Los Angeles Vintage- Part 2 (Regeneration, Catwalk, Paper Moon)

March 24, 2019 by ivy kirk

Maybe you have read my Part 1 Los Angeles Vintage already. Part 2 will include several other stores I liked, including Regeneration and Catwalk in the Melrose/Fairfax/La Brea area, and Paper Moon Vintage in the Los Feliz area. If you don't already know my taste, you can assume any store I mention has a a more classic/colorful/feminine vibe. These stores definitely fit into that look.

I hadn’t heard of Regeneration before, and it actually ended up being one of my favorite stores in LA. They are located on Melrose. Like The Way we Wore, Regeneration has two floors. I mostly shopped the lower level, but tried on, on the upper level. Regeneration is good quality. Overall, the prices are mixed, with some high designer, but still a lot feels affordable, at under 300 USD. I think that the condition is really good for the price.

The window when I visited. There are some colorful floral 1950s dresses, as well as a Pucci ensemble.

The aesthetic is more bohemian than some of the other stores I have covered. You can’t tell so well from my photos, but when I went, there were many caftans and Indian dresses. Still the overall vibe is polished and colorful, VS rustic and hippy.

I think during the winter, the selection is a little more polished. During the summer you have more cotton and laidback looks. I visited during the winter.

I loved that the decades and prices were all mixed together. More exciting to hunt through.

And the best part is, that the people who run the shop are really nice. They were even giving out free vintage pins! So fun!

Next, I would plan to visit Catwalk Vintage. Catwalk is located on North Fairfax, fairly close to where the Melrose Trading Post flea market is. If you are looking for accessories, then definitely check out Catwalk. Their shoe, belt, sunglasses and handbag selection is much larger and better than any of the other stores. They also have a lot of gold statement jewelry from the eighties.

Catwalk has a more modern selection of vintage, as well as a lot of current designer. Their look is edgier with more black and clothing from the seventies and eighties. Expect great quality and prices on the higher end. You can still find things for less than 500 USD, but most is higher.

And their adorable dogs make it worth the trip, even if you don’t find something!

My mom/shopping partner with one of the adorable dogs

There is a lot of opportunity for vintage shopping in the neighborhood of Los Feliz. Paper Moon was my favorite store in that area. It is well priced and has good quality true vintage, mostly from the 1920s-1970s.

The beautiful logo on the outside of the store

In a way, Paper Moon’s presentation and selection feels less modern, and more retro. It has a more hip vibe, than any of the other LA stores I have written about so far. The store is set up in several rooms. It seemed like they were divided mostly by decade/type of garment. Paper Moon has a very good selection for men and children, which makes it unique. They also carry a large assortment of lingerie.

What I really like about Paper Moon, is that they carry a variety of styles and everything is priced very reasonably. Most of what they have is under 300 USD.

And lastly, here is my favorite dress. Love the white beaded embellishment, painterly print, and the fit and flare silhouette.

LA vintage shopping is such a diverse mix, you can really find something for anyone. Until next time…

Los Angeles Vintage- Part 1 (The Way We Wore, Recess, The Rose Bowl Flea Market)

November 17, 2018 by ivy kirk

This post is long overdue. I have been to LA a few times in the past couple of years and thoroughly enjoyed the vintage shopping. It is a pretty spread out city, but Ubers are cheap and easy. You can find a lot of diversity in the types of clothing available, whether you are looking for a glamorous gown or a more boho look. There are a million great stores… so keep your eyes peeled for details on those at a later date.

Any visit to LA should begin with a trip to The Way We Wore. The Way We Wore is located in the La Brea area, on South La Brea Avenue. There aren’t many other shops extremely close, so you really can’t miss this one. It always has very creative window displays, and bold black and white stripes painted on the exterior walls.

The Way We wore is separated into two sections. On the ground floor, you have high quality clothing, at medium prices. It is organized by decade, by category, and by color. Prices start at maybe, 100 USD on the low end for a polyester print top from the sixties and could go up to around 500 USD for a beaded gown or cocktail dress. I would say most of this floor is in the 200 USD-300 USD range. While accessories are available, the true focus is clothing. There is a lot of color and pattern, and everything is good quality and in great condition.

The second floor is made up entirely of designer vintage, bridal, and garments from the 1900s-1920s in impeccable condition. Here, don’t expect to walk out with anything under 600 USD, which in my opinion is still a good deal considering the rareness, quality, and unique beauty of what they have. The way this store is organized and merchandized is on par with any designer shop, so don’t expect to dig!

Your next stop should be Recess Vintage. It is walkable from The Way We Wore, and you could even consider stopping at Pink’s Hotdogs on the way. I highly recommend their Patt Morrison Baja Vegan Dog, as well as the Holee Molee Fries if you are feeling really hungry.

Recess Vintage is located on North La Brea Avenue. It is a single floor, and very well organized, primarily by color. The quality and the pricing is very similar to The Way We Wore’s first floor, though you will find some more expensive items mixed in (ie. recent seasons of Gucci).

And there are are comfy velvet chairs for those who need a quick break from the shopping!

They have a beautiful and spacious store front. Mostly, the clothing is 1960-present, with a few exceptions. The selection veers towards the dressier, more colorful, and more funky side. Everything is in great condition and seems almost unworn. Overall, it is a very curated collection and feels like shopping in any great boutique.

I really loved this 1960s pastel striped gown.

There were so many things I loved at Recess! Mostly, I loved that everything they had was at least just a little quirky. How fun is this wild Prada sailor print?! The purple metallic chiffon dress is actually a jumpsuit!

If you’re visiting LA, I would try to align your trip with the second Sunday of the month. Then you can go to the famous Rose Bowl Flea Market! It is located in the Rose Bowl Stadium, a little ways outside of the city, in Pasadena. I took an Uber there, and it was less than a 20 dollar ride. You can enter as early as 5am, for 20 USD. 7 am to 8 am costs 15 USD, and 8 am to 9 am costs 12 USD. Afterwards, you pay 9 USD to enter. As with any flea market, I would recommend getting there earlyish for the best selection.

This is the Rose Bowl Stadium from the outside!

At Rosebowl, expect to dig. It is an enormous space, and you will need hours if you plan on seeing, even a third of it. All of the vintage/antiques are located outside. Inside, you have more new items and crafty things. I didn’t venture inside at all. We got there around 8:30 and stayed till after noon. We only saw a small portion.

You can find vintage in the white area and antiques in the orange area. If you’re like me, you won’t leave these two!

As with any great shopping adventure, you should start with a delicious snack! We got veggie breakfast burritos. They were not in the food court area, but with the antiques, not far from the entrance.

I suggest loading up with all the toppings!

You can find almost anything at Rose Bowl, from mid century furniture, to racks of sporting event tee shirts, to ethnic clothing, both modern and vintage. Mostly, the prices aren’t too high, unless you’re looking for a souvenir jacket. Expect to pay at least 500 USD for one of those. If you have ever been vintage shopping in Tokyo, you will understand where all of the American clothing comes from. There are tons of Japanese vintage shoppers here, wielding large rolly suitcases.

Clothes lean to the more casual and more bohemian side at Rose Bowl.

One of my favorite parts of this flea market is all of the vendors with gorgeous African textiles and blankets. The indigo ones were what I gravitated towards most, but there were also a lot really nice more colorful and geometric printed ones.

For me, the clothing was overall not high enough quality, and a lot to dig through. I may have found more if I wasn't already spoiled by the organization of Recess and The Way We Wore. For this reason, I preferred the home items.

