...nice boots

It's pretty rare to find anything to write home about at a sunday morning estate sale. I most often dont even bother going, hence I almost ignored the message sent Saturday night by one of the estate sale mavens of Portland. If it wasn't for Jeff , my motivational boyfriend, I would have slept right through this pair of lovely boots.

100 Dresses

Where the hell have I been? You might be wondering, well at least I know some of you are-thanks Dad. I have been drowning in vintage dresses. Cleaning,steaming, repairing and pricing.
A week ago I was knee deep in a dreary dark moldy basement, syphoning through piles of vintage clothes. I seriously had a caving lamp on my head. I jokingly asked the estate overseer's for one and they just so happened to have one on hand. Thousands of dresses, coats and sweaters had been left for dead in this dank and miserable basement. Beautiful 50's cotton shirtwaist dresses hung covered in dust, some never worn. Who knew? The women who had worn them had passed away years ago. The house had been left untouched at the end of a gravel road in Vancouver. It wasn't until her son had decided to call an estate company that they were discovered. Lucky for me( and you) I happened to be in the right place at the right time. I had wandered in to a very chi-chi antique store in north west and casually mentioned my position as GRAND PROPRIETRESS of Xtabay Vintage. Impressed by my title, she let me in on the secret location in which the dresses were hiding. I jumped into my Honda and charged up the I5 corridor crossing the Columbia and heading into the fashion mecca of THE 'COUV.

BEADED BONANZA!

I love this little 1960's beaded cocktail dress. Literally encrusted with tiny beads and sequins , this little number is sure to light up a room. I purchased this one from the estate of a former world traveler-in fact she was a stewardess in the 1950's . She spent the 60's living in Saudi Arabia with her pilot husband. The beading around the neck has a distinct middle eastern feel to it. Did she dare wear this one out on the town in Saudi Arabia?
From the condition it is in it doesnt appear that she wore it at all....
Size 4-6 petite
78.00

Black Oraganza Fantasy with erotic night blooms

How wonderful is this! Who could possibly resist these big luscious red flowers shrouded in balck organza...so stunning. Pretty much my ideal little black dress, except for the size. This little beauty is a perfect size 6 and is priced to sell at 89.

Melissa models Lime Green Sensation!

Lime Green Sensation!

My friend Melissa stopped by this afternoon and squealed at the sight of (as she called it) this LIME GREEN SENSATION....Made in the early nineties this little number is 100% silk and made by the mysterious label TARENTINO. Maybe Quentin ventured into saucy ladies dresses for a while...The lime green sensation is a steal at 38.00....size 4

Attack of the little black dress!!!

Check out the dangerous curves on this LBD. I am totally in love with this one. I was able to intercept it from a girl who was about to sell it to the ol' Buffalo Exchange. Lucky for me and for you! It has been beautifully restored by a trip to the dry cleaners and is ready to be worn! Beware, this is the kind of dress that illicits cat calls and double takes. It may silence a room or turn some heads...

dress is a size 4 and is 98.00

It can also be viewed on ebay under seller name xtabayvintage.

Too HOT...

I'm totally in love with this unusual wrap all-the-way-around zebra print 60's dress. I love that the stripes are this weird inky navy instead of black. Navy is my new black. I'm so over black...and brown. Last year I wore brown. S--t brown, why would a girl want to do that?

The zebra dress is currently being featured in the Xtabay display window. Winking at all the passerby's....price is 48.

The never ending supply...

The mysterious Ms. Parker continues to deliver. These are a couple favorites that she has sold me this last week. The first image is this fabulous 1960's italian knit dress/coat by Cadillac. It would fit a size 6-8 and would be perfect for fall. It does not appear that Ms. Parker wore it because it is flawless! It can be purchased here for 125.00.

The 60's Pollack splatter mini dress is a party waiting to happen. It is a size 5 and is made by the dimestore design house of FRITZI of california. Good times...it is for sale for 48.

The Parker Collection

For the past 6 weeks now I have been buying the remaining wardrobe of a mysterious California glamor girl. On an almost daily basis I am visited by this women's equally mysterious daughter, who dress by dress, pantsuit by pantsuit, sells me her mothers clothing. Why did this woman have 7 unworn pairs of hazard orange hotpants? Why did she need 4 pairs of eggplant purple pants? My store has literally been transformed into this women's closet.

Both the Alfred and this 60's swirling no name dress are pieces from her seemingly endless collection of shifts and mini dresses. The Shaheen is a tunic with a built in boob container and slits that go all the way up the side, meant to be with cigarette pants i'm sure-or maybe orange hot pants....who knows.

1960's Alfred Shaheen Tunic Dress

a dress a day...

I have often marvelled at a particular garment and thought how wonderful it would be to be to share it's fabulousness with others. Oh yes, I do have a store and can toss it up into the window and hope that whomever wanders by might stop long enough to behold it's glory. But that rarely happens, people are either running by with hot to-go orders or returning an overdue movie rental. Who has time to ponder the beauty of an elegantly appointed garment. To luxuriate in it's fabric, to appreciate a kick pleat. It is my intention to honor these forgotton pieces. A dress a day, one day at a time.

Welcome to Xtabay

Welcome to Portlands' favorite vintage clothing boutique. We are located in the heart of south east portland, on charming Clinton street. Fot the past six years we have been providing portland with beautifully preserved and unique pieces of vintage clothing. We specialize in dresses from the 30's through the early 80's.