Better Than Bode

80+!!!! vintage and secondhand finds that give Americana nostalgia (because they're actually old)

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Ah, the Fourth of July.

A holiday that somehow manages to inspire equal parts ‘90s nostalgia, tense existential dread, and an overwhelming desire to spend the rest of my years actively lobbying against fireworks (consider me their biggest hater — they are dumb! they are pointless! they are terrible for people! animals! the environment!) Rather than adding another think piece to the Substack archive about America’s ongoing experiment with itself, I thought I’d celebrate the ✨stars and stripes✨ the way our forefathers would have wanted: by participating in capitalism.

Specifically, by continuing my mild roast of one of America’s favorite luxury brands: Bode.

If you’ve spent any time in the Trash Panic corner of the internet, you already know my feelings. (If not, you can catch up here and here.)

And in the spirit of being fair and honest, there are plenty of things Bode does exceptionally well. Emily Adams Bode Aujla has built one of the most convincing fantasy worlds in fashion, and I will never turn down an excuse to wander through a Bode boutique fantasizing about owning a country house, possessing an ivy league education, and having strong opinions about nautical sailing things.

But as someone whose love language is vintage, I remain unconvinced that the best version of “heritage Americana” is one that always comes with a four-figure price tag. I’d almost always rather spend the same money tracking down the real deal. The provenance is always better, the stories always stranger….

So, in the spirit of America’s favorite pastime — shopping for things we absolutely needn’t buy — I went digging through the internet for vintage and secondhand finds that deliver all the charm, eccentricity, and heirloom energy of Bode…. but better.

Americana

(working clockwise-ish, starting top left)

• 1940s red sailing jacket (vintage s, $140)

• 1940s metal sailor brooch ($45)

• vintage enamel patriotic flower brooch ($26)

• vintage wooden football cleat brooch ($78)
  i promise you’ll be the coolest one at the football game if you rock this

• 1960s grey george washington shirt (NOS, various sizes, $38.25 on sale)
  bode would sell this for $325 just because

• vintage suede blue and red stars and stripes jacket (see measurements, $1600) (honorable mention to this vest)
  compared to the $2800 bode version

• 1960s cotton anchor hat ($35)

• vintage celluloid hinged uncle sam brooch ($40)

• uncle sams hat celluloid brooch ($38)

• peace is patriotic pin ($19.99, in 3 carts!)
  a message i can get behind!

• wood and celluloid football brooch ($28.50)
  because nothing is more american!

• clifford red dog celluloid brooch ($38)

• striped blue cotton dress (fem s, $65)

• 1940s celluloid rhinestone “usa” brooch ($68)

• upcycled felt flag shirt (masc l, $285)
  this etsy seller upcycles textiles in a very, very Bode way

• 1960s blue and red suede star shoes (size 8, $135)

• vintage wool sailor pants (29” waist, $115)
  there are so many of the real deal floating around, why would you pay $680….

• 1970s faux suede star skirt (see measurements, $118.68)

• ralph lauren red sail boat shorts (waist 28”, $22) (honorable mention to the pants version, here)

Nostalgia

• multi-color celluloid rhinestone pin ($52)

• isabel marant red suede fringe jacket (fem s, $937.50)
  expensive? yes. better than the bode price tag? absolutely — this is a lifetime investment piece that gets better with age and adventure!

• vintage duck bakelite brooch ($32.99)

• 1940s flower bakelite brooches ($78 each)

• 1940s heart novelty print blouse (vintage fem l, $118.68)
  paired with a silky short and some sandals? timeless summer cool

• purple “chemistry is a gas” vintage t-shirt (vintage m, $45)
  buy it before i do it’s so good

• “rah rah” football pin ($26)

• 1940s red “be my valentine” hinged frame pin ($85)
  this! is! so! rare! and so! freaking! fun!

• purple round beaded fringe purse ($68)
  the listing says its magenta, but either way it’s FUN

• 1940s novelty apple print rayon dress (fem xs, $118)

• 1940s high rise patterned cotton shorts (see measurements, $52, in 1 cart!)

• 1940s straw woven saucer hat ($95)

• 1960s red striped skort (see measurements, $37.80, in 2 carts!) (honorable mention to these blue button shorts)
  cute cute summer cute

• vintage “war is not healthy” t-shirt (vintage l, $55.25)
  very good, seller has some other options

• green suede stitched geese gloves ($28)
  obsessed, nothing cooler

• tablecloth shorts (size l, $38) (honorable mention here)

• vintage brown leather studded rhinestone belt (size s, $99.97) (honorable mention to this vintage suede tassel one)
  bode would sell this for $550 minimum… and this is fucking rad!

• 1940s green linen embroidered purse ($42)
  great color, great pattern

Novelty

• 1960s wool floral crop cardigan (fem xs, $154)

• red star, horseshoe, and horses sweater (vintage xl, $34.99)

• 1960s tan horse knit sweater (masc xl, $209.99)

• vintage knit football sweater (vintage m, $199)
  has a stain on the front, but you could maybe embroider something fun over it? or add some pins? or embrace that this has lived a long life already!

