Vintage JoAnn » Vintage Clothing

New Boudoir photos

JoAnn — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 01:50:46 +0000

last week I started moving Vintage JoAnn’s office, computer, remainder of inventory, etc to our 3rd floor, and moving our guest bedroom to the 2nd floor. I wanted all my business stuff together on one floor.
I had been sleeping in the 3rd floor bedroom a lot lately, mostly to give poor Rick some rest- as I am a raving insomniac, who is tossing, turning all night, up numerous times to pee, take meds, let dogs out, etc.
Back pain makes sleeping difficult even with drugs. I also need air conditioning while Rick prefers fresh air. Rick is always cold and snuggles in one little spot under a cover all night without moving.
he also snores and so do I but since he always goes to sleep instantly, his bothered me more then mine bothered him.
I got the ‘brilliant” idea of creating this room to be a luscious little boudoir for me and also as a guest room when Kristina sleeps over and when my daughter’s family visits from NY.
This room had dark red walls, lots of gleaming white woodwork(our house is over 130 yrs old and has nice heavy moldings) as well as white ceiling and Rose print area rug. There is also a crystal chandelier, window treatments featuring rose printed barkcloth from my late grandma.
We moved in our double waterfall 40s bed, and end table, waterfall dresser, my grandma’s vanity and a small chair and some small tables and lamps. I also managed to fit in an antique white iron crib made into a loveseat that my sis in law becky gave me a few years ago.
Today I hung pictures of old movie stars and accessorized with some of my vintage goodies including a few of my vintage pegnoirs I thought would be cool to hang up.
It is definetely a “vintage JoAnn” room, chock full, colorful, and very full of vintage goodies. So it fits the rest of our decor!!! I really love it, but now I have a bit of a mess to tackle on the 3rd floor getting the business area of vintage JoAnn cleaned up and organized this week before getting ready for the upcoming street fair in Red lion! WARNING- if you prefer unclutted decorating- boy are you reading the wrong blog!!!!!!!!

Vacation Shopping

JoAnn — Thu, 19 May 2011 22:59:48 +0000

I got home last night from our almost annual trek to Ocean City MD. We usually go on the off season and meet up with my sil Becky, her husband Ken and my niece Kristina.
My almost favorite part of the trip is the day we leave home. Our routine is to hit every thrift shop and antique shop, junk store, etc. on our way there, It takes hours and Rick and I get some time together before we meet up at Ocean City.

The weather wasn’t so hot this trip but we still had fun.

During my scaveging on the way there last Sun. I bought an absolutely lovely circa 1890s dress. I have already displayed it in my victorioan parlor on a dress form. I also found some lovely ladies portraits from the same era with ornate frames. I also found a coach purse and several 50s dress to sell on etsy.

I was thrilled with my loot and had to do some picture rearranging today and retire some to the sell pile. Here are a few pictures of the dress, pics, etc.!

Mobtown Greaseball 2010

JoAnn — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:11:47 +0000

Rick and I left the plaster dust and mess behind on Sat. and took a rare day off. Actually I managed to not be home most of weekend. The Mobtown Greaseball car show was awesome!!! It was worth dying in the heat- we’ll be back next year for sure!!

I don’t know a lot about cars but I love the way cars from the 50′s look like! We walked around and admired all the love and devotion the owners had put into their cars.

I shopped at the venders booths, purchasing a red wicker purse and drooling over a red cashmere coat with leopard lining. I skipped the coat since I have about 10 great vintage coats now and don’t want to part with any. Several are red and leopard! I’ll have to take pictures for another post. Somehow the fact that I have bizillions of vintage purses did not deter me in that purchase! Gee- I didn’t have a red WICKER purse! Rationalization-it’s a beautiful thing. Rick never said a thing- too busy taking pics of gorgeous ladies in vintage attire!

Everyone was very nice and approachable, friendly crowd, put up with me scurrying around asking questions. We wan

t to return next year. Check out the gorgeous ladies of all ages and shapes in the pin-up contest- I was enthralled withe the clothing of course.

Quick Preview Of 50′s Dresses

JoAnn — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 23:09:13 +0000

I know I said I wasn’t going to buy anything for at least a month- well, I’m weak! I purchased these dresses from a nice lady who popped in today unannounced. All are 50′s dresses from dress shops in Philadelpia and were owned by the same lady.

