Vintage Clothing Blog | Vintage Wedding Dresses | Salvage Life

NEW ARRIVAL - Ban.do Hair Accessories

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 17 Jun 2014 21:54:00 +0000

We have so many new things in the shop right now, including these beautiful hair accessories by Ban.do! Some are more casual and some are more dressy, so there is an option for every summer ensemble. They make great gifts too!

First Fridays Tomorrow Night - Win $100

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 05 Dec 2013 23:42:00 +0000

It's the First Friday of the month tomorrow! We are having so much fun with the monthly tradition of First Fridays in Bixby Knolls. So many people come out and walk Atlantic Ave. perusing the shops and eating at local restaurants. This month we will be giving away $100 to be used at Salvage Life. Come by tomorrow night (Dec 6th, 2013) and be entered to win a gift certificate. Make a purchase and get an additional two entries. Tag us in a photo on instagram or check in on facebook for another entry. We'll also be serving some holiday cocktails, offering complimentary gift wrapping and assisting customers with their personal wishlists. We are located at 3712 Atlantic Ave. Long Beach, CA 90807 and the party goes from 6:30 to 9:30pm. Hope to see you there!

Salvage Life Grand Opening Party

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Giles) — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 21:43:00 +0000

Hi friends! The last few months have been a whirlwind! Things are going so well at the store and it's been wonderful so many old and new customers! If you haven't been to the shop yet or if you have and you liked it, please join us for our big Grand Opening Party this Saturday night! We are partnering with Sweet & Saucy Shop, Joia, Found Rentals and Me & Mr. Cassidy for the night and you won't want to miss it! You'll find all the info below.

Welcome to Salvage Life in Long Beach

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 09 Jul 2013 15:39:00 +0000

We did it! After months of preparations, the store is open for business! A huge thank you to Jeff for building all the racks, cash wrap, light fixture and pretty much everything that had to be made for the shop. We still have a few things to do to the exterior and I'd love your ideas for behind the cash wrap. I'm thinking maybe a logo decal or an instagram collage? We will be making changes to the blog and website soon to incorporate our new logo by Hi Design and stay tuned for the Grand Opening Party announcement. This is such an exciting time and I am so thrilled to share it with all of you friends I have made over my 7 years in business, cheers to you! For shop hours and info click here.

Our New Store Opens Tomorrow!

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Fri, 05 Jul 2013 05:16:00 +0000

It's been awhile and I really miss this space. So much has happened in the last few months and I am extremely thankful for your patience and communication through instagram and facebook. Our whole family and many of our friends have sacrificed time and resources to help us open this shop and we are so grateful. Jeff has been working eighty hour weeks between his day job and the shop preparations. The girls have been eating cheerios on the shop floor and have had far less baths this month than any month prior. It was all worth it though. I am excited to announce that we will open our doors tomorrow night for the First Fridays in Bixby Knolls from 6:30 to 9:30 and then will be open the following hours through the summer:

Sunday 12-5
Monday Closed
Tuesday-Friday 11-5
Saturday 10-6

We are located at 3712 Atlantic Ave. Suite A in Long Beach. Our new shop number is (562) 726-1147. The month of July will be a soft opening and then we will have a Grand Opening Party in late August/early September, we'll keep you posted. I'm sure we will have a lot of kinks to work out, so please be patient with us.

Here are a few photos of the store in progress, you'll have to come in to see the finished product. Can't wait to show you more!

A Little Break

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:47:00 +0000

I just wanted to write a quick note to say that due to the new store opening in July and all the preparations, I need to take a break from this blog. We will still keep you regularly updated on Instagram (salvagelife) and Facebook. If you like to be alerted of new arrivals to the online shop, receive promotional discounts and be alerted about the new store and events, please sign up for our Newsletter. Thank you!

