Bathing Beauties vs. Modern Beasts

When did hanging by the pool become a time to forgo all fashion sense and throw on a terry cloth mumu and flip-flops?? EEEEWWW. Yesterday I was watching TV and was appalled by a mini-infomercial for the "Towelini"- a revolting product that literally tries to sell women on the idea of wearing a towel as bathing suit cover-up, as loungewear or even as an actual dress! You've all probably seen these before but I've included a photo so you can understand my aversion.....

Back in the day, "bathing beauties" lounged poolside in oversized sunglasses, glamorously floppy hats, heels and bathing suit cover-ups NOT made of terry cloth. And although I might not trudge through the sand in a pair of heels, I like the idea that summer doesn't have to mean giving up on fashion- even here in Florida when it's 9,000 degrees everyday. Here at the store we have not only great vintage bathing suits but also the right accessories to throw on for a day poolside. Why not opt for a great vintage scarf to hide your windblown beach hair as opposed to a baseball cap? And you can never go wrong with large oversized vintage sunglasses..... Add in a straw bag and wood bangles and you have a totally pulled together look that's both easy and affordable. You can get the scarf, sunglasses, bag and 2 bracelets all for just $70 here at Found.

And if you really want to make a splash, why not opt for one of these great lace cover-ups and keep your towel for post-shower time? The yellow one (my favorite!) is just $30 and would also be great as a summer "jacket" over a dress or a tank top and jeans. The floor-length white lace cover-up is just $35 and is o-so fabulous! Pair it with some wedges and a summer cocktail and you're set for a perfect day.....

Found hopes you enjoy the sweltering summer heat in style! (And again, NOT in terry cloth :)

Voting is for Lovers

Its that time again...the air is warmer, the birds sing louder, and Orlando Weekly has their "Best Of" poll where you can vote on all the things you love about the charming city of Orlando. Being awarded the "Best Of" is a great honor, and helps many businesses/people reach out to the community even more.

Here are three great reasons you should vote FOUND (A Vintage Shop) in the Best Vintage Shop category.

#1-Product: We constantly research current fashion trends and familiarize ourselves with vintage designers to ensure you are getting an authentic vintage item that you can actually work into your wardrobe without making you look overly dated. Buying vintage says a lot about a person. It shows you are interested in a unique piece no one else with have, and you are conscious of the positive impact buying vintage has on the environment. We also take those facts into consideration when choosing items to sell.

#2-Events: We host and participate in events to build better relationships with the community. We have hosted Fashion Shows, Pin-Up and holiday parties, and have partnered with other local green vendors for an Earth Day event. We have worked closely with other brilliant small businesses like Tatame Sake Lounge, Twist Hair Salon, Know They're Looking Pin-Up Photography, Mixed Media Baked Goods, and Mama's Sauce Print Shop. A partnership between other local businesses helps to identify these treasures to the public, and encourages the community to shop locally.

#3-Price: Like I mentioned above, we put a lot of thought into our items to ensure they work with today's fickle fashion fads. Most current designers use silhouettes, patterns and fabrics from past decades then reconstruct them to make them appear updated. Why spend $795 on a mass produced designer shirtdress when you can get the original inspiration of that dress for $40?
We encourage you to log into http://www.orlandoweekly.com/boo2009/poll.asp and vote for all the things that you love in Orlando. Thank you for all the support! -Love, FOUND

A Very Vintage Memorial Day......

These days, Memorial Day means a three day weekend, beaches, bbqs and of course, the All-American classic, beer. Sadly, many of us have forgotten the true meaning of the day and the simple fact that Memorial Day is day to pause and give tribute to those that came before..... Some Memorial Day traditions include placing flags and flowers on soldiers graves, attending Memorial day parades or just taking the time to remember family and friends that have passed (whether they were in the service or not.) Personally, I think one of the coolest little-known traditions of this day is that since the 1950s, soldiers from the 3rd US Infantry have placed over 250,000 small American flags on the gravesites of soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. This occurs every year on the Thursday before Memorial day and continues 24 hours a day all weekend long as these soldiers then patrol the cemetary to ensure the flags remain upright. While it may seem like a somewhat morbid holiday, I like to think of Memorial Day as a just a day of looking back with appreciation; whatever that means to each person.

