Vintage Condition Chart

When shopping for vintage and retro purses, or any other vintage and retro items for that matter, I strive to find items in excellent to near mint vintage condition. While I know what that means, does the average buyer know what that means? And if so, do they know that I strive to only offer items in this condition? After all, I’ve failed many times to note the condition of items in my posting descriptions. I guess I’ve just always assumed the photos speak for themselves.
How does one define the condition of vintage items? Well, for what it’s worth, here’s my definition of Vintage Conditions, along with examples from my online boutique Better Than Naked and my private collection. I’ve used purses as examples, but this Chart can be applied to any collectibles.
I follow a 6 tier Vintage Condition Chart, made up by myself and confirmed through observation of many other vintage sale and auction sites. Similar to Car conditions, Vintage Conditions include: Mint, Near Mint, Excellent, Very Good, Good and Fair.
1) MINT: this means that despite being 20 years old, or (hopefully) older...this item appears to be just like new. JUST LIKE NEW. Seriously...as if it just came out of the factory and you are the first owner. This item has NO flaws and ZERO visible wear. Quite honestly, it doesn’t appear to have ever been worn. EVER. The only example I’ve ever seen and had the pleasure to photograph is this 1960s Satin and Beaded Evening Bag, by Gucci.

It appears that this purse has never been worn since its creation about 55+ years ago. With only one owner, this designer handbag has been safely stored throughout the years. It’s valued at $1,000 and is currently for sale.
2) NEAR MINT: these items, if used, have been used minimally; as in 2-3 times max. They appear to be in new condition, despite their age, and worse case scenario there may be a light scratch or wear on the hardware...or a tiny mark on the interior lining. I think my Gold Mesh Purse by WHITING AND DAVIS makes the cut.

Not a mesh link is missing, every stone is in place, the satin interior is bright and super clean, not a scratch appears on the hardware, and it’s fully functioning. The last 50 years have not affected this beauty!

3) EXCELLENT: you may be able to tell these items have been worn, but they are without major flaws and have no damage or flaws to its architectural structure. They may contain a blemish or two, but they are very minor and in no way deter from their beauty. For example, this White Satin & Beaded Evening Clutch by GANSON.

First of all, surprise! Ganson made evening bags...I had no clue. Secondly, it’s beautiful! It’s shape and hand beaded design has not been sacrificed, and it only has a couple small marks on the interior and exterior back; and its architecture is without a flaw.
4) VERY GOOD: similar to excellent, you may be able to tell these items have been worn, and their age can be shown through minor blemishes, acquired through the years. While they may not be perfect, they are classic; timeless. They are also fully functioning and totally wearable, such as this Electric Blue SATIN CLUTCH.

Its architecture is without flaw, the satin blue exterior in very good condition; its bow showing a minor bend. A gold kiss clasp closure and gold lining in near mint condition makes this a classic clutch!
5) GOOD: just like ‘very good,’ these items show their age with small blemishes or marks to either the exterior, interior, or both. They are, again, fully functioning and wearable in their current condition, and are undeniably in their own right, classics. Like this 1960s NAVY BLUE & RED HANDBAG.

Its only flaw is a minor discoloration to the exterior right side. It’s classic architecture and navy blue and red color combo makes it simply irresistible!
6) FAIR: I don’t believe in fair items. They have numerous, notable flaws...and many times are not in usable condition. I can show many examples, but none of them are from me, so I don’t want to be a jerk. Many items in fair condition have architectural damage as well as major interior and exterior flaws, and are better off to be laid to rest. This includes broken straps, ripped skins, tears, missing stones, non-functioning clasps, etc.

Last Minute Bride

When one peeks a little deeper into the City of Angels, past the hazy skies and the West Side, they just might be pleased at what they may find. In my little corner of LA exists an ever growing group of local folk making and selling some kick a*s goodies! Together we were able to come together for a one-day boutique...a Bridal Boutique! My first time ever doing such a thing, I found this type of event to be one of the most fun events I’ve participated in so far.
With a larger goal in mind, I sought out my friend and fellow female business owner, Wendy Ramos. Owner of Just Wenderful, Wendy has been fulfilling bride’s dreams time and again with her Event Planning and Coordinating Services. Upon discussing my larger goal with Wendy, which will not be discussed here and now, we went for something a little more...last minute...
Last Minute Bride is a traveling Bridal Boutique featuring last minute necessities for the Bride and her girls! Another friend, and fellow female business owner, hosted the first ever Last Minute Bride at her Glendale Salon and Spa, Valentino’s. Hair Stylists offered Brides-to-be complimentary hairstyles, including Up-Do’s, while Makeup Artists offered FREE Makeup application! It was too much fun watching Brides being pampered and beautified.

The salon itself was beautiful enough to host a wedding! Wendy and her team left not one detail out! From the Sweet Treat Table to the milk glass vases with orange ranunculi, every girl felt like a Bride that day.

Catering to the Vintage Bride, Better Than Naked’s contributions (ME!) were vintage beaded bridal bags, handmade bridal bags, antique vanity sets, makeup compacts and more! I had a variety of vintage umbrellas starting at only $10, as well as vintage bags as low as $18!

