Be sure to checkout the giveaway and coupon code at the end of this interview ;)
-Name, Etsy Shop: Deborah Mooney, Jezzy Belle's Vintage
-Location: Just outside of Seattle, Washington
-What you do: Curator of fine, fancy and delightfully trashy vintage goods. Mother of one obnoxiously bright five year old and wife to James.
-5 words your friends would use to describe you:
tacky, sarcastic, momma-y, funny and strong
-What is your inner world like?
I live in my head, way too much sometimes. I love to invent stories behind the clothes and shoes and other vintage goodies that are starting to overtake our apartment. I'm easily distracted and a chronic overthinker.
-What are your favorite mediums to work with when crafting?
I'm a knitting fiend, who finally undertook the painful process of culling my yarn stash. I adore feathers and jewels and sequins and when the time and finances allow again you'll start to see some of that in the shop. I love making incredibly elaborate burlesque-ready hair pieces and then just wearing them out just because you can.
tacky, sarcastic, momma-y, funny and strong
-What is your inner world like?
I live in my head, way too much sometimes. I love to invent stories behind the clothes and shoes and other vintage goodies that are starting to overtake our apartment. I'm easily distracted and a chronic overthinker.
-What are your favorite mediums to work with when crafting?
I'm a knitting fiend, who finally undertook the painful process of culling my yarn stash. I adore feathers and jewels and sequins and when the time and finances allow again you'll start to see some of that in the shop. I love making incredibly elaborate burlesque-ready hair pieces and then just wearing them out just because you can.
-What is secret ingredient needs to be apparent when you are choosing your vintage?
I know a lot of vintage purveyors talk about combing the racks but I don't do a whole lot of that. I scan, almost like a speed reader. It's gotta be something that catches my eye in the half second, and I almost never double check a rack. (Frankly I've usually got my five year old with me and she's only capable of being patient for so long.)
I want items that want to be seen, if that makes any sense. And that doesn't always mean they're flashy: sometimes an item is just so incredibly well made that the utter simplicity of it begs for your attention. (See my obsession with vintage Coach bags.)
I know a lot of vintage purveyors talk about combing the racks but I don't do a whole lot of that. I scan, almost like a speed reader. It's gotta be something that catches my eye in the half second, and I almost never double check a rack. (Frankly I've usually got my five year old with me and she's only capable of being patient for so long.)
I want items that want to be seen, if that makes any sense. And that doesn't always mean they're flashy: sometimes an item is just so incredibly well made that the utter simplicity of it begs for your attention. (See my obsession with vintage Coach bags.)
-Do you go into a "zone" when you thrift?
I absolutely do! Like I said, I scan the racks and I'm barely looking. Sometimes my hand will go out and run across things as I walk past and it's often the feel of something rather than the look of it that demands my attention. I can walk in to a store, spend thirty minutes and walk out with hundreds of dollars worth of vintage.
-What inspires your shop's taste?
A perfect stranger told me once that I looked like someone who enjoyed being looked at. I don't think it was meant as a compliment, but I decided to take it and turn it into a sort of motto.
I absolutely do! Like I said, I scan the racks and I'm barely looking. Sometimes my hand will go out and run across things as I walk past and it's often the feel of something rather than the look of it that demands my attention. I can walk in to a store, spend thirty minutes and walk out with hundreds of dollars worth of vintage.
-What inspires your shop's taste?
A perfect stranger told me once that I looked like someone who enjoyed being looked at. I don't think it was meant as a compliment, but I decided to take it and turn it into a sort of motto.
TOP 5's
-5 Favorite bands/singers:
Robyn, David Bowie, Nina Simone, The Doors and Lady Gaga
-5 Favorite books:
Dubliners, The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, Breakfast of Champions, In the Woods, The Magicians (Hey, I was just a little too old for Harry Potter.)
-5 Favorite films:
Desperado (Can I say that more than once? I just love stylish, tongue in cheek action movies.), In the Mood for Love, Blade Runner, Run Lola Run (that one hit my life at JUST the right time to make a huge impact. I still want Lola's hair.) and Alien (Ripley is still one of the best badass women in film.)
