Update on PINK HEART shop sales

10% of sales for saving endangered manatees.

My 2016, part II

December 15, 2016

As promised in my last post, this is the better news side of 2016 here at denisebrain.

First, I have never had so many great vintage items to offer. My storage units runneth over! And I have a new friend with a passion for vintage who has helped me with the hanging and organization. (Thank you, Fay!—If you are in Spokane, you should go visit her space at Chosen Vintage.)

Then there is the book, which I had planned to publish in November. You know when you really want to do something and for some reason you aren’t getting it done? Something was up with me, and I figured out what it was: The book is missing a couple of sections to make it a complete beginners' guide to vintage from my perspective. I am now progressing without that weird feeling of being held back. It’s back to being an exciting prospect.

Then there is the new website, which is thiscloseto being ready. [edit 2/1/17: You're looking at it now!] I know Google has it right about people using mobile devices to search, and I know my old website is not terribly mobile-friendly. This old Neanderthal is finally about to stand up straight! Expect lots of pink (duh!).

Next comes the annual end-of-the-year roundup of favorite items sold. Perhaps you will see something that now hangs in your closet—If so, I hope it’s making you happy!

I love, I mean LOVE seeing customers in their purchases! In fact, I’m devoting a section of the new website to customer images. (If you’ve been holding out on me, now’s the time to make right!)

This 1970s Gunne Sax dress went to a great connoisseur of GS dresses, Rie (thewelldressedethicist on IG)

Kymi (kymijojo on IG) staged a prom birthday party, and wore this princess-y 1950s gown like a true princess

For her birthday, the colorful Sophia (sophiamzell on IG) wore this 1960s party dress

This 1940s New York Creations hat went straight to the head of the elegant Eliza (vintagerosegirl on IG):

(As you can probably tell, I’m doing more over on Instagram this year. If you’re there, stop by and say hi to me @denisebrain_vintage)

Some favorites that found new homes this year:

Starting on September 7, 2016, I began setting aside

I’ve been called the Manatee Lady, and I thought I might as well prove it with every sale.

Then, on November 10, I opened a shop-within-a-shop in my Etsy store.

The Pink Heart Shop

has vintage fashion with

100% of sales going to Dress for Success Worldwide.

The contributions I have been able to make to these causes so far make what I do even more worthwhile to me, and the support customers have expressed literally keeps me going some days.

If you read my previous post, you know it hasn’t been the easiest year for me, but I am fortunate in so many ways. For someone with health issues, having a good team is something to cherish. I have a wonderful, supportive partner in my husband John. I have good doctors. I have caring friends and family. That would be plenty, but I also have the distant but real friendship and kindness of customers and colleagues in the vintage world. You all lift me up.

So goodbye to 2016...

...and hello to a new year of hope, health, joy, and love for us all!

My best to you, Maggie of denisebrain

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My 2016, part I

December 11, 2016

What a ride 2016 has been. We all know what happened in the news—but we don’t very often know about each other’s lives.

At the start of the year there was a memorial service at which I said goodbye to a woman that I called “one of my hierarchy of mothers.” She wasn’t my blood relative, but she was definitely a family member to me, and one of my favorite people. She was the last of the adults around whom I grew up.

Jennee in the 1950s

Jennee was intelligent, funny, interesting, beautiful, independent, talented—and most definitely fashionable. I remember leafing through her Harper’s Bazaars and stopping into the most fabulous boutiques with her. She would try on a coat or pair of shoes, parade them around the store like a model and, with the greatest discernment, choose just the most stellar. (She was like that with furniture and art too!) Some years ago, Jennee gave me many of her items of clothing from the 1960s and 70s to sell. I’m so glad I saved out her sailor-style coat for myself.

Two days after Jennee’s memorial, I had surgery on my right hand.

Let me go back a bit. Late in 2014, I was stepping up onto a riser with my French horn, and instead of landing on that riser, I fell backward onto the edge of a lower riser. This was at a concert of the Spokane Symphony with a full house in the art deco theater the orchestra calls home. The good news is that I saved my irreplaceable horn from damage, the bad news was that I went to the E.R. I was pretty badly injured.

