Halloween Ideas...The 80's are BACK!!

80's fashions are HOT right now, so what could be better than creating this hot new look into a cool and hip Halloween Idea!!

If you didn't live thru the decade, than you probably think that 80's fashions were all about Madonna, Mullets, and Miami Vice....well, yes, it was, but there is so so much more fun fashion to exploit for the best Halloween costume!!

Here's a few ideas to get you started - take any (or all) of the basic items below to create a cool Halloween look:

• legwarmers - don't have any, just cut the arms off an old sweater, use rubber bands to hold them up if nec.
  
• wayfarer style sunglasses
• parachute pants
• ANYTHING acid washed - got an old pair of denim, splash some bleach on 'em to re-create the look!
  
• stirrup pants - just sold my only pair the other day, sorry guys and gals!!
• Jessica McClintock Gunne Sax dresses, preferable with socks and ankle boots!
• Huge Shoulder pads, preferable on your jumpsuit (bonus point if it's a denim jumpsuit!) - can't find big enough shoulders, or just want BIGGER? pin some folded socks to the inside shoulder of your jacket.
  
• anything graffiti's or paint splattered, with neon paint of course - easy and fun DIY
• Yes, Miami Vice fashions were big in the 80's for men - find yourself a pastel colored suit jacket, pair it with a ribbed tank tee, and if you are lucky enough to find a pair of Capezio shoes, you're all set!!
• As for Hair??? The bigger the better, tease it high with LOTS of Aqua Net...then find a piece of lace and tie it up like a headband with a big bow a la Madonna.

You'll find plenty of these 80's looks at more at
Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage in Charlotte!
We're open 7 days a week, and open till 8pm
on Friday's and Saturday's!

Do you have your idea for Halloween yet??

Beginning today, Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage is bringing in their Halloween collection...items we
have collected over the year that are just right for your Halloween costume!!

• Mad Men style suits and dresses
• Authentic Men's early 1900s Top Hats & Bowlers
  
• 50s Poodle skirts
  
• 60s Mod jumpers
• 70s peasant / hippie dresses
• 80s Dynasty style dresses
• Military uniforms
• and more!
  

Kinda Kooky, Some Corny, Maybe Crazy but all Kitschy and Cool!!

Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage on the "Cool Spot to Shop" list!

BIG Thanks to Jen Aronoff and The Charlotte Observer for giving a nod to Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage and Sleepy Poet in their annual "Cool Shops" list!!

Where to spot a cool shop

By Jen Aronoff

For a New South city that's long turned its eye to the future, Charlotte has had plenty of choices for shoppers interested in looking in the other direction - to the past, for one-of-a-kind antique and vintage items.

Of course, it helps to know where to search. So travel beyond the region's gleaming malls and abundant big-box centers, and let's see what else is out there.

The behemoth of the scene is Sleepy Poet Antique Mall (4450 South Blvd., Charlotte), a 55,000-square- foot former auto parts shop that has aisles of merchandise in a range of booths, with old-fashioned signs, furniture, records, books, dishware, glassware and more.

One corner of the vast space is home to Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage, which stocks standout, reasonably priced men's and women's clothes and accessories - including hats and jewelry - from the 1940s onward. Polyester slacks, '70s plaid shirts, housecoats, bowling shirts and dainty dresses that look like they walked off the set of "Mad Men" mingle on its racks, and seasonal selections appear throughout the year (such as ugly Christmas sweaters, just in time for your Christmas party).

Read more: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/09/20/1660912/where-to-spot-a-cool-shop.html#ixzz109a5if4l

Fashion in Life - Renaissance Fashion - Dec. 6, 1968

Who knew Vintage looks were hot in 1968!

With the 2010 Carolina Renaissance Festival right around the corner, what a better time to read about a revival of Renaissance fashion in this Dec 6, 1968 issue of Life magazine!Gold and Black - hmmm, sounds like a great vinette display!Layered necklaces are making a comeback today,
just like they did in 1968.
You can definitely see a beatnik influence
in the outfit on the right.Should be an easy outfit to put together for RenFest!

To purchase any of these magazines, visit Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage in Charlotte or contact us via email for availability and delivery information.

