WE'VE MOVED!!!

Hi all,

We are sooooooooo happy to announce that we've moved ramblings and internet presence to

TREASURY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The blog continues there, although we'll leave good ol' Listopad up for a while. Also, mark your calendars for July 11th...our big grand opening at our brick and mortar store will be happening!!

Community Forklift - YEAH!

Community Forklift is a non-profit that salvages and sells building materials. We can't believe it has been around since 2005 and only now is it a part of lives. Why are you people keeping this a secret?! Is this the sort of place that cool carpenters keep to themselves? We must come together and support this place. You can buy, scavenge, and donate!

This place offers so many elements architectural salvage. We found some very cool antique doors and industrial table legs on the CHEAP. Walking around it was very inspirational, seeing how all these parts that were once a part of something could be reused and remade into something totally unique, stylish, and functional. And you can find used practical stuff you really need like screws, exit signs, ceiling lights, toilets, and sinks. It's basically the home improvement version of a thrift store and it has given our shop's renovation the boost it needed.

love the yellow stained glass and the antique frames!

how beautiful is this wood ? instant fab coffee table anyone ?

can't get enough of marble and CF makes it affordable.

Thanks and Big Ups

We just wanted to thank our buddies and supreme DC movers and shakers at Pandahead and Don't Say I Didn't for their Listopad mentions here and here!!! We really appreciate it and are flattered to be on the minds of these DC culture warriors!

Work In Progress: Painting and Stripping

Our weekend at the beach was traded in for some hefty labor at Treasury's future spot!

How do you make a pvc pipe look cool? Black paint!
We went to Community Forklift this weekend! It was such a thrill and inspiration for us to find old building materials to reuse and repurpose. More about this later... (Thanks, Kathleen and Ashby!)

Our breaks included perfect iced coffee from Cafe Collage around the corner (so thankful this spot is there) and window-watching all the passersby on 14th st.

Makin' progress! But still lots more to do...

An Origami Wardrobe Would be Rad

This is by far the best Origami paper I have found in this city, at Hana Market. Check out the patterns! Aren't they delightfully pretty? I wish I could make a wardrobe out of these patterns and wear them on my boat on a breezy day. Also, I wish I had a boat.

Imagery by Yelena Yemchuk

Ok so I know it's not cool to like the Smashing Pumpkins post Siamese Dream, but in the waning '90s I couldn't help but be enchanted with Adore. I blame Yelena Yemchuk. The imagery in the album itself, the videos, the whole gothic wilderness scene pre-empted FIT and Rick Owens (who owes D'Arcy some serious royalties) by a decade.



Now you can find Yelena shooting Cacharel ads and contributing to Lula, which fits her/their aesthetic perfectly.

Eco Knowledge

We love reading the Bodkin blog for all the deep thoughts a fashionable lady can have regarding the production of clothing and its relationship to our environment. The options for ecologically-minded fabrics seem to be expanding exponentially lately, but we often find while hunting down vintage that a lot of pieces from the 1970s onwards have odd fabric content that sometimes takes a dictionary to decipher.

Here's a good run down of some interesting textiles out there right now:

• Cupro: I got wind of this guy while browsing the Acne selection on Revolve. Apparently "Cupro is not synthetic, nor is it a man-made fabric. It is considered a regenerated fabric, in other words, it is reclaimed from natural products."
• Lyocell:, or brand name Tencel, is basically tree pulp. Awesome!
• Acetate: our old friend (lots of wonderful '80s dresses are composed of this fabric) is also a regenerated fiber from tree pulp.
• Banana fibre: for kimonos. Need we say more?

If companies were digging on these eco fibers starting in the '70s (or less commercially since the 13th century Japan), why don't we see more mainstream iterations nowadays?

Music for Lovers: Remember the Time

More Egypt-obsessing from us here at Listopad...this time it's a '90s take on the classics: gold jewelry, white tunics and jesus sandals--truly the best elements for a carefree summer wardrobe.