In the spring of 2015, I woke up one day barely able to move. My hands felt like they were broken, both painful and tingling. My shoulders and elbows hurt, my hips hurt, my knees hurt. It was supremely challenging to get up out of bed. I went to my doctor, who sent me to an orthopedic surgeon, who sent me to a hand specialist and someone to test the nerves in my hands, along with putting me into a very long queue to see a rheumatologist. My blood pressure had spiked 30 points.

When I saw the rheumatologist a half a year later I had gotten pretty used to aches and pains, resting when I had to, changing my life around to manage energy lulls. The rheumatologist diagnosed psoriatic arthritis along with osteoarthritis in one hip. I’ve had psoriasis for 20 years so this is kind of predictable. An injury or illness can trigger the arthritis side of psoriatic disease, and that fall at the symphony may have been the catalyst. Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that can be treated but not cured. It has five “flavors” (none of which are peppermint!) and I have experienced a spectrum of the possible symptoms. I’ve got spondylitis, dactylitis, tendinitis, bursitis, blah-blah-itis...I can’t even remember all the itises.

Have you ever noticed how many vintage fashion items have back zippers and/or buttons? I have spent a year and a half not easily reaching anything back there—not zippers, not buttons, not my hair—all things I used to take for granted. I usually can’t put my right sock or shoe on without stretching for awhile.

The nerve doctor said I had carpal tunnel syndrome, and the hand specialist said I had trigger finger. After trying a few less drastic things, I scheduled for surgery to alleviate the excruciating pain in my right hand. Although there is still some pain, my finger is much better from that surgery. So chalk up one positive from early 2016.

I’ve seen a naturopath, spoken with an old family doctor, gone to months of physical therapy, joined the YMCA for exercise. I gave up eating certain foods that I am sensitive to. I have taken a medication that weakens the immune system and can severely damage the liver, so I quit drinking alcohol. My weight has gone up even while eating better and exercising more. Eyes can be affected by psoriatic disease and mine have been painful and reddish at times. I sleep sometimes 10 hours a day, and am still tired.

In mid-June, with sudden pain in my side, I wound up having a very infected appendix out. Again, something to chalk up on the positive side. Good riddance—but most of all I felt that having that infection out of my body would help my psoriatic disease. My rheumy agreed I should give it a try, and I spent a few months without the scary medications.

Unfortunately, the psoriatic disease didn’t get better. In the meantime, when the standard EKG was done prior to my appendectomy, it was abnormal. Following up, I found out that I have a partial right bundle branch blockage, a small interruption in the electrical firing of my heart. Psoriatic disease can cause cardiovascular problems too, so this may be part of my heart’s problem, or it may be exacerbating an existing issue.

This week, I started a new class of medication for my psoriatic disease. It may or may not work, has some very serious possible side effects, and has to be self-injected, but I am happily giving it a go. I am so eager to have a bit of my good health back.

Why am I writing this? I don’t believe in making excuses, and I don’t need anyone’s forgiveness for not being fully on.

Life is hard for many people, and some are making it without a wonderful partner like I have in my husband. I have caring friends and family. I have medical insurance and good doctors. I’m not complaining, just explaining. Well, maybe I’m complaining just a little...

So what have I been up to for denisebrain this year? I have found plenty of glorious clothes that I am dying to show you. I have a book mostly ready to be published. I have a bright, shiny new website that is almost done. I have met so many wonderful people. I haven’t been able to do as much work, but I have done some good work.

I will show you some of the happiness of the year in my next post...there has been plenty!

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So thankful to so many

November 25, 2016

I am so very thankful for all my wonderful followers, customers, readers, colleagues, and friends in the world of vintage. On this day after Thanksgiving, my deepest appreciation to each and every one.

This year, my husband and I are celebrating Native American Heritage Day today, in appreciation to the most courageous people in the country right now, the Standing Rock Reservation protestors.

A Young Ute Woman, 1880-1900, unknown photographer

America, I Sing Back

Allison Adelle Hedge Coke, 1958

for Phil Young, my father, Robert Hedge Coke, Whitman, and Hughes

America, I sing back. Sing back what sung you in. 

Sing back the moment you cherished breath. 

Sing you home into yourself and back to reason.

Oh, before America began to sing, I sung her to sleep, 

held her cradleboard, wept her into day. 

My song gave her creation, prepared her delivery, 

held her severed cord beautifully beaded.

My song helped her stand, held her hand for first steps,

nourished her very being, fed her, placed her three sisters strong. 

My song comforted her as she battled my reason

broke my long held footing sure, as any child might do.

