Nina Shoes: Today and Back in the Day.

So, one of the things that kept me busy a couple of weeks ago was an event for Nina Shoes. Nina is a women's shoe company started in NY in the 50's by brothers, Mike and Stanley Silverstein. It is still, to this day a family run business. They started with a fashion clog and later reinterpreted that clog to a wood bottom stiletto like heel version (a coveted vintage find if you could find a pair!). Their father was a master shoe designer. He produced and sold wood bottom shoes in Cuba prior to 1940. When he came to the states he tried to sell them here but wood shortages due to the war made things too difficult. The son's went on to work in the fashion industry, gained experience and when the time was right, opened their business, Nina (named after Stanley's first born), in a small loft on Prince St. Today Nina shoes are still designed in New York city and crafted with the same quality and care as from the start.

In the vintage world Nina shoes are some of the best. I personally covet their older shoes, some of my favorites! They truly are crafted to stand the test of time. The all leather uppers and linings are as good today as they were 20 years ago...many vintage shoes you come across where made with synthetic linings that over time have started to crack and flake, how much fun is it to put your foot in a shoe and pull it out to find it covered in sticky lining flakes...not fun! You will never get that from a vintage pair of Nina's!!! Have a look at some Nina Shoes...from today and back in the day...

The ladies rocking the looks...

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Nina Shoes today...

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And Nina Shoes back in the day...a few 80's styles...


















Ankle Strap Wedgies from the 70's...


And one of my most coveted pairs from the 60's...


The Box...

A Message From Your Local Thrift...

Sometimes we need to be reminded how awesome and down our best friends are. If you have forgotten, even for a moment, do not fret! There is the "Best Friends Poster Book" to remind you of all the great things that come with having B.F.F.'s and illustrated with cute little kittens, puppies and Teddy Bears...which one are you? Cut lil' kitten? I thought so! This book is soooooooo 1988, which is totally appropriate because that is the year it came out.

Thrift Store: Goodwill, Sacramento, CA

Item: Book

Dept: This was a Goodwill bins location so it's all one giant "dept." of stuff...but it was in the book pile.

*Side note...I still don't have a scanner so "bear" with me ;)

Weekend Warriors...Come Out An' Play-ay!

I'm starting to hit the yard/garage/rummage sales on the weekends...not as hard as I used to but one or two choice sales, can't hurt, right? I didn't make it to this sale but I have to trust that it was just as it said.

I Heart Squaresville!

So the other day I mentioned one of my favorite vintage clothing spots in L.A., Squaresville. Not only do they have really great merchandise (there early 90's offerings are truly outrageous!) but I wasn't kidding when I said that the nicest people got together and decided to work there. The crew is really something else, it's like hanging with your homies...now perhaps this takes awhile to establish (and you might have to get in really good to get a nickname like "Dizney Liz"), I have been going there for sometime but nonetheless they aren't the type of staff to ignore you or cop attitude...Last month while in L.A. I did some shopping there and in my excitement, left my bag of booty!!! I didn't realize this until weeks later when they contacted me to let me know...and they sent it to me!! Now that's some customer service!! And don't even get me started on their store displays!! I really do HEART Squaresville!

I'm really not sure how I was managing all those days without my Versace pants, Ted Lapidus heels and amazing leather zipper clutch...it's a wonder I could get out of bed in the morning!!!

Squaresville
1800 N. Vermont
L.A. CA, 90027

323-669-8464

L.A. in a Day.

Talk about whirl-wind tours!! Drove down and back to L.A. yesterday. I know it sounds crazy but please believe, it was worth the 11 hour round trip trek. Had some buying to do and some meeting to do. A Top Secret project is in the works that I hope I can be sharing it with you soon!

Diggin deep...I live in piles.

A message from your local sponsors.

The Dots is Hot!There is always time for some shopping! One of my favorite spots in L.A. is Squaresville. I think all the nicest people in the world got together and decided to work there and offer up the crazy vintage goodness!!Let's Get Physical circa 198...what does that say? you need a closer look? You are so BAD! 1-9-8-4...it's a 4, get ur face outta my space ;)

The Baja hoody...I used to rock these hard back in the day i.e. late 80's. M.I.S.S. Pauline made a request and I have delivered, hope you like black and purple!!

M.I.S.S. Crew UPDATE! People Ain't Ready!

