When vintage tells a story…

This jacket has a touching story and it involves a really sweet, kind, and good hearted lady who reminded me a couple weeks ago that angels might actually walk this earth. Honestly, I was blown away by her kindness – she had the aura that could light up a room and it did the day I walked into her store.

Right before Christmas I went into a local shoe store here in Midtown Sacramento to get my Mommacita a pair of really nice slippers. I walked into the store and was immediately greeted by the sweetest lady. She offered me a bottle of water and helped me pick out a nice pair of sheep skin slippers for Mom. We got to talking and I told her a little about my life, blog, and love for vintage pieces. During our conversation, she told me about a fur coat she had purchased in 1974. She had bought all those years ago for a party she’d attended and had had it hanging in her closet for all these years. I had told her that my mom was picky and that I may be back to exchange for a different pair of slippers after Christmas. Well, mom loved them, but wanted a different pair of course, lol.

I went back into the store about a week after Christmas to exchange the slippers for another pair and when I had my back turned, the owner of the store came up to me with this exquisite coat and said, ‘I want you to have this.’ I’m not even kidding, I wanted to cry. I was so unbelievably touched by her generosity. I thanked her repeatedly and said I would cherish it and wear it proudly. She said to me something that I’ll never forget, which was, ‘I know you are thankful and by you wearing this, it makes other people happy too.’ What I gathered from her words is that it made her happy to see someone 39 years after she purchased the coat be so excited to wear it and bring it back to life again :)

When I buy vintage pieces I put them on and close my eyes and imagine who might of worn it and where it may have traveled to. In the case of this beautiful 70’s coat, I didn’t have to close my eyes and imagine the story, the story was told to me first hand. That right there brings warmth to my heart, tears to my eyes, and a big ol’ smile to my face.

If you ever need a really beautiful pair of comfy shoes or slippers please make sure to visit the wonderful people over at The Birkenstock Store on 25th and J street. It’s the kind of place that will not only make your feet happy, but your heart too.

My mom said I should channel my ‘inner hippie’ in the coat and so I did (or tried) by doing my hair curly (it’s naturally curly) and wearing my high waist bell bottom jeans. Mom topped it off by making me a necklace and earrings. She’s pretty awesome like that.

Outfit: Jeans are Joe Jeans from Freestyle Clothing thriftstore, ($30) & wooden platform shoes are Michael Kors also from Freestyle Clothing thriftstore. ($30) Both pricey, but lets be real – Joe Jeans are normally $200+ and the Michael Kors were probably 100+ new.