Retro Summer

I have been feeling really amazing the last few days.  After all the changes in my life,  I am finally settling back into my own reality, nicely.  I love my new apartment, it already feels like home which is of utter importance to me.  It's so bright and cheery so every day when I wake up I feel bright and cheery too.

Yesterday, I walked over to the farmers market to get some fresh produce, it was a lovely day for a stroll.  I ended up getting all kinds of goodies including some beautiful roses.  Today, I was going to wear shorts and a tee and have a casual day,  but instead, I decided on this vintage blouse.  I just love the light pastel color and the sheerness. The way I usually go about choosing my outfits is with one certain piece in mind, as in the shorts earlier and then the blouse.  I build the rest of the outfit based on the starting piece.  Most times it evolves by the time I leave the house.  How do you choose your outfits?  I always wonder how others do it.  Let me know!

 This outfit is much more my "Seattle" style.  When I lived in Seattle I wore mostly vintage dresses, I still love to, but I like to experiment with more modern looks now as well.  This outfit was so inexpensive too.


Here is all the yummy treats I got at the farmers market

I'm wearing-

Blouse-vintgage

Skirt-from a clothing swap

Shoes-Etsy

Necklace-Vintage 

Close up of the shoes! ;)

Gearing up for spring, fantastic finds of the day

Today is a perfectly stormy spring day.  I decided to go to the local charity shop and see what they had to offer.  This particular place is one of my favorites in the area, a place I have found many treasures and today was no exception.  The best thing about Community Thrift is that they donate to many different charities, when you donate your goods you can choose from a list of hundreds of great causes.   Being that it's raining today made for a great thrifting experience.  There were not many people out and the selection was spectacular.   

 My search for the perfect cream crochet dress is finally over.  I have been looking for months, all over the place, from online to vintage stores.  The ones I have found were always too long and too expensive.  This one is short, fits perfectly and has gold threads mixed in. The best thing is, besides needing a few simple repairs, it's in great condition. The thrifting gods were most definitely aligned today, just another reason to believe that the world is on my side.  Have I mentioned I am reading "Pronoia the Antidote for Paranoia"  By Rob Brezsny, a great positive book, I highly recommend it. 

I've also been on the hunt for some more summer dresses as the one I have been wearing constantly,  needs some company.  Today, I also found this long vintage dress from the 60's, it has a great fit in the waist and the colors and print are very pretty.  I also really adore the little pocket details and the exposed zipper down the front, metal of corse (a sign of the age of the garment).  The problem was the length and the sleeves.  As soon as I got home I grabbed the scissors and got to work.  I took a seam ripper to the sleeves,  cut a about a foot off the length and took in the sides in at my bust. The finished project is perfect,  I can't wait until this weather clears up to wear it.  It might just be my Easter dress, weather permitting!

Finally a crochet dress!

Before the alterations

Walllah......perfect!

This dress again

I am beginning to think that I will wear this dress (and apparently these shoes too) everyday this summer.  It's pretty much perfect.  I've been searching for more of these project dresses that I can chop up and make perfect like I did with this one.  It started out much longer and very frumpy then I turned it into FRUMP CHIC!,  at least I like to think so!  It reminds me sort of of something by Marc Jacobs.  I love the weird prints, patterns and ruffles. 

 Before noon today, we had driven all over the city.  Had breakfast in the marina (which we usually avoid) then a walk on Baker beach followed by a drive down Haight and Castro and to Dolores park where I had a picnic with some lady friends.  What a lovely day!  There were so many cute dogs out today, after being aggressively barked out this morning by a mean one (tied to a poll), it was nice to meet so many sweet/normal dogs. 

I am wearing

Feather Earrings-self made (Pretty Pirate Designs)

Necklace-Vintage

Dress-Thrifted and altered

Great cardigan-Nordstrom (gift from mom, thanks mom I wear it all the time!)

Cream sweater-Jcrew super soft wool, thrifted (lucky find for 5$)

Belt-Grandpa's old belt

80's leather sandals-thrifted in my home town (it's spring so I can finally wear them, they're perfect)

Nail polish-OPI My private jet

Inspired!

Eyeliah of Style Symmetry is having a contest.   The challenge is to choose someone's outfit you are drawn to and inspired by via Wardrobe Remix.  She has a sweet prize package ready to send to the winner.  Last I heard she didn't have many entries so I urge you to give it a try.  I have been a longtime Wardrobe Remixer, off and on that is.  I don't update as much as I used to but I love checking out all the fun outfits.  Wardrobe remix was started long ago by Trisha of Bits and Bobbins.   She had the idea long before  the crop of new websites.  Wardrobe remix inspired me to start this lil ol blog that I have been doing for almost 2 years, my anniversary is on valentines day. How sweet is that?

