Quote of the Week - Orson Welles

If you want a happy ending you need to know when to end the story.

4 Tips for the Best Business Wardrobe

I was recently contacted by a gentleman who is changing careers. He's confident in his decision but not his current wardrobe. He asked for some suggestions on where to start.

The answer to this question cannot be communicated in one post so let's start here:

1. Know what you like and what you don't like. What suits you and your style of living. This particular individual didn't want a baggy suit. He liked the mod suits from the 60s but not the super skinny trousers. He told me he liked Diplo's suits, Booth's suits from Bones and Terrence Stamp's suits (see my post on his classic look here).
2. Know your clothing's priorities and each day's sartorial demands. Meetings, luncheons, golf (an unfortunate part of business, my apologies to golfers), and the cursed casual Friday. You want to be sharp and dressed appropriately for each. What are the corner offices wearing? Take cues from them and notch it up by one.
3. Versatility. Maintain a flexible wardrobe. Back in my retail days, we were taught the foundation of the fashion equation, 2+2+2+5, (Men = two trousers, two ties, two jackets, five shirts. Women = two skirts, two trousers, two jackets, five tops).
4. You want to be known for your unique ideas - that being said, limit it to one unique idea per outfit.

Murder of Crows

I've been wanting to record these guys for over a decade. They've been getting together like this in an area in Burnaby every day for as long as I can remember. Last week I got my camera ready and waited. You really have to see it in person to experience the true wonder of it.

Design Lover - the animal on my plate

Magda Boreysza paints on vintage mismatched china. Why not try emailing her to see if she'll do custom work on all that old stuff your Mom's given you? You never know...

Tip of the Week - Beauty

Rejuvenate your dry tired skin with olive oil. Seriously, I tried it (remember, I was wanting to try a new moisturizer). I must admit I was worried I'd break out, because that's what my skin does with everything, but no! My skin is now as soft as a baby's bottom. I was so impressed I went out and bought John Masters Organics Pomegranate Facial Nourishing Oil (not an affiliate). The scent reminds me of this works: deep calm. The only downfall, I don't want to just use it on my face and at $42 for 2 fl oz my personal care budget is going to have to increase - that's ok, I'm worth it.

a fuzzy little sweater

The mohair cardigan. Made infamous in the grunge era as Kurt's cardi of choice. These were impossible enough to find in the 90s let alone the 2010s so don't be surprised if vintage ones are worth a pretty penny.

Taiki Matsumura - from Japan
Kurt Cobain - no further explanation
me - vintage mohair cardigan and Isabel Marant dress
Coutney Love - I love the blue.

I picked him up this mohair pullover a few weeks back but he thinks it makes him look rotund so I wear it with my black leather pencil skirt.

Quote of the Week - Sophia Loren

Sex appeal is fifty percent what you've got and fifty percent what people think you've got.

Womens Vintage Boots

Nancy Sinatra and I prefer the same boots (and sparkly body suits). Needless to say, not many of today's women's boots tickle my fancy. Here are some of my oldies but goodies.

© Stacy Reynaud

vintage 1960s
old Fluevog's
vintage Dr. Marten's
vintage Frank Foti lizard

Some men's boots from the 2011 collections I'd like for myself - truthfully, I don't think any of my guy friends would wear the Rick Owens.

his for pre-order 2011
Rick Owens
Officine Creative
Rick Owens
Balmain

Hit it Nancy

Style Icon - Freddy Krueger

The rather ironically named DEAD MEAT available here for $770. I think the sweater would look better with the sleeve bottoms cut off, don't you?

Saturday Night Special

He's so cute he's on TV.

Design Lover - inaeent

images via inaeent

I stumbled upon Alaskan Etsy seller inaeent, aka Laura C. Hewitt, over the weekend. Her Lovecraftian stoneware and porcelain tableware was an immediate favourite. Visit her personal site as well.

My eBay rebirth...maybe

Way back in 1999, before I started exhibiting my vintage collections here and here, I sold on eBay. It was awesome, I had close to 1500 positive feedback, was a Power Seller and had a loyal following of buyers. Then the scammers caught on to eBay. In around 2004, I was ripped off by Amy in Kansas City. She bought a vintage Burberry trench coat off me for about $800.* Once she received it she charged back her credit card and told me that's the way her and her Mom do business on eBay. She then cancelled her eBay account. I frustratingly navigated my way through eBay Help, Paypal Help, VISA, numerous Better Business Bureaus, and the Kansas City police department. Somewhere I came across a Paypal class action lawsuit. A settlement was reached and I received a little of my money back through the 'long claim form' but I was so disgusted by the experience I boycotted eBay and Paypal for five years.

Last weekend I took a chance and listed some items - just to see how things had changed. The first item I listed was a vintage Burberry jacket with a Buy it Now option. It sold in a few hours. The buyer has paid and the item has been shipped, however, the transaction is not complete as I don't consider it complete until the buyer has received the product and feedback has been left.

How ironic is it that the last thing I sold on eBay was a vintage Burberry coat and the first thing I sell in five years is a Burberry jacket? I'm hoping it won't turn out to be extremely ironic by having the same thing happen to me that happened in 2004. If all turns out well I look forward to stocking up on vintage to sell on eBay again!

* I had been ripped off by others but that was the biggest loss. In total, I lost over $1200 to online dirt bags - most, if not all of it, was in 2004.

What I Wore

1985

shirt - my Dad's
concho belt
black leggings

patent ballet flats
and a lopsided bob, of course

Quote of the Week - Albert Camus

Nobody realizes that some people expend tremendous amounts of energy to be normal.

Tip of the Week - Sticky Zippers

Vintage piece with a sticky zipper? Rub a candle over it.