2011 September | Archives Vintage

Boobs & Shopping

September 26, 2011 by archivesvintage · 6 Comments

My friend Tabitha has a fabulous weekly beauty feature on her blog, and this week she interviewed yours truly! Click here to read about my love / hate relationship with my boobs.

Last Thursday I spent the entire day on a vintage hunt! I hit some old favorite spots, and a few new ones as well. The bounty was epic!!! That is the back of our CRV packed full of goods. While nothing about this job feels like work (ok…going to the Post Office is really not my fav), the shopping part never gets old. If I could spend every day thrifting, I would!

Some beautiful fall garments and accessories are finding their way into the shop, please take a peek!

Filed Under: archives vintage, etsy, fall, featured, shopping, thrifting, vintage, vintage clothing

Six Months

September 21, 2011 by archivesvintage · 20 Comments

I had a long post I’d been trying to write about this….but I think it can be summed up in two sentences: I’ve been self-employed for six months now! Very, very cash-poor, but very, very happy :)

xo,

Lisa

Filed Under: archives chicago, archives vintage, atlas, etsy, history, life, vintage clothing

The Perfect Mix

September 15, 2011 by archivesvintage · 18 Comments

This blouse is one of my most favorite items in my closet, and it cost me a whopping $3! It’s finally chilly enough to wear again, after a summer hiatus. This cognac leather belt cost .90 and I wear it almost every day!

While thrifted finds make up a decent percentage of my closet, there are some items worthy of investing in: good jeans and good boots.

Wearing: Blouse / Belt / Bracelets: vintage (thrifted), Jeans: Gap, Boots: TJ Maxx, Glasses: Warby Parker Atlas: rescued

Why: Werkin.

Filed Under: archives vintage, atlas, boots, fall, shopping, thrifting, vintage, vintage clothing, warby parker

Will Fight for Vintage

September 12, 2011 by archivesvintage · 14 Comments

During the current season transition, our temps in Chicago have been rising and falling daily – today things fell on the warmer side (BOO). My Monday was filled with errands and a trip across town for some thrifting, so I kept it simple by throwing on a basic cotton dress and piling on accessories with a hint of southwest to them.

The thrifts were absolutely crazy – I went to two stores and both had not a single cart available! As I was waiting in a long line to check out, an older woman approached and started speaking to me in Polish (Note: this happens to me a LOT. Something about my appearance screams eastern European, because Russian and Polish women will randomly start speaking to me in either respective language, and then can’t believe I don’t understand them). I politely told her I don’t speak Polish, which she was surprised to learn (Really! I’m Italian and German and I can’t even speak either of those!).

She then asks if she can use my cart when I’m finished checking out, to which I obviously say yes. She proceeds to start digging through my cart, like I’d just spent the last hour digging through a sea of fading Target garments and smelly old shoes plucking out the good vintage just for her! I hate to be a jerk to an older person, but seriously – what the fuck?! Who does that?! I snapped and said (half out of surprise and half out of anger), “EXCUSE ME…?!”, and pulled my cart away. She gave me the side eye like I had done something wrong, and told me she just wanted to “help me”.

Sorry lady, but if there is one and only thing in this world I don’t need help with – it’s thrifting.

Wearing: Dress – H&M, Scarf – MoVintage, Ring & zipper bracelet – c/o JewelMint, Glasses – Warby Parker, Bracelets: vintage/modern, Boots: Vintage

Why: Defending vintage

Filed Under: archives vintage, chicago, history, life, shopping, thrifting, vintage, vintage clothing

Renegade Chicago

September 11, 2011 by archivesvintage · 11 Comments

Saturday afternoon I met up with Merl and her sister for a stroll around the Renegade Craft Fair. It was unexpectedly hot, humid and extremely crowded. It had been a few years since I’d attended the twice a year fair, and am sad to say it was a total snoozefest. In the past, there were some great artisans with unique offerings; I remember wanting to shell out all of my earnings on the goods available!

This time around, there was so much repetition, simply put – it was seriously boring. The lack of variety in vendors was extremely disappointing. Lots of felt, crochet, letterpress greeting cards and screenprinted everything. If I never see another letterpress poster in my life, it will be WAY too soon.

However, there were a few booths with some very beautiful designs that really stood out:

Courtney Fischer Designs

Courtney makes some incredibly swoon-worthy patina jewelry. They were flying off the tables, and rightfully so!

Bettulia

I fell head over heels for this amazing shop. I grew up with a birch tree in my front yard and have a not so secret deep love for this tree. Merl snagged one of their bracelets and I was intensely jealous! When I finally have spending money one day, you can bet I’ll make one of these handcrafted beauties my own. (And likely a birch tree tattoo somewhere on my bod as well.)