Sweetheart of the Rodeo

dreamland

2012-02-21T09:07:00.048-05:00

One of my favorite luxuries is vintage sleepwear! Nothing can compare to the sheer glamour and luxury of those sweet silk and lace confections. I thought I'd share some of the creme de la creme of my modest collection. All of these pieces are 1940s to early 1950s, and all were thrifted for $3 to $10!!

~ 1950s nightie, 1940s bedjacket, 1920s silk roses:

~ 1940s/1950s "Tula" seersucker dressing gown, 1940s satin dressing gown:

I feel like Jean Harlow in the satin number, it's such a dreamboat. Was thrifted for ten clams... among my greatest vintage victories!

~1940s "Tutundgy Original" dressing gown:

....this pretty piece was clearly well-loved, and has quite a few stains and pinholes towards the hem. I think I'll take it up a few inches to eliminate those, and perhaps add some strategic snaps and sport it as a day dress this summer.

~ Some graceful midcentury nightgowns:

~ 1940s bedjacket:

~ 1940s mens' "Tootal" rayon robe:

....well now, what's happened to all the glamour?! Honestly, on many nights I just wrap up in this. A little more practical than floor-length satin, I daresay!

Oh, and of course, no vintage lady's bedroom is complete without a li'l boudoir doll...

That's all!

school rags

2012-02-15T10:51:00.002-05:00

Here are two li'l school outfits from this week. In anticipation of the new season of Mad Men (25 March!) I have been rewatching Seasons 1 and 2. Combine this with my weariness of winter's drab hues, and I've found myself quite fixated on vivid early '60s looks of late.....

Early '60s dress, thrifted Etienne Aigner penny loafers, '50s cowboy-print scarf, '50s belt.

I got this dress for my 18th birthday, and I have to say, it's one of my very favorites!! The damask print and vibrant blue are killer; such a pick-me-up on dreary days.

Now back to drabsville, but still keeping the '50s silhouettes at hand!

1950s Pendleton 49er, 1950s dress, 1950s fur collar, old riding boots, my grandmother's cameo

I've been doing this faux side-bang thing a lot lately, it's handy on those blustery days when my real bangs are just too unruly.

Sayonara! See ya later!

Henry Clive

2012-02-13T09:13:00.001-05:00

The dreamtastic pastel pin-ups of Mr. Henry Clive (1882-1960) have been inspiring me of late... I love how they are so gloriously romantic, so colorful, and laud the unnatural beauty of the painted lady. A swell reference for hair and make-up styles, and just such a joy to look at.

And oh... here's wishing you a happy St. Valentine's Day!!

♥♥♥♡♥♥♥

I'm gonna be warm this winter

2012-02-09T09:05:00.012-05:00

Just a little show-n-tell with some of my favorite everyday coats. No matter what cute frock I'm wearing underneath, my darn coats are really all most people see this time of year! Northern New England winters are long and bitter, you see, and it's function over form when it comes to bundlin' up. So here you have it, this is how I keep warm:

My versatile li'l dreamboat coat, a '50s cashmere shawl-collared number...
(The cashmere's lovely, cozy as can be but quite sveltely tailored)

My late '50s/early '60s snow queen coat...

(...I think most vintage gals own some variation on this classic mid-century swing coat!)

My '60s "Mincara" faux mink, perfect for those Mildred Pierce kind of days...

My two '60s black faux-furs, which yes, are quite similar. The one on the right hits just above the knee, though, and the longer one has far more elegant lines and detailing.
(Also, that's my '50s kitty-cat muff and cap set!)

(Those two pictures are from last winter, but the coats still look the same)

Now I do have a couple of ~fancy~ older coats, but they're neither warm enough nor sturdy enough for winter in the Great North Woods! These here were all thrifted on the cheap (none cost over $15) , so if they do get worn out it's not the end of the world. By the by, wearing dresses and skirts everyday is seldom a problem despite our chilly climate. Typically I just layer over-the-knee socks over wool tights, and it's pretty cozy (though I do favor wool slacks on the especially windy days). Ear muffs and headscarves are frequently worn, as are mittens.

If you have any tricks or tips for maintaining vintage style in cold climes, do share!

❄ ❅ ❆ ❅ ❄

Dale Evans, Queen of the West

2012-02-05T18:08:00.000-05:00

... is the very best ♥

" 'Cowgirl' is an attitude really. A pioneer spirit, a special American brand of courage. The cowgirl faces life head-on, lives by her own lights, and makes no excuses. Cowgirls take stands; they speak up. They defend things they hold dear." -- Dale Evans

{ Photo credits-- 1 and 10: Doctor Macro. 2-5: royrogers.com. 6-9 from Flickr; click through for source. }

✯✯✯

classy lassie

2012-02-01T09:17:00.082-05:00

Hello!!

Today I thought I'd share some of my recent school day outfits with you all. Pretty casual... I'm all about easy '40s and '50s separates when it's book learnin' time. Also, I don't know if you've ever been to Vermont, but it is renowned for being cold and snowy, so one must dress accordingly. ("There's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing!", as people who are not me like to say.)

Here we have some 1950s wool slacks, 1950s nordic sweater, J. Crew blouse, and Bass saddle shoes....

(Navy/gold thrifted cardigan....)

And here we've got a thrifted blouse, 1940s rayon gab skirt, 1940s suit jacket, and Bass saddles.....

Look Ma, no bangs!!

And yes, I am a complete anomaly on campus. Most of my classmates are far more conventional in their sartorial choices, and I do get my fair share of dirty looks and mockery.... but it's fine, as I'd feel much worse if I dressed in modern casual styles just to fit in. I can honestly say I've never in my life owned sweatpants (if you're wondering, I wore patterned leggings to gym class back in the day) and I'm not about to start. Now, I am not judging you lucky things who can pull that off, but in my own experience I've found dressing nicely helps me stay alert and focused in class, gives me some much-needed confidence when navigating the world, and shows my professors respect. (And then there's the part where I frankly don't care all that much for 21st century aesthetics, haha...)

Are any of you scholars too? Will you join me in my crusade to bring saddle shoes back?

.......

back to school

2012-01-30T09:30:00.096-05:00

Yeah, more collegiate looks. It may be a style more commonly associated with Fall, but as my spring semester gets under way, it's still how I'm dressing every day. These pictures come from the Bard College Archives, and were taken in the '40s and '50s.

(Oh, I've the same ol' lament... why, oh why, don't college boys dress like this anymore?!)

^^That sweet pup is her Seeing Eye Dog.

Bard has a reputation for appealing to more artistic types, and that's reflected in the way these young women are dressed. Sometimes all those gorgeous Life pictures can be mildly discouraging, as many of those girls seem to be fair, willowy, natural beauties. I like how these gals seem a little more relaxed... not so immaculate, with glasses galore and nary a saddle shoe in sight. Notice all the jeans and sneakers; my oh my!

You can see more of the archives here. They go back to the 19th century and up 'til the 1980s, and are really worth a look if student (and faculty!) fashions interest you.

little darling argus

2012-01-19T17:12:00.000-05:00

Howdy friends. I hope you're well. I've been awfully busy these days, as it's my first week of spring classes. Exciting but tiring!

For Christmas, I bought myself a cute '40s Argus C3. I used to be very interested in film photography in highschool, but then one day my creaky thrifted '70s camera broke and I couldn't afford a new one, and that kind of fizzled out. It's really nice to work with film again! This is the first roll I've shot in the Argus, and I'm thrilled that they turned out so well... I was kind of expecting them to turn out all blurry and full of light leaks, since it's such an old camera and I did get it on eBay, ha. There were some peculiar double exposures, but I find them charming.

These were all taken out on the roads around where I live. The barn is by the previously abandoned house I used to explore as a kid, but someone is fixing it up now... good for the house, but I'll miss riding my horse around it and peering in the dusty windows. Well, at least I got to smuggle out the front of a beautiful upright piano top from the dumpster; it's Victorian and hand carved with flowers.

summertime blues

2012-01-09T10:51:00.000-05:00

There just ain't no cure. It may be only January, but I am already itching to get out the pale blue cotton frocks of sumer.

This is a 1950s R & K Originals dress I thrifted in November. It cost me $5. Oh yes, it's in wonderful shape and fits me just perfectly. Featuring rhinestone buttons, a pintuck bodice, and a built-in crinoline, I can't wait 'til it's warm enough to wear it!!

Then this late '60s cutie is from the lovely Dandelion Vintage store. I got it in late summer, and didn't get enough chances to enjoy it while the weather was appropriate. It reminds me of something Sissy Spacek might've worn in Badlands. Here's a couple li'l snapshots from greener days:

Clearly I've made a grave mistake by remaining in such a cold climate all these years, hehe. Well, as soon as I'm done with college (oh, and have some dough to spare), I think it may be "goodbye, Northern land" for this cold-hating weakling. Though I will say this for our cold Vermont winters: they are spectacularly pretty, and they make one appreciate the summer's sweetness all the more.

steely resolve

2012-01-04T09:03:00.026-05:00

I never really make New Year's Resolutions, but this year I am. You see, my poor li'l Electromuse lap steel guitar has been sitting in the corner, all dusty and neglected, for too long now. I've had it for about two years, but I get in this awful habit of practicing avidly for a few weeks, then just... forgetting about it for months and months. It's such a cute little thing, from the 1940s and sounds swell! It's just shameful, my inability to take up any instrument seriously. So my New Year's Resolution is to be a good girl and practice the damn thing.