And of course, "looking back" is one of our favorite activities at FOUND. We encourage you to take just one moment out of your day tomorrow and think about the past with gratitude. And, if you want to go just one step further, you can simultaneously show your patriotism and love for vintage with any of these 3 dresses all new in the store this week!
Wear the soft, tantilizing teal dress as a beach cover-up during the day and then as a summer dress later that night. Two in one? Now that's something to give tribute to! The red one is perfect for a parade or a bbq and with it's cute 50's shape, you can give tribute to the idea of the perfect 50s housewife....(a tradition we're rather happy is now outdated!) And finally, the khaki dress is a playful way to give a nod to the uniforms of the 40s and 50....

Enjoy your weekend, friends and remember to remember. Love, FOUND.

Layla...

When you think of sixties fashion icons, you may immediately think of Twiggy, Brigitte Bardot, Jackie O, and Sharon Tate (just to name a few). Another name with an influential print in fashion history is famed muse Pattie Boyd.
English model and photographer Pattie Boyd was the first wife of Beatles George Harrison. They met during the filming of "Hard Days Night" where she was cast as a schoolgirl fan for the film. George was so taken by her that one of the first things he said to Pattie was "Will you marry me?". They did end up marrying, in January of 1966. Many believe that Harrison's love song "Something" from Abbey Road, was inspired by his wife Pattie.
In the late 60's Eric Clapton and George Harrison became close friends. Clapton contributed guitar work on Harrison's song :"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" on The Beatles White Album but remained uncredited, and Harrison played guitar (under the pen name L'Angelo Misterioso) on Cream's "Badge" from the album Goodbye. It was reported during that time that Clapton fell in love with Pattie, and Pattie's 17 year old sister Paula. Paula moved in with Clapton, but soon left him after she heard his song "Layla" as it confirmed that he had been using her as a substitute for her older sister. The title "Layla" was inspired by a Persian story called "Layla and the Majnun". The story is about a moon princess who was married off by her father to someone other than the man who was desperately in love with her, resulting in the mans madness.
Pattie divorced George in 1977 and married Eric Clapton in 1979. Clapton also wrote the song "Wonderful Tonight" for Patti as she was getting herself ready to attend Paul and Linda McCartney's annual Buddy Holly Party. They divorced in 1988.
Even John Lennon and Mick Jagger were said to having crushes on Pattie Boyd, with Jagger admitting he had failed to seduce her for years.

Pattie has modeled throughout the 60's and 70's, wearing designers such as Mary Quant, Ossie Clark, and Karl Lagerfeld's Chloe collection (to name a few). Mary Quant is credited for popularizing mini skirts/mini dress trend during the mid sixties "Swinging London". She is also credited for the invention of hot pants during this decade too. Ossie Clark became a cult figure on Londons fashion scene during the 60's and 70's, incorporating floral and exotic prints to pantsuits, coats, and tulip shaped skirts. Even the queen of mod, Twiggy, has commented that she based her own look on Boyd when starting her modeling career.

This photo (bottom) is inspired by the photo of Patti wearing Ossie Clark (right). Our version is a vibrant red and paisley printed long dress with a double V neckline($45). Pair our dress with gladiator sandals and wooden beaded necklace for a late 60's comeback!

Don't forget FOUND has all your "Swinging Sixties" options from shift dresses, to printed maxi dresses and everything in between. Come shop!

Florida Fashions...

"Hot enough for ya?" I'm still not exactly sure how to answer that question when I get asked, but what I do know is how to dress in our sun fun weather without sacrificing individual style. Don't avoid buying a vintage treasure just because you think it is too hot to wear them! We've got some great pieces at FOUND that will keep you cool in all definitions of the word.
If you have visited us before, then you know everything in our store is separated by era (between the 1950's and 1980's) for your convenience. Listed below are some weather appropriate outfits that are broken down by the same eras.