I still ended up with a very cute chambray embroidered dress from the seventies!

Until next time!

Fès- Shopping

October 03, 2016 by ivy kirk

I went to Fès in the beginning of August. I understood that it would be hot, around 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Don't be alarmed, because it's actually dry heat and felt less hot than an 85 degree day in New York.

Fès is one of the more religiously observant cities in Morocco, so be sure to dress respectfully. I tended to wear dresses that went to the knee or below. Steer towards modest necklines, and cover your arms if possible. If not, at least cover your shoulders. You will see other tourists on bus groups dressed in tank tops and shorts, but it really isn't appropriate.

I stayed at Riad Fès, which is located inside the walls of the Medina. It is an incredible hotel, and I would recommend it to anyone staying in Fès.

Shopping in Morocco can also be a learning experience. Many of the shops that are sponsored by the government will also give you a lesson on how they make their products. Fès is known for their pottery and beautiful tile work. If you're able to bring a tile fountain or table top back for your home, this is the place to look! Many shops offer shipping, so don't worry about hauling your finds back to the USA.

If you're looking for tile or pottery, go to Naji Arts. This shop doubles as a work shop where you can view the artisans making the product.

The first step in making tile or products made from tile involves making the clay from the earth, into rectangular pieces to glaze with patterns or in solid colors.

After the tiles are made, the artisans chisel them into smaller pieces, that will be used to fit perfectly into their intricate designs. The tiles are laid upside-down and then grouted in place.

And this is what a finished design will look like. Because the tiles are grouted up side down, you don't see as much on the surface.

At Naji Arts, they have one of the best selection of tiled fountains. The quality rivals what you will see in any palace or madrasa. Maybe nicer actually!

Pottery is also an important piece of Moroccan design. The workers spin the clay into bowls, vases, and tagines, and they are baked first in the sun, and then in an oven.

Once the clay pots are glazed, they are chiseled into intricate designs.

And here you have the finished product!

Painted pottery is your less expensive option. It still looks nice, but is much less labor intensive.

Unless you are prepared to lay down 1000 dollars plus, expect to leave with some nice painted pottery, or a few separate tiles.

Enter the souk, within the Medina. Fès Medina is great for leather goods, embroidered belts, and pottery. If you're looking for good quality caftans, you might have less luck.

If you go to Fès, plan to bring back some nougat. The chef at Chez le Maréchal has one of the best selections of colorful candies, as well as pins. He will gladly put on his decorated jacket for a photo.

Chez le Maréchal has all of the nougat carefully packaged in Saran wrap. If you notice, bees in Morocco flock to anything sweet.

A main sight in Fès Medina is the leather tannery. Many of the leather shops have a terrace where they will keep pigeons and can bring visitors for a view from their roof. Beware, it doesn't smell so nice.

The tanneries have an excellent selection of leather good shops around them. Personally, I would avoid bags and jackets, and go for the colorful Moroccan slippers and poufs, instead. These are much more special!

Another great souvenir to find in Fès, is a beautiful woven scarf or striped blanket. I visited the Bougueddach Collective, a family run weaving studio that works inside their shop. The father makes more traditional textiles, while the son makes blankets that are a little wilder and mix in neon colors.

And here is what I bought! The candles were just found walking through the souk. They are intended for religious purposes, and burn with a lot of smoke. I plan on using the tiles as coasters.

Fès is a wonderful city for it's history as well as it's shopping. Fully recommended!

Marseille- Le Corbusier

September 09, 2016 by ivy kirk

One of Le Corbusier's most famous buildings is located in Marseille. Cité radieuse was part of a project called Unité d'habitation that included buildings in several different European cities.

Cité radieuse was built directly after World War II, in an effort to create middle income housing that was well appointed and had a more spacious layout.

Like most other Brutalist buildings, Cité radieuse is made from concrete. What makes it so appealing is the colorful addition to the balconies.

When Cité radieuse was built, it was unfortunately too modern for dwellers of Marseille. It was far from the city center, and any public transportation. If you decide to visit Cité Radieuse, keep in mind it is about a 20 minute walk from the closest subway stop at Rond-Point du Prado. Ironically, today, Cité radieuse is one of the most expensive and desirable places to live in Marseille. I guess Le Corbusier was ahead of his time!

Cité radieuse was a collaboration with the painter Nadir Alfonso, so some of the elements you will see, come from him.

In order to view the interior of Cité radieuse, you need to buy a ticket for a guided tour online in advance. Your ticket will cost you less than 20 euros, and you can choose to take a tour in either English or French. The English tours are much more limited in quantity, so reserve early. I took the tour in French, and surprisingly, it was pretty easy to understand!

One of the most beautiful parts of Cité radieuse is the lobby. It has beautiful natural light, as well as geometric stained glass and high shine polished stone floors. The benches help create a sense of community.

You will meet your tour guide inside the lobby. The security guard towards the back can direct you to the place. It is important to recognize that people live in this building and to be respectful of their homes and space.

Your tour will consist of three parts. You will visit both floors of the model apartment, the public shopping space, as well as the roof.

When you get to the top of the elevator, you will notice that the colorful exterior is also reflected inside. The elevators are painted red on each floor, and the doors to the apartments are red, blue, or green.

Like many of the other Le Corbusier buildings, the ceiling is a raw looking concrete.

One of the most appealing aspects of Cité radieuse are the unobstructed views of the mountains and the ocean. It's not commonly known, but Marseille is actually a part of the Pyrenees.

Le Corbusier is all about built in storage and functionality. When you enter the apartment, you will find the kitchen towards the front. The cabinets all open on both sides, and there is an opening, to easily pass cocktails from the bar.

The stairs have an almost institutional quality to them, in a blue enameled metal. They have a tall railng on the right, and a short one on the left for children. These apartments were built specifically for families with small children, so this functionality makes a lot of sense.

Every other apartment enters on the opposite floor. So this apartment enters on the first floor, while the the apartment next to it would enter on the second floor. This makes it so you have more sense of privacy in the halls.

The second floor opens into a balcony, so you get the views of the ocean from the same floor to ceiling window you have on the first floor.

You may have noticed in some of my photos, but there are squares of striped paint all over the apartment. It looks kind of strange and is a little distracting at times, from the overall minimalist aesthetic. The reason they are there, is to provide a history of the previous colors each surface in the apartment were painted.

Upstairs, towards the back of the apartment, you will find the room that looks onto the living room. This is intended as the master bedroom and it gets a lot of nice natural light. There are built in shelves and a desk in the room, as well as additional build in cabinets and shelves in the hall. For Le Corbusier, everything is about maximization of minimal space.

Because this is such a child-centric apartment, the children's shower is built to look like one you would fine in a cruise ship.

The two upstairs rooms at the front of the apartment are intended for the children, and they also have a balcony with beautiful views.

Each of the children's rooms has it's own sink and set of cabinets. They share the shower and toilet.

Unreal views. The great part about the children's rooms is that they have a sliding wall between them. This means they can open it to play, or close it for a little quiet time.

One of my favorite parts of Cité radieuse, is the exceptional amount of public space. This building was set up, so you could do everything you needed, with out ever leaving. I guess that makes a lot of sense, considering it was built so far out of town. Here, you can find an elementary school, a library, a restaurant, shops, and even a hotel. Yes, you can stay at Cité radieuse for around 80 euro a night!!!

I would have bought one of these decorated cookies, if the shop wasn't closed.

They had information for some other buildings by Le Corbusier framed in the public space.

