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. :)

Polly Pocket

Maybe one of my favorite trends so far...pocket dresses! Pockets add a sweetness to the already adorable day dress. And talk about functional! Look at those big smiles from the women pictured above. No doubt those bright smiles are due to the fact that they can pack light and leave the purse at home. Such freedom!

Designers such as Michael Kors, CHLOE (pictured below on Michelle Williams), and Marc Jacobs have all jumped on the pocket band wagon and created wonderful Spring dresses with this adorable detail. Michael Kors version (above) steps it up with the elegant polka dot print, making it a great day or evening dress.

As with any trend, this one has been in fashion for decades. You can find one of a kind vintage pocketed dresses with as much character as the ones being sold today. Here are some versions of this new favorite trend you can find at FOUND!

The first is a salmon and white checked dress from the
60's. It zips down the front, leading to the two front pockets.
Pair with a belt to cinch that narrow waist of yours. Our dress and belt combo comes to a bargain price of $60.

The next dress is a denim blue color, with a yellow and white chevron stripe detailed on the two front pockets. It also has the same chevron detail on the sailor style necktie! This dress couldn't be any cuter even if it came with puppies and kittens! This dress is priced at $40.

There are lots of dresses here at FOUND that fit right in with the pocket dress trend. We have house dresses, printed dresses, shirt dresses...all with pockets! Once you go pocket dress, you never go back.

Items of the Week!

My Goodness, My Guinness! Boy, did we score on some great treasures this week! We were lucky enough to be in contact with a local woman who had previously owned her own vintage boutique and graciously sold us her beauties! Here is a little taste of what we have in stock, my personal favs.

First off, is a stunning 1950's prom dress. It is eggshell white, strapless with a heartshaped bust. It has two layers of tulle over the dress, followed by a third layer of beautiful lace. It is absolutely darling!

We have plenty of evening and party dresses that range from the 1940's to the 1960's. Such as a great sharkskin dress that screams "Madmen", a black hourglass shaped dress that mermaids out with lots of black tulle that was just made for a Mambo Mama, a sleeveless black wiggle dress showered in sequins...and much much more! There is everything from jaw dropping show stopper gowns to girls night out party dresses!
Unless you have a dress made for you by a professional seamstress it is nearly impossible to find the quality and construction of these vintage dresses in anything being marketed in malls today.

In addition to red carpet worthy dresses, we have a couple new swimsuits that will certainly be perfect to welcome summer in! The picture on the left is of a seablue knit swimsuit that is trimmed in white. It has adorable cap sleeves, and a very low cut back that ends in a white bow.
Behind it is a long white lace coat, made to be swimsuit cover-up. I bet if you shortened it, it would make a sassy little dress too!

We've also got an array of beautiful long dresses now in stock. Some long sleeved, some sleeveless, all stunning. There is a fantastic 70's AJ Bari dress in a brown print with a multi-colored rope belt to nip it at the waist and a perfect Young Edwardian 70's sleeveless dress in black with pink flowers. It has a victorian lace collar and a lace ruffle at the knee. Two really lovely pieces.

My favorite item from the 1960's we have is a 2-piece dress and jacket set. The label on the dress reads Sears "Great Looking Dresses"...and it certainly is a great looking dress! It is a mod cut (which means short and sleeveless), black dress with orange and black detail at the waist and neckline. The same detail surrounds the black jacket, trimming it at the sleeve and jacket front.

Lastly, we have got in some really amazing accessories. Gloves, hats, heels, clutches and handbags. We also have some handsome mens fedoras in stock too!

Need we say more? Come in and see these prizes for yourself!

She's Crafty!

Have you ever bought an item from a Vintage store because you just LOVED the color? Or fabric? You could see all this potential in it, so you bought it. We've all been there. Then you take the item home, give it a good wash, and put it away in your closet (or the drawer with all the other things that have the potential to be something great), where slowly you begin to forget you even had it. Well, its time to dig out those long forgotten treasures and get crafty!

There are simple things you can do to revive your vintage and all it takes is a pair of scissors, a steady hand, and a sewing machine (or at least the ability to hand sew). The easiest way to customize a dress? Cut it shorter!! As short as you want. That peasant dress looks great cut as short as a tunic top when paired with cut off denim shorts. Or cut that striped dress mid-thigh for a mod night out. Put the dress on, and using a friend, have them add straight pins where you should cut. Use a yardstick from the floor up to ensure the pins are where they should be to guide you to cut a straight hem. Then cut, and sew up a new hem about an 1 - 2 inches wide.

Second to cutting it shorter is making it sleeveless. It's nearly summer, so this option is really ideal. You can use a seam ripper, and pull the sleeve completely off...or grab those handy scissors and cut away to the length you prefer. Finish off by sewing up the sleeve hem, usually about inch wide.

You can also add applique (decorative patch) to your vintage to spruce it up a bit! A solid knit dress looks cute with felt hearts sewn on it, or add applique around the neckline of a vintage shirt, or over your heart on your favorite cardigan sweater. Most appliques can be ironed on, but you can also hand stitch them on for a cute homemade look.

There is so much you can do to pump new life back into vintage! Come into FOUND and we will help you find a one-of-a-kind piece that you can personalize with your own clever touches.

Marrakech Express

Marrakech isn't just where Alfred Hitchcock filmed the opening scenes of his movie "The Man Who Knew Too Much", it is also the inspiration for a fantastic new trend this season! The famous city is known for having the largest traditional market in Morroco which has been a great influence for designers. Vibrant colors, rich silks, bright patterns and gold detail are used to rejuvinate silhouettes like jumpsuits, maxi dresses, harem pants and sheer blouses.

FOUND vintage continually reads and researches trend reports to ensure we are up to date with the fashion world. Styles and patterns are constantly being recycled by designers. Vintage enthusiasts understand this more than anyone, and know how to wear their vintage masterpieces without looking dated. Its all about how you wear it!!

The first photo is of a model wearing designer Phillip Lim's version of the trend. The second photo is our version you can buy at FOUND without your wallet dying. Our lavendar maxi dress is $45 and was lovingly made in India. It has an incredible beaded rope neckline that is shaped like a halter. The sandy jacket is $45 and has two rows of gold buttons down the front.


The third photo is a GORGEOUS golden jumpsuit by Diane von Furstenberg. If you don't have $345 for her jumpsuit then check out the jumpsuit we have at FOUND. Our magenta jumpsuit is $35 and looks great paired with a leather belt and platform sandals.
Being a savvy shopper has never looked so good!