When I start to feel lazy, here are some songs zinging with steel to inspire me, and maybe you.

And d'you like my dress? I'm in love with it! In this dress, I feel ready to become a Queen of the Steel Guitar.

Oh boy, now if I fail, all 434 (!!) of you will be so disappointed in me. Can't be letting my public down, eh! So, what are you working on for 2012 ?

(PS: If you still aren't hip the appeal of the steel guitar, let Tammy tell you:
)

new year's eve!

2012-01-02T09:00:00.029-05:00

Here are some photos of my New Year's get-up, snapped before dinner. Now, I am not much of a glamour girl-- I'll take feedsack over silk any day-- but it is fun to play dress-up when the occasion calls for it. This is my ten-dollar 1940s dress; it's pretty dreamy! I topped it off with my beloved '10s or '20s embroidered jacket, and a '50s fur collar.

I hope no one finds it annoying and braggartish of me, the way I go on about fantastically low prices. However, for anyone daunted by the high costs of old clothing these days, I want to emphasize that it's not the elitist and unattainable endeavor it may seem. True, I have the relative fortune of living in a rural, lower-income area where there's little demand for Grandma's musty old rags; I wear vintage partly for frugality and I wouldn't want people thinking I'm some happy-go-lucky big spender. Frankly, in my whole collection of 1900s-1950s garments, there isn't much that cost me over $20. The extreme trendiness of vintage has morphed it from a populist, anti-establishment statement into a fashion-forward status symbol, which I find sad.

OK, sorry for the PSA there. Ahem, back to the clothes!

I'd been horseback riding in a misty light rain that morning, and my pincurl set was long gone, hence the headscarf (in a vague homage to Carmen Miranda!)

I hope all of you had a merry time ringing in 2012! Wishing you all the best in the year to come!
And my most sincere gratitude to each and every one of you who's taken the time to read along or comment during my first full year blogging here. You're the sweetest, and your kind words have given me so much encouragement!!!

suits me just fine

2011-12-28T16:30:00.000-05:00

Being both a university student and a victim of rural Vermont's tough climate, nothing makes more sense than a good wardrobe of suit jackets and simple wool skirts. This '40s jacket is my very favorite, and you've seen it a lot! It's just perfect in every way (well, except for a couple of moth nibbles).

Alas, no snow here-- shame on you, Vermont, for giving us a white Halloween but a green Christmas. Though I must confess, I am somewhat glad, as this allows me to prance about in impractical shoes a bit longer, hehe! It is so cold, though, I had to throw an overcoat and beret on top of this to survive the icy winds.

Well, this is my last post of 2011! Here's a sneak peek at my lovely new year's eve frock:

No, I don't have any fancy plans, but this satin 1940s confection was a mere $10-- of course I couldn't pass it up.

Well, I'll see you next year! Have a wonderful New Year's Eve!

Magical Mainzer Cats

2011-12-27T13:00:00.000-05:00

When I was a youngster, and thoroughly obsessed with cats, I began collecting these charming retro cat postcards. Today I still have most of 'em tacked upon my bedroom wall, and a little research tells me they were originally the product of Alfred Mainzer Publishing, though the artist behind these masterpieces remains anonymous. Are they not just fantastically bizarre? I'd love to slip into their madcap candy-colored world!

And this is just the tip of the iceberg, folks. You can see many, many more right here.

Have a Cool Yule!

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000-05:00

...and a Frantic First!!!

Muchas gracias to the lovely Ms. Susan for my Christmas frock!! I feel like Scarlett O'Hara in it!

A li'l Yuletide aesthetic inspiration:

Have a very very merry holiday season, my dears!!

I don't know about you all, but this strange ol' year can't end soon enough for me; here's to a bright 2012!

how now, cowichan?

2011-12-19T11:26:00.001-05:00

I have been so busy with school, but I'm finally on winter holiday! Here are some of my greatest finds lately, and an outfit that's quite representative of the sort of things I've been wearing of late (a.k.a. dull and practical!).

For one thing, I found the 1950s cowichan of my dreams. Cost me ten dollars; a fair bargain!

I call this my "1950s dad look". Pleated trousers and kiltied shoes, ha!
The pants are 1940s or 1950s wool gabardine, and yes, you guessed it, mens'. Six dollars on eBay, I might add; I guess because they'd be freakishly small for most fellas.

The shoes, which you tragically can't really see in the above pictures, were a swell find! They're vintage Spauldings and called the "Miss Highlander", naturally-- isn't that kiltie the ultimate? Oh, and they came with the original box, which made me giddy:

They were originally $16 at Lord and Taylor, New York, according to the price tag. They clearly aren't deadstock, though; in fact, I must bring them to the cobbler for reheeling. I wonder if the original owner was a college girl herself...

honky tonk angels

2011-12-12T12:17:00.003-05:00

Turn that jukebox way up high and fill my glass up while I cry.

Actually, there's nothing to cry about when you're a honky-tonk girl! Here are some gals who roam the range (or the barroom) and look pretty nifty.

♥

Always remember, buckaroos n buckarettes:
The higher the hair, the closer to God
✞

the lady in the tutti-frutti hat

2011-12-05T09:44:00.037-05:00

Wow! have I been busy lately... final exams are around the corner. What a joy. Anyway, in this bleak time of late nights in the library and cold windy December weather, I like to tie a jaunty patterned scarf in my hair and put on a li'l too much blush and red lippy à la Ms. Miranda. Yessir, no need for anti-depressants when you've got the Brazilian bombshell!!

Hope this magnificent dame helps to clear away some of your Monday blues!

(All photos nabbed from Dr Macro... they are humungous, so click on 'em to get an up-close look at the glorious details!)

the traveler

2011-11-22T10:48:00.000-05:00

I had the most wonderful surprise recently... I won this darling Shabby Apple dress ("The Traveler") in a giveaway over on the beautiful blog Demure Folk!!!

I don't have many modern frocks in my wardrobe, a fact I often lament; as nice as it is to have a closet stuffed with 70 year old dresses, it isn't practical in the least. This little lovely is such a welcome addition; it fits like a dream and is so beautifully tailored, in a sturdy fabric. The fact that some of the proceeds go to charity really wins me over, too. The only problem is that I shall have to wait until Spring to wear it outside properly, hehe!

Our meadow looks so pretty in its late Autumn golden glow.

Thank you so very much to Tess and to Shabby Apple for holding the giveaway! ♥

I'll definitely be a repeat customer!

the velveteen habit

2011-11-19T20:10:00.001-05:00

Forgive my absence! I have been having quite a hectic week, with a flurry of quizzes and papers before we were let free for Thanksgiving break, and a rather inconvenient little cold as well. Now I have a whole week at my disposal, so that's good. Here is a li'l outfit post for you.

1950s "Shipmates" velvet cigarette pants, 1910s shirtwaist, department store oxfords

My trusty li'l velvet pants have been seeing a lot of wear lately; they're great, I feel like Little Lord Fauntleroy in them! That is a good thing, in my book. Later on I switched out the '10s taffeta shirtwaist for a [slightly] sturdier '40s silk blouse and '20s embroidered jacket.

I'm sorry these are such terrible photographs, my camera does not take low light well. Anyway, in conclusion, 1. velvet trousers are nice and 2. you CAN have a giant '40s front roll even with bangs. I teased my fringe and voila, built-in rat! This is such a revelation!

Songstress Style: The Black Belles

2011-11-11T10:47:00.004-05:00

Last Fall I became quite enthralled by the Black Belles' first single here; unfortunately, they seemed liked a mysterious flash-in-the-pan gimmick. How happy was I to find out that they are not only legit, but they have a whole album that just came out! I get the feeling Jack White is more than a little involved with production... but is that such a bad thing? Their goth-garage-girl group sounds are swell, and their dramatically witchy looks are nice as ice.

If you dig, buy their new LP.

PS: Happy 11-11-11!!!!!!!

she wears the pants

2011-11-09T09:35:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed how I'm always wearing pants these days?! In the past, I'd shunned trousers; being rather small in stature with an hourglassy figure, I decided I "couldn't" wear them. How stupid of me! I can't believe all the fun I've been missing out on. Nothing's more elegant than sharply tailored Katharine Hepburn-esque trousers; styled right, they just ooze Old Hollywood glamour. Very practical, as well, given how bitter cold Vermont is about to get. And most importantly of all, gals of yore loved them some pants too!

So much to love about this one...

("Eatmore". Saddle shoes. The tough girl's smirk. Best picture ever.)

(I totally have the saaaaame Elvis record as Natalie!!)

(They call him a "folk singer" on the liner notes which is sorta funny.)

the grand tour

2011-11-07T08:51:00.002-05:00

Step right up! Come on in, if you'd like to take the grand tour!

Howdy. This here's my little world for the winter.
The worst part about college for me is the 2-year residency requirement. I hate living in a dormitory; it doesn't mesh too well with my aesthetic sensibilities. Haha. But I keep the place looking O.K. by filling it to the brim with little old knick-knacks.

I do like the ceiling.

Oh look, here's my latest $1 record haul (gracefully modeled by my hand-croched clown draftstopper). How these end up in the cast-off discount box is a mystery to me! Who doesn't wanna have a twist party with Chubby Checker?!

