most favorite day: Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

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Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

Welcome to our VFG Blog series featuring members of the VFGteam at Etsy!

You will be introduced to a different Team member in each new post. Please check out our Team Gallery page here.

Today's featured seller is Mary Henderson and you can visit her shop The Vintage Merchant here.

She also sells as Kitsch N Collectibles.

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

A school I was attending was sponsoring a formal event; most of the girls brought their senior prom dresses to wear, including me.

The weekend before the event, one of my best friends wanted to go shopping, so off we went, to a large old building in a kind of scary part of town I'd never been to before...

Inside was a bit dark, and completely cluttered. Shelves and barrels piled high with housewares and luggage and lo and behold ~ clothes! Reba found the dreamiest tulle confection in a peachy pink ~ and when she entered the dance wearing it, she looked like a princess compared to the rest of us in our "Mall" dresses! that was it, for me: I was totally hooked on vintage from then on!

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

When I managed a brick and mortar shop back in the 80s, I wore vintage from head to toe, literally, every single day, and every night at the clubs. Now, however, it's more of a mix of vintage accessories and separates with jeans, but, still, I do wear it nearly every day.

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

No, I really don't have a HG... I'm so in love with "regular" vintage with labels like Suzy Perette, or Emma Domb, or Nelly Don, or even a well-made home sewn house dress from the 40s, that I really don't lust for big designer labels whatsoever.

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Jacques Fath. or Zac Posen.

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

Some feel that we're spinning faster and faster when it comes to vintage, and that its "younger" than it used to be? but part of the formula lies in the fact that, of course, it's much easier to find a vintage garment from the 1990s (which is 22 years old, already) than it is to find a garment from the 1930s...we happen to prefer the earlier eras, but "new" vintage does sell, too, especially to our younger clients.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

My current favorite would be this 1940s pastel pink lace ensemble.

Here are a few more items from Mary's shops:

Authentic 1940s Turquoise Dangle Drop Earrings

1930s Dress Pattern Marian Martin

Vintage 1980s Yellow Floral Bubble Dress

Vintage Flower Garden Party Dress

Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

Welcome to our VFG Blog series featuring members of the VFGteam at Etsy!

You will be introduced to a different Team member in each new post. Please check out our Team Gallery page here.
Today's featured seller is Julia Creighton and you can visit her shop Stelma Designs here.

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

Although I started hunting for vintage and antique clothing in High School, it wasn't until College that I began to seriously dress in vintage, as it was the 80's and my fellow art department friends and I were into punk and new wave. It was the cool way to dress basically, not to mention affordable for a young student's budget. The goal was to dress as unique and shocking as we could and vintage fashions fit the bill there, mixed with contemporary clothes as well.

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

Nowadays as a mom of two teenage girls, the vintage I wear is paired with jeans and Frye harness boots, so all my coats are vintage and lots of belts and bags. I don't go all out in 40s or 50s dresses paired with shoes and seamed stocking like I used to but they are still in my closet just in case. I mainly mix vintage with modern and if I get all gussied up, I do have at least a vintage handbag from my collection of many or maybe shoes or a cashmere sweater.

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

Well, I am too all over the place for that, to be honest. I love it all and even if it is not something I can wear, it will go in my shop for someone else to own and enjoy. I will say I have a special love for vintage Hawaiian Mu'uMu'u. I have quite a collection now that I wear to my 14 year old daughter's Halau Hula dance events, to her chagrin, or should I say "high embarrassment", as she is not into vintage.....yet?

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Elsa Schiaparelli, what a character!

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

Well, I see that a lot of the vintage going forward from say, now, will never last the test of time as it barely lasts the test of the washer & dryer. I mainly am speaking to the mass produced, not designer. I guess there will always be something to collect, so the future of vintage looks pretty good to me.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

A 1940s Vera Maxwell orange wool coat, but I would have to have the 1940s ankle strap peep toe shoes to go with it. Sadly I never can find vintage shoes to fit my big old size 10 feet, or these would be on them for sure!

Here are a few more items from Julia's shop:

Vintage 1940s Navy Peep Toe Platform Ankle Strap Sandals, Gold Cross Shoes

Antique 1930s Lace Bra, Tap Pant Set, Silk Satin, Knickers

1970s Givenchy Sport Qiana Knit Skirt, Sweater Set, Camel Tan Dress

1950s Fur Felt Hat, Sue Claire, Black and Bone White with Tassels

Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

I'm thinking it must have been when I was a little girl and my Grandmother in Canada had this super soft old fur coat that just fascinated me. I realize now it was sheared beaver (and I still love old fur). As a teenager, I raided my Dad's closet for 60s shirts and my Mom's drawer for 50s jewelry for something different to wear.

The 'why' is Barbie. Seriously. I got a bubble cut for Christmas in 1961. Oh, the tiny tailored suits and swing coats, the circle skirts and sweaters, the gold lamé clutches and cork sandals, the hats and gloves - all in such wonderful fabrics! The outfit possibilities were endless. It must have shaped me :).

