Livin' Vintage

Peek into my Living Room

2012-01-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

I haven't posted about Retroville in a while, so it's about time for an update! After the tree and other holiday decorations came down, it was time to move in my furniture that had been camping out in my garage. I still haven't finished -- the drapes need to be switched out for some barkcloth ones that I got an an estate sale and hopefully someday the pink carpet will be removed, showcasing the fabulous blonde hardwood floors that is underneath -- but for now I am very please and rather excited to be sitting on my own furniture!

Everything in the room that is pictured here was either handed down to me or was bought at estate sales, thrift stores, or flea markets. Here's the backstory on some of my favorite pieces.

Green Couch

A few months after I met Jesse, we were at an state sale and I spotted these two love seats at a sale we were at. They had a price tag of $20 and when I went to inquire if that was each or both, the lady stopped me and said I could have BOTH for $15! Now at the time I was still living at home and had no place to put these, but Jesse knew how much I had wanted a set out love seats like this, so he told me to buy them and we could put them at his house until I moved. What a keeper! Plus, how can you beat $15 for both! They do need to be reupholstered, but for now they work. The pillows were found a few months earlier for $5 for the pair at a flea market.

Bookcase

Mid summer this past year, I eyed this enclosed bookcase on a sale's listing. I thought for sure it was going to be way out of my price range, but as it ended up, it was $30 -- a bargain if you ask me. I would like to find another one some day to place on the other side of the fireplace. These don't seem to be that rare, as I have seen a few since I purchased this one, although in the wrong color. The fake plants are from the library that Jesse works at. They were going to pitch them, so Jesse brought them home and I ended up with them. I love real plants, but fake plants are nice too!

Sconces

The atomic wall sconces were purchased at an estate sale a while ago for the small sum of $9. I was so giddy when I found these in the attic of the home and clutched them until I was ready to check out. I am currently on the hunt for some gold glittery candles to place in the holders.

I may be a bit biased, but I feel this proves that it doesn't have to cost a lot to make your home nice. Pumpkin thinks so too! I think this also goes to show that there still are bargains out there to be found when it comes to vintage pieces. I didn't get all these pieces overnight, but if you are patient, deals are still to be had.

Emily

New Year, New Bag

2012-01-07T18:10:00.000-08:00

This week began the start of my final semester of graduate school also known as the reason for my silence as of late. Before class started back up again, I made sure to hit the thrifts, since I might not get much of a chance to do so for a while.

On a visit to a Salvation Army, I spotted this gem while I was in line to check out. It was behind the jewelry counter and I am a bit ashamed to admit that I paid $30 at a thrift store for this needlepoint bag. I rationalized this purchase by convincing myself that I would have to pay this much or even more in a retail setting, so since it was just for me, it was worth it.

What do you all think? I agree that $30 for a purse at the Salvation Army is kinda steep, but at the same time, it is a really nice bag in perfect condition. Would you pay that much for a bag at a thrift store? Am I crazy? hehe!

Emily

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T09:43:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone enjoys their New Years Eve and Day! See you all in 2012.

Emily

Image found HERE and edited by me.

Last Outfit of 2011

2011-12-30T15:45:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how fast 2011 went by for me. I guess it's true that time seems to pass faster the older we get. 2011 was full of both ups and downs, but much joy and happiness. I am really looking forward to 2012, mostly because it is my final year as a student and I will be organizing an area for an academic film conference in September.... something I am SO excited for!

I found this dress at the Salvation Army and it has been one of my go-to outfits ever since. I am guessing it's from the late 70s and I just love it. One of my goals for 2012 is to purchase less new items and to wear more vintage everyday. This dress helps me accomplish both. Plus, I love how it pairs with my hair, although this photo doesn't really show it. It was taken before I re-dyed my hair.

Does everyone have fabulous NYE plans? Jesse and I are seeing a concert then celebrating with friends at a cool little vintage-esque lounge bar in Detroit. Whatever you all are doing, have a wonderful time! And Happy New Year!!

Emily

Vintage Dress: Salvation Army

Shoes: JC Penny

Looking for Vintage?

2011-12-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

Here is my shameless plug for my etsy shop. This is just a sample of what will be available within the next week or so on etsy. However, if you visit my facebook page, you will find an album of sneak peeks. If you see something you like and want to reserve it before it goes live on etsy, please leave me a comment here, on my facebook page, or shoot me an email and I will be happy to do so!

Thanks!

Emily

Holiday Wrap Up

2011-12-27T10:02:00.001-08:00

Thanks for all the Christmas wishes! I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday! It was nice to take a break and spend sometime with family. On Christmas Eve, I joined my family for church and had the chance to wear my "new" 50s cashmere coat, which is pictured above. It was already dark out by the time I took these pictures, so I didn't get a good shot of the coat, but I am sure I will be wearing it again soon. The coat was originally destined to the shop, but once I tried it on, I just had to keep it!

If you follow my facebook page then you might have already seen my "Kitchmas" wreath. I bought the wreath and glittery bow at Target and then jazzed it up with a vintage elf that was in my Grandma's stash of Christmas stuff and a few small ornaments. I am pretty pleased with how it turned out and will enjoy it for years to come!

Under my coat, I wore this 40s red suit, which has TONS of buttons on the front. I wish the camera would have picked up the detail better. I paired the suit with some faux leopard peep toe heels. I just love red and leopard print together.

My tree was my Grandma's then my mom's and now mine. Its from the 60s and requires each branch to be put in separately. It's pretty fragile, so I'm not sure how long it will last, but I did enjoy having it up this year -- my first tree! I decided to use these lights, since they had a vintage feel to them and they were plastic bulbs rather than glass. For the last few years, I have been collecting vintage ornaments to trim my tree with and two years ago, found my sweet vintage glass tree topper at the Ann Arbor Flea Market. I had the hardest time tracking down some tinsel, so hopefully next year I will be able to find some. Then my tree will be complete.

Hope everyone is keeping warm!

Emily

50s Cashmere Coat, Vintage Rhinestone Earrings: Salvation Army

40s Red Suit: eBay

Pin: Grandma's

Faux Leopard Print Heels: Target

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T21:50:00.000-08:00

Just popping in to wish you all a wonderful Christmas!

Vintage Poncho: Fab Gabs

Vintage Western Shirt: Value World

Changes

2011-12-20T18:10:00.000-08:00

Can you all believe that Christmas is creeping up so quickly? I have so much I need to do before the weekend, including a lot of baking and gift wrapping. These are two things I really enjoy, so I am looking forward to the next few days filled with these activities.

I have been experimenting again with my "look." When I found this dress at the Salvation Army, I just knew I HAD to have it, even though it is not my usual 40s-60s look. Lately, I have been really drawn to 70s fashion and this terry cloth dress fit the bill. I like how the blue looks with my red hair (which I have been wearing in pigtails a lot lately!) and just the overall "fun" nature of this outfit. Sometimes changes and trying out new things are good.

I might be sparse until after the New Year, but while I am away, I will be overhauling the blog and my etsy. I am really excited about my new endeavorers selling vintage and cannot wait to share it all with you!

Don't forget about my facebook giveaway. Contest ends tomorrow at 11 p.m. Winner will be announced on my facebook page on Thursday morning.

Happy Holidays!!

Emily

70s Dress: Salvation Army

Silver Tights: Target

Boots: UGGS

Facebook Giveaway

2011-12-14T14:56:00.000-08:00

Just in time for the holidays, I am hosting a chance to win this fantastic vintage fur collar and NOS purse. Like what you see and want to enter?

Visit my facebook page and leave a comment on the photo. This is a FACEBOOK ONLY giveaway. Any comments left on the blog as an entry will NOT be counted. The giveaway is open to US residents. All the rules for entry are on my facebook page.

Good Luck!!

Emily

Baby its Cold Outside

2011-12-13T17:24:00.000-08:00

Is it feeling like winter by you? It sure is here!!

I wanted to answer some questions about my faux fireplace and logs from my last post. The logs are electric and are a separate piece from the fireplace itself. This will allow me to take them with me if and when I move. And, although they are pretty, they do not offer up any heat. They do, however, mock a real fire by "crackling" and slightly changing colors as the wheel turns. If you like mine and want your own, check out this listing on eBay.

Moving on, isn't this dress great? I got it for $1 at an estate sale. It was a total surprise find. I had seen the listing for the sale online, but it didn't really look too promising. But, since the sale was only a few blocks from my house, I decided to go anyway.... and boy am I glad that I did! I came away with several bags full of vintage goodies, this dress being among them. It's super warm and comfy -- the perfect winter dress.

Emily

P.S. In case you are wondering, that wonderful vintage slate tile lines the entry into my house. Just love it!

40s Dress: Estate Sale

Bakelite Bracelet: Adams Antique Mall, PA

40s Heels: Garage Sale

Christmas at Retroville

2011-12-12T16:49:00.000-08:00

Now that I finished grading the CIN 150 finals, I have be able to begin decorating for Christmas at Retroville. It has been so exciting to decorate for the holidays for the first time AND to finally be able to display all the vintage Christmas things I have collected over the years. Today, I will be sharing my faux fireplace that is in my front room. The real fireplace in my back room doesn't have a mantle and since this one doesn't accommodate fires, it was the prefect place to hang the stockings -- which are more for decoration than purpose. They were just too cute to only hang two.

This dear and bottle brush tree are new to my collection. The tree was purchased at my local craft and antique mall when they were having a really stellar sale. The dear was a steal at 29 cents at the Salvation Army.

My mom came up with the idea to place this Merry Christmas sign on the mirror -- love it! The sign, which I have had for a few years now, was purchased for $1 at an estate sale. I love the font of the lettering and its resemblance to a Shiny Bright ornament.

Probably one of my most favorite things about my house is the faux fireplace. When I was little, I used to love it when my Grandma would turn on the logs and I would be instantly mesmerized by the crackles and the slightly changing colors as the wheel turned. As an adult, I still think this is pretty cool. Either I am easily entertained or this is truly some vintage coolness.

Stay tuned for a look at my vintage Christmas tree. :)

Emily

3 down, 1 to go

2011-12-06T10:43:00.000-08:00

That's right, lovely readers, I only have one semester left of graduate school.... and boy am I happy! I have been a student for nearly 20 years, that is if you count preschool, and I sure am excited to no longer be a student come the end of April.

Anyway, as I turn in my final papers for this semester, here's a look at one of my outfits from a week or so ago. I have been so bogged down with paper writing that my little blog has had to take a backseat. However, I have been taking lots of photos of outfits, my house (which now has freshly cleaned vintage furniture in it), and my holiday decorations that I have been putting up in between all this writing.

This grey dress is one of the ones I bought on my trip to PA. I got it in a cute little shop called Yesterday's News in Pittsburgh. I belted the sweater and wore my favorite black velvet pumps. Good thing I got to take these for a spin before all the snow!

Emily

40s Dress: Yesterday's News, Pittsburgh

Belt: Off another dress

Sweater: Target

40s Velvet Pumps: Estate Sale

Welcome to the 21st Century....

2011-11-25T07:07:00.000-08:00

Welp! I have joined the rest of you all in the 21st century. Livin' Vintage is now on facebook.

Look forward to finding sneak peaks for up coming blog posts, shop updates, and much more. That's right... I am re-opening my etsy and let me tell you -- I have found some really stellar stuff, if I do say so myself! Look for new items being added the first week of December.

I also figured that the facebook page would be a wonderful way for me to connect with my readers more. I look forward to this. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2011-11-24T07:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American Readers!!

This year I will be remembering my fabulous Grandma, who went to live in Heaven last Thanksgiving. I am so thankful that she was my Gram and that she was with us for so many years.

I'm Singin' in the Rain

2011-11-23T08:24:00.000-08:00

I have finally found a dye that I like and that achieves the rich redness that I have been hoping for. I found it at Sally's. It's Loreal Excellence HiColor HiLights in the shade RED for dark hair. I really did not want to have to take the plunge into bleaching my hair first to get the bight red; this does it in one step. While I loved my Garnier Fructis, this dye trumps that for sure.

Anywho, it was kind of warm last weekend -- I didn't even really need a coat or sweater -- something I am certainly already longing for!

If last winter was the winter of experimenting with boots and tights, than this winter is definitely the year of pushing boundaries when it comes my color palette. I simply refuse to adhere to the "traditional" or "acceptable" colors of the season. Plus the brightness of these dresses helps beat the winter blues. And anyways, aren't the "fashion rules" kind of dead now?

Emily

P.S. Isn't that street art awesome?! It's on the side of a sandwich shop in Royal Oak, a trendy downtown area near my home.

40s Dress: Chocolate Vintage

Tights: Target

Flats: JC Penny

PA Trip Part Two

2011-11-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Some of my finds from the trip. I did get a lot of clothes as well, but those will be appearing on the blog soon in some outfit posts.

1. Vintage Tapestry Handbag, $15 Retrospect (A Goodwill Vintage Retail Store)

2. Vintage Owl, $2 Philly AIDS Thrift

3. 50s Pattern, $2 Antique Mall in Adamstown

4. Bakelite Bangle and Earrings Set, $16 Adam's Antique Mall, Adamstown

5. Vintage Bamboo Vase, $5 Adam's Antique Mall, Adamstown

6. 50s Revlon Aquamarine Lotion, $6 Adam's Antique Mall, Adamstown

7. Vintage Barkcloth Fabric, $2 Antique Mall in Adamstown (from same vendor as #3)

8. Vintage Seal Salt and Pepper Shakers, $2 Philly AIDS Thrift

9. Vintage Plastic Belt Buckle, $1 Antique Mall in Adamstown

That is pretty much all the "smalls" that I picked up on my trip. I couldn't believe I was able to get that bakelite set for $16!! I would have paid that alone for the bracelet.

I have to say, I was pretty impressed with the offerings in Adamstown. Apparently, they do a yearly fair/festival thing and it is something I would definitely consider attending in the future.

If anyone is interested, I can do a post on the different stores I went to and give a sort of review.

Emily

PA Trip Part One

2011-11-21T07:56:00.000-08:00

I'm finally getting around to recapping my trip to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Jesse and I had a wonderful time and did a ton of shopping! :) This post is packed with pictures, so I split it into two posts. Check back tomorrow to see some of my finds.

DAY 1

On Thursday we started out for Pittsburgh, which is about 5 hours from Detroit. It was a smooth ride and it doesn't hurt that the Ohio Turnpike has some of the nicest rest stops around! I wore one of my new Swirls for the drive. Comfortable without sacrificing cute.