It's cold out there, folks; it's time to Think Mink!
(Vintage, that is, I don't condone the killing of li'l critters)

Well, there you have it. Nothing special, but it's alright. It's a nice retreat from the overwhelmingly bland campus around me, that's for sure; my state university is not renowned for its vibrancy or diversity, to put it mildly. But honestly, it just takes a li'l Connie Francis and a chalkware lamp to cheer me up. And Joan Crawford sheet music.

season of the witch

2011-11-03T09:29:00.002-04:00

Hallowe'en may be over, but I think November is truly the spookiest month of all. The days of ever-grey skies, the frosty moonlit nights, the barren fields and skeletal tree branches... it's just the right time to makeup your face like you're Pola Negri and slink around in eerily archaic black rags. Here are some pictures, and some music, along this theme.

✯ Clarence John Laughlin ✯

Sounds, Pt. I

✯ Ellen Rogers ✯

Sounds, Pt. II

the willard asylum suitcases

2011-11-01T18:50:00.000-04:00

1. Have a look at this wonderful photography series I just stumbled upon. These suitcases were found in the attic of an abandoned insane asylum in upstate New York; the contents are now being recorded in this stunning series of pictures. It's fascinating to see what got left behind, and the context makes it especially sad and a little spooky. You may read more about the project here.

2. This weekend it snowed (!!!) and we were plunged into the throes of midwinter :/ I am hoping the sun melts it all away sharpish, as it's much too early!! Look at this surreal picture of my yard:

Well, I hope you had a splendid hallowe'en!
(I didn't really celebrate it this year, as the combination of a blizzard-induced power outage and impending midterm exams left me little time for fun, haha)

smile, darn ya, smile!

2011-10-28T12:07:00.000-04:00

How adorable is 1931's vulpine singing brakeman?! It sure made me smile; I hope it brings you lotsa cheer as well!

And for good measure, here's my favorite Felix cartoon from when I was a young 'un:

(I was quite taken with the li'l kittens' "song" there when I was a kiddy; I could belt out a mean rendition of it myself, performed along with the accompanying dance, haha!)
♥

Have a very merry Hallowe'en, y'all! What are you going to be?!

These cartoons have made me wish I'd had the time to sew up one of these:

Oh well, next year I'll think ahead a little ;)
♥

plaid rags

2011-10-24T08:00:00.002-04:00

Just a little outfit post. Everything is '40s or '50s except for my grey socks and my magical mustard Remix shoes. The little tartan 1940s jacket is one of my favorite things in my closet; I bought it for $5 in high school, can you believe it? And it's still going strong. Now that it's officially chilly up here in the Great North Woods, I've been having a grand old time with layers and pattern-mixing galore, as you can see. Even my chiffon headscarf sports a jaunty rainbow zebra motif. I also applied this aesthetic to the ol' blog here: note the new autumnal-hued wallpaper!

Speaking of patterns, my duvet cover makes a nifty backdrop, eh? It's almost like I took these pictures in beautiful Kentucky horse country.

Lately I've been wearing this dark violet lipstick a lot! It came out sorta brown-looking on the camera; in life, it's actually very dark. It's a nice gothic twist, for Halloween and all.

Here's a more accurate (if rather grainy) shot from good ol' Photobooth:

Also, a little trick I've found: a slick or two of violet lipstick over your favorite blue-based dark red will result in the wine-colored flapper lips of your dreams.

Did you have a nice weekend? Mine was awfully dull (it won't quit raining!!), but I have a real swell week coming up. I can't wait to tell you all about it.

school spirit

2011-10-19T12:16:00.000-04:00

Here are some more beautiful New England college girls of the '30s, '40s, and '50s! I've been taking most of my style cues from these gals lately; I love how practical and easy-to-wear these little ensembles are, while still retaining plenty of vintage charm. I imagine once I've graduated and have a "real" job these kinds of outfits would look smart in the professional world, as well.

(See, when I was a naive li'l freshman, I was totally expecting my classes to look like this next one: eager, fresh-faced youth listening attentively to a wise old intellectual in ornate historic buildings... talk about disappointing, haha! Look at them, they're having tea. So jealous...)

Note the two girls in sailor middies! Adorable.

Note the girl in the backwards cardigan!

I could stare at this one for hours; so many glorious details!

These covers from the Girl Scouts official magazine are equally swell for sportswear and collegiate looks; see more here.

Finally, here's a little tune to shake off the mid-week blues. I can't stop listening to it, I've been humming it for days now! (much to the annoyance of all around me, I'm sure ;)

teddy girl

2011-10-17T09:34:00.000-04:00

I wish I was a Judy! (Who doesn't?)

It's been quiet around here! I've been busy being a student, I suppose.

Well, here's a little outfit from me. I love teddy girls 'cause they were toughies and dressed a lot like the lads, and yet it somehow emphasized their lady-like beauty. This outfit is a li'l homage to them, and fits a general formula I've been following due to inclement weather up here. The '40s suit jacket is actually the only piece of vintage I'm wearing; it reminds me of a drape jacket (alas, I have yet to sew those razor blades and fishhooks under the collar; I'll get right on that!). It's nice to have days when I save wear-n-tear on my beloved older frocks, without compromising aesthetics.

Here are some real Teds for your viewing pleasure. I suppose in a way they were the original vintage enthusiasts, with their love of Edwardian tailoring. Funny, that!

Aww, Teddy Family!! Adopt ME!!

Well, I am off to listen to some skiffle and practice my knife fighting skills*; see ya around!

♥♥♥

*just kidding! More like the Boswell Sisters and art history homework...

nothing ever happens here

2011-10-07T08:00:00.005-04:00

This week I had the treat of finally watching Grand Hotel, a rather delightful film, made all the more so by the presence of Crawford and Garbo. This is the classic film where Greta just vants to be alone. It's very stylish and dramatic, in true Old Hollywood form, with a star-studded cast and lavish set. I recommend it heartily for a little Golden Era glamour and escapism.

However, the DVD extras had even more fun in store... this bizarre, fabulous 1933 musical parody of the film was the highlight of the evening, I must confess. I know I must seem crazy, but it actually had me in stitches. "Garbo"'s giant loafers! "Joan"'s bold wink! Way better than the original film itself, I daresay ;)

It takes a good-natured swipe at the fluffy Busby Berkley musicals, too, with cute chorus girls in cuter costumes bursting into synchronized hoofing at the most random moments.

(Love how the onlookers barely bat an eye, particularly in the kitchen scene, haha!)

Now, I've a burning question to ask of my fellow classic cinema buffs! Was this parody thing commonly done?! I tried to find some information about it online to no avail; let me know if you know of any other '30s (or thereabouts) spoof films like this one, 'cause I think they're ever so nice!

If you've not seen the film, I suppose the above short won't make too much sense (but watch it anyway for the musical numbers!), so here are some pictures of Greta G. and my beloved Joan Crawford looking elegantly angsty as a "disillusioned ballerina and scheming stenographer", respectively.

And some trivia gleaned from this site:

Joan and Greta Garbo aren't seen together in the same frame as a purposeful plan in order to avoid one actress from upstaging the other. Greta Garbo insisted on top billing which infuriated Joan to the point of exacting a little revenge of her own during production. Knowing that Greta Garbo hated tardiness and Marlene Dietrich on an equal level, Joan made it a habit of arriving late on set, and in between scenes, she would play Marlene Dietrich records - loudly!

Oh, that Lucy LeSueur, such a kidder. This makes me love her even more than I already did!

Well, here's to a lovely weekend, my dears!

♥♥♥

dress of my dreams

2011-10-05T08:00:00.004-04:00

My 1910s daydreams came true... this little darling found its way to my closet!

I found this lovely frock at the antique store a few weekends ago. It was marked at $30.00, which I'll admit is a steep price for me on such a frippery, but the booth was 25% off to boot, and for an Edwardian day dress that is in quite wearable condition... well, I'd have been silly to pass it up! Oh, and did I mention that it's my size exactly? It's seen better days, OK; I do believe the fabric has faded a bit over the years, as you can see around the seams, and there are some smatterings of rust spots. However, these age marks blend into the exquisite floral pattern ever so well, adding heaps to its charisma and spooky-sweet charm. Now, be a dear and humor me as I gush over all the dainty details...

It has a built-in net camisole and silk skirt lining... I am just fascinated by the intricate construction of this dress!

The fact it has the original belt is wonderful!

This is the best picture in terms of true color... it was a rainy day when I took these, and the indoor lamp light shed a golden glow on things. Here you see the worst of the foxing. I may try giving it a little rinse with some gentle soap sometime, but I'd hate to risk upsetting those antique dyes. I dunno, I'm rather content to live with the imperfections-- they give it an ethereal, time-worn patina, just like faded wallpaper and peeling paint in a dilapidated farmhouse.

So there you have it. Sorry to flood you with all these pictures and to keep rambling on about what must seem like a filthy old rag to some of you! I'm just so elated to have finally acquired my first wearable (and brightly colored!) 1900s frock. Structurally, I am amazed at how sturdy it feels; given the fact that the only flaws seem like they come from storage issues, I wouldn't be surprised if this piece got little wear but was tucked away in someone's attic. Of course I'm not about to wear it for everyday life, as it's naturally very fragile due to being a centenarian and all, but I think it may have enough life left in it for a calm, elegant tea party or two...