My favorite part of Cité radieuse was the roof. There is a gallery on the roof, and the decorations there change with the exhibition. Le Corbusier intended for the roof to be all grey concrete.

On the roof, you really understand the scale of the building. It is a huge space!

And a very windy space!

The views from the roof are perfection.

Exiting the roof, there are more red enamel doors and red enamel emergency kits.

The way the light and shadows interact with the rectangular elements of this building is really pretty.

And I finished my day and visit to Cité radieuse at the restaurant with a glass of rosé. Why the French serve ice with their rosé, I'm not sure!

I loved Cité radieuse. Next time I come to Marseille, I will 100% stay at the hotel at Cité radieuse.

Nice- Vintage

September 08, 2016 by ivy kirk in Fashion, France, Vintage, Shopping

Nice is a great city for vintage shopping. It's one of those cities, like Miami, where retired people flock to, and then decide to get rid of their old clothes. I had extremely limited time in Nice, due to a delayed train, so I focused in on Caprice Vintage which seemed like the best. Caprice's selection ranges from the 1930s to the 1990s, but they have the most from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Expect to find good quality vintage, designer, as well as unlabeled, for inexpensive prices.

Caprice Vintage is located in the old part of town, and is pretty close to the beach, as well as a few other vintage shops.

The windows focus on accessories and jewelry, but there are many clothes downstairs.

When you enter the shop, you will find a staircase leading down, with many dresses hung from the wall above. These are some of the fancier styles in the shop, and still retail for under 400 euro. I loved the tiered floral print yellow dress.

Downstairs, you will find a tableau of 50s and 60s dresses, directly when you get to the base of the stairs.

The shop is divided into dresses and coats on the left, tops and separates on the right, with some gowns and jackets in the middle. Shoes are above the shelves. One of my favorite things I saw here was the peach layered ruffle gown.

I tried on, probably over 20 pieces here. Here are a few of my favorites.

I loved how Caprice had so many gorgeous white lace and embroidered pieces from the 60s. Also loved the green Thierry Mugler strappy dress with the white plastic buckle. Sadly, not my size!

And here is their information, so you can visit too!

Hippy Market is also located in the old section of Nice, just a few minute walk from Caprice. If Caprice is dedicated mostly to the 50s and 60s, Hippy Market is focused more on the 1970s and 1990s. They carry both men's and women's clothing here. While it is well priced, the quality is not as nice as Caprice.

Hippy Market is pretty well organized. They are sorted by whether it's men's or women's and by category. In other words, all the Hawaiian shirts are kept together. It is a more casual and younger selection than at Caprice.

I stumbled upon Eden Look Lunettes. It is also located in the old section of Nice. I was drawn in by some glasses in the front, which unfortunately turned out to be for children. It may look like your average vacation spot sunglasses shop, but it's actually much better!

Eden Look had a great range of cheap glasses, new as well as vintage. All of the selection was under 200 euros, most of it being under the 50 euro range. The children's glasses I wanted were just 10 euro, but unfortunately the arms were a little too short. Eden Look does not have a business card, but you can contact Mr. Tramelli, the very nice owner, for hours.

Mademoiselle was the fanciest vintage shop I visited all day. It is a true mix of vintage with designer consignment. It is located on the other side of town, on Rue de France, just past all the tacky tourist shops. It is no more than a 25 minute walk from Caprice.

You can get a good read from the windows of Mademoiselle. They mix Chanel, with Louis Vuitton, and they have a ton of costume jewelry, as well as designer sunglasses.

When you enter Mademoiselle, the clothing is on the left, the jewelry is in the middle, and shoes and handbags are on the right. Vintage is mixed in with modern designer. I didn't see anything older than from the 1960s, and quality here is perfect. Prices reflect this.

I really badly wanted these earrings, but at 190 euros, they were a little too much.

And, if you'd like to visit, here is their info!

My last stop isn't vintage, and I found it accidentally. Optique Deppon had a really great selection of inexpensive sunglasses. They were modern, quirky, and expensive looking, and a very wide selection. Most of them priced out at around 40 or 50 euros. They carried designer too, though I didn't focus in this section.

And, here is how to get in touch.

Surprise, surprise, everything I bought, I bought at Caprice. I couldn't resist their selection of white eyelet cotton tops. The Black lace top I bought reminded me of Brigitte Bardot, and the earrings- well, I had to have them!

Would I go vintage shopping in Nice again? 1000% yes. In fact I would give myself a couple more days so I could spend a little more time at each.

Marseille- Vintage

August 25, 2016 by ivy kirk

Marseille is a pretty quirky town. It's an old French city in many of the ways Paris is, but is a little grittier and by the seaside. There is a heavy North African influence, and many areas are covered with graffiti. Most people say that Marseille is dangerous and to avoid it. I would beg to differ. It is filled with character and charm, and the museums and the vintage shopping are great!

My first stop in Marseille was a little bit of a bust. After having so much success at the flea markets in Paris, I decided to try my luck at the Marché Au Puces in Marseille.

I find that the accuracy of Internet research is always a little dodgy, so while the Marché Au Puces, is open on week days, the antique section is not. If you want to check this out, I would suggest making the trek on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.

I took the train to Bougainville, which is the  end of the line. Once you get off, it's probably a 30 minute walk through a pretty deserted area. If you go, I would suggest that you behave in a way that doesn't make you look like a tourist. Ke… — I took the train to Bougainville, which is the end of the line. Once you get off, it's probably a 30 minute walk through a pretty deserted area. If you go, I would suggest that you behave in a way that doesn't make you look like a tourist. Keep your cell phone away, and just use common sense.

There also appears to be a bus you can get from the train station. I didn't do this.

The flea market is basically located in a few huge buildings in the middle of a parking lot. It feels a lot like the French version of a strip mall.

This is the part of the market where you will find meat, vegetables, and spices.

This is kind of like a French dollar store mixed with a grocery store.

If you need beautiful watermelon or tomatoes, this is your spot. Sadly, I did not need any.

In Marseille, what goes down, must come back up. I walked most of this city, but beware- it is technically a part of the Alps. There are many extremely steep hills, and avoid going down when you can.

Most of the vintage shops are all located within a few blocks of each other, in a hilly section of the 6th arrondisment, near the Notre Dame du Mont metro stop.

I started at Lilou Vintage. I had heard good things about this shop, and it was my favorite of the day.

Lilou Vintage is a small shop, and it is one of the few places in Marseille that you can find clothing from the 1950s and 1960s. For the most part, everything is decent quality. This isn't designer vintage, and the prices reflect that. You can find … — Lilou Vintage is a small shop, and it is one of the few places in Marseille that you can find clothing from the 1950s and 1960s. For the most part, everything is decent quality. This isn't designer vintage, and the prices reflect that. You can find great things regardless.

The selection veers casual. This is a beach town after all.

The shop is split into two sides, with a rack of clothing on either side and one in the middle. Some of the fancier dresses are hung from the ceiling, so don't be afraid to ask to try one on.

Jewelry and accessories are on the left, and at the back.

I really loved this organza dress with navy and cream embroidery from the 60s. Unfortunately this place is cash only, and I didn't have enough cash with me. Though, I'm pretty sure it was like 75 euro.

And here is what I bought!

I couldn't resist this maxi dress from the 70s. The floral print is so cute!

The tie strap really sold me. And it was under 50 euro!

I haven't ever seen a cotton crochet top like this before. I like how the texture is so different all over and it has the cute short sleeve and sheer yoke. This set me back 28 euro.

And lastly, these crochet necklaces at 3 euro a pop, or 10 euro for 4 were a steal. They also came in cream.