OUTFIT DETAILS

Swirl: eBay

50s Sweater: Regeneration

Flats: Target

Later that night we checked out some of the nightlife of Pittsburgh. We wondered into a tiki themed bar and I ordered the "Big Bamboo Love Song." If you paid a little extra, you got to keep your mug. Pandas are among my favorite animals, so I opted to keep the mug. It is now awaiting a plant.

DAY 2
The following day, we spent the morning in Pittsburgh and ate a scrumptious breakfast at Quiet Storm. It was so yummy! Then we checked out a few vintage stores and one giant record store, where Jesse and I both found some vinyl to add to our collections. I bought this skirt from ActDecoDame right before my trip and was delighted that it came in time for me to wear it. I just love it!

OUTFIT DETAILS

Modern Sweater: Great Centers of Hope Thrift

60s Top: Church Rummage Sale

Belt and Flats: Target

60s Skirt: Etsy

DAY 3

The night before we go into Philly late and decided to just take it easy for the night. The following morning we got up early to check out SAZZ vintage -- a warehouse of bins of vintage clothing. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed. Their website lead me to believe that there would be a wide selection of 40s and 50s dresses. There was not. The woman's section was much smaller than the mens and the older stuff was few and much higher priced. On top of that, for the $18 price tag you were NOT getting pristine pieces. With all that said, I did come away with a few pieces and Jesse made out like a bandit. He digs the 70s and there was plenty of that at cheap prices.

In the afternoon, we stopped at this little diner for lunch. It appeared to be a real Paramount Deluxe Dining Car. I had a simple grilled cheese and Jesse opted to try "mexican fries," which were regular fries with peppers on them.

DAY 4

On our way home, we stopped at "Antiques Capital of USA" aka Adamstown, PA. This little town packs in several antique malls and stores. I could have spent a whole day here, but time was semi-limited. We were able to hit up three of the malls and we both found some really great deals -- some of which I will share tomorrow. If you are ever passing the area, I would highly recommend planning to spend some time in this town. The shopping is excellent!

OUTFIT DETAILS

40s Dress: etsy

Modern Sweater: Plato's Closet

Tights: Kohls

40s Shoes: Estate Sale

Emily

Shabby Apple Winner

2011-11-14T15:47:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Sorry for the silence! I promise I will be back soon with some great posts, including my trip to Pennsylvania. Until then, here's the winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway.

#3 was rosemariee!!! Congrats!!! Please email me by Friday with your name, phone number, shipping address, email address, and size of dress. Thank you to everyone that entered and of course to Shabby Apple for sponsoring this giveaway!!

P.S. Check out Coedith's post on Fall Fashion. She featured me as one of her favorite looks!! Thanks Coedith!!!

Cider Mill

2011-11-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

Two weekends ago, Jesse and I drove out to one of our local cider mills to enjoy some fresh apple cider and donuts. It still is quite warm here in Michigan, especially for November, so we strolled the path along the river. I wore my rain boots to be practical, plus they are pretty comfy too.

I love this dress; it's among some of the earliest that I own that is still in wearable condition. It fastens on the side with buttons, has a slightly higher waistline, and has a longer hemline, so I am dating it to before WWII. I had kind of forgotten about it, luckily the weather was still warm enough to justify wearing it!

Emily

Early 40s Dress: Bloomfield Vintage Apparel Show

Tights and Rain Boots: Target

50s/60s Sweater: Salvation Army

Catching Up

2011-11-08T07:58:00.000-08:00

It's so good to be back! My trip to Pennsylvania was a ton of fun and I can't wait to share it all, but first I have some catching up to do.

A week and a half ago was my 24th birthday. The day started off with hitting up a thrift store with my mom, where she bought me an awesome green vinyl chair. We then went to some estate sales and my mom bought me the COOLEST mid century modern rocker. I cannot wait to share it!! Later on, Jesse took me out to a wonderful dinner at PF Chang's where I devoured the salt and pepper calamari -- my favorite! After dinner, we went out for drinks. It was a great birthday!

And to show what a keeper I've got, look what Jesse got me for my birthday! Vintage carved bakelite earrings and a sweet mushroom glasses case holder -- both I LOVE! He also got me a Swirl, but that's for another post.

Emily

Late 50s Dress: Regeneration

Belt and Tights: Target

60s Lizard Shoes: Estate Sale

Vintage Bakelite Earrings: Gift from Jesse

Shabby Apple Giveaway

2011-11-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

Recently, I was contacted by Danya at Shabby Apple to do a giveaway; which I thought my readers would love. I selected Boogie Woogie, not only because the name is so cute, but also because it is pretty versatile little black dress. Shabby Apple has many other women's dresses, many which have a vintage flair to them, however, I felt this one was prefect for the up coming holiday season. I especially like how Shabby Apple has chosen to style the dress -- I'm totally digging the long white gloves, pearls, and hat!

Love this dress and want a chance to win one in your size? Here's how to enter:

Check out Shabby Apple on facebook and like their page. After doing so, leave me a comment telling me that you did.

Want additional entries?

1. Blog about the giveaway, linking back to this post. Leave me a comment with the link to your post.

2. Follow my blog and leave a new comment. If you are already a follower, leave a new comment as well for an extra entry.

3. Tweet or post to facebook, linking back to this post. Leave a new comment with the link.

You have a total of 4 entries per person. Winner must live in the U.S. There are no exchanges. Giveaway open until November 11, 2011.

Readers of Livin' Vintage have also been offered a 10% off code. Enter "livinvintage10off" to receive 10% off your Shabby Apple purchase valid for the next 30 days.

Good Luck!!!!

Emily

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T18:14:00.000-07:00

Ever since finding this dress in early summer, I have been patiently waiting until Halloween to wear it. It really is the perfect Halloween dress.

Happy Halloween!!

Emily

Late 50s Patio Dress: Regeneration

Sweater: Target

Bracelets: Estate Sale, Flea Market, & Value World

Earrings: Were my Grandma's

Shoes: JC Penny

Sponsor Livin' Vintage

2011-10-25T10:07:00.000-07:00

So, I have decided to start accepting sponsors for Livin' Vintage. As I prepare to relaunch my etsy and work to create a "brand" for myself, it was about time to offer some advertising space here on the blog.

I am currently accepting sponsors for the Month of November. If interested, you will receive a space to the left of my blog. Right now I am offering three sizes, which are pictured below.

Those prices reflect one month's fee. Discounts apply for three, six, nine, and twelve month commitments. I'd also be delighted to trade ad space for clothing, shoes, accessories, etc.

So you want to advertise on Livin' Vintage? Here's how it works: send me an email at livinvintage@hotmail.com outlining duration of ad (1 month, 3 months etc), a copy of the ad itself, and payment method (i.e. paypal or a trade). I will then send you an invoice and once payment is received, your ad will go up and will be live on Livin' Vintage until the end of the month.

Emily

Untitled

2011-10-24T11:56:00.000-07:00

I had a heck of a time trying to figure out a title for this post, ergo the "untitled" name given to it. This past weekend, Jesse and I went to see Dennis Coffey at this theatre/concert venue, which very much had the feel of an old night club -- sans cute cigarette girls and cozy booths. It was a great show and if you haven't listened to Dennis Coffey before, I highly recommend him.

I wore this 60s/70s polyester zip front dress and now that I look back on it, I have mixed feelings about this outfit. The dress is too big, so I belted it. It did keep me warm, which was the point, so I guess that is a plus.

Emily

60s/70s Dress: Value World

Boots: Target

Bakelite Bracelet: eBay

Earrings: Salvation Army

Road Trip

2011-10-20T11:03:00.000-07:00

Two weeks from today, Jesse and I will be taking a road trip to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia -- sort of a belated birthday tip. I wanted to ask my readers, first if I should visit any shops that I do not have listed below, which is our tentative itinerary. And second, if there was any vintage bloggers in either of these locations that would like to do a blogger meet up?

I have done some research online and these are the places I have planned for us to check out while in each city.

PITTSBURGH

Yesterdays News

Hey Betty

Eons Fashion Antique

PHILADELPHIA

Sazz Vintage Clothing!!

Buffalo Exchange

Philadelphia Vintage

Decades Vintage

The Goodwill Outlet - South Philadelphia Outlet Store

Retrospect Vintage

Of course, if we see a thrift store or the like, we are planning to stop, however, these are the major planned locations. Am I going to miss out on anything? Also, are there any great restaurants they we should try? Jesse has been to Pittsburgh, but neither of us have been to Philadelphia and I am so excited to check out the city!

If you are interested in doing a blogger meet up, please send me an email!

Emily

Telephone Cord Purse

2011-10-18T17:01:00.000-07:00

For a whole now, I have been wanting a telephone cord purse. I have always been attracted to the colorful aesthetic of these bags and their fun designs. I found this bag this weekend at the vintage clothing show I went to. I was pretty surprised that it was priced under $20 and it hadn't been snatched up yet. Minus a few stains on the cords, which I am sure I can get out, its in really great shape and was quite the bargain! And other than the dice bracelet I got, is my favorite find from the show.

Does anyone else have a vintage telephone cord purse? I would love to see it! :)

Emily

Dice and Sailor Pants

2011-10-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

This past weekend was the Bloomfield Hills Jewelry and Vintage Apparel Show. Its a twice yearly show and tends offer the cream of the crop selection of vintage clothing. This is my third year of attendance (don't know how I didn't hear about it sooner) and I have to say I was a bit disappointed in the selection this year. Granted, I didn't get to the show until it had been open for several hours, but I have done that in the past and still walked away with arms full of goodies. I suspect that the lack of good estate sales this past year might have something to do with it. Regardless, I was still able to find three really nice pieces.

One of which is this vintage dice bracelet. I love novelty items and this was too cute to pass up. Plus, if I ever make it to Viva Las Vegas, this bracelet will be a great addition to an outfit. I also bought a cute dress, which I will have to wait for spring to wear, and a purse that I will share with you all tomorrow.

It got pretty chilly here this weekend, so I was finally able to break out some of my fall clothing. I have had these vintage sailor pants for a few years now and never had quite the right top to wear with them. I recently found this vintage wool sweater at the thrift store and I think they match pretty nicely. I also have been living in these shoes. They are comfortable and are oh so cute!

And you might be able to tell in the first photo, I re-dyed my hair -- as it was in great need of a touch up. This time I tried Loreal Fiera Power Red in the shade Ruby Rush. I liked it alright, no major complaints. We'll see how long this one lasts until it begins to fade.

Emily

50s Wool Sweater: Salvation Army

Vintage Navy Pants: Estate Sale

50s Mesh Flats: eBay

Vintage Dice Bracelet: Bloomfield Hills Jewelry & Vintage Apparel Show

Final Bits of Summer

2011-10-16T17:12:00.000-07:00

This past week was probably the last bit of warmer weather we will see here in Metro Detroit. I say probably because you never know with Michigan. It could snow here one day and be 75 degrees the next. This is one of the reasons I opt not to have a seasonal closet; though I think I might enjoy having one.

I have had a good run of estate sales lately -- many with vintage clothing and lots of mid century modern home goods. I have been able to get a lot of the final pieces for Retroville and once I get the rest of the carpet pulled up, I plan on hosting a tour here on my blog. I am shooting for December, since I will be finishing up with my last fall semester of grad school.

Also around this time will be the relaunch of my etsy store. After doing the D.I.Y. and enjoying it so much, it made me want to get back on etsy, so I have been compiling tons of vintage goodies to load my shop with and plan to go live in December!

Anywho, I got this top, which I am pretty sure is a vintage apron, at an estate sale a few weekends ago. I don't think it was ever worn, as the fabric was crisp and stain-free. I feel it's too cute to wear over a dress and get spills on it during cooking, so I'm wearing it as a top.

Emily

Vintage Apron worn as Shirt: Estate Sale

Jeans: JC Penny

Keds: Plato's Closet

Tulips on a Swirl

2011-10-12T08:34:00.000-07:00

Hi, I'm Emily and I am addicted to Swirl dresses.

Another Swirl? Yes, but this one was just so cute, I just couldn't pass it up. I could just live in these dress...... oh wait, I kinda do! ;) Whenever I am not feeling like getting dressed or picking out an outfit, I always turn to my trusty Swirl dresses. They are flattering and you only have one piece to put on -- which I love. And, the major bonus is these dresses almost always have pockets, which I am a huge fan of. Whoever designed this was a smart person!

Emily

50s Swirl Dress: eBay

White Tennis Shoes: Target

Kitchen King

2011-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

I think this is by far one of my favorite vintage kitchen gadgets that I have ever found. Not only are the graphics on the box super cute, but there is actually a French Fry Potato Cutter on the inside!

I got this over the weekend at an estate sale that was being held in a warehouse. I filled up a box and got the whole box for $28, which was filled with vintage purses, records, and vintage children's clothes. I haven't tried this guy out yet, but I cannot wait to, as it looks like it hasn't really been used. The cutter is in near perfect shape, no rust and the leaver moves smoothly. I only hope I will look as glamourous as the lady on the front of the box while I "cut 25 in one stroke." :)

Emily

Perfect Weekend Dress

2011-10-10T08:13:00.000-07:00

I wish the weekend was longer. It always seems to fly by so quickly, probably because I normally try and pack as much as I can into these two days. I hope you all had a lovely weekend. Here in Michigan, we were treated to summer-like weather, with the temps in the high 70s and low 80s! Because of this, I was able to take a few of my summer dresses out for one last spin before the colder weather arrives.

This is one of the dresses I acquired at the Midland Flea Market for $10. It's a sweet little 40s wrap house dress that I am sure was some lady's favorite, due to some holes, faint stains, and repairs. None the less, I love the dress and feel it is the perfect thing to wear out to the farmer's market and to estate sales. The pocket on the hip is perfect for holding some cash and my cell phone while out, eliminating the need for a purse. And, while I love purses, I love the ability to just throw the essentials into my pocket and have my hands and arms free for shopping.

Emily

40s Wrap House Dress: MIdland Flea Market

White Tennis Shoes: Target

Adventures in Canning

2011-10-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I found 10 "quilted" canning jars at the Salvation Army for a few dollars and decided to buy them and try out canning. In the past I have done the freezer jar canning, which is near foolproof, but I have never done any "real" canning.

Fast forward to two weekends ago, Jesse and I got up early and headed to Eastern Market to stock up on some fresh produce for me to can. When we got home, I got busy and put my jars and rings in the dishwasher and starting on prepping the produce. After I found the jars at the thrift store, I ended up purchasing four large jars and six freezer jars so I could preserve more. I made peach freezer jam with the plastic jars and pickles and salsa with the glass jars. Overall, I thought my first time canning went well. I wish I would have taken pictures while canning! Above are some of the pickles and salsa that was left over for me after I gave some away to my parents and Jesse.