Do you have any special dream-come-true finds in your closet?
Also, I am quite ignorant about the specifics of earlier fashions; might any of you know just what sort of occasion this dress would be for? Day dress, house dress, tea dress...? I'd appreciate some input!

proud boy scout

2011-10-03T10:07:00.001-04:00

Hello dollies! Thanks a million for all the birthday well-wishing; y'all are the sweetest!!

Here's a quick outfit post to share with you. I am wearing some old Boy Scout trousers and a '60s Rockmount western shirt I snagged on eBay way back in 10th grade.

I'm crazy about these new-to-me Boy Scout slacks, thrifted for $10 (I got the matching shirt, too-- it's too big but covered in nifty pins and badges). They're great rough-up pants for mundane stuff like early morning classes and late nights in the library. I guess I'm a regular ol' cross-dresser over here, 'cause my two other favorite pairs of pants (these and these) are also originally for the lads. The only inexpensive vintage womens' pants I can ever seem to find are the ubiquitous, tapered-leg '50s/'60s slacks and Jeanies, which are cute and all, but I find some great stuff in the mens' section. My figure is not especially boyish, and they actually seem to fit quite splendidly, if I may say so myself. Also, all these Boy Scout and Navy cast-offs are tough as nails. Mine have all come from antique stores and eBay thus far, but this website is gonna have me broke, I reckon... they have sailor cast-offs galore for very reasonable prices. Get yours today.

These Scout pants of mine have a nifty li'l pocket on the inner waistband. But oh-oh, what's this? "This garment may be worn only by a registered member". I actually feel a little guilty about that...

(d'you like the antique oriental carpet I lugged into my dorm room?!)

Oh yes, did you notice? My hair is back to black!! After two long years of growing it out, the siren call of raven-hued locks was just too much to resist. I feel more like myself with black hair.

I hope you had a nice weekend!

a happy birthday

2011-09-26T09:40:00.000-04:00

Today is my birthday!

I spent the weekend at home in celebration of the anniversary of my birth; now I'm 19 years of age. Funny, I feel a lot younger, and also a whole lot older. Like any 19 year old, I took advantage of my return home to spend some quality time hanging around my room playing dress-up in a 1920s gown and playing with my doll. I'm pretty wild, I know. No, I also had a little fête (with cake, of course) and partook in some classically Autumnal activities, like apple picking and riding my horse around in the beautiful woods.

This is The Committee. I make sure I have their sartorial approval before I leave the house, and let me tell you, they were thrilled about this 1920s silk gown. The girl on the right in particular; she even wanted it for herself.

I received some wonderful gifts: tickets to see Gillian Welch in October, a lamp, a vintage Peck & Peck skirt, and some $$$. Perhaps the most beautiful gift was this fantastic violet squaw dress from the lovely Miss M. Garth. I can't wait to wear it out; it's truly a frock fit for this self-proclaimed sweetheart of the rodeo.

I hope your weekend was swell and dandy!

so long sumertime

2011-09-15T23:01:00.000-04:00

A fall chill is in the air up here, and the leaves are really truly starting to turn... I'm quite happy to snuggle up in sweaters and furs again, and to get back to learnin' a thing a two at school, but it's a very bittersweet time as well. See, I can't wait for apple picking and frosty mornings and even Halloween, but summer is so beautiful and mysterious and dreamy, and it just can't be beat. Sometimes I do wish summer could go on forever. These are some 35 mm pictures I took of my strange little world that sort of capture what makes Vermont summers so idyllic.

But I'm still excited for Fall. Today I wore my favorite '30s long-sleeved dress and a mink stole and tights!! Yeah! I was getting so sick of cotton.

promenade in green

2011-09-12T09:30:00.001-04:00

Lately I've been most drawn '40s fashions... must be a fall thing, as the neat, fitted silhouettes and autumnal color palettes are just right for the coming season. Here's a sweet-as-can-be li'l '40s swing dress I picked up for a song (perhaps you recall it from this post). I'm not sure if it's real silk, or real fancy rayon, but it feels amazing, and the watercolor-y floral print is very charming. Most of all, I'm enchanted with the perfect shape... the swingy skirt, the sharp collar, the sleeves, and the roomy pockets are just too good to be true. I've been wearing it at least once a week, it's just so easy and cute.

This Barbour jacket of mine has been shielding me from the rain and chill since I was six years old, putting it squarely in the vintage camp ;) My mom bought it extra-big so I could grow into it, you see. Sure was a good investment!

These pictures are, admittedly, a little old, taken just before I went back to school, but I seem to wear some variation on this theme a lot these days, and this is a much prettier background than school. It's a weird thing to get nostalgic about, but I'm sad to be missing the last days of my little Morning Glory colony's splendor. (I picked them to grow 'cause I thought they were pretty, but it turned out they matched my house perfectly, imagine that!)

I hope you had a nice weekend! I finally went to see Midnight In Paris... it was so good!!!!!

le voyage dans la lune

2011-09-09T09:30:00.009-04:00

Hey folks! I've been quite busy with all the back-to-school + flood aftermath goings-ons, so expect things to be a little quiet around these parts (...but not silent!). I was so enchanted by this little film, though, I just had to make a post all about it. 1902's Le Voyage Dans La Lune is all kinds of surreal magic. I really love the sailor outfits those chorus girls are rocking; have you ever seen such short-shorts on a Gibson girl?! Quel horreur!

If you have 10 minutes to spare, watch it!

(Bonus points for the narrator's wonderfully thick accent)

P.S.: I sense this is a rare opportunity to bring up this other little film, which had me squealing in delight! Dogs Of Yore are awesome.
I wish milk was still delivered like that.

hell among the yearlings

2011-09-05T09:00:00.026-04:00

So you know that Joyce Carol Oates story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been"? If you're an American from my generation, you've likely encountered it at some point in English class. Well, the story was partially inspired by the tragic true tale of a dashing young serial killer named Charles Schmid. When I had to read Oates' story in 11th grade, I became far more engrossed by these photographs than the ol' short story itself. The murders were committed around Arizona in the mid-'60s, and the article containing these images first appeared on March 4, 1966 in Life Magazine. Their strange, poignant, and brutally honest portrayal of '60s Southwestern teens (all of whom seem chillingly nonchalant considering the context) makes for some surprisingly compelling pictures.

You can click to enlarge.

"The Tucson Speedway, which is a hang-out for teenagers with nothing to do, which was frequented by murderer Charles Schmid."

"Teenage girls looking for the body of Alleen Rowe, in connection with murderer Charles Schmid."

Oh yeah: happy Labor Day!! Enjoy your time off.

anchors aweigh

2011-09-01T10:00:00.000-04:00

Ahoy there! Well, it's the first day of September... though summer may not be over according to the calendar, this event coupled with the start of school is its official death knell in my book. Here's an outfit I was frequently donning in the last few weeks of summer: a classic modern striped top and these WWII-era sailor trousers. Ladies, if finding cute vintage-style slacks on the cheap is difficult for you, I heartily recommend hitting up your local Army and Navy Surplus store and getting yourself some authentic sailor trousers. This 1940s pair fit gloriously with just a few alterations, and I imagine many girls of the era would've worn ones just like these for their glamourous beachside holidays. Gee, I wish I wasn't stuck in a landlocked state, though!

Do you like this anchor in our garden? I saw part of it sticking out of the sand at low-tide a few summers ago in Provincetown, and I then proceeded to dig the whole thing up with a cup and a spoon. (I wish I was making that up, but we couldn't find a trowel at our cottage and I was pretty bored...)

OK, friends, have yourselves a dandy weekend ♥

fall finds

2011-08-29T09:50:00.000-04:00

It feels strange to be talking of something so shallow after yesterday, but we must move on and forward, so I'm going to go ahead and share this scheduled post with you. Thank you for your kind comments; they are much appreciated.

I've found myself some neat stuff to ward of the end-of-summer blues...

This is a WWII-era U.S. Army sack (dated 1941); they sure were built tough, as this one is in such nice condition. I found a nickel from 1961 and a fishhook inside, so I guess it had a second life carrying someone's tackle around; always fun to have a little backstory! I'm going to use it to carry my books around at school.

"1941", see? That was a neat find, and just $5.00!

My Fall shoes! Inspired by all those '30s and '40s college girl pictures, I fell in love with these Bass saddle shoes. Don't ya love the little heel? Makes 'em a little bit more elegant than classic saddles, but they're still very comfortable to walk in.

Some cool dresses I found at the antiques store: this red 1950s house dress was $8.00; the 1960s pink square dancing dress, 1940s rayon day dress, and 1940s knit sweater dress were all $10.00 each.
....Just to reassure my fellow vintage lovers , I should add that I just hung up the sweater dress for pics, and it is now sitting all nicely folded on my shelf ;)

Not a "find" per say, but after months of dreaming, I finally got the gumption to bang a few nails in the walls and start building a Wall Of Hats in my bedroom at home. Yes, now I'm in a dorm room (darned residency requirement...!!) but I can't wait to go home again and spend some more time admiring my handiwork, haha!

Found anything fun for the upcoming autumn??

hurricane irene

2011-08-28T20:30:00.000-04:00

To anyone impacted by Irene in any way, my heart goes out to you. I sincerely hope every one of you are safe and sound.

