Love the House You're In: Design Tips for Modern Living

This print by

Ashley Goldberg

is just my favorite. 

 So, I love our home. With its little quirks and cracks and uneven floors, I just think it is the greatest. The best part about moving to a new place is PAINTING and DECORATING and most of all: PLANNING. It has been really interesting to infuse 28-and-33 years respectively into an old, early 1900's two-story house. Out of all the rooms, my favorite is my craft room. I love having a space full of color and patterns to welcome my back after the stark minimalism of architecture school and my workplace.

Getting organized takes the longest! Hooray for IKEA, though, for helping to keep us in line. 

 I've often been asked where I find all my weird vintage stuff. The simple answer to that is thrifting, thrifting, and more thrifting. It's still super-duper easy to find unique objects for the home. I've been collecting for years and often like best the underdog objects that have scuffs and cracks and imperfections. There is a very beautiful character in imperfect things.  Designing with vintage objects is also relatively easy and can add unexpected cohesiveness to a home. We put together some simple design tips below to help get you started!:

Tip #1:

Everything Has Its Place

. Even if it doesn't look like it should go together, everything should have a place it goes. This may sound like a no-brainer, but I have a nasty habit of just sticking something somewhere because I like it and not thinking about how it complements a room (as seen above.)

Tip #2:

Go Green.

If your house or apartment has an abundance of natural light, succulents or low-maintenance plants not only add oxygen and filtration properties to your humble abode, but they also add character to your home. If you're like me and have a black thumb, get succulents (if they die, they usually come back!!!) Also, if you have pets, be sure to check out which houseplants are toxic/deadly to your furry friends. 

Tip #3: 

Create a Palette Room-By-Room. 

When I first moved in, I had to adjust my palette (my old home had mostly white walls). By placing objects that complimented the existing colors in the rooms, not only did I not have to repaint, but it added a very playful mood to several of the rooms. Pantone has a variety of tools to experiment with different color combinations, or several used book stores offer color theory books for a minimal investment. (Books like this also are great for you fashionable folk out there to plan on unique wardrobe combinations!)

Tip #4:

Get a Pet

. Not only are they a joy to be around, but they can really make a house feel like a home. 

Tip #5:

Utilize Existing Features.

If you have really unique lamps or moldings, it is easy to find ways to accent them with paint or antique-style bulbs to offset some of the modernity in a room. 

Tip #6:

Display Your Collections.

For us, our multiple bookcases were an excellent opportunity to display his rare comic collection or my vintage cameras. If you have really unusual books, sometimes displaying one or two by themselves provides a nice, clutter-free touch to a room. Display cases for more fragile things (behind glass) are also great. I am currently working on finding a way to display the fossil collection I had as a kid. 

Tip #7:

Create a Mini-Bar.

We have a lot of things in this house, but counter space is definitely not one of them. By using an existing cabinet and some spare wood, we were able to create a little coffee bar. This could also be good if you do a lot of food prep and needed a long, flat surface or if you like having a serving bar for mixed drinks during the holidays. 

We are still working hard on integrating everything, but the best part is that it is a very rewarding challenge. What are some ways you nest in a new place? What's your favorite palette ever? 

Hardnight's Day Unpacking: A Newcomer's Guide to Cohabitation

Unpacking. The word itself brings out the dual nature of being displeased and overzealously excited in the same instant. In part, I'm really looking forward to everything having its specific place and being able to find what I need at any given point in time. On the other hand, I really hate unpacking-- it is tedious, and if things don't fit, it sort of makes you crestfallen. After you spend so much time and energy moving, it is that little annoying voice in the back of your head saying, "Hey, I know you're REAL busy and tired and all, but don't forget about me!" BOXES EVERYWHERE. However, downsizing was really great-- I'm down to roughly half of what I owned before, and my boyfriend couldn't be happier about that. 

Cohabitation is really an interesting experience. I'd been married once before, but we were teenagers for all intents and purposes, so we didn't really have a whole ton of stuff. There were no arguments about whose kitchen table to keep, why my films are boxed away in the upstairs closet (when there's plenty of space elsewhere), or wall hanging placements because we really didn't have anything. Although I'm not an expert at this or anything,  I did learn along the way some really easy tips to keep the peace and get moved in fairly easily. Many of these tips don't just apply to moving in together, but to relationships in general.

