Sally Jane Vintage

Photography: Aubin & Wills

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

The lifestyle photography of Aubin & Wills is making me excited for a couple of things. One is slightly warmer days that call for light jackets and bare legs. I don't need spring to come quite yet, but a little sunshine would do this girl some good. The other is some upcoming travels that Tom and I have been busy planning as we've been stuck inside this winter. There's one more important thing that I have to line up before I can talk about it without feeling like I'm jinxing the whole thing. I'm also working on a post about packing for long trips when you have very limited space. I spy a few things in this shop I wouldn't mind having in my bag. Like this striped dress or this pretty collared one.

Etsy Update: Colorful Separates

2012-01-25T02:30:00.000-05:00

lost in the forest cardigan ... seahorses wrap cardigan ... aspen sunset cardigan

~~olive pendleton skirt~~ ... goldenrod houndtooth skirt ... ~~bark embroidered skirt~~

cocoa striped cardigan ... sonia rykiel sweater ... persimmon pendleton sweater

noir pencil skirt ... peas & carrots skirt ... jewel tone wool skirt

space dyed cardigan ... ~~popcorn knit cardigan~~ ... carnival stripe knit top

guatemala embroidered skirt ... ginger plaid mini skirt ... deep water pleated skirt

vertical stripes cardigan ... bold stripe knit top ... slate southwest cardigan

~~robins egg wool skirt~~ ... classic plaid skirt ... charcoal peek-a-boo skirt

Edith A. Miller

2012-01-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

You would think the search for the perfect striped shirt would be an easy thing to conquer. I have found the opposite to be true. Every one I've found has ended up failing me in one way or another... too big, too short, shrinks too much, colors bleed, seams twist. It's always something. Lately the name Edith A. Miller keeps popping up on seemingly perfect examples of the elusive striped shirt. I decided to do a little investigating and discovered that the shirts are made right here in the United States... in Pennsylvania... in a mill less than 30 miles from my house! It's a small world, eh? The mill, which has a history dating back more than 100 years, is one of the few remaining historic American knitting mills. I think the fact that these shirts are coming from a small, family run mill makes me even more interested in them.

Madewell in Black & White

2012-01-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Don't adjust your screen! The Madewell spring lookbook is here and it's in pure black and white. As usual, I pretty much love everything. Madewell is definitely a reflection of my style on most non-fancy days. That first striped dress has my name written all over it, I just have to decide which color I like best. And those sandals! If only four inch heels were practical to walk around in every day. Oh, and my apologies to the model... for some reason the screen grabs made her face look a bit wonky at times. I'm sure she's quite lovely looking without the slightest bit of wonkiness in real life.

Sponsor Sally Jane Vintage

2012-01-22T15:10:00.001-05:00

I've update my sponsorship program for the new year! I'll now be featuring one size banner that is small-business friendly, with affordable monthly rates. Packages for multiples months are available at discounted rates. Take a peek at the sidebar to see the new size. If you'd like more information, please feel free to email me.

Etsy Update: Be My Valentine

2012-01-20T09:00:00.000-05:00

parallel lines suit ... ~~mid-century print dress~~ ... lilac button dress

~~bold moves plaid blouse~~ ... paisley crop blouse ... sweetheart cashmere sweater

patriot plaid cape ... herringbone wool coat ... cherry wool swing coat

~~gridlines dress~~... nouveau floral dress... ~~windowpane plaid dress~~

scarlet striped knit top ... snow blossoms cardigan ... ~~salmon knit cardigan~~

~~painter's print dress~~ ... ~~cranberry mini dress~~ ... ~~raspberry pintuck dress~~

classic plaid skirt ... plum cashmere skirt ... ~~merlot pleated skirt~~

almost spring dress ... palest pink dress ... ~~india print dress~~

Karen Walker & Anthropologie

2012-01-18T11:48:00.002-05:00

I swore I wasn't going to go down this road yet, but the spring collections keep falling in my lap and I have no will power when it comes to not looking at them. Here's another one that has me excited about the coming season. I don't usually get excited about designer collaborations. The H&M ones and Target GO lines pretty much pass by unnoticed but this one, between Karen Walker and Anthropologie is calling my name. I'm very curious to see what the "lower" price point will be. Pretty sundresses with a 40s vibe in patriotic colors just scream summertime to me. Whoa, did I just jump ahead to summer? Sorry, I can't help myself!

First Rite

2012-01-17T21:05:00.002-05:00

I've just discovered the San Francisco based clothing line First Rite. I like the neutral color palette and the pieces all seem like they would be comfy and easy to wear. The designer, Nikki Garcia is originally from Montana and I can definitely see some of the ruggedness you would expect to encounter in Montana in the presentation of these pieces. You can peek inside her studio in this R29 feature. And besides, I can't knock anyone who lets an awesome kitty hang out for their photoshoot!

