Category Archives: Objets de Tiki

Polynesia Greetings Dress at Anthropologie

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Objets de Tiki and tagged with , , ,

I have to say that Anthropologie, while one of my favorite places to spend my dough, is probably the last place I expected to find anything related to tiki.

Their stores are impeccably styled and look like the most elegant and bohemian pied-à-terre in Paris one could imagine. I would like to just pack a bag and move in one day.

They offer overpriced vintage-esque fashions and furniture…and I shamelessly love it all. Mostly I scour the sale section where there are usually some great bargains to be found.

Last week I was at The Grove on the hunt for this lovely little number, when I took a quick look through the discount racks and discovered the Polynesia Greetings dress.

Upon closer inspection, I noticed it had a really interesting print of compasses, coral, sea turtles, fish, palm trees, mandolins and even the Kon-Tiki raft and the iconic image from its sail. (Thor Heyerdahl’s books about his voyages, along with “South Pacific,” contributed to the mid-century tiki trend.)

I dig it because it’s tiki, but not in your typical hibiscus-patterned Aloha wear way.

Thrift Score: Part Two

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Objets de Tiki and tagged with , ,

I don’t go thrift store shopping very often, so it was nice to go last weekend with CuriousLaydee (she’s a magnet for good finds). After an appointment at Frenchy’s Beauty Parlor and some pastries at Porto’s, we headed to the American Way Thrift Store in Burbank (which also happens to be near 8-Ball, Halloweentown and other neat stores). I picked up these two rattan items—and the store has special pricing on Saturdays so they were 30% off.

I think it would be fun to turn them into lamps, but if I don’t end up getting motivated I can always use them for their originally intended purposes (mini side table and trash can). Here’s what one of the pieces looks like in my in-progress tiki room. Yeah, I have white walls…deal with it! 😉

The Mother Lode of Mai Tai Mix

Posted by The Tiki Chick in Objets de Tiki and tagged with , ,

Tiki Chick reader and all-around-cool-dude Mark contacted me a week or so with an intriguing offer. His father—a longtime regular of Trader Vic’s—was moving out of his house and they had a small stockpile of cocktail mixes to unload. They happened to be right in my neighborhood so I headed over and hauled off more than a dozen bottles of mai tai mix, orgeat and rock candy syrup (oh my!).

He also very generously sent me on my way with this fogcutter mug. Over the years,  Trader Vic’s has produced several versions of this mug, and you can get a glimpse of their most recent ones here.

Thus far all the tiki mugs I’ve amassed have been modern specimens (remember now, I’m a newbie!), so it’s neat to have one that’s practically as old as I am. Thanks again, Mark! Now I just need to go out and get some good rum…