Jumping on the bandwagon

With a jumpsuit! Now that actually calls for a bad pun...

Following fashion trends has never been my thing no matter what era or what style I prefered over the years. And jumpsuits are certainly a trend that EVERYONE seems to follow - young girls, teenagers, women, bloody everyone is wearing them. The natural thing for me would be to totally dismiss it but I have to admit I rather like them. There are so many out there it's hard to decide.

I chose one via Littlewoods - obviously because of the polkadots!

Even though a short one would be much more 40s I went for a long legged one. I wear skirts nearly all the time - frankly I 'm quite sick of them. Even though the suit is so not authentic vintage looking I think with the right hair and accessories (yes to my vintage brooch, not so much my very modern Hello Kitty watch) it has quite a nostalgic feel to it.

Suit is from Littlewoods (came with a yellow belt), so are the red wedges, I paired an old H&M t-shirt underneath and I hardly ever go out without my trusted red Primark cardigan.

The suit doesn't only look like a giant pyjama it also feels like one. It is so super comfy I don't ever want to get out of it. The downside - it is so not flattering and makes me rather look humongous around my mid area. But what the heck if I look like a whale, at least I look like a cute one!

Polkadots, victory rolls and vintage jewellery - that will do for me!

Outfits to fill the boring gap

It's gotten so boring on my blog it's sad!

I am back in the UK but my laptop is still down and no silver lining in these regards. That means hardly any online time and the little I get has to be divided between various course work, picture editing (a zillion pics I took in Austria), general chit chat and of course blogging. So first things first - a blog post! And as I have no time to research I'll delight you with two outfits! :-)

40s inspired playsuit by Jasmine Guinness

 I love this suit, it is the most expensive clothing item I ever bought or owned. But I bought it via Littlewoods which means no big amount of money all at once! Yay for deluding yourself! 

When it arrived in the mail order just before Christmas Mr. Bossy loved it so much on me he happily accepted the price. It is indeed quite short and daring (well at least for me it is) but despite the shortness it still has an elegance to it.

And please do not forget the true model in my house.
Le poser extraordinaire!

 Suit - Jasmine Guinness via Littlewoods (not available anymore)

Shoes - Peacocks (years ago)

Cardigan - Primark (dito)

Bag - Marks & Spencers (last year)

Sweater Guard - Ebay

Snood - homemade

I particularily like the Gerbera, my favourite flowers, print.
Very punchy colours!

And here a land girl inspired outfit.

I really like knitted tank tops - I've had a few sitting in my wardrobe for years but hardly ever wore them. They certainly get their wear now! I also do a similar version of this outfit in grey/pink.

Trousers - Marks & Spencers via Ebay
Shirt - Pimkie in Austria (about 10 years ago)
Tank - Primark (few years ago)
Snood - homemade

What a failure to try to photograph my hair and my black snood. Blame the toddler who made me laugh.

These little lovelies I bought in Austria (at Deichmann) a few weeks ago. I love them! They were cheap as chips, have exactly the look I wanted and the heel is so reasonably low that they are comfortable for the whole day!

You may have noticed my new brooch. This was actually a birthday present my great aunt gave to my mum many years ago. She doesn't know what era it exactly came from but it certainly matches my growing collection. I hope my great aunt doesn't mind - I love it and wear it a lot!

And talking about family heirloom - as you know my nan recently passed away and I brought a few treasures (treasured by my heart and by my vintage loving eye) with me. But this one is my true precious. I inherited her seal ring with my grandad's - her late husband's - family's coat of arms. My mother and aunts all have one as well and my nan would always say I'd get one for my 18th birthday. I suppose because suddenly so many grandchildren appeared in the family or maybe because my grandad got ill around my 18th birthday and died the following year we never talked about this again. So I was very touched when I inherited her very own ring. And it fits like a glove.

Which is a stupid saying by the way because I have such tiny hands - no glove ever fits me. Unless it's a child's glove.



My true precious



I have just discovered photoscape. Indeed I don't know what I am doing yet but you can see I already had some more fun with these pics than with boring old Picasa. It will take me a little while to get the hang of it but I'll get there!

Outfits'n'hair

I am showing these outfits not because I think they are so great - by golly I really don't - but because it amazes me what I can find in my wardrobe with a bit of rethinking. It's the wardrobe of Narnia! I find old forgotten pieces in there and pieces I wanted to throw out but deserve new love - all kinds of things. I really consider my hesitation to go full time vintage (inspired) so silly. For years I would always don a full skirted dress with a petticoat and 50s hair for occassions but never dreamt of the possibility to do it every day. All it took was some rethinking, some "new" vintage jewllery and of course the hair. I still think that is what makes or breaks the outfit.

(click to enlarge all pics)

I really liked the pink number, not so keen in hindsight on the navy-red combo (in the mirror the 2 navy tones didn't look that different) and I have never been fully convinced of the teal cardigan. I think I just need to find an ideal item to wear it with.

As mentioned before I started selling bits of my wardrobe to fund new vintage or vintage inspired items. One of my first treasures is this pair of grey M&S high waisted trousers. Blimey do I love them. I live in them at the moment. Currently I am trying to hunt down a navy pair on Ebay. These grey ones were in mint condition and cheap as chips.  

