While some people may be cringing with the cold, or with the ever-nearing holiday season, I am getting super-stoked for the holiday season!  I, like many of you, love this time of year because I get excited to make my  home a fun welcoming place and I love preparing both food and my home for holiday gatherings.

In my profession, I work with home goods: housewares, textiles, and everything in-between!  The home business booms around this time of year for the very reason that I like to buy fun home goods this time of year: people love to prepare for get-togethers with family and friends.

Take a look at some of my favorite websites for home items of great design and function.  Maybe you’ll find that perfect thing you’ve been looking to serve your homemade cheeseballs in; and, keep these sites in mind for holiday gifts as well!

1.  Bodum

Bodum is no big secret. Bodum has expanded to sell all over the place, including mid-to-high-end department stores, but I listed them first because I always enjoy their products’ design and functionality. Also, when I think of home entertaining, I immediately think of making coffee.  Check out the Brazil Set: a colorful 8-cup french press with four matching cups.  Great for entertaining, OR as a holiday gift!

2.  Greener Grass Design

Greener Grass Design’s mission statement is plain and simple: they want to provide interesting goods.  Boom.  GGD carries everything from bold barware, to playful pet-homes, to whimsical dishes, to charming trash bags.  And come on fellow squirrel-lovers, what home doesn’t need an adorable squirrel-shaped nut bowl?!

3.  The Curiosity Shoppe

The Shoppe always has some cutesy goods perfect for gift-giving, like a cheese board in the shape of France (ooh la la!), or these well-dressed napkins for your not-so-well-dressed family to jam in the necks of their T-shirts and look fancy.

4.  Reiko Kaneko

Let’s switch it up for a second and move beyond the entertaining items, and go straight to a purely holiday gifty item – because it’s just that damn special.  Based in the UK, Reiko Kaneko hand-crafts contemporary designs in bone china.  Their items are interesting and fun, like these cat and dog bone china Christmas tree ornaments. Hand-crafted people!

5.  Perch!

Perch is a small company (um, three people and a cat?) based in Brooklyn that produces home items that can perform double duty! A freeform basket can also be hung as a bird-feeder, a mason jar can be used as a vase or pitcher…you get the idea.  Whatever you use them for, their designs and products are beautiful, modern yet organic, and environmentally friendly.  Perfect for entertaining, or gift-giving!

Main Article Image features Perch! Rosette Vase

If only… there is no perfect shoe, but there are some strong contenders in the all-purpose, work-appropriate/bike-appropriate/walking-appropriate flats category. Here are my favorites:

Vans Lesley (pictured above): More like sneakers than flats, these are my favorite weekend shoes. I can ride my bike in them and they look cute with jeans. Done and done.

Patent Leather Saniya Flats from Target: They dress up your outfit just enough that you feel slightly more professional at work, and they are cheap enough you can have an extra pair at work and in your purse. Plus they wear well – the patent “leather” is stiff enough to hold it’s shape but soft enough to be comfortable. They don’t have any arch support, though, so use insoles.

CO-OP Barneys New York Uma I’m not ready for boots yet, but I could be down with shoes. It is fall, after all.
Oxfords are so hawt right now.

You know how I’m all about GiltGroupe and checking things out in the store and then finding them online for a lot less? Well, I’ve discovered a new way to comparison shop that has me very excited: ShopStyle.

So say for instance you’re in the market for some Vivienne Westwood Anglomania for Melissa Shoes, but you don’t want to pay full price because, well, as cute as they are, $134 for jelly shoes—albeit cute jelly shoes— seems a bit steep. Head on over to ShopStyle and type in Vivienne Westwood Anglomania into the search box, then click on “shoes” and viola: compare prices and styles from every top boutique and department store there is. You can organize by color, price, discount, and the like. Roll over the items and each store’s specials are revealed: free shipping, discount codes for 20% off your purchase of $50 or more, etc.

