Maiden Rapture

New Horizons

2009-12-20T00:50:00.000-08:00

Hellooooooo! If there's anyone left out there! I know I haven't posted on this blog in AGES. That is because I have been working on THIS. And THIS. And these are where you will find me from now on! Come on over!

xoxo
-Desiree

CLOSING!

2009-11-21T01:59:00.000-08:00

It's true. Maiden Rapture Vintage is closing her virtual doors in order to prepare for something bigger and much better. Take advantage of my 40-50% off storewide sale and STAY TUNED!

I'm Back!

2009-10-07T10:39:00.000-07:00

The roadtrip was incredible....so many good photos to share in due time.... Meanwhile, I'll just jump right back in to business; Here's a preview of what you'll find in the shop by the end of the day!

70's blue space dyed hoodie sweater.
70's chestnut shearling and tweed coat.
70's native motif knit cardigan.
70's lemon/lime nouveau print mini-dress.
Edwardian wool chenille coat.
70's leather and fur jacket.
1930's crochet dress (child size Large, will fit small/xtra small ladies)
50's sheer pleated ascot blouse.
80's Adrienne Vittadini school teacher dress.

70's mongolian lamb His and Her's Italian ski chalet boots.
1930's heeled peep-toe oxfords.
80's silk ruffle blouse.
70's belted cable knit cardigan w/ wooden buttons.
50's pin-up lingerie set.
80's day-glo mohair curly cue sweater.
50's Lilly Ann coat.
60's BLUE VELVET mini dress.
80's angora sparkle sweater.

Big X's and O's to everyone. I'm excited to be back.... thinking about new directions for the shop.... lots of stuff on the backburner... So many secrets I can't tell yet! :)

Stay tuned.

ROAD TRIP!!!!!

2009-09-09T20:03:00.000-07:00

I don't know how much bloggin' I'll be doing in the next two weeks as I'll be on a road trip across the USA! From NY fashion week, to New Orleans, to Austin, to LA... this is gonna be a good one!!!!

I'll try to post here and there when I get a chance.... you can follow me on Twitter, too, as I thrift my way across the country with my girl, Christina.

In honor of my roadtrip, I bring you this special road trip print from Etsy seller Poof!

See ya on the flip side (literally)!

xoxo
-Desiree

Feather Explosion

2009-09-09T11:57:00.001-07:00

A photo from yesterdays shoot.... new stuff coming soon soon!

Barbara Hulaniki

2009-09-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

(image courtesy of topshop)

2009-09-08T02:17:00.000-07:00

Find this little mid-century gem here.

Yves Saint Laurent on What's My Line?

2009-09-07T00:13:00.000-07:00

via they don't call them lovers in highschool, leeland

2009-09-06T13:53:00.000-07:00

A little something something to help get you through the day. I've had this one in my collection for a long time, it's sat on my vanity for as long as I can remember... I've always loved their mismatched eyes! Happy Sunday everyone..... xoxo

Löyly

2009-09-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Unable to shake off the uneasy feelings leftover from an intensely emotional dream about being forced into a "spiritual cleanse," I decided to head over to Löyly day spa which, luckily for me, is only a few blocks from my house. I figured a mind/body cleanse would be a much better alternative, thankyouverymuch.

(Above photo by Carolyn Ganus)

(images from Löyly's website)

2 hours of alternating between the steam room, sauna, showers, and open air seating area later, I feel like a new woman. Thanks, Mel, for accompanying me!

PS I also used my new blue-green algae face mask, purchased at New Seasons (local organics grocery) for a mere $9. It works better than any expensive face mask I've ever used.... in fact, the first time I tried it my boyfriend, not even knowing I had just used a mask, got a big smile on his face and told me I looked "fresh." Testify! You can get it online here.

Preview

2009-09-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

A preview of what's to come this weekend to Maiden Rapture Vintage!

1940's snakeskin/suede Mary JanesKenzo ribbed knit sweater

Leather oxfords

Teal bow tie knit sweater

White leather bow tie boots

1950's just peachy dress

1960's chocolate slingback heels

Striped tube top

White leather strappy/snappy heels

1960's psychedelic denim zip shorts

Chocolate combat boots

1980's striped dress

1960's Ferragamo heels

Ungaro skirt

1940's red patent leather heels

Alpaca sweater vest

1980's woven leather boots

1970's endless summer tee

1980's embroidered boots

1950's red dress

1970's gold disco heels

Dior is a girl's best friend....

2009-09-04T16:55:00.000-07:00

My lovely, lovely lady friend, Genevieve, was featured on Portland street style blog "Urban Weeds" today wearing a vintage Dior skirt from the shop.

She looks so fabulous all the time, it's no surprise she was featured! (she also has a blog here)

recycle/// reduce/// reuse///

2009-09-03T11:40:00.000-07:00

A veritable wonderland created by the 3 R's. Pinch me, I think I must be dreaming!!!

Read the article here, it's a beautiful read. Photos by Michael Stravato for the NY Times.

R A P T U R E

2009-09-02T20:41:00.000-07:00

rap·ture (rpchr)
n.
1. The state of being transported by a lofty emotion; ecstasy.
2. An expression of ecstatic feeling. Often used in the plural.
3. The transporting of a person from one place to another, especially to heaven.
tr.v. rap·tured, rap·tur·ing, rap·tures
To enrapture.

Donyale Luna

2009-09-02T14:12:00.000-07:00

Anne St. Marie

2009-09-02T14:05:00.000-07:00

2009-09-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Nature!

2009-08-28T18:13:00.001-07:00

Finally got a chance to go camping a couple of days ago in Zig Zag National Forest at the base of Mt. Hood. So perfect!

Hair 1977

2009-08-26T09:48:00.000-07:00

Some more inspirations for a short cut. I scanned all these from a 1977 hair style magazine....

I'm sure most of these are impossible to maintain for more than 5 minutes while you are having your photo taken, but I do think that last one looks pretty easy to keep up and it just so happens to be my favorite of the bunch....

xoxo

Smalls.