This is just a quick preview- they all need pressed and the blue cotton dress needs a zipper repair. Almost all the other dresses are silk.

All are about a modern size 10, I have not taken measurements yet. They are larger then they appear in the photos as I pinned them in the back to better fit the dressform. I will get them listed as soon as I can.

When I get a more permanent photo area set up I’m going to use some live models such as Julie’s cute daughter M

eredith and her friends.

NEW INTERNET STORE !!!!!!!!!!

JoAnn — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 01:23:39 +0000

Rick and I have been working so hard and as promised, we now offer you a new way to shop at Vintage JoAnn. Right here on VJ’s website you can click on the store and buy the same great stuff you see at the store. I will be adding multiple things weekly so you will see the available selections grow by leaps and bounds.

I will be featuring vintage woman’s and men’s fashion from all eras and also I am bringing back more vintage childrens’ fashion. I am also going to be buying the largest range of sizing I can find, including plus sizes. I really hope all you vintage loving friends will love it!!!!

Vintage Sewing Adventures & Showing Off

JoAnn — Sat, 01 May 2010 21:35:54 +0000

I finished sewing my red rose dress today from the 1957 pattern. I wore it with modern peep toe pumps I got from penneys a few years ago. They look so vintage, you can’t tell! Sunglasses, bead necklace and bracelet- all vintage 5o’s. The red crinoline is enormass with many layers- looks great but not for everyday! Scratchy!!

The navy blue dress is a vintage early 1960′s shirt dress made of lightweight poly with polka dots. I wore it with a netted navy blue circle hat (50′s) and a 60′s enamel flower pin and pink beaded 50′s coil bracelet. Shoes, belt and hoop earrings are modern with vintage flair. I hope this inspires you to send pictures in. If my aged, chubby little self can have fun doing this– so can you my lovely vintage lovers!

Vintage Musings and Random Rants

JoAnn — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 21:36:22 +0000

Have any of you watched Kirstie Ally’s new show? I love the show and her. Beautiful and hilarious fat or thin. The tabloids were so vicious about her weight gain. Sexist!! They never get on James Gandolphinis’ case or any big actor. John Travolta is a good 70 lbs heavier now that he’s in his 50′s like Kirstie but no pictures ridiculing him in Star magazine. OK end of that rant!

Had an unpleasant incident involving a pair of capri jeans in a dressing room at Target yesterday. I had to pause and practice what I was preaching in that last body size issue blog I did. Along the lines of “you are not the sum total of your butt size” Actually I am an “apple” and its my midsection, not my derriere. Sigh. I didn’t say it was easy everyday.

I am actively trying to shed at least 20 lbs. as I have high blood pressure and my blood sugar is inching upwards. I threw out any junk in the house and am committed to eating more unproccessed food. Cutting junk carbs usually helps me. And I am walking as about the only form of exercize my back tolerates. No, hunched over my new notebook lapbook doesn’t qualify or I’d look like Audry Hepburn.

Still organizing my personal closet and dressing room and trying to dress more vintage. Wearing all the cool jewelry I have and wearing more dresses and skirts. Thats me- overdressed for every occasion but I like it. Like to look like a lady even though I’m no priss. I’ve also been using some of the totally cool handbags I have collected. Rick is in the process of putting a new chain handle on a leather and real zebra hide 50′s bag I have that was made in Paris. Can’t get THAT at Walmart!

To Hoard or not to hoard, that is the question.