The floral cardigan from Primark is also a newer aquisition via ebay and the leopard print one I had for a while - also Ebay but originally Next.

2 brooches from my vintage jewllery treasure chest

I thought my hair is also blogworthy

These were taken the day after the vintage event in Letchworth after the hairdresser told me to roll at the base around 2 fingers. I managed to get the victory rolls more standing up but I still have not got the hang of it.



I crocheted myself a rat - what a difference! I love it how neat and tidy the back looks now - and when I am in not such a rush in the morning I could also try hiding the pins...



I absolutely love this pic of my lil' man and me.

The little scallywag always tries to hog the limelight - here's the proof!

Add caption



Pimp my coat

For months I'd been trying to hunt down a nice vintage coat for a reasonable price. Always unlucky - lost the auctions, wrong sizes or wrong cuts. I do love the look of swing coats but in reality they just don't suit me, I need something more tailored. If my waist is not cinched in I look like I'm wearing a tent. Tough luck.

So here's my solution. Take my old but well fitting dreary Primark coat with only half of the original black plastic buttons (I kind of lost one a day in the last few weeks) and exchange them for some vintage buttons!

Actually already not so dreary anymore with my beautiful vintage brooch pinned on.

Successfully I found these beautiful original 50s buttons on Ebay.

The buttons I used for the coat in detail

Et voilà - a perfectly fitting coat with a vintage twist!

The other day someone asked me if I found my "vintage" coat on Ebay. So I guess - result!

2 outfits and hair of course...

Oh deary me - when I embarked on this revived blog journey a few weeks ago I had (still have) so many blog ideas and I was more than keen to keep up to date with blog browsing and leaving comments. But yet again I underestimated time (or better the lack of). So again I have not more time to do more than a quick outfit post. Within the week I shall return comments and also acknowledge a lovely blog award I have received.

(click to enlarge)

Outfit one day last week, just another combination of my various skirts and cardis.
And of course the trusted outtake  - but could I pose any stiffer?

I am not sure if I like this hair. I kinda do but really I don't. They look more like huge pincurls than victory rolls. Though I do think that it looks cute and playful and like a modern take on it I still reckon it's too cutsey.

This bakelite beauty came with one of the 2 much talked about ebay purchases - this came from the US one.



I wore this yesterday to my friend's little boy's bithday party. 



This red dress with white polkadots from Select I bought ages ago (for literally pennies) via ebay - I was going to wear it at my registry office wedding (which has not happened yet) but I won't anymore. It's a lovely v neck dress with wide straps and beautiful ruching around the waist. I paired a simple white fitted shirt underneath - it looked just perfect to me. I did mention before that I LOVE this Primark cardigan (still there to buy) and the lovely shoes, the very retro heels I have to show another day, are also Primark, but bought a while ago.

And I proudly present my most favourite piece of jewllery. My much much beloved sweater guard (if anyone could tell me how you call it in German I'd be greatful - my mother doesn't know). I am not sure and always open for a lesson in fashion history - it seems to me that they were much more popular in the states than in Europe in the 1950s. Is that correct vintage history buffs?

Also ebayed. I unfortunately lost a faux pearl but never mind, will be easily replaced if I want to.

The great revelation

Yesterday I made the decision which Mr. Bossy has been trying to convince me of for years. Though for very different reasons. To downsize my wardrobe and sell a whole lot of items that are just sitting there. His reason to urge me on is to have more room and mine are - well mine are obvious. I want to sell so I can buy more vintage. Simple maths.

I rummaged around in my cupboard and actually had quite the revelation. I have no clue why I pussyfooted around committing to daily vintagey outfits because most of my wardrobe is anyway 50s inspired. That said I have hardly any genuine vintage items but I have a ton of big skirts and cardigans. I even have 2 pencil skirts I had for about 13 years but hardly ever wore, I was actually quite excited about 2 particular outfits I found! I always loved the 50s I just never made the concious effort to pair hair with clothes in a vintage style on a daily basis. And as I said before the 40s are new to me.

Personally I like themed outfits or dressing for the occassion. And as Season 2 of Glee (finally) started yesterday in the UK I felt very Emma Pillsburyish today. I went to my regular La Leche League meeting in the morning but even though no glamour is needed there I can still channel a bit of Emma!

Who will be my next featured style icon tomorrow by the way.

click to enlarge

 First I have to say I really need to get a new camera if I keep doing outfit posts because this is just dreadful. And how do I do this when Mr. Bossy is back to work on normal weekdays?

Terrible pics.

This skirt is one of my most beloved items ever. I bought it about 5 years ago at H&M. The red, white and navy flowery print resembles a bit folklore to me and the fabric is a textured cotton which is thick enough in winter and light enough in summer - I wear this skirt quite a lot. The cardigan though is new. Hurrah for Christmas! It's actually Primark but the most perfect little cardigan - navy, a white bow (I ♥ bows) and a perfect 50s cut. Add a little red belt and all good to go!