Check out the offers page for a list of sales and specials at dozens and dozens of retailers (i.e. enter SHOP at checkout for 20% off Lord & Taylor).

Sign up for sale alerts and ShopStyle will notify you when anything Proenza Schouler or Stella McCartney goes on sale anywhere.

Hopping from Macy’s to Barney’s to Nordstrom’s to T.J. Maxx checking out sale racks hoping for the best price or paying full-price is a thing of the past. Thanks, ShopStyle!

Have you noticed when you go shopping for your Halloween candy, the Christmas and Hanukah decorations are already out?!

I decided a few years ago to go with the old adage “if you can’t beat them join them,” and I literally went holiday shopping for friends and family before Halloween!

It was soooo liberating. Gone was the stress of trudging through winters’ elements to overcrowded stores under the pressure to find the perfect gift.

Now I enjoy going fall shopping and when I come across a item or outfit that “screams” a certain friend/family member it is one less person I have to shop for come December!

When I shared this tip with a friend she was skeptical. She thought is took away the spirit of holiday shopping. Au contraire! It may not be for everyone, but I was finding I was actually losing the holiday spirit by shopping between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

And that’s really the beauty of this early-bird-shopper concept: it frees you up to enjoy the holiday season. I still go out and about for stocking stuffers, etc., but I don’t have the anxiety anymore—instead I have fun.

Then I take great pride in wrapping the gifts by the fire with the holiday music on, to me that gets me in the spirit. I even found the time to bake holiday cookies for those who least expect a acknowledgment: the crossing guard in town, the bank teller, and the neighbors.

It also helped me to dedicate a area of my home as a “gift closet”. In addition to those on my list, I buy a few little extras for those “surprises”. Guests who pop by unknowingly with a gift for you, now you have something in return! Or perhaps, (woops) you forgot a birthday and you have a last minute safety gift. Great generic gifts that everyone can enjoy are gloves, umbrellas, booze, magazine subscriptions, movie tickets.

Lastly, another ‘lil suggestion: be ready to answer the question “What do you want for [insert winter holiday here]?” Have you consider registering? Seriously! You don’t have to be engaged to be married to have a registry at say, Target. That way you can find some economical items (or not so economical, perhaps your wealthy auntie will get you that dyson vacuum you always wanted, in yellow of course) that you would like to have. It truly takes the guess work and pressure off those that do not their holiday shopping done prior to turkey day.

In the poorhouse this year? Advice is always a great gift, so why not introduce friends and family to OMFGstyle (wink, wink)!

The beau and I returned last week from a long-delayed honeymoon of sorts with much heavier bags than we’d left with three weeks earlier. Among our stops in Spain, France, and Italy, we picked up fantastic items that made the extra kilos on our shoulders worth it. Here are some of my personal favorite mementos:

“Buy multiples” is one of the best pieces of style advice I can share. And as we wrap up a fantastic month of Personal Style posts, it’s fitting that we reflect on personal style, what it means to each one of us, and what signature pieces in our closets help us define our very own personal style. Are you reflecting? Do you have a mental picture of your favorite jeans? Shoes? Sweater? T-shirt?

Oh, but wait: your favorite jeans got a hole in the back by the pocket last fall and have been stuffed into the bottom of the hamper ever since and when you went to ____________ to find a new pair, you discovered they no longer make them. Sure, you can try and get them fixed, but don’t you really wish you had another pair? Or two? No more regrets. Next time you find the perfect, most comfortable ballet flats in the world, the world’s most flattering chinos, or the softest, curve-hugging tee, buy another.

Because you know what? The stupid manufacturers change the designs every season and you’ll never find them again and you’ll be pissed. I’m looking at you, Banana Republic. However, if you pick up three pair of those fabulous jeans, you triple the time they’ll last. Sure, it’ll cost you now, but ask yourself, how much money have you wasted buying a blazer that you think is going to be like the other one that you love but it never fits quite right and you don’t even wear anymore?

