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CRAFT & CULTURE // INTERVIEW

By on November 20, 2012 in sponsor interviews


Craft & Culture is one of my favorite web boutiques. They are based in Seattle and have a perfect dark modern aesthetic, focusing on unique designer apparel, jewelry, accessories, and even some cool home goods. Right now I’d say it’s minimal with just a hint of goth, but it’s always evolving. Craft & Culture has a unique focus on designer features, including interviews and in-house lookbooks, which are a real meeting of talents. For this feature I wanted to do a little interview with Craft & Culture because I know that they have a lot of cool ideas and motivations powering their shop, which I’m sure you can appreciate this too! Just in case you’re skimming, don’t miss their BLACK FRIDAY SALE starting this Thursday at midnight. Lots of amazing deals on really cool designer pieces, more info below in the interview!


–What inspired the birth of Craft and Culture? Has the vision evolved since opening, or are there any new directions that you’re interested in exploring as the shop develops?

Craft & Culture was inspired by conversations about things we love (independent design, underground fashion, unique perspectives) and also the desire to create a platform for the individuals that we admire to succeed on a greater scale. We began with four artists in Seattle that we had personal relationships with and those individuals really informed the values and direction of the site. Now that we’ve gone global (that’s fun to say!) we’re receiving input, inspiration and ideas from a much broader range of artists. So in terms of the future, we’re interested in creating space for a global audience to learn about these incredible designers and find pieces and products that they’ll treasure.

–It’s clear that the relationship between maker, retailer and buyer is very important to the shop’s overall vibe. From the exclusive editorials to designer interviews, there’s definitely a story being told. Why are these features important to you?

Thank you! We try to bring our unique skill sets and interest in the human part of products to everything we do. These are amazing individuals creating things by hand or in small runs. They love what they do and we want to support that by showcasing their work and processes in a personal and unique way.

–How do your surroundings influence the shop’s aesthetics? Does the creative community around you play a part, and would you ever want to translate the web boutique into a physical store?

The Seattle artists and community definitely influence the aesthetic of the shop. We’re impressed by our surroundings to say the least. But the focus is really the self-expression of all of our artists so that includes the Icelandic, Parisian and Montreal-based designers as well. The diversity is what is so exciting to us. The store has no plans to become a physical boutique because the web creates such a global reach for us. However, pop-ups are always a good option.

–I love all the dark colors and modern, slightly goth looks that are featured in the shop and the lookbooks. Is this a style that you’ve always been drawn to? What are some of your key pieces for the winter months?

The style is one that is ever-evolving with the artists. We draw our inspiration from them so the aesthetic is firmly rooted in an exploration of material, texture, history, personality and transformation. It’s very human!

Key pieces for winter are the alpaca knits by Hendrik.Lou (especially the cowls), leg warmers by Eon from Paris, Dagger Earrings from Aoko Su, one of a kind necklaces by Meghann Sommer and the incredible rune dress from Ovate. Actual Pain’s new line of leggings will be on the site soon as well and they are insane!

–Anything else you’d like to share about upcoming events or projects?

We’re releasing the second edition of Ledger Magazine in early December! It’s a newsprint mag that delves into the culture of the artists on our site as well as individuals who march to the beat of their own drum, so to speak, and are making huge waves doing it. I can’t wait to share that! It will be available on our website and also for free at coffee shops, galleries and other small venues in Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and Brooklyn.

We’re also having our big BLACK FRIDAY SALE beginning this Thursday at midnight and going til the following Tuesday at midnight. Amazing gifts and artisan goods marked down up to 40%! Buy for yourself or someone you love while supporting independent artists.

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SPONSOR INTERVIEW / CHIC ORIGINS

By on May 27, 2012 in sponsor interviews

CHIC ORIGINS

Hope everyone is having a chill weekend! Here’s a cute picnic-friendly early summer outfit for you from a Clever Nettle sponsor, Chic Origins. I also asked Katherine a couple questions:

What kind of pieces are catching your eye lately for spring and summer?
I especially am liking this year the hour glass fitted mini dresses.

Other than vintage, do you have any favorite designers or labels that fit in to your style?
I personally do not wear a whole lot of vintage. I love to scour out estate sales and thrift shops to find some fun pieces, but am actually very modern with my own wardrobe.

