DEAR TILLY,

You inspired me. I started a blog. I will dedicate it mostly (but not entirely) to my love for vintage. Wait; scratch that, my obsession and passion for vintage. I will chronicle my shopping trips like a vintage road show, take designer friends to my favorite stores and flea markets and rummage through friends’ closets for their most treasured finds. I will post weekly themed Ebay searches, profile pioneer designers and write about the history of design. I will post old shoots from my extensive collection of Vogue and Bazaar. I will invite photographers and stylists to shoot vintage fashion stories. And when I am not rambling on about vintage this blog will be a tale of all things dear to Joos. And it all starts now. Best, Natalie

THRIFTING WITH PETER PILOTTO

Two weeks ago the British Fashion Council brought a selection of young London designers to New York. Among them, my dear friends Mark Fast, Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. For three “looooong” days they showed their Fall collections at the penthouse of the Soho Grand Hotel and met with New York press, editors and buyers. Opening Ceremony organized a sweet dinner for Pilotto at Café Gitane in the Jane Hotel on Wednesday night, and Emma Watson hosted a model-clad Vogue party at Pulino’s on Thursday night.

When the obligatory handshaking and professional duties were over and dealt with, it was time for brunches, shopping and good old-fashioned Belgo-Brooklyn fun! On Saturday I took Peter, Christopher and Linda Farrow’s Tracy and Simon on a vintage tour of Williamsburg. While Simon was bargaining with every sales girl until they feared to lose their job (I swear one was almost crying!), Christopher bought a ton of stuff at Fluke, one of my absolute favorites. Karen, the store owner, has amazing, quirky taste. She finds unusual, slightly off-key pieces and rarely prices anything over $100. Definitely in my top 3! (I can’t wait for August, Christopher!!)

On Sunday, Peter, Christopher, my sister Evelien and I went to the indoor flea market in the magnificent old landmark Williamsburg Savings Bank Tower at One Hanson on Atlantic Avenue. If not for the beautiful antiques and amazing finds, the building alone is worth the trip! The guilded dome is the tallest in Brooklyn. The ceilings are covered in aqua and gold mosaic, the windows are stained glass, the doors have bronze statues and all the bank’s old interior amenities have been preserved, including the colossal vault doors! (http://nymag.com/daily/fashion/2009/12/brooklyn_flea_moves_winter_mar.html) I’m so happy we caught the last weekend. As of next weekend the market will be held outdoors again on a play ground in Fort Greene. 

After the flea market we ventured to Junior’s Restaurant on Flatbush Avenue. Such a cool place! Entire families dressed up in church clothes, original 1950s interior, enormous, famous cheesecakes and friendly wait staff in orange uniforms. Didn’t I see this orange on Peter’s runway? No this is not a question of “who wore it best”, simply a beautiful example of how a weekend mission can turn into full circle inspiring adventure. 

Mariannenstraße: Emre

Emre, 23, wearing a jacket from Topshop, scarf made from fabric from the Turkish Market, and vintage gloves and sunglasses.

TAKE ME ON SAFARI

Featuring Rocky Artist illustrator

Each Monday I will feature one member of Boosting Etsy Shops Team (BESTeam) and telling you a little bit about their items that they make.This week my guest is

Rocky - Artist illustrator

Racquel "Rocky" Ormsby currently resides in her fox-den in Altadena with

Miguel Olivares.

Recently graduated from Art-Funk Central Circus of Designining (Illustration major, and Starving Arts minor), she is pursuing a career in the Entertainment field, creating storyboards and comics.

As Meowkernaut of the First Order, Rocky is preparing for her funkadelic flight to Pasadena Central Circus. She will be learning new and exotic languages, whilst she prepares to open a space station with her business partner Miguel Olivares: Salt and Paper Studios.

In December, Rocky underwent surgery, and is slowly recovering back to health.

Check out

http://www.etsy.com/shop/meowkernaut

http://rockyportfolio.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/rocky.artist

http://twitter.com/raspberryqueen

Happy Easter...

Hi darlings, there are a few new dresses on the New In This Month but they are selling fast! More coming next week as Chris and me are doing a day of dress shooting on Thursday....then its Easter and am off to Cornwall to eat some nice chips, crab sandwiches and a few amazing St Ives pasties....with a can of coke...then I better jog back to Bristol to work it all off. Lovely to see everyone at Frock Me yesterday - have a lovely holidays! X Samaya (this is the golden hair that Kit Williams hid in England and then wrote his amazing story / riddle book so someone could find it.......still worth reading and the pictures are beautiful & strange...

At Home: Marcelo Burlon

Although I pledged to spend the rest of the summer in Berlin, I ended up back in Milan over the weekend, invited by Milan's infamous Plastic Club, who were having their Berlin edition of a monthly party called 747 (a few photos from Berlin-based Kinky White Horse's performance later). I realized from my last visits that outside of Fashion Week, Milan's best looks come out at night, so I didn't spend much time on the street hunting for people. Instead, I arranged to meet with Marcelo Burlon, who might as well be Milan's Argentine Prince of the fashion scene.

