Vintage & Fashion news, pretty vintage items and of course wee bit personal life style ramblings of an eleven year on line vintage clothing seller, avid fashion, antique and vintage lover

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Bad Tuesdays The Kindess of Strangers and a $500 Nightgown




Can we Please Take Tuesdays off the Calendar?

I used to like Tuesdays. They kind of break up the week, a little more for me than a humpday Wednesday. For some reason, stores aren't as busy. Parking lots aren't crowded, and there's never waiting at my Doctor's on Tuesdays. Its just never a busy day anywhere. And in Tx, where we have estate sales every day of the week, often I can hit one, and again, no large crowds. Perfect!

Three weeks ago, I do my Tuesday thing. I come home, and one of my dear friends is sitting on my porch waiting. She has just left her Dr. with a serious diagnosis. We cried, hugged, talked a long time and hopefully she is a little better emotionally and has hope.

Then I check the computer. I discover I have my FIRST charge back EVER. In 11 years! The first! Never leaving any extra money in paypal, I had actually wiped out the account buying gas that morning at my regular little Mom & Pop local station via my papal card. Of course, their payment was approved when I made my purchase, then later declined while paypal FROZE my account! Can you say totally embarassed?

No rhyme, reason or notice from the customer. I email, politely ask what's wrong, why she didn't contact me or let us work things out. No reply. I am totally out of the loop as to WHY she did this without at least communication.

Since I now have a negative balance in paypal I immediately transfer bank funds to cover her refund AND the gas from my friends station. Guess what. It takes 7 days to for paypal to credit transferred funds. Really? Seven days in this age of instant deposits?. Just unreal. Worse, had this lady just contacted me, we could have resolved it. I'm VERY easy to work with and want only 100% satisfaction for my customers.

Then two weeks ago Tuesday, I break my glasses. I leave the house for barely an hour, run to a local optometrist and see if they can repair the frames. They did a temp job on the old ones and ordered a new pair. Can we say $100 of unexpected / unplanned expense?

When I return after this "brief" trip to town, something seems odd. You guessed it. Despite my nice safe wonderful neighborhood in the country, my house was robbed. They climbed in through the DOGGIE DOOR! No kidding?

They were kind enough to unlock the same door on their way out instead of breaking it. I'm sure their arms were too full to fit back through the doggie door. Sadly, they took my daughter Melissa's little tiny Acer Laptop (who is mentally impaired, so it meant ALOT to her for her games!) They took a few other random things, including a pillow case to carry their treasures off, but I do believe they heard me pull up and left in a hurry, not getting all they wanted. And I'm sure I almost walked in on them.

Not realizing I was on a "Tuesday roll" of bad luck again, this Tuesday I went to see the Dr. and conveniently a few towns over an estate sale. I arrive by 10am at the estate, and there were only a few people there. I run to the bedroom as usual, and wahhh! Not a single piece of lingerie. Not one to give up, I ask and am told it was "pitched."

I check the dresses. WOW! the most darling patchwork embroidered white eyelet EVER. I'm a sucker for eyelet. I grab it to check condition and the label says "sleepwear!" They missed a nightgown as it could easily be worn as the most darling summer dress.

By this time, its 11 am and already 103 degrees. This Menopausal Momma doesn't do heat well. I start the car. Nothing. Try again. Dead as a doornail. Again ~ NOTHING. I do manage to get the power windows rolled down. So that means its only about 110 in the car.

Just then an elderly gentleman walks by and asks if I need help. We pop the hood, he pulls up his truck and we try to jump it. No luck. he gets some tools, tightens things, again no luck. In the mean time, his darling little wife (they are at least mid 80s) hands me wet ones to wipe my heavily perspired (read dripping in sweat, lol) face. She tells me they have just moved here from Oklahoma. In the meantime, these darling people are out in the heat as well, and shouldn't be.