Next up was Marcel and Simone. This store has a very wide variety and a lot of product.

For me, this store was a little too 80s and 90s based. There was some older clothing, but nothing really earlier than the 70s.

When I arrived at Space Vintage, I thought it was closed. Luckily the owner saw me looking at the hours sign, and buzzed me right in. Space Vintage is a little disorganized, but is packed to the brim with vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, fo… — When I arrived at Space Vintage, I thought it was closed. Luckily the owner saw me looking at the hours sign, and buzzed me right in. Space Vintage is a little disorganized, but is packed to the brim with vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories, for men, women, and children. There are three levels to explore. Towards the front of the store, immediately when you walk in, is their designer section. Most of the selection is on the newer side. Upstairs is men's and children's clothing. Towards the back is a the older women's clothing. Downstairs there are coats and more women's clothing.

The back room is filled with clothing. Aside from being arranged by category, there is little organization.

I loved how this 70s dress combined a wooly knit with a cotton print. The binding and the ruffle on the sleeve are so whimsical!

This dress so reminded me of Something Miu Miu or Giamba would do. Unfortunately, the quality was a little too cheesy for me.

I love the mix of the textured printed fabric, with the contrast pleated ruffle, with the faggotting inserts.

The eyelet and pintucks on this dress were so pretty.

Marseille is a great city for vintage shopping! I would definitely go back, though probably not to the Marché au Puces.

Toulouse- Vintage

August 20, 2016 by ivy kirk in France, Vintage, Fashion

Toulouse is a small, walkable, flat city. Really, you shouldn't need to take the subway anywhere here. I spent two nights in Toulouse and you don't need more than half a day to see all of the vintage stores there. Most of the shops are eclectic, not very edited, and most of all- well priced. None of the shops are "nice" and you will have to dig a little, but there are treasures to be found. Many of the shops are located all nearby each other.

Backstage Vintage was praised pretty highly online. Personally, I found the style to be a little too "model off duty".

Groucho Vintage has two different locations. I'm not totally clear how they're different, but I think this location(the one on Place de la Bourse) is the more inexpensive of the two.

Enter Groucho. Women's is towards the front and men's towards the back. On your left you'll find the good stuff. The right is mainly old mom jeans and sports tee shirts from America. I like Groucho because there is a lot to look at. The racks are pa… — Enter Groucho. Women's is towards the front and men's towards the back. On your left you'll find the good stuff. The right is mainly old mom jeans and sports tee shirts from America. I like Groucho because there is a lot to look at. The racks are packed. Condition and quality may not be totally there, but things are cheap, and you can find something great if you're willing to hunt.

Many printed dresses from the 1960s and 1970s.

A common theme in many French vintage shops- white cotton eyelet and lace.

Another common theme- hundreds of mariènere tops in all colors and stripe patterns.

If you're in the market for a leather jacket...

And here is what I got! I can never resist red white and blue, and I loved the print mixing, pockets, and puff sleeve on this little cotton dress. It reminds me a lot of something Red Valentino would do.

Jet Rag was missing some of its sign when I was there. I would say their style was a little casual for me, and mostly based in denim and Hawaiian shirts. A bigger selection for men than women.

This is Groucho's second location. It is a huge shop, taking up two store fronts. The selection here is still inexpensive, and varies slightly from the other location, in that there are more dressy items and the quality is slightly better.

A rack of many, many trench coats is located in the front of the shop.

Want cashmere? You can find any color here.

Again with the white cotton eyelet and lace shirts. Very French.

Here, there are dresses, mostly from the 1960s.

I loved the tonal colors, draping, and folded roses, on this soft cocktail dress.

Au Bonheur des Dames is in a slightly different location of town than all of the other vintage shops, but still is walkable. It is located in an area, nearby all of the high street chains, as well as the designer shops. I liked that their selection … — Au Bonheur des Dames is in a slightly different location of town than all of the other vintage shops, but still is walkable. It is located in an area, nearby all of the high street chains, as well as the designer shops.
I liked that their selection was the most edited in Toulouse. They focus in on traditional white French lace and cotton eyelet, similar to what you can find at any brocante. Their product is in perfect condition, and there is a good amount to look through. Pricing might be slightly higher than some of the other shops, but you can find most under 100 euro. They also carry a small selection of colorful vintage clothing, as well as a large selection of home items.

beautiful French white lace gloves. They're would be great even just to use as decoration.

I like how the inset lace trim breaks up the larger scale lace in this table cloth.

The mannequin outside their shop bears their initials.

Stacks and stacks of beautiful table cloths.

Clothing is mostly on two racks in the front on the right, and toward the back on either side.

If you only have time to visit one vintage shop in Toulouse I would pick Au Bonheur des Dames! Their undeniably French aesthetic is pretty charming.

Paris- Le Corbusier

August 07, 2016 by ivy kirk

I think Le Corbusier must be the most famous architect in France. I was majorly hankering for a architectural tour, after visiting Alvar Aalto's studio and home in Helsinki last summer. I did a bit of Internet research, and Le Corbusier was the only architect who came up! In case any of you don't already know, Le Corbu is the most pre-eminent French modern architects.

In Paris, there are a few main architectural sites, designed by Le Corbusier. You can visit his house and studio, but unfortunately I procrastinated too much for that. Because of the timing, I was able to see Le Pavillion Suisse, La Maison du Brésil, and, La Cité de Refuge.

Le Pavillion Suisse and La Maison du Brésil are pretty close to each other. They are both part of Cité Universitaire, a college in Paris that was created to attract students from all over the globe. They have a lot of other interesting buildings that are used for student housing, but these are the only two from Le Corbusier. I would suggest you plan on spending a morning there, and wandering a little, if you have the time.

Le Pavillion Suisse is open from 10 to 12 am, and 2 pm to 5 pm. What I didn't realize, before I visited the South of France, is that many take an extended lunch break.

Anyway, I think I arrived around 11 am, and needed no more than 30 minutes to see everything Le Pavillion Suisse had to offer.

So to backtrack a little, you need to take the metro or tram to Cité Universitaire. You enter, and there should be pretty clear signs to each building. Back when it was created, only Brazilian students lived in the Brazilian building, but now anyone can live anywhere.

It is 2 euros to enter La Pavillion Suisse and you have access across the ground floor, and on the first floor in the hall, and in an orginal student dorm room. It's definitely the least expensive museum you can visit in Paris, and well worth it.

This is the outside of the building. It's Brutalism at its best. You have to go kind of through the side to get in. What's really incredible is that La Pavillion Suisse was built in the early 1930s.

Le Corbusier is so good at introducing nature into his work.

This is the student lounge, which was one of my favorite spaces in the building. It is so friendly and inviting with the beautiful mural and the Barcelona chairs.

Here is where you get your nature. I love the huge glass windows looking onto the outdoor space.

This type of color combination is very typical of Le Corbusier.

And onto the first floor!

The halls upstairs are a little on the plain and stark side.

This was the top of a small table in the hall. I liked how cheerful the painting was.

Imagine you were a student here, looking out your window. This is what it would look like.

Charlotte Perriand was a Le Corbusier collaborator and designed this furniture. While it all makes sense functionally, I gotta say- I think the look is a little grim.

And here is the pretty fancy brochure I received.

La Maison du Brésil is my favorite Le Corbusier building in Paris, and it is only 1 euro to enter. It is quite close, and if I remember correctly, their hours are slightly more lenient. This allows you access, just to the lobby. The lobby is fairly large, so that's good!

