Funky Junque Chronicles #4 Featuring HAUTE COUNTRY VINTAGE: An Upscale Vintage Boutique!

As you know, I'm a firm believer that buying vintage is a way of reusing, recycling, and going green. Keeping the old items out of the landfills is another reason why we should purchase vintage items. This week I sought out to find a store that mixes vintage quality with affordability.

I found just that, at Haute County Vintage; a delightful upscale boutique on Etsy. It is my pick of the week! This shop features vintage upcycled clothing, lingerie, and accessories. This is vintage fashion at its finest. Selections here are unique, glamorous even. One can find that "good dress" to wear to that special occasion. In doing so, your dress will be the talk of the evening, as it won't be like anyone else's dress!

I had a chance to talk to Holly, based in Bon Aqua, Tennessee (outside of Nashville). She told me how it all got started. Holly explains, "Haute Country Vintage came about partially as the result of years of collecting vintage fashion and partially as the result of the desire to do my part to reduce, reuse & recycle and also save what bits of history I could. Vintage fashion IS history to me, it's what previous generations lived their lives in, the stories each piece has to tell, how things were made, with such attention to detail, with an eye toward utility & longevity and also ornamentation that is quite purely art."

Holly has perhaps inherited her eye for fashion. Her two ultra-chic grandmothers had taught her a high appreciation of fashion. One, having been the bargain shopper, and the other having been a fashion advice writer for the NY Times. This sense of style carries on in Holly, whose choices of timeless items are second to none. Her store is filled with keen choice of fabrics and beautiful selection of styles. In this case, good style has been passed down from generation to generation, and Holly is sharing that with the rest of the world!

Holly says, "I love the fabrics: the rayons, the silks, the nylon jerseys and most especially the pre-1950s laces! It's rare to see anything resembling the quality in today's throw-away, mass produced fashion culture."

Rare indeed, and just as Holly points out fabrics are important. I personally am in love with a floral crepe dress from the 40's, which is oh so Marilynesque. If I went to the department store today, to even try to find a cheap mass produced look-a-like, I'd pay three times the price of the one I love at Haute County Vintage. Not to mention, the department store knock-off would be itchy, nowhere near as pretty, or made as well. I prefer the one of a kind dress. So I say, if you want to go in style, go Haute Country!

As far as clothing, not to worry, all items have multiple photographs which allow you to view the item of interest in every angle. Holly describes all the measurements and sizing to a "T". Models or dress forms are used to show how the clothing looks on. If there's anything you need to know, just ask! Holly is more than helpful and has excellent feedback on Etsy. Not to mention the online stores on Etsy are open twenty-four-seven!

In addition to clothing, Holly has other items too. She explains, "I carry an eclectic assortment of vintage treasures (primarily fashion & accessories but also anything I come across in need of rescuing). I try to keep a little something for everyone; from truly collectible, higher end pieces to affordable, wearable, eco-conscious pieces to fill out your wardrobe that reduce your carbon foot print."

In Holly's shop new stock is added all the time, and good bargains are waiting to be had. At any given time you may find coats, jackets, separates, dresser sets, boudoir items, perfume bottles, compacts, shoes, boots, lingerie, frocks, gowns, dresses, accessories, bags, purses, movie star garb and more! If you are on a budget, make sure to visit the sale page as some items are up to a 50% reduction and won't last long!

So I say to you, thanks HOLLY and HAUTE COUNTRY VINTAGE for doing your part to reduce waste, reuse, and as Holly says, "REDUCE YOUR CARBON FOOT PRINT!" Holly, kudos to you for keepin' it green!

AUTHORS NOTE: Look for an upcoming store by Holly, when she debuts her handmade jewelry line called BellaBijouxDesigns, which will be on Etsy also.