One of my favorite people on the Internet is the lovely Chanelle of Penelope's Vintage. Not only has she been a great supporter of this little blog here, I have great respect for her talent.

A thrifting hobby and a great eye for style helped Chanelle to successfully launch her own online shop - which has absolutely turned heads - and she is here today to give us some tips on how to dig through vintage goods ourselves in atwg's very first guest post.

Enjoy!

Thrift shopping can be a scary task for people. I understand. There’s an overwhelming sea of clothing shoved in one area that you are expected to find something out of - and something cute, at that.

My name is Chanelle and I’m here to help you overcome your fear of thrift shopping. If you’re an avid thriftier, I love you and I’m sure you understand. I own an online vintage clothing store, Penelope’s Vintage, therefore I’ve had some practice, not to mention 75 percent of my closet = Goodwill.

Me, Chanelle, in black high-waisted shorts: I’m really into sheer blouses right now, so I went to the blouse section at Goodwill and picked out this beautiful white georgette blouse with a collar and pleats down the middle. I paired it with these shorts I also found at Goodwill a while ago - high-waisted with pleats. They are really ugly if they’re not rolled up because they’re too long, but I played with them a bit and now they’re as good as new! The blouse also has a greater appeal with the sleeves rolled up, although I do like them down too.

I have five super simple tips to help you shop or get you started.

Be organized: Take yourself to your local thrift store, dive in and go one rack at a time. Thrift stores usually have everything organized and separated nicely. Start off with the lightest weight items like blouses, then work your way across the store. The items add up QUICK, therefore starting off with the lightest weight item makes it more manageable to take around with you. If you’re like me you will end up with a mountain of clothes.

Look for patterns or colors that appeal to you: When you approach a rack, push all the clothes to one side of the rack then push them one by one to the other side in a quick motion. While doing this, spot out the prints and styles that you like and take it off the rack to see if it’s love. I know, you hate me for saying this, but this is the most effective and rewarding way. If you refuse this method you can also walk down the aisle and spot the prints, colors, textures, etc., that appeal to you and take them off the rack as you spot them.

Start off simple and take chances: First time? Vintage t-shirts are a great way to start - they go with ANYTHING and the men’s section is usually a jackpot. Eventually make your way into blouses, bottoms, etc., and before you know it you’ll be in a full sequins jumpsuit! Try to try on at least one outrageous item - those are usually the best ones.

Here’s an item from the store, 90s high-waisted white denim shorts. Again, these weren’t that appealing in their original form but roll them up and you got yourself a cute summer item. We paired it with loud (AWESOME) leopard shoes to give the flat colors some appeal, and added a pop of color with a Wilma Flintstone necklace.

Picture the items on and/or with an outfit: Do you wear items alone? NO! You wear it as part of AN OUTFIT! Try picturing the item with bottoms or tops, a belt at the waist. If the sleeves are too long, picture them rolled up. Picture a clunky bracelet and a cocktail ring with the outfit. Play with the item if you like it. You can also research before shopping and go in with an outfit idea in your head to find. Sites like Lookbook.nu or Chictopia.com have AMAZING outfit ideas with vintage items.

This item is also from the store. It was originally a skirt (and can still be a skirt) but looks AWESOME as a tube dress, as well. I often find skirts that I wouldn’t normally wear but LOVE the print or color so I usually try to it as a dress before I completely give up on it. Luckily long skirts are in again so you can have two pieces in one!

Try everything on: Most places have mirrors and not dressing rooms. My best advice would be to go shopping dressed in leggings and a tight shirt so you can try items on over your clothes in front of a mirror. Things look COMPLETELY different on than they do on the rack, so this step is crucial. Some look better on, some look worse!

The thing I love most about thrifting is: it’s creativity at its finest. You have to search, have imagination and be bold. It’s gratifying when you find that GEM that is a piece of vintage. It’s yours, and you found it. If thrifting is not your thing but you love vintage, there are tons of eBay and Etsy stores that do all the work for you. They do the shopping and show you different ways to wear it. Just click “buy”! These steps have helped me to find NUMEROUS items that I wouldn’t have found otherwise, and in a timely manner at that. I hope these tips help and make thrifting a more enjoyable experience.

Thanks Chanelle!

xo

Stay tuned for part two from Chanelle, coming soon!

Penelope's Vintage.
Facebook.
Twitter.
Lookbook.

Audrey Ribbon and Pearl Headband; Lucy Rosette Bridal Clips

Joan Jett Clip; Cupid's Clip

The Austen Touch; Blake Hair Fascinator Comb



Check out the new stock in Jessica's Embellished shop! Such gorgeous and fun accessories.

Shop here.
Read an interview with Jessica.
See her blog.
Follow her on Twitter.





**interested in sponsoring? email me.**

Over the last couple years I have fallen madly in love with Etsy and many of its wonderful little shops. So when one of the sellers, Jessica, contacted me, I jumped at the chance to speak with her.

Jessica, who currently resides in France (!!!), designed and made an arsenal of gorgeous accessories – both vintage- and rock-inspired – for her store Embellished, which is also my newest sponsor.

Here is what she had to say about her unique line of embellishments:

To start, let’s here about you. Give us the rundown!

