Being a freelance producer means there is often times where a job ends and instead of finding another, I’ll take the time to re-center myself and see those who are near and dear to my heart but not close to my home. For my first stop, I decided to head home to Lake Havasu City, AZ.

Havasu… not just for Spring Break any more.

I know what you’re thinking: You hear Havasu and immediately think beers, boats, and pasties? (well this is if you’ve actually heard of the small town in the north west part of Arizona). But shockingly I was able to discover some great vintage finds at the local Salvation Army.

Not only was I interested to see what I could find but I also had 2 missions in mind.  I needed options for Coachella because let’s get real, half of the fun for us ladies is scoping out what is worn at this incredible festival. Also seeing as I left my vintage London Fog trench coat in my cousin’s car in Vegas (Sin City may have killed some brain cells), I needed to find another coat for my upcoming trip to NYC.

Katie’s first find of the day…

There is a huge variety of items from furniture to clothes to shoes to books to board games. Everything is easily organized and the staff is filled with small town charm and quick to tell you about their $1.75 great finds. Yes, $1.75. The green jacket pictured is what I ended up nabbing for NYC and it was on the sale rack; marked down from $4.25 to $1.75. I was also able to grab a hot pair of red leather boots for $3 & a cute pair of wedges for Coachella for a whopping $3 as well.

Spicy red boots… check.

Wedges for the desert… check.

The beauty in shopping at a Salvation Army in a small city is that most people don’t exactly know what they’re giving up and/or just don’t want to spend the time figuring it out. So if you find yourself taking a vacation on the lake, always remember that a city isn’t always what it seems.

K.V. and her $1.75 green jacket in action!

I finally came up for air from my current job and the timing could not have been better. I’d yet to see Deana in months and The Way We Wore was having a sale! Let the perfect Sunday begin.

Now for those of you not living in LA, (or those who do and have yet to venture to this La Brea gem) let me give you some deets on TWWW.   Immediately when we walked in, the lovely ladies who work the shop told us about their exact sale items and we’re quick to help with any questions.  You will be immersed in all articles of clothing from high-wasted shorts to chic blazers, designer heels, dresses, and enough scarves to fill a trunk!

Shoes galore!

But that’s not all. Once upstairs you enter upon a whole other territory (a.k.a. My weakness) boots! They’ve got lace-up ones, high heeled, over the knee. The possibilities are endless. Not in the mood for boots? Don’t worry. There is flats, sandals, heels, and more.

Upstairs at TWWW

TWWW is a great to place to grab a quick accessory piece (their collection of vintage belts is endless) or even a classic Chanel handbag. This being said, you can go in and spend anywhere from $12 to $500 on one item. But the odds that anyone you know will have anything like what you purchase is slim to none.   So not only will you add a classic vintage addition to your wardrobe but you’ll also be a new source of fashion inspiration.

If you’re not sold yet, just check out these photos and the fabulous women donning the TWWW look.

You’ve got Green With Glamour fan, Jessica Alba, on the Tonight Show in a vintage dress from TWWW…

GWG’s patron celebrity saint, Emily Deschanel, in a-ma-zing dress from TWWW…

and last but not least, the ever stunning Olivia Wilde in a gown from this one of a kind boutique as well.

Despite the scorching heat in LA this past week and weekend, I braved the high temps and hit the Melrose Trading Post once again! This time I am in search of fun, unique fixtures for my apartment.  Lucky for me there are more than enough vendors for my viewing pleasure.

When you first enter the Trading post you may think this is not what you’re looking for if you’ve come to purchase furniture or art. However, push past the first 20 booths or so, and you’ll find what you want.

One of my favorite vendors for abstract art can be found in the most open area of the parking lot, 2nd row in. His name is Jim and he tries to make it to the Trading Post every Sunday. Jim’s use of colors is incredible and he can make you anything you can dream up. His paintings range from small to quite large wall.  Jim was also recently featured in 944 Los Angeles and is definitely an artist on the way up.

If you keep walking past the ‘A Englishman In LA’ booth you will reach the booths filled with furniture, wall art, and various home accessories.  The adorable couple Manuel and Josephine run a booth which focuses on everything and anything you could want for your home. They have dressers, tables, art, comics, and even this week they included an old wooden boat steering wheel you would expect Captain Jack to be using. Manuel is a top-notch bargainer and always willing to negotiate.

Last but not least, you’ll definitely want to check out the furniture booth ran by Zbigniew and his daughter Kasia. Zbigniew has been selling his furniture at the post for years now and has a plethora of items to choose from. One of my dear friends bought a vanity set from Zbigniew in 2008 and it has withstood 2 moves and received endless compliments over time.  Zbigniew refurbishes each piece and also adds his own personal touch so not one fixture is alike. He is incredibly friendly, knows all about furniture, and will help you load any item of furniture into your car for safe traveling.

Happy shopping!

Everyone warns of the summers in New York. Hot, muggy, and just plain miserable. Lucky for me I just missed the latest heat wave so my days in the big apple were hot but most definitely bearable.  I started my day hitting Soy Cafe on Greenwich Ave in the West Village (organic granola & soy yogurt; delish), then my adventure for vintage/refurbished clothing began!  I headed back to where I was staying in the financial district so a 20 minute walk and I reached Lafayette street and my first stop: Screaming Mimi’s.

