Lucky Vintage Presents: Lucky Dry Goods Grand Opening Party

 For the past couple of months I've been working with Caryn Cook (owner of Lucky Vintage) with her new venture; Lucky Dry Goods. With a buy, sell, and trade vintage store in the UW District to a bustling shop online it was inevitable that Caryn take the next step in launching a new boutique. Lucky Dry Goods focuses more on the details and showcases a piece of fashion history. Almost like a museum or gallery. The shop highlights romantic eras such as Victorian- 1930s, offers exclusive men's denim and work wear, and houses both designer labels (Dior, YSL, Marimekko, Gucci) and heritage brands (Pendleton, Filson, Levis). I can go on about how amazing this shop is. It's perfection, and anyone who loves vintage, fashion, or good quality clothing overall is going to appreciate this place. That is why we want to share the experience and invite you...

Lucky Dry Goods
Grand Opening Party & Ballard Art Walk

Saturday February 9th, 2013 6pm-9pm

 Lucky Dry Goods | 5424 Ballard Avenue NW

Don't forget to add Lucky Dry Goods on Facebook. Spread the good word. Below are some photos of the new shop. Image courtesy of Sara from Lillies and Remains. They are open 7 days a week from 12pm-7pm. 

Rebranding: Gidgette Bardot

When I first started the planning process for my online vintage shop I chose the name "Gidget". It's a movie I loved and adored since I was a child and the name just stuck. However a couple months after I posted the shop online I received a phone call from the wonderful people at Gidget International. They told me I would be receiving a letter to cease and desist if I didn't take the site down. I pondered about trying to fight it, but in the end I'm just a small fish, with no means of getting a lawyer, or paying any lawsuits. I looked up Gidget International and they are a licensing company that trademarked the name, and make money solely off the name. I read their manifesto and was instantly turned off and felt more comfortable about the name change. I don't think I want to associate myself and my shop with a cheesy pseudo girl power corporation anyway! So that's how Gidgette Bardot came about. A fictional character, a name I conjured and made up on my own. And I don't have to confine my brand with the cookie cutter, girl next door appeal that is directly associated with Gidget and Sandra Dee. While I still love Gidget the movie...in the end the name change was necessary and for the best and it worked out just fine!

I had to make changes quickly. I took the original Gidget shop/ website down. It was a fancy site, but I simplified and decided to post all my products on Etsy, and opted for something more functional and reasonable. In the future I'd like to put all my products on my own storefront, but for now I need to build a following and clientele on Etsy and see where it takes me. Below are some fliers I designed for the shop for trunk shows, and sales.

 

I'm Back: 2012 Recap and 2013 Resolutions

Happy New Year! Like many blogs out there, mine has fallen short of consistency and updates. Something I plan to work on in 2013! My last blog post was about two months ago, and a lot has happened since. Let me fill you in... One, I finally left my job of over two years to pursuit other projects. Two, I took a one month "sabbatical" (vintage shopping, getting inspiration from small historic towns, soaking in the outdoors) and spent some time in California. Three, my boyfriend and I upgraded to a more permanent home that we can call ours for years to come. This was just the last two months. The rest of the year however was equally memorable and challenging. 2012 was a good year. It was a year of planning, taking some risks, and moving on and  up.

In winter/ spring of 2012 I started drafting out a plan in opening a vintage online shop (Gidgette Bardot ) with my older sister Eunice. Its something we have been wanting to do for years, and we finally did it. Although we had a few problems with the initial name "Gidget", it all worked out in the end when we had to change it. To our surprise after our name change we surprisingly started making more sales! Aside from selling online, we've also participated in a few events, and sell a selection of goods at Moksha.

Photos from our debut look book. Shot by Kyle Johnson, featuring Anne Mischke

1920's chiffon dress. Sold.

In the summer 2012 I produced a third BadWill Market . This time around I had the support of the city, had the proper permits and licensing, and even got help from a few friends who helped me host the event. It was a bigger turnout, and even got a second write up in The Seattle Times! Though producing this event has proved to be a lot more work than anticipated I do hope to do it again, and am hoping for another summertime market. =)

Teaser fliers we passed out at Capitol Hill Block Party

The venue set up for BadWill Market #3

In the fall of 2012, I started to take my freelance graphic design/ fashion marketing work a little more seriously. I knew that I had to leave my cozy and comfortable job and do my own thing. So I put in a generous leave of notice in September, and started doing freelance soon after. Since leaving I took in 2 projects and am hoping to build my clientele. I am working on the branding and identity for a vintage shop in Ballard called Lucky Dry Goods (the sister shop of Lucky Vintage in UW District). I am also doing the branding, identity, and launching for a jewelry designer based out of Northern California.

