Avant Gaudy on The Coveted!

Jennine from The Coveted visited the Avant Gaudy showroom this week.  Check out an exerpt from her interview with Deborah and see a sneak peek of some of Avant Gaudy’s favorite fall looks:

One of the things I missed the most when I was abroad was easy access to vintage clothing. I missed some of my local shops, and online, well many of the ones I love are located stateside (though not all!) When I came to Chicago, honestly, there’s not been much time to visit shops, we’re looking for a place to live, and me, I’m looking for work… but luckily enough, we got in touch with Chicago-based online vintage retailer, Avant Gaudy. Founded by Deb Umunnabuike (pictured on the left) in 2005, Avant Gaudy started out from a love for vintage, for integrating found pieces and wearing them in modern ways. this has translated into her shop philosophy:

“modern vintage” clothing: garments with some history that represent the best of today’s fashion and trends. Our fashion philosophy is all-encompassing: anyone can look good, and looking good does not equate spending a lot of money nor a lot of time in a shopping mall.’

Behind the scenes the shop has grown, with two buyers searching high and low for great pieces, they pool their resources together to create ‘collections’  based on runway trends, magazines, and style blogs like Hel Looks and The Sartorialist and fashion news sites like WWD to find inspiration. One of the advantages of going to Avant Gaudy’s is to see the ways they interpret vintage and relate it to the most recent of today’s trends… and for pretty cheap too, most pieces run about the $25-$50 range which for edited vintage pieces is quite a steal!

Check out the rest of the article on The Coveted to see more photos of our fall looks and even an exclusive photo of our latest editorial photo shoot.

Fashion in My Eyes Interview with Deborah!

Check out this interview with Deborah, co-owner of Avant Gaudy, featured on Fashion in My Eyes.  Be sure to check out the amazing blog, or take a look at the interview reposted here:

Avant Gaudy is a chic online boutique, where you can find “vintage modern,modern vintage” clothes and accessories.
I asked Deb Umunnabuike, one of the Avant Gaudy founders, some questions about herself and about Avant Gaudy.

You are the co-founder of Avant Gaudy,tell us more about yourself.

I’m also a Political Science major at the University of Chicago, so I’ve often got a recent WWD and also something written by Foucault in my purse. My sister, Jessica, and I started Avant Gaudy in the summer of 2005 in order to keep ourselves busy. Beyond that, I really wanted to connect with and impact the lives of those who were as passionate about fashion as we were, and are. An online store seemed like a perfect way to reach fashionistas all over the world.

Why Avant Gaudy and not another name?

Avant Gaudy is a play off of the word avant garde, which was a movement that embraced forward thinking, literature, art, and fashion. We select clothing that is fashion forward and yet also has a tinge of gaudiness in the sense that an Avant Gaudy girl or guy is both modern and playful.

How do you pick the items for the store?

All items are sourced from across the United States. We have a full-time team of buyers who dedicate themselves to researching trends and matching these trends up with vintage fashion. Our buyers are intuitive and creative – they know a good find when they see one.

What are your favorite pieces on Avant Gaudy right now?
This silver lame dress was featured on NotCouture,as was this vintage Diane von Furstenberg one.Jumpsuits, meanwhile, are on trend right now, and are edgy yet feminine

What do you love most about fashion?

Fashion allows an ordinary day to be extraordinary. Even if a person does enjoy and choose to follow trends, there’s still so much room for individuality. Vintage fashion is the best way to express your individuality – because of its scarcity, every piece is a rare link to the past that fits easily into a modern wardrobe example:

How do you see yourself and Avant Gaudy 10 years for now?

I’d like Avant Gaudy to expand and become even more of an international business than it already has. With the social media explosion, we feel like the time is right to connect with as many people as possible who share our interest in modern vintage. Additionally, I’d eventually like for our brand to serve as a platform for up and coming designers from across the world to showcase their takes on vintage through reconstructions and vintage-inspired looks.

Shoes!

Get ready for fall or back-to-school! Check out some of our newest vintage shoes at Avant Gaudy, including boots, heels, flats and vintage sneakers!

Avant Gaudy on Facebook and Twitter!