Irene has absolutely devastated Southern Vermont, and though luckily I'm up North at school right now, I'm hearing news of towns and roads I know so well being ravaged by floods. As a matter of fact, the house my mother moved out of just this June has been washed away by floods, along with many other houses on that street. I am heartsick, terrified to hear about the fates of all the neighborhood dogs and cats, and we still had lots of unreplaceable heirloom furniture, artwork, and sentimental childhood things packed away in storage there that are gone forever. These houses were all historic early 19th century beauties, too, and in our sleepy little town of 700 people, this is quite a blow.

However, I feel so blessed we were no longer really living in the house, and to my knowledge, no people were seriously injured in the wreckage. When I feel sad about all the material things I've lost, I just recall that all my friends, folks, and critters are alive and well. And I'm not usually the type to go on about miracles and such, but to think we had just moved some more of our favorite things out of the old house last weekend... it's really something. I know many weren't that lucky, though, and I want you to know my thoughts are with you and yours. ♥

RIP, Water Street House. This 1920s dress was something I found in the attic there, along with baskets full of Victorian through 1930s letters, calling cards, books, and photographs. Those pieces are all safely tucked away at my dad's house, and will serve as a permanent reminder of the glorious little farmhouse that once was.

queen of the cornfield

2011-08-26T14:20:00.000-04:00

Hey there, folks. It's been awhile since I showed my face, so I though I'd change that. It's been a busy last few weeks as I cram in as much summer fun as I possibly can. Tomorrow I'm heading back to University for another round of learnin'. Hopefully my classes will be fun. I have a film studies class that exclusively covers the Silent era... we have a whole text book just on Buster Keaton, my favorite actor ever... needless to say, I'm quite excited. I'm in mourning over the end of summer though; really now, how did it slip away so quickly?!

This cornfield is this place, all grown up. I take lots of walks up there with my dog. Running through corn stalks sounds a lot more romantic than the actuality; really, the place is dripping with big daddy longlegs waiting to pounce, so I avoid the actual corn as much as I can, hehe.

Enjoy the weekend!!!

Paper Moon (1973)

2011-08-17T10:21:00.000-04:00

A favorite film of mine; the stark black-and-white imagery calls to mind the works of Walker Evans and Dorothea Lange, and Addie Pray gives Scout Finch a run for the money in the category of Greatest Gruff Little Tomboy of the Great Depression. In these hot, dusty last days of summer, its aesthetic is everything I want.

Perhaps one of the best parts is the soundtrack!
Have a listen, and then scroll down for some pictures.
(images nabbed from all over the web. click to enlarge.)

I'd guess most of you have seen this classic before, but on the off chance you haven't, please do. It's on Netflix Instant Watch now, as a matter of fact. It's a little sappy, sure, but it's awfully endearing and a wonderful evocation of the Dust Bowl-era American Midwest.

collegiate style for fall

2011-08-10T10:06:00.002-04:00

Although I'm still in denial over here, the scary truth is, classes start in less than three weeks for me! Summer is my favorite season, and here in cold old Vermont they are preciously short. Why, I feel like my vacation's just started, though it's been over three whole months now. There is one thing to look forward to, though... autumn dressing!! I get excited just thinking about cracking out the tights, oxfords, suit jackets, wool skirts, cardigans, and mink collars again.

We vintage bloggers must have some sort of telepathic connection, 'cause I had the idea for this post on Monday, then took a gander at my blogroll today to find several posts in the very same vein! I'm loving all the inspiration!! This series of images from the Life archives is what initially struck my fancy; these gals are students at Wellesley College in 1938, and are the perfect embodiment of the classic New England collegiate look I want to emulate this Fall.

Check out the gal on the left's trousers. How I'd love a pair or two of those for snowy weekends!

I think saddle shoes and angora socks were quite the craze in '38. You know, I used to consider saddles too cheesy-'50s (like poodle skirts and Grease), but seeing adorable '30s gals wearing 'em has made me come 'round to their charm.

This girl just steals the show, though. I wonder if she was en route to some hot date, or if she actually went to class like this? Either way, she's pretty fabulous.

♥♥♥

cape cod album, vol. III

2011-08-08T09:30:00.001-04:00

A little sampling of my outfits & adventures on my seaside holiday... Part Three of Three.

Here's my very last edition of seaside photos; it's been fun reliving my vacation by sharing it with you, dear readers. I only hope I've not bored you to death or made you too envious ;) These pictures are my favorites, taken out in the marshlands. The golden evening light was perfect, and the scenery spectacular. I honestly prefer the salt marshes to the beach aesthetically; plus there's less crowds and more wildlife to watch.

I'm not sure if I've formally introduced her before, but my charming companion in these pictures is my dog Banjo. She got to come along with me, and had a ball playing with her doggy "cousins", and frisking in the salt water for the very first time. Though she stayed home during my beach & town adventures, having a dog along gave me plenty of chances to explore the more wildernessy areas of the Cape.

...and here we have a cranberry bog. How very Cape Cod!

I hope you had a lovely weekend!
'Bye!

cape cod album, vol. II

2011-08-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

A little sampling of my outfits & adventures on my seaside holiday... Part Two of Three.

Greetings, friends! Here are a some more pictures from my summer vacation, this time taken on the bright and beautiful beach.

My swimsuit is a 1960s "Ceeb of Miami" that I thrifted for about $5.00. The cut and silhouette remind me of early '20s and '30s suits (though it has an open back), while the vibrant turquoise polka dots are pure Annette Funicello.

Shortly after this next picture was taken, I climbed onto a boat for a Seal Tour!!!! I have always loved seals, so it was pretty much the most thrilling day of my life. My seal photos turned out awful, just tiny black dots floating in the water, haha. But trust me, they were so funny and cute! My new dream in life is to have a sea lion act in a traveling circus, like Venus in Freaks.

PS: The internet is unbearably slow here, and I've been working crazy hours, so I apologize for not taking the time to comment on other blogs as much as I'd like! I'm still readin' along, though.

cape cod album, vol. I

2011-08-03T13:40:00.000-04:00

A little sampling of my outfits & adventures on my seaside holiday... Part One of Three.

✯ This little late '30s/early '40s shift dress and bolero set is awfully sweet, don't you think? I wore it on a guerilla photo shoot at this private beach in the very wealthy & exclusive town of Osterville, shh!

✯ I'm back in my '40s nautical toile frock! This is one of my all time favorite dresses; it's perfect in every way. It looked lovely against the gray skies and waters down by the canal here in Sandwich. Sandwich is the oldest town on the Cape, and is a very history-oriented town... which is lucky for me, 'cause that's where my family hails from! Indeed, it was at my aunt and uncle's house there that I stayed.

✯ My 1930s beach pyjamas proved themselves to be my most amusing and endearing item of clothing, though. The legs are so wide, I can fit all of myself into one leg, hehe. But they sure are cool in the muggy weather, and they're so much fun to wear. Note the swan in the second picture! I tried to get a closer picture, but it hissed at me, and swans, while beautiful, terrify me.

Well, that's it for now, folks. Hope all's well; see you soon!

treasures from the cape

2011-08-01T16:21:00.000-04:00

My Cape Cod travels are through, and I'm stranded in the land-locked Green Mountains once more. It's always such a sad first few days back in the humdrum sludge of reality after a vacation someplace beautiful, isn't it? Of course I love being a farm girl amidst rolling hills and red barns, but the rocky New England coast & the clear crashing waters of the Atlantic are especially dear to my heart. I brought home so many special souvenirs, though; my aunt, with whom I stayed, is an antiques dealer and she works at an auction house... needless to say, I was in heaven pawing through her limitless textile collection. She was even nice enough to gift me a few stunning pieces for my own: a 1930s velvet opera coat, a 1910s lace tea dress, an 1890s velvet lady's hat, as well as antique lace, millinery, and silk pieces galore. I'm a very lucky lass indeed!!

From my own pocket money, I acquired this darling pair of 1890s childrens' stories, both of which are tales of "Old New England life". They have the sweetest illustrations, too!

My film is off being developed, but I'd like to share some of my seaside outfits with you once they're back!

Having been away from my computer for one week means I have so much catching up to do, yikes! My Google Reader is overflowing with unread posts. Well, I sure hope this last week has been a good one for you.

I'll see you soon!

setting sail

2011-07-22T12:30:00.001-04:00

Hello, dear readers.

Tomorrow morning, I'll be leaving for a seaside holiday. I can't wait to comb the shore for shells and glass, smell the salty air, hear the seagulls crying, oh, and to eat up some fresh fish and saltwater taffy! My suitcase is packed with all my '30s and '40s nautical best, and I hope to have some pretty little pictures to share with you soon (just wait'll you see my original 1930s beach pyamas!).

However, I'll not be taking my laptop along with me, both for ease of traveling and ease of mind. So I'll see you in one week!

cool water

2011-07-20T08:15:00.000-04:00

Here in Vermont, high summer has brought along its trademark muggy, hazy days. The air is so heavy with humidity and heat... I kinda like it, 'cause it's a nice excuse to while away my days eating ice cream in front of the fan, reading books and wearing gauzy slips, hehe. But actually getting dressed and going out into the world for a change can pose a slight challenge when most of your clothes are over fifty years old and of the fitted-waist variety. I have no great tips for staying cool on the city streets, I'm afraid; this here country girl can just nip down to the stream at the bottom of her backyard when the weather gets too hot.

