Stray Vintage

I'm rather specific about the items I purchase for my collection, but sometimes I find things that are just too good to leave. That's generally okay if I can wear the item, but what to do with a vintage crepe Eisenberg suit? It was too cheap to pass by, so I brought it home and it will get packed away as a lovely piece that doesn't quite fit with the overall goal of my collection. Suits happen.

The mustard yellow photo is closest to the colour in person. Ignore the messy bookcases and jug of vinegar on the floor (I get through a lot of vinegar between cleaning and canning). 

This vintage Glentex faux fur jacket purred from a bargain rack at the thrift store. $1.99 later, I was the proud owner of an early 60's jacket I can't wear (I can barely get one arm in it). 

The size would best suit a child. Unfortunately, I don't know many children willing to wear a leopard print jacket (except for my son, but that was part of his Little Edie costume). Into the collection it goes waiting for one of my friends to have a child (or grandchild) that can wear it.


The last thing I need is a wool 80's dress. Something made me look at it closer. The trim was so perfectly applied, and the overall tailoring seemed to be of good quality. The dress is heavy, and the pattern matches up in the back over the zipper. A quick look at the label, and I knew I had to buy this Bill Blass dress for the grand sum of .49 cents! I didn't want it, but it would be madness not to. I might wear this one, if I ever find myself needing to look like Nancy Reagan. It is a flattering dress, and well made, but not the sort of thing I would actively seek out.

Finally, where was this magnificent coat in the 80's when I was going to the Limelight Club? I have no obvious use for it today, so it gets used as a sort of over-the-top pool cover-up. I figure it can serve dual duty as a sun reflector enhancing my tanning potential. Perhaps I should just use it as a blanket.

I live in a good part of the US for vintage, as it isn't as highly valued as it is in other places. There are some vintage shops, but they tend to be affordable, and there aren't so many dealers that the good stuff gets snapped up at the thrifts. A few of the thrift stores have started selling from a dedicated vintage section-but they don't do well as the prices are absurd for the condition of the items. To get Etsy prices, you have to clean and repair the items. Eventually it all ends up on the sale rack where it belongs. I tend to favour the 70's, which hasn't really caught the attention of locals yet. Still, when you find a 40's suit there's little point leaving it behind. Eventually I will need to sell some of the pieces that aren't interesting to me, or I will run out of room. I've been selective with my purchases, but you know how that goes.

Do you bring home strays?