Perhaps you thought I got lost at a thrift store or buried by a pile of clothes...No, although I always joke about the later happening! The side hustles have been in full throttle effect all last week. Take "busy" times it by a million and add one, yeah that was last week. Two photo shoots, three fashion shows and the highly anticipated M.I.S.S. Crew update! Sleep? What's that? So, it's time to give the people what they want...M.I.S.S. Crew is in fuller effect than ever, re-designed, up-dated and more grown and sexy than ev-a! And please make sure to peep my tech for the Back In the Days spread (styled by The Goods! with The Goods! and hand-made necklaces by Office Tramp), it should be ilegal to have that much fun on a "school night"! And make sure to check the new Spring tee's that dropped from Mama and mo' styling by The Goods!

Our new homepage artist is Amanda Lopez...photos are hot!

Back in the Days sneak peak!

And a few looks from Mama's spring t-shirts!

Now I get to sleep!!

Baggin' Up!

That's right, i'm bagging up The Goods! You may recognize these lovlies from a recent post entitled "Just Did It! Fleamarket Finds!" Well the picture I posted of these earrings got people askin'! So I'm bagging them up and spreading them around. They are available for sale at these fine vintage establishments:

West Side:
Pretty Penny 2003 Milvia St. Berkeley, CA
510-666-0312

VerUnica 437 Hayes St. B SF, CA
415-431-0688

East Side:
Valley NYC 48 Orchard St. NY, NY
212-274-8985

Marmalade 172 Ludlow St. NY, NY
212-437-8070

For Wholesale inquires or if you can't make it to these spots, e-mail me at: busylady@gottagetthegoods, I have a few pairs left ;)

MAMA and M.I.S.S. What a Night!

It was one of those magical evenings last night...you know the kind, where you are surrounded by friends, laughing and having fun and then all of a sudden you stop and think to yourself "this is my job?!?!" and you feel even better about life and things and stuff and most importantly, you feel fortunate to be working with talented and creative folks. The kinda people that see the potential and the vision to think big and commit to working till 3 am for the cause...Yeah, that was last night. Packed up The Goods! for a little photo shoot fun in "the kitchen". Worked it out till the wee hours of the morning for MAMA's Spring/Summer 07 t-shirts and then a little magic for the "Back in the Days" portion of the M.I.S.S. Crew site launch (happening very, very soon!) Here's a little sneak peak...can you feel the magic??

The arsenal of Goods!

Hard at work...Sneak Peak...

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun! Yeah, we all can't look like supa mod-els at 3 am!!

The Goods! at Valley NYC.

If you find yourself in need of that one spot to get your nails did, your wax on, a quick bite to eat (you have to try the Acai, it is amazing!), and a little something to spruce up your wardrobe then you have to get over to Valley in the lower east side!!! The lovelies, Nina and Julia, are sisters with a vision brought to life in their one stop shop. They offer it all and in a cozy setting where you just might find yourself hanging on the couch all day. They have just added The Goods! to their selection of merchandise, so go get some of that vintage love!! And believe me they can make your nails match that cute little calico print Gunnie Sax dress or sweet madras plaid blouse, guaranteed!

Supa TROOP'a!

And the dead stock goods won't stop! Just rolled back from the East siiiiide and came upon this bounty of goodness. TROOP pants in full force!!! Introduced in 1985, made famous by LL. Cool J and ended after a 5 year run due to nasty rumors of being owned by the KKK (get the full story here). What streetwear was. What made streetwear what it is today. 200% Fashion all the way!

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The Goods! D'Jour and The Coveted.

That's right, those dead stock jazzy shoes I posted a couple of days ago have caused quit a stir! Jennine, the lovely lady that operates The Coveted has bestowed them with the most coveted shoe title "Shoe D'Jour"...and I couldn't agree more!! Thanks for the love!

Read the rest here!

A Message From Your Local Thrift...

It's a nice thought..."Sleep all day. Party all night." For those who have made this work for them and get paid...hell yeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaah!! Until then, I will live through you via this tye-die jumpsuit. Oh, yeah did I forget to mention that this is a jumpsuit? yeah booooooooooooi!



Thrift Store: Salvation Army, Hempstead, NY

Item: Tye-Dye jumpsuit

Dept: Womens Sleepwear