Tartan Plaids

Ethnic tartans are produced in many cultures, from the Madras plaids of India and plaid silks of Thailand. The best known plaids are the traditional clan tartans of Scotland. Most tartans are primarily reds and greens because the earliest tartans were colored with vegetable dyes, reds and greens, were made from leaves and berries. Chemical dyes are used today with many various colors used, including black and white. The 80s were drenched in tartan from jewelry, shorts, shoes and even evening wear! The famous Black watch also known as the government pattern was invented as a neutral tartan which could be worn by members of any clan. Others, like the camel, red and black Burberry design, have become trademarks for their companies. We just love tartans at vintagemoonbaby and have samples of tartan plaids fun and trendy pieces you can add to your closet. Try a London Fog trench coat for a stylish day to evening cover up! Or a cute and fanciful pair of multi tartan & denim shorts. Blackwatch plaid is the all time favorite and you can be assured you'll find at least one piece on Ebay or www.vintagemoonbaby.com. Check both sites for availability.

Mixin' It-The Old With The ....Older

Now's the time and place to remix the old with the older. And some new. I've always thought if you wore a 50's blouse you have to wear it with a 50s skirt. But not so. Trending today is wearing and 80s skirt with a new sweater or a 40's blazer with an 80s top. They're doin' it everywhere. From fancy prom dresses with updated accessories you don't have to have all things in one decade. It's easy to accessorize from 2 or 3 different decades as long as you don't go overboard. Here we have a 50s angora cropped sweater with an 80s tight red leather mini. Opened down with sleeves pushed up for a hip style. For a more conservative look you can wear a tee or dressy blouse with the buttons completely undone and sleeves down. You can add a modern purse that works well with both pieces. A larger satchel would well this outfit. Add a simple black skinny belt and some black simple pumps that will subdue and/or blend well, for a finished touch and there you go! Your complete. Try things on with different colors, shapes but DO keep it uniform! Don't add a gold shimmer belt where it isn't needed and will stand out from the entire outfit. You don't want everyone staring at you and snickering for the wrong reasons!

Fancy Your Collections

Though my appeal to a collection of collectibles waivers on the thought of ceramic knick knacks showcasing in a curio cabinet, my actual collections are quite pretty. Vintage enamel pins. Collected and sought out by many for their bright colors, fanciful designs and just their cheeriness. It brings a smile and a feeling of pleasure to look over an array of mostly flower pins but an occasional butterfly pin is found and added. Because flowers and butterflies do go hand in hand. My small but proud collection started when I opened a box of inherited grandmothers costume jewelry and found a couple of the daisy types. Two-toned in yellow was simple but very alluring. As I started going around thrift shops, estate sales, I really found they were not that easy to come by. There are a few larger collections you can easily have for the right bidding price on ebay, but it takes the fun out of the hunt. The thrill of stumbling upon a lone piece surrounded by insignificant pieces just makes it more joyous.
The pretty enamel pieces are an inexpensive way to start collecting as they are not nearly as pricey as their cousins with designer names stamped on the back. Vivid colors sometimes neon and soft pastels, colors distinctively from another generation are eye candy to all that just love a good thing.

New items added for Tuesday on Ebay

Fall-ing in August?

I always thought for the longest time retail stores were way too early to sell fall clothes in the middle of summer. Whilst it's 95 degrees and above in most cities, they were launching their fall outfits placed ever so smack dab on the edge of the aisle so you couldn't miss the new color tones. I wondered why the heck they did that. Not just Macy's and Neiman Marcus do you see this but on the fashion runways too. While lanky beautiful models are strutting all black collections, cher michael klein for example, I'm still in the mood for airy pastels. What gives? I guess it's always been that way. You gotta be ready for the next season earlier than the next designer. I suppose living in Southern California where the weather is always gorgeous and you don't see the seasons changing too much, we don't really buy our fall wardrobe until the weather is chilly enough to actually wear it! Not hang in our closets and wait for the weather to change. Does anybody really do that? But perhaps east coasters get to enjoy the crisp cool air sooner than we do. Lucky! For the designers. While I wouldn't move to the opposite coast only to wear knit sweaters in September, I would admire them only for the sake of being.