Do you have a favorite season for stocking your shop?
My absolute favorite season for stocking my shop is actually Spring into Summer! I try my hardest to be consistent in stocking throughout the year, but it is much easier come spring time because everyone is in the mood to go buy some new pieces and the styles are so bright and inviting.

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INTERVIEW / DALAGA NYC

By on December 12, 2011 in sponsor interviews



Today I’m happy to share an interview with two awesome ladies, Mary and Michelle, who are the women behind the NYC boutique, Dalaga! They are famous for their sweet dresses and carrying awesome local designers (like The Loved One and Alexandra Grecco) and they have a great attitude when it comes to fashion, design and retail. Not to mention they are both totally stunning, as are their clientele! See if you can play “spot your favorite internet lady” in the photos below, and enjoy the interview! If you like, you can follow Dalaga on Facebook and twitter. They are also offering a couple cool deals, so be sure to take advantage of these: “We’re currently offering free shipping on all online orders of $150 (only applies to ground shipping within the US) or more and additionally we would like to offer all Clever Nettle readers a special 15% off all items (including sale!) through the end of December with the code CLEVER15!”

Hi Mary and Michelle! Can you tell us a bit about the history of Dalaga and what prompted the decision to open a boutique together?

Since we were little we would play boutique in our mother’s closet – Michelle would merchandise the clothing as if she was the shop owner and Mary would be her customer. We thought of our mom as the most elegant and fashionable lady ever, so we went all out whenever we had the chance to dress up and mimic her or play in her closet.

“Dalaga” is actually a Filipino word that our father affectionately called us when we were little. Literally translated it means “young lady”, but to us “Dalaga” meant to be a quintessential woman in her prime and it was the ultimate compliment!

After months of eyeing our current storefront and with the encouragement from friends and family, we opened up shop in 2006, making our childhood dream a reality.


I love that your shop focuses on supporting local designers, has it been this way since the very start? What makes a label perfect for Dalaga?

Dalaga actually started as an independent clothing line that Mary and Michelle started in college. Michelle designed, made the patterns, and Mary helped cut and sew, so supporting local designers is at the core of our beginnings. It was our intent to be a vertically integrated company where we designed and manufactured everything in house. It’s a huge task to take on and eventually we strayed from making our own designs to carrying lines by other people like Alexandra Grecco and Friend and Nemesis Jewelry which is designed by our downstairs neighbors! From there we started to carry other brands like BB Dakota and Seychelles and since then have created lasting partnerships with them and other brands.

Greenpoint has been so good to us – our customers are so amazing, wonderful and devoted and we would not be here without them, so it’s really important to give back in any way we can. Part of that is carrying products from designers who live and work in the area and we are proud to foster our community in that way.

As for labels that are perfect for Dalaga… We are definitely drawn to designers that have a very distinct voice. We cater to all types of women so we don’t ever stick to one trend or look. You’ll find a silk Alexandra Grecco dress paired with a giant spiked leather Friend and Nemesis necklace. They key is to be yourself and follow what inspires you because that’s what’s going to get you noticed. Whether it’s the fabric, the detailing on the buttons, an unexpected cut out or flourish, every item we carry has something special and unique about it and it’s not going to cost you an arm and a leg.

As sisters, do you feel like you have very similar taste when it comes to style? Did you have the same ideas about clothing while growing up, or have there been any polarizing fashion moments in your sartorial histories? I bet it’s harder to bury those embarrassing stages if your sister can remember them too!

We definitely have similar tastes when it comes to style, but Mary is a little more girly and feminine while Michelle is a little more dark and edgy. Mary definitely looked up to Michelle growing up and was Mary’s fashion compass so to speak.

As women, our style and tastes are always changing, so there are definitely some fashion moments that we’d like to forget! We try not to speak of embarrassing hair-sprayed bangs or black-lined lips, but those faux pas are part of our “sartorial histories” and it’s fun to look back now and then just for a laugh and to remind ourselves that we’re always moving forward!

Dalaga has been recognized for having some really great dresses, and since we’re getting into the holiday season I thought it would be fun to hear you describe your perfect wintery party dresses. Any special fabrics or details that keep haunting your wardrobe dreams (in a good way)?

