A New Do

Last week I decided very spur of the moment to get a haircut. I wanted to try something completely different from anything I had before and I wanted to do something kinda short. I ended up getting a bob and will probably be trying out some 30s hair styles soon. I bought this curling iron from Ulta to try out some faux finger waves. Once I get some decent results, I will share on the blog.

I wore this outfit to a cool little local event in Detroit, the Holiday Baar Bazaar. The Bazaar featured a night of shopping and sipping on some beer or wine. The vendors included some vintage clothing and housewares, vintage records, and crafty goods. I bought the cute little bobby pins below. I have a mild fascination with sparrows and thought these would be fun with my new haircut, plus they were only $5. The seller has an etsy shop, which can be found HERE.

50s Dress: eBay

Shoes, Owl Necklace: JC Penny

Sweater, Tights: Target

Belt: Kohls

Vintage E Pin: Estate Sale

60s Earrings: Mother Fletchers

Vintage Lobby Cards

Firstly, I would like to thank all my lovely readers for their kind comments and warm wishes on my post about my Grandma. In the future, I do plan on sharing more of the vintage photos she had given me throughout the years. Also, to answer Coedith's question: the photo I used in that post was of my Grandma's Lutheran Confirmation, so the diploma in the photo is a certificate of her work and welcoming her into the church.

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One of my goals for my month long break from graduate school was to get some long awaited projects done. One of these projects was to get some frames and frame a few of my vintage lobby cards to decorate my office at school with. Graduate students are given offices at my university and we are required to hold office hours as well. This past semester I only came to my office to study, since being a lab instructor meant there were not required office hours. However, since I will be doing lectures this coming semester I will be spending much more time in there and I did not want to be surrounded by grey walls and boring office furniture.

Last week, I headed over to Joann's and picked up the frames that the cards are pictured in above for only a little over $3 each. I ended up getting all that they had in stock, which was six, and next week before Christmas, I am going to decorate with the lobby cards and some swanky swigs to hold my pens. I also have an incomplete vintage desk set of bookends and a letter holder, both in the shape of poodles, which I am also probably going to take in. Once I get it all set up, I'll post some pictures here on the blog.

I have been collecting lobby cards for a few years now and am so glad I finally have a place to display them, rather then just having them sit in an archive box. Hopefully my students will enjoy seeing a piece of film history when they visit my office.

If you work in an office or cubical, have you decked it out vintage style?

Emily

Mixing of Eras

For a recent family outing in which dressy attire was required, I decided to go monochromatic and wear all black and also mix some of my vintage pieces from different eras to create a fresh look. Besides my undergarments, my tights are the only new piece in the whole outfit -- everything else is vintage! Most of the pieces are from either the 50s or the 60s and I tried to tie the look together by doing a more of a 60s do with my hair.

I think this dress is my new favorite "little black dress." It has a high neck so it is so easy to wear almost anything over top of it, plus its sleeveless, so there aren't a bunch of layers bulking it up.

I also wore a vintage coat and gloves over the dress, but forgot to take pictures. What a good blogger I am! ;)

Emily

Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Vintage Heels: Garage Sale

60s Earrings: Mother Fletchers

Sweater with Faux Fur Collar: Bloomfield Hills Vintage Clothing Expo

Tights: Target

Belt: Off a 40s Dress

You Will Be Missed

My Grandma at 13 at her confirmation, Spring 1933.

I felt like I needed to do a little post to explain my unexpected absence from blogging these past few weeks. On Thanksgiving, my dear Grandma passed away. It was incredibly sad, but peaceful. We are all comforted by knowing she is in a better place and not in pain anymore.

I know I have blogged about my wonderful Grandma before, sharing some of her vintage photos and I plan to continue; to remember her and honer her life. She was a huge part of my life and was my biggest vintage fan. She always loved to see the neat stuff I found at sales and thrift stores. I definitely inherited my love of a bargain and jewelry from her, thanks Grandma!

Emily

Product Review: Maybelline New York Falsies Mascara

I am a self confessed mascara nut. I love have thick, long, dark lashes and am on a consent search for the perfect mascara. I used to love Max Factor, but stupid P & G decided to no longer carry Max Factor in the USA. I don't know what I am going to do when my pan stick runs out. If any of my UK readers would be willing to send me some, I could send you something too!!

