Jet Rag Vintage Clothing & Melrose Flea Market

Had a day in LA with my mom to go to Jet Rag's Sunday $1 sale, where rows of bundles of vintage clothing (in any condition) are torn open and all walks of life come to scramble and pick through massive piles of fabric.

This was one of the calmer times I've been here- club kids in their shiny bathing suits trying things on in the corner, a kind homeless man striking up conversations with people, the common hipster doing their daily clothing search. 

I was there with a purpose: pillows! I was on the hunt for old Indian saris and material to make throw pillows out of. I don't feel bad cutting up these clothes because most of them already are torn or stained. I have found beautiful vintage clothing in good condition there before, though.

Usually people are pushing each other and getting rowdy, grabbing giant arm-fulls of things and rushing them to their corner to search through. My mom's trick is to stand by the most fashionable person and look through whatever they throw back, which is exactly how I found most of my items today. Always trust your mom, especially if she used to be a wardrobe stylist for years.

After collecting a pile of clothes, I sorted through everything to make sure I had everything I needed and threw back whatever I didn't think would work. I got a total of 14 items, so $14 total, which will be an incredible addition to what I have at home for the pillows.

We didn't expect to go to Melrose today, but with it being so close by and with our "$1 off admission" coupons in my purse, we decided to just do it. So far Melrose has always been worth it.

Walking through the first aisle, we met Dana of Fixed Foliage, a lovely explorer and fashion major who created pressed flower watercolors.

One of my favorite parts about her ethereal art is that she added the coordinates at which she found the nature that she pressed, so if you buy her piece you can look up where exactly your art came from. Brilliant.

One of the nicest girls ever, and so beautiful inside and out.

She also had postcards of her scanned works, one of which I happily bought, and a booklet of pressed nature you could choose from if you wished to commission your own unique piece.

Here is her Etsy and Instagram (@fixedartwork).

Melrose offers so much inspiration, whether you buy something or not it's worth the trip.

After wandering for a bit we came across the booth that we deemed "cutest booth of the day."

Little Yellow Typewriter (@littleyellowtypewriter)

It was filled with sweet vintage inspired post cards, vintage cigar boxes, letter flags, and other super cute things.

On our way out we stopped by Hope & Anchor where they make coffee bag rugs! They line the backs with a rubber material so they don't slip around, and use recycled bags that otherwise would have been thrown out. Each one is unique, and they come in single bag or larger sizes. I can't wait to get one of my own. 

I love blogging because I get to document creative peoples' photogenic smiles. I think creativity brings out the beauty in everyone. Nothing can beat days like this, surrounded by kindness and beauty.

I'm not usually one for sugary sweets, but every now and then a vanilla ice cream cone just sounds so good, and for how hot it was today walking around on asphalt, CVT Soft Serve basically came to my sweet-tooth's rescue. 

It was a fabulous and productive (and delicious) day!

Spell & the Gypsy Collective: Bohemian Royale

I feel like a big part of having a blog that includes fashion is openly supporting and sharing the brands that you appreciate and get inspired by. So with the launch of Spell & the Gypsy Collective's new collection, here is the new beautiful look book that accompanies it.

Spell & the Gypsy Collective August/September Look book ‘Bohemian Royale’.

"Shot on location in Nashville, Tennessee, in the home real-life bohemian muse Leah Hoffman, who’s loft was the perfect backdrop for our August/September collection ‘Bohemian Royale’." 

This look book is beyond perfect. Layered in flowing Indian-inspired kimonos on a backdrop of Leah Hoffman's Nashville apartment is exactly where I'd like to be.

American Flag adorned walls, vintage fabric draped in every corner, and big, spacious, rug covered hardwood floors reflecting the sunlight beaming in from giant loft windows- it's like the "lions and tigers and bears" of bohemian fashion.

This is the real deal. There is nothing cheap about the fabric they used, nothing inauthentic about the home they shot in. Everything represents the true modern bohemian lifestyle. I think that may be one of the most important parts of vintage inspired fashion- being authentic. It is possible to shop on a budget but not own "cheap" things. Feel the fabric, see how it drapes, does it feel genuinely good to wear; is it real or convincing wood/crystal/gemstone or breakable plastic 'wood'/stone. I've done a pretty good job filling my closet with things that make me happy on a low budget, though certain things you really do get what you pay for, especially with shoes and jewelry.

Nashville is a hub of music, fashion, and interesting people. I was born there and haven't been back in many years, but as I get exposed to how it's progressed over the years in so many hip and captivating ways, I am tempted to make a trip out there soon and learn my roots. It's people like Leah Hoffman (@leahhofff) and her portrayed lifestyle that inspires me to surround myself with captivating environments, fashion, projects, and people.

