Featured Sellers: Mia and Liz from Bummer Town

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
The clothes we have range from classic to occasionally trashy but overall, we like things that are quirky without being unwearable. Our tastes are different enough to keep things interesting but we feel that they blend well.

2. What inspires you?
Liz: Things that are hidden or need a little work to see their splendor. Agates! Also eating plenty of candy including the accompanying tummy-ache.
Mia: 90's tv sitcoms, clip art, space, retro futurism, modern futurism, marine life, geometry, YouTube

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
Liz: I usually gravitate toward mid/late-60's style. Whenever I see photos of my parents when they were married (1967), I feel like they look classic. Whether consciously or not, my goal has been to look like my mom did in that era while attempting to hang out with a fellow as dapper as my dad was.
Mia: I'll pick Grace Jones because her looks and attitude were (and still are!) otherworldly without feeling contrived. Lady Gaga's got nothing on her. I like it when people wear outrageous, flashy things and it doesn't feel so forced, like some stylist plopped it on them to hasten their rise to stardom.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
Anyone who doesn't take clothes too seriously but has an appreciation for things with history.

5. Where can people find you?
Find us on the good ol' Etsy, Facebook and the occasional Chicago sale! www.bummertown.com.

Featured Seller: Coyote from Labrabbit Optics

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Our style is fresh. Think of the hundreds of prosaic variations of small rectangular shapes offered at Lenscrafters. We represent the opposite of that, approaching the aesthetics and function of eyewear with elan and professionalism. And we have a fucking blast doing it.

2. What inspires you?
Fashion awakenings, specialty coffee, exotic animals, skewed memories from my adolescence, Latin American culture, gothic/dystopian themes, magazines I read only in airports.

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
Cari Zalloni, head designer of Cazal Eyewear, would be the most relevant response. I don't know what that guy was thinking, but it made him millions and left an indelible mark on fashion history. Karl Lagerfeld is a total creepo weirdo, but my admiration for him has nothing to do with anything he ever designed. And Rihanna is an awful musician, but she consistently sports the sickest sunglasses ever.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
Anyone tired of the norm. Our customers include artists, engineers, office workers, nannys, baristas, retirees, bike mechanics, cosplay aficionados, students, goths, accountants, and the guy who runs the model train at the Museum of Science and Industry.

5. Where can people find you?
Labrabbit Optics is located in a sunny studio in Wicker Park. New arrivals, updates can be found on our entertaining blog at http://www.labrabbit.org.

* PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING YOUR PRESCRIPTION

Featured Seller: Jennifer of Jenstyle Chic Vintage

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
I try to find pieces that reflect the style and uniqueness of the era they evolved from. Items that look as chic today as they did then. Something that looks like it has seen it all, like the ocean, a patio party, and a dance floor.

2. What inspires you?
Old cinema. Watching “Stage Door” and drooling over every outfit in that movie, 40’s and 50’s Tropicana movies, and vintage musicals. 1984 for sure!!! Three of the greatest artists, musically and fashion wise, had breakthrough albums that year….Michael Jackson, Prince, and Madonna. My life was changed!

3. Who is your fashion icon?
Always my mom. She is always so fashionable and chic. My only complaint is that she didn’t keep all her clothes!!!

4. Who is your kind of customer?
My customer is an individualistic fashionista. She knows what is in fashion, but likes to wear what inspired it. She knows how to take an item and add a twist to it or use it in a unique way. She is the woman that people do a double take because she is so unique.

5. Where can people find you?
People can see what I have to offer online at jenstyle.com.

Also, sign up on my email list to receive notice of shows I am doing by emailing jennifer@jenstyle.com.

Featured Sellers: Alison Grant and Shannon Hautman from The Big Heist

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Our pieces are eclectic and always the height of vintage cool, ranging from industrial light bulbs and locker bins to classic Corelle kitchenware and Bakelite purses. Recently we've been collecting old typewriters, floral tablecloths, early 20th century Shakespeare editions, and fabulous suitcases.

