Fashion and Sewing: Esther Boller

Esther is one of the winners of our Summer of Love Contest. Not only does she take beautiful photos, she also makes her own clothes! Let’s learn more about Esther!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am from Indiana and come from a creative family. My mom is an artist, my sister is a dancer and my brother is a potter.

I make jewelry, knit, and sew. My dream is to be fashion designer when I grow up.



What inspired you to start your own blog?
I started because I have all these photos that I’ve taken and things that I have sewn. I have no one to show it to other than my friends so I thought a blog would be a great channel to showcase my work, plus I thought it would be fun.



When did you start sewing and how did you learn?
My mom taught me how to sew from a pattern when I was 13. I started because I didn’t like what was in the store. Also I don’t have a whole lot of money and I learned I can buy a yard of cloth for $2 to make a $40 shirt!



Through the Alliance for Young Artist and Writers I was able to attend the Cranbrook Summer Art Institute where I studied Fashion Design, Fashion Illustration, Pattern Drafting and Sewing Techniques for 3 weeks! I learned so much there and it was a really great experience.

Can you share with us your favorite piece?
My favorite piece is a vintage 1900 style dress.



What advice would you give for people who would like to learn sewing?
I would recommend starting off with an easy sewing pattern and keep building up. That’s basically how I learned. The internet also has great advice on sewing.

A web site that I would recommend with great video tutorials and DIY stuff is Threadbanger.com. Also Burdastyle.com is a great sewing community and you can print patterns online.



Where do you get fashion inspirations?
My inspirations pretty much come from anywhere, e.g., movies, books, photos, people, and flowers etc.

Tell us more about the photos that you take?
I’ve been taking pictures for about two years shooting photos of themes that I like. I use a Sony Cybershot (purchased with my birthday and Christmas money) and take all my photos myself using a tripod and timer. I am looking into buying a remote sometime in the future.



Since I take photos on my own, I usually take one or two to see what angle I like best. Also I don’t usually do super close-up shots so I can crop the photos in different ways later on.

At a young age, Esther is already a talented young designer of clothing and jewelry. We wish her successful in her future endeavors!

Vintage Mavens: Shareen Rubiera

Shareen is our winner for the Summer of Love Contest. Before pursuing her passion for fashion, she actually worked in Capitol Hill! Let’s learn more about Shareen!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I studied international affairs and politics in Washington D.C. It was not something that I enjoyed, so I left Washington and went to New York.





When I first arrived in New York, I interned at fashion magazines, such as Women’s Wear Daily (WWD). I also started to do freelance styling for editors.

I moved to Miami and was immediately impressed by the plethora of amazing vintage it had to offer. I used to go thrifting every week and find the most stellar garments. Starting a vintage clothing store seemed like the natural next-step.

I started Vintage Maven while being a freelance stylist and a visual merchandiser so I have a packed schedule morning till night. Even though I’m pretty busy, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I absolutely love what I do.

How did you become interested in fashion?
Fashion has always been something I loved. I would always go to the corner bookshop and grab a bunch of fashion magazine after work. I think I appreciate and enjoy fashion a lot because everyone can participate in it. Many people choose to use styling as a way to express themselves whether they realize it or not.



What advice would you give our readers in terms of working in the fashion industry?
Many people feel like the fashion industry is really glamorous. I worked harder in the fashion industry than any other industries that I have been in.

There are always tons of interns and a huge turnover. You need to go in with the mindset that you will work very hard. Very few girls can really make it and stand out.

What inspired you to start your own blog?
I never thought I would have a blog. I started blogging in April and absolutely love it. I think it is a great supplement to the store. The blog allows my customers to see what I do every day so I can connect with them more. At the same time, I get to meet a lot of amazing people that I would never have met otherwise.



How do you decide what goes in the store?
I like to carry a variety of styles in different price ranges so they are affordable for everyone. For instance we have simple t-shirts that sell for around $20 as well as silk bomber jackets that sell for around $150.




Where do you get fashion inspirations?
I get inspiration from everywhere – movies, people, places, artwork, magazines.

