pretty clothes pretty clothes this is an interesting title isn't it

Yesterday (or was it the day before? Time flies so fast I honestly haven't sat down for more than an hour this entire weekend) I went with Kat to the Manhattan Vintage Trunk Show. We originally had planned to also go to the FIT exhibit on Japan Fashion, but we spent so much time humping the pretty fabrics at the show there was no time to go to the exhibit before the museum closed. Ah well!

The Trunk Show was absolutely amazing -- I've never seen so much beautiful and well kept vintage all in one place. I'm taking a costume design and fashion history class so I spent a lot of time poring over the vintage pattern books and Vionnet and massive collections of old Chanel that were all around for research on a project I'm working on. Unfortch I couldn't take many pictures (it's bad etiquette at the show) but here are some that I did take.





There was literally more Chanel at this fair than I've ever seen at the Chanel in Uptown Manhattan. Walls of Chanel. Booths of all Chanel. Chanel Chanel Chanel. Chanel is, as you all know, not my thing -- I was making keening noises at the vintage Comme on display -- but it was pretty amazing to see so much Chanel from different decades all lined up next to each other.





Totally obsessed with the twenties, it's probably my favorite decade in fashion. Vionnet was just coming in, meaning everything was still not yet cut on the bias of fabric and hung on the body rather than form fit for it. Lots of creativity and innovations to make dresses different from each other.



It was a very long day full of camwhoring, so I've decided to break up the actual photosession I had with Kat from our visit at the show. More soon! We got pretty things that deserve their own posts, after all.

Note: you can click the last picture to be directed to the flickr lightbox, where you can see all the photos in better quality and larger dimensions. 

i went to hello again a few days ago

If you've been following my blog since the beginning (for which I applaud you, I go into my archives sometimes and want to punch myself in the face) you'll know I basically only shop at goodwill and my local vintage stores when I can. I haven't visited Hello Again in a long time because it's pretty out of the way for me and also happens to be awkwardly close to some people who I'm not close to anymore, but I went because I missed it. And they changed the layout and it's lovely!





Local designers often sell their work at the vintage stores here; Hello Again has tons of Jersey artists. Those necklaces are pretty rad, I want the green/white/pink one.












You can always get cheap vintage shoes here. Actually everything here for the most part is REALLY cheap. I'm talking $8 vintage, not $55 like in most vintage stores.



They have a small selection of menswear (they are a MINISCULE sized store, about the size of my room) but it's all good. I found this amazing Peter Jenson like ensemble in the mens section but it was too small for me. Sob.


For such a small store they always pack it to the top with good stuff. Abigail used to always leave with a ton of accessories.



I left with the pink hat in this picture and a slinky black dress (once again, the influence Kristin has on me is pretty scary) that I've been wearing under 23423424 layers of black and long long layers and peplums and chains.

H.A is owned by the sweetest people ever, I mean it. I haven't been there in ages, I went in there with a completely different look than the one I had last time I visited -- months ago -- but they still remembered me and were the sweetest people ever. If you go in there with even just a $20 to shop you can leave with a bunch of stuff and some new friends. I adore them.

On a different tangent... every so often I get emails asking where to shop in Jersey and NYC and I don't go shopping that often, but I did a post on it awhile ago. Hopefully it helps!

apparently i look like a southern belle on acid.

I've always had a lot of random hats -- family heirlooms, gifts, etc. In the past few weeks I've accumulated six more hats, the pink and white tophat are my current favorites though. I wore them to school and apparently I look like a southern slave holder in it or someone who bets on horses. Kinda rad. The total I've spent on hats is rad too: $3! In total. Yeah I feel yo hate *brushes shoulders off*


I spent two bucks on this last goodwill trip. Goodwill has been bumming me out lately, since more hipsters go there now (I HATE YOU ALL) and take all the good stuff and are rude to the employees and steal shit out of my shopping cart. Yeah I know who you are, and I will hunt you down. BUUTTTT HAPPY MOMENT TIME


Oh yeah guys. Oh yeah. I know you're drooling. Yeah dude. THEY GLOW WITH GOODNESS


Also a super rad recent purchase for me. $15 bucks at Beacon's Closet, ya dig?

it's a psychedelic swastika, man

This is what I did Saturday.

