Decisions, Decisions

Its getting to be that time again when I need to get my hair trimmed. My hair has been just about every length possible from Jean Seberg short to mid-back long with tiered layers. Most recently, I cut it straight across myself, tired of the heavy length. Now though, I'm ready for a more stylized look. I've been thinking about doing something a little different this time and have been inspired by the many photos I've been perusing on flickr. As I uploaded these favorites, I realized that they're basically of the same haircut from the 1940's...shoulder-length to long hair parted to one side and curled. I guess the only decision I really need to make is how short I want to go! 

Veronica Lake

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Lauren Bacall

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and my favorite...Ingrid Bergman

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I love the Hollywood studio photos from the '40s. These women all look so dignified, but beautiful. And their clothes really fit the ideal that I'm going for when I think about my current style. Its funny...my husband and I watch a lot of films from this period, but I never realized how much my wardrobe choices had come to reflect it until I started blogging about inspirations. 

I tried my own version of the 40's hairstyle above today with my hot rollers (which I love, by the way-they're so easy to use and don't damage my hair.)  I'm not going for a period look, but just happen to think that its classic and lovely and timeless. Now I just need to find the right hairdresser:) 

Skirt: Thrifted

Shirt: Final Touch

Belt: Thrifted

Shoes: Anthropologie (Sale!)

Necklace: Thrifted

Comfort Clothes: Soft, Swingy and Purple

I have a thing for purple. In fact, its one of my favorite colors. As I think I've already demonstrated, I also love dresses with a-line skirts that are cinched at the waist and have puffy sleeves. When I saw this dress on the rack at a thrift store, I made a bee-line for it...knowing immediately that I had to try it on. When I got there and pulled it out, it wasn't necessarily love at first sight. The neckline is very, very high and its supposed to button all the way up. Its not flattering at all when done up the way that the maker intended. But what eventually sold me on this pretty little frock was the fabric. It is so, so soft. When I'm tired, when I know its going to be a slog getting through work on a Saturday, I think of this dress. Its almost like wearing a favorite blanket or pillow, but with better shape:) So I paid the nice shopkeeper, brought it home and attempted to rework the neckline with a brooch and pin. Ever since, I've liked it. Its not my most favorite dress in the whole world, but it does have a special place in my closet for those days when I just need something a little extra: the soft comfort of a swingy, purple, pretty dress. 

Does anyone else have comfort clothes? 

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlarge them:)

Dress: Thrifted ('80s  vintage)

Brooch: Thrifted

Shoes: I Love Comfort

Pearls: Gifts

And here's my wonderful husband, waiting patiently for me to stop playing with my camera. He loves purple too:)

Esther Williams: Part II

Oh My Goodness! Last night I was reading a post about Modcloth at Liebemarlene Vintage. I'd never been to the website, so I decided to check it out. Not surprisingly, I made my way to the swimsuit section and there found....the Esther Williams Swimwear Collection! I knew that she designed a line of bathing suits and have been to the website where the family sells them, but it was only dated until 2007, so I assumed that her suits were no longer available for purchase. Needless to say, I was SO excited and walked around the apartment for the rest of the evening singing "Oh what a beautiful morning" from Oklahoma! (My husband and our roommates joined in with me just about every time:)

Well, I purchased the Beach Blanket Bingo two piece suit in black and white polka dot. Here's a photo from Modcloth's website! It should be here by the middle of next week...just in time for our first weekend at Dan's family's lake house. 

In celebration, I'm watching Easy to Wed while posting:) Yay!

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Flowers of June

The weather has been so nice the past few days and I'm so excited about my new finds that I've felt inspired to take wardrobe photos every day...and venture outside of our backyard. Well, today I didn't make it very far...just into the front yard:) This dress reminds me of Ingrid Bergman's wardrobe from the 40' s and 50's (at least what I've seen from photos on Flickr). Its so sweet with the puffy sleeves, modest neckline, full skirt, purple stripes and floral pattern. I just love it in the best romantic way possible.  

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlgarge them:)

Dress: Vintage

Shoes: Random Black Flats

Pearls Earrings: Gift

Pearl Bracelet: Gift

Summer Days

As I got dressed, ran errands, met my husband for lunch in town and generally went about my day off as usual, I couldn't get the movie Oklahoma! out of my head. I'd never seen it, but own a copy that came in a Rodgers and Hammerstein box set that I purchased a few months back. I've seen photos though, and couldn't get the beautiful gingham costumes out of my head. My goodness, do I love technicolor films! They've been inspiring so many of my outfit choices lately. Well,  I've decided (as I now watch the movie while I'm posting) that a little gingham is  sometimes the epitome of perfection on a warm summer day. It certainly was today! All I need now is some iced tea! 