Vintage Facts... Why do Mens & Womens Tops button differently?

The easiest way to tell if a top is a men's or women's style is to look at the button closure.
Men's clothing have buttons on the right side, Women's clothing have buttons on the left side.

This seems to date back from to the late 1600's women's buttons were placed on the left to help their right-handed hand maidens who usually dressed them. Men's buttons were placed on the right since they typically dressed themselves. Some say the buttons on the right also allowed easy access to weapons kept under the jacket.

These days, manufacturers still follow this practice, however, you can find shirts labeled as "Women's" that button on the right, rather than the left, but I have never found a men's shirt with buttons on the left.

At Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage in Charlotte, we have tons of vintage tops for men and women in all sorts of styles! Disco, western, bowling, Hawaiian, Mad Men dress shirts, tuxedo, and more coming in each and every week!

Labor Day Weekend Shopping!!

Labor Day weekend marked our final journey of the year to one (or a couple...)
of our favorite flea markets of the year.
Sometimes it's not all about the Vintage...
I love all the unique finds at these eclectic markets around the country!

Big box of old keys and metal parts - if husband would let me buy them all, I would!
(The keys, not the old tires or guy with the mullet...)

Hooters and The Amish

One of my favorite booths! I just love the spools and old store displays!

Monday's flea market haul, there is no way it is all going to fit!!
We were very proud of our packing ability!

This weeks jewelry haul - every suitcase and purse is filled with baubles!!

Finally unloaded and the cleaning starts.
Fresh Vintage drying out back with our #1 guard dog!

Fashion in Life - Donald Brooks 30's Style - November 1968

Fashion has always looked backwards for inspiration. This article from Life Magazine November 22, 1968, fashion and theatrical costume designer Donald Brooks gets his inspiration for 1968 fall collection from the period costumes he designed for Julia Andrews in Star!.
To purchase any of these magazines, visit Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage in Charlotte, or contact us via email for availability and shipping information.

Halloween Ideas - The 20's look!

All month long we will be looking at Great Halloween Ideas, and how to use Vintage to get those great looks! To check out all styles of Vintage for the coolest Halloween outfit, visit Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage in Charlotte!
This week - the iconic 1920's!!!

1920's fashion is all about an easy, loose, jazzy look.
Think flapper girls and speak-easy's, Great Gatsby & The Cotton Club, gangsters and silent movies.
Can't find a fringed "Flapper" dress? Don't freak! A simple black tank dress will do with all the right accessories - all you need for a Flapper look is:

• black tank dress - or drop waist dress
  
• long long "pearl" beads
• elbow length gloves
• Cloche style hats (when you can find one!) OR
  
• headband, or piece of wide ribbon & big full feather for headband (both available at local craft store)
• feather boas are a plus - some craft or fabric stores carry yardage of feathers at affordable prices - just a couple of yards will do!
  
• craft a long cigarette holder out of craft straws, etc

For the guys,

• look for a stylish but slightly oversized double breasted suit, wide pinstripes a plus!
• black are dark color dress shirt with white tie
  
• Fedora style hat or bowler
• Create "Spats" from white felt and wear over black dress shoes. Use black marker to create the "buttons" - but safety pins can hold these in place
  
• walking cane or toy machine gun make great prop accessories

To check out all styles of Vintage for the coolest Halloween outfit, visit Kitsch-y-Cool Vintage in Charlotte!

Isn't Fall here yet?? We've got your Coats ready!!

Well we're just back from our sojourn to one of our favorite Mid-West shopping havens and we've come back with over 100 Fresh Vintage Coats and they're all arriving this week to our location in Charlotte!! Eee Gads!

OK, so the photos are really bad...but when you're rushing around you've gotta snap what you can!

Fresh Vintage Leather Coats waiting to be tagged

1970's Sweet Suede Trenchcoat

FAB 1960's Red Leather Car Coat

1980's Crop Waist Leathers

1960's-1980's Vintage Furs and Animal Friendly Coats
Mostly leathers, we searched and searched and piled them high to bring them back to Charlotte just in time for cooler weather!