La Caravane Bohème

1.1.11

2011-01-01T18:31:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone! I hope you all had a happy, joyful, fine time celebrating and bringing in yet another year. I happen to be nearing a two-year anniversary of Birdcage Bohemia as well as a one-year anniversary of La Caravane Bohème. Yes, both in January. Both probably a result of my earnest and fervently worded resolutions. Luckily for me, those resolutions took hold much unlike my most common one: cease the nail-biting! That one never works. Perhaps if I made a resolution of a different creature, such as “get more manicures.” That could work since one needs nails in order to get manicured, right?

So anyway, here I am, drinking a cup of tea and looking over my two shops. They both have grown so much and taken a life of their own. I am amazed every time someone chooses to “heart” an item and ecstatic when someone buys something. Each one is a celebration of its own, and speaking of minor celebrations, I feel the need to cheer for joy whenever I find a recycled box that is the perfect size for whatever I’m sending. But I digress.

What I really want to talk about here is a transition. Everyone, at this moment, is considering a transition. Whether it be of the body, the mind, the social surroundings, the relationships, the career, happiness. I’m considering one that touches upon each one of those. I’ve spent a lot of time the past few months considering my next step for Birdcage Bohemia. I love making jewelry but the blueprint I had in mind when I first brought Birdcage to life was much larger.

I purposely chose a vague name like Birdcage Bohemia with the intent to expand eventually. I wasn’t sure how exactly. One day, it would become a place where I could promote my own work along with other artists’ works, a shop of its own so to say. Then another day, I just saw myself creating scarves and sundresses and jewelry and whatever else strikes my fancy one week or another. It was confusing and I forced myself to focus on jewelry and just jewelry until the day came I would know what I would do.

There was the Caravan. My vintage shop. It became an unexpected baby. And since it started off as a joint venture, it was wholly separated from Birdcage Bohemia. Then, one day, it became part of Birdcage Bohemia and I found myself juggling the two shops, blogs, and followings. At first it was manageable, but as both shops grew, the amount of work became tremendous. However, there was no way I could just dump one. Both shops are my children and I love them both equally.

So, I’m doing what looks to be the obvious. I assure you, it wasn’t obvious at the time. When I’m joining together a brooch and clip-on earring then dashing off to model a 50’s dress, I can’t think straight for more than 15 minutes at a time. The two shops will remain separate. They both work in their own spots perfectly. However, I’m combining the blogs and followings. It’ll be something like Birdcage Bohemia on La Caravane Bohème. Basically, “Let’s go for a ride and fly free!”

I hope, at the moment, that it will just take a few weeks to get everything together and going in motion. I feel though that the Business Gods will laugh at this mere mortal of a artist and vintager playing the businesswoman. However, I’m really excited for all the changes that will be happening. A brand new blog where you can actually comment! It won’t just be about pretty baubles and vintage clothes, I’ll wax poetic about food and traveling and the whole grand lifestyle every girl and woman secretly wants. Complete with my fantasy sheep and goat farm/winery/restaurant/studio. A girl can dream right?

Also, as everyone has heard me talk about for practically forever, I’ll be debuting a line of scarves and cowls made from cool and vintage fabrics and trims. I have one listed already but there will be more to come. It’ll show up slowly but I promise it’ll come steadily. I’m also playing around with the idea of fine silver for a very small collection of tiny treasures on necklace chains. We’ll see. I’m just excited to get the ball rolling, finally!

So, I’ll see you on the other side!

Fly Free,

Beatrice

Looking Back

2010-12-16T07:30:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-25T07:52:00.000-08:00

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!

2010-11-22T17:48:00.000-08:00

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

2010-11-12T08:31:00.000-08:00

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?

2010-10-24T18:02:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-10-18T17:15:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

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

2010-09-08T16:52:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-08-29T16:25:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-20T11:17:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-18T09:08:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

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

2010-08-04T14:44:00.000-07:00

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?

2010-07-29T20:18:00.000-07:00

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.

Spanish Tapas and Martinis

2010-07-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here's the thing, Nadia's all the way in New York City the majority of the year while Beatrice has taken up residence in Northeast Ohio while flitting off to various destinations whenever she can. This means that we get to see each other for about 7% of the year. This is not good! We go through withdrawal every time we leave one or the other. I have to say, thank god for Skype. You internet gods have been amazing for our friendship.

The good news, though, is that Nadia's dear mother moved back to Pittsburgh after living in Chicago for a few years. Hmm, Pittsburgh's about a couple hours from Beatrice and a simple train ride from Nadia. Could we dare to say... we could actually see each other for 9, even maybe 10% of the year!?

Ibiza's Signature Martini, yum!

Just last Saturday, we celebrated Nadia's birthday. This ensued in a day of shopping and a night of drinking and enjoying Spanish tapas. When we celebrate, we do it in girly style. Armed with Portuguese white wine and green martinis, we heralded Nadia's beginning of the rest of her life. Of course, we have to mention the darling 60's style dress Nadia picked up. No style but vintage style, right?

In short, Nadia and Beatrice, being that much closer to each other geographically will mean so much joy and happiness and crazy antics, not to mention new vintage additions to your wardrobe. Honestly, it's so much easier to have a person man the camera instead of using a tiny tripod and running back and forth the room in heels to set the 10 second timer on the camera. One day, we really ought to video ourselves doing just that. It'd be good for a laugh when we need it.

Anyway, now that we're done writing love letters to each other publicly on our blog, we just wanted to wish, just as publicly...

Happy Birthday, Nadia!!!

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

Little Purple Dress

2010-07-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Well, the search is still on for that perfect Maid of Honor dress. I'd like to say thank you to my dear sister for allowing me to choose my own dress with only the requirement that it be dark red or dark purple. This has ensued in hours upon hours of lovely Etsy browsing, when, being practical, should've been better spent elsewhere (vintaging... making jewelry...) But who's one to say "no" to shopping? I mean, really?

The last time I wrote about my journey to discover that elusive dress, I focused on red dresses. However, when I took an excursion to the mall with my mother, I realized that red was not all that flattering on me. Purple was infinitely more complimentary with my skin tone. I must admit, this came as quite a surprise to my olive-skinned self and mother. I came home with a renewed vengeance to find.that.dress!

Of course, I just dove right in, no real rhyme or reason to my methods, and searched 84 pages worth of vintage purple dresses on Etsy. You think I'd be clever and type in "purple party dress" or "fancy purple dress" or even "dark purple dress" and save myself the time and trouble of sorting through the ones that do not apply, but that just sucks all the fun out of vintage shopping, doesn't it?

And the very first dress I fell in love with and hearted did not even come close to fitting the criteria of a dark purple Maid of Honor dress. Did you really expect any less from me? Look at it though, it's adorable. It's flirty. It's fun. It's short. It's summery. It has cute flowers. And best of all, she donates some of the proceeds to the Save the Turtle fund! I found myself a fellow animal lover. That just makes it about a million times better. Seriously. LoveItShop, you're number one in my book now.

This time, I was much more efficient in my clicking and viewing tactic. Instead of leisurely clicking on anything that caught my eye, I made a point to aim for the dressier end of the Vintage Purple Dress spectrum. This, of course, led me to the most outrageous, incredibly stunning, jaw-dropping fancy dress ever. I am shocked that no one has bought this dress yet.