Here's my inspired outfit. (see previous post for the outfit I was inspired by)

Jacket-Vintage 70s via garage sale in Oregon

Dress-Clothes contact in the mission

Wooden belt-Thrifted

Fur stole-Cut off a 70s coat I had that was damaged

Original doctor bad-Ebay and I repaired it

Vintage Real riding boots-Ebay

Cameo pin-flea market

Oscar!

This is what I am wearing to work today.  I have a habit of pushing the boundaries of our dress code just a bit.  Cream is just like white, right?  This beautiful vintage Oscar  De La Renta jacket I am wearing is from the gift certificate I won from SFstyle, thanks to J.T and Dyanna!

Necklace-Found at goodwill bins in Seattle

Jacket-Savers Via SFstyle

Dress-Etsy (I shortened it)

Lace leggings-HnM

Boots-Thrifted (they were new and from the 90's)

Belt-Thrifted in hometown

Bracelets-thrifted all over

Abundant vintage

I went on a targeted thrifting excursion today.  I hadn't been to any thrift stores in San Francisco this year.   I wanted to find a few new things to wear to work.  I managed to get some great black pieces that will be perfect for the ol' job.  

This is what I wore out

Necklace-Thrifted in home town over the holidays (love)

Shiny textured shirt-Thrifted in SF

Tank-Marshals

Gold metallic crazy jacket-Thrifted in hometown over the holidays

Jeans-Vigoss I've had for many years (recently altered them to be skinny jeans)

Boots-New from Etsy

And now for the loot.......

This Motorcycle jumpsuit is so perfect, 100% silk, perfect condition and going in my store soon! It has zippers at the bottom to peg the legs (seen) which you can also take out to be more straight. Size SM/MED

This 50's dress is a gorgeous print and a perfect fit with fabric covered buttons all the way down.

What a cute little dress, another perfect fit.   I am selling one very similar with long sleeves in my store right now.

This vest is so modern looking but is vintage, I can't wait to iorn it and wear it.

This might be my favorite piece today, its the perfect ballerina shape with a bell shaped skirt.  There is lots of structure in the bottom hem so it really poofs.  (it was hard to get a good photo)

Last but most fun are the new bracelets I found, the brass colored one is perfect for my necklace above!

Favorite things, jacket and coat edition!

I started out today by going into my crafting studio to get creative then I saw these pants and then this  shirt/dress across the room and something clicked.  I decided that they would go well together and put them both on.  I had this shirt/dress in my store until a few minutes ago, opps.   I had never even tried it on as it looked to small but when I saw the pieces laying together I knew I had to give it a try.  I really like the color combo.  As I was playing dress up I decided to experiment with some different coats and jackets which then led me to a moment of clarity.  It has come time for a  new "favorite things post".
It's been a really long time since I have done a "favorite things" post.  I can't believe I've never done a coats/jackets post because they are one of my favorite things to wear and I have a huge collection.  The fact that I am older than many other fashion bloggers makes me more likely to have a larger collection of vintage just because I have been collecting for much longer and have seen many trends come and go.  Yes folks, I am old.  Ha!!  Anyway I had a bit of fun today dressing up in some of my all time favorite coats and jackets some new to me and some I have had for years.  Here are my self taken shots.  I'm wearing no makeup and my hair just came out of a topknot so please excuse the sloppiness.  I hope you enjoy.  Which is your favorite?

Hat-can't remember Ross I think

Vintage 50's mustard coat-Savers with gift certificate from SFstyle ( I love the sleeves on this coat)

Vintage 60's faux snakeskin dress-Thrifted

Vintage silk leggings-Savers with gift cert from SFstyle

DKNY shoes-thrfited

Brocade Jacket-Savers with Gift Cert from SFstyle

Vintage Seal fur cape-Gift via thrift (I found for a friend then she bought it and later gave it to me)

Vintage authentic military jacket-thrifted years ago ( I love the shoulders, they are so modern, no?)

Vintage band Jacket-Gift from X boyfriend years ago

Vintage long velvet jacket-gift from friend, same as fur cape (what a great friend hu?)

So this is what I've been up to

I went home for the holidays, home being Vancouver, WA.  No... not Canada, my home town in directly across the Columbia river from Portland, Or.  I had a great time catching up with friends, shopping (thrift and vintage), hanging out with family and generally just being on vacation. It was a whirlwind of things to do, places to go and people to see.  This post is very picture-tastic!!!

