It's that time of year.... (for a BACK TO SCHOOL SALE)

It's that time of year...

....when we all have an excuse to go shopping!  It doesn't matter if you're 15, 20, 25 or 50, there's something about the return of the school year that prompts us to treat ourselves to new blouses, dresses, pants and shoes.  Maybe it's the anticipation of the changing seasons. Perhaps it's a habit formed from Kindergarten that's reinforced annually for 12 years.  Or it could just be a fabulously successful marketing ploy for retailers to move stock.  Whatever the reason, you can always find a good excuse to go shopping in August.

To celebrate this time-honored tradition, 
every vintage item in the shop will be on sale this weekend!  

Come in and take advantage of a 20% discount 

on your entire vintage purchase.  

Sale runs Saturday and Sunday, August 15 and 16.

Handmade items not included. 

photo via

we have a dressing room!

We have a fitting room! This is something I've felt the shop needed for a while and now that it's here I can say that the whole space feels very legit now, less like a flea market stall and more like a true boutique.

In the past, my customers had two options: try on clothing in between the racks or settle for comparing their measurements to those of the garment.  While that worked in most cases, not everyone is comfortable changing outfits in the open, and most of us want to know that the clothing will fit when we swipe our credit card. Returning clothing is an inconvenience in any case, hence the obvious need for a dressing room in the store.

I posted a full album of photos on the SCV facebook page so you can see the process unfold. I'm so fortunate to be married to a carpenter who loves his trade, and the end result turned out even better than I anticipated.

There are more benefits than I expected, outside of the obvious.  Lighting in the shop can be wonky at times since I rely solely on natural light from opposite ends of the store, but I was surprised to find that the white paint on the interior walls reflects and diffuses the light and creates a bright, clear space for trying on clothing. I'm using this lightbox effect to my advantage when I take product photos for the etsy shop later today. I love spaces that serve multiple purposes, especially since I'm working with very little square footage in my booth.  And it's amusing to me that even though this fitting stall takes up a significant amount of space, it actually improved the overall aesthetics of the shop as a whole.  It forced me to rethink the layout and move some racks around to accommodate all the clothing, and it also gave me an extra half wall to work with.  The feng shui of the whole store is significantly more cohesive and, not to get all heady on you, but it feels like there is a better flow of energy throughout. Feng shui is no joke, people.

If you're a Jacksonville local or just passing through on a weekend, stop by the shop and try something on!

The return of the 1970s at NYFW, and how to wear this trend now

The return of the 70s began last year with the spring 2015 shows and was in full force at the Fall 2015 shows.  You'll start seeing these trends in clothing stores soon, but you can find the looks now in vintage shops and thrift stores around town, at a lower cost and higher quality than big-box retailers can offer.  

The key to wearing this trend without looking like you're headed to a theme party is to mix vintage elements with modern pieces.

A pussy bow blouse paired with boyfriend jeans and strappy heels looks modern and chic, and you can remix the same blouse for work by pairing it with a colored pencil skirt or tucking it into sleek cropped trousers. Remix a simple sheath dress by layering a pussy bow blouse underneath.

See: Emilio Pucci, Frame Denim, Jason Wu, Sophie Theallet

Take on the metallic trend by adding a vintage sequined jacket over a sleek little black dress for a touch of vintage glam on date night.  And you can't beat a sparkly metallic dress when you want to get attention on the dance floor. 

See: Jason Wu, Giambattista Valli, Rodarte

Boho is always right for summer on the coast; a vintage boho maxi with gladiator sandals or a bohemian printed blouse with jean shorts is the perfect look for festival season.  If you're really into the modern hippie look, try a loose, worn-in vintage t-shirt tucked into a boho maxi skirt for a look that's casual and comfortable.

See: Anna Sui, Rebecca Minkoff, Thakoon, Tory Burch

Fringe plays right into the boho trend- try layering a fringe vest over a lace mini dress or adding a purse with fringe details to your daily outfits.  Fringe is another great choice for a night of dancing!

See: Rebecca Minkoff, Emilio Pucci, Tom Ford, J. Crew

Flares are back in a big way, and look best with a slim, short top or fitted blazer to emphasize your waist.  This season you'll see flared pants in all textures and fabrics, the most wearable of which will be denim.  You can find great high-waisted flare denim in vintage stores and thrift shops if you're willing to dig a little.  The benefit of buying vintage denim is that it's already broken in for you!  For a modern fit, find brands that did flared jeans back in the 90s- still vintage, but more akin to the shapes of our bodies today. If you're on the shorter side, you'll be pleased to know that platforms and clogs are also having a fashion moment right now and are the perfect way to add a little height to lengthen your leg line.