And yes I am aware that my 90s penny loafers are not the ideal pairing but I love them. I like their weird nerdy grannyish "chic" and they are so bloody comfortable. I do heels only now and then. On heels I can't chase after my cannon ball child, I can't carry and juggle toddler and 15 things safely and simply I just can't survive in them all day.

And brogues I can't count to my possessions yet. But soon.

The lovely new coat is also Primark, cheap as chips anyway but had so many threads fraying (easily snipped off) that they gave me a discount. Mr. Bossy actually found it and chose it - and did I mention I love Christmas? Yes another present or to be precise - the last item I spent the last of my Christmas money on.

Pinned to the new coat is this adorable 1940s brooch. It is just beautiful. Came with the UK sale on Ebay I mentioned in previous posts.

Sod it!

2 Posts ago I was blabbing on about big curls for playgroup are too much. But if the fabulous Ashley of Lisa Freemont Street can do a VIDEO on how to be glamorous in hospital after giving birth (seriously - how loveably crazy is that?) I can most certainly do curls at playgroup.

So I thought sod it and pin curled my hair last night.

With only my second try I have already learned so much now thanks to all the great blogs out there. This time I didn't do it as tight and didn't roll it up too close to my head. And there you go - no afro but beautiful curls all ready to go! Actually brushing out curls and shaping them around my hand is much more relaxing and easier than trying to get a pretty ponytail up on my head - so really not more effort than usual on a monday morning.

The pictures I took around lunchtime after I was already out and about for a while - by then the curls drooped a bit but not much.

As mentioned before I only started my vintage journey so dressing accordingly every day means pulling out what is (or passes as) vintage inspired. These very old slacks from New Look are so much more comfy than tight jeans and are my most wide-legged pair of trousers. For now they work. The cardigan is a newer aquisition from Oasis, when I bought it I wasn't sure about the colour, I normally wear block colours, but surprisingly the colour enhances my paleness in a beautiful way and does not wash me out as I had feared.
And look how beautifully my engagement ring has caught the light!

For the outtake gallery - my little gnome really tries to get in all the pictures. To get one just by myself is a matter of milliseconds and good luck. I actually need to find a good spot for the self timer. Today Mr. Bossy was home but usually by the time he gets home it's so dark that my crappy old camera only manages the most horrendous pictures with a flash.

You may have noticed the brooch I am wearing.

I ebayed a little while ago two lots (estate sales) - one by one I will show you all of my treasures.



This flower pin came all the way from the states. I am in love with it, I wear it nearly every time I wear something black.



I might aswell also show you the other flower pin from the same sale which is currently pinned to my black coat.

I never cared much for jewllery. If it wasn't made from plastic and shaped like a strawberry or apple. Or any other fruit. Or like Hello Kitty. I always said to everyone - the day I like jewllery I start getting old. Well I must be really getting old now not only the wrinkles slowly emerging are proving this but also my new obsession with vintage costume jewllery. I am in love with goldtone brooches, sweater guards, glove and scarf clips mostly from the 40s and 50s. SO beautiful! I always appreciated art deco jewllery because my mother always had a thing for it but I myself was never interested in it. But that's my next exploration after fashion and accessories - the history of jewllery.

Happy New Year!

I wish you all a very happy New Year!

I rung in the new year very chilled and relaxed but certainly in style! We spend a lovely calm evening with Mr. Bossys sister and her fiancée. And lot's of food :-)

I styled my hair around this brilliant little Janine Basil fascinator my mother-in-law gave me for Christmas. She is by the way the BEST present giver - she always finds the most amazing little trinkets, never fails to surprise and in general I think never ever gave anyone a bad present. Just lovely!

My beautiful red fascinator - the bow is either very dark blue or a blueish black - I can't decide :-)



I went a bit pin curl mad - not a truely authentic vintage hairstyle but certainly inspired by rolls and pin curls. And did I mention that I love my fascinator?




I adore my dress. It is my very first genuine vintage buy and I just love it. It's perfect for me, it fits me exactly, it's in my favourite colours red, navy and white and it has many many different sized polka dots and stripes all over. It's just beautiful. I don't know what era it exactly dates back to. Not sure.
I bought it via Ebay, my red Mary Janes are from Peacocks - bought about 4 years ago.



A few outtakes - in my house it is near impossible to get a picture without my little one trying to get in it. Or in this case under my skirt. :-)



Also worth mentioning - one of many beautiful pins and brooches dating back to the 40s and 50s I bought within an estate sale on Ebay. I just love Ebay, you can find so many vintage treasures from all over the world for so little money!



I hope you all have a lovely and successful 2011!


Edit:
I had a very constructive comment, I love learning about fashion history:
"The material looks like a polyester in the close up picture- what is it made of?Because if it's a polyester mix I don't think it's that old- it was just invented in the 40's and really started to be used in fashion within the 60's-
They did a lot of dresses like that in the 70's, a lot of fashion used in the 70's was based on 30'3-40's- the wedge heels for example."
It is indeed 100% Polyester! That would explain then why I thought that the stripy pattern on top and the fact it buttons up so tightly and highly looks actually very 70s! That's another beautiful thing about vintage - the history behind each garment.