Looking Back

It's the final month of the year. Usually, we're coming out of the glutton stupor of Thanksgiving and diving headfirst into sparkly lights, spiked eggnog, and holiday shopping. Once the presents are wrapped, then torn open, and the family members are gently but forcefully herded out the door, we sit back and sigh.

*Whew!*

Then, it's New Year's. And as one entity, we collectively lose our breath and go, "What?" 2010 will be over? "What?" We have to get used to writing 2011? I just mastered writing 2010 instead of 2009 like a few weeks ago!

Looking back on the year is our way of hanging on to our momentary life. I call life "momentary" not because in the end, it's utterly brief in the grand scheme of things, but because it is a series of moments. A collection of tiny memories that make up a whole. We may remember that July of 2010, we could barely sleep due to a great amount of stress, but the things we actually remember are flashes of events. 

Yes, we were stressed out that entire month, but we focus on the one memory that happened in the second week where we found ourselves navigating a city we didn't know and encountering crazy drivers that seem to have come out of a movie. That moment defines the entire month and that is the moment we actually remember.

Years from now, we'll forget why we were stressed; but we'll never forget the crazy white-haired man gesturing quite obscenely at us from behind for stopping quite legally at a red light. Thank goodness the light turned green right as he decided to open his door! 

I bring this up now, while we still have Christmas to tackle, because I found something pretty cool from another blog I frequent. It's called Reverb 10 and it's a duo of girls who decided we should take a moment every day in December to reflect back on 2010 and to think forward to 2011. You sign up, and they send you a prompt everyday which you have to answer. I know, I'm joining a little bit late in the game. However, better late than never! 

New Year's Eve, 2009. It's a familiar road, but who knows where it goes.

I thought I would begin at the beginning, looking back to December 1st and answering the prompt for that day:

One Word. Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you? 

Discovery. I've had a lot of ups and downs, a lot of doubts, followed by a lot of frustration. All of that muck in my life? It led me to discover a few things about myself. It helped me discover just how much I can endure before saying, "Enough!" It helped me discover how to pragmatically judge a situation without giving in to emotions that may lead me to make bad decisions. I discovered I'm stronger than I thought I was, but more vulnerable than I should be. It's a process, and I'm certainly not done, but for now, I know I am on that path.

A year from now, I'd like the word for 2011 to be Self. I'd like to find myself in December, 2011, secure in my Self; knowing I spent the year making the right decisions to help further my Self in my accomplishments, happiness, and love.

What is your word for 2010? Why? What do you want your word to be for 2011?

Write it in the comments below.

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Thanksgiving, the day of lots of food, family and friends, and taking a moment to think about what motivates us to get up in the morning. So what are you thankful for, what gets you up in the morning?

The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 1931. What an adorable hippo!

I’m thankful for:

•  Knowing something new and exciting can happen during the day.
•  Being able to cook delicious meals for the people I love.
•  Listening to my cat meow incessantly because he is here and he wants me to know that.
•  All the people I love including my parents, my sister, my boyfriend, my dear bestie, my friends, and the people I see day to day who affect me more than they know.
•  Having the ability to get up and go to the gym and move my body at will.
•  Modern technology which enables me to have dinner at the same time as Nadia so I don’t eat alone, sell my jewelry and vintage clothes online through Etsy, learn things that I otherwise could never find out, and discover how much of a world there is out there.
•  That I’m here and alive among everyone.

I hope you all have a wonderful, beautiful Thanksgiving! Write your thanksgivings in the comments below.

Happy Vintaging,

Beatrice

Winter Party Season - Just Party!

The holidays are coming on fast. Like, so fast, I'm already cooking Thanksgiving dinner and I don't realize it. Have you noticed that Thanksgiving is in... three days? I'm not counting today, Monday, because it's nearly the end of it and I'm wondering about my apple sage dressing already. 

I like to call this time of the year "The Official Winter Party Season." It's the time where you see all these pretty velvet cocktail dresses in lush jewel tones dotting the department store racks. Apparently, the cold winter months mean that we must congregate at a friend's house and eat hor d'oeurves and sip wine like it's our last party featuring hor d'eourves and wine. I've got no issue with that. The only issue I have is that, er, my friends are a close-knit group and they are going to get mighty sick of me showing up in the same purple cocktail dress every weekend.

I'm sure most of you are in the same boat as me. So... this Lanz Originals black velvet mini with a plunging back and a pretty bow might be perfect for this weekend's "After-Thanksgiving, Thank God Our Extended Family, Especially Aunt Mary, Has Left" party. I very nearly almost kept this little cutie to myself but had to remind myself, constantly, that I already had a pretty black velvet mini in my closet and she was sure to be very jealous of dear Gala.