Utilizing every glam, fancy trick in the fashion book, this dress has it all. A sweetheart neckline to show off your shoulders, a ballgown length, sequins, ruffles, tulle. It is the quintessential evening gown that will make you stand out and stage quite the entrance. I actually send this listing to my sister immediately, beseeching her to forgo the traditional white gown and to rock this dress! Swingkatsvintage, you are awesome for having this dress.

Alas, the wedding party cannot outshine the bride, so my search continued. Then, somehow, I ended up looking at a dress that wasn't even close to what I needed. The thumbnail for this listing called to me, it prodded (with invisible computer fingers) me to click and view. Boy, am I glad I took a look. A metallic silver color with a subtle purple sheen, a giant bow right on the butt, a plunging back, a plunging front (!) What an awesome dress. Plus, it's Paul and Joe! I'm not entirely sure who they are, but I'm assuming they are someone. You may berate me for my lack of knowledge in the comments below. I bet Nadia will probably berate me as well, being the fashion design maven she is. RegalVintage, this is regal indeed!

But wait, I have to search, I have to look even more. The 84 pages slowly being worked through. Purple dresses of all styles, lengths, shades are being hearted relentlessly because I just love them all. Again, like I mentioned in Part One of this Grand Dress Search, I wish I had a bottomless bank account to buy them all up!

This dress, though, deserves a special mention. As I spent my time searching through the vintage shops on Etsy, trying to find the right dress, I have developed a love for 80's strapless party dresses. They seem to always have every feature I look for in a pretty little dress: sweetheart neckline with no straps, mini length, fitted bodice, lovely little skirt- sometimes flared, sometimes not, but it always works. This one from vintageshowgirl is one such example with the sequin skirt and chiffon overlay, a removable ruffle piece, and gorgeous draped neckline. Oh, little 80's cocktail dress, be mine!

I've begun to mentally develop my new wardrobe, filled to the brim with only vintage clothes. Such gems hidden among these shops, such unique finds! I dare anyone to buy a vintage garment and not look absolutely amazing and unique in a crowd. Find an 80's party dress, throw a 50's cardigan over it, and slip on some 60's ballet flats. You're ready to roll!

Have you ever browsed the vintage section of Etsy and found things you couldn't live without? Comment below! See more of my purple favorites and share yours.

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

Viva La Francais!

2010-07-14T18:26:00.000-07:00

Happy Bastille Day!

Thank you, Dear France, for bringing us Chanel, Brie on baguette slices, luscious red wine, scarves, l'amour de la chocolat, chic style with vintage charm, and Beatrice's fantasy to move to Paris one day.

Happy Vintaging,

Beatrice and Nadia

Little Red Dress

2010-07-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

During Labor Day weekend, my dear sister will be getting married to the love of her life. Her wedding colors are a combination of both lovers' favorite colors- red and purple- plus accents of gold and white. The wedding party has been dictated to find a dress to their liking in a deep red or a deep purple. I, of course, made a beeline to red.

Lipstick red shirtdresses, cherry red shifts, deep red ball gowns. Obviously, red has been a very popular color throughout the ages. The vintage section of Etsy did not disappoint in my quest for the perfect dress. Of course, while there were tons of beautiful dresses in all shades of red and all types of styles, I focused on the shiny, the glam, and the dramatic of the bunch.

The name of this one caught my eye: 30's Starlet Gown. Immediately, I envisioned myself with a jeweled headband, holding a gin and tonic in a martini glass, swooning over dapper gentlemen. Thank goodness for savoybetty and her vintage gem.

I kept that one in mind and continued my search. Where I discovered this gorgeous, unique dress from anotherseason . I really need to take a minute and measure myself. I don't think I can let this one go, so don't you touch it until I figure out if I can fit into it!

I don't know how to describe why I love this dress so much. The contrast of deep, sensual red with the cool grey accents just make the whole thing pop. It features such romantic details like a deep v-neck and lovely pleated straps. This dress needs to be mine... now.

Of course, I'm not one to settle very quickly. When I walk into a shop, any shop, I must look at everything I can look at before deciding on a purchase. This is how I found myself spreading 86 pages worth of red vintage dresses for sale over two days.

Late last night, I clicked on one of the most astounding dresses ever. Sadly, it doesn't fit the deep red color requirement, but it had to be hearted instantly. I was also chatting with my dear Nadia over Skype and sending her links to my finds. This one was sent followed by the description: "Julia Roberts circa Pretty Woman if she wore a hot little red dress!" Am I right or am I right?

You can find this body conscious cocktail dress complete with the "look at me" bright red color, rhinestone detail on the strap, and stunning back over at SpectacleVintage's shop.

Clicking back to the main search page, I found myself veering off my original goal and drooling over some awesome dresses that definitely deserved the time it took for me to look. Who knew the vintage shops on Etsy had such an amazing collection of red dresses!

This badass- excuse my French- strapless dress complete with a sweetheart neckline, fitted waist, and a flare skirt garnered a notable mention in my mind. It's everything I ever want in a dress and then some. This may be another dress you cannot touch until I check my measurements. Until then, admire this wonderful garment discovered by TheBoundlessSea.

Of course, there were so many more that I found and fell in love with. If only I had a bottomless bank account to give all these finds a home. If you want to see what else I found, check out our Favorites on our profile. You really can't miss all the stunning red gowns and dresses we "collected."

The search is still on. I have yet to tackle all the deep purple options available on our beloved Etsy. If any of you have suggestions or know someone selling gorgeous gowns, leave a comment! Until then, wish me luck! I just know I'll find the perfect dress soon.

Happy Vintaging,

Beatrice

2010-06-29T13:22:00.000-07:00

Hello Lovelies

Nadia here, reporting back from the Big Apple after spending a wonderful week with her fellow Caravane gypsy, Beatrice in her hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

Yes, yes, we know. It seems like we slacked a bit this week as far as updating and new listings, etc, but we promise we did get a lot of vintaging and such done for you guys! We just happened to be having so much fun doing it we didn't get a chance to let you know until now.

One of the best things about being in the same state with Beatrice is that we get a little more freedom with how we take our pictures for our listings. It's amazing how much easier it is to take really professional-looking pictures when you have a real life second person there, as opposed to MacGyver'ing a tripod by stacking a bunch of shoeboxes and cookbooks on top of a table, sticking a camera on top, setting it to automatic, running to your pose and hoping for the best!

Beatrice and I took advantage of our week together and started playing with a new style for our listings. We're going to make a real effort to make all our pictures uniform in our shop - admittedly a difficult task since we live so far apart. However, both of us happen to have a similar sage-green wall in our respective abodes, so things are looking good on that front.

Of course, our new outlook on our pictures doesn't mean there isn't room for a little fun. We moved the photo shoot outside and might
have gotten a little carried away.

Of course, we didn't spend the whole week at work. La Caravane's Bohème's gypsy vintagers did take some time to sit back and enjoy the beautiful summer breezes and have a little fun. It's hard to be creative when you don't give your brain a chance to breathe, isn't it? Just a few highlights from our wild week in Twinsburg Ohio...

A Beatrice-and-Nadia Classic: bowling!

Turns out Ohio has a pretty nice beach.

