The Goods!: December 2007

M.I.S.S. Crew x Nails Did and The Goods!

I don't call myself BusyLady for nuffin! And today's remote office is at the Saturn dealer in Medford, OR. I've taken my car in for an oil change and would you believe they have free internet access for their customers!!! So good! Sorry Starbucks, it's free over here!! So, I digress! If you don't know about my side project M.I.S.S. Crew, then please get to knowing!!!! We did a recent collabo t-shirt with Mister Frames of the UK and his hotter than hot t-shirt line entitled "Nails Did". We did some photo action in my hood, that's East Oaktown aka Raider Nation, on the Boulevard of International aka East 14th St. We got the ladies nails hooked up at Sun Nails. This is the first spot I ever got my nails did. It was 1989, I was in the 7th grade and I got me some acrylic nails, in what I like to call "chola purple" (I still rock that color today), some nail art, a couple of gold charms, you know, the works. You know The Goods! had to handle the business so peep the vintage at work...Cazal's, high-waisted zipper jeans, acid wash, Chanel ( and fauxfo' real)...see how we do that thang!

And here's the "chola purple" in action...

Much thanks to our hella fine models Reina "La Reina" and Mayra and huge thanks to our photo genius Ali of One Hit Wonder! Yaaaaaaaaay Boiiiiiiii!

Kanye West and The Shudder Shades

This post is soooooooooooo over due!!! I came across my O.G. pair of shudder shades some months back and was so excited to do this post...and then I misplaced them. That really isn't too hard in my place (for those that have been to my place you know what I'm talking 'bout) And then I found them and my black pair too, double score!! So, yeah Kanye West and those damn shades. What he's been rocking are a version of the 80's Shudder Shades/Glasses, this newer version are more of an aviator shape. I prefer the originals (surprised, right?)...way more computer-rock-weird-science and severe...just like the 80's. People, please stop paying outrageous amounts on eBay for these things. If you must have them (just like Kanye) then go to Shudder Shades and get a pair in one of six colors or if you are a true vintage aficionado go to Girl Props and get a pair of the original vintage version. Be true to your school. Old School that is.

The Origianl Goods! "Damn they don't make 'em like this anymore"

Stay posted for more catch-up posts!!!

Mama A/W '07: Operation Saigon Sunset x The Goods!!

Mama clothing recently dropped her complete collection, Operation Saigon Sunset. I was so sad that I couldn't lend my styling hand on this recent shoot (NY was callin') but I was able to hook-up some of the wardrobe...original 70's high-waisted wide-legged patched work denim goods!-ness, ain't nothing like the real thing baby! Peep the entire look book here.

Re-Up: NYCity

Made one last journey out to the East Siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiide for 2007. Here's what's really "The Goods!" in NYC...xoxo!

The newnew at MarmaladeVintage...

The re-stock at Daha...

And the come-ups at Zachary's Smile...

The Goods! at California Vintage

This past summer American Apparel jumped deep into the vintage game, opening up shop across the globe as California Vintage. The first store to open was in Mexico City, making it the first true vintage store the city has seen. Next to pop up was Berlin and Cologne...and most recently Echo Park in L.A. More shops are slated to open: Canada, a second in L.A., and eventually San Francisco and New York City. The concept behind California Vintage is incorporating the American Apparel brand with the second-hand goods. I look at it as teaching the consumer how to rock the vintage...how to incorporate the old with the new. I started working with and suppling A.A. with The Goods! this past summer and looking forward to growing right along side them. Peep The Goods! in full effect at the Echo Park location!

Totes...

She's got legs...

and knows how to use them...

and always looking out for the community...

Stay posted for more to come!

Flippin' the Script at the Rosebowl

For about 3 years I faithfully loaded up my car, trekked 5-6 hours each way to set up shop at the Rosebowl fleamarket in Pasadena. I did this somewhat religiously (selling in the rain is no fun) every 2nd weekend of the month. And for the most part I loved it. I loved my customers, my vendor friends, and the money wasn't so bad. It's a hustle and a half, lemme tell ya. Up at 3 a.m., waiting on line, unloading in the dark, setting up shop and depending on the time of year you are either freezing your ass off in the dead of winter or sweating bullets, while damaging your precious skin in the sweltering sun. At the end of what sometimes felt like the longest day ev-er, you where beyond tired and dirty in places you didn't know could get dirty but that fanny pack full of the green kept you coming back every time. I decided earlier this year to quit that racket, focus on building up my account base for wholesaling and beef up my styling game...so far so great!

