On the Radar -- Tartan Take Two

Denim & Supply Ralph Lauren Jacket, Fall/Winter 2013

We've totally talked about plaid already.  But we've talked about wool blankets and 1950s picnic items and our Scottish Christmas window display last year.  You can read about that here, here, and here.  We haven't talked about plaid clothing...

And it's everywhere this fall.  I mean, EVERYWHERE.  And yes, I love plaids and tartans of every color and form, but I also think that instead of just spending tons of money on new plaid, people should also revisit vintage plaid.

So here's a round up of some new plaids I love, with a quick sampling of all the vintage plaid goodies we have in our shop right now.  Enjoy!

Moschino, Fall/Winter 2013

Blumarine cape, Fall/Winter 2013

Mulberry, Fall/Winter 2013

Vintage Wool Plaid coat, $55, in our shop here.

Pendleton Wool Tartan Shell, $55, in our shop here.

1950s bow tie, $15, in our shop here.

1980s Gay Boyer madras belt, $12, in our shop here.

Bonus -- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

Although we like to try new things in our window displays, the Christmas window at Collector's Antique Mall is always, at its core, based on tradition.  The tree, while it looks different each year, will always be in the same location -- partly because of practicality (that's where the one outlet is) and partly because that's where the Christmas tree goes.  And it will always be a green tree with not-for-sale ornaments, mainly because it's just too freakin' hard to get that particular ball on the very tippy top right (no, my right) branch for Betty Lou -- especially when you have to navigate through all of the merchandise on the floor under the tree.  But hey, we did lobby for colored lights last year, and we got them!

However, just because it's traditional (sometimes a four-letter-word to us, if you know what I mean), doesn't mean it can't be different.  Last year we went for a 1930s kitchen setting, and this year, we felt a wee bit Scottish.  We rounded up all the plaid we could find and threw it in.  Tartan bunting on the tree, tartan tins, plaid blankets...you get the idea.  We also found a little Scottish man-doll in a kilt.

I made a wreath, and accented it with broken vintage brooches and earrings.  And we found some cool deer pieces in the store:

We went for some vibrant gift wrap wallpaper, and a gorgeous wooden dresser.  FYI, when we see furniture like this, the Blackbird girls say, "That is some 'good wood'."  Also, notice the men in kilts on the wall.

So, Merry Christmas everybody!  (whew, glad this window is done...I need to do some shopping now...)

On the Radar -- Plaid Madness

Country Living, fall 2012

OK, so Country Living strikes again.  We see this picture to the left in one of their fall issues.  We think happy thoughts because we LOVE plaid throws.  Then, over the next few weeks we learn how powerful these magazines can be -- mainly because we sell over half of our stock of blankets in our shop, which for us, is about six.  SIX PLAID BLANKETS in around two weeks.  I would call that a definite trend!

There are many trends that we are fully aware of and we buy for the shop accordingly. And then, there are ones like this.  Trends that just happen and we're already prepared because we buy it anyway. We love plaid anything -- we have our own mini collection of blankets, we're working on a tartan tin collection, and we have a plaid thermos, jug, and cooler collection.  We're both addicted to plaid flannel shirts and wool coats in the fall and winter.  And we sell a lot of Pendleton suits.  So we are, you could say, drinking the plaid Kool-Aid on a regular basis.

Pendleton Blanket, House  Beautiful, Fall 2012

We prefer wool blankets, but we don't pass up pretty acrylic throws.  They are just as stylish, and honestly, are much softer to snuggle up with if you really want to use your blanket.  I mean, cashmere would be ideal, but realistically, who has the money for that?  Certainly not us! 

Brimfield store in Chicago, photo from Velvet and Linen

It's probably no secret that we like multiples, so seeing plaid blankets stacked like this just makes us happy.

Our favorite plaid wool blanket from our collection.

We still have plenty of blankets available in the shop, so take a look!  Here's a sample:

From our shop!