Green Glamour

For a long time now, I have been on the look out for the perfect vintage vanity set. Last summer, I found a sterling silver brush and comb set at an antique mall sidewalk sale for $4. It was a reproduction, but that was okay by me because I wouldn't feel bad if something happened to it while I cleaned it.

Last week, while lurking around on eBay, I came across this vintage set, for only $15!!!! The mirror is in perfect condition -- no cracks or dark spots!! It is vintage celluloid and has such a lovely design. I am thinking it might be from the mid to late '20s because of the button hook, but if anyone has a better guess, let me know!! This set kind of matches the power jar I found at a flea market over the summer. My brush and comb don't really match, but I don't mind. I am planning on looking for a comb to match this set and possibly a silver mirror to match the other. A girl can never have too many vanity sets....can she??

Emily

The Snow is Here!!

I want to start off my post by sending a thank you out to Leah over at Storybook Ranch. I won her giveaway and on Friday I received it in the mail. Since then, this cute vintage inspired magnet has been on my fridge and my family has had some fun playing around with all the different adjectives. Thank you soo much Leah!!! :)

Last week, Metro Detroit Michigan finally saw some snow that actually stuck to the ground. I love snow this time of year but don't care too much for it once school starts back up and I have to commute in it. We have less than an inch on the ground where I live, but the forecast is calling for more snow around Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!!! :) Yesterday I got dressed up to go out and do a little shopping. I recently purchased some stocking at Nordstroms with the seam up the back and I wanted to try them out. I found this dress in my closest; I had nearly forgot about it! After wearing it yesterday, I realized why it doesn't get worn too often, the top part had a hard time staying closed (as you may be able to see in the picture). I even pinned it with still no luck. Oh well, maybe I will trade it in for a different dress soon.

Hat, Shoes, & Bag: eBay

Dress: Mother Fletchers

Gloves: Estate Sale

Belt: JC Penny

Stockings: Nordstroms

Emily

Parisian Ballerinas

I can't even begin to explain how excited I am about this new blouse. It came in the mail on Monday and I couldn't wait to wear it to class today. I won it off eBay and couldn't believe the deal I got on it, considering it is a novelty print and all. I loved the print...what can be better than ballerinas and the Eiffel Tower? Oh and can you see those fantastic vintage rhinestone and lucite buttons??

Up until graduating from high school, I used to dance. I did studio dance for about 12 or 13 years and was on my high school's dance team all four years of school. I really miss dancing and have been looking for a studio that has classes for older girls. It's hard to find these type of classes, typically they go up age 18 and that's the cut off. Finding this shirt reminded my of all my wonderful years spent dancing and I truly enjoyed wearing it today!

I was kind of going for a 60's casual look...I don't know how well I achieved it. The top is really blousy and I wanted to offset that by wearing slim pants...ergo trying to obtain a more 60's aesthetic. But, whatever era I ended up channeling, I was really pleased with this outfit and plan on wearing it again soon. I just loooooove this blouse!!!!!

Emily

Sweater: American Eagle (ages ago)

Blouse: Vintage 50's via eBay

Jeans: JC Penny

Navy Blue Leather Bag: eBay

Silver Flats: Target

Film Fashion Friday: City Without Men (1943)

Welcome to Film Fashion Friday!! This week's film is a Linda Darnell picture from 1943. It was released in January, so much of the fashion is coming out of 1942. There is no costume designer/director for this film, which I am not too surprised since this is more of a B film. The director is Sidney Salkow and he would go on to direct a lot of TV shows -- most notably "The Addams Family."

Although this film is only 75 minutes long, there are many costume changes that display great wartime fashion. Linda Darnell has some really stylish hairstyles going on as well. I am loving the jumper she has on in the opening scene of the film. I have been wanting one of these for a long time....still no luck yet. There is a grey one on eBay at the moment and I am considering it!!

City Without Men has a super supporting cast of some lovely Hollywood stars, including Margaret Hamilton and Glenda Farrel. Both give wonderful performances.

This film is available on dvd and Netflix. However, I should warn you that it is not a good print and the sound is pretty muffled. It is still a great film to watch for both the fashion and the plot. Plus Linda Darnell is just awesome...I LOVE her!!!

My honorable mention this week is The Big Sleep. Another grand 40's picture. It's hard to resist Bogie and Bacall. Lauren Bacall has some awesome outfits and there are a lot of female characters in pants. I especially noticed the hats that the extras were wearing...they were fabulous enough just to watch the films for that reason alone!!

