December Edition of Sippin' & Socializing - With AmberJoy
I've started to get into the swing of posting two blogs a week, but this one needed extra special love and attention.
Undoubtedly, you've noticed the change in the appearance of my blog. I've also started to add what I might be drinking when creating my next post. It's kind of relaxing and unwinding time for me...so why not have a drink?! Along with the look of the blog and the addition of my choice beverages, this is my first installment of (what I think will be) a super fun and exciting new feature. This will be a monthly installment where I interview one of my pinup friends while we "sip and socialize". I'm sure it will be the type of interview that can get carried away rather quickly, as ladies do tend to socialize more, so for the sake of time and tired eyes, I'll do my best to keep the Q&A short and sweet. However, be warned, there might be times where that is just no possible....in the best way!
A bit of a back story:
As previously mentioned mentioned in this post. I just happened to find Amber's store randomly while I was in downtown Las Vegas for First Friday. Seconds after I walked in, I was greeted by Amber. She told me to let her know if I had any questions. I asked her if she was the owner and she said "yes, my name is Amber, I like the color". I loved the way she introduced herself, how can you forget an introduction like that?!
We sat and we talked for a few minutes. She told me about her annual calendar, upcoming pin up pageant and of course, she told me about her shop. Not long after that first visit, I would be back again...and again...and again. Some days were just to stop by and say hello. In the eight months that I've known Amber, I have gone to a couple of her classes held at her shop, I participated in her 2nd Annual Pin Up Pageant and I took part in her 2016 Pin Up Calendar (can be purchased here). Funny, I just realized, that it has only been 8 months of knowing Amber and I feel like she's been a lifelong friend.
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| At Amber Joy's 2nd Annual Pin Up Pageant |
I chose Amber to be my first featured interview for this series because I was still so new to the pin up scene when moving back to Las Vegas and she has given me advice, confidence and a great group of lady friends!
I went to Amber's new location last Friday night. I poured a couple of glasses of wine and put out some fudge for us to nibble on well while we did what we do best, talk!
**For reference, questions I asked are in bold. Amber's answers are italicized.
Who or what influenced you to delve into the vintage / rockabilly pinup world?
I'm going to have to say my Mom, my Grandma and my Aunties... they were the first ones, since I was little little. We lived in Alaska but would come down for vacation in Washington, Portland and Seattle area. There were vintage shops all along the coast, and that's what we do. We would literally go and walk all the shops. I remember being a little kid and my cousins being with us and they would be crying saying that they want to leave and go play, but not me, I was fascinated with the shops. I would sit and talk to the owners, these old bitty ladies and old gentleman who would talk to me about fashion.
How long has is it been since you've entered into the scene?
I didn't know I was part of a scene. Even in high school, I had these old pill box hats with the veils and the little flowers, I had gloves... I had a little box of gloves. I'd wear the big full skirts and I would have my Grandma's old tops that I would tie at the waist because I used to be real thin. I remember, I used to go to school and guys would be like, 'why do you dress like an old lady?' They didn't appreciate it. When I really started getting into the look, the rockabilly / vintage, I was in high school and it wasn't really talked about. I was literally the only one in school who would do curls, use a scarf or a flower. But at the same time, it was the total grunge era. Look, my first concert was Pearl Jam and I met Eddie Vedder. I surfed the crowd, got up on stage and met Eddie Vedder! I hung out with Kurt Cobain. Us girls, we would skip school drive up to Seattle , it was only an hour and a half drive and we would be there all day. We would go to Kurt Cobain's house because he was a grunge rocker and us girls liked that. We'd hang out... he lived in this big gray Victorian house. Me and Kurt used to have these amazing conversations. That's what I grew up with. That was my life style. So for me, I would show up in this rockabilly kind of look - a little bit pin up... but then sometimes I would do the grunge, jeans with a cuff and a flannel tied around my waist. So I never really had to look that I morphed into...that was mine solid. It wasn't really until about ten years ago, my girlfriends from California would come to Vegas and visit us often...they were coming quite a bit. I always loved their style. We'd go to California and these girls would dress....actually, these girls dressed more vintage. More 1940's, early 1950's....always had the gloves and the hats, the coats with the fur and they were very, very well put together. Very posh. They were teaching me how to do hair and makeup. They did my first pin up pictures in the living room with a black sheet we bought at target (giggles) and our little camera. We had a blast. I started dressing like it more and more and more. And then one day it just got to where my entire closet was nothing but my personal style and what I thought was a vintage / rockabilly kind of look. I kind of morphed into it. And then we started going to Viva's...and that was it.