We love light, flowy fabrics for winter! It might seem counter intuitive weather wise, but it’s really the perfect thing to contrast the heavier fabrics of the season. We’re also huge fans of pairing girly with grungy, so a nude pleated chiffon dress would be perfect paired with a leather jacket, a big cozy scarf and a pair of killer heels. You can never go wrong with sequins and glitter during the holidays and we always tend to stock up on enough sparkle to last us all year!

The first time I heard of your shop was during Fashion’s Night Out when some blog friends (yo Emily and Ashley!) posted about their visit. What are your thoughts on the internet’s role in retail?

The internet definitely influences retail these days. What’s so great about fashion and the internet merging is the democratization. It’s not just for magazines and runways anymore. Girls all over the world are taking what they see during fashion week and putting an affordable and approachable spin on it, which is core to our beliefs as a store. We don’t think you should have to pay premium to look and feel amazing and we feel so honored and lucky to be able to provide those kind of unique items for our customers!

Any special holiday plans for Dalaga, in-store or online?

This holiday season is definitely a busy one for us! We just hosted a launch party for The Loved One this past Friday, which is really exciting because Dalaga is the only retail location on the East Coast to carry the lingerie. We’ve been huge fans of Hannah’s personal style and blog for a long time, so it’s a thrill to partner with her and Elvia to bring TLO to New York.

We are also extremely excited to be participating in two awesome holiday markets this month! Because of our 5 star rating on Yelp we were selected to participate in the Best of NYC Yelp Holiday Market in SoHo on December 17th and 18th 12 PM – 6 PM as well as the Brooklyn Night Bazaar from December 15th – 17th 5 PM – Midnight. Both markets will be featuring great food and music for all to enjoy!

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Interview with Novella Bleu Vintage

By on April 10, 2011 in sponsor interviews


Novella Bleu Vintage is a brand new etsy shop created by Jacqueline, a lovely lady in Michigan. Also a photographer and a new mom, she has paired up with her own mother to seek out fancy vintage goods wherever old treasures may be found! Jacqui also keeps a blog, if you take a look over there you might just find a coupon code for her shop!

-What was your first experience with vintage, and how has it evolved into the creation of your new shop?
My first experience with vintage was when I was in 6th grade. I convinced my dad to take me to a thrift store in Ann Arbor for an authentic hippy outfit for Halloween. I loved the movie Austin Powers with Mike Myers and I guess that’s where I got the crazy idea to either be a hippie or a “Fem-bot” while everyone else was a princess or a power ranger. I had noticed the shop one day when my mom and I were getting falafels at a restaurant called Jerusalem Garden. It was one of those basement thrift shops were you had to step into what felt like a bomb shelter. Once we were inside there were just rows after rows of thrift clothes straight from the 70s. I remember I had the same feeling I felt when I entered an old book shop…each one of these dresses already has a story and a previous owner. I was holding a piece of history! I have my parents to thank for constant trips to Ann Arbor; an amazing college town in Michigan that is like a microcosm of the world…just about every culture is represented there. Since I grew up in suburbia, it was always a wonderful escape for me.

Do you have a favorite era, or any personal collections?
My favorite time period for fashion was the late 1950s to early 1960s: the move from The New Look to a fitted bombshell dress with a sexy kick pleat. Since I have always been a curvy girl; my mom always said that my body was from a different era and to embrace it. I like clothes that hug curves but still cover up. They are glamorous and feminine and of course flattering. My favorite hair style is a swoop bang and a bouffant (click to see wedding hairdo), something that has been mastered by the soul singer Adele. At the recent BRIT awards, she wore a lace illusion dress and an updo that I would die for! The 70s boho look is my other favorite era to collect although I don’t think it looks as good on me…I still love the relaxed natural style of it. It always makes me feel happy.

-What kind of women from the past do you like to imagine as the previous owners of your wares?
I like to think of the women who wore my dresses as ambitious, glamorous, and proud to be mothers. As a new mom myself, you tend to lose your personal identity and style. Even though there are days were I want to stay in my yoga pants all day; I remind myself that it’s ok to dress up, to still be glamorous and feel “put together”.