But then, you know. There may be a party at your WASP-y in-laws that require something sleek and simple. Plunging necklines are out and well... minis' would probably get you an involuntary annulment for sure. The only perk is that they have that fantastic Sangiovese that runs for about $60 a pop and hey, you married the guy, so drink the wine! Bianca would serve your purpose well. Modest yet you can wear it with a sly smile that you could very well channel Bianca Jagger in all her white horse glory when Miss Blonde Mom-In-Law isn't paying attention.

Oh screw it, you know your bestie boy who likes boys is throwing a stunning, disco-ball lighted dance party complete with proscuitto-wrapped figs, champagne, and a decree that one must wear black and shine like they mean it. Bianca is perfect for the WASPs, but Roxanna is when you need to throw down and give it your all. Sparkle, shine, shimmer in all your glory. Glory! This was another one I had to physically pry out of my own hands. My excuse, it didn't fit me as well as I needed it to and well, I'm terrified of tailors.

I digress; but here's a few more lovely pieces waiting to find a home in the shop that is perfect for "Winter Party Season." Party on, girls, party hard, party pretty, and have fun, girls. Your credit card bill will sober you up in no time next year, but that's next year. This year, party on!

Sparkle Black Bolero    Ruched Lace Gown    Fuchsia Lace Mini Dress

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Find all of these and more at: http://www.Etsy.com/Shop/LaCaravaneBoheme

All Your Clothes

Go look in your closet. How many pairs of jeans do you have? Don't be shy, dig in the back there, count every pair. Got it? Okay, now count how many short-sleeved shirts. Yes, you have to count each one even if you have five of the same black shirts from The Gap. Alright then, count all the shoes you have piled up on the floor. Each pair, please. 

Me, I have ten to twelve pairs of jeans off the top of my head. I have about eighteen short sleeve shirts. The majority of them I do not wear and come from seven years ago and still, for some reason, live in my closet. My shoes? I can't even tell you. Why? Because they are literally all over the place. I have some in my bedroom closet, some in the foyer closet, some in the hallway by the front door, some in the basement.

A couple months ago, I decided to do a purge of my closet. I thought it would be cleansing and good for me. Instead, I got extremely stressed out. Holding up a sweater that I've worn possibly a grand total of three times last winter, I still kept coming up with reasons why I needed to keep them. "Well, I need this black crewneck sweater and even though I basically never wear high-neck tops, I might need it one day! I might decide to play a fancy rich Mainer in a giant log cabin in the country one cold evening and wear it!"

Needless to say, that black crewneck sweater still lives in my closet and no, I have not had an urge to channel a blue blood New Englander since.

I'm not writing about this to expound on the virtues of shopping well and the joys of mixing and matching. I just wanted to simply give you a snapshot into the closet of almost every average woman out there. I am no more special than the rest of them, and just as guilty of an overstuffed dresser. 

So it really amazes me when I think of women from eras past. Before the mass-production of clothing, it was expensive and it was very normal to darn that hole in your sock for the eighth time in two years. A woman would own two dresses, a skirt, a few pairs of shoes. They would care for their nylons as if they were gold. My mother who experienced her twenties heyday in the 70's told me that everyone basically showed up to work five days a week in the same exact outfit. No one blinked twice.

Should we go back to that? I don't know. There's a certain pride in knowing that you managed to make your favorite fall coat last six years through diligent care. And sometimes, it's nice to see a picture of yourself from back when you were beginning your new life and you're wearing a pair of boots you still own and wear now. Sometimes, keeping clothes can bring back memories and make you feel as if you were not alone while trekking through the journey of life. Sometimes, it's just so much fun to find a new fall coat.

In the end, I think what I'm trying to say is that clothes make you who you are, crazy New England whims and all. So as long as you respect them for that much, you should never feel guilty for not knowing how many pairs of shoes you have.

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Where Has All the Menswear Gone?

As of late, I've been getting quite a few requests to start carrying men's vintage clothing in La Caravane Bohème. I thought I'd start off small, a few scarves, maybe a shirt or two. Easy, right?

I never thought it'd be just a wee bit difficult to stake out vintage menswear. Granted, most of the shops I go to do have a men's section. However, most of those items are usually tattered beyond repair. The lining of a coat would be ripped nearly in half; or a pair of pants would have sorely worn knees. You men are hard on your clothes! There wasn't much that I could salvage.

One day, though, I put my mind to it and told myself I wasn't allowed to leave the shop until I was walking away with a decent amount of menswear. I walked out that store one and a half hour later with just two sweaters. They're really awesome sweaters, I have to say. One's a nice cream cable knit and the other is a really heavy duty grey fisherman's pullover. I won't lie, I was disappointed that I managed to unearth just two items.