As I approach, there are 2 chic ladies enjoying a bit of shade and holding bags with goodies from the store.  Once inside, my eyes begin to sparkle at the array of unique clothing in front of me. As soon as you walk in you’re greeted by an eclectic mix of shoes ranging from boots to 60s wedges to Madonna-esqe heels.

And if you’re in a rush, don’t worry. These gals have this shop set up for success; all the clothes are divided by decade so if you’ve got a disco party or woodstock revival bash your options are organized and organic.

I finished up my Mimi’s experience and decided to head back down Lafayette to another refurbished vintage shop: Zachary’s Smile.

ZS is much smaller than Screaming Mimi’s but since the shop focuses more on refurbishing than collecting vintage pieces, your options for a particular jacket, top or skirt are more likely to be found here, no matter what size you’re looking for.

The staff at ZS were extremely friendly and helpful (which is always amazing)!  I absolutely fell in love with these vintage red leather ankle booties and and some impeccably refurbished blazers.  Although a lot of the clothing has a slightly business casual look, don’t let this place go unnoticed. They have a great array of vintage boots, heels, scarves and a bright collection of vintage clothes ranging from hippie-like dresses to the latest trend in harem (balloon) pants.

And lucky for us West Coast gals, Zach and his smile just opened a shop in Silver Lake! So be sure to hit the East Side of LA  for some truly unique pieces to add to your collection.

Professional TV producer (and semi-pro shopper), Katie Vaughan, has traveled many, many miles and shopped her way across multiple countries in her young life.  And though her career is a demanding one, she always manages to find time to take several trips a year, snagging chic (and sometimes hilarious) thrift store finds all along the way.  By writing 2nd Hand Spotlight, Katie shares with us her favorite vintage shops, thrift stores, flea markets and hidden shopping spots… and maybe someday she’ll even explain what possessed her to get those metallic high tops!

We’re stepping it up, People!  As our retail big sister, Green With Glamour, grows and grows… we’re keeping in stride as any younger sibling might.   We’ll still be bringing you major, eco-chic bargains, letting you in on fantastic “green” design finds and ooh-ing & ahh-ing over all amazing things vegetarian and vegan, but now you’ll be getting more than just our 2 cents.  We’ve enlisted some serious (& delightful) experts to cover what you love!

Meet our new (& seriously stylish) team:

Celebrity hairstylist & make up artist, Vanessa Rose Price, will be schooling us all about sustainable make up, hair and skin care with The (Eco) Beauty Biz.  Not only does she tame those famous Justin Bieber locks (along with a scrolling list of other celebs), but Vanessa will be taking time out of her ridiculously jet-settery schedule to bring us “eco” beauty tid bits along the way.

Vanessa Price

Switching gears from the fast-paced hullabaloo to the bucolic countryside, comes our new foodie team, Abby Lutz and Shane Walsh.   A clothing designer and photographer respectively, this couple traded in their edgy Brooklyn address for a bit of paradise on a farm in rural Vermont.  With a slower paced life now (though they still both work and turn out insanely gifted work), Abby and Shane have found themselves lingering in the garden and creating in the kitchen.  The result?  Mouth-watering, inventive concoctions crafted from the very food they grow.  Whatever is ready to be picked is what goes on the plate…  the very reason why they are The Accidental Gourmands.

Abby Lutz & Shane Walsh

And from the moment I met writer Tiffany Romigh in her well-appointed home in the Hollywood Hills, it was obvious that she was a woman of style.  Seamlessly fusing Street Art with French antiques, bold pop colors with delicate metallics, Tiffany has a knack for merging genres and mediums – and boredom is her enemy.  Never one to ask others to do what she can, Tiffany rolls up her sleeves and dives right in – whatever the task might be!  Having recently relocated to Austin, TX… she’s now faced with a whole new house to grace with her good taste – and a whole new city to explore.  With Chic Re-do, Tiffany shows us how turn the simple into the sublime and the unexpected into the unbelievable!

Tiffany Romigh

Professional TV producer (and semi-pro shopper), Katie Vaughan, has traveled many, many miles and shopped her way across multiple countries in her young life.  And though her career is a demanding one, she always manages to find time to take several trips a year, snagging chic (and sometimes hilarious) thrift store finds all along the way.  By writing 2nd Hand Spotlight, Katie will be sharing with us her favorite vintage shops, thrift stores, flea markets and hidden shopping spots… and maybe she’ll even explain what possessed her to get those metallic high tops!

Katie Vaughan

Of course, I’m still here… wrangling stories from the inspirational, unique and supremely talented bunch above!  I’ll also still be covering divine architecture (both old and new) and must have interior design pieces (as some of you know… I’m an Interior Designer by trade).  On top of that, I’m writing a  new piece called Green Goodie Review. With it I explore great, sustainable finds that are exceptional and moderately priced (under $25).  Everything from brilliant hostess gifts to vegan dog treats to organic room sprays.  Stay tuned… it’s going to get fun!

Deana Bracken (pictured with very understanding husband, Nadim)

Read on, Friends!