1950's- This adorable hourglass dress is short sleeved and made from a thin poly/rayon blend. It has a gorgeous plum and white houndstooth pattern, with the same plum color outlining the collar, sleeves, and front pockets. Large fabric buttons run along the front of the dress($35). We've paired this dress with a comfortable pair of grey peep-toe sling back heels($30). Very cute!1960's- Take a look at this sleeveless mini! The fabric looks like the flowers have been painted on in vibrant purple, green, and blue hues($40). We added a brown leather belt($20) and brown woven purse($30) to contrast the bright colors of this fantastic outfit.
1970's- The cropped picture is of a stunning sleeveless maxi dress by designer Don Luis De Espana($45). The colors of this beauty remind me of cantaloupe and honeydew, very soft oranges and greens. Two rows of matching fabric lie under the bust of the dress, giving it that feeling of legs for days that every gal loves about maxi dresses. Wear this with a wooden beaded necklace and strappy sandals.
1980's- This is a super fun outfit. The sleeveless top has a Aztec print in pink, grey and blue with an adorable tie at the neckline($25). The acid wash skirt with it is high waisted with a tulip shaped top($30). We added white pumps that have a triangle cutout design($30) to complete our outfit.
I hope this encourages you to show weather who's boss. Come visit us soon for more great ideas to beat the heat!

Rockabilly 101

What is Rockabilly? Am I Rockabilly? ...These are just some of the questions that may keep you up late at night. Not to worry, I will shed some light on the subject and hopefully guide you to your answers.

In the early 1950's Rock 'n' Roll and Hillbilly music had a baby, and they named it...Rockabilly. It's influences included Western Swing, Boogie Woogie, and Rhythm and Blues. Some major contributors to Rockabilly are Bill Haley/Comets, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Wanda Jackson, Elvis Presley, Johnny Powers, Buddy Holly, Brenda Lee and Roy Orbison...just to name a few. Sun Records (a record label in Memphis Tennessee) gave a lot of those world renowned musicians their first recording contract that helped to launch their massive careers.
Rockabilly music started to wane in popularity in the 1960's, when Beatles-mania began to take over the radio. In the early 1980's Rockabilly returned with a renewed spirit. Bands like The Stray Cats, The Cramps, The Diversions, and The Meteors helped to revive the music scene with their punk rock chords and early rock 'n' roll ethics. Rockabilly (and its many sub-genres) continue to pump out new bands every year.
As with most music scenes Rockabilly has a culture with fierce influences. Hot rods, pin-ups, swing dancing, and tattoos all contribute to its culture. We here at FOUND really dig Rockabilly, and we've put together a few examples of the vintage we have in shop that can be yours!
The first picture is a light blue printed top, tucked into a cherry red pencil skirt. The outfit is tied together with a red checkered scarf, and a pair of oxford heels. This whole outfit can be purchased for less that $100. Wear this while attending a vintage car show, or drag race.
The second picture is a black sharkskin dress with a sweetheart neckline and textured waist. It has a wide circle skirt, perfect for twirling. We added white pearl beaded gloves, a cream clutch and oxford heels to complete this look. This outfit is made for swing dancing, or a night on the town!
The third photo is for the fellas. We have two great shirt options. A red/white checkered short sleeve top, or a brown/beige/pink short sleeve top. Either shirt looks great worn with a pair of cuffed denim jeans, or brown slacks. We've matched these tops with a fantastic Fedora to pull it all together. Leather jacket is optional. Both shirts run at $25 each. A steal!
Come in to FOUND vintage to see what else we can fit you in to suit your inner Rockabilly!

A few of my favorite things.....

The word "caftan" can tend to conjure some scary images....Mu-mus, bad embroidery, loud and overdone patterns..... not necessarily the best vintage has to offer. But not all caftans have to be body-hiding tent dresses reserved for pregnant hippies..... In fact, my absolute favorite item in the store right now is the most elegant caftan- a dress so perfect it makes me wish for another word to describe it! Pictured above, this new arrival to the shop is a show-stopping orange with the most beautiful white and gray sequin flowers both at the neck and on the sleeves. I'm not normally a fan of sequins on anything, but on this dress, it is so tastefully done, I can't help but love it.

Besides everything, my favorite aspect of this dress is the simple orange sheath that hugs the body just enough to give the hint of a silhouette beneath the dramatic tented chiffon. When worn, you can still see the body (a rarity in most caftans) just enough to make it both sexy and mysterious.....I like to imagine it worn by a tan Miami woman in the late 60s- her black hair in a dramatic beehive, large gold earrings and sharp black clutch, it is her favorite evening dress and she wears it knowing how beautiful she looks. This confidence serves to simultaneously annoy her girlfriends and intrigue the men around her.... It's a show-shopping dress and it remains that way to this day... I just hope the next wearer of this piece exudes the same confidence this dress deserves. Enjoy!

