This Week's Events!

Our Clearance Section is growing online!  We're overstocked and can't push items out the door fast enough.  Here's some items that will be added to our online boutique this week:

Vintage Earrings $5. Free Shipping in USA.

Retro Suede Mini-Skirt $20.  Free Shipping in USA.

Vintage Earrings $5.  Free Shipping in USA. 

Our mobile boutique will be out twice in LA this week, so if you're in the area, please come say hi!

New Top, Vintage Handbag and Hat.
Available at Le Fashion Truck!

Thursday, March 24 - The Truck Stop!  Join us at USC in the Classic Parking Lot for food trucks and local shopping!  700 W. Jefferson Blvd, adjacent to the Shrine.  11am - 3:30pm.
- RESCHEDULED FOR MONDAY, MARCH 28TH. SAME PLACE AND TIME.

New Top and Vintage Handbag.
Available at Le Fashion Truck.

Friday, March 25 - We'll be back in Hollywood on Cole Pl. off Sunset Blvd. The fashion truck will be open from 11am - 3pm.  Grab lunch from one of the food trucks and pick up a weekend outfit!

New Top, Vintage Key Necklace, Sunglasses.
Available at Le Fashion Truck!

March 26-27 - This weekend we'll be heading out in Le Fashion Truck to our hometown Bakersfield, CA for a roller derby tournament!  Featuring 12 teams from California, Arizona and beyond, Bakersfield is hosting the 2nd Annual Dustbowl Invitational!

Important Announcement

For months now, we've been hard at work on a large project...something that will possibly change the way we shop...maybe forever!

We've been playing in the same sandbox as jewelry lines Alex & Vina and Dollhouse Republic, collaborating at local events, fashion photo shoots, and pop-up shops.  After many successful runs, we've decided to collaborate on a permanent basis!

Having done business in areas around Los Angeles and beyond, we've noticed one important thing about Fashion.  It's not just in the big cities, in those "select areas" where everyone gravitates...No Sir!  It's at the ends of the County, it's alive and kickin' on the East side, and it can be seen all over the Valley.  And after that, it's just keeps on goin'....Because Fashion is Everywhere!

So it was only natural that our boutique would be mobile, with the ability to visit all areas of Los Angeles...and beyond.  And that is the important announcement...the launch of our mobile boutique, Le Fashion Truck!

Featuring vintage finds from Yours Truly, we are proud and excited to stock the truck with clothes, handbags, purses, accessories and more!  Oh!  And did we mention our Bitchin' Stitchin' line will be available on a permanent basis?!

Ok, we can't help but give you a sneak peek preview.  Come by Thursday night, Jan. 13th, starting at 6pm in Downtown LA during the Art Walk.  We'll be opening the doors to the boutique for the first time and it's gonna be fab!  Just look for the pink fashion truck at 340 S. Spring St., in the food truck lot!

Fall Fashions

Slowly but surely, we're getting all our goodies photographed and online.  We recently had a photo shoot with our favorite models Nicole and Melanie and they brought along the adorable Sakura!  Here are a few pics from our fun day of fall fashions:

L-R: models Sakura, Melanie and Nicole.

Melanie in a navy retro polka-dot dress,
snakeskin belt and vintage wool hat.

Sakura in a vintage dress, vintage cap and costume jewelry. 

Nicole in a 1970s black and white jumper with gold belt, gold vintage clutch
and gold necklace topped with a vintage purple wool hat.

Melanie, Nicole and Sakura.

Sakura in vintage leather pumps
by Donna Karan New York

Nicole in a 1970s white and black polka-dot
dress, navy blue and white vintage pumps,
retro blue suitcase and brown striped wool hat.

Melanie in a vintage camel-colored wool
blazer, retro blue sweater dress, vintage scarf,
brown straw hat, vintage pumps and
a vintage handbag.

Our 1st Professional Photo Shoot!

Last Minute Bride, a southern California pop-up bridal shop, hosted their 2nd event at The Wedding Pantry in Tustin and Better Than Naked was there donning vintage bridal duds!  2 of our favorite fashionistas came out and played with us, and Smita of Smita Photography was there to capture the fun.  Allowed to play at the historic event venue The McCharles House, check out the pictures Smita snapped and shared with us:

 

Smita is available for Engagement Pics, Wedding Photography, Pregnancy shots, Kids Portraits, and more!  Her enthusiastic energy behind the lens envelops the area around, producing images rich with color and emotion.  Can you tell we are on Cloud 9?!  Go to our Facebook Page to see the rest!

The LA Flea Market, Part Deuce

For me, the morning started with a steaming hot cup of coffee from the upcoming portable cafe Drip Bar.  Serving organic Blue Bottle Coffee, each cup of coffee is individually prepared at the time of order, resulting in a fresh, delicious, smooth cup of coffee.  In the amount of time it took me to walk from their bar to my booth at the LA Flea Market, I had already finished my cup and sent my hubby off to grab me another one (ok, it was 2 more, but who’s keeping count?).  

