my favorite(only) designer vintage pieces and my final thoughts?

So that's me, with my only designer vintage pieces. My Dior handbag, bought in Rome, and my Valentino leather gloves, also bought in Rome.
I was sitting on the Met steps so I could be like Gossip Girl, the only reason I know about the Met and one of the main reasons I wanted to go. Pathetic I know, but this was two years ago and I have since matured. Gossip Girl, is no longer my main concern... well expect for Mondays.

Anyway, since I think this is about my last blog, I will tell you what I learned. I learned that I need to find more vintage pieces from cool stores or boutiques instead of depending on Urban Outfitters or Nastygal. I need to do the work, and then maybe it will be cooler, and more fun for me.
 I also learned that I fall deep into a vintage trap, that if I think something is vintage I think it is cool. Next I looked more deeply into thrifting. I kind of started to feel bad about going into a thrift store for costumes and themed parties, because sometimes thrift stores are the only source of clothing for people.

Brooklyn, Brooklyn Take Me IN

Over the past two years I have been to New York every winter and summer break. Each time I have stayed with my Brother who lived in the Lower East side then moved to Brooklyn.
Both these areas are filled with boutiques and resale shops. Both of these areas are also filled with rich people, young people, and bumish people. So, both of these areas can reflect back to my blog.
Because my brother lived on the Lower East Side for most of the times I visited, I became very acquainted with the streets and the shops. I knew where my favorites where and I knew directly how to get there. I also knew how to get to soho like it was the back of my hand. On the way I would stop in store after store, many because I wanted to see what that had to offer, but also because I was alone while he was at work. During this process, I found one of my favorite stores ever. It is called a second chance, designer. This store is filled with bags of all of the top designers, it is kind of like a museum to me. However the designers might have drawn me in, it is the vintage that kept me in. The bags are all vintage and to me are the coolest things. here is a link to their website. If you are ever in New York, love handbags, and are anything like me check it out.
http://www.asecondchanceresale.com/
But Brooklyn, the name of this blog. Many I titled it Brooklyn, Brooklyn Take Me In because well I love that song (by the Avvett Brothers), but also because I am new to Brooklyn. The most recent trip I made was the first time I ever explored Brooklyn. To me it is a mix of the Lower East Side and Chicago, with maybe a little more hipster presence. There are stores on stores on restaurants on restaurants, but also the most neighborhoody feel I have ever gotten in New York.
I do not know Brooklyn like I do the Lower East Side, so I hope that Brooklyn takes me just like the Lower East Side did.
One thing I did do in Brooklyn was go to the Flea Market. The Flea Market was filled with thrift, vintage, and antiques. It also has local food venders and restaurants, and is a super cool thing to do. I can not wait to go back to Brooklyn and explore its vintage and thrift shops further.

Red Balenciaga...

ughhhhh the red Balenciaga.

Since it being soooo close to Christmas I figured I would share something that has been on my list for maybe 10 years.

As far as I can remember my Christmas List consisted of clothes, a dog, and a younger sibling. I was never a normal kid asking for toys. No, I knew what I wanted and it was to have the coolest clothes.
This was easy for me because I had the coolest, trendiest older sisters and brother, and they taught me everything I needed to know. (I think I was wearing Urban Outfitters as a 10 year old, or trying to at least).
 My brother had a serious girlfriend for a long time. She was almost as cool as my sisters, and may have been more trendy. One day, when I was about 11, she walked in with a bright red Balenciaga she got for Christmas. It was love at first sight, me and that bag, and I knew that one day I would have one just like it.

Here comes the problems. Red Balenciaga's have been retired for years now and the only way to get them is from ebay or resale shops. Also, Balenciaga's go for around 1000 to 10,000 to 20,000. Alsooooo everyone wants this red balenciaga so my chances are pretty slim, or more like I do not have a chance/ will not ever have a chance.

How does this apply to my blog? Well duh... you can only get this bag from a resale shop. Also if any reader ever sees one, BUY IT (for me).

But then if you think about it, why does anyone ever need an accessory that costs that much? especially when thinking about why people need thrift shops.

 so then I guess if you ever see one, just do not tell me. Leave it for someone who can afford it.

so pretty right?