Inspiration: Long Lost Sisters

Officially I have five siblings. Unofficially, I have seven. It's those long lost sisters, Emily and Anna, that fascinate me the most.

There was a time they both lived near my mother's house in Silver Spring. Anna, raised partly by my father, may have lived with us at one point. Emily, though she was my father's child, lived with her biological mother and stepfather. My memories of them range from vague to traumatic. Anna dislocated my shoulder when I was a toddler. She was punk. She smoked. She had a chelsea cut and she wore cutoffs. I remember cowering in the living room while she cranked up Elvis Costello's "My Aim Is True" and screeched about how the song was dedicated to me, since my name is Allison. (I said the song isn't about me. She screamed back, "YES IT IS!")

Emily was worlds apart from Anna. She inherited my father's easygoing personality, and she was small, pretty, and mild. Sharing neither parent with Anna, she looked completely different. Despite their differences they were close friends.

Now Anna lives somewhere on the west coast and I haven't seen her for more than a decade. Last I heard she was traveling through Europe selling a new type of caffeinated alcoholic beverage. That was years ago, and I don't even know if it's true. Emily has a family somewhere in Oregon, and she seems to live a happy, normal life.

Here's to my style inspiration: my long lost sisters, Anna and Emily. Click on the photos to see larger versions.

Anna (c. 1990)

Anna (c. 1990)

Emily (c. 1992)

Emily, flanked by friends (c. 1990)

We Will Resume Normal Posting Shortly

Sorry, we've been busy. In the meantime, consider the best dressed person to the Costume Institute's Gala last week:



Class act.

Scene Report: The DC Mini

Last night I headed over to the opening of the DC Mini, a new space owned and operated by Michael Harris of Laughing Man notoriety. Though it was an opening party, the space isn't officially open for business (I'm checking with Mike on a date-- TBD), but last night he and his bandmates invited friends to get a sampling of what we can expect from this new, exciting all ages venue.

The DC Mini brought me back to the days of the Electric Maid, Corner Kick, Wilson Center, and all the random church and college basements I saw shows at in high school. At 14th & Crittenden St. NW, it's in between two heavily residential neighborhoods, Petworth to the east and 16th St. Heights to the west. Many businesses in this strip are Ethiopian-owned, including the excellent restaurant right down the block from the DC Mini, and there's a large Ethiopian church a couple blocks south. The city likes to call this 'hood 14th Street Heights. They even put up signs making it official, so I guess that's what we'll call it.

When I walked in I was taken aback by how large the space is. There is a stage on the west wall, a backstage (!), and a roomy basement ideal for shows. Brandon and Luke of the Laughing Man were handing out cupcakes. Ebony from 52 O St. was iTunes djing. The All Our Noise crew was representing in full, taking video and Twittering like wild. J squared had some vintage clothing, shoes, and accessories for sale. It was fairly crowded when I got there, and when I rolled out around 10:30, people were still hanging and watching the bands. I had a blast at this spot and I see it being a great space for DC music. Kudos, Mike!

The DC Mini

Mike, proprietor

See all my photos on Flickr.

Washington Wizard: Smash

Smash is the perfect boyfriend/girlfriend shopping hybrid. Sure I like records OK and sometimes my boy wants to look at vintage clothes, but most of the time we're both obsessed with the opposite. Where better to pop in on a Saturday for some leisurely shopping but Smash, which incorporates both. PLUS awesome jewelry. Stay punk 2009.

P.S. SUPER CRUCIAL event on May 23rd at the store: Sam McPheeters Spoken Word. I saw that shit in NYC and it twas hilarious.

Vintage Vault: The Pits

Summer is nipping at our heels and that means SWEATING for most of us. Here's how to keep your precious vintage goods from suffering as well:

• For white garments, keep the pit stains in check with hydrogen peroxide. Mix half part water, half part hydrogen peroxide and soak the garment in it for a bit. Rinse!
• We love Oxyclean and Borax. FOR EVERYTHING.
• Make a paste of baking soda and water and spread on the stain. Let sit for a bit and then scrub off with a little brush.
• White vinegar is good for most colored fabrics, but be sure to test a spot beforehand if you're concerned. You can soak the whole garment in a mixture of water and white vinegar to freshen it up.
• We've never tried this, but apparently aspirin works well!
• And lastly, spray some lemon juice on the offending stain, and then air dry the garment in the sun. The sun plus lemon should bleach the stain out.