So stock up and you’ll love what you wear everyday.

The vintage clothing world is a fascinating niche in the fashion industry. It revives what was once old and discarded, what has traveled from place to place, or person to person. It brings the story full circle: from a time and place where things were conceptualized and created with more involvement and skill, to a modern time where consumers yearn for items of unique design and superior quality.

For an expert take on the subject, I weigh in with two NYC-area vintage dealers: Meika Franz who, along with her husband, owns Another Man’s Treasure vintage shop in Jersey City, NJ, and the proprietor of Jellyroll Vintage, a regular vendor at the Brooklyn Flea.

Although so many people are fans of vintage clothing, there are also many people who don’t understand it at all. So, my first question to the two gals is:  What makes vintage so special? Both dealers agree that with vintage clothing each piece is unique, and the quality is vastly superior when compared to modern fashions.

AMT: For one, you know no one else will have the same item, and when it fits, it’s like it was made for you. Its also an affordable way to get high-quality or even designer items.  Also, there is a true history to the piece.

JRV: With vintage, each piece is unique, and the quality superior.  You’re not going to get the same quality that was put out only 20 years ago, even with modern mass-produced clothing.  I can simply look at a rack and pull out items that are vintage because when you work with vintage long enough you can see the quality at a glance, even if it’s just a pattern in a 70’s polyester shirt. Its pretty stunning.

What are your main fashion influences, and what looks do you try to consistently bring to your customer?

AMT: Barbara Hulunki from BIBA has been a great inspiration to me, as well as Coco Chanel, Vivenne Westwook, and Debbie Harry.  I love various vintage styles though, and try to always keep a diverse selection with a high level of quality. We’ve had a big demand for early vintage, 1920’s-40’s, as well as 90’s.

JRV: In my booth, you  never know what you’ll find. My collection ranges from 1940’s to 90’s, and I focus on colorful items, paying attention to cool patterns and interesting textures.

What trends do you see your customers purchasing right now?

JRV: The 90’s have come roaring back with little floral dresses, oxford shoes, and folded socks (think Elaine on Seinfeld).  It’s all circular; Every decade comes back in style eventually. Trends in vintage mirror the trends in modern fashion, and sometimes getting the same request from everyone for the items seen everywhere can be difficult. Vintage is about not looking like everyone else.

Both dealers also agree that AMC’s Mad Men has had a huge influence on the vintage as well as modern fashion industry, something this shopper is personally grateful for!

AMT: I think Mad Men’s influence has been quite positive. I’ve definately seen it inspire people to dress up more, including men.  More interest in men’s accessories (tie bars, pocket squares, hats, etc.). I think it’s also influenced the comback of curves, which we’re now seeing on the runways for Fall.

JRV: I love Mad Men’s effect on the trends.  Its keeping it all alive with really attractive shape that flatters everyone.

While there are many people actively seeking great vintage clothing, there are still those people who don’t understand the value of it. However, a vintage dealer can’t just order these items from a factory, they have to find these items, make sure they’re clean, mended, and in selling condition. They also have to put the work into operating an independent business!

Could you share a specific tale of what a day-in-the-life might be like for you as a vintage clothing dealer?

AMT: We source our pieces in many different ways. Sometimes it’s as easy as a customer bringing something in to sell, but most of the time it’s us going out, traveling far and wide to find things… and sometimes not finding anything! On one occasion we travelled 2 hours to a barn in the middle of nowhere on rainy, gloomy day. We sorted through 30 bags of clothing in that dingy barn with only the very little natural light available. The decent pieces we found all had to be hand-washed or mended before being sold. That was 3 years ago; I think I might still have some items from that lot!

JRV: I just got about 20 garbage bags of a collection from one couple who apparently never threw anything away. Half of it was stained and destroyed. My  job was to go through, separate it by season, clean it all, steam some of it, and price it. Then I schlep it to the market in hopes of selling it. It’s hard work, but it was fun to go through. I put together these people’s lives through what they wore. It’s taxing, but pretty interesting and rewarding as well.

