New Perspectives

New Frames

I have had these frames buried away in my jewellery case for a couple of years now.  I bought them in vintage condition but never got around to doing anything with them.  I think I only paid $10 for them.   I’ve kinda have had it with my existing frames and thought hey, why not fill a prescription for a new pair seeing as that I have benefits.  Originally I was going to sell these girls but upon trying them on again…they have grown on me.  So off to the optometrist’s office they went.

Wings

Initially I bought this pair from an ebay seller.  The brand of the frames says C.O.C on the inside of the arms.  C.O.C.  was the Continental Optical Company from Indianapolis.  This pair is from the 50′s.  For 8 years now I have not bought a pair of frames from Lenscrafters or Hakim’s.  The mark up is bogus in their stores and I can never find anything I like.  Ever.

New Perspectives

So when I travel I like to check out flea markets, drug stores, stores like Winners and ebay.  I never know what I am exactly looking for – but I know it has to have a vintage vibe.  I don’t like to spend more than $30 USD for the frames.  The prescription to get them filled can cost around $130 so the aim is to keep the costs low.

I have sold a couple of pairs of my old frames on kijiji.ca and made my money back even after I wore the frames off an on for a few years.  Hey, I buy quality and if someone can get a few more years out of them and also enjoy them…why not?

Yours in fashion,

Mel xo

eBay Seller Spotlight: Vintage317

MAGGI B TAPESTRY FABRIC TOTE BAG FAUX ALLIGATOR TRIM

I’ve happened to fall upon a great seller on eBay that I wanted to give you the head’s up on.  Her name is Kelly and she has some lovely goods under her username ‘vintage317’ on eBay.com.

I find that when I get on one of my fixes for something in particular I can’t stop thinking and looking for it.  OCD perhaps?   

MICHAEL KORS NAVY PRINT KIMONO SLEEVE SCARF DRESS

I was at the Clothing Show in Toronto a few weeks back and was looking all over for a Mexican dress and nada.  Instead I started a Vintage Coach bag addiction – please don’t tell Tebs.   Yeah, me…Miss Punk Rock herself.

Anyway, I made a saved search on eBay.com for a Mexican dress (try this out it saves you sifting through the same stuff like a rack at Winners every day).  Every day an e-mail came into my email box and nothing really caught my eye.  Until I saw a lovely dress that Kelly had posted.  I ended up buying it for $35 (before shipping) – a steal based on what I was seeing.  What really sealed the deal with this dress is that it had a drawstring back.  You see sometimes these Mexican dresses look a bit too Moo Moo for my liking – but this one rocked.

VTG 70's BLK EMBROIDERED MEXICAN OAXACAN MINI DRESS

After I won the item I happened to look at her other items and man it was like I was looking into Heaven.  I complimented Kelly on her wares and she was very appreciative.  We got to chatting through eBay.com  I went on to learn that Kelly is 56 years old and studied fashion merchandising in the 70′s and then opened her own shop with a friend when she was just 20!

After the shop closed she became an assistant buyer for a high end store in Buffalo.  She got married in ’79 and started a family which kept her at home.  Her daughters are now 25 and 28.  6 years ago her husband encouraged her to try eBay because she states she ‘never lost my passion for fashion and I was finding such amazing items at estate sales and thrift shops.’  Kelly says that she ‘runs my business by myself from my home and I now travel to NYC on a regular basis for inventory.  I go in to the flea markets and warehouse sales.  I am drawn to the 60′s and 70′s fashion and always wonder about the journey that each piece has taken to arrive in my hands.  No matter where I go to shop I KNOW that I am going to find fabulous vintage items because they are everywhere….all you have to do is look.  My personal favourites are Emilio Pucci, Dior and all things bohemian.’

Ladies, Kelly sets the price right at just $9.99 USD for her auction pieces.  Nice and low to get you salivating and hooked.  When the time starts ticking…honestly you just can’t help but bid a lil more for these lux pieces.  They are well worth it for what you get in quality.  Who doesn’t want a Pucci bag for $80 or a Christian Dior jacket for a mere $100?    If I was rich, I’d be all over it.

VTG COACH BROWN LEATHER LAPTOP iPAD BREIFCASE TOTE BAG

I don’t usually recommend eBay sellers but this one I highly recommend.  I think I may just do an eBay spotlight from now on.  Great vintage at great prices!  Keep up the great work Kelly!

Yours in fashion,

Mel xo