Spring has Sprung at Perennial Vintage

Happy spring, everyone. As usual, spring - really, more like summer with almost 90 degree temps - sprung early on us and we are already warm out. Which is a nice change, if I'm being honest. I love warmer weather.

And yet, winter clothing is my favorite item to sell and wear!

Alas, I still haven't come to terms with my dichotomous mind, so today, I picked up a few items from around the globe, which is always so rewarding, and some are for fall and winter, another for spring and summer.

Listed today is this beautiful wool handmade in South Africa cardigan coat. Exquisite. I've never seen anything quite like this here in Northern California. It's thick, woven, and of glorious sunrise or sunset colors. I'm getting Scottish wool vibes mixed with the Baja, Mexico Hoodies!

Then I stumbled upon another fabulous wool Norwegian cardigan, probably from the early '80s. Beautiful colors, exquisitely made, such beautiful details - those buttons! It'll be listed later this week.

And then a little aloha threw itself at me with this late '60s bark cloth shirt, by Iolani. Straight from the islands, I love the pastel palette of this one, since most from the late '60s are vibrant and bright with fuchsia and purple and oranges! It'll be on the site later this week as well.

Thanks for taking a little trip around the world with me!  Have a wonderful week, my vintage friends.

-Heather

The Classic Couple is Back

I remember the day when I heard JFK Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy (and Carolyn's sister) died in a plane crash. It was the summer of 1999. I was in my early twenties, and this couple had been in the tabloids and news for the past several years. Hearing about them regularly was normal, though they themselves were not normal. They were American royalty.

I didn't know much about the family then (I do now, with my love of the '60s, and Jackie Kennedy's style, and thanks to my vintage life that helps to feed this love). I recall it being serious, that this was a big deal, and words like "Kennedy Curse" floated about the news.

The latest series on FX and Hulu called Love Story has reintroduced the world to this classic couple. He, JFK Jr., and his thick head of hair, hat on backwards, cycling to and from work in New York City, she, Carolyn, with her perfectly minimalist style - a pair of class boot cut 517 Levi's, a crisp white shirt, and her oval sunglasses and straight long blond hair - this was a style I lived through and loved, and I'm glad it's having another moment.

I'm only a few episodes into the new series, and while it's a bit overly dramatized in some areas, there are definite heart-tugging moments; things about this couple we never knew, and things I wish people had known at the time. But life in the '90s wasn't like it is today. Truth wasn't as honest as it can be today with social media, so we, as an audience, are only as informed as the media would tell us.

Can you imagine Carolyn with Instagram today? The things - truthful things - she could've posted? What about JFK Jr.? He would've been inspired, I think. Social media would have been an outlet for him to say what he wanted America to hear; he may not have felt as constrained by the Kennedy name.

Who knows, though. It's all my speculation. 

But as a vintage lover, I am enthralled with the series, seeing what she wore. The costume designers were able to find true vintage duplicates of the things she wore, and for the items they couldn't find, they made them! I'm truly impressed. And would like a few more pairs of the vintage Levi's 517s for myself.

All that to say, while the series isn't perfect, I am fascinated by it, and glad to see the world is once again reminded of how beautiful this couple was, the struggles they went through. I'm also reminded of a few things: that life is fragile, that we should tell those whom we love that we love them, and that we should create our own style and be ourselves.

President's Day Weekend Sale 2026

Hope all of you have been not just surviving but thriving this winter. There's a lot to be shocked and frustrated about in this world, no matter where you turn or what you believe.

But, in my humble opinion, there is even more to be thankful for - as long as we're willing to look for it. So that's what I want to focus on. I'm thankful I get to do what I love every single day. And that, alongside writing, is preserving and selling vintage clothing.

This weekend (well, Monday really) is Presidents' Day, which means my monthly sale is happening right now. 20% off everything.

I'm always bringing in denim and sweaters. Two things I love and love to sell. Not only that, they sell the best - so it's obvious to sell what sells and sell what I love. So new denim is always coming in, and while the rest of this month happens, so are sweaters.

