Best Dressed: Ramona West

I’ve been a regular stalker shopper at Ramona West for about a year now. Cath and I have always been big thrifters, but usually in person at places like Good Will and Salvation Army. Online vintage shopping usually makes my palms sweat: will that just look like a costume on me? will it smell extra funky? is the material super-itchy? is that a muumuu and can I pull it off*?

But the minute Daily Candy introduced me to Ramona, my palms stopped sweating and I felt instantly at ease. These vintage pieces are carefully edited and tweaked to look a bit more modern, and the simple joy at knowing that not everyone and his sister will be wearing the same thing as me makes it my go-to site (buh-bye, Urban).

So here are a few pieces that I have from Ramona (probs about half of my “RW collection”):

1) 1970s mini (tights are from high school and boots are old AE).

2) Polka-dot mini (belt from Madewell, boots are 5-year old Target buys).

3) *This piece I call The Muumuu, but I say that with true affection. I saw this on the site and fell in love. I’ve always had a thing for poppies (it started with my early obsession with the Wizard of Oz), and these are hand-painted and gorgeous. I know this is the kind of piece that makes my less-fashionably interested friends question my sartorial sanity. I completely understand. I really do. It makes me love this muumuu more. (Tassel earrings are from the Etsy shop IHeartNorwegianWood).

I can certainly understand why vintage isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I love how unique and gorgeous it can be. Is it harder to wear than jeans and a t-shirt? Definitely. But the effort is worth it, even if people look at you with raised eyebrows, as they adjust their fleece Northface jackets and shuffle past you in their Uggs.

19 thoughts on “Best Dressed: Ramona West”

  1. Ugh, Uggs have implanted themselves as a trend in Seoul, and it makes me want to throw up whenever I get on the subway. They’re like the worst fashion reincarnation ever.

  2. yeah i’m normally hesitant about purchasing clothes i can’t try on but i’m definitely warming up to online vintage shops. urban outfitters stuff is normally terrible quality made in my motherland 🙁

    but yes, you should look back at those northface/ugg wearing people with raised eyebrows as well because you, my dear, have broken out of the herd.

    that’s quite a feat since people in atlanta are either northface/uggs or ed hardy/jersey shore. *shudder*

  3. Lauren, you are fabulous. (And so is Cath, of course.) I love all of your outfit/food posts (I’m as much of a foodie as I am a shopaholic. not a great combination, considering the current state of the economy). Your style always seems so polished yet effortless.

    Like the poster above, I’m not really big on buying things I can’t try on because 1) things I’ve ordered online have never fit me well and 2) the quality of my online purchases have always been really shoddy. I’ve recently started enjoying vintage (aka thrift store) finds though, and Ramona West looks awesome.

  4. Ramona West vintage is AMAZING! So cute and stylish and like you said, a little bit more modern 🙂 I LOVE the muumuu. It’s probably my favorite of all the things you’re showing here. Seriously so pretty!

  5. Vintage is the jam! Do you ever check out etsy? I’m always surprised that H+M or Urban is so popular when vintage is the same price and often at 10-20 years old already, holds up better. Good picks!

    ps. Did you mention you lived in Flint? Really?!

  6. haha! love your muumuu! um, yea, i kind of stalk Ramona West to see the new postings. it’s def. one of my fav online vintage sites!

    i’m a vintage fan too! flea marketing is one of my fav weekend activities.

    hope you gals have a glorious hump day!!

    xx, becs

  7. Thanks, you guys, for such a sweet response to the muumuu and Ramona! So glad you guys liked both so much!

Leave a Reply