Lo, as she pushed herself away, forced me to remove myself, 

as I cried this country, my song grew roses in each tear’s fall.

My blood veined rivers, painted pipestone quarries 

circled canyons, while she made herself maiden fine.

Oh, but here I am, here I am, here, I remain high on each and

every peak, 

carefully rumbling her great underbelly, prepared to pour forth

singing—

and sing again I will, as I have always done.

Never silenced unless in the company of strangers, singing

the stoic face, polite repose, polite, while dancing deep inside,

polite 

Mother of her world. Sister of myself.

When my song sings aloud again. When I call her back to

cradle. 

Call her to peer into waters, to behold herself in dark and light,

day and night, call her to sing along, call her to mature, to

envision—

Then, she will make herself over. My song will make it so

When she grows far past her self-considered purpose, 

I will sing her back, sing her back. I will sing. Oh, I will—I do.

America, I sing back. Sing back what sung you in.

the PINK HEART shop

November 10, 2016

As you probably know by now, 10% of my sales go to Save the Manatee Club, for the protection of this beloved endangered animal. I am thrilled that so many of you are eager to help this great cause!

In addition, starting today, there is a section within my Etsy shop with 25+ vintage fashion items. When you purchase any items from The Pink Heart Shop, 100% of your purchase price goes to Dress for Success Worldwide.

Dress for Success is a top-rated international not-for-profit organization that empowers women to achieve economic independence by providing a network of support, professional attire and the development tools to help women thrive in work and in life. Since starting operations in 1997, Dress for Success has expanded to almost 145 cities in 20 countries. To date, Dress for Success has helped more than 925,000 women work towards self-sufficiency.

Visit the Dress for Success website for more information about this fantastic organization.

Visit The Pink Heart Shop and come back often to see what’s new.

Call it a fight for the metaphorical pantsuit—after the U.S. election, I feel compelled to do something for the empowerment of women.

Free Resources for Manatee Awareness Month

The Manatee Hugger is back to tell you...

November 5, 2016

It is Manatee Awareness Month! Of course you’re aware of manatees all the time, right? But this is the time of year in which manatees move from their warm weather haunts to their winter spots. These natural warm springs and power plant effluents don’t just make manatees more comfortable—as a sub-tropical species, they need water above 68 degrees Fahrenheit to survive. As the animals move closer to the shore, there are inevitably more human-caused deaths and injuries to manatees, so this is the time to go all in for manatee awareness and protection.

See Save the Manatee Club’s

for information and ideas for taking part.

A suggestion from me: Wear vintage fashion.

—Wait, what?

Not only do you contribute to a greener planet by recycling fashion instead of buying it new, but you can specifically help manatees by purchasing vintage fashion from me! I donate 10% of all denisebrain sales (not profit, but sales) to Save the Manatee Club. I began this on September 7, International Manatee Day. Yes, manatees have several appreciation days and months—they deserve it because there is so much to appreciate!

Save the Manatee Club photo by David Schrichte

And, may I suggest that in the gut-wrenching turmoil of these election season days, nothing could be more calming than watching healthy, safe, contented manatees on the Blue Springs State Park Manatee Cam (aka ManaTV)?

Does vintage clothing make you feel like you’re wearing a costume?

October 27, 2016

We’re coming up on Halloween, a time when many vintage clothing shops see an uptick in sales for looks that spell flapper, mod, Downton Abbey, Titanic, hippie, pin-up girl and Mad Men.

If you want to go with a full-blown vintage look walking down the street during the rest of the year, I salute you! Many, though, fear the looks and questions at our workplaces, schools, and even home. But there are ways to make vintage look right at home on any day of the week.

Vintage clothing does not
need to look like a costume—
unless you want it to

The easiest way is to not try to overly coordinate a complete vintage ensemble, at least for starters. Show your love of the 1920s vibe with a gorgeous piece of jewelry or flapper handbag. Believe me, you will get the compliment: That vintage [fill in the blank] is so great!

Wear a beautiful 1950s coat to work. Carry a vintage handbag with your modern dress. Maybe on some occasion, you’ll feel like putting them together. But for now, give one or another a try. 

And speaking of Halloween—

Find this pumpkin image in one of my Etsy shop’s item photos, send me a message (just a simple “found it!” is fine) from the listing page, and I will send you a $10 coupon code to use as a discount on a purchase of $11 or more. The code will be good through the end of November, 2016. [Hint: The pumpkin isn't in the first photo of the item.]

