The Inside Source

Stars & Cars Ladies, does it get any more elusive and sexy...

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:01:05 -0400

Stars & Cars

Ladies, does it get any more elusive and sexy than James Dean? Here’s the legend himself on the set of Giant in all his glory. Wouldn’t you want to run away with him in this vintage Airstream? Well, the best we can offer is the Airstream itself, but the hot mysterious man you’ll have to find yourself.

Explore various Airstreams available on eBay for your summer escape.

(Photo: Courtesy of Getty. Text by Jauretsi)

Meet Camella & Marlon Aitcheson Camella is the founder of...

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:01:45 -0400

Meet Camella & Marlon Aitcheson

Camella is the founder of clothing brand Triple Five Soul, and Marlon is a private chef extraordinaire. Having found an escape from their busy New York lives, the couple opened a bed & breakfast upstate in the Catskills. Cooking, golf, nature, and family are the new primary ingredients of their life. eBay has helped them put it all together.

Check out our 3rd installment of eBay’s Consolidate with a visit to the home of Camella & Marlon Aitcheson.

Graphic We Love: David Shrigley Seeing a David Shrigley doodle...

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:01:13 -0400

Graphic We Love: David Shrigley

Seeing a David Shrigley doodle always makes us smile. His drawings are simple, child-like, and borderline crude, but somehow, the effect is a powerful deep punch. In any case, we’re obsessed.

Take a look at all the wonderful works of David Shrigley available on eBay.

(Photo: Courtesy of David Shrigley. Text by Jauretsi)

Real Men Indeed Wear Pink The saying use to go that “real...

Fri, 24 May 2013 10:01:06 -0400

Real Men Indeed Wear Pink

The saying use to go that “real men don’t wear pink” - but now we know that’s not the case. The Summer of 2013 is here to debunk the myth. Vans and Supreme have put forth a collection of floral-inspired low and hightop styles, to give that extra je ne sais quoi to any laid back outfit. Ladies (and gents), take notice….

We noticed a few of these limited edition sneakers in the eBay closet. Get them while they’re hot.

(Photo By Burning Ashes. Text By Yale Breslin)

I Spy: Chalkboard The beautiful thing about a chalkboard in any...

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:01:19 -0400

I Spy: Chalkboard

The beautiful thing about a chalkboard in any kitchen is the versatility it offers — from art board to functional tool. The trick is to constantly change the message to keep it fresh.

Take a peek at the vast selection of chalkboards on eBay for your home.

(Photo: Courtesy of NYMag.com. Text by Jauretsi)

Sentimental Value: Grateful Dead Shorts “This pair of shorts was...

Thu, 23 May 2013 15:01:36 -0400

Sentimental Value: Grateful Dead Shorts

“This pair of shorts was originally a pair of men’s 32 x 32 Lee Riders long pants. While at a Grateful Dead concert back in the day (and those were the days!!!), it became very hot at one of their outdoor summer classics (I believe it was up in Buffalo…..). I had forgotten to bring shorts for the weekend, so the guy I was with, now my husband, helped me out with a pair of borrowed scissors! True story - gosh, I hate giving these up!!!!” — July 8, 2012, eBay Seller BrewHogger1217.

Sentimental Value: True Stories from the eBay closet. Curated by Emily Spivack | Photograph: Jessica Malafouris | Illustration: Tomas M.

Antonia Mora “Woodboy” If you’re one of those...

Thu, 23 May 2013 11:01:00 -0400

Antonia Mora “Woodboy”

If you’re one of those lucky people with massive white walls in need of filling, then you might want to consider this psychedelic piece of art by Antonia Mora, “Woodboy.” By blending natural and inanimate images with human forms, Mora creates a whole knew genre of portraiture. You can see more of his work here.

(Photo courtesy of Antonio Mora. Text by Jenny Bahn)

Two for One The two-finger ring has become an enormously popular...

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:01:05 -0400

Two for One

The two-finger ring has become an enormously popular accessory over the last few years. Countless jewelry designers have been doing their clever take on the modern knuckle-duster.

Click here to check out two-finger rings available for purchase on eBay.

(Photo courtesy of i-nch. Text by Jenny Bahn)

Graphic We Love: David Byrne In one of my favorite books by the...

Wed, 22 May 2013 17:01:09 -0400

Graphic We Love: David Byrne

In one of my favorite books by the legend himself, David Byrne pencils his way through therapeutic thinking via pensive doodling. Here’s one of his sketches, Yes Means No, just to give you a little taste test.

Get yourself the full book, Arboretum (bids starting at $22).

(Photo: Courtesy of free-parking. Text by Jauretsi)

In Development: Jen Dau So you thought those modeling schools...

Wed, 22 May 2013 15:01:33 -0400

In Development: Jen Dau

So you thought those modeling schools and “training programs” were bogus? So did we! That was until we read that the beautiful Jen Dau, recently signed as a new face at New York Models, is a graduate of Barbizon (yes,the same Barbizon you’ve heard of since you were a kid). With the recent — and well-deserved — explosion of Asian models over the last few years, we expect Jen Dau will follow in the footsteps of Xiao Wen Ju, Sui He, and Soo Joo Park, each carving out their own path in the competitive world of high fashion.

