Judy Aldridge of Atlantis Home

By Emily Hsieh
February 19, 2010

As the author of the widly popular style blog Atlantis Home, trend-setting fashionphile and vintage fanatic Judy Aldridge known is for her cool, avant garde aesthetic. One half of a mother/daughter digital media duo (her daughter Jane pens the equally well-read Sea of Shoes), she shares her style adventures and latest finds—which often includes her spoils from eBay—on her site. “I’ve been on eBay since it first started,” the Texas native says. Among her recent purchases? A bright pink faux fur Chanel jacket for $199 (with its original $2600 price tag still attached!), which she wrote about with excitement. Curious to hear more, we grilled the mother of two to get the full scoop on her eBay tactics.

The former model spends many a Sunday in front of the computer hunting for eBay treasure. “Sunday is a big eBay day. That’s when most auctions close, and so Sunday evenings can get pretty hairy for me bidding on several different things at once!” she reveals. She that says over time, she’s learned to be “very targeted” in her search terms when looking for things like Polcini necklaces and Christopher Ross belts (and vintage Chanel, natch) to add to her collections. “eBay functions as a mall and an encyclopedia,” Aldridge says. “When I first started using eBay, I had no idea how to search. Keywords are everything. To find the good stuff, you have to put yourself in the mind of a seller and think about all the ways they might possibly list something. With practice, you can find the most obscure, beautiful stuff. I’ve learned so much about history and different designers from the site.”

If you only have a vague idea of what you’re looking for, Aldridge says. searching broadly by decade is a good place to begin your hunt. “I might type in something like “80’s dresses,” which will probably pull up thousands of listings, which will bore me quickly.” A game of internet hopscotch follows: “But then I’d scan the first page of results and pick out a few details I like, like a puffed shoulder, or peplum, and add those keywords to my search to narrow down the results. And then I might discover a certain designer like Victor Costa in the mix, which becomes another great keyword to add to the list.” Aldridge continues: “I have so many searches saved on eBay,” Aldridge says. “The great thing is anytime you search for something, the site automatically saves it for you. So if I start typing the word “vintage”, eBay will show me all the searches I did that began with “vintage” in alphabetical order, which is amazing.”

Before making any purchase, Aldridge is adamant about reviewing a seller’s history. “I don’t really feel comfortable unless someone has had over 100 transactions,” Aldridge says. “And even if they have 93% positive feedback, that means some shoppers had negative experiences. You don’t have to count them out, but it’s important to go back and read the comments to see what the issues were, and how recently they took place. The numbers are really important.” This is especially critical if you’re thinking of buying from a foreign seller. “If the seller is overseas, I want their feedback to be 100%. I would also get in touch with them and ask lots of questions about insurance and shipping before committing. In general, eBay sellers are really open to talking, so if you get someone who isn’t responsive, it’s probably better to move on.”

As for her favorite eBay buys ever, Aldridge cites her beloved array of Christopher Ross belts, which feature buckles made of intricately wrought metal in animal shapes. “eBay is the one who taught me about these. They came up in a random search I did once, and then I frantically started searching for anything Christopher Ross.” Writing about her finds can backfire on her on occasion, as she recalls, “A couple years ago you could find these on eBay for $19. Then I started collecting them and blogging about them and overnight they started going for $500! I hardly every buy them anymore because the prices are so high.”

Undeterred, Aldridge graciously let us in on the other items she's got her eye on right now:

“People that read my blog know I love anything animal related. I'm trying to dress up my house a little and wanted to add a little 70's glam. Looking through some of Kelly Wearstler's books, I noticed her use of vintage brass animals, and was immediately obsessed. I have found some really great ones on e-bay including a 46" deer! Here are some items on my watch list right now.”

Roll over items for details

Hollywood Regency Brass Egyptian Head Statue

“Obviously this is not an animal, but I'm really crazy about this Egyptian head statue. It's just a little over a foot tall, making it the perfect piece for a sofa table or entry way table. It would look great paired with vintage books. It's only $89.99 or best offer—a steal!”

(buy it now price, $89.99)

Syroco Mid Century Eames Era Flying Fish Wall Sculpture

“I love this group of vintage flying fish. The large scale of this piece makes it especially desirable in my opinion. I love anything with fish!”

(buy it now price, $225)

Pair of Brass Rooster Sculptures

“What's not to love about these guys? The detail is incredible. I would love to put these on a very sexy Karl Springer coffee table. They are a little pricey at $400.00 or best offer, but I could easily go these two.”

(buy it now price, $400)

“I'm looking to add a piece of Karl Springer to my home. Nothing says 70's glamour like a piece Karl Springer, who is know for his high-end pieces and use of exotic finishes. Karl Springer pieces can get pretty pricey, but I always find a lot of great pieces in the style of Karl Springer on eBay, too.”

Set of Six Karl Springer Hollywood Regency Dining Chairs Klismos

“I love this set of six black laquered chairs with tiny flecks of gold. I can't imagine a table that they would not look fantastic around. $980.00 for the entire set seems like a great price!”

(starting bid, $980)

Midcentury Modern Karl Springer Desk

“I'm in love with this authentic birds eye maple Karl Springer desk. It would look great as a side table, or as a desk. I can picture pairing it with a vintage lucite chair. It's $1500, but real Karl Springer pieces are an investment.”

(buy it now price, $1500)

Karl Springer Faux Alligator Coffee Table

“This is a perfect example of a piece made in the style of Karl Springer. Beautful coffee table wrapped in faux alligator. Great low starting price. This piece would look great in so many rooms.”

(starting bid, $199.99)

“I love vintage jewelry. The bigger the better!! One of my favorite designers is Kenneth Jay Lane. I love both his older pieces and newer pieces, but I really enjoy the challenge of hunting down his more unusual pieces on eBay. Here are a few that stood out.”

Vintage Coral Cross Choker Necklace

“I've looked at this piece many times. It's a little high at $400, but the seller does have a best offer option. Someone will be so lucky to own this beautiful piece!!”

(buy it now price, $400)

Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Shells/Starfish Large Pendant

I love this large statement necklace with starfish, seahorses and clams. It's really a steal at $115.

((buy it now price, $115))

Vintage Kenneth Jay Lane Hinged Cuff w/ Stones

My favorite pieces of vintage Kenneth Jay Lane are his bracelets. I love this one because it's so heavily embellished, but I also love his clamper bracelets with animal motifs.

(buy it now price, $550)