Addicted To :: Timeless Vixen Vintage

Thanks to your input here, we have some amazing shops lined up for the interview series. The first of which is Timeless Vixen Vintage. Lauren from Timeless Vixen lives, breathes, and eats vintage. And how could she not, being surrounded by such amazing garments?! Learn more about the No. 1 vixen…

Q: Tell our lovely readers a bit about yourself. Is buying and selling vintage your full-time gig or a hobby? How and when did you get started in this business?

A: Vintage fashion is my life. I wake up in the morning thinking about it and go to sleep dreaming of it. I started collecting when I was 13 years old and while I was studying theatre arts at USC, I started selling some of my collection to help me through school. By the time I graduated, I realized my passion was not musical theatre. My passion was creating a beautiful character through clothing.

Q: Do you have any favorite, never-let-you-down, treasure hunting spots? Would you like to share, or are they top-secret?

A: None of my spots are secrets. My favorite places to find treasures are swap meets and estate sales. I love going into someone’s closet and learning about their life through clothing. I can learn her favorite color and type of lifestyle right when I start going through the rack! Hunting is my favorite part of what I do.

Q: Is there a certain aesthetic you look for when you’re thrifting? How do you decide what to pick up, or just pass on? Do you wait for an item to speak to you?

A: I look for unique, rare to find, interesting clothing with a flattering style. People do not buy vintage just because it’s “old.” Women buy vintage clothing because it is amazing styles you cannot find in department stores anymore.

Q: Be honest, do you keep many of your finds, or is it strictly business? And do you have any personal collections that you have built over time through thrifting?

A: My biggest customer is MYSELF! I love what I do and I love wearing it too! My personal collection is so large that my husband gave me a full bedroom to store it (what an amazing guy). I collect pretty much everything but my favorites are 1920′s flapper headpieces, 1950′s unique prints and 1960′s-1970′s ossie clarks and biba garments. I love every era and every style of vintage.

Q: Are there any items you’ve regretted selling and wish you would have kept for yourself?

A: YES-I had this amazing 1950′s silk-organza peacock feathered 3-d strapless nipped-waist full circle-skirt party dress and matching sweater. I sold it six years ago and I kick myself every time I see something peacock related!

Q: Pick one and tell us about it: Weirdest, most valuable, or most satisfying find?

A: The weirdest thing I ever found was a pouch pinned into the waist of a 1940′s skirt suit I purchased at a swap meet. The pouch was FULL of 1920′s antique rings and gold a star-of-david pendant. As I went through each item, I wished there was a way I could give these beautiful rings back to their original owner. I also wondered why someone hid these treasures pinned to her skirt. The mystery of vintage is what thrills me. I am not only a seller but a treasure-hunter with stories to tell…

Robin Eastwood is a treasure hunter and vintage fanatic. Visit The Fancy Lamb on Etsy to drool over some of her latest finds, and follow Robin on Twitter to hear about her latest thrifting adventures.