Scared of Wearing Vintage? Start with a Coat!

Visit Snootieseconds on Etsy!



For those of you who are a little gun shy about wearing vintage.  I say grab a coat.  Coats are a great way to introduce vintage into your wardrobe, and there are a multitude of styles.  Here is a sampling of some great coats from my friends at the Etsy Vintage Fashion Team.  

You can go dramatic, demure, classic or downright pimpish.  Throw on the right hat and scarf and you will be stylin' high, turning heads for all the right reasons.



Etsy shop Snootieseconds has a great selection of coats.  Check out her Black Wool Coat with a full satin lining and wonderful brown fur detail.  Warm, classic, and of the best quality! 

Here are a sampling of some great vintage coats featured on Etsy from my fellow Vintage Fashion Team Members.

'Coats, Coats and More Coats! ' by CjsRedCloset

For those a little fearful of wearing vintage, one of the best places to get your style feet wet is jumping into a vintage coat. This Treasury features fab finds from the awesome VintageFashionTeam. Check these beauties out!

Vintage 1960 Faux Leopa... BettyJeanVinta... $105.00	50s Black Wool Collar C... snootieseconds $169.00	Vintage Coat Winter Woo... TwoMoxie $80.00	Vintage Faux Mink Cape MaudeAndLola $31.00
Vintage Scottish Harris... MaudeAndLola $65.00	WoozWass Vintage Bee Wo... WoozWassVintag... $65.00	vintage// 1960s Box Coa... TreasureChest0... $129.00	SALE..... 1960s Ski Coa... CheekyVintageC... $51.20
Vintage 1970 Dress Two... BettyJeanVinta... $70.00	1960s Vintage Tailored ... cocovintages $140.00	Vintage 1950s Lilli Ann... ranchqueenvint...  $395.00	1970s Original Hooded M... cocovintages $110.00
Leather Jacket / 1970&... DuncanLovesTes... $42.00	On Sale Vintage 1950s C... seesong $84.15	Vintage 1970s Leather T... ranchqueenvint... $329.00	Vintage 60s Jacket - Na... BadChollaVinta... $54.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.



The Number One Rule of Vintage for the 21st Century Woman

I am not one for absolutes. I generally think that when it comes to fashion and clothes, you have to establish rules for yourself.  But the question remains - are there rules to wearing vintage?  Is there a right way?   And I have to say "Yes"  - I believe so.

For instance, I have heard it said, seen it written, and have even written it myself that you should not wear or be styled in one era of clothing from head to toe.  I get it.  This rule is to keep many of us from looking like extras from Mad Men or Saturday Night Fever instead of  fresh relevant women of the 21st Century.

Yet, there are women who refer heavily to a past era and who fashion themselves after the likes of Bettie Paige or Marilyn Monroe and -- to be honest it works.  For them.

Bettie Page

Which leads me to my number rule of wearing vintage for the 21st Century Woman.

Wear vintage clothing and accessories to ehance and express who YOU are.

The women I mentioned before, even though they may break  the "don't wear one era" rule, it works for them while proving disastorous for others.  Why? Because these women are inspired by the pin-ups and starlets of the 40s and 50s like Paige and Monroe.  They reference these iconic women and fashion trends, to enhance and express thier own styles.   They are not mere copy-cats.  That is why when we see one of these women in a restaurant or walking along, we don't see them as look-a-likes or facsimilies of the real deal. They still appear fresh and authentic.  We get a sense of who these women are even though they carry with them an essence and beauty of the past.

When wearing vintage you want travel through time, reach back to capture the beauty and inspiration from the past and apply it to who you are  - right here - and right now.   Wearing vintage is appealing to those who want their style and clothing to make a statement about who they are.  Any and all clothing can do that - it is not limited to items 20 years or older.  However, with vintage - you are less likely to see 20 versions of your outfit walking down the street.

I think one of the greatest mistakes women make as it relates to fashion, (vintage or otherwise) is to use clothing, accessories and styling as a way to hide who they are.  We can be so brainwashed and poisoned by the commercial media to style ourselves after the likeness of others, that we end up with no style of our own. We end up putting on the personalities of others by way of labels and trends. 
In fact, the question of the red carpet sums up this fashion dis-ease well, "Who are you wearing?"

Well, when we use vintage appropriately, when we allow what the clothes represent inspire us, they become one of the most powerful ways we communicate to the world who we are.  Then when asked, "Who are you wearing?"  We can say, "I am wearing ME.  But the dress is vintage Haslton."

Which Lady in Red are YOU!

Take a look at these fabulous finds on Etsy each in my all-time favorite color RED! 
Can't you imagine wearing one of these gems!  Which woman are you?

The Vixen

1950s Vintage Red Cocktail Dress from TimelessVixenVintage



The Rocker

80s Cropped Leather Jacket from SkinandWood 

The Classic Lady

Classic St. John Asian Inspired Suit by CjsRedCloset

The Bohemian Soul

70s/80s Boho Gypsy Reversible Jacket from SHMOOZIN

The Weekend of the Femme Fatale...

