Selling Out

I'm not sure, OK I am, I sold out. It's been awhile my peeps but as anti mall, local, and thrifty as I was I thought "I gotta pay the mortgage". For the last two years I've been doing mortgages for various credit unions, banks, mortgage offices. One of my customers got me into it, and THANK GOD!! After my ex took me back to court and made me pay him back $25,000.00 in unused daycare funds, I had to close my love of my life vintage/resale shop. It was heartbreaking, mind blowingly unbelievable to do. No choice in the matter. So I have a garage full of vintage clothes and a empty heart for vintage. My soul hurts to do it again. The self esteem and love I maintained is like nothing I will have again. My daughters helped with the store we worked our fingers to the bone to make it succeed, and we did! You voted us #1 vintage store in Tacoma by the Volcano Weekly. Anyhow.... back to selling out. I'm working at --- for the holidays. I must say, it's the biggest fucking racket ever. Maybe I'm just doing research.... On so many levels it's the worst job I've ever had. My liberal mind just wants to unionize this company so bad! They dangle this commission carrot out in front of you but it's completely unobtainable. I have this 20 year old girl (two managers are 20) telling me "What can I do to help YOU sell more?" What a contrived rehearsed pos statement that is!! I was selling before they could even walk! Running my own store when they were eating ice cream and texting. Anyhow just wanted to check in, I gotta go sell out. Miss my customers so much!

Here is a picture of her hats. For sale in the shop for $24.00 :)

It's sunny today. A great day for shoppers and the beginning of the weekend. It's been a slow start today. Everyone seems to come in about 4:00. Sold one of Guy's spoon rings. It's so nice to see people buying local artisan craft items. I sold out of all the hats, that my local seamstress Brooke made. They are the cloche style. Cloche is "bell" in French. Cute hats. I will take a picture and post later. Hope you are having a good day.

Pinning and Orange

Hi all! Hope all is well and you are planning your fashion for the week with much fervor. No? Who has time for that? Styling is hard, you must think more about accessories. Change up an outfit with your accessories. I was thinking about this after I "pinned" one of my esty listings. I am, you wouldn't think, but very picky about what I buy, clothing wise. I'm very French in that regard. I buy the basic vintage dress, the basic cardigan. But I go hog wild on jewelry. You can change up an outfit so easily by just adding a new necklace, even a new ring. It's the most inexpensive way to express yourself. Think about scarves in that way too. In the 1940's with the depression, women in their amazing way to find a new outfit with little money started sewing collars that just go around the neck and clasp or tie. Either crocheted or out of fur, whatever they had around. It's one of my favorite looks. So you don't have to spend a lot to change things up. Check out my pins, it helps come up with new ideas as to what you might wear on Monday! Take care :)

Source: etsy.com via Laurel on Pinterest

Snow and the Northwest

Well, Orange on Sixth has been closed for the last two days. Due to snow and freezing rain. I was here yesterday but not a soul on the road. The whole Northwest shuts down when it snows. Not sure why. Do they just not know how to drive in the snow? How to shovel? Growing up in Utah, we go to work, we go to school. I have been Northwesternized over the last 15 years and I now enjoy a day off due to snow. However, when it snows, we make no money. As a shop owner you only make what you earn. Some go to work, have an unproductive day, a sickness, whatever it maybe, and they get paid. You don't as a shop owner. I need to pay for two girls lunches, clothes (that their dads new wife seems to think I don't buy?) We all have a life to live. Tough to live though when it's on hold due to snow. So glad I have 4 wheel drive Hyundai! Here's some pictures of the snow and shop :) Thanks for reading.

Vintage women's clothing and marketing

Source: honeyonmyskin.tumblr.com via melaniexeinalem on Pinterest

What does this ad say? To you? I'm older now, and the ad/photo would not bother me to death, like it used to as a young feminist. But here she is changing a tire! That's bad ass :) I worry a lot less about advertising. That just comes with age. The complacency. A shame to admit to the complacency however I do, still notice, this marketing towards women. It's been happening for centuries. Love it and hate it as well. As a vintage clothing and fashion blogger I look for images, I see these and my brain hurts. Why do we fall for the mass engineered stereotype of the woman? Consumers that like vintage and resale push those limits and stereotypes. They dress with individuality and a flair the masses do not share but highly admire. Step inside a thrift/vintage store and explore, ask for help. Step outside your box :)

Find us on etsy! at Orange on Broadway. Brick & Mortar at 3715 6th ave Tacoma

Also on style.ly :) http://style.ly/account