I really like the way this building combines concrete and color.

I like how there is color on the ceiling.

This is the pavillion outside of the building.

What's really stunning is the way the color reflects off everything like stained glass.

Everything Le Corbusier does is very linear.

I would imagine this is really pretty at sunset.

I like the contrast of the grey ceiling.

This is the brochure from La Maison du Brésil. This one was built much later, in 1957.

Next is La Cité de Refuge.

I'm pretty comfortable in most settings and neighborhoods. What I didn't realize before visiting La Cité de Refuge before visiting it, is that it is still a fully functioning Salvation Army. The area is far out, and not very polished. It didn't seem dangerous to me, but just be aware of your surroundings.

Take the metro to Porte d'Ivry and expect to walk for about 20 minutes once you get off along a long stretch of busy wide road.

The outskirts of French cities are known for brutalist architecture, and this area of paris is no different. I noticed this beautiful concrete building for fire fighters on my way.

This is the plack outside, explaining the importance of the building. It costs nothing to get in here... Because you can't get in! Please look from the outside.

What I love most about this building is the tile work and how vibrant the colors are.

So that's it for now, and I would highly recommend visiting the three buildings.

Paris- Three Centuries of Fashion at Musée des Arts Décoratifs

July 29, 2016 by ivy kirk

The Musée des Arts Décoratifs is located in a wing of the Palais du Louvre in the 1st arrondissement in Paris. It is a beautiful museum for a multitude of reasons, but what I'd like to tell you about for now, is their current exhibition, Fashon Forward, Three Centuries of Fashion or Trois Siècles de Mode. The exhibit continues till August 14th, so I highly suggest anyone traveling to Paris goes!

The exhibit includes clothing (mostly women's, but a bit of children's and men's too) from the 1700's, 1800's and 1900's. The older clothing they've chosen to display is also displayed with art from the same period, to give it context.

Usually, I'm not a huge fan of seeing really old clothing in museums, but I liked this collection because all of the pieces still had s modern feeling to them.

This incredible brocade is the perfect shade of blue!

I loved seeing the pieces of the waistcoat all flattened out. The embroidery is incredible.

I liked how this bag took its inspiration from a seashell and was still in perfect condition.

The reflection of these dresses from Napoleon's time was really incredible.

I'm not sure why, but these next dresses were behind a thin veiling. Maybe to protect them from the light?

I would wear this to an event. All of the beautiful details, from the puff sleeve, to to the smocked waist, to the deep flounce.

I love the military elements on this children's ensemble. It reminds me of an early day Nicholas Ghesquière, when he was at Balenciaga.

The bows, fringe, and scallop all together!

Another children's number. Also reminds me of old Balenciaga.

The texture and color in this brocade is really amazing. And I liked how they displayed it next to the tiny flower sculptures

Look close! This 19th century dress has tiny embroidered bees all over the hem.

Inspiration for many of Gucci's embroideries.

And onto the 20th century. The embroidery and beading on this Coco Chanel dress was like nothing else!

The color of the fur looks so nice with the color of the brocade.

Love the embellishments on this Schiaparelli piece.

This is the entry to my favorite room- post 1940!

One of the most famous Dior looks of all time.

My favorite is the pink and orange printed Ungaro in the middle!

70's dresses from a designer I hadn't heard of. I thought the beading was stunning and I love how they go together perfectly. Would make great unconventional bridesmaids dresses.

The fabric used to make this Lacroix gown is so timeless.

Rochas by Olivier Theyskens. The thing I love about this dress is that it's an all black jacquard but the wool yarn makes the pattern stand out.

Love the justapostion of mid-century modernity next to modernity from the 21st century.

Like I said, check this show out before it closes!

Paris- Palais Royal- Didier Ludot and Gabrielle Geppert

July 22, 2016 by ivy kirk in Vintage, Paris, France, Fashion

Palais Royal is one of the most beautiful places in Paris. It is tucked back from the street and is known for its garden and it's open courtyard filled with small striped stands. It is also famous for its unique shops that continue around center. Two of these shops are Didier Ludot and Gabrielle Geppert.

Didier Ludot has two shops in Palais Royal. One is always open and is dedicated to more modern items. Think classic Chanel handbags, their corresponding tweed jackets, and Hermès silk printed blouses. They also have a mix of other French designers here and it's all fairly well priced for what it is. Of course a Chanel jacket is over 1000 euro, but I also saw things that were priced around 200 euro to 300 euro, when I was there.

The Didier Ludot shop you really want to go to, is by appointment only. If you want to dress in clothing that comes from a museum, this is the place for you. Basically everything they have looks like it would fit in well to the permanent collection at the Costume Institute at the Met. And it is all in perfect condition. For many people this shop is the holy grail of vintage.

They have basically every designer you could think of. It veers towards 1950's, 1960's, 1970's, but there is some more modern as well(if it's an extremely collectible designer). They have a lot of Pierre Cardin and Courreges, and the thing that is so wonderful about this shop is that they know the history of the clothing they carry. Think of this shop as couture quality vintage. It is priced accordingly.

Here is an entire window dedicated to Hedi Slimane's work for Dior.

Didier Ludot also has a line of little black dresses that he sells. These are not vintage.

Gabrielle Geppert has a similar concept going on in Palais Royal. Usually she just mans one of the shops, and if you ask nicely, she will bring you over to whichever you like!

Her first shop is extremely well organized. Personally, I don't really go for the classic Parisian Hermès/Chanel look, but if i was going to, I would shop here.

On the left, this shop primarily has accessories. They have a lot of the more timeless Chanel purses and they also have a great sunglasses selection. On the right, is the clothing. They have it organized by designer, which I guess is pretty easy when you only have Hermès and Chanel!

I like that this shop feels curated and has a really specific point of view. It makes it easy to shop.

Gabrielle Geppart has a second shop that is dedicated to her tee shirts and other items with cute screen prints on them.

The third shop is dedicated to true designer vintage. This is your shop if you like super wearable clothes and accessories from the 60's through 80's. Most of what's here is made from fluid, printed fabric. She has Leonard, Pucci, Yves Saint Laurent, and Jean Patou to name a few. There are a range of prices, but don't expect to find anything under 200 or 300 euro.

What I would say makes Gabrielle Geppert really unique is her selection of accessories. I would say the accessories are less "designer" than the clothing, but everything in the shop has unique and quirky details. There are a ton of wicker and straw purses from the 60's as well as many leather and suede clutches from the 70's and 80's towards the back of the shop. There are also some shoes and a lot of interesting sunglasses.

Gabrielle gave me this tee shirt, which I am very excited to wear on the beach in the South of France!

I think my Kate Spade dress and Marni sandals fit in just right!

Paris- Thanx God I'm a VIP

July 21, 2016 by ivy kirk in France, Vintage, Fashion, Paris

Thank god I found this shop. I stumbled across it in an Internet search last time I was in Paris for work. The reason why Thanx God I'm a VIP is so good, is that it has a real point of view, is extremely organized(by color), and has a wide selection at a wide range of price points. Sure there is stuff that's over 100 euro, but I would say most stuff here hits in a sweet spot of 125-300 euro.

They are located in a neighborhood sort of above the Marais, at 12 rue de Lancry, at the Republic stop on the subway. Plan to walk around a little, there are a few other vintage shops between here and the Marais.

Thanx God is a pretty large store. There are two separate doors and store fronts next to each other. When you're facing it, on the left is women's and on the right is men's.

The windows are currently decorated with a nautical theme.