2009-08-26T01:59:00.000-07:00

A few smalls coming to the shop by Friday. Aren't those sunglasses (both pairs) the best??! xoxo

Mia

2009-08-25T20:19:00.001-07:00

I'm dreaming of short hair lately.... Could this Mia Farrow style be the one???

craigslist diaries: a cautionary tale of mixing rompers with cocktails

2009-08-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/mis/1339988446.html

to the man who walked in on me sitting on the toilet buck naked - w4m (Savoy)

afterwards, while you were walking out and i screamed "it's a romper!" at you, my companion pointed out to me that you are a man and probably have no clue what a "romper" is. so, to fill you in, a romper is not a one-off sexual encounter with a random naked stranger in a public restroom. a romper is a one-piece item of clothing, it's basically a dress with a crotch. see, when a lady typically has to pee, shorts alone are fine because you can pull them down, and dresses alone are fine because you can pull them up, but rompers require that she fully disrobe unless she wants to soil her outfit. in my frantic haste of urgently having to pee and knowing that there was quite a bit of unbuttoning standing between me and relief, i guess i didn't push the lock in all the way. oops.

so that, dear sir, is why i was naked and why the door was unlocked. i hope that my folly was as amusing to you as it was to me, but i apologize if it only freaked you out.

Location: Savoy

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

(image lovingly borrowed from this place)

HATS

2009-08-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

With fall rapidly approaching, I decided it was time to dust off the old hat collection and get them up into Maiden Rapture Vintage. Here's some of what you can expect up in the shop by the end of today!

My lovely model, Julie, is going to start contributing to this blog soon and I'm really excited about it! This girl knows more about vintage than most people I've ever met. Her style is impeccable and taste in decorating is inspiring. Be on the lookout for her posts!

xoxo
-Desiree

One about the premise of placing value on broken-in clothing

2009-08-22T03:36:00.000-07:00

So, Desi has been asking me for weeks to contribute to her blog, but i've been pretty piss shy about the whole thing because i don't know where to start and am overwhelmed by my lack of anything to say. I feel, however, that the best way to overcome this blockage is to post any old random thing and stop thinking about it too much, so... here's one about the premise of placing value on broken-in clothing:

Any one who spends any serious time in thrift stores knows that the genuinely broken in piece of clothing is a rare and exciting thing- be that because you enjoy the find, or because you enjoy selling off the find, finding a properly super beat down t-shirt means a good day. But what is the appeal of these faded jeans and these crackled soft leather boots? Despite the fact that "fashion" is intrinsically a purely aesthetic being, the appeal is not necessarily because these items look good (although it is arguable that broken-in gear does fit better and hang better, there is still a marked difference between a genuinely worn t-shirt and an equally aesthetically pleasing factory made burnout t-shirt). No, the appeal is, more likely, due to something that is less sensual and more sensitive. The attribute that is exciting about pieces of broken-in clothing is the love that they possess. Think of it like this, personally, i can't ever manage to wear down a pair of jeans that never made me feel good to begin with, because something has to be worn fairly often for a fairly long period of time before it becomes threadbare or broken down. It has to be loved. Wear and tare is directly proportional to the number of days that someone opens that closet door and reaches for that one specific item out of the entire selection; that one thing that is comfortable and familiar and induces a sense of confidence and well being. Favs, people. Inanimate objects that were showered with someone's love and good vibes, maaaaan for years (if i wanted to get really hippy about things i might mention the possibility that the physical matter that the clothing is composed of could hold on to some of positive energy that it was showered with for all of those years, but... eh...) . Basically, these items meant something to someone at some point and now they have somehow managed to find their way to you. Items like this are rare and wonderful finds because long lasting love doesn't happen all of the time and it doesn't end as often either. That is why these items shine. That is their value.

Coco

2009-08-17T20:23:00.000-07:00

Flea Circus

2009-08-14T11:41:00.000-07:00

If I didn't hate fleas so much I might find this cruel... but after the battle my kitten's been having with fleas, I'm kind of enjoying watching the little buggers be put to work! In any case, her miniscule sets are incredible and it's an interesting piece of entertainment history.

Black and Tan

2009-07-09T22:46:00.000-07:00

All items shown in the last week will be up in MRV by Sunday night!

xoxo
-Desiree

Coming Soon!

2009-07-08T02:20:00.000-07:00

I'm going to start advertising next week on Weardrobe.com.

Right now I'm in the process of getting Maiden Rapture Vintage really beefed up before my first ad goes up next Monday. TONS of goodies will be up and available for purchase by the end of this weekend.

Here's a few!

Hope you like! Le Shoppe is RIGHT HERE for your all your purchasing pleasure.

xoxo
-Desiree

Designer Crush!!!!

2009-07-08T01:48:00.000-07:00

My new favorite designer, Greek born Mary Katrantzou.

Seriously. How incredible are her prints? Quite literally wearable art. Gorgeous. When I close my eyes and imagine what girls will be wearing 20 years into the future, this is what I see and what I hope for.

xoxo
-Desiree

(all pics are borrowed from here and here)

We Ain't Born Typical

2009-07-04T10:46:00.000-07:00

Gettin' my Kills on today.

xoxo
-Desiree

Weekend Goodies

2009-07-03T19:07:00.000-07:00

Some new goodies coming to the shop this weekend!

Happy Independence day, Americans! Here's some vintage Obama for good measure:

(courtesy DC)

xoxo
-Desiree

Teaser!

2009-07-03T10:42:00.001-07:00

Here's a photo of Blaire from yesterday's shoot wearing an optical illusion 60's mod dress. More photos coming soon!

xoxo
-Desiree

the river

2009-07-01T17:33:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday was like the first official day of summer in Portland. To celebrate the coming of the sun my girlfriends and I went to the Sandy River for the day. Sara's mom, Sara, was in town and Genevieve's dog, Ola, was in tow. A couple of boyfriends were allowed to tag along, too. :)

I am so lucky..... I have the loveliest friends......

xoxo
-Desiree

Human Furniture

2009-07-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

By artist David Blázquez via S Magazine's blog.

xoxo
-Desiree

BRANDING MAIDEN RAPTURE!!!!!