Vintage Inspired Clothing Line: Kling

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 17:10:00 +0000

I am spending the month of April researching and placing orders for the new store. It's been fun trying to find lines that mix in well with our vintage pieces. One of the lines I am really excited about is Kling from Spain. They have such a sweet aesthetic and I am in love with all the pieces I ordered from them for the fall. Here are some of my favorite styles from their Spring collection. I won't have any of these in the shop because they are current season, but this should give you a feel for the line.

Mixing Vintage & New Outfit Post

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:32:00 +0000

One of the really exciting things about the new shop is that I get to include vintage inspired clothing pieces in our offerings! We have had many requests over the years for multiples of our vintage items and to carry various sizes. I have been carefully selecting items that fit the Salvage Life aesthetic and compliment our vintage clothing. If you don't live nearby, not to worry, these will be in the online shop as well! One of the first pieces I ordered was this tulle skirt, it's so romantic and flattering. Here I am wearing it with a vintage blouse, vintage bag and modern wedges.

blouse: vintage, Salvage Life

skirt: O2 collection, Salvage Life

bag: vintage, Salvage Life

shoes: sam edelman

ring, necklace: my own

ring: custom stamped "live simply", Lisa Leonard

{photos by Emily Goswick}

My Temporary Home Office

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 22:52:00 +0000

We are officially moved out of our studio and back to my house! The home office is positioned in the dining room and honestly, it's not as bad as I thought it would be. I sure enjoyed the two years we had in our studio and I will never forget how great it was to get all of the merchandise and work paraphernalia out of the house when we first got the keys. I had been contemplating a move for awhile, so when the ideal retail space in my neighborhood became available, I jumped at the chance. It's going to be a little nuts working from home for two months, but on June 1st we will have the keys to our new retail space at 3712 Atlantic Ave. in Long Beach and we'll begin renovations with an approximate opening date of July 1st. I am so excited! Over the next few months I will be re-writing my business plan, researching merchandise and making all the necessary preparations for the new store. Salvage Life will be evolving to carry new pieces alongside the vintage in order to meet the growing demand for beautiful clothing in various sizes. We will also have accessories, small decor and gift items. Most of the new merchandise will also be available in our online shop.

A Current Affair Spring 2013 Show

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:56:00 +0000

We had a great time over the weekend at A Current Affair. It's always fun to see what people are drawn to from our collection. I was especially attentive this time around as I am in the process of researching and buying for the new store. We have a hectic week this week as we are moving out of the studio and, my cousin is getting married on Friday and Easter is Sunday. Starting next week, I will be working from home until June. I'm nervous and excited!

P.S. Did you spot Fiona in the first and second photo? She was the hit of the show! I brought that little vintage crib and everyone who came by did a double take.

Vintage Leather Travel Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:42:00 +0000

I've been busy cleaning out the studio and making plans for the next few months. I'm hoping to have some news to share soon as to where we are going, fingers crossed! Thank you to everyone who came to the moving sale, it went really well! We still have stuff though, so if you're looking for something or want to stop by let me know! With all this work, a vacation sounds very appealing. Not sure I'll be taking one this summer, but I will try to live vicariously through whoever buys these bags. They are all just perfect for a relaxing getaway!

A Current Affair Spring Show

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:05:00 +0000

Join us this Saturday for A Current Affair. It's always a great show! The vendors here have fantastic vintage that is relevant to what is in style and showcased in a modern way. No musty smells, or tacking lighting here. It's great for people watching too, you never know what celebrity you will see or what new trend you will spot. I hope you will join us!

The Cream Event, Los Angeles

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Giles) — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 16:39:00 +0000

I went to The Cream over the weekend and I was freakin' in love with everything. Amazing food, drinks (though I didn't have any because I had the babes with me, but they looked pretty!), beautiful tables, lovely ladies and all around fabulous partying of every kind. I've been married for almost ten years, but that didn't stop me from going to this wedding event, I just think of it as an inspiration party. Oh to be a lucky bride who visited the Cream and left full of ideas and contacts for her big day! My top three vendors for the night were: Room Forty (super friendly owner, fantastic service and beautiful delicious food), La Boheme (boho vintage style event planning with a touch of luxe) and of course, Found Rentals (how can you not love Jeni and her amazing collection of vintage and antique everything?!!). Honestly though, every vendor was top notch, you can view the full list here and for more photos of the night, see my album.