-5 Favorite bands/singers:
Robyn, David Bowie, Nina Simone, The Doors and Lady Gaga
-5 Favorite books:
Dubliners, The Unpleasant Profession of Jonathan Hoag, Breakfast of Champions, In the Woods, The Magicians (Hey, I was just a little too old for Harry Potter.)
-5 Favorite films:
Desperado (Can I say that more than once? I just love stylish, tongue in cheek action movies.), In the Mood for Love, Blade Runner, Run Lola Run (that one hit my life at JUST the right time to make a huge impact. I still want Lola's hair.) and Alien (Ripley is still one of the best badass women in film.)
-5 Favorite meals:
I'm a Southern girl at heart, so fried chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits and greens would be tops. Second would be a big steaming bowl of tom kha gai all on its own, third would be tacos al pastor with a ton of beans and rice and some avocado on the side. Fourth would be chilaquiles. Last but not least would be a big bowl of bun from this little Vietnamese joint in the next town over. I try the bun everywhere else I go and theirs is the best I've come across.
-5 Favorite animals:
Cats of all kinds. Then I'd say rats because I love how freakin' smart they are. Baboons, leopards and birds of paradise.
I'm a Southern girl at heart, so fried chicken with mashed potatoes, gravy, biscuits and greens would be tops. Second would be a big steaming bowl of tom kha gai all on its own, third would be tacos al pastor with a ton of beans and rice and some avocado on the side. Fourth would be chilaquiles. Last but not least would be a big bowl of bun from this little Vietnamese joint in the next town over. I try the bun everywhere else I go and theirs is the best I've come across.
-5 Favorite animals:
Cats of all kinds. Then I'd say rats because I love how freakin' smart they are. Baboons, leopards and birds of paradise.
-Are you the only creative one in your family or circle of friends? If so, how do you stay true to yourself?
My mother was always sort of crafty, and my dad was a huge reader so even though they never entirely understood my creative pursuits, they were always fairly supportive of them. My friends really run the gamut from super rational science types to incredibly creative so I often feel sort of middling around them haha!
My husband is the most supportive creature on the planet and makes sure to give me the time and space that I need to nurture that part of myself. I will admit though to often falling into the mommy trap of spending all my time and energy working on other people and then feeling burt out and left out. I'm working on that though.
My mother was always sort of crafty, and my dad was a huge reader so even though they never entirely understood my creative pursuits, they were always fairly supportive of them. My friends really run the gamut from super rational science types to incredibly creative so I often feel sort of middling around them haha!
My husband is the most supportive creature on the planet and makes sure to give me the time and space that I need to nurture that part of myself. I will admit though to often falling into the mommy trap of spending all my time and energy working on other people and then feeling burt out and left out. I'm working on that though.
-How has your childhood and experience effected your love of vintage?
I grew up broke. Not like living on the streets poor, if there were ever serious concerns about getting food on the table they did a good job of keeping it from us. But there wasn't a lot left over for things like new clothes and keeping up with trends. I learned early to pick out the best stuff from the thrift store racks and do my best to fit in. In the process of combing the racks I would obviously run across a lot of old stuff and it started calling to me from a fairly young age.
I grew up broke. Not like living on the streets poor, if there were ever serious concerns about getting food on the table they did a good job of keeping it from us. But there wasn't a lot left over for things like new clothes and keeping up with trends. I learned early to pick out the best stuff from the thrift store racks and do my best to fit in. In the process of combing the racks I would obviously run across a lot of old stuff and it started calling to me from a fairly young age.
Just ask my mother about that pair of godawful neon yellow polyester pants I was obsessed with my junior year of high school. After my daughter was born I was still quite young. I was only 22 but struggling with this idea of who I was now that I was a mother. I felt like I needed to "grow up" a little stylistically. That resulted in a really awkward and uncomfortable period where I grew out my hair and wore a lot of really plain clothing. I was playing at what I thought being a grownup meant. But I still couldn't pass up those beautiful vintage items, so I basically turned into a collector. I couldn't bear the idea of these heartbreakingly beautiful things going home with someone else!