Everyone I've met that's involved in Milanese fashion knows Marcelo. He hosts Pink is Punk, one of the best parties in Milan, is the former editor-in-chief of Rodeo Magazine, is best friends with Givenchy's creative director Riccardo Tisci, and is now focusing on PR and events in Milan, with one of the most impressive list of clients I've seen (Jil Sander, Alexander McQueen, Gucci, Versace, and Prada all make the list). I met Marcelo over a year ago in Paris when I took a photo of him, and was surprised that he remembered me when I saw him at the Jil Sander show last month. I think this is actually the biggest key to his successes in Milan. He keeps everyone on a very friendly and relatable level, and everyone has only kind words to say about him, which is a very rare thing in fashion. In the photo he is sitting in front of his enormous collection of magazines, wearing a vest by Argentina-based Trosman, and t-shirt, trousers, and shoes by Givenchy.

/dario

Saturday Blog Shoppers

Welcome to the Saturday Blog Shoppers event created by Quilts Galore and More for bloggers to network.

Today, I am offering 10% off ALL of my Spring Scarves 2010 Collection and Hand Knit Capelet/ Bolero/ Shrug. During checkout enter "SBS" in notes to seller and I will refund the discount via Paypal. This sale is only valid for today. Please leave a comment so Bloggers will know that you've visited.

One of my Hand Knitted Shrugs

Knit Knot Skinny Fringed Scarf in Lime Green and Orange Cotton Lightweight Euro Spring 2010

Euro Week Promo No Shipping Fee Spring 2010 Lightweight Red Scarf Hand Knit with 8 Mixed Yarns Perfect for HER in a Gift Wrap

Euro Spring Fashion 2010 Black and Gray Hand Knit Capelet / Poncho / Shrug / Wrap / Bolero Style and Feminine

Thank you!

At home: Nina Franz

This is Nina. She works at the famous bookstore Pro qm, one of the most important research facilities for everyone interested in urbanity, politics, pop, architecture, design and art. Thus her apartment is filled with books and magazines. Here she stands in front of a collection of books she inherited from her mother, arranged in a danish shelf. She is wearing a blouse by Vladimir Karaleev.

Kottbusser Damm: Mirko

Mirko, 21, Artist wearing all vintage.

Horse Riding Gone Wrong

Hammersmith Vintage Fair was fantastic on Sunday, lots of new stalls too, one woman was said (dealers gossip) to have taken over £10,000 pounds....if that is true - wow! So, on Tuesday afternoon I went riding with my friend Judith. I had warned her that I was not experienced (last regular rides were when I was a teenager) so she gave me a big old cob called Puzzle. The first few rides have been great, he is not allowed to do anything faster than trot due to an injury and we got on well...until yesterday. We set out (after I saddled him up - not easy to do his girth as he puffed himself right up so it was loose once I got on) into driving rain and wind and he was not in the mood (neither was I, perhaps he felt it). When we reached the farm gate (massive farm) he decided to turn back and when I tried to 'spur' him on he started climbing a slag heap, honestly, if I had only a picture you would see how ridiculous it was..., I laughed a lot, afterwards. We went right over it (the slag heap) and over another couple of smaller heaps, slipping and sliding and Judith shouting "turn him round" (I was bloody trying to) then when we got down he was wet and dusty so he shook himself and me hard, like a dog does after a swim. By then I had had enough and said firmly "I want to get off Judith" and then he took off across the huge field and into a massive ditch, how I managed to stay on is a mystery.....Judith managed to catch me up and smack him with her stick (I totally agree with sticks & whips now) and we swapped horses. My legs were like jelly. Then I had May, a lovely, well behaved, chestnut mare.... Puzzle was then really hard work for Judith too so at least I knew it was not just me. Now I feel like never riding again, have said to Judith that I am busy for at least 3 weeks....sorry Puzzle. I just showed my Rob the picture of the above horse and told him its a good match for Puzzle and he said "Oh my god, you suit each other, sight for sore eyes that would have been". Charming.

At the Turkish Market: Very Kreuzberg

Tove, Designer originally from Malmö, wearing all vintage, except for Nike shoes. You can see her designs at her homepage, tovitatoday.com

Hobrechtstraße: Marina

Marina, 26, Stylist originally from Paris, wearing all vintage.

Euro Week Promo

Do you know about Euro Week on Etsy?

This week is Euro Week and many European sellers do promotions.

My Promo is FREE Shipping for

Spring Lightweight Scarves and Fiber Necklaces

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nevita?section_id=6815327&page=1

(mention the blog)

My Newest Listings also No Extra Fee for Shipping Every Item for 11$

Spring Summer 2010 Lightweight Lace Scarflette Hand Knit Necklace in Olive Green Satin Fringes

Euro week Promo No Fee for Shipping Spring 2010 Skinny Lightweight Necklace in Lemon Yellow

Euro week Promo No Fee for Shipping Spring 2010 Skinny Lightweight Necklace in Pink and Blue

My Shop is waiting for your visits

http://www.etsy.com/shop/nevita

You are very welcome.