Anyways, I was on a make-up buying spree the other day and decided to try out Maybelline's Falsies Mascara. I was quite skeptical, as I feel that most of these companies and their claims never really seem to be true, but to my surprise, it actually did most of the things it promises to do.

I find that it makes my lashes longer, a bit fuller, and overall gives the slight appearance of fake lashes. While I don't feel that it really gives the look of "falsies" I do like that it washes off pretty easily and doesn't flake while wearing. I do find that it can have the tendency to clump a bit, but I do like to put on a few coats, so if you are only putting on one, I don't see the clumping to be a problem. I think with this mascara that how you apply it is everything.

My overall rating is 4 out of 5. It's priced under $10 and does most of what it says it will do.

Emily

How About An Outfit Post?

I can't believe how long I have been away from blogging! So much has been going on here; grad school is keeping me VERY busy. But, the good news is that the semester ends in exactly 17 days and I CANNOT wait!!!

This photo is back from October when I attended the vintage clothing expo. I bought two dresses and a suit, which I still need to photograph! I also need to take in the suit jacket and replace the zipper and button on the skirt. I got the suit for a major deal though, only $20 (it was a deal considering how high everything was priced at this thing). It's early 50s and is the most lovely grey color. Photos of my finds to follow.

I love this dress... and so did many of the dealers at the expo. :)

Emily

Dress: Lost and Found Vintage

Shoes, Earrings, & Bakelite Bracelet: Estate Sales

Purse: St. Louis Estate Sale

Hat: St. Louis Antique Mall

Belt: Target

Long Overdue Update: Midland Flea Market Finds

So... Over a month ago I went to the biggest flea market in Michigan, the Midland Flea Market. The show is held over three different dates in the summer and I always like to go to the final date, as the dealers are trying to clean out their stock and normally offer some really stellar deals. This year was no exception.

30s-40s Beaded Handbag. The frame might be bakelite, although I haven't tested it yet. $15

Pictured in this post are some of my favorite finds. Since starting to collect vintage seriously, I now find myself purchasing fewer items, but am willing to pay a little bit more. Mostly this is due to having quite a large collection and having most of my most wanted items, but also because I want to buy less stuff.

Swanky Pitcher with glass lid! I have never seen one with a glass lid before, have you? $7.50

Not pictured is my favorite find of the market, a diamond ring from my absolute favorite estate jewelry dealers. Last year I bought a really pretty diamond solitaire pendent dating from around 1890. I promise I'll post a picture of the ring soon. I took it off while helping with the dishes at my beau's house and forgot it there!

Carved Bakelite Bracelet, $5

I was super stoked to find an affordable piece of bakelite at the market. I am still amazed at how expensive bakelite has gotten. I wish I had a larger collection, but I kinda jumped on the bakelite bandwagon a little late in the game. I get excited anytime I find a piece for $10 or less.

Tin Box, possibly held candy. $2

This was one of the first things I bought at the market. I collect these little tin boxes and when the price is right I indulge myself. I think that I need to curb my habit for buying containers. I don't know what it is about jars or tin boxes or the like that fascinate me.

I also bought the most amazing enamel top kitchen table from the 30s. I forgot to take a picture of it before putting it into storage, but trust me, it is pretty great! Instead of being white on the top it is brown and looks like a woodgrain, something I have never seen before. I got the table for a real steal -- $45. Besides my ring, it was the big purchase of the day.

My beau got a lot of cool things two, including a wood carving of John Wayne and a really awesome orange travel record player. I am already starting to save a little bit of money for next year! :)

Emily

Film Fashion Friday: Mr. Lucky (1943)

Sorry I haven't been doing a good job of keeping up with this series and really this blog in general. I have a whole slew of films just waiting to be shared with you all! This film for this week, Mr. Lucky (1942), is a Warner Archive release and one that I was super excited about when I discovered the Warner Archive. Let me just say that what Warner Bros. has been doing with the Archive is really something special. I feel that it is so important that us classic film lovers and vintage enthusiasts that love old films show our support by purchasing dvds from the Warner Archive. I am by no means getting paid or sponsored to say this, but it is my opinion that if we do not help these companies willing to sell classic films on dvd, the sales of all classic film dvds might cease to exist. Anyways, I'll get off my soapbox now.....