-Any weird thrifting stories?
Not so much weird as heartwarming. I take my 9 month old son Henrik everywhere with me and he is a charmer. He either is tucked in my moby wrap like a baby kangaroo or perched in my shopping cart if I’m carrying load of items. Since Michigan’s economy has been hit so hard, thrift stores are very popular. So many people stop and come over to talk to him. I hear things like “this is the best time of your life” or “you are so blessed to have him with you and not have to drop him off at daycare” or “what an angel, he has a sweet soul”. One time a woman who didn’t even speak English came up to us and started singing to him in what I can only assume was Mandarin. He loved it! He loves people and being on the move just like his mom. (click to see Jacqui & Henrik!)

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Ventricular Projects Interview

By on March 26, 2011 in art, sponsor interviews


It is a nice, sunny Saturday- time for chillin’ with some tea, working on little projects, drawing, looking out the window… it feels like the perfect time to share this interview with Tricia and Carly from Ventricular Projects, a new collaborative effort to bring together and publish artists’ work (all kinds of creative work, really!) from around the world, inspiring a sense of community through creativity. I think that reading about their project will really make you want to hop away from the computer for a while and make something today. Enjoy!


Can you introduce Ventricular Projects and the people responsible for this creative venture?
Carly: The project originally just started as a smaller long-distance zine collaboration and when we both realized how interested we were in art publications and helping out other artists, we decided to see how far we could take it! I graduated from college last year and Tricia will be graduating this year, and I think we were both just eager to try something else separate from academia and instead shift our focus to our creative projects that allow us to work collaboratively with others.

What is your process for compiling projects and booklets? Do you find that you are inspired by a certain artist or piece, or do you have a theme in mind when seeking contributors?
Carly: For the two projects (Issue 1 & 2 of Tilde Journal) we’ve worked on together so far, we started off with a broad theme in mind for our contributors to interpret with their submissions. Because in the past we’ve worked within a really close-knit circle of writers and artists, we’ve tried to choose themes that allow us to submit more personal work and share a little bit about ourselves. Our upcoming projects are more artist specific and our goal is to just facilitate them in being able to share their work with a larger audience.


What has been the best experience for Ventricular Projects so far?
Tricia: Collaborating with other artists, definitely. For the first issue of Tilde Journal, my talented friend Ena Kosovac made a tiny clay city to illustrate a short story I wrote and for the second issue, Carly drew on one of my photos and gave it some incredible texture. I love seeing what other people come up with.

Carly: For me I’m still just so flattered and awestruck by some of the wonderful artists and writers who have wanted to submit and collaborate with us. Especially for some of the photographers whose work I’ve following for a while, I’m really just happy getting a chance to work with them on a project and having a final object to hold onto.


Is there anything you’d like creative folks to know about how to contribute to your work?
Tricia: We’re constantly looking for new collaborators and artists to promote whether through new projects or features on our blog, and we’re definitely not limiting our future ventures to visual art and writing – in the next few months, we have film and fashion projects we’ll be working on! Just send us an email, and we’ll be happy to brainstorm with you.

Artwork by Carly Knowles and photos by Tricia Gilbride.

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Willow Knows / Sponsor Interview

By on March 23, 2011 in sponsor interviews

Today’s interview post features Willow Knows, a fairly new shop that already has a pretty keen sense of self and defined aesthetic. Jessica combines her love for sewing with vintage and has her shop stocked with some handmade pieces (with plans for more!), altered vintage and straight-up vintage finds. Her blog and tumblr scrapbook are really nice too, and you should absolutely watch her spring video up above! It’s so cute!


-Your shop is a great collection of vintage, handmade and altered vintage… which came first, an
interest in creating & sewing, or vintage itself?
Hmm. This is a good question. In high school I started buying dresses in thrift stores and cutting
them up. I never really had much of a plan before I put scissors to fabric, and nothing too
impressive ever came out of my impulsiveness. Then I went to design school and started making
clothes from scratch. Although in college I mostly worked with new fabrics, I always knew when
I started my own line I would use upcycled and eco-friendly materials.

I have also done work as a stylist on independent films. I was collecting clothes long before I
ever had any idea that designing for films would be something I would ever do. The first film job
I got I thought, “oh duh! This is perfect for me.”