Other local vendors included Cake Goodness, known for her delicious Cake Pops, Cupcakes and Unique and Colorful Cakes.

Katy Carrier Events and Designs, who was selling not only her beautiful stationary, but also her handmade garters; Shannon Lee of Shannon Lee Images brought her talented and lovely self to the Boutique and displayed her variety of what I like to call love shots; Pilates with Paige was offering 10% off her services; Earth Daughter Arts brought out handmade bags and other fun bridesmaid gifts; and JD of Shall We Dance Entertainment brought it all together with his great music, fun personality and his singing!
View more pics!Stay tuned for the next Last Minute Bride date, in the planning now!

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.

Organize 2 Harmonize

I don't know about you, but it is a constant struggle for me to keep organized. I start many projects at the same time, and have many ongoing projects that require constant attention, so I'm constantly making clutter messes. I realized that I needed a method to my madness, and so entered Robyn Reynolds, owner of Organize 2 Harmonize.
Specializing in Home Organization, Estate Sales and Move Coordination, Robyn's passion for organization and harmony comes through in the way she conducts herself and her business. She spares you the lip service and gets to the point. I called her in to take a small peek at some of my madness. She doesn't know it, but she didn't see the full madness.
We started in my master bedroom. That bedroom is fairly minimal, and that's the way dude man wants to keep it. So i showed her the inside of our closet and explained to her that we are running out of room and showed her my pile of shoes in the corner. I could see the wheels moving in her head, and her eyes lit up as the ideas came out of her mouth. She gave me some "food" for thought, and wasn't afraid to ask me questions. Why do I have to hang up all my jeans? I don't know, but she's right, I don't need to! Why do I hang all my tees? indeed they do still get wrinkled...
I then introduced her to our home office. We are very close to putting the finishing touches on that room, but I've been hesitant because I'm not liking the flow I've created...or lack of, I should say. After a few moments of silence, the ideas came out of Robyn's mouth. And it all made sense. And she also gave me a few places to shop for furniture based on the styles that are in my home. She is thorough, understanding and has great follow through.
Check out her site: www.organize2harmonize.com and, as Robyn says, Clear the clutter, Clear the mind, Be more productive.

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!

This One's for Me!

yeah, ok, so i’ve been on strict orders from the dude man to chill out on the inventory shopping. and I did! But, as I have said numerous times, you can’t fight the feeling when it comes calling. Anyways, thank goodness for a somewhat stable last couple months on the business end...it allowed for me to see what all was out there to see...and buy.

I came across, and bought, fun stuff this time around! Not a single purse, and I didn’t even mind! I found many fun trinkets, odds and ends...those of which I typically steer clear from. Not because I don’t love them. It’s quite the opposite, actually. Anyways, I ended up buying a few things for my home: a California Pottery Wine Carafe, 2 Stainless Steel oversized serving trays (for our “romantical” meals in bed), as well as a few bad-as* vintage art wall hangings.

However, my favorite, most priced-possession of this week’s shopping was the Ceramic Japanese White Owl I purchased...for only 1 dollar.


Measuring in at 4 inches high and 1 1/4 inch wide, this Owl is definitely a piece that Jonathan Adler used for inspiration when designing his line of white animals. His pointy ears and stoic face leave no room for play time. His feathers are so defined you almost believe they're real.



True to his breed, he still bears his blue 'JAPAN' sticker on his bottom for all to his admire his authenticity.


When I saw him, it was instant love. I’ve always been a skeptic about love at first sight, always playing those emotions off as lust. Well... skeptic I am no more. His milk-like white guarantees him a spot in my bedroom, I just haven’t figured out exactly where yet.

February is Vintage Month!

As 2009 was coming to an end, I had a great conversation with my husband (and business partner) about my vintage mania. Anyone that knows me, knows I’ll start a project and then walk away midway to start another project, all while brainstorming and ranting about the third project...and on, and on it goes. So for the sake of our sanity and happy marriage, together the partner and I decided that it would be best if I stop buying and start researching my obsession...to see what my long term goals are for my vintage madness and business.

After a successful Purse Party on the last day of January, I decided it was time to temporarily trade in my vintage shopping sprees for vintage research sprees. While it has only been a couple days, I woke up Monday not really knowing where to start. So I got into my car and drove to the Boulevard...where I ended up at a bookstore. After picking up BUST magazine, a guide book to vintage handbags, and a vintage fashion accessories book, I couldn’t wait to come home and get to reading! After my first day of research, I discovered that one thing is for sure: @ Better Than Naked, we offer AMAZING prices on quality and collectible vintage handbags, fashions and accessories. For example, Lizard skin Purses by Koret can sell from $50-$200. We’re currently offering one for below $30, with shipping and handling included!