Tell us what your favorite outfit is.
Since I run around so much, I am a big fan of dressing comfortably. I am quite a tomboy so I would say my favorite outfit is an oversize vintage flannel shirt, disco pants and a pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes.

Who are your favorite bloggers?
I really like diamondhorse.us and theSartorialist.com.

Finally, Shareen would like to thank everyone who has voted for her. She would also like to thank her husband who provides her the biggest support system a girl can ever have. With a loving husband, the ever-growing number of fans, as well as a background in fashion publication, we believe Shareen will be successful in any of her fashion endeavors!

Studded Rose Vintage :: Ashley Rose

Ashley was the winner of our Spring for Lovers contest! Like many of our members, she owns a fabulous online store – Studded Rose Vintage. She has a knack of finding the perfect outfit for others. Let’s learn more about Ashley!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I was born with a love for vintage. I used to make earrings in high school and sell them on my mom’s eBay account. I didn’t have much money so I sell clothes to buy new clothes.



What inspired you to start your own vintage store?
I have a passion for fashion. I was a veterinary nurse and found that fashion took my mind off the depressing aspects of my job.



I started op shopping a long time ago and I love buying things for my friends. I am pretty much a shopaholic and I love shopping for other people. I found a lot of clothes that didn’t fit me so I started my own eBay account to sell these clothes that I found.

I have been working on my store full-time for about 1 year now. Prior to that, I had 6 years of experience selling on eBay.

What are your dreams and aspirations?
I would like to have a real store. I am really passionate to provide items to people who cannot op shop.




What advice would you give for people who would like to start an online vintage store?

The most important thing is to be passionate about what you do. It’s not an easy job. One of the hardest parts about vintage clothes is that you want to keep them for yourself.

Other than that, an eye for good fabric and good at picking clothes for other people are important.



How would you define your style?
I like black, girly ruffles / cuts and quality fabrics. I love mixing. I like neutrals and not a lot of colors. I also love lace and leather.



Tell us more about the photos that you take?
I never studied photography. I shoot with a Canon SLR. The girl in all of the photos that I post is Paige. She offered to help me out so we shoot twice a week.

Do you have an absolute favorite piece?
I really don’t have one since every piece is so individual. I do like a white and black striped cardigan that is made of marino wool with silk. I like pieces that are made from great fabrics and I love everything with lace.



Ashley told us that she would like to continue her career in styling and fashion editing. With the fabulous outfits that she has posted on Mode Republic, we are confident that she will be successful in her future endeavors. Stay tuned with the upcoming outfits put together by Ashley!

Big Hair and Bikinis::Tayler

Tayler won 3rd place in our Visions of Green contest! She shared with us that 80% of her wardrobe is thrifted and that she never spends over $20 on a piece. She enjoys the fact that shopping for vintage means your overall look will be more unique.



Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’ve lived in Portland, OR all my life. My dad has his own construction business which has always inspired me to have my own business one day. Next year I will be attending OSU to study fashion design and international business.

When and how did you become interested in fashion?
Growing up we didn’t have a lot of money, so my mom took to me goodwill to shop. I didn’t realize other families didn’t do that. In middle school I found out my friends didn’t go thrift shopping and so I refused to continue to shop at goodwill. In high school, I really got into my creative side and I started loving the idea of thrift shopping and finding unique pieces. Then I started reading teen fashion magazines online, where they introduced me to blogging. I was really inspired by other people’s blogs so I started my own blog to share my style and the things I make.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
I want to start my own line of clothing, then my own boutique where I sell my own clothing and other designs from the community, as well as vintage. I would also love to sell my own jewelry. This has been my dream for the past 2.5 years.

What made you start a blog?
I started my blog (Big Hair and Bikinis) last August, when I was house sitting and didn’t have anything to do. When school started in September, I started doing outfit posts every other day. Then I started to post things that I actually made; art, jewelry, sketches. I would spend about 4 hours a week just going through blogs and connecting with other bloggers. I’ve been blogging a lot less because I’ve been dealing with the college admission process, finding scholarships, and graduating high school.

I really liked the idea that your blog could become a business. Originally, that’s what I wanted to do, but then I realized how much time needs to be put into it.