Top off the week with a classy night of slice-and-bake cookies and cabernet!

Stay tuned for new listings this week and next.

Happy vintaging!

-Nadia

The Other Side of the World

2010-06-15T07:55:00.000-07:00

I’ve been to lots of wonderful, beautiful places in the world. Some places feel like an integral part of me, like Gdansk, Poland, and others are places I’d visit but never live in, like Las Vegas. Some places are the setting of a fantasy life- Paris comes to mind. Others are simply places where I’ll bide my time until the next city, my home in Northeast Ohio is one.

Then, there was China.

A couple weeks ago, my boyfriend got an e-mail from a connection in Taiwan, extending an invitation to the both of us to visit Shanghai. The next thing we knew, we were in an airplane hurtling ourselves to the other side of the world. I had no idea what to expect or what I would see. I only had the references from movies and books to draw upon. I didn’t even know what a major building was in Shanghai. (The Pearl TV Tower.)

And what I least expected to do was to fall in love with it.

Amid the scary traffic, the horrendous pollution, and the never-ending droves of people, there hid a gem of beauty and surprise. The French Concession offered up boutiques filled with clothes and shoes of incredible style. The Old City had gorgeous old buildings with curvy roofs and dumplings sold out of open-walled restaurants. The Bund revealed the heart, and beauty, of the financial district complete with towering skyscrapers of which their sizes need to be seen to be believed. The best part was the Antique Market. Rows and rows of booths filled to the brim with figurines, statues, jewelry, tokens, coins, perfume bottles, birdcages, wall hangings, artwork, and boxes. I learned the true art of negotiation and realized at the same time, the depth of friendliness and openness the inhabitants of Shanghai possess.

My idea of China has been transformed completely. My newfound love of Shanghai sprung out of nowhere, and it will never release me. Which is why I’m so happy to say, I found a new place to leave a piece of my heart. On my next trip, I plan to bring home multitudes of perfume bottles and exotic jewelry to find a home through our shop!

Happy vintaging,

Beatrice

Nadia Does Chicago Vintaging

2010-06-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

Hello Vintagers

Nadia here reporting from the still Hot and Muggy City, Chee-cago. Why, you may be wondering, have I posted not one, but two blogs in a row? How very unlike me, no?

Well, as you know, my semester has ended (and I am waiting anxiously for the last of my grades...), and thus I have much more time on my hands to dedicate to my love of vintage fashion. However, more importantly, or at least more excitingly, the reins of La Caravane Bohème's PR wagon have fallen to me because our lovely Beatrice is currently en route to China. Yes, China. The real one. She'll be there for just a few days (sadly for her, happily for me. We miss her already stateside!) and hopefully she will bring back some fabulous vintage items for us to get our hands on. Or at the very least she'll have hundreds of pretty pictures for us.

In the meanwhile, I've been cruising the wild streets of Chicago's northwest suburbs hitting vintage hotspots and garage and estate sales, and today was a pretty successful day.

Check me out. Cruisin'. Cruisin' just can't happen without my aviators.

By the way, doesn't the weather just look lovely out there...?

What I'm really doing here is trying to make it obvious to any passing police officer that I am NOT TEXTING with my iPhone, as I've come to learn that you can get pulled over for just about anything here. Do I sound bitter? I'm not. Although, I suppose snapping a picture of myself and using the excuse "Sorry, officer, it's for my blog!" isn't really a lesser offense.

My phone did come in handy again today though when I used a combination of my GPS app and some scrawled signs to find my way to an amazing estate sale where I found these deadstock sailor-style jeans. In terms of vintage, a deadstock item is one that has never been worn, and often even still has the tags attached, as these faaabulous jeans do!

They're a little teeny (26" waist!) so as soon as Beatrice gets back from her Far East adventures we'll get these babies modeled and listed for you guys.

Among other finds, I also found this adorable hounds tooth hat, which will be up on Etsy tomorrow morning.

A busy day, vintagers, but I still had time to make lasagna. I just had to take a second to brag about that. My first time!

Keep Vintaging!

-Nadia

Beatrice Wants to Give You Something!

2010-06-02T06:50:00.000-07:00

Dear gals and guys with gals,

As you all probably figured out now, Beatrice dabbles in making jewelry from vintage and salvaged jewelry parts and found objects. She also has a weird tendency to just give things away so here she is again, giving away yet another lovely necklace!

This one is a great, great, great giveaway; except... it ends soon! I’m posting this as early as I possibly can so people get a chance to enter and win my fantastic, beautiful gold rhinestone studded necklace! Head on over to the darling little blog named The Little Red House and simply comment to enter.

Facebooking, blogging, twittering is recommended in order to get a second entry. Who really doesn’t love free goodies?

Hurry though, it’s over on Thursday, June 6th, at midnight! What are you waiting for? Go win a necklace!

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

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

Vintage Bathing Beauties - Have a Lovely Memorial Day, Everybody!

2010-05-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

Hello there, vintagers!

Nadia here, reporting to you from the Windy City, Chicago! And on this unofficial opening day of summer, Chicago is also the hot, muggy, and rainy city. We at La Caravane Bohème think it's time we get ourselves revved up and in the mood for summer, since it seems Mother Nature has other plans for us.

Expect some swimsuits to pop up in our caravan pretty soon, especially for our vintagers who favor the 50s and 60s. We all know how fun it is to emulate our favorite pinup bathing beauties like Betty Grable and Jane Russell. That's why Beatrice and I are keeping our eyes sharp for gorgeous swimsuits. Our lovely vintagers all over the world will be bathing beauties in no time as the sweet weather kicks in.

I do have to add a little side note here - I think a bonafide Moment is in order to appreciate this particular picture of the lovely Jane Russell. It really emulates just what this season is all about: brightness, happiness, and simply enjoying the sun and warmth. I think we can all agree that this particular kind of beauty just doesn't come along all that often anymore. But that's what we're here for, right?

I've got my eye on a couple of bathing suits in particular at some local vintage spots (I'll be spending a few weeks in Chicago), and I plan on perusing some estate sales for some hidden treasures for our loyal Caravane followers.

In the meantime, enjoy some of our great treasures already hanging in La Caravane like Daphne, an adorable little 70s sundress that doubles as a great bathing suit cover up! Just toss this little number in your beach bag to wear when things get a little chilly at the beach or even to dinner at your favorite boardwalk spot that evening.

We've had a great start to La Caravane's journey, and we still have a long way to go. So here's to a bright, warm summer ahead of us filled with sun, fun, and of course beautiful vintage fashion!

Have a safe, lovely, and bright Memorial Day, vintagers!

Keep Vintaging!

-Nadia and Beatrice

Tips for Identifying Vintage Garments

2010-05-29T08:34:00.000-07:00

When the two of us first decided to open up a vintage shop, we had no doubts that we could spot a vintage dress a mile away. After all, when you spend nearly your whole life immersed in fashion and the art of design, you learn a lot about vintage garments. However, we realize that while we know we offer you quality, authentic vintage clothes, you may find yourself in a shop somewhere wondering if the skirt you're looking at truly is from the 70's. There's no Beatrice and Nadia there to help you decide. That's why we compiled this guide.

