What Price Vintage?

This is going to be a long one, because it's about pricing vintage.  It pertains to buyers/wearers of vintage as well as sellers of vintage.

 

One very popular question on just about every forum about vintage selling is “How should I price this?”.

Just to get it out of the way, I’ll tell you how I price the items I sell.  I check of similar items online and see how they are priced.  I have to be honest with myself when doing this, (because don’t we all think our vintage item is just the MOST FABULOUS thing?).  I have to admit it when some items are just better than what I have.  Item in mind, is this red chiffon dress from the 50s, which I consider one of the best dresses in my shop.  

I was not letting it go cheaply, so I checked other red 50s party dresses on Etsy.  I always click on “highest price” and go from there.  The first dress to come up was an Oleg Cassini for over 700.00.

…utterly breath-taking.

 

All of a sudden, mine was not looking so fabulous.

  

So as I scanned the rest, I found a lot of designer dresses.  Mine has no labels at all, so that took it down a notch or two.  But that’s what you have to do. Be honest with yourself about what you want to sell after comparing it to similar items up there.

UNDER-PRICED VINTAGE

I have said this a zillion times:

“If we don’t value our vintage, no one else will.”

Under-priced vintage makes me a little crazy.  

Do you know what usually happens when a flawless vintage dress from the 1940s is priced at 38.00?

Usually another seller comes along, buys it, and then sells it for four times that much.  Yes, it’s true, under-priced vintage usually winds up with a seller who knows its value.

I admit that this doesn’t happen ALL the time, but often that’s what happens.

On the other hand, I had a sale section in my shop that other vintage sellers were welcome to.  Dresses, gowns, jewelry accessories, low-end prices.  I thought everything would sell overnight. 

It didn’t.

I sold two pieces from that section. 

This just goes to show that sometimes, items don't sell if the price is too low!

All right.  Buyers, wearers, and lovers of vintage, how do YOU buy your vintage?  

When a seller states the condition of the item, are they saying “good vintage condition” without stating any flaws?

HEADS-UP people! Red flags should be going off in your head! 

Your “good” may be someone else's “ARE YOU KIDDING ME?”  

Sellers should state every flaw, even the smallest, and if the flaws show up in a photo, (some don't) they should show flaws in photos. 

There’s a process here:

--Seller drives around hunting for treasure.

--Seller selects the best items and pays for them.

--Items must be cataloged or inventoried.

--Items must be carefully stored. 

--Items get repaired, restored, laundered/drycleaned, steamed or ironed.  

--Hours could be spent on stain-removal!

--Items must be researched (this could take anywhere from  10 minutes to more than an hour).

--Items must be measured.

--Items must be ironed or steamed to perfection.  

--Items must be modeled or presented in the most   interesting and eye-catching way possible.

--In many cases, those photos go through intense photo-shopping.

That's not all:

Does a seller tell you how they date things, what makes it 50s?  60s? newer?  older?  Do they give measurements?  (I have seen item descriptions without them *gasp!*)  Is the product ironed?  Well photographed? Shown at important angles with good close-ups? You want to know the history, right? You want to know the fabric? You want background information? Does the seller give enough information to justify the value of the item and make you feel like you’ll get your money’s worth?  With enough information from the seller, the more you know about what you will be getting but also what to look for in the future.  Best of all, you’d know how to identify items that aren’t what they are said to be. 

So the more information you get about the item, the more time the seller put into listing it.   It’s all time-consuming, so consider that you are paying for that time.

 

I would advise you to accept nothing less from any seller.

 

Yet another thing:  if you ever DO see a fabulous and flawless vintage item that is under-priced, you’d know enough to grab it while you can!

....I’ll admit there are times when a bargain is a bargain is a bargain.

All that being said, keep in mind that VINTAGE IS VALUABLE!  Plus if you take really good care of it and you get tired of it, you can always re-sell it!

So maybe you don’t care about how old it really is. Maybe you just love the dress/hat/skirt/blouse whatever.  That’s different.