(The vegetable patch is coming along nicely!)

I wore a late 19th century cotton nightie under a 1950s square-dancing skirt on this particular summer afternoon. I suppose I have to find myself a peasant blouse sometime soon, for while this sweet nightgown has the right look, it's well over 100 years old and not really up to too frequent wearing. My thrifted white espadrilles I quickly slipped off when I decided to dip my feet in our brook!

Don't ya love this skirt?! It's so so full, a true circle skirt! It's not skimpy on the metallic ric-rac either; perfection.

Well, I hope all you Northern Hemispherians are having beautiful summer weather!

little house in the big woods

2011-07-18T08:00:00.020-04:00

Here I am, in another sweet little abandoned house in my town I've only just thought to photograph. This ramshackle place lies down a rather desolate dirt road, surrounded by towering pines, and appears to have been the home of an elderly lady. Her boxes full of dusty stuffed animals and empty pill bottles broke my heart; I wonder, did she have no family members interested in taking any of these mementos?

It's funny, little red abandoned houses, light blue dresses, and I seem to be quite a winning combination, it seems! I only wish I'd had my nice [and now broken ☹] camera so I could've documented this house with a bit more artistry. I think I'll have to spring for a new camera sometime soon, this cheap awful one is driving me mad.

Well, I hope you had a nice weekend! See ya soon.

favorite songs

2011-07-15T09:25:00.007-04:00

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Well, just look at how many new followers I have; I feel so popular! I certainly don't have this many fans of my style in real life, hehe. Welcome, new friends; let's get acquainted, don't be shy!

When I'm getting to know folks, I always find that your record collection is the true window into your soul. So here are just a few of my all-time favorite songs; not catchy jingles I've had momentary infatuations with, but the songs I've loved for years, and will love forever... it's true romance for these tunes and I. Tell me some of your very favorite songs in the comments... I'm not the judgy type, I promise.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Gin Gillette-- "Train To Satanville" // Loretta Lynn-- "Whispering Sea"

The Gun Club-- "Secret Fires" // Eck Robertson... "Sally Goodin"

Karen Dalton-- "Katie Cruel" // Wanda Jackson-- "Funnel Of Love"

The Carter Family-- "Sweet Fern" // The Seeds-- "Can't Seem To Make You Mine" (someone wonderful on Youtube put this song to a video of Ms Page, how perfect!)

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

Sometimes it's just a whole album that wins me over. Here are three albums I couldn't live without:

Marty Robbins' "Gunfighter Ballads and Trail Songs"... I bought this album the summer I was 16, when I was living on the Navajo Nation. I know it's bad form to romanticize the West, but this is the soundtrack to the Southwest for me!

The Gun Club's "Fire Of Love"!! For the record, I'm Jeffrey Lee Pierce's #1 fan.

Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe". Campy, sultry, Southern Gothic magic.

✯✯✯✯✯✯✯

This is just a tiny, tiny glimpse into the section of my heart roped off for music; perhaps someday I'll follow up with a Part II, as it's impossible to narrow down my favorites to a short blog post. I hope I haven't scared you off with my odd music tastes, ha! Please do tell me what you love to listen to in the comments, I'm always so curious to know!

Have a lovely weekend, dearies!!

southern belle dressing

2011-07-13T14:20:00.000-04:00

I wish it was socially acceptable to wear ruffled gowns and hoop skirts every day. It's not like I waste too much time fretting over my outfits being socially acceptable or not, haha, but it'd kind of be pearls before swine, and getting in and out of doorways might pose a challenge. Anyway, I've had Southern Belle style on the brain lately (what else is new?)... specifically through the lens of Hollywood's Golden Era. Original 1860s dixie dames are swell and all, but their severe center parts and make-up free faces (oh, and slave ownership!) are not something I feel compelled to emulate. No, let's hear it for Old Hollywood's totally anachronistic interpretations of Antebellum style, with flaming red lips and piled up pincurls! I've been wearing my fullest-skirted '50s frocks, fluffiest crinolines, daintiest shoes, and lace galore lately to pay homage to these fiery gals.

Bette Davis in Jezebel:
(I omitted any pictures of her infamous red dress; I thought it was hideous!)

Elizabeth Taylor in Raintree County:

Now, I doubt you have heard of this next one, so I'll not bother with the details; it was a pretty low-budget production, I hear, and the actress some unknown!

Now these are interesting... dresses inspired by Vivien's get-ups that are contemporaneous to the film! How I'd love to stumble upon one of these lovelies someday...

PS: Latest breaking news in Dakotaville... I can now drive a tractor. A rusty red 1940s Massey-Ferguson at that! My neighbor owns it (she's a real farmer, unlike poseur me) and she let me drive it all around one of her pastures, and it was the most fun ever, and I'm welcome to drive it anytime, she said, so one day I'll get pictures. I feel so badass chuggin' down the hill on a giant old tractor, hehe! All I need now is a corncob pipe. Also, it turns out tractors are just like dresses... the older they are, the better quality! This neighbor of mine bought this behemoth '40s beast used back in the '60s, and it's still going strong, and she uses it for [whatever one does with a tractor] to this day. Amazing!

rockin' bones

2011-07-08T10:00:00.000-04:00

(1950s dress, antique lace collar and sash, Stetson boots, thrifted vintage basket purse)

Down the road a piece from my house there's a pretty magical old graveyard that I often visit on my evening strolls. The oldest grave I've found there is from 1793 (!!) and it goes up to about the 1910s, making all the headstones delightfully old fashioned, with beautiful fonts and sometimes sweet/sometimes grim little epitaphs. Cemeteries with more modern graves can be a little creepy to me sometimes, but I just don't get that feeling at all in this lovely historical resting place. I could spend hours meandering around, reading all the names and lifespans, and it seems each time I discover a new headstone. It feels so peaceful there. I also enjoy giving some of my thoughts to these folks; I mean, they've been dead and buried for almost two centuries, and have probably been just about forgotten by everyone else. Oh, and it's also quite fun to read all the family names, as many correspond to road names and old farming families that are still around here today!

I also have these pictures taken back in May, back when I had hair and all. I look frumpy, as it was just a lazy day outfit (a cozy '30s day dress/smock thing and Remix wedges) but the photos are much prettier, as they're taken with my nice camera before it broke:

Moses Van Doorn's epitaph (seen below) is my favorite:

Behold ye aged and ye young,

This scene before you set:

Here is the place, the narrow tomb,

With which you soon must meet.

Thank you for the cheery sentiments, Moses. Also, he died on Valentine's Day!

Well, now I must sound like quite the gloomy, morbid little thing, hangin' around graveyards and abandoned houses all the time, haha! Whatever, I guess objectively it is a little creepy, but I love all the history attached to it.
Have a great weekend, y'all!!!

independence day

2011-07-05T07:00:00.018-04:00

(Dress, crinoline, purse, gloves-- all '50s; Restricted wedges; J Crew headband)

Howdy folks! Did you have a nice Fourth of July? I ate barbequed chicken and ice cream, saw some fireworks, swam in the brook and had a nice stereotypical celebration.

And here's what I wore to America's Birthday Party! Usually I avoid wearing colors that correspond to the holidays (no red/green getups around Christmas or orange/black at Halloween for me!) but for some reason (lack of creativity?) I went with good ol' red white and blue this year. And as those colors are inherently kitschy, why not add a crinoline, gloves, and poodle purse for good measure? This dress is a summertime favorite of mine-- the sailor collar is pretty adorable.

Speaking of which, isn't this purse the best? It was a thrift store score, just $3.00, though I'd have paid much more for it! The poodles are made of beads, it's so great. Tragically the woven straw is falling apart at the bottom, as you can see, so I guess it's gotta be relegated to "display only". Well, I've had it since I was 16, so at least it's had a good run of it.

'Til next time, take care!!

the little things

2011-07-01T21:34:00.000-04:00

Hello, hello! I've been neglecting Blogger something awful this week. I've been working so much lately, sun up to sun down practically, earnin' up some funds to waste on old dresses and knick-knacks. And, you know, pay for college and all that semi-grown-up jazz.

Today I wanted to share some pretty little things that have been inspiring me of late:

Look at this beautiful print I won in a giveaway drawing by the super talented lady behind Audrey Eclectic!!! Miss Sedona Sally here is currently presiding over my little cowgirl shrine (what can I say, when it comes to decorating I'm all about vignettes!) until I get some glass in that frame and find a suitable place to hang it. Isn't she gorgeous? She reminds me so much of the sort of lass Patsy Montana would sing about. The funny thing is, I've had this Victorian-era antique frame and its twin kicking around for about a year, and I just couldn't find anything worthy enough/the right size for them. Looks like I'll be ordering another of Heather's prints soon to fill out that other frame!

I hope she doesn't mind my showing a couple of her other works from her etsy store. I just adore the dreamy old-timey aesthetic, and I'm sure you all will appreciate it too:

Also, shifting gears here, whilst browsing the Victoriana Magazine website for some inspiration, I came across this darling 1880s child's scrapbook! I wish so much I could find an actual one of these someday; the Victorians get such a bad rap in modern pop culture for being all stuffy and dressing in drab colors, but they were such a wildly creative bunch! This scrapbook is the most magical thing; here are some of my favorite pages, and you can see the rest here.

♥♥

I hope your week has been full of good cheer!! Enjoy the weekend, and a Very Merry Independence Day to all you American types!

