Ask The Rockabilly Socialite

Dear Miss Dollie DeVille,
 
 Hi, 


I'm not sure if you seen my blog my name is Josie I run For The Vintage Fashionista . I was wondering if you knew any good vintage stores here in California. I usually shop in Pomona because it's close and Redlands , the rest of my clothes I get from what I find when I go with my mom to estate sales. But now I'm looking for more place to shop because I need new clothes for school and I only live near a few vintage stores. I admire the vintage clothes you wear very much so I was hoping you knew some good places to shop.


Thanks for taking the time to read this message,
                                                                                                                                                              
 - Josie


Hi Josie!


I do follow your blog, and I love it! I wish I was as put together at your age as you are! Just as a reference, here is a picture of me when I was about your age:

My Sisters Liz and Nanci, and I. 

What is up with that curl? I thought I was tough like crybaby or something!

Anyway, back to the topic. Where I shop locally. I have featured a few of my favorite haunts, including:


RETRO ROW!!!


"Retro Row" is a section of 4th street in Long Beach that has some fantastic vintage clothing shops and midcentury modern furniture shops. Its a small section of stores but it packs a lot of punch for a small area. These stores are jam packed with "the goods" as I like to call them, but you will have to pay for it. People here know what this stuff is worth, and sometimes think it is worth more than it is. But, I know you are a high schooler on a tight budget, and I have you covered! While you may not be able to afford much from these vintage shops I mention, there are also a ton of "charity shops". These will take you a little longer to look through to find what you want, but I imagine you are up for the challenge! The hunt is half the fun, right? 

Sneaky Tiki, my fav store EVER!!!!

See that yellow and red atomic print shirt in the window?

Zack bought that on another shopping trip. Remember: if it is in the window it is $$$!!!!

Plan to spend all of your "f-oldin' money" when you come here. 

Meow! Some steals to be had if you take the time to look. 

Also, some hard to find pieces! This is where I got my gold lame pants.

I am sure you can find something good in that pile!

AIDS Assistance Thrift Store

This is my favorite of all of the charity shops. Within 5 mins I found 2 pairs of vintage shorts, one deadstock, for about $8! Can't beat that! My friend also found a beautiful 30s/40s silk floral print dress. 

Here are some more posts about 4th street: 

http://missdolliedeville.blogspot.com/2011/02/this-weekends-vintage-finds.html

http://missdolliedeville.blogspot.com/2010/10/rhythm-rocker-weekender-review.html

and their website:

http://4thstreetlongbeach.com/shop/

Melrose, Hollywood Blvd, LA BABY!


It may sound too posh to say you are shopping on Melrose, but there are some great vintage stores there! It would make a fun outing for you and your mom, even if you don't find exactly what you are looking for. These LA shops seem to cater to more of a hip 70s and 80s vintage crowd then the shops on 4th Street in Long Beach. But if you wear a big floppy hat, big sun glasses, and enjoy lunch on a nice patio somewhere it is worth the trip just for the "celebrity experience"!

American Vintage on Melrose.

They have tons of Mexican circle skirts!

http://www.american-vintageclothing.com/

Iguana Vintage Clothing on Hollywood Blvd is a must see!

There are 3 floors, thats right, 3 floors of vintage here! Everything from 20s-80s. 

There are shoes, wigs, and accessories too! The prices are fair, and depend on condition, but they won't haggle if you think the price is too high.

Jet Rag on La Brea

Now, at first glance the stuff here is kinda...well.....80s. But I smart fashionable girl like you could make it work. You just have to spend more time looking. This place really shines in the jeans dept. 

Buffalo Exchange on La Brea

Sometimes I will find a gem at a store like this, but sometimes I walk out empty handed. 

Its always worth checking out though!

So, this is the very, very, very short list. I actually only featured a few shops in two different locations. If you want to do some major shopping, pick a place that has a lot of shops within walking distance and just make a day out of it. There are some great shops in other areas, but if you tried to hit them all in one day you would spend most of your day in the car and most of your money on gas. So, pick a place like 4th street in Long Beach, or Melrose in LA and search Yelp for some cool looking shops, print out the addresses and details before you go.....and your ready to shop 'til you drop!

Good luck and let me know how it goes!

XOXO

Dollie

More Recent Purchases

I thought I would share a collection of photos of things I have recently purchased. 

But first, I project I finished:

I took some leftover paint from the kitchen cabinets and pained this teal ameoba shape behind the shadow box above the couch. I love it! It it a big statement that was free and only took and hour or so! Thanks again to Ellen for the lovely shadow box!

This blonde magazine holder was a gift from Ms. Sandra Sprague. I really like it! 

I also bought a few things off of Sandra:

A new gold bench for my dressing room!

 

This picnic basket and dish set!

I have been trying not to buy stuff, but I couldn't resist buying these things at at 75% off booth sale at the antique mall:

little fish salt and pepper shakers

Right now they are just sitting on a shelf in the kitchen next to a lady head vase and creamer. 

I got this Costco stepping stool which I really needed. It is white cracked ice vinyl and copper. 