Here are a few things you should look for:

1. Find a tag. We find that if you come across a garment with a single tag labeled with "Lot" followed by a number, it was most likely made between the late 50's through early 70's. Another tag to look for is the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union or ILGWU. The use of this tag was prominent from the 1900's through the 70's. If a size label is found- before the 1960's, the number was the hip size in inches, but after the mid 60's the numbers were the better known size 8, 10, 12, etc. numbers. Care labels, if you find one, popped up in the mid 60's and became very common in the 70's. If there are no tags, the item was most likely homemade. This is very common in garments from eras before the 1970's.

2. Examine the construction of the garment. Look at the seam finishing. While serged seams have appeared on garments as early as 1900 and 1910, you can trust that the serging will look significantly different from modern-day serging. As time went on, more and more threads were used in a serged edge. They did not become very commonly used until the 70's, but remember that you can find garments from the 40's, 50's, and 60's with serged edges. If the seam edges are pinked, they were probably either homemade or from the 50's or earlier. Handsewn hook and eye closures and snaps are another indicator of vintage garments. 50's dresses usually had internal bra-straps and underskirts made of net, tulle, or muslin.

3. Look at the zipper. Metal zips were widely used before the 1970's. There's nothing like the satisfaction of zipping up a heavy metal zip, so you can't miss it. It was not until the late 60's when vinyl zips were common. The location of the zipper is also important. Before the 1950's, zippers were typically on the side of the garment. In the 50's and 60's, the zip slowly moved towards the back.

4. Feel the fabric. It's typical that vintage fabrics had a much better quality than modern fabrics. In vintage garments, there is more heft to a heavy fabric, a more delicate feel to a piece of lace, a finer smoothness to a length of silk. It would be a good idea to spend time in a reputable vintage shop, touching the fabrics so you can develop a feel for it. If you find either a fabric content tag, or are able to identify fabrics, the type of fabric is a good indicator of the garment's age: In the 50's- taffeta and rayon were used, in the 60's- polyester and nylon were popular, while in the 70's- polyester ran rampant. Eras earlier than the 50's typically used natural fibers such as cotton, rayon, and wool. Remember, Lycra didn't come about until the 80's.

5. Judge the style. This should be the most obvious way of identifying a vintage piece. Of course, given our perchance for bringing back styles- shoulder pads were popular in both the 40's and the 80's, 50's style shirtdresses are popular right now, ballet flats popped up in the 60's, then the 80's, then the present time again- it is not a surefire way of dating a garment. However, if you are able to successfully find a vintage garment using other indicators, the style will easily help you pin a date on it. Some quick tips on lesser known facts: wiggle dresses featuring fitted hourglass shapes were popular in the 50's along the full skirted dresses; miniskirts and shifts came into vogue in the 60's, and maxi dresses and skirts along with tight fitting styles and low necklines were popular in the 70's.

As you spend time at estate sales, vintage shops, and the like, you'll start to gain a feel for what is vintage and what is not. The best part of finding vintage clothes is the thrill of the hunt. What will you find in the very back of that rack? Are these gloves truly 1930's gems? Did you just get your hands on a gorgeous 40's blazer with padded shoulders and a nipped in waist? There's truly nothing better than finding a piece of wonderful history, except maybe discovering that it fits you perfectly!

We love helping people find vintage gems. If you have any questions or additional tips, feel free to comment or e-mail us at LaCaravaneBoheme@live.com.

Of course, happy vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

Taste of Success

2010-05-26T12:57:00.000-07:00

Aahhhh! Since we've opened up shop on Etsy, we've worked long and hard to get the La Caravane Bohème name out. Lots of discussions (and only one argument!) ensued as we pieced together a collection of the most stylish vintage finds showcased by the perfect banner, the prettiest pictures, and the most creative descriptions we could think of. So when we receive recognition for what we do, it tastes sweet.

Case in point: Our dear Etsy has a blog which thousands and thousands of buyers and sellers read called the Storque. They extend the goodwill by picking and choosing relevant items from lucky shop owners to feature in each posting. Today, we were the lucky ones as Alarice, our lovely 80's black jumpsuit was shown in conjunction to an ode to Denise Huxtable, that stylish girl from The Cosby Show.

Ladies and gentlemen, we have arrived.

Read the blog here and cheers to a lucky girl in Texas who bought Alarice! She's going to be one happy girl.

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

Summer! We're Free!

2010-05-22T13:23:00.000-07:00

Bonjour, mes amies!

Summer is finally coming on and we are ready to take it on! Bathing suits, hot sandals, and sexy dresses will be flying out of our closets. Can you tell we are total hot weather and sun people? Well, Nadia is finally out of school for the time being and I can come out of deep-winter hibernation, (I don't do well with snow,) so you will be seeing a lot more going on with La Caravane Bohème. In fact, Nadia's already gotten down and changed up our shop banner and avatar. They are fabulous and I can't get over how perfect they are for us!

Of course, the ubiquitous blue cart is still a part of our banner. We can never get rid of it. It embodies just what our shop and lifestyle means- taking something old and turning it into a funky, modern piece. After some extensive discussion, we have decided that dear old blue cart is here to stay. So if you happen to spy a funky wooden cart in a strange color, you know we're somewhere close by!

Some other exciting news, since we tend to get way too excited about little things: Since our shop opened, items have literally been flying out the door. We've sent that romantic pink tulle and glitter confection of a dress all the way to Sweden and the gorgeous blue 60's evening gown (seen right) found its way to Spain. Someone in Florida is prancing around in our fur collar swing coat while a dear Georgian is showing off her figure in our 70's secretary dress. I wish I could pull up the destinations of where all our wonderful items went, but this post would go on forever. We're just so happy to know that our gorgeous vintage garments have found new, loving homes.

Which begs the question, how long will that item you've been eyeing be in the shop? Hmm, I guess if you don't hurry and snatch that precious piece up, someone else might give her a good home. Summer is coming indeed and we do have some lovely skirts and dresses waiting to help cool you off in a hot summer breeze!

So, enjoy the upcoming warm days, sip some lemonade, and always, always be true to yourself and express your vintage modern side! Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

Why Nadia Rocks

2010-05-10T14:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys and Gals,

It's Beatrice, and I'd like to take a minute to congratulate the other half of La Caravane Bohème, Nadia. As you all know, she's a Fashion Design major at FIT in NYC, otherwise known as the pit in which my dear friend disappears into for two semesters a year. She is nearing the end of yet another year, and as part of her bribe to actually get to summer, she had to design a dress inspired by Valentino and make it into her school's year-end fashion event.

Now, we've always known what an amazing artist, designer, and creative mind Nadia is so I had absolutely no doubt in my mind that she was going to make it into the show. I mean, look at it! It's a work of art. The beautiful red fabric, the special care with which she applied the lace, the design of it overall. It's gorgeous! And of course, she made it into the show, much to her own surprise. Oh, the modest girl she is. That's why she has me, to be her immodest and boastful alter-ego.

What's more, not only did she make it into the show, but she won the sought-after Critic's Award! The critic, seen right posing with Nadia, chose her as best of her class. I just can't express how happy and how proud I am of her. Nadia truly deserves a round of applause from all of us!

Whoo hoo, Nadia!!