I may live in California (where it's not quite as cold), but I know the rest of the country is cold. I've got you covered! (literally). But, I also have shorts, t-shirts, and short-sleeved shirts ready for the spring and summer months because they are almost here!

Have a great weekend, and remember to enjoy every day. In just a few weeks, spring will be here! (Even if it's a cold spring.)♥

-Heather

Happy New Year 2026

Levi's Denim Stack

Last year, 2025, at my Etsy shop Perennial Vintage was the best year I've ever had, as far as sales and profit are concerned. 

Do I know why? No. Not really. I believe it was due to a variety of things. It may perhaps be dumb luck, but when I really think about it, I believe it was due to hard work and these things:

• more quality items (Quality over quantity.)
• fewer items overall (Less is more.)
• running more sales (The most eye-opening action I've taken.)
• learning as I go for the last 15 YEARS! (A lot of trial and error here.)
• listing what people truly want (They want denim and sweaters.)
• taking advantage of advertising on Instagram and Etsy (Small investment = Big Reward.)
• writing blog posts (Seriously, these posts help Google searchers find my shop.)

So, what didn't work this year? I'm finding that as much as I love dresses, they don't sell well - if you look at thrift stores, there is always a glut of dresses. Twice or three times as many of them as any other item.

It isn't that women don't love dresses anymore. We do, but we don't wear them daily the way we used to up until the early '70s. We wear them for special occasions, rather than a daily uniform.

So, I will be listing fewer dresses in my shop this year to see how I do (and try to sell the rest that I have). But when I do list one, it will be amazing, as in cut, era (1940s), or quality. It will be exceptional.

Instead, I will be listing more of what I love to sell: sweaters and outerwear. I'm super excited about this. As you know, I love sweaters and cardigans. I've made extra room available for them in my spare bedroom closets (now that my two sons have fled the nest) and have bins in place ready to store them until I sell them.

There's always a need for them (minus a couple of months in summer, and even then, people are always looking ahead), so having a larger portion of those items has been the big seller for me this winter and what I'll be doing more of in 2026.

Of course, denim, as in jeans, jackets, and shirts, will always be a staple for my shop and is equally one of the biggest sellers alongside sweaters and outerwear. I also sell a ton of belts. I love and wear belts all the time, and last year, I made it my mission to up my belt inventory. I'm happy to say, I've done it. I have over 100 belts listed, of all shapes and sizes. Visit my shop to see what I have!

I hope you have a fantastic January. Thank you for following me alongside my vintage journey, and I wish you the biggest and best blessings for 2026.

-Heather

Christmas Season 2025 - 15 Years On Etsy

Just a little note to tell you all how thankful I am for you!

November 30th marked the day I "opened shop" 15 years ago on Etsy, which means this is the start of the 16th year. 

Never did I think a fun "hobby" would turn into something I love, cherish, and adore even more now than when I started in 2010. It is a way of life for me: the vintage life. And it's one of the best things to happen to me.

I have sold almost 11,000 items through my Etsy shop. Every piece is a labor of love because I intentionally choose each one of those items to put into my store, to purchase it, photograph it, list it, and wait for it to be chosen by someone else to add to their life (or someone else's life. I get a lot of gift-giver purchases, and this time of year is no exception!)

So these pieces are all a little part of me; my love, my life, a part of who I am and want to be. This shop reflects my specific vintage love, and I feel lucky to share it with the world.

If you've purchased from me, read a blog post, or admired from a distance, thank you so much. I'm living a dream come true: doing what I love to do (that just happens to make a little "daily bread.") I have to add that this year has been the best year I've ever had, as far as sales go. So, for those who think instant success is the norm, it isn't. For me, it's taken 15 years to get there! What a journey.

And, in truth, it doesn't get better than this. It's been a blessed journey

Merry Christmas, and please enjoy continuous sales in my shop throughout the rest of the year to celebrate 15 years of life on Etsy. Visit the shop today to see what sparks joy for you!♥

-Heather