JoAnn — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 01:25:44 +0000

First of all my apologies to Shakespeare. Have any of you watched all the shows on hoarding????
I have and they are freaking me out. It runs in families, my Grandma, Mom, and brother are hoarders, although their homes are not dirty or unsafe, stuff has taken over. They are also loving, kind people and I love to visit and see all the treasures. Grandma has been gone for years and we still remember the “paths” through the house between all her stuff. I’ve watched my Mom do the same thing over the years.
My childhood home was not crammed with excess but this hoading thing worsens with age sometimes. Mom herself is perfectly content living this way and is unconcerned that she can no longer entertain, or have a meal at the dining table, or use the living room because it’s become a storage room. Most hoarders are pretty content with it but it strains relationships. My Dad hates how the house is and they argue constantly about it.
This profession I am in attracts hoarders. What better excuse to constantly buy and accumulate all these treasures. Over the years I’ve met so many dealers of antiques, vintage items, and vintage clothing. I’ve been astounded at how many of them are hoarders. You look at all the gorgeous stuff in their shops and you think, wow! Their homes must be beautiful. Sadly, often that’s not the case. I had a lovely lady tell me she hadn’t been able to use her dishwasher for months because of all the boxes of china piled up blocking the way!
I worked in a huge antique mall in Ellicott city for several years. Many of the dealers were successful business people and sold things regularly and made a nice profit. But there were just as many others who didn’t care whether they sold any thing or not. Their prices were too high and it really just was a way for them to collect. Kind of expensive doing it that way.
I’ve been in shops where everything is overpriced, a layer of thick dust covers everything and nothing ever leaves. Most likely, the owner is a hoader. Once again, paying rent on a shop is an expensive way to collect stuff. I’ve seen dealers buy more than they can sell and so never seem to catch up and make a profit.
Anyhooo…. Now for the dirty question- am I a hoarder???? I’ve given this a lot of thought lately. I definitly have the genetic tendencies. I’m no minamalist. lol I love vintage stuff, decorating my home with it and love collecting, thrift shops, and a garage sale can make my heart soar. And it IS fun to be able to buy lots of things for the store. It’s a slippery slope. I do work VERY hard at SELLING and consider this a business, not a hobby. I work WAY too hard at this not to get paid! That’s why my prices are a lot lower than in a lot of vintage clothing shops. I work really hard to keep the flow going. Stuff sold, new suff coming in.
That being said, I do tend to over buy. My shop is STUFFED. There is a certain kind of customer who gets claustrophobic in here. Usually those folks are not into vintage anyway. Most people come in, survey the packed treasure trove and spend enjoyable hours going thru it all and finding gems to buy. I’ve resigned myself to cater to this kind of customer(people like me) who love this kind of shop. And believe me LOTS of people do love it! Occasionally a real crab ass will stroll in and tell me the place is too crowded. Those folks never buy any thing anyway.

So yes, I have to be careful, not to overbuy for the shop. Our living space on the top 2 floors of our Victorian house are chock full. Not like the shop, but PLENTY of victorian stuff. I have to question all purchases at this point and usually have to sell something to make room for a new item. My home is very attractive and cozy, very full though. I will fight like hell not to EVER let this stuff become more important than family and friends. The whole crew is coming for Easter and there is plenty of room to entertain in our parlour, dining room and kitchen. People seem to love coming here and enjoy all the antiques and I want to keep it that way!!!

Anyhow after watching an episode of Hoaders, I usually go on a cleaning, and purging mission, and let go of quite a few bags of no longer useful items… I’ll confesst though, if any one really knew how many shoes I really have squirred away upstairs they would be horrified.

So please feel free to comment and share your own stories and to give me any advice you want in how you deal with this topic. Cheers my little vintage vixens, love JoAnn

We’re OPEN!!!! FEB.27

JoAnn — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:25:20 +0000

Snow or not we are open today! Everybody has had it with this weather. It was snowing this morning but by the time I opened it had stopped and the roads are pretty clear.
The walks and steps are shoveled to the front and back doors, also parking is available on W. Broadway and Pine st.
My shop is exploding with great stuff as Of course I keep buying even though we lost so many days in Feb. due to snow.
I’m planning on a big blow out sale for the whole month of March to get things rolling for spring.20% off EVERYTHING in the shop for the whole month! Offer not good on already discounted items which are already marked as much as 60% off.
There is now a good selection of Men’s items, such as smoking jackets, tux’s, shirts,cuff links and LOADS of great hats.
Vintage JoAnn is bursting at the seams with gorgeous gowns for proms,fur coats,1940′s and 50′s shoes and purses, funky jewelry and so much ,much more.
I have a lot of larger sizes now too!

Going to the Movies with Mandi

JoAnn — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 14:43:13 +0000

Mandi does it again! She was kind enough to send me some pics of her modeling photos wearing clothing she got at Vintage JoAnn.

The blue 50′s dress with the lace and tulle looks adorable, and I LOVE the hat! Also 50′s netting and blue millinary flowers.

The leopard skirt was a 60′s find and very cool as the fabric was actually furry!!!!

Thanks Mandi, you are the best!

You can see more of Mandi’s photos in Vintage JoAnn outfits at the Models section of our Photo Gallery and go to her website on Model Mayhem by clicking here – Mandi’s Model Mayhem site.