After a sleepy morning, Day 2 got started with a stop to Vintage Playclothes in Studio City. I was overwhelmed by the amazing vintage fashions that awaited me once I opened the front door! While I wanted to touch every item and stock up on vintage hats and purses for myself, I managed to stay focused and instead conducted price comparisons. I almost couldn’t walk straight as I admired a wall of heels, boots, fur jackets, stoles, and vintage eye ware. The hats were too cute and unique, and I ended up giving in to trying a few on. After my trip there, I gladly realized that @ Better Than Naked, our wide collection of shoes come in popular brands and in great condition; the same as Playhouse. As I exited, I picked up a nifty free paper and event postcards and came home to build up my February calendar, which is:

Saturday, February 6th: I can’t miss Apartment 3’s Pre-Valentine’s Day VIP Penthouse Sale at the Standard in Downtown! I can’t wait to see all the items they have for sale under $45, and there’s nothing wrong with FREE DRINKS and kick ass music! Festivities start at 1pm and carry on until 6. All are invited!
Sunday, February 7th: I will not forgive myself if I don’t swing by the Civic Auditorium in Santa Monica for the Vintage Fashion Expo. Not only will jewelry appraisals be available, but fashions for Spring 2010 will be shown! At only $10 entry fee, this one can't be missed.

Friday, February 12th: If all goes well, on our way out to Palm Springs that Friday afternoon, the partner and I will stop by Barkar Hangar inside Santa Monica airport for the Friday preview of the first annual Kulture Recycling & Vintage Clothing World Gathering.
Saturday, February 13th: While in Palm Springs, we are looking forward to attending the Palm Springs Modernism Show at the Convention Center. At only $15 admission fee, I can’t wait to see all the amazing furniture and fine arts for sale in the mid-century modern capital of California - the desert of Palm Springs!
Sunday, February 14th: I'm hoping and praying that I finally make it to the Vintage Paper Fair in Glendale on the way home from the desert. The name says it all, and it's FREE...

Tuesday, February 16th: BOOK Starstruck: Vintage Movie Posters From Classic Hollywood is being released and is said to feature the best of film historian Ira Resnick’s collection of movie posters and stills from 1912-1962. The cover alone has me sold.

Sunday, February 21st: I absolutely have to make it out to the Long Beach Flea Market. After many unsuccessful runs at the Silverlake Arts Craft and Vintage last year, I’m on the prowl for successful flea markets where I can share and sell my vintage finds with vintage fashionistas and collectors alike.

Sunday, February 28th: I hope to end the month with a visit to the Ventura Flea Market. Just one county over, it sounds refreshing to leave the city and head to the ocean community of Ventura and see what vintage fans there are in the market for.

Winter Solstice

Saturday, January 23rd, is the first Winter Solstice at Valentino's Salon and Spa. Our friends in skin care and makeup, Witchy Poo Lotions & Potions has achieved their goal to bring us ladies mineral makeup that loves our skin and gives great coverage! Both easy on the skin and wallet, I love the 32oz Sacred Soak Salts for my Bath. I can't wait to smell the new Eucalyptus Mint scent, which sounds perfect for winter! Browse through the varieties of eye shadows, lip glosses, skin care and face care available!

Equally exciting, Better Than Naked will also be at the Winter Solstice selling Hand Knit and Crochet Scarves, Neck Warmers, Vests, Sweaters and Hats! We will also have our popular handknit headbands and hair clips available at our favorable low prices.

But I'm sure what will appeal to everyone most is that there will be FREE refreshments served from 1-4.

I love these shopping events we hold in Kenneth Village, and I'm excited about sharing our handmade goodies to all the loyal customers of Valentino's!

The Old Ridge Route

By the time Monday came around, I was in desperate need of some shopping. Unlike most women in the City of "Angels," I do not enjoy day-long shopping sprees at the Beverly Center, Colorado Street, Melrose Ave., or any other over-priced shopping areas LA has to offer. Instead, I enjoy leaving the city and traveling a mere 50-60 miles North to the mountains, where vintage and antique shopping is patiently waiting.For many years I've wanted to check out View Larger Map">Old Ridge Route Antiques in Lebec, CA. Having traveled up and down that part of the 5 Fwy my whole life, I walked in with high expectations...and left on Cloud 9 (hours later).
I got sucked into the $1 jewelry box the second I walked in the door, where I scored great sterling silver necklace charms, old pins and a gorgeous pair of faux gold cuff links - which my husband claimed before I could even finish cleaning them.
After I left my thrifty finds with owner Paula Clevenger, I made my way through the huge layout of antique furniture sets that were in impeccable condition. If you are in the market for a vintage vanity set, well...this is your place! I believe the most expensive vanity I found was $200, and all of them are complete with a stool and mirror! If I didn't already have one, I would have come home with two!
After browsing through antique beaded handbags, vintage toys and dolls, household items and many more goodies, I made a final stop to the $.50 picture box. For some reason I was drawn to a picture of a woman who wrote on the back of her photo that it is "horrid" and to "destroy it."

I can't help but think that maybe I should obey her wishes that weren't met all these years and destroy it; or, if I should be selfish and keep it alive, in spite that she wanted it destroyed decades ago. What would you do?

Of the items I walked out with, I'd have to say that my favorite find of the day was my latest home decor project - 1950s pictures of Rome, Italy. Each photo includes a detailed description of the sites on the back in pencil, by the photographer I'm assuming. Having traveled to Rome a few years ago, the connection was immediate to the pictures. And the passion and interest in each description motivates me to keep those pictures alive.