1.  

Space Out Your Move: 

If you're not moving across the country, it isn't always beneficial to move everything in one go. Since I was in the position of commuting anyway, it made sense to allow myself an entire month to go through my belongings, decide what I definitely couldn't part with (and what i could), and go through everything with my boyfriend to see if we

really

needed two microwaves or two sets of silverware.

2.

Gauge Your Partner's Moving Style: 

Although ideally, most partners welcome change, it doesn't always work out the way we envision. My partner, for example, was really resistant to having things moved around and balked at every load I brought to our new home.

This is pretty typical of folks who have lived on their own for a while

, especially if you are moving into an existing residence rather than getting a new home together. My solution, which was silly but also effective, was to move the smaller loads while he wasn't home, or not have him help me move those loads. When he only had to move some furniture and any of the heavier stuff, it cut down a lot of the tension. I then could put unpack at my leisure and once he saw the house start coming together (without me making too many major changes), he never failed to mention how it looked way better than it did before I moved in.

3.

Six Months Rule:

If you're having a disagreement over placement, colors, or certain pieces of furniture, tell your partner that you would like to try it for six months-- if they are still unhappy with it after six months, you will change it back. The key to this is that six months is a long damn time, realistically. By the time the six months had rolled around, they likely will have forgotten all about those changes and may have even grown accustomed to them or even like them now.

4.

COMPROMISE!:

That being said, you can't use the Six Months Rule with everything. Sometimes you just gotta get over that old seventies eyesore of a recliner in your living room, or the life-sized cardboard cutout of THOR in the guest room. Because whether you love these things or not, they do. And if you love each other, you have to accept the fact that cohabitation means blending your personalities together, not snuffing one's individuality out.

5.  

Do New Things Together:

This doesn't just apply to cohabitation alone, but it is so good for your relationship to do new things together and build up rituals and traditions-- it releases stress from outside influences and strengthens the bond with your partner. Moved to a new neighborhood? Go on a nature walk and document little things or trails and parks to visit. Look up a recipe together for something you've never eaten before and experiment with different ingredients. Learn about a new subject, craft, or place together. Go on a thrifting adventure (we did this a few weeks ago and had so much fun).

6.

Make New Family Traditions + Rituals:

Expanding on #5, as you begin your life together, start thinking of inventive ways to have new traditions or rituals together. For example, if you both need a caffeine fix in the morning, get up a few minutes early and make coffee together. It really helps to unwind before the workday begins and is a good way to plan out your schedules, talk about the weather, and jumpstart your day on a positive note.  Doing chores together is also surprisingly gratifying. Planning yearly holidays where you go certain places or do certain things with each other (or with family) is a great way to preserve traditions. Going to places that are important to family histories, for example, can be a memorable experience and is so much more fun to share with someone you love.

7.

Respecting Game Day

: For those of your that aren't 100% sports fanatics, Game Day can be a daunting experience. Saturdays during football season in our house take on an almost religious fervor, so I know that if I don't intend to watch football, I should plan my activities for the day accordingly. That being said, it's really good to keep the relationships you both have with friends. So, if he is having all the dudes over for beer and games, it might be an excellent opportunity to go see your girlfriends, do some knitting,  and have cocktails. :) That being said, if you have a sport you both like, sometimes it is good to be "one of the guys" and hang out and watch sports together with a whole group. We both like watching baseball and wrestling, so when those events are going on, we try to attend them when possible.

8.

Housewifing:

I would never recommend establishing a chore list necessarily, but a tried-and-true method for us is that if we see something that needs to be done (dishes, dirty floor, trash, laundry, etc), we will just go ahead and do it. My partner does the same, and this really helps keep the house clean and makes the workload manageable. While we're both not neat freaks, we both like the house to be clean and relatively uncluttered. You can also establish from the beginning who likes doing what, and switch out on occasion as needed. Some people really don't mind cleaning a litter box, while other people will throw up if they even look at it, so trading out certain tasks works well in those instances. 

9.

Mind Your Manners:  

Unless it's mutually decided, DON'T pee with the bathroom door open. DON'T walk in on someone while they're in the bathroom. DON'T leave food all over the place. DO clean up after yourself (or your pets/kids). DON'T snoop around in their drawers/cabinets. Basically, RESPECT each other's eccentricities and privacy. It's seems like a no-brainer, I know.

