New vs. Vintage

Greetings guys and ghouls!  Happy (almost) Halloween!  Some of you may have been wondering, "who's this Traci girl on the Market Publique Blog," so I wanted to take some time to introduce myself!  That's me, up there, with the rad MP pumpkin.  I joined the Market Publique team back in September when the Three Musketeers realized they needed to add a marketing guru to their mix who adores vintage as much as they do.  Clearly, I'm their girl!  And when Pamela asked me to model for the site last Friday (::blush::), I couldn't resist.  So be sure to keep an eye out for more of me on Market Publique posing in plush sweaters, gorgeous vintage furs and more!!      

So yes, I'm a lover of all things vintage.  And all things fashion, really.  Mixing and matching modern houses with vintage finds puts a big ol' smile on my face, as does getting all dressed up for Halloween.  It's pretty much my favorite holiday.  I make my costume each year (yes, I sew, but don't expect to see me in a kitchen),  and this year was quite the undertaking, my biggest project yet.  Remember George Michael's "Too Funky" video?  Ohh yes, that one;)  The whole runway show was designed by Thierry Mugler, whom I absolutely adore.  His broad shoulders, crazy collars and influences—such as robots, insects, and film noir—made his pieces very distinct and very of the moment.  He expanded his house to include a fragrance collection (yes, I wear Angel from time to time), and also has collaborated with Cirque de Soleil.  He was the main costume designer for Beyonce's last tour.  Check out this amazing Thierry Mugler cocoon coat on Market Publique! 

I'm gonna be THIS chick:

I can't wait to shake my booty and wiggle my handlebars!  Since my welding skills are pretty subpar (joke), I sewed a corset out of red faux leather material. I ordered motorcycle grips online, sewed some fringe on faux leather shorts from American Apparel, and hand-painted the flame details.  The light is a working moon light that most people use in their closets:)  The corset is boned from the outside, and detailed with aluminum tape (very fragile to work with in this context—it rips and folds so easily!).  The deadstock Harley Davidson mirrors I ordered are too heavy to be supported by the corset, so I had to improvise with an old compact.

I'll post pictures from my Halloween weekend next week so you can compare my costume with the one above. 

Happy Halloween everybody! 

When Grechen asked me to guest blog for Vintage Week, I was thrilled! We threw around some ideas and since she had liked our Splurge vs. Steal post, we diecided to go in a similar direction.

I scoured the Internets for big trends like nude colors, tuxedo jackets, bustiers and evening jumpsuits - and threw in some classics like little black dresses and bangles for good measure - for a New vs. Vintage post.

Go read it here. You will be glad you did. Not only will you be saving the planet with these vintage finds, you will also save a TON of money and end up looking smashing! Snap to it though: the vintage pieces are one-of-a-kind!

This is only the half of it! Go read our guest post on Green Grechen.