I’ve seen item descriptions that say “Blue 70s blouse”, size M”, and THAT IS ALL IT SAYS! 

I’m not kidding.  That’s all some descriptions say. 

..and these items sell…

*sigh*

The "Fedora"-Thing

Greetings.

It’s been a while.  Did you think I was done blogging? No way!  I still have a zillion things to complain about.

(Moving into a new home took up my time)

So I am back to complain about the whole “Fedora”- thing.

We’re going to get this straight right here and right now.

THEY ARE NOT ALL FEDORA’S!!!!!!!

So if you are a seller of vintage, you would need to know these things and if you are a buyer of vintage, it’s good to stay informed (and NOT be fooled by any seller).

THIS IS A FEDORA:

THIS IS A TRILBY:

Plus, I love this blog,  Check it out:

 http://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/brand-thats-not-a-fedora-and-stop-wearing-it/

THIS IS A STINGY BRIM (a type of fedora):

THIS IS A PORK PIE:

(do you notice the crown of the hat is flat and round or oval or teardrop shaped?  There’s your biggest clue.

Here’s the one that really gets on my nerves.  Today I saw another vintage shop selling one of these as a “fedora” and I did one of these

-------------------------------------------------------------

We interrupt this blog with some SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION

You will be finding this in my shop in the near future)

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THIS…

…is a “BUCKET”.

This is also a bucket, but it’s not a hat.

I hope we are clear on that.  Now don’t go making me angry now, OK?

Wearing Damaged Vintage (Oh Yes You can!)

I have been a very naughty blogger.

 

I have an excuse:  I am currently packing up our whole lives and all my stock for a move to another state.  So yeah, it’s been crazy here.

As promised, I am discussing the wearing of damaged vintage here. 

And YES, you can.

First:  have you ever gotten a stain on the clothing you were wearing in a situation, (like work) where you are unable to go home and change the offending blouse, pants, skirt, jacket, sweater?  For the whole day you walk around feeling like there’s a big spotlight on that stain and everyone sees it, right? 

Self-conscious much?

How about “stain conscious”?

Well many can feel that way, wearing a vintage jacket with a moth hole or fading. 

I’m telling you to forget about it.

Example in mind:  

This is my fabulous swing jacket from the late 40's to early

50's.  I call it my “Lauren Bacall jacket”.

It is SO divine.  

It is an obvious vintage plaid.

It is lined in navy crepe.

It has front pockets on the front pockets!

It has moth holes.

Do I care? 

What do you think?

 

I wear it all the time (in the right weather, of course) and really, all people see when I’m coming is a fabulous vintage jacket that is unlike anything that’s around nowadays.  Unless you’re standing behind me at the bank (who does THAT anymore?) you just don’t notice. I completely forget about the little bit of damage when I wear it...

…which helps a lot.

 

It’s really about presence.  In recent-day vernacular, I say “WORK IT!”  If you have a fabulous vintage item with some slight damage, it certainly can be worn, as long as you ACT like it’s perfect.

 

Convince yourself first, then you can convince everyone else.

A lot of this goes best for young people with eclectic styles, who can get away with a lot.

But if I were younger:

I would wear this damaged cocktail dress as a casual dress with a motorcycle jacket, big scarf and clunky boots:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/177297415/60s-vintage-yellow-beaded-cocktail?ref=shop_home_active_23&ga_search_query=cocktail

I would wear this coat with a few moth holes just the way I styled it, grunged up, like the coolest bag lady ever.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/174763599/vintage-1950s-winter-coat-with-mink?ref=shop_home_active_1&ga_search_query=grunge

I would wear this faded dress (if it fit me) with much the same treatment as the cocktail dress above.  Maybe add a heavy cardigan and sweater tights and lots of knit scarves in the fall and winter but with a military jacket and lighter fringed scarves in warmer weather. (Oh yes, and those great clunky boots too)

https://www.etsy.com/listing/241457184/vintage-emo-casual-dress-alternative?ref=shop_home_active_4&ga_search_query=grunge