Record Fair with Chuck Brown

People! Vinyl fair this Saturday 10-4 at Warehouse Next Door, hosted by our future neighbor, SOM Records, with Chuck Brown! Sounds like a fun way to spend a Saturday.

Music for Lovers: Egyptian Lovers, that is.

I don't want to pollute this post with distracting words, since the style really speaks for itself. Of note: rings and huge pendants, just like our very own Emily. Can't get enough? Check it.

Work in Progress: Floored

Wow!!! The space looks completely different now that we've covered the old linoleum in cork and bamboo. Now we can finally start moving stuff in...Of course that is the most exciting part for us pack rats. All the trinkets and jewels and swatches of fabric and pieces of attire and random shoes from here and there can finally begin to form a collection united by aesthetic and place. Did we mention opening up a boutique is a lot of work? ;)

Pretty Little Plant Things

I wanted to share some pics from the Annual Garden Sale at the Arboretum. I was completely floored by the extensive Bonsai selection. Normally, I attribute Bonsais to magical little trees with gnarled little trunks. But what I saw instead were bright green mossy tops, delicate sprays of flowers, and miniature versions of plants like geraniums and papyrus that would make "the perfect little forests." These magical little guys really tugged at the old heartstrings.
Related Note: there is a Bonsai festival this coming weekend. I may have to go to there.

...my new favorite plant, bonsai geranium (pic by Joshua)

Style Icon: The Hardcore Archeologist

DC's rich history of punk and hardcore can be celebrated in many ways (punk walking tour/pilgrimage, obsessive ebaying for records, etc) but how about referencing the old school for the awesome awesome and ahead-of-their-time looks that were cultivated?



You have to read the archives of the entire blog, it brought tears to my eyes. Also, if you're interested in finding where Erin Wasson and Alexander Wang got their whole deal from, it's there.

P.S. Not DC, but had to post this:

Spring Awakening

Liberty prints are taking over the fashion consciousness this year, from APC to Cacharel, and we've got some of our very own contributions. Take these stunning heels: you could wear them with other floral patterns for an explosion of color (like Pandahead noted in the Barney's Co-op Catalog) or use them for a color-pop in a monochrome outfit. Possibilities=endless.

Paper Fashions

We've all seen these around, but I thought the books deserved their own post. Before the internet and fashion magazines ruled our brains, people actually drew things on paper for inspiration and creative learning. Tom Tierney made a whole career of it. My personal favorite:



Take note of Jessica Stam as Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman. Other favorites include Schiaparelli Fashion Review, Famous Country Singers (includes Willie Nelson!!) Erté Fashion of the 1920s.

Music for Lovers: Psychic

Weirdo video, weirdo wigs, weirdo dancing, but killer song. Telepathe's awkwardness goes unmatched. Great example of lo-fi hipster dressing: layers of vintage tees, plaid, grandpa v-necks and stripes.

Work in Progress: Let the Light Shine In

What a difference a paint job can do! The white walls were fine, but we were set on a warmer color to reflect the awesome sunlight our front and back windows provide. Little did we know there are about a million different "off-white" (or cream, or neutral, or natural) paint colors out there! Holding up the paint swatches to the wall for comparing and contrasting took four hands!







But now the space is brighter! And cozier! The true color is somewhere between the three photos. In the first pic, in the right corner, you can also see where we ripped out the drywall encasing the pipes and heater. Goodbye ugly drywall!!

Real progress will be noted better I think once the floor is re-done. Then you'll all be super impressed! ;)

Vintage Vault: Winter Storage

What does one do with all their gorgeous vintage cashmere v-neck sweaters, Irish fisherman knits and rainbow Japanese acrylic scarves in the hot and humid months? Living the apartment life in DC usually doesn't afford endless closet space, so keeping them out and about isn't the most practical option. If you have a storage space or room under your bed, folding the winter gear and putting them away for the season is a great way to go but don't fall into the old cat lady trap of mothballs. These toxic moth killers off-gas in the worst way, and moreover, trap your clothes in plastic.