2. What inspires you?
Alison likes to buy items with a sense of history and enjoys the hunt for the perfect piece. Shannon is inspired by vintage wares that are both functional and asesthetically pleasing.

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
Shannon loves old Hollywood, 50's housewares, and Victorian England. Alison is inspired by 70's textiles, Vera Newman, and Florence Broadhurst.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
Our customers have a sense of humor, appreciate the quality of classic vintage items, and love to find something totally unique.

5. Where can people find you?
People can find us online at our etsy shop, www.thebigheist.etsy.com. Our email is: thebigheist@gmail.com

Featured Sellers: Michelle Dimitris and Daniel Evans from Heliopsis

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Colorful! We are both color fanatics!

2. What inspires you?
(Michelle) I am very inspired by design elements that remind me of what I used to wear as a child.

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
There are so many, but we are both huge fans of anything that Karl Lagerfeld creates.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
Our customer is someone who loves experiment and have fun with his or her clothing.

5. Where can people find you?
Theheliopsis.com - Which will link you to our etsy page: heliopsis.etsy.com, FB and Twitter.

Alma's show at Heaven Gallery

Alma Wieser, one of the Vintage Heaven organizers, presented her 101 Years Of Futurism collection at Heaven Gallery last Saturday. Our Vintage Sale is going to take place in this location, you'll love it!

Featured Seller: Lenny & Me

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Lenny & Me carries an eclectic array of Vintage Men and Womens clothing from the 1970s and back. Everything from embroidered western shirts to 1950s party dresses. We love treasures from the past, anything covered in sequins, 1960's bohemian, costume jewels galore and timeless statement pieces. We are drawn to all that is old, anything that has lived a life to tell a story...

2. What inspires you?
The attention to detail and quality vintage clothing can have, classic actors, Film Noir, the love of history and the part fashion will always play. From reading F.Scott Fitzgerald to listening to The Kinks, to just looking at all the amazing fashionable people who live in this city. Inspiration is literally everywhere!

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
This changes with the wind, but as of right now, Vintage Yves St. Laurent, Vivienne Westwood, Patti Smith, Dolly Parton, Katherine Hepburn, Polly Magoo, Sean Connery as 007, Cowboy Clint Eastwood...

4. Who is your kind of customer?
There is a vintage piece for every personality! The shopper who is willing to try something new and different.

5. Where can people find you?
Our store is located at 1323 N. Milwaukee ave, Chicago IL. You can also find us on Facebook: Lenny Milwaukee and don't forget to stop by our Etsy shop: etsy.com/shop/lennyandmevintage!

Featured Seller: Angela of MeanMillies

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Mean Millies is a handmade brand that takes into consideration both vintage and modern aesthetic while acknowledging how product & design impact the environment. We don't specialize in a certain product, but rather we're a lifestyle brand. Often you will find our pieces are a marriage between feminine and masculine, and emphasis is placed on ambiguity. You'll find things for all areas of your home and personality, and we thrive on the process of creating great work.

2. What inspires you?
I'm very heavily influenced and inspired by my grandmother Mildred. She's the woman behind the brand name, and has one of the largest wardrobes I have ever seen. I'm fortunate enough to have many of her pieces in my own collection. Her style has always been unique and borderline gaudy, both of which appeal to me. Aside from that, I find inspiration in daily Chicago street style. This city breeds creativity.

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
Fashion and Design icons for me come and go. It's not a stagnant industry, and likewise, my taste is ever changing and evolving. Right now I'm in love with Alexander McQueen's last collection. Feathers, gold, and black leather, come on! Fashion Icon right now would have to be Agyness Deyn. I love her whole attitude towards the industry, and her look is stunning.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
MeanMillies customers are most certainly into the vintage aspect of things. They enjoy good craftsmanship, and unique pieces that are versatile. Quirky and fun, in a nutshell.

5. Come visit us at MeanMillies.com, IronyIsOverrated.blogspot.com, and lastly http://www.etsy.com/shop/MeanMillies

Featured Seller: Leah Brown from Onomatopoeia

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Anything from a 1980's purple polyester jumpsuit to a 1920's flapper, with everything in between, before and beyond.