So I love collecting, styling, selling, and altering vintage clothing. Shoot, I have no idea which
came first. But I do know now that I am so happy to have Willow Knows Vintage up and running
and can now begin step two of a whole collection of Willow Knows Handmade.


-Your color palette is very light and often based in pastels, is that something that the upcoming
spring is influencing, or do you love it all the time?
I’d say it is definitely something that has been influenced by the upcoming season. In the past I
have always been inspired by tones found in nature – deep greens, sienna browns, the colors
you’d find in a bag full of seashells. This winter I started putting pastel colored paint chips all
over the walls in my work space. This brought a lot of light to my below freezing winter days. It
wasn’t so much intentional but a natural transition from my walls to my etsy page. In fact, I think
a new color story is in the works for the summer season. That’s what I love about having a shop
on etsy. It can be completely experimental.


-Are there any fabrics, colors or silhouettes that are inspiring you right now? Any sewing
projects you’re excited about working on?
Always, Always! Vintage lace, forever. I love lightweight materials – silks, chiffons. This season
I also love lightweight chambrays. I am inspired by texture and organic shapes possibly more
than anything else in all of my design work. So always fabric with an interesting texture and
hand. Right now I am obsessed with all things long, loose, and light. Any silhouette that would
be appropriate for a hot summer day full of wildflower picking. Including midriff bearing tops, I
cannot get enough of visible tummies!

As far as sewing projects, I am excited to start working on a Willow Knows 100% handmade
collection. It will be inspired by the bare earth and all things natural and organic.


-Any weird thrifting stories?
This winter I found several amazing vintage coats all hanging on a rack together. I immediately
grabbed each one of them. I love the idea of finding pieces that seem to have all been hanging in
the closet of one person. I tried them on in the store and noticed there were some things in the
pockets of each. All full of tic-tacs, medicines, and tissues. The tissues were clean but all
crumpled up like they have been crushed and held in little wrinkled nervous hands for hours. It
was like traveling back in time when I stuck my hands into those pockets. It all seemed so
personal. Finding tic-tacs is not too strange I guess, but I always remember that day.

I also once found a rabbit fur coat with “i love jason” written on the inside lining. No words.
That’s just perfect, isn’t it?

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Primitive Painters – Sponsor Interview

By on March 20, 2011 in sponsor interviews


Today’s little interview is with Jenna from Primitive Painters, a lovely vintage shop based in California. Try to not be distracted by her really cute and funny floral pug icon, cause there are some nice spring dresses in the shop too that deserve your attention! You can keep up with Jenna’s updates on her twitter page. Now, time to learn about the Gwen Stefani vintage connection and weird thrift store serenades!

–What was the first thing that drew your attention to vintage clothing?
Probably a mix of my mother’s influence and my childhood obsession with Gwen Stefani. When I first started looking for vintage clothing, I would always hope to find a blue and white polka dot dress (like the one she wore the “Don’t Speak” video), but I have yet to find one. I’ve been going to the same thrift store with my mother since I was a kid, and she has been going since she was in her teens! The same women have been working there for so many years, and they are all really sweet. I also started sewing around junior high school, so by high school I started to make vintage-inspired clothing as well. I really loved the 40s around that time, and it was fun trying to put together looks from that era. I think I just liked to look nice throughout high school instead of “plain,” and wearing vintage was a good and cheap way to accomplish that.

-Do you feel like your vintage choices are influenced by your surroundings? Are there any items that have a local connection that you find more often than others?
I do find a lot of homemade stuff and John Hogan pieces, from fancy hats to dresses. I usually go through different phases; finding stuff from the 50s and 60s, then finding 70s to 90s. Rarely do I find anything earlier than the 50s, but when I do it’s really nice. I’ve been luckier at other thrift stores when it comes to older pieces or accessories, but I love my regular store and always find something.


-What was your favorite find last year, and did you put it in your shop or hold on to it?
Probably this 1950s black suede and leather purse. it’s the perfect small-medium size, and the strap adjusts from handbag length to the perfect length to wear on your shoulder. It has little gold accents and the straps hang off gold loops… I’ve never seen one like it, and purses are something I can’t stop collecting–so it stayed with me.