10.

Let Go of the Past:

When you start a new life together, you both may have trouble letting go of some things. Things I am talking about are photos of you ex-boyfriends, love letters, gifts, etc. Some of these things, of course, are okay to keep if they have some integral value to who you are as a person, or are practical (like the mop your ex-girlfriend bought for the kitchen that isn't quite on its last leg yet).  That being said, try to do a once-over of your belongings before the move-in to make sure there isn't anything too incriminating or disturbing. There's really nothing worse than going to move a piece of furniture or opening up a book and finding ten-page love letters (to or from a previous ex) or graphic photos of previous lovers (or in my ex-husband's case, a pair of underwear from the first girl he ever dated-- gross).  Just use your best judgment. If you put yourself in their shoes and think about what is acceptable and comfortable behavior,  you'll know what is appropriate and what isn't. 

11.

 Keep Your Family Close:

When I moved, a big plus is that my parents are now less than an hour away and most of Jonah's family is in-town or within a short driving distance. If your family lives near you, definitely make more of an effort to maintain those relationships and let them thrive. Just because you live together doesn't mean you're conjoined at the hip. Take daytrips, have a night on the town, or invite your folks over for a cookout. Get to know each other's families and call every chance you get just to check in with each other. 

12.

Make Music Together (or Craft, or Shop, or Whatever):

If you're both into music, start a band. If you like horror movies, maybe have a horror movie night at your place. If you like board games, have a night where you make cocoa and play Scrabble. if you both like gardening, plan a garden together. Whatever you do, find hobbies you both like and cultivate them.

13.

Get Romantic: 

Just because you're together all the time doesn't mean you should completely slack on the amorous side of things. Buy each other flowers. Write each other little notes. Do nice things for one another just because. Cuddle. Kiss each other. Get inventive in the bedroom. It seems like a lot of people settle into complacency after moving in (if you've ever farted in front of your significant other, you know where I'm going with this..), so it's really important to maintain the spontaneity and keep active in your relationship. A relationship is a lot like a painting-- a little work every day can make a beautiful picture over time. And as you add layers to your relationship over time, you can create new designs.

14.

Don't Change Each Other: 

As much as you love your partner, you don't own them. You can't make them do or think anything. So changing them is a no-no. Live by example. Live a healthy life for yourself, and if they realize they too would like to live a healthier life or don't think that is a good fit for them personally, be supportive of them regardless. If you partner has bad habits, rather than try to change them, accept that these are part of who they are. That doesn't mean you won't be bothered by them from time to time (or every time), but all the nagging in the world won't make someone change. Just love each other.

15.

Take Care of Each Other:

Also a no brainer, but if your partner is sick, it IS okay to baby them a little. Make them a hot toddy, bring them a blanket, and make sure they eat.

16.

Cultivate Yourself:

Spend some quality time yourself. If you're fortunate enough to have a room or space to yourself in the house, decorate it how you want. Invest in your individuality. Join a club, organization, or class to learn new things and strengthen who you are as a person. Love yourself. Take time out each day to do activities you love, keep a journal or blog, and if you're a spiritual person, connect with your higher power. I connect with my higher power through nature, creating, and through investigation into philosophy and history. Tapping into your strengths and intuitions can be very gratifying and keep you balanced.

17.

Balance Your Partner:

If your partner has a bad day, let them vent about it to you, and really listen to what they're saying. Pay attention to them and treat them with sympathy. If there's a crisis, put their needs before your own. Be their rock. Never be afraid to talk to each other about your troubles (but don't let them consume you, either). But also give them time by themselves if they need space. When you live together, it is extra-important to not let the little day-to-day things bring you down and try to have a positive outlook on most things. Struggles and troubles are going to happen at times-- it is the nature of life and it is inevitable-- but keeping up communication and maintaining teamwork are excellent ways to maintain balance in your relationships and in your home.

18.