2. What inspires you?
My family, the past being brought to the present (in a good way), my 2 days a week job and always searching for that next "find"!

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
Halston, Andy Warhol, the whole Studio 54 era, Marlene Dietrich, my whole Medusa era, my mother circa 1970's.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
Young, hip city dwellers to urban housewives

5. Where can people find you?
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/leahonomatopoeia
Always updated with my upcoming shows.
Cheers!

Featured Sellers: Carlos and Trent from Knee Deep Vintage

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Our clothing can best be described as eclectic, hand picked, and affordable. We like to carry a range of items - everything from fine silks and designer pieces to rayon florals and well worn in t-shirts. Our main overall goal is to offer classic pieces that are more fashion forward, we definitely steer away from more costume-y vintage.

2. What inspires you?
The bulk of our inspiration comes from our travels / buying trips. We criss-cross the country a few times a year finding our inventory and we take into account aesthetics from all of the places we visit while we are buying, so we really draw on Americana mixed with the different modern trends that set cities like New York, Chicago, LA, Portland, etc. apart from everywhere else.

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
Carlos is head over heels about Yves St. Laurent. Everything from the Dior days to his last designs are truely astonishing. I (Trent) have to say mine is Levi Strauss. Nothing screams classic American like Levi's and I don't think anybody does it better.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
We cater to an assortment of different people, heavily depending on what city we are working in. The local styles across the country definitely have a uniting theme but there are differences, sometimes subtle sometimes not, that really make each place stand out. Here are home in Chicago we really go for the budget minded, fashion forward crowd. Because our store is in Pilsen we see a lot of younger people, artists, and college kids although we have plenty of fashionistas from all over the city (and the world) who come to our store religiously to score amazing outfits. We also have an extensive men's department (about half of the store) which seems to be a rare thing in the vintage world.

5. Where can people find you?
When we aren't at the store or out seeking the finest vintage we can get our hands on, you can find usually find us at the beach or park with our dog, Augie, or at one our favorite south side eateries like Honky Tonk BBQ, Yassa, and La Cebollita . When we're on the road we always take a day or two to stop and relax in Butte, Montana and down the coast of California, from Eureka and the redwoods to the poolside life in Los Angeles.

Knee Deep Vintage
1425 W 18th St
Chicago, IL 60608
Store - (312) 850-2510
http://www.kneedeepvintage.com/

Featured Seller: Melanie Lyke from Rockett Mansion

1. How would you describe the style of your pieces?
Rockett Mansion provides customers with a curated collection of women’s vintage clothing & accessories from the 60’s through the 90’s, and handmade pieces that provide women with accessible forefront designs. Some of the vintage is updated by cropping, dying, etc. Some pieces are so beautiful and on-time that they're kept the same. I also take vintage jewelry and deconstruct/reconstruct them into new pieces.

2. What inspires you?
I'm really inspired by new-crop artists, graffiti on decaying buildings, fresh flowers, edgy art installations, Dorcas from the Bible, and old-fashion handcrafted cocktails.

3. Who is your fashion/design icon?
My favorite designers are Yves Saint Laurant, Maison Martin Margiela and Andrea Crews. My favorite fashion icon is Bianca Jagger. Besides her naturally sexy style, she's a true philanthropist and a Warhol muse.

4. Who is your kind of customer?
The Rockett Mansion customers range from students to professional women who are lovers of progressive clothing and art, living in Chicago and worldwide. She is altruistic by nature, environmentally conscious and enjoys living a minimalist lifestyle. Rockett Mansion also gives 10% of its sales to non-profits so our customer enjoys knowing their purchases help out somewhere.

5. Where can people find you?
Rockett Mansion will be available May 7th online at www.rockettmansion.com and by appointment only at our location in the Lacuna Artist Lofts!

2150 S. Canalport 5A-4
Chicago, 60608
+1 708 908 02 44