I followed the recipe for pickles on the jar of pickling spices by Ball and just made salsa like I would normally, brought it to a boil and then placed it in the jars and proceeded with the canning process. It was really quite easy. So, if you are thinking about trying out canning and haven't before, it isn't hard, just a bit time consuming, but it's SO worth it. :)

Emily

The Wild

2011-10-06T09:49:00.000-07:00

It's not very often that I score really collectible vintage stuff in the wild. Finding bakelite, lucite purses, and Swirl dresses normally requires searching the good ole interwebs. However, occasionally I get lucky and find one of these such items while out thrifting, a.k.a in The Wild.

This Swirl was such a find. While combing the racks at a booth at the Midland Flea Market, I came across this dress, realized it was a Swirl and was super giddy at my luck. There was, however, no price tag and I was sure the seller was going to say some crazy number. Instead she held up 5 fingers. $5?! Ummm.... Yes!!! Seriously, the best deal I have ever gotten on a Swirl and I am sure I will probably never get this lucky again. Isn't the print just darling?

Emily

50s Swirl: Midland Flea Market

Sweater: Target

Old Navy Jelly Flats: Plato's Closet

Midland Flea Market 2011 Haul

2011-10-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

Two weekends ago, Jesse and I made the drive to the Midland Flea Market, something I wait for all year long. The Midland Flea Market is the biggest flea market in Michigan and only happens three weekends a year. I always choose to go the last weekend it is held and on the Sunday, as dealers are trying to move their stuff and the prices always seems better. Jesse and I both found some really great stuff. Here are my finds:

1. A "Swanky Swig" pitcher with glass top. I found one like this last year and was delighted to find another one this year. The Midland Flea Market is the only place I have ever seen these before and I use my other one all the time, so this was a great find at $10.

2. A vintage elephant planter -- $3

3. Vintage owl eye glasses holder. I about squealed when I found this!! Your glasses rest on his nose and he is currently residing on my bedside table. For $3, this HAD to come home with me!

4. Vintage birdie vase -- $8 I love birds and this vase fits right in in my new kitchen at Retroville.

5. Plate with vintage transfer -- $1

6. Daguerreotype -- $10

7. Five vintage metal curlers -- $1

8. Vintage chalkware birdies -- $4 for the pair

9. Fireking Peach Glaze pie plate -- $5 I actually have never come across one of these before and am kinda kicking myself for not just buying the other one that was there, but I was trying to be frugal and plus, do I really need two Fireking pie plates?

Not pictured is four vintage dresses, including a Swirl (check back tomorrow for its reveal), a lobby card, and a record of the Grasshoppers singing the Beatles.

All in all, this was a great year and I already can't wait for next year.

Emily

Pushing Comfort

2011-10-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been trying to have more fun while dressing, paying less attention to being "matchy" and more attention to trying new things. This ^ was such an attempt.

The more I wear vintage and shop for vintage, the more I realize why I am so drawn to it. Yes, I am attractive to its aesthetic nature and the fact that it hails from some of my favorite decades in history, but I also love it because it is different and, for the most part, a one-of-a-kind item. It's because of its uniqueness that I am partially drawn to it and I have come to desire this to reflect in the way I dress. Clothes are one of the major ways we shows others who we are and I want my clothes to reflect who I am.... or at least try to. :)

Emily

60s Warp Dress: Killer Estate Sale

Green Sweater: St. Vincent de Paul Thrift

Purple Tights: Kohls

50s/60s Mesh Mary Janes: eBay

Week of Product Reviews: Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Treatment Concealer in Fair

2011-09-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

After seeing many commercials promoting Maybelline's dark circle concealer, I decided to try it when it went on sale. I am trying to use my Max Factor Pan Stick sparingly, since it is no longer available in the US -- thanks P & G. Anyway, I have been trying out new concealers to see if I can find one that is comparable to Max Factors, which I know probably isn't going to happen. Have any of you US girls had any luck with purchasing Max Factor products online?

I have been using this concealer for about a week now and I have mix feelings about it. I have followed the directions on the tube for how to apply it under your eyes and I still feel it doesn't make much of a difference and isn't anything special. Granted, I do not have a major problem with dark circles, I would still like to cover up what I do have and I don't feel this does any better of a job than other concealers.

I do, however, think it is an excellent blemish concealer and this is what I have been using it for. I like the sponge tip that I can apply directly to my face, eliminating the use for a brush or my fingers.

I haven't found this is be very long lasting. By the end of the day, I can see all the spots I previously covered up, which if I am spending $9 on something, I would hope that it would work, at least for the length of a day.

I am going to use this up and probably never purchase it again. Any ideas on finding a good replacement for my beloved Max Factor Pan Stick?

I have purchased the product discussed above and am not associated with Maybelline, nor was I compensated by any means for this review. This is my own personal opinion of the product.

Week of Product Reviews: NYX Trio Eyeshadow in Sping Leaf/Lime Green/Green Tea

2011-09-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

I think it would be a pretty fair assessment that NYX is rapidly becoming my favorite brand of make-up. Up until last week, I have never bought anything from their line and am now wishing I would have sooner. :)

This eyeshadow trio appealed to me because I liked that the colors could theoretically work well on their own or together with the others in the pallet. What I discovered when I tried it for the first time was how creamy the shadow was, yet it still was a powder shadow. The powder just glides on and has a long lasting staying power, without clumping on you later in the day. I really like that I can mix and match the shades and it always seems to work out. I don't think I have ever had this experience with a trio or quad set before.

I have purchased the product discussed above and am not associated with NYX, nor was I compensated by any means for this review. This is my own personal opinion of the product.

Week of Product Reviews: Formula 10.0.6 Best Face Forward Foaming Cleanser

2011-09-27T07:54:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have been on a quest to find the right face wash for my ever changing skin. It seems that every one I try either dries out my skin, creates breakouts, or simply doesn't get the job done. The other day while at ULTA, I decided to take the leap and test out Formula 10.0.6's Best Face Forward Foaming Cleanser. I had previously tried a few other products from this company's line with great disappointment, so I didn't have high hopes for the success of this product.

To my surprise, I actually like the product and it is helping with clearing up my skin. The smell is fresh and pleasant; having more of a fruity smell. I don't feel that the face wash really foams, but it does create a nice lather in which a little will go a long way.

I really like how my skin feels after using Best Face Forward. It leaves my skin feeling clean without that drying out effect that so many cleansers seem to have. I also love this product's price point -- at $6.99 it is affordable, even on a grad student's tight budget! :)

I have purchased the product discussed above and am not associated with Formula 10.0.6, nor was I compensated by any means for this review. This is my own personal opinion of the product.

Week of Product Reviews: NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Auburn/Red

2011-09-26T08:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to a week of product reviews here on Livin' Vintage. I hope you enjoy!

Ever since dying my hair red, I have been meaning to get some new powder to fill in my brows with. After strolling the aisles at ULTA, I came away with NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Auburn/Red. I must say, I am quite smitten with this product! Not only does it give my brows a more auburn effect, making them blend better with my new hair color, the powder is long lasting and is very pigmented.

I also am in love with the brush the kit supplies. Up until now, I had been using a run-of-the-mill cheap-o eyebrow brush that got the job done. However, since using NYX's, I will never go back to my cheap-o brush. The bristles are stiff, much like on a child's paintbrush, but they hold onto the powder well and apply it to your brow in a wonderful fashion. My only complaint is that the handle is short, to accommodate compact packaging, but that really isn't that big of a deal.

I also like that this kit supplies some eyebrow gel and a lash brush. I don't use this feature of the kit much, but when I have used it, it has worked out great; setting the powder and the shape of my brows for the remainder of the day.

I can't say enough about this product! It also helps that it is pretty cheap ($4.99) without slacking on quality.

I have purchased the product discussed above and am not associated with NYX, nor was I compensated by any means for this review. This is my own personal opinion of the product.

$5 Vintage

2011-09-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

One of the vintage clothing stores in the area has been having a $5 per item sale and I stopped by the other day to check out the selection. I found a lot of really great pieces and it was great to see my dollar stretch.

I picked out this house dress because it zipped up the front (a favorite style of mine) and because it still had its original belt -- something I am a complete sucker for! Plus, major bonus points for the sweet rose print and color scheme.

So, next week I am planning a whole week of product reviews, as I have tried a lot of new beauty products lately, some hits some misses, and I wanted to share my experiences with you all.

Hope you all have a great weekend!!

Emily

50s House Dress: Chocolate Vintage

Sweater: Target

Tights: Kohls

Boots: Uggs

Selling Vintage at the Ferndale DIY

2011-09-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

So, I have been a bit quite lately, but I have a good excuse. Besides starting my final year of grad school a few weeks ago, this past weekend I did my first event selling vintage. I had a blast and it was a very successful weekend!! Ferndale, MI, a super hip area right outside of Detroit, has starting having a yearly street fair featuring a DIY ethic and this year I decided to join in on all the fun. I really enjoyed doing the event, so much so that I am planning on trying to do some more events in the area.

My mom helped me set up my booth (which you can see in its entirety above). I can't remember what blog I saw it on (if it was you, please leave a comment!), but one of the other vintage bloggers out there that does events used a plant stand to showcase some of their items. I thought this was a fantastic idea and decided to do the same in my booth.

Besides selling vintage clothing, I sold a few vintage housewares and some classic movie memorabilia. I also brought Morocco (the lamp above) to find a new home. As my beau has pointed out, I have quite the collection of lamps, so it was time to pass on this one to a new home. He was, however, bought by an antiques dealer whom I know is going to flip this purchase. Oh well; I made quite the profit on him so I am not too bummed about the sale.

It was warm enough one of the days to wear my new hawaiian set that I found at a killer estate sale. What was so crazy about this was I found the exact same set a few weeks earlier in a smaller size at the thrift store. I have only ever come across a few "vintage twins" in my life and this was certainly one of the most exciting. I am looking forward to wearing this set (which came with the most adorable shorts) next summer, but until then, I am loving the dress with my orange tights.

Emily

60s Hawaiian Dress: Estate Sale

Tights: Kohls

Boots: Uggs

Vintage Bakelite: Estate Sales

The Best Spent $25

2011-09-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday, I headed to a promising estate sale that claimed to have tons of vintage clothing, accessories and housewares. I got to the sale a little more than an hour after it opened, since I wasn't in the mood to compete with dealers and resellers. I don't know how sales are where you live, but here in MI, the first hour of a sale can be complete chaos. Estate saling really is an extreme sport!

Anyway, I was pleased to discover that the two lucite bags were still available when I got there. I was really surprised, because at only $22 I was sure someone would have snatched these up... apparently not. I thought the price was great and especially since this bag is for my own collection, it was quite the deal. The other bag had a broken handle and the company still wanted $22 for it. The man running the sale tried to convince me that "a little super glue will fix that right up," ummm.... yeah, sure....

I loved the detailing on the top and its honeycomb shape. I also liked that it was marked at the bottom. My other two lucite bags are unmarked. I am thinking that this bag might have been in one of the cheaper lines, since the plastic is thinner and the handle is a bit less sturdy that my other two bags. Regardless, I was thrilled to added another bag to my collection, as they are not easy to find here in MI and have had to rely on the Internet to find my other two.

When I first walked into the sale, which was still in full chaos mode, I checked out the jewelry table and came across these two bangles. I was pretty sure they were bakelite and were the only two bakelite pieces amongst the jewelry. They didn't however have a price tag and I feared that they would be like $15 or $20 each, which is a little high for my taste. Hoping for the best, I continued to clutch these while I shopped the rest of the sale. Much of the vintage clothing was in kinda rough shape and priced too high, but I did find a few pieces for a festival I am selling at this weekend. I also found the cutest little owl light for only $3.

So, when I finally reached the check out, I got a price for the bracelets.... "how does $3 for both sound?" SOLD!! WHen I got home, I checked he bracelets with my semichrome and they passed! Yay!!! :)

This was really some of the best $25 I have spent in a long while.

Have you found any good deals lately?

Emily

What One Can Find in a Basement

2011-09-01T09:34:00.000-07:00

I have been slowly moving more of my things into my Grandma's house a.k.a Retroville. I bought this bookcase a month or so ago at an estate sale. It was found in the basement. Like I have said a few posts back, the basement is where I tend to find the best stuff. Estate sale newbies take note! ;) Because of this, I have started to carry a flashlight on a regular basis now, verses only bringing it to sales that look dark. Anyway, back to the bookcase. I talked the lady down from $40 to $30 and was thrilled to get it for that price. Once I get it all filled up with my vintage books, I'll post an updated photo.

The plant stand (also found in the basement at the same sale that the bookcase was found), was a steal at $1. The following weekend, I found the pot (again, in the basement!) and scored it for $2. Fast forward a few weeks, I found the same plant stand (in the basement hehe) at a sale I went to. I got that one for $1 as well. Now I am hoping I can find matching pots to put in them and I will move them to either side of my faux fireplace in the front room.

I promise I will post up close photos of all the stuff in this photo, but for now, let me tell you about those awesome hanging lamps! They used to be the "chandelier" over the dining table, but when my Dad was helping my Grandma redo her house, she decided to get a different light for over the table and moved these to their current spot. There are three of them and my Dad saved the other one, which my mom told me I could have! I can only imagine how cool and mid century modern they looked in the dining area. However, I kinda really like them here too.

Emily

80s does 40s Dress: Value World

Belt: JC Penny

Tennis Shoes: Target

Product Review: Nutrisse Ultra-Color, Shade R3

2011-08-31T17:44:00.000-07:00

I am pretty much an exclusive at-home hair colorer. I rarely go to the salon to get my hair done. This is probably because I am pretty particular what I choose to spend my money on. Plus, I feel if done right, you can achieve the same results coloring your hair at home as at the salon.

In comes this hair dye. Several months ago, I attempted to go red, without the results that I was hoping for; after which I finally accepted that I would not be able to get these results without lighting my hair first. However, a few months later, I got another bee in my bonnet to give it one more go. While strolling the hair dye aisle, I came across Nutrisse Ultra-Color Shade R3 which claimed to be formulated especially for dark hair. I figured, why not? and bought the dye. For less than $10, I felt it was a safe gamble.

Well, to my surprise, it actually did what it said it would! I've had it on for about two weeks+ now and haven't really noticed any major fading. Although, for the first few days it continued to wash out, which really concerned me, since most home dyes I have used tend not to do that.