I'm not one to give up, though, and I dove in at another store. It had a huge men's section but most were as I described before: worn out, ripped, or not vintage enough. We have enough shops on Etsy hawking 80's and 90's clothes, thank you. (By the way, clothes from the 90's are not considered vintage. It is strictly 80's or older.) I persevered though and told myself it was possible to unearth some quality vintage menswear.

On the long and heavy rack of men's coats and blazers, I plucked a grey herringbone wool coat out. A quick once over, a check of the tags, a glance at the silhouette, revealed itself to be an overcoat from the 50's. Have I hit the jackpot? Indeed! Now, with renewed motivation, I pushed myself to find another coat or blazer. Next, I pulled out a camel double-breasted blazer. By now, I was exhausted and ready to go home and snuggle up with a cup of tea, so I marched to the cashier with purpose and made my way home.

So, I zoomed in on my boyfriend's drummer as my potential model. After some sweet talking (read, begging,) he agreed and helped me out. The sweaters went swimmingly. Then, we got to the coat and blazer. I was nervous because they seemed a little too big for Garrett, our dashing male model. Once he put one on, my hope rose because it seemed to fit him well. Then, my eyes traveled down his sleeves and to my horror, I realized they were short!

"Oh crap."

After adjusting the sleeves and throwing the coat on two other guys and hoping the sleeves magically lengthened, I was forced to face the truth. While I had found these two items in the men's section, they were wholly, undeniably womenswear. Ugh. Note to self: Always measure the sleeves. That's definitely one lesson I'll never forget!

I guess I just have to keep looking. That's the fun part, right? :)

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Aachoo! Why Buy Vintage?

Today I went out to my favorite vintage shop to see if they had anything new. They always have at least a few items perfect for bringing home and putting up on our shop so I'm never disappointed when I leave. As I looked through the rack of dresses, my mind started wandering and I started considering what I was actually doing. Here I was, looking through dusty old garments finding that so-called diamond in the rough. It's messy, tiring work. 

The clothes are usually packed so tightly together that it takes a lot of arm power to pull the hangers apart so I could look at each piece. Then, near the end, I'm fumbling for tissues because these clothes are dusty and make me sneeze a few times... um, a lot (and I'm not allergic!) On top of that, I'm wondering, "Have these clothes even been washed? Have they been sweated in? Ew, what is that spot?" I can seriously become germaphobic in seconds. 

Note: This is why I make a point to wash, dry clean, and/or spot check every garment before putting them up in the shop. Only one person needs to go through that in each garment's vintage life and it shall not be you!

I take over my bathtub for hours at a time, not to the delight of the other inhabitants of the house...

The question I suddenly found myself wondering as I dove into another dusty pile of possibly unwashed clothes was, "Why am I doing this?" Anyone could easily dash to the nearest Target and find an adorable 60's inspired shift in a Liberty-lookalike print all clean and pressed and never been worn. Too bad that you may find that same dress walking towards you the next day on the streets. Perhaps that awesome Urban Outfitters cardigan you shelled out big bucks for looked awesome for exactly two and a half days before all the buttons inexplicably fell off in one fell swoop when you weren't looking. Nothing against Urban Outfitters, they have beautiful clothes but their quality can be contested at some times.

Once I considered the alternate: Target, Urban Outfitters, your local mall, even the sidewalk boutique where the coat you bought actually goes for 50% less online; it all started coming back to me. This labor of love, the time I take to search the shops, the amount of detergent I go through as I clean each piece, waiting for the perfect day to take pictures, finding the perfect name, writing a good description- is all in the name of beautiful, individual, personal style. 

There are so many reasons why vintage clothes are just so awesome:

Some people are blessed with the perfect 50's style body, and it would be near blasphemy if they didn't adorn it with Marilyn Monroe style dresses and taffeta and net ball gowns. Others find themselves a Twiggy lookalike and it's just unthinkable if they didn't don a shift every now and then. Don't appease yourself and your special era-styled body with cheap reproductions of past styles. Go to the source itself. Seek out the real 40's Dior New Look silhouette or the 70's flower child reign if it fits you.

It's eco-friendly. Without sounding too tree-hugger-ish and granola, not that I have anything against that, reviving clothes that is already around is one of the best ways to reduce waste. Imagine the thousands of blank white shirts churned out by the Hanes factories overseas. Imagine them getting lost in the back of some drawer somewhere. Imagine them eventually thrown out. Imagine the thousands of garments gracing the sales rack at the mall. Imagine them sitting there... sitting there... and sitting there... Imagine the resources it took to make them: the lights, the gas power, the fabric, the space the factory takes up, the pollution. Imagine all of those garments that sucked up valuable resources in the landfill. Point made.

