Sneaky Pete! (Outbid on eBay)

A new addition to my eBay roster ... what I got outbid on. My usual tactic is to bid on an item so obscure, hard to find (due to misspellings or poor listing), or with such terrible photos that no one wants it so I don't have any competition. But sometimes you only THINK you're the only one, then someone swoops in at 10 seconds left and outbids you. I mean, I've learned to wait until the last 30 seconds or so but I just get nervous and have to put in my bid. What if my computer freezes or something? And sometimes people just wait until the last few hours and a price escalates until it's insanely high and out of my price-range. I miss the eBay of years ago when people were afraid of internet shopping and thought vintage items were dirty.

Vintage Rudi Gernreich Ivory & Black Silk Scarf ... I'm not familiar with the designer. I just liked the print, but she/he must be important cause this sucker opened at $9.99 and went for $405.00!


100% Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater made for Bergdorf Goodman

Holiday Shopping on eBay: Eco-friendly Giftwrap

Step One: Get a Scarf

That wrapping paper-filled garbage bag that shows up after Christmas morning always depresses me. (It's technically a bag full of trees and money.) Since I think giftwrap is expensive and wasteful, I try to avoid it. Besides, why spend the money on something that literally just becomes trash when you can walk away with something you can wear? I've been using vintage silk scarves to wrap my presents. You can easily find fun ones on eBay that suit the giftee's personality. And if your recipients don't wear scarves, they can always use them to wrap someone else's gift. Here's a few scarves I found on eBay, plus a wrapping how-to.

1 Let'er Buck!
2 Green Stonehenge
3 French Poodles in Hot Air Ballons!
4 Florida State Souvenir
5 Victorian Portraits
6 Choo-choo Trains
7 Diamond Patterned

Step Two: Tie It Up

*Note: You don't need a box. I just used one for simplicity's sake. But feel free to reuse the box in which your packages arrived, if you need one. Coming soon ... a few other gift-wrapping ideas.

Angora Attack!!

The drop in temp made me realize that I need more sweaters, so I obviously turned to eBay. I came across a fabulous angora sweater which prompted me to search for more. Most of these vintage sweaters are from the 80s — when apparently angora was popular — which means crazy Cosby designs, geometric Op-art, and precious fair isle and animal prints. Above is a sampling of good ones I've found.

Holiday Shopping on Ebay: Week 2

TOYS!!!







German Elephant Bank
Fisher Price Record Player
Shooting Spaceman
Wind-up Goat
Ms. PacMan
Elephant Puzzle Keychain

Holiday Shopping on Ebay

In the spirit of being green, I've decided to give vintage gifts for the holidays. I successfully did it last year (via eBay) and am going in for a second round. My plan is to share the fruits of my eBay-hunting skillz by posting what I think would make great nifty-gifties every Tuesday.

On another note, I should probably just change this to a straight-up eBay blog.


Tray with Wooden Inlaid Birds


MEOW! Kitty Pitcher


Fancy Gold Mesh Cigarette Case


Yellow Leather Belt with Sunset


WHOO-HOOT! Mini Owl Bookends


Hourglass Pin with Bow


Brass Kaleidoscope

How to Stretch Leather Shoes

I bought a pair of deadstock wedges on eBay only to find that they're a little too snug. I've broken in shoes that fit like this before, but it's a long and painful process that is usually paired with purse stuffed with flip-flops. I'm looking for a shortcut. One suggestion came from a Bloomingdale's salesperson:

Mix rubbing alcohol and water on a cotton ball
Saturate the leather that I want to stretch
Stick feet in shoes
Repeat once dry

Anybody have other suggestions?

What I Wore ...

... to the Joyce to watch MOMIX perform.

I bought this dress too big because it was the only size they had left, and I had to have it. (The store was also closing in, like, 2 minutes, and I didn't have time to tear through the other racks looking for my size.) I love the colors and pattern and the fact that it's a loose knit. Loose knits drape super nice. I gave the dress a faux empire waist with the belt to pull it in so it wasn't so bag-like. I would have been ok with the shape if it was a mini (read: my size) because then you'd have a hint of what was underneath, but it hit an inch above my knee and I looked like a potato with two sausage legs.

The clutch is one of my eBay buys! It's eel skin which is apparently very supple and shiny. The stretchy, yellow velour belt is vintage GAP. I got it for $2 from the sale bin around the time Sarah Jessica Parker was their spokesperson. The dress is FreePeople via Daffy's.

Snake Skin Clutch Obsession

Ever since I was outbid at the last second on the best-snake-skin-clutch-ever, I've been on the hunt for a replacement. That empty hole in my wardrobe keeps haunting me. Ok, so my wardrobe is not that empty, but I do lack in the purse department. I like to find one bag that suits all my needs so I don't have to think about it and can just concentrate on the clothes. Besides, I'd end up losing all my crap if I had to switch bags all the time. "Where's my cocoa butter chapstick? Aw, man. Now I have to use the old nasty one with lint stuck to it."

I found an extra-roomy everyday bag by Malababa (with a cross-body strap so it never slides down my arm!), and now I want a sleeker one for those times when "big mama" just won't do. I decided a small snake skin bag would be fancy and still kinda earthy. The natural skin will go with anything and still be exotic. Plus, I love the patterns. Obviously I have to go vintage on this so I don't feel guilty, so back to eBay I go!