Emily

Costume Night at the Redford

This past weekend was costume night at the Redford theatre. My outfit pictured above is actually from two weekends ago. My friend, Taylor and I didn't know that they had moved the films scheduled for that weekend to this past weekend, so we got all dressed up and drove all the way out there...only to find out the date had been moved. Regardless, I was excited I got to wear this suit. I got it over the summer off eBay and it is probably one of the best deals I have ever gotten on any piece of vintage clothing that I own. The suit with the shipping and handling cost me $8!!!!!!!! It is a perfect fit and a lovely cut...don't ya think??

I ended up wearing a different dress to the actual showing of the films this weekend. Pictures to come!!

The picture next to it is off this lovely website I discovered last week on Amy Jeanne's blog. I suggest you take a look if you are into old photos, but I must warn you...you may be on the site for hours shifting through all the images!! :)

I also attended the most luxurious estate sale at the home that originally belonged to the Kresge family. I am assuming that the home was built around the mid to late 20's and everything was kept just as it was when it was built!! I have some pictures I pulled off the estate sale website that I will share later on this week, along with my finds.

Suit and Heels: eBay

Hat: Estate Sale

Jewelry and Shoe Clips: Great Grandma's

Emily

How To Safely Remove Unwanted Odors in Vintage Clothes

I may have mention before just how much I love doing laundry. I really find enjoyment from seeing something that is stained blossom into something clean and completely wearable. This past weekend I attempted something I have never tried before and it was very successful! I thought I would share my tips for safely removing unsightly odors from vintage clothing.

For removing slight odors such as stale smoke, moth balls, and just overall smell from years of storage, I recommend Borax. It been around since 1891 and because of that I feel it's good to use on vintage clothes, since it more than likely was used on the clothes years ago. I also like it because it's natural. I tried it out for the first time a few days ago on a few new items of vintage clothes that had light odors and light stains. I must say, I was greatly impressed. I followed the directions on the back of the box for deodorizing baby clothes and it worked wonderfully. I always do a follow up of a swish in water that has a little bit of Gain softener in it to give the items the fresh laundry smell and to make them soft.

A word of caution: I have read online and my mom has warned against using Borax with other cleaners (such as Shout or OxiClean) other than the laundry detergent because it can have a chemical reaction. The few times I have used it, the directions on the back proved to work the best.

This next tip is my new absolute favorite discovery. A few days ago I found this really great late 40's dress at Mother Fletchers for a steal; the only problem was it reeked of B.O. I had read online on a few different question and answer forums that vinegar would remove the smell. I was a bit skeptical but decided that this dress was the prefect candidate for the experiment.

I first tried the Borax because I wanted to test it up against a tough B.O. It did work to slightly remove the smell, but it still was very overpowering. I made sure that I rinsed the dress well because of the acid-base mix between the Borax and the vinegar.

After rinsing, I made sure the dress was damp, not sopping wet. I read that a solution of 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar worked well in a spray bottle. I mixed up the water in vinegar and sprayed it all over the dress, focusing on the spots were the B.O. was the worst. I let that set in for a few hours, hanging in a cool, dry place. Then, without rinsing, I placed the dress into a tub of water with Gain laundry detergent in it. (I prefer the original scent) I let this soak for the rest of the day and over night.

The following afternoon I rinsed out the dress and rolled the water out of it with a towel and hung to dry. When I went to smell the dress today after it was all dry, I was was amazed that the smell was completely gone. There was also no fading to the dress either.

I was sooooo happy that this worked because I had purchased a dress of eBay and it arrived with a B.O. smell. I was so disappointed because I always make sure and ask before I buy any clothing items online. (The seller said it didn't have any odors). So now that I know this works, the next time I find a great dress I won't shy away from it just because it smells!

Emily

Brisk Breezes and New Shoes

I can't believe how fast this summer went by. It's already one week into September and here in Michigan we have seen some signs that fall will be quickly approaching. I cannot wait!! Fall is my favorite season. I love that I get to break out all the coats that have been stored away all summer. I have a mini coat obsession. I can never pass up a coat. I feel that they are pieces of wardrobe that will last for years and years and most designs will almost always be in style.

My other obsession is shoes, which you may or may not have caught on to by now! :) I love shoes because they are one of the only things when it comes to clothing that will fit you even if you gain or loose some weight. I received these beautiful green 40's slingbacks today in the mail. I found them on eBay for the small sum of $10 (and that included shipping!!!). I am hoping to get some wear out of them before it gets super cold here.