The Weekend of the Femme Fatale' by CjsRedCloset

It all starts with the dress! Thanks to Coco Chanel and her creation of the LBD, we all can be a Femme Fatale...even if it's just for the weekend.

vintage 1950's dres... traven7 $320.00	1950's black suede ... vintagewise $26.00	Vintage Hat, 50s Feathe... GrandVintageFi... $42.00	Exceptional Set of Lugg... phatheads $185.00
Hint of Pink Black Open... PleasureQueen $48.00	Vintage 50s Crystal an... VintageArcana $49.99	vintage 1960s ivory woo... jerushad $98.00	Vintage 1940s Boudoir S... RaleighVintage $98.00
Kislav Silk Leather Fre... nanvintage $65.00	Black & Silver tone Ena... janamelinda $25.00	Vintage Rectangular Spa... VintageMemoryC... $40.00	vintage Black Patent Ke... HulaGirl1922 $18.00
Wait for the Dawn by Ma... MoreLooseEnds $6.99	Vintage Art Deco Monogr... MaudeAndLola $21.00	Black Back Seam Thigh H... aquabead $17.00	Vintage Lady Suzanne Bl... 4TheLoveOfVint... $15.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio.

Official Fabulous Find #1

Okay, this is exactly why I LOVE search engines when it comes to fulfilling my fashion fantasies. For instance, since I was a little girl I have loved train cases.  You know those rectangular (or round) mini suitcases that typically house a mirror,  a tray with a couple of sections and three or four elasticized pouches where you can safely store all things girlie.

A couple of days ago, during my daily visit to Etsy, I got it into my mind to go on the hunt for one.  Then suddenly in a flash of genius I thought,

I wonder if any were made in....

wait for it....

here it comes...

patent leather! 

With a stroke of the keys, the following thing of beauty popped in front of me from the fabulous Etsy Shop Catcontrare. 

I have to say...I am in Love.  This 1950s train case, done in brown patent leather, is perfect for a woman like me.  A women who loves her fashion, loves what's classic with a twist;  and even though she is not your typical girlie girl, likes a litte shine every now and then.

Official Fabulous Find #1



Brown Patent Leather Train Case from Catcontrare

Catcontrare hosts a multitude of one of a kind and vintage finds.  Check it out and don't forget to stop by CjsRedCloset to see what's new.  

Till next time!

CJ

My Wish List of All Things Fabulous...What is on Your Wish list?

I - like many others have a fashion and decor wish list.  I call it my wish list of  "All Things Fabulous".  Here is a sampling of the items I secretly dream about. In my dreams I am slipping on my fabulous vintage clothes oozing with hollywood and haute couture glamour.  I make myself a fabulous drink, and enter my fabulous living room where I lounge on my fabulous furniture and sink into the fabulous beauty that surrounds me.  All compiled on the cheap of course.

Check it out! Tell me what's on your list of "All Things Fabulous".

Leopard Print - A Must-have for any Vintage Lover - In One Form or Another!

   The LBD - Not Just Any Dress - A Coco Chanel!

Vintage Louis Vuitton Travel Cases - Talk About Wishing....

Coco Chanel's Infamous Sofa - Does it look familiar?  If you are a "Frasier" fan - look closely. Ok, I realize that obtaining the original (shown here) is somewhat challenging...

But if Fraiser can get a respectable copy, so can I.

"La rose au pollen de diamants"  by Erte

It doesn't have to be this print, but an Erte print is somewhere in my future.

Where I would wear Tails is still a mystery - I would lose the Top Hat - but this is Menswear done right. 

I hope you have enjoyed my small sampling of my extensive wish list of fabulous.  I have loads more. 

What's on your wish list of Fabulous?!?

The Vintage Coat: The Love of my Vintage Life

There is nothing that floats my boat more than a fabulous vintage coat.   I understand it is the middle of summer and o te ast coast we are experiencing a heat wave.  Yet, no matter what the temperature or heat index - I am always on the hunt for the fabulous. 

In fact, it was a vintage green silk boucle coat with a blonde mink collar that turned me from a collector into a seller.  So many of my friends asked me where I got the coat and if I could find them "something vintage"  Before I knew it CJsRedCloset was born.

I bought my coat for about $35 including shipping. It was in beautiful condition was exceedingly warm and of the highest craftsmanship.  I have never ever bought a modern day coat since.  And until I score a serious deal on couture or high end designer - I will be wearing vintage all the way.  There are two reasons for this:

1. The material and craftsmanship can't be beat.  In fact,  I once read that many of the quality textiles of decades ago, no longer exist because they are simply too expensive to produce. Whether that is a literal truth or not doesn't matter to me because I am a label reader.  There are shops and main line department stores selling acrylic and wool blend coats for $200 and $300 dollars a pop  that before the winter is over have pilled and gotten nappy and nasty.

2. Originality - whether a classic coat like a trench or a style  unique to a certain era or designer - you would be hard-pressed to find 100 people wearing your same coat.   If  you happen to find yourself faced to face with someone sporting something similar  - no one styles vintage exactly the same.

This is a great time to buy vintage coats.  Hit Etsy or EBay and you will find some great deals. 


Here are two fabulous and somewhat rare coats that I am offering in my Etsy shop.  The first is my absolute favorite - I was mortified that it did not fit me.  It is a "I can't believe my eyes!"  vintage find.  he photos really do not do it justice - but I will be fixing that shortly.

I have had many - many coats pass through my closet and ,although this style is very popular and one I have sold over and over again, I have never seen one crafted quite like this and in such beautiful condition.

Handcrafted Black Wool Textured Coat with Mink Cuff and Collar





The coat cuffs are accented with Rich Mink and French Cuff Detailing

This is a double -breasted trench coat in a yummy deep chocolate.  What makes it an unusual find is the moire fabric. It gives the coat a wavy waterlike quality with a beautiful sheen.  Although there may be others, out of the modern designers that I consistently follow, St. John is the only one that offers a moire coat.




Chocolate Moire Trench Coat

Again, I urge you to consider a vintage coat. There is certainly one that fits your sensibilities and style.