Lets start out with the shopping!  This store Smut was the place that my friend found her NYE fur coat (pic 2nd to last photo below).  This is the reason that I got the amazing fur cape from the last post.

Smut had a great mix of all kinds of fun vintage things.

These vintage photos were so much fun to look through.

This next store, Rad Summer was where I found my new favorite coat.

The window display at Rad Summer.

Besides shopping I did a lot of hanging out with my best friend who I have known since 8th grade.  I just turned 32 on January 3rd so thats a long time.

We went to a Blazer game, it was so much fun.

My home town had it's first snow of the year, which was so beautiful to see.  Now that I live in California it's not a regular view for me.

Here I am on New Years Eve with my ladies.  The patchwork fur coat on Jen is from Smut, see above.

My outfit is

Dress-30's

Necklace-vintage rhinestones

40's hair and makeup

Close up of the hair and makeup, I was wearing eyelashes too.

Cha Ching, thanks to SFstyle!

A few months ago I won a 50$ gift certificate for savers thrift store from SFstyle.  I still hadn't made the 15 minute trek out of the city to use it until yesterday.  It was my birthday and I knew that would be the only way I could convince my sweet Thrift Phobic boyfriend to take me.   He was a great sport as I looked though the store.  Luckily, I am a pro and really fast so I made it happen in record time.  I had already scored tons of great Items while I was back home in the Portland, OR area, more on those later.

I have so much updating to do, sorry I have been so MIA.  I didn't bring my computer traveling so there was no way to update.   In the last week besides all the regular fun holidays it was also my birthday. I am exhausted from all the fun but also invigorated and looking forward to a new year and a new start.  Here are my Savers finds and a couple of the amazing things I got in Portland as well.

This amazing coat was a last minute purchase.  It is so thick and stiff and in pristine vintage condition and looks great on.  I had seen it while shopping but my boyfriend said it looked urine colored so I put it back even though I have been searching for a while for something in this color.  I had already purchased all the other things and was sitting in the car.  I couldn't stop thinking about it and I still had 14$ left in gift certificate money so I ran back in and purchased it.  It was 17.99.  I only spent about 5$ of my own money on all of the following items!  There were also a couple little items that I didn't photograph, a really neat scarf and a little necklace too.

vintage silk leggings, I love the print 2.99$

One of the coolest Jackets, stretchy velvet Oscar De La Renta 7.99$

Really avant garde polyester batwing dress/tunic  5.99

Cute little HnM dress 5.99

These next two are finds from Portland/Vancouver

  This one is a vintage, real fur, cape and it's stunning.  I found it for my friend at the thrift store while we were shopping together.  She was looking for something similar for her new years eve outfit.  She later found something more suitable and then gave it to me for my Birthday.  It was found at the Vancouver, WA Value Village.

EDIT: I just did some online research on this tag and Thelma Todd was a famous actress who's life ended tragically.  The tag says "furs by Thelma Todd Milwaukee WI"  I have no idea if this was designed by her but I could not find any other fur makers with that name.  I believe this is seal fur and very old, besides the fact that she died in the 1930's.  Similar ones I found online were marked 1930-1940 this one is in like new condition which is remarkable for it's age.

EDIT 2: Come to find out via a member of the Yahoo group "ThelmaToddFans" the maker of the fur was in fact another Thelma Todd.  It was fun to have a mystery to try to solve!  Thanks to the person who let me know, the mystery is now solved.

I was searching for a new coat and found this perfect one at a really cute little vintage store in Portland called Rad Summer. It is reversible which I didn't notice until a few days after I had it.   It was 24$.

BeFri FOREVER

My best friend who I have known since 8th grade came to visit me a few weeks ago. She still lives in the town we grew up in and has kids so doesn't get to travel much.  It was so nice to have her here, she is the type of friend that you feel so at ease with and so comfortable talking about anything with.  We decided to get all gussied up and head to the local gypsy/jazz/fun bar and one of the closest to my place, Amnesia.  When we got there they had karaoke going on which I had no idea they did there.  It was super entertaining listening to local missionites sing awesome songs.  I didn't take any full outfit shots but you can see the tops of the beautiful vintage dresses we were wearing that night.  We had a blast!

On me

Brown vintage fur hat-gift from Willow

Vintage 30's/40's dress-Thrifted at community thrift, amazing find!

On Jen (styled by me)

 Mini boa collar-used at hat (thrifted in seattle)

Brocade 50's dress-from grandma H

Yes, we are wearing the same lipstick!

We also headed to the elbo room, which funny enough is the name of our favorite local dive bar where we grew up in Vancouver, WA.

Beautiful Jen and our sweet friend Aaron