Sunday, November 21, 2010

My Winter Wardrobe

Come wintertime, I barely want to leave my house let alone look good while doing it. Day after day I find myself wanting to wear the same outfit in different variations: an oversized sweater, a pair of jeggings and boots. Not only is this ridiculously comfortable, it also looks effortlessly chic. But since this outfit combo is basically the closest that you can get to walking around in a Snuggie, I’m trying to spice up my staples without sacrificing wearability.




Top Row from left: Topshop knitted slubby sweater, $80, Malene Birger draped sweater, $118.50, Spiegel dolman sleeve sweater, $89

Middle Row: Vanilla Star cargo pants, $14.97
, Arden B. lightweight denim jeggings, $59, Topshop suedette leggings, $50

Bottom Row: Cooperative suede Gumsmole boot, $68, Franco Sarto Point boot, $119.99, ASOS Marky leather brogues, $55.17

Monday, October 4, 2010

My Week in Review

This week I...

Ate this:



Delicious (and amazingly fat free) peanut butter frozen yogurt from Butterfield Market on 77th and Lexington

Wore these:


The weather in New York has been absolutely atrocious. It rained almost every day last week. Good thing I have my trusty Hunter Lady N boots to keep my toes dry. Unfortunately these are sold mostly sold out online.

Saw these:



I went to the Met earlier in the week and was bummed because the rooftop bamboo exhibit was shut down due to the rain and the Costume Institute was in between exhibits. I ended up checking out Leon Levinson’s photographs of people on the New York streets from the ‘50s through the ‘80s He’s basically the original street style photographer. Definitely worth checking out if you’re in NYC.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Military Looks Courtesy of Etsy

I think one of the common misconceptions about Etsy is that everything on the site is craft fair material. And I don’t mean the cool, indie craft fairs, I’m talking the bags of potpourri and creepy doll clothes kind of craft fair. And while there is a small amount of that kind of stuff on the site (Hi, Regretsy), there is also an overwhelming abundance of really cool and well-made pieces for us fashion minded folk. To prove it, I’ve been searching for items that fit into one of the biggest trends this season: military. The result? An abundance of great items at a fraction of the price that you’d pay in boutiques or vintage shops. Here are some of my finds:



A boyfriend blazer and military look in one!

Backpacks are my bag of choice for fall



A wallet is a subtle way to incorporate the military trend into your wardrobe


These glasses will look chic for years to come


Great boots pull the whole look together


Love the sexy side slit and buttons on this skirt.


Monday, March 29, 2010

Estoy Loca

Every year at about this time, I start to get anxious about the arrival of spring. I’ll cross the street just to feel the sun on my face for a few blocks and my feet literally ache for a pair of sandals. I guess that’s why I’m craving a look reminiscent of a Mexican pueblo with embroidered dresses, tooled leather and huaraches.

I’ve got a few Mexican-style pieces to list in the shop but my camera has had a boo boo so I can’t shoot anything till I get it fixed. Yuck!


Just discovered this site Spool No. 72 and I'm in love! Pleasant Cove dress, $66



This top is kinda crazy and kinda fabulous, $38


I'm a sucker for tooled leather. Vintage clutch, $22

Monday, February 1, 2010

Experimenting with Vintage Lots

In the short time that La Poubelle Vintage has been in existence, I have been experimenting with different ways to keep the shop stocked (vintage clothes don’t grow on trees, coincidentally). My initial approach was to scour my favorite thrift shops and flea markets looking for passed over goodies but since I’ve recently found myself with increasingly less free time (thanks unpaid internships!), I’ve been searching for new ways to find interesting pieces.

I’ve bought a couple of lots from eBay which means that you pay a fairly low price for a big box full of God-knows-what. Some attempts have yielded oddities like a puffy floral windbreaker and denim jumpers galore. But my most recent lot, which came from eBay seller niidii, was a delightful surprise. Here are a few of my favorite pieces that just came in, all available in the shop.


May or may not have worn this shirt to work the other day...whoops.


Loving the Victorian-ness of this super frilly top!


Wiiiishing these boots were my size or they'd be mine, all mine.


I'm saving this one for spring...

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Shopping for Bakelite

Bakelite bangles galore from Gaslight and Shadows Antiques

In an effort to make my blog a little more vintage focused I’m starting this series where I’ll provide tips for finding the very coolest vintage stuff. To get the ball rolling, I’m focusing on Bakelite because I just think it’s darn cool.



Dandy Bakelite silverware from Eddie Ross's blog

What is Bakelite? Bakelite was essentially the first kind of plastic ever made and because of it’s strength, it was widely used to make lots of stuff like purse handles, kitchen doodads, radios and of course my favorite jewelry! Although Bakelite is still produced in limited quantities today, the majority of Bakelite products you’ll find these days are vintage. Bakelite also comes in a range of colors and opacities. Part of the reason that I love it so much is because of the dark shades of yellows, greens and reds that are perfect for fall and winter weather.

Vintage Bakelite pin from Decatique Studios

Where to find it: eBay is a great place to find loads of vintage Bakelite pieces. Those crafty Etsy members have also used repurposed Bakelite to make some really unique accessories. Though many vintage sellers don’t have the most sophisticated websites (which makes sense I suppose) but if you can navigate through the sites, there are some great things to be found. Bakelitejewelery.net and Citrus Avenue Collectibles have huge selections!

Custom Bakelite cufflinks from 19 Moons


Is it real? As a collectors item, Bakelite tends to be on the expensive side so there are several tests you can do to determine if that goodie that you’re pining for is real or an imposter. The first and easiest trick is to rub the piece with your fingers to warm it up. If it’s real, the heat will cause a chemicaley formaldehyde smell. You can also run it under hot water and wait for that same smell. Another way to test the authenticity of Bakelite is to knock two pieces together. If they’re both real, you’ll hear a deeper clunk sound as opposed to a lighter clink sound that comes from other plastics. If you’re hardcore enough about your Bakelite, you can also try the test that many experts use which is taking a cotton swab soaked in 409 and rubbing it on the piece in question. If the swab turns yellow, that means it’s real, if not, you may have a faker.

Bakelite ring by Petit Oiseau

Happy shopping!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Introducing...

...My new Etsy shop La Poubelle Vintage! I've been working for the past few months on putting together my first vintage collection to be sold on Etsy and it has finally launched. It's a mix of high and low vintage pieces and like a true budget babe, I'm keeping the prices as low as possible. Please check it out and let me know what you think! Here are a few pictures from the store.