I eventually started wearing them but the urge to collect really couldn't be overcome. The idea to start the shop was an easy progression, and as I'm a stay at home mom with some chronic health issues it's a really good way for me to bring in a little money and have a lot of fun doing it!
I eventually started wearing them but the urge to collect really couldn't be overcome. The idea to start the shop was an easy progression, and as I'm a stay at home mom with some chronic health issues it's a really good way for me to bring in a little money and have a lot of fun doing it!
-Tell us something about you that not many people would know off the bat:
People always seem surprised when they find out I'm from the Southern US, much less when I try to explain just what a redneck I was! (And my dear rednecks, don't think I'm using that in a negative manner. I love you all, you're my people.) I had one hell of a mullet in first or second grade, let me tell you. And I lived in small towns pretty much my entire life. I grew up around people who had to work really hard to get whatever little they had in their lives and I find it incredibly inspiring. And hell, I never quite grew out of thinking that Dolly Parton was the epitome of (tacky) glamour!
People always seem surprised when they find out I'm from the Southern US, much less when I try to explain just what a redneck I was! (And my dear rednecks, don't think I'm using that in a negative manner. I love you all, you're my people.) I had one hell of a mullet in first or second grade, let me tell you. And I lived in small towns pretty much my entire life. I grew up around people who had to work really hard to get whatever little they had in their lives and I find it incredibly inspiring. And hell, I never quite grew out of thinking that Dolly Parton was the epitome of (tacky) glamour!
-Closing thoughts:
One thing I hope comes across in this interview and in the things that I offer for sale in my store is just how much this means to me. This is the first thing in a long time that I've done entirely for me, not to please or to care for anyone else. I offer items that I think have a particular glory, things with memories and stories and sparkle. I want to imagine each and every one of my customers, all shapes sizes and ages putting on my things or setting them on a shelf and loving them. Our modern society is a throwaway kind of culture and I want to do a little part to run against that current.
One thing I hope comes across in this interview and in the things that I offer for sale in my store is just how much this means to me. This is the first thing in a long time that I've done entirely for me, not to please or to care for anyone else. I offer items that I think have a particular glory, things with memories and stories and sparkle. I want to imagine each and every one of my customers, all shapes sizes and ages putting on my things or setting them on a shelf and loving them. Our modern society is a throwaway kind of culture and I want to do a little part to run against that current.
Be sure to leave a comment with your email address to enter the draw for JezzyBelle's giveaway! Winner will be announced October 1st, via draw.
Check out this beautiful vintage Blueberry Blue Shift and Matching Jacket! Description and sizing: The Olympic Hotel Seattle is the former name of the Four Seasons Seattle. This shift and matching double breasted coat were made for their dress shop and are in absolutely amazing condition. There doesn't appear to be a single seam out of place! It appears to be made out of a lovely navy blue wool crepe.
Measurements Laid Flat
Bust 20 inches
Waist 18 inches
Hips 21 inches
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(links)
Follow the shop on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jezzy_
My personal blog: http://www.fancynopants.com
And obviously, the shop: http://jezzybelles.etsy.com
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Love her and her shop!
ReplyDeletemegphilips@gmail.com
Beautiful dress, great shop!!
ReplyDeleteHalochanel at gmail dot com
Very pretty!:)
ReplyDelete-Tori
fashiontrendsmore.com
tori@fashiontrendsmore.com
Gorgeous stuff!
ReplyDeleteDeborah
spring.surrounds.her at gmail dot com
I hope I win! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteLauren
cattastick at yahoo dot com
she is really gorgeous, I like her collection, I just wondering to used this blog,
ReplyDeleteYes! Love this store.
ReplyDeleteperkins.susannah@yahoo.com
Awesome interview! lovecharlesvintage at gmail dot com
ReplyDeleteCongrats Meg Philips you have won! I am contacting you now :)
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for voting!!