An Estate Sale....
"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles with warm woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with strings, THESE ARE A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS"!!!!!! I felt just like Julie Andrews in the Sound Of Music, as I entered into this beautiful 1960s Atlanta mansion for an estate sale of a lifetime. A friend of mine contacted me Friday afternoon about an estate sale he thought I would be interested in, AND HE WAS RIGHT!!!!! As I turned onto the charming street of Oriole Dr, fascinated by the beautiful strong boned mansions from the 1960s and 1970s, I began to get goosebumps all up and down my arms. When it comes to estate sales and especially thrift stores I always bring a bottle of hand sanitizer and a soft cloth measuring tape; my two trusty sidekicks. Unlike going into a mall or department store where I try to have an idea if what I am looking for, I love to get lost in the world of an ESTATE SALE; especially when I know that I am heading into a world of Vintage clothing, artifacts, jewels, and more. As I walk down the long steep drive way to the front door, I smell "old money" and I began to wish I brought my check book. I walk up the stairs to this huge iron door and it opens, I become as a kid in a candy store. I feel as if I have been transported back into the time of when suits where swagg and fitted skirts to or pass the knee were considered EVERYTHING. The estate sale happened because an elderly wealthy woman passed away and everything in her home was for sale. Linens, furniture, jewelry, pots and pans, expensive china, and yes of course CLOTHES. As I walk in, there is a living room taken straight out of a magazine from the 1960s. I can sense there were many cocktail parties once held in the home; men in their fine tailored suits with a glass of brandy and women in their beautiful cocktail dresses and diamonds to match their bank accounts. As I walk through the living room there is a huge rack of FUR COATS, PERSIAN LAMB COATS, FUR TRIMMED PERSIAN LAMB COATS, MINK STOLES with matching hats, beautiful leather gloves, and of course more FUR COATS. I spot one with my vintage eye; my first thought was to grab it and hide it so another shopper wouldn't grab it but THAT'S NOT NICE (lol). So I kept walking through the living room into the dinning room where there are sets of amazing fine Old Abbey china layed out on an amazing table and in beautiful pre war china cabinets. I proceed to walk into the kitchen which was really outdated but that didn't matter, I was looking for clothes and not looking to buy the house. I walk into one of the 4 bedrooms and GOD FROM GLORY met me in there. Three closest full of gowns, dresses, cocktail attire, suits, and hats ranging from the 1950s through the 1980s all for ME!!!!!! I began to step over boxes full of shoes and undergarments that I had no interest in, almost breaking my neck to get to these closets. I make it through the devils playground and made it to GLORY. I started to pull amazing pieces out, ranging in different sizes and designers. I began to think of fashionable people that I know of who would appreciate these one of a kind items and day dream of them in it. CHIFFON and CHARMEUSE, HERRINGBONE and HOUNDSTOOTH, PADUASOY and PASHMINA, SATIN and SHARKSKIN again "These Are A Few Of My Favorite Things"! I found beautiful in tack Jack McConnell hats, a Chanel pearl necklace, St.John Knits, and absolutely beautiful beautiful (did I say beautiful) vintage clothing. I was truly in heaven but it set in that I came with a certain amount of money, and what I had piled in my arms and sitting on the beautiful embroidered chaise lounge was more than what I had in my Salvatore Ferragamo wallet, ironcially I purchased that at an estate sale in New York. A rule in estate sale shopping or shopping outside of a department store is "THE ART OF NEGOTIATION". I have learned going from estate sale to estate sale it can be pretty hectic and chaotic at times. Clothes every where, some tagged with prices, others just tagged with blank spaces. People every where trying to get the best price on other items in the home, pressing the one of two people who are encharge of the sale. So you should take advantage of that chaotic moment and go for it; the seller was tired and over worked and looked frazzled. I told her I want all of these pieces for this price and I walked out a HAPPY MAN! I hastened to my car put the Vintage items in the trunk and walked back in the house. Now it was time for me to make myself known as a vintage connoisseur and how they could actually "help me, help them, help me, help them". I mentioned I collect vintage clothing for clients of mine who are also admirers of the 50s, 60s, and 70s way of life when it comes to fashion. Let's just say the Estate Sale ends today but I will be allowed to pull from it Monday morning for little to nothing coming out of my pockets!!!!! Just remember a few tools/rules for estate, thrift, and vintage store shopping; hand sanitizer, a soft cloth measuring tape, the art of negotiation, and a great TAILOR who will be your friend until the very end. If you are interested in any of these items and more please contact me via email thevintageguy87@gmail.com.
"Fashion changes but style endures"
Coco Chanel
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