Next a young mother with three little girls approaches us. She says maybe the jumper cables are bad? She has some, goes to get them and we try hers. One of her little girls brings back a bottle of water for me, smiling so sweetly as she offers it. What a little doll, such wonderful children she has! But, her jumpers don't work either.

Then a young man comes and offers to help. His theory is its not the recently purchased battery (a whole 'nother story) but perhaps the starter, alternator or cylanoid.

Everyone offers to drive me home. Every single one of them. We're talking a 45 minute drive minimum. I politely refuse, and offer to buy the older couple lunch, they instead want to buy ME lunch AND drive me home. I thank them, and decline. The young Mom offers to drive me a town over to Walmart to buy a new battery, bring it back and help me put it in.

These people were all just amazing. Angels! In this day and age of people passing someone walking with a gas can on the highway, I've drawn a crowd of total Angels!

Although generous offers, they were just not practical. I'm too far from home. I end up calling a tow truck to haul the car back to Ft. Worth. Pretty exciting! my first ride in a tow truck! The driver was from Fla, had just moved here and agreed with me, Texans are the kindest, most generous people in the United States!

Towing? $86

We drop the car at my "favorite" garage.. the young man at the estate sale's guess was right. Starter. $403. A day or two with no car.

Does this by chance make this fabulous eyelet nightgown worth $489? LOL.. not really but the thought crossed my mind.

And.. I have learned my lesson..Three's a charm. I'm not leaving the house on a Tuesday again EVER!

Friday, June 24, 2011

Estate Sales - Road Trips and Vintage Lingerie


If you just look at me and say "road trip".. I'm at the door with my shoes on, ready to go. I absolutely love road trips. Long, short, a full day. It doesn't matter, as long as I'm going. I think it's hereditary. Mom's worse. she has her little overnight suitcase packed immediately, as do my daughters.

An estate sale is often our perfect "excuse" for a road trip. I simply say "Shreveport, LA." and I have eager passengers. In the fall, we love going to Oklahoma and enjoying the color. New Mexico? Perfect, an excuse to visit an Aunt.

I am also guilty of "estate sales cross country." Each year when I drive to Michigan from TX, yes ~ I hit estate sales along the way. It does break up the drive and adds fun. Sometimes difficult, but do-able.

There are many services available that list when and where estate sales are. These really help a lot, conserving gas, and planning a trip. With gas so crazy, I try to have at least three stops before I leave.

The advantage ~ seeing so many fabulous homes and enjoying so many fabulous vintage items. The disadvantage? Often the lingerie is thrown out as its so personal. Quite often, we have a trip without a single purchase.

The other disadvantage is its usually all one size. If the lady of the house was an extra small, that's all that will be available. It's definately not like shopping at Macy's where you have your choice of size. But, it is fun and exciting, especially when you find that rare estate with fabulous lingerie!

We enjoy not only drive and the sales, but the towns new to us as well. Always having lunch at a local mom/ pop resturant, walking the streets, browsing the shops and of course stopping at all the antique stores. Each one is always a fun little road trip.

When you see my new listings, and each one of them are all a size Medium ~ you'll know.. an estate of just medium items! Here are a few new estate sale finds at

Vintagepretties
from three different TX estates, from Dallas to Weatherford!



Vintage Lorraine Nightgown Floral Full Sweep Plus Size 2X XX





Vanity Fair Vintage Nightgown Peignoir S XS





Miss Elaine Pink Vintage Nightgown M L

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Floaty Femine Chiffon Vintage Lingerie

Slip into sheer chiffon to feel completely feminine! There is nothing more dramatic than layers of chiffon with a full sweep hemline.

Not your style? Then maybe a short double chiffon nightgown or a cute vintage tunic with just a touch of chifon. You'll love the feel of all nylon vintage chiffon, smooth and silky and of course a wee bit sexy!