Storing vintage clothes in plastic is bad for the fibers of the clothes, and the smell is even worse. Cedar naturally repels moths, and eventually biodegrades, so it's the best option for keeping insects out of your vintage goods in the summer. If you have an extra closet where you are hanging dresses (never sweaters), cedar rings are a great and cheap investment. They can be replenished by adding drops of cedar oil onto the wood ever so often or by sanding down the wood. Since knits should be folded and not hung up, Cedar wood balls can be added into the suitcases and shelves your are storing the clothes in.

Washington Wizard: Valet

Valet isn't a retail business, but we want to celebrate all awesome creative endeavors in our fair city. It's a kickass website/online magazine type thing that puts all women's-interest mags and sites to shame. Valet is concise, informative, funny and best of all, useful. The site treats its readers like adults, not babymen, while still doling out advice and tips. Plus their taste is spot-on for Listopad's aesthetic for men: a bit rugged and traditional, with a dash of European and a commitment to quality. Bonus: their handbook, crucial for men and women.

Spring Recycling!

Who doesn't have an old peanut-shaped Nokia taking up space at the bottom of a desk drawer? Last year's BlackBerry still hanging around somewhere? What about a PDA the size of a potato with one of those funky wands? Or God forbid, a pager?

Be rid of your dated technology. Tomorrow, you can take your phones to a couple different locations downtown and swap 'em out for a potted flower. (The event was supposed to happen today, but it was postponed due to rain.) I'll be recyling mine at Farragut Square Park between 11am and 2pm.

Kudos to the Golden Triangle Business Improvement District for organizing this cool event. More info is here.

Inspiration from Moomin Valley in Midsummer

I kind of feel like spring doesn't really exist anymore. I've been habitually putting away my winter wool coats and sweaters every two weeks since March 1st, convinced that if I pack them away, the warm sun will emerge. Then Monday rolls around, the paper appears outside my apartment door and the forecast makes me fish out the warm coat again and wrap myself up. NOT COOL.

Who do I look to for inspiration in times like this but the Finn Family Moomintroll, who will always make the best of any situation no matter how disheartening. Sure, they basically spend their whole lives not wearing pants, but it's the details that matter! Come blazing summer, I will be keeping them in mind while organizing my wardrobe.



Moomin Papa is the definition of class, wearing a top hat year-round, for all occasions, unless he is sailing the high seas (he switches it out for a captain's hat).

Mymble and Little My have been rocking the Lykke Li top bun and tent dresses for decades. As any girl can attest, the best way to deal with DC summers is hair pulled up high and clothing that flows and doesn't stick to your body. Pioneers, these comic strip characters were!



Moomin Mama represents the best style rules to me, though. She picks two accesories (for life) that are both classic and useful and sticks with them, making them her signature. A striped apron and a black purse is really all you need to get by in life.

Partying with the Earth

(kathrynseckman.com)

If this weather keeps up on Sunday, I will be lazily hoofing it down to the National Mall to check out this free "Green Apple Festival," as recommended by our biking princess, Ylla.
This is a faree concert and event on the Mall starring Flaming Lips, Moe, Los Lobos, DJ Spooky. Also, 80's star Matthew Modine! Oooh! Grab a picnic and blankie and head down.

Work in Progress: Green Things

We're self-proclaimed environmentalists. So how do we incorporate these beliefs into our new project beyond encouraging concious consumerism (buying second-hand)? We don't have the budget to build an LEED certified site like Bird in Brooklyn (a much admired boutique of ours) did, but we strive to one day be able to create a space as ecologically safe as possible (i.e. treehouse in the wilderness!).