Success! The Holiday Bash!

Success! I can officially and happily say that The Holiday Bash at Valentino’s Salon and Spa was a success! The second I opened the door to the Salon on Saturday afternoon, I could feel and smell the Holiday cheer. I couldn’t help but smile as I passed the brightly lit Christmas tree, as I was met by smiles and hugs and an appetizer table.
Ok, Yum! The food table included a variety of crackers and cheeses, brownies and cookies and homemade eggrolls. Drinks included sodas, wines and beers, and were served by a bartender. And...they were all FREE!
Across the way (and downstairs in the art gallery) was Better Than Naked, where we were selling adorable knit and crochet Stocking Stuffers. Starting at only $2, Smart Shoppers nearly sold us out of our scarves (only $10) and hats (only $5)! PunkBaby Wear Onesies and Toddler Tees were available for only $18; Pacman was the hit of the night for the Kids line.
Downstairs was the Art Gallery, where water color paintings were being sold as low as $25! I couldn’t resist and picked up a new number for the dining area.

It’ll go well with the Italian theme kitchen I’ve been working on.

Better Than Naked also had items downstairs, where the art gallery was taking place. That's where we offered mainly vintage costume jewelry and evening bags. I must admit I’m still slightly mourning the sell of the Brown Stitch Bag. But I know it went to a good home.
Many prizes were raffled off Saturday night, including our Hand-Knit, Multicolor Drawstring Bag, valued at $25. Valentino’s Salon and Spa raffled off great prizes such as haircuts, conditioning treatments and European facials. Oh! And...I did it! I did the GM Colin Skin Scan.

I went under the black tent and saw the sun damage on my face...ugh...I knew baby oil and tanning didn’t sound like a good combo (thanks, Dad).

As the time flew by, so did the drinks, food and shoppers. My cousin Dorian was Bartender of the night! Not only did he possess mad skills, but he is the only man I know that can rock a purple sweater. I’m grateful for the friends that showed up. Not only did some brave the cold on public transportation, but others drove 20+ miles to partake in the festivities.
After a joint effort cleanup session, a few of us wrapped up the evening with a scrumptious dinner (and drinks) at Chadaka Thai in Burbank, before parting for the night.
I must admit, I love happy endings!

Tuesday Tidings

This week's Tuesday Tidings goes to....(drumroll)...PUNKBABY WEAR!

Show your baby or toddler's retro rocker style off with one of the many Boys and Girls onesies and tees that feature cool and retro images, like:


or the Ghost from Pacman!


George Lucas Fans - Star Wars!


Skulls & Bones for Her!


KISS! (my cheeks! hahaha, how great is that?!)


and for you classic rockers, John Lennon (with a pacifier!)


Each image is available in either a onesie or a tee. Visit PunkBaby Wear to see the whole line of clothing. The entire line will also be available at The Holiday Bash on Dec. 5th at Valentino's Salon & Spa in Glendale. Give a great gift with PunkBaby Wear!

Monday Recap

What a lovely fall weekend. The leaves on the tree in our front yard is finally turning shades of orange and yellow, and there was a consistent chill in the air. Saturday was spent cuddling on the couch with the hubby and the evening was spent celebrating my sister-in-law's 21st birthday. And Sunday was a work day.

Better Than Naked was at the Silverlake Art Craft & Vintage Fair on Sunday, at the new and improved "new" location (actually, it's the previous location). I must admit that I really liked this new location a lot better. Because it's a smaller parking lot, the set-up is more uniform and flows through all the booths. The vendors are still ever-changing, but there were a few familiar faces. At our own booth, we were offering up some fashion-tabulous prices and finds in both vintage and handmade!
- skirts were being offered for only $5! All dresses were only $10 - and came with a FREE belt!


One gal was smart enough to pick out a hot pink 100% snakeskin belt to go with her adorable gray, pink and black dress. We were also offering up small clutches at only $5 and wallets starting at $2! And, of course, we had Mystery Bags for the kids.



One fashionista walked out with a Burgundy Pair of Leather Boots for only $12, while another took advantage of the unique and beautiful pair of Etienne Aigner vintage boots that were almost NEW condition!

Our handmade section was given to Katelyn, a fellow handmade fanatic who was offering up fun and frilly crochet scarves starting at only $20!



It was a lot of fun watching the girls practically run up to our booth to try the different styles on. The greens and yellows were the most popular, and Katelyn is working hard this week to fulfill her special requests.

One of my personal favorites, as well as shoppers, was the vintage, mint condition, mink stole. Not only is it soft to the touch and beautiful in color, the inside is lined with satin and features the previous owner's name. Oh, I can only imagine how beautiful she must have looked and felt when she wore this gorgeous piece out. It is available for $150!





After a great weekend, we are going to bust our behinds in the earlier week to post as many handmade and vintage items that we can so that we can enjoy the company of our family and friends during this Thanksgiving holiday.

Tuesday Tidings

I've decided that Tuesdays will be the day that I share my favorites. I am lucky enough to be surrounded by creative people in my daily life, and with this comes knowledge of new things! Of course, these things are beneficial to one's life, otherwise I wouldn't be sharing them.