You are certainly going to discover vintage clothes have the one thing most clothes nowadays do not. That, my friends, is quality. Sure you can find a great quality pair of boots if you're willing to shell out over $400 for them. This is truly the age of you get what you pay for. Not so with vintage clothes. With a sharp eye, you can discover a beautiful wool coat with mink collar for a mere fifty bucks. What if you saw that same coat (neé a reproduction, but still) in a shop? How much would that go for? It is doubtless that a skirt from the 60's has been crafted with careful care to last as long as it can. Back then, we weren't a throwaway society. We were a "make do, make it last" type of world and the clothes are representative of that.

Once I reminded myself of all that, I dove back into that dusty pile of clothes with renewed vigor. Vintage clothes rule; and I'm so happy that I could help in the process of getting those garments back out into the world. After all, like I said, only one person needs to do all the dirty work in a piece's vintage life. That would be me. You get to enjoy the end result!

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Autumnal Delights

For most of the world, we're all headed into that sacred, beautiful time known as Autumn. A wonderful and dreamy season that passes all too quickly as it descends into Winter. 

Now, for those who follow Beatrice and Nadia on various social medias like Facebook (find us and "like us!") and B's Birdcage Twitter, you find two very different points of views on the changing season from Beatrice and Nadia. Comments from Beatrice are usually variations of: "Bring back Summer!" and "I put on my jacket for the first time this summer, shoot me now." Nadia's are more along the lines of "Oh, I love when the weather gets a little bit nippy." and "Yes! Fall clothes in the stores already." She's much more tolerant than Beatrice, as you can see.

It's obvious, you can tell Beatrice isn't all too thrilled with the changing season, while Nadia looks forward to it for as long as the cooler weather remains reasonable. (Keyword, reasonable.) However, despite Beatrice's many protestations, both Beatrice and Nadia love Autumn and all that it consists of.

Bike rides for Beatrice become prettier with the colorful trees above, and the crunchy leaves on the pavement prove too hard to resist stomping on. Apple-picking comes around which brings apple cider which is manna on Earth in her opinion, and the pumpkins. Oh, the pumpkins. This is when Beatrice's inner chef comes out. Think: pumpkin bread, pumpkin soup with apples, pumpkin pie, pumpkin risotto, pumpkin penne. The possibilities are endless, but she digresses. 

Nadia revels in the earthy smell of burning leaves and fireplaces being lit anew after a long slumber. The colors of the foliage makes her smile as she walks past. There's a sense of new beginnings as she begins a new school year. The temperature drops just enough enough to require a pretty little jacket but not too much that it can be considered cold. That is exactly the best moment of the entire season for her.

Autumn is special. Embrace it, spend every moment realizing it, revel in it, pay attention to it. The crunchy leaves are calling to you, and you know it. But be careful, keep warm in case of a nippy breeze. This green paisley jacket is perfect to throw on once the warmth fades away for the day. Keep it unbuttoned, scrunch up the sleeves, and let loose, it's Autumn!

We told you our favorite things about Autumn: pumpkins, leaves, and the perfect temperature for a jacket. What are your favorite things about the season? We'd love to hear it!

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

A Vintage Affair: Book to Love

So I was just browsing along the internet, seeing what the words "Vintage Clothes" would come up with in Google when I found this: a book.

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff

Now I'm an avid, avid reader. I love books, I especially indulge in the "Chick Lit" section because I spend the whole day, everyday, thinking hard about things and I would like a story to read in which I do not need to contemplate too much and accidentally hurt my brain. This book, however, doesn't seem too "chick lit." It seems interesting, fun, and a complete must-read.

It's about a woman, Phoebe Swift, British and hot with a vintage shop in London, who is engaged to be married. Of course, in classic "Chick Lit" character, her engagement falls through. (Remember the rules of "Chick Lit" and romantic comedies? The man you see at the beginning will not be there in the end.) Here she turns to her burgeoning and beautiful vintage clothing shop and a dear proprietor named Mrs. Bell who shows Phoebe her true self. Come on now, vintage clothes and finding yourself? It's a classic!

So upon discovering it on Amazon.com, I immediately pulled myself up and forced myself to go to the library. I don't feel top-notch today and, in fact, took a three-hour-long nap this afternoon. So to make myself take what could possibly be an unnecessary trip to the library meant this was a big deal.

