Guest Post: The Vintage Interviews – Telltale Hearts

This week I’m thrilled to have the stunning Lila / The Constant Tourist sharing her favorite vintage shops & interviews with the mad-women behind them.  You may recognize Lila as my Gwyneth Paltrow-esque styling companion at the Langford Market blogger meet-up (only Lila is 1000% more awesome than Gwynnie).  Say hi to Lila, pop over to her site if you love to travel, and drool over the fabulous vintage finds she’s dug up. xx!

Across the world, re-purposing second-hand and vintage art, furnishings, clothing, and accessories is big business. I was recently in Eastern Europe and became inspired by all of the ‘brick-a-brack’ shops. Authentic bohemian clothing, rustic kitchenware that’s more art than function at this point, and mysterious black and white portraits. Rummaging through it all made me curious about the owners of these shops, and I wanted to know their stories. Taking that curiosity back home with me, I sat down with a couple of women right here in the United States that are rocking my world with what they’re doing with vintage clothing and jewelry. Here’s Part I of those interviews, with Brandy and Melissa of Telltale Hearts.

Vintage Faux Snow Leopard Stripe Coat - $100

First of all you’re a duo right?- Two friends who saw a hole in the market and decided to bring your curated vintage to online consumers around the world. Genius. When was that “Ah-ha!” moment for you?

Brandy: We are indeed a duo. Melissa and I have been friends for well over a decade. I’ve always looked to Melissa for style advice, and I’ve always been inspired by her personal vintage collection. She has a great eye for “pretty with an edge”. The idea for Telltale Hearts came to us basically because we couldn’t find an online shopping experience that satisfied each of our individual cravings. Melissa wanted a space to showcase her style and taste for vintage, and I wanted to be able to buy cool vintage pieces AND contemporary basics in one shopping cart.

Melissa: Yes a duo. My “Ah-ha” moment was when I was job hunting and at an interview was asked to bring in my vintage pieces and sell them to this company. At that point, I thought why not do something on my own instead of mass marketing my vintage. I love that vintage is special because it is “one of a kind” and hated the idea of selling it to a huge company. Next I met up with Brandy and we opened Telltale Hearts.

So let’s go straight to your vintage, because it’s different. In all the right ways. There’s an edge to everything, from the make-up your models wear to the actual clothing itself. You have a knack for turning someone else’s 80′s throw-outs to damn near punk. Which one of you drives the styling end of your brand?

Brandy: Thanks so much! That is exactly what we try to do. It’s basically a reflection of our own style. We believe that wearing vintage successfully is all in the styling, and we hope to inspire others through our images. Melissa is the stylist and the buyer, and I’m the grown-up goth girl that wants to take “pretty” and make it cool. We focus less on current trends in vintage, which is leaning towards boho and grunge these days, and more on pieces that fit in well with a professional women’s closet who loves to have a little edge.

Melissa: We both work on different aspects but together have a similar aesthetic. We work well as a team.

Vintage Black & Tan Peplum Dress - $65

In addition to selling your vintage online, you’re also selling your pieces at your own boutique in Los Angeles. Swanky. I know it’s a dream of many to own their own boutique. If you were opening your second location, money no option, what would it look & feel like and where would it be?

Brandy: For me a second store would have to be in San Francisco. I live right across the bay in Oakland, so it’s only logical that we would expand in the Bay Area. Also our collection would be really well received in San Francisco, where the style tends to be a little less flower child and a little more rock’n'roll.

Melissa: I would have to agree with San Francisco. I think our style would work well there. I would say to keep the look of the store simple and spend most of the money on the vintage!!

Alright, let’s chat style. I know for me personally, I get a lot of inspiration through travel. And it sounds like you do as well. Is there a particular place that really strikes a chord and gets your creative buds bouncing?

Brandy: For me I would have to say traveling in Turkey and Greece has been the most inspiring. The textiles are spectacular, great leather pieces are affordable, and jewelry options are endless. The people of Turkey are so beautiful and friendly, and the street style is a great mix of leather and bohemian textiles. And don’t get me started on the food!

Melissa: Hmmm so many places. But I will say that the vintage in Paris is amazing. If I could, I would go there often to bring back tons of rad vintage pieces.

Real quick before I let you skip away, You’ve got such a grab bag of boutiques, dives, restaurants out there in the bright lights, big city of Los Angeles. Care to share your favorites with us traveling gals?

Brandy: Los Angeles has so many inspiring places beyond just food fashion. I love the history of old Hollywood, and make a point of visiting the beautiful cemeteries to pay respect to stars like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Marilyn Monroe. When it comes to shopping there are so many options! You can visit highly curated vintage stores that sell top shelf designer vintage, or you can hit the monthly events like the famous Rose Bowl Market or the Melrose Trading Post and spend a great afternoon hunting for treasures.

Melissa: LA is huge and there is so much to do, I love so many places. If you go to 3rd Street, walk the whole street for rad boutiques like Satine and eat at Joans on 3rd a super amazing deli. M cafe on Melrose is delicious. In the summer there is a cool wine tasting event in the Barnsdall Park at the Frank Lloyd Wright house thrown by Silverlake Wine, its a summer time must! Over on the east side head to Silverlake and go to Malo for mexican food and then of course come to the Telltale Hearts store on Hyperion Ave. I could go on and on so email me if you ever need more suggestions or again come by the store and I will send you in a good direction.

If you’d like to peruse Brandy & Melissa’s vintage collection, you can online at www.telltaleheartbeat.com and www.marketpublique.com. Be sure to check back here Wednesday for my interview with Wendy, whose repurposed jewelry line is being sold right here in New Orleans.