#KibouStyles with @VintageSplendor

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Annette is the editor of A Vintage Splendor, a lifestyle blog which showcases her vintage meets modern personal style from her home and wardrobe to travel and entertainment. She has a distinct eye for the ever-evolving mix of new with old and classic meets eclectic. Annette also founded Splendor Collective, a thrifting and vintage community!

Annette has recently been featured in Elle, Domino Magazine, Forbes, Atomic Ranch Magazine, and California Home & Design. Annette currently lives in Pasadena with her husband, daughter and dog.

Tell us about yourself and what you do for work and for fun.

I am creative director of A Vintage Splendor, a iifestyle blog focused on vintage meets modern interiors and fashion. I also help brands develop digital strategies and branded content for their digital channels through my agency, Splendor Digital. I am definitely a curator of beautiful things and I'm lucky enough to do it as my career! In my off time, you'll find me exploring Los Angeles with my family - we all love being out and about whether it's hiking, swimming at the beach, architecture walking tours or hitting up a vintage market.

Describe your personal style in three words!

Maximalist, Colorful, Eclectic

What are your top 5 closet essentials – new or thrifted!

Vintage Levis, Vintage Blazer, Knit Jumpsuit, Simple White Tee, Super Extra Dress (whether it has fringe, sequin, prints - or all of the above!)

How did you first get into vintage and thrifting?

I started thrifting in middle school (before Melrose, Venice, Pasadena, and Santa Monica were transformed into trendy and upscale shopping destinations). I loved digging through baskets and racks to find interesting pieces. I was always very interested in fashion and would look for "cheap" versions of what I was seeing in Vogue. I still have vintage Gucci silk scarves that I found in the 90s in the $1 bin!

We absolutely love the idea of the Splendor Collective! Can you introduce our readers to this genius concept? How was this idea born, and how did it come to life?

Splendor Collective is a community dedicated to thrifting and vintage. Members of the community subscribe to receive exclusive access to vintage and thrifting guides, curated shopping lists, private Instagram, meet ups and more. The thrifting and vintage community is truly special and I want to make it accessible to more people. I found that so many people want to learn more about vintage and thrifting, while others want access to great finds or to learn how I approach shopping for unique pieces. This is how the idea of subscription was born - delivering all of these things for the price of a cup of coffee!

What are the top three pieces of advice for shopping for vintage or thrifted items online? How about in person?

#1 Whether you're shopping online or in person, know your measurements since vintage sizing is very different from modern sizing.

#2 If you love it, buy it. Nothing keeps me up at night like vintage I didn't buy. What I love about vintage is the unique quality of each piece which means if you miss out on buying something, then it's gone forever!

#3 Look for quality above all else. When it comes to clothing, look at the fabric, seams and overall shape of the item. You can't hide quality fabrics and details and something that was made with attention to detail is worth the splurge.

What advice do you have for someone who is new to vintage and/or thrifting?

If you're new to thrifting or vintage, start shopping more curated vendors at the flea market or vintage shops to get some inspiration and simplify the shopping process. From there, add these items to your "shopping list" which I just keep on my iPhone notes app. Then you can really dive into the bins at the flea market or thrift store knowing that items you're drawn to, what colors you love, what styles that resonate with you. Thrifting takes a bit of training so take a bit of time to train yourself and do a bit of homework!

Can you tell us the story about your best vintage find?

I have SO many it's like asking about my favorite child ;) The most exciting one is my vintage striped woven harem pants. They are so unique and versatile. They also are my most asked about vintage piece which is why I'm talking to a sustainable brand about producing them as part of a special capsule collection!
What are you currently on the hunt for? I'm shopping for easy pieces I can wear once the baby arrives - linen sets, denim, and jumpsuits.

You just had a baby!! We loved following along with your beautiful pregnancy looks on Instagram; what were some of your favorites? 

Thank you so much! It's been fun styling the bump but keeping my outfits inspirational for women who are not expecting. I'm always drawn to wearable pieces that can be layered. This is how I take a simple piece and turn it into a maximalist outfit! I've definitely been living in slip dresses since they're so accommodating of the bump and easy to rework into multiple looks.

Outfit 1: Isabel Marant sweater  • Thrifted skirt  • Veja sneakers 
Outfit 2: Free people dress • Vintage Escada jacket  • Jimmy choo flats