After an intense game by myself at ITG in the mall (I am a nerd and typically play marathon sessions.), Abigail and I headed over to Meika & Warren's apartment for hair, makeup, and sweet live Vaudevillian music. Here are some snaps.

Zoe, being a true emo clown.

And now the pictures provided by Eric aka bearded lady.

Meika and Warren Franz, the most amazing and awesome and epic people you will ever meet. Coincidentally, they are the owners of Another Man's Treasure and organized this whole thing. This is their apartment. IS IT NOT AMAZING?

Me being a dork amongst beautiful people. Also I am the youngest. These do correlate.


Vaudevillian live soundtrack was provided through the entire day by Matt and Nathan. Also the originators of the swastika mirror joke. And Paul Smith shopping bags. And Where's Waldo jokes. Maybe the most down to earth people ever.

We have two videos of the show, but one of them sucks and the other hasn't yet been emailed to me. You will see it eventually, though. I'll be heading to AMT's perhaps next week for accessories and setting things aside for a secret project. Fingers crossed it goes through!

new york fashionistas

quick non scheduled post:

My all time favorite vintage store, Another Man's Treasure is having a Fall 50 % off sale. They have the most epic selection of vintage clothes and to slash prices for THAT MUCH is kind of amazing. It'll be up all week but a lot of the stuff is going fast (meaning, a lot of dresses are gone already) so go now!

I'll be dropping by later in the week but I seriously doubt there will be anything !!!!!! left in 5 days.... so go now if you are in NYC / NJ area. (And I know you are, Fashion Week is drawing closer...)

Take the PATH to Grove St. from NYC and walk one block north. It's the place where all the really well dressed people are probably jumping around with bags of t-shirts and dresses.......

P.S Tell Meika (store owner) Arabelle from Fashion Pirates sent you. :)

P.P.S YAY JAPAN FASHION WEEK'S LIST CAME UP SO STOKEDDDD. Lots of old faces, lots of unknown. I do wish JP's FW got more recognization... them, CCM presentation, and Copenhagen's FW are my favorite fashion weeks. Sadface.

leathuuhhhhhh and cross dressing

haha, leathuhhh everywhere. Anyway, I went shopping with my two best friends, Jew and Hipster Jaime. Consonants ROCK. I don't think I've ever posted a picture of my manbitch, so to get to know him better, here he is.

First stop was Another Man's Treasure. I found three lovely dresses. This was the one most in y price range -- $52. I've never spent that much money on one dress but it's so lovely! I put it on hold so I can think about if it's worth that much to me or not.... I only have $80 to spend and I want to get as much as possible! There's a blog meetup later this month and I want to have money to shop then as well. Opinions? I have a week.

"So Clothes Horse." Really lovely dress, I'd have to alter it and bring it up a bit to fit my bust and it's a hassle. I'm sure it would look fantastic on Rebecca though. $65...? I forget.

WHY IS THE PERFECT DRESS OUT OF MY PRICE RANGE. $95. It makes me feel like a princess, I wish I had more to spend... The print reminds me of Prada's fairy tale themed collection. IT. IS. SO. FLATTERING. Ugh.

....annddd what we ended up getting. It was $20, and ironically, from another vintage store in the area. It's got stains but that's why it was so heavily discounted. I'm trying to convince Abigail to let me chop off the top part (the bust doesn't fit either of us) so it would be a skirt instead. It'd be perfect with an AA heathered sweatshirt...

Sneak peak of the next post. I wonder what store this is...? ;] Hyuk hyuk hyuk.

it's no big deal, i just, you know, thrifted PRADA

So my day started off with me and my dad making fun of midgets and third graders (we are terrible, terrible people but we will make you laugh anyway) which was awesome and it only got better from there. Oh yes bitches. Start sending the hatemail and assassins, the thrift gods have shined on me today.

Four Words:

Black. Lace. Poof. Skirt.

THE SKIRT TO END ALL SKIRTS, Lace Blouse, White Flutter Blouse, Helmut Lang-ish Black Cinched Shirt, Floral Denim Elastic Waist Pants...

The whopping total.... $3

No need for words.