Jessica: I am from Charlotte, NC, and have wanted to be a fashion designer since I was 12 years old. I was always very artistic and enjoyed making anything I could. Halloween is one of my favorite holidays because I have always made my own costume and I look forward to it all year. Creativity very much runs in the family on both sides. Growing up, there was always some project in process, so making things myself is kind of natural. Also, I am a pretty picky shopper, so if I can make exactly what I am looking for, it’s easier, cheaper, and more unique (which is always my aim).

Tell me about your shop Embellished. How did it all start?

Jessica: Embellished came around for a number of reasons. I discovered Etsy through a colleague a couple years ago but I was working full time and going to school full time, so there was literally no time for anything else. Then after graduating with a BS in Business Admin for marketing and a minor in art, I finally started getting more serious about sewing. Then at the end of February ‘09 my company did a big lay off and I was one of the people let go. That Saturday I went to the fabric store and bought the things I already had on a shopping list, and got to work. My time then became split between sending out resumes for a new job and designing/sewing. 

Tell me about your brand. When did you decide to start marketing yourself?

Jessica: My skills still feel basic, so I wanted to start off with small things and leave room in my business strategy for expansion. I really love fun statement headpieces. I eventually wish to take a millinery class and produce hats, as well (I love hats). I love to dress up and stand out and I have a huge obsession with the glitz and class of vintage Hollywood, so that is always present in my designs.

Then something I always felt lacking in the men's fashion industry was unique neckties. I started doing a lot of research on the history of ties and various designs, and with the exception of the width changing every 10 years, designers have done a remarkably sad job with amping up some creativity into their ties - they always kind of look like an afterthought to an amazing suit. So, I began playing with different ways to tweak my designs and really have fun with ties. The neckties are really what I am most proud of in my line, because I feel like they are most unique - all of them can be paired with a nice button-up and jeans for a wonderful night look.

It’s funny because I am very much a girly girl and I am always attracted to the musician guys that are edgy and have a sense of style - and that is exactly what my line is, an extension of me.

When I started brainstorming business names, etc., I kept landing on names that sounded elegant and detailed. Everything I really love in my closet is not simple, it has some kind of embellishment that makes it look more tailored and unique, and that was the kind of pieces I wanted to be making. So after researching to see if that was already taken, that is what I happily landed on. Since I am a marketing person, it was only natural that a business plan, marketing strategy, etc., came immediately. In addition, I am very thorough to make sure that nothing is attached to my name that is not in sync with my brand; these are things that were drilled in my head since my first class in college, so it was natural.

What's your favorite piece and why?

Jessica: Wow that's hard! I think it is a toss up between my Studded Black tie and my White Fleur de Lis tie. They both are exactly my aim for my ties. They are edgy and stylish, but simple and subtle. I just love them.

You are such a talent. I see on your blog that you are a photographer, too. Do you have any other artistic outlets?

Jessica: Thank you so much! As I mentioned before I have a very creative family. When I was young my mom was a photographer and my Dad was a camera operator, now he also is the executive producer of a TV show. My Mom was always helping me with art projects, sewing, making DIY home decor. My Dad always designed/made our landscaping and created all our DIY home pieces (fireplace mantles, stained glass, etc). So trying many projects and learning many trades was second nature. Although there are definitely arts I cannot do, I am good at drawing - I prefer using charcoal.

Photography has recently become a hobby of mine - I just bought a very nice camera before my move to France so that has been very fun for me. I have a decent eye for compositions, so photography has been good practice to develop that further. I am nowhere near a graphic designer, but I have really enjoyed creating all of my designs for my brand: logos, banners, web ads, etc. Lastly, I LOVE music. I started singing around a year old and have never stopped. When I was a kid I would sing everywhere I went and in school I was very very involved with the choir and performing on stage. We did everything from serious classical pieces to Broadway shows like Music Man.

Who or what inspires you?

Jessica: Hmm...inspiration really comes from everywhere - it is hard to pin down because it is so random. Seeing one thing can spark a memory, that leads to a thought process, that makes you think of an idea for a line.

One of my favorite things to do is wander around a fabric store because I can think of so many things to make when looking at beautiful fabric. But I must say I think the thing that inspires me the most is travel. Traveling is one of my passions. I have never been good at being in the same place for long, and I love the feeling of being on the go and having somewhere new to see. So places I have either already visited or places I dream to visit inspire me, along with the history of clothing in those places.

Please be sure to check out her blog The Embellished Life.

Jessica: The Embellished Life is a recent venture for me. I started it in the summer because I thought it would be a good way to keep PR up about my line while I'm in between listing products, but it has actually turned into way more. It is an extension of my brand, and of me. I talk a lot about fashion and travel, and also throw in fun music and inspiration type things from time to time. I have really enjoyed it a lot and don't know why I didn't start sooner, it is so much fun!

Thanks Jessica for taking the time to chat! I love your shop and can’t wait to see what else you have in store.

You can also follow Jessica and her shop on

Twitter

and

Facebook.

And please check back for more on Embellished.

Interested in sponsoring this blog or would like to be featured here? Email rsvp.aroundthewaygirl@gmail.com.

{all images from Embellished}