Anyways, my first ever "Tuesday Tidings" goes to Witchy Poo Lotions & Potions for their "Powder Strokes All-Over Body Shimmer." With 3 available colors, each Body Shimmer comes in a container with a Built-in Pump Brush! At only $26, you're really purchasing 2 products for the price of 1. Choose from Bronze, Diamond and Pink, which work with any skin tone. I had fun this weekend with Diamond, as it gave me that wintery shimmer I was looking for. If you prefer a more bronzed look, than go with Bronze Shimmer which gives you that perfect amount of tint. Whichever your preference in color, you won't be disappointed in the results.

Containing natural elements, this Powder Strokes Body Shimmer also provides a light level ofSsun Block, helping to protect you skin from sun and free radicles. Look "luminous and youthful" all year round with Witchy Poo's Powder Strokes All-Over Body Shimmers!

Monday Morning Recap

This past weekend was a weekend for creative stimulation and great shopping. i sold at the Silverlake Art Craft and Vintage Market on Saturday and attended the Market again on Sunday at it's New (old) location.

Saturday was slow...but not as slow as I had feared. I was showcasing a specific selection of vintage purses, jewelry and shoes, and included our Handmade Line and Witchy Poo Cosmetics. Smart Fashionistas took advantage of our super-slashed prices and purchased killer boots for as low as $10, bracelets as low as $5, and handmade scarves went for $18 and up. Body Shimmers with built in pump brush were purchased for only $20! It was a great sale day at Better Than Naked's booth at the market.

When I found time, my mom and I strolled around the market. I passed by an adorable booth offering hand-crafted baby and kids clothes. Cute designs, with just enough edge for baby. I passed by Mr. Bob's Unique Store, where shabby-chic style furniture was being offered. He refurbishes great vintage furniture with fun shades of red, green and blue. And the prices truly can't be beat! Items began as low as $10! Look him up in the Gardena area. I purchased 2 adorable bookmarks which should keep me motivated to read. Donna is the owner and creator of Buttoned Flower, and she also offers greeting cards, note cards, tags and more! If that's not enough talent, her husband recently (and I mean recently) discovered that he's a great painter! so the talented duo was offering up great paintings and amazing prices as well as their beautiful line of stationary.

Sunday I headed back to the market, this time as a shopper. The Silverlake Art Craft and Vintage has moved back to its original location; the Citibank parking lot on the corner of Glendale Blvd Silver Lake Blvd. I'm hopeful about this new location, as it is located on the same street as Red Lion Tavern, Rockaway Records, The Circle, and other great local LA hangouts. I made some fun discoveries that I just have to share - it would be selfish of me not to. Thank god for Brown Bag Books! I've been searching high and low for a sketch pad, and was SO excited when I found it at Brown Bag Book's booth! This clever artist and teacher takes the front and back covers of vintage books and binds them with paper. And, you can purchase 2 for $20! that's cheaper than buying corporate mainstream! Each notebook is obviously one-of-a-kind, and some of the titles and covers will have you rolling on the ground in laughter. Perfect gift for yourself and a friend. I made my way over to another creator, Cathi Milligan with Cathi Milligan Designs. Offering up unique and tasty looking beads, Cathi creates and makes each one of her desert inspired glass beads, and offers them to us at super great prices! I seriously wanted to eat every donut and cupcake design on the table. And my most fun find of the day, which I still think about and catch myself laughing about, was Quirky Creatures. Creator of her own creatures, Artist Irit Elazar Cohen captures "other wordly creatures roaming our planet" and offers them up in framed pictures, greeting cards, kitchen magnets, tree ornaments and more! I'm a huge believer myself in the WolfOwl.

After purchasing a pair of fun and funky sunglasses for only $3, I made my way out of the Market with a grin on my face and a bag full of fun finds. I ended my Creative and Fun weekend with a Tarot Card reading at Caulderon Kitty where I gained some insight on myself and my possibilities and was able to reach back down to my root. It was a nice experience and I recommend Caulderon Kitty in Silverlake if you are going to have your cards read.

We'll be out at the Silverlake Market on Sunday, 11/22, and we'll be returning with our vintage handbags and jewelry and handmade fashion and accessories. So if you're in the area, be sure to come by and say hi!

The 3rd Saturday

september 26th was the 3rd Silverlake Swap Meet for us folks at Better than Naked. it was another hot day, naturally, and the crowd was smaller than the last 2 times we had attended market. but that didn't make for a slow day for us! while business was pretty crummy, i'll admit...i had a great time socializing with all the fantastic vendors!

ok, before i get ahead of myself, i have to admit that i am a little bit proud of myself...I hired an assistant for the first time! the husband was looking forward to an exhausting Sunday and had made it very clear days prior that he would not be helping at or attending the swap meet with me. he also strongly suggested that i not go either. well, i decided against his opinion and went ahead with it anyways. i posted on facebook that i was looking for an assistant and my friend (and previous co-worker) Shelly answered the call...and I was happy it was her! Shelly met up with me around 8:15am on Saturday morning outside of Micheltorena Elementary School, which is where the Silverlake Art Craft and Vintage Market is held every Saturday. We cruised into the school and proceeded to set up the booth. After a successful set-up, Shelly was off the hook. Off she went and sitting I did.

