Hooti Couture

Sew Amazing!

Our good friend Moya just emailed us about a great website that should inspire anyone with a sewing machine or a good seamstress. It's called the Vintage Pattern Lending Library, and whether your taste leans toward a simple Vogue pattern for a classic summer blouse or a glam gown from the 1930s, you are certain to find something at vpll.org. Customer ratings can be found for some of the designs, and illustrations abound. Check it out! (And if you've never learned to sew, think about lessons! It isn't rocket science, and there's something very satisfying about something as simple as hemming a skirt or repairing a seam. And used sewing machines are often a bargain at estate sales. Melissa has a Kenmore she picked up years ago for $35, and it's still humming.)

The Real "Green"...For Really Good Holiday Gifts!

So, we're wondering, have you noticed the "greening" of holiday advertising and magazine and newspaper articles, or are you a bit more focused on  hunting for memorable gifts at reasonable prices? Well, good luck, and, if you can handle it, we're jumping on the bandwagon,  screaming green at the top of our lungs, and meaning it!

Of course, vintage gifts are the ultimate "green" gesture, recycling at its finest, so we thought we'd end the year with a handful of vintage finds we'd love to receive as gifts—or wear to a holiday party. And not only are they vintage, all found on eBay (click the links to go right to the item), BUT we went a bit overboard, so you'll notice a color theme,  (although we forced that a bit with the velvet-trimmed cocktail dress  we show here because we fell in love with it).

Happy looking, and who knows, you might even finish your shopping while you're reading or, at least, find fresh inspiration for one-of-a-kind gift giving.

A bold bangle  makes a wonderful gift, and green bakelite (here's just one of many available on eBay at the moment), is one of our favorite materials. The green felt purse we found would look striking with a simple black suit or a black wool coat with fur collar, and jewel-tone colors fill all the holiday issues of fashion magazines, so why not treat yourself  to an evening coat with beaded cuffs. Want to go MOD and green? Check out this green and gold carpet coat.  Or keep it classic and elegant with a simple green satin clutch or green stone cuff links.  We could go on and on, of course, but really green shopping, as most vintage aficionados know,  is just as close as your favorite vintage or thrift store. Happy holidays, and best wishes for a great and green New Year. 

Striking Gator Gold...in Auckland, New Zealand

We just had to share a recent email from a magazine editor in New Zealand who is so passionate about vintage that she recently took a copy of Alligators with her when she traveled in the U.S. But it's the find she made after returning home that we are celebrating here:

"This is totally silly, since I've never met you, but thought you might like to see this alligator (crocodile?) bag I bought this week in a hospice shop in NZ. It's the first alligator bag I've ever seen in NZ, and is just stunning. Apart from the handle it's in almost mint condition, as if it's never been used. I bought it for $75 (about US $50) and still can't believe my luck."

Thanks, Christine, and if we ever make it to NZ we want you as a thrift-shop guide! And, FYI, this particular type of gator skin is called "hornback" but we know there are more knowledgeable gator/croc folks out there...other info is welcomed.

Fall Tips & Tricks: No. 4

How to Shop Smart Online
As much as Alison loves her store (and auctions and flea markets)—and Melissa loves all her vintage shopping options in San Francisco—we know that not everyone is so lucky. But stop all that moaning! Incredible vintage goodies are as close as your computer, and if you haven't yet taken the leap into the vintage world on the Internet, you are missing out.

It's not hard to shop online, but being a bit cautious, asking questions before you buy—AND READING THE FINE PRINT—will make you a savvy shopper who is less likely to be stuck with bad goods.

Here's what we have learned over the past several years, while buying everything from a classic two-tone alligator bag to a gorgeous Lilly Pultizer velvet coat (both items are in Melissa's closet):

1. eBay is a great place to start because of their feedback ratings. We always look at a seller's rating before even considering a bid. If someone has less than 50 sales and less than a 99% rating, we will look at lot closer at the actual feedback before taking the next step. Cliched as this sounds, where there's smoke, there's usually fire.

