Destash on Etsy Means Bargain Goodies

Just type in the word "destash" on Etsy and you'll be amazed at the choice items, lots, collections and bargains that come up. Seeing that word in the title is a good indication that the price will be low, even at the wholesale level.

Sellers use the word destash to mean a number of things. It may be supplies or items that they need to move out on clearance because they have too much. Or it can be an unused portion left over from a project.

Vintage sellers usually use the term destash when they have a piece they haven't sold so they are marking the price down or they have several pieces and they are putting it together as a lot price. It can even mean that the vintage item is from their personal collection - they no longer wear or use it and they are clearing it out (usually so they can go buy more :)

If you know of any more meanings or uses of the word or want to pass along a link to a good destash listing - please post.

Here's our latest "destash" project....

Vintage Pin Destash - 6 Novelty Figure Pins - on Sale

On Sale - Vintage Pins from our collection. New stock is coming in and we need to make room.

Are you a collector or like to wear vintage pins? Here's six 1950's novelty pins to pin on your sweater or scarf. We're also including our list of "Clever Pin Ideas" with your order to inspire you :)

Pins include Top Hat Cat, The Dashing Gent, Roadrunner Pin, Pearly Guy (there are two of these pins included) and Lounging Dog.

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

New Website and New Items!

Have a look at our newly designed website with some fabulous new vintage!

SLV-Some Like it Vintage.com

As an owner of a an online vintage clothing company, my world is virtually virtual.  My gigabytes are my highway to customers and my storefront is my Homepage.  So I've become more and more intrigued with the pop-up shops concept in North America. 

I've toyed with the idea of a business with brick and mortar, putting down permanent roots to a homebase where my interactions would be you in the flesh, not just you in an email.

On the other hand, I've become more intrigued with a best of both worlds solution.  There is an increase in popularity of pop-up vintage shops for people who have a passion for vintage clothing and accessories who wish to set up temporary displays of their merchandise.  This allows for low overhead costs and each event can be treated as a joyful celebration as opposed to the potential tedium of hanging about waiting for that next person to walk through my door.  Some people plan for monthly pop-up shops, allowing for that build-up of excitement among their friends and past customers.

Right now I'm considering all options.  I am as always thankful for your business and continued interest.  I love what I do and being completely immersed in my vintage and retro world.  Please have a look at my revamped virtual storefront.  I think that you'll love its dynamic quality and as always, there are plenty of fantastic items to chose from!

 

1950s Satin Brocade Wiggle Dress

1930s Navy Blue and Black Velvet Ruffled Sleeved Dress

1920s Chiffon, Velvet Dress

1920s Wrap Coat

Vintage Love Mini Style : Go Big

Have your own majority vote with this mini DC Capitol building. $12.95 here.

Minimalist is in.  The vintage bug bites. You are out of room.  The new apartment is crammed. The condo is packed. The house is overflowing with joy. Hubby complains, he's not much on your vintage piano collection. Perhaps too much in such a small space. So what does one do? Downsize the large and bulky vintage into the teenie weenie. That's right, go miniature.  

Minature Beagle Pup, requires no food or water, $12 here

A small curio or table top display of your mini collections may be talk of the next gathering at your house. Host your own mini-museum full of curiousities.

Smile with these vintage pinbacks, $8 for the both here.

You can even start your own mini-art gallery. Right in the confines of a corner of your room, a tiny nook or shelf to house the odd and one of a kind. The bottom line?

Miniature Sculpture made from Vintage Toys $14.95 here!

Yes, you can go BIG by going small.  

Post by IraMency

Jewel Colors - Rich and Vibrant

Vintage Dress - Jewel Tone Color in Playful Pattern

KALEIDOSCOPIC - Vintage Dress in glowing colors on deep purple background - sz m

* This vintage dress feels dressy while still being a comfortable easy to wear style. The whispery lightweight fabric flows through your fingers. As you can see in the picture the fabric is semi sheer and has pink, cobalt blue and green flowers abstract shapes that glow against the deep purple background.

**********************

Jewel tones are rich and sometimes bold colors that evoke gemstones in all their rich allure. Just the say the names - emerald green, sapphire blue, amethyst purple, ruby red and turquoise blue and your imagination is filled with the rich hues of those gems and stones. When they are used in clothing it gives a lush look.

These colors also open up all sorts of possibilities with jewelry and accessories. You can match or play off the jewel tone fabrics with complimentary colors - a turquoise necklace on amethyst purple or yellow rhinestones against emerald green. Play with colors and enjoy!

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.

Vintage Industrial Spunk or Just Rusty Old Junk?

Salvaged Nails for sale at Vintage Hillbilly.

Ever wondered just where the rusty and crusty lost remnants of industrial age yesteryear actually go?  These days most of it goes to the scrap pile for sure.  Recycle yards for scrap metal and in this economy we all need the money.  Top dollar is paid for brass, copper, and aluminum. Recently Vintage Hillbilly was cleaning up an old farm, and seeing those great nails (above) buried in the mud. Those little spikes of yesteryear may be used in assemblage art, or used to make old-looking new wooden creations. Wayne says, "I just had to fish them out of the mud."

