the vintage mix

Teenage Wasteland

2011-10-30T14:23:00.001-07:00

We're all wasted...Digging the new Wasteland website, especially The New Bohemians Collection and their Vintage Rock Tees Collection.. here are a few of our favorites:

Black Magic Velvet Dress, 1960's

Crochet Lace Love Bells

Stones Dragon Raglan Tee, 1981

Black Crochet + Fringe Maxi

Xiola Earrings

Follow Your Heart: 5 Simple Steps to Open Your Own Etsy Shop

2011-09-16T15:16:00.000-07:00

There’s rarely such thing as easy money, but with some direction and a little thought and planning, you can start your own on-line shop. You will be able to pull in some extra cash, and at the same time, tending to your own creative shop will feed your soul. Your friends at Hellhound Vintage have put together 5 steps to help you open your own Etsy shop!

You will need:
Etsy Account: www.etsy.com
Paypal Account: www.paypal.com

Optional:
Facebook Account: www.facebook.com
Twitter Account: www.twitter.com

Step 1: Decide What To Sell.

Etsy allows only handmade or vintage (20+ years old) items. Take some time to think about this step. Listen to your heart. What are you drawn to? Is there a special craft that you make, or have seen and would like to learn how to make? Are you drawn to any particular vintage era or theme? Do you have an area of expertise? Are you into any particular subculture or hobby? Think about how you can turn your passion into a product.

Start small, it only takes one product to get started.

Surf around Etsy to get inspired. Search for youtube videos if there is something you would like to learn to make. Go to the library. Peruse antique shops and thrift stores.

Step 2: Pick a Name.

You will want something cute and catchy, but more important than that, something easy to spell. This makes it both easier for people to remember and easier for people to spell in order to look you up on-line. Although Musikbox seems cute for a record shop, it can be frustrating for potential customers when they type in Musicbox and end up at a totally different shop. We suggest you keep your name short and to the point using common spellings of common words.

Step 3: Find Your Vision.

On-line shops require a cohesive vision or theme to make them appealing to customers. Consider a color scheme, or some kind of theme that you will keep consistent. You want all the pieces to fit together.

Things to consider:
An image for the top of your shop, either a photograph or a graphic image that includes your shop name.

Photo display. This includes the background for the photos, and any props or accessories you will need to present your product.

Color Scheme. Having a cohesive color scheme creates an image for your shop and makes it look professional.

For example, if you are knitting hats and scarves, consider a color scheme for your products, then list them in an order that makes the colors flow from one to the next across the page. If you are selling handmade items, you will want the labels or packaging on your product to vibe with the background of your photos and the photo at the top of your shop.

If you are selling antiques or vintage items, you will need to curate a collection that has some sort of theme. We are heavily influenced by the hippie era and gypsy lifestyle. Others are into Rockabilly, or Tiki, or Nautical items, for example.

Picking a theme creates a feel to your shop that customers can identify with and they will come back knowing they can find items similiar to what they have found there before.

Step 4: Photos, Photos, Photos.

Seriously, it’s all about the photos.

We like Camera Jims on-line photo guide to get started: http://www.sigma-2.com/camerajim/

Photos are the single most important part of selling on-line. You want your photos to be as appealing as possible. You will need a digital camera that is capable of capturing clear close up images. You will need good lighting. You can use natural light or make a light box for small items. See Camera Jim’s guide referenced above for simple lighting techniques.

If you are selling clothing, a real model is best, but if that is not possible, a professional looking mannequin, or a cute display on a hanger are other options to consider. Look to other shops for inspiration.

You can display up to 5 photos for each item in your Etsy shop. Take lots of photos so you can pick the best 5 to use. Play with lighting, backgrounds, angles, and camera settings until you come up with a photo representation of your product that you feel good about. Be patient and creative. If you get frustrated, take a break. Keep your eye on the prize. Once your shop is up and looking beautiful, you are going to feel very satisfied.

Only use great photos. If some of the photos didn’t turn out as well as you would have liked cut them. It’s better to use 3 beautiful crisp photos than 3 beautiful photos and 2 unflattering or blurry ones.

