I ask sponsors to choose their top three finds. Here are Past Perfect Vintage’s picks (click, then scroll down): 1940s Floral Tilt Hat by Lightbody’s, $85.00; 1920s Silk Dance Dress with Beaded Deco Roses, $875.00; Red Silk Lilli Ann Jacket ca 1955, $125.00.

First, a big thank you to our July sponsors Past Perfect Vintage & Specialist Auctions Vintage. It’s been a hectic month, and they’ve been very patient. Note to potential sponsors: we will resume the sponsor program in October, with some new terms that I’ll discuss in a different post.

Right, on to our first July interview, with Holly of Past Perfect Vintage:

1) What’s your store name and where do we find you online?

We are Holly Jenkins-Evans and Monty Evans and we are Past Perfect Vintage. You can always find us at our primary site: Pastperfectvintage.com. For eBay lovers, we can also be found occasionally as pastperfect2.

2) How long have you sold vintage? Do you sell part-time or full-time?

I am going to show my age! We started selling in 1992. Monty is part-time, I am pretty much full-time.

3) Why do you sell vintage?

I come from a theatrical costume background as well as a family with a lot of talented seamstresses, so there was always a lot of emphasis on clothing and fashion. As I moved out into freelance costume design work, I shifted from collecting vintage fashion into selling it as a way to keep working between design jobs. Now it’s pretty much my full-time work.

4) What is one frustration you have with selling vintage online?

We started out selling at vintage clothing shows, and it was such a joy to actually see people’s reaction to fine pieces, and to see them light up when they found their Holy Grail. I miss that moment. I get great thank you emails, but it isn’t quite the same.

5) How much of your personal wardrobe is vintage?

My wardrobe used to be lot of vintage. Rayon sports shirts, bowling shirts for fun, 1940s suit jackets, 40s neat blouses, and 40s and 50s dresses. Even a few pair of shoes. I must admit now that I am selling online, I am no fashion plate! But I still have an eye for a good sweater. And I wear mostly vintage jewelry now.

6) What are your favorite non-vintage stores or designers?

Non-vintage? What’s that? I do like Chico’s for easy to wear clothing, because there they do have interesting surface treatments. On the far opposite end, I thought Dior’s Fall 2007 line was amazing.

7) What are three things you wish shoppers knew about buying vintage?

a) Quality construction and fabric are worth searching for. Even without a known label, better quality will translate to a better investment.

b) If you love it, get it – there won’t be another! I have rarely regretted a purchase but have regretted many a fine piece I loved but didn’t buy.

c) It’s old. So treat it with respect and care so you can to pass it along to the next generation.

8) What resources can you recommend for buyers who want to learn more about vintage?

Goodness – books, books, books. Exhibits. I was trained that primary sources were the best, such as actual garments, photos, and portraits from the time. There tons of photographic sources now, from museum exhibition catalogues to museum collections online, and the whole Dover books oeuvre. Local museums have exhibits frequently now that there is such interest. Sewing textbooks such as the Vogue Book are also very helpful when it comes to understanding period construction. The Vintage Fashion Guild has a lot of online resources that will help fill in the gaps as well. Beware the texts that feature new sketches of period fashions. They always edit out important details and tend to make the period in question look more in line with current taste.

6) What is the best item you’ve ever sold? Where did you find it?

That’s a tough one. It’s a tie.

We sold a fantastic 1908 wedding hat a few years ago. The BIGGEST Edwardian hat I have ever seen, and that is saying some. All lace, tulle, ostrich plumes and wire – it didn’t weigh anything. Plus it had a rhinestone shooting star. I found it at a Lexington, KY antique show. It came out of a Cherokee Road estate in my city of Louisville.

The other was a truly sumptuous ¾ length Teens Battenberg Lace coat with pale blue silk satin bindings and ribbons that came out of a Louisville estate on a private buy.

Thanks, Holly, for all the advice! I can’t wait to get my hands on some of those Dover books (like this one). For more great vintage, see Past Perfect Vintage’s main page or click the links above; for more vintage seller interviews, see our archive.

I asked sponsors to choose their top three finds. Here are Red Pony Vintage‘s picks: 1960s Brocade Mink Trimmed Cocktail Dress & Cape, $99.99; 1970s Satin & Velvet Maxi Dress, $59.99; 1980s Retro Uniform Dress , $49.99. Our June sponsors are also vintage sellers, so I thought we’d continue our sponsor interview series. First up this month, Amanda from Red Pony Vintage:

1. What’s your store name and where can we find you online (all web stores, blogs, etc.)? The store name is Red Pony Vintage, and the store website is www.redponyvintage.com. You can also find Red Pony Vintage on MySpace & Squidoo.

2. How long have you sold vintage?  Do you sell vintage part-time or full-time? I have sold vintage for about 6 years. It has always been a part-time thing until recently, when I launched my stand-alone website. I started out, like many others, on eBay, and have developed my business into an independent. The work is full-time just to keep the inventory up.

3. Why do you sell vintage? I love history, all kinds, and vintage clothing to me is one of the only pieces of history we have that is “touchable”. Nothing brings you back quite like a vintage frock and the romantic thoughts that go with it–thoughts of the previous owner, the store where it was once displayed, and the occasions on which it was worn.

4. How do you decide what to sell at any given time?  Do you follow trends? I don’t make a huge effort to follow trends. I never know what I will be offering next month–it all depends what I acquire. I sell what is classic or what I find cute or special. There is someone that likes every era and style out there, so I offer it all.

5. How much of your personal wardrobe is vintage?  What are your favorite non-vintage stores? I am a country girl, so western clothing is what I wear daily. About 75% of my western shirt collection is vintage. I have a large personal collection of Squaw dresses and I harbor a couple of 40s suits and a beautiful 1960s Mike Benet formal if the occasion ever arises! For non-vintage, I generally shop local western wear stores.

6. What are three things you wish shoppers knew about buying vintage?

1) The work that goes into preparing an item for sale. Preparing the item for photographs, cleaning, mending, and repairing take hours of work in some cases. The money spent at the dry cleaners and personal hours spent often justify the price of a collectable garment.

2) That research is key. It is important to keep yourself educated as a buyer to properly date vintage clothing. I cannot tell you how many times I have stepped into an antique store and they try to sell modern clothing as vintage because of lack of education. This results in a disappointed buyer. As a result, buyers should be educated. I have put together a resource at www.squidoo.com/vintageclothingresearch with many links to help in the learning process. There is always something to learn as I keep learning everyday!

3) And lastly, if you see it and love it, BUY IT! I have lost out on lots of wonderful vintage pieces because I thought about it, and it is a bummer! Many sellers out there will put an item on hold, so just ask. Remember, these are often one-only items and you have to snatch them when you see them!

7. What is your greatest find? How did you find it, and who bought it? My greatest find so far was a beautiful jersey drape Ceil Chapman dress. I found it in mint condition at a specialty store,  about a year back. Funny, now I look in that spot every time I go, hoping for a miracle! I got it cleaned and sold it to a buyer for a very good price in Los Angeles. I am sure they are loving every minute with that dress! Big thanks to Amanda for her interview and for sponsoring She’s A Betty! Be sure to check out Red Pony Vintage for more great vintage finds.