2009-06-26T21:09:00.000-07:00

So, this just in from the rumor mill: My friend Sohale Kevin Darouian may soon be helping me with branding Maiden Rapture Vintage! Everything from logos, blog/shop banners, and business cards, to a background for my new twitter account. Kevin is an innovative graphic artist who lives here in Portland. He designs band posters, album artwork, etc. and he RULES it! There's no one with style like Kevin, and if there is... well they stole it from him. He is a rare talent! A visionary! I cannot wait to see what he creates for me. I'm literally squirming in my seat.

Anyway... Right now I'm trying to come up with some sort of direction to turn him in or inspirations for him to draw from when he creates the artwork for Maiden Rapture Vintage.

I've been word associating all day....

Maiden: female, feline, femininity, coy, innocence, perceived innocence, long flowing hair, curls of hair, waves of hair, lolita, femme fatale, statuesque, grecian goddess, damsel, nouveau, deco, vintage, antique, coquettish, flowers, siren, perfume, vanity, and my favorite: mermaid.

Rapture: eroticism, nighttime, dancing, disco, holiness, divinity, nirvana, embrace, sun/moon, elation, floating, levitation, glory, magic, enchantment, heaven, sex, sexuality, trance, ecstacy, secrets, seeing stars, BLISS.

What do the words "Maiden Rapture" mean to you?

xoxo
-Desiree

Images from here, here, here, and here.

N E W S I E S !

2009-06-24T19:02:00.000-07:00

Here's some new cuties coming to Maiden Rapture Vintage on Etsy soon!

Any questions, please leave me a comment or just convo me through Maiden Rapture Vintage on Etsy!

OH, ALSO! I gave in and joined Twitter! Today marked my very first Tweet. Click here to follow Maiden Rapture.

xoxo
-Desirée

devotion.

2009-06-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

“70 year-old Buddhist monk Hua Chi has been praying in the same spot at his temple in Tongren, China for over 20 years. His footprints, which are up to 1.2 inches deep in some areas, are the result of performing his prayers up to 3000 times a day. Now that he is 70, he says that he has greatly reduced his quantity of prayers to 1,000 times each day.”

xoxo
-Desiree

via http://www.weirdasianews.com/

Father's Day

2009-06-23T00:46:00.000-07:00

For Father's Day my younger brother, Dustin, and I rode our bikes and took the train out to Hillsboro, where we grew up, to see our Dad. I took a few pictures along the way....

This is crossing the Hawthorne Bridge into downtown.

On the Max train.

Strange pink Dr. Suess-esque tree.

Biking alongside the Hillsboro Airport to get to 273rd Ave, the country road where we grew up.

Horses are kind of a theme around the farm....

Hanging out in the barn with Dad, Dustin, and Lita.

That's one confused chicken.

Shepard likes peas, Buddy likes to sleep.

Up until a year ago, this wheat field used to be a thick forest that my brother and I played in as kids. Goodbye deer, coyotes and pond filled with frogs. :( Hello Orowheat.

It was a really nice day......

xoxo
-Desiree

pretty songs.......

2009-06-19T17:17:00.000-07:00

It's raining today in Portland... no big surprise there, except that it's almost the end of June and we haven't seen much sun yet... Anyway. This song by Papercuts feels like Portland today.

Warm. Yet gloomy. That is Portland.

xoxo
-Desiree

Weekend Goodies

2009-06-18T22:23:00.000-07:00

New stuff that will be popping up over the weekend in Maiden Rapture Vintage!

What are you doing this weekend? I've barely left my house in the past two weeks since I've been trying to catch up with work. This weekend I am going thrifting, BBQing and hanging out at the park! Can't wait to stretch and feel some sun on my skin....

As always, feel free to comment with any questions about anything you see!

xoxo
-Desiree

Solids

2009-06-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

Solid crocheted chair, solid silver table, solid hardwood car.

xoxo
-Desiree

Your Daily Kitten

2009-06-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

I came home to find this little mess yesterday. She climbed to the top of my record shelf (a good 6 shelves high) to where I keep my 45's. Deciding that they'd be pretty comfortable to sleep on, she knocked a bunch down until she decided enough of them had made it into her bed. I'd be so mad if it wasn't so damn cute.

Despite being a total delinquent, she clearly has excellent taste in men... see that Bruce Springsteen 45 behind her? :)

Too many kitten posts?

xoxo
-Desiree

Coming Today!

2009-06-17T13:56:00.001-07:00

All these should be up in the shop by the end of the day (if I work my hiney off, which I plan to....). Email me with any questions!!

Click HERE to shop Maiden Rapture Vintage.

more More MORE AND M O R E coming soon!

xoxo
-Desiree

Kitten's Log, Caturday 2009

2009-06-13T18:36:00.000-07:00

Fulfilling a childhood dream, I picked this little kitten out of a box of free kittens sitting in a grocery cart outside of a grocery store. She was crawling with fleas, full of worms, and covered in urine and feces... her energy level was so low, I thought we might lose her after the stress of her flea bath that first night! Now that she's clean and flea and worm free, she's all attitude and sass and she's doubled in size since we brought her home! It's been really nice to have a little teeny baby around to mother and love... For the time being, it has placated my ticking maternal clock, thank GOD! I am so NOT ready for any little monsters yet, no matter what my body is telling me. Kitty to the rescue!

Here's our little Purr-bot today:

Oh, they just grow up so fast, don't they? Next thing you know, we'll be buying a mini-van.

xoxo
-Desiree

Date Night

2009-06-13T13:13:00.000-07:00

At least once a week my boyfriend and I have Date Night. Sometimes we go out, but mostly we just pop a movie in the DVD player, eat ungodly amounts of food, and snuggle up in bed. Last night we ate Ratatouille from the local organic grocery store and watched Badlands....