I have a great library here in the suburbs of Northeast Ohio. It's like a little gem in the rough and I have decided that if I must move, an acceptable library is important to have. My point is, I usually find whatever I need here, however obscure the book is (Four Plays by Eugene Ionesco sat there waiting for me to pluck it of the shelf.) Sadly, A Vintage Affair was not available. Oh, dear me! I was about to collapse on the floor in front of the computer, my head was pounding, I felt like I was going to throw up, and here I was, futilely searching for a book I discovered on the random.

Well, I can tell you I put it on hold. That book will be in my hands soon enough. Once it is, I'll read it hungrily and then relay to you every delicious, vintage detail.

If you happen to borrow, buy, or however get (steal, coerce out of your friend's hands, whatever it takes) this book, please do comment and tell me how fabulous it is! It can be like a miniature book club. Yippee! I just can't wait.

Happy Vintaging,

Beatrice

Vintage Baubles!

Vintage clothes, vintage clothes, vintage clothes everywhere; and not a single sparkle of glitter in sight. Well, that absolutely has to change. Bring me shine! Bring me light! Bring me the glory that is vintage jewelry!

All of this yearning began when I discovered that I had an absolutely unique pearl tie. Yes, a pearl tie. It is fabulosity incarnate for the pretty, yet edgy set. It only needs a minor adjustment so be prepared to discover this gem with a lush, opulent chiffon ribbon neckpiece with which you can tie a darling bow. Just one question though, would you want to tie the bow in the front, set atop the "knot" of the tie for a dash of feminity, or would you rather relegate the bow to the back, as a sweet surprise for those who see you lift your hair? Please answer, please do, I need to know! Comment at the bottom, s'il vous plait!

As most of you know, I, Beatrice, also make jewelry out of vintage wares. So I must tell you the amount of gorgeous vintage jewelry I come across. Most of them become dismantled, given new life through my jewelry pliers and my odd and beautiful pairings with other pieces. However, there are a few pieces I bring home that I just can't bear to cut up and tear apart. Those pieces are the one that are so uniquely perfect in their whole, the pieces that just scream, "Wear me, wear me right now!"

This triple strand confection of gorgeous cut amber-colored beads is one such example. When I picked it up from its glass case in the vintage shop, my hands felt its hefty weight, my eyes saw its beautiful sparkle, my neck ached to have it wrapped around it. Despite a few, and lovely, imperfections- rusted links in the back- it is meant to be worn like a how a star should be seen. Best of all, it hails from the wonderful Trifali company, vintage as you ever know it.

While organizing my vast amount of vintage jewelry used as supplies, I came across this little, big, necklace. At first, I was going to salvage it for its wonderful chains, but upon closer look, I realized it would be a tremendous mistake indeed. In its grand simplicity lies a chicness hard to find elsewhere. Thick, chunky chains, the very ones that never, ever go out of style. Large gold findings, declaring itself, "I am gold and beautiful." It would truly be a terrible error to unlink even a single chain on this glamourous piece.

Speaking of glamour, isn't that what this piece just says? This was another necklace destined for my jewelry pliers. The oval enameled pieces with the black and peach just called to me and I thought it would make a great accent to a bracelet and perhaps be the centerpieces for a pair of earrings. Then, a tiny, nagging voice in the back of my head said, "No, absolutely not." This was after I had gathered up the other three necklaces to reserve for the Caravane shop. I realized, this peachy gem had to join the group and remain intact. In it's vintage glory, so to say. It's also another Trifali piece, how could you say no to that?

So all in all, this was just a sneak peek into the burgeoning collection of vintage jewels we will soon list for sale at the Caravane. Love it? We certainly do. There's just no better quality found in vintage clothes and accessories, not to mention finding a style that is so truly, distinctly you.

Psst. That's a guarantee that you'll never see yourself walking towards you on the street in our pieces.

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Glamourpuss

I've always been a firm believer in the old adage that you can never be overdressed. Actually, is that an adage? I think I might have just made it up...regardless, it's an excellent rule to live by.

This can be easily misunderstood, of course; if you're helping paint your friend's apartment, for instance, it's perfectly appropriate to show up in your rattiest jeans and that T-shirt you got with your cookie when you donated blood. This get-up, however, is not appropriate when attending say, a job interview, or brunch with the girls, or even spending the day windowshopping. You never know who you might run into!

It's no surprise then, that as a little girl my favorite game to play was dress-up. My sisters hated playing Barbies with me because once I had gotten Malibu Barbie all dressed up for her hot date with Ken, and picked out the perfect pink pumps to wear with her brand new leopard-print cocktail dress, I would get bored and wander back to our costume chest. As a (reluctant) grown-up, I can't say I have any leopard cocktail dresses or pink pumps to speak of, but I still relish in the act of dressing up. There's very little I enjoy more than getting ready for an event...probably not even the event I'm dressing up for itself.