♥♥

the garden party dress

2011-06-25T08:00:00.004-04:00

There are a myriad of reasons why I mostly wear vintage clothing, and one of the major reasons is that vintage dresses have such soul and character! No modern frock can compare to the feeling of connection to the past and aged patina vintage textiles convey; it's a bit hard to articulate, but I bet you fellow vintage lovers know what I'm talking about.

And yet, when I found this contemporary floral day dress by Boden at a consignment store, I was strangely drawn to it! I walked away from it at first, as it wasn't a huge bargain, but I kept thinking about it, and finally went back and bought it a few days later. It actually looks and feels like a '30s or '40s frock, I think, with that sweet print, collar, and the gathered bust. I even sewed some antique lace ribbon I had in my collection onto the ruffled collar to make it a little more old-fashioned. I must say, it's nice to be able to wear a dress without constantly worrying about tears or popped seams, haha!

Its allure wasn't a total mystery, as it reminds me quite a bit of the dust-soaked '30s day dresses Rita Sue of Carnivale often wears:

I wore my new-to-me '20s straw cloche-style sunhat for photos only, as it's in very delicate condition. The silk lining and hatband are quite shattered, so much so that I removed the lining-- it was practically tearing to the touch. It makes a lovely display item in my room, though, and perhaps someday I'll find a worthy use for the lovely velvet flowers.

Well, enjoy the weekend! ♥

dream trunk

2011-06-22T18:20:00.004-04:00

I have lots of very old stuff in my home and in my life, and while it's all very evocative of the past and nostalgic and all that, I take a lot of it for granted and incorporate into my modern life without too much thought. Well, this vintage wardrobe trunk is a little different... it's one of those pieces I consider a real time capsule. Just looking at it and feeling its silky lining transports me instantly to an era when trunks like these were just a normal part of traveling. I wonder what fine clothes were stuffed in those drawers once upon a time? What trains or ships did it ride? Where did it go?

This beauty was a Christmas gift from my dear mother this year. I'd been harboring a deep, but unexpressed, hankering for such a wardrobe trunk ever since I saw Stage Door back in high school. In it, Ginger Rogers and Katharine Hepburn are roommate showgirls, and have a little tiff over Hepburn's oversized trunks. It's a fantastic film that you should most certainly see if you haven't already, but I think all I took away from it was that I had to get myself a glamorous old wardrobe trunk of my own! I was so excited when I received this one. Look at that fabric lining, folks! Still as bright as the day it was made! Unfortunately, it resides with my Victorian girl in the workshop, and it's there for the same reason-- too big to fit in our five room house. I'll be getting my own apartment as soon as I'm done with my school's residency requirement, but at this point I think my collection could fill up a whole house! (Preferably a Victorian farmhouse with gingerbread trim and plenty of acreage... ;)

What I wore today was a thoroughly modern t-shirt (with a picnic-ing animals motif!) and square dancin' skirt and ballet flats, teamed with '50s pearls and crinoline, plus an antique lace collar to keep things old. As you can also see, despite pretty much having a bob, I am still making a feeble attempt at my beloved big hair. Clearly my cropped locks are no longer suited to a beehive, but you'll have to pry my Aquanet and teasing comb from my cold dead hands ;)
Note: Behind me you'll see the back of the trunk, with its pretty red-and-green stripes.

dakota's american gothic playlist

2011-06-20T09:00:00.000-04:00

Hello there! Today I felt like sharing some of my musical inspirations of late.

I truly love early 20th century country songs, Appalachian murder ballads and disaster songs like nothing else on this earth. They express such a beautiful and beguiling mix of sentiments. On the one hand, they're such pure, unaffected, morally righteous songs. No matter your religious views, the honest faith that no matter how bad things get in this world, there's something greater waiting beyond is really eerily touching. Then on the other side, there's so much morbidity and sorrow and evil going on in these songs; people are stabbing their lovers left and right, little babies are dying, and forsaken ladies are just giving up and dying of heartbreak. It's such a hard, unflinching look at the cruel ironies and discomforts of this old world. As you can see I'm really really passionate about music from hardscrabble, rundown rural America, because well, that's all I've known for most of my life. I'm afraid I just can't relate to the privileged, suburban-raised folks that dominate most every music scene these days. So here are some songs of darkness, doubt, cryin' steel guitars and high lonesome sounds to give your week a bright cheery start.

Lastly, why not listen to a radio skit by Jimmie Rodgers and the Carter Family?

(I love Maybelle as much as you, but good gosh, she can't act! AP and Jimmie aren't too bad, though, eh?)

a casual friday

2011-06-17T09:00:00.006-04:00

(1940s western shirt; 1950s capris; Keds)

I know I've shared my flannel-lined jeans with you; now here is my summer-friendly version. These, too, are vintage '50s jeans, only they're super light-weight clam diggers with adorable nautical-esque striped details! I found them at a consignment store for $15, not such a bad price. I'd been dreaming about a pair of Freddie's for ages, but the ol' student budget wouldn't allow it... and now I'm all set!

Even though I prefer to wear dresses and heels when I go out, I live in rural Vermont, and such outfits are really impractical for everyday life. I have outdoor chores, horses to care for and ride, long hikes with my dog through the dense forests and boggy fields... not something I'd like to subject my vintage frocks to!!

Isn't this Victorian girl portrait the best?? I got it for free! Unfortunately there's no room on my bedroom walls for it, and my dad won't let me put it in the living room. So for now she lives in our garage-turned-workshop.

This 1940s classic gabardine Western shirt is one of my very favorite items of clothing; the embroidery is of acorns and oak leaves, sewn with silvery thread!

♥ Have a great weekend!!! ♥

ladies in waiting

2011-06-14T12:40:00.000-04:00

(Outfit: 1940s dress; antique collar; thrifted basket purse; Vigoss oxfords)

Because I'm a first-rate pack rat collector, my bedroom is like a wonderful collage of old bits and bobs. I have all these little portraits of lovely ladies from the past tucked everywhere; my old photographs provide me with endless inspiration as to how real, everyday women in the early 20th century did their hair and wore their clothes. As I'm getting acquainted with my new cropped 'do (I promise I'll stop obsessing over it soon, hehe!) my little clippings and photographs of '20s and '30s girls give me a good look at easy and pretty styles to try. Plus they're just all such gorgeous gals, I thought I'd share some of my favorites!

Here's a real elegant lady; I like her fur, very glamourous!

A clipping from a 1933 Montgomery-Ward catalog (don't fret, the catalog was all torn and ruined, I wouldn't have cut it up otherwise!)

A cute li'l '20s girl with a Louise Brooksian bob.

A '20s or '30s advertisement. I wish I could look like this every day!

This woman's stunning dress, high heels, and immaculate finger waves had me in raptures!

And now here's a familiar face; I just wanted to show off my "new" antique crochet lace collar, it's darling! It's hard to date these things, but I'd guess it to be from the first quarter of the 20th century, and it just cost me one dollar.

So sorry all these pictures are a bit out-of-focus; I dropped my good camera and broke the lens a few weeks ago, so I've been making do with our old cheap camera... and, well, it doesn't take kindly to indoor lighting!

♥♥♥♥

I hope this post finds you well and in good spirits!

♥♥♥♥

dust bowl gal

2011-06-08T09:40:00.000-04:00

(1930s or 1940s voile day dress; thrifted belt; UO ruffled ankle socks; thrifted Loake mens' brogues; vintage faux [hopefully!] reptile skin train case)

OK, so the green grassy hills of Vermont are a far cry from the dry, dusty plains of the '30s... but I've been having a love affair with Great Depression and Dust Bowl looks lately! I think I want to look like a 1930s country farm girl this summer, and of course I live in the perfect location for that look. Vermont's beautiful landscape never ceases to fill me with awe; these fields, which will soon sprout corn, are just a five minute stroll from my front door, nestled behind a beautiful old graveyard and down an empty dirt lane. Very picturesque in the golden evening light!

I'd like to thank you all for the sweet and encouraging comments on my last post, they really cheered me up. I was in such shock right after I got the cut; I've been a total Jo March since I was a little girl: all through elementary and middle school I was a completely anti-fashion, bookish tomboy, but I had glossy wasit-length hair that was my pride and joy, even if I kept in neat braids all the time. I'm staring to warm up to my new look, though... it's amazing how easy short hair is. It takes curl almost too well, and holds up all day long. And I've always loved the "cloud of curls" look many flappers sported, so now I can emulate them, too!

I'm also so excited to have over 200 followers now... welcome new readers, and thank you to each and every one of my sweet followers, I'm so flattered you like my blog enough to read it! I will have a little give-away with some cute vintage goodies to celebrate sometime soon-ish! ♥

PS: Our wireless internet connection has been very sporadic lately... one minute it's fine, the next it just stops working! It's very frustrating. So I may not be as active at reading and commenting as I'd like for a bit. ☹

short hair!

2011-06-06T20:45:00.000-04:00

It's been a sad, sad weekend in these parts: my lovely long hair is gone! That's right, after an attempt to trim it myself (I've always done this before without a hitch, but...) went terribly awry, and my attempts to even it out took away more and more hair, the only way I could look semi-normal was to just have it all hacked off into a sort of bob. (It's a bit longer than it looks in these pictures, I'm just not used to setting such short hair so it came out in really tight curls). I'm really quite heartbroken; even though I think short hair looks incredibly cute and I know it's more authentically vintage, I'm just a long-haired girl at heart.