I left it on my hair for the max amount of time, to ensure that I would get the best results. What is nice about this dye is it comes with a small vile of olive and avocado oil to mix in with the dye, plus a conditioner to put on after you wash it out. I felt that my hair was left smooth and silky after the dying process and my ends seem to be the same as before I dyed my hair.

Overall, I would give this dye a 9.5 out of 10. I had to take a half point off since this dye is harder to get off your skin than any other dye I have used before. It's pretty potent.

I plan on keeping up with the color with manic panic. Anyone have color suggestions or advice for using it? I have never used manic panic before, but have heard good things.

Emily

Sabrina at The Redford

2011-08-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

Last weekend, Jesse and I went to see Sabrina (1954) at our local historic theatre, the Redford, which plays classic films all year long. Detroit is lucky to have a few theaters that pay tribute to their past by playing old films. I love that at the Redford, they have the ticket booth outside the theatre. I always feel a bit like I have transported back in time when I there.

You also might have noticed that I have dyed my hair. I had been toying with the idea of going red for weeks, many even months, and I finally took the plunge. I really liked the dye I used and will be posting a review on it soon.

The only jewelry I wore that evening was my newly acquired vintage watch, which I had gotten the day before for the mere sum of $3.75. I always check out the jewelry tables at estate sales because you never know what you will find. I normally don't purchase a lot of jewelry at estate sales because lately they have become quite expensive (anyone else noticing this?). Anyway, I spotted this watch, gave it a quick twist at the side and hear it running, so I figured it was worth the $3 gamble.

To my surprise it kept (and keeps!) really good time. An added bonus was discovered when I was looking on the back for a hallmark to look the watch up online. It said it was 10kt gold face and when I flipped it over to look more closely, I discovered two tiny diamond chips that I didn't notice when I purchased the watch -- they had just looked like part of the scroll work at the time! This is probably one of my best bargains in a while!!

Emily

50s Swirl Dress: eBay

50s Watch: Estate Sale

Red, White, and Swirl

2011-08-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Have you seen The Help yet? I am a sucker for any kind of costume drama or period film, so I just had to go see The Help. IFrom a vintage fashion standpoint, it was really good! I thought the costumes and sets were very spot on. I even have some of the glasses that they used in the bridge scene! I'm not surprised at the execution of the costumes, Sharen Davis was responsible for them. Davis has worked on other period films such as Ray (2004) and Dreamgirls (2006). I would totally recommend you check out this film if you are into vintage fashion. My favorite character from the film was Celia. I love her look and think she was a sweetie, even if it wasn't totally realistic. If you have seen the film, who was your favorite?

Emily

50s Homemade Swirl: etsy

Tennis Shoes: Target

Deal of the Day

2011-08-24T09:53:00.000-07:00

I have missed sharing my deals! While I may not blog about it often enough, I do hit up a lot of estate sales. And, although I don't always buy, it's still fun to see homes in different towns and just generally take a gander at what that person had. One of my most recent deals was this vintage quilt, which I am thinking dates to the 30s or 40s, due to the feedsack fabric. I bought a lot of stuff at this sale, about 10-12 items, for which I paid $50. So, I paid about $5 for this quilt, if you average it out.

[backing]

I found it in the basement. I swear, my best finds are found in the basement or the attic. It really pays to check those areas! It was on a bed down there that had tons of boxes and things laid about on top. I had to take most of it off to free the quilt and some nice old gentleman helped me to pull it off the bed.

Most of the squares are a bit wonky and don't follow a ridged pattern. From the contents of the home, I could tell the lady of the house was a seamstress, so this might have been one of her first projects? There were also several other quilts, but they were up front with the people running the sale and were pretty pricey. I was quite surprised that I got this one for the deal I did. The sale also yielded me a large picnic basket (maybe a Redman?), a set of 60s silverware, vintage fabric, a metal bathroom shelf, and a lot of other smalls.

This is the third vintage quilt I have added to my collection. Coincidentally, all three are roughly the same size (twin). I blogged about one of my other ones here. I would love to someday have a whole chest of vintage quilts. Until then, I will continue to pick them up here and there when they are $25 or less.

Emily

Wannabe Vintage

2011-08-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

Even though I am a vintage gal at heart and try my hardest to "dress the part," some days, I just feel like changing it up and wearing something that isn't exactly vintage. In the past I have written about some of a woes of being a vintage loving girl in a modern world. Whether its the weather or the fast pace of our modern world, it can be hard to make the effort to put together that vintage look every day. And beyond that, I find myself still wanting to dress "with the times," with my own vintage perspective. So, somedays, I dress like this. The only thing in my outfit that is vintage is my skirt, which is late 70s. I fell in love with it a few months ago while on a thrifting trip and really love the look I finally came up with for it.

I am also really smitten with my "new" yellow flats. I've been looking for a pair for a while now. And, while they are not exactly vintage either, (they are Liz Claibornes from probably the late 80s-early 90s, I'm thinking more 90s), they really want to be! When I saw them at the thrift, they just screamed 60s mod to me. I've been getting a ton of wear out of them since; totally worth the $4.00.

Emily

Top: Target

70s Skirt and Yellow Flats: Salvation Army

Belt: JC Penny

Back from Camping!

2011-08-16T11:57:00.000-07:00

I'm back from my three day camping trip to Garrettsville, OH; which is just outside of Cleveland. Jesse and I had a wonderful time, despite the rainy weather. Because of the weather, I wasn't able to take as many pictures as I planned... so it's a good thing I got a few in the first day, which was the best weather wise.

On our way to the camp ground, I spotted this antiques mall and Jesse, being the sweetie that he is, agreed to stop so that we could look around. They had a lot of neat items, but most of the stuff I liked was either more than I wanted to spend, or too big to fit in the car with all our camping gear. I would definitely stop at this mall again! I did find two sweet things to take home with me. More on that in a min...

When I was packing for the trip, I found this dress that I forgot I had. Seems like a lot of that has been going on here lately. Yay for new old dresses! I got this dress at an estate sale and fell in love with the big patch pockets that sport tulips. The pockets reminded me of my Swirl dresses. I'm a gal that loves big pockets on dresses. They are so convenient, especially when traveling.

So I bet you are just itching to see what I found at the mall, aren't you.....

The first thing I spotted was a booth with tons of vintage textiles. This piece of barkcloth jumped out at me. The dealer had several pieces, but I chose this half yard sized piece for only $2! I figured I could always scan it in and have more printed if I needed more in the future. I always feel so bad cutting into vintage fabrics.

The other item I purchased with this little guy above. I had recently just lost out on a vintage elephant planter on eBay, so when I spotted this and saw the $4 price tag, I knew he would have a new home with me. Elephants are one of my favorite animals (pandas and birds/owls being the others) and I knew that every time I glanced over at him, I would remember my great trip with my beau. In case you are wondering, I planted an avocado tree in it, which is from Jesse. He has quite the green thumb too!

Emily

50s Dress: Estate Sale

Tennis Shoes: Target

Handbag: Dooney and Burke

This Weekend....

2011-08-11T19:33:00.000-07:00

(Click to enlarge)

....I will be tent camping in Garrettsville, Ohio. I only hope I can look as glamorous as those ladies above this weekend!

Today was spent baking some banana nut muffins and putting together a greek pasta salad. I plan on taking lots of pictures while I am there and can't wait to share my trip with you all when I get back.

Have a lovely weekend!!

Emily

Swirls and Stripes

2011-08-09T06:43:00.000-07:00

When I spotted this Swirl on eBay, I knew I had to have it. And, fortunately, I was able to score it for a song!

In other news, as summer approaches its end, so does my summer vacation. For the first time in a long time, I am not excited to return to school. Although, the good thing about this fall is that it will begin my last year of graduate school. In April, I will graduate and will hopefully have found a teaching job. I am hoping that by that time there will be some openings here in Michigan so I can stay in the state. April cannot come soon enough! ;)

Emily

50s Swirl Dress and Carved Bakelite Bracelet: eBay

Sandals: Kohls

A Forgotten Dress

2011-08-08T11:29:00.000-07:00

One of the nice things about moving is rediscovering things you forgot you had. Such was the case with this dress. I bought this dress last year to have something new to wear when I was in Chicago visiting Leilani. Since then, this dress got shuffled to the back of the closet and hasn't been taken out for a spin. It was a nice surprise to find it and create a new outfit around it. Last time I wore it, I paired it with different shoes and a different belt. This thinner white belt and 40s peep toe pumps look much better than my last attempt (sorry no pics of that).

Have you rediscovered anything lately?

Emily

P.S. I bought some new glasses and they finally came in the other day. I splurged on a pair of Ray Bans! I wanted a pair of glasses to match my vintage style and I felt these fit the bill.

40s House Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Belt: JC Penny

40s Peep Toe Pumps: eBay

A Recent Thrift Find

2011-08-02T09:45:00.000-07:00

Last week, I used my 50% off coupon for Value World to score this cute dress for only $2!! (Originally $4) It's a late 60s number from Sears made out of a heavy cotton. I must really be into the tent shape right now because this is at least the second dress that I have purchased in the last month that is in this shape. I debated on whether or not to belt this dress, and the non-belted look won out. Isn't the flower print darling?

Emily

60s Sears Tent Dress: Value World

Sandals: Michael Kors

Bracelet: Grandma's

Free Stuff.... It's the Best Kind of Stuff!!!

2011-07-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

My passion for finding a good deal has reached a new level. You can now find me hauling roadside finds home. Yes, that's right... I have become a picker. Now, I am definitely not picking through people's trash (ewww!!), but I did find this cute record stand on the side of the road. There was a ton of old furniture that the owner had put to the curb and I couldn't resist slowing down while I drove past. When I spotted this table, I knew I had to take the leap and grab it before some other frugal lady did. It was in near perfect shape, plus I was in need of some place to store all my records that I have started to collect. I am so smitten with my free find, probably too much so. :)

I also found a super old mirror that is currently undergoing some lovin' and once I'm done fixing it, I will for sure show you all -- since I am really taken with that find as well.

This 50s formica table was also a curbside find. After hitting an estate sale, I was driving through the subdivision looking for a way out and I spotted this guy. A van had already pulled up and was thinking about it, but I knew that they were gonna pass on it. They did and their loss is now my new potting table on my back porch. The table is a bit wobbly and the top isn't in the best shape, so it works great outside. Plus, my patterned concrete is grey and red, so the table matches!! I plan on reinforcing the legs so I can set food and drinks on it when/if I have a party out back.

How far are you willing to go to get a good deal? I am known to dig in attics and basements; and now apparently the curb as well. A little dirt never hurt anybody...at least in my book anyway.

Emily

What's for Lunch?

2011-07-27T08:37:00.000-07:00

So now that I am living on my own, I am finally getting a chance to use my vintage dishes, glasses, and silverware on a daily basis. And, I gotta say it's been super fun thus far. Since I love cooking and I would like to share my vintage dishes collection with you all, I thought I would start featuring some of my meals on the blog.

Yesterday I made one of my favorite hearty dishes -- curried cauliflower. I used to use a recipe, however, I have made this dish so many times that I don't use it anymore. I tried to find it online, but had no luck. So here's how I made it with approximate measurements.

Curried Cauliflower

You will need:

1 head of cauliflower

1 onion, diced

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can of diced tomatoes

1 can of chickpeas

1-2 sweet potatoes, steamed and cubed

1 tsp onion powder

1 tsp garlic powder

1-2 tsp paprika

1 tsp basil leaves

1 tbsp ground ginger

1 tbsp curry powder

1 tbsp nutritional yeast flakes

salt and pepper

olive oil

In a large frying pan, line the bottom with olive oil and heat your onions and garlic. While that is cooking, cut up your cauliflower into little florets. Place in the pan and cover. While the cauliflower is cooking, peel and dice the sweet potato. If you have a large one, just use one, otherwise, use two smaller ones. I place mine in the microwave until soft enough to mash. You can steam them too. I have done both and both work well. At this point, you are ready to add your spices. I just sprinkle mine on, so these measurements are an estimate. However, the main thing is to include more of the curry and the ginger then the rest of the spices. The yeast flakes will help to thicken up the sauce that will form once you add the can of diced tomatoes. Now add the chickpeas and cover for a minute or two. Once they have soften, add in the can of diced tomatoes. Cover and bring it to a boil. If needed, add a half cup of water. You want a little bit of a soupy sauce in the bottom of the pan. At this point, I test to see how its flavored and add more spices as needed. The last thing to do is fold in your mashed sweet potatoes.

It sounds like a lot of steps, but it really is an easy meal to make. And it's cheap too! What else is nice about this dish is you can use it as a chunky dip too. I tend to snack on the leftovers the next day with some pita chips.

I also have been on a huge ice tea kick lately. Right now, I have iced Passion tea by Tazo in the fridge.

Now for details on the dishes! The tablecloth, glass, napkin, and the Homer Laughlin Eggshell Georgian plate all come from different estate sales. The bakelite fork was found on eBay. I was so excited to find a huge lot of vintage butterscotch bakelite silverware on eBay for a real steal. I think I got such a good deal because there was not a complete set of any of the patterns. I don't mind one bit and think it's fun to mix and match the patterns.

What have you been snacking on?

Emily

Patio Dress

2011-07-26T11:06:00.000-07:00

Lately, I have had an obsession with patio dresses. I found this one off eBay for a steal and have been wearing it all summer long. I don't know why it has taken so long for it to appear on the blog. It is so comfy, as are the rest of my patio/squaw dresses I have managed to collect. I love that they have elastic waists and necklines as well as the tiered skirts.

Do you have a favorite style of dress?

Emily

40s Patio Dress: eBay

Sandals: Kohls

Take a Peek into my Room....

2011-07-25T09:23:00.000-07:00

Things are slowly starting to come together over at Retroville. For the most part, I have my bedroom set up and even though I am still tweaking things, I am pretty pleased with it. Plus, I am in love with my new closet! I am sure some of you would love to take a peek, so......

I love being so organized! And I love having a big closet; it's something that I have always wished for! Moving all my stuff to one defined location made me realize how much "stuff" I really had and gave me a chance to really get rid of a lot of things. And while this photo may not prove that statement, I don't do seasonal closet, so that is pretty much all of my clothing, minus sweaters and jeans. I also realized how many wicker purses I had and made the beau promise to not let me buy another. I mean, how many wicker bags does one girl need?

