Putting Myself Out There: 20 Random Things
About Me: 20 Random Things
1. Where to start? Well, I guess at the beginning.... I like to say I am a "Vintage Clothier"--It sounds so affected. I also respond to "Rag Picker."
2. As Estate Clothing Company, I have been selling vintage clothing for at least 35 years. Long before the internet, I developed relationships with buyers and sellers all across the U.S-- You know, the old-fashioned way. The internet made the world a much smaller place, and the business expanded world-wide.
3. I am the author of "A Passion for Fashion," published by Simmons-Boardman Books. Out-of-Print, but still making the rounds on second-hand book-selling sites. Actually, it was something of a cult favorite.
4. I have also done vintage clothing fashion shows and museum exhibits.
5. I have written for "Vintage Fashions," "Collector's News" "Threads," "The Antique Trader," and other publications. Subject? Vintage Clothes, of course.
6. Fashion is derivative. It reflects the culture, economy, technology, arts of its time. It also says a lot about how women were viewed. Seriously. Historically, hemlines have gone up along with the stock market. (I don't pretend to know how this will play out in the future though.)
7. Interestingly (to me, at least), over the years, I have sold Hawaiian shirts to Hawaiians, coats to Alaskans, and clothes for movie sets.
8. It's all about the distribution of goods. Others may call is "logistics, " but I call it "getting things where they need to go."
On a personal level:
9. I eat the same thing for breakfast every day--oatmeal. Not the fancy kind in the little packets, the kind in the big cardboard cylinder.
10. Getting coffee-to-go is one of the best indulgences. I love the feel and smell of hot coffee in the paper cup. Weird, I know. The caffeine is also a plus.
11. I absolutely love good perfume. Real perfume, not cologne. "Parfum," not "eau de whatever." it's a real mood-elevator to me. I drench myself daily. Lipstick does it for me too. Perfume recommendations: Coco Madmoiselle, Knowing, Ysatis, Dolce and Gabbana (with the red cap), Joy. My very favorite is Fracas. Apply that one with a light hand: a little Fracas is a good thing; a big fracas.....not so much.
12. Movies I love: "Gone With The Wind," Steel Magnolias," followed closely by "Pulp Fiction."
13. Favorite TV shoe: "Gilmore Girls," hands-down, nothing else even comes close
14. Favorite quote: "Be yourself. Everyone else is already taken." -Oscar Wilde. Also: "Be yourself. No one can say you're doing it wrong." - Snoopy.
15. "It's multi-factorial" is a good phrase to remember to explain complex issues. I use it often.
16. I have done extensive stained glass work. It is one of the things I love the most--the brilliance of the glass. Also, making order out of chaos... I am also quite comfortable with chaos. I design my own patterns
17. I love mismatched china and mismatched bed linens. I guess I just like things that are beautiful in their own right. No need to limit yourself to things that match.
18. Would I rather sleep late on Saturday morning, or go to a good estate sale?... Don't make me choose.
19. Old vintage clothiers never die, they just press on (excuse the pun). I am hoping to find some of my old cohorts on Etsy.
20. I am also on Etsy as LadyDianeMarie. My other shop is CatBazaar, so check that one out too: https://www.etsy.com/shop/CatBazaar. It specializes in crafty, sewing stuff--patterns, quilting stuff, kits, aprons, vintage holiday decor. I decided to spin the vintage clothing off into this new store--TomCatBazaar.
The real fashion show is on the streets.