I would wear this fabulous but faded purple cocktail dress with faded purple gloves, faded purple fabric heels and a fringed Gypsy shawl.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/183107254/vintage-purple-cocktail-dress-60s-1960s?ref=shop_home_active_5&ga_search_query=purple

Guys who have a cool sense of casual would wear this rare 40s vintage Masland safari or hunting jacket with turtleneck and scarf and think nothing about the damage on the leather:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/202321503/safari-jacket-mens-vintage-1940s-hunting?ref=shop_home_active_13

Last but not least, this jacket from the 40s is to-die-for vintage!  It’s a gabardine with HUGE shoulder pads, nipped waist and embroidery on the shoulders.

It’s a mess.

 

Of COURSE I wear it.  It has fray holes in the sleeves (I roll them up), it had some metal beading in the embroidered area and they rusted and faded onto the fabric.  I don’t care.  I love this and wear it casually.

OK, so maybe this is not for everyone.  This is all about wearing the clothes and not allowing them to wear YOU! There are too many amazing pieces of damaged vintage out there and selling for “as is” prices.  Go get one and then WORK it. 

GET WHAT YOU WANT (ADDENDUM)

I just had to add something here.  It's an easy and economic little trick that can save you money and keep you warm while looking stylish.

This is a little ribbed sweater I found in my local thrift shop, on the 1.00 rack.  A lot of thrift shops have racks like this to get rid of older stock.  

Cute little funnel neck, with raglan sleeves, isn't it?  It's a pretty good quality item and must have originally had a higher end price.

I cut it up.

So now I have a dickie:

You may think dickies are for nerds and out-of-style, but they could still come in handy, depending on your needs.

I'll show you in a minute.  Hang in there.

That's not all.


I also cut the sleeves off:

They can be used as leg warmers and they can be used as long mitts.  Long mitts can come in handy if you have long arms (like me) and you want to cover your wrists down to the knuckles under another sweater.  They can keep you warm too.

I am still not done.

When I cut off the funnel neck, I was left with a wide band that looks like a tube top:

This is actually my original purpose for cutting these up.  (I just told you that I do this a lot!)

You may be familiar with wearing a shorter sweater and then bending over and showing the world the waistband of your panties or thong, along with some skin.  Well, this can do away with that, keeping you comfortable and warm and still well-put-together, as such:

Just add the funnel neck, and you get this:

See what I mean?  It takes the bulk out of wearing another shirt or turtleneck under your cropped top.  Also, I know there have been ads on TV that sell these waistband-thingies or whatever you want to call them.  You know the ones I mean? The ones that always say "BUT WAIT!!"
This way, it's a lot cheaper and you get a bit more than just the waist-thingie.

OK.  That's all I wanted to add. 

Addendum done!

Next post:  "Wearing Damaged Vintage"  (oh yes you can!) 

Relax! It's the Holidays.

"Impossible!" you say?

Well, I decided to take it easy and do a short one, because just like everyone else, I have too much do. 

First, whatever you celebrate, a Happy and safe Holiday to all of you!

I was watching White Christmas recently.

That gown on Rosemary Clooney during the minstrel scene was jaw-dropping.  It would be to any of us who slobber over real vintage.

Oooohhh...and this one...

Interesting to see spike heels were around as early as 1954, too.

Her skirt and two tops outfit was ahead of its time:  Black pencil skirt, gold 3/4 sleeve blouse, with a black top under it, letting the black sleeves show out at the elbows!

There are so many more...

Also I continue to be amazed at Vera Ellen’s talent for dancing and how well she fit into the “Movie Musical” genre.  She got the job done, according to the day. 

These days, it would be thought of as “cheesy”. However talent is talent:

LOVIN' the muff outfit!