Orla Kiely

2012-01-13T12:53:00.000-05:00

It's finally starting to feel like winter around here, and I'm just beginning to think about spring. Perfect, right? And you know what spring means? New collections to ogle. And I don't think anyone proves more ogle-worthy year after year than Orla Kiely. Man, she really nails it season after season. Dresses pulled right out of my head! I love this pre-spring collection and I can't wait to see the summer and Olive & Orange collections too.

Sounds of the Woods

2012-01-12T20:46:00.000-05:00

Sounds of the Woods - Nadinoo AW11 Film from WishWishWish on Vimeo.

I just adore this video featuring the work of a few of my favorite bloggers; Nadia from Nadinoo's lovely clothes, Carrie from WishWishWish's keen eye for directing and the beautiful Rosalind from Clothes, Cameras & Coffee modeling. The result is a mesmerizing video that makes me want to get lost in the forest with the characters from the Nadinoo collection.

Watching this reminds me that Pixie's Bird-A-Day shirt is on its way to me from over the pond. So excited! I can't wait to pair with high waisted shorts or under sleeveless jumpers. I'm a sucker for all things bird-print-related so this was a perfect match for me. And I love the story about how the print came about:

Ornithology Liberty Print was designed from sketches by Edwyn Collins, who was best known for fronting Scottish rock revivalists Orange Juice. In 2005 Edwyn suffered a severe cerebral haemorrhage that he took six months to recover from. As part of his rehabilitation he drew a bird a day, like a sketchbook on fabric complete with names of birds and dates when they were drawn. (from the Nadinoo site).

Dear Creatures Spring 2012

2012-01-10T13:28:00.001-05:00

This morning an email landed in my inbox from Refinery 29 about new haircuts for spring, specifically noting the "pixie" cut as seen above. Truth be told, I had that haircut circa 1992. It wasn't the haircut that caught my eye, but that navy sailor dress. I clicked through to the article hoping it would give me some clue as to where that dress might be found. I was so excited when the photo credit led to the Dear Creatures site. That means the dress will be mine, all mine! Cue evil laugh! Mwah-ha-ha!

A little further sleuthing led me to behind-the-scenes photos to the first ever runway show for a Dear Creatures collection. I haven't really thought much about spring yet, but these looks might start that ball rolling. Tom and I have an exciting trip planned for late spring (more about that later) and I've already starting packing in my head. I see several things here that I would love to sneak into my suitcase (or backpack as the case may be).

Date Night

2012-01-09T13:52:00.001-05:00

- Dear Creatures dress
- old Gap sweater
- ASOS duffle coat
- vintage scarf & wool beret
- H&M tights & socks

On Friday night Tom and I went on an honest to goodness date. Dinner, entertainment, drinks! It was a lot of fun since we don't get to do that much anymore. All I was told in advance was to dress warm and be ready to leave the house at 6:00. Fun, right? We started the evening off at dinner at our favorite pho soup place, Rice & Noodles. That place is always perfect for dinner on a cold night.

After dinner we headed to Clipper Stadium where they've turned the outfield into a skating rink. It's been such a mild winter I think this was one of the first nights they were able to use the ice. I've only been ice skating a handful of times in my life but I grew up with a pair of roller skates strapped to my feet so I managed to make it through the night without falling. I honestly don't know how anyone is able to jump and spin and land on the ice!

Once our legs felt like they were going to fall off we stopped in at The Fridge for fancy beers. The place has hundreds of domestic craft beets to choose from and I probably stood in front of the cooler for way too long trying to pick just one. Of course I ended up with some sort of Belgium style blonde which is always my favorite. Yum!

Christina

2012-01-06T10:30:00.000-05:00

I was doing a little internet research on autochromes and sort of felt like I'd fallen down the rabbit hole. There are so many sites and so much information it can be a bit overwhelming. I know back in the infancy of the blog (way back in '08!) I did a blog post about autochromes based on the Belgian Autochromists site. If you haven't fallen down that rabbit hole before, I highly recommend it. But since then nary a word about them so I thought it was high time that I shared by favorite collection of autochromes in case you hadn't seem them before.

The images were captured by Lieutenant Colonel Mervyn O’Gorman, a distinguised Aeronautical engineer, of his daughter Christina at and near Lulworth Cove in Dorset, in 1913. Don't they look like they could be right out of a modern day editorial?

1928 DIY

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

I didn't make any New Year's resolutions for this year, but if I had, one would probably have been to make more things by hand. More DIY! I got a little head start at the end of last year by making some Christmas decorations for our tree; yarn-ball ones and salt dough ornaments like these. It was pretty satisfying to create something from scratch for the first time in quite a while, even though the salt dough ornaments were a bit of a fail. I learned from my mistakes and they'll be better next time!

Tom sent me the images from this Le Page's Craft Creations in the Modern Manner as a bit of inspiration for my DIY cravings. Of course, I don't think he wants me to start covering everything in the house with pretty, patterned paper. Here's a bit about Le Page's from the Daily Heller:

The Russia Cement Co., manufacturers of LePage's Glue in Gloucester, Mass., was known for publishing craft books. "Over a million women have bought LePage's Craft Books, which have shown them how to make useful, practical, attractive gifts with the help of LePage's Glue -- the money-saving, handy mender." Craft Creations helped the housewife transform the commonplace into the extraordinary. "You will find in making these articles that your handiest tool is your old mending friend LePage's Glue." In those days products were not just brands, they were "friends."