After what felt like hours, I started chatting with the 2 sisters in the booth next to me, whose items were fairly similar to mine. But this time I had done things different at my booth, and played around with the inventory i was offering. bad move that I will never do again. But that's besides the point. The 2 sisters have a fun little business set-up: they collect email addresses and email their fans updates on where they will be so you can go on a shopping spree at their current location! and I'm not lying when I say spree. All belts were $3, Antique 50s Hats for only $15, and all clothing only $5 each! After some time, I took my sad little sweaty self on a tour of the market once the hubby showed up. Wait a minute, didn't he say he wasn't going to come?! well, he lied! (He showed up with sandwiches around noon and stayed with me until shut-down time, and I apologized for not helping and commended me on my job done.)

on my walk, i ran into a super cute girl named Corrie who had a super cute clothing line called David - Solomon. After admiring her dresses, we exchanged info, and I'm hoping she remembers to call me so I can come pick up my dress, which was only $25! Whatta steal!

After leaving Corrie's booth, I walked up on Mother-Daughter team Laurel and Amanda. Their booth was filled with all sorts of fun toys and trinkets, including a vintage Care Bears TV Tray. I admired it then shared with them that I had a similar TV tray in my booth, except it was ET.

Too hot to explore any more, I made my way back to my booth and tried to not look like I was melting. Wendy, the cute skinny girl in the amazingly fabulous vintage dress came by and we chatted about our Etsy stores. She runs a fab online boutique called Strim Vintage, and she's known to refurbish her finds into fabulous one-of-a-kind vintage pieces. We promised to "Favorite" each other on Etsy before she pranced back to her booth.

The afternoon crawled by at snail's speed, I'm not afraid to admit it. Anyways, everyone else was! I waiting until 4:00, not any earlier, to start packing up the goodies...many of which I had hoped to find a new home but was not successful in doing. After reviewing the days log, seems to be that purses and jewelery are still favorites and shoes are picking up. Home goods are better when sold online and $1 mystery bags...they're still a hit!

meet you at the roller rink

roller skating...ahh, what a fun pastime. me and my friend, let's call her lynn, recently recalled our days of young when we made up dances on roller skates to the soundtracks of La Bamba and Dirty Dancing. lynn was a roller skating student of a very famous professional roller skater, so she would come home with all these super cool tricks and moves on her skates; shoot the duck was one of my personal faves. this skate obsession went on for quite some time, and still holds a special place in my heart today. 30th birthday - what did i do? went rollerskating! and mind you, i do not rollerblade.

today i discovered: the vintage blue roller skate shoe.

i had some time to spare in my day today, so i cruised into a personal favorite treasure hunt spot of mine to see what i could find. i lazily looked around, as there wasn't much going on in there. no luck with purses, shoes, belts...boring! then...just as i was about to give up all hope, i reared a corner, and, right in my point-of-view and in all its beautiful retro glory, were these funky-town, perfect condition, vintage blue roller skate sneakers with bright, fat yellow wheels and clean white shoestrings! i picked them up, waiting to be disappointed. but i wasn't! clean...blue...bright yellow wheels... never been worn...clean white shoelaces...vintage...retro

these blue roller skates will be available in better than naked's online boutique soon. but for now, you have these pics to admire them by. enjoy!

1980s Plastic Charm Bracelets and Necklaces

yes, i was a child of the 80s...not a teen, but a kid. i was a fan of the smurfs, rainbow brite, the care bears, tom and jerry, bugs bunny and scooby doo...i was NOT a fan of teenage mutant ninja turtles, ducktales or any of those weird shows; by that point i was baby-sitting the kids watching those wanna-be cartoons. i'm just clarifying to make sure you know when i'm coming from.

so...i was at my parents house a couple weeks and i was going thru a closet in the room that used to be mine when i found something i've been thinking of for a while now - my 1980s plastic charm bracelet and necklace!

i don't know who remembers these, because some of the people i've asked just look at me with a blank stare, but these were so bomb! each necklace and bracelet is made of cheap plastic links and adorned with large, plastic charms (each about an inch or more) with small bells and make no sense whatsoever. for example, one of the charms on my bracelet is all white and has a bear riding a dolphin...?!

i brought my plastic bracelet necklace and bracelet set home. i looked up examples online and currently there is an ebay auction featuring 31 charms on a necklace - current bid is $47! while i would love to expand my collection, i know there's a die-hard bidder in there that will pay whatever need be to acquire this necklace, and I'm not that hard up (yet). i did find a smaller and cheaper auction where I'm currently the highest bidder...so let's keep our fingers crossed!

anyways, i've attached a photo of my plastic charm necklace and bracelet. the necklace is a red plastic chain with the following charms: a blue racket, a white roller skate, yellow fish, a hot pink fist, an orange bottle and a teal tansistor radio. the bracelet is a neon yellow and features a red hair dryer, yellow smiling frog and a white bear on a white dolphin.

