How a gal might rock a vintage Betsy Johnson full romper.

Yes, this is a lot of photos of me for you to take in and yes I feel strange about that, but still, this post is all about this commanding Betsy Johnson full jumpsuit that pretty much requires all the confidence a woman has, provided she is going to rock it. Once I put it on, I felt like I could conquer a small civilization or at least get some quick service if I saddled up to bar at the local watering hole. It is really lightweight and flowy and fits pefectly. Will I keep it? Make no mistake, I love it, but no, it will not make it's way into my closet, but I was certainly tempted to wear it out for cocktails just to delight in the looks I would get!

Tara found

Sometimes the best things happened when you don't expect them to at all. Yesterday evening we drove out to the country to check out a house and ended up finding our dream spot. While there were no plans to move, and we love our current house very much and have put a lot of sweat equity into it, the yearning for a place way out where it's totally quiet was always there. And we found it! 5 acres with a pond (a giant crane flew RIGHT over my head while we were there), and the house is a "green envelope home" with passive solar energy. I won't bore you with the details, but I have included some photos of a place nearby this house, a little elfin windmill for one, so cute! Now begins the painful task of selling our house and hoping no one else buys our amazing cottage in the woods!

dress - thrifted
hat - estate sale
platform shoes - ebay
necklace - a gift from my wonderful friend Audrey

Four Friday Favorites

Sometimes I don't even know why I am selling a thing, take this plaid dress and the peeptoe flats, I mean,
I totally want them, I even want the red blouse, but I feel like pulling them from the shop is sacrilegious or something. Once something is in the shop there is stays, then I do a post like this and realize, "heck, I want that!". It is probably because everything I select to go into the shop is something I like, I can't very well pawn things I don't even like on gals, that would feel very strange.

Today is ridiculously gorgeous outside I just want to go to estate sale and drink cocktails. I did the estate sales and found ZERO, which is both good and bad; bad because it was a waste of time, good because I have too much already!

Sweet release

Here are today's shop listings, I was very happy be able to do such a large update! Tomorrow is a photoshoot day, as is Saturday because I have so much stuff that is all ready aside from being photographed. What's exciting is that I have a whole bin of clothes that I bought almost 2 weeks ago and have not even looked at since so the photoshoot will be extra fun because I will get to "meet" these garments again!

The rain brings flowers

I thought it was "April showers bring May flowers"? We're a little behind as we are getting all our rain this month it seems, but it is very nice and warm and the perfect day for this little dress. It is the first time I am wearing a dress that is already for sale in the shop, but I thought what can it hurt, it's already vintage! These shoes I got at the same thrift store this morning, run by the sometimes-grumpy-sometimes-sweet older ladies, who were the latter today and actually told me they loved my outfit, so cute!

floral mini-dress - thrifted, and in the shop now!
shoes - thrifted

The parasol

19th century ivory folding parasol - from Archivia

hand painted parasol - from bountiful goods

mid-century tassel umbrella - from jessjamesjake

What happened to the parasol? What a beautiful antiquated thing to use to shield oneself from the sun. Where once it was fashionable to be pale as it meant that you had the luxury of being indoors and not working (especially in the sun wall day) it is now just the opposite. The luxury-class now shows it's status with sun-kissed skin as if to signal to everyone that instead of having to work indoors all day, they languish on the beach and relax in the sun. This turn occured somewhere in the 1920s and that is where the parasol died, in a sense. It has a small revival in the 1940s, but mostly just for pin-up photos.

I am a gal who prefers not being in the sun, directly that is, and I for one feel it's time to bring back the parasol. After all, the trend does seem to be pointing to a much less tan glitterati and furthermore, a deep tan now just looks, well, trashy; not to mention the havoc the tanning does to the skin, don't get me started! Currently I am looking for the just-right parasol for me, which isn't easy, so many are torn to bits and just in an overall horrible state, and I don't just want to use an umbrella, oh no no no, must be an actual parasol. There is a difference, parasols are not made of waterproof fabric and are usually smaller in diameter, they are strickly to -stop (para) , -the sun (sol).

Recipe for awesome morning

Well, an awesome morning on a day you still have to go to work....

Wake up to the sound of light rain and a small orange kitty's nose nudging your palm.

Realize its quite warm and you can get out of bed in bare feet.

Remember you saw the Valentino documentary the night before.

Put on a lovely pair of camel leather heels a friend got you (on Etsy!) for Christmas that you can finally wear.

Let your iPod shuffle and play Gerry Mulligan and Art Farmer, your favorite west coast jazz.

Stop for a full fat cappuccino at a little wine and cheese place on the way to work.

Remember you get to go to Pilates tonight.

Get to work to find the meeting with your boss you thought you had is cancelled.

See? Pretty great morning so far.

she is so dear, golden!

Here's proof that looking miles upon miles of cute has nothing to do with going to the mall, or any other retail store in all the land. This here is Duff, and she does these vintage clothes more justice than I could ever ask. She is decked in head to toe Dear Golden vintage finds and well, she's a freaking peach. She went to a wedding recently, and wore this little get-up, before she went she told me she'd be wearing this outfit and I demanded photos, and I am glad I did because she's like the new Dear Golden mascot I think! What a total babe.

1950s sheer blouse - dear golden
camisole, which I cannot see, but Duff has assured me is there - dear golden
silk circle skirt - dear golden
cinnamon leather ankle strap leather shoes - dear golden

Oh!

Dressed Up

I am not sure why I went for all these black, gray and formal for the latest shop update, it likely started with the 1950s gray L'Aiglon dress which I am very sad does not fit me. It's such a great vintage piece that is completely wearable in everyway. Once the dress was posted I just went for other black things I suppose!

Yesterday I acquired a massive amount of very amazing vintage, all 1940s-1960s, and have to do some washing, mending and ironing before any of those items can be photographed, but ohhhhhh, the clothes are just super special and I cannot wait unveil them!

I can't seem to take this off

When I arrived home from my trip up north I had a package waiting for me, and in it was this adorable sweater I bought off Etsy from a shop called Doux Vintage, I put the sweater on immediately, wore it the next day and am wearing it again today. This is really something for a gal who rarely ever wears the same thing twice! I just can't love it anymore, its light enough for warm weather, but warm enough when it cools off too.

And on a side note, just because I am SO horribly excited, while hiking yesterday, I stuck my hand out near a bramble full of chickadees and one landed on my hand!! I nearly fainted with joy.

Prettymakin'

Before I whisk away to the north, I've done a little pretty shop update! Happy Friday!

We call it Up North

Today I am headed up; north, to the Leelanau Peninsula to be with my best girlfriends to visit other friends, spend time by the open water and likely be very very silly. Above are some photos of the area and also a dress I plan to prance around in for as long as possible. Away I go...

Lil' May Sale

I'm having a little sale. If you had your eye on one of these items, well, you're in luck!
Click image to go right to the sale.