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice

The Wonders of Slips

2010-05-01T14:17:00.000-07:00

Slips, they are the fabulous secret of the vintage fashion world. Most people don't think too much of them, viewing them as strictly underwear. Instead, they spend all their time going after insanely overpriced 50's button-up cardigans and 70's maxi dresses. Have you ever tried to bid on a flower child bright yellow maxi dress on eBay? You don't have a prayer if you have a tiny wallet.

So we bring in the Slip. They come in so many shapes, sizes, and types: half slips, full slips, silk fabric and nylon, lace trims, ribbon details, a bit of stretch, or featuring zippers, sexy as all get out or demure as an angel, and just so much more.

"Yes," you say, "but they're underwear."

"No," we say, "They're lingerie. However, have you taken a good look at these precious gems?"

We have a gorgeous full slip made by Seamprufe. A 50's jewel, knee-length, with delicious lace trims and a pleated bust. You can't go wrong with a trendy, modern black. The fabric is nylon, the feel is silky. Best of all, it's completely opaque which allows you to dress it up with heels and a stole for a glamorous night out. Which 50's bombshell do you become when you put this on?

Then, there is this wonderful half slip. A creamy light latte color with a gently flared shape in a comfortable silky fabric. The elastic creates flattering ruffles that slide over your hips. A little surprise awaits on the back in the shape of a kick pleat, bordered with a stunning lace piece. This can hit right at the knees or below depending on waistband placement. Opaque as well, this would be a wonderful summer skirt with brown braided sandals and fitted top. (Listing coming soon!)

There is also this gem. Crisp and white and elegantly simple. This is a great American Maid slip with endearing details. An incredibly flattering shape as the hips curve out in an A-line but ends in a straight and simple silhouette, and the kick vent in the back provides a little bit of tease. A simple white skirt? Not at all. It feel wonderfully comfortable to wear and works for any event. Dressed up or dressed down, this skirt is a great piece you'll hang on to forever. We like this best with a tailored blazer.

Or if sweet and cute is what you're looking for, this beautiful slip may be what you need. Shorter than most which makes it novel but still adorably modest, it features a lace hem with a pale blue ribbon border. A tiny bow finishes it off. Its darling versatility allows you to playfully pair this with a cute cardigan top for sweetness or lace camisole for a hint of sexiness.

There are so many types of slips ranging from elegant to completely bombshell sexy. On top of that, many of these slips are just so versatile. They transform their personalities with whatever you pair them with. With tailored jacket and tights, you're ready for that business meeting. Then, swap the jacket out for a floaty peasant top and it's time to go to the farmer's market and soak up the sun. Once you find the perfect slip for yourself, you'll never want to give it up or replace it.

The residents of La Caravane Bohème, Beatrice and Nadia, are always finding wonderful new slips to offer you. Just keep checking back until you find your "One."

Happy Vintaging!

Win a Necklace Made by Beatrice!

2010-04-21T19:39:00.000-07:00

Hello guys and girls!

There is this blog that I’ve been following called (never home)maker. The name attracted me, of course, because look at how ironic and cute it is! Who could resist that? I originally came across it when I clicked on a Chocolate Avocado Pudding recipe from Foodgawker. Once I explored the blog and fell in love with the vegetarian 20-something couple from upstate New York, I was hooked.

They’re all about a healthy and good lifestyle. Exercising, healthy cooking, fun sense of style, eco-friendly living, and opportunities to host a giveaway. When I saw that last part, I jumped at it. The next thing I know, I had made a romantic Victorian inspired necklace just for them to give away to a lucky winner!

It’s really exciting, the necklace is absolutely gorgeous, and it’s free to that lucky girl (or guy if you’re smart, hehe!) Here’s your chance to snap this up for yourself. Just head on over to (never home)maker and submit an entry. The rules are simple and they’re listed in the blog. Hurry, the giveaway ends Tuesday, April 27th!

You know, it couldn’t hurt to go to the blog and (accidentally on purpose) leave the page open if you need to hint for a little surprise from your boyfriend/husband/loved one... (I’m so bad, haha.)

Happy vintaging!

Beatrice

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

Vintage to Modern

2010-04-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

While looking through some of our pictures, we realized just how much the bygone eras have influenced modern society. Whether is something that makes us giggle like children, or the clothes we choose to wear, or the homes we dream of owning, there is one thing that ties it all together: Something with a history makes it desirable.

When have you ever looked at a Victorian home and not imagined yourself, for a split second, baking a pie in its kitchen while three kids run afoot? Didn't you know the ever ubiquitous ballet flats of modern day also had their day once before, in the 60's? The ever classic strand of pearls has been an undying classic still. The lines of antique cars will make you stop and stare as they drive past. The retro styling of current kitchen appliances, the shabby chic characters of white bed posts, the charm of old canning jars holding pencils and pens; all still sought after today and all influenced by times past.

The two of us, residents of La Caravane Bohème, are two very modern girls. We love our cell phones and laptops complete with wireless internet. We have cars, we use credit cards, and we greatly enjoy anything with an automatic feature. However, you'll find us sporting vintage sunglasses like in our profile pictures. We'll be discussing the gorgeous molding in an old home. 70's maxi dresses and 50's cardigans will find their way into our closets. We love the historic districts of just about anywhere.

So who are we? Modern girls with a vintage twist? Or vintage girls with a modern twist? We'll never know, but we'll never stop. Next time you inside your closet or your home, stop and take a look. You'll begin to see where history has infused your life. Once you do, you'll see the world with a different eye and with a new-found appreciation for things with a history. Of course, we'd like for you to take that appreciation right on over to our vintage shop!

Lots of love and Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

A beautiful spring day in New York

2010-04-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

Good morning, vintagers

Nadia here. In our field, we always have to be on the lookout for finding beauty in the unexpected. Yesterday I was walking down Fifth Ave with Central Park on my right and beautiful apartment buildings on my left. I was late for dinner with a friend, and thus I was rushing down Fifth trying to make a 15-block walk in five minutes (why not drive or take the train, you say? Please. This is New York. ;) )

Somewhere around 7 1/2 blocks into my mad dash, I noticed these flowers out of the corner of my eye and had to stop and take a closer look.

I know these flowers are destined to be confined to a stuffy apartment building lobby somewhere in midtown, but at this moment I caught them standing alone in the trailer of a moving truck, and I had to document it! Thank goodness for iPhones, right?

It's amazing how these flowers become the star of the show in this ugly, dirty moving truck. But when you place this gorgeous, pink explosion in its antique-looking vase in the middle of a dank, dirty, wood encasing suddenly the juxtaposition of the two creates a harmony that is simply breathtaking.

This dichotomy is really what's behind our love of vintage - vintagers can find something beautiful in what the rest of the world has written off as old or ugly. We're driven by the idea that hidden among dusty, dark corners of antique stores, we can find a shining gem. That's why we created La Caravane Boheme, to bring these forgotten pieces to you!

Besties

2010-04-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Good morning and Happy Easter, Vintagers!

In true Nadia form, I spent the week having fun with my bestie Beatrice instead of updating you on our good times as promised (maybe I should just start calling her that...it has a nice ring, doesn't it? Bestie Beatrice! Bestie Beatrice!). But, at long last, here I am to tell you about my fabulous week with (Bestie) Beatrice.