Here are just a few of the variety of chiffon items with new items listed, all available at

Vintagepretties





Vintage Nightgown Double chiffon Red Lily of France S Tall




Bewitching Black Double Chiffon Vintage Hanky Hem Nightgown S M




Vintage Chiffon Nightgown Peignoir Set S




Vintage Nightgown Babydoll Black Chiffon mini Tunic top L


Visit me at
Vintagepretties
for chiffon in all styles and sizes, with even more coming daily!


Thursday, June 16, 2011

Tie Nostalgia On - The History of Aprons




Does an apron inspire childhood memories for you? Grandma with her full aprons with ruffles that tied around her neck. Mom with her pretty half aprons, and for special occasions sheer chiffon or organdy short ruffly cocktail aprons to keep her good dress clean.

I remember wearing dresses with chiffon pinafores over them as a child, which are a form of apron. In Kindergarten, we wore plastic aprons for art classes to protect our clothing from messy finger-painting.

Aprons are everywhere ~ X-ray technicians wear lead aprons for protection, carpenters wear them to protect their clothing as well as hold their tools, who created the first aprons?



Adam & Eve wore something similar to today's aprons when they wore fig leaves. Aprons date back to the 10th century according to the Butcher's Guild. Blacksmiths wore them by the 13th century.

By the 17th century, housemaids who typically only owned one dress, found them necessary to keep that dress clean. They were easier to make than an entire dress, and simpler to wash, as well as serving as pot holders for not only holding a pan but also for handling hot fire tools. In the 18th century the Freemasons adopted the apron as it represented the clothing of the stone masons.



Pioneers used aprons as a "tool" of sorts, as we saw Caroline on "Little House on the Prairie" always wearing an apron and used it to carry things in, as well as all the Ingalls girls in either aprons or pinafores. The blacksmith of course wore one too. They weren't just for women.

Aprons were made from fabric scraps and were basically still utilitarian.



40's Remnant Apron @the Vintage Merchant



By the 50s and 60s, aprons became part of daily dress for TV moms. From Lucy to Donna Reed, Mary Tyler Moore in her Chiffon Cocktail Aprons and June Cleaver in her apron and pearls, the TV moms made them popular and fashionable for all homemakers.





They were created of anything from calico to chiffon, ruffles or simple, and even elegant! Frilly little sheer organdy cocktail aprons to wear over your best dress, or remnants of old left over fabric to create an every day apron to protect your dress while cooking. The variety of style, design and fabrics were endless.


1950s Organdy Apron @Born Too Late



Sadly, by the 20th century, aprons were associated with "working class" and completely lost their appeal.

Today, aprons again are trendy! Designers like Betsey Johnson, Laura Ashley and even Pierre Cardin have sewing patterns for aprons. They have a retro appeal, great hostess gift, gift for the chef in your life, darling to hang or frame in your vintage kitchen, or just keep it for yourself for nostalgia.

There also is an apron museum, dedicated to just Aprons and their history. The only
Apron Museum
in the world is in Iuka, Tishomingo County, Mississippi.
If you are traveling this summer, what a fun place to stop. In the meantime, grab a pretty apron and tie it on!




vintagepretties
http://www.rubylane.com/shop/vintagepretties

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Vintage Babydoll Nightgowns for Sleep or Play

Summertime ~ and its HOT.. so are these darling vintage babydoll nightgowns. Perfect to upgrade your lingerie wardrobe with seasonal intimates, but each of these pretties are so wonderful, they are perfect to wear out as well! Darling as little sun dresses, cute over jeans or capri's, perfect to go clubbing or out to dinner. Double your money with a sweet little baby doll you can wear in the bedroom or out!

All these and more coming soon to
Vintagepretties



Vintage Barbizon Babydoll nightgown Sexy Silky black XL





Vintage Nightgown Satin Victoria's Secret Large French Ivory Babydoll







Vintage Babydoll Nightgown Flirty Ruffle hem Teal S M





Vintage Nightgown Babydoll Black Chiffon mini Tunic top L shorty nightgown shirt sexy




Vintagepretties