Badlands enthralled me. It turned me upside down and shook me. It was as beautiful as it was fu**ed up. It was as enchanting as it was chilling. The dance scene to "Love Is Strange," in the woods below their tree house hideout was wonderfully surreal, sickly sweet, and far too short. I could have watched Martin Sheen's slow herky-jerky hip shake for hours. I loved this movie. Everything about it. It held my attention from beginning to end. Rent it!!!!!!!! (It goes well with Ratatouille, btw.)

xoxo
-Desiree

Thierry Mugler

2009-06-12T11:38:00.000-07:00

Having recently found a Thierry Mugler skirt, but admittedly not knowing much about the designer other than his reputation for futuristic Couture (didn't even know how to pronounce his name), I set out to learn a little more. This NY Times Style video is pretty interesting.

Hmm... a bit campy for me, but at the same time, completely fascinating. The man was a genius, a true visionary who definitely knew how to think outside the box, or perhaps he invented the box. I completely respect and admire his innovative spirit (and obviously Balenciaga and all the other huge fashion houses do to)!

xoxo
-Desiree

In the Shop NOW!

2009-06-12T02:16:00.001-07:00

So pleased to finally be back in the swing of working... and so excited to finally be sharing what I've had backstocked for months with the world of Etsy.... here's a taste:

Find plenty more here, and please keep checking back! I'll be uploading new stuff all through next week.

xoxo
-Desiree

PS My amazing model has an amazing blog here.

Dudes In Rapture

2009-06-10T00:51:00.000-07:00

Some dude stuff coming soon to Maiden Rapture Vintage....

Mister Tyler André was so kind to model for me today without one little complaint even when his allergies kicked in. Thanks, Ty.

So much work to do, OMG.......

xoxo
-Desiree

Always Room For New Shoes.

2009-06-09T00:12:00.000-07:00

Some favorites in the shop and some coming soon:

Click here to shop!

xoxo
-Desiree

Coming Soon!

2009-06-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

My boyfriend brought home Dengue Fever from Mexico... no joke! He is finally better, and I am finally back to work. Here's a preview of a few things you can expect in Maiden Rapture Vintage next week!

Thanks for being so patient and have a lovely weekend!! :)

xoxo
-Desiree

Say Hello to Our New Addition!

2009-05-31T18:53:00.000-07:00

The stork brought us a bouncing baby girl a few days ago! Isn't she cute!!??

I think we are going to call her "Winner," but that's not set in stone yet. I'm open to suggestions if you have any!

xoxo
-Desiree

CALLING ALL SIZE 7.5 FEET!

2009-05-31T18:33:00.000-07:00

Ladies with size 7 1/2 feet... you are SO IN LUCK!! I received a hot tip yesterday due to the good fortune of having a roommate almost as obsessed with thrifting as myself.... TONS of vintage size 7.5 shoes... unworn with store tags still attached! All mid-seventies to early eighties. Amazing. I rushed to the secret location immediately and bought everything I could. I guesstimate I brought home around 60 pairs! All will be going up in the shop over the course of the next week. You lucky, lucky size 7.5 girls, you!

Not too shabby, eh????! Now get shopping!!! :)

xoxo
-Desiree

Yacht

2009-05-24T00:32:00.000-07:00

These two videos by Portland's own YACHT are really freakin' cute.

See A Penny (Pick It Up) from Jona Bechtolt on Vimeo.

Directed by Matt McCormick

Directed by Judah Switzer

xoxo
-Desiree

Good Hat Find

2009-05-23T17:59:00.000-07:00

A really lovely 1950's hat I found yesterday.

I kinda can't shake the feeling that it kinda looks like a giant version of one of those cheap plastic shower scrubbies, though.... Eh, whatever. It's still a really nice specimen. :)

xoxo
-Desiree

Favorites

2009-05-23T14:16:00.000-07:00

Some of my favorites in the shop right now.

Shop here!

xoxo
-Desiree

The Storque!

2009-05-23T14:11:00.001-07:00

Yay! This skirt made it into Etsy's blog The Storque today. Front page, baby!

Lots of other pretty summer whites in today's article. Check it out here.

xoxo
-Desiree

Sea, Sex, and Sun

2009-05-22T17:48:00.000-07:00

Here's a sweet little mini-film my boyfriend and I made of our 2 week vacation to Tulum and Isla Mujeres in Mexico. It's always been my dream to be paid to travel... Maybe we will start our own travel channel some day. :)

Enjoy!

Dan & Desiree in the Yucatan from Dan Kim on Vimeo.

New stuff coming to the shop in the next week. I'm so sorry for my absence in the blogosphere lately... but I'm back, inspired, and ready to kick ass!

xoxo
Desiree

Forgive Me, Blog.

2009-04-09T15:12:00.000-07:00

For I have sinned. It has been almost one month since my last blog.

New stuff comin' soon, I promise.

Amen,
Desiree

Sunnies

2009-03-15T04:29:00.000-07:00

I like the Australian word for sunglasses; "sunnies," far better! Here are a few new sunnies coming to Maiden Rapture Vintage next week...

Thanks to my lovely model and roomie, Melody!

Summer is coming, guys... I can almost taste it!!!!!!!

xoxo
-Desiree

Just Because

2009-03-14T00:02:00.000-07:00

I watched Woody Allen's 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona' last night. If there's enough Javier Bardem for ScarJo and Penelope Cruz, then there's enough for all of us, too. Thought I'd share.

You're welcome!!!

xoxo
-Desiree

Chromium Dumb Belle

2009-03-12T02:39:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of photographing a friend of mine tonight; artist Joanne Burke who creates her one-of-a-kind hand embroidered pieces under the moniker Chromium Dumb Belle.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from tonight. These photos were taken in Joanne's home, surrounded by the hand embroidered pieces she has put countless time into. To top it all off, she made her jacket, too. Out of doilies.

