What I Wore: Sheer Vintage Dresses Edition

Oh some days it feels like spring will never come. We'll get one nice day accompanied by three chilly ones. I'm starting to give up hope here. But, it just means that I try to take advantage of the nice days when we have them, like this past weekend. It was the perfect day to test drive this little vintage number. This lilac vintage dress is one of my favorite finds, but it's super sheer so it really only works on warm days. But when it does work, oh it works.

What I Wore: The 60s Shift Edition

Ah, estate sale shopping. That is the life. If my day job could be hunting for gems at estate sales, I'd be one happy camper. Unfortunately, it's just a hobby for now, but when you hit a jackpot it's oh-so-satisfying! I stumbled across a gorgeous collection that belonged to a little stylish lady who travled a lot in her lifetime with her husband. The collection of souvenir plates in their home was out of this world. But, naturally, I gravitated towards the closets and I was not disappointed. This little number is definitely one of my favorites that I picked up recently. So simple, yet so eye catching with it's delicately detailed collar and sleeves.

What I Wore: The Vintage Office Wear Edition

There is something about this style of dress that always makes me think, "70s secretary". Why, I have no idea, but it does. Always. Maybe I watched too many episodes of Charlie's Angels growing up or maybe I'm just crazy. Either way, I love the style of this dress. Every time I find one, I have to pick it up. There are actually a couple more in a similar style hanging out in the Etsy store right now. I know that's really biased of me to do and I should stop, but I can't! I love the way this vintage cut looks on me, so I keep buying them - whether they fit me or not. It's a sickness. I have a buying sickness.

What I Wore: The Time Travel Edition

I've been obsessed with 70s style all summer. I don't know why or where this love of all things 70s-biker-chic came from, but I'm into it. So into it, in fact, that all I can do is daydream about moving to California and riding on the back of a motorcycle over winding trails. I better re-watch Sons of Anarchy or something.

Anyway, that's where today's outfit inspiration is stemming from. Ever since I started this weird, retro 70s obsession, I've been hunting for a pair of high-waisted, tight, bell bottom jeans. They were surprisingly hard to find. Or maybe not so surprisingly, if you're a sane person, unlike me. But find them I did and my world will never been the same.

What I Wore: The 70s Summer Edition

Summer is here! Minus all the rain, it's been a pretty perfect start to summer. With music festivals, movies in the park, pool parties, and long days at the beach all around the corner, it's time to start finalizing that summer style. My style? 70s gypsy/biker. Does it suit me? Nope, I don't think so. Do I care? No! I'm going to make it work because I want to and that's that.

What I Wore: The Lady in Red Edition

Let me tell you, there is nothing better for the confidence than a little rouge. I am dead serious about this. Feeling blah and don't want to put any effort into your outfit today? Throw on jeans, a sweater, and some red lipstick and you'll see. It really is that easy. I know the color on this 40s style vintage dress is one of the reasons it's totally an instant confidence booster!

Monday Design: Industrial Mood

As you can probably tell by all the other interior design post on this blog, I'm an exposed brick, rustic farm elements kind of gal. However, this doesn't mean that I can't appreciate or enjoy clean modern lines. The inner hoarder in me just happens to prefer a more cluttered design scheme. Finding this industrial inspired home was one of those moments that pulled my out of my usual design aesthetic.

Monday Design: Free Form Castle

Have you ever wished you lived in a castle? I think a lot of children always imagine what it would be like to live in a castle, I know I did. But a lot of times, even now, I think of castels as big stone buildings with large tapestries on the walls and fireplaces in every room because they don't have any other systems of heating installed. In most cases, every time I've been to visit a "castle" it have been like this because they've all be the ancient leftovers of some royal family that hasn't existed in hundreds of years. So when I saw this home of Prince Emanuele Filiberto di Savoia I realized that it was the perfect modern day castle.

