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August 4, 2009

What are you searching for?

There is certain enjoyment from sleuthing that excites my mind and often makes me smile. As such I’ve always fancied everything from word search puzzles to mystery novels, who-done-it films to tracking down a loved one’s missing item when they’d all but given up hope. I’m delighted to call on my inner bloodhound whenever possible. Perhaps in some alternative realm, I’m a full-fledged private eye (as opposed to in this universe where my attire would better suggest I’m the dame who perches herself coyly on the edge of said detective’s desk and implores him to help her). As such I often delight in the challenge of not only tracking down something I’m on the prowl for, but also in assisting others with their own assorted searches.

Since beginning this blog I’ve been contacted via email by a number of lovely readers who have asked me if I could assist them in finding a certain vintage (or vintage style) item. I’m flattered that my readers would think to turn to me for assistance, as there are surely far more knowledgeable experts on the subject out there, but at the same time I’m always happy to help a fellow vintage fan whenever I can.

One such recent email got me thinking that perhaps I should offer openly on my blog to help others track down vintage items that they’re trying to locate. I am by absolutely no means, an expert on antiques or the whole spectrum of vintage items. I do not formally work in the fashion or home decor world, and I don’t have any “insider connections” that might help get you discount or unearth an otherwise impossible to find item, but I do frequent a lot of vintage related sites and online shops/auction sites that sell old school items. Who knows, there’s always a chance that I might have recently spied the gold satin 1930s heels or 1950s Mexican hand painted skirt you’re trying to unearth.

So, dear readers, I’m openly inviting you to contact me if there’s something vintage (or vintage looking/bespoke) that you’re having trouble locating.


{Glisteningly pretty magnifying glass photo from leyputashca’s Flickr stream.}


The “catch”, if you will, is that I may end up creating a post about the item(s) you’re looking for. By this I mean, let’s say someone writes to me looking for a white 1940s swing dance dress with a 30 inch waist, and I agree to help them search for one (online – all searches will be conducted solely online). If in the process of my search I find ten similar dresses, before encountering one matching the exact description, I may write a post about some of the ones I found, including the exact item, if I think it's a topic others may enjoy (or be looking for), too. (I will not name the person who contacted me by name, unless of course you’d prefer I do.)

Like many of us, I lead a full life and may not always be able to help you due to time or another factor, but whenever possible, I truly will do my best to assist you in your search. If there’s something you’re looking for in particular, please feel free to comment on this post or reach me by email, with as many details (size, color, fabric, manufacturer, year, price range, etc) about the item that you’re looking for as possible (by all means, vintage photo queries are welcome, too – no need for the search to be centred around something you have to pay for).

Aside from things that, sadly, I have no control over (money, fame, getting you a date with Daniel Craig, calorie and fat-free chocolate cake, the weather, etcetera etcetera...), my question to you each is, what are you searching for? Let me know and your query might just spark an upcoming Chronically Vintage post!

23 comments:

  1. Oh Jessica,

    You are simply the best! Who knows where this will lead, I can see you becoming the next great stylist or working in Hollywood as a consultant for fabulous period films!!

    xoxo
    Karyn

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  2. How fun! I can't wait to see what you unearth.

    Thanks doll,
    The Glamorous Housewife

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  3. That's so amazing! You're so great :)
    I'm pretty bad at finding the pieces that I have in my that I want, so I'm definitely calling upon your vintage sleuthing skills, should I need them ;)

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  4. Neat idea!
    By the way, a 50s handpainted mexican skirt and a date with Daniel Craig are actually almost on top of my wish list... ;-)

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  5. Dear Jessica!
    How exciting - who knows where this may lead...!

    xxxLOL LOLA:)
    PS Pity though about Daniel...!!

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  6. A girl after my own heart! I "owned" two different detective agencies growing up and longed to be the next Nancy Drew or Harriet the Spy. Check my post about Pockets. I would die to find out what he is, but I have done numerous internet searches to no avail!

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  7. You're so nice to offer to help others find vintage items! :-)

    Are you and the hubby both all better now?

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  8. That is so nice of you to do that in your free time, your such a sweetheart. You always want to help others me thinks.

