I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Jeanna from SwaneeGRACE and I sure hope you will too. A gal can only hope to have the luck she has when she’s treasure hunting! Read on to learn more about her vintage addiction.

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: Hello! My name is Jeanna and I’m a New York City native lucky enough to still live in the city I call home. I work full-time as a Business Manager at Bergdorf Goodman but devote as much time as I can to SwaneeGRACE. I consider it much more than a hobby as vintage truly is my life’s passion. I long for the day that it’s more than just a part-time gig.

My love affair with vintage dresses goes way back. I went on my first thrifting adventure with my grandma in the 7th grade, filled a bag for $1 and left with an entire fall wardrobe. Desperately needing another fix, I started going to fleas in New Jersey with my mom and very shortly after that I was exploring Manhattan and rummaging through the myriad of vintage shops that lined Broadway, all of which are now long gone. I’ve been hooked ever since. Funny thing is my nanny had absolutely no idea what a lasting impact that thrift run would have on my adult life. We still laugh about it and she’s tickled pink that I named my shop, in part, after her.

My collecting took a more serious turn about 7 years ago when I started going to all the NYC vintage shows and the Whitaker-Augusta auctions in New-Hope. Further along in my career, extra cash in hand, I did what any vintage-obsessed 20-something sewer would do: started to buy lots and lots of pretty dresses, some not even my size since I convinced myself I could make them fit. This was almost never actualized. My apartment started to look like one big closet and when even I couldn’t take it anymore, I knew selling was the next step. I dabbled with Ebay for a spell, rented space at a design cooperative in Soho for a few seasons and tried my hand at the Brooklyn Flea when it first opened. Throughout it all I wanted an online shop. After having a customized site designed but never programmed due to budgetary constraints, I decided to give Etsy a whirl last August. All I can say is I wish I did it sooner.

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

A: Of course I do! Like most vintage aficionados, I have top-secret tactics and a few off-the-radar thrift spots that continually churn out some pretty spectacular stuff. I often feel like I live a charmed vintage life. Most likely I’m just lucky, but I like to joke that I was some fabulous dress shop owner from the 50s in my past life and I’ve come back to re-collect all of my long lost dresses.

In addition to the shops, shows and fleas (my most favorite being The Elephants Trunk), I recently started traveling to estate sales and just can’t get enough of ‘em. Plus, whenever I travel, the first thing I do after scouting out accommodations is research the vintage spots.

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: When hand-selecting my stock, beauty, quality, craftsmanship, design and lasting wear always take precedence over trendiness. With a focus on femininity, flattery and fun, I gravitate towards vintage that displays its roots and simultaneously looks refreshingly current, either on its own or paired with modern pieces. Beautiful and wearable dresses, 25-100 years old and in great condition, that blend seamlessly with a 21st century wardrobe, are on the top of my most wanted list.

And while there’s no denying my heart races when I discover designer pieces, I’m always most taken with those handmade, little known label, and label-less dresses whose fabric, fit, and construction could easily cause any one of them to be mistaken for a piece out of a current designer’s collection. I wear lots of vintage to work and am constantly being asked questions like, “Is that Prada?”, “What floor did you get that on?”, etc. It always delights me to tell them it’s vintage. I just love raising awareness and imparting knowledge about vintage clothing. Anything new that’s even remotely similar in terms of quality is most often cost prohibitive. And let’s face it: vintage is just tons more fun.

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: Oh yes, I keep lots of them! My love of a good dress is what got me into this whole thing in the first place. And considering I only buy things I love, if something fits perfectly, it’s really hard not to keep it. Lately I’ve been trying to only put one item from each successful buying trip into my closet and this seems to be working nicely. I know, however, it’s only a matter of time before this plan fails miserably.

In addition to dresses from the 20′s-50′s, there are a few other vintage things I can’t resist: school autograph books from the 1890s-1940s (I just love the quirky and dated phrases), recipe books, photographs of ladies in dresses, watch rings, interesting dress patterns and fashion magazines.

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

A: Not yet. If I’m on the fence about something, I hold on to it until I’m emotionally ready to let it go. Once it gets into the shop I can’t wait for it to be united with its new owner. I don’t like to have things just sitting around looking pretty on a garment rack. It’s important to me that these items get the love and use they deserve.

Right about now the only thing I regret is not having enough time to get all my pretties into the shop. Thankfully, my summer lighting situation is figured out and I’m about to implement a system to ensure new items get debuted in a timely manner.

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

A: At a recent estate sale that was so loaded it ran over three weekends, I lost my cell phone in a room that was literally knee-deep with picked over stuff (including my own). I didn’t realize the loss until after I left, so back into that musty room I went. Although my phone was never found, I discovered the most stunning, museum-quality 2 piece Victorian beaded sash. Each piece was just lying there on the floor underneath all that madness. Much to my surprise, it survived 100 years (including that frenzied sale!) without one bead missing or even a nip in the chiffon. Amazing!!! As soon as I found it I gleefully gave up on the phone and called it a day.

Experiences like this have taught me that, more often than not, some of the best stuff is lurking in the background away from all the hubbub. Sometimes you just need to dig a little deeper.

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.

Related Posts with Thumbnails