Happy Birthday Sam!

The day started out with a jackhammer, then lunch at The Morningstar Cafe (Yum!), a stop in Flutter to say hi to the birdies, a nice walk, Eureka, McMenamins on the river, running into Twila Jean, Casino Royal, cats in hats with Ian, and peach brandy. Ew.

Happy 21st Birthday Sam! (Oh, and he's scowling because he's a hungry hungry hippo).

Loop-dee-loop

Here's how I've been doing my hair the past few days, instead of pin curling it. It's quite easy, and today I did it in five minutes! Ok, ok, they were a little asymmetrical, but whatever. It's just two loops on the side behind my bangs, and a snood the hold the rest too short to do anything with.
Hmmm, I always have so much throughout the day I want to post here, but forget by the time I get home...sorry guys, this is why I should quit my job and do this full time, don't you think? :)

hehe.

Quick and easy vintage hairdos

"I was wondering if you could suggest to me any really quick and easy retro hairstyles (not cuts) for just over shoulder length hair and a thin fringe. When I'm at college I have to wear a basic black skirt suit and plain jumper, the only way I've managed to inject a bit of retro is through my black brogues! :( I have to wear this a lot of the time and would love to inject a bit more of my character rather than the usual: meaning to do a cool hairstyle but always ending up doing the same ole pony tail....

Love the blog as always, any reply would be fab

Keep up the good work

Roisin x"

During WWII women turned to creative hairstyles to add some flair to their rationed wardrobes. Hair piled high in curls, waves, loops and rolls, an interesting hairstyle added panache to an otherwise tired look! Having a small wardrobe, or uniformed lifestyle (school, office) means hair plays a big part in expressing your creativity. With a little practice you can master a few favorite styles that look complicated but are actually really easy!


Caseys Victory Rolls, Video tutorial here


Hair loops by Kafferepet


Hair loops via Niotillfem, by Elsa


High ponytail with bow via A Glamorous Little Side Project


Braids by Esme and the Lane Way

California!

Ok, so in about a month my mother and I are going to California for a few days, actually our last day there will be my birthday, but thats irrelevant at the moment.
Whenever we go somewhere we just go and stumble upon places to eat and shop, but never really plan anything. Which was all good and well until we went to New York a few winters ago, and got back home only to find the Chanel Exhibit was going on at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art while we were there, and we missed it! Boo.

So I am asking my wonderful readers for a little advice or suggestions on what to do/see/eat/shop while in sunny California. We'll be in Del Mar and Laguna Beach (yeah, that Laguna Beach) and hopefully Long Beach to visit 4th st, which I am told is a vintage heaven. So anything in or around those areas would be much appreciated :)

xoxo

1940s Sunday

I know the second photo has me totally out of focus, but the timer went off just as I saw Sam walking out the door offering to help me. So here's how I look whenever I see him :)

Last night I went through my jewelry collection and got rid of a bunch of stuff I've never worn, or never will again, and put all the pieces I want to regularly wear in one easily accessible place. Hopefully this will drive me to wear jewelry more since I love what I have but never think to incorporate it into everyday outfits! Which is just silly to have something and not use it.

Sweater-Flashbacks vinatge, Encinitas, CA

Collar-Estate sale yesterday!

1940s suit skirt-Gift from aunt

1940s navy hat and shoes-The Urban Eccentric

1940s bakelite bird (Betty)-gift from Sam

Estate sale finds

This morning before helping Twila Jean move from one house to another, my grandma and I went to an estate sale held at a community center. The paper said the sale started at 9:00 so we got there early, but apparently they listed the sale on Craigslist as starting at 8:00, and had to open doors then. And while there were still some really good items remaining, the clothing rack only had a few late 60s dresses left, and since most of the other items were from the 20s to the 50s I just know there must have been some great feedsack dresses or nylon blouses someone grabbed. Sigh.
I did buy some really pretty things though, three aprons for my shop, and for me three 40s cotton kerchiefs, a big collar, 1915 and 1916 books on sewing and embroidery, the coolest address book ever, a plastic bead necklace, cat eye glasses, and an orange bakelite bangle. I was really excited to find the bangle, since it was only $1! So far I've found four bakelite bangles at estate sales for practically nothing thanks to people throwing them in boxes of junky jewelry and assuming they're just cheap plastic. You can tell if a plastic is bakelite if you press it against your clothes and rub it for a few seconds, and it has a chemical smell or the rubbed part feels warm. Some people always look at me funny when I walk around smelling jewelry ;)
I really want to be more educated about bakelite, so if anyone recommends any books or websites to check out, let me know!

There was a bittersweet aspect to the sale, which was that the woman who passed away wrote little notes and attached them to things, such as "I sewed this in 1942, with linen my friend Ethel brought back from France. I had to press it often especially when it got wet." All sorts of notes in beautiful cursive on yellowed paper. It was a vintage lovers dream, because it gave dates and history. Nothing I bought had a note, but I wish I had bought something with one just for that reason! It was so sweet, I wish they had pictures of her!

I just realized I would be the crazy villain, not the darling princess.

My day started out in the 1960s, but ended up in the 1920s. That's what happens more often than not, I put together an entire outfit, love it, wear it a bit, get bored with it and change. I didn't so much get bored with the first look, but it seemed like something that would require constant touching up of lipstick and re-pinning of collars (actually the thing wrapped around my head is a belt).
So five minutes before leaving for work I decided to change. Yesterday my mothers friend gave me a bag with the most lovely vintage dresses she no longer wanted and thought I could find a good use for them! In the bag was a silk chiffon "coat" from the 20s, a 30s silk velvet evening gown, a darling red 40s dress, and this sweet, simple 20s spring dress. It's incredibly light and flows with every movement, I think next time I'll pair it with a locket or long string of pearls. I did manage to grab this cloche, which completed the look and covered my undone hair ;) Actually two people wanted to buy it right off my head, which would have gone over better if I had been in a better mood. One man kept on saying "Thats a great hat, but it would look really good on my wife..."

Um, gee thanks? I mean, what do you say to that? "Well maybe it would, but you'll never know! HA! IT'S MINE! AAAALL MINE! HAHAHA!"

...yep...Happy weekend everyone :)