• 1960s blue figure skating knit sweater (vintage m, $158.27)

• 1980s green carousel horse sleeveless sweater (vintage s, $48)
  precious

• vintage equestrian hunting sweater (vintage xl, $85, in 3 carts!)

• knit parrot sleeveless sweater (size l, $27.96 on sale)

• vintage red bowling knit sweater (see measurements, $199.99)

• fringe hem astrology knit sweater (see measurements, $205)
  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it’s a NEED, me thinks

• 90s red scottie dog sweater (fem s, $39.99)

Antique Deliciousness

• 1930s black embroidered floral robe coat (see measurements, $325)
  yummy

• gold sequined flapper cap ($39.95)

• 1920s black sheer beaded blouse (see measurements, $158)

• black and gold star beaded top (vintage m, $54)

• vintage black velvet bow shoes (fem 6, $29)

• white celluloid heart “b” brooch ($22)

• 1950s gold satin leaf print opera coat (see measurements, $385)
  this has been upcycled and reworked but is no less stunning (antiquewardrobe is one of my favorite ebay sellers, btw)

• red tiered drawstring beaded purse ($75) (shoutout to this striped one that’s so fun)

• art deco flapper girl pin ($21)

• round red beaded flapper purse ($150)

• black sequin flapper cap ($68.95)

• ann taylor black embroidered floral hem silk pants (fem 8, $28.49) (shoutout to this polka option and this polka dot option)

• black ralph lauren floral sheer blouse (fem 8, $54.99)

• 1930s black sheer lace dress (fem s, $215) (another sheer lace option here, a $40 ralph lauren black silk ruffle dress honorable mention here)

• manolo blahnik gold brocade flats (fem 10.5, $225)
  barely, maybe never worn?!

• red beaded flapper dress (fem m, $162.40 on sale, in 1 cart!)
  such a good color

• gold tulle black bow cape ($150)
  you could even layer this over an evening jacket to give this Bode vibe….

• vintage pearl dove hair barrettes ($29)

• black salvatore ferragamo patent leather bow pumps (fem 9aaa, $160)
  very narrow!!! but in wonderful condition

• black round floral celluloid brooch ($30)
  so unique and special addition to a top or jacket or pinning up a skirt or scarf

• toteme cream floral open back dress (fem l, $356) (a one shoulder floral ralph lauren option here and here, honorable mention to this light blue number)
  this is so elegant and dreamy and vintage-esque in the best ways

• 1940s love bird clear lucite brooch ($52.50 on sale)

• black celluloid star rhinstone brooch ($95)
  feels very alessandro michele valentino/gucci vibes

• rainbow colored drawstring beaded tassel purse ($395)

  this is $$$$ because its in near perfect condition and the colors are insane — a true collectors piece!

• black sheer embroidered floral blouse (fem l, $15!) (a crochet option here, an insane sheer beaded option here)

• 1950s orange western rhinestone bow tie ($35)

• 1930s gold crochet fringe dress (vintage xs, $475)
  a work of art

• maroon patterned opera scarf ($50)

• vintage salvatore ferragamo red velvet mary jane flats (size 9.5, $120)
  never worn! one or two teeny tiny flaws!

• 1930s white silk embroidered floral jacket (see measurements, $350) (shoutout to this insane fringe one, too!)
  this shows signs of being almost 100 years old but does not take away from how gorgeous it is - seller accepts offers and just relisted this cheaper than it was!

• black floral embroidered silk pants (fem 14, 32” waist, $34.95)

• 1940s black and gold sequin wool open jacket (see measurements, $96 on sale!)
  a good price for true vintage in good shape (and i love strangedesires)

• black salvatore gerragamo peep toe bow pumps (size 7, $64)
  the bows!

• 1930s black boho silk embroidered balloon sleeve blouse (see measurements, $260)

• 1960s neiman marcus gold sequin cardigan (see measurements, $85)

• 1960s black and gold sequin striped dress (see measurements, $58)

• yellow and black lace beaded trim crop top (see measurements, $95.03)
  with a high waisted pant

• vintage silk ribbon macrame shawl ($118)
  unique! special! fun!

• ralph lauren silk floral ruffle blouse (fem 4, $49.99)

• etro black wool embroidered jacket (fem s, $510)
  compare to the bode version here

• gold valentino bow flats (fem 7, $428)
  never worn!

• vintage red frog closure wool coat (fem s, $100)
  compared to a bode option like this

• black suede grommet jacket (fem 1x, $80) (another here)
  compare to this $2800 bode option….

• vintage black delman opera pumps (fem 7.5, $26)

• black embroidered floral sleeveless blouse (see measurements, $29)

Well, there ya have it.

Until next time,
xo,
G