-Weirdest thrifting story?
Recently I saw a man with a guitar wandering around the aisles and serenading women. His song of choice was “Your Cheatin’ Heart.” The woman he had picked was only an aisle away from me; and I’m not a fan of having the spotlight on myself, so I had to run and hide before he got to me, haha.

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Miss Quite Contrary Photography – Sponsor Interview

By on March 13, 2011 in art, sponsor interviews


Gillian is the collector and photographer behind Fairy Tale Photography by Miss Quite Contrary, an art and vintage shop based in Ontario. Her shop has a dreamy quality and her vintage finds and photos blend together in a lovely way, and she’s actually having a big sale on all vintage right now, 50% off if you use the code SPRING during checkout. A spring treat! Read below about Gillian’s favorite mediums and her quest to bring a bit of magic into reality through her work.

-Your photos seem to tell a consistent story, a fairy tale-like world (obviously!) with a hint of romanticism and magic. Is this something that stems from a childhood interest in fairy tales? I know I read a ton of them when I was young!
I read like crazy when I was young (and still do, novels in one hand and school textbooks in the other, and listening to audiobooks while working at the local library). My favourite things – books, art, movies, music – have had a bit of the supernatural and something a little eerie lurking behind the prettiness. Fairy and folk tales, novels by the Bronte sisters, stories like ‘Emily of New Moon’ (a more gothic ‘Anne of Green Gables’) and non fiction about awesome women from history have always been my favourites: stories where Victorian propriety is subverted by strong females, outcasts and nature – and now these same ideas are major influences on my artwork.


-Do your vintage finds ever inspire your work, or does your work dictate the sort of vintage that you’re searching for?
Because most of my vintage finds are formerly worn by me or treasures I can’t bear to pass up, I feel like these items are just as personal as my artwork. I love items that combine over the top femininity with a rough edge or pioneer spirit, connecting my love of travel and exploration with subversion of traditional gender roles. I love wearing lacy Edwardian gowns out on picture taking missions in the wilds of the Yukon or climbing moors in England, and picturing layers of history being added to clothes which originated in such a different time and place.


-What are some of your favorite cameras or tools for creating images?
I use both digital and film, but prefer cameras that are easy to carry around with me on my travels. I’ve taken most on glorified point and shoot or little variety store disposables film cameras (my new favourites). I’m just learning how to use photoshop, mostly for combining my original photos with vintage pictures I’ve found thrifting – I feel like I can invent back stories for these abandoned snapshots, and put ghosts from the past into the landscapes I pass through. At my day job I work with old books so I’m inspired to rescue some and print photos over the text. My newest projects involve embroidery – text onto vintage textiles and and just now working on incorporating some embroidery into my photos, too. I guess I am just trying lots of different ways of making the far off worlds of fairy tales and history seem more tangible and real to us mortal present day folks!

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The Tailor’s Stories – Sponsor Interview

By on March 6, 2011 in sponsor interviews


The Tailor’s Stories is a great vintage shop based in LA, the first time I heard of them was from Erin‘s blog, and I’m happy to be sharing an interview with the ladies behind the store today. I think it’s so great when friends run a shop together, especially when it’s their love for vintage that’s powering the business!

-Can you tell us who is behind The Tailor’s Stories?
We are Yeonhee and Sara. We both were born and raised in Korea. We met at FIDM while studying fashion design. We became best friends instantly since we have so many things in common especially our love for vintage. We are about same heights and both have long curly hair. Even though we don’t look alike, many people think we are twins. Sara’s mother is 20 years experienced tailor. She helps us a lot when we make some changes on clothes. We are very lucky to have her.

-It’s always neat to hear about friends running a shop together. Has vintage been a part of your lives for a long time?
Yeonhee: When I was in high school in Korea, I had to wear a school uniform, so I didn’t have to buy lots of clothes. But one thing I was really into was a vintage denim. During weekends, I was rummaging for vintage denim around my town. I didn’t have that many sources at that time and also vintage shops were not popular in Korea. So when I found one that I really liked, I didn’t care whether it was damaged or stained. I just loved the fact it was different and unique. After I moved to the United States, I was fascinated by variety of vintage shops. I fell in love with all kinds of vintage goods from dresses to jewelry, and even furniture.