Don't Go to Bed (or the Bar) Angry:

 Perhaps the biggest mistake folks make is that they let their egos override their reason-- they go to bed (or storm off) pissed as hell at their significant other. If you love someone, no matter how annoyed or mad you may be at them, don't forget that at the end of the day, disagreeing with them doesn't mean you're not still on the same side. The goal is to stay together and make a strong, beneficial relationship. If you can't deal with occasionally being pissed off at each other (major or minor stuff), why would you want to be together at all? Everyone's moody on some level, and everyone's going to blow off steam from time to time in various ways. If an argument gets too heated, take a short break and walk around the block or spend time working in another room for a bit just to cool down. Passion is a great aspect for any relationship, but sometimes it can cause problems because of the height of strong emotions getting in the way of logic and reason. Fight fair, don't point fingers, and whether the issue gets resolved or not, if you think about how sad you would be without them, don't sweat the small stuff too much.

For those of you who have (or are planning) to move in together, what are some strategies you have for maintaining the peace? :)

tamer animals "asia 1960" s/s 2014

 It's been a crazy couple months. I'm now working my usual day job, still going to architecture school, have an internship, and am doing some projects on the side, so things have been extremely hectic!

But the wait is almost over-- I started getting my files together to make fabric, and my goal by next spring is to have a small collection going. It's called "Asia1960" and focuses on Asian mod culture during the 60's and 70's, as well as Norway's folk prints and Midcentury British Council housing.

Hope everyone is doing well! Now that school's out things will hopefully not be so sporadic. :) xoxo

Design Therapy #5: Say something!

Design Therapy #5: Speak your own language!

I recently discovered iFontMaker ($6.99 at the Apple Store) and it is a very simple app to use. All you need is an iPad, a stylus, and a creative mind! It features several templates and the fonts work with most  software programs (indesign, pages/word, photoshop, etc!) It was super-fun creating fonts and most fonts took 15-20 minutes total to make!

If you would like to download the "Get Crafty" font, go

:

http://2ttf.com/UK8dPYlT

 If you made your own fonts and want to share, feel free to link to them on here! I would love to see what you guys come up with! xoxo

Design Therapy #4: colorbook

I have a super top-secret statement to confess:

I still love coloring books

. There's something fantastic about coloring within the lines. It's the thing we learn when we're wee ones-- how to shade and color evenly and experiment with a wide variety of colors (like the 100+ packs of crayolas! Those were awesome!) But, alas, most of the coloring books these days are kind of blah. Here's a super-simple way to make your own coloring books from scratch!

DT #4 needs:

A book of tracing paper (preferably 8 1/2"x11" or around this size)

A sharpie marker or some sort of felt marker

Some cool large format books or print-outs of images or photos you would like to use (could be your own!)

A printer, scanner, and printer paper

Crayons or colored pencils

STEP ONE: Find good images you want to recreate. I LOVE Taschen books because they usually are big and have great photographs. You could also trace your own photographs or draw your own works of art. (FYI: This is  also a method we use on our model photos for architecture to do quick perspective sketches!)

STEP TWO: Lay a piece of trace over the image and trace, trace, trace!

STEP THREE: After you're finished with several images, scan them into your computer (if the scanned image looks a bit grainy, put a piece of white paper behind your image to up the contrast).

STEP FOUR: Print your pages off. If you choose to bind yours (if you're making some for the kiddos especially), Kinko's has a variety of binding services for a couple dollars to choose from. You could also just use a binder and a hole punch!

These would make great Christmas gifts for family and friends and are relatively quick to do.  If you wanted to get really creative, you could even photoshop your kids in fairy tales or other adventures for them to color! xoxo

Design Therapy #3: chevron necklace

For this edition of design therapy, we're making a simple necklace that can be added to your wardrobe. You can also use different materials, different lengths, etc to achieve your own signature look!

DT#3 needs:

Leather or vinyl (could also use fabric-- I bought 1/8th of a yard of two colors to make multiple items)

Scissors

A marking pencil

Jewelry pliers

jump rings of various sizes

a chain

closure (optional)

a straightedge or ruler

a leather hole punch

STEP ONE: Mark the opposite side of the material with three lines. Measure, dot, and connect the lines to make chevron pattern.

STEP TWO: Cut out your design and punch hole for the jump ring on each side (I used to 2nd smallest on the hole punch, which is better for thicker fabrics).

STEP THREE: Make sure your helper doesn't walk off with your stuff (like mine did!)

STEP FOUR: If you are using other colors, mark, cut, and punch your other pieces (I tried to do different sizes for this one.)

 STEP FIVE: Connect your pieces using jump rings and pliers. (I alternated sizes to give variety).