This is in the front of the store on the women's side. It is on the back wall. Again, they have sort of standard French designers like Guy Laroche and Yves Saint Laurent.

This is on the right side of the front room. The cash register is on the left, and there are cases with jewelry and belts in the middle.

Once you leave the front room, on the left there is a narrow corridor with more clothes leading you to the back room. Here, you have mostly white, black, and neutrals, while the front room is colorful. I really wanted the black, white, and red Prada… — Once you leave the front room, on the left there is a narrow corridor with more clothes leading you to the back room. Here, you have mostly white, black, and neutrals, while the front room is colorful. I really wanted the black, white, and red Prada skirt to work for me, but it was a size 44. At 150 euros, whoever gets it is lucky!

This is the neutral section, at the very back of the store. It is right in front of the fitting rooms.

This section is where you find mostly expensive designer items and colorful coats. I really wanted to make the Leonard lurex printed dress work, but at over 1000 euro, sadly, I could not.

This rack is on the other side of the shop. It is mostly longer dresses, in a more casual style.

Some more neutral shoes towards the back of the shop.

A small selection of children's clothing

This is on the right of the shop, behind all the men's clothing. I think the way they differentiate what to put over here, versus the other side, is that it's not from designers I have heard of. It's still nice though!

This is one half of a skirt suit, that I really liked the print. Unfortunately, it didn't fit me. It was priced under 100 euro.

Pretty orange Louis Féraud silk dress at 240 euros.

This blush embroidered fit and flare dress was too small for me, but at 155 euros, could be good for someone else!

Loved this pleated silk dress from Just Cavalli

Thanx God I'm a VIP is a great store for those looking for wearable, good quality, vintage and modern designer pieces, at a good price. It's an easy place to shop, because it's so well organized and there are always new items to check out!

Paris- Marché Au Puces Saint- Ouen/Clignacourt

July 19, 2016 by ivy kirk in Paris, Shopping, Fashion, Vintage, France, Flea market

The first time I came to Paris, I thought the vintage shopping was terrible. Dirty and tattered clothing at prices that were too high. Since then, I've found the right places to go with the help of some recommendations and the Internet.

Le Marché Au Puces quite literally means the market of fleas. There are two major flea markets in Paris; Saint Ouen, also known as Clignacourt, and Vanves. Saint Ouen is open on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of every week. I went on a Monday around 2 pm, and a lot was still opening. Some vendors never opened, and most closed up shop between 5 pm and 6 pm.

I used to take the subway to the stop at Porte de Clignacourt, but realized that Garibaldi is actually closer. If you take the Clignacourt stop, you will have to walk through, what I would consider, a pretty sketchy market that has knock off cell phone cases and over bleached jeans. There are signs pointing to the direction of the flea market everywhere, so really there should be no reason to get lost.

Marché Paul Bert is the first big market you will pass that has clothing. There are a couple smaller ones before this, but they only have home items.

This is the map for Marché Paul Bert. Honestly, it seems a lot more chaotic when you're inside, and I don't think I've ever gone down every row.

If you want beautiful home furnishings, Marché Paul Bert is the place for you. These are just a few examples of rooms I loved.

This beautiful little jewel box of a store is located in Marché Paul Bert. It is called Les Merveilles de Babellou. This shop is expensive, but it makes sense for the quality. On the low end, you can get a Yves Saint Laurent silk printed top from th… — This beautiful little jewel box of a store is located in Marché Paul Bert. It is called Les Merveilles de Babellou. This shop is expensive, but it makes sense for the quality. On the low end, you can get a Yves Saint Laurent silk printed top from the 1980's for about 150 euro. Most dresses are around 600 euro, but they can be over 1500 euro if they are really special or embellished. They also have a great jewelry selection which includes a lot of Chanel. This is a shop I've been to before, and I would definitely go back to again.

They have a good selection of shoes, if you're into that.

Some jackets towards the back of the shop. Chanel tweeds galore.

This was my favorite section. Very colorful. The striped skirt and the geometric skirt next to it were both Yves Saint Laurent.

This was one of my favorite dresses in the store. Unfortunately I think it was between 600 and 800 euro.

More beautiful furniture next!

If I had higher ceilings, I would own this chandelier.

This store is called 112, which is their stand number. If you want vintage Comme des Garçons or Yohji Yamamoto, this is the place for you.

I had no idea Merveilles de Babillou had two shops. I prefer the other one, but both are worth checking out.

Marché Serpette is another big market in the Marché Au Puces.

As you can see, many shops were closed since it was Monday.

I have been to Artemise et Cunégonde before. It is a pretty cute shop and has good quality items. Over all, a little less expensive, but still not cheap. Like most French vintage shops, they are heavy on designers like Chanel, Ungaro, Dior, and Yves… — I have been to Artemise et Cunégonde before. It is a pretty cute shop and has good quality items. Over all, a little less expensive, but still not cheap. Like most French vintage shops, they are heavy on designers like Chanel, Ungaro, Dior, and Yves Saint Laurent.

This is the shop for you if you want Hermes or Louis Vuitton bags or luggage.

I love this shop's pink walls! And they have a lot of cute designer vintage, really similar product and quality to some of the other shops I have already mentioned.

Another great home shop. I love the wall hanging!

You exit the market, and will find a street called Rue Paul Bert. Here you will dig. There are treasures to be found, and it is quite inexpensive.

More grungy items, like rocker tee shirts.

This shop on the corner was my favorite on this street.

Michelle Leon had a lot of interesting items inside and outside of the shop. I was tempted by a tennis racket printed dress by Guy Laroche.

There are racks in front of more racks. It's hard to see it all.

This Victorian shirt was starched to perfection.

I have been to Gilda before. She has a small shop in the Marais. From what I remember, that shop is all vintage. This shop is a mix of vintage and new "retro" items. The guy working there was super helpful. The quality here is pretty good, but not d… — I have been to Gilda before. She has a small shop in the Marais. From what I remember, that shop is all vintage. This shop is a mix of vintage and new "retro" items. The guy working there was super helpful. The quality here is pretty good, but not designer level. It is inexpensive though and there are some finds to be had.

I bought this dead stock dress from Côte d'Azur. It reminded me of Prada with the funny eyelet sleeves and the khaki colored print. It was only 65 euro!

Marché Dauphine, was the first market I ever visited in Paris. There is some clothing on the first floor, but nothing I have ever found exciting. I would focus on the trim/jewelry/accessory shop on the first floor, and, on the clothing shops on the … — Marché Dauphine, was the first market I ever visited in Paris. There is some clothing on the first floor, but nothing I have ever found exciting. I would focus on the trim/jewelry/accessory shop on the first floor, and, on the clothing shops on the second floor. By the way, they call the second floor, the first floor in France.

I had been by Daniel et Lili before, but never really taken much notice. Boy, was I missing out! On the left, against all the walls, they have bins with barrettes. On the far side, they have bins with jewelry. Most items have multiple available and … — I had been by Daniel et Lili before, but never really taken much notice. Boy, was I missing out! On the left, against all the walls, they have bins with barrettes. On the far side, they have bins with jewelry. Most items have multiple available and they are all vintage from various decades.

They have some clothes, but nothing super exciting.

These are the bins I was talking about. Each card is labeled with a letter, which corresponds to a price.

One of my favorite bins to look through!

I bought this incredible barret for 31 euro. It reminds me of Miu Miu or Valentino. FYI- this place is cash only, so be sure to visit an ATM first!

This glittery four leaf clover is so fun and modern! And only set me back 18.50 euro

Who could resist a Tahiti barrette, especially at 9 euro. I will wear this all the time!