Do you have an absolute favorite piece?
I love my light purple Eddie Bauer button-up. It’s actually what I wore in my Visions of Green entry photo.

Who is your inspiration/role model?
I like Marilyn Monroe for her grace, confidence, and feminine style. I adore my grandma! She’s a huge vintage collector. She collected everything from jewelry to dolls, all over her house. She’s inspired me to collect and sell vintage.



What advice would you give fashion bloggers in terms of publicizing themselves?
If you want your blog to be seen or known, go through many different blogs and try to connect with them. Leave comments, leave your link, and eventually bloggers start listening to you.

Tayler also told us that vintage sellers usually hand-pick the items they put in their store. The fact that the items are good enough to be sold again, means they must be of high quality to have lasted that long. You’d be making an investment as well as recycling!

Saint Lace

Lace won Second Place in our Visions of Green Contest! She wore an amazing BCBG green dress that she found at a thrift store. She wore the dress to many social functions, and thought that it was so rare to find that type of item for a great price, that she wanted to share it with others, so she gave it away on her blog!



When and how did you become interested in fashion?
I was made fun of a lot when I was younger because my family didn’t have a lot of money and I couldn’t afford nice clothes. Now I work full-time and have some money, so I can actually afford decent clothes. When I shop, I try to find pieces that are versatile and can be worn many different ways. I like to show others that they can be stylish and not have to spend a lot of money. I take inspiration from the runway and make it wearable for the average girl, because I create a toned-down version of the runway outfit.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
I’d like to go to cosmetology school because hair and makeup have been a passion of mine. I haven’t had time to go yet because I’m working full-time and the cosmetology schools here are all full-time programs. Hopefully, I can move to another area that offers a night school program.

What role does your blog play in your life?
I’ve only been blogging for almost 2 months. It’s something to do between my busy schedule. I didn’t start the blog (Saintlace.blogspot.com) to take me anywhere or to become famous. It’s a way for me to show how I style and make things affordable, because the places I shop at are places anyone can go. I like to help people take something not expensive and make it look great. Nothing I wear is ever over $30. Since Forever 21 is an hour away, a lot of the pieces I wear are from Walmart.



How would you define your current style?
The best thing about clothes for me is that you can be whoever you want to be. You can be edgy or rock & roll, and then the next day you can wear something that’s really sweet. I just like all styles and I’ll try different things. I could wear leather pants with studs, but it just depends on my mood. I’m pretty simple and don’t accessorize much.

What was your inspiration for style?
I take inspiration from magazines, sometimes from articles about certain colors. NY Magazine shows all the latest runway looks, and I can search for a color and it will show me pictures of clothing with that color. I take inspiration from those outfits, but make it wearable.



How has your style evolved over the years?
When I was in high school I didn’t dress up at all. I just threw something on, like jeans and a t-shirt. I just didn’t care. When I got older and started working at a loan company, I needed to start dressing professional. At the same time, since I was working I was making more money and was able to afford better clothing. So now I care more about what I wear and I have more options.

We love that Lace can take a runway look and create an affordable outfit from it. It just goes to show you that you don’t need to spend a lot to look stylish.

LoverlyMiss: Rhianna

Rhianna won First Place in our Visions of Green Contest! Everything in her outfit was either thrifted, vintage, or sewn using secondhand fabrics. Rhianna believes that thrifting is a way of recycling and continuing a garment’s story.



When and how did you become interested in fashion?
I got a sewing machine on my 15th birthday and starting experimenting with fabrics and sort of taught myself to sew. When I was younger, I didn’t really want to stand out but I also didn’t want to look like everyone else. I wanted to express outwardly how I felt inside, and since I wasn’t good at expressing myself through words, I learned to do it through fashion. Doing so helped grow my self-confidence.



What are your dreams and aspirations?
My dream was to become a designer and have my clothes in a boutique, but I’m afraid that if I make this a full-time job I will lose my passion and love for designing. That’s why I’m thinking about becoming a buyer for a boutique.