By the way, what will you wear for a Halloween costume? Who knows, I may even be concocting some vintage spells as a mad scientist (bwa-ha-ha!)

The contents of a vintage pocket and the dating of vintage

October 17, 2016

I have a box of interesting items found in vintage pockets and purses. I’ve never found the elusive hundred dollar bill or diamond ring, but there have been lots of tickets, invitations, candies, notes and handkerchiefs...even a citation for prostitution!

Last week, I found these in the pocket of a beautiful 1970s Pendleton coat—

The date on that lower right coupon? 1979. (Just for fun, I tried to use the coupon at my local Fred Meyer yesterday, and raised a minor ruckus!)

Just a few weeks before I came upon this groovy bag—

If you look very carefully, you can see dated signatures on it. I’m picturing the end of a high school year and friends signing each other’s yearbooks—only in this case, it was her bag.

This dress (in my Etsy shop), came with a note attached—

As did this hat—

This linen clutch bag is a veritable time capsule, with its contents dating from 1940 and 41.

I wish all vintage pieces had a date somewhere on or with them!

Two vintage labels I have found to have dates at least during some years of their history are B.H. Wragge—

and Marimekko—

Union labels help with dating. Check out the Vintage Fashion Guild’s ILGWU page for photos of the labels used and their dates. I recently ran across the Cornell University ILR School webpage with even more detail on union labels and dating.

Maybe we should all attach a dated note to our favorite clothing—that, or leave a grocery store coupon in a pocket!

I need a title for my vintage guidebook

September 22, 2016

I am working on a little book about vintage clothing. [Brief pause while I hyperventilate—Don’t mind me!]

To be specific, I’m writing a short guide to choosing and wearing women’s vintage fashion for the newcomer.

My hope is to ease the intimidation some women feel about buying and wearing vintage fashion through simple steps, concrete examples, and encouraging ideas. Purchasing vintage online is the focus. I’m writing about some of the things I am asked the most about, including fit, quality/value, and how and what to wear.

I believe that the ideal reader is a woman new (or newish) to wearing vintage or one who has felt left out by the tribal or hipster wings of the vintage-wearing scene. It’s kind of Vintage for Newbies—and Don’t Worry You Do Not Have to Look Like Anyone Else ...but that is a little long!

I truly could use your help with a title for this book! My original idea and the working title is: Getting Started with Vintage. This is too vague because some people could take that to mean getting started selling, among other possible misinterpretations.

I am contemplating a couple of really thoughtful suggestions from friends, but would love to hear your thoughts. It could be something short and sweet with a more explanatory subtitle.

Please let me know what you think!

Announcing 10% of sales to save endangered manatees

September 7, 2016

Some of you know I often raise money for causes, including the protection of endangered species. In fact, I do enough fundraising for the manatee that some people think of me as “The Manatee Lady”...which is OK by me!

(Check out Manatees are in Fashion, a feature in the Save the Manatee Club newsletter)

Today, on International Manatee Day, I am announcing that from now on 10% of denisebrain sales (not profits, but sales) will go to Save the Manatee Club for the important work they do.

Look for the Union Label

September 5, 2016

Thanks to legions of union garment workers, we once had a thriving clothing industry in the United States, now mostly off-shored. In the 1950s for instance, most of what was available to wear in the U.S. was made in the U.S., from the raw materials to the textiles, designs and finally to the finished products. Union tags will let you know that fairly-paid garment workers (primarily women) made the items.

By comparison: Green America’s Retailer Scorecard gives Wal-Mart an F, J.C. Penney a D-, and Target a D+ for their use of sweatshops and forced child labor. In choosing a vintage article you not only recycle it for current use, but you can be fairly confident that it was made with better values in its day.

The delivery may be outdated in this 1978 ad, but the message sounds right on now:  

Look for the union label 
When you are buying a coat, dress or blouse. 
Remember somewhere our union’s sewing 
our wages going to feed the kids and run the house, 
We work hard but who’s complaining. 
Thanks to the I.L.G. we’re paying our way. 
So, always look for the union label, 
it says we’re able
to make it in the U.S.A.

You can still look for those union labels in vintage clothing.