Did you know she was anorexic before the word was invented?  Just look at the scene she does with Danny Kaye, where she’s wearing a black tight top with white turtleneck and full skirt.  That belt is WAY too tight.  It shows how obsessed she was with her waist.  This also shows in some of the scenes where she wears a belt.  I wonder what wardrobe thought of all that…

Her star never rose and her life was unhappy and short.  She left us at the age of 60 in 1981. 

HOWEVER! 

She remains a legend, thanks to the popularity of the movie “White Christmas”, where her amazing talent is well-showcased.

In 1947, the movie “Miracle on 34^th Street” came out.  Did you see the cat eye glasses?  They were around long before the 50s.

..and I want that coat and hat!

….and OH, Barbara Stanwyck, in “Christmas in Connecticut”! 

*Drool* *drool* *drool*

Those outfits!

Besides the fact that it's fun viewing these amazing outfits, always remember that watching old movies is a STELLAR way to learn about vintage.

Uh-uh.

Must run.

Cookies are done!

The Reliability of RN Numbers

You will see an RN number on most of the clothing out there. It’s a good way to date things. 

But IS it?

There are a lot of reasons to be careful using them.

If it has in Roman numerals chiseled into the item, it should be in a museum.

...just kidding…

First, the math:  I’ve always hated math and I’ve gone my entire life without once using algebra, so WHY DID I HAVE TO BE TORTURED WITH THAT IN HIGH SCHOOL??

…but I digress…

There is special math to use with an RN number.

The first RN number was issued in 1959.  That number was 13670.

So you would take the RN number on your garment and subtract 13670.  There is an average of 2365 RN’s issued per year, so you then divide your number by 2365.  The number you come out with is added to 1959 and that is supposed to be the year your garment was made.

…but a lot of times, it is NOT! 

Check out this dress:

Look at the details: 

~~rayon that is slightly distressed-looking  
~~tea length 
~~HUGE shoulder pads, shaped like half a pie (or a capital D) 
~~REALLY loose in the bodice and the skirt is tight 
 

How totally and completely 1980s is this dress?

The RN # is 42435.  So let’s do the math:

42435 – 13670 =  28765.  28765 divided by 2365 = 12.163 (so let’s say 13)

1959 + 13 = 1971 !!!!

There is no way this dress is early 70s.  So then you would have to check out different ways to date it.  The company (Incite) is nowhere to be found.  It was never trademarked or registered for trademark.

So we have to go by the fabric, the styling, and those tell-tale shoulder pads.

Plus it helps if you were around in the 80's to see this fashion phenomenon and properly identify it.

I have a basic, classic button down shirt from the catalog company known as “Tweeds”.  The first time their label was ever used was 1987.  The RN number on my shirt is 72830.

72830 – 13670 = 59160, divided by 2365 = 25.014.  1959 + 25 = 1984.

I got the shirt around 1993/1994.  Do you see how you have to be careful?

So what is an RN# supposed to be?  To make it really simple, let’s just say that was when the pattern for the garment was created. 
  

Once I had a corset that was styled SO 1950’s.  Even the fabric was 50's corset fabric.  The RN number put it right around 1959/1960.  However here was a smooth Tyvek tag on the inside and remember what I said about smooth Tyvek?  (maybe you should go back to my “When labels are a good thing” –post? https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=8676381335238508238#editor/target=post;postID=6784840758516237596;onPublishedMenu=allposts;onClosedMenu=allposts;postNum=6;src=postname)  
These were from the late 80's to the present!  So this was created using the vintage pattern and even the vintage fabrics, but it was made much more recently.

There are CA#’s too, but you cannot devise a formula for dating from them.  Those are on clothing from Canada.  I’ll get to WPL#’s someday, but right now I need another nap…

What’s new in my shop is showing up there on the right of the screen>>>>>>>>

GET WHAT YOU WANT

If you are somewhat resourceful, you can get what you want.  Just don’t be afraid of a little work.

All right…..sometimes more than a little.

It’s worth it to get what you really want.

