I smile. 7.30.12

On Mondays I smile.

I share these moments with you.

Enjoy.

When people ask me if I miss living in New York, my answer is usually an emphatic no. The traffic!, I complain. The noise!, I whine. The expense! I moan. But after my recent trip to the city, I am forced to change my answer. Sending a long weekend with my family was enough to make me long for a move back. Or at least another visit.

My personal philosophy, in a nutshell: Ain't no party like a vintage sequin party cause a vintage sequin party rocks.

To the person who decided to donate this 1930's typewriter to Thrift City in Richardson, Texas: I love you. For reals.

Two reasons why I need to learn how to sew. Aren't those full skirts divine?

The grand Weatherford, Texas courthouse, as seen from the Parker County peach festival. Not pictured: The homemade peach iced tea I guzzled while taking said photo. It was delicious.

This 1940's record console was approximately the size and weight of a small automobile.  I could imagine it in the home of a family who spent afternoons listening to Dizzy Gillespie, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. While it had fallen into disrepair and was beat up and dusty, it was begging for me to take it home. Sadly, as I have no experience repairing old record consoles, I left it behind.

Now it's your turn:

What are some things that make you smile last week?

Share your smiles in the comments!

{Daily outfit} Summer stripes. 6.25.12

Vintage dress? Thrifted. Vintage clutch? Estate sale. Vintage woven belt? Thrifted. Sandals? DSW. Michael Kors rose gold watch? Thrifted.

I thrifted this dress a few months ago and it has yet to be presented here on the blog, despite the fact that I've worn it approximately 526918 times (or maybe 6. I lost count.) It's one of those things you throw on when everything else in your closet feels too...complicated, like that romper we all somehow got suckered into buying last summer but just cannot bear to throw on anymore.

Rompers are inexplicably complicated. Dresses are not. I love this one because it's striped, full-skirted, and gives the illusion that my waist is smaller that it actually is, effectively hiding the food baby I conceived from last night's chicken and black bean fajita dinner.  In all seriousness, friends, we all should find that one PERFECT dress we can wear when that romper starts to look appealing. Because rompers are instruments of the devil.

{Daily Outfit} Polka dot crop. 7.24.12

 Vintage cropped denim vest? Thrifted. Tee shirt? Gap Outlet. Liz Claiborne polka dot skirt? Thrifted. White sandals? DSW. Bracelets? Forever 21.

Some of you have mentioned how happy I've looked in these recent outfit pics. I can blame this on one thing: for the first time in my life, I have a job that I really, truly love. Whether it was fate, friendship, or plain dumb luck, I've ended up working in Vintage Martini, Dallas' best vintage store. When accepting consignments, I get to meet some of the most interesting people and learn just what brought each piece into their life, whether it's a 50's evening gown handed down from their mother or a Gucci bag obtained during a trip to Florence. I get to spend my day in a place that houses delicate Edwardian dresses, crocodile handbags, and spindly Prada heels. I get to learn all the intricacies behind running a small business.

But the best part? I get to wear as much vintage as I want. Like this fun 80's polka dot skirt and cropped denim vest. And that alone is enough to put a smile on my face.

{Daily outfit} Point of view. 7.20.12

Vintage embroidered top? Thrifted. Jeans? Citizen of Humanity. Vintage Whiting and Davis bag? Thrifted. Belt? Thrifted. Sandals? Gap. Leather cuff and turquoise necklace? Thrifted

I'll admit that there isn't much about this outfit that makes sense. It isn't elegant. It isn't trendy. It's not preppy, or classic, or even definable. Some would argue that it's not especially stylish, either. At it's most basic, it's a medley of a few favorite old pieces I grabbed from my closet and a recently thrifted vintage bag. But truthfully, in this mixed-up hodge podge of an outfit, I felt the most me.

I've realized lately that I've gotten a bit off track from my personal sense of style. At my core, I'd much rather wear something unique that compliments who I am rather than what's expected or trendy. The gift of fashion is that it allows us to communicate our individual sense of style in a creative, yet functional way. We can be classic, or ladylike, or sporty, or bohemian, or experimental. We can be feminine, or masculine, or a bit of both. We can show a lot of skin, or cover ourselves completely. We can slavishly follow trends or reject them entirely. Whether we're rich, or poor, or something in between, the way we dress is a pretty incredible device for communicating who we are to the world.

