This is the sort of outfit I’ve been wearing a lot lately: slightly mish-mashed and just a tad eccentric. Sort of like a modern-day Auntie Mame. This blending of styles is due partly to my having a severe case of fashion ADD post-moving, and the incorrigible weather which keeps playing tricks on me. (I think I brought the warm temperatures up from Florida with me…) Half the time I want to wear fifty different things at once–I blame this on having to wear jeans for practicality’s sake for so many weeks–that I just can’t decide and end up just piling things on!
This is also the debut of my lovely “new” (really vintage) 1960s coat. I thrifted it soon after we moved here (naughty, I know–thrifting when I should have been unpacking. lol.), and it crossed off a long-standing item from my wishlist. I have to say: my coat collection is very close to becoming complete! I asked on Facebook about cleaning the fur collar, and thanks to some wonderful leads and this link, I ended up doing it myself. Which meant only the coat itself had to be sent to the cleaners and I didn’t have to spend a small fortune on the fur cleaning. I was pushing it quite a bit wearing it yesterday, since it wasn’t really that cold once the sun warmed everything, but I was determined!
Have you added any new (or vintage!) pieces to your closet lately you’re excited about? Do tell!
tshirt: Loft | trousers: made by me | telephone cord bag: vintage | scarf: thrifted | saddle shoes: Muffy’s | belt: thrifted | bracelets: thrifted | sunglasses: H&M
This outfit is a couple weekends old, but I thought I’d share it with you since I had the pictures sitting on my harddrive! I’ve worn this outfit (or variations on it) more times than I can count of late. It’s comfortable and works for just about any occasion—plus all the pieces I can easily wash (an upside when you’re a klutz like me!). For some odd reason too people seem to instantly see the 1940s inspiration behind the look, despite it being a bit of a mish-mash of things! I honestly have gotten more compliments on this outfit, which I always find rather humorous because it’s so darn simple… Just goes to show you it’s not the complicated looks that really catch people’s eye!
blouse: vintage, estate sale | skirt: thrifted | belt: estate sale | handbag: vintage, inherited from great grandmother | shoes: Naya pumps via DSW | hair flower: courtesy Belle Blossoms | bracelets: thrifted
Sometimes when you’ve worn a certain garment a million times, it’s worth figuring out a way to wear it a new way. This 1940s blouse (a lucky estate sale find last year) is one of my favorites, and I’ve worn it the correct way (buttoned up the back) numerous times. But this time I decided to turn it around so the buttons were in the front. An easy switch—but it changes the look (and possibilities) in a pinch!
The shoes are a new addition to my closet. I was in dire need of black pumps that had a more sensible heel, and had been drooling over the Babydoll pumps at Remix Vintage. They were a little too dear for my budget, so they’re staying on the wish list for now. But I found these (such a similar silhouette!) by Naya at DSW for a mere fraction of what they originally retailed for. I love the clearance room! The bonus is that they’re super comfortable and made by an eco-friendly company. Just what I need for practical heels this fall and winter!
This was also one of the last days I enjoyed (or wrangled, depending on what mood I’m in when you ask!) my super-long hair, which was currently halfway down my back. It’s getting a chop today and being put back into a classic 40s Middy cut (or slightly longer). I haven’t sported a proper Middy in well over 18 months, and it will be fun to go back to a slightly shorter ‘do that is a bit easier to set! During the summer I’m quite content to let me hair go a little “wild and free”, but once it starts to cool down just a bit, I start craving more fussy curl sets!
dress: vintage, estate sale | belt: thrifted | ballet flats: Bakers | bracelets: thrifted | orchid: courtesy Belle Blossoms | handbag: made by me
You’ve seen this dress before, but lately I’ve been wearing my various early-60s day dresses a lot. I usually get into a dresses-only rut around August, and this year is no exception! Rather than the usual leopard or floral belt that I’ve paired with it in the past, this time I chose a simple pink belt. I thrifted this recently and it was far too long for me to wear. So I chopped it down, punched new holes and finished the end with a dab of glue. So easy—and for $1 I can’t argue! (Especially since I had been looking at similar, narrow belt at a retail store for $20 a few weeks ago…)
I also wanted to show off my new record handbag! Now, before anyone faints or gets upset that I chopped up old records (my sister already did that!), both these records had scratches that prevented them from being played. So I didn’t go willy-nilly slicing up a playable old record. I’d never do that—I collect old records and enjoy listening to them regularly! But when something isn’t playable or collectable, it’s just the sort of thing worth rescuing from ending up at the dump (which would do no one any good, right?) and repurposing.
I had fallen in love with this handbag when Charlotte posted a tutorial on how to make one—it’s such a cute, kitschy piece! I don’t normally go for out-and-out kitsch, but couldn’t resist this. I spent a recent weekend making this (it took a bit with all the gluing involved), and have been carrying it all over the place of late. The fabric I used is a length of linen that I picked up last summer, and have been saving for a dress or some-such piece—I dare say a small snippet off the end of the length won’t matter! Isn’t it the cutest, vintage style print that looks like it’s from the late 40s? Believe it or not, it’s brand new. I love occasionally finding fabric treasures like this!
Also of note, I finally recorded and uploaded a tutorial on how to do this hairstyle! I’ve had a couple questions about how I arrange this bun, and it’s super-easy and perfect for late-summer weather.
Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has been sending me emails the last couple days—your notes mean a lot to me! Hope you are having a lovely Wednesday!
I had intended to post a Wardrobe Strategy post today, but for various reasons (from thunderstorms wrecking my lighting to having to deal with a broken toilet), I decided to share a recent outfit instead!
blouse: thrifted | skirt: made by me | shoes: Remix “Picasso” wedges | belt: thrifted | half-snood: knit by me | hair flowers: made by me
I’m jumping on the bandwagon with the 40s inspired peasant look! You knew it wouldn’t be long for me, didn’t you? (Especially considering I’ve obsessed over it in years past.) I found this blouse at one of my favorite thrift shops for a mere $1.50. It’s not the perfect peasant-style blouse I had in mind, but considering my "ideal” blouse would have been far more than a couple dollars (or required me to embroider my own… which I’ve tried before and lost steam. I think I need to start with a smaller project first…), I wasn’t going to argue! Plus it sported blue embroidery, and we all know how enamored I am with that particular color.
Speaking of embroidery, I have been contemplating properly starting a little project in the near future. Usually in the evenings I’ll knit, but right now the idea of knitting does nothing for me (it’s just far too hot and humid—not exactly knitting-conducive-conditions for this little gal). So I thought perhaps I should revisit embroidery. I haven’t done a lot, but have been contemplating for some time that I need to embroider some tea towels—perhaps with some nautical/sailor motifs of some sort. I’ve been studying various stitch guides online and plotting. Just need to pick up the supplies and get to it! I do have one question for you embroiders out there: what is your preferred method of transferring a design? (Especially if it’s just a free, old graphic I print on my home printer—not an iron on transfer.) This is the one area that always confuses me a bit, funnily enough! Opinions would be appreciate!
Just a quick reminder that the Sewaholic pattern giveawayends this evening (July 22 at 10pm EST). Be sure to enter if you haven’t already! I hope you’re having a lovely Friday!