One of my favorite examples of this in recent fashion history is Penelope Cruz's gorgeous Pierre Balmain gown from 2009's Academy Awards. She got a little bit of slack for this dress because it bore a striking resemblance to a wedding dress, but for quite a few unjaded fashion critics, she was considered the best-dressed at the Oscars that night. She did look absolutely stunning, and it was clear she was ravishing every minute of her nomination (and win) that night.

But, in my opinion, the coolest thing about her gown? It was vintage Haute Couture - a 1950 Pierre Balmain original. Viva la Vintage!

Obviously I don't expect anyone to show up at their next dinner date in a white evening gown (unless your goal is to scare the crap out of the guy who asked you out...); my point is that, even more than a year after she wore it, people still talk about Penelope's presence that night.

It's a concept that translates easily into every day life - imagine the splash you'll make at your next job interview if you arrive in a chic cocktail dress like La Caravane Boème's own "Flora, 80s Laura Ashley Party Dress". Or, if you're really bold, this more daring option from MaeValente. You certainly won't be forgotten when everyone else shows up in predictable pantsuits.

My point is, vintagers, it's always worth it to be overdressed than underdressed! Be bold, be daring! Don't be afraid to wear those opera-length gloves, or that pearl necklace, even if it's just your average Tuesday. And, major bonus points if your fabulous glam finds are vintage, too!

Triple Strand Pearl Necklace with Rhinestone Clasp by VintageInBloom

La Caravane Boheme's own Sunday, 60s Ruched Gloves

Make a splash, lovelies! Keep vintaging!

-Nadia

Embrace Your Womanliness

So we've been talking "style" a lot here on the Caravane. Earlier, Nadia created a treasury and posted a blog about her style; that delicious grunge jeans and floaty blouse combo that looks so effortless and gorgeous. Love it, Gypsy Gems and Rockstar Dreams, indeed.

I grew up believing with the pure and unadulterated power of a young soul that I was destined to be a great and sought-after fashion designer. My mother did nothing to quell this for me by, instead, fueling it through shopping trips every day and dressing me in outrageous outfits. At one point, I was going to school in ensembles like a crinkle fabric tiered miniskirt, clunky blue platforms with Pucci-like patterns, and a seersucker black tank top. It was about fashion and looking absolutely unique.

thevintagevoice Boots

And unique, I did look. By Junior High, I was known as the girl who made a point to dress herself. No roll-out-of-bed sweatpants and hoodies. I wore skirts and high-heeled boots and frilly shirts that clung to my body. I hated when whatever extracurricular group I was involved in mandated that we wear boxy Jersee t-shirts with our names across the front for the day and attempted to find out ways to turn them into sexy, tight little tops. My sewing machine and I were very well acquainted and I have scars from pin-pricks to prove it.

Eventually though, I started to simplify my outfits. I still wear skirts and high-heeled boots and shirts that cling to my body. The frilliness has all but disappeared though, and the outrageousness? It's slowly morphed into a more sophisticated silhouette. I consider it something like J. Crew on speed rather than Vivienne Westwood with her miles upon miles worth of ruffles. I also have let the fire of being a fashion designer fade into something much more satisfying for me: this vintage fashion shop and being a jewelry designer.

GreyandGrayCompany Skirt

My skirts are mini, but sweet and flirty. They're pleated or accentuated with a subtle bow. If I don't have any attention-grabbing detail on my skirts, you'll find it somewhere on my lace trimmed camisoles or my ruched tank tops. I do go dangerously short with the length, but here's the thing, at 5'2" on a good day, if they hit at a weird spot on my thigh, I look like a complete munchkin with stubby legs. I know Nadia begs to differ on this case, but that's my story and I'm sticking with it.

And of course, you can't have J. Crew without the cardigans. I swear, I believe cardigans were invented for that shop. However, the preppiness you find there all but disappears when I pair them with my watch-where-your-eyes-are-going tops and super-duper tight skinny jeans. (More about that below.) I throw these cardigans over practically anything; I have one in each black, brown, and grey. They go into my purse on hot days for those air-conditioned buildings I absolutely abhor. They go over my pretty little dresses. They're like the kosher salt of the fashion world. You have to have it on everything!

goodmorningmidnight Grey Cardigan

duende74 Skinny Jeans

Now, I may have made myself out to be some sort of tramp with said "watch-where-your-eyes-are-going tops and super-duper tight skinny jeans" but let me explain. I'm little, a petite person. Clothes that are blousey or have large details like giant bows across the front just makes me look like a little girl caught in her mother's closet. I go towards simple lines that serves to accent my body. My tops and dresses are fitted, they nip in at the waist and are usually low-cut. I love thin straps and more than that, no straps at all. My skinny jeans must be tight or else, the purpose of skinny jeans just goes out the window. In short, they are feminine and serve to embrace womanliness.

