knick knacks.
Catwalk Creative - loves unique and inspiring vintage clothing, perfect for the style conscious and environmentally aware consumer. If you're tired of maxing out your credit card on expensive designer labels, and no longer want to contribute to the landfill problem that is fast-fashion, you're in the right place! Just take the latest catwalk style, adapt it by using vintage or recycled clothing and voila! You can put together a well thought-out & unique look every time
Here is a sample item from each of the sellers -
| Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade dandelionvintage.etsy.com |
| Etsy: Your place to buy & sell all things handmade dandelionvintage.etsy.com |
Leslie Hindman Auctions - is having a Vintage Couture and Accessories auction on May 18th & 19th. A longtime Ceil Chapman collector is selling many of her dresses in the Hindman auction. Here is a great chance to view (and bid on) some excellent examples of why Ceil Chapman is so beloved among vintage clothing lovers.
Tie on your drool bib and check out 12 of the 26 Ceil Chapmans that will be featured in the auction this weekend -
Some other items of interest -
A Paper Dress with a profile of Clark Gable - which I think is really cool
A somewhat subtle Pucci Dress that would be perfect for a non-flashy gal like me
A pink and navy ruffled chiffon gown from the estate of Leona Helmsley, proceeds benefitting her little dog!
A sequined Candy Cane-like Column gown
An interesting Moschino Half Suit Dress (I wish they had a better picture, I'd like to see the details)
All you need is Love - a Love Box Bag by Enid Collins. Pretty colors and a little bird, very cute.
There are also many other gowns from the estate of Leona Helmsley, other designer dresses from private collections, jewelry, designer accessories like scarves, belts and handbags.
Check out the auction photos -
http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZlesliehindman
Bye for now, Carol
http://www.dandelionvintage.com/
Every once and a while I get the urge to list on eBay some items that don't make it to Rice and Beans Vintage. Here are the final items that I have listed on eBay for the week, enjoy!!
I entered the semi grown up world of Junior High School in the fall of 1960..........it was a fabulous time. The nation was in the process of electing it's youngest President and Camelot was beginning. The fashions reflected the youthful attitude.........just by accident I found this wonderful home catalog from Butterick for the summer of 1960. And I just had to share it with you.
You can stop the slide show and get a better look at any of the pages just by clicking on them. They take a few seconds to stabilize but the graphics are worth it.
A pair of elderly sisters lived in my apartment building in New York. One sister never said anything to me except to look at Bucky the Wonderdog, my miniature pinscher, and then announce in a heavy Brooklyn accent, "I don't like dahgs." The other sister, however, was rotund and friendly. I had the impression she had once been quite the playgirl. And it turned out I was right.
One day, she approached me in the lobby, saying in a raspy voice, "Ya sell on Ebay?" When I said yes, she pulled out a picture of herself circa 1960, in a shiny black dress with a huge blonde bouffant, posing proudly for the camera. "I made that dress," she continued. "It's silk knit and all sequined. I got others. Ya wanna sell 'em for me?"
Did I?? She was my ideal source...stout and flashy! We went upstairs. She lovingly took out a number of knit dresses with sequins, perfectly aligned beads (done without a knitting machine), and then she pulled open her lingerie drawer and proudly displayed her slips, each one picked out to match the dress! "I always matched everything," she said with a wink. Now in her old age, she was afraid that when she died, with no children, that all of her beautiful things would simply be thrown out. She didn't care what anything sold for, as long as it went to a good home. I rarely do consignment, but she is that rare blend of sensible, easygoing and low expectations one almost never finds in a consignee.
Since that time I have sold all of her beaded dresses, and a spectacular black and white top covered with crystals, but I still have many of her things, including this matching set of Coquettes fabric pumps, size 8 with the original box:
http://www.specialistauctions.com/auctiondetails.php?id=1006809
And the Gossard Artemis black half-slip trimmed in matching hot pink! Notice how the black lace crawls over the pink ribbon in the front. Size M.
http://www.specialistauctions.com/auctiondetails.php?id=1029308
Unfortunately, the dress itself exists only in a faded picture of my neighbor, smiling happily on a cruise surrounded by men.
These days I sell most of my vintage at Specialist Auctions, although I haven't abandoned Ebay altogether. My neighbor is now housebound due to bad legs, but I always enjoy stopping in (with Bucky) for a chat and to look at photos from her glory days. It's a rare thing to know the history of the garments you're selling, and to know the selling of them is giving someone else pleasure.
Elisa
http://www.madfashionista.com/
I received notice from Andi Charkow about the next auction that will feature vintage clothing, and they are currently open for consignments. Please contact Andi directly for further info.
From Andi -
Andi Charkow presents:
VINTAGE CLOTHING, TEXTILES & DECORATIVE ARTS AUCTION
Saturday July 26, 2008 - 10:00am
Auction will be in the Banquet room of the
Horsham V.F. W. Post #9788
324 Saw Mill Lane
Horsham, PA 19044
The Banquet room at the Horsham V.F. W. will be my new auction home. It is a beautiful room, climate controlled, has great parking and is easy to find, only 2 miles from the Willow Grove exit of the PA Turnpike.
It will take place on Saturday, July 26th. This time I am including Decorative Arts and Antiques (no furniture) as well as Vintage Clothing and Textiles.
There will be 2 auctioneers selling at the same time, one selling jewelry and smalls and the other selling the clothing and textiles. I hope you will plan to attend and pass the date along to friends.
Consignments are starting to arrive and there are already over 125 pictures online at Auctionzip. The link is at the bottom of the page.
***If you have something to consign, I'd love to have it. Remember the sooner you get it to me the longer it's picture is online at Auctionzip. The March 29th auction was viewed over 12000 times!
To consign: Auctionandi@verizon.net or call 215-773-9176
Info for the July 26th auction is here -
http://www.auctionzip.com/Listings/412080.html
A photo gallery of some of the items that will be featured in the July auction is here -
http://www.auctionzip.com/cgi-bin/photopanel.cgi?listingid=412080
Andi tells me that more photos will be added to the gallery this weekend. Here are a few examples from the auction gallery so far -
OK, I know that most of this post isn’t about vintage clothing per se, but bear with me, I’ll get to that. First, some fanciful eye candy
Most fashionistas know that the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art held its annual Costume Institute Gala recently. Their Superheroes theme echoed the Met’s current exhibit, Superheroes: Fashion & Fantasy. “Through fashion and the superhero, we gain the freedom to fantasize, to escape the banal, the ordinary, and the quotidian.”
You can go to style.com (like I just did) if you’d like to see all 165 photos of celebrities, designers and other glitterati. There’s a lot of glamour and chic, a lot of beautiful red carpet designer gowns, spectacular gems, and perfect faces and bodies. But gorgeousness is not enough for a true superhero. Some of the attendees clearly made more of an effort to go beyond the ordinary and reach for a higher power.
Let’s start with the only vintage gown out of my favorites, by Thierry Mugler. The sculptural qualities are fantastic, classic Mugler.
Next, Naomi Watts – the designer isn’t credited, but this one is like the angelic opposite of the Mugler with a little Marilyn Monroe thrown in. Again, so sculptural and powerful. 
Sooo…. These were fun, but I would love to have seen more vintage being worn for the Costume Institute Gala. I’ve been browsing websites and eBay for vintage garments worthy of a superhero, and I’ve found some awesome pieces. I’ll be back with a selection of heroic vintage in a few days. If you have anything in your collection that might fit the theme, get ready to show it off!