One thing I love about her work is how cohesive it is. You could pick up any one piece and know that she made it. She has a very clear style that is all her own. I love listening to her tell me about the inspirations for each piece, as well, ranging anywhere from dusty old Russian fairy tales to funny stories about a brazen girl she once met with a pair of terribly hideous boobies.

If you care to check out the rest of her work, and you should(!), you can find her MySpace page here and her Etsy store here.

Also, here is a link to a really great documentary style short video about her and her work: CHROMIUM DUMB BELLE.

xoxo
-Desiree

My god where comes your genes???

2009-03-07T18:23:00.000-08:00

I stumbled across this video on YouTube today...

A few things I love about this video:
1. That teenage girl is SO adorable and confident!
2. All those boys are WAY shorter than her.
3. None of the boys have any clue how to respond.
4. Everyone is awkward and geeky.

This hilarious comment was under the video:
"Mine would be like this: "Do you know where you're accent come from?? Is beautiful!!"
or "My god where comes your genes??"
or "I would join you to shopping!!!!

You know they like shopping!!!"

Pretty clever, dude!!! I don't even have to sarcastically ask if you thought those ones up yourself!

I was obsessed with pick up lines in high school, too. I used to carry around a huge list of them that I printed out off the internet. It was a good, sneaky way to flirt with boys by showing them that list. Not that they were interested. Hmpf!

xoxo
-Desiree

PS Do you have a quarter? 'Cause I told my mama I'd call her when I fell in love.

Orchids

2009-03-06T01:41:00.001-08:00

OHHHHH, how I worship orchids... the shapes, the color palettes, the aromas.... the mystery and the sex appeal....

That being said.... Be still my beating heart!!! Are these mirrors not the most gorgeous tribute to orchids ever?? The older I get, the more I tend to unconsciously avoid mirrors. However, if I had any one of these mirrors, I'd be admiring myself every chance I got. In fact, I'd slap on some make-up and a pretty dress just to see my fragmented, smokey reflection in one of these beauties.

All from the Lobmeyr Orchid Collection. Handcut black mirrored crystal and steel. All for the low, low price of $11,000 each.

Ha. I'll keep avoiding mirrors for now, I guess.

xoxo
-Desiree

Twitter?

2009-03-06T01:32:00.000-08:00

Does Twitter creep anyone else out? Why not just start a REAL blog? Does anyone really need to know anyone else's play by play moments throughout the day? And I thought Facebook was a little too stalkerish/weird. I dunno.... Jus' sayin'....

xoxo
-Desiree

COLOR

2009-03-03T17:12:00.000-08:00

Sandy Skoglund
Fox Games, 1989
Hangers, 1981
Revenge of the Goldfish, 1979

xoxo
-Desiree

Shock Me Like An Electric Eel

2009-03-02T18:48:00.000-08:00

Electric Feel Music Video - MGMT

I can't even imagine how fun it probably was to be a part of the production of this video!!!

xoxo
-Desiree

Leg Wear, Foot Wear

2009-02-28T00:37:00.001-08:00

I am looking for new socks and tights right now because all of mine are in a sad state. Seriously, I never wear matching socks, and if I do, they belong to Dan who is starting to get a little over protective of his carefully matched and folded socks (though in stark contrast, he doesn't seem to give two sh**s about his holey undies). Also, I don't know what my problem is, but I can't wear tights more than three times without snagging them. Sad. Anyway, I went shopping a few days ago on what might be the only day I've taken off in months and found nothing. NOTHING. Gawd. So, naturally, I plopped my ass down in front of the computer for some virtual retail therapy. Here is what I found. I have yet to purchase.

These 4 lovely pairs are from Sock Dreams. Turns out their shop is in Portland, mere blocks from my house!! Maybe I will stop by this weekend?

Betsey Johnson Peek-A-Boo Shorties and Polonova Floral Lace Trouser Socks.

E.G. Smith's Leg Therapy Solids in "Moss," and Danish MP Cable Stitch Tights.

The next group are all available through My Tights.

Emilio Cavallini Collar and Button Ankle Highs. Methinks I MUST HAVE these for photos for Maiden Rapture Vintage.

All 4 of these are by Bebaroque and make my cry real tears for their gorgeousness as well as for their price tags.

These 4 prints all come from tights available through Joy Of Socks.

And finally, sequinned leggings that will probably not happen to me in my lifetime, but a girl can dream, can't she?

Alexander Mcqueen

Les Chiffonniers

Ok, off to steal more socks from Dan....

xoxo
-Desiree

Boots, Shoes, and Sunglasses, OH MY!

2009-02-27T23:53:00.000-08:00

I've been shopping like mad, ladies and gents, and here are some of the fruits of my labor... I haven't quite gotten to the part where I photograph them ON people, but I wanted to give you a sneak blog peak since I haven't figured out when that will happen quite yet!

These should all be up in Maiden Rapture Vintage by the end of next week (fingers crossed)!

xoxo
-Desiree

Gernreich LOVE

2009-02-26T23:11:00.000-08:00

1960's fashion video starring Peggy Moffitt. All designs by Rudi Gernreich.

xoxo
-Desiree

Yokoo

2009-02-26T10:52:00.001-08:00

I swear, every other time I sign in to Etsy I see Yokoo on the front page treasury! It's no wonder, either, her product is incredible and her pictures are impeccable!

I love her play on volume and her soft, muted color palette. Her pictures are playful, yet demure, and her creations are drool-worthy!! Find the rest here.

xoxo
-Desiree

What About Bob?

2009-02-26T00:03:00.000-08:00

Why the f***ity f*** is it so f***ing hard to find a picture of Bill Murray wearing a jar around his neck containing water and a gold fish? One hour of my life I will never get back. My last blog could have been SO CLEVER. GAWD!

xoxo
-Desiree

PS If you have no idea what I am talking about, please rent "What About Bob" immediately. MKAYthanks.