Salvage Life Moving Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:00:00 +0000

If you follow me on instagram, you probably saw the photo I posted last week about a big announcement. Salvage Life is moving! We are in the process of moving out of our studio and looking for a retail location. I really want to create a retail experience and grow the business in a new way as well as expand the online shop, but I just can't do that where we are located currently. I have loved the space for two years and now it is time to let it go. Since we will be needing to put things in storage while we look for a new space, I am clearing things out at a big moving sale this weekend. Come to the studio (3941 Long Beach Blvd. 90807) on Saturday March 16th from 9am to 1pm. We'll have tons of vintage clothes (many as low as $5), shoes, bags, furniture, books and more. All of the items below are for sale and we will be adding more photos to a facebook album throughout the week. Hope you can make it!

A Brain Full of Colorful Gemstones

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:00:00 +0000

You know when you throw a bunch of chain necklaces in a drawer or a purse pocket and they get all tangled up? My brain feels like those necklaces on most days. Between the kids, the house and the business, I'm always going every which way and struggle to concentrate on one thing. I wish my brain looked more like this photo, a clean white canvas with beautiful gemstones. Oh well, you have to work with whatcha got!

What I'd Wear For A Day of Shopping

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 19:28:00 +0000

If your like me, shopping is a favorite past time, not a chore. I want to look cute when I'm out, so I'm in the mood to shop, but I have to be practical at the same time. I'd wear something frilly, but pair it with a basic, so it's not over the top. I'd wear low heels because I will be on my feet a lot and they they need to slip on and off easily in case I want to try some things on. Usually I would carry a practical bag, like a cross body satchel, but this outfit really needed some color and texture. Now if only I had a day to myself to spend shopping!

1. socks 2. top 3. necklace 4. bag 5. skirt 6. booties

Vintage Clothing Sale + 10% Off

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:23:00 +0000

It's time for a sale to make room for some pretty new spring items! FYI, the coupon is only valid in our online shop, not the etsy shop.

New Vintage Necklaces, Bags & Dresses

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:23:00 +0000

I hope you had a nice weekend, I sure did, it has been so warm here, it felt like summer! We've been working on some plans for the future of Salvage Life and I'm pretty excited. Things are pretty up in the air right now, but I'm flexing my visionary muscles and that is fun in and of itself. We have some colorful new things in the shop which I think you will like. Have a great day!

Long Beach Flea Market Outfit

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 14:44:00 +0000

One of the best parts of living in Southern California is that not a weekend goes by without a flea market to visit! Sometimes I go for serious shopping and I show up early in jeans, layered sweaters and no make-up, other times, like the one below at the Long Beach Flea, I go to stroll and browse, so I have time to wear something worth showing in photos. Though, I was thinking it might be fun to do a post on what to wear for hard core flea market shopping with a breakdown of each item and a list of things to have in your bag.

dress: vintage

cardigan: thrifted

tights: target

boots: vintage

bag: vintage via the vintage emporium

sunglasses: target

necklace: my grandmother's

{photos by Emily Goswick}

Dear Creatures Spring 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 00:34:00 +0000

You know those lines that you wish you were the designer for? Well, Dear Creatures is that line for me season after season. Their Spring line doesn't disappoint. So sweet!

Vintage Street Style: The Long Beach Flea Market

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:38:00 +0000

Last Sunday we went to the Long Beach Antique Flea Market because we're working on some vintage shopping how to posts and we saw it as a great opportunity to snap some street style shots. There were a lot of layers and grunge looks out there, which makes sense...people got up early, threw on a sweatshirt, hat, and glasses and headed out. We did catch a few colorfully dressed gals too. Here are some of the stylish ladies we encountered.

