August 2011

Unique Vintage

Aug 29, 2011

From 1920’s Flapper girls, shaking their hand-beaded dresses to the sweet tunes of Mamie Smith, to 1940’s starlets, elegantly gracing the silver screen with their bouncy barrel rolls and rouge cheeks. The women of the past were not only beautiful and classy, but breathed style, a timeless style, which has anchored us to hold onto their fashions forever.

Unique Vintage is not only worldly renowned for their modern day vintage, 50’s reproduction, and Flapper dresses, but this store is a bridal shop and prom store all rolled into one. Although the store has only been open since August of 2008, people who come to visit L.A. from all over the world, always make a special trip just to see the store.

With it’s pink striped awning and eye-catching window displays, the store is not hard to find on the busy Magnolia Blvd. In fact, the mannequins are changed every week, keeping you updated on the hottest finds from 1950’s bathing suits to short and sassy prom dresses. Once inside, sparkling chandeliers hang above and illuminate the elegant store as you shop.

Owner, Katie, started her business out of her garage 11 years ago when she was just a pharmaceutical rep. She started by selling authentic vintage but then soon realized that the market for this type of clothing was limited. Since most vintage items are one of a kind and come in smaller sizes, Katie broadened the market in search of reproductions. Unique Vintage took off and the market for vintage was booming. When the doctor’s office moved out next door, Unique Vintage jumped on the opportunity and expanded its store and its walls and re-opened in January of 2011 with double the space it had before. Now carrying men and kid’s clothing, Unique Vintage is not done expanding and developing.

This amazing store is a haven for everything pinup, rockabilly, greaser and vintage. Every item is handpicked allowing only certain items out of each clothing line to be sold so that the best of the best remains in their store. Brands like Bernie Dexter, Heartbreakers, Lolita Girl, Lux De Ville, Lucky 13, Bessame Cosmetics, and Unique Vintage’s own brand of vintage copies can be found in sizes ranging from 0-18.

The store especially booms during Prom and Homecoming months for local schools like Burbank High and Burroughs. The line can sometimes reach out the door as girls pick from an assortment of unique and stylish dresses from designer brands to dresses $128 and under. As for wedding gowns, prior to the January re-opening, the store only carried a limited selection of vintage tea dresses. Now, floor length bridal gowns and modern wedding dresses fill up their newly established space with name brands like Maggie Sottero, Allure, and Marilee.

Although the store is huge and carries a wide assortment of 50’s dresses, vintage bathing suits, wedding gowns, formal wear, and accessories, including: purses, make-up trunks, hair accessories, shoes, and knick knacks, Unique Vintage only carries 30-40% of the items that are seen on the website. In fact, 90% of sales occurs online, and ships internationally.

The store even has a computer ready for your convenience, that way you can show the staff what exactly you are looking for, or just browse the huge online selection. Since the store only carries one of each designer item, including wedding gowns, you can try it on and order your size to be shipped to the store for free. The staff is always helpful and friendly, catering to all your fashion needs.

Check out the Unique Vintage Facebook page for the pinup girl contest! Post your photo on the wall and the top three girls with the most ‘likes’ will be submitted to the finals round where the Unique Vintage staff will pick the lucky winner. Along with a $50 gift certificate, the winning girl will be named model of the month! Get those portraits done girls, and start uploading today!!!

Location: 2013 W. Magnolia Blvd, Burbank
(800) 721-6586
Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-6pm
www.unique-vintage.com

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Wax Poetic Salon

Aug 13, 2011

Beauty salons are so frequent on Magnolia Blvd., that choosing the right one among the list is like only eating one slice of your birthday cake. Come on! It’s next to impossible. Wax Poetic Salon, makes the choice easy by offering its customers an experience rather than a service.

Wax Poetic is not only a full service hair studio, but it also offers spray tanning, spa services including facials and waxing, as well as make up and lash services. This well rounded salon and spa is a conveyor belt for beauty, allowing you to meet all your needs in one location while gaining points and earning loyalty credit as a valued customer.

For every 1000 points you earn, $1 is awarded to you in store credit. Points can be earned by referring friends, getting services done, buying merchandise, as well as booking your appointments online.

As one of the larger salons on Magnolia, Wax Poetic is almost twice the size of its neighbors and vibrantly fresh with a youthfully hip and urban vibe. This salon/spa is all about catering to their clients, and they offer a full drink bar where customers can enjoy a glass of wine, beer, or coffee while getting pampered.

You’ll never be bored in Wax Poetic while you wait, especially with the large assortment of beauty supplies to browse through. The salon carries a wide range of products including Voluspa candles, greeting cards, aromatherapy shower steamers by Hydra, Essie nail polish, make up by Young Blood as well as styling products by Bumble & Bumble, Hair Care, and much more.

All employees are trained proficiently in their specific position and their high quality training matched alongside their broad list of services, allows Wax Poetic to be a top salon not only on Magnolia, but in all of Burbank.

For a full price list, check out their website at www.waxpoeticsalon.com

Location: 3208 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Hours: Tues-Fri 10am-7:30pm, Sat 9:30am-6:30pm
818-843-9469

Toadstool Farm Vintage

Aug 7, 2011

With soft palettes of sweet yellow, hanging chandeliers glistening off the vintage china, spicy scents lingering from burning candles, romantic tunes dancing in the air, and a sprinkle of magic, Toadstool Farm Vintage was born. Owner, Jacqueline Collen-Tarrolly, opened the store to follow her dream and keep busy while her daughter, Antonia, was off to school.

This vintage/brick and mortar store carries an arrangement of vintage and vintage-like items including clothing, jewelry, accessories, furniture, home décor, fine china, candles, soaps, perfumes, art, books, shoes, buttons, and so much more. Enjoy handmade soap for $4, handcrafted jewelry, organic soy candles for $18, perfume by Medieval, and fantasy feather earrings by The Vintage Angel. Decorated like it was pulled right off the French quarter, Toadstool Farm is warm and inviting, holding items that are unique and magical.

Jacqueline, who has sold her art online and at passing Renaissance fairs, now sells them in her store. Tucked in the corner is her very own art studio where visitors and customers can watch Jacqueline hard at work, creating her next masterpiece. Revolved around pure femininity, magic, and mystical creatures, Collen-Tarolly’s art is unique, awe-inspiring, and visually aesthetic. The colors run deep, allowing the emotion and spirit of the pictures to come alive. Prints are $20 for 8x10 and $30 for 11x14.

Toadstool Farm is a haven, and an escape away from the hustle and flow of the busy streets. Come relax on the sofa in the reading corner and fall into classics like The Lady of the Lake and Black Beauty. Toss a penny in the wishing well and watch your deepest desires come true, or just enjoy the warm and welcoming presence of Jacqueline and her dog, Ella.

The prices are extremely affordable and unlike most vintage shops, Toadstool Farm is also a consignment store. You can find practically every item for sale here, from the dresser that holds her art to the candle sticks decorating the walls. Don’t be surprised if you spend hours browsing the knick knacks, trying on the fun clothes, and falling in love with Jacqueline’s art. This vintage store is truly a diamond in the rough.