i'm not planning on wearing these out, obviously...at least not yet...but i'm just so excited to have found them that i had to post my own! wish me luck that i win the auction!

vendor virgin no more

so i survived the silverlake art, craft and vintage fair. i should seriously make t-shirts that say that for all those who survived along with me; shoppers and vendors alike.
the first time is always the hardest, isn't it? well, so is the case in this situation. however, well worth it, which looking back i can't say that for other virgin no more experiences.
i was super organized, which helped. i packed up purses, ties, hats, clothes, shoes and jewelry in big tubs. we packed the truck strategically and left with plenty of time to arrive and set-up. we had already tested the tent a few times to get the hang of it (although our vendor neighbors talked us thru the set-up on the day of - thanks, tim!). we were all set!
but hot damn! talk about butt-a** hot! after barely surviving set-up in 100 degree weather at 9-ish in the morning, shoppers started finding their way around. 3 pendants sold in minutes. the green swim cap was purchased within 20 minutes. awesome, there goes a straw bag within 1 hour! my mom played cashier. i was the welcome committee. we always work well together.
as time slowly melted away, shoppers were coming in small spurts. the gorgeous yellow dress went home to a skinny minnie who paired it up nicely with a mint green belt. the whale tee found its new home with the same sweetie-pie that picked up the fabulous black strawberry necklace. loose pendants were a hit as well, only $3! the mystery bags seemed to be a hit with teens, kids and the adults! for only a buck, they couldn't be resisted by the shoppers.
i met some super cool people and was happy to see some pals turn out to show love and support. we managed to hang in there until about 2:30, but after almost passing out and being beet red for hours, we decided to call it a day and head back into the valley, where it was 2 degrees cooler. all in all, it was a great day and i had a blast. we'll definitely be back when the weather decides to chill out a bit.

yes, still talking about the fair this coming saturday!

i may sound like a complete broken record by now, but i'm just overflowing with excitement and enthusiasm! i am finally taking my "boutique" on the road and going to set up a public shop for the day. i've purchased my 10x10 tent, have stocked up heavily on inventory, and am in the final process of decorating my booth.
i found a chain-link fence a couple months ago in the backyard of our semi-new house after removing a large metal gate and have been dying to put it to use since its discovery. i'm thinking that the fence will be perfect for displaying the bags and purses!
oh yes, the bags and purses...uh, what should one do? i have purses coming out of my ears over here! i counted 101 purses a couple weeks ago, of which maybe a 1/4 were posted and have since been deactivated for repricing. since that last count, i have purchased at least 20 or so MORE purses, including this beautiful royal blue beauty!...so i'm not sure which to take out with me and which shall stay...or should they all go? i don't know! argh! the stress, the pressure!
i also decided to take a look into the jewelry i've accumulated...which turns out to be a lot. i have over 20 loose pendants and charms and only a couple chains worth using. so do i sell the pendants as is or spend more $$ on the chains, thus marking up the prices on my charms? then how vintage of a price can i offer? the agony! the confusion!
oh my geez, then there's the shoes! heels, boots, kids, men and women...even freakin' moccasins! hey, where did those come from anyways? must have been another manic day...when, then or now?
oh yes, trucker hats and ties for the guys. i can't wait! i have been having so much fun shopping for ties. there are some super cool digs out there. the boys in my life have been taking first pick, but luckily for the shoppers they are conservative and left the bold ones for, well, the bold ones!
i'm feelin' pretty lucky at this point. mom will be there working the $$$ and mother in law will be there, too. hubby and pops are expected to make an appearance as well! just keeping my fingers crossed for the love and support of my family and friends and the eagerness of shoppers to come out for superb saturday shopping at the silverlake art craft and vintage fair!

jewlery, jewelry and more jewelry!

i've been preparing for my first public appearance which will be on saturday, august 29. i've purchased a booth space at the silverlake art and craft fair and in anticipation of this great weekly event, i've destroyed my home upside down and have been pulling out purses from ungodly places. ok, not really ungodly places, but my god! i have over 160 vintage bags!!!

as i was going thru the goodies, i came across necklaces, bracelets, earrings, rings and pendants that i forgot i had. DOH! how selfish of me! my purpose is to find them new homes, not hoard them!

so what's so special about my jewelry? well, for starters, check out those handmade sunkist earrings! they are made from recycled sunkst cans and padded with a foam-like lining on the back. the heart-shaped earrings are on silver hoops. or how about screw-back wood earrings or red dots?

ok, let's talk necklaces. although hard to see, not only do we have big junky necklaces, we also have glass bead necklaces perfect for layering, scrabble pendant necklaces, and domino pendants with vintage pics and hilarious sayings!

bracelets are there too! gold bracelets, silver, beaded and more!

this is one example of the many vintage finds that will be available at our August 29th booth in silverlake!

painting on leather is rad!