So the point of this post...I made it back down to the Rosebowl last weekend BUT as a shopper. It was good times. It was fun to be on the other side as the buyer. To leisurely walk the aisles and buy, buy, buy. Peep the technique...

My most favorite Office Tramp, Dree, meet up with me at the front gate, we opted for the 10 a.m. $8 entry fee (you can pay as much as $20 to get in at the crack of dawn). BTW, they will give you a $2 bill as part of your change.

An important tip...bring a pushy cart and get in the side entrance and beat the crowd.

We head straight to the "white section", this houses all the vintage clothing and accessories. First stop...Rob and Sarah's booth #3131... Where I picked up these amazing Ray Ban glasses that where modeled by my homies later at dinner that night...

Stopped by to see Lysa Rose, booth #3164. She offers a great selection of top quality ladies wears from victorian to the 90's.

Down the road is booth #3175, where Mara has been holding it down for about 15 year!!

Scored these deadstock Charles Jourdan canvas/rubber shoes from her...

And I always have to say "hey" to Joe. He's from the Bay too and can be found at booth #3154. He's got you covered in the vintage denim, t-shirts, workwear, boots and design oddities...he's been in the game for days!

And I always have to visit Andre. He's is the "Sunglasses" man...you can find him in space P07 in the orange section.

And the rest of my bounty from the day...

So the next time you find yourself at a fleamarket, remind yourself what goes into setting up shop. The journey, the hunt, the time, the energy, the money...there is a huge difference between cleaning out your garage and being a career fleamarketeer. Think twice about trying to get something for nothing. Believe me, I appreciate a good bargain, score or discount...but people gotta live and until you;ve been on both sides of the fence, think twice about whining or complaining about the price of something...if you only knew what it took to get it to you.

Oregon Puts Out

So here are some quick picts of my Oregon pick-ups. Besides Portland, most of Oregon is pretty low key when it comes to fashion, clothing is more for function in those parts which makes the thrifting interesting. I love when you go into the Salvation Army in Roseburg and scoop up the entire collection of heels and booties that obviously all belonged to the same lady due to the size and by the style and quality you could tell that back in her hay day she was the local fashion plate or came from somewhere metropolitan. Thrift stores are a good look into the surrounding community and for the most part warm clothes and work boots are the bounty in those parts. But if there was something worth finding, I found it and on this particular trip my step-dad came up with the best score!

Bag Lady...

Step-It-Up...

Booty, Booty, Booty, Booty rockn' everywhere...

And the big score! I try to explain to my folks what it is I look for in boots, so maybe while they're out they might see something and pick it up, maybe put them on The Goods! pay-roll ;) We went into a St. Vinny's and the step-dad b-lines towards the shoes. He comes back to me holding, what I can only describe as a little piece of boot heaven. He was so excited!! He had found these beauties...80's, stiletto, studded, appliqued, suede/leather/moc reptile print mix, all leather inside and out by Sacha London...and just my size. Which was a super bonus. Please believe, I try hard not to "get high off my own supply" but can you blame me?!?!

Take Time to Smell the Roses...

Taking a super quick break from the vintage (not really but at least for the sake of this post), to get all earth child on you and share some of the beauty that mother nature has to offer. In the past week I have been to Oregon, back to the Bay, down to L.A. and home again. Driving is an amazing way to see the country. And although I hate to admit it, I am sometimes so captivated by what my eyes are seeing that I have to snap a picture...while driving sometimes (that's the part I hate to admit). From rainbows in the Oregon sky to snow covered mountains in the Grape Vine on the way to L.A. sometimes we need to take time to smell the roses...

Won't You Take Me to...Niketown

Yeah, I think I've used that title before but I love it and it's very fitting for this post. AND I would like to extend a thousand apologies for the lack of post's as of late. I've been keeping it super real in Oregon since Thanksgiving...and I mean like no cell phone coverage, no internet access, "real". My folks live in the hills in Southern Oregon, real back to nature steeze...which is nice and relaxing...for a bit. I am working out of my "office" at the local (30 mins away) Starbucks. I did manage to make my way up to Portland last week to hang super tough with friends aka family. Part of my adventures took me to Beaverton, OR. home to the NIKE headquarters. My friend said "This is like going to Mecca for Liz"...that pretty much sums it up.