Now I can reach the top shelf! 

I got these little vintage linens for .25 each! 

I also got a steal on this atomic gold confetti glitter fiberglass chip and dip bowl-$4! Can you believe that I passed it up because I really hated the butterflies? Then I realized my error and went back for it. You can't see the butterflies (they are real by the way) when the dish is full. I mean, it was only $4!!!

I also got this little crush-o-matic ice crusher for $4. 

Now, I know that you are thinking. No, I am not pregnant (thank goodness). But this deadstock vintage bottle warmer was a steal so I couldn't pass it up! I am just going to store it until the time comes. I got some vintage glass bottles to go with it at only $1.50 each! 

Next is the stuff that I got at the Johnny Cash Music Festival:

These tops were gifted to me by the Blasters. Thanks guys! 

In retrospect, I shouldn't have bought this sweater. I am supposed to be saving for a wedding remember? I tried to talk them down from $34.99 with no luck. Can you believe this was even the cheapest sweater they had? But I don't have any floral print sweaters, and nothing in purple besides a pair of vintage heels that will match this perfectly...... See, I had to buy it! 

Maybe I paid too much for that sweater, but I made it up with this playsuit purchase! It is in perfect condition, and super flattering on, and I got it for only $5!!! Yup! Possibly one of my best purchases ever!

Now, this next dress is a heart breaker. I tried really hard not to buy it, but it kept calling my name! So, I decided to buy it, but plan to save it for next Viva. 

Isn't it amazing? It is a mustard yellow dress with novelty atomic print.

Those are ships in a bottles and NSEW markers!  

It also has the original belt with all of its rhinestones!

This is possibly my favorite part- the ties at the shoulder match the belt!

Now you can see why I couldn't turn down this dress! It looks fan-freakin'-tastic on too! I think it was a good buy at only $75. 

XOXO

Dollie

The Johnny Cash Music Festival

Last Saturday we headed to the Ventura County Fairgrounds where the Johnny Cash Music Festival was taking place. There was a great lineup for this event: X, The Blasters, Lee Rocker, Levi Dexter, Hayden Thompson and Deke Dickerson and The Eccophonics. Each band played a little Johnny Cash and a little of their own music. The tickets were a little pricey at $25 but worth it for a lineup like that. Luckily, we were there to see our good friends Deke Dickerson, Chris "Sugarballs" Sprague, and Crazy Joe Tritshler, and our good friend Karen Mamont, so we got the VIP hookup. 

Deke, Crazy Joe, Me, and Sugarballs. 

The boys congratulating Zack on our recent engagement.

To show my appreciation to our friends that got us on the guest list for the event, I made some delicious multi-grain blueberry coffee cake. It was early for us after all, so breakfast and coffee were in order. 

This is DJ Rockin' Vic modeling my coffee cake at the DJ booth. 

We missed the first two bands of the afternoon because we were vegging out backstage drinking coffee and bullshitting. But, Deke Dickerson and the Eccophonics were on next and we wanted to get a front row "seat".

Deke Dickerson and The Eccophonics

Karen and I watching the band. 

That's a big camera for such a little guy. This little guy in the sun records tee asked to take my picture, but I wanted his picture! He was soooo adorable. I wanted to steal him and make him my own son!

Crazy Joe and Sugarballs having a moment.

Zack helped lift Sugarballs during the event, and the crowd went wild! 

They all ran up to the stage to take a picture. 

Did I mention they had all you can drink free beer backstage?

That is how I got myself entered into that pinup contest last time we were here for Ventura Nationals!

Cara and Sally Jo got there just in time to see the band play!

Crazy Joe on Deke's shoulders

With the girls!

I didn't know Crazy Joe could play stand up bass! What can't this band do? 

Playin' double neck. 

As you can clearly tell, Deke Dickerson and the Eccophonics kicked ass! But we have come to expect that I suppose. It was great to hear him play some Johnny Cash songs that he doesn't really play, like Blistered, Luther Played The Boogie, and Doin' Time. Kudos to The Johnny Cash Music Festival for booking such a great band! 

Next up was Sun Records legend, Hayden Thompson backed by WILD records artists. 

Hayden Thompson still has it, that's for sure! He put on a great show! He still had a ton of energy, a beautiful voice, and some stage presence.  

Next up was Levi Dexter! He had some great energy and had the little dance floor packed. 

Then they had the pinup contest, judged by Bernie Dexter and MC'd by Deke Dickerson. 

During the contest I was back stage with Crazy Joe. He was teaching me schematics!

Zack, Cara, Sugarballs, Sally Jo, Crazy Joe, and Me!

Next on stage was Lee Rocker! I had a great view from backstage. 

Some pretty girls! 

Bernie Dexter and I. she was such a sweetheart!

The Johnny Cash Music Festival was way better then I was expecting. The free parking, entrance, food and booze didn't hurt either! Also, I did some shopping at the vintage vendors, and got some great new threads which I will share in another post. Thanks to all of the bands, DJ Rockin' Vic, and Karen Mamont for the great time!

XOXO

Dollie