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

Every single day. If not a piece of vintage clothing, then jewelry, shoes, a purse - it's all in the closet. And it's great advertising!

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

My Holy Grail WAS a Pucci purse, which I have now, but really my grail is whatever I think I have to have NOW! That seafoam green cardigan, that wicker purse, those carved bakelite earrings...for me it's the 'grail de jour'.

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Maybe Chanel. She was a tough as nails businesswoman on one hand, but a forward thinking creative genius on the other. Be interesting to see how she juggled the two.

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

As always evolving. Having my shop I realized that my vintage is not the vintage of the next generation. So I see it as an adaptive process, the fashions of today will be the vintage of the future. Interest may ebb and flow, but I think vintage will always have a place in fashion.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

One of my favorite items in my shop are some clogs I actually bought for myself. They are so cute and colorful but alas, were too narrow for me (but I did learn the lesson that Swedish clogs run narrow). They remind me that I deal vintage because I love vintage!

Here are a few more items from Jennifer's shop:

1940s Twisted Lucite Pin with Violets

STUNNING 40s / 50s Bridal Headpiece / Halo / Crown Encrusted w Jewels

Vintage Evening Bag / Vanity Case / Minaudiere in box American Beauty (Elgin)

Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

Welcome to our VFG Blog series featuring members of the VFGteam at Etsy!

You will be introduced to a different Team member in each new post. Please check out our Team Gallery page here.
Today's featured seller is Tiffany and you can visit her shop PinkyAGoGo here.

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

I first got interested in vintage fashion in high school.
The 80's. I was very into punk music and fashion.
Wanting to rebel and dress as an individual.
There were 2 vintage clothing stores in the cool area of town and I would frequent them very often.

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

Yes, I wear something vintage on a daily basis--
If I am running errands I will wear any number of my vintage t-shirts with vintage Levis.
My New York Dolls vintage tee is one of my all time favorites.
It is getting so thin, that I am starting to get afraid that the next washing might be it's last! Then what will I do?!?!
Special occasions-- I tend to go for 50s full skirt dresses or 60's school girl style with big bows and pleated skirts. On special occasions I love the girly side of fashion.
I also love vintage charm bracelets and funky, kitschy jewelry. The louder the better.

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

Many!
A full-fledged Nudie suit, with all the bells and whistles, would be at the top of my list.
I still kick myself about getting outbid on ebay for a killer Nudie skirt.
It was a straight skit with 2 pistols covered in rhinestones on the hip.
I was outbid by $1. One dollar!
I've been kicking myself every day for the last 8 years over losing out on that.

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Dead-Dior, Alive-Gaultier.
Either one would make me very happy!

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

There will always be people who respect fashion, individuality and quality.
Every generation looks to the past for inspiration, I see that continuing into the future.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

GRENELLE ESTEVEZ Curvy Vintage 1950s Hollywood Glam Black Velvet Cocktail Dress with Train Medium

Here are a few more items from Tiffany's shop:

RARE Vintage Large Patriotic RHINESTONE Liberty Torch Pin Brooch by Staret

Vintage 1940s Pink Swing Pin Up Girl Tie Bikini Girl

SALE Vintage 1940s HUGE Floppy Chocolate Brown Summer Hat By Knox

Vintage 1950s 1960s YELLOW ROSES Silk Classic Wiggle Party Dress by Jerry Gilden

Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

I became interested in vintage fashion back in high school. I was always interested in wearing something unique and not blending into the woodwork. Vintage was great for that. Also, I have been a fan of classic film since I was a child, so the vintage styles have always appealed to me.

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

Sadly no. I live at the beach and work from home and am a bit of a homebody, so vintage doesn't suit my everyday lifestyle. For the most part I'm a jeans and t-shirt gal. However I do have a great collection of vintage purses and a few dresses that I shine in for the nights out on the town.

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

I adore Dorothy O'Hara dresses. I jump for joy every time I find one.

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Definitely Alfred Shaheen.
I'm just fascinated and enamored with how Shaheen accentuated the female form so well with his designs AND made all of his own amazing prints to boot! His sundresses are sweet, his sarong dresses sultry and his evening wear divine! It's not Paris couture, but it's just all good to me.

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

This is a difficult question. I feel that the quality of clothing has really gone down hill over the last 2 decades. The high quality but small American made companies and designers that used to pepper the country have all but disappeared and have been replaced by larger mass production companies in favor of cheap labor and lesser quality from abroad. As we have developed into a society that focuses on things that are disposable, our clothing is following suit; it's not made to last. For the most part, the clothing you buy today will not hold up over time like the clothing from the older decades has.

Of course there are some exceptions; namely high end and designer clothing that is better made and of higher quality fabrics. I imagine for this reason that what does survive will be even more desirable for lack of availability.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

By far this Robbie Bee 1970's wool maxi skirt. It's just so gorgeous.

