REVIEW SF Vintage Shops- Pretty Penny & Haight Ashbury

I'd like to start off this post by saying that I am not a San Francisco native and I've only been to the Bay Area twice. But while I was there in March, these were the two places that stood out to me as great places to find vintage at affordable prices. I'm sure there are many more! 



at the Mission District store

October In Pictures...

A Quick Look at September's Vintage Finds

We'd gone to a few estate sales and thrift stores in September and came home with a few goodies. Too bad none of them had vintage patterns--this was probably for the best because I think we may have V.P.S....Vintage Pattern Syndrome. I don't want to know how many we have....

One of the estate sales we went to was in a really cool 50s-60s house that the owners used as a "party house". It had a blend of mid-century and Japanese decor and many of the items for sale were made in Japan. The owners also had good taste in music, so we bought a bunch of records.

This italian purse was only $1!!



BEFORE
Scuffed with filthy shoelaces...


AFTER!

Like new! And those are the same laces by the way...

 

1960s Bausch & Lomb glasses

...Recognize this hat from Instagram?

Driving gloves!!

I geeked out when I saw this purse. I love the box purses of the 1940s-and now I have one!!

That's it for September. Happy thrifing!

--Viola



Back With A Primary Pop- Mod Monday

Hello! Hello! Everyone, we are very sorry that we have been absent from our blog. We have been excitedly working on our Etsy shops (Brentwoodlanevintage and The Modd Shoppe-under construction). 

Since today is Monday, we wanted to kick off the week with a Mod Monday post. These photos were taken in September when it was much warmer.

 We're all familiar with the primary colors: red, blue and yellow, most of us learn about them in grade school. What I find so cool about vintage clothes is the color combinations. Although daring, color combos today aren't executed in the same manner and don't create the same look. Initially, when I think of red, blue and yellow it reminds me of kindergarten or clowns or something else, but not a cool looking top! I love how these primary colors, when combined with a geometric pattern, make such a statement. The top came with a tie belt but I used it as a neck-tie instead.   



vintage top: thrift store

vintage skirt: thrift store

earrings: Old Navy

shoes: Nordstrom

 

Thanks for reading! 

Sincerely, Vera 

'What's On the Menu?' A Look at Vintage Menus

Earlier this month, we stopped by an estate sale and discovered a small collection of vintage menus and mementos. The prices were a little steep and bargaining didn't help as much as we had hoped, but we snapped up as many as we could. I did a little research to see if some of the places are still around and tried to find a photo of what the restaurant looked like inside. A tall order (no pun intended), but I had to try!

 

Welch's of Long Beach

Who can resist a vintage kid's menu?! I was surprised to see this among the other menus. This certainly brought back memories of ordering from the "fun" kids menu. But there was never prime rib or sole fillets on my menu!

 

 

Maynard L. Parker, Courtesy of The Huntington Library, San Marino, Calif.

 I tried to find out more about this restaurant, but kept getting photos. Click this link to see more pics of the inside!

 

The Hotel Statler

The Hotel Statler company was one of the earliest hotel chains in the U.S.. Catered to travelling businessmen and tourists, it was founded by Ellsworth Milton Statler in Buffalo, New York in around 1907. Looking at the design, graphics, I'm assuming this menu is from the 1950s. Some of their locations have since been demolished, but others still exist and are being used as offices, apartments, or as another hotel. Apparently, the Los Angeles location where this menu is from was demolished in 2011 and is the site where the Wilshire Grand Tower will be built.  Click here to see which ones are still operating hotels!

 

I can just imagine myself sipping a "Sunnybrook" highball next to this lovely pool under a bright yellow umbrella-after all, it's only 75cents!
 

Hotel Pere Marquette

 The 14-story Pere Marquette was built in 1926 in downtown Peoria, Illinois. It is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel was recently closed for an entire year in 2012 for extensive renovation and expansion into a full-service, upscale Mariott hotel.  The year I found for this menu is 1942. I love this blue-on-blue color for a menu!

I didn't realize how terrible this pic was--sorry!

Here's a close-up of the "Plate Luncheons" section

 

I really like looking at them for authentic design/color ideas. I was suprised that the owner managed to keep them in a safe place. Paper usually somehow gets damaged.

There are a few more coming, so keep an eye out!

-Viola



"Welcome to Cloth World"- Our Mega Vintage Pattern Find

 

This month, we inherited some awesome vintage patterns. This is what happens when a friend-of-a-friend-of-a-friend is getting rid of her grandma's patterns! We were super excited to look through all of them and get them cataloged. I even started to sew up one of them!

Each box was stuffed full of them! We still haven't counted yet...

 The majority of them are from the 1960s, a handful from the 1950s and the rest 1970s-80s, with the exception of the Hollywood Pattern. I was suprised to find one of our favorite stars on our first Hollywood Pattern--Olivia deHavilland!

 

I have heard similar stories in the blog world about others getting a huge amount at one time, but I never thought it would happen to us! I think pattern lovers have dreams that they come across someone's lifetime collection and it becomes theirs-whether at an estate sale, flea market, as a gift, or rescued before getting trash.

What are some of your unbelievably great finds?

 

--Viola



Summer Sneak Peek!--Hawaiian Style

With the arrival of spring, we're thinking about summer dresses, florals, and bright colors. We are excited about our new Hawaiian dresses for Etsy and wanted to share a little sneak peek!

 

 

 

 These are close-ups of the fabrics. The dresses range from the 1960s to the 1970s. You may be suprised when you see the whole dress later.

 

 

They're coming soon!

--Viola