What is it that you like so much about vintage clothing, in comparison to the modern clothing industry?

AMT: I find the lack of craftsmanship and quality in modern clothing to be most disappointing. Most likely, what you can buy at high-end department stores is truly no different than what you can buy at inexpensive stores like H&M or Forever 21.  Most of the items are likely made in the very same factories overseas. The lack of a textile industry in America means we can no longer make clothing the way we used to.

JRV: I have a hard time buying new clothing after being inundated in vintage clothing for so many years.  Ours society is wasteful, and buying clothing that you know is too cheap to be true has consequences that go beyond not getting a good deal.

Both dealers also agree that buying vintage is a great way to be green and to feel good about your purchases!

JRV: When you buy vintage you can feel good about recycling and receiving a unique and quality garment to boot.  This is why vintage matters!

Check out Another Man’s Treasure and visit Jellyroll Vintage at the Brooklyn Flea every weekend, or at JellyrollVintage@blogspot.com.

Image provided by Another Man’s Treasure.

I consider myself to be a good shopper. I do my research. I try things on. I carefully consider each purchase and ask myself if I really need whatever it is that’s caught my eye. If a pair of jeans or shoes is amazingly flattering and comfy, I buy several pairs. In return, I have cute stuff that I really love and people are always asking me for shopping advice. So today I’m sharing my latest finds here with you:

Going to the beach is one of my absolute favorite things to do. The beau and I go every weekend in the summer and over the years, we have perfected the art of packing for the beach: one well-packed beach bag each, the umbrella, the cooler, and we’re off. Together we not only came up with the ultimate shopping list so you can beach it like a pro, but also made it easy to shop in one place at the all-new OMFG Amazon store! Just click on any of the items in the list below and you’ll find them all there. If you’ve got an Amazon.com account, you’re good to go. See you at the beach!

The Beach Bag
Pick a roomy bag with several pockets that hangs comfortably on your shoulder.

Sunblock
Choose SPF 30 or higher for sure. Go for a big bottle and reapply liberally throughout the day.

Facial Sunblock
I like Dermalogica Super Sensitive Faceblock. It has a nice tint and doesn’t make me breakout. Protect that face!

Lip Block
Skin and eyes are protected, so better seal those lips too.

Hair Sun Protectant
And don’t forget your hair! Anyone with treated hair of any kind need to protect it from the sun. This spray has SPF and also makes the hair super-shiny.

Wide-Toothed Comb
If you go swimming, comb your hair right away afterwards to avoid tangles.

Moneysafe!
Keep your cash and cards protected from water and sticky fingers with a hand-dandy moneysafe.

Beach Towel
Well, this one’s a no-brainer. I like to pack two towels—one for laying on and one for use as a pillow/to dry off with.

A Rubber Mallet
What? Yeah, you heard me. A rubber mallet. Trust me. It’s the only way to ensure your umbrella stays in the sand, even with a strong ocean breeze.

Fashion Mags!
What says beach more than frothy, fluffy reading? 

The Beach Read
Speaking of frothy, fluffy reading, grab yourself a guilty pleasure like the Pamela Des Barres classic I’m With The Band.

Beach Mat
Essential for protecting your towel from the dirty sand, a beach mat that folds up and can fit in your bag weighs nothing and makes the beach experience way more enjoyable. 

Beach Umbrella
Most beach umbrellas collapse into an easy-to-carry sheath with a shoulder strap. The umbrella provides the shade necessary for sun protection for your skin and keeps your cooler out of the sun. 

Cooler
Speaking of coolers, get a soft one that’s easy to carry with a shoulder strap.  

Wide-Brimmed Beach Hat
On to the outfit! Choose a hat that looks cute on and off the beach. A wide-brim to protect your face is must, but if you’re tanning, make sure the brim isn’t so wide that it covers your back and causes funky tan-lines.