Here are a few more items from Amber's shop:

Kamehameha Vintage Early 1960's Hawaiian Sundress

Vintage late 1950's Sky Blue Pencil Shirt Dress by Country Set

Amazing UNWORN Vintage 1960s Surfer Girl Bikini

Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

Welcome to our new VFG Blog series featuring members of the VFGteam at Etsy!

You will be introduced to a different Team member in each new post. Please check out our Team Gallery page here.

Today's featured seller is Debbie Cantrelle and you can visit her shop CatseyeVintage here.

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

My grandmother gave me a beautiful hand beaded 1950s cardigan sweater while I was still in high school.
I fell in love with that cardigan and began shopping at local vintage shops looking for more. I wanted them in every color and pattern.
Before long, I also began collecting colored rhinestone jewelry and ladies' suits from the 1940s and early 1950s.

After a few years of buying and collecting, I began selling on consignment at a local vintage shop and eventually rented my own booth in an antique mall.
I was thrilled when Ebay came along and opened my first online shop specializing in vintage clothes and accessories in late 1998, moving to Etsy in 2008.

Although my Grandmother is gone, I still have that cardigan sweater and treasure it.

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

I often wear vintage cashmere sweaters and cardigans. My current daily "go to" purse is a fabulous hand-stamped leather bag made in India in the 70s.

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

One of the hand embellished cashmere cardigan masterpieces by Helen Bond Carruthers. I would particularly like to find one with embroidered flowers taken from an antique piano shawl.

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

It would be a tie between Helen Bond Carruthers or Alfred Shaheen.

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

I believe that there will always be serious collectors of fine clothing and accessories from the Victorian through 1950s era.

Hopefully the young women of today who are purchasing 70s embroidered Mexican dresses and East Indian block print dresses will continue to buy vintage clothing and accessories and come to appreciate the quality and beauty of earlier clothing.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

I'd have to say my red Alfred Shaheen sundress.

Here are a few more items from Debbie's shop:

Vtg Pali Hand Print Cold Rayon men's Hawaiian shirt:

Vtg 80s Thierry Mugler skirt suit:

Vtg Hattie Carnegie Necklace:

Vintage Pink Cardigan Sweater:

Etsy VFGteam Featured Seller

1. When did you first get interested in vintage fashion & why?

My parents were/are antique dealers so I spent a lot of time at flea markets, auctions, and antique stores. I think I'm just genetically inclined to love the thrill of hunting for interesting old things. My passion for vintage clothing ignited when I was 10 years old and went to a $1/bag rummage sale with my mom. We found a bunch of amazing 40s and 50s vintage dresses and I played dress-up in them for years. (I cringe now, to think about how I destroyed those dresses!)

I started buying vintage for "real life" in the 80s when I was in high school. I remember, very vividly, how adventurous it felt to drive into Portland (Maine) from my rural town, to go to the only vintage clothing store in the area. The shop was on the second floor of an old building, and climbing up those creaky stairs, with the dusty smelling radiators, always thrilled me. At that point I was getting into punk and new wave music, and wearing vintage clothing gave me a way to express myself in a way that clothing from the mall could not.

I was lucky enough to marry a guy who shared my love for all things vintage, and we often ended up buying vintage clothing that we came across, just because we couldn't bear to leave them behind. We discovered eBay in its early years, around 1999, and finally we had an excuse to buy even more. Now, 13 years later, I am making my living by selling vintage clothing online.

2. Do you regularly wear vintage?

No, not often. Because I work from home I don't want to put wear and tear on pieces when no one, except my cats and my husband, will see them. I do have a few beloved pieces. My favorite is my vintage 60s Brooks cafe racer jacket with stars on the cuffs (I'm wearing it in the photo above). For special occasions I have a beaded black cardigan, a pair of 80s Manolo Blahniks, some winter coats, and a couple of great 40s crepe dresses. I also wear vintage accessories and jewelry fairly often.

3. Do you have a Holy Grail?

A vintage Nudie suit. I'd also love to find more pre-50s menswear, especially motorcycle jackets, athletic clothing, work wear, and L.L. Bean outdoors wear.

4. If you could visit the atelier of any fashion designer (dead or alive), who would it be?

Claire McCardell.

5. What do you see as the future of vintage?

Our current culture of inexpensive, throwaway clothing is a little worrisome. But I think it's balanced by increased awareness and acceptance of vintage. I enjoy seeing how women in their teens and 20s are so enthusiastic about incorporating vintage into their wardrobe and sharing their ideas and style with others.

6. What is your favorite item in your shop?

This Vintage 60s Psychedelic Halter Maxii Dress

Here are a few more items from Susan's shop:

Vintage 80s ZODIAC Red Leather Over the Knee Stacked Heel Scrunch Thigh High Boots 8.5

Vintage 70s Hot Pink Embroidered Peasant Boho Dress Alley Cat by Betsey Johnson

Vintage 60s RUDI GERNREICH Square Silk Scarf Moon Phases Brown Blue Pink