Emily

The Lady with the Alligator Purse

Today I went to pick up my purse from the leather repair shop. I was so excited to see how it looked and that excitement grew once I saw my bag! I tried out a new shoe repair shop since the one my mom used to go to has since closed. Needless to say, I will be returning if and when I need something else repaired. This guy did an excellent job. He couldn't repair the handle so he made a new one out of matching leather, and didn't charge me!! I was happy that he did a new handle, because now I won't worry when using this bag, the leather will definitely hold up better than alligator would. He also oiled and polished the outside. It really shines!!!! This $10 estate sale find has really blossomed into something I can cherish for many years to come.

Since finding this bag, I really wanted some shoes to match. I'm the kind of girl that really likes to have shoes that matches my purses. Since the bag wasn't exactly what I was looking for, (I had a 40's box style in mind on my vintage wish list) I really wanted to find shoes that would bring out a 40's look. I found this pair pictured on eBay for a real steal and am now waiting their arrival in the mail. I really cannot wait until they come!! I have the perfect late 30's coat that I want to wear with the shoes and bag once it gets a little bit colder here in Michigan.

Emily

Computer Woes....

Please excuse my absence. After a little over three years, my beloved laptop has started to give out. I was so bummed, considering that it feels like my whole life is on there; pictures, papers, saved websites, etc. My brother just happens to be really into computers, well anything that can be put together or taken apart :), and he is going to help me out with it.

Today, he fixed me up with one of his spare computers, a Mac Pro. I am soooooo excited!! I have always wanted a Mac since I used them in high school. When it came time for me to get a laptop for college, I went with an HP because if I had gone with a mac, I would have gotten a desktop so I could have all the fancy software on it. Needless to say, I have been stoked all day about my new (borrowed) computer!! What an awesome brother!!!

Before my laptop went out, I had a chance to add a few things to my etsy, but still have TONS more stuff to add. I just got done sorting out all my items and just need to take some photos. The coming weeks will find some cute vintage clothes and housewares, so stay tuned if you are interested!! :)

I'll leave you with a picture of one of my latest eBay purchases. I was able to snag this cute 40's blouse for only $8.00 (that includes the shipping and handling)!! Can't wait for it to come in the mail!!!

Oh, and don't forget, it's not too late to enter in my giveaway!! The last day is Thursday.

Emily

So Excited!!!!!!

I may have mentioned before that I am a film history major. One of my main reasons for my love of film comes from my love for vintage. I love that you can watch these old movies and view another time in history. We often talk in class about how many of these films reflect life outside of the movie. I totally agree and find these old films to be a great source for inspiration for fashion, hairstyles, decorating, and more.

Well, while surfing through some blogs, I came across one (which I cannot remember which one at this time, so if someone does, leave me a comment and I will give that blog credit!) which had a post about Lana Turner's daughter selling a lot of her personal items on eBay. I was so excited when I saw the post, I just had to check out eBay. I found the seller and fell in love with this bracelet. I wear a lot of black and this is perfect!! Lana Turner stars in one of my favorite classic films, The Postman Always Rings Twice. I love film noir and Miss Turner has some great outfits in this film. I found out today that I won the bracelet and I cannot wait until it comes in the mail. I can't tell you how excited I am to own a part of film history!!! I think it is so awesome that Lana's daughter is selling some of her items on eBay rather than going to Christie's. Many of the items are priced well, at least I thought so. And it seems there are items for every budget. :)

If you are interested, HERE is the link to Cheryl Crane's eBay store.

Emily

Goodies In the Mail!!

I finally recieved the rest of the vintage patterns I ordered off of eBay! I was so thrilled when they came in the mail and they were just what I hoped for. Some of the sizing is a little off, nothing too major. I can't wait to search for the fabric to start making some new clothes.

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I like the center view in black, it almost looks like a halter!

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I am planning on trying to make my own bathing suit for next summer. I like how the bottoms give more coverage than those in the stores do!

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This is kind of like a faux wrap dress, which I love! I am hoping to get it finished so I can wear it on my trip Up North!!

Well that's all for now... I didn't have much luck with garage sales today. Adam keep me busy helping him trying to find his brothers' birthday presents (their birthdays are the day after each other!). They are thinking of having a bbq tomorrow. Maybe I'll get busy and make this sun dress that I have been putting off doing so I can have something new to wear tomorrow and not go and buy something. I am looking forward to Sunday and my annual trip to R.O. for the flea market. I got to talking with some of the vendors and hopefully this week I'll get some better deals!! More later with what I find within my five dollar budget!

Emily