California Love!

So my last vacation before leaving New York this winter was a trip to Cali-for-ni-a!
Myself and Michelle (my best gal pal in NY) flew into San Francisco and spent a few days before driving out to Reno.
San Francisco pretty much consisted of food and shopping.
I mean that's not a bad trip right?
Michelle is pregnant so our usual party hats where obviously not on. So in stead we spent our time shopping and eating and relaxing, it was a much deserved break after the Christmas chaos of New York
The first nigt I arrived we went for dinner and checked out Dan Sung Sa, a Korean Restaurant in Oakland, apparently know to the locals as Porno Palace, I don't care what its called and why, it had amazing pork and tofu stew!! Cool little spot. Korean bar, looks pretty sketch from outside, corrugated metal and inside has the look of a dive bar, but who doesn't love a dive bar!?? So stomach full we headed home to bed.

We lucked out the following day it was gorgeous warm and sunny, so we grabbed the train from Oakland and took it to San Francisco and headed straight to China town. I'm always happy when there is Asian food! We found a great place, Hon's Wun Tun House, super cheap, ramen, delish! Following food, what's the second best thing in China Town? Yup, Massage! I had a 30 minute back, then 30 minute foot massage. I mean we had to!? When in Rome, or China town!  We had a lot of walking to do that day, so it was a basic necessity!Probably the best foot massage I have had yet, could have stayed longer!!

We decided to take a the Trolley (tram) to the Harbor and walk around and check out Alcatraz island from the pier.

We reached the harbour and took a stroll along the pier, this is where are food intake stepped up a notch! We had to try out the seafood chowder Bowls, I mean HAD to!  $6 gets you a bread bowl chowder and a cold bottle of beer! Not bad!

If we had stayed longer we would have had to try this little island restaurant in the pic to the left , but sadly that's for another visit. The pirate flag drew me in! I mean come on! Who wouldn't want to go there!!

So we headed back, as the next morning was the road trip to Reno and Vintage stops!

So sun setting on our fabulous day, we sat  out side Peir 36  had a few oysters and a little wine (soda for Chellie ). I know, more food, but it was oysters! Ha ha this is a pattern you will notice when I write about food!

Keep reading for my next post 'Reno Baby!' our road trip to Reno, with a a few vintage store stops!

Bear x

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Sucker for a SALE

I am a SUCKER for a sale; anyone I know will tell you that. I will always find a bargain. I am a thrifty shopper. Nothing wrong with that, right? Don't get me wrong I will drop money for an item, but why spend a lot if you don't always have to. I love a good rummage in a second hand store; this is where it all stemmed from. I tend not to shop with people as they get bored. To find a bargain means looking through every single item on every single rail. My sister laughs at me, if I find a bargain in let’s say Topshop or H&M etc but it’s not in my size, I will hunt it down until I find it, and I usually do. In London and New York there are more shops to find the size, colour, shoe that you want. Different cities have different sales, are you aware of this? Most chain stores have their regional buyer who will hand pick for their area. Think about it, we in Edinburgh have a little bit of a different style than say Newcastle so, as well as having the obvious trends, each buyer will buy more or less of certain styles. You can see so many different styles in say London, just going from East to West. Chasing a bargain involves a lot of walking, but I am prepared to put that effort in! Top tips? Always check the floor in a sale section, clothes get crammed and fall off hangers, also check the changing rooms, that massive rail of items to be returned to floor is a great. Check all around the store too. My eyes are like Terminator now I can just scan a long a rail. I can spot an item that's not supposed to be on that particular rack real quick. Jeez as I write this I'm thinking 'what a loser!' Ha ha! Soooo anyway, back to tips. Best times maybe obvious, first thing in the morning is good as everything is back where it should be on the rails clean and tidy, which makes for a quicker shop.

Also good to know that all high street shops that are a chain have different sales on. So it’s without a doubt worth checking all shops out, this is the same with online too. Remember online now there is pretty much a sale section all year round. You can always pick up staple items for winter in summer and winter in summer.

Second hand store are a little different, be prepared to look through EVERYTHING every time. Again people will hide items in different sections, or even just not put back in the correct place. My summer buy in winter works well in vintage store as prices a dropped out of season check my post I wrote about my favourite thrift store in Brooklyn.