(Photo courtesy of New York Models. Text by Jenny Bahn)

Tom Ford Frames Vogue cover girl Kate Upton is smokin’ hot...

Wed, 22 May 2013 11:01:00 -0400

Tom Ford Frames

Vogue cover girl Kate Upton is smokin’ hot and turning heads on newsstands this month (see the slideshow). Sure, we’re feelin’ her Jason Wu shorts, but the real zinger are these Tom Ford frames. Of course we ran to eBay to scope out some similar models available. Here’s what we found:

Tom Ford Brown Gradient Frames and Traditional Black

(Photo: Mario Testino for Vogue. Text by Jauretsi)

Chromed Out How to make a classic space (complete with gilded...

Wed, 22 May 2013 10:01:14 -0400

Chromed Out

How to make a classic space (complete with gilded rococo detailing) modern? Just add chrome. The sharp and simple lines of the chairs seen here beautifully contrast the organic, curled details on the ceiling above. To avoid being too precious when it comes to decorating, always consider going against type. We trolled through the eBay treasure trove looking for gems. You can find all of our chrome chair findings by clicking here, or check out a few of our favorites below:

Pair of Milo Baughman Thayer Coggin Chrome Lounge Chairs ($475)

Mid-century Modern Chrome Dining Room Chairs ($165)

Pair of Milo Baughman Cube Chairs ($2,599)

(Photo courtesy of Small Shop Studio. Text by Jenny Bahn)

(Image courtesy of notetoselfblog.com)

Tue, 21 May 2013 19:01:26 -0400

(Image courtesy of notetoselfblog.com)

Emily Spivack Loves a Good eBay Story A natural-born archivist,...

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:01:00 -0400

Emily Spivack Loves a Good eBay Story

A natural-born archivist, Emily Spivack loves to dig for narratives with soul. In addition to blogging for Threaded, the Smithsonian’s fashion history blog, she documents personal clothing stories through her two other digital babies, Worn Stories and Sentimental Value, the latter being an experimental journey into the emotional tales found on eBay. Inspired by the purest curiosity to troll through the e-commerce platform naturally (we swear we didn’t put her up to it!), we were thrilled to discover this blog organically.

Last Friday, I took a trip to Philadelphia to attend her first-ever installation of Sentimental Value in its corporeal form, with original items presented beside the unedited text from eBay’s listing. The result? A fascinating study in human emotion. As guests surrounded her with praise all night, I managed to squeeze in some personal time with Emily to ask a few questions on her anthropological sojourn online.

Jauretsi: Most of your blogs revolve around clothing, yet you are not a “Miss Fashionista” type. What is it about clothes that draws your attention?

Emily Spivack: I approach fashion with a reluctant fascination. I’m curious about what informs how people dress — decisions they make consciously or unconsciously about what to wear, what to buy, what to hold onto. I’m less curious about new trends, upscale designers, and must-have items. I see clothing as a reflection of culture, values, and history. What you see in my various projects is an attempt to figure out what the garments we cover our bodies with every day mean. For me, it’s an ever-evolving process.

[MORE]

J: For the Smithsonian blog, I imagine there is an incredible responsibility to writing about the history of clothes. What was one of your favorite historical posts that surprised and pushed your curiosity?

ES: This past winter, I was looking at an ad for sequin-covered Ugg boots on the subway platform, and I wondered how sequins had gone from formal occasions to something so mundane and ubiquitous. I decided to look into it, and figured that Threaded readers would share my curiosity and enthusiasm (which they did since it’s been one of the most popular posts).

In the process of researching those shiny discs, I uncovered details that practically made me giddy. For example, Leonardo da Vinci sketched a sequin-making machine! King Tut was buried with sequins! (Sequins were more functional than decorative then.) And when sequins were made with gelatin in the 1930s, the sweaty hand of a dance partner could melt them right off the back of your dress.

J: Your upcoming show, Sentimental Value, opened May 17th where you displayed items found on eBay (we’re flattered!). Tell us how you came to gravitate towards eBay tales versus any other marketplace, and how this art project came to life on its own.

ES: I’d been buying from eBay for years, mainly vintage clothes and tchotchkes, when, in 2007, I came upon a garment with a really detailed provenance. Instead of just describing the garment’s size, condition, and other basics, the post included information about who had owned it, when, and why. A photo of the former owner was even included in the auction’s documentation. Something clicked at that moment and I began looking around eBay for more stories associated with clothes people were selling. They weren’t so easy to find, but if I looked long enough, I’d find them. I became fascinated with people’s desire to share stories — often quite personal ones — about things they were parting with, and on an online platform that wasn’t really meant for storytelling. I was particularly drawn to eBay’s marketplace for stories because all kinds of people sell all kinds of stuff on eBay. I’ve collected over 600 stories at this point and I can pretty quickly get a sense of the person by the way s/he tells the story (emoticons, ALL CAPS, detailed anecdotes) and photographs the garment (on the bed, over a closet door, on a mannequin). I never know what I’m going to find and that’s what has kept this project interesting, what’s prompted me, in 2010, to start bidding on the garments I was posting on Sentimental Value, and what’s helped this project evolve into an exhibition.