STEP SIX: Attach chain (evenly) to the rest of your necklace. If you are making a shorter necklace that won't slip over the head, cut your chain into two pieces and add a closure before you attach the rest of the necklace.

STEP SEVEN: And you're done!

TIP: If you want to have a necklace that features two lengths, you can attach a small closure like I did somewhere in the middle to the chain, to make it shorter!

Design Therapy #2: Pierced Tights

I cheated and am posting tomorrow's today (since it is practically 12am anyway), but I was just so excited to share them. These are pretty simple to make as well. They don't have to be perfect (mine certainly aren't), but I'm sure there's lots of different ways to get a similar effect with different materials. 

For DT#2,  you will need:

1 pair of tights

scissors + a ruler or some sort os straightedge

leather or vinyl (Joann's sells very good imitation leather)

Ribbon

Felt or fabric

Fabric glue + a brush, needle and thread, or fusible interfacing 

STEP ONE: Cut out a triangular shape out of the leather and then cut out a mini-triangle inside of it. I made mine around 2.5". Duplicate.  

STEP TWO: Cut 4 wide v-shapes out of a different fabric. Cut two ribbons (measure from the top of where you want the fabric pieces to where the arrowhead will sit.

STEP THREE: Glue or stitch/fuse the arrowheads to the tights, leaving a little wiggle room for the ribbons. 

STEP FOUR: Mark where the ribbons go on the tights. Glue the ribbons on. 

STEP FIVE: Decorate, paint, or embellish to create your own signature style. 

xoxo

Design Therapy #1: Chevron Tights

For the first two editions of this adventure, I want to focus on tights. They're relatively inexpensive (I bought several cute pairs at Target for $5 each, which is well within a typical budget) and easy to do different things to. Some people bleach them, paint on them, etc. The problem is that they are super-stretchy, so if you're gluing them, make sure to get a flexible one (Aleene's makes a decent one) and make sure to try on the tights and mark where everything will go before you glue (or sew!).

Needs for DT#1:

1 pair of tights (or more, depending on how many you are making)

Scissors

A dull pencil

A ruler or triangle/straightedge

Felt or any semi-thick fabric that can be fusible

Fusible sheets (where you can iron the fabric to stick directly to the tights) or flexible fabric glue and a paintbrush

STEP ONE: Begin by marking your fabric lightly with a straightedge, in two equal squares.

STEP TWO: Split those squares into two smaller ones (I made mine different in size to add a bit of variety, but equal is cool, too)

STEP THREE: Begin marking your chevron pieces

downtown project: before/after

Works-in-progress.

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Birdseye: Portlandia and the Dream of the Nineties

I remember the Nineties. I remember more specifically ordering cassette tapes from Kill Rock Stars and trying to find baby doll dresses in thrift stores (which at my young age, was next to impossible.) Pacific Northwest countercultures have always held a particular fascination for me, prompting a series of events in my life potentially leading up to my retirement in the Northwest. Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein started the show Portlandia as a one-off series of skits called Thunderant. I doubt very highly that they anticipated the series taking off as much as it did; even I was skeptical at first at their take of my fair city. But I finally sat down to watch it. In many ways, it is a fitting statement on Stumptown culture. For me, anyway, it serves as a good example of the chemistry between two very different performers and their version of a mystical city that emphasizes the eccentricities of our culture at best. Brownstein, formerly of indie rock star band Sleater-Kinney, was one of my idols (and one of my boyfriend’s major crushes) during the Nineties. Armisen is a comedic genius who is often underrated. If you have ever seen his impersonations of various famous people (which are so numerous that the list is daunting), you will know what I am talking about. The pairing is unusual, and added to the subject matter, it greatly peaked my interest. Although, as with all things, I was still cautious about the show because of all the good and bad press it received. 

While Armisen and Brownstein’s Portlandia has garnered much lauded criticism from the inhabitants of Portland itself, I think it is important to recognize that the film version of “Portland” has as much and as little to do with the city itself as we assign to it. The same stereotypes can be attributed to many cities, not just Portland, and it seems fitting to say that their show is not necessarily capitalizing on hipster culture in a negative way; After all, if we can’t laugh at ourselves, we have very little humor to begin with. Brownstein and Armisen could both easily be called hipsters in their heyday, so in great comedic depth they are plunging into territory that

is both self-effacing and controversial.