PPS Consolation Prize:

Living Necklaces

2009-02-25T23:19:00.000-08:00

A little bit ago I blogged about this Living Ring. A couple of days ago I stumbled across another version of living jewelry; the Living Necklace by Paula Hayes.

So pretty and delicate. What I liked about the Living Ring is exactly the opposite of what I like about the Living Necklace. While the Living Ring is a monolith of steel, edgy and raw, the Living Necklace is earthy, organic, and home spun. Two very different things born of very similar ideas, peacefully coexisting on my blog. I like!

xoxo
-Desiree

So Sue Me.

2009-02-24T00:10:00.001-08:00

I like Kanye West, and I like this video.

Kanye West - Heartless official music video

In fact, I'll probably be scrambling to buy tickets the next time he tours because I can't effing believe I missed the Glow in the Dark tour.

So sue me.

xoxo
-Desiree

Sneak Preview Monday

2009-02-23T17:25:00.000-08:00

Coming soon to Maiden Rapture Vintage!

1974 Double Lion Head Doorknocker Belt

1950's Distressed Leather Murse (Man Purse)

1980's Bejeweled Faux Reptile (real leather) Purse

1970's Pounded Brass and Aluminum Belt

1970's Large Black Leather Coach Purse

See anything you can't live without? Post a comment with your Etsy ID to reserve it!

I hope to start doing this kind of post pretty regularly! Here's to hoping....

xoxo
-Desiree

A Coat and a Song...

2009-02-23T00:34:00.000-08:00

To get me through the night....

"Anna K" Coat by Lia Lintern.

Mark Lanegan of the Screaming Trees performing "I'll Take Care of You" live and sounding almost exactly like he does on the album track. Wow. That one always leaves me choked up.

Sweet dreams and g'night!

xoxo
-Desiree

Dudes In Rapture

2009-02-22T23:49:00.000-08:00

I haven't added any dude stuff to the shop for a while, but I was finally able to do a photoshoot with my friend Brian the other day. Lots of new stuff for guys will be popping up in the shop over the next week.... meanwhile, here are some hats that are up in the shop right now!

All priced at $14.

xoxo
-Desiree

"When I Was Your Age...."

2009-02-22T23:23:00.000-08:00

I recently received an email that made me smile. It was from a girl named Laura who purchased a 1950's turquoise sun dress from me through Maiden Rapture Vintage a couple of months ago.

"I was wearing a dress I bought from you the other day when an older woman pulled me aside to tell me how much she loved it. She told me it reminded her of something she wore when she was my age, and it was so nice to see people wearing clothes like that. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy, and I thought I'd share that with you :)

-Laura"

Well, I thought it was such a sweet story that it should be shared with everyone, not just me! I also asked Laura to send me a couple of pictures of her wearing the dress for the blog so we could see just what made that elderly woman so happy.

I love this dress with her dark hair, black tights, and high heeled oxfords! She looks beautiful, demure and perfectly accessorized. Thanks for sharing your story, Laura!

xoxo
-Desiree

New Stuff!

2009-02-22T19:42:00.000-08:00

Here are a few of my favorites that are up in Maiden Rapture Vintage now!

70's Semi-sheer Sexy Secretary Blouse, $14. Click to buy!

80's Sonia Rykiel Military Style Halter Dress, $150. Click to buy!

30's 2 Piece Crochet Skirt and Cardigan Set, $62. Click to buy!

90's Fly Girl Zip Dress, $28. Click to buy!

70's Little Black Sheep Sweater, $20. Click to buy!

70's Teal Disco Blouse, $16. Click to buy!

Many thanks to my beautiful muse models Brittany Strong and Sara Yurman.

Lots of new stuff will be added over the course of the next week, so check back often!

xoxo
-Desiree

The Dark Side of Salt N Peppa

2009-02-20T22:40:00.000-08:00

I love these vintage salt and pepper shakers from Loved To Death!!! I'm so used to seeing cutesy vintage salt and pepper shakers; they really are a dime a dozen, so it's kind of neat to find a pair with a bit of an edge! They totally seem like something my Grandpa, eternally the cheeseball jokester, would have had in his home.

xoxo
-Desiree

HI!

2009-02-19T10:53:00.001-08:00

After a few days hiatus, I am back to share a few Etsy favorites I wish I was wearing for the rapidly approaching weekend....

Beautiful, modern disco-esque, and handcrafted! Chain Maille Earrings from MailleMystique, $42.

WTF? SO CUTE. Metallic Mesh Top from A Secret Shop, $15.

Holy Crap, these are the raddest shoes of ALL TIME!! Size 7, bummer. 70's Woven Leather Platform Oxfords from James Rowland Shop, $45.

Git you some!!!

xoxo
-Desiree

Love Day

2009-02-14T18:19:00.000-08:00

Happy Love Day...

xoxo
-Desiree & Dan

Black and White

2009-02-13T22:41:00.000-08:00

Andrea Galvani

xoxo
-Desiree

Summer Colors

2009-02-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

Summer is a cruel mistress... she finds a way to taunt me somehow, somewhere, every single day. I woke up this morning to find Summer taunting me first thing in the form of boots that are as far from my pocketbook as Summer is from Portland.

Sunshine yellow....

And summer sky blue.....

Both pairs via Etsy via RWinters24.

I am usually drawn to more subdued tones when it comes to clothing, but damn if I don't love me some fancy footwear for a nice splash of color.

The cruelest part of all? These are my size... I never find shoes and boots in my size! Summer, you already left me cold and lonely four months ago... do you really have to twist the knife?

xoxo
-Desiree

MOMMY, WHY DID GOD MAKE ME THIS WAY?????

2009-02-12T23:02:00.001-08:00

I have expensive taste, ok? REAL EXPENSIVE. Not like mansion in LA expensive, but like CASTLE IN FREAKING FRANCE expensive. And it is downright frustrating to be such a poor pauper with such expensive taste. It's like a joke....a really bad, mean joke.