Emily

50s Carol Brent "Swirl:" eBay

Nine West Sandals: Plato's Closet

Heat Wave

2011-07-21T08:55:00.000-07:00

I don't know if you all have heard, but the Midwest is experiencing a serious heat wave. We have been under a "heat advisory" for at least a week now, as if we need the weather man to tell us how hot it is. ;)

Last weekend, my beau and I went to a nearby city's annual antique/garage sale, which is held in a parking structure. It was super hot, but at least the coverage from the parking garage provided some shade. The pickings this year were pretty slim, but I did come away with a few finds and a couple deals. I found a Hawaiian print DeWeese swimdress for $5!! Pictures to come soon. I also found this early 60s tent dress, which has great patch pockets on the hips. I just love pockets on a dress.

Emily

60s Homemade Tent Dress: Royal Oak Antique/Garage Sale

Nine West Sandals: Plato's Closet

Vintage Ekco Pans and Strawberry Banana Muffins

2011-07-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

I'm back!! And I have a sweet treat to share with you all. Years ago, when I first started shopping estate sales, I picked up a few of these cool Ekco muffin pans. Since then, I have tried several different recipes and different pan greasing techniques to try to avoid the muffins from sticking to the pan. And, while these pans are so cute, I had to shelve them because I was tired of my efforts sticking to the pan.

Yesterday, I felt the urge to bake and I needed to use up some fruit that was starting to turn. So with limited supplies in the pantry, I chose to try this recipe with the Ekco pans, since I could not find my regular pans. (The kitchen at Retroville isn't quite set up yet).

I swapped out the blueberries for strawberries and the result was delicious! And the best part....the muffins didn't stick to the pan!!! I sprayed a little bit of veggie cooking spray in the bottoms, but what I think really helped was that the main bonding agent in these muffins is veg oil, which helped make the muffins slide right out of the baking pan. I am so excited to finally find a recipe that works with these unique pans! Does anyone else have one of these Ekco pans?

Oh! and that lovely pink Depression glass plate that the muffins are resting on was a recent thrift score for only $3.50!

Emily

Don't Adjust Your Computer Screen...

2011-06-23T08:45:00.000-07:00

My apologies for yet another blogging break. I need a little break from my internet world and will be back soon.

Thanks for reading!!

Sincerely,

Emily

Now Working as an Undercover Spy

2011-06-22T06:40:00.000-07:00

Last week, I had a dressy family event that I was attending and it was actually cool enough to wear my new-to-me 70s London Fog trench coat. A good trench is something I have been searching for for years now. I finally came across this one on eBay and scored it for $20 including shipping. Other than it being slightly high waisted (its a petite, I'm not) it's pretty much a perfect fit. I might move the belt loops down a bit to compensate for the higher waist.

All day, I was pretending that I was an undercover spy. That, and Ingrid Bergman from Casablanca. ;)

Emily

70s London Fog Trench Coat: eBay

Dress (peeking out): Lost and Found Vintage

40s Red Earrings: Estate Sale

50s Peep toe Heels: Ferndale D.I.Y

Handbag: Vintage Gucci

A "Swirly" Skirt

2011-06-21T06:26:00.000-07:00

So, this photo is also a month old, but I am super excited to share this outfit with you all. I had been longing to wear this skirt which I scored at a flea market for only $1, but didn't have the right top to wear with it. In comes this 60s homemade top, found at my church's rummage sale. The two compliment each other nicely and since they are also separates, I can pair them with other tops and bottoms. I am really on a separates kick lately.

So this skirt.... It once upon a time was a Swirl and someone along the way chopped off the top (tear!) and modified it to be a wrap skirt. I'm sure that when it was a dress, it was quite the Swirl. Butterflies and yellow piping!!! Anyways, enough longing for what was... it was a deal at a dollar and I knew I would really enjoy wearing it since I love Swirls so much. And I do enjoy wearing it. Probably my favorite skirt!

Emily

60s Top: Church Rummage Sale

"Swirl" Wrap Skirt: Midland Flea Market

Long Time, No Blog.....

2011-06-20T18:10:00.000-07:00

I have been a bad blogger. Moving and school really has taken over my life. But, the good news is this week is my last week of classes and then I have two plus months of summer vacation before I start my final year of grad school. YAY!!!!

This photo is from nearly a month ago and my hair has since grown out. However, this is what it looked like when I first got it cut. This dress is a "swim dress" which is kinda big due to the smocking being stretched out in the back. I plan to sew in some elastic and see if that doesn't fix the problem.

The bush I am standing in front of is a spirea. It is along the back fence of my new backyard. What I love about this bush, other than its beautiful flowers and fragrance, is that it was once in the yard of my Great Grandmother's home. My grandma took a piece of it and transplanted it into her yard and it has since blossomed into a large, healthy bush. If I ever move again, I hope to take a piece of this bush and carry on the tradition. Hopefully, I will have the same luck as my Grandma did with the transplant. She had such a green thumb and I know she is loving my veggie garden.

Emily

60s Swim Dress: Bloomfield Hills Vintage Clothing Expo

Sweater: St. Vincent De Pauls

Shoes: Re-Mix

Bakelite Earrings: eBay

Another Sneaky Peek

2011-05-24T06:46:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I spent some time over at "Retroville" moving some of my stuff in and playing around with some different things. Most of my vintage stuff has been living in a storage closet in my parent's basement, so I really haven't had a chance to see it all together. I honestly was worried that much of my stuff that I have been collecting would not mesh well together, since I have purchased little items here and there. However, yesterday I put this little table and lamp together just for fun and instantly knew that all of my stuff would come together.

Isn't this barkcloth amazing?! It was my Grandma's and she had saved a lot of it, all in different sizes. This piece fit well over the top of the table, which was also hers. The lamp was found at a thrift store for only $9 and the shade was found at an estate sale, I think for only $5. The lady thought I was crazy when I asked if I could just purchase the shade sans lamp. It's a fiberglass shade and it actually got crushed in my car, however you would never really know it unless you looked closely. I was able to fix it by using my steamer to smooth out the wrinkles and bind the slits together.

I really like how this came together and will probably keep it like this when I get all my stuff in place. It was so much fun to play around, fix things, and begin the decorating process. The whole little vignette only cost me about $15, since the table, barkcloth, and candy dish & ash tray were my Grandma's. However, I am sure I could have found similar pieces at the thrift store or an estate sale and would have still be able to put together something cute for not a lot of money. Being able to get a great look for not a lot of money is one of the many reasons why I love vintage so much. I am able to stretch my dollar, while decorating in a style I love. :)

Emily

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2011-05-23T18:38:00.000-07:00

It has been raining here pretty much every day since the beginning of last week. With the exception of this weekend, the sun has been hiding. Yesterday, the sun was out and the humidity set in. I wore this sweet little wrap dress for a trip to the store to get some more veggie plants and some dirt.

I found this dress marked for only $12 "as-is." I really couldn't figure out what was wrong with it, since it was deadstock, complete with its original tag. I then noticed it only had one tie and the other one was missing. I knew I could just sew in some hooks and eyes and wear a belt and the dress would be good as new and a super cheap deal in a retail setting.

Oh, I also chopped off most of my hair at the beginning of last week, on a lark! I am still getting use to it and figuring out how to style it, since this is the shortest I have every had it. :)

Emily

50s Wrap Dress: Lost and Found

Belt: Salvation Army

Just a Glimpse...

2011-05-21T17:14:00.000-07:00

...at my new casa. :) Within the next few weeks I will be making a move over to my Grandma's house, which was built in the mid 1960s and still has much of its vintage charm left. I cannot wait to get all my vintage furniture moved in, which I have been collecting for the last few months.

Today, I worked on getting the yard in shape. My mom has kept it looking very nice, but I wanted to add some vintage touches to it. I found these repro chairs at K-Mart of all places, on clearance for only $37 each. They were quite the pain to put together, but thanks to some help from my handy dad, I got them together.

I got this vintage plant stand from this past week's estate sale haul. It was only $5 and I knew it would look great on the porch. After I found the stand, I figured some uniform pots would look the best and found these galvanized pots at IKEA. I need to go back and get some more, since I was planning on using the large one one the bottom, but decided it would look better on the table instead. I am going to pick up some red flowers next weekend at the Farmer's Market to go in the big pot that is on the table.

Since I will have a back yard, a vegetable garden was in order. I dug out the garden today, but haven't planted the above veggies. I am waiting until I get them all so I can better lay out all the veggies. So far I have some strawberries, tomatoes, green beans, and summer squash. This plant stand was also an estate sale find and goes so well with my back porch furniture. No pictures of those yet, as I am still working on making the cushions for the love seat out of some vintage barkcloth.

Over the next few weeks, I will probably be sharing much more of my new home with you all. And any gardening success. :)

Emily

A Puppy in a Basket

2011-05-19T07:31:00.000-07:00

Last week, I mentioned that I found an awesome plastic shopping basket at the thrift store, pictured above with my sweet little Pumpkin inside. I was super excited about it because I make the weekly trip to our local farmer's market and knew it would come in super handy. Plus, since it was plastic, I could rinse it out to keep it clean.

So imagine my surprise when on Friday, I found the basket pictured above at an estate sale. This one is wider and I knew would be perfect to hold house plants that I knew we were going to purchase this past weekend. And, it was only $1.

I am so smitten with both.... maybe too much so! ;)

Emily

40s Dress: Mother Fletcher's

Sweater and Flats: Target

Belt: Kohls

Michigan Vintage Shopping Guide: Regeneration

2011-05-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

So, I realize I have been kind of slacking on my virtual tour of the vintage shopping here in Michigan. However, I am super excited to share this store with you all. Regeneration is a resale shop that offers mostly used newer clothing, but also has a small section of vintage for both men and women. What I love about this store is their prices. I have never paid more than $30 for a piece of vintage and I have found some really stellar items there.

Regeneration also offers a selection of vintage jewelry, hats, and occasionally shoes. Since it's a resale shop, it's really hit or miss, so I check back often to see what new things they have to offer. Just recently, Regeneration opened a second location, which is bigger than their original storefront. I'm really excited they have been able to open another location!!

Here is one of my recent finds. A little brocade like jacket, dating to the 60s, for only $8!! I also found my DeWeese dress there and this dress and jacket set. The best thing about Regeneration is they are so much more affordable than any other vintage clothing store in the area, so it's really worth checking it!

Regeneration New and Used Clothing

Pleasant Ridge

23700 Woodward Ave

Pleasant Ridge, MI 48069

(248) 414-7440

Clawson

126 E. 14 Mile

Clawson, MI 48017

(248) 589-0500

email: shop.regeneration@att.net

Swim Dresses

2011-05-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

I can't even begin to express my excitement about this dress. I found it a few weeks ago at my favorite resale shop that has a small vintage section. It's a DeWeese, the "swim and sun fashions." Some people like to call these "swim dresses," although, I don't think one could actually swim in one of these because they don't have bottoms. I have a feeling that they have received this nick name due to their construction. They have a built in bra and the top half is made very much like a bathing suit, complete with a low back and smocking. Mine is a later model, probably from the last 60s, but I love it just the same.

I have seen a few of these on eBay lately and could not believe what the seller was asking for them -- $195. Her's very well might have been earlier models, but still, that is quite steep, in my opinion any way. I only paid $15 for mine and was super pleased with my deal; proving there are still deals to be found in out there!

The one nice thing about this dress,is it was highly copied. I have a copy, which I actually paid more for than the De Weese! The copies are very easy to find. The other nice thing about this dress is the style. The smocking in the back allows for a variety of sizes, something I love in vintage pieces!

Here's a few I found on eBay and etsy.

A DeWeese Design $45

DeWeese Design $38

A DeWeese Knock Off $45

DeWeese Dress: Re-Generation Resale

Sweater: Target

Fakelite Bracelet: Royal Oak Flea Market

Pink Swirls

2011-05-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

This past winter, I made it my mission to comprise a fun new summer wardrobe. I really wanted to add a few more Swirls into my rotation. This is one such acquisition. It's a pink gingham with hidden slit pockets at the hips. I'm pretty much in love with it. :)

These are the earrings I paired with the dress. I got them a month ago and have been itching to wear them ever since. Once I put on the dress, I know these earrings would go perfectly with it. They aren't bakelite, but aren't they super adorable?!

Tonight I start my Spring semester of graduate school. I am only taking one class and it's on the graphic novel. I am really excited to see what this class will be like! Are you reading anything fun?

Emily

Swirl Dress: eBay

Cardigan: American Eagle

Shoes: Re-Mix

Earrings: Mother Fletchers

Last Bits of Cold

2011-05-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

Last week, I think Michigan experienced its last bits of cold weather, or at least I hope so! Jesse and I were going to be out for the evening and it still was getting quite chilly at night, so I had to wear my tights again, hopefully for the last time until fall. :)

I stopped by the thrift store today and found an awesome plastic green shopper basket. I am saving its blog debut until after a trip to Eastern Market. I'm so excited to use it!

I also picked up several yards of vintage political themed heavy cotton. I have no idea what I am going to do with it. Right now, I am thinking a play suit and skirt set. Ideas?

Emily

Late 40s Dress and 40s Wedges: eBay

Tights: Target

Belt: Kohls

Cardigan: JC Penny

Fakelite: Royal Oak Flea Market

Film Fashion Friday: Vintage Fashionable Films A-Z

2011-05-06T08:00:00.000-07:00

I saw someone in blogland do an A-Z list of movies and I thought it would be a fun challenge to do an A-Z list of vintage fashionable films. If anyone else decides they would like to make their own A-Z list, let me know. I would love to see what you come up with! I'll be back next week with a regular Film Fashion Friday post.

Above Suspicion (1943)

Black Widow (1954)

Colleen (1936)

Daytime Wife (1939)

Employee's Entrence (1933)

Forever Darling (1956)

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Joy of Living (1938)

Kid From Spain (1932)

Lady of Burlesque (1943)

Mildred Pierce (1945)

Neptune'sDaughter (1945)

Orchestra Wives (1942)

Possessed (1931)

Queen Bee (1955)

Rebecca (1940)

Sunset Boulevard (1950)

Thirty Day Princess (1934)

Unfaithfully Yours (1948)

Vicki (1953)

Wife Verses Secretary (1936)

Madame X (1966)

Yours Mine Ours (1968)

Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

All images were found on google. All films are available on either DVD, VHS, or from film collectors online.

Hawaiian Florals

2011-05-05T06:54:00.000-07:00

When I bought this dress at the Salvation Army a few weeks ago, I bought it with the intention to shorten it, since I loved the pattern but wasn't too sure about the maxi length. Well, I have a hard time altering vintage, so I left it alone and decided to try and make the maxi work. I have to say, I am in LOVE with this dress. Even though it's a poly blend, it's surprisingly light and has such a lovely drape to it.