Aluminum glove molds at RetroChalet

Retro Chalet was buying out an old glove mold factory for porcelain hands for catering when she saw antiquated rusty equipment with aluminum  glove molds still attached to the machine line. "I asked what they were doing with them, and they said going to the scrap yard. I told him, I don't believe I can let you do that. He looked at me a bit funny, but I pitched the industrial part of history speech and soon we were negotiating prices. The rest of the weekend was spent dissasembling them from the original machinery.  Now the aluminum hands were saved from being a part of forgotten history. I will slowly sell them off to people who can appreciate them as much as I do."

Old Brass Porthole at RetroChalet.

Sometimes the salvage becomes impractical. This brass porthole was bought at high dollar prices years ago because it was going to the scrapyard.  Still worth more in scrap to most, the beauty is there, for the right collector. For practical purposes, who has an old yacht that needs this?  Most stores would try to sell it for a few cycles, then get discouraged, scrapping it themselves.  For Retro Chalet, it's worth waiting for the right person to give it a home, and save it from the scrap pile, for a bit longer.  "It may look good in an industrial house, in the bathroom or a study. The right designer may have a dual purpose for this, or someone will come along with a boat."

So what do you think? Save it from it's eternal demise? Or scrap it for top cash?


Guest Post by IraMency.

Italian Music Box Swiss Reuge Movements Giveaway Until Valentines Day

 

RetroChalet Vintage Shop on Etsy, curator of everything tacky, wacky, and retro is hosting a giveaway for a vintage-styled Italian Sorrento musical ring box.  The lovely box plays "Blue Danube". Entries are open to US and non US residents, and are being taken until February 14, 2012 at midnight EST.  I am not sure what's most exciting, the fact she has found a way to offer unlimited entries based on social networking and sharing options or the history of these types of music boxes. Although the one "up for grabs" is probably mid 1990's, these boxes have a big history!

History of Sorrento Italian Inlaid Music Boxes: 

These Sorrento Italian Music boxes have been hand crafted for many years in a small town averaging 16,500 people or less in the region of Campania, Italy (close to Naples).  The art of Italian Woodworking has been handed down from generation to generation, in conjunction with Swiss movements dating back to the 1800's. Careful inlaying and heavy shellac have made these Italian boxes "the box to have" for centuries!  Some are brought back from people visiting Naples or surrounding areas. Others are imported in, even to this day. Older boxes with many notes may be worth upwards of $50,000, one even retailing for $90,000! They are extremely collectible and most are unique. No two are exactly alike, although they may resemble one another.  Most are musical with Swiss Reuge movements, and there are many sizes available. Today, they are still being imported and sold in high end gift shops, in the $100-$500 range.  Collectors buy and sell them on sites like Etsy, and Ebay.

Collectors of Sorrento Music Box Value Notes: 

The ones with Swiss Musical Movements (Swiss Made Romance mechanical movement by Reuge) are worth more, and will retain value higher than the Made-in-Japan musical movements. 

The ones with more movement aka "notes" will be worth more, so in essence, the more complex the movement, the more value in the box. (This one below is 18 notes, but some have as many as 50 notes!)    FACT: To put a 50-note Swiss Musical Reuge movement in a box today retails for $995.00 and the less I could find it for was $400 ! that's just for the movement , not the box!

This box is probably circa 1995 due to the identification sticker of the importer.

It's safe to say this lovely little Ring box, can almost fit in your hand. It has a pretty inlaid violin would make a great wedding gift or special collectible that will no doubt just double, or triple in value over the years. Find out how to enter on this blog.  

Posted by Ira Mency

Vintage Wrap Dresses - Flattering Iconic Style

Vintage Silk Wrap Dress - Deep Sea Blue w Golden Moons- Petite sz S/M

AZURE WAVES - Vintage Dress Greek Isle Moonlight Silk

This vintage dress has the classic 80's wrap dress look. The front of the dress crosses over and fastens with inside hooks and snaps. The front and back of the bodice has seperate over pieces giving it a soft "vest" look. The skirt has side pockets with button flaps. The shoulders are padded, the lapels are wide. This fabric has an intriguing pattern. It's done in shades of blues and greens with glowing moons floating over deep sea pools of golden fishes and coral.

Wrap dresses were a staple style in the 1980's. It's easy to see why - they are versatile and flatter almost any figure. They are easy to wear and accessorize, going easily from day to evening. Diane von Furstenberg is credited with "inventing" the wrap dress although variations on the style have always been around. She certainly popularized the style and was the first to use jersey knit fabric.

Asked by a French journalist back in the Eighties how she came up with her iconic wrap dress, Diane von Furstenberg replied: “Well, if you’re trying to slip out without waking a sleeping man, zips are a nightmare.” Remind her of this now, and the 64-year-old gives a languid smile. “Haven’t you ever tried to creep out of the room unnoticed the following morning? I’ve done that many times.” from http://www.styleite.com/media/diane-von-furstenberg-daily-telegraph/

Hey Viv ! On Etsy - Vibrant and fanciful clothes with personality.