One of the things I enjoy most about thrifting is that it allows me to wear things that no one else owns. Like this bag. And this blouse. It takes courage to embrace being different. And, even better, it's a whole lot of fun!

{Daily outfit} Pocketed. 7.18.12

Tee shirt? Gap Outlet. Vintage 1950's skirt? Thrifted. Bruno Magli wedges? Thrifted. Vintage clutch? Snagged from my friend Jamie.

Tied with 1940's pickup trucks, pretzel M&M's, babies with red hair, never-before-seen episodes of New Girl and Woodford whiskey, a vintage skirt with pockets emphatically ranks near the top of my list of things that make me happy. I like having pockets to warm my hands when I'm in a location that insists on blasting its air conditioning at arctic temperatures. Pockets are also helpful for stashing the little things my kids discover during the day, like loose change that has mysteriously escaped my wallet and illicit candy snagged from kindly bank tellers.

So hurray to skirts with pockets. And pretzel M&M's too. Because they're delicious.

(Thank you for yesterday's warm welcome back to blogging.  It meant so much.)

Oh hi.

Vintage sequin jacket? Thrifted. Vintage tee? Thrifted. Joe's Jeans? Thrifted. Bruno Magli wedges? Thrifted. Python purse? Thrifted.Turquoise necklace and bracelet? Thrifted.

Oh hello there. It's nice to see you again. 

The past few weeks away from the blog have found me engaging in such scintillating activities as swimming with my kids; reading and rereading new books (Gone Girl - get it); thrifting; working at Vintage Martini; and wondering whether I would ever blog again. My life at home has been just as tumultuous as you'd expect it to be for someone going through a divorce, and the last thing I want is for this blog to devolve into a WAAH WAAH WAAH POOR ME I"M SO SAD AND DEPRESSED WILL I EVER LOVE AGAIN BOO HOO HOO sob fest.

So instead, I present you with this entirely-inappropriate-for-Texas-summer-heat outfit. I wore this to work today while pulling consignments and tagging vintage and shockingly managed to keep every sequin on my jacket intact.

On the other side of a street ...

                                                                                               CLICK TO SEE MORE

                                                                                                 flats: zara,
                                                                                                 skirt: non branded (very old),
                                                                                                 blouse: sheinside (click here),
                                                                                                 bag: sheinside (click here),
                                                                                                 belt: vintage,
                                                                                                 alice band: non branded,
                                                                                                 sunglasses: accessorize,
                                                                                                 bracelets: accessorize,
                                                                                                 watch: thanks to Urban watch (click here),
                                                                                                 ph. Masa


On today`s menu, i`m serving a one summer look for the afternoon walk, spiced up with some colored accessories and nails in Sky high Rimmel shade. I already wore this almost vintage skirt Here and i really love the final look! Fun and light, easy to recreate and wear!

Have a nice day!

p.s. don`t forget to come back tomorrow, i have a small surprise for you! ;)
p.p.s. song for Tuesday ---- Play !

                                                                                               

wild thing

did last weeks post for Freeworld Design Centre bring out your inner wild thing? grrrrr…

They say that a leopard can’t change its spots. Recently I’ve spotted some street styles getting in touch with their wild side. I love the contrast between these contemporary interpretations of leopard print and the vintage black and white images of this timeless print. Personally, I quite fancy a little leopard print... animal prints, when worn with a degree of subtlety, can be successfully stylish. But let’s not overkill this print by wearing it from head to toe. Restrain your inner animal by keeping it simple with a scarf, pumps or heels or even perhaps a leopard print clutch. The leopard is there, but not growling in your face.

Street style images The Sartorialist / Guerreisms / Stockholm Street Style / Citizen Couture

Vintage images We Heart Vintage / Style Excess / Blue Velvet Vintage

sneak peek: wild thing

take a break and click over to Freeworld Design Centre for my weekly guest post. Things are getting a little wild over there…

{I Smile} Week in review 6.17.12

I smile. 