Do you have any tips for a bargain shopper ?

Thanks for reading, B x

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Vintage For Sale- How to Ebay

I always get asked for tips on how to sell on eBay as I have been selling vintage and new clothing on eBay for three years now. It started as I had way too many clothes. I used to be a buyer for a clothing store in London, so I got a lot of free clothing, plus I also like to shop a LOT and then I found my love of vintage. Kerblam!!!  Eventually my wardrobe was bursting at the seams; I didn't even know what I had!  Actually when I left my long term flat in London I had around 10+ suitcases of clothes and nearly 40 pairs of shoes! Enough was enough. So I decide to open an eBay account and sell what I didn't want. It was actually therapeutic and also difficult, it took a long time to get rid of it all as I held on to dresses that where far too small for me on the hope that I would eventually  fit into them! Never going to happen! I finally got there! Now I make sure with every purchase I put into my wardrobe an old item comes out and gets sold. It can be hard, and sometimes I conveniently forget to take an old item out!
So it was a rather laborious journey of ‘how to’ with eBay, it was a long learning process that I'm still constantly learning from.
Here is what I learnt; I hope it helps any other new eBay sellers out there.
Are you an eBay seller? Do you have any tips on how to sell on eBay Vintage and new?

Photos- So to sell your item its good to have a decent camera, I use my phone so there is no need to go out and by a camera, just make sure it’s good enough to take a decent pic. The picture is what will lure your customer in first and foremost, so it has to be good!
Now I have a mannequin which you can buy for £27.95 plus free shipping on eBay.
I alternate between that and just laying the clothes flat and picturing.
Make sure you have ironed the clothes and when photographing take pictures of any fault there are with the garment. People understand vintage will sometimes be a little worn, but if you are honest and upfront straight away then there is going to be no fall back once the item is shipped to your customer.

Measurements- So with vintage sizes can change the perfect body has changed throughout the years! So measure everything, because you will only get questions about it if not. Chest, Hips, Waist, Shoulder to shoulder, Shoulder to waist, Shoulder to hem, hem, arm, cuff etc.

Title for listing- Now this is where people go wrong, OK let’s just say you want to sell a 70's Maxi dress. Writing 'amazing gorgeous 70's dress great for festivals can be worn for day or night' is not going to sell your dress, you have just wasted too many dead words. You have 80 characters to use (spaces included) so you need to make the most of this. Tag words are needed. Your title doesn't need to make sense as sentence, just get as many searchable words in there. So using our 70's Maxi dress as an example I would maybe write70's Maxi dress Vintage retro boho peasant festival hippie prairie UK(SIZE) - these are tag words that people will search and hopefully one will bring them to your item.

Postage- Make sure you are not charging the earth for postage, but also if its taking time out of your day, I used to have to post on my lunch break and this some time would take my whole break- then I would charge a little more. You can get a break down from the Post office of weights and prices. You can also print postage from home that attaches to you pay pal.

Payment- I take payment from Pay Pal and also credit card transfer anything else is a hassle.

Starting price and duration of listing - I always start my listing at 99p and list for 10 days. I also buy a lot on eBay and I'm always put off when a listing starts over £10, as you can see how many people are watching that item and if its a lot them I basically just don't bother to watch as I think I won’t get a bargain. Now if it starts 99p and I get into bidding then I don't mind when the bid gets high as I guess that's part of the rush with bidding. So I like to apply the same to my items for sale.

Posting- Make sure if you say 3 working days you keep with that time frame, if you are busy set a longer post date. This is the main thing that will give you bad feedback. Post when you are supposed to post.

Well that is my advice, if you have any questions feel free to ask away. I may have missed out a lot.

Tip- search the item you are selling and check the best match and highest bid item and try and replicate what this seller ha done, research is key!

If you set up an eBay account the best way to get your feedback and profile in the high score is to buy also and make payment quick.

Also search

Have fun with it.... Bear!

Oh and p.s here is a few things I have for sale on my eBay Bear and the Bunny all bidding starts at 99p

Dr Marten - UK8 
Mohair Vintage Cape - free size
Comme de Garcon Polka shirt - UK 12

Vinatge Check  Wool Swing Coat - UK14-16

Ralph Lauren Brogues - UK 8

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