Sunday, April 21, 2013

SHOP UPDATE: Fabulously Floral

foxburrow vintage floral
1980s Floral Sequin Blouse


foxburrow vintage floral
1950s Pistachio and Blue Dress



foxburrow vintage floral
1970s Tapestry Bag

foxburrow vintage floral
1980s Festival Skirt

foxburrow vintage floral
1980s Teal Dream Skirt - Coming Soon
foxburrow vintage floral
1950s Kiwi Flower Dress
foxburrow vintage floral vera neuman
Vintage Black and Orange Floral Scarf

foxburrow vintage floral
Shabby Chic Floral Romper

foxburrow vintage floral
Flower Fields Romper
I've got the May Flower Fever and I can't get enough of floral prints. I'm searching them out everywhere and here are a few of the fabulous finds I've located! Lots more in the shop so come by and check it out!

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Outfit Post: Underwear as Outerwear

van raalte night gown leaf leaves
Being on Etsy so much I come across a lot of vintage items. Some of them I decide that I can't live without. It's tricky, isn't it? Because until you see it, you never knew you needed it. But once you see it, now you know it's out there. And there's a very good chance it's the only one of its kind, or the only one still existing in your size...and you have to get it.

One of my favorite shops on Etsy is Minxouri Vintage. Maya's items are incredibly tasteful, her shop well curated, and everything always comes so nicely packaged. Plus, her prices are good. You really can't go wrong.

Today, my dress and belt both came from Maya's shop Minxouri Vintage.The dress is actually a 1950s/early 60s nightgown by Van Raalte. I loved the leaf pattern and the way it scattered across the skirt. The belt is stretchy and looks like copper scales. This was a popular belt style, but this one is particularly well made and sturdy. I have a similar one in black that is waiting to go to the shop.

van raalte night gown leaf leaves

van raalte night gown

foxburrow vintage

van raalte night gown

Part of the way through the photoshoot, my husband showed up at the gate.

Foxburrow Vintage


Dress (nightgown), Minxouri Vintage, similar here
Earrings, Vintage, similar here
Bracelet, Vintage, similar here
Necklace, (old) Forever 21
Cardigan, Jcrew
Shoes, Marco Tozzi

Saturday, April 13, 2013

SHOP UPDATE: Blouses for Spring

Blouses for Spring

I'm so infatuated with Spring I can barely handle it! Yesterday we got a freak hail and snow storm but hopefully that stuff is on its way out and I can head to the hardware store to pick up some flowers and vegetables for my gardens. By this time last year I was growing all kinds of things. My favorite things to grow are tomatoes, bell peppers, chives and mint. I find that those are things that are hardy and taste much better home grown than store-bought.

foxburrow vintage spring blouses

Another thing I look forward to is walks with my dogs. I've got two long dogs: a miniature dachshund and a pembroke welsh corgi. They're cute and love to be outside. We've been cooped up too long and need to get out to explore!

vintage hawaiian print blouses

And of course I really love going to the in-laws lake house. It's beautiful and serene up there and it's a nice chance to get away and read, knit and get a little sunshine. It's cold in the mornings and evenings until about July, but the sunshine warms you right up. And nothing is quite like laying near the water, listening to the sounds of nature (and the occasional boat and excited kid). 

vintage spring blouses

What are your favorite things to do in the spring? 

Friday, April 12, 2013

From Pinterest to Reality

I am a total fan of Pinterest, but one of the things I think we all struggle with is taking those inspirational things from Pinterest and turning them into a reality in our own lives. That's why when I saw this on Pinterest and repinned it to my Dress Up, Not Down board I knew I wanted to turn it into a reality!
I just picked up a coral blazer for the shop, and I saw an opportunity to wear my pretty lace blouse from Fleet Collection. This particular blouse is no longer available but there's a pretty lace blouse in the Foxburrow Vintage shop. And of course I had to break out my fun floral shoes that I bought from Delia*s a long time ago... I have such a hard time matching them with my clothes that I rarely wear them, but I love them and will hold onto them forever! I tied the red into my outfit by matching two red and brass vintage bangles along with the gold givenchy bangle from the shop.

I hope that when you pin outfits, recipes, craft ideas or whatever else on Pinterest you don't let those things get lost forever! Take a look back through your boards and see what you can find to inspire you this year. I've found some great recipes on Pinterest and it's a great place to "keep it all together" with beautiful visual bookmarks.

Do you have a Pinterest account? Let me know so I can follow you!