Mum's the word...

How do you thank someone who loves you unconditionally (even with all those bad habits of yours)? A phone call is a good start. With Mothers Day around the corner (Sunday the 10th), we here at FOUND want to give you a few last minute gift ideas. Don't say we've never done anything for you.

First gift idea: Clothing. Don't forget your mom is a LADY! Ladies love new outfits!! Don't just grab the first thing you can find either. It's important that the item you select is something your mom already likes to wear, or something you love so much that you want to share with her. Your mom is one-of-a-kind, so why not get her a beautiful vintage piece?

Here are two great choices for mom.
The first is a gorgeous mint green brocade dress. Perfect for cocktail time with her!
The second dress is a casual pocketed peach dress with a printed blouse under it. This works great as two gifts. She can wear them together, or as separate pieces!
Second gift idea: Accessories. Second to clothing, and definitely easier to shop for if you don't know what size you mom wears. Jewelry, hats, bags, scarves, sunglasses, shoes...etc. Below is a picture of spring time accessories we have at our shop that would make a brilliant gift. There is an ivory woven purse with a paisley scarf, a 1950's hat with decorated with dried flowers, a coral and peach beaded necklace, and a couple of earrings. Its a fun surprise when you stock up a purse with smaller gifts like a scarf and sunglasses. Like a functional gift basket of fun!
Our third gift idea: Home decor. Dishware, Candle holders, frames and paintings are all great presents. We have a little bit of everything to fill that order. Check out some of the pieces below.
Just like vintage, and a fine wine, your mom just gets better with age. She is original, and built to last. So get her something that represents her uniqueness and apologize for breaking her favorite lamp when you were 7. Happy Mothers Day!

Multi-Functional Fashion @ FOUND

Getting the most bang for your buck, smart shopping, cutting back, blah blah blah. These days all you seem to hear about is the economy and how it is affecting EVERY aspect of EVERYONE'S daily life. And while we hate to focus our energies covering such a depressing trend, we at Found understand that shopping and fashion have changed quite a bit in the past year.... People are thinking differently about money, saving and job security which in turn changes how they think about purchases, fashion, etc. Soooo, boring economy-talk aside, here is one way to update your wardrobe by buying just one piece and utilizing your own accessories to wear it 3 totally different ways....

Option 1: First up, I paired it with my own vintage boots and vintage belt and wore it high-waisted with a simple black top tucked in..... The look is casual but still has an edge and a uniqueness that will make you stand out-just enough. I also love the contrast of the soft, muted palette of the skirt with the stark black top and dark boots.

Option 2: For a totally different look, I pulled the skirt way up and wore it as a tube dress with my own vintage men's vest. I love this look; it is casual and comfortable and the perfect daytime summer outfit. (I also added my own long pendant necklace and sandal boots which I think are both fun and perfect for summer) This is THE perfect outfit for a Saturday of lunch and shopping...

Option 3: And for a more evening look, I pulled the skirt down and exentuated its drop-waist style. When the skirt is pulled down like this it becomes a bit longer and looks best paired with chunky wedges that will still show a bit of leg. Pairing it with a black one-shouldered top makes the skirt appear much more "night-time" than in the previous two looks.


If you're interested in this skirt/dress, it is available here at Found Vintage for a mere $30.00!!! And honestly, I used all my own accesories, tops and shoes and it was SUPER easy to put outfits together that look totally different and would work at totally different events. Not only is this a way to save money, it's a way to re-look at the things you already own and get creative with your closet. These days, buying multiple new outfits seems frivilous and silly, but it's also the fashion "easy way out." Wearing vintage correctly means encorporating your own pieces and style to make it less literal. And there is no better way than buying one piece and challenging yourself to make the most of it and wear it multiple ways! So have fun with fashion and don't let the stupid economy make you think you can't look cute and unique for cheap!! One last thing, this skirt/dress would also make the perfect vacation piece when packing for a trip. ..That is if you can still afford to take a trip. :)