Tonight, since it is Cinco de Mayo, I am hoping to make it down to Mexicantown and wear one of my new Mexican inspired 50s dresses. :) How will you be spending Cinco de Mayo?

Emily

60s Hawaiian Maxi Dress: Salvation Army

Shrug: Target

Sandals: Michael Kors

My Vintage Bakelite

2011-05-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

Only about a year or two ago did I get into collecting bakelite. I always thought it was super expensive and lets face it, I'm not about to pay $100+ for some plastic. However, I have been lucky enough to find some great pieces at estate sales, vintage shops, and eBay that were all within my price range.

When I started collecting, I knew little to nothing about bakelite. I am still continuing to learn about the ins and outs of collecting bakelite, but I thought it would be fun to share my collection. I love seeing other vintage blogger's collections, especially when it comes to jewelry.

Holly has done an excellent post on bakelite and I would definitely check it out if you are looking for a thorough history and detailed guide. I would also check out the above book. I was really impressed with the information provided in the book. Plus, it has some wonderful pictures! As a side note, most of the information provided about bakelite in this post came from the above book.

There are many ways to test a piece to see if is bakelite, however, one of the interesting things I learned from Parry's book is the discoloration factor. I recently just came across this a few weeks ago when I found a set of what I thought was green bakelite bangles. Once I picked up the pieces, I noticed the insides and outsides of the bracelets were different than the tops and bottoms (the parts that rub up against other bracelets). I'm not good at the "rub and sniff" test, so learning about this other way to possible spot bakelite has certainly come in handy. When I got home and I tested them with simichrome, they passed as bakelite.

One thing I wanted to note that Parry says in this book is that not all bakelite will pass the simichrome test and some fakelite will pass the simichrome test, so it's important to use other methods to test pieces as well. With the bracelets above, the tops and bottoms had wear on them and the discoloration helped to ensure that these pieces were indeed bakelite.

Here is my collection of bakelite bracelets. I don't have a lot of fancy pieces, but I am slowly adding to my collection. I have worn a lot of these in my previous posts, so now you will get a chance to see them up close. I always forget to take close-ups of my jewelry for my blog posts.

Bangles Top to Bottom:

Red Carved - eBay

Green Carved with Birdies! - eBay

4 Paprika Spacers - eBay

Creamed Corn Carved - Midland Flea Market $5!

Forest Green Carved - eBay $15!

Yellow Bangle - Estate Sale $1!

Set of three Teal Bangles - Estate Sale $2!

Large Yellow Bangle - Estate Sale $1

Root Beer Spacer - Estate Sale

Set of Three Swamp Marbled - Were my Grandma's

Pins

Swirl Shaped - Chicago Vintage Jewelry Store

Elephant - eBay

Carved Scottie - eBay

Stud Earrings - My Favorite!!

Orange Carved - eBay

Dark Green Transparent Carved - The Getup Vintage

Creamed Corn Carved - eBay

Green Carved - eBay

Hoops

All the hoops above were found on eBay except for the yellow brownish carved pair just to the left of the root beer hoops. Those were found at an estate sale for only $2!

As you can tell, I have found most of my bakelite on eBay and honestly, I think you get the best deal there if you look hard enough. I have been ripped off in person at flea markets where I have absolutely no recourse what so ever. At least with eBay, you are protected if you pay with PayPal.

Finally, here is a great youtube video that talks about the different ways to test bakelite. I hope you find it as helpful as I have.

Emily

Auburn and Green

2011-05-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

Red it is! I decided to dye my hair a red auburn color. It didn't come out as red as I was hoping for, but it is a great change and I am really enjoying it. Maybe next time I will opt for a redder red.

This is what I wore on Saturday on my weekly trip with my beau to the farmers' market in Detroit. I have another swirl exactly like this one and I really love this style from Swirl. This outfit was quite the hit on Saturday.... I received a few compliments from passer-bys. :)

After the market, Jesse and I stopped by the grand opening of the second location of my favorite resale shop, Regeneration. We didn't know that they were opening a new location, so we were both excited to look around and see what they had to offer. I found an amazing 50s mexican dress and a cute 50s day dress for only $1!!! These finds will be pictured in my next edition of my Michigan Vintage Shopping Guide.

What did you find this weekend?

Emily

50s Swirl Dress: eBay

60s Tennis Shoes: Value World

Vintage Bakelite Bangles: Estate Sale

Getting the Right Fit: Buying Vintage Online

2011-05-02T09:54:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you guys, but lately I have been having to relay on buying a lot of my vintage clothing online. Estate sales and thrift stores seem to have been pretty sparse when it comes to vintage, so eBay and etsy has been my main source these past few months for finding some new pieces to add to my closet.

I have been buying vintage online for over five years now and for the most part, am always pleased with the fit of the garments I buy online. I thought I would share some of my tips for getting the right fit.

One of the best investments for anyone who is going to be buying vintage clothing either online or in person is a flexible tape measure. One can be picked up for pretty cheap at a craft store. I have a few and always keep one in my purse. They are great to measure things when you cannot try them on, i.e. at estate sales or some thrift stores that do not have fitting rooms.

I just want to start this section by saying that this is by no means meant to offend anyone. Whether you are a size 2 or 22, I feel these tips can help you get a great fit.

The single best piece of advice I can give is Know Your Measurements!!! And be truthful with yourself -- if you have wide hips or a big bust line, be real with the measurement, that way the garment you buy will fit correctly. Also, your bust is not the measurement of your bra size. To get this measurement, you want to measure the fullest part of your bust in the bra that you normally wear. For example, I wear a size 36 bra but my bust measurement is 42 inches. Your waist should be measured right around your belly button. The waists on vintage clothing is normally where your natural waistline is, not like modern clothing that has most things fitting closer to the hips. Personally, when I measure for the hips, I like to do it at the fullest section, that way I will have a bit of room in the garment. You might also want to measure the difference in length between your bust and waist and your waist and hips. I have a pretty average distance between the two, so I don't worry about this too much.

However, this brings up a good point and my second piece of advice: Know Your "Problem Areas." I have broad shoulders and larger upper arms, something I have had to "get real" and accept, but also learned to take it into consideration when buying vintage. So, if you are like me and have problem arms, for example, know this measurement as well and use it to help you get a great fit. Basically, you want to be familiar with your body and your measurements to ensure a great, tailored fit that vintage clothing seeks to provide.

When you go to actually measure a garment to see if it will fit, make sure you give yourself a little bit of breathing room. You want your item to be tailored, but not so tight you cannot breathe, sit down, walk, etc. Find what works for you. I like about a half inch of give. This is because I wear vintage foundation garments that help smooth the bumps. If you are not planning on wearing any kind of foundation garments, I would suggest an inch, but again, see what works for you. The next step will help you see what kind of give you prefer.

So, now that you have your measurements down, it's time to pull out a vintage dress that fits you well and one that you feel is a "perfect-made-for-you" fit. Like I said above, this will help you figure out what kind of give to consider. You will want to measure the bust from arm pit to arm pit, the waist, and the hips. Most dresses have darts which will allow for your cup size.

Also, most often, online sellers provide the "flat" measurement, which measures only the top of the garment, side-to-side or "flat." You will have to double this for the 3 dimension measurement.

You might also want to measure the length of the dress. I think it is easiest to measure from the back center collar to the bottom, but do what works the best for you.

Here's one last tip on getting the right fit: one of my secrets (which really isn't a secret per-say) to getting the right bust fit is wearing a vintage bra or one that is cone shaped. This is something to keep in mind when seeking the vintage shape. Vintage clothing was made with foundation garments in mind, especially bras. Women wore different bras back in the day and I feel that dresses reflect this. Once I gave in to wearing vintage styled bras, I found my dresses fit better and my overall look was more of the era. So, that is pretty much my "secret" for getting my vintage clothing to fit so well -- foundation garments.

So after you have the measurements of your bust, waist, and hips from your dress, you can now use them to buy clothing online. Now, not all sellers that are offering vintage clothing for sale offer measurements and sometimes the ones that they do provide may not be accurate. However, this is the common way that many measure vintage. If the seller does not have measurements provided, ask and let them know which ones you want. For example, if the bust is not provided, I will ask what is the bust measurement, arm pit to arm pit? This should help you receive an item that fits. I have had very good luck online and very rarely have received something that does not fit or has been measured wrong.

Something else I buy online is vintage shoes. When I first started buying vintage shoes online I was really nervous that I wouldn't get a correct fit. However, measuring a pair that fits you well in three key areas should ensure more ease when buying vintage shoes online. The most important measurement is heel to toe down the center of your shoe. Pretty much all sellers provide this information, but you want to make sure that they have measured the INSIDE. You might also want to measure the heel height.

The other key measurement is the width. Most vintage shoes are pretty narrow and it is kind of hard to measure the width from the inside. I measure the width on the outside and then subtract a few centimeters, since the outside is a bit larger than the inside will be. One thing I have found with vintage shoes is that, for the most part, sizing hasn't changed too much. I wear 8 to 8.5 narrow in modern shoes and wear pretty much the same in vintage. But, like sizes vary today between brands, so too does with vintage shoes. I have some that are sized 7.5 B to 10 AAA. Just like with clothing, know your measurements and know what works well for you.

I hope this has helped and will help you buy vintage online that will be the right fit! Let me know if I missed someone or if you have any questions.

Emily

Just a little disclaimer: This is by no means an end all be all way to buy vintage online, this is just simply some tips that I have found to work well for me.

It's Finally Spring Time!!!

2011-04-28T09:02:00.000-07:00

Finally!!!!! Some warmer weather has hit Michigan!!!! I can't even begin to express how excited I am about this!!! This winter, I have complied quite a large new spring/summer wardrobe which I am so giddy about!

This is one such outfit. It is a handmade vintage knock-off Swirl dress in the sweetest daisy novelty print. I just love red and yellow together! The bakelite I am wearing in the post will be shown sometime next week, as I am preparing a bakelite post.

Hope you're experiencing some lovely spring weather too!!

Emily

50s Knock-Off Swirl, Vintage Bakelite Earrings, & Vintage Carved Bakelite Bangle: eBay

Tennis Shoes: Target

So About That Blogging Break....

2011-04-27T08:48:00.000-07:00

I didn't realize that it really has been three weeks since I blogged! The end of this semester of grad school was busy and difficult; but the good news is -- it's over!!! Now I can get back to sharing my outfits and my vintage finds! Even though I haven't had time to write here, I have been thinking about some fun stuff to blog about. :)

On another note, above is what I wore to church on Easter Sunday. I bought this set in the dead of winter at this great resale shop that has a small and super affordable vintage section. The dress and jacket set (which is lined in the same fabric as the dress and came with its belt!) was only $24 -- seriously one of my best finds ever!

I woke up kinda late on Easter morning and didn't have time to really put on much make-up or really style my hair. Speaking of hair, I am bored with mine and need a change. I am thinking of dying it red, but I would like a new style too. Any ideas?

Emily

50s Dress and Coat Set: Regeneration

Vintage Gloves: Were my Grandma's

40s Heels: Southfield Vintage Clothing Expo

It's Still Kinda Cold Here.....

2011-04-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, Jesse and I ventured into the city (Detroit that is) to enjoy an evening at a cute little bar and grille. One of the best parts of the evening was selecting music off the jukebox, which was filled with lots of 60s - 80s music. It was a nice change of pace to hang out at a place that doesn't play top 40.

Since it was barely 40 degrees outside, I had to do the tights and boots route with my outfit. While I am glad I embraced this look this winter, I am ready for the warmer days ahead, where all that is needed is a dress and tennis shoes and we can walk places. :)

Emily

60s Swirl Dress and Bakelite Earrings: eBay

Cardigan: Target

Tights: Gap

Boots: UGGS

60s Bracelet: Backroom Sale at a Closed Down Vintage Shop

Film Fashion Friday: Film Fashion Survey

2011-03-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

I thought for this week's Film Fashion Friday it might be fun to create a classic film fashion survey for all of us to fill out. I have seen different types of these floating around the web and I think they are really fun. Hope you do too!! If you choose to fill one out, I have set up a Mr. Linky at the end of the post for us all to share.

1. Name you favorite classic hollywood designer.

At the risk of sound cliche, I think I would have to say Edith Head. She was in the business for a long time and really knew how to dress a women. I also really like that among her contemporaries, she was willing to accept input from the starlet she was designing for. I think the looks she created are iconic not to mention, she wrote a book to give the average woman advice on how to dress.

2. Who's movie wardrobe would you steal if you could?

Hands down Ann Rutherford's in Orchestra Wives (1942). The 40s are my favorite decade and Rutherford dons some of the cutest outfits in this film, really showcasing the average 40s look that many girls of her age would be sporting.

3. What's your favorite film based on fashion?

Pin Up Girl (1944). This film was a close second for a movie wardrobe that I would love to steal if I could. I love everything that every character wears, plus it's in color so we get to see all the wonderful clothing in the colors they actually were. Here I am thinking about that awesome chartreuse number Grable wears.... swoon!!

4. Favorite actress/designer team-up.

I would normally say Joan Crawford and Adrian because their work together is really out of this world, however I think Myra Loy and Dolly Tree are a team that should have some more light shed on them. Dolly Tree designed for some of Loy's best and most loved films, including three of the Thin Man films. They collaborated more than 6 times and each time produced a wardrobe drool worthy and one that any vintage gal would love to have. Dolly Tree also dressed Lana Turner in the 30s and I really feel had a hand in shaping her "look." I also really love Helen Rose's team-up with Esther Williams and Elizabeth Taylor.

5. Bette Davis or Joan Crawford?

Now, I hope no one hates me from this one, but BOTH. Here's my reasoning. Davis for being fashionable in her personal life. I love that we often see photos of her in sports wear and in pants. I feel she is a great icon for vintage sportswear. And Crawford was just fashionable in every aspect of her life. In my opinion, she is the quintessential glamour girl.

6. Favorite old hollywood fashion icon?

Lana Turner. I love that Turner loved jewelry -- both real and costume -- so much so that she had custom cabinets built into her bedroom walls to store it all. I also love that she started her career in the 30s and kept on working into the 70s, covering the most fashionable decades. She was a true glamour girl who did the nightclub circuit and was even apart of the original rat pack.