Hair Sticks or Forks
Stay cool and keep your hair protected by tucking it up with non-damaging hair sticks or a hair fork. Undo your bun in the evening for perfect, beach-tousled waves.

Sunglasses
Although it’s a given that most quality sunglasses have UVA and UVB protection, be sure to check. Choose shades that are going to look cute beachside and on the sidewalk and that work flatteringly with your hat.

The Cover-Up Maxi-Dress
Pretty much anything works as a beach cover-up, but I like the maxi-dress for its ease (just slip it over your head) and the fact it covers the legs, so when you’re at the beachside bar after sunbathing, your stems are shaded from any further abuse from the sun.

Flip-Flops!
Ya’ll know I love me some Havaianas. And this is what they’re made for: beachin’ it! When you slip them off, make sure to turn them over so the soles don’t bake in the sun and burn your perfectly pedicured footsies.

You’re ready to go! Enjoy yourself at la playa… and remember to wear your sunblock!

We all knew arts and crafts were awesome back in elementary school but somewhere along they way they became Grandma’s domain. It turned into a world filled with upholstered and bedazzled picture frames, gaudy scrapbooks and everything seemed to be covered in stenciled ducks. Well, in the past few years, the image of crocheted potholders and rag-dolls has been replaced with a vast array of beautiful handmade goods including letter pressed stationary, whimsical paintings, modern ceramics and custom jewelry. With the renaissance of handcrafted goods, makers everywhere are getting their products out through online shops like Etsy and arts and craft fairs.

My friend Meghan Guthrie and I decided to test the waters and hawked our wares at the Brooklyn Flea this past weekend.  The Brooklyn Flea is a very popular Brooklyn market held outdoors in Fort Greene on Saturdays and indoors a few blocks away in the Williamsburg Savings Bank on Sundays.  There is a wide array of vendors selling antiques, vintage clothing, jewelry, handmade goods and delicious food (some of which give vendor discounts—hooray for People’s Pops and Sigmund Pretzelshop!). It’s a popular destination and on this past sunny Saturday, the place was packed.

The Cost

For $80 we were able to rent out an 8×8 space in the bustling market. This is a pretty affordable table fee as shows like the incredible Renegade Craft Fair (held in Brooklyn, San Francisco, Chicago, Austin and Los Angeles) are about $350 per space. Don’t be too daunted by the price as those fairs are filled with people specifically wanting to buy handmade goods, it just may not be a great idea for your first time. We decided we didn’t have enough time to make the inventory we would need for the Renegade and did the Flea instead.

My prints plus a little handmade and vintage fun!

Meghan’s handmade garlands and kerchiefs!

Meghan’s handsewn and printed pillows!

What To Bring*:

-       A table: preferably a lightweight folding table or tabletop and legs. Some markets rent them out at the location so be sure to ask when you sign up. Don’t forget a chair! You will be there all day long and standing will get old quick.  The Brooklyn Flea only charges $10 per table and $2 per chair. They are there waiting for you so there’s less to schlep to and from the market!

-       Displays: Regardless of what you sell, you want people to be able to see everything on your table easily. Vision can start to get blurry booth after booth so make yours stand out. A small banner or sign advertising your business name is great too. I also recommend pricing your items clearly. That way, if people are too shy to ask, you don’t lose a potential sale.

-       A cash box and plenty of change: Be sure to have lots of small bills and change so you don’t have to turn a customer away paying with a $20. Be sure to keep it somewhere safe like a discreet box at your feet or in your bag.

-       If you would like to accept credit cards through your iPhone, there’s an app for that! You pay a $25 monthly fee but that may be well worth it if you are selling pricey wares and most customers won’t be carrying a wallet full of hundreds.

-       Office supplies: This is your little pop-up shop after all! You will want a calculator, tape, a pen or pencil, a notebook to keep track of your sales and a receipt book in case someone needs one!

