Bold Gold Chunky Choker

This choker is made up of strung together wooden beads painted metallic gold. It sits high on the neck and is reminiscent of Wilma Flintstone. Again, a bold chunky piece that will make a little black dress stand out this spring.

Karl Lagerfeld Cartouche Necklace

Notice that, in the title of this post, I call to your attention the signature KL cartouche. Of course this acts as a clasp, allowing you to double the necklace around your neck if you so desire, but it is also a nice design element. One which I recommend you highlight, rather than hide.

Gerard Yosca Enamel Earrings

Here is a pair of Gerard Yosca enamel and rhinestone clip earrings. Yosca has always designed pieces that stand on their own as fashion objects. These enamel clip earrings probably date to the 80's or early 90's, but look like they were designed for this spring. Larger in scale and bold in color, these earrings are spot on for this moment.

Fuschia Lucite Bangle

Same as the one below, but in fuschia.

Cranberry Lucite Bangle

This deadstock 1980's Lucite bangle really has me excited. I've seen these before, but they've always been out of reach- either too expensive, or part of someone else's collection. They are too cost prohibitive to make now. They are flat and thick, so that they stand away from your arm as you're wearing it, which is quite a dramatic effect. I have a fushia one too, which I will post next.

Anne Klein Goldtone Bead Necklace

This incredible Anne Klein necklace sits high on the neck and is made up of gold-tone metal beads strung together, forming a clustered garland. This will MAKE a little black dress.

Quilted Lambskin Bag in Oyster

This is a great vintage lambskin bag, in the style of Chanel. The front flap is quilted with a subtle scalloped edge. The chain varies between gold chain and lambskin straps. This is a perfect day bag for someone who doesn't have a lot to carry.

1970s Gucci Keyring

Never used. Brand new and in the box from the 1970s.

Pink Lucite Swirl Bracelet

This vintage Lucite bracelet takes the shape of a coil or a spring. It fits perfectly with the colorful, chunky accessories we're seeing this spring.

Painted Horn Bracelets, part two

This version is painted with leopard spots.

Painted Horn Bangles

This are natural horn bangle bracelets that have been hand painted. This one has a chevron pattern to it.

LA TIMES: Shopping Vintage Online

Vintage clothing websites that sell the real thing

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Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times

Judith Leiber beaded evening bag from Decadestwo, $940.

Forget about the fake Gucci, the stained Pucci -- these websites have stellar reps.

By Emili Vesilind, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
April 13, 2008

FOR lovers of vintage, the Web is the biggest flea market in the world. A click or two, and you're rummaging through a Pennsylvania attic, a chic Hollywood resale boutique, a New Orleans cache of disco dresses and mini-frocks.

But as delightful as that may be, there are perhaps more pitfalls to buying secondhand online than anything else. You could be saddled with a fake Gucci, a stained Pucci or worse. And most of the time, you can't return it.

The safest bet is to use a trusted online seller of vintage or resale fashion. These gurus of garb have built stellar reps through consistency -- listing accurate measurements for every garment and, when necessary, detailing any flaws an item might have. They can tell you why that gold lamé bathing suit is worth $525 ("because Nettie Rosenstein suits are about as rare as hens' teeth") and can spot a fake Fendi at 10 paces.

But no matter where you shop, there are a few things to keep in mind. The Web is a veritable boneyard for fraudulent fashion. "If the price is too good to be true, it's too good to be true," said Christos Garkinos, co-owner of designer resale store Decadestwo and its EBay shop. "People will put fakes up for auction on EBay and sell it at almost full price, then disappear."

Checking out photos of the lining or zippers on a garment is just as important as inspecting the logos, said Sher Katz, owner of online designer shop Swank Vintage: "People are stealing buttons and labels off of items in vintage stores and re-creating them and selling them online."

Even when buying non-designer clothes online, read the fine print, said Melissa Stone, owner of the online Mama Stone Vintage resale store. A modern size 8 was more like a size 12 in 1967, so make sure the listed measurements are at least an inch bigger than your personal measurements.