In another life, I would whip out a bag of gold coins and buy these heartbreakingly beautiful chairs. My servants would load them onto the backs of my fleet of royal unicorns, and back to the castle we would go to find King Dan swan diving into a silo full of gold coins, just like Scrooge McDuck on Duck Tails. And we'd all live happily ever freaking after.

Coin Chair by Johnny Swing, $59,000.

Item description: Performance art in a chair: Hand-welded in the curvaceous shape of a butterfly, amassed from 1500 half dollar coins and 7000 welds. Stainless steel and half-dollar pieces. The contoured shape is designed to cradle the body.

This would obviously go in the modern art wing of the castle and, actually, I'll probably need two of these, you know: for feng shui, bringing the total, so far, to $118,000.

Lucite Chair by Suzanne Fellman, $2,500.

This is the most beautiful piece of art I have ever seen in my entire life. I have a major thing for lucite...

Item description: Bloomsbury Group redux: Expand your inner horizons with this elegant, whimsical Rococo-style chair, astonishingly executed in Lucite. Made in France, this special collaboration with Celia Birtwell features the British fashion and textile legend's romantic "Orphee" pattern screened on its back and seat.

Since I'll obviously have one of those incredibly long Last Supper style tables in my castle, I'm going to need at least 20 of these. To start. That's... hmmmm... $50,000.

Grand total: $168,000.

Yeeeesh. I'd better get rich (understatement) soon or I am destined to a lifetime of disappointment and cheap chairs... OH, THE HORROR!!

xoxo
-Desiree

I LOVE Etsy!!!

2009-02-12T17:22:00.000-08:00

I just bought this really unique 70's disco necklace on Etsy for $12 from CarmenAndGinger... TWELVE DOLLARS! I was lucky enough to be one of the first to stumble upon it right after it was listed. I can't wait to wear this with a low cut dress and go out dancing!

I also spotted these adorable 1940's sunglasses in their shop for $18. So inexpensive it couldn't even be called a splurge! Except that I'm broke-ish, so I guess it would be a splurge. If any of you gals want them, be my guest, but don't be surprised if I never speak to you again. Just kidding. I'll speak to you when I ask to borrow them, a-doyeee!

xoxo!
-Desiree

Of Coats and Men

2009-02-11T18:52:00.000-08:00

I love these coats on these men; each coat seems perfectly matched to it's owner.

Florence

Paris

Does the coat make the man? Verdict: Oh, yeah. Photos via The Sartorialist.

xoxo
-Desiree

Life's a Beach

2009-02-11T01:10:00.000-08:00

A little bit ago I blogged about going to spend the weekend at a beach house in Neskowin, Oregon... I finally got my pics uploaded to my Flickr page tonight... here's a few of my favorites...

It was nice.

xoxo
-Desiree

A Little Plaid Goes a Long Way....

2009-02-10T12:52:00.001-08:00

Confession time. I'm always late to the party.... I've accepted the plaid trend. Finally. Kicking and screaming. I think it's weird that something I wore when I was a teenager is hip again. Now I know exactly how my mom felt when I started wearing bellbottoms around the time I was 14... horrified that I am getting older!!! But I've finally accepted that I should not write off poor plaid simply because it was trendy 12 years ago. Plaid has been around forever. It will always been around, even when it is not über trendy, like it is right now. It is a wardrobe staple, a classic.

I'm still not a huge fan of all over plaid, or even flannel shirts... but lately I've been drawn to little touches of plaid. It makes a nice accent, no? Here's a few favorites I've found around the web lately:

Buffalo Plaid Cap from here.

80's Plaid Button Earrings from HeartFeltVintage.

Sterling Silver Plaid Ring by Nathan McPherson.

Nike "Jack Wool" Soaker Hi-Tops found here.

Clockwise from the top:
1. 70's Tartan Tunic Vest from Cloud Nine Vintage.
2. Yellow, blue, grey cashmink scarf found here.
3. 1950's Red Plaid Pumps from Ninth Avenue Vintage.
4. Yellow plaid socks via Chelsea's Girl Blog.
5. 80's Plaid accented bustier dress from VJones1.
6. Tartan Flats from RareTreasure.

And, just to contradict myself when I said I'm not one for all-over plaid, here are some looks from a Ralph Lauren 2008 runway show (borrowed from here) that I kind of love....

Well, it took me so long to make this blog post that plaid's probably not trendy anymore. Not that I would know because I am a curmudgeon. Moral of the blog: don't listen to me. Ever.

Rant: I think my original beef with the plaid trend was watching girls clamoring to bid against eachother on a styled up flannel shirt on Ebay that someone found at a thrift store for $1. The auctions would very often end at upwards of $100. Flannel shirts are in every thirft store across the country. They are not rare. They are not worth $100. I could go out and buy up a million plaid shirts and become an overnight billionaire if I wanted to (exaggeration), but I like to think I'm more discerning than that... I want the vintage I sell to be unique and interesting. Flannel shirts are not even that cute, not even with a belt! However, over time I have accepted that there is more to plaid than flannel shirts, it's just that that's what I was seeing everywhere on every hipster girl in town. To find the good kinds of plaid, you have to really dig for it. Or be very, very rich.

xoxo
-Desiree

Who Did It Better?

2009-02-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

A highly important survey put together in 10 very important minutes by one very serious blogger: Who did it better: Antony or Beyoncé?

The original "Crazy In Love" by Beyoncé and hubby Jay-Z:

Or Antony and the Johnsons performing a cover live in Dalhalla, Sweden:

Both versions take me to two completely opposite places emotionally, yet similar in their intensity. I must say, Antony has got Beyoncé WAY beat on live vocals, though. His voice is just so much stronger live. Beyoncé sounds tired... at least she doesn't look it! I wonder if Antony can pop his booty like Beyoncé?