Sharing a booth with friends and fashionistas Denise and Nicole, we enjoyed all the people watching and shoppers.  Lucky folks walked out of our booth with vintage jewelry starting at only $1, vintage handbags starting at $3, and free belts with each purchase!  While I was sad to see the “Doris Day” Samsonite suitcase go, I was happy to know it was in good hands. 

During an early afternoon stroll with the hubby, I came upon The Animal Box.  Owner and Artist Kudura makes his adorable animal art work available on cotton tees and sells them for affordable prices.  When I say affordable, I’m talking about American Apparel thermal zip-ups for only $25 and girly tees for only $15.  He’s in the middle of reorganizing his online presence, but you can check out all the goodies here.  What I love about this designer, aside from his fantastic artwork, is the fact that you can choose your own colors of tees and ink, resulting in a truly unique tee!  Here are the 2 that I picked up:  

I’d have to say the best part, however, was the friendship.  From my husband and parents to Denise, Nicole, Susan and others, we were a strong unit of vendors, and the energy we shared coasted me through the day.  How random was it when the hubby ran into his childhood friend Anita, of "I Dream of...Vintage."  Being reunited after 12 years, it was as if all of us were long lost friends the second we all connected.  And if you do, indeed, dream of vintage, then you gotta check them out.  I picked up 2 vintage dresses for only $35!  

 

Anita spoke of a Fashion Show coming in the Fall at The House of Blues on Sunset...so as soon as I know, you'll know! 

While there are mixed reviews about the market out there, I had a good time as both a vendor and a buyer.  Yeah, sure, there could be more vendors.  And yeah, sure, it still has small hiccups here and there.  But it’s a fantastic blend of local sellers working hard to cater to local buyers, and those that support our hard work are greatly appreciated!

I've been stocking up quite some time now on vintage and vintage handmade dresses.  The dresses have made it out to many events, but for some reason they haven't made it online...until now!  Being that it is the first day of Summer, despite the June Gloom we are experiencing here in Southern California, I've put together a few Summer Vintage Outfits, all with items available from my online boutique and inspired by my own Summer vacation planning.  

This light cotton red dress with matching belt features an island floral print.  Pair it up with this Straw Bag and carry your toiletries safely in the blue vintage Samsonite Small Luggage Case.  Get this look for only $91!

Retro Red Floral Dress: $18

1950s Straw Bag: $38

Vintage Samsonite: $35

Looking for something a little more classic?  Make a statement with this 1960s red and white handmade polk-a-dot dress with high collar and matching belt.  Pair it up with this 1950s Navy Blue and Red Handbag for an authentic vintage look!  Traveling?  Add the small beige leather makeup case and you're ready to go!  Get this look for only $72!

Red Polk-a-Dot Dress: $18

Blue and Red Handbag: $32

Beige Makeup Bag: $22

Spring Shopping Party!

March 21st was not only the 2nd day of Spring, but it was also Better Than Naked’s 2nd Backyard Boutique! Celebrating the sun, flowers, birds and local businesses, we opened the Boutique for a 3-hour Shopping Party and offered Spring shoppers the latest in Vintage and Handmade Clothes and Purses, vintage-inspired Baby and Kid Tees by PunkBaby Wear, skin care and candles by Witchy Poo Bath, and...for the first time ever...a Wax Bar! Yes, a Wax Bar! Jennifer Grubbs, owner and esthetician of Valentino’s Salon and Spa, set up a private Wax Bar indoors and offered pain-free waxing!
Better Than Naked pulled out the arsenal of Kids Vintage and Handmade and featured vintage sweaters and osh kosh overalls, handmade hats and wraps, and retro roller skates! Vintage Bracelets flew off the counters at only $5 each. Lucite screw-on earrings and pendants started at only $3.


PunkBaby Wear was selling onesies and toddler tees for $15 each, and as cheap as 3 for $30! Pink Skull tees were a hit with the little ladies and the retro comics logos were popular with the boys. It’s always good times when mom and kids agree on fashion!

