mixer

i like mixers.  both of the cocktail and dance variety.  but what we're talking about today are patterns.  this is a style blog after all.  and nothing beats a good stripe and floral combo.  i got this top at the txsc swap.  i was at first drawn to the pattern, but i truly fell for it's softness, it's color, it's too biggedness.  my skirt is a recent find.  floral and silk with ruffles that flutter in the wind.  put those two together, and you got yourself one fine mixer.
now happy friday :)
details:
shirt-via txsc swap
skirt-banan republic, thrift
shoes-vintage
brooch-vintage
clutch-thrift

shop talk: amandromeda on etsy

a question came in just a bit ago about etsy.  which frankly was a blessing since i didn't really know what i was going to shop talk about today.  

i opened my etsy store a year after starting amandromeda.  i thought it would be a great way to supplement sales in the shop.  which some times it is, but most of the time it's not.  truthfully, i go back and forth about keeping my etsy store.  if i don't make any sales online then it's not worth the effort of measuring, photographing, and listing.  plus, i have to make sure everything in the shop is labeled so i don't make a double sale (yes that has happened.  the buyer was super nice about it :).  i'm not saying that etsy is a poor marketplace for handmade and vintage, because i love it and i buy things all the time.  but it is a lot of work and my focus needs to be on my physical store.  and the recent changes to the search tools has made items harder to find, and the rash of non-vintage sellers is getting out of control.  so what i'm really saying is that i'm probs not gonna keep it for much longer.  

so mel, i hope this doesn't deter you from starting an etsy.  i just don't think it's right for me any longer :)

currently

i'm reading love in the time of cholera.  i'm not very far into the book, but i have high hopes for it.  

i may or may not have an unhealthy obsession with this album.  i play it ALL THE TIME.  listing to it right now, as a matter of fact.  the whole thing is brilliant but the first track, dirty paws, is my absolute favorite.  of monsters and men is an indie band from iceland and they have such an interesting and fun sound.  they will have their US network debut on jimmy fallon may 8th.

matt picked up some original art for the house at a flea market last week.  she's up high so she can keep an eye on things for us.  her name is beatrice and she likes to read charlotte's web in her spare time.

the accessories wall in my closet.  i kinda like it.

this color is called boozy brunch.  pretty sure that speaks for itself.

i am training to run the oklahoma city marathon on the 29th of this month.  this is what my shoes look like right now.  yes, that is blood on the heel.  that happened yesterday.  

um yeah.  my love for the izze is only getting more out of control.  soooo very tasty.

shop update dance video remix

video and music by matt.  the dance moves are all mine.

have some fun

if i had to choose a style icon, it would be natalie joos.  she is a belgian born casting agent currently living in new york and blogs at tales of endearment.  everything she does is fashion magic.  it's rarely mainstream and always whimsical.  and she's brilliant at pairing high fashion with vintage.  sometimes, when i'm standing in my closet trying to put an outfit together, i'll think 'hmm, what would ms. joos wear?'  yep.  it's true.  she's my muse.
and saturday, when i was getting dressed i remembered what natalie wrote in a post not long ago: PLEASE have some fun with fashion.  so i did.
details:
sweater-vintage, thrift
dress-gap kids, thrift
bag-archives vintage
shoes-jcpenney

shop talk: budgets

a lot of you have asked about budgets, whether of time or money.  and seriously, this is the hardest part of owning a business.  for starters, i am HIDEOUS at managing money and, well time too, truth be told.  but i'll try and give you some helpful tips that i've picked up along the way.
as i said earlier, i had enough money set aside to get through my first year of rent plus some extra for my start up costs.  i could tell you how much, but it wouldn't necessarily be relevant to your costs. my rent is VERY reasonable (read CHEAP) because my landlord is insanely generous.  however, before you delve into gathering inventory or even considering starting up a business, you need to figure out what the going rate is in your area.  your rent is the absolute constant of every month, and it will have to be paid if you sell a single item or not.  keep that in mind and make a real effort to find a space with a feasible lease.  you also need to consider the costs of display pieces for the shop, window decals, phone setup, internet (and anything to do with 'business' is grossly overpriced), credit card machines, licenses, whether or not you want to insure your inventory, shopping bags......the list seriously goes on and on.  all the little things that just begin to add up.  make a list of all those things and make sure your budget accommodates them.
we do everything pretty old school around the shop.  i don't have a fancy computer system or software program for my stuff.  i make my own clothing tags, i use a calculator and receipt book for purchases and i've refinished flea market furniture for displays.  i want things to be easy and kind of crazy eclectic.  that's just my thing.  and i could spend a ton of money making sure all my hangers matched and use scan guns and bar codes for entering items into a program or whatever, but i'm never gonna get that money back.  my customers aren't going to pay more for fancy.  they just want cool stuff.
and if you aren't good with budgets and all this kind of stuff, then factor in an accountant.  matt does all that for me.  he likes numbers.  they give me the shakes.  he created a monthly spreadsheet for me and i just enter in my sales and he pays my taxes for me because otherwise the IRS woulda come looking for me looooong ago.
now time.  budgeting time can be tricky.  i know business owners who work ALL THE TIME.  if you're not working you're not making any money.  even if you're not at the shop, you're thinking about it and preparing for the next day or whatever.  hahahaha!  that is so not me.  i am one of the laziest small business owners on the planet.  and i still make money :)  i have a family that i love way more than my store and i want to spend time with them.  sure they come and hang out with me a bit when i work on saturdays and go thrifting with me and that's super fun.  but, you have to carve out time for yourself and your loved ones.  you have to shut it off at the end of the day just like with any job. 
i love that small business commercial about 'dave' and he's everything from the copy guy to the IT guy and everything in between.  that's exactly what owning a store is like: you're it.  i don't have employees.  i have to close the shop and go to the supply store when i run out of something.  i have to rearrange schedules with my friend christina (who owns the gallery next door) if i am out of town or have an appointment.  i have to pay someone to watch the shop if i go on vacation.  i can sit ALL DAY LONG at the shop and no one comes in and buys something and then i don't get paid that day.  i've just donated my time.  be prepared for the days that suck (which can also turn into weeks and months that suck.  that's why you save your first years rent!!!).  and make sure you love what you do.  

stolen

i stole these shorts from matt.  in my defense, he didn't really like them.  so i quietly swooped in and slipped them on.  is it sad that i can wear my husband's pants??  hmmmm.  maybe.  but i'll ignore the implications.





details:
jacket-thrift
blouse-ysl, thrift
shorts-stolen from matt
shoes-thrift
bag-coach, thrift
necklace-clyde's rebirth