What I Wore: The Modern Vintage Edition

You're all a smart bunch of people, I'm sure it hasn't escaped you by now that I love vintage and retro style and even sell my own finds on Etsy. Well, when the Internet first starting being a huge shopping hub (wow, that sentence makes me feel ancient even though this was probably only 10 years ago or so), it opened up a whole new world of vintage possibilities! I spent so much time searching online for the perfect 40s style dresses and rockabilly handbags. It was a sickness. Still is, I guess. However, back in those days, your options for true vintage and vintage reproduction were limited and pricey. I would drool over styles from Stop Staring! hoping that I could one day afford something from their collection. And I still do.

Of course, now the Internet has made it easier than ever to find vintage reproduction styles for any price range. It's really nuts how easy it is and I find a new favorite site every day. The dress below is from a store in the UK called Voodoo Vixen that I just discovered a few months ago!

Things I Love: Pretty Pastels

This past weekend I noticed that the trees were starting to bloom all over the city and I couldn't have screamed more like a little girl. It's official! We're done with the dreary days of winter and moving to summer! When you live in the Midwest you're never really sure that winter won't come back and bite you in the ass in the middle of May, so I try not to get too excited until I see the trees turning green.

With that in mind, everything that caught my attention shopping around this week was light and colorful, like newly springing leaves. I'm in a mood to throw out all of my black and grey clothes, but I'll hold off on that I guess. But there's nothing better than shopping for sun dresses and open-toed shoes when you can actually start wearing them!

Mother's Day Gift Ideas from UncommonGoods

I don't think I've talked about UncommonGoods on here before, which is odd because I love suggesting it as a destination to anyone who asks me for gift giving advice. The site was actually recommended to me when I was in a bind trying to find a quick Christmas gift for someone I didn't actually know too well. Needless to say, I found something that was perfect and have been a fan of the site every since. So, when they approached me to do a little review of their Mother's Day Gift collection, of course I agreed!

Loving Right Now: Kitschy Vintage Kitchen Decor

I'm still in the process of trying to make my new apartment feel like a home and it's been so hard to focus on just one room. I want to buy everything, for every room, all at once! Anyone else understand this feeling?

Of course, I can't do that because as much as I wish I am, I am not a millionaire. So, I've been doing it slowly — paycheck by painstaking paycheck and cutting corners where I can. Like the responsible human being that I am. Unfortunately, all this has allowed me to do is continue adding items to an ever growing list of "wants". That combined with my inability to focus on one room has created an odd list and caused be to buy things on impulse - making for some very odd, half-finished rooms. To combat this insanity, I've decided to share it with you! Aren't you excited? In an effort to focus, I'm just going to share my wants, my loves, my hopes, and my dreams for my new apartment room by room. Maybe that way I won't wonder why I have an extensive plate collection for the kitchen walls but still no table for the craft room (yes, this is a real problem).

Favorite Things: Cozy Winter Necessities

If the constant snow storms and freezing cold are any indication, we're still in for a long month of winter ahead. Luckily for us, there are plenty of ways to bog down, get cozy, stay warm, and pretend that the outdoors don't exist. So to help each other out through these rough and windy days and dream of blankets, candles, and warm tea, I've put together a collection of all my favorite things that make winter hibernation not so bad.

First off, what everyone needs to start hibernation season is something warm to drink and nothing makes tea better than an adorable tea pot with an even cuter infuser. I'm a loose tea drinker mainly because I like the idea of wasting less packaging, but with all these new and adorable infusers, it's hard not be a loose tea drinker!

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.

White Hot Summer Outfit Ideas

Summer fashion trends come and go. Neons, florals, boho — we see it all on a rotating schedule. Even though I'm always in love with new summer trends, there's one that I'm always really excited to jump back into and that's white. It's called a white, hot summer for a reason! There's just something so essentially summer about tan skin, white dresses, and bright details.

Interior Design: Industrial Chic Shopping

I was browsing around the Internetz, as usual, real estate stalking like I normally do when a Google ad caught my eye (damn you, Google ads!). Now, I'm a sucker for those membership discount sites just like anyone else, but they are usually a hodge podge of items. You get up to 80% off on anything you can think of (I just bought a set of fleece leggings on one of those). I've never found one more tailored to me than Dot & Bo.

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!

What to Wear: Spring Inspiration

I'm so ready for spring and yet I'm so stuck in winter! It's not quite warm enough to get rid of the jackets or leg coverings just yet, but it is warm enough to ditch the heavy sweaters and thick boots. So what's a girl to do? Since I was feeling so utterly outfit un-inspired, I thought I would use the internet time to find and share inspiration! That is what the internet is for right?

I actually don't love any of the spring trends this year. I do love that the fashion designers had tried to steer away from the average flowers, nautical, and pastels. However, you still can find plenty of those on the runways. There are a few things circling that I wouldn't mind adding to my closet:

Black and White

What I Wore: The Let It Snow Edition

It's snowing! Okay, not right this second, but it's been snowing in Chicago for the past couple of days. I keep going back and forth on whether this is a reason to be happy or sad. Two days ago, when I almost slammed into the back of a car trying to break while going 15 miles per hour, it made me sad. Today, it ain't so bad.

