Friday, August 24, 2012

Voyeuristic thrift shopping...

I'm not much of a clothes shopper.  My shopping style tends to lean towards that of swat team ... plan your mission, get in and get out, try for as few fatalities as possible.  But there's one type of clothes shopping I'll always enjoy.  Vintage shopping.

Not just any vintage shopping though, oh no!  I'm not talking about trotting down to your local thrift store to see whether you can find a choice piece amongst the ratty eighties cardigans and the less than fresh looking leisure suits.  Lets be honest, no matter how much you might dream of finding a gem amongst the lumps of coal, it probably isn't going to happen.  It's much more sensible to stick to internet sites that specialise in that sort of thing.

Personally, I favour this website.  My theory is that if you're going to look at expensive frocks you can't afford, might as well go for the cream of the crop.

Their stuff is just gorgeous!  Expensive of course, but gorgeous.  Lets take a look at a few of them together, shall we?



Isn't this stunning?  A 1918 beaded lace dress with an absolutely beautiful sash.  It looks like the sort of thing Kate Winslet should have been wearing while she clung to the bow of the Titanic.  Now that's what I call vintage fashion, but at $1,400 I don't think I'll be buying it any time soon ...unfortunately.



Or for those that favour the mid 1800's, this plaid taffeta dress could be yours for the modest sum of $1,250.  Hmm, still a little out of my price range, but if I ever need to audition for a role in Seven Brides For Seven Brothers I'll know where to go.



Can you imagine going to a fancy dress wearing this?  Talk about the perfect Bonnie costume for a Bonnie & Clyde duo!  At almost $2,000 it's probably a little pricey, but doesn't it just make you want to do the Charleston?  Or shoot a tommy gun?  Or make some bathtub gin?

Yeah, sorry, my ideas of the 20's are pretty much taken straight from Bugsy Malone.



And lets not leave the kids out of this!  For $2,850 your little darling could own this early 1800's hand embroidered dress.  Of course after paying so much for it you'd never actually let the ankle biter wear it, they'd probably rip it or get mud on it or spit up on it.

Hmm, perhaps buying a dress for a kid that'll set you back somewhere in the four digits isn't the best idea ... unless you're Beyonce of course.








So, overlooking my sarcasm, I'm sure you can see why I like this site so much.  The clothes are just gorgeous and looking at them is a little like thinking you're going to win the lottery.  It's not likely to happen, but it's amazing while you're fantasizing about it.  But until that lottery ticket of mine starts living up to its reputation I'm just going to have to accept the fact that I can't afford any of them.

Still, it costs nothing to dream.

34 comments:

  1. I LOVE thrift store shopping. Just Saturday a girlfriend and I were eating and I said, "You know we could totally go to Thrift Town next door before we go home?" We did. I got a copy of The Great Gatsby.

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    1. I remember reading that in high school. Good book! I love second hand book shops. I'd love to own one, but of course there's absolutely no profit in it.

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  2. Awesome, Kellie. I love that plaid and the last one, sooooo gorgeous. Now I'm going to dream a little dream that can't come true - thanks alot! Haha

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    1. The site really does have some awesome stuff, and they're always getting new things so there's plenty of fantasy material.

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  3. I hate shopping. My husband, on the other hand, . . . :) Anyway, you are an old soul, Kellie - maybe you were born in the wrong time ??!!

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    1. Oh, I was totally born in the wrong time! I'm convinced I was supposed to live in either the 1850's or the 1940's.

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  4. Beautiful stuff! Love the '20s frock especially.

    Downside is that vintage clothes aren't ready for this jelly. My booty is just too damn big!

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    1. That's the thing, all those clothes seem awfully small. Still, it's nice to look.

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  5. perhaps there is a difference between thrift and vintage, but expensive is not in my vocab.

    thrifting is fun. i love it. last year alone i probably triple my wardrobe / closet and only spent approx $150 total. total!

    those items at that site are awesome. just not for me. I wear hoodies! I'm nearly 60 and I own about 20 hoodies. love them. i should open a blog titled: my hoodies! hahahaha.

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    1. I don't think those things at that site are really for anyone, they're way too beautiful, fragile and expensive for the common or garden woman. Still, it's nice to look at them and imagine.

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  6. Gah those are just lovely. I can't bring myself to go to site though, I'd get all depressed, lol.

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    1. It's kind of like looking at blogs full of baking that you can't eat and home decor you'll never own. Torturous, but deliciously so.

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  7. oh my gosh! I had no idea they cost that much! wow!.. but they are so beautiful,they are probably worth the money!!! and what fun would it be to wear a dress like that?!
    I am your newest follower..pls follow back if you can.

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    1. It'd be amazing to wear one of them, but I'm pretty sure I'd spend most of the time petrified I'd spill something on it or tear it. It's probably best left a fantasy.

      I've subscribed to you, can't wait to read your posts!

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  8. I suck so hard at thrift store shopping. A friend of mine is just awesome at it. Me? Not so much. I always come out of there looking like a hobo.

    WOW! This site has some beautiful things. Too bad I'm poor. I should try harder at the Goodwill store.

    Hugs!

    Valerie

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    1. I think you have to have a really good eye to shop in thrift stores. Like a super duper, extra strength, x-ray vision good eye.

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  9. The second and fourth ones are my favourite! No I wouldn't wear them, but I'd like to see my girlfriend in them! speaking of that, I gotta go buy a lottery ticket!

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    1. I don't know, I think I could totally see you in the first one. The neckline would suit you perfectly and really accentuate your beard ;D

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  10. Hi Kellie, wonderful blog you have! I love a good Op-Shop-Crawl oh the bargains if it's a lucky day!

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    1. I always end up at the places with all the crappy stuff though :(. Although I have noticed that if you go to the thrift stores in really rich areas, they tend to have the better quality stuff!

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  11. Definitely liking the first one and the third one. The black lacy one up top looks elegant and vintage romantic.

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    1. It is sweet, isn't it. If I was wearing it I think I'd want to put my hair in a chignon and have tea.

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  12. Hi Kellie, Many thanks for stopping by my blog. I love vintage fashion, particularly 1930's styles. Mind you, whenever I see it the price isn't the only obstacle, I tend to be about twice the size of most outfits!!

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    1. Oh yeah, a common problem. I'm beginning to think that people back then ate only cucumber sandwiches and that's why they stayed so thin!

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  13. You found some beautiful dresses! I do shop at thrift stores. :)
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. :) I can see I'll enjoy visiting yours!
    Have a wonderful Saturday!

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    1. They are gorgeous, aren't they! I love just browsing on that site. I could never afford them, but it costs nothing to look!

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  14. I do love that third one. Maybe I'm a twenties girl at heart?

    I think clothes from the fifties are amazing. I would love to own (and wear) some of the things my mom wore when she was younger.

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    1. Fifties dresses are gorgeous! What girl doesn't love a pouffy skirt!

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  15. I really love that first dress! I love to watch I LOve Lucy for the fashions, and I think that era is one of my favorites for clothes. Really enjoyed this~

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    1. Oh Lucy! She had the best clothes! I used to be so obsessed about how they all wore gloves in those old shows. I wanted a pair so badly!

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  16. Nope, it doesn't do much for me :p

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  17. The 1800's hand embroidered dress...I need that. Now I know what my purpose in life is! To wear that dress.

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