OK, this officially sucks.

[Kristy C]

Now I know why girls start planning their wardrobe for VLV 6 months or more ahead of time.

I am so frustrated!! I keep getting outbid on Ebay for RIDICULOUS amounts, and I mean ridiculous. Take for example the used Ruby Rox dress that just got bid up to almost $150 dollars today....my max bid was about $60. I mean COME ON!!!! A used Ruby Rox dress, not even that expensive of a brand, and in worn condition....$150 f****** dollars??? People are sick. I mean yeah, the dress was bomb but give me a break.
This isn't the only item that I have seen bid to the heavens and to irrational amounts. I give up on Ebay officially tonight.

I also give up on trying to order stuff from Pinupgirlclothing.com, Stop Staring, Baby Girl Boutique, and all the others. No sizes left ( in the stuff I want, at least).....except and XXL or XS.

So far I have one dress and an outfit for the car show, that's it. So it's safe to say I have NO CLOTHES as of now for Viva. I am so happy we are going, cause up until about a month ago we didn't think we were gonna make it, and now we are, but arghhhh!!!

Bet your ass I'll be hitting up the Vendors a.s.a.p on Thursday morning cause it looks like I am gonna have to do all my shopping when we get there.

Any one else going through this?

[Kim Bombshell]

I rarely do Ebay, but one tip is maybe don't do a VLV search. Just do Vintage 50s and then your size (s, m, l), and dress.

I am fortunate that I collected a few really hot vintage dresses this year and I planned ahead with a few whirlingturban dresses I haven't worn to Vegas yet. With the Rave in October, it is making it more difficult since that makes another big Vegas event to dress for. I am going to recycle a Rave outfit at the tiki pool party. I don't care if anyone notices they've seen me in the dress before. This year I think I might squeeze in a few vintage day outfits, too, since I scored 4 pairs of deadstock vintage western pants ($25 each!) and 2 deadstock vintage dresses this year ($40 for one and one was given me). My problem is I need some shorty cowboy boots to complete a look, and can't afford them! My friend is going to loan me a pair.

[Kim Bombshell]

borrow from friends! That can help cut down the costs! A lot of girls do that right before Vegas. They have parties where they bring what they aren't wearing or wore in years past, and everyone tries on and borrows.

[Kristy C]

Well I don't have anyone I can borrow from....I tried doing a search leaving out VLV and found stuff but still not my size.

I read about a store called "Bad Attitude" on Sahara Blvd that I am gonna check out. Most retail places keep their stock current when there is an event they know will bring them more business than usual.

We are getting in on Wednesday, so that means we will be one of the first to hit up the vendors with their fresh stock on Thursday.

I'm just not used to doing things this way, every other year we have known we were gonna go so I was able to prepare in time. I'm sure I'll find some stuff between the vendors and the store, it just makes me nervous going to Vegas with no clothes in tow!

[Cherry Pie]

You're lucky that you can do vintage. I went to a store in Toronto last month, could not find ANYTHING that would fit! I'm 5'9 130 and apparently a whale because the dresses from that era were ridiculously tiny! The bust lines barley would cover my chest!!!!!!!!!!
The clerk told me women from that time were crazy with the corsets and were malnourished too haha!
I basically left crying!!!!!!!!!
But life goes on and I found some fun flowering type dresses at Marshall's and Platos Closet :)

Kim Bombshell said:

I rarely do Ebay, but one tip is maybe don't do a VLV search. Just do Vintage 50s and then your size (s, m, l), and dress.

I am fortunate that I collected a few really hot vintage dresses this year and I planned ahead with a few whirlingturban dresses I haven't worn to Vegas yet. With the Rave in October, it is making it more difficult since that makes another big Vegas event to dress for. I am going to recycle a Rave outfit at the tiki pool party. I don't care if anyone notices they've seen me in the dress before. This year I think I might squeeze in a few vintage day outfits, too, since I scored 4 pairs of deadstock vintage western pants ($25 each!) and 2 deadstock vintage dresses this year ($40 for one and one was given me). My problem is I need some shorty cowboy boots to complete a look, and can't afford them! My friend is going to loan me a pair.

[Wink Holliday]

Heads up: In years past, the vendors couldn't start selling until 6pm on Thursday.

Hit up your local vintage, consignment, and thrift shops, and you'd be amazed what you can come up with from the racks of stores like Ross, TJMaxx, and Marshalls. I'm lucky that I live near Boss Vintage (they'll be at VLV again this year, definitely hit them up) which stocks a HUGE range of stuff and at very reasonable prices. Also, the clerks who do the pricing at the slew of thrift stores around here don't seem to know much about vintage, and price things VERY low. Hopefully they're equally unaware near you.

[Sweet 'N' Dandy]

Ive been seeing the opposite thing happen on ebay. I notice vintage items going for way less then they are worth. Im just bummed I forgot to bid last minute on them.
Be forewarned the clothes at Vegas are very expensive. The vendors need to make up for traveling and booth costs.
Did you try Whirlingturban.com ? I know Kim is always going on about it. I got come money together and ordered a dress from the boutique. It came in 4 DAYS!!!!
Anyways good luck!

[Kim Bombshell]

Boss vintage is great! They are reasonable for Vegas and they have the measurements on each tag, so it is less of a guessing game when you try something on.