Luckily I have pretty healthy, fast-growing hair, so I hope it grows back to a more comfortable length in the near future. And 'til then, I'm going to take full advantage of the new length: I can finally try my hand at things like pincurls and finger waves, and channel Marilyn Monroe, Clara Bow, Debbie Harry, and every '20s and '30s girl there ever was. I'm sure it'll feel much cooler through the summer months, too. So objectively, the pros outweigh the cons... I'm just a silly vain thing who feels sentimentally attached to my locks!

♥ I hope you had a lovely weekend! ♥

green fields and a flowered dress

2011-06-01T10:15:00.000-04:00

(1940s dress; Remix Vintage shoes; tooled saddle purse from a tourist shop in Mexico)

Well hello, dear readers! Today I've got another special dress to show off... this gorgeous 1940s frock I'm wearing was a gift from yet another sweetheart of a blogger, Susan from Living Vintage! I first met this wonderful lady through The Fedora Lounge (an aside to all you vintage girls: that site is a must-visit for all your styling and clothing questions). Just like pretty Miss Coco from my last post, the lovely Susan shares my love of Loretta Lynn, kitschy goodness, and fabulous mid-century fashions! When she told me she was cleaning out her closets and had a couple of dresses needing a bit of TLC I might like, I of course said yes!! And oh how lovely they are; in addition to this floral number, I also received a 1950s-does-Victorian emerald green satin party dress with about a million little buttons up the front and a bustle-esque ruffle at the back. Seriously, Scarlett O'Hara would kill for this dress, but it's all mine, hehe. They both fit me perfectly, which is quite amazing too. A big huge "thank you!!" to Susan; these dresses are very loved! And if you're not familiar with her blog yet, go and get acquainted; she's got the mid-century look down pat, and really lives the lifestyle too!

Now, I must add that May has proved to be a freakishly fruitful month in terms of gifted dresses ;-) This is the first time I've been given frocks, and to have both packages arrive around the same time was quite the stroke of luck. I hope I don't descend into sappy sentimentalism here, but it really warmed my heart to know both of these good-hearted gals thought of me! And on the subject of free stuff for nice people: if my blog reaches 200 followers, I'm going to have a little give-away drawing and pass some vintage something-or-another onto one of you! ♥

"i've always depended on the kindness of strangers..."

2011-05-30T16:19:00.002-04:00

^^Ms. DuBois' famous line ... all will become clear as you read on !!

Hello hello! I hope your Memorial Day Weekends have been fine.

If you've been following me for a while, perhaps you remember this "songstress style" post, in which I obsessed over waxed poetic about the phenomenal style of one Mrs. Tracee Mae Miller, member of the amazing band Blanche!

Well, through that post I was able to connect with the sweet, generous and just plain lovely Corina Rose who sent me a box of Tracee Mae's clothes!! It seems she once was able to get to a garage sale at the Miller's home in Detroit, where she snapped up a bunch of Tracee Mae's garments. She's now passed a few on to me, and I couldn't be more thrilled! THANK YOU Miss Coco, I'm gonna wear these dresses 'til they're in rags, I love them so. I'm sending her a little thank you card and a couple of treats this week that I hope she'll enjoy! ♥♥♥

A sneak peak at the goods:

Corina Rose has a dandy blog of her own that, if your tastes run similar to mine, you'll be sure to enjoy. This gal has an amazing eye for style and aesthetic stuff, superb musical tastes, and she bears an awfully close resemblance to the 1959 Barbie doll! In short, she and her blog are fabulous so go forth and check it out if you haven't already.

I miraculously have this belt that matches this darling 1980s-does-1940s frock perfectly, haha! Clearly we were meant to be ;-)

The Young Rider's Picture Book, 1936

2011-05-27T13:23:00.000-04:00

...or, "Behold the Sartorial Splendor of the 1930s British Horsey Set"

I have had this book collecting dust on my shelves for a loooong time (I think I got it in Elementary School, when I was truly obsessed with horses). I've fallen in love with it recently as a source of style inspiration, surprisingly! Those monied Brits of the '30s really knew how to do riding apparel-- I'm in a swoon over those crazy breeches, bowler hats, tweed jackets, and cloches!

(Sorry they're pictures-of-pictures, I don't have a scanner)

How I love these mothers-- no darn outing with kids and ponies is keeping them from dressing to the nines!

Have a dandy weekend ♥

lilac time

2011-05-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

It's Lilac Season, arguably the most splendid time to be in Vermont.

There are many lilac trees on our property, and all up and down our road. When they all open up, the air is actually perfumed of lilac! The view is quite something, as well.

In celebration of this event, I chose to wear my little 1920s gingham day dress, which has a most appropriate color scheme. It's in marvelous shape for its age, and I just adore it. It's usually the humble cotton day dresses that tug the most at my heartstrings; evening wear is fine and dandy, but give me a sturdy little house dress any day. They seem to have the most stories to tell; can't you just picture this one on some curly-headed little gal in her 1923 class portrait or something?

Of course I brought some inside...

the vermont state fair, 1939

2011-05-23T10:30:00.020-04:00

What vintage lovin' gal or guy hasn't daydreamed about the bygone days of the carnival? Now that I'm working my way through Season 2 of Carnivale, I'm especially inspired by the traveling midways, circuses and county fairs of the early 20th century.

These pictures are especially interesting to me, as they were taken in Rutland, Vermont, just an hour North of me. I've driven past the State Fairgrounds there a million times; it's so fascinating to see such a familiar site in these 1939 shots from the Library of Congress' archives. Pretty neat, eh?

To explore the LOC archives (caveat: may distract you for several hours; do not click if you have work to be done!) click on any image to visit their Flickr site.

PS: If you are ever up Burlington, VT way, make sure you pay a visit to The Shelburne Museum. They have an entire barn dedicated to vintage circus Americana that you have to see to believe! (And they even give out scent strips of eau de popcorn, sawdust, lemonade, and cotton candy for the complete experience. Magic!). Actually, the whole museum is the most incredible place ever, check out the website to see what I mean.

rainy day

2011-05-20T14:00:00.001-04:00

(1940s jacket; early 1960s dress; 1960s hat; TUK shoes)

Creative title, eh? Well, this gray wet weather has been dampening any shred of imagination I have, haha.

Even though I haven't been feeling very inspired by mid-century styles lately, when I thrifted this late 1940s suit jacket, I was excited to slip back into a New Look silhouette for a while! I'm thinking I'd like to replace those rhinestone buttons as soon as I can though, they're a bit tawdry looking in this context.

One cannot wear a veil and cateye liner without striking at least one cheesy Dovima pose... ;-)

Finally, I leave you with one of my favorite songs about rain... Annette Hanshaw's 1929 recording of "Singing In The Rain".... it has steel guitar and ukelele and it's just so wonderful:

Have a merry weekend!

all summer in a day

2011-05-16T16:32:00.002-04:00

(1950s girls' hat; 1940s bolero, J. Crew blouse; 1950s pink gingham shorts; Restricted wedges)

Here is a very casual look (for me, anyway!) I donned to go about my day on Friday. I wore my amazing little gingham seersucker pin-up girl shorts I found at the antique store last spring, and I nicked this cute bolero from its matching dress (you'll see them together quite soon-- it's the cutest set!). It was beautifully sunny and warm last week, and a nice taste of summer. Unfortunately, we are now being shrouded in cold rain, such a shame!

This is my room at my dad's house; it's a bit of a clutter of antiques, with my most delicate dresses and hats hanging up everywhere, but that's just the way I like it. I'm very lucky to have two lovely beds, though my canopy is my favorite for sentimental reasons. Also, it's perfect for hanging up Edwardian and Victorian chemises; forget dream catchers, I prefer to fall asleep surrounded by antique textiles!

A little Hank Williams on spin; some thing never change...

I hope you all had a nice weekend. It was very rainy here, but I stayed in to catch up on my sewing pile and have a '30s screwball comedy marathon-- quite good fun!

will you miss me when i'm gone?

2011-05-13T15:18:00.003-04:00

No, I'm not going anywhere; I'm just listening to one of my favorite Carter Family songs on this fine Friday afternoon:

I also read their biography of the same name recently; it has me thinking a lot about small mountain towns, the early days of radio, and, of course, charming little Depression-era frocks.

I featured this late 20s or early 30s chiffon dress once before, back in the fall, but it's a special dress so here it is agin. Truthfully it's in awful condition, but fortunately it's so light weight that I can wear it over a slip if I'm careful. The story behind it is that I found it in the attic of the old, run down house my mother had just moved into! So it was free and it has a wonderful provenance, as the home had been in the same family from when it was built in the 1830s 'til when my mom bought it last summer! (The family matriarch, who probably owned this dress, had died, hence why the house was finally sold).

Dog time!! I missed her sooo much when I was away at school!

This won't be half as exciting to you as it is to me, but they just turned out four adorable gamboling heifers into the pasture across the street from us, aww!

PS: As you may have noticed, Blogger sort of broke down yesterday; unfortunately about half of your lovely comments disappeared! Luckily I had a chance to read most of them, so thanks very much! And to whoever asked, my lipstick was (and is here) Revlon's "In The Red" from their Matte collection.

Have a great weekend!