Logo I created for Lucky Dry Goods. Teaser image promoting their new space.

Justine Elise is a jewelry designer inspired by art deco style and vintage relics.

Aside from work stuff a really big part of 2012 was moving into a house with my boyfriend Michal. It's a place we can finally call ours, and set our roots in. We've been wanting to get out of Seattle city limits, get more space, and have the freedom to do DIY projects around the house. We moved in on November, just in time for the holidays. We had such fun going all out on decorations and having our friends and family over. Having a home is definitely a work in progress, but it keeps you busy and occupied!

Our front living room filled with Christmas cheer

Dining room all decked out for the holidays!

As far as 2013 resolutions go...well, it's a long list.

1) Health

• drinking less
• eating better (no late night snacks or overdoing it with carbs)
• incorporating exercise and activities into my routine

2) Relationships

• spend more quality time with friends
• help out with my parents more
• visit friends out of the state and out of the country
• visit family in texas, czech republic

3) Money

• put money away for home renovations
• put money away for travel
• put money away for a new mac book 
• spend less on going out, eating and drinking at restaurants
• keep a look out for special deals, coupons, buy in bulk

 4) Work

• start fundraising getting sponsors for BadWill Market #4
• add 7-10 items weekly on Gidgette Bardot online shop
• network and get a handful of select clients for freelance work
•  update blog and other social networks on a regular basis

5) Home

•  decorate house so i can send submissions to Apartment Therapy
• work on backyard and plant a garden
• finish organizing garage
• have a huge sale to downsize my "stuff"
• create a space for vintage inventory

I have enough resolutions for 2013 to keep me busy and on my toes. Cheers to a New Year!

Moodboard: Babushka Halloween Costume

Halloween Weekend is here. And since Halloween lands on the middle of the week this year, that means I will most likely be wearing more than one costume. However, the big night for me is tomorrow night. So I will be putting the most effort into this costume, which is starting to look pretty effortless. Especially with my plethora of vintage clothing! I've always loved Babushka dolls, and thought they were so funny and strange. I remember laughing hysterically as a child, because I came upon a doll set where it seemed like it would never end. And when I finally got to the last doll, it was seriously as small as a rice grain! Anyway, I'll be bringing my own Babushka doll set out tomorrow to complete the ensemble!

While doing research on this costume I came up with a list of key items: a vibrant floral or polka dot scarf to wrap around your head, a pair of quirky clogs, and brightly colored apron...preferably one with an Eastern European flair to it. Other pieces to consider are a pinafore dress, peasant blouse, and a bouquet of flowers or a basket of flowers. Makeup in this costume is also crucial. The standard doll face, with rosy cheeks, bright eyes with lashes on the top and bottom, white eyeliner on the rim, and red heart shaped lips. Below are some other inspiration images for my costume. I will do an update post once Halloween is over!

Moodboard: Gidget Fall/ Resort 2012 Lookbook

The beauty of having an online shop, is you don't have to follow the rules with fashion seasons. It's good to stay relevant, and on trend, but somewhere far away they're sunny and warm all year long. Anyway, I had a concept in mind of having a jungle theme photo shoot, but not doing the usual bikinis and summer wear wardrobe. I want to have a fall twist to it, incorporating leopard print dresses, and faux fur coats, etc. Below is the mood board I came up with.

Mood board- "Welcome to the Jungle" a Fall/ Resort 2012 look book and editorial for Gidget



Inspiration- Where the Wild Things Are has always been a visual inspiration for me.



Wardrobe- Animal prints, leopard, zebra, mixed with tropical, jungle looks. A hodgepodge of textiles, prints, and textures.



Location- For the location I'm thinking of a greenhouse, or somewhere with a vertical garden, a place with an indoor/ outdoor feel.



Makeup- pale pink lips, rosy cheeks.



Accessories/ Props- silk scarves, turbans, floppy hats, animal heads, animal print blankets, throws.

Style Inspiration: Brainstorming for a New Home Mid-century Rustic Style

On November 1st Michal and I are moving. While we absolutely adore our 2 bedroom apartment in Beacon Hill, my parents asked if we wanted to move into their 3 bedroom rambler in Shoreline. We are both long time residents of  Seattle City Limits, and we finally felt ready for a change. Besides Shoreline is only 20 minutes north of Seattle and we will get the perks of a backyard, garage, and yes...triple the space!