Maybe you don’t care if your underwear matches.  Maybe you do.  If you do, “underwear” becomes “Funderwear”.   Once I wanted funderwear in aqua.  Good grief, forget finding a week’s worth in that color!  So I bought everything in white and dyed it aqua.

Problem solved. (I got what I wanted)

I have been a lover of berets for a long time.  Once I wanted one with a leopard print (once again, Hey I’m from New Jersey)  I looked everywhere but eventually found a newsboy cap in leopard.  (In a thrift shop of course), so I got it and cut the newsboy peak off of it and VOILA:

I seem to have inordinately long arms.  As a kid, I remember my Mom trying coats on me and my wrists never seemed to be covered.

I’m thinking I may be a bit behind in the evolutionary chain….

So to this day, my wrists are always hanging out and when the weather gets cold, my uncovered wrists make me even colder.

So I bought a pair of those ugly fuzzy socks in a thrift shop and cut the toes off, winding up with this:

I slip my hands through the toe end and cover them with my long sleeves (that are never long enough) and let the sock cuff hang out at the wrist.

Toasty....but I'm looking for more in different colors....

One “trendy” (yes I said that) thing that I do like is skinny pants.  I found a white pair (guess where?).  They were super skinny and great-looking BUT, even though I have been done with “The Monthly Curse” for years, I just know that if I wear white pants, it will come back to haunt me!!!!! 

So I dyed them black and wound up with a unique pair in a mottled grayish color that goes with everything.

I am super picky about shoes.  Just looking at the high heels they make nowadays makes me break a hip.  I’m even fussier about sandals.  I am one of very few who can’t stand thongs.  (!!!!)  I found a pair of what was perfect for me in black:

… and after wearing them, I found them so comfortable, I went back to see if they had them in any other colors. 

They didn’t.

So I got another black pair, applied some bleach and glued on a little decoration, getting this result:

A lot of people ask where I got them....

Stain on a favorite piece of clothing?  Sew some lace or an appliqué over it.  I clean with bleach a lot, so I am always getting bleach spots on my clothes and even though they are “knock-around” clothes, I still like to fix them.

 

Love that vintage jacket or sweater but it has moth holes?  Lace and appliqués are a great way to cover them.  Then you wind up with a one-of-a-kind piece:

OK…I went a little crazy on that one--I grommet-set rhinestones on it too.  The appliques came from of a piece of damaged vintage lingerie-- BUT it was a fabulous late 40s/early 50s jacket and it needed saving!  

Check the thrift shops for vintage lace and appliqués.  Check for them online too.  They can make a modern-day piece look vintage just by sewing it on.  These vintage laces, and ribbons and even feathers (if you can find them) come in handy for making plain recent-day hats look vintage too.  Don’t forget vintage brooches.  Even when they are missing stones they can be fun as hat trim:

   

Once I looked for a really unusual belt.  I didn’t limit myself to women’s accessories.  I found this in the little boys dept.  (..and now  it’s for sale in my shop):

https://www.etsy.com/listing/156132852/vintage-belt-80s-novelty-stretch-belt?ref=shop_home_active_8&ga_search_query=belt

....a little shameless self-promotion there....

Remember my last post “Buy It Big”?  Don’t limit yourself to plus sizes.  Check the men’s stuff!

So the bottom line here, is that if you dress “outside-the-box” and want exactly what you want, there’s always a way to get it.  It just takes some resourcefulness.

OK…and some extra work too…

   

(here comes a bit more shameless self-promotion)

Here's what's new in my shop this week:

https://www.etsy.com/listing/209434081/vintage-lesley-fay-jacket-70s-navy-blue?ref=shop_home_active_5

https://www.etsy.com/listing/209321139/high-waisted-pants-vintage-80s-olive?ref=shop_home_active_11

https://www.etsy.com/listing/209241509/tuxedo-shirt-for-women-vintage-80s?ref=shop_home_active_14

https://www.etsy.com/listing/209109754/womens-snow-boots-vintage-1960s-70s?ref=shop_home_active_21