Of course, we didn't start the week out with work. It is Spring Break, isn't it? I arrived in Ohio for my first hot, sunny day in ages - my first few days of break were spent in New York in the freezing rain. Having lived in New York for almost two years now, I've kind of fallen into the Manhattan bubble of thinking that nothing worth seeing exists outside my awesome city. But (Bestie) Beatrice definitely proved me wrong.

Beatrice took me to see this gorgeous little town near her home in Twinsburg. We scoped out some of the antique and vintage stores there, searching for "new" and exciting additions to La Caravane's collection. Although this trip didn't offer us any finds (you can't win 'em all), it was a great experience to explore this cute little town with all its boutiques. In this picture I'm wondering why they might call this place Chagrin Falls...oh, right.

After the falls, I convinced Beatrice to drop her sexy (albeit non-vintage) slingbacks for a pair of bowling shoes and we went skiing.

Just making sure you were paying attention ;) We went bowling.

The rest of the week was spent updating our Etsy shop, and adding a few new goodies to La Caravane for you to feast your eyes upon. Check out what we listed - and there's more coming soon, I promise!

Taking full advantage of the first sunny days of spring and the fact that for once we weren't two states apart, we decided to mix it up a little and take our pictures outside next to this gorgeous antique well that Beatrice happens to have in her backyard.

We definitely had a lot more fun taking pictures together. It was a good week :)

Be sure to check out our new listings on Etsy. Keep vintaging!

-Nadia

Dreams Are Made of You and Me

2010-03-30T18:06:00.000-07:00

Every single one of us has a dream inside that we wish to follow. Some of us have attempted to start, others are already on the path, and those lucky few have managed to accomplish it. However, what binds us all together is that we've all been at square one, whether we're still standing there or at square number 749,673.

The thing is, sometimes there are real, concrete reasons why we can't get past square one, or two, or seven, or 234. Money is a popular one, and an extremely valid one. Family, school, or your day job are among the others that make it tough for us to reach our dreams.

With La Caravane Bohème for us and Birdcage Bohemia for Beatrice, we were able to make it past square one. We're at, probably, just the second square, but working hard to get to the third. We have the wonderful vintage items. We have a portal through which to bring our vintage finds to you. We just need you. The most obvious way you, a family member or friend or loved one or even just a stranger, can support us is through purchasing from us and spreading the word to other people who might like us.

Foolproof, right? You all know about us or else you wouldn't be here reading what we write so we've accomplished that. We just need to get the word out. Get more people to know about us, hear about us, and visit our shop, then spread the word. That's why network websites like Facebook and Twitter is so valuable. We can offer tidbits and information in real time. New listing? Our fans on Facebook knows. Blog update? Twitter world hears.

You can definitely help "pass the buck" by passing us along. Tell a friend about the cool things we have. Mention to your mom we have a coat practically the copy of the one she's had in her closet for ages. It sounds so simple, that it must not be worth the effort. If only everyone realized, simple, tiny things like that can do so much to help people succeed.

We're firm believers in helping others succeed. Goodwill is precious and it comes in circles.

In Cleveland, Ohio, a woman named Laura Williams opened up an online bakery named La Bella Cupcakes full of luscious yummy cupcakes. To her amazement, business soared. However, her customers kept asking, "Where's your location? Where can we stop in and get a cupcake?" She didn't have a storefront but is working for one. Bring in that one obstacle that's preventing her from reaching her dream: money. So she came up with a novel and extremely creative idea: Ask for sponsors. She told everyone that if someone donates money and becomes a sponsor, she will give them a free cupcake among other awards of recognition once she finally opens up her shop.

Goodwill and delicious cupcakes. Really? Karma could never taste so good. To learn more about Laura's endeavor, go to her Sponsor page on her website. Please, send the link to everyone who can help. Let's make a person's dream come true. I promise you. It'll come back to you tenfold.

Then, we'll all come back and help you get to square whatever-number-you-need in your own journey to your dreams.

Spring Break...New Listings, Vacation, and... Snow?!

2010-03-26T09:19:00.000-07:00

Hello vintagers,

Nadia here. Well, those of you on the east coast may be aware of the fact that we are six days into spring and it is...snowing. Yes, snowing. So that's just lovely.

On a brighter note, today marks the official first day of my spring break! So I took the opportunity to take an item or two out of our "coming soon" album and turn them into listings on our Etsy shop. Check it out!

So what do I plan to do with my new found time off? Expect more listings to come - lots more. I've been searching every spare second this semester for goodies to bring to La Caravane, and I have a few surprises in store for our fans and shoppers this week.
And, I know I say it all the time but let's give a hand to Beatrice for manning the reigns here at La Caravane during this busy time for me at school. Isn't she great? And too cute in our new slip just listed on Etsy.

I've been getting a lot of questions from our fashionista fans at La Caravane at just what I've been up to between my sporadic appearances on our blog, Facebook page and Etsy shop. I thought I'd give you a rundown on that as well. Basically, this semester at my fashion school is a pretty big deal. We've been given a prompt: to design a gown, evening dress, or sportswear inspired by the great couture designer, Valentino. In true Valentino spirit, the theme is "Simply Red" and I've decided to take a younger, glam-punk approach to the whole thing and I am making a cocktail dress. You can see what it looks like, so far. It all culminates with a big show at the end of the semester - wish me luck on getting in!

Expect to hear from me a lot this week, vintagers! Au revoir!

Etsy, Oh, Etsy, How Do We Love Thee?

2010-03-25T20:33:00.000-07:00

Etsy is a wonderful thing. Truly.

Why is Etsy so fabulous? Oh, let me count the ways:

You can type up the most random search term like "fluffy purple can" or "squeaky orange kitten" and you will certainly find at least one item fitting that description. I kid you not. Dare you to try it.
You'll never know what will pop up on the front page. It could be a truly insane yellow lamp made from flowers or that one chunky sweater you've been looking for forever. It's stunning, the possibilities.
We have a name. Like how Ohio people are Ohioans, New York people are New Yorkers, Arizona people are... Arazon...ian...ites....? Well, you get the picture. We are Etsians! That is seriously cool.
You support all different sorts of people who are living out their artsy, crafty, unique-y dreams from stay at home moms to up-and-coming young designers to fathers earning a little extra cash to get his daughter a tea set to multitudes of people who make their living creating items and unearthing vintage things just for you, us included.
Etsy is pronounced like Betsy, by the way. I've heard "eat-see" and it makes me laugh, hard, so please do say it around me if I need a chuckle.
We have such a nice clean layout and good rules. You know you'll always get up to five pictures of the item you're looking at. The description will always be below the picture. There's lovely short titles. There's an almost guarantee that each handmade piece is truly that and vintage pieces are truly those, (sometimes bad things slip through the cracks, but rarely.)

Best of all:

You have unlimited access to the world's most amazing things. You can find an antique lace gown from London and quartz necklaces from Oregon and soft knits from France. You know just how precious each item you see on Etsy. So much love went into producing it, so much time was invested in it, and it's all there, waiting for you to bring it home. There are thousands of goods you can use to decorate a truly beautiful home, hundreds of clothes to wear stylishly, and tons of gifts to give out, and then some.

The biggest issue some people have with Etsy is that they think it's an online "bargain store." It's not. While you may find gorgeous vintage shoes for less than what you would find in a vintage boutique, you could also find a mint-condition peach 50's ballgown that's worth every penny of its high price tag. And with handmade items, each piece is made with love, intricately detailed, carefully assembled, and worth its price whether it be high or low.