2. Read the whole description before bidding on something AND keep a tape measure close at hand. Don't just guess that something might fit you, and definitely don't go by an actual size tag. Study the measurements, then measure something comparable in your closet, if possible. If that sweater you already own measures 18 inches from armhole to armhole, then you probably can't fit into one that is only 16 inches wide. If the seller doesn't provide measurements, ask for them.

3. If you want something that is likely to be pricey—an alligator or crocodile purse, a vintage watch or serious jewelry, be especially careful about buying from a reputable vendor with top-notch feedback. Also keep in mind that reptile skins can be tricky to identify. But, in general, if the "scale" of a skin is small, it is probably lizard or snake rather than alligator or croc. Often we spot items on eBay that are lizard, but have been described as gator. Look closely at a variety of purses, at brick-and-mortar stores and in photos, and you will become more knowledgeable about skins.

4. If an Internet seller has given only minimal information, or seems vague about the details, ask questions or keep moving. And if you want to see more photos of an item, ask; it's possible the seller has more images they can e-mail you.

5. Most sellers on eBay will NOT accept returns based on poor fit. You buy it, you own it. So, read the details, noting everything from shipping costs to methods of payment to such red flags as "slightly smoky odor".  Also, the most sophisticated Internet vintage vendors have implemented ratings for their merchandise and we love that; some if something is described as "good" rather than "mint" you know what to expect.

6. We love PayPal, for its ease of use, and highly recommend it. Some vendors will take checks or money orders, but that will usually delay the arrival of merchandise.

7. If you have never bid on an item at eBay before, spend some time at the site learning the eBay lingo. That way you will know what a "reserve" is (we usually avoid these because it's more game-playing than shopping), as well as "buy it now" and "best offer." Also, you will encounter sellers who don't sell to first-timers. When in doubt, send an email to the seller before putting in a bid. Usually, honest and clear communication is the best way to avoid misunderstandings.

8. If you win an auction, pay promptly. It is the decent thing to do, and you are much more likely to earn positive feedback, quickly.

9. Finally, there are hundreds, if not thousands, of vintage sellers on the Internet who don't use eBay (and many eBay sellers who also have online "stores"). Amazing merchandise is just a click away, but it helps to know what you are looking for. If you want a vintage Pucci clutch or sexy Daniel Green mules, type those words into Google, and go from there.  As you would at any store, ask about return policies and read any fine print before putting in an order. 

Here's The Menu: Dumplings or Rice

Wherever vacations take us, we're always on the lookout for great vintage stores, and once we find those stores, anything's possible. That's how we came to learn about designer Cynthia Caldwell's "rice" and "dumpling" bags and lots of other whimsical creations.

Caldwell's pure-fun purses frequently incorporate vintage or recycled fabrics and/or vintage patterns, and we found a few pieces of her Crow 7 Bags line at Encore vintage in downtown Portland, Maine. Owner Rita Prout-Farley has incredible stock (521 Congress St.; 207-775-4275) and excellent prices, and this has to be one of the best vintage stores in New England. It's a must stop if you are anywhere near Portland.

Rita's stock includes Caldwell's larger bags, done in assorted vintage faux leopard prints, and that's how we learned that the artist was sewing the summer away on Peaks Island, before she heads back to home base in Arizona this fall. You can also see her latest work at Archipelago (386 Main St., Rockland, Maine), and at Art by the Bay,  South Maine Community College, on Sept. 16.

Now, about the rice and dumplings: Caldwell's "Rice-Cycled" purses use Bombay rice bags, and the one above also incorporates vintage velvet in a python print. Her "dumplings" are small, soft, round purses with loop handles, and they are based on a 1940s design. For fall Caldwell is doing dumplings in all kinds of vintage furs with velvet trims.

If you are nowhere near Maine this summer or fall, you can see a few of her pieces at www.etsy.com. Under "advanced search" plug in the name Crow 7 to see her page. You can also reach Caldwell at crow7bags@hotmail.com for more information about those furry dumplings, rice bags and many other designs.