Other than, three of these peices are for two other bloggers. What can I say, I am just that generous.

But you can make damn sure I'm keeping the skirt.

(I got them at G-ma's. Hi Kristen!)

Edit:

Tavi: HOW DID YOU THRIFT PRADA??? WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE??? SOUL TANGGG??

I love you, you weirdo. xD I don't know what you're complaining about, I'm shopping for you too.... And I think I'm Jesus, fyi...

one man's trash is....

Another Man's Treasure.

Since quite a few of you asked just where the hell to shop in Jersey, I hopped to it and headed to one of my favorite spots in dirty Jersey, Another Man's Treasure. It's actually quite close to New York City for all you City Kids--it's a block north from the Grove St. PATH stop. You have no excuse not to come.

I love Another Man's for several reasons: 1) it's a walkable distance from my school (for all your stalkers) 2) it's gorgeous, and the owners did everything themselves, from the display windows to crossing state borders to buy the clothes. It's also my first vintage store, and everything I've purchased here I've worn religiously. My Three Stooges Tee? Here, in the sales rack. My Brown and White heeled oxfords? Here.

The Designer and Couture rack, pretty prices for gorgeous pieces. I wanted to buy the whole damn thing; Chloe, Tibi, Betsy Johnson, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Pucci dopplegangers can I take you home with me?

She's going to count to three, open her eyes and the dress you wanted in your dreams will suddenly be hanging on the rack before you. It's not Jesus work, it's just her thing.

Meika is somewhat of local fashion icon, with good reason. She's always been what you'd classify as a cool kid: previously in the music industry, she's shopped at thrift stores and been in the industry all her life--she's been in trade shows with her family since she was 12. Her experience is evident in the presentation and pieces in the store. Oh, and she's probably the nicest person you'll ever meet. Plus, she has pink hair. Hello, people. Get to it.

Whenever I'm in the store I automatically gravitate to the shiniest, shaggiest things; it's kind of like moths to a flame. Here are some of my favorite things in the store at the moment. All very affordable to everyone other than negative bank balance me, so you should hop to it so I can borrow it the second you fork over the ridiculously inexpensive amount everything is. All you Brits coming to NYC with your money..... you know what to do.

Are you eyeing that odd shag cape and blue butterfly sweaters? Yeah, I am too....

I really like the Beach bag peeking out. Meika pointed it out and it's positively delicious. It has sand, a mini coke bottle and it's just the right amount of cheek.

It's like a magical column of every bag you didn't know you wanted.




If I were a 3 year old this would be my dig. I want the mary janes.

I also saw a cousin to MY DRESS, the pink tiered lace. This didn't have the tiers, but it was still pretty sweet. Here are my dress favorites, though.

I adore the color and paneling. This would be perfect for Mary, I think.


I actually had about 3 other yellow or acid green dresses on the sofa but I think all the acid colors would induce people into seizures. These are absolutely gorgeous though, aren't they? Stam for Patrick Demarchelier, I see you in that yellow dress...


It practically has your name on it, Jones. Oh wait. It does.

My favorite shoes in the store actually happened to be the mens shoes.... And that blazer is looking better and better the more I look at it.

In most instances, for vintage stores, you're paying for the location AND the clothes. By that, I mean in NYC, you're going to pay inflated prices you wouldn't see in a hole in the wall rural thrift store. It irks me when I hear people ask, "I'm going into the City, where do I shop???" It's understandable to want to shop in the city because it's the City, but you're not going to get any deals, really. That's why I like Jersey City for thrift more so than NYC--you get the location and the quality clothes without sacrificing anything. Another Man's is probably the best example of of the balance between location, price, and quality. Me likey.

All this good stuff, so little time... I tried on a purple denim high waisted pencil skirt and that odd pink knit cape and magic happened. I apparently grew wings of a hummingbird and this happened.





After that, I flew away.

*Many thanks to Meika and her husband for allowing me to interview her and generally attack the racks! You can read more about AMT at their website. They also have an EPIC dressing room with an amazing collage of inspirational pictures and style icons. If you can name 100 of them, you'll get a gift certificate. Of course, I won't show it to you, you'll have to go and try out yourself...