The juxtaposition between a realistic examination of the 

limits of counterculture and our own comparative sociological interpretations of such are something semi-consciously brought to life within the show. The show is as much a statement on interpersonal relations as statement on the subterfuge of our society. The importance of establishing a dominant set of parameters for the dichotomy between trend vs. hype is clearly demonstrated in the remarkable characters they portray

onscreen. The folks that are inflamed by this can be compiled into at least three categories: 1) People who feel the city of Portland is being unjustly accused of being flagrantly ridiculous, 2) People who don’t feel it is “cool” to like a show that makes fun of what is “cool” (As one of Armisen’s characters proclaims, “That is SO OVER!”), 3) People who either don’t get the humor or just don’t care for the show. 

The fact that many of the local celebrities have taken part in this suggests that it may simply be a bit too high-brow for people who don’t see the joke. The joke is on all types of people, and should be taken with a grain of salt. I recently read a column where someone refused to watch the show after seeing the skit about polygamy and was offended that they likened this to Portland. I am a staunch supporter of PDX culture, but I saw the joke. When you look at Portlandia as being Portland and not being Portland in the same sense, it is much easier to see that they are not trying to defame the very fabric of the city, but simply make a commentary about extremes in our general current culture. It could be Anywhere, USA. Portland is just weird and quirky enough to where all of these things can apply to it, although on various levels of extremity.

The social dynamic of this is something I find very intriguing, for it beings up the eternal queries into what is hip and who we are as a culture. The social integrity is such a commentary on our values, our extremes, and what we feel circumambulates in our psyches to the sense of belonging to a collective group or isolating ourselves from it while uniformly adopting a culture. This social commentary seems to be a catalyst for examining ourselves and how we are viewed dimensionally and intuitively. The characters Armisen and Brownstein portray could fit the demographic of many people in our social strata, and I think they pull off these varying roles remarkably well. Are they simply that good of actors, or could we all possibly fit any of these stereotypes when fanaticism becomes central to our realities?

The backlash also may be due to the growing population in Stumptown proper. In the last decade, the population has nearly quadrupled. With the urban growth boundary still being maintained, property prices, taxes, and other necessities have skyrocketed. The more people move to the city where “hipsters go to retire,” the more evident the counterculture will be struggling to maintain itself and not become oversaturated with trendy countercultures that stand to suck the life out of the Portland aesthetic. Actors, musicians, artisans, and other celebrities seem more and more to be dissolving into the social fabric there as they near retirement, causing fledgling performers to seek their own entitlement on the west coast. Portland has become a transient city even moreso over the years, which can create both good and bad results. People that once loved Portland are moving further and further into the suburbs to escape from people who balk against what it was initially designed as, and jobs will continue to be scarce as the population grows within such set parameters. Five years ago, all my friends wanted to move to Portland. Five years later, half of my friends are moving back east. The more Portland grows and loses the enriching energy that made it so unique, the more I wonder if even the citizens that once proclaimed the city to being Eden will eventually say, “Portland is SO OVER.”

But to be fair, if you can land a few good jobs or a decent place to live, Portland is an amazing experience because of all it has to offer. The amount of creative energy in such a city far surpasses anything superficial that may exist within its borders. Portlandia may capture some of the more extreme aspects of western counterculture, but in hindsight I think it also has portrayed the energy of the city in a way that makes it more relatable to the masses. It has become a city of mythic proportions; while still maintaining the broad appeal of having a small-town vibe in some respects. In a city where one can generally walk or bike from one end to the other (respectively), while still within reach of the mountainous deserts and the coast, it still maintains its charming communal appeal.

Concisely, Portlandia stands as a work-in-progress—a testament to popular countercultures and stereotypes that both playfully idolizes and gently criticizes the culture that my generation sprang up from. It rejects the artistic conscience and establishes a more broad interpretation of our inclusion and subconscious drives in society. It is a clever interpretation of who we are, what is real, and all that is ridiculous. But, mainly, it is about how we relate to one another, and relate to the characters in the show itself. Season Two is gearing up, and I, for one, look forward to what Armisen, Brownstein, and their directors and writers bring to the table. 

