About Me and LVV

A little bit about LVV.  I think it’s all about integrity, in the end.  Making sure who you are shows in what you wear, how you treat other people, how you treat yourself, and what you do, and doing all of this with no effort.  There’s always a little part of me that wants to fit in, that wants to blend in with the wallpaper.  Thankfully, there’s a bigger, louder, and brasher part that hates that and demands to be seen in all its funky, kooky glory. 

LVV is for people like me: my crazy theater friends, the outcasts, my fellow nude models on limited budgets, creative types who don’t want to look or live like everyone else. 

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Now, a little about me, LuVVies.  How’d I start living la vida vintage?  Dolls, I’m from L.A., one of the great places to find vintage love.  A friend from high school, John Abrams (and if anyone knows his whereabouts, I’d love to get in contact with him), suggested I check out some vintage clothing.  He got into the swing scene out there WAY before those Gap commercials began, and, of course, had to have the clothes to match!  Not only did he introduce me to vintage clothing, but he also opened up a whole new world of music.  I thought oldies meant just the 50’s and 60’s music I loved to listen to on the now defunct K-Earth 101.  But he introduced me to the great swing bands and jazz greats, as well as some amazing clothing! 

On one of our shopping outings, I ended up buying this very sweet 1950’s, lacey blue, spaghetti strap dress from Jet Rag in L.A. for only $15.00.  It was the beginning of a long, beautiful relationship with vintage and all things unique and previously-loved. 

In the Washington, D.C. area, where I lived for 20 years, I continued my thrifting, dumpster diving, and vintage clothing shopping.  In fact, I furnished many of my apartments and stocked my closets this way!  On a hiatus from psychotherapy practice, I decided to pursue professional theater gigs and nude modeling to have fun while making ends meet.  It was a struggle, but I ended up getting a little part time job with The Remix vintage clothing store in Alexandria, VA (now located in Eastern Market in D.C.).  It was fantastic being surrounded by all those fun clothes, so I decided to do it on my own, selling vintage clothing in a makeshift booth on Saturdays in Arlington, VA, near the Courthouse. 

Fastforward to 2005 – I fell in love with Italian living in Argentina, and ended up moving to Buenos Aires in 2005.  What did this mean?  I sold or donated most of my belongings (including some phat Jordache Jeans, a 1940’s gentleman’s dresser, a round 1960’s dining room table, and cute garden chairs), liquidated my vintage stock, and moved my butt south of the equator. 

The people in Buenos Aires are very fashion-oriented and very trend-conscious, pure poison for someone like me who likes all things funky.  Not only that, the quality of the items is, franky, sub-par.  I don’t like spending 20 bucks on a shirt that’s only going to fade after one washing.  I don’t want something trendy that is here-today-gone-tomorrow. It’s a waste of time and money.  I tried the ferias americanas, which sold filthy and overpriced used clothing.  I tried the vintage stores, which were also pretty dirty and overpriced.  I wanted to buy locally, but what was out in the market was disappointing. 

I was bitter.  I was a gatherer.  Shopping is in my jeans…er…genes.  I needed an outlet. 

Lightbulb!  Start your own.  I stumbled across an article on Etsy while reading in one of my decorating magazines about dressing up your walls.  Affordable vintage on-line!  I was saved!  I bought like crazy.  Just cool and unusual stuff, and not just vintage.  I bought paintings, purses, and all things cute and funky. 

After a few months, I decided I should open up an Etsy shop of my own that focuses on vintage clothing.  I’ve had lots of lookie-loos, which is really encouraging, and have people who “heart” me.  I can’t say enough great things about Etsy.  I really feel like I am a part of a community of fun and interesting people.