Just a few of the choices at denisebrain this week (click any photo for more on the item):

Don’t forget the benefit of a union label in narrowing down the date of your vintage item. Visit the Vintage Fashion Guild’s ILGWU page for the scoop on a number of union labels and their dates.

It is my 10th blogiversary!

August 30, 2016

I just realized that this year marks the 10th anniversary of my blog. In fact, today it has been 10 years, 5 months and 5 days since the first post.

Thank you so much to all who have given me a read! 💝

Photo booth shots of vintage hats for fall

August 23, 2016

Vintage photo booth shots were my inspiration for taking pictures of vintage hats for Fall 2016. So often in the past, women had these photos taken in hats, and I just love the images of proud ladies in their best.

Of course, then there are the silly images—Hat or no hat, this sartorially-splendid woman looks like she’d be fun to know!

Here are some of my hat shots for fall, with one foot firmly in the vintage photo booth:

Please stop by and see all my vintage hats!

P.S. I am forever grateful to BeFunky for the photo filters that help me do creative things with my shots!

Survey: Advice for a beginning vintage buyer

August 19, 2016

“If you were to give one piece of advice to a beginning vintage buyer, what would it be?”

I asked this question recently in a survey of people who wear vintage, and the responses were really thoughtful. Also, even though it required a written answer, 110 out of 112 survey takers responded, which is a pretty overwhelming rate.

First, because I love a good word cloud:

See that big measurements? This is a very important issue for vintage wearers, with 21% of those surveyed urging a beginner to get accurate measurements both of herself and the clothing she is interested in.

Measure yourself and measure the item! Know how those two sets of measurements relate to each other.

Measure twice, buy once. Know your own measurements and what that entails in a piece of vintage so you can better locate what you’re after.

Condition and care were mentioned by 14% of the respondents. They wrote that purchasing something in excellent condition is important and that knowing how to repair and clean is critical. Some don’t consider buying anything with noticeable flaws, suggesting—

Never buy planning to fix.

while some, perhaps because of their own abilities, just suggested—

Make sure you check items over and if they need repairs make sure you can do them and plan a time to do them.

Gaining knowledge about vintage was the top priority of 8%. What sort of knowledge? Mentioned was learning to tell if an item is truly vintage, learning the best ways to care for items, and learning how vintage is priced. And why should you gain knowledge of vintage?

There are so many resources to help you date clothing, make sure you know what you are buying and what it’s worth to you. Spending more than that on something will rarely make you happy.

Study the era(s) that you feel drawn towards and really get to know the cultural history, as well as the fashion themselves, from those years. The greater you appreciate and understand the decades that you’re emulating or drawing inspiration from, the more cohesive and inspired your outfits stand to be.

Slightly more people (11%) gave answers suggesting what and how to choose vintage for the beginner.

Start small, find that one piece that can work with things you already own and build from there with what feels right.

Try out different eras. Don’t be intimidated. You totally do not have to look like Viva Las Vegas.

Figure out which silhouettes look best on you, and buy what you like. Ignore labels. Ignore what’s “hot” or “trendy” (yes, there IS trendy in vintage), and go with your gut. Personal style is never based on popular consensus or trends.

Pay attention to your lifestyle. If you hate to dry clean, go to a lot of black tie gatherings, never dress up, etc., let that be your guide. I have a closet of fancy dresses I have never worn—all purchased for a specific event, and then I didn’t. I do reach for my vintage cashmere coat, vintage blazers, etc. again and again. I am comfortable spending more on those items because they won’t just sit. Also, be mindful on how to care for your items in a way that makes them last and choose fabrics and items based on how much maintenance you are willing to do.

5% mentioned the quality of an item, paying attention to what the price ought to be for a vintage piece of a certain type, era, and condition; investing in fewer but better things; and spending money wisely.

A few mentioned where to buy. Several stated that patronizing a good, reputable seller is mutually beneficial. Others suggested looking everywhere until you find your favorite haunts, both online and in person.

The largest percentage of respondents (37%) wrote a variation on a couple of intertwined themes.

Essentially, buy what you like, and don’t wait if you like something. Once you have it, wear it. Something like Nike’s Just Do It.

If you love it, buy it then and there.

Use the items, otherwise you are just a warehouse.

Buy what you love so you will wear it!

If you love it, buy it! Chances are you will never see one again. Buy what makes you feel happy/fun/beautiful etc. If you have to talk yourself into it, leave it.