Vintage Shopping 101

For the past eighteen years, I have loved and collected vintage. My mother, sister, and I used to drive up to larger cities, hit thrift stores and estate sales, and even some antique/vintage stores in the middle-of-nowhere. It started with a love for seventies furniture and mid-century (the tackier the better), which lead into wearing go-go boots and 60’s mini-dresses during my formative junior high years (much to the chagrin of my fellow classmates.) What I didn’t find, my talented mother would make us, usually off of vintage patterns. I remember going to our local Goodwill and finding Fifties patterns for vintage aprons, or finding amazing space age lamps for mere dollars at Amvets. If you are anything like me, you like the challenge and adventure of hitting a round of thrift stores and rummage sales with your girlfriends, trying on a variety of really tacky clothes (that your ladies graciously talk you out of purchasing, thank god), and maybe finding those one or two unusual items that really brighten up your day. After selling vintage for the past ten years, I can testify that the hardest thing about it is parting with items you “discovered” and then realizing years later that you wish you would have kept them!

Although times have changed and due to sites such as etsy and Ebay, vintage is somewhat scarce in some places. Here are some tips to make the most out of your thrifting experience:

ONE:  Definitely hit up church rummage sales or little hole-in-the-wall thrift stores. Often they could care less about older clothes so when they get donated they get placed on the costume rack or relatively cheaply priced. Rummage sales at churches or community centers are great because usually they are estate items and of better quality than many of the things you will find in thrift stores (plus people tend to price rummage stuff dirt cheap because they don’t want to have to move it or store it.) Estate sales can be gold mines for vintage, but you have to get there EARLY usually because people tend to snatch up anything of value within the first fifteen minutes of a sale. A key rule is that the older the neighborhood, the more likely that you will find fine vintage floating around                                                    

TWO: If you are of smaller frame, check the thrift store’s  section for girls because sometimes they will place mod mini-dresses there thinking they are a child’s dress! One of our local thrift stores here prices their children’s clothing at 79 cents a piece and I have found so many cute dresses that way!

THREE: If it has stains or holes, make sure it is a fabric that can be laundered. Not all vintage fabrics can be laundered, and there is nothing more disheartening than realizing that the oriental silk twenties dress you got for a steal with the gash in it is falling apart and cannot be repaired, even by the most experienced seamstress. Also, keep in mind that if it is discolored, it is very difficult to re-dye the material unless it was made of cotton. There are polyester dyes out now, but often they can deteriorate the vintage fabric because the chemical compounds don’t mesh well with older fabrics. And keep in mind that not everything that says “dry clean only” can be dry cleaned if it is vintage.  If you can’t live with its current condition, and can’t make a pattern off of it or use parts of it for your own design, DON’T BUY IT. But don't give up hope yet! Familiarize yourself with Fashion-Era's guide to cleaning vintage textiles. A professor of mine when I was in fashion school swore by this site-- I could spend days perusing all the information on there and you probably will, too.

FOUR: Learn to identify the sensual aspects of vintage fabrics. Up until the 1980’s, the majority of fabrics had specific textures or scents that dated them very easily. As synthetic materials became all the rage, very intricate or textured materials became less common. Acrylic (used primarily in knits) is an excellent example of that. There are also some fabrics to shy away from. For example, many coats were made of a synthetic polyester knit blend during the 50’s and 60’s that likes to shed pieces of polymer all over everything (almost like dust—yuck!)

FIVE: If you’re on the shorter side, 1970’s maxi dresses CAN be shortened and make really cute additions to your wardrobe. You can shorten the hem, sleeves, and add some really cute accents (like bows, collars, or buttons.)  Never hemmed a dress before? I’ll show you how this week with a really easy tutorial!

SIX:Network, people!! Get to know your local people that work the stores or sales. They usually tend to be very interesting, nice people and very informative about things you might be looking for. I have made several lasting friendships with merchants over the years and every once in a while some may even save some stuff for you or call you up if something comes in that you might be interested in. If it is very obvious that you love vintage and are a generally nice person, people WILL help you out. 