One of the issues rising from this move was the mishmash of furniture. I have mid-century style pieces such as fiberglass Herman Miller chairs, a tulip table, and other fiberglass pieces, etc. My parents on the other hand are leaving behind some antique furniture including a carved wooden chest, antlers, a horse painting, and some ethnic rugs. I was a little unsure how we would mix the two styles together, but after some thought and brainstorming I think I've finally got it...mid-century rustic. I wanted to decorate the space that would include my interests (mid-century design, vintage style, and quirky knickknacks) and Michal's interests (outdoors, camping, nature) together.

 I love these moose antler coffee tables. The glass on top gives it a modern feeling.

Stacking vintage suitcases add a nice warm feeling to the environment. Also, the different neutral colors in the suitcases will bring together the different wood pieces we will have.

I'm constantly struggling with art, so I thought it might be nice to say screw paintings and hanging things up and to just get a nice clean wall paper. I love birch trees and work at a club called The Woods, which has birch trees wallpaper.

Love the ethnic, ikat pops in rugs and pillows, and the use of reclaimed wood.

I want to incorporate different chairs, a bench, and chunky wooden table for the dining set up.

Alas, I'm thinking of keeping it light and keeping the walls white!

Event Recap: BadWill Market #3

A big sigh of relief. BadWill Market #3 took place this past week and I'm happy to say it was a small success. It was a lot different from the past two events, and as always I'm trying to pick apart every single detail on what could be done better or differently. Overall, I'm happy with the way things turned out. The biggest gripe about these events for me, is trying to please and make everyone happy. I'm going to take a little break and focus on my other projects before planning the next one, but I already have a shitload of ideas ruminating. 

In favor of the "vendor" I would like to do more specialized and curated shows and marketplaces that really nail down a specific niche, demographic, and lifestyle. I feel like BadWill is a community event and its great because it's so diverse and offers a great variety and selection in goods, but I think it would be nice to streamline and narrow it down. So in the next few weeks I will be thinking of a series of smaller scale markets with specific themes. So while BadWill Market will only get bigger and better, during the off season I do plan on producing smaller events and markets. =)

Big thank you to my partners who helped me with the event, Phil from Treats Club, Jess from Fresh Jess, and Grace from GKPR. Our sponsors and supporters; The Snells from Fred Wildlife Refuge, Charles Koh and his team at Google Plus + Zagat, Stacie of Umpqua Bank, Zac and Sarah from Meaty Johnsons, Eric from Zevia, Tina and Alan of Resident Media and Treehouse, Marcus of 95 Slide and Alive & Well, Jen from Greenfire, JD from Danger Print, Dan and Michal from Art Primo, etc. Thank you for spreading the word through write-ups, reviews, and advertisements; The Stranger, Capitol Hill Seattle, Yay Today, and Erika Schultz of The Seattle Times. To all the volunteers who gave us a helping hand. 

Now that I got that out of the way below are some photos that captured the true essence of BadWill. Thank you all and stay tuned. Photos via Party Mode on Google Plus! What a cool app!

Stage Six of Gidget Shop: Official Launch

Holy cow...I haven't been on in here in quite some time. Well since my last post I have been working towards launching Gidget. I have documented every step prior to launching the site and it's crazy to see it come to fruition! Even though I have launched my site, the steps and the creative process doesn't stop there. I've received two pieces of press from Racked and Daily Candy, but now I have to move forward and continue to get the word out there, reach my consumer base, build a clientele, and alas...make a sale.

I knew it would be difficult starting an online shop without a prior Ebay/ Etsy following, but I wanted to do something that was entirely my own. I see a lot of online vintage shops do both...which is something I'm considering with Market Publique. I'm also looking into what blogs I should advertise on. Anyway...below are the steps so far into launching Gidget if you are interested in seeing the journey from the start!

Stage 1: Concept Development
Stage 2: Website Production
Stage 3: Look Book Branding
Stage 4: Online Research
Stage 5: Photo Shoot

Moodboard Monday: 1967 Movie "Clambake"

Summer in Seattle...better late than never! This week's board is inspired by the 1967 movie "Clambake" featuring Elvis Presley. If this movie doesn't inspire you to work on your bikini bod and throw a full blown beach party, I don't know what will. I'm plotting on throwing a clambake of my own at the end of the month at my future stomping grounds/ neighborhood "Richmond Beach". Even though I won't be moving there until October I am already getting acquainted with the surroundings.