So come to Etsy for unique items, handmade or vintage, that you will never, ever find anywhere else. You will not be disappointed, I can promise you that! Us Etsians love our products and we want you to love them too.

So go on, what are you waiting for? Go shop at Etsy! You may begin with this store...

www.Etsy.com/Shop/LaCaravaneBoheme

You totally saw that coming, right? Happy Vintaging!

Care of Your Treasures

2010-03-18T18:12:00.000-07:00

You've seen what we do when we find dusty gems of vintage clothing and accessories in need of repairs, cleaning, and some loving. We won't lie, sometimes, you find the best things at the very bottom of a questionable bin. However, ease your mind, we will never let a garment or item leave our studios without fastidiously making sure it's ready to wear upon arrival.

What do you do, though, when down the line, you have worn your lovely vintage garment and it's due for another wash? Sometimes dry cleaners will scare you. We know we've come across a few strange ones in our days. Well, roll up your sleeves, we found this great article listing all the things you can do to clean your vintage possessions.

In a nutshell:

Handwashing with gentle detergent is your best bet. (We use Woolite.) This article delves into when to use cold water and when to use warm according to fabric content. When in doubt, though, we've had great success using cold water for all materials as long as we watch the garment closely.
Line dry or lay flat to dry. Please, take great care with the dryer. Most of these clothes with a history were made when dryers were not commonly used. Sometimes you'll find that you possess a dress or shirt that was handmade! In that case, avoid the dryer like the plague.
And of course, if a garment has fur, leather, or lots of beads or embroidery or other decorations, you may want to venture out and find a reputable dry cleaner. Ask around to find a good, trusted one.

The article explains much more but in a lovely, easy to understand list. And of course, we are always available if you have any questions, concerns, or comments. You can reach us right here on our blog, on Etsy through a convo, or simply even e-mail us at LaCaravaneBoheme@live.com.

Big Things

2010-03-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

Hello vintagers

Nadia here. I've escaped the depths of fashion school to update you all on the latest happenings. I hope to have some new goodies posted on our Etsy shop soon for you lovelies, as soon as I have a little free time from school.

And guess what? That's going to be happening soon! As you know, Beatrice and I live many (far too many) miles apart but soon we'll be coming together again. With my college's spring break approaching, I will be visiting Beatrice in her quaint little home town of Twinsburg, Ohio!

Expect many updates in the lovely week Beatrice and I will be spending together. We'll finally get to go vintaging together and (gasp!) within the same state!

Sorry for the short update, vintagers, but I promise there is more soon to come!

Oh, before I go, I just wanted to send a quick shout out to everyone who has shown us support. Whether you hearted us on Etsy, became a fan of our Facebook page, or followed us on this very blog, we really appreciate all the love you shown us and every little bit counts. It's been a slow but steady start, but I know there are big things in our future!

Join the Gypsy Caravan on Facebook

2010-03-02T21:12:00.000-08:00

Have we ever mentioned our Facebook Page? Yes, this is shameless self-promotion. However, we realize you all may be missing out! This must be remedied!

We're obsessive about our Facebook Page, you know. We just stare at it all day long and think up things to update it with. (Kind of...)

But there are useful things like our Coming Soon! album where you get a sneak peek on all the goodies we have that haven't been listed yet. Not to mention, you find out right on your Newsfeed whenever we update our shop with something new (well, as new as vintage can be) and awesome. Beatrice will randomly interject with French things and Nadia will expound on the virtues of paisley. We have a Discussion forum, a section for fans to post their favorite items, our permission for you to randomly post your own thoughts on all things French and paisley, and so much more.

Right now, we have a topic in our Discussion board encouraging all our fans to talk (debate, fight, agree, etc.) about their favorite Vintage Era. No posts on there just yet, so feel free to be the first one! Pretty please? We would be overjoyed!

So anyway, if you decide you are, indeed, missing out on the goodness that is La Caravane Bohème Facebook Fan Page, just mosey on over to your Facebook and search for us. Or click here, which is probably easier. Link not working? Just copy and paste: www.Facebook.com/LaCaravaneBoheme

By the way, we are at 97 fans. 3 more fans and we'll hit 100! Come be a part of the Gypsy Caravan and help us hit our first milestone. Us Resident Bohemians will be forever joyful.

Happy Vintaging!

Beatrice and Nadia

C'est La Vie... No?

2010-02-27T11:55:00.000-08:00

As you read through our blog posts, you'll have noticed that one of the residents of La Caravane Bohème seems to be convinced she's secretly a French Woman even though she is utterly not so. Beatrice, the one with the French name and the French hair (not really, but she wishes) wants to show you all exactly why the French "do it better." ;)

One, our name: La Caravane Bohème is French for "The Bohemian Caravan." It's especially lovely because to our non-French speaking market, they can still understand what our name means. However, really think about it, try to say it outloud. There is just no possible way to say our name without enlisting a sultry French accent, the accented "e" being quite vital.

Laaa Caah-raah-vaaahn Bo - eeeeem! The "h" is silent, just breath some air when you get to that part.

Second, the Parisian streets are filled, I say filled! with lovely vintage and antique stores. There is just so much history-filled enticement waiting for you on dusty shelves and murky windows. Not to mention their world famous flea markets dotting arrondissements and neighborhoods. How could you go to Paris and not manage to come back with at least one antique vase or vintage scarf? I came out of Montmartre wielding not one, not two, but three delicious vintage neckwears. (One will be listed shortly; exciting, no?)

Third, this article says it all. It's not necessarily about fashion, but it really does work at convincing you why life in La Francais can be quite attractive.

Happy Vintaging!

*For those of you who clicked on the link "French Woman," Entre Nous is a book Beatrice has been working her way through and using to slowly turn herself into a real French Woman. A lovely surprise.

Vintagers everywhere!

2010-02-24T15:05:00.000-08:00

Fashion schools in NYC are home to possibly the widest range of style in the country (or at least that I, having grown up in Pittsburgh, have ever come into contact with.) I see everything here from your basic Paris Hilton fashionistas, to hardcore goths and punk rockers, and everything in between. However, it's hard to really appreciate it as a student at said fashion schools, since you're so busy most of the time that you don't really get a chance to take it all in.

On that note, let's all give Beatrice a big hand for keeping the store alive while I'm buried in the depths of muslin, pins, and endless homework... take a bow, B. ;)

Every so often though, a look stands out that just can't be ignored, no matter how busy you are. This happened to me the other day after, no joke, 11 hours draping away in my school's workroom. I noticed a girl in my class wearing this gorgeous seafoam green, cap sleeve, cashmere sweater with glittering jewels encrusting the neckline. I couldn't take my eyes off it. When I asked her where she got it, you know what she said? From a tiny thrift store near her home town in New Jersey.

Then, yesterday while I was at my day job as a salesperson in an eyeglass store, a customer came in with her grandmother's vintage frames and asked us to put new lenses in them so she could use them herself. (They were gorgeous, by the way, brown plastic large frames with a keyhole nose piece. Very cute and "geek chic"!)