I share these moments with you. 

Enjoy.

 

I was greeted by this lovely handmade flyer while grabbing coffee at my favorite little coffee shop. This week I chose faith. What would you chose?

These faces always make me smile. 

This is a pirate ship-themed shaved ice stand near my house, complete with cannons and a mast with a carved well-endowed lady pointing the way. This is totally awesome.

Your eyes are not deceiving you: This is a marvelous display of human hair in a can, spotted at the thrift store. This is most definitely not awesome.

Fact: A breakfast burrito in the shape of a heart tastes much better than an ordinary breakfast burrito.

My job at a vintage shop has presented me with a quandary. I am absolutely thrilled beyond measure working there...but I want to spend my entire paycheck on the clothes I'm surrounded by. Case in point: this fifties swimsuit with ric rack trim. I want it with the desperation of a toddler begging for a lollypop.

Now it's your turn:

What are some things that make you smile this week?

Share your smiles in the comments!

{Thrifting 101} I thrifted: Linen and gold 6.14.12

Vintage linen vest? Thrifted, $3.99. American Eagle striped shirt? Thrifted, $2.99. Shorts? Thrifted, $2.99. Vintage Coach satchel? Thrifted, $10.00. Bracelets? Forever 21, $8.00.

 Michael Kors rose gold watch? Thrifted, $40.00.

There's something about wearing an entirely thrifted outfit that makes me feel good, much in the same way eating chocolate chip cookies does (because they're essentially a hug for your mouth.) A thrifted outfit admits to the world both that I'm both an unbridled cheapskate and stubborn shopper, the kind that spends hours digging through racks while tolerating grimy hands and allergic reactions to dust all for the sweet satisfaction of an outfit that cost less than a tank of gas.

I spied this vest during a brief thrifting excursion last week. I was in a hurry, and I didn't buy it. But it haunted me so persistently that I returned to the store the very next day in search of it.

What would you wear with this linen vest? Give me some of your outfit ideas!

{Almost daily outfit of the day} Fly like an eagle. 6.11.12

Vintage Wrangler shirt; Forever 21 tee; vintage thrifted shorts; Target sneakers; vintage turquoise and coral earrings

Once upon a time, this vintage Wrangler denim shirt had patches of soaring eagles on it. You can still see their shadow, wings spread just above the snap front pockets. I like to imagine the gentleman who took the time to iron these patches on. I am certain he rode a Harley with an exhaust system so loud it set off car alarms; smoked unfiltered Marlboro's; dated a woman named Darlene; had a long, stringy mullet; and drank Bud Light with a whiskey chaser at a bar with a name like Buckwild's or Hawg Hallow.

I'd like to have met this man, and perhaps bought him a drink. Anyone who takes the time and care to alter an article of clothing in order to celebrate a bird is a friend of mine.

On Fridays I Smile - Week in review 6.8.12

On Fridays I smile.

I share these moments with you. 

Enjoy.

I thrifted this insane Victor Costa gown at Goodwill for about $12. Normally I wouldn't spend over six dollars on something from the Goodwill, but I was powerless against all those glorious hot pink ruffles. I plan to wear this score to a really, really special place, such as my breakfast table where I drink my morning coffee.

My kids are officially home from school for the summer, which gives me a great excuse to spend my days doing fun things like seeing movies at the dollar theater and swimming and pottery painting. I painted a mug. It was awesome.

On Thursday I ran six miles. Just kidding I ate gelato.

I've spent a considerable amount of time mentioning Vintage Martini on this blog. I shop there. I take photos there. I obsessively stalk new things there, such as this vintage Ferre corset and orange Ferragamo spring 2009 runway one-piece. I drool over things I will never, ever be able to afford there - things like Louboutain pumps and Fendi bags and Chanel jewelry and 1970's furs and beaded vintage flapper dresses.

This week I started working there. Consider me to be the happiest girl on the planet. If you're anywhere near the store (located in downtown Carrollton, TX) come on by. I'll show you vintage that will blow your mind.

Now it's your turn. 

What were the best parts of your week? Leave a comment and share your smiles!

Photos taken with Instagram: dresscourage