J: What is the one eBay item’s personal story that moved you the most?

ES: I don’t know if there’s one personal story that’s moved me the most. Some are funny, others are sad, and then there are those that are simply mystifying. I did reread this one post recently, about a high school-aged girl who made a homemade anime costume for a boy she had a crush on, and I was struck by the story’s open, and bittersweet, tone.

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Sentimental Value: Emily Spivack runs from May 17 - August 18, 2013 at the Philadelphia Art Alliance, 251 South 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA.

(Photo: Curator/Blogger Emily Spivack with exhibition item “Victoria Bronze Brocade Silk 2pc Brides Travel Dress.” On eBay, the caption reads: “The sad story of this dress is that it was made as part of a young woman’s bridal trousseau. This was her ‘going away’ dress. She was married, but the hapless bridegroom was killed in a horse & buggy accident on the honeymoon. She returned home, placed the dress in a chest and it’s been there ever since, until the home was finally emptied for an auction sale of all the contents over a hundred years later.” — eBay seller vintageaffairedamour, August 16, 2010. Photo & Text by Jauretsi)

Meet Your Curator Our very own Jauretsi Saizarbitoria, Chief...

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:01:42 -0400

Meet Your Curator

Our very own Jauretsi Saizarbitoria, Chief Curator over here at The Inside Source, was recently featured on Refinery 29, where they got inside the brain of our epic multi-tasker. Did you know that in addition to finding you the best in culture, arts, fashion, and design, Jauretsi hosts a radio show? Or that she’s also a documentary filmmaker? You’re going to have to read the rest for yourself. Until then, here’s an excerpt from Refinery 29.

Refinery 29: Tell us a bit about your career path — we sometimes get lost in all the details.

Jauretsi: “I was always a little diffuse in my career goals. I’ve let my passions guide me. I learned in later years that that’s an asset not a liability. Yeah, I threw parties in the mid ‘90s for Paper magazine, then Details back when it had the Soho loft (oh, those rooftop days!). By the time I made it to Jane magazine, I was its entertainment editor, booking celebrity covers. Jane Pratt was an awesome partner in crime and really knew how to put people together. After 10 years in print, I left the business to shoot a documentary in Cuba and reemerged in New York two years later to reinvent myself as a digital girl.”

(Photo and interview courtesy of Refinery 29. Intro by Jenny Bahn)

Bad Bad Hats Currently, we have our new favorite band on repeat...

Tue, 21 May 2013 11:01:16 -0400

Bad Bad Hats

Currently, we have our new favorite band on repeat here at The Inside Source. The band from Minneapolis (check out their cute Tumblr) is tickling our fancy with their single, “It Hurts,” which you can download for free here.

(Photo courtesy of Bad Bad Hats. Text by Jauretsi)

Bottled Up Chanel No. 5, the first perfume launched by Miss Coco...

Tue, 21 May 2013 10:01:24 -0400

Bottled Up

Chanel No. 5, the first perfume launched by Miss Coco Chanel herself, was created to bridge the gap between the two “types” of women who wore perfume and the types of scents they typically favored. Chanel No. 5 met them in the middle, where women could be sexy without necessarily being scandalous.

Click here for Chanel No. 5 available for purchase on eBay.

(GIF courtesy of pinerosolanno. Text by Jenny Bahn)

The Fabulous Cannes Cannes, the annual film festival in the...

Mon, 20 May 2013 17:01:08 -0400

The Fabulous Cannes

Cannes, the annual film festival in the south of France, kicked off a few days ago. While celebrities are out in full force with their glamorous gowns and tuxedos, the architecture of France is something almost out of a movie in its own right. Take the staircase at the Hotel Martinez, for example, a bustling hotspot for festival-goers and industry folk.

Put a little Cannes glam on your coffee table with this book, Cannes: Inside the World’s Premiere Film Festival.

(Photo & Text by Yale Breslin)

Strawberry Ice Cubes We love the “AnOther Lovers”...

Mon, 20 May 2013 15:01:28 -0400

Strawberry Ice Cubes

We love the “AnOther Lovers” section on the AnOther Magazine website that has the publication’s editors pick their fav photos online, like this tasty pic seen above. Here’s more fabulous inspiration from commissioning editor Laura Bradley.

Try making these fruity ice cubes at home this summer with circular ice trays from eBay.

(Photo: Courtesy of AnOtherMag.com. Text by Jauretsi)

Sizzlin’ Isn’t this GIF the greatest? It reminds us...

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:01:24 -0400

Sizzlin’

Isn’t this GIF the greatest? It reminds us of old Disney cartoons from way back in the day. But never mind all that. What it really did was remind us of cooking… and that we need a few new pans. If you’re outfitting your new home or apartment, it’s worth checking out eBay for a vast selection of goods. You can pretty much find any kind you like. From eco-healthy ceramic sets to the coveted copper kind, we think eBay has whatever you’re looking for.

Click here for a selection of frying pans available for purchase.

(GIF courtesy of Schwittenberg. Text by Jenny Bahn)