I have to say, these girls made me a little proud. Not of myself and Beatrice for catching on to this vintage trend (although, that did cross my mind,) but of these vintagers giving once-forgotten items from half a century ago new life in 2010.

In a world full of Botox, facelifts, upgrades, and a new iPod every ten minutes, an appreciation for the classics, the antique, and the pre-loved is hard to come by. Although we vintagers may seem few and far between, we are out there, and we have to stick together!

Well, back to the drawing room. My dress form misses me.

Keep vintaging!

-Nadia

Ready-To-Wearability

2010-02-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

Bonjour, it's Beatrice!

Oh, to really be French, a girl can dream; and so can you. With our fabulous selection of vintage clothes, you can pretty much be whoever you want to be: bohemian or sweet, sultry or prim. Me, I like the look of the gypsy, yet composed French style which is basically lots of grey and black paired with awesome scarves found all over the place.

Speaking of scarves, I found a fabulous seventies tan, purple, and orange silk square that you will die for, especially when paired with the seventies Lord and Taylor blazer we found in a dusty corner somewhere. They are currently being dry-cleaned and pressed as you read this. Check our Shop often for new listings.

One of the things the resident gypsies at La Caravane Bohème pride ourselves on is the "ready-to-wearability" (our word, we're proud of that also) of our items. When we find clothes and accessories, we do everything we can to wash, dry-clean, repair, press, and shine these things up into pretty jewels just for you. That way, you know that once you get one of our gems, you can wear it right away.

There are certain circumstances that stains or other flaws cannot be removed and repaired. If this is the case, we will do everything we can to make it less noticeable when worn. We will never sell an item that has an obvious flaw and we always make sure to note each and every quirk in our descriptions.

This is the fabulous 1970's Grey Secretary Dress I am currently obsessed with, being hand washed by yours truly.

We use Woolite Gentle Detergent, cold water, and our frozen fingers to clean, clean, clean these garments up. In special cases, we will use a gentle stain remover if needed.

Below, you'll see the dress laid out to dry. Just look at the awesome dusty rose buttons. They make me smile!

Why did I lay this dress out to dry? Considering that I didn't quite know how the fabric of the dress would react, I didn't want to take the chance of hanging it and finding it a day later, all stretched out from the weight of the water.

Also, with most knits, usually delicate kinds, you want to lay them out to dry in their shape. They are known to dry in whatever position they might be and if you accidentally pulled a sleeve out too far, you may just end up with a very long sleeve!

Once it was all nice and dry, I discovered that since it was made of soft, lovely cotton, it didn't need to be pressed at all. Nice to know that this is truly a wash and wear dress.

And voila! Clean and ready to find a home in your closet.

Meet Emmeline, the lovely, button-up, throw on and go Secretary Dress from the 70's.

Love it? Want it? Have to have it? Click on the name above to go directly to the listing; or visit our Etsy shop at LaCaravaneBohème or www.Etsy.com/Shop/LaCaravaneBoheme to find Emmeline and a cast of other beautiful vintage gems.

Happy Vintaging!

Greetings from New York

2010-02-10T19:39:00.000-08:00

Hi all

Nadia here. What? Yes, yes, I have emerged from the depths of a new and busy semester at fashion school to update you all on La Caravane Boheme from the Big Apple perspective. I know what you're thinking. Nobody from New York actually calls it the Big Apple. But that's just how we roll aboard La Caravane (get it? Roll? Because caravans...have...wheels?).

I hope our friends in the Northeast part of the country are staying cozy and warm as this blizzard rolls through. You have to admit, the snow covering the rooftops is a beautiful sight - when you're sitting under a nice fluffy comforter and looking out the window at it. I was doing just that this morning when I noticed that the weather outside had joined me indoors. Check out that ice inside my apartment window! It's a good thing La Caravane is an online shop, and you can go vintaging while snuggled under said fluffy comforter, isn't it?

With Beatrice back from her adventures in Italy, expect some new gems to pop up in our Etsy shop! Rumor has it she has some (gasp!) accessories to add to our collection, as well as a few other items to start filling up those pesky empty categories.

As for me, I'll soon be turning those "coming soon" items, like our 60s silver space-age dress and this adorable 70s homemade pinafore dress into real listings. So keep checking back for those and much more!

I also just came across this gorgeous 60s floral mod dress. One problem though--it's sleeves seem to have run away! I'll be putting my seamstress skills to use to renew this beauty; whether its sleeves will find their way home or if we'll find a brand new look for this dress is still up in the air.

Check back soon for a behind-the-scenes look at some of our finds' vintage stories.

Keep vintaging!

Fashion on Cobblestone Streets

2010-02-02T03:13:00.000-08:00

Ciao!

Beatrice here, I'm checking in from Italy: the land of pasta, wine, and cobblestone streets. And fabulous fashion too, of course. I'll be venturing out later this week to scope out vintage finds to bring back home to you!

While in Italy, I haven't been able to list any of my delicious clothes and accessories, but you can see them in the Coming Soon! album on our Facebook. Get your vintaging butt up and become a fan of us at the La Caravane Bohème Page. You should join our caravan because not only will you be up-to-date on our latest listings, you will also find stories about our vintage hunts, articles we like, and other random things that amuse us. Believe us, we are easily amused.

We also have a forum open on our Discussion tab at our page. Be sure to stop by and let us know what your favorite vintage era is. Is it the 40's, the 70's, the 20's, or a combination of everything? Discuss away and we shall be listening.

Here's a peek of what's in a day of a life of a vintaging gypsy (while in Italy:)

I couldn't resist the vintage red Landrover hidden in one of the narrow side streets of Trasacco.

Nor could I also resist this sweet Italian kitty, cuddling outside his home.

This has been a lovely experience so far, but I can't wait to get back home and aboard La Caravane Bohème!

Ciao!

Beatrice

Hop Aboard La Caravane Bohème

2010-01-29T05:53:00.000-08:00

Salut!

Welcome aboard La Caravane Bohème, we are so excited to have you here. Meet our resident gypsies- Beatrice and Nadia. On the Bohemian Caravan, you will see that we have made it our mission to bring you gorgeous and unique vintage clothing and accessories to brighten up your life and wardrobe.

On La Caravane Bohème, you will discover incredible finds ranging from a pristine, possibly never worn 60's swing coat to a delicious peach Alfred Shaheen maxi dress from the 1970s. Our garments and accessories range from the 1930s through the 1980s, and you will not believe how well each item pairs with each other. That is the magic of La Caravane Bohème where the past never gets old.

The thrill of the hunt for beautiful vintage clothes is immeasurable to the feeling of sending each piece to a wonderful home. We hope that you'll rediscover the beauty of our clothes and accessories and appreciate the quality of the garments made once upon a time. There is no end to our delight in silky 50's slips and funky 80's party dresses and you should experience the same!

So in our blog, come follow us on our journey through vintage stores and estate sales as we lovingly choose our special items. Watch as we carefully clean, wash, and repair each precious discovery. Shop with us at our Etsy store: La Caravane Bohème. Have faith that your very own renewed piece of history is wearable upon arrival. We only choose those that can be worn with modern clothing or with a touch of happy tongue-in-cheek irony (be sure to see our 1930s black gloves!)

Best of all, meet and learn about Beatrice and Nadia, two special individuals with a vintage taste in a modern world.

Happy vintaging!