Vintage Fall Fashion : Etsy Has the Goods
Fall has been one of my favorite times of the year since I can remember! I have always looked forward to dressing in plaid and layering all my favorite pieces to create an adorable yet conventionally warm ensemble... that is until I started getting into the bohemian/hippie trend! Maybe it's just me, but I find it very difficult to stay warm in sheer flowing items of clothing, considering most of that "Boho" trend tends to be more geared towards the warmer months! I decided to step up to the challenge and create three conventional bohemian inspired looks for the fall/winter time with my friends over at Etsy! Since I love clothes with character, I decided to style mostly vintage in this shoot! Yes, these are essentially one of kind pieces, but all the lovely Etsy ladies I'm featuring have a load of other beautiful vintage items for the taking. With that said, let's begin (
The 60's Autumn Dream Dress
If I didn't know better, I would say this beautiful dress would be hanging brand new in a Forever 21 somewhere... but NOPE. Would you believe me if I told you this dress was from the 60s? I sure as heck wouldn't! It is in mint condition and in my opinion the definition of a perfect fall/winter dress. Yes, I realize that when you think of fall or winter, a dress isn't the first item of clothing that pops into your head! This dress however, is PERFECT for the colder months because the material is extremely thick and has long sleeves! For the Nashville climate, I could easily getaway with just wearing this dress and some retro booties... but if you happen to live in a much colder climate, I threw over a "Penny Lane" inspired jacket to keep things extra warm for my snow babies out there (: I gotchuuu..
Since I am starting my own journey with vintage and have made an effort to start looking for one of a kind pieces also, I thought I would ask an OG vintage goddess AKA Lady Jane Vintage to answer some questions for y'all. Not only did she find this brilliant dress, but she has been the mastermind behind many incredible finds on her Etsy!
CB: How did your love of Vintage Start ?
LJ: My love of vintage started in high school when my friends and I wanted to start our own fashion trends, not wanting to follow the herd and dress like everyone else. Being students with limited budgets, we'd hit thrift stores, consignment shops and yes, even vintage shops !
CB: What would you suggest to someone who wants to find brilliant vintage pieces like you do? Any particular sign or disclaimer they should look for?
LJ : Vintage can be found many places! Estate sales, flea markets, thrift shops - but the best place to check is your Grandma's closet! There's nothing better than unearthing and wearing a family piece.
CB: What's the coolest/best item you've ever found while thrifting ?
LJ: The best item item I found was about 15 years ago - a 1950's Ceil Chapman Lace Party Dress that was worn only one time by its original owner. I paid only 10 $ for it! It is also one of the finds I deeply regret selling !
Thank you so much Lady Jane ! You are an inspiration and I can't wait to purchase more beautiful one of a kind pieces from you! Ya'll, go check out this ladies stuff!!!! ---> Lady Jane Vintage
The Winter Time Hippie
I seriously love this look!!! I have worn this exact outfit already to many times and it ain't even that cold out y'all haha! In all seriousness, this outfit is so comfortable and will keep you extremely warm throughout the fall/winter months. Side note : when we did this shoot it was about 70 degrees and I was profusely sweating throughout the entire time we shot this outfit... Erika, (my photographer) I'm so, so sorry if you smelled me... anyway! For a long time, I was on a pretty serious mission to find the perfect tan corduroy jacket. I know, that seems really specific haha... but I did it! And WOW isn't it amazing ! Not only is the jacket exactly what I wanted, it is also from my favorite fashion era, the 70's! I received this lovely piece from the ascetically glorious Etsy shop Missing Audrey Vintage ! If you like the retro theme going on in todays trends, look no further because Missing Audrey Vintage will have everything you've ever wanted and more! HUGE shoutout to my lovely sponsors Durango who put da fancy shoes on ma feet!!! I'd previously had a pair of shoe boots and wore them out so much that one of the heel's fell off haha. With that said, when I saw that Durango carried a pair of almost identical shoe boots like my last pair, I just KNEW I had to have them! Now I wear them every day and live in fear people will think they are the only shoes I own, because I literally never take them off! (:
Can we just take a moment and appreciate my hair and that stunning red choker ??? I mean... I'm not trying to be cocky, but we all need to have a Kanye moment now and then. This is my moment. Yes, yes and more YES. Lady Jane put it best, when you get vintage from your family it's extra special ! My grandmother gave me this beautiful red choker and this day it's still one of my favorite pieces of jewelry because of how unique and vibrant it is! P.S thank you to best hair dresser in the world who cut and styled my hair for this shoot! Love you Lacey ! (: Here is where you can contact Lacey if you'd like to get your hair diddd ---> Lacey Hidy West
The Dark Fairy Cowgirl
You know how some looks just make you feel so sassy? This outfit makes me feel like a walking hipster super model. Disclaimer: I am soooooo not a hipster... but that won't stop me from ever trying my hardest haha. This entire look is almost vintage! The graphic tee and bolo tie I found at a cute thrift store in downtown Franklin called "Our Thrift Store". Most of the rings you see are all vintage Navajo and most importantly, the show-stopping shaggy coat you see is also vintage! In my opinion you can't put a price on vintage. It's not just an item of clothing, it's a physical belonging that has history and will continue to make history the more you wear it.
If you spotted that beautiful turquoise ring on my finger, you are viewing the genius handcrafted work from a custom turquoise shop on Etsy, other wise known as Native Stone Collective ! This wonderful lady is uber talented and makes the most beautiful, detailed pieces of art! I love the fact that she asked me in detail exactly what I wanted... from the stone, to the bezel and the detailed band with intricate beading. She really is quite fantastic at what she does and I'm very honored to own a custom piece from her! Thanks so much Jaime! (:
Every time I finish writing a blog like this, it reminds me of how passionate I am about sharing with the world my experiences. I am not the person to withhold any information that could potentially benefit y'all! Vintage has truly given me a sense of identity because I feel as if am unique and stand out from the crowd! Sure, I probably wont ever give ALL my secrets away, but if I can share these simple little things with you guys and that somehow impact your life or overall confidence, you best believe IMMA TELL YA. With that said, whether you go to Nordstrom and buy a 70 dollar dress today, or stop by goodwill an pick up 4 dollar band tee, rock what you got. You only live once, so dress everyday as if it's your last! Or at least sometimes (;
Love you guys!
Stay blessed and well dressed,
Carmen xox