How have you evolved as a person since taking on this lifestyle?
My knowledge of it has grown immensely. I'm still learning. I learn something new everyday. It's insane. I really didn't think there was that much going on out there. That's why I opened my shop - to support my habit. I was having a hard time finding anything. The only time I really got to shop was thrift stores, Viva Las Vegas and if I made it out of state to shop vintage stores. Even then it was hard to find. And even still....it's not like you go to a town and walk up to a group of people and find people dressing up like this. It's still kind of under wraps.
Would you like some more wine? Yes ma'am!
What gave you the idea to open up Amber Joy's Vintage Closet?
It was my girlfriends. I'm a shopper! I've been a shopper my entire life. I started working at Lane Bryant when I was 17 years old. I was the number one sales person for the states of Washington and Oregon. Every month for seven months, I was the lead sales person. I love fitting people. I could look at you, men and women, and tell their size....bra, shoes...etc. I learned that at Nordstrom and Lane Bryant. I worked there for years. It got to the point where I would go shop for myself, but I would see this great vintage find for two bucks, I can't pass it up and I knew it would fit my friend Desiree perfect. So I'd just buy it. But then it just started to add up. I have friends in California, New York, Florida and Texas. These people that I've met that dress like this. So I've got all this inventory and I'd tell them, I'm ready to give this to you - if you just pay for the shipping...I didn't have them pay for the outfits. My husband was like 'um, that's super great and your shopping like a fiend but your not making any money at it'. So I called one of my girlfriends that I was shopping for the most and I said 'Listen, what do I do with this? I'm thinking I want to open a store.' She suggested I open an Etsy. I said 'What's Etsy?'. I rented a book from the library and got my Etsy up. Within 35 minutes of opening my Etsy store, I had sold my first item. And then I just started making sales left and right. Well....at the time we lived in a high rise, we had a corner penthouse. It was super luxurious. But the concierge was flipping out because I was having people come in off the street. They were hearing about me from other people and would call me and say they needed an item, could they come get it. They'd come upstairs....well....you can't do that in a high end building. It started to make me uncomfortable because some of these people would show up and would be a little....different. I basically ran a store out of my house...it doesn't work like that. I was running my Etsy at the same time. We had one bedroom that was nothing but clothing racks floor to ceiling, shoes boxes, hat boxes, gloves...I mean it was just a mess! I had it as organized as I could but you couldn't even walk in the room. My husband said 'Babe, this just isn't working. I feel like you are unsafe. We have company coming and we have an air mattress in the living room....we have a spare bedroom for a reason.'
What have you enjoyed most about having your shop?
I loved the location. My number one favorite thing is meeting people. The people and the connections I made through that shop....I mean, forget the money. That didn't matter. It really was supporting my hobby. We made over six figures a year but a lot of that went back into consignees and I tried to recycle that back into inventory. I didn't do any conventional loans or anything - I earned all the money to open it by doing interior decorating. That's what I went to school for, that's what I do. I only work for private clienteles and I work by referral only....because I charge a lot of money. I did one job for a man on the top floor of The Ogden. I did his entire loft from top to bottom I saved up my money and that's what I opened my store with.
What is your favorite piece of vintage or repro clothing that you own and why?
You've seen me wear them all the time, that little blue 1940's house dress. It's got a little rip in it that needs to be fixed and my blue and white polka dotted big full dress from the 1950's. Those are my two favorite. I love the people that I was with when I bought them. I got them in California while I was out vintage shopping. It is hard for me to find things for myself that fit as a bigger framed girl. They fit my body perfect and every time I wear them I feel like a million bucks. They are true vintage. They feel great. And I didn't spend a lot of you a lot of money on them, I got a good deal. I feel really great about it and I have really great memories with them. Those are my two favorite outfits I own.
