Perennial Vintage Supply

Cottagecore Craze: Unleashing the Jessica Fletcher in Your Life

I've been doing this for years, and I still love tuning in and seeing what I missed the first (or fifth) time around. One of the best things about this show, aside from the fact that it revolves around a writer who lives in a cozy New England town, surrounded by friends, and gets to solve murders (a super ideal life goal for me, really), is her wardrobe.

I realize this is all mid-'80s to 1990s clothing. And I lived through it. I wore it. And some of it was not so great. But some of it was, and I love it. And guess what? It's all back in again.

Because I sell vintage clothing, even some of the newer '80s stuff (I prefer "true vintage," which tends to be older - '20s through '70s), I get to see the changing trends and latest fashion crazes. One of the newer crazes, which has been around for a couple of years, is called cottagecore. What is cottagecore? Exactly what you think it is: grandma in her cottage, lace, flowers, teapots, gardens, floral anything really, plaids and checks, sweaters with geese on them... you get the idea. It's slow living at its finest. It's cooking and baking. It's reading and knitting.

It's the life I yearn to live, really.

So, when I'm watching the fabulous Jessica Fletcher do her sleuthing, you can bet I'm watching what she's wearing. I saw this fabulous sweater that was hidden underneath her jacket. Just based on what I've sold in my shop, this is either an Eddie Bauer or a Lands' End sweater. It has teapots on it! And hearts, and probably the whole "Home Sweet Home" written on it as well.

I googled it, hoping I would find this sweater, but I haven't been able to find it. Regardless, I just sourced this fun Lands' End cottagecore vest. It's in the shop now and wow, do I love it. It really is a throwback to the British Fair Isle vests that are so worn and loved there.

I also have a few other cottage core sweaters. Look at these! Pigs, geese, and cats ... oh my.

Anyway, have a wonderful week, and when in doubt about what to wear, always ask, What would Jessica Fletcher wear? Her wardrobe is classic and truly timeless. I wouldn't mind a whole closet full of her belts, sweaters, jackets, and amazing Coach purses.

Hues of Blues Fall Drop │ Vintage Fall Fashion at Perennial Vintage

Today, I dragged my husband to a different part of town (from where I normally thrift), where there are a couple of huge thrift stores. I thrift all the time, by myself, and without a problem. I love it. Like, really love it. The issue is that these two are so huge (in South Sacramento), and I don't want to do it all by myself. Besides, I love bringing him along.

He always has a perspective on vintage that I don't, or is suggesting pieces I wouldn't normally choose. More often than not, he's right in his choices. He has a great eye and is a super picker for my shop.

Today's haul was a bunch of great '80s and '90s denim, some deadstock plaid flannels, and even two '60s Hawaiian pieces (I'm always sourcing Hawaiian merchandise - year-round).

The busy season for me has finally begun. It's mid-August as I write this, and though it's in the triple digits here in Northern California and a great deal of the greater US, fall is on the mind of most shoppers. I'm already selling sweaters and jackets, and it'll go non-stop through February!

Head on over to the shop. I have a few things on sale just to clear out inventory for my new fall and winter merchandise that need a place on the rack! Have a wonderful end of your summer. Fall will be here in a month, and for that, I am so grateful.

-Heather

Fall is Coming: Get Ready for the Season at Perennial Vintage on Etsy

I'm ready for fall to get here. While it's still a few months away, starting August 1st (as far as selling vintage clothing on Etsy goes), people begin hunting for fall clothing on that day. It's remarkable.

I think it's because August 1st signals school will be in session soon, and the nights begin to shorten, and evenings and mornings "crisp" air returns.

The back-to-school call beckons all who listen, even if they're not in school! It's ingrained into us, at least it was for me, on the new shoes, backpack, and a couple of clothing items acquired every August. It's not fall without a few new items to wear.

If that's how you feel, too, then be glad: I've started restocking plaids, flannels, sweaters, and (always) jeans, for this very reason.

Head on over to Perennial Vintage, where I love to say this time of year, "The Pendletons are coming, the Pendletons are coming!" much in the same way good old Paul yelled out about the British.

-Heather

Vintage '50s Shadow Plaid Pendleton

Vintage '80s Pendleton

The Papel Mug Company

Just recently, I picked up a vintage mug for my shop and looked at the bottom of it. It was made by Papel. Papel is a company I've seen for decades. I've owned Papel mugs for years, and I remember seeing it growing up. I just figured Papel was another gift-making company, like Hallmark, that had been around since the '80s.