What motivated you to start on online store?
I started my online store (LoverlyMiss.etsy.com) about a year ago. I had designed and sewn so many things that I didn’t plan to wear myself, so I opened the store to sell them. It’s also great because I love to go thrifting, and I’m able to sell those items at my store, as well. I just feel bad having a huge closet full of clothing that I don’t wear, so I wanted to sell it and have someone else enjoy it. I like having the online store, but I don’t want to do it full-time.



What inspires you?
I’m so inspired by anything vintage: music, furniture, dresses, old photos, and especially Audrey Hepburn. She’s so charming, lady-like, and feminine. She makes me feel like a woman.

I’m also inspired by photography. I think it says so much about the world and the person who is behind the lens. I would love to learn to become a better photographer.



Perhaps next time you decide to go shopping, consider thrifting. You might find something amazing (and you’ll be recycling, too)!

What are some of the greatest treasures you've found while shopping at thrift stores?

Vintage Tales by Becca

If you haven’t noticed yet, our current contest is Visions of Green! We’re really excited about all the different submissions we’ve received, and all the creative ways to be green. One of our favorites is to purchase used clothing, which includes vintage. This is a great way to reuse and recycle (and it’s pretty wallet-friendly, too)!

Fashion blogger, Becca, shares her story about vintage with us.

Who says time travel isn’t possible? With a vintage wardrobe as my passport, I’m Nancy Drew: I solve mysteries about a vintage item’s history and imagine how it contributed to the life of its former owner. Vintage survived because it touched someone’s life, compelling them to nurture it into the present.



I feel euphoric when I wear something that brought luck to someone long ago – it becomes my personal talisman. To wit, my puff-sleeved smocked dress was worn by my mom during the 1970s vacation on which my dad proposed. Another special piece is my grandmother’s Gucci bag (1970s); my mom bought it for her mother after my mom started her own company, and in turn, my grandmother recently passed it down to me after I got my first job.



Since some vintage motifs are too expensive to be manufactured today outside couture, vintage is ideal for acquiring quality clothing on a budget. I have a cropped blouse intricately embroidered with lace and trimmed in taffeta ruffles (1960s). Vintage is the ideal sartorial investment, not least because it’s the most fashionable way to recycle.



I live in New York City, which has fabulous vintage consignments, but diehard vintage fans make the market here highly competitive. Luckily, my family has a house in Connecticut where the vintage market is more laidback; most of my collection derives from local estate sales, town fairs and boutiques.

In the same way most people don’t dress head-to-toe in a single designer, one shouldn’t sport a vintage uniform either. I mix vintage with my favorite designers (Phillip Lim, Anna Sui and See by Chloé); I’m probably drawn to them because their designs are often inspired by the past. However, one of the most liberating aspects of vintage is the ability to experiment with obscure or extinct designers.



Hollywood inspired two paramount aspects of my personal style: the movie Almost Famous (an ode to 1970s rock stars and groupies) and the TV show Gossip Girl (a paean to New York’s bright young things). One of my favorite vintage items is my Almost Famous coat from the 1970s (named after its similarities to Penny Lane’s in the film); its unknown manufacturer infused the suede and shaggy fur with good vibes. I also love my Travel Joy train case (1950s); Ms. Lane carried a similar one as a purse in the movie. Gossip Girl’s Blair Waldorf inspired my penchant for headbands; I’m wild about this velvet flower one (1940s).




I love the hunt for vintage so much that shopping trips dictated by necessity tend to become derailed by one-of-a-kind treasures. However, I follow a formula that never leads me astray: love at first sight + staunch negotiation = heaven on earth. There’s no shilly-shallying in vintage due to its intrinsic uniqueness, and one shouldn’t give up a vintage dream due to price alone. Vintage allows us to participate in the history of fashion; what comes around goes around, and it’s a pleasure to be part of the cycle.

More about Becca:
Becca is a blogger from New York City; she graduated from Boston University with a double major in English and Art History, but her passion for fashion has been lifelong. Her blog, Fashion She Says, is a stylish daily documentation of her life, including what-she-wore-when, how she acquired her wardrobe, and the associations attached to certain clothes.
http://www.fashionshesays.com

Where do you shop for vintage? Share your thoughts and tips here!