What is your favorite way to accessorize your outfits and why?
I've never won bracelets in my life, ever. It used to bother me, but my bangles are my favorite thing in the world. My bangles, my purses my earrings and my flowers. How often do you see me without a hair flower? I was never really that kind of girl in the last two years I became that girl. I love them.
How have you evolved as a person since taking on this lifestyle?
My knowledge of it has grown immensely. I'm still learning. I learn something new everyday. It's insane. I really didn't think there was that much going on out there. That's why I opened my shop - to support my habit. I was having a hard time finding anything. The only time I really got to shop was thrift stores, Viva Las Vegas and if I made it out of state to shop vintage stores. Even then it was hard to find. And even still....it's not like you go to a town and walk up to a group of people and find people dressing up like this. It's still kind of under wraps.
Would you like some more wine? Yes ma'am!
What gave you the idea to open up Amber Joy's Vintage Closet?
It was my girlfriends. I'm a shopper! I've been a shopper my entire life. I started working at Lane Bryant when I was 17 years old. I was the number one sales person for the states of Washington and Oregon. Every month for seven months, I was the lead sales person. I love fitting people. I could look at you, men and women, and tell their size....bra, shoes...etc. I learned that at Nordstrom and Lane Bryant. I worked there for years. It got to the point where I would go shop for myself, but I would see this great vintage find for two bucks, I can't pass it up and I knew it would fit my friend Desiree perfect. So I'd just buy it. But then it just started to add up. I have friends in California, New York, Florida and Texas. These people that I've met that dress like this. So I've got all this inventory and I'd tell them, I'm ready to give this to you - if you just pay for the shipping...I didn't have them pay for the outfits. My husband was like 'um, that's super great and your shopping like a fiend but your not making any money at it'. So I called one of my girlfriends that I was shopping for the most and I said 'Listen, what do I do with this? I'm thinking I want to open a store.' She suggested I open an Etsy. I said 'What's Etsy?'. I rented a book from the library and got my Etsy up. Within 35 minutes of opening my Etsy store, I had sold my first item. And then I just started making sales left and right. Well....at the time we lived in a high rise, we had a corner penthouse. It was super luxurious. But the concierge was flipping out because I was having people come in off the street. They were hearing about me from other people and would call me and say they needed an item, could they come get it. They'd come upstairs....well....you can't do that in a high end building. It started to make me uncomfortable because some of these people would show up and would be a little....different. I basically ran a store out of my house...it doesn't work like that. I was running my Etsy at the same time. We had one bedroom that was nothing but clothing racks floor to ceiling, shoes boxes, hat boxes, gloves...I mean it was just a mess! I had it as organized as I could but you couldn't even walk in the room. My husband said 'Babe, this just isn't working. I feel like you are unsafe. We have company coming and we have an air mattress in the living room....we have a spare bedroom for a reason.'
What have you enjoyed most about having your shop?
I loved the location. My number one favorite thing is meeting people. The people and the connections I made through that shop....I mean, forget the money. That didn't matter. It really was supporting my hobby. We made over six figures a year but a lot of that went back into consignees and I tried to recycle that back into inventory. I didn't do any conventional loans or anything - I earned all the money to open it by doing interior decorating. That's what I went to school for, that's what I do. I only work for private clienteles and I work by referral only....because I charge a lot of money. I did one job for a man on the top floor of The Ogden. I did his entire loft from top to bottom I saved up my money and that's what I opened my store with.
What is your favorite piece of vintage or repro clothing that you own and why?
You've seen me wear them all the time, that little blue 1940's house dress. It's got a little rip in it that needs to be fixed and my blue and white polka dotted big full dress from the 1950's. Those are my two favorite. I love the people that I was with when I bought them. I got them in California while I was out vintage shopping. It is hard for me to find things for myself that fit as a bigger framed girl. They fit my body perfect and every time I wear them I feel like a million bucks. They are true vintage. They feel great. And I didn't spend a lot of you a lot of money on them, I got a good deal. I feel really great about it and I have really great memories with them. Those are my two favorite outfits I own.
What is your favorite way to accessorize your outfits and why?