How about we compare… Nasty gal? Urban Outfitters? Salvation Army?

Nasty Gal… an online shop selling all things trendy. This is my favorite website. I spend hours on this site looking at all the new clothes and all the new accessories. They just seem to sell the most perfect pieces, complimenting my style completely.

What is so cool about this website is that it is not only selling what is new. Nastygal.com also has vintage.  Vintage pieces coming from all different periods of time, but I think it seems like its mostly from the 70’s and 80’s. The pieces that they have are usually designer but sometimes you can find a random item that is from a company not so brand name. Usually nastygal’s prices are not something I can afford, I admire from a far…

Urban outfitters.

Urban’s vintage pieces are more affordable than nastygals, but way more than any item you would find at a salvation army. I feel like urban directs more of it merchandise to college students therefore making their prices more affordable. Urban has more pieces you could find at a thrift store rather than vintage store, but tends to mark them up. Urban has something called urban renewal, which takes thrift store items for their store, changes them a little and sells them for more.  Although this might sound annoying it can be cool when the urban you shop at spices up a shirt that could be found at your local thrift shop. Urban renewal can help the consumer come up with creative ideas for their very own t-shirts. I believe Urban Outfitters vintage, has a fun way to combine both vintage and thrift and is able to make it affordable, to uhhh maybe someone like me???

Also Urban Outfitters has some expansive, designer pieces, so like if you can afford it, Urban has it too.

Salvation army

Salvation army is both religion and government based. Their mission is to provide clothing for people in poverty from donations of others. They want their store to provide items that people need at a lower cost, so that everyone can afford them. It is a store that wants to help. This thrift store’s mission is too focus on the poverty around them and give to them what they need.  They sell clothes given to them by donations and take almost anything given to them.

I think this is an awesome store because they are helpful to people and the store benefits a community.

 I also like Salvation army because it is cheap. Also because I think it is cool to look at the old clothes and the old accessories.

This store does not have many designer vintage pieces, and if it does it is not sold at what Nastygal or Urban sell their vintage pieces for. This might be because the clothes are donations, or because the people are unaware of the value of the item.

Wait, can I be all three?

I am like the poster child for this blog this week.  I am a college student, so I like to get cool things for as cheap as possible, I am needy (in a very small small sense), and I have some vintage pieces that I can not wait to wear to a formal party this weekend. All three of these ideas are the basis to my blog and the platform to everything I am blogging about.

Me as a college student…

Here I am sitting in Spes, like I have been since Sunday in a 1994 authentic Limited Jeans sweatshirt, stolen from my 32 year old sister (sorry linds!). These next two weeks are jam packed with work, and I can think of nothing better to be dressed in the warm, cozy, old sweatshirts, leggings, and warm boots.

I feel like this is the ideal stressed college girl outfit. She wakes up ready to do her work, but doesn’t want to think much about her outfit. She wants comfort in these stressful times, not to add more stress thinking about putting together an awesome outfit. And why should you have to? Who are you going to see? I don’t think the Sartorialist is coming to Saint Mary’s anytime soon.

only pic I can show you so far... My 1994 Limited Sweatshirt, cool huh?

Me as needy…

Now, I know I am the farthest thing from really being in need; so saying that I am needy can seem really ignorant and insensitive. I realize that I have clothes to wear, food to eat, and a home to sleep in, however, I am pretty much out of money. From many this is a major issue, but for me I know that if / when the time comes, I have some one to go to for help. Something many many people these days do not have.

Because I do not have much money and because I left my ugly Christmas sweater at home, and because I haveeeeeeee to attend a Christmas party on Friday, I need to hit up the thrift store. Normally, I would try and find a funny Christmas shirt at Urban Outfitters because everyone wears an ugly Christmas sweater, but not this year. This year I am so close to broke that I can not afford a new shirt. So, I am off to the thrift store, in need of an ugly Christmas sweater.

But then I think? Is this right? I mean, someone might need that sweater for an actual Christmas sweater, and here I am a college student, not considered needy by any means buying it. Is that ok? Or is it again, ignorant and insensitive? I guess I just do not know.