The small things we can do are small, but still important to us. We're incorporating vintage hangers, mannequins and store fixtures (like the furniture we posted about last week). We're installing flooring made from sustainable materials that does not require toxic glue, and using an underlayment for it made of recycled materials. Our paint is low VOC, we're installing ceiling fans to ease the strain on the AC, and the CFL lightbulbs are a no-brainer. We wish we had the funds to be more serious about greening the space, but we as a tiny independent business start-up, it's far from feasible. Still, we'll be visiting Greater Goods to see what other elements we can try out.

Copycat

So, I know we are all Grey Gardens fans, eagerly anticipating Grey Gardens, and always looking to dress more Grey Garden-ish. Can one be blamed for being enthralled with the stylish notes of older recluses? It's a oft-visited motif for many designers and has only been gaining momentum as more and more hip young things revisit Grey Gardens again and again.

Listopad appreciates Drew Barrymore going all out for the premiere, consciously channeling vintage fashion as one can only do on the red carpet. But we'd like to see more people incorporating elements from her look into every day life.



For the summer, we'll have delicate fabrics with bead and pearl detailing, floral elements in just about everything (including killer pleated skirts) and beautiful metal elements, such as jewelry and head pieces. We can't wait to show you!!!

Music for Lovers: Slow Summer

Inspired to be inspired by Pandahead, here's what's at the top of my mind (and Alex Wang's) for Summer '09 :



- Mesh
- Deep V
- Roots
- Red lips & nails
- Latin America
- Minis

Cherry Blossoming

I hope you didn't miss the Cherry Blossoms this season, it's one of DC's finest moments. If you want to relive some of the glory of those gorgeous colors, Dupont Market is now carrying the hard-to-find Sweet Sakura tea. You can get black tea with sakura petals or whole sakura flowers that unfold in your hot water--the best!



In addition to complimentary iced Sakura tea, you'll be able to find exquisite vintage Japanese paper, stationary and notebooks at our new boutique this summer!

Music for Lovers: Tight Bros From Way Back When

Yes



and Yes

But really because of this.

Vintage Vault: Silk

How do you care for one of the most luxurious fabrics one can ask for in a DC summer?

Don't believe the hype: it's best NOT to dry clean silk garments, no matter what the care tag says. Let's review the steps to washing your awesome silk tap pants from the 1920s or gorgeous silk tank tops from Listopad (our obsession for the summer)--

1. Don't dry clean! Silk is a natural fiber, akin to human hair, that has been used in clothing for a long time. Dry cleaning is a relatively modern invention, so what did classy women used to do with their silk garments? HAND WASH.

2. Harsh detergents (cough, dry cleaning, cough) should be avoided. Woolite or dish washing soap (ideal for most vintage natural fibers) are gentle enough and will get the job done.

3. Don't soak. If the silk is getting kind of dingy, rinse it with some vinegar mixed in with the water. Best to keep the water cold/room temperature so as to not harm the fibers. No bleach either!

4. Don't wring out the garment. Roll it in a towel to absorb excess water and then let it air dry flat on a towel.

For great summaries on the differences between different silk incarnations (chiffon, crepe de chine, etc) check out this page.

Work in Progress: If These Walls Could Talk

Our contractor is a superhero. As soon as we gave him the OK for our structural changes, he began transforming our unglam space into the dream boutique we had been imagining.

First, he wrecked a wall in an effort to make the space more integrated and give it a better sense of "flow." The mini room that used to be separated from the main boutique floor will now be a recessed changing room.



It's also where we are storing our unfinished furniture. We shopped high and low for some pieces we felt would not only fit our aesthetic, but also our budget (small!!) and be utilitarian. We decided on some choice pieces from Ruff n Ready across the street (14th st represent) straight out of their discount basement. Unfortunately they are truly rough and ready for a paint job.



The second wall we took the wrecking ball to was in the bathroom. We opted to get rid of the shower stall and turn it into storage space -- crucial for a vintage boutique. We have sooooooo many items just waiting to be put out on the floor, and want to keep a revolving inventory of new, fresh items, so having space to hang and store the incoming merchandise is very important to us.



Next up: floors, moulding, paint!