See: Derek Lam, Frame Denim,  Coach

The patchwork trend may not be for everyone, but if you like to mix and match patterns, this one is for you.  The 70s gave us some truly awesome patchwork skirts that can be very now when paired with modern shoes and a simple top.  This is also a great opportunity to patch up all those ripped jeans you bought last season- just layer different patches of dark, medium and light wash denim over those holes in a random, yet balanced way for a look that was all over runways this year.  

See: Etro, 3.1 Phillip Lim, Tom Ford

click here for original sources linked from style.com

(etsy) new handmade items in the shop

I'm going to regret staying up this late when I have to get up for my day job tomorrow morning, but it was worth it to get some new items updated in the shop!  I'm pretty excited about this batch of updates.

That polka dot number is my ideal skirt: tight at the waist, open hips, a full shape that screams retro beauty queen and a print that will never go out of style.  It's a feminine shape that would work great for the office, church, date night, or brunch.

The triangle tunic is a perfect summer piece because it's think, loose, and you can throw it on without requiring accessories or layers.  The pattern speaks for itself'; it's light and breezy and those teals, oranges and pinks are basically the official colors of summertime.

The abstract printed tunic on the bottom left is a personal favorite, so much that I made one to keep for myself.  The fabric is a dream- it's thin and moves lightly against the skin, making it a great dress for dancing (in my opinion).  I looked into the Impressionist print and it's quite similar to Monet's 1914 painting Water Lilies, Red.  Like the triangle tunic, this print needs very little accessories as it stands out well on its own.

The tote bag on the bottom right is a tragedy turned triumph.  I picked up a skirt for myself on a recent thrifting trip and it wasn't until I got home that I saw the huge stain running the length of the side seam.  I was first drawn to the print itself so I salvaged as much as I could and turned it into this charming little tote which- between you and me- is cuter than the original skirt ever was.  

Stitch Craft Vintage Shop Tour

I thought it would be fun to give you a quick tour around the shop! My local shop is located inside the Beach Blvd Flea Market in Jacksonville, FL.  It's not the most traditional setting but I've put so much work into making it look less like a market stall and more like a legitimate, semi-permanent boutique. 

We sell vintage and handmade clothing for women in the shop.  In our vintage section we currently carry women's dresses, blouses, skirts, and sweaters, as well as the occasional vintage t-shirt (there are some good ones out there!).  Our handmade selection includes tunics, dresses, skirts and kimonos in unique prints and patterns.

Newly acquired vintage is displayed on a rack at the front of the store, making it easy for a returning customer to see what's new since her last visit.  Every once in a while we pick up a piece that doesn't qualify as true vintage, but if we really love it and it fits our aesthetic, you can find it on our vintage inspired rack.

Handmade accessories make great gifts, and necklaces, scarves, rings and belts are just a few of the accessories we sell in the shop.  We've also got tote bags, purses, headbands, earrings, clutches and wristlets! 

 

Hope you enjoyed this little tour of my local shop! Stop by to see it in person next time you're in the area!

We're located at booth A-45 @ the Beach Blvd Flea Market: 11041 Beach Blvd, Jacksonville, FL and we're open Saturdays and Sundays from 11-4

ways to wear it: bird print Andie dress [remix]

I ordered so much of this printed jersey knit when I came across it, and I'm glad I did because these bird print dresses were a hit in the shop.  A good black and white pattern is a good base for easy print and color mixing and this one did not disappoint.  With the addition of a few layers and accessories, it can be dressed up or down for work or play.  I loved this dress so much on the mannequin that I made one for my personal wardrobe and I wear it at least once a week; it's that good.

If you're interested in snagging one of these versatile dresses for yourself, I still have 1 available in my etsy shop (size small).  If you like the bird print but not the dress silhouette, I've got a few kimonos in my local shop and online as well (one size fits all).

day to day: wearing vintage

Out of all the tasks that come with running the shop, my favorite is styling the mannequins.  It's always a fun exercise in creativity to mix prints, patterns and textures, and it gives me a chance to style up pieces that I love before sending them to new homes.  I try to document as many outfits as possible (on my phone) so that I can look back and remember the really special items later on.  This is just a small selection of the looks I've put together over the last year.  Most of them are neck-to-knee vintage with handmade jewelry, and there are a few handmade dresses thrown in (often mixed with vintage pieces) for good measure.  I love the look of vintage clothing styled in a modern way; it's eclectic, unique, and endlessly cool.