What I Wore: The Vintage Dots Edition

It's been a while since I've done one of these check-what's-in-my-shop outfit posts so I thought I might be due for one. This dress is an awesome one I picked up and it's awesome for two reasons: 1. The fit is fantastic for pear shapes like myself and perfectly professional if you work in an office. 2. It's a little daring in that it's both polka dots and stripes in one dress, so if you're intimidated by mixing patterns (like I am sometimes) this dress does the hard part for you.

Tuesday Trendspotting: House of Harlow and Winter Kate Fall 2012

Ok, that's it. It's August, the summer shorts and tank tops are being put on sale. You can now buy your bathing suits for next year for less than half the price. It's time to talk fall. I'm working on developing an idea of what I want my wardrobe to look like this year. I work in an office, a regular nine-to-five, but it's a really relaxed atmosphere so I don't really need lots of tailored tweed, but I do still need to look profesional. Somehow, magically, House of Harlow and Winter Kate have managed to put together a collection of fall looks that are fun, playful, and classy. I think I found my ideal wardrobe. via Fabsugar

Tuesday Trendspotting: Americana Love

The fourth is tomorrow and you know what that means! Lots of fireworks, beer, and BBQ. Does America know how to celebrate a birthday or what? Now I am by no means the most patriotic person in the world, but I enjoy getting time off, good food, and friends, so heck yea I am going to celebrate! Anyway, in honor of the 4th, I found this kind of fun collection from Free People that is definitely full of America Love. Some outfits I actually don't hate while others I would never wear, but they're still fun to look at. As a general rule, I try to avoid wearing red, white, and blue together because I never like looking like a flag, but Free People channeled that 70s vibe they love so much and really did a great job of putting together the "American Girl".

So get those bottle rockets in line and get the barbecue nice and hot, it's time to have some fun!

Vintage Summer Lovin'

'Vintage Summer Lovin'' by StrangerThanVintage

It's hot out there! Pick up some sizzling vintage summer pieces to help keep you looking cool.

vintage rust summer pleated ... holymess $20.00	LULI Jewelry Set - Multi Str... JuliLescano $186.00	Vintage Bright Summer Floral... BtchcraftTradi... $15.00	Oh-so-70s Floral Dress StrangerThanVi... $28.00
Red Romper Summer Outfit Med... GoodTimeIsland $25.00	Jennifer Lilly Handmade Beau... jenniferlillyd... $40.00	Vintage Polyester Floral Pri... newagegypsy $20.00	70s Style Orange Floral Tuni... StrangerThanVi... $10.00
Seafoam Green Pastel Spring ... BadJamesVintag... $38.00	vintage 1950s dress / 50s su... ManicVintage $58.00	Vintage summer dress in latt... renewvintage $34.00	vintage 1950's Miami Gui... ChiffreHuit $230.00
SHIRT, vintage clothing, sum... zasra $25.00	Size S and M Yellow Floral S... blessthatdress $20.00	summer 1940s linen heels // ... AnatomyVintage $98.00	PDF Pattern - 70s Crocheted ... KinsieWoolShop $3.20

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Oh yea, of course I needed to create a vintage summer themed Etsy treasury. Nothing makes me feel more like it's summer than breezy dresses and retro swimsuits. So I pulled together a collection of easy, breezy, and fun vintage pieces from all around the Etsy sphere. New clothes are fun, but when you buy vintage you can almost guarantee that you'll be the only girl on the street wearing that outfit and that can be a really accomplished feeling. Plus, I just like supporting other vintage Etsy sellers too. We gotta stick together! Anyway, enjoy! And if you pick anything up, let them know you found it on here. ;)

Vintage Love: Baubles and Jewels

I love jewelry. It's one aspect of my outfits that I can never omit because I think that accessories really are the topping on the cake. Jewelry, shoes, etc. can make or break an outfit, so I have an absurd collection of rings, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings. And especially since it's trendy to wear tons of these at once, it just gave me an excuse to collect even more. Most of mine is pretty cheap and costume-y, but that doesn't matter to me (as long as it doesn't turn my neck green). Long story short, I love jewelry and I feel naked if I leave the house without it.