-       Protection from the elements: If it’s sunny, bring plenty of water and sunscreen and if the skies are gray, an umbrella and galoshes. I learned my lesson this weekend when I ran out the door without any sunscreen and came home bright pink. I’m covered in aloe right now. If you plan on doing more than one market, it would be worth the investment to get a tent or standing umbrella as well. Also – if there is a chance of rain, bring a lightweight tarp to throw over your table until the rain passes and you can pack things safely.

-       Bags or wrapping materials: Be sure to have a variety of small bags for purchases and tissue paper and tape if you sell anything delicate. You would hate for your hard work to end up at the bottom of someone’s totebag along with an old mascara and gum wrappers! There are super adorable bags available at stationary stores and party supply shops. I like plain brown paper bags stamped with a rubber stamp or a colorful paper bag from the party favor aisle. Even a brown paper lunch bag is cute!

-       Business cards or postcards: Are you trying to sell your stuff or not? If you want people to remember you and find your online shop or website, they need to know your name! Don’t hold back from passing them out. If someone buys something, include one with each purchase. If you make friends with the people working the table next to you, give them one too! This is when networking doesn’t feel gross. These are nice people who like your stuff! Help them remember you. If you don’t have time to have one printed up, you can write your info on cute cardstock or a mailing tag. Anything is better than the back of a Duane Reade receipt.

-       An apron: They are super cute and you can really feel like a shopgirl with your pencil and calculator in your pocket. Maybe you don’t need one but it helps me get into character and I don’t dare get pasta sauce on my vintage aprons at home! Plus, it helps other vendors recognize you as one, which makes for more possibility of a friendly discount.

-       A friend: Not only to have someone to chat with during down time and to avoid staring longingly into your customer’s eyes but this way you can take turns for bathroom and snack breaks without leaving the table unattended. It’s also a lot more fun to people watch with a friend.  Believe me, there is some good people watching at these things.

-       Snacks: I packed a lunch but we found that snack breaks were a welcomed opportunity to stretch our legs. I didn’t want to spend all the money I had made selling things so I limited myself to a couple delicious treats and cold drinks.

-       An activity: Bring something to do with your hands or a magazine. No matter how bustling, you will have some free time.

*Each market operates differently, so check your agreement and see what they provide and/or allow.

Handy Tips:

-       Make friends with your neighbors! Not only does it make you feel more comfortable having some fellow comrades but if you are working your table alone, you can ask them to watch your things while you run out for a bathroom break or to grab a beverage. If they seem friendly, it’s a great opportunity to talk to another artist and find out about their market experience. These events are a lot more friendly than competitive and I’ve found people are happy to share their point of view.

-       Don’t be disheartened if you don’t sell out of your entire inventory – Or if you only sell two things! This is a learning experience and the more you do it, the better you will get! You will see what sells, what keeps getting interest but not purchased (which may mean you need to lower the price if you can), and what the market demographic is.  You may find it’s not for you or you may have found your new favorite weekend activity!

-       Whatever you do, be friendly when people come to your table, gracious if they don’t buy anything and just try to have fun. At the very least you can strike up a conversation with the cute vendor across from you selling vintage t-shirts!

Have fun and good luck!

Resources:

The Brooklyn Flea: A great market to sell your wares and have a delicious popsicle!

Artists & Fleas: The original Brooklyn flea market in Williamsburg.

Renegade Craft Fair: The Craft Mecca.

Craft, Inc: An awesome book on turning your craft into a business. It’s filled with great advice and inspiring interviews with artists you know and love.

Etsy: The home of thousands of crafters and artists.

Regretsy: Where DIY meets WTF.

4over4: There are a lot of inexpensive printers out there but I love these guys! They are affordable and have a quick turnaround. The cards are great quality and you can even get rounded corners! Too cute! They also have a deal for free business cards if you don’t mind their little logo on the back. Not bad!