My favorite corner of the Boutique was the Wax Bar. Jennifer Grubbs makes waxing fun and painless. In the privacy of the Wax Bar, we listened to Jessica Fichot as she waxed my gams. Others took advantage of Jennifer’s Brow talents. Whichever the choice, everyone left the bar happy...and sober!
Staying in the Skin category, Witchy Poo made an appearance and offered up Bath Salts, Skin Scrubs, Makeup as well as their sister line, True Apothecary with their soy-wax candles!
Moms and daughters came shopping together and new friendships and connections were made. I was so excited to meet Shawnie from the Backyard Boutique Party Network! She made time in her busy schedule to visit our Shop and we are very grateful for that. As karma would have it, she won a Vintage Evening Clutch in the Chinese Raffle!
Other creative people and local businesses stopped by to show their support. Skin Care Specialist Fern, from Faces by Fern, enjoyed the Witchy Poo booth and was happily chatting away with owner Tonya. Attorney at Law, Brian Ward, made an appearance with his lovely wife Brandi and we were able to congratulate him on his new office in Pasadena. I had the pleasure of meeting Graphic Designer Martha Camacho of MC Design Studio, who also has a talent for knitted handmade items! I’d have to say the biggest bundle of joy that day came from Kennedy, the 5-year old daughter of Robyn Reynolds, owner of Organize2Harmonize. She was kind enough to show us scenes from her upcoming school play, Annie. Although Robyn is serious business when it comes to business, her soft side comes out to play on the weekends. Check out her radio show. I did and I learned in a quick 15 minutes the importance of getting my affairs organized. What a fabulous, FREE service she offers.
With this last Shopping Party, flowers and friendships blossomed alike. It was nice to look out among the shoppers and see smiles, friendship and excited eyes over their new finds. Looking forward to the next one!

Defining Vintage

It has come to my attention that there are many businesses, big and small, selling “vintage” fashions and accessories. I’ve recently visited these stores and saw their their "amazing" and "affordable" vintage finds...which cannot be given an accurate date or brand, and the pricing has been left to the discretion of the shop owner.

So how’s a shopper to know if it’s Vintage? Especially when it’s not obvious that the item is Vintage? Does it matter to the shopper if its true Vintage?

Derived from the wine making process, vintage is to describe something from seasons past. So does that mean that the dress from Fall 2009 is vintage? Technically speaking, YES. But in the vintage collector’s fashion world, NO. However, I’ve noticed a growing trend of retailers claiming to sell vintage fashions when indeed they’re not.

So what is Vintage? While it appears that the definition of Vintage is in the eye of the beholder, for starters its any item belonging to another era in the 20th century dating 20 years and older. Yes, that means that items from 1990 are now vintage pieces! If an item dates prior to the 1920s-1930s (timeline debatable), then you’re in the Antique category. Not my specialty...at all!

For my personal collection and my business Better Than Naked, I choose to define vintage from the 1940s-1970s. The 1980s are Retro and 1990 doesn’t exist for me as a vintage item. I happen to be a collector of purses and admire their architecture, interiors, and chosen fabrics and materials. Purses range from exotic skins such as eel, cobra and lizard to cheap plastics and vinyls.

Say you just found out that your 1960s vintage purse from the corporate store or local boutique isn’t vintage like you thought or was told. Upon closer examination, you find a small tag inside that reads Made in China, when in reality that’s not where a purse from its era would have come from...If it’s not vintage, then WHAT is it?......It’s Vintage-INSPIRED.

Inspire: “to influence, move or guide...exalting influence on...” Vintage-inspired - new fashions inspired by fashions from 20 years and older.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with buying vintage-inspired, as it’s obviously a compliment to fashions and times of the past. I’m simply defining the difference, in case you wanted to know.

Vintage Paper Fair

As I mentioned in a previous blog, February is Vintage Month. This past weekend marked the halfway point of this month, so I felt an update was due.
Unfortunately, I missed out on a few events I was really looking forward to. Saturday, Feb. 6th was an Apartment 3 Party at the Standard Downtown and, although I said I was going, I lied. The weather was horrific (for Southern California) and the clouds, rain, thunder and lightening kept me indoors all day.
I also had every intention to attend the Vintage Expo happening that weekend as well, but on Sunday I ended up at a friend’s house instead, Ooh-ing and Aah-ing over Vintage 1930s Mesh Bags and Costume Jewelry while the Saints won the Superbowl.
Valentine’s weekend, My Dude Man ended up taking a couple days off from. After working out our plans for the weekend, they did NOT include driving to Palm Springs for Modernism Week. But that’s OK! We DID make it to the one event I have longed to attend for years - The Vintage Paper Fair.
O-M-G. I had an idea of what to expect, but really...I didn’t know what to expect. I couldn’t contain the goofy smile that spread over my face when we pulled back the heavy curtain. I browsed through vintage fashion posters, vintage botanical posters, movie posters and more! I walked through aisles and aisles of old postcards; some dating as early back as the mid-1800s! I looked at old road maps, secretly sniffed old books, and gawked at the cheap meal prices on the old restaurant menus. Heaven!
Somewhere among the paper was my Dude Man. I last remembered him muttering “wow, this IS cool...” before we separated.
After finding each other on the opposite end of where we had entered, he surprised me with an Antique Valentine’s Day card from 1908! We enjoyed the rest of the Fair together, where we learned about Hold to Light Postcards.
Here are a few of the items I purchased for myself. Enjoy!