Tuesday Inspiration: Brocade for the Holidays

Now that we've finished stuffing ourselves after Thanksgiving, it's time to start hunting for that perfect holiday dress. I'm not ready to commit to anything yet, and I have a relatively small budget to work in, but there's nothing wrong with a little window shopping is there?

In perusing the internet for ideas, I found that one of fall's RTW 2012 trends would make the perfect holiday outfit: brocade!

Tuesday Love: Gatsby Me

My general sentiment about this collection that I found at Dear Creatures is as follows: squeeeee! The dresses are adorable and they styled them for the shoot in such a winning 30s-40s fashion to make even these modern dresses have the perfect touch of vintage to them. I love the model's hairstyle so much and I want every dress in this collection. And as much as I hate the term "modern vintage" (what does that mean?!!? How can something be modern and vintage?), this would be the closest thing to me accepting something as modern vintage. Of course, a lot of it has to do with the style as a whole. You can easily take these dresses and make them more modern, but I love the vibe of the shoot. And the shoes are to die for, but you know, women love shoes and all that. The cute short dresses make me think of this Great Gatsby shoot I found a while back. Maybe I'm just loving 20s, 30s, 40s style right now since I've had a 50s and 60s overload. The housewife look is over done for my tastes.

source

Inspiration Tuesday: Jewel Tones

Jewel tones are my favorite year round, but fall is when they really start hitting the stores and I couldn't be more excited to go shopping this season. I'm pretty pale and usually dark haired so those rich greens, purples, and blues suit me very well. At least I like to think so. Anyway, my closet is full of it and it never feel more appropriate than in that time in late fall, just before the Christmas season starts rolling in (you know, somewhere around early October now). So I pulled together three outfits using some of my favorite shades for some outfit inspiration. The first one is a little edgy and punk rock for a night out at the bar. The second one is a complete work ensemble if I worked somewhere that prohibited the wearing of jeans. And finally a date night outfit! Er, that is, if I had any dates to go on. Whomp, whomp. At least I'm prepared! Now if only Polyvore magically transported all the items you pulled into a collection into your closet, that would be perfect.

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

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

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

Monday Design: Jayson Home + a Couch Re-do

So my couch has been broken for probably over a year now. The arm is separating from the rest of it and to lessen the issue, the roommate and I took the legs off of it as what was supposed to be a temporary solution. Well, turns out couches are expensive and temporary became long-term very quickly. Every so often I get daydream-y and start window shopping the internet for new couches. And every so often I find some amazing things.

That's how I stumbled across Jayson Home. They're spring lookbook put me in new couch heaven. Of course, it's all completely out of my price range, but that doesn't mean I can't look right? I love the style of the spring/summer collection. It's got touches of mid-century modern yet is so entirely lush and regal. I would definitely enjoy resting my butt in on of these seats. A few of the arm chairs remind me of thrones and what better way to motivate me to blog regularly than to sit in a throne office chair? I must start saving my pennies.

This would be my office chair if I ever owned a big corporation or decided to become an evil scientist. 

Since it's going to be a long time until I can afford something like this, I've been considering other alternatives. This one grabbed me immediately because it's an IKEA hack of my exact couch. Same color and everything! 

How cool looking is that? It would completely solve the problem of the arm splitting because it would be supported now and I could have legs on my couch again! I haven't quite figured out yet if this would cost more to build than just picking up a new couch at the Salvation Army and I would have to try and convince the roommate to build it (I don't quite trust myself when it comes to carpentry), so we'll see. If I do decide to try and jerry rig this together somehow you better believe I'll share pictures!

What's one piece of furniture you wish you could replace or update?

Tuesday Trendspotting: Summer Wedges

Okay, okay, I know I'm a little early, but it's been so unseasonably warm here in Chicago that it's been impossible for me to not think about summer fashion. These shoes are perfect for Spring too! But, there is just something about a good sandal wedge that makes me think of summer! Check it out, they're open and airy while giving you the lift of heels BUT are more casual. What better shoe to wear to a summer barbecue? This puppies won't sink into the grass (because let's face it, that is SO annoying). 

So I quickly pulled out some favorites that I would love the add to my closet if I had some extra pocket cash to spend on 7 new pairs of shoes. As much as I love the orange and red pair, they actually replaced another teal wedge I put in but took out because I thought I was over-doing the teal. I guess that means teal is going to be my color of the year huh? Anyway, I'm ready to retire my sweaters for the season and pop back into those colorful wedges paired with mini skirts! It's about to get scandalous on here guys.

Tell me, what's your favorite summer accessory?

Summer Wedges by blacknblue featuring denim short shorts

Wrap shirt
$368 - aliceandolivia.com

Crop top
$60 - topshop.com

Miss Selfridge denim short shorts
$44 - missselfridge.com

Shoes
$109 - modcloth.com

Steve Madden platform sandals
$100 - heels.com

ALDO leather sandals
$81 - asos.com

Steve madden sandals
$100 - endless.com

ASOS lace up heels
$107 - asos.com

Steve madden sandals
$90 - stevemadden.com

Dorothy Perkins red wedge
$75 - dorothyperkins.com

Kendra Scott feather jewelry
kendrascott.com