And if you have any questions, get them answered before pulling the trigger. What if the seller doesn't respond to your inquiries? "Don't buy from them," said Stone, "and look at the customer feedback on any EBay store" -- a cheat sheet for gauging customer satisfaction.

Competition for vintage and resale fashion has increased sharply since the dollar began weakening, so "know that you're up against foreign buyers who are getting an amazing deal," Garkinos said.

Pierre Cardin Logo Earrings

These chrome finish Pierre Cardin logo earrings have never been worn and still sit on their display card. They probably date to the 1970's and have a mod look to them- something that was a Cardin signature.

Pierre Balmain Quilted Bucket Bag

I'm still very much excited about drawstring bags for spring and summer. This quilted navy Balmain bag is a bucket shape with gold hardware and a gold chain shoulder strap. It's diminutive shape makes it perfect for transitioning from day to night.

Woven Snakeskin Belt

The colors are more appropriate for fall but I couldn't resist posting this woven snakeskin belt. It is about 3 inches thick and would look perfect at your waist over a dress with a full skirt.

Vintage at Opening Ceremony!

From the LA Times:

Goldwyn's ladylike details

Dominique Porter / Liz Goldwyn

A whimsical piece from Liz Goldwyn’s vintage collection, $230.

Opening Ceremony will present a collection of 1930s to 1960s sweater clips and headpieces curated by style arbiter Liz Goldwyn.

By Erin Weinger, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
March 30, 2008

OPENING CEREMONY, the bicoastal store that brought us the red-hot TopShop and Chloë Sevigny clothing lines, is now dabbling in vintage with a collection of 1930s to 1960s sweater clips and headpieces curated by style arbiter Liz Goldwyn.

After spending five months digging through thrift store bins and flea market tables, Goldwyn amassed 40 items for the New York and L.A. stores. The fashionable L.A. filmmaker has even more hidden away, but parting is such sweet sorrow. "They yelled at me," she said of the sales staff who reminded her that her finds were not for keeps. "It's always hard to give things up."

The clips and headpieces, $150 to $350, nod to ladylike midcentury style, which is on the fashion radar again thanks to TV's "Mad Men." The clips -- designed to hold a cardigan on the shoulders -- are retro prim and whimsical. One set has a cat clip on one side and a mouse clip on the other. And now that hats are having a moment, you might actually be able to get away with wearing one of the slightly dotty-looking velvet flower or pheasant feather creations.

"They're sexy," Goldwyn said of the one-of-a-kind pieces. "But a little disheveled."

Goldwyn's "Springtime Romance" collection for Opening Ceremony, 451 N. La Cienega, West Hollywood. (310) 652-1180.

Anne Klein Rhinestone Heels

This killer pair of Anne Klein shoes from the 80's have a rhinestone encrusted tip. A simple way to dress up a little black dress. Size 6 in perfect condition.

Bold Nina Ricci Earrings

This bold pair of Nina Ricci earrings have a distinctly deco feel to them. The cascade of silver out of an arched gold square adds visual weight and dimension and makes them appear bigger than they are. They are clip back, signed Nina Ricci.

Pair of Hexagonal Wood Bangles

Perfect for layering and just right for summer, these wood bangles are carved into a hexagonal shape with varying thickness. The look is that of an abstracted bone.

Lizard Bag with Chain Shoulderstrap

This is another bag with a distinctly 1950's feel to it. The body is lizard and it has an extra long gold chainlink shoulderstrap. Although the shape is not particularly modern, the chainstrap is in line with what most (fashion conscious) women are wearing today.

Grey Day Bag

It seems like every spring magazines are ushering in a "return" to femininity and ladylike dressing. These trends only trickle down to the street when vintage looks are relevant to today's women. I say vintage because, let's face it, this brand of femininity is a thing of the past. The super shine on this grey bag is of course reminiscent of Prada's patent leather bags and this is one reason I grabbed it. And while the shape isn't modern, the color and hardware are.