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Why I Sell Vintage


After reading this great interview on Design*Sponge about the founder of ModCloth, in which she links an essay about doing what you love, I found myself pleased to be doing what I am doing - because I love it, and because even though it is work, it never feels like work. It just feels like happy.

So why do I sell vintage? What made me choose the vintage and handmade life?

As a kid, my family didn't have a ton of money. So we were always shopping sales, and it instilled in me a sense of value that I've never forgotten. We didn't thrift, and we didn't do a lot of yard-sale shopping except for in a fun sense, but I hit a point in my teens where I started thrifting and loved what I found. Vintage sun dresses and quirky t-shirts, flower-power housewares and just fun things to brighten life. So the thrill of the hunt began with finding something right up my alley.

It all went into hibernation in my college years, as my focus was spent more on academics than any extra curricular activities, and finally came blossoming back when I moved to New England to settle into a new life with my (now) husband and moved into a mid-century home. 

Now, I am in love with finding vintage, but not just finding vintage but also giving it a new life. When I pick something out at the thrift store, I am not just saying "that is cool, I think it could make me some money." There's more to selling vintage than trying to make a living - and that's a passion for finding things a new home where they will be loved. At some point in time, that garment or item was loved and used and, though often lost, there is a story behind each item. My goal is to give that garment a NEW story.

So when I pick something up off of a shelf, amongst a pile of stuff, or pull it out of an over-stuffed rack... I ask myself a couple of questions:
  • What made it catch my eye? The design? The age? The craftsmanship? 
  • Can I tell if it has a story behind it? Is there something about the item that tells me about the previous owner? An old dry-cleaning tag, a name written in the collar, something in the pocket? 
  • Does it fit into today's world? Is it still fashionable and will someone be able to pop it into their wardrobe and wear it with other pieces they have?
  • Is it unique, or classic, or on trend? Does it make a statement?
  • Will I be able to find it a new home? Will someone love it once again? 
  • Am I buying it at a price where I can make sure my customers are getting a good value?
If I think I can bring the garment back to life and put it back in someone's closet then it goes in my cart. I take it home and care for it - often cleaning it and removing stains or repairing it. Then it gets lovingly photographed and measured, and listed for someone to find. And it makes me so very happy to sell something, because it means that someone is going to wear it and it will once again have a place in the fashionable world. And if it's a housewares item that's great too, because now someone will see it and use it and once again get enjoyment and function out of something that could otherwise be thrown out.

If we're not careful, and if some of us aren't out there salvaging the beautiful things of the world, the goodies of times past will be lost to us forever. It takes vintage sellers to pull the beautiful out of the piles of "stuff" and put it into your hands.  And that's why I sell vintage.

Friday, April 5, 2013

SHOP UPDATE: Hello Apres

Spring is FINALLY springing here in New England. It's been a long wait, but she's blowing her soft warm winds my way and I'm jumping headlong in! I've been in nothing but dresses for the past few days and boy does it feel good to have some skin exposed to the elements!

Here are some of my lovely finds that will suit the upcoming weather just fine:

Clay red cut out dress foxburrow vintage
Clay Red Cutout Dress

tan vintage blazer
Muted Clay Fitted Blazer

spring green and cream blanket
Spring Blossoms Wool Blanket

gold and maroon drape vintage necklace
Rustic Gold Drape Necklace

50s straw handbag
50s Straw Four Square Purse

diane von furstenberg train case
Diane Von Furstenberg Train Case

Have you picked up any exciting spring purchases that you're just aching to wear?

Monday, April 1, 2013

SHOP UPDATE: Spring Fever

Call it what you will, but I'm calling it SPRING FEVER! And boy have I got it!

Temperatures are barely reaching the 50s but I've been seen in nothing but dresses for the past week. Sandals, cute handbags, pretty dresses -- Ooh lala. All of these pieces are chic and modern enough to be incorporated into any wardrobe, so take your pick!
foxburrow vintage chartreuse blazer
1980s Chartreuse Blazer

foxburrow vintage western boho skirt
1980s Western Boho Skirt

spring scarf
Spring Scarf

tori richards honolulu navy blue and white dress
1970s Tori Richards Spring Dress

mimi di ni frog belt
Mimi Di Ni Frog Belt

woven mule clogs
Vintage Woven Mules

whiting and davis clutch silver mesh
Whiting & Davis Clutch

handmade vintage blouse geometric size large
Vintage Geometrically Cute Blouse
And of course keep checking back for even more vintage flooding into the shop. My racks are bursting and I can't photograph fast enough!!
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