Wink Holliday said:

Heads up: In years past, the vendors couldn't start selling until 6pm on Thursday.

Hit up your local vintage, consignment, and thrift shops, and you'd be amazed what you can come up with from the racks of stores like Ross, TJMaxx, and Marshalls. I'm lucky that I live near Boss Vintage (they'll be at VLV again this year, definitely hit them up) which stocks a HUGE range of stuff and at very reasonable prices. Also, the clerks who do the pricing at the slew of thrift stores around here don't seem to know much about vintage, and price things VERY low. Hopefully they're equally unaware near you.

[Kim Bombshell]

You have to keep looking! I have to search and search to find stuff in my size and I am a lot bigger than you!

Cherry Pie said:

You're lucky that you can do vintage. I went to a store in Toronto last month, could not find ANYTHING that would fit! I'm 5'9 130 and apparently a whale because the dresses from that era were ridiculously tiny! The bust lines barley would cover my chest!!!!!!!!!!
The clerk told me women from that time were crazy with the corsets and were malnourished too haha! I basically left crying!!!!!!!!! But life goes on and I found some fun flowering type dresses at Marshall's and Platos Closet :)

Kim Bombshell said:

I rarely do Ebay, but one tip is maybe don't do a VLV search. Just do Vintage 50s and then your size (s, m, l), and dress.

I am fortunate that I collected a few really hot vintage dresses this year and I planned ahead with a few whirlingturban dresses I haven't worn to Vegas yet. With the Rave in October, it is making it more difficult since that makes another big Vegas event to dress for. I am going to recycle a Rave outfit at the tiki pool party. I don't care if anyone notices they've seen me in the dress before. This year I think I might squeeze in a few vintage day outfits, too, since I scored 4 pairs of deadstock vintage western pants ($25 each!) and 2 deadstock vintage dresses this year ($40 for one and one was given me). My problem is I need some shorty cowboy boots to complete a look, and can't afford them! My friend is going to loan me a pair.

[Kim Bombshell]

Whirlingturban is the bomb! I love her stuff and the fit is so good. I can't wait to see you in the dress at Vegas!

Sweet 'N' Dandy said:

Ive been seeing the opposite thing happen on ebay. I notice vintage items going for way less then they are worth. Im just bummed I forgot to bid last minute on them.
Be forewarned the clothes at Vegas are very expensive. The vendors need to make up for traveling and booth costs.
Did you try Whirlingturban.com ? I know Kim is always going on about it. I got come money together and ordered a dress from the boutique. It came in 4 DAYS!!!!
Anyways good luck!

[Kristy C]

To be quite honest....and I am gonna go out on a limb and admit this......I really don't do much actual vintage. I adore the idea of it, and it does look good on people who can pull it off....but, I am more of a repro girl.

I bought a couple things the last few years from vendors at VLV and the prices didn't seem that much worse than what they are normally on the sites. Most of the Stop Staring. Mode Merr and whatnot were around $85-$150.

Ugh, all I can say is wish me luck. I have yet to hit up my local specialty boutiques that carry rockabilly clothes, so we'll see what happens. I have a feeling I am gonna do most of my shopping when I get there, though.

[Wink Holliday]

I wear more vintage than repro because if I look hard enough, vintage can be considerably less expensive! Assuming that the gas I use and the time I spend is all free. ;) But really, I've been collecting vintage 'stuff' for as long as I can remember. I know it's a lot tougher to find the perfect piece when you have a deadline!

Keep in mind: one of the benefits of vintage is knowing that you'll likely be the only girl wearing your dress. A friend of mine was wearing the same Stop Staring dress as a gal standing nearby at the burlesque show a few years ago, and while my friend rolled with it, I sensed that she was a little bummed. Bound to happen, though.

Kristy C said:

To be quite honest....and I am gonna go out on a limb and admit this......I really don't do much actual vintage. I adore the idea of it, and it does look good on people who can pull it off....but, I am more of a repro girl.

I bought a couple things the last few years from vendors at VLV and the prices didn't seem that much worse than what they are normally on the sites. Most of the Stop Staring. Mode Merr and whatnot were around $85-$150.

Ugh, all I can say is wish me luck. I have yet to hit up my local specialty boutiques that carry rockabilly clothes, so we'll see what happens. I have a feeling I am gonna do most of my shopping when I get there, though.

[Wink Holliday]

Tell me about it! I recently RE-listed a vintage ’40s swimsuit, in excellent condition, on eBay because nobody bid on it the first time. The second time around, it finally sold for $67... to the gal who runs Glamoursurf, where you can now buy it for $230. I have a bunch of stuff up right now that I've listed over and over. I once sold a beautiful, broke-my-heart-to-sell-it (but it was too small for me) vintage swing dress for $35. $35!!! Fullest skirt I'd ever seen. Oh man, it still kills me.

"Watch this item" is your friend. You'll get an email reminding you that the auction will be ending soon. :)

Sweet 'N' Dandy said:

Ive been seeing the opposite thing happen on ebay. I notice vintage items going for way less then they are worth. Im just bummed I forgot to bid last minute on them.
Be forewarned the clothes at Vegas are very expensive. The vendors need to make up for traveling and booth costs. Did you try Whirlingturban.com ? I know Kim is always going on about it. I got come money together and ordered a dress from the boutique. It came in 4 DAYS!!!! Anyways good luck!