Now, I collect a lot of vintage clothes and accessories both for myself and the shop and a lot of times things that I pick up for the shop end up living in my closet (sorry guys!). Jewelry though is something I have never been good at picking up at estate sales or thrift stores, so I really admire vintage Etsy sellers that have a large collection of vintage jewelry. Clothes is one thing, there's almost always a tag to help you figure out what era a piece is from, but with jewelry it's such a crap shoot. I'd love to expand my collection, but I hate putting things in the store that I can't date. So anyway, today I pulled together a collection of vintage jewelry pieces that I though were really awesome and definitely amazing finds. I'm jealous of every last one of these. Anyone know where to find cool vintage jewelry in Chicago?

'Retro Baubles and Jewels' by StrangerThanVintage

Vintage Natasha Stambouli Go... ATestOfTime $55.00	Vintage Necklace Purple Glas... boylerpf $35.00	Vintage Southwestern Tiger&#... antiquario $115.00	Vintage Floral Brooch - Milk... PinkAstilbe $12.00
Lily // Vintage Molded Glass... FunWithVintage $65.00	Vintage Sterling Silver and ... VisforVintageO... $175.00	Sterling Silver Enamel Pheas... Elsewind $95.00	50% SALE - KJL Frog Earrings... BentenDesign $75.00
Vintage Turquoise, Coral, an... VisforVintageO... $95.00	Rhinestone Earrings Couture ... EmbellishgirlV... $450.00	TAKAHASHI BLUEBIRD Brooch H... Cleoras $175.00	80s Dark Purple Square Earri... StrangerThanVi... $5.50
Lovely Deco Pink Star Sapphi... acrazeelady $120.00	Vintage BEAUJEWELS Rhineston... RaeOfLight $9.95	Vintage Gay Boyer 4 Strand G... CherryOrchardA... $65.00	LARGE 14kt Carved Shell Came... vintagebitsbli... $595.00

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Do you ever buy vintage jewelry? What's your favorite type of jewelry to wear?

Vintage Love: Take Me Back in Time

I was honestly in a rut trying to come up with something to post today and I kind of hate admitting that. My thoughts on blogging go like this: You should love what you're doing and do it because you enjoy it. Therefore, if I'm in a rut or desperately searching for something to write about, I skip a day. Not that anyone notices anyway, but I'd rather let my blog sit empty for a day than force myself to write something I don't care about. I hope you guys appreciate that too, because, trust me, my writing just gets worst and worst the less I care about a topic.

Well, anyway, sometimes an idea strikes me out of no where and I just have to get it out there. I realized that as an Etsy seller, I don't talk about the store or my love of vintage as much as I maybe should. So what I did was throw together this treasury of some vintage items I found that make me smile! This one is spring themed because it's so nice out today all I can think about doing is going on a picnic with that vintage picnic basket I picked up years ago and have only used once. Geez, I really am a hoarder aren't I? Anyways, treasuries are fun to put together and you can actually shop what's in them! Enjoy!

Stranger Than Vintage on Etsy

Vintage 50's Dress XXS-X... CrushVintage $68.00	Wicker Picnic Basket Large F... TakingShape $28.00	r e s e r v e d Vintage Pin... GallivantingGi... $50.00	Vintage Pumps Lavender Purpl... BlueRoseRetro $29.00
Vintage OCEAN Blue Travel Ba... aniandrose $23.00	vintage 1960s dress / blue s... TheChurchofVin... $26.00	Vintage 50's Hall's ... TheToyBox $120.00	Vintage 50s Sundress / Gingh... ChronologieVin... $28.00
Vintage 80s Sage Green Sprin... enidandedgar $38.00	Vintage/Pink/Crochet/1960s/I... thedesignarchi... $48.00	vintage 1950s dress silk chi... NodtoModvintag... $310.00	50s Style Red Wing Tip Heels StrangerThanVi... $24.00
60s Dress / 1960s White Flor... HolliePoint $58.00	WOW Big Luxury Earrings Vint... kiamichi7 $45.00	Pastel Spring Southwestern F... BadJamesVintag... $48.00	60s Bag / 1960s Floral Tapes... HolliePoint $30.00

Treasury tool by Red Row Studio