Upstairs, is one of the better shops for clothing in this flea market. It is called Falbalas and everything is pretty well priced. There is a ton of selection, and it is organized all by decade. Be careful to really look at condition, if you plan on… — Upstairs, is one of the better shops for clothing in this flea market. It is called Falbalas and everything is pretty well priced. There is a ton of selection, and it is organized all by decade. Be careful to really look at condition, if you plan on wearing your purchases. Again, another cash only establishment.

On the left is where you can find men's clothing and items that are really really old.

They have mannequins in the entry way to show off some of their more special pieces. Not sure whether these are also for sale.

I love this detail. Would look great on a shirt today!

Here you can see the 1960's and the 1950's racks.

Love this Egyptian inspired collar necklace.

I have never seen vintage shoes in such good condition.

There are a lot of other shops on the second floor, I would reccomend taking a quick look through each.

I really loved the details on this dress. And it was less than 60 euro.

Wish I had room for this guy in my apartment. He is on the first floor.

A friend gave me the recommendation to go to Chez Sarah. I hadn't been able to find much about it on the Internet, and I almost missed it. It is located in the Lecuyer Valles market which isn't listed on any of the signs, so please look it up before you go.

If you can only go to one vintage store in Paris, go to Chez Sarah. If you can only go to one vintage store in the world, go to Chez Sarah. It isn't cheap, but there are a range of prices and you are paying for great quality. They have basically any… — If you can only go to one vintage store in Paris, go to Chez Sarah. If you can only go to one vintage store in the world, go to Chez Sarah. It isn't cheap, but there are a range of prices and you are paying for great quality. They have basically any and every designer you've heard of, as well as ones you haven't. Prices start from around 60 euro for a simple cotton eyelet top, and range to thousands for a gown. There are a lot of dress options that ring in around 300 euro, though you're looking at closer to 700-900 euro if you're looking at Dior.

I could spend months inside Chez Sarah. The shop is on both sides of the isle and continues from where I am standing, to the very front of the photo. They also have linens and vintage fabrics on the side on the right, when you're facing the front of… — I could spend months inside Chez Sarah. The shop is on both sides of the isle and continues from where I am standing, to the very front of the photo. They also have linens and vintage fabrics on the side on the right, when you're facing the front of the store.

Chez Sarah has a strict no photos policy inside, so I took some from the outside! This gives a good feel of what kind of clothes they sell.

If you go to Paris, absolutely go to the Saint-Ouen flea market. The great thing about it, is that you have so many stores all concentrated in one location. I would plan to spend all day there, if you have the time- and you will come back with treasures you would never find at home!

Queens- Chinatown

July 17, 2016 by ivy kirk in Fashion, Food, Cheap clothes, New York City, Queens, Asian fashion, Chinatown

I decided that I wanted to go to Queens Chinatown, after hearing they had clothing similar what I could get in Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Wholesale markets in China are one of my favorite secrets, but more on that another time!

Queens Chinatown is very far from Manhattan. In fact, it is almost all the way out at JFK airport. So to get there, take the 7 train all the way to the Main Street Station stop.

This is pretty much what it looks like when you get off the subway.

My first stop was the New World Mall. The New World Mall is similar to any other mall in that it has a mix of types of shops on the upper levels and a food court in the basement.

When you enter New World Mall, there is an escalator with a grocery store directly in side. Overall, it seems like a great grocery store if you're looking for more specialty items, but there were a few elements I found strange.

Dragon Fruit at 6.99 per lb. Dragon Fruit is far in a way the best fruit I have ever eaten. It is kind of like a hybrid of melon and kiwi and has the prettiest white and black polka dot interior.

I get that this Dragon Fruit isn't as beautiful, but why is it only 2.99 per lb?!

It looks kinda cool, but I would avoid this fruit if I were you!

Upstairs from the grocery is where you'll find the bulk of the clothing. There is also some on the same floor as the grocery, if you go out the left side.

EK was the first store I went into. Overall the selection was a little boring for me. The rack outside was sale, and I would recommend focusing some time there.

This shop, I liked a little more. It had a girlier aesthetic, more similar to what I saw in China and Hong Kong this spring. I would say overall, it was still priced a little too high for what it was.

Smile Style was definitely one of the better stores. The style was more Korean influenced and the quality was generally pretty decent.

One thing Queens Chinatown is excellent for is Asian beauty products. Missha is a Korean store, which has a great selection. Incase you don't already know, Korean beauty centers around having great skin, and they have some of the best products to he… — One thing Queens Chinatown is excellent for is Asian beauty products. Missha is a Korean store, which has a great selection. Incase you don't already know, Korean beauty centers around having great skin, and they have some of the best products to help you look radiant and even toned.

Some of those skin creams I was talking about!

You've probably heard about them at this point, because they are everywhere! From the check out line at Sephora, to celebrity Instagram photos, sheet masks are a big deal. I bought the Medi Heal W.H.P, which is a white hydrating charcoal-mineral mas… — You've probably heard about them at this point, because they are everywhere! From the check out line at Sephora, to celebrity Instagram photos, sheet masks are a big deal. I bought the Medi Heal W.H.P, which is a white hydrating charcoal-mineral mask. It is a black colored mask, so you kind of look like a burglar when you're using it!

Dr. Jart is one of the better sheet mask suppliers. Here you can buy packs of ten!

I'm not sure what these are for, but they're pretty cool!

Nail art is a big trend, and these stickers make life easy.

I gotta say, I was really tempted by these rabbit lip glosses.

I think I will get the green Choosy next time.

Moving on from Missha...

I wanted to like these, but these sweet bunny key chains were made from real bunny :(

This was one of my favorite stores in the New World Mall. Did they veer a little too heavily towards knock off territory? Yes. But what they had that was more original, was pretty cool.

This restaurant is on the top floor of New World mall. Makes me feel like I'm in Hong Kong!

This store was closed, but actually looked pretty good. Note the Self-Portrait knock off on the left.

Tony Moly is a pretty well known Korean beauty supply store. It's more common than Missha and most famous for its quirky packaging.

One of my number one tips for Queens Chinatown is to go into any little alley type mall, even if it looks grungy. This is where you can find some of the coolest stuff.

A reason to go to Queens Chinatown(other than just for shopping) is for the food. I was really hungry and didn't have a lot of cash, so I went to a food vendor that was on a corner, open to the street.

I ended up with the scallion pancake for two dollars. It was pretty tasty, but that grease really scares me!

Next stop is Queens Crossing Mall. This mall was okay, but much less heavily clothing based. If you had to pick one, I would definitely say just go to New World Mall.

When you enter this mall, there is an ice cream stand towards the front, and a spiral staircase with a koi pond on the left. Towards the back, is this store called "Irresistible" which focuses primarily on home products.

I think the primary lure of this mall, for people, is that it houses a fake designer handbag shop. And they look pretty good, though they're not for me.

This delicious beverage tasted like a watered down fruit cup and gave me the strength to carry on!

If you go to Queens Chinatown, you have to go to Main Plaza. This is one of the grungier of the malls, but has some great shops.

This shop had some cute stuff and a sale bin out front.

Some cute stuff here. Too bad about the Valentino knock off, out front.

This shop was all the way to the back. You need to enter from outside from the cross street, to get in.

This was my favorite store of the day. Again, a little too heavy on the knock offs, but he quality and taste level was much nicer than some of the others. To keep in mind, items went up to 300$ at this shop.

Keep an eye out for mail shops or Fed Ex shops that also house clothing stores.