I've never won bracelets in my life, ever. It used to bother me, but my bangles are my favorite thing in the world. My bangles, my purses my earrings and my flowers. How often do you see me without a hair flower? I was never really that kind of girl in the last two years I became that girl. I love them.
What do you like to do in your down time?
I love to swim, going in the hot tub and drinking wine. I'm very social. I love Netflix! I'm currently watching The Walking Dead, The Fear Of The Walking Dead, Highlander, Criminal Minds and Blue Bloods. I like comedy, like Saturday Night Live.
What is your must have make-up product and why?
Liner. You can not wear one bit of any other piece of make up - not lipstick, lashes, eyebrows...nothing. You you put on cat eye and you look like you got a vintage look. I go to Sephora and I purchase Stila liquid eye liner. That's the only one I'll use, it's my favorite. I've tried gel, I've tried power with the brushes, but I can whip out a cat eye with the pen liner, has a nice fine tip....it's perfect. I can do thick, I can do thin...boom, done.
If you could pass along one tip to vintage /rockabilly / pin up, what would it be?
Find a simple hair style that you like that looks vintage....I do the signature roll. Flowers in the hair. Clothing isn't really that big of a deal. It's the make up and the hair that pulls it off. Find a style you like to do with your hair, do your cat eye liner, get yourself some retro earrings, start flipping the cuff on your pants...circle skirts, tuck in at the waist - no baggy anything. My thing is stop wearing pajamas in pubic. When did that ever become okay?
Amber and I had a lot of conversation in between questions...definitely moments of "SQUIRREL!", but it was a good laugh and good times. After the interview, I was thinking about it on my drive home and I had to pull out my phone to let Amber know that I love her. She truly is a great friend. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to suck up 45 minutes of her time to entertain my little idea of Sippin'& Socializing.
What is your must have make-up product and why?
Liner. You can not wear one bit of any other piece of make up - not lipstick, lashes, eyebrows...nothing. You you put on cat eye and you look like you got a vintage look. I go to Sephora and I purchase Stila liquid eye liner. That's the only one I'll use, it's my favorite. I've tried gel, I've tried power with the brushes, but I can whip out a cat eye with the pen liner, has a nice fine tip....it's perfect. I can do thick, I can do thin...boom, done.
If you could pass along one tip to vintage /rockabilly / pin up, what would it be?
Find a simple hair style that you like that looks vintage....I do the signature roll. Flowers in the hair. Clothing isn't really that big of a deal. It's the make up and the hair that pulls it off. Find a style you like to do with your hair, do your cat eye liner, get yourself some retro earrings, start flipping the cuff on your pants...circle skirts, tuck in at the waist - no baggy anything. My thing is stop wearing pajamas in pubic. When did that ever become okay?
Amber and I had a lot of conversation in between questions...definitely moments of "SQUIRREL!", but it was a good laugh and good times. After the interview, I was thinking about it on my drive home and I had to pull out my phone to let Amber know that I love her. She truly is a great friend. I thank her from the bottom of my heart for allowing me to suck up 45 minutes of her time to entertain my little idea of Sippin'& Socializing.
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| This installment of Sippin' & Socializing was conducted while sipping: Wink - Clever Cab and nibbling on Herbert Chocolate Fudge. No wine glasses were harmed during this interview. |
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| Photo c/o Amber Joy's Facebook |
You can shop Amber's store at:
You can follow Amber's fun shanannies on her Instagram.
Her new location was by appointment only, but she will be
open to the public Monday December 21st at:
5025 S. Eastern Avenue | Suite 26
Las Vegas, NV 89119
from 1pm to 8pm
Loving her new shop:
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| Photo c/o Amber Joy's Instagram |
Hope you enjoyed my new monthly feature!
Excited for my next installment! Until next time!
Essentially,
Evie xoxo
"Would you like some more wine? Yes ma'am!" Your interview skills are clearly top-notch!! I wish I'd discovered your blog before my last trip to Vegas… it would've been so great to check out Amber's store!
ReplyDeleteEmily
emilyhallock.blogspot.com
Let me know the next time you are in town, I can be your tour guide :)
Delete