An Affair To Remember

Etsy Wool Skirt Shopping Guide

Feeling inspired to shop for a wool skirt for yourself, after seeing my find. It’s no secret that I love Etsy for online vintage shopping. Etsy has a TON of vintage plaid skirts. Whether, you want an old school Pendleton design, a traditional Scottish skirt, or something that happens to just catch your eye Etsy has you covered. 

It’s fall which means pumpkins, PSLs, and plaid… lot’s of plaid. So you scored an amazing wool plaid skirt or maybe a killer blazer on a vintage hunt…. Now what?  Put it in the freezer!

I know that sounds crazy, but even before you have your new garment cleaned, you should put it in the freezer for some time. Why? Your awesome new piece could also be home to insects. The best way to ensure your garment is insect free is to freeze it before cleaning. After I scored the amazing plaid skirt from my second trip to Bulk Vintage that is exactly what I did.

I wrap my garments in muslin before freezing them. Muslin is an inexpensive fabric that can be purchased online or at your local fabric store. It will protect the garment. Then follow these steps:

1. Wrap your garment in muslin 2. Place your wrapped garment in a bag. I prefer to double bag with large Ziplock freezer bags. 3. Place your bag in the freezer and let stand for 3-10days.

After your garment has spent some time in the freezer, it’s time to clean it. Follow the care instructions on the care tag. When in doubt, consult your dry cleaner. 

Styled Vintage

I took the skirt I bought from my second visit to Bulk Vintage and styled it out for everyday wear. This skirt is from the 1990s but there is something about it that reminds me of the 1960s. Plaid wool skirts are timeless and have never really gone out of style. Perhaps that’s why I’m getting a 60s vibe.

Every once in a while, someone will come to me with questions about what to do with a fur coat they inherited. My combined knowledge of fur from working with a designer, who made fur garments, and knowledge of the area shops, makes me the go to girl for fur questions to friends and family. 

A lot of people inherit a fur coat or garment they will not wear themselves, and think it will resell for a decent price. That’s a fair assumption given that fur is known to be pricier. But there’s misconception. Fur garments, especially vintage fur garments, most likely have no resale value. A beautiful fur garment in pristine condition typically receives an offer of around $20. Experience has taught me that vintage fur does not resell - there is not a large demand or high interest for vintage fur.

If you have inherited a vintage garment you do not want there are alternatives to reselling to a store. First, check the condition and make sure the fur and its skin are in tact. Meaning there are no “bald” spots and the garment does not feel flimsy or appear to be falling apart. If you’re not sure what the exact state of your garment is, there are plenty of stores that will happily look at your garment’s condition, even if you do not end up reselling. I personally have inherited my fur, because it has been passed down to me. See if someone you know wants the garment or may even buy the garment through a private sale. 

If you or someone you know takes the garment, there are so many options. You can have the fur recut into other garments. This is a great option if the size is off and doesn’t quite work. It’s a nice way to take a totally unwearable outdated piece and make it new and fresh again. Bloomingdale’s has a fur salon in most stores that has an excellent reputation and can help you with the creation and design of what you’d like to do. 

Vintage On Halloween 

Vintage is always a good idea on Halloween. Whether your costume is a period piece or you’re just looking for that special touch, vintage fashion always makes for the perfect Halloween costume! 

This year I used this beaded sequin blue dress I bought from my second trip to Bulk Vintage as part of a flapper costume. I already had the dress and other elements of the costume - it all fell in to place. The dress is from the 1980s but the style is reminiscent of the 1920s fun flapper days. I wasn’t sure that I’d ever get to wear this dress, so when the idea came to me I jumped on it! Some vintage is beautiful, but let’s face not all vintage is every day wearable. There are things that look costume esque and Halloween is where they shine.

Don’t forget the awesome green element vintage fashion adds to your costume too.

I gave Bulk vintage another try and had an amazing visit. When I took my first trip to the warehouse in May I wasn’t too thrilled. I expected to be wowed and left feeling indifferent about my experience.

Well, I gave Bulk Vintage another shot and I was absolutely WOWED. I actually felt overwhelmed from this visit. This time I went by myself on an afternoon during the week, and it made all the difference. I had the entire place to myself and the selection was beyond amazing! The only thing holding be back that day was my wallet.

I had a hard time narrowing down my dress selection. I’ve never seen such a great selection of vintage plaid wool in good condition.  I found some great Pendleton pieces that were hard to leave behind.  I didn’t even make it over to the accessories this time because I was so overwhelmed and over budget.

I left with four very different pieces in hand.

I also had a hard time parting with this quintessential 80s dress...

Gene Shelly Etsy Shopping Guide 

Ever since I discovered my favorite vintage piece from my closet is by a designer called Gene Shelly (also sometimes labeled as Boutique Internationale by Gene Shelly), I’ve been obsessed with the designer. The intricate hand sewn beading and sequins add an extra dose of glam to Gene Shelly’s designs, making them way more than an average sequin dress. 

Gene Shelly dresses are very rare. They were made in the 1950s and 1960s. They are also very valuable and a dress will cost you some where from around $500 - $1500. Every once in a while a skirt or cardigan by Gene Shelly will pop up on Etsy or one of the online sites. The skirts are just as lovely as the dresses but the cardigans, in my opinion leave something to be desired. 

If you have never bought a Gene Shelly or a designer sequin dress from the 50s/60s there are a couple things to note. Gene Shelly and a lot of designer sequin dresses from that time were made using stretch wool. Unless a liner was added, the inside should look raw and unfinished. This wool can be itchy. The dresses are also heavy and can be hot. 

Ready-to-Wear Vintage

My sister snapped this shot of me wearing the silk green floral print dress I got at Malena’s showroom sale. Here’s the perfect example of wearable vintage. This dress was garden party ready!

This dress did not require any alterations or repairs. The clutch is also a vintage clutch from the 1960s that was my great grandmother’s. I was able to grab some accessories and go.