Sneak Peek: Store Layout

With the months counting down to the opening of THE VINTAGE SOCIETY, I have started to recieve a lot of questions regarding details and felt that I should let the Society Girls out there in on some of the secrets.

I have not decided on a specific location just yet, but expect to sign a lease in January somewhere in Central Orange County, CA. In the meantime I have been calling on every "FOR LEASE" sign that I see so that I can get a good estimate of prices in different locations. I drive down streets feeling like a scavenger hoping to find the perfect spot to call home. My ideal location would be a little obscure, unique, with great windows for displays and not too big (probably 900-1200 SF).

Once I find just the right place - the dirty work begins. We will be persuading any able bodied friend to help build the store out. Whoo Hooo! My creative juices are overflowing with interior ideas, and to let you in on some of the plans I thought I would expose some of my sketches.



The above sketch contains window displays and also ideas for the front entrance of the store. Upon entering a customer will be ushered behind a large wall that will close off the rear part of the store. Once behind this walls it is a girl haven - no windows, no dressing rooms just clothes and fabulous vintage mirrors propped up. The idea is to feel free to work with and inspire the other society girls in the shop. Just a private little girls party all day long - oh what fun!



The walls will be lined with clothes, clothes and more clothes - but will be sectioned off based on current trend. Above each rack will be an inspiration board containing all sorts of stimulation to get you started. Each season the board will be changed and new items will be rushed onto the racks.



As you can see, The Vintage Society will be more than just a place to shop - it is an idea factory, a place to create and meet other girls who share the same passion.

Oh, a note to Society Girls who live outside of California, you will be able to get in on the action - there are plans for an online store as well.

Just a Girls Weekend

Now that you all know about my wonderful hubby, I can tell you when he goes out of town...I'm a little sad. He's just so fun to be with..(sigh!) So when he headed to the mountains for a boy's weekend of wakeboarding and poker, I headed onto the beach and out on the town with the girls.

But, of course before he took off for the weekend we had to catch the Angels vs. Red Sox game at the stadium. Yippee! Always up for the challenge to root on the Angels but still where something fabulous!

Pulling out the red is always a must and I have used up almost all the RED in my closet, until I remembered this number. My red hawaiian print dress picked up at a local garage sale paired with my urban outfitter cardigan and shoes was almost perfect... but missing pizazz. SO, I threw on the mustard yellow socks from H&M. GO ANGELS!

My Friday began my girls weekend of relaxation and good company. Out to a lunch date of Sushi and then onto the sun-splashed beach, I pulled out my new red maxi dress and threw on lots of layered color: my torquoise scarf (garage sale), bangles (bought years ago), my favorite straw bag loaded with beach reading, and MY NEW FABOULOUS NEON SUNGLASSES (present from a friend's trip to Indonesia).

My favorite outfit of the weekend was this dress (exchanged with Sara) paired with a this belt that I found at Savers last weekend. I don't know why but I felt wonderfully girly in this.

After a weekend spent without Brian, he returned Sunday evening and we had a catch-up date night. We went to a pizza place on the beach, it felt so touristy and summery. The weather has been really warm so I threw on jean shorts and this postivelty pink top that my mother-in-law gave me. I can't tell if its homemade, vintage or brandnew - but I love it.

ADORN MAGAZINE!!!

The Vintage Society gets press!!! Thanks to Tricia Royal (creator of Wardrobe_Remix) and the Bits and Bobbins author, I have been featured in the FALL 2007 issue of ADORN MAGAZINE.

ADORN is a great DIY fashion foward magazine that you should pick up if you get the chance. You can find it at your local Barnes and Noble or Borders Bookstore. Have fun reading!

SOCETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

I don't know about you all, but I spent some serious time on Polyvore today and I almost forgot to select a Society Girl of the Week.

These two girls have recently caught my attention as fellow bloggers, the two (sisters or friends - not sure cause I can't read the language on the blog) have a great sense of style using a mix of brand name, vintage and personal designs. The blog, THE MODERNITETER goes to show you that style crosses any boundaries that cultural or language differences could hinder.

I have been inspired by their creativity without having to understand exactly what they have written. I think you will see what I mean when you take a peek at our SOCIETY GIRLS THE WEEK...

Amanda and Olivia

POLYVORE!

I know...I know... the bloggers out there are way ahead of me when it comes to this, but today I discovered POLYVORE...and wasted my day playing, or maybe it wasn't wasting it was just research for the upcoming season - FALL!!!

For those of you out there who don't know about POLYVORE - it is basically a modern day version of playing with paperdolls. You can select current items from online stores and create outfits (what fun!) Try it if you haven't - you'll be hooked.