The Players

Cary Grant.....Joe Adams

Laraine Day.....Dorothy Bryant

Charles Bickford.....Hard Swede

Gladys Cooper.....Captain Veronica Steadman

Directed by H.C. Potter

Gowns Designed by Renie

Synopsis

Joe Adams (Cary Grant) is a man in the gambling business; but when it comes time that Joe might have to gamble with his own life, he decides to dodge the draft and take his chances. Since receiving his 4-F rating, Joe is free to cook up some new schemes, which include swindling a great deal of money from a female war relief group. In order to do this, Joe must join the group and act as one of the members. Here he meets Dorothy (Laraine Day), one of the leaders of the group. The two eventually fall in love, as to be expected, and Joe must decide whether or not to go through with the job. Will he choose love or money?

Fashion Review

When I first viewed this film, I was immediately stuck by the fabulous hats the female leads and extras were sporting throughout the course of the film. While majority of the women are shown in typical 40s suits, which can sometimes be a bit boring if that's all the women are wearing from scene to scene, the hats in this film really stood out because of the more simplistic attire. I also feel that this film makes an excellent case study for how accessories during WWII were used as a way to spice up outfits and add elements of style to a rather simple look of the suit. I also like to see fashion directors to pay attention to not only their leads, but their extras as well, something this film does a wonderful job with. Sometimes it's the extras that are wearing the more interesting hat!

The only costume credit on this film is Renie for gown design. Towards the end of the film is the charity benefit, which is a formal event, and the gowns definitely do not disappoint. I do wish that there was a credit for who choose/made the hats for this film, as I feel they are an intricate part of the costume design. Renie, or Irene Brouillet Conley as she was known in her private life, had a long career in Hollywood; beginning in the late 30s and ending in the early 80s. She pretty much worked up until the last ten years of her life, which I am assuming was spent in retirement. Some of her fashion sketches belong to the Los Angeles County Museum of Arts, which seems to own quite a bit of Adrian's work as well. I am not sure if these items are always on exhibit, but it definitely has given me something to research!

Fashion Grade: 6/10 (Watch this film mostly for the hats and for the charity dance sequence)

Mr. Lucky is available for purchase through the Warner Archive and to rent through Classicflix.

Vintage Clothing Expo in Michigan!!!

[Image found from Life Magazine]

It's back! This Saturday is the Bloomfield Hills Jewelry and Vintage Apparel Show. I went back in spring and found so many wonderful items at really affordable prices. If you live in Southeastern Michigan make sure you check out this event!! Look for a full report on any and all finds after Saturday.

Emily

***Just as a note, I am not being paid to promote this event. I am simply posting it so other vintage clothing lovers may be aware of it.

Why Hello!

It's that time of year again.... School time, the time in which my life becomes devoted to homework and paper writing. It has been so hard for me to get back in the swing of things and adjust to my new routine. I have really missed blogging these past few weeks and am hoping that I can get this new schedule down so I can get back to blogging.

Way back in September, there was a DIY festival near my beau's home. I was pretty excited since there was going to be a few vintage clothing vendors there and this festival was marketed as an affordable arts and crafts fair. Imagine my excited when I came across these boots:

And these that were sitting right next to them:

Both pairs fit and were priced at $14 each. I seriously could not get the money out fast enough! Then the real surprise came. As I was paying for the boots, the lady informs me that inside each boot is a pair of heels. I was already so ecstatic about finding these boots, in my size, at a great price, and wait.... with two pairs of vintage heels too? It sounded too good to be true.

I waited until we got home to check out the heels because it was getting dark out and I didn't want to have to fiddle with them in the big crowd. I really couldn't believe what I found inside. The pair above was in the brown boots and the pair below were in the black.

My beau thought I was silly for wearing around the shoes all weekend. I was just too thrilled to take them off. Definitely one of the best deals I have ever gotten in my life. I am willing to bet that I got all four pairs for cheaper than it would have cost to by them in the 40s! :)

Emily