(Please click on any of the photos if you wish to enlarge them:)

Gingham Dress: Vintage

Undershirt: Thrifted

Shoes: Clarks

Pearl Earrings: Gift

Ribbon: Scrap

The Red Shoes

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When I was a little girl, I (like many, many other little girls) took dance lessons. I wanted so very badly to be a prima ballerina...not because I loved dancing more than anything in the world, but because I wanted to be special and lovely and wear beautiful costumes every day. This phase didn't last long; once I realized how much work went into preparing to become a ballerina, much less a prima ballerina, I quickly abandoned the aspiration. But for the Christmas that fell during that time, I did receive a copy of The Red Shoes as a present. I was such a romantic child, always dreaming of love and melodrama...all or nothing situations in which a woman would have to make a dramatic choice. Well, needless to say, that film became a favorite at the time. 

Ever since then, I've always had an infatuation with red shoes. For years I was too self-conscious to own or wear a pair, but recently I saw these wedges in Target and knew that I had to have them. Although I still love the movie that my mother bought for me when I harboured dreams of being a dancer (and living a high stakes life full of passion) I certainly hope that these shoes don't take off with me as the famous ones did with the girl in the fairy tale...I'm much happier just wearing them to the park:)

(Please click on any of the pictures if you wish to enlarge them)

Dress: Vintage

Belt: Thrifted

Bracelet: Thrifted

Shoes: Target

Pearl Earrings: Gift

Summer Skirts: hemlines are a risin'!

Just one more thing before I call it a night! I've been trying out some shorter hem-lengths lately. I've always felt more comfortable sporting the knee-length hems, but I think it might be time to venture a little outside of my comfort zone. The next two skirts are from Anthropologie. The hat is vintage and the first of many that I'll be sporting over the next few months (i.e. I will put my collection to use!:) 

This next one is from H&M and has a large cat and leaf print on it...but its hard to see if you're not looking at the fabric up close. 

And finally this skirt was a thrift find that I shortened (and wear backwards because it doesn't look right with the buttons in the front). The shirt is from the Russian Icon Museum in Clinton, MA. I could write a whole post about religious iconography, so I'll keep this short. I heart the museum and (slightly embarrassingly) bought the t-shirt, poster, and mug when I visited it with my husband on our anniversary last year. 

Good Night Everyone!

Recent Thrifting (and one vintage shop:) Finds

Ever since school ended three weeks ago, I've been making regular trips to my favorite thrift stores. It didn't help that it was my birthday and my mother sent me some 'guilt-free' spending money:) I've been extremely lucky...finding handbags, blouses and, scarves and...my favorite...vintage dresses. Some of them don't look like much on the hanger, but take on a whole new life when worn.

The teal dress on the left below is an example of this. It has petal sleeves and is printed with light yellow-ish flowers and sparkling embellishments. The skirt is also very full and twirl worthy. The bag on the right is from Aldo. I love the shape and it holds a lot for its size. Although I'll carry all three, I think this one will be in circulation the most. Below that on the left is a polka dot blouse that I just couldn't leave behind. Its really, really high-waisted, so I'm not sure what I'll wear it with, but I think that the puff sleeves and buttons are just darling.

I love the cotton dress below so very much and couldn't believe that someone gave it to a thrift store. I'm especially infatuated with the bodice and the way that the pattern works with the shape of the dress to accentuate the waist. When I took it to the dressing room, I just knew that it wouldn't fit, but actually it feels like it was made for me! The belt was also a thrifting find from the same visit.

Below are two very different examples of the many floral dresses that I seem to be obsessed with. Again, the one on the left doesn't look like much on the rack, but its actually cute when on and belted. It reminds me of the butterfly garden that my great grandmother kept in her yard in Florida when I was growing up. She lived on the 175 acres left of the family's (at one time quite large) dairy farm and we kept our horses there and visited just about every day from when I was 11 until I reached 14 and my parents bought their farm. Anyway, the dress makes me think of her for some strange reason:)

The two beauties above are actually from a vintage store. I definitely paid a little more than I usually would, but I find so few cotton dresses that are in good shape (and so many polyester ones...which isn't a problem at all:) in thrift stores, that I just couldn't pass them up. I love the print of the one on the left and the contrasting gingham patterns separated by white piping on the other. The gingham number fits like a glove (and is a therefore a little vintage sexy, I think;) and I just see Natalie Wood when I look at it. They'll be popping up in outfit posts coming soon. I just discovered a lakefront park near where I live, so I'm going to try to get down there to take some pictures this week if it doesn't rain. I'm keeping my fingers crossed...we've been getting some nasty storms here lately.

Have a great week everyone!