Are you a fan of Avant Gaudy on Facebook?  You should be!  Facebook fans daily updates about new merchandise, Avant Gaudy news, videos and blog posts.  Go to our fan page or text “fan avantgaudy” to FBOOK (32665) from your cell phone and  be added as a fan instantly (standard charges may apply).

Are you on Twitter? Then you should be following Avant Gaudy for up-to-the-minute updates on merchandise, Avant Gaudy news and all things fashion!

Are you already fans of Avant Gaudy on Facebook or Twitter?  Which site is your favorite?

New Avant Gaudy Photo Shoot – Back to School

Take a look at a few exclusive photos from our latest “back to school” photo shoot with photographer Shmura Campbell.

Go to Avant Gaudy to see photos from our previous photo shoots and buy these one-of-a-kind vintage items.

Blog Comment Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Patricia Ann of The Shapes of Things for winning our blog comment contest!  She won a $50 gift card to Avant Gaudy just by commenting on our blog posts!

Thank you to all of you who commented and participated!

The contest may be over, but we still love to hear what you have to say! 

Tell us what you think about your favorite posts! And check out Avant Gaudy to see our newest vintage merchandise.

Fall Trend Alert: Velvet!

by Anika

Yes. Velvet is coming back this fall and it’s no longer reserved for girls under the age of 12.  Use velvet in your wardrobe to create sophisticated looks that are classic and feminine with a hint of toughness.  The runway was full of this luxurious fabric this season with dresses, blazers, and even pants from designers such as Marc Jacobs, Fendi, Armani, DVF and more.

Can’t afford designer prices?  Try these vintage pieces from Avant Gaudy.

Style Tips: Be careful not to overkill the trend by wearing too much.  One statement piece of velvet is enough for an outfit.  Try a velvet blazer over skinny jeans and a sheer romantic blouse under to avoid feeling stuffy.  Try a shorter jacket over a frilly dress to add a bit of edge.  A velvet dress with a pair of heels makes for perfect evening attire.

 

You know what my favorite kind of velvet is? RED VELVET CAKE! SO good.  Here’s an awesome recipe from allrecipes.com.

Trend Alert: Harem Pants

by Vanessa

Many people believe that harem pants are one trend that they can’t pull off, but really anyone can!  Harem pants are loose fitting pants that are slightly tapered and tight around the lower leg. Harem pants were featured on the runway of designer Amy Smilovic this spring, but the trend will still be popular this fall. Harem pants were also seen on the runways for Balmain and Christian Dior this fall.

Harem pants can look nice with a tank top or long-sleeved shirt and colorful, high-waisted belt. Harem pants are a great way to show off your fun, outgoing side and a perfect for someone who wants to try something different.

Harem pants can range from $19.99 (Urban Outfitters)  to as high as $550 (Sonia by Sonia Rykiel). Check out these unique harem pants from Sonia Rykiel, Urban Outfitters and Forever 21.

 

Exclusive Blog Comment Contest Ends in Five Days!

Don’t forget, Avant Gaudy is offering an exclusive contest for blog readers!

To enter the contest, all you have to do is comment on 10 or more of our blog entries (past entries acceptable) and email us (raffle@avantgaudy.com) the titles of the blog entries you commented on.  Then, just tell us which blog post was your favorite!

We will enter you into a raffle for a $50 gift certificate to our store!

Hurry up and comment now – you only have 5 days left! The contest ends August 17 at 12:00 a.m. CST.

Back to School: Crested Blazers

by Vanessa

Wearing a crested blazer can bring the preppy side out of almost anyone. Most blazers only come in certain colors, including blue, white and black, but you are able to mix and have fun with blazers. 

I personally have one myself and haven’t found an outfit yet that doesn’t go with it. You can simply be wearing jeans and a basic T-shirt, throw on a crested blazer and you’re ready for an interview or small gathering.  Or simply throw it on and look great for an unexpected meeting with friends.

These blazers always feature some kind of crest or logo. Some of my favorite  include Canterbury of New Zealand and Ralph Lauren’s demin “Tirana” blazer. Granted, these specific blazers are pretty pricey, randing from $138 – $225.  You have to decide if its worth your money, but as a crested blazer owner myself, it was worth every penny!