    I love that mirror.
    xxx

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  9. You are honestly one of the sweetest people I have met through blogging. Thank you for leaving me such lovely comments on my blog.
    As for this post, I think it's WONDERFUL that you are trying to help people find vintage items. In fact, I might need some help finding a certain dress since I'm eventually going to try and recreate a photo shoot my mom had done in the 80s. If I need help in the future, I'll know who to come to. Thank you so much and have a lovely night!

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  10. What am I searching for? A man. ;] Hehehe.
    This is such a lovely idea! I will be sure to let you know if there is any item, in the future, I am searching for and cannot find. =D
    -Andi x

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  11. Wow! What another lovely kind post! Your posts always make me smile! :) I love the mirror!

    ~Kirsty

    P.S. Theres a fun little blog award for you over at Giggly-Cupcake today! :)

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  12. Jessica, what a great idea. I may take you up on this offer as some point. I too love to hunt and dig and am amazed at what I can find out and about! Thanks for you invitation to help.. your a great gal!

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  13. Good Morning,

    Yes, my inner bloodhound is always sniffing around too! hehehe My inquiring mind just has to know things....especially vintage things! :0)

    I just know you will have fun with the requests that come your way..it further feeds that instinct to HUNT!

    Have a lovely day,
    Stephanie

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  14. Hey Jessica. Wow. That's such a cool idea. I'm sure you will do a great job at it. I'll keep this in mind in case I ever need help finding something vintage. Cheers!

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  15. you are just the woman for my next "i can't find what I'm looking for" piece! I always thought how you find the most darling items whenever i visit your site! and i agree with Karyn- you might just be the next vintage stylist!! i can see it already!

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  16. Hope your hubby is doing better. And you're such a great friend to help people with their search.

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  17. I'm not looking for anything in particular apart from nice household antiques that I can't take back to Dubai with me yet! So I'll content myself for now. You do find the loveliest things though.

    I hadn't heard of this particular way of celebrating an 18th birthday either but it was fantastic. It wasn't a formula, just something my uncle put together and included the other men in. He read some and gave advice to Zach, and then invited the other men to that side of the room and laid a belt across the floor. My aunt sent him across with her blessing as a symbol of letting him go. He was given a sword as a symbol of manhood and honor, and the men prayed for him. So it was a family gathering with a lot of meaning but really just an expression of good things!

    lots of love,
    Cait xx

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  18. Hi my wonderful dears, thank you each so much for your immensely kind comments. It's awesome to know that you gals (and guy(s) - hi Keith!), think this is a worthwhile idea. Please, by all means, don't hesitate to send your search queries my way any time.

    @ Kayrn and MissRedLips, you two are so sweet! I think that if I ever landed a job styling costumes for the movie industry, I'd feel like I'd died and gone to fashion heaven! Thank you for the encouraging words!

    @ Andi, :) Well, you know...I did find my husband online (true story!), so I wouldn't say your search request is entirely impossible to fulfill ;D

    @ Kirsty, thank you for the award, honey! I'm so touched that you bestowed it upon me.

    @ Sher, thank you for your caring words, he's doing considerably better at this point. Probably a few weeks until he's entirely ship-shape again, but there's already been a marked improvement.


    Huge thanks again everyone, for your supportive, fantastic comments!

    Big hugs!
    ♥ Jessica

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  19. an award for you! :-)

    http://mynetfinds.blogspot.com/2009/08/youre-gem.html

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  20. Thank you so much, Kathie! I'm seriously honoured by this beautiful award. You are a true gem of a friend, too, honey!

    Oodles of hugs & thanks!!!
    ♥ Jessica

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  21. I love doing this myself for my shops, it's so much fun! ur the sweetest xoxo

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  22. @ Lagelle, it does sound incredibly fun to search for vintage pieces for your shops! You're so fortunate to be able to do that. Thank you so sweetly for your lovely words, my dear.

    Have a beautiful weekend!
    ♥ Jessica

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  23. Hi my wonderful dears, I just wanted to post a quick comment, because I discovered this weekend that my email address for chronically vintage wasn't working. It hadn't been configured correctly, I'm told (IT specialist, I am not, so I wasn't the one in charge of that!). As such I'm afraid that I didn't receive any emails sent to jessica [at] chronicallvintage.com (the email address that I'd originally given with this post).

    I am profoundly sorry about this, and encourage anyone who wrote me to please send me your message again, this time to my personal email address: jcangiano [at] gmail.com.

    Thank you everyone, and again, I am very sorry about this issue.

    ♥ Jessica

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