Step 5: Listing Your First Collection.

We want to emphasize collection as opposed to items. By listing a cohesive collection of items, instead of a few miscellaneous items, your shop will look professional immediately. Pick a goal of 10 or 20 items (remember to stick to your vision) and get the photos for them.

List half of them immediately, then list 1 or 2 pieces per day until all of the items in your first collection have been listed. We highly recommend this method because Etsy has a Recently Listed scroll bar on its home page that features all newly listed items. The more often you list new items, the more traffic you will get to your shop.

Be sure to include a thorough description of each item and be honest and forthcoming about any flaws when listing vintage or antique pieces. Avoid listing damaged items. A vintage patina is beautiful, but a large stain or broken item usually is not. Keep your shop full of quality pieces.

After you list each item, there is an option to share your listing with Facebook and Twitter. Share with your friends and fans!

Copyright 2011. Not to be re-printed without written permission and link back to this site.

Vintage Icons: Dr. Martens Boots

2011-04-24T13:34:00.000-07:00

Your friends here at Hellhound Vintage scored an absolutely amazing pair of vintage Dr. Martens leopard print ankle boots in near mint condition this weekend! Finding these ultra rare and lovely boots got us drooling over more discontinued styles on etsy and ebay:

Mad Men Auctions on Ebay

2010-08-14T22:34:00.000-07:00

The multiple Emmy and Golden Globe award winning drama Mad Men has teamed up with City of Hope & Ebay to auction items from past seasons. A portion of the proceeds goes to charity to fight lung cancer.

Vintage 1960's furniture from the set of Mad Men, up for auction

The ten-day charity auction will feature tons of vintage mid-century furniture and props from the show’s iconic Sterling Cooper ad agency, including a number of pieces from the offices of Don Draper and Roger Sterling.

Vintage dresses will include a dress worn by Betty Draper at the Stork Club, the green dress worn by Joan Harris in the famous lawn-mower episode, and the dress worn by Bobbie Barrett during her night on the town with Don.”

January Jones as Betty Draper

Christina Hendricks as Joan Harris

Melinda McGraw as Bobbie Barrett

The most tantalizing of the auction items is a walk-on role on the series.

Our own Hellhound Vintage model recently had the pleasure and good fortune to work on the Mad Men set in full 60’s wardrobe, hair & makeup, as a background actor in a scene set at a certain famous club in New York City circa 1965.

Watch for this vintage vixen chillin in the background during season 4 of Mad Men

Show Mad love with these hand picked Mad Men inspired finds available from Hellhound Vintage:

Hellhound Vintage Black Lace Wiggle Dress

Hellhound Vintage Blue Tweed Hourglass Dress

View all of the Mad Men Charity items here.
View the Hellhound Vintage Ebay Boutique here.

Summer Lovin'...

2010-02-03T13:25:00.000-08:00

Tie dye kids at Lollapalooza 2009

Fans at Bonnaroo 2009

Cutest lil Mexican embroidered top at Bonnaroo

Vintage darlings at Coachella 2009

M.I.A. at Coachella

Gypsy Vibes at Coachella 2009

Its winter and its cold, but hey spring's just around the corner and there's always this year's music festivals to look forward to!

Coachella http://www.coachella.com/ is only a couple month's away, April 16 - 18, 2010 in Indio, California.

This year's lineup features Jay Z, Muse, Ravonettes, De La Soul, Faith No More, Gorillaz, Pavement, LCD Sound System and tons more...

3 days of music and sun in Cali-- what's not to love?

Bonnaroo is June 10 - 13, 2010 in Manchester Tennessee

A 4 day multi stage camping fest held on a 100 acres, not just music, but also an arcade, cinema, disco, comedy club, and beer festival.

This years lineup will be announced on February 9th at http://www.bonnaroo.com/

Bonnaroo strives to be a leader in sustainable festivals, and it's revolutionary entertainment experience is noted by Rolling Stone to be one ot the 50 moments that changed Rock n Roll!