I love the enthusiasm that glowed from many of the answers I got to my survey questions. These were not the answers of fence sitters, but of vintage devotees!

Be confident in what you wear! Vintage clothes will make you stand out anywhere (office, party, walking about, etc.), so make sure you are happy in the skin you are in and the clothes you are wearing. Your clothes are just an extension of your persona, so have fun with how you dress!

Amen!

Survey: How you wear vintage, your favorite eras and items

August 17, 2016

Recently I asked denisebrain Facebook, newsletter and blog followers who wear vintage to take a short survey.

The responses have been so thoughtful and interesting that I thought you might enjoy giving them a read.

A favorite photo via The Sartorialist

Apparently, you mainly like to wear a piece or two of vintage in a mix with other clothing, although solid percentages of you wear head-to-toe vintage.

How do you wear vintage?

What decades are your favorites for vintage fashion to wear? (answer all that apply)

The women who took this survey have chosen to interact with me and my business, so I’m not surprised by the decade preferences!

The answers to the next question ranged quite a lot, but there were clear winners, judging from this word cloud.

What is your favorite type of vintage item to wear?

The most interesting answers were to the question—

If you were to give one piece of advice to a beginning vintage buyer, what would it be?

...in fact, the answers to this question were so good that I need to create a separate post showcasing lots of them!

(coming soon!)

To all the Enids (and Faux Enids) I've loved before

August 5, 2016

The 18 bags on top below are all faux Enid Collins, some of which I’ve had in multiples. The 12 below are genuine Enids...and two were impossible for me to let go of, Horn of Plenty and Pax.

I hope the vintage bag fairies keep me supplied—so I can keep you supplied—forever!

📧 Keep track of my vintage fashion ideas and deals by subscribing to the denisebrain newsletter!

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Why am I called "denisebrain"?

July 19, 2016

My name is Maggie, so why is my business called denisebrain? I get this question regularly...today as a matter of fact.

My name isn’t Denise Brain, but it has been a bit of a nickname for me. I am a professional French horn player and teacher, and Dennis Brain is one of the greatest horn heroes any horn player could ever have. Tragically, the Englishman was only 36 when he suffered a fatal crash in his sports car in 1957. He had already become arguably the greatest hornist of modern times.

In 1999, when I was first prompted to provide a user name on eBay, I was helping a student bid on horns and my first thought was the nickname denisebrain. Not long after that, I sold one vintage dress using the same user ID. Then another vintage dress, and another. Pretty soon, denisebrain had stuck to my vintage clothing business.

I don’t use the name denisebrain flippantly—I feel the utmost respect and awe for the inimitable musician who inspired it. Still, it isn’t the sort of business name I would come up with today. Today I would probably search deep and wide for a name that is easy to spell, memorable, interesting and tells what my brand is about. It would be nice to have people say, great name instead of who?

On the good side, I have had no competition for the use of this name, and at this point, I love it...it is my business. It’s also a sly and loving nod to my other job in music.

And wouldn’t you know it, I am gradually growing a collection of vintage clothing and accessories featuring horns of all types and eras (other than the all-too-numerous Ugly Christmas Sweaters with horns that is—not my thing) and here are some:

I’ve worn these earrings (which I made from Christmas ornaments) forever. Jim Hendrickson photo, 1991

My husband gave me this 1960s vintage shirt for my birthday. It was from Vintage Vixen.

1950s modern horn print skirt

1970s horn photo print dress

Some—not all!—of my vintage horn pins

1950s Vera scarf

60s instrument-print shirtwaist dress, and my most beautiful accessory

The same print in different colors has recently joined my collection—it came from Small Earth Vintage

Another recent addition to my collection is this 1960s dress from CustardHeartVintage

This 1950s skirt came from Dorothea's Closet Vintage

A pewter horn pin, gift from my friend Amanda

This sash belonged to my Aunt Marie, a music teacher

My friend Anna (BootyVintage) gave me this 1980s dress

This copper jewelry set was given to me by my friend Susan

One last shot, because I love it so: The Quintessential Brass at Indiana University in about 1981. I think we called it the Maggie and the Spit Valves shot. That is about when I started signing into a practice building as Denise Brain, so I guess this is origin story material!

David Coleman, John Wilds (my brother), David Ford, Norlan Bewley and {ahem} Denise Brain.

