My dear friend Corinna informed me that this is my business’s golden birthday, meaning my business is the same age as the day it was started. I began denisebrain on April 22, 1999, so that makes this the 22nd anniversary—the golden birthday!
I’m all for celebrating this golden day with golden memories of all these years.
This bag was given to me by a friend to sell for her back in 1999. Made of 14k gold mesh, dating from ca. 1920, it belonged to one of the founding families of the city where I live. I traveled and sent inquiries around to get this bag a good home, but everyone wanted to pay its “melt value” because they said it was worth more as gold than as a bag. My friend and I wanted it to be loved and appreciated as a bag—and we finally found it a home that wanted it for its beauty and its history.
In the beginning, there was flash photography—that or blinding sunlight on a nice day. When I started selling on eBay back around 2000, no one used a real person to sell fashion. I am the world’s oldest child playing dress-up, so while trying things on I thought why don’t I photograph items on me? I’m not a model by a long stretch, but I can give the fabric life. I set up a little studio space in the corner of our living room and put my camera on a tripod with a timer.
The sophistication of my photography gradually grew along with my knowledge of vintage fashion.
I love vintage fashion, not just to wear, but to learn about. I’m passionate about fabrics and the beautiful-quality embellishment and workmanship you can often see.
(You can’t tell I enjoy my work or anything, can you?)
I love the way vintage allows you to imagine the lives of people who preceded us—to literally walk in their shoes.
When did she live?
Was she a bridesmaid? A playwright? A lawyer? A rock star?
What was in her bag?
I’m certainly not making a ton of gold, but through my business I have been able to give quite a lot to causes near and dear to me: The environment, women who need a hand to improve their lives… and most of all, manatees. With the help of customers and colleagues who care, I’ve been able to raise over $12,000 for Save the Manatee Club, and help raise awareness about this beloved species’ endangerment.
I have been the queen of my own fate all these 22 years.
The experience so far? Pure gold of course!
I can’t imagine what will happen next—but I know it will be interesting.
Thank you to all who have been with me on this incredible journey so far—the friends I’ve made through vintage, my vintage fashion colleagues, and all my wonderful customers. Here’s looking at you, 22!
And of course it is Earth Day too—so please don’t forget that vintage fashion is the most beautiful of recycling! Whether you carry a bag of pure gold, or wear a hand-knit sweater from the 1970s, you’re helping the earth and saving our resources.