I love the variety of glasses we saw and I can't wait to give this scarf and glasses look a try! Are you planning any vintage shopping this weekend? Where are you going?
(photos by Emily Goswick)

Meet Our Newest Team Member

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 15:10:00 +0000

After working for myself and alone for five years, I love that my business has taken a turn to include more people. When I hired Amy last year, it was stressful figuring out payroll and training her to do many of the things that I had done without a system that whole time. I'm not organized (at all) and that really holds me back sometimes. I'm trying, but I have a long way to go. The thing that I didn't understand at the time, was that if I had other people doing all the shipping, product listings, etc., I would not only have more time to be creative and visionary about the future of Salvage Life, but I would have the mental space to actually dream, plan and execute my ideas.

Here I am again with a new team member and I could be more excited! Meet Kristina, she's a Fashion Merchandising major at Cal State University Long Beach (my alma mater!), loves travel (especially Italy), has an extensive scarf collection from what I hear and is just all around sweet and beautiful! She has already jumped right in with two feet and is doing a great job. I look forward to working with her more and seeing where this semester takes us!

(photos by emily goswick)

Vintage Wall Maps

noreply@blogger.com (Beth Giles) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 22:33:00 +0000

Do you have a wall in your room or living area that is in desperate need of color or a large piece of art? How about hanging a vintage map? I'm always changing things around in my house based on what I've found lately. Currently, I have this map I picked up at an estate sale on the wall above my buffet. It makes for such a great conversation piece because it's pretty old, but there is no date on it, so when people come over they are always checking country names and trying to determine what year it is from. (In case you are wondering, we think we've narrowed it down to the mid-thirties).

I did a little hunting and found the maps below on Etsy, however, you can search flea markets, estate sales or even Craigslist to find one of these.

Photo credits: 1 (salvage life), 2 , 3, 4, 5, 6

If these are too pricey for you, there is a great tutorial here to make your own DIY version.

If you're interested in more inspiration on how to use a vintage map in your space, we created a pinboard here.

The Vintage Version: Transparent Clutches

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 17:57:00 +0000

Spring is coming soon and I've been looking at the collections again, there are so many pretty things! As usual, there are lots of styles derived from vintage inspiration. When I saw these transparent clutches from Valentino, I instantly thought of the 1950's Lucite versions. If you don't mind everyone seeing what's inside your bag, these are a fun accessory to carry!

You can find vintage versions of these in antique shops and online for a hundred or so dollars as opposed to a thousands of dollars for the runway version. Here are a few I found: 1, 2, 3.

This one is a completely different shape, but I love it, and we have this similar one in our shop.

Want to learn a little more about the history of lucite bags? See this article from Collector's Weekly.

A Housewarming Brunch with Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Beth) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 21:14:00 +0000

Have you ever met someone online and later become good friends in real life? Isn't it the best?!! I met Rodellee of Adored Vintage awhile back and it feels like we've always been friends. She is such a genuinely sweet person. Over the weekend, we celebrated with a housewarming brunch at her new place in Long Beach. I'm so excited to have her in the same city!

The lovely and inspiring Rodellee Baas.

A little table by the front door where you make yourself a name tag.

Ruby was really intent on wearing her vintage best to the party.

Fiona was very happy that day, she had just learned to sit up on her own.

Sisters. These girls love each other.

Pancakes taste better when they are shaped like a heart!

Simple decor. I should have taken more photos of her studio.

Wall collections never fail.

Succulents in a can, I think this was a house warming gift from one of the guests. So cute!

Vintage girls unite! Hilarious, I was ducking down because Rodellee and Rebecca are so petite.

Jeff, me, Rodelle & Robby. Congrats on your new place, friend!