Well, I finally did a deeper dive into the brand, and what came up totally shocked me: Papel began at Walt Disney's Disneyland in 1955. What? How did I not know this? Papel's mug invasion all started and thrived because Walt took a chance at letting the owner and creator, Phil Papel, set up a small shop on Main Street, USA, of Disneyland. He called his shop "Ruggles China and Gifts." This wonderful storefront was there from 1955 to 1964.

The rest is history.

I'm such a Disneyland fan, have gone dozens of times, love the joy Walt Disney created, and am in awe of his visionary and creative endeavors. I also love vintage mugs, have a slight obsession with collecting and selling mugs, so this combination of two loves into one is sort of over-the-top incredible. I'm having a hard time believing two cherished things - Disney and vintage mugs - get to be celebrated together!

I've had issues tracking down, tracing, and researching other brands of vintage items I sell in my shop. It's as if some designers disappear after having a wonderful career. And if no one is recording the history of the brand, it disappears with them. Which is a horrible shame. Papel, on the other hand, actually has a history (thankfully, his son is making sure the name continues in the history books!) and there's even a website, through his son Stanley, which is remarkable.

Stanley is still making sure his father's legacy is written down, recorded, and known. He's on LinkedIn with lots of information regarding a book or two he's written about his father. The current one is called "Generation to Generation," and you can find it here. I look forward to reading it.

There is another page of information I found about Papel through Phil's granddaughter, Melissa (Stanley's daughter), and it is loaded with images of designs. They were the FIRST company to do personalized name mugs. Amazing.

300 million mugs sold later, even though the mug production is no longer, the history, love, and incredible tenacity of a man named Phil Papel created a corporation that put smiles on millions of American homes over the years.

What a legacy. Thank you, Phil Papel, for your ingenuity and vision for filling a void in the coffee mug industry. And thank you, Stanley, for continuing that legacy.

If you're anything like me, you have had - or still have - a Papel mug (or more) in your cupboards. And guess what? You have Phil Papel to thank for that.

Cheers. May your mug be vintage and your coffee hot.

-Heather

Picture sourced by Stuff from the Park

The fun Papel mug that got me interested in Papel, in the shop!

Love this.

John Romain Handbag

The thing about living on the West Coast is that we don't always get the colloquial style or fashion of designers from the East or South, particularly if the designer is from that area. At least, this is how it used to be before advertising was as big as it is now, which includes the invention of social media. But decades ago, a designer from the East Coast may not have been as popular on the West Coast, all because of locality.

Take Lily Pulitzer, which originated in the late '50s in Palm Beach, Florida. Ask the random girl or woman out here in California who that is, and they'd have no idea. Even today. Ask any random girl or woman in the south or east coast, and everyone would not only know who it is but would probably be wearing something Lily on their person. I've only found a handful of Pulitzer dresses over the years because I'm in California. Head over to Florida, and that changes dramatically. I went thrifting with one of my best friends when I was in Jacksonville last year, and Lilly was everywhere.

So, when I sourced this beautiful John Romain handbag, I had no clue who this was. The bag was worn out, needed a good cleaning and a whole lot of conditioner, and she perked right up. This bag dates back to 1968, and it remains challenging to find information about the Staten Island designer from the 1960s. There is no website dedicated to him and his designs, so all I can find are blog posts from people like me who own these bags, want them, or have a little more historical background. (If John Romain's family is reading this, PLEASE dedicate a website to him, his history, and all of his designs! The designing and fashion world, particularly the vintage world, needs it.)

This one post, written by Arlene Lassin a few years ago, was a fun read, and she gave me quite a bit of info. I also found this little blurb on a Substack blog, Handbag Designer 101, which said this:

Founded by John Romain, his eponymous handbags were a symbol of classic American style and rose to prominence in the 1960s and 1970s. John Romain Handbags were known for their distinctive combination of high-quality leather and woven fabric panels, paired with shapes and brass hardware, creating a signature preppy aesthetic that appealed to the collegiate and country club set. While the brand faded from prominence as fashion trends shifted, its legacy endures among vintage collectors who value its mid-century design and enduring appeal.

Below is the beautiful bag I sourced. Look at how well it was made, the rivets to the leather. Such quality. Purse is in the shop right now (and in two people's carts waiting to purchase), so get it while it's here! ♥

Have a wonderful weekend.

-Heather