And if all else fails- you can always shop out of the back of a mini van!

Dallas- vintage, consignment, etc.

July 15, 2016 by ivy kirk in Vintage, Dallas, Texas, Fashion, Shopping

In Dallas, the best vintage store is Vintage Martini, hands down. From the quality to the sheer volume, there is nothing even remotely comparable.

Like many other great vintage stores in the South, Vintage Martini is located in a strip mall. Vintage martini is composed of three main sections. On the left, you have true vintage; 1950s to 1990s. In the middle you have mostly accessories with some mid range modern designer at the front. On the right, there are mostly designer garments from the late 90s through current. There is a lot of Jil Sander, Prada, and Armani in this section.

This is the part of the shop that has true vintage. On the wall, you can see all the 80's and 90's product.

My favorite section, the 1950's and 1960's.

It's pretty rare you see vintage handbags that are wearable and in good shape today. Surprise, surprise- there were a lot of really cute ones at Vintage Martini!

Vintage Martini had a lot of great cocktail Jewelery. Pretty necklace heavy, but some earrings too.

They also sell handmade cut soaps! So pretty and they smell nice!

Here is a close up from one of my favorite purchases from the trip. I love the mix of chambray, with jeweled buttons, with the ruffle, with a hint of ditsy floral on the trim!

Here I am, wearing a dress designed by Pauline Trigere. It belonged to a woman named precious, who lived in Memphis. Her husband ended up selling off many of her prettiest dresses to shops like this, while she was still living. The New York Times wr… — Here I am, wearing a dress designed by Pauline Trigere. It belonged to a woman named precious, who lived in Memphis. Her husband ended up selling off many of her prettiest dresses to shops like this, while she was still living. The New York Times wrote an investigative piece about her and her husband in 2002.

Would I go back to Vintage Martini? One million percent! What is great about this store, is that the quality and the price meet in the middle. It is such a large shop that there truly is something for every occasion!

Next stop was Dolly Python. For those wondering, Dolly Python is a play on Dolly Parton. Dolly Python is also in a strip mall and has a huge selection. It is one of those stores that you can barely push the hangers apart it is so jam packed! It is a bit of a dig, but there are so many treasures to be found!

This is towards the middle of the shop. There are cases with Jewelery, and on the left hand side there is a ton of home. I focused primarily on clothing, so I didn't get a good look here!

Texas- land of the cowboy and the cowboy boot.

Honestly, I didn't really understand the organization here, so I would recommend looking at everything.

This statue reminds me of Giacometti, a little, but less extreme.

I bought this vintage Kenneth J Lane ring at Dolly Python. They told me it was a platypus, but I think it's either a frog or a mythical creature.

I also bought this incredible white ruffle lace crop top with rhinestone studs, from the 1950's. It may have been part of a square dancing costume, but that makes me love it even more!!!

All in all, I would say Dolly Python is as good as Vintage Martini, but a little different, in the fact that it is less curated. Personally, I like that! It gives me a chance to really find something new and different. I am already dying to go back!

Onto the next stop, which is Luxury Garage Sale. Luxury Garage Sale has several different locations across the country, and is strictly designer consignment. Everything is in perfect condition and priced accordingly. It is still a great deal in comparison to New York prices. They also sell on eBay- so beware- hopefully your dress won't be sold before you try to buy it! Basically, they have last season's clothing from Neiman's and other similar Dallas shop. I saw Erdem, Miu Miu, Derek Lam, Phillip Lim, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, and Dolce and Gabbana,just to name a few!

Everything is color coordinated and very well organized. Plenty of space to look!

Wish these puppies were my size!! Or seahorses, rather!

I didn't buy anything at Luxury Garage Sale, but that doesn't mean I didn't love it! If I lived nearby, I would be back every week! The Texas lady has great taste, and this store proves it!

Last but not least, is a pretty little shop called Forty Five Ten. This is in a pedestrian shopping area of Dallas, called Highland Park Village. It isn't consignment or vintage, but I will say- they have great sales. It is a small department store, kind of like how they used to be. They have a pretty unique assortment that still caters to a polished Dallas woman. Some highlights are Delpozo, Gucci, Marc Jacobs, and Vika Gazinskaya. There is a great restaurant, but make sure you go before three, or it will be closed!

A little bit country, and a little bit ruffley.

Can't remember who made this, but the fabric is sick.

Marni ruffles. I would wear this every day.

Nashville - UAL

July 10, 2016 by ivy kirk in Nashville, Shopping, Fashion

My trip to the country music capital started with a trip to the UAL(that's short for United Apparel Liquidators). The UAL is a regional chain that is located only in the South. It is a designer clothing liquidator, which means that small shops will sell them their unsold stock. They get a range of high end designers(they keep this in their "couture section), as well as ones that would be classified as contemporary(meaning a little less expensive and usually more casual). There are two UAL in Nashville. I only went to the older location in Centenial Park, which supposedly has a more high end selection.

The UAL is located in a strip mall within the city. There isn't much else of interest right nearby.

Here I am outside(as you can see I'm pretty excited!)

As soon as you enter UAL, the cheaper items are towards the front. They tend to have more of these, in multiple sizes and sometimes colors. Men's is on the right, though I wholly ignored that area. Shoes are just behind men's. It was a pretty small selection, though very well priced. Designer, which they call couture is on the left by the register. Jewelery is kept at the register. Extra discounted merchandise is just behind the designer section. Home is all the way in the back.

This is the very front of the store, nothing so exciting here!

This is towards the front of the store still,  but there is some designer mixed in. I saw Marni, Saint Laurent, Harvey Faircloth, and Carven on this rack, just to name a few. — This is towards the front of the store still, but there is some designer mixed in. I saw Marni, Saint Laurent, Harvey Faircloth, and Carven on this rack, just to name a few.

This Dolce & Gabbana mini dress with gold leather appliqué is of my favorites of all time! I remember seeing it a year or so back in the Barney's catalogue and loving it ever since!

Not sure who designed the teal jacquard dress on the wall, but I'm obsessed!

This Sonia by Sonia Rykiel tee shirt is really special. It has a lace yoke and a velvet swallow appliqué. It is marked down from 490$ to 147$.

Simone Rocha is a British designer, who is sold at shops like Dover Street Market. I found this great white mesh sheath dress with floral embroidery and crochet trim. I forgot to take a photo of the tag, but I do remember it was less than 300$. Usua… — Simone Rocha is a British designer, who is sold at shops like Dover Street Market. I found this great white mesh sheath dress with floral embroidery and crochet trim. I forgot to take a photo of the tag, but I do remember it was less than 300$. Usually this kind of dress would sell for closer to 3000$!

I love what Hedi Slimane did for Saint Laurent. So many super easy, young dresses! This is one of them and I wish it had been a size 38! In silk chiffon, marked down from 3790$ to 287$.

Not marked down as much as some of the others, but this Giambattista Valli dress is such a pretty red!

This gold fil-coupé Lanvin dress was all over their advertising!

Was tempted by Mary Katrantzou for 128$, but resisted.

Amazing fabric on Mary Katrantzou shorts.

I think this pretty embroidered tulle gown is either Dolce or Valentino

Hand written Duro Olowu dry cleaning tag.

The most amazing knit dress I have ever seen! This Delpozo work of art is marked down from 8000$, to 706$.

And last, but not least!

I ended up buying these silver leather Marni sandals for 135$. Deal of the day!

Would I go back to UAL? Absolutely! It has an unusual selection of discounted designer product. The quality is good, and the prices are good, especially if you like to dig!