Sara: I wasn’t interested at all in vintage until before I saw the picture on the magazine when I was high school student. On the picture, one girl was wearing a beautiful dress and it says that it is a vintage dress. At that time, I thought the vintage is one of the brand names. After I found out the real meaning of the vintage clothing, I really fell in love. It is only one unique clothing! Especially, I really like the baby doll-style dress and so do many of vintage dresses.

-What is thrifting like in LA (without giving away secret sources, of course!)?
LA is actually wonderful place to shop vintages. There are a lot of vintage shops and also flea markets. Of course Rose Bowl flea market at Pasadena is the best, and small scale flea markets open every Saturday and Sunday around the town. Other than flea market, our favorite vintage shops are Scout at Hollywood, Driftwood at Silver Lake and Tavin at Echo Park.

-Weirdest thrifting story?
We do not have any weird experience yet, but one funny story. One of our favorite vintage shop had $5 backyard sale. We were thrilled and ran into there. The store didn’t have any backyard, but parking lot on concrete. It was about 90 degrees hot summer day in LA. Clothes were thrown and piled up on the concrete floor. We started to dig out like crazy people. At certain point, we both felt dizzy and sick. Sara asked me if people could die because of intense heat. Then I just realized we might die while rummaging vintage clothes. So we stopped doing it. We scored some awesome pieces, but also we literally got burned from heads to toes. Sara and I never forget that day.

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Interview with Lisazain / Vintage Shoe Love

By on February 27, 2011 in sponsor interviews


photo by Julia Gariepy

I’m really excited to share this little interview, cause it’s with one of my favorite internet buddies, Lisa! You probably know her from her amazing vintage shoe shop, lisazain aka vintage shoe love! We’ve known each other online since before she took over the vintage shoe scene, and I can’t say enough good things about this lady and her amazing family out there in Buffalo, NY. Lisa is really funny and talented, has a great eye for vintage, and is always so full of love and warmth. My only complaint is that she loves Buffalo so much, and we can’t trick her into moving back out to the west coast! Maybe someday we’ll get to hang. In the meantime, here’s a peek into her footwear-filled life. Thanks Lisa!

-You are the master of vintage footwear. What made you decide to focus on shoes?
My decision to focus on shoes in the shop came both naturally and intentionally. When I decided to sell vintage, the first thing I did was go through my own overflowing collection. Buffalo has a really good thrift culture, and since moving here I had been stocking up left and right! I pulled out a few accessories, sweaters and dresses right away, but the largest part of my wardrobe has always been shoes! The first item that I sold on etsy was a pair of shoes and that paved the way. I noticed a demand, and also a hidden drive in me to search them out and share them with the world. When I examine someone’s outfit, my eyes go straight to the ground. When picking potential dates or mates all through my adult life, my eyes go straight to their feet! There is just something about shoes that I can never get sick of. I would wear the same dress, or pair of pants over and over if it meant that I could spend more on shoes that I love…

-I love when shoes have unexpected details, sometimes the construction can be so unique. Can you describe the most interesting pair you’ve come across?
One of the best pairs of shoes that I have ever come across was right here at home. Black leather woven ankle booties that had an overall “fishnet” effect with capped toes and faux “all star” leather circles at the ankle. They were show stopping! I found them right after I started selling and I was so excited to put them in the shop! Now that I think about it going on two years later I regret it so bad. They were only a half size too small and I really wish I had kept them.

-Are you known around town at the thrift stores as the lady who buys all the shoes? Any weird thrifting experiences?
A lot of the younger girls at the thrift stores I frequent recognize me and are not surprised by my habits. Some of the older women give me funny looks, ask me what I am going to do with “all those shoes.” I have a really weird struggle between wanting to conceal my intentions, and wanting to tell them about what I do. Sometimes I worry if too many people around here get the same idea that I will be up for more competition while shopping… especially if someone who worked at the thrift started up a shop! Strange experiences are all in a days work around here that’s for sure. Off the top of my head, getting flirted with my men well into their 80s, getting dirty looks or heads shaking at me by old ladies who think I am just greedy, (maybe?) and chasing college girls (nonchalantly) all around the store trying to see if they put things down that they saw first but I have eyed up. Sometimes you just have to wait and see if they really are going to buy those knee high Minnetonkas or lace up oxfords before you give up on them forever.

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