SEVEN: If you are going to resell an item, don’t announce it loudly to the point that other folks can hear you. It’s not illegal, but it IS in poor taste to say things in a store to the effect of, “Wow! I could buy this for $1 and make $50 off of it!” If you do that enough, folks WON’T help you out, but they WILL mark up their stuff that they thought was just an “old hat.” Likewise, a personal rule of mine is that unless it is way overpriced to begin with, don’t try to negotiate prices with people unless they specifically have a sign saying that they will take offers.  After running businesses for a number of years, I can tell you that it is extremely rude to do this unless it is absolutely necessary. Especially when people run a boutique or antique store, they don’t like feeling like they are an auction site or craigslist.  It always leaves a bad taste in my mouth when someone asks me for a discount on an item that I have already priced very reasonably or way below its value. I have had people try to negotiate buying decent-quality costume jewelry for a nickel when I had it posted at 50 cents at yard sales before. And there is no end to the people on etsy that will literally want to get something for nothing. There’s nothing wrong with trying to get a bargain, but make sure to be fair with your resellers, too. 

EIGHT: Keep in mind that vintage sizes are often WAAAAY different than modern sizes, and many pieces of vintage clothing were not marked with sizes at all. My suggestion for this is to grab a flexible tape measure at your local fabric store and have a friend write down your measurements for you. Then make sure to keep the tape measure and your measurements handy on your next adventure and if there is no dressing room, refer to the old trusty measuring tape method. 

NINE: If the shoes don’t fit, DON’T wear them! Save yourself a lot of grief (and cash) by not buying things that cannot be altered. Leather can be stretched sometimes, but you will generally get no more than half a size up at the most, if you're lucky. Another cardinal rule is that if it can’t fit over your head comfortably or has so many parts that it would take Houdini to get in or out of it, don’t BUY it. Beyond the obvious fashion faux pas, if you buy these items they will likely sit in your closet for a couple years before you donate them again or try in vain to sell them.

TEN:  Bring a camera (or a phone with photo-documenting capabilities) along for the ride. When I am out, I almost always see things that remind me of friends or family members and shoot them photos and prices in case they are interested. It also may be fun to blog these in your spare time. One of my favorite blogs is Yard Sale Bloodbath, for instance. I have found some of the weirdest stuff at thrift stores before that I wish I would have gotten a snapshot of!

ELEVEN:  Don’t be afraid to cover new territory. If you have the money, search outside your city or take a day trip somewhere new. Make a list of places you want to visit and their store hours, MapQuest them, and hit the road. The Salvation Army uptown may have the most boring 80’s power suits ever, but hit the small one on Midtown and it might be a vintage Mecca! And don’t be afraid to ask around for what you are looking for. People might go, “Oh, my mom has one of those! Let me call her real fast. She just has it sitting in her den collecting dust!”

TWELVE:  Although you may usually be a lone wolf, don’t shy away from inviting your friends to come along for your adventures. There can be nothing more fun than getting up early, picking up some friends, grabbing coffee, and hitting the road for a day full of adventures and surprises.

THIRTEEN: If you are looking to resell or for something specific, post a want ad on Craigslist or Freecycle. People are always looking to get rid of stuff or trade out. Just make sure to bring a friend and meet in a public place to do the trade to ward off the potential crazies (they ARE out there, sadly.) Often, most folks are really nice and you may even make new friends that have similar interests!

FOURTEEN:  Thrifting is so beneficial to your wallet! And if you DON’T follow the trends too much and make your own way, you will not be limited to being disappointed if you can’t find certain items. Many thrift stores put stuff out in groups (such as a bunch of 70’s platform shoes or a bunch of vintage floral dresses) and it isn’t always based on what is popular. If you are looking to combine vintage with other items in your wardrobe, photo pools like Wardrobe Remix or sites like Lookbook are great sources for inspiration and can show you a variety of ways to combine colors or textures to produce a signature look.

FIFTEEN: Lastly, although no one wants to have Buyer’s Remorse, likewise don’t skimp on a vintage purchase if it is something you REALLY REALLY want. Impulse buying is one thing and should be avoided at all cost, but also don’t look a gift horse (or as my friend Janice says, “The Vintage Gods”) in the mouth, either. If it is a couple dollars more than you want to pay, but it is imperative that you have it, don’t wait. I can’t count how many times I have seen something I loved and said, “If it is here next time or on sale, I will purchase it” only for it to be gone within minutes. Months later, I usually still wanted it really bad, and ended up paying top dollar for it in a store or online. If you like it, it is generally certain that at least five or six other people locally do, too, so try to be the first to snatch it up!  Thrifting is competitive, and that is part of the fun. Hope everyone has a great start to the week and finds this post useful! I have school starting again in a couple days, and I am actually semi-excited about that!