7. Most fashionable character in classic cinema?

I'm cheating and picked two. Pola (Marilyn Monroe) in How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) and Frances (Grace Kelly) in To Catch a Thief (1955). I love that Pola has to wear glasses and I feel no one could make glasses look better than Marilyn Monroe. I just love her outfits and that she still can look fashionable with spectacles on, something I feel wasn't easy to do in the 50s. And how could I not include Grace Kelly in here somewhere. She was an icon both on and off the screen and influenced fashion then and now. She had a purse name after her and was a princess!! While most love her in Rear Window (1954), I love her best in To Catch a Thief. I am just smitten with the gold ball gown she wears at the end of the film!

8. What actress do you feel is overrated fashion-wise?

As much as I love her and feel she was a very fashionable lady on and off the screen, I feel that Grace Kelly is a bit overrated. Because she has such a small list of films to her credit, I feel that many people place importance on her fashion in her private life verses her filmic life. I don't mean to discredit Miss Kelly in anyway, I just think there are other actresses who have a bigger career to their credit which showcases their fashionability, rather than just a few films.

9. What actress do you feel is underrated fashion-wise?

Linda Darnell. She has starred in some really wonderful roles which had her wearing some really wonderful clothing. Plus, off screen she was quite stylish and I often compare her to Lana Turner.

10. What's your favorite film for each of these designers?

Adrain: Ziegfeld Girl (1941)

Helen Rose: The Long, Long Trailer (1953)

Dolly Tree: The Shining Hour (1938)

Edith Head: Elephant Walk (1954)

Walter Plunkett: Duel in the Sun (1946)

Orry-Kelly: In This Our Life (1942)

Irene: The Clock (1945)

Jean Louis: Over 21 (1945)

Renie: Vicki (1953)

Travis Banton: Cover Girl (1944)

Irene Sharaff: Girl Crazy (1943)

Travilla: Night and Day (1946)

11. Favorite outfit or ensamble?

The pjs that Ann Rutherford wears in Orchestra Wives. I fell in love with them the first time I watch the movie. I know this is very simple, but I just think they nailed the lounging look of the 40s.

12. Which black and white movie do you wish was in color to see all the wonderful costumes in color?

Orchestra Wives..... can you tell I LOVE this movie?? :)

13. Biggest Oscar snub fashion-wise?

This award wasn't created until 1948, so going on that I think 1957 and the omission of Designing Woman.

14. How to Marry a Millionaire or Gentlemen Prefer Blondes?

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Love that outfit Monroe wears when they first get on the boat!

15. Favorite film(s) out of each genre?

Comedy: My Favorite Wife (1940)

Film Noir: Mildred Pierce (1945)

Musical: Gold Diggers of 1933 (1933)

Holiday: It Happened on 5th Avenue (1947)

Drama/Romance: When Ladies Meet (1941) or A Letter to Three Wives (1949)

Horror/Mystery: Lady of Burlesque (1943) or Strait-Jacket (1964)

Sci-Fi: Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)

Hitchcock: Marnie (1964) or To Catch a Thief (1955)

Hope you enjoyed this little survey!! Can't wait to read your answers!!

Emily

Mod Cloth Giveaway

2011-03-23T08:25:00.001-07:00

Kate over at Scathingly Brilliant is hosting a fab giveaway to celebrate her 1st blogger birthday. Head over to her blog to check out how to win a $50 gift card to Mod Cloth.

Bowling...Vintage Style

2011-03-22T08:41:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend, Jesse and I met some friends for a fun filled night of bowling. I love bowling, although I not very good it at. I think what intrigues me the most is how "old fashioned" it is. Often times, the bowling shoes you rent have a vintage feel to them and many of the allies around here haven't done much to update their interiors.

This was my inspiration for my outfit that evening; my Grandma is on the right. I thought bowling in a dress would be much harder than it looked, but it actually turned out to be not too different from bowling in pants.

When I was in middle school, my Grandma gave me her old bowling ball and shoes set. In the late 40s she was on a bowling league (pictured above) and had hung onto her ball and shoes for all those years. Her ball is engraved with her name on it, which is my middle name. Sometime soon, I would love to get my name engraved above hers.

Emily

40s House Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Sweater: Forever 21

40s Bowling Shoes and Scarf: Were my Grandma's

P.S. This dress is going to be going up for sale in my etsy soon. This weekend was the last time for me to wear it...there's only so much a belt can do to cinch a waist.

My Poker Face

2011-03-21T10:33:00.000-07:00

I couldn't resist titling this post after the Lady Gaga song. I love this dress and I found it at this awesome resale shop, which will be the next store featured in my Michigan Vintage Shopping Guide. Although the dress is kind of on the tight side, I am in love with the print, which reminds me of the novelty prints of the 1940s. Maybe I need to ditch the fabric belt and opt for a navy one. What do you think?

Emily

Late 70s Dress: Re-genration

Bakelite Bracelets and Carved Bakelite Earrings: eBay

Flats: Payless

Value World Coupons

2011-03-19T11:47:00.000-07:00

The other day in the mail, I received some coupons for Value World for 50% off your entire purchase. I thought I would pass the word onto my readers. They are running a coupon sale now and then again in April. Click HERE to be directed to their website to print a coupon.

Happy Thrifting!

Emily

Posh Frock Friday: St. Patty's Edition

2011-03-18T10:14:00.001-07:00

So I guess I do have green in my wardrobe after all!! This is what I wore yesterday in honor of St. Patrick's Day. It was such a lovely day here in Michigan, it reached almost 70 degrees!! Spring is definitely on its way. I tried something new with my hair; kind of a Betty Grable do. It actually was much easier to achieve with my short do than I expected. I'll probably be seen sporting this style 'do all spring! :)

My brother took these photos for me with his fancy camera. The shutter is so fast it caught the wind playing with my skirt. All afternoon the wind would make it look like I was wearing a crinoline.

I am linking up to Posh Frock Friday over at Kate's blog. Do check it out and see what others wore.

Emily

50s Dress: eBay

Cardigan: Target

Fake-lite Bangle: Value World

50s Screwback Earrings: Were my Grandma's

Nude Heels: Simply Vera Wang via Kohls

Film Fashion Friday: Of Human Bondage (1934)

2011-03-18T07:53:00.000-07:00

First off, the winner of the Street of Women DVD is Lauren!! Thanks to everyone for entering. Lauren, email me within a week and I will get your DVD in the mail.

This week's film is an interesting one because I am sure many would not include this in their list of fashionable classic films. After reading my thoughts, I hope you will be able to see that it has some interesting elements present.

Cast

Bette Davis.....Mildred Rogers

Leslie Howard.....Phillip Carey

Frances Dee.....Sally

Kay Johnson.....Nora

Reginald Denny.....Griffith

Directed by John Cromwell

Gowns by Walter Plunkett

Synopsis

Bette Davis is a waitress who uses her good looks to lure in gentlemen to fund her fun. The unsuspecting Leslie Howard, a painter turned medical student, becomes enamored with Davis and starts pursuing her. By the way, Howard just so happens to have a clubbed foot, which complicates things even more. Howard ends up throwing Davis to the curb in an effort to start a new and healthy relationship with Nora. However, when Davis comes back, Howard drops everything to be with her. This trend happens yet again when Howard meets Sally. How does he handle it this time? Does he throw true love away to be with Davis?

Fashion Review

I found the fashion selection in this film to be immensely interesting. I would consider this to be among one of Plunkett's earlier films, where he is still trying to get his feet wet. However, I think he did a wonderful job with this film, especially with Davis, whom I am sure had a thing or two to say about what she was and wasn't going to wear. There are three kinda of women presented in this film: the homely wifey type: Sally, the debutant social scene type: Nora, and the tramp: Mildred. Plunkett does an excellent job dressing each type in a way that conveys what type of woman they are just by looking at their clothing. If you are going to watch this purely for fashion inspiration, I would pay attention to Nora and Davis at the beginning of the film. Davis starts out fairly normal and then slowly, with each scene, morphs into a cheap looking woman.

One thing I think Davis does very well is positioning her body in a why such that it "displays" the clothing and well as herself. Of Human Bondage was base off a 1915 book in which the character of Mildred really is a prostitute. Since of the strict PCA code, the film could only slightly allude to this. {{{SPOILER}}} Mildred is also suppose to dye of syphilis rather than TB, however Davis still wanted her death to look real verse being given the "Hollywood treatment." To do this, she came up with her own make-up and some accounts say she applied her own make-up for these last few scenes. While the information is a little unclear, it is interesting to consider the fact that Davis was such a serious actress that she wanted to get dirty and look like hell in order to give a more realistic presentation.

One thing I noticed about this film, in relation to fashion, is the only time Davis is "glamorous" is during the dream sequence Phillip has. Here Davis is wearing a dress that could easily be compared to the famous Letty Lynton dress that her rival Joan Crawford wore only two years earlier. I find it fascinating that during this dream, Phillip is fantasizing about his idealize version of Mildred and this "idealize" version just happens to be wearing a dress much like the Letty Lynton dress, which was hugely popular and set trends for the era. In order to be ideal, Mildred must be glamorous and to do so, she must be trendy. I think this dream has a lot going on with it and I could go on and on. :) I would love to hear your thoughts about the dream after you watch the film.

Of Human Bondage is in the public domain, so it can easily be found online streaming and there are tons of copies of it for sale (cheap I might add). If you have Netflix, it can be viewed online there.

Nasty Jello of the Month: March

2011-03-17T11:29:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patricks Day everyone!! Since this Jello recipe calls for spinach, I felt it was fitting for today, with spinach being green and all. Although, looking back, I probably should have saved last month's for today!

Anyways, this one looks okay, but the stuff that's in it is super yucky, in my opinion. However, this could be because I don't really care for mayonnaise or cottage cheese. Would you ever eat this?

Next month's Nasty Jello Party will be held on April 19th.

What did you all find?

Emily

Date Night

2011-03-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

On Saturday evening, after a long day of thifting and shopping at Eastern Market, my beau took me to see What Ever Happened To Baby Jane at the Redford. I have to confess, I LOVE campy movies, which is probably something someone with a film degree should not say. ;)

I wore my new smock and I think this is going to be one of my most favorite outfits this spring! It was so comfy and yet I kind of felt a little dressed up. Maybe it was the black pants that was tricking me into feeling this way. I don't have much green in my wardrobe, so I expect to wear this again tomorrow for St. Patty's Day.

Don't forget, tomorrow is Nasty Jello Day!!

Emily

40s Smock: The Getup Vintage

Black Cigarette Pants: Kohls

Black Flats: JC Penny

Some Estate Sale Goodies

2011-03-15T07:34:00.000-07:00

It's seems that I have sort of a backlog of photos to share with you all. These past two weekends were filled with many wonderful estate sales that bought me many new treasures. The items pictured in this post were found two weekends ago. Later this week, I will show you what I found this past weekend.

Above is a cute little birdie print that I found for 50 cents. I just love birds and sort of have a collection going now. All the other finds pictured came from the same sale. My beau and I drove about an hour from where we live to attend this farmhouse sale that was packed with tons of vintage stuff. Not too many clothes though..... I did find a few pieces, but they were in pretty bad shape. I took a few dresses home with me to save and give a second lease on life.

I did, however, come across these ivory colored plastic dress clips. I doubt if they are actually ivory, but the plastic is weird. It's not bakelite, maybe celluloid? I haven't tested it yet, but the carved necklace seems like bakelite; whatever it is, I love it!! The discolored beads looks worse in the photo than they are in life.

I am not normally one for knick knacks or figurines (minus my Asian guys of course!), but this little birdie caught my eye. He's really small, about an inch or two, but isn't he cute? I don't know if I am going to keep the little doe or not, but he was too sweet to pass up for only 50 cents.

I think my absolute favorite find at this sale was Sterling Silver "E" pin. I love initial pins and having a name that starts with a vowel can tend to be hard to find. I think that "E" items are a bit on the easier side to find, since names like Evelyn and Ellen were popular back in the day. My grandma on my dad's side name was Evelyn and my Great Grandma on my mom's side name was also Evelyn (she was born in the late 1890's!). Anyways, I love this pin and gladly forked over $8 for it, a price I normally wouldn't pay for a simple pin at an estate sale. The paper its pictured on is some sort of templates that you paste on envelopes. I thought it was really interesting and would be fun to scan in and use the images.

What have you been finding?

Emily

P.S. I had a request for a close up of my scottie pin from yesterday, which lead me to the idea to share all of my bakelite. I'll do a post about that sometime next week.

Scotties

2011-03-14T07:54:00.000-07:00

January marked the start of my graduate assistantship working in the classroom. Last semester, I only proctored labs, screening films for different classes. This semester, I get to be in an actual classroom, grade papers, give a few lectures, etc. It's all so exciting and much more enjoyable than my own personal graduate classes I am taking.

On the days I get to lecture, I like to dress up a bit more than normal. I find that it helps me feel more at ease being in front of the classroom and I can focus more on what I need to say. I also need to wear flats because I have to do A LOT of walking while on campus and this includes stairs. I love my heels, but they just aren't practical sometimes.

The only thing vintage about this outfit is the blouse (late 60s) and the carved bakelite scottie pin. And, even though this really isn't a vintage look, I feel it has a 40s flair to it. I wish the skirt didn't have that hideous circular belt buckle in the front, otherwise I feel it would have even more of a 40s feel to it.

Emily

Late 60s Blouse: Value World

Skirt and Flats: JC Penny

Vintage Carved Bakelite Pin: eBay

Film Fashion Friday: Fashion Show February: Stolen Holiday (1937)

2011-03-11T07:01:00.000-08:00

My Warner Archive DVDs finally came!! I have three movies for you all today and this will wrap up Fashion Show February. Next week we will return to normal broadcasting! :)

Cast

Kay Francis.....Nicky Picot

Claude Rains.....Stefan Orloff

Ian Hunter.....Tony Wayne

Alison Skipworth.....Suzanne

Directed by Michael Curtiz

Gowns by Orry-Kelly

Synopsis

Nicole Picot is working as a model in a Paris dress salon when she is picked by Stefan Orloff to help him convince a wealthy investor that he is well connected. She is to wear an expensive dress and dine with them because she has "class." The scheme works and both Stefan and Nicole become very wealthy over the course of a few years. Stefan is a "financier" while Nicole opens her own dress salon. But while Nicole's business is above board, Stefan's isn't, and eventually his web of deceit and fraud begins to unravel. Not always honest with her either, Stefan enlists Nicole's help one last time to avoid prison. (Taken from IMDb)

Fashion Review

I was so excited to see this movie and even more excited that Warner Archive was offering this as part of their vault collection. It really is a fabulous film!! The fashion is impeccable and as with many films I feature on this series, I want every outfit. :) Kay Francis really has the figure to show off these wonderful 30s fashions and I have grown a new appreciation for her! I really recommend checking ut some of her 30s film; she is fabulous!