"The collection revolves around our signature Spell kimonos, playsuits and playdresses made in a vintage inspired print, reminiscent of vintage fabrics we found once in a dusty market place in Pushkar, India. Throw in an embellished Spell slouchy/sweater set in a sports-luxe grey terry, our new Lost Highway trucker flannel, lush crochet backless mini and lush, over-sized knits and you have our latest trans-seasonal collection Bohemian Royale, available online now, and more dropping in coming weeks."

Look books are fabulous because it's a representation of our times, historically, as well as an incredible way to see clothing in action in an inspirational way. If you are creative in any way I feel like you could probably appreciate the idea of look books just from the sheer art and hard work put into each one.

SHOP THE NEW COLLECTION NOW.

Photographer: Graham Dunn

Model: Anja Konstantinvoa

Art Direction: Kelley Ash

Styling and concept by Spell & the Gypsy Collective & Leah Hoffman

All vintage (and Child of Wild jewels) from Leah Hoffman’s personal collection

Nashville tee by Imogene and Willie

H&M Kali Kennedy

Assistant Rhian Bosci

DIY: Make Your Room Unique

We all want a bedroom that represents who we are, that we can feel relaxed and inspired in, and feels like 'home'. Making your room unique takes one easy step- actually making it. Here are some easy DIY ideas that will help you unleash the creativity inside of you out into your living space.

Mason Jar Lantern

Tired of lamps taking up table space? Try a hanging lantern made out of the most universal jar ever- a mason jar. Here is a super simple video on how to make one- it's so much easier and cheaper than it seems.

Plant hanger

Add some color and life to your room with hanging plants! Here is a step by step tutorial on how to make one, simply click through the photos to learn.

Bohemian Canopy 

Canopies are a great way to get some privacy and also keep the warmth in during the winter.  Here's the site I got this photo from so you can learn how to make your own.

Floor Poufs/Ottoman

While this seems so simple, I can't seem to find a pattern online that doesn't have a ton of complicated paper cut outs to follow-  so I'd just wing it! 

Thinking of the easiest way to do it, here are some things you'll need:

- stuffing/foam cut the size you want the pouf

- fabric (two circles for the top and base, and a long strip as a connecter/side panel)

- optional embellishments for the sides or a large button for the top center to make a 'pucker'

- a sewing machine to put it all together

 DIY Closet Space

I personally have a lot of clothes, especially because I collect vintage clothing to resell. I'm lucky enough to have snagged the closet in the spare room (which I have turned into my art studio now). But for those who have limited closet space, hate dressers, or rent an apartment with no closet in the room you're supposed to use as your bedroom, just use clothing racks. Display those threads like an art piece in the corner. It'll inspire you to get dressed differently seeing everything you have right in front of you.

Throw Pillows

You can never have too many pillows. Yeah you heard me- never too many. Everyone has old scrap fabric, whether it's a shirt you like but doesn't quite fit you right, or some old sheets that don't fit the bed you have but you never got rid of. Cut those babies up and make some pillows! The simplest way is to cut some squares and mix and match the fabric. Add some tassels or lace or anything on the ends to add some pizazz. Or keep it simple and just enjoy the word "pizazz".

Cinder Block Shelving

Using cinder blocks to either hold up a wooden plank, or stacked on top of each other, as shelving is a perfect way to bring the industrial outdoors in. If you don't have the luxury of living in an old loft with brick walls and a fire escape, you may be dying to make your suburban room feel a bit more like the big city.

Macrame Door/Wall Decor

Filling a large wall space or getting some privacy between two rooms may be difficult, and adding a see-through wall hanging helps keep the space feel big but give you the visual privacy you're looking for. I have a beaded door curtain, but I often get nervous they might break- rope will not give you those worries! To learn how to make something like this simple rope macrame wall hanging, visit this site.

Enhancing Old Furniture

Using simple color-pops quickly enhances old furniture. Whether you want to paint the entire piece, or sand the edges to give it an older feel, using pastels and deep neons will bring a bohemian feel to your room without much effort. Natural wood looks beautiful, but if you have something already stained or painted, use what you've got! Remember to always sand down and clean the areas you are going to paint to ensure that the paint goes on smoothly and evenly.

Bringing Nature Indoors

Last but not least, bring the nature indoors. (For those that do not have a green thumb, go with succulents and cactus- they come in beautiful colors and are a lot harder to kill, trust me. It's what I have.) Greenery is like a synonym for "life" because plants are alive and give us oxygen! Having it in your house will not only make the air less stuffy, but it will make you happy. It will also remind you that material things will never compare to the magic that is nature and life. There are a million ways to get that greenery inside besides just sitting in plain pots. 

Just a few examples would be 

- the macrame plant hanger DIY I posted above (a real space saver)

- planted in old tea cups

- mounting wooden boxes on the wall as an indoor 'windowsill planter'

- in mason jars by a window, or  clamping it to wood like this

That's it for now.

Happy crafting!