I am woman, hear me roar! So to say.

Best of all, because I make a point to choose neutrals like grey, brown, and black, I can wear anything with anything else in my closet. And thanks to my mother, who believes one should only buy the clothes one can wear anytime and for many years, I have boots I've worn since high school and a green trench coat I've had for almost seven years. No, I'm not sick of them, despite the fact my boots are truly showing signs of wear.

Don't get me wrong, though. I'm not all brown, grey, and black, (and silver because you will basically never find me sans giant round silver earrings and a simple silver necklace.) 

maggiebasile Silver Earrings

edor Silver Necklace

BetaAccessories Scarf

When I took a trip to Paris a couple years ago, I fell in love. Of course, who wouldn't? It's Pah-ree! I instantly told myself I needed to be French, and most of the work had already been done. I'm a lover of neutrals, much like almost every other Parisians. I wear simple clothing, again like the Parisians. But there was one thing I was missing from my wardrobe. That was the scarf. Alas, I couldn't be French unless I had a flimsy, gorgeous piece of fabric wrapped around my neck. I immediately bought my very first scarf at the nearest vendor: a large square black and red piece of Paris that I wrapped around my neck and strutted my stuff with. This lead me on a mission to find scarves wherever I went. I am now a proud owner of colorful confections that I wrap twice around my neck and let hang. It is the burst of color that I need on some days.

I went on to Etsy to compile a collection of gorgeous garments and accessories to help represent my style. It's a perfect mix of handmade and vintage. I didn't think that I would suddenly desire to buy each and every one of my choices. Oh dear. Perhaps you might find something to fall in love with. If that's true, you and I may have to duke it out. Just kidding. Enjoy!

What is your style? How do you define it? Who do you attribute your influences to? Comment below, we'd love to hear it!

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Full link to Treasury: http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4c6c059ea7328eef0193544b/embrace-your-womanliness

Links to each item featured can be found by clicking on the captions under each picture as well as accessing the treasury. If you cannot get to the correct page, please contact us ASAP and we will provide you the full link.

Hot Weather, Hot Clothes

Boy, is it hot today!

If I were you, I'd throw on a little flirty dress like Daphne and get myself to the beach, pronto.

If you're walking the shopping promenade instead, Linna, the blue miniskirt, is perfect with a lightweight cream top.

Beat the heat and flaunt your vintage style at the same time. Humidity is no excuse to throw on whatever you find on the closet floor. 

Unless it's Ayan, the sweet green summer dress. But you would never dare let her lounge on the floor... right? :)

What do you reach for when the temperature rises? 

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

 

P.S. For those with a whimsical side, don't dare overlook Clea, our flower-covered bathing cap. You'll be the star of the shore... for sure!

Find all these goodies and more at:

www.Etsy.com/Shop/LaCaravaneBoheme

A Night at the County Fair

So last week I went to the county fair with my dear boyfriend. Now, for those of you who have only encountered county fairs through television shows and movies, I can assure you, it is exactly like what you see on the screen. And I mean, exactly. You know how rich people like to slum it in the alleys of Beverly Hills? Well, us normal people in the rest of the economic spectrum do it at the county fairs.

I’ve been to a handful of county fairs in my life. They are all more or less the same: deep-fried food, farm animals, and carnival rides. Throw in a few haystack rides and some exotic animal exploita- I mean, exhibits, and there you have it, the classic Middle-America festival. They are still amazing though, no matter how many times I go and wade through the mud and give myself a stomachache sampling the latest fried goods.

So what was different about the last time I went?

This:

And this:

And all of these:

My boyfriend has an iPhone, and on this revered little phone is an app that could take the most amazing pictures ever. You would fiddle with all these different kinds of lenses, play with a variety of flashes, and choose your favorite film. Then, you take a picture in this tiny little viewfinder that only adds to the suspense and surprise of the final outcome. Wait for it to “develop” and “print.” And then stare in amazement at the awesome retro-ness of what you had just snapped.

There’s just something about looking at things in a completely new way. Your eye has to work harder to identify the subject, your brain has to somehow wrap itself around a new set of rules, and you just feel shocked... and inspired. Suddenly, everything around you has the potential to look aged and antique, or 70’s porno-ish (“boom chicka bow wow!”,) or melancholy and spooky. It really makes you look at the world around you more closely. Isn’t that what we all should do, stop a minute, take a look, pay attention to what we see, and find the beauty in everything? It’s all in there, waiting for you to pull it out.