Well for my first time around I created my own FALL look that I can't wait to bust out.

It turned out to be the perfect look for an afternoon in the park (walking my cute pup Dudley, of course). Combining the season's brights with the new staple - GREY.



Have fun creating.. and share some with me if you can.. I would love to see what you come up with.

The Man that Stands Beside Me!

Some of you have asked about the hubby that I often refer to.... I am sorry that I have not let you get a peak of the hunk-a-hunka man that I am blessed to be married to.

Honestly, he is one of the main reasons I am opening The Vintage Society. He has been my support and encourager through this whole journey, and I know he will continue to stand by my side through the ups and downs ahead.

Now... on a fashion side note... umm.... he is not "Mr. Fashion Forward".. I kinda helped take the reins on that one. He is down for whatever I throw at him, which is fun. It's kinda like I get to be a personal stylist all the time (my dream come true).

Anyway, here is the man that stands beside me.. (oh.. and his name is Brian)

With Flowers in your Hair

As I sat on the bench waiting to be ushered into the busy restaurant, a little girl walked by and stopped - tugging on her mom's sleeve she pointed over to me "Look at the girl with the flowers in her hair Mommy!". A little Society Girl in the making...

I have had this floral head piece sitting in an old hat box for a while, just waiting to put it together with the right outfit. I didn't want to overwhelm the look with a girly dress or something dainty. It needed just the right simple combination to make it stand out. The tank and the jeans did the trick.

Now I just need to head to San Francisco so that I can "be sure to wear flowers in my hair".

Three Looks for Three Days

A beautiful California weekend! I have recently picked up some good finds in my thrifting adventures and put them to good use this weekend.

My friday night was a girls night on the town (ok...it was really a girls night spent at one of my favorite mexican restaurants and a chick flick movie rental...not so much a night on the town). I pulled together my outfit using my new layered ruffled skirt that I found at the fabulous SAVERS! I have been looking for one of these ever since the JANE Issue on Ruffles.

I paired the ruffled skirt with a Target white tank, thrifted black peep toe heels and this orange belt found in a pile at an estate sale.

Saturday night was time to catch up with my hubby since I had been out the night before. My most recent find that makes me giggle with glee are these amazing Jou Jou high waisted jeans I found at SAVERS (once again!). I am not sure when these were made - maybe in the 90's- but they definitely have the high waist I have been searching for. On a side note - I usually don't look through jeans at a thrift store because I rely on my brands that I know will fit just right, but recently I have been digging through the racks, and let me tell you there are tons of great jeans to be found (current brands and GREAT vintage ones as well).

I paired my new love with a simple black tank from The Limited (bought years ago) and this beautiful floral headpiece that I found at an estate sale. I chose to wear the headpiece with a simple yet stylish outfit.

Sunday was really a day of bliss. A picnic in the park by the ocean and dinner on the swing in our backyard. This turned out to be the perfect "day-in-the-sunshine" dress. I found the dress on our summer excursion to Birmingham, AL in a thrift store I just had to hit up. I love the pattern, and though not pictured, it has this really interesting cut in the back.

I paired the dress with layers of necklaces (channeling Janis Joplin), a scarf found at another garage sale and my trusty Target shoes.

Now on to another week....

Savin at Savers!

At least once a month, I rise on a Saturday morning full of energy and zest - I am anticipating my visit to SAVERS (the best thrift store EVER). I head out the door just knowing that I am guaranteed to find some treasures. This particular Saturday did not let me down, I will fill you in later but let's just say I found things I have been on a year long hunt for.

To my suprise, on this particular morning, SAVERS was having a Back to School fashion show. It seemed to be put together by some of the high school students who work there (think of the clothes they find - hours upon hours spent sorting the fresh shipments of goodies that come through the door).

Here was a group of students not caught up in the world of brand name clothing and were rockin their own individual style - with all items selected from SAVERS. It was great to see how they all chose a completely different look showing off their fabulouos personalities...

Just another reason to love SAVERS I guess.

THE SOCIETY GIRL OF THE WEEK

I realized after many mentions of the beautiful Jovovich-Hawk line, I have never pointed out my love of their individual styles. They are absolutely amazing!

To be honest, I lean more toward Carmen Hawk's style with her quirky hairdo's and unique accessories but I truly love Milla Jovovich's style as well (My friend Sara and I like to believe I am like Carmen and she is like Milla - don't tell anyone our secret fanatasies though).

Their design sense is exactly what The Vintage Society is all about. Taking the vintage and melting it together with current trends. Their style often has a dramatic element that I love - the use of an old cocktail hat, feathers or flowers perched in their hair.

Please enjoy our Society Girl's of the Week .... Carmen Hawk and Milla Jovovich!