Vintage buyer…

As you know, or hope you know cause you just love reading blog, I love the vintage stores in Wicker Park. Last year over winter break I got these amazing red candies’ booties. They had to be from the eighties but I am not positive their true era.

This week I also have a formal Christmas party that I haveeeeee to go to (like finals what?). To this Christmas party I will be wearing a beige dress purchased at generationbliss.com (check it out), and my awesome red candies. These candies will make the outfit they are so different from what anyone else has or will be wearing and that is because they are vintage. Here I am a needy, college student in vintage.

So, in conclusion…How could I ever explain my self as needy when I have vintage pieces along with everything else I have. Yea I’m out of money and can not get something I would prefer to have, but so what, shut up, atleast I have what I do.

whats the new black?

Lately I have been thinking… black? Go to or go away?

Black it can be such a wonderful color. It goes with almost everything but then again…. Does it?

My brother, the fashionista or I guess fashionisto, of the family has told me many times to stay away. He thinks black is boring and shows no creativity. His exact words in fact are as follows

also: black is like meat... you should use it sparingly and only for flavor... it's produced and consumed so often because producers and consumers are lazy... and so usually its produced and consumed poorly... that said, occasionally you'll come across some meat/black the producer of which gave much attention and care to its production, and then it's your responsibility to consume the meat/black with just as much attention and care...

So I kind of wondered, what does black have to do with vintage? is it a prominent color?

What about in thrift stores? Is black a color that could be easy and versatile for people to wear or should people, no matter your means, try and be creative?

ND vs USC

I thought this hat was was perfect for the blog and perfect for the day. ND plays USC as the final game.  This hat was my brothers from the early 90s and I think it is the coolest Notre Dame I have seen in a while. I wonder if it's because it is old or because I really believe it is cool??

The Streets of Wicker Park

here are some examples...

                the Ark Thrift Shop- here you can find many things... its not just for clothes! This thrift store           is geard for people in need, but many people shop here to find things they could not at an upscale resale shop.

Caza! This is an upscale resale shop with vintage pieces as well as some new pieces. This is catered for the people who love vintage but also like new trends. Here a person can fit the old trends into the new trends!

This is an example of some of the fun people you will see on the streets of Wicker Park! oh, and my friend Lexie

BLACK FRIDAY

soooooo, it is black friday and tons of people are out shopping for all those christmas deals! However this is not how I plan on spending my black friday. I plan on spending this day with my sister in good old wicker park. We had yoga, then lunch, then will be off to the famous resale shops on Milwaukee  Damen, and North. Wicker Park is a neighborhood in Chicago that is to the west of the loop, filled with hipsters, recent college grads, artists, musicians, families, and last but not least bums. This neighborhood is probably my main inspiration for this blog, because the streets here can be explained by thrift stores, vintage stores, rich young people, college kids, and bums. All shopping and living together in the same area. Down the wicker park streets you can find resale shops catering to the vintage needs, but also shops that cater to the needy. It is a diverse neighborhood with not only tons of shops, but with all types of people to watch, greet, and interact with.

Just the beginning

                    I am very interested in fashion and what it takes to be fashionable. I love to find new trends and to develop my own style into these new trends. To do this I follow many fashion bloggers and look to see what they are interested in and how the interests reflect back to my style. One thing that has struck me since the beginning of my fashion interests was how a person can make the old new. I believe that this shows a form of art and creativity. I believe it gives you an idea about a person's style reflected on the style throughout the ages. To achieve the idea of old as new, many people rely on resale shops or thrifting. Thirfting is a verb that comes from the idea of shopping at a thrift store for unique finds that compliment your style. Thrifting can be done in local neighborhoods but also have a prominent force in big cities retail areas. Resale shops can range in prices depending where you are and what you want but no matter what this stores can give you a chance to make the old new.

  Many people thrift for the fun of it. They want unique pieces that others do not have, something vintage. For them it does not matter the cost but the importance is the item. Some, such as many college students, use thrifting for their college theme parties while others use thrifting because they can not afford anything else. In this blog I want to focus on how the rich use resale shops, how the college kid uses resale shops and how the needy use these stores and how all these can relate to each other. In these blog I will find pictures comparing the types of resale shops and the type of people that frequent these spots.