Orry-Kelly designed the gowns for this film and boy do we get to see a wide array of his talents here. I have posted on Orry-Kelly before, so I won't bore you all with the details of his life and career. Click HERE if you want to learn more. The fashion shows in this film really display Kelly's keen eye for women's fashion and demonstrate his skill of dressing the female form. I am pretty sure there is always a female present on screen in this film and Kelly takes full advantage of that, with numerous costume changes and elaborate outfits.

Fashion Show Evaluation

Not even one minute into the film and we are given a fashion show....my kind of movie! What makes this even better is that we are presented with not one, but two fashion shows and they come before we even reach 30 minutes into the film. I really enjoyed the sequences here, which display many of the same traits that all the other fashion shows in this series present. I found each of the shows to be a bit like the one in Mrs. Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008), where we have some one on a microphone describing the outfits. This is something that definitely sets these shows apart from the rest. What also sets it apart from some of the other shows in these types of films, is the fashion show really is just for the audience. We are drawn in and there are minimal cuts away from the show, which is great for us vintage fashion lovers -- we really get to see each outfit in detail! :)

Stolen Holiday is available on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection.

Film Fashion Friday: Fashion Show February: Lovely to Look At (1952)

2011-03-11T06:53:00.000-08:00

Cast

Kathryn Grayson.....Stephanie

Red Skelton.....Al Marsh

Howard Keel.....Tony Naylor

Marge Champion.....Clarisse

Ann Miller.....Bubbles Cassidy

Zsa Zsa Gabor.....Zsa Zsa

Directed by Mervyn LeRoy

Gowns by Adrian

Synopsis

Al Marsh, Tony Naylor and Jerry Ralby, Broadway producers, are desperately looking for backers. Al is one of the heirs of a dress salon in Paris, but this is almost bankrupt. The two other heiresses, Stephanie and Clarisse and the three producers are able to convince the creditors to back a fashion show there. Things become complicated, when Al and Tony fall in love with Stephanie and Al's New York girl friend Bubbles arrives. (Taken from IMDb)

Fashion Review

This film has a lot of things going for it: 1. Adrian designed the gowns/costumes, 2. It is a musical, 3. It is in color, 4. It is a remake of Roberta (1935), and 5. It has a wonderful fashion sow sequence at the end of the film.

Many vintage fashion lovers hail Adrian as being the top Hollywood fashion designer of his time. There really doesn't need to be a "review" section, because with Adrian's name attached to a picture, you best believe it is going to hold some spectacular fashion. While this may not always be the case, I think it's a fair generalization.

Adrian was born in Connecticut in 1903 and studied at the School for Fine and Applied Arts. One of his first jobs was to design sketches for George White's Scandals. This lead him to catch the eye of Irving Berlin, who was impressed by some of his costumes at the Grand Prix Ball. Berlin commissioned Adrian to do some designs for the Music Box Revue. Eventually, Adrian caught yet another eye, that of the wife of Rudolph Valentino. He did work on three Valentino films which gained him a contract with De Mille Studios. After a two year stint, Adrian moved to MGM in 1928, where he would remain until 1942. Here Adrian was able to put his talents to great use, designing for both period costume dramas and providing MGM's top stars with fashionable wardrobes. In 1942, Adrain left MGM to open his own shop in Beverly Hills and continued to sporadically design for movies. His last film was Lovely to Look At, where he designed both the fashion show garments and the clothing for leading players. Adrian died seven years later and with his death, Hollywood lost a little bit of class.

Fashion Show Evaluation

This is definitely the most elaborate fashion show I have seen on film. The staging is intricate and it put on rather like a Broadway play. What I find interesting about this film is that the sequence and the whole film for that matter, appears in color. With the exception of Lucy Gallant (1955), the short sequence in The Women (1939), and Designing Woman (1957) I cannot think of another fashion show sequence that focuses on day and evening wear that appears in color. Singin' In the Rain (1952) is in color, but the fashion sequence is not exactly a fashion show per say, and many scholars argue that it does not fit into the fashion show-in-film category. Neptune's Daughter (1949) does appear in color, but the show focuses solely on swimwear. I find it fascinating that most of the fashion show sequences that appear in Classical Hollywood films are in black and white and are present in mainly films from the 1930s. This says a lot about the climate of the 30s in America. Moviegoers went to the movies to escape from their dim reality and what better than a fashion show to help them accomplish that? The black and white would seem to be a detraction from how we normally think about fashion. However, I see it like a blank canvas for women spectators to picture the color they like best -- a great selling ploy in my opinion.

Lovely to Look At is available on DVD through the Warner Archive Collection.

Film Fashion Friday: Fashion Show February: Street of Women (1932) and A Giveaway

2011-03-11T06:50:00.000-08:00

The last film of this series and for this week is Street of Women (1932). I have opted not to do a "traditional" FFF style for this post for a few reasons; I cannot find who was the fashion designer/director on this film and the fashion show sequence is very short and very much part of the plot.

While I cannot find some to give credit to the fantastic outfits this film showcases, that certainly does not detract from making this super fashionable film -- one that I hope everyone gets a chance to see at some point. I accidentally bought two copies of this film, so I am going to give one away on my blog. It does not still have the shrink wrap on it, but it is brand new. to enter, just leave a comment on this post. Only one entry per person and the winner will be announced next Friday. Giveaway open to U.S. residents only, since I am going to ship it via Media Mail.

The fashion show sequence is very short in this film, all of about five minutes, but it plays an interesting role within the film. The woman sitting in the chair visits Kay Francis's boutique because she knows her husband is having an affair with her and wants to see what kind of night gowns she should purchase. It all really is just a rouse to let Francis in on the fact that she knows what her husband it up to. I think it's pretty neat that they are using a scene like this to relay such a message. This scene reminded me of the age old question of do whom do women dress for: themselves or other women? I also like that the film takes the one of the conventions of the fashion show: a costume in a boutique setting to view clothing and employs it for a completely different use: to let Francis in on the "joke."

There are many other films with fashion shows in them and a few have just been released by the Warner Archive. I wish I would have known about them when I first started this series. Maybe I can bring it back? :)

Anyways, if you are looking for some more fashion shows within film check out these movies:

From the Warner Archive:

Colleen (1936)

The Golden Arrow (1936)

Mannequin (1937)

From Amazon:

Vogues of 1938 (1937)

Artists and Models Abroad (1938)

From Film Collectors Online:

Artists and Models (1937)

Our Blushing Brides (1939)

The Bride Walks Out (1936)

Employee's Entrance (1933)

Widely Available on DVD:

Artists and Models (1955)

The Women (1939)

Funny Face (1957)

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

That Touch of Mink (1962)

Also featuring fashion shows are:

Lucy Gallant (1955)

On Your Back (1930)

If anyone has either of these movies, please send me a message. I would love to own these.

I think I got them all, but if I missed one, let me know and I will update the list. :)

I hope everyone enjoyed this series!!

A Thrifting Tip and Deal of the Day

2011-03-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

Unmarked Rhinestone Clip Ons

Almost every Thursday I visit my local Salvation Army. This is because on Thursdays it is "students day" where anyone with a student ID received 25% off their items excluding the orange tagged collectables. Most of the time I get the 25% off of jewelry too, it depends on who is working the counter, so I tend to keep track of who is there before I look at the jewelry and fall in love with something. I am pretty sure almost every Salvation Army has a "students day" and it really is awesome, if you have a student ID. So that is my thrifting tip, see if your Salvation Army has a students day. I also like to ask other thrift stores if they give a student discount, most of the time they say no, but will knock 10% off my total purchase. It never hurts to ask!

Unmarked Rhinestone Screwbacks

I find that at most thrift stores, it is pretty hit or miss with the jewelry. However, the one that I go to on my weekly Thursday trip always has some kind of vintage at it. Be it dishes, clothing, furniture, or jewelry, they always seem to have a decent stock of vintage to select from. Plus what is so great about this particular Salvation Army is they have a "bucks" program where if you spend $20 or more, you get $1 for every $20 you spend. So, I tend to make off like a bandit many weeks because the items are cheap to begin with, I get my 25% off, and occasionally I received extra money off with my store "bucks." I would see if your Salvation Army does this and if they don't maybe you can persuade them to start. :)

The two pairs of earring above are not marked and were about $3 each (after all discounts applied). I spotted the first pair with the pink rhinestones and leave design first, which lead me to see this pin, which was my "deal of the day" last Thursday. It is a gold filled pin with what is probably a fake pearl off to the side. I am thinking this is from the 40s, as I have seen many similar types of pins being sold as from that era. Regardless, I love the design and have been keeping an eye out for one on eBay and in my thrifting adventures. It was originally marked $14.99, however, I had one store "buck" and got my student discount applied, so it wound up being $10.49 plus tax. A pretty good deal (imo) for a gold filled pin!

I wonder what I will find this week?!

Emily

Plus Sized Vintage For Sale

2011-03-09T09:21:00.001-08:00

I have opened my etsy shop back up. In my recent thrifting jaunts I have come across some vintage plus sized dresses that were too cute to pass up. I also have been combing through my own vintage and deciding what to keep and what to pass along to someone else to love.

To celebrate my reopening and to offer some great deals for the up coming VLV, I want to offer my readers a special offer: 25% off if you message me with the code BLOGREADER. In the next week, I plan to be adding a few more dresses, many with waists in the 40-50 in range. The discount will be good for 2 weeks.

Here's a peek at some of the items for sale.

50s Purple Deadstock sheer dress. 53-46-66

40s Black Rayon Dress with Belt. 46-41-56

50s Blue Cotten Dress (from my own collection!) 44-39-52

Thanks for looking! Message me through etsy if you'd like an item reserved or put on hold for you. I do layaway too!

Emily

Snow Snow Go Away

2011-03-08T08:09:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, we got another batch of snow. While it was just a dusting, it brought with it ice and colder temperatures. Tonight we are suppose to get more snow; again just a light dusting, but I am sure it will bring ice and cold. I wonder if Mother Nature knows it's March? I am really anxious now to get back into the swing of wearing dresses and flats. I love the spring and summer time. I find it such easier to dress and look cute with little to no effort.

Above is my kind of winter effortless outfit. I paired the dress with leggings rather than tights because I find them much easier to deal with and my uggs because they are comfy and sort of matched. I have done a lot of experimenting this winter season and have been trying hard to wear more vintage rather than just a hoodie and jeans. I'm not sure how I feel about these boots with the dress and leggings, but it kept me warm, which is rather the point, isn't it? ;)

How do you keep warm but still have a vintage feel to your outfit?

Emily

50s Swirl: eBay

Boots: Uggs

Leggings and Sweater: Target

Michigan Vintage Shopping Guide: The Getup Vintage

2011-03-07T09:20:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to do this feature on my blog for a long time now -- a virtual tour of the vintage stores in South Eastern Michigan. I have a created a button in the sidebar, which will link to all my posts on the different stores. I plan to feature vintage shops, clothing stores, antique malls, you name it; all surrounding metro Detroit, no further than hour to an hour and a half a away.

The first shop I thought I would feature is The Getup Vintage which is located in Ann Arbor, MI. Jesse and I went to an estate sale a town over from Ann Arbor this past Saturday and decided to spend the rest of our afternoon in Ann Arbor. For those of you who may not be familiar with Ann Arbor, it is a college town (home to University of Michigan) and has tons of cool little shops. This town is a prefect stop for the vintage lover, as it offers a few vintage clothing shops and a few record shops.

I was extremely impressed with The Getup. Their prices were very fair and I found some major deals. Dresses were priced between $20-$50 on average and I was quite surprised to find many plus sized vintage pieces. The store is on the smaller size, but it packed full of vintage goodness. The items pictured in this post show my "major deals." Above is a pair of black carved bakelite screwback earrings, $25. I was really impressed with their prices on bakelite, especially for a brick and mortar store. I could be wrong, but I feel like black bakelite is a bit harder to come by than some of the other colors. Anyways, I was super pleased to add some more bakelite to my collection for a good price. (They are solid black in real life. I lighten the picture to see the carving detail).

One of the reasons I went ahead and got the earrings is because I found this adorable 40s smock. I could not resist the print or the way it was styled, plus it was only $12!! How can you beat that?? It also is in excellent condition. I cannot wait to wear it. I am thinking I will wear it with either some black cigarette pants or some skinny jeans.

After I found the above smock, this popped out at me. I think it is suppose to be a smock too, however, it is homemade and is more fitted than the one above. Either way I love it and it looked cute with jeans. I also could see it with white pants too. Any other thoughts? I am going to move the top red button down to replace the white one that someone placed there to replace one of the missing red ones. I never button stuff up all the way. This cute little shirt/smock was only $10!!!

I also got a 50s acetate deep purple dress, new old stock for only $20 and a 50s circle skirt in teal and navy for $25, which are not pictured. My beau and I plan to head back to Ann Arbor when the weather gets warmer, since it is such a nice downtown to walk around. I can't wait to stop into The Getup again!

The Getup Vintage

215 South State Street

Ann Arbor, MI 48104

(734) 327-4300

A Quick Update.....

2011-03-05T15:33:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to stop in and let you all know that I am sorry I missed the last installment of Fashion Show February. I still haven't received my dvds from Warner Bros, however, as soon as I do, I will be posting the two films.

Thanks for hanging in there!! :)

Emily

Giveaway Winner

2011-03-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

Thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway and welcome to new followers!! :) The winner is Brooksie who was the 21st commenter. Please email me within a week to claim your prize.

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I wanted to answer a few questions that have been asked in my last few posts.

"Are you on twitter?"

No, and this isn't necessarily related, but I have been thinking about starting a facebook page for the blog. Would you guys like that?

"Where can I get one [of those shoe things]?"

I found mine at an estate sale and I have seen them before at estate sales. I just never thought I would want one. Honestly, it is one of the best purchases I have ever made. I tend to like to keep my heels and dresser shoes in the boxes they came in to prevent dust and the like. This isn't possible when buying vintage shoes because most of the time they do not come with their boxes. This storage container is great, it keeps out the dust while still allowing me to see what's inside.

I was only able to find one online to buy. But, like I said, at least here in Michigan, I have come across them a few times. One tip on finding them at sales is to look in the attic and basement, that's where I found mine, in the basement.

"What are those shoes in the bottom right corner?"

They are 40s tapestry heels with an Egyptian print. I will share pictures when I do my post about my vintage shoe collection.

Thanks for reading and for all the comments. I love reading them!!!

Emily