Ask Vintage Shaun: The Chanel Debate

This came into my inbox a few weeks ago and I got swamped so I apologize Mina!

Hey! So I have this vintage quilted chain necklace. I've had it authenticated but they offered very little for it. Is it worth keeping or should I sell?

Chanel anything makes ears perk, especially when it comes to vintage. However, when it comes to vintage Chanel jewelry the pieces that move the most are usually logo based. Logos are not just a hood fab necessity, logos are cultural reference points and status symbols across both  generations and cultures.  With saying, your piece has Chanel insignia  on top part of the charm combined with classic vintage  elements of a thick chain but the current market isn't offering huge amounts for Chanel jewelry. In the age of eBay, the market gets flooded with high end goods and looses it's cache. Add that to the fact the piece isn't a large logo piece the size of Ghostface Killa's chain and the market may not be in your favor right now. Here's some style advice, don't sell it keep it as a true heirloom, appreciate the fact you have a pretty classic piece. Keep treasures close to you. How many people do you know with vintage Chanel?



If  you or someone you know has a family heirloom or have a question about vintage clothing, send pictures and questions to vintageshaun@gmail.com

Ask Vintage Shaun

Want to know how to buy vintage?

Have a piece but not sure what it's worth?

Not sure how to style your favorite vintage piece?

Ask Vintage Shaun will be a weekly feature. Ask me all your questions regarding Vintage Shaun as well as all things vintage and I am here to kindly educate you all. Just shoot an email over to Vintageshaun@gmail.com and stay tuned for a reply.

Remember vintage is the new black.

Cut It Out

If anyone ever tells you vintage clothing can't be sexy, this dress will make them eat their words. As a matter of fact, if anyone tells you vintage makes you look old and dowdy, this dress will make them eat a buffet of their verbal opinion. you eat your words. A mid 1980s cocktail dress with amazing back cutouts, this dress is a sexy showstopper. I picked this up in July, wandering  in one of my favorite thrift shops, I saw it  from about fifty feet away- no lie, and I hauled some serious ass to get to it before anyone could even get interested in it. When I say I hauled ass, I actually had a raised heart beat as I put some serious cardio into retrieving this off the rack. In a matter of less than ten seconds, I jumped over a screaming toddler, politely nudged two older women and blocked a rather stylish looking thrifter from getting around me all to avoid missing out on this stunning number. Look, no one can ever tell me I lack passion. It's a size medium, it's super form flattering and if you want it,  stay tuned for this sexy number to appear at the next Sip n Shop  with details to come very soon.

I Know You See Me On The Video

Back in April I worked on a video for the Spring Fling  Contest with Goodwill of Greater New York and Northern New Jersey. The contest encouraged a social responsibilty  such as donating clothes to thrift stores rather than throwing in the garbage, shopping at thrift stores as opposed to mega retailers and also getting rid of excess for a good cause. As a consummate thrifter, purger and shopper I donated my styling expertise to one of the winners, Erin who is a dead ringer for Anne Hathaway. Erin  is stepping into a new phase in her life, and had given away tons of party dresses (gasp!) and was looking for a sleek  more professional look. Erin, has a great eye and knew exactly what worked best for body as well as her wardrobe. We worked the racks at the West 79th Street location and found a fabulous Michael Kors jacket that screamed I AM SHUTTING IT DOWN! The Spring Fling Contest was a fun collaboration between myself, Erin and Goodwill and was one of the most fun projects I've worked on in some time.  Check out the video above and run  with your donation, do not walk to the Goodwill on the Upper West Side and then do a little shopping for yourself,  that location  has some pretty amazing inventory with  high fashion stock at thrift store prices.

Vintage Styling Class at BAV Collective

Vintage Shaun is carried at BAV Collective, a fun store in Montclair, New Jersey run by super woman B.Artiste who is a designer, an author and a college professor.  June is Workshop Month and your's truly will be kicking it off with a Vintage Styling workshop on June 3rd. Vintage Shaun will be in the building speaking about the modern twist on vintage clothes, how to not look like a character out of a period film and what to do with your mom's hand me downs.  It's $25 or you can attend all 4 for $80, reserve your spot  and shoot any questions at bavthcollective@gmail.com, hopefully we'll see you there.

Everyone Needs a Spring Fling

As a seasoned thrifter, Goodwill has a huge stake in my wardrobe. Thrifting and vintage are the truest forms of being  green and ecologically stylish. By shopping or donating to a local thrift store such as Goodwill, you are recycling and reusing therefore avoiding the billions of tons of clothing that ends up in landfills.

In honor of Earth Day as well as that annual task of spring cleaning, I'm working on an amazing   project with the Goodwill NY/NJ called Spring Fling the Excess, where you have a chance on winning a styling session with me. Sounds pretty cool, right? Well, all you have to do is like Goodwill on Facebook and post "I donate to Goodwill because.." with either a photo of yourself or what you plan to donate by 11pm by April 22, 2013 and simple as that, you've entered yourself for a chance to win a  free outfit and styling session at Goodwill.  Check out the video below and start your spring closet cleaning.

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