i've always wanted to enjoy painting, i just always had so many issues with it. maybe it has to do with the fact that i failed, yes failed, my first painting class my 1st year of college...i failed mainly because i never showed up, and i never showed up because i didn't like the professor, and i didn't like the professor because he was so negative about art that was not done in his exact manner. one which i prayed to never obtain. sure, the man was talented, otherwise he would not have been teaching a painting class. but he was just as lame as his boring paintings and became in my mind a mini-hitler: pissy about his crappy paintings so he took it out on his artists. yes, that's a large accussation to make, but it's funny and it makes me laugh, and this is my blog!

so! moving on, the above story does have a meaning to this blog, unlike many other i tell. after i failed that art class at 18 years of age, i never felt the same enthusiasm about a paint brush and canvas. many years later i had found photography to be artistically fulfilling, and there was a positive response to my pics, so i let that consume me for a few years. but, like everything else i experience, i got bored.

ok, i'll get to the point! i started painting on vintage bags. blah, there it is! my first attempt came out pretty clean. i took a white leather clutch with a wrist strap that needed a little "vavoom!" only having had purchased the electric blue paint, i followed along lines already present in the purse. this paint i'm using from eco-flo is fun because it glides on smooth and evenly and colors include bright yellow, hot pink and neon greens! once the paint dries, a water protector is applied to the paint to keep it sealed in and protected...forever!

today i finished my second bag. this one is a black leather purse with leather interior and silver accents and a great design that was getting lost in monotone. although i've since purchased more eco-flo colors, i found myself gravitating towards the electric blue. following the vertical and horizontal lines on the bag, the black handbag got a makeover too! it's been posted on my etsy site and can be seen here.

i went through the 101 purses and pulled out 8 more bags that are set up to get a makeover. stay tuned, my goal is to knock one out by tomorrow!

Silverlake Indie Swapmeet

yeah, i might be a little late on the bandwagon, but at least i finally know! saturday i went to the silverlake art and craft sale/swapmeet with the hubby. he was excited to browse through records and i was excited!

when we entered the gate, there was this woman playing flute and reading what looked like very old sheet music. it was so pretty! it took me back to my flutist days...you never appreciate what you have until it's gone, huh?

heading past the flutist, we came across a booth of 3 gals, one of whom was selling these adorable tie-dye baby tees with felt designs. i was shocked to learn that she hasn't been selling her items on etsy! she said that she wasn't sure about her designs aftering viewing the current etsy sellers, but i strongly and honestly disagreed with her. so hopefully she will just go for it and see for herself!

moving on we came across a girl sitting at a small table with 3 vintage dresses and really funny cards. she is a seller on etsy and i giggled at her most popular seller that read "Congrats, Bitch"in beautiful cursive. i then purchased her 3 vintage dresses for $15. whatta steal! still haven't decided their fate. i'm thinking they are gonna be added to my wardrobe, being that i possess 1 vintage dress, 1 skirt and 30 vintage purses...yeah, i need some clothing.

we darted straight past the massive racks of vintage and retro clothing. so overwhelming! at this point i had lost gino. i stumbled upon a booth of all sorts of trinkets and goodies. lots of fun stuff, and one purse labeled "Space Girl Purse." oh, look! records! and gino!

gino joined me, knit kitty in hand and 20 bucks later. we passed by this oh-so-clever guy with a sewing machine and clothing galore! what a clever fella! you could create your own dress, right there on the spot! you pick 3 different vintage fabrics, mainly old tees, and choose from 3 styles of dresses, hand on over to mr. clever, and...wah-lah! your very own, custom-made, vintage dress. that was probably the highlight for me.

we passed by jewelry and art....i picked up black crystal earrings for 12 bucks, and gino scored a magnet. we made our way around the back end...ooh! what is this? 5 and 10 dollar racks! i scored myself an adorable house-dress...yes, i made my status of housewife official!

we passed by more vintage booths, but a little too chaotic to entice us. we got a good laugh out of someone trying to sell a destroyed "X"album for $100 and made our way back to the entrance and the flutist.

what a great time! i'm thinking about trying out the swap meet for myself, and seeing if i can have any luck selling my vintage goodies. my current active inventory consists of 68 items, plus i just counted out 101 purses that are still in the "warehouse".....now which weekend should i choose? hmmm...

101 Purses

a couple weeks ago i moved my vintage inventory from the guest room into a new, larger storage space. in a matter of weeks my inventory had grown out of control, as i had been buying more than selling. it took almost a day until i was able to see the guest bed (ok, it is a twin, but still!)... and that is when i discovered that i had some unposted items...well, a lot...

after this realization, life went on and so did my purchasing. my new storage space was much larger, so i kept packing. i took on a couple consignment gigs. then, next thing i knew, my new storage was a mess of a place.

after many awful nights of sleep and irritated eyes that burned at the sight of the sun, today i finally awoke after a decent nights sleep with energy... and decided to review and organize my backed up inventory because i'm thinking about doing my 1st swap meet.

tackling only the purses, i scoured every nook and cranny in my home for bags. yes, my madness is that bad. painted purse in one corner, stack of clutches in another, straw bags covering the dining table...

HA! so after pulling every purse out, I just had to take a photo of what still needs to make its way into the boutique. i'm wondeing how long it will take to photograph, measure, describe and post 101 vintage purses...

to be continued...