The grandaddy of the current music festival scene, Lollapalooza http://lollapalooza.com/ is happenin August 6-8 2010 at Grant Park in Chicago. The 2010 lineup has not been announced yet, but is always amazing and you should get tickets as soon as you can cuz it's gonna be sweet!

Get ready by finding something sweet to rock out in! Lightweight cotton, bright colors, embroidery & tie dye are all good--and don't forget a one of a kind vintage sweater or 2, to keep u warm when the sun goes down!

Everything above is available in the Hellhound Vintage Clothing Shop!

http://www.hellhoundvintage.com/

Its January -- Mod Winter Coats & Jackets at Hellhound Vintage

2010-01-10T00:31:00.000-08:00

Fall Promotional Photo

2009-10-06T11:10:00.000-07:00

VivaLaModa Handmade Fashion Mag Features Hellhound Vintage Dresses in September Issue!

2009-09-26T09:36:00.000-07:00

Check out VivaLaModa, a sweet lil mag that features all things in the vintage & handmade fashion realm. The pretty embroidered dress above is featured in this month's issue on page 58 and is available at the Hellhound Vintage Etsy Shop--

Snap it up quick cuz it's another one of a kind vintage dress!

The killer dashiki mini dress Viva featured has already sold.

Thanks to Jennifer at VivaLaModa for the love!

Floral Medallion Dress Conjures Up Images of Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby

2009-09-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Angelina's Cafe for featuring our one of a kind vintage Lace Medallion dress in her Rosemary's Baby post here.

Buy this one of a kind lovely in the Hellhound Vintage Ebay Shop!

Rebel Grrrl

2009-09-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

The antidote to sugary sweet teen, ym and seventeen, Sassy was the rebel girl, the queen of my world, intelligent, in a band, with rad vintage infused style, politically informed, and not taking any shit from you. My alltime favorite fashion spread was Amy Smart kickin it in Axl Rose themed white leather biker jacket, rose print biker shorts, and custom Converse. When Chloe Sevigny (Sassy intern at the time) shaved her head, I was enamored. Little did I know she (along with Rosario Dawson) was going to blow my mind in Kids a few years later in '95! ...Back in the days when i was young i'm not a kid anymore But some days i sit and wish i was a kid again
Back in the days...

Pop Culture: American Western Shirt

2009-08-30T17:19:00.000-07:00

The American West-- the gold rush, the search for a better life, finding yourself, progression, all synonomous with the west. And one symbol of the American West fashion is definitely the western shirt. "The west is not a place. It's a state of mind," according to Jack A. Weil founder of Rockmount Western shirts. Jack just crossed over to the other side in '08 at the age of 107. Living to 107 isn't even the coolest thing about Jack. He was still working daily at Rockmount. He loved his work. Considered the worlds oldest CEO, he actually innovated the pearl snap and the western yoke. Other finishing touches beloved by western connoisseurs and created by Jack include the elusive diamond snap & sawtooth pocket. And all the hipsters rocking tiny fitting westerns? Jack again-- his slim fit styles overtook the old school boxy fits that were predominant in the 1950's and earlier. 3 generations deep, still family owned, still Denver based and "one of the last predominantly US made brands, the signature Rockmount design is considered to be the longest production style shirt in America" according to www.rockmount.com Pretty impressive from a man whose first business venture failed! Very inspiring... here's to you Jack! ~the vintage mix~

i love rockabilly girls!

2009-08-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Love of Music!

2009-08-30T07:19:00.000-07:00

We got to see the stooges @ the Fox theatre just before the great Ron ashton passed (R.I..P.). just felt like paying tribute on this fine sunday morning.

these are few of our favorite albums

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The Vintage Mix!

2009-08-29T20:38:00.000-07:00

Hi, welcome to our blog about all things vintage and all things rad!

We dig

Mixtapes

Punk Rock

Hip Hop

Skateboarding

Movies

Thriftshops

Ripped Jeans

Concert Tees

The name Hellhound evolved from

our obsession with the curious legend of

Robert Johnson

and his haunting tune

Hellhounds on My Trail...