A quick little story about the black cow up there. I have dubbed her “Miss Cranky Black Cow.” If you know me at all, you know that I can’t resist petting any animal I see. Bring me a frog and I will try to cuddle it. So when I see this sweet black little doe-eyed cow, one of the very few at this particular county fair, I couldn’t resist but to go up and give her a little pat. First, I couldn’t quite reach her head, so I positioned myself behind her, but to the side as to avoid any flying legs if it came to that. Then, I stretched out my hand, coo’ed a little bit, and gently gave her a single pat. Suddenly, I heard a grumbling from deep inside her, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw her adjust herself as to be directly in front of me, and pick up her leg. Instinct kicked in, I screamed, “Whoa!!” and spun myself out of the way of her deadly flying hoof. Miss Cranky Black Cow nearly killed me and all my boyfriend could do was laugh hysterically and take pictures to commemorate the moment a heifer got the better of me. Thank you, darling.

Fly Free!

Beatrice

This blog post came from Beatrice's jewelry website. To learn more, just go to www.BirdcageBohemia.com. Fly Free!

Gypsy Gems and Rockstar Dreams...Let's Dive Into Nadia's Style, Shall We?

Hello vintagers

A question was recently posed to me about what exactly my style is - that is, what do I go for when I search for items to add to my wardrobe (and, more importantly, to your vintage wardrobe)? What influences me in how I dress, act, and behave? What is my "gateway drug", so to speak, when it comes to fashion?

It seemed a silly question, at the time. I've always thought of myself as something of an eclectic, when it comes to my personal style. Well, I thought, I'll wear just about anything, as long as it's pretty! Of course, vintagers, upon further thought, this is hardly true. We all have our own personal style, even if we don't know it yet, and it manifests itself in every aspect of our creative lives. Be it through the obvious outlets like the clothes I wear or the fashion idols I, well, idolize, or through less obvious avenues like the music I favor or even the food I eat, the answer to this silly question was all around me. 

I took it upon myself to delve into what really defines "Nadia," at least in basic terms of fashion. It was a really interesting exercise, and I recommend it to all of you - especially if you're an artist currently experiencing a bit of a block. One of the main things I learned about myself is that I tend to try and find beauty in unexpected places. I'm the kind of person who will see the potential in an ugly piece of brick on the beach when everyone else is tossing seashells into their bucket. It's for this reason that my favorite fashion icons include Marilyn Monroe and Sophia Loren - it's undeniable that by today's unfair standards and by strict beauty "rules", these women are not beautiful.  A current model who exemplifies this imperfect perfection is Daria Werbowy, who I've featured here in her recent W spread. If we look at these beautiful women's individual facial features and, at least in the case of Loren, body types, they really are not formulaically "pretty". What makes these women special is their so-called "flaws"; "quirks", as we say aboard La Caravane.

I scoured the nooks and crannies of Etsy to find individual pieces that really exemplify this ideal I try to live by. I started with obvious choices - something I wear quite often are blousy, floral shirts, like this one on the left made by Etsy artist Desira Pesta. This gorgeous piece has a blend of everything I love in what some of my FIT friends call a "classic Nadia blouse": it's girly, bold, and made by an up-and-coming fashion designer like myself.

Where, you may ask, is the unexpected, here? This is a floral blouse. By definition, it is pretty. However, my personal touch would be to pair such a feminine piece with one a little more grungy and tough, like an aged pair of black skinny jeans. I have to admit, there are a few pieces in my wardrobe that bring out the inner biker in me, and many are not unlike these jeans by Swarovskijeans. As well as the literal duality of pairing such a blousy, floaty top with such tight, almost constricting pants, I like to play with the figurative perspective of feminine meets masculine in my wardrobe.

I'm a big fan of dichotomy, both in fashion and in my other creative outlets. For instance - I think comedians make the best dramatic actors (think: Robin Williams in One Hour Photo, or Adam Sandler in Spanglish), and one of my favorite bands is the Red Hot Chili Peppers purely because of the song "If" (yes, that is actually Anthony Kiedis singing. Can you believe it?)


So, playing on that same theme, imagine Multikulti's funky, screen printed T-shirt fit for a rockstar with these adorable "country-fried" leggings (I just love that name!) by Bayousalvage. Or a floral shirt dress with aviator sunglasses and my signature brown boots? Anyone who knows me, by the way, knows that I travel nowhere without at least one pair of brown leather boots!

Again, lovelies, this is a great exercise to help you delve into what really defines you, and I recommend it to anybody. After arduous, but fun, soul-searching, I would call my style a collection of Gypsy Gems and Rockstar Dreams. So, I pose the question to you, dear vintagers, what is your personal style? It's not as easy to figure out as you think!

See the full collection here: Gypsy Gems and Rockstar Dreams.