📧 Keep track of my vintage fashion ideas and deals by subscribing to the denisebrain newsletter

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Vintage clothing wearers survey by denisebrain on Survey Monkey

Quick vintage fashion wearers survey

July 14, 2016

Do you wear vintage clothing/accessories?

And do you have several spare minutes for a brief survey?

I’d really appreciate your answers to five survey questions. This survey is anonymous and none of your personal/private details will be collected:

Thank you in advance!

The Who and How of taking my vintage fashion photos

July 9, 2016

There are a few questions that I answer often. I am asked who is your model? and when I say that I am, the question follows, who takes your photos? When I say that I do, I am almost always asked how?

I am here to answer these questions.

With a few exceptions I look pretty average in other people’s pictures of me and always have. I am not photogenic—mainly because I have a self-conscious reflex that makes me go all awkward when I see a camera. If you could take a photo of me without me knowing you might do better.

Believe me, no one has ever walked up to me and declared that I should be a model, even when I was 17 or 18. I am not model-thin, model-tall, model-young or model-beautiful. The reason I started photographing vintage clothing on myself back in 1999 was because I wanted to animate the clothes. I wear vintage clothing all the time, and I wanted to show a real person doing this—and I was the only model I could afford who was available at the drop of a hat. Also, I thought it would help distinguish me from all the other online vintage clothing sellers at that time, having a person in my shots. I don’t think anyone else used a real person in photos to sell their vintage fashion then.

My purpose isn’t to convince people that I look fabulous in my vintage finds, it’s to convince you that you could look fabulous in my vintage finds. I smile a lot, trying to capture the happy look of old magazine spreads and advertisements. I want others to think oh that looks fun! It is fun...and the world can use a smile or two.

I had to get over my self-consciousness even taking my own photos. (I am a professional musician, and I have had to apply the same sort of effort to getting out in front of people and playing my horn. I just have to get over myself and perform.) I kept trying things until I hit upon ideas—looks, poses, angles, lighting—that I really liked. I used to take 40+ photos per item to get the handful of shots I would use; now I take 10-15. And no, you can’t see what I throw out! Everyone takes terrible photos, I just trash them and move on.

Lots of people ask how everything I show on myself seems to fit me. I have learned to use every trick in the book! Obviously, if something is too large I can pin it, trying to make sure the item looks as it was designed to look. If it is too small, I can usually show certain types of clothes by using a vintage (read ‘high power’) girdle, sucking it in, etc. If I can’t zip something, I can use fabric tape to hold it in place at least, and just not show the telltale part of the fit. Lots of things I show I could never wear walking down the street, but the human body, much more than a dress form, is malleable. My mission is not to surprise you with the range of sizes that fit me, but to give you an idea of what the item would look like on the person it would fit best.

Then there is the technical side of the equation.

I’ve evolved somewhat in the way I take photos, but it has been essentially the same setup forever. My husband and I have devoted a corner of our living room to a sort of photo studio. I have a roll of white paper on a stand, and banks of lights on both sides. I set the camera on a tripod several yards away and use a timer to get my photos.

The lights are fluorescent bulbs—ones that simulate natural light—in inexpensive shop fixtures. The compact fluorescent bulbs on top are just to add a little more light near my face. The light fixtures are rather weighty and are on frames attached to old (heavy) microphone stands. In addition, I’ve got sandbags on the bases of these stands. Once, the whole set up fell down, and I don’t want a repeat performance!

I set up a mirror behind the camera on its tripod, mainly just to get a sense of what the shot looks like.

One of the great more recent changes has been getting a nice used camera of far greater quality than my c. 2001 workhorse. My old camera took pretty good point-and-shoot shots but my new camera (an Olympus Pen E-PL1) is noticeably better. Then there’s the timer issue. I need to be in the frame for the camera to make adjustments. I activate the shutter using an old-fashioned squeeze ball which pushes air down a tube to trigger a plunger which pushes the shutter release. Did you get that? Because there will be a quiz. 😄

I have a frame on the camera that keeps the air tube where it needs to be.

Then, using a 2-second timer setting, I squeeze the ball, quickly drop it...

...and pose!

Photoshop allows me to extend the width of the background. I don’t have nearly enough space in my living room to have this background in real life!

So there you have it, the who and how of my photos. I hope it wasn’t way more than you wanted to know!

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