Ok, ok, back to work.

xoxo
-Desirée

Sigh.

2009-02-09T15:52:00.000-08:00

Three things I am dreaming of today:

Burberry Prorsum A-Line Aubergine Trench Coat, $1500.

Burberry Prorsum Knit Wool and Nylon Gloves, $190.

Pour La Victoire "Felicia" Platform Heels, $180.

Total: $1870.

SIGH. Is it so wrong for a girl to dream?

xoxo
-Desiree

Do You Like Dresses ( 'n things)?

2009-02-09T10:39:00.000-08:00

Me too!

Some of these are up in the shop right now, some will be up by the end of the week!

Sorry if my blog has been a bit boring lately, I've been doing nothing but shopping for stuff for Maiden Rapture Vintage. Obviously!! :)

xoxo
-Desiree

Do You Like Shoes?

2009-02-09T10:20:00.000-08:00

I do.

Some of these are up right now in my Etsy shop, Maiden Rapture Vintage, and some will be up by the end of the week!

xoxo
-Desiree

I hate Ebay, but....

2009-02-09T09:31:00.000-08:00

I have some pretty Ebay worthy stuff up for sale right now and I got into trouble with at least one friend the last time I posted an Ebay item that was ending in only 2 hours.... So here are my current auctions, just listed yesterday!

1940's auburn mink coat here.

Neiman Marcus cashmere sweater here.

Totally insane jacket by Burray Olsen here.

A few more items will probably pop up later today, too.

xoxo
-Desiree

Friday's Inspiration: Done Away

2009-02-06T19:22:00.000-08:00

The fabulous Faye Dunaway....

Neutral earthy tones, minimal makeup, simple accessories, intense enigmatic stares.... Duly noted.

xoxo
-Desiree

1975, 1985.

2009-02-03T12:32:00.000-08:00

1975

1985

Bryan Ferry, you make me a happy lady.

xoxo
-Desiree

Hedi

2009-02-02T16:00:00.000-08:00

Browsing through the thousands of photos that make up Hedi Slimane's photo diary is like lucid dreaming... you know it's not real, you're not actually part of this world, but you keep forging ahead because you don't want it to stop; you don't want to wake up.

And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep...

xoxo
-Desiree

TAGGED

2009-02-01T18:58:00.000-08:00

Photo meme, tag, I'm it! Tagged by my bestie at Tell You (Today). Rules: Grab the fourth photo from the fourth folder in your IPhotos folder. Blog it.

This is Brian. He is one of my best friends because of where he is standing in this photo. Those mountains he is flipping off are the Grand Tetons in Grand Teton National Park. In the summer of 2004 we both decided to leave Portland life behind for an entire summer. We got jobs working as waiters for Grand Teton Lodge Company. Our restaurant and dorms were about an hour and a half outside of Jackson, WY. The next closest stop was Yellowstone. We spent the summer drinking every single night with our fellow employees and climbing into the mountains as much as possible. Brian and I became really close that summer. I hope he'll be one of my best friends forever. This is the shortest version possible of the craziest summer of my life.

A red ant bit my toe at a hotspring near Yellowstone about a week before this photo was taken causing me to drop my camera. For the rest of the summer all the photos I took came out all hazy. I was pissed about it at the time, but now I kind of like the haze... it matches my memories.

I tag LittleGrayPixel, my new bloggy friend! :)

xoxo
-Desiree

Bigfoot

2009-02-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

Bigfoot is alive and well and resides here in Portland, Oregon. She goes by the name of Desiree and she love thrift shopping. Usually Desiree's feet are too, well, BIG for the lovely vintage shoes she finds. Normally that's okay, because for being a Bigfoot, she does have an unnaturally large shoe collection anyway. But the boots Bigfoot found recently are anything from normal.... behold:

They are a size 7 1/2. Bigfoot is a size 9 1/2. Poor Bigfoot will never be able to embrace her inner disco stripper.

Okay, enough of the talking in third person, I'm annoying myself. I listed them on Ebay and they end in a couple hours. If any of you petite feet havin' girls out there need them you can find them here.

Well, boots, I guess this is goodbye.

xoxo
-Bigfoot

Pleasing Pairs; My Top Etsy Favorites of the Moment

2009-01-30T19:53:00.000-08:00

Seeing as how it's practically impossible to get your treasury posted to the front page of Etsy, I decided to take matters into my own hands and post my so-obviously-would-be-front-page-etsy-treasury on the front page of my blog instead! Yes, for all four of my readers to enjoy. Instead of making a treasury proper, I took my favorites from Etsy and put them into aesthetically pleasing pairs.

1. Hand carved fossil Mammoth Ivory Feathers from LightYearsVintage
2. Crocheted and knitted Tree Ghosts from Knitalatte

1. Mushrooms Mini Print set by JessicaDoyle
2. 70's Dansk Pitcher from Vindeelyndee

1. 14K gold Quail foot ring from Aubergine228
2. "People I Used to Know" Layered Papercut from Crafterall

1. 50's Hermes 2-tone suede gloves
2. 70's Mink and suede gloves, both from BackThennishVintage

1. 70's Round woven leather purse from VintageShouting
2. Handmade round woven purse from BiChen

1. "The Keeper" Print of a Papercut from FablesandFoxes
2. 80's buffalo check pants from Paddywaak

1. Finnish Birch Circles Table from MichaelArras
2. 30's Citrine Glass and Gilt Necklace from WYWSupplies

1. "Foks" fox shaped scarf from Celapiu
2. "Nothing Important" Fine Art Photo from LittleGrayPixel

God god, that took forever. Time to eat and be *merry.

xoxo
-Desiree

*get drunk and watch LOST.

Got My Lanvins On, But They Look Like Sneakers

2009-01-29T19:33:00.000-08:00

Bad ass men's sneakers by Lanvin.

Lovin' that side zip and the thick ribbed cuff. Sexy sneaks, indeed! Sneaks snuck from here.

xoxo
-Desiree