Who Are You Being for Halloween?

I'm very excited to be Amy Winehouse this year. Sean and I are attending a Halloween-themed improv party, where a bunch of improvisers will dress up in costumes and perform. I wanted to wear something I could move around in, while simultaneously not being the asshole who wears a name tag and says he's Jeff.

So my first thought was zombie Amy Winehouse. Fun! Or so I thought until I was trying on a beehive wig in Burbank, and the sales clerk said, "That ugly bitch was so busted. Why was everyone surprised when she died? She's a freakin' junkie, I mean, what's sad about that?"

In a moment of clarity, I suddenly realized my preconceived notions about grief had been wrong all along. Note to self: It's the element of surprise that makes death tragic.

"You should put track marks on your arms," he continued. "And leaves in your hair, like you woke up in a parking lot."

Oh boy.

Hearing someone berate Winehouse like a joke made me quickly nix the zombie element of my costume. I couldn't control the jabs people might make, but I could also not endorse them with a gimmick that trivializes her death.

If you plan to be Amy this year, as I'm sure I'm not alone, I encourage you to skip the zombie makeup. Irony is on its way out, and sincerity is sexy, so rock your Amy costume without irony or starting a negative discussion.

My tips for a simple, easy to assemble Amy Winehouse costume:

* A Black Beehive Wig. Save your hair the trauma, and buy yourself a wig. I bought mine from a Halloween shop for $30 (the cheaper ones have clever, unauthorized names like the "Rehab Wig").

* Waterproof jet black eyeliner. Since you'll probably be dancing (or improvising, if you're a geek), you'll need a long-lasting solution that stays put. I recommend painting an exaggerated "cat eye" and then building upon it, little by little until you've created a super thick, chunky line.

* White wife-beater tank top with a black/mismatching bra. You want your bra straps to show, so pick a sexy, frilly bra with lace or texture.

* Black/dark wash skinny jeans. The idea is to look disheveled and glamorous at the same time. I'll be wearing a pair of shredded black skinnies.

* Make-up: matte nude lipstick. Contrary to popular belief, Amy didn't wear pin-up girl red lipstick very often. Pick a very neutral shade with no gloss. Pat your face down with a light powder, a little lighter than your natural skin tone. You can use an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner to draw a beauty mark above your lip. Remember the most essential part is the eyes, so make that line HUGE.

* Accessories: Chunky hoop earrings. A necklace. Pack of cigarettes. Head scarf that forms into a bow (optional). If you have an artistic friend, recruit them to draw your sleeve tattoos.

xo,

Sabrina London

Up For Grabs!

ITEMS ENDING TONIGHT!

Alameda Vintage

xo,

Sabrina

Sabrina's Vintage Guide to Austin, Texas. Yee-haw!

Tucked away in a small shopping center, Blue Velvet Vintage is a cozy, cute little shop next to a local coffee shop and record store. The dresses are organized by size (not decade), and they carry both men and women's apparel. The shop clerk, a kind and super attentive gay best friend type, was very helpful. He let me try on the most incredible Sgt. Pepper jacket he was saving for a styling gig, but said he'd be willing to let it go if I REALLY wanted it (I did. But I'z also broke). I did however purchase a novelty sweater covered in hearts and two sweetheart bunnies. I'm obsessed with it. My husband and I call each other "bunny" as a term of endearment, so finding a vintage "bunny love" sweater is kind of perfect. $16.

Bitch'in Threads may not be your one-stop-shop for wearable vintage, as they specialize mostly in cocktail/evening wear. But if you're in the market for an exquisite 1940's silk kimono or a mink collar Saks Fifth Avenue coat, you're in the right place. When we visited on a Monday, the ginger-haired Australian shopkeeper said everything in the store was half off. These words pop for a vintage-a-holic, but once I saw the 3-digit price tags, I understood why. The store selection is almost exclusively evening wear (beaded, sequined, and expensive), but I was pleased to see so many '40s pieces including a vaseline sequined lime green cocktail dress (only $45. Sadly, these hips don't lie).

Big Bertha's Bargain Basement is a cramped, claustrophobic hole-in-the-wall in the same plaza as Bitch'in Threads. While I was attracted to their designer vintage pieces (a 1980's Escada boucle tweed coat for $350), I honestly had trouble shopping here. Between the aggressive salesman and the tight clothes racks, the shopping feng shui was all wrong. They did have a pair of Victorian-era lace-up boots that had me fogging the display window like a pervert. Also an entirely crocheted (uber heavy) '20s flapper dress ($400). I appreciated the older finds, but they definitely came with a price tag.

Cream Vintage (Campus) was one of the first vintage shops my husband and I checked out, and it was the perfect place to start. Right in the storefront table, they had a selection of vintage '70s Navajo cardis for $32 a piece and I tried on as many as I could carry. The store seems to closely follow vintage trends and display accordingly, which I have a huge appreciation for. Lots of amazing granny boots, and Lacoste sweaters too at great slummin' it prices. I was bewitched. Also, the sales girl offered to give me 20% off when she saw my cardigan stack.

Cheap Cheap has all the allure of a great name, with all the promise of its namesake. When we were looking for the place, we drove right past it because it's actually located behind a different vintage store called New Brohemia. No worries. We made a U-ie and parked in the small parking lot. Inside with its oscillating fans and really terrible jewelry, Cheap Cheap has the feel of a more vintage-centric Goodwill. The clothing is all $20 and under, but you're looking at lots of polyester in garish prints and colors. Yes, there were some salvageable '60s dresses, and yes, you could definitely find SOMETHING if you keep an open-mind and don't mind hemming it. Good place for treasure-hunters on a budget.

Hog Wild Texas is a must-see showroom offering gorgeous vintage furniture and home wears for really great prices. I promised myself I wouldn't look at furniture while I was out-of-town, because finding something I loved would be too depressing. However, I stumbled upon this place on my way to a different store and it caught me off-guard. If you yearn for the perfect '60s pea green couch, you must come here. If you like weird, obscure exploitation movie posters, come here. I was in awe of their unique living room pieces - just the perfect little end table, or AMAZING vinyl couch. Everything looked really high-quality too, even the artwork. Definitely worth checking out.

The last place I visited in Austin, Texas was a real highlight. Room Service Vintage is a 3,500 square foot emporium of vintage clothes, jewelry, furniture, knickknacks and splendor. There is something here for everyone here. Oddball salt and pepper shakers? You got it. Hip vintage shoes? They have their own room. One-of-a-kind costume jewelry? Yup! From a vintage choker necklace made of quills to a vintage 1965 "Barbie in Paris" lunchbox, you're sure to find something special here for cheap. Don't miss this one.

xo,

Sabrina

New Studio, New Adventures

Sean and I were looking forward to moving into a new apartment for some time. In my mind, I pictured a bigger place with a bedroom, a studio, and a creative space - an area we could write, paint, play music, or practice improv.

We looked at a few apartments in different neighborhoods. Some were big. Some were small. Nearly all of them were more expensive than our rent-controlled 1 bedroom in West Hollywood. It became quickly apparent the grass wasn't always greener, as we tried to rationalize losing our fabulous location, a fitness center, tons of restaurants and shopping in walking distance, and two underground parking spots. I was amazed at the number of buildings which offered no parking at all, no AC unit, and a monthly fee for having pets. Pish posh!

So we decided to stay where we are, but make a few changes. I moved my studio into the living area, so Sean and I could have a bedroom again. We moved some furniture around and I've got to say, I'm really loving our new/old apartment again. It's starting to feel like home.

xo,

Sabrina London