Shown here are ways of antiquing, applying aluminum leaf, and other decoupage details to foot stools, cupboards, desk sets, book shelves, mirror frames, clothes hampers, boudoir boxes, kitchen spice shelves, serving trays and card tables. There is even a bench affixed with a map of New York City. LePage's was essential to the modern home, even though the packaging was very nineteenth century.

"More than one woman has written, 'I do not know how I could keep house without LePage's.'"

Etsy Update: For the New Year

2012-01-04T11:00:00.000-05:00

~~olive plaid dress~~ ... cocoa knit dress ... ~~greta corduroy dress~~

~~geometry lessons dress~~ ... carnival stripe dress ... houndstooth illusion dress

floral border dress ... noir flutter dress ... audrey shift dress

mossy plaid dress ... eleanor plaid wool dress ... ~~forest mod dress~~

slate wool & fur coat ... ~~collegian wool coat~~ ... logan short trench coat

ebony cameo dress ... avant dress ... perfect jersey dress

~~midnight belted dress~~ ... silver metal dress ... ~~betty wool sailor dress~~

Something Else

2012-01-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I was doing a little post holiday online window shopping and saw some things on the Madewell site that I really like (surprise, surprise). I noticed a couple of the pieces were made by an Australian line called Something Else by Natalie Wood. Madewell's description says the label takes cues from nature, art and 70s bohemia. Sounds just about perfect to me! I decided to check out their site to see more.

The winter collection is full of blues and greys and blacks with subtle patterns. I think I love everything except for the shoes. Sorry, but the shoes are bad. Next I looked at the spring collection and it's the first thing I've seen that actually made me almost wish it was almost spring. Almost. I like the pale pink dresses balanced with the black pieces. And then next is the summer collection, which includes some of the pieces I saw on Madewell. Polka dot chambray? Yes, please!

Beekman Place, Pt. V

2011-12-30T10:00:00.000-05:00

photos by Tom b.

- 50s cotton dress
- 30s wool coat
- AA tights
- Topshop heels

And here we are at the end. The end of this series. The end of the year. It has been a good one, full of fun adventures; a trip to California, my first attempt at a vegetable garden, trips to Alabama and New York, my first try at styling a photoshoot, finally (I think) being happy with the way my Etsy photos look, a snow covered Halloween and so much more. I'm looking forward to lots of new adventures in the upcoming year. Bring it on 2012! Happy New Year! Thank you so, so much for visiting me here!

Beekman Place, Pt. IV

2011-12-29T10:00:00.000-05:00

photos by Tom b.

- 30s blouse
- 50s cashmere skirt
- H&M tights
- Fletcher for Lyell heels

Beekman Place, Pt. III

2011-12-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

photos by Tom b.

- 60s wool shorts
- H&M sweater
- 60s leather boots
- vintage wool beret

When presented with the opportunity to do a photoshoot in the Beekman Place building, I was faced with the inevitable question... what to wear?! I knew whatever I took with me, I was going to have to carry it several blocks through the city as we walked our way to the building so that limited what I was going to take. I thought about coming up with some sort of theme or specific inspiration but in the end, just went with outfits that I thought I would normally wear and that represented my own personal style. Each one incorporates pieces of vintage from my own closet with modern pieces in ways that I would wear them in everyday life.

Beekman Place, Pt. II

2011-12-27T10:00:00.000-05:00

photos by Tom b.

- vintage Navy sailor pants
- Fletcher for Lyell sweater
- 70s leather boots
- vintage wool beret

A few fun facts about Beekman Place:

It was built in 1882 and used to be known as Temple Court.
It is one of the earliest surviving fire-proof buildings built in New York City.
It was the third building in the city to have an elevator installed (they still work and we rode in them!).
You can see the Woolworth Building, built in 1913, through the atrium skylights.
It has been sitting abandoned in the middle of the city for more than a decade.
The building is rumored to be sold to Andre Balazs and being renovated into a luxury hotel.

Beekman Place, Pt. I

2011-12-26T10:00:00.000-05:00

photos by Tom b.

- 30s wool coat
- ASOS dress
- Rachel Comey boots
- H&M tights
- vintage belt

Merry Christmas everyone! I know it's a bit belated but it's better late than never, right? Or at this point, I guess I should go ahead and say Happy Boxing Day! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday spent with friends and family. We had a very quiet weekend, mostly spent at home watching football (Tom) and old movies (me) and eating treats. Last night I cooked a Christmas dinner of vegan Field Roast, Brussels sprouts and sweet potatoes that were grown on my parents' farm. Yum!

So... I've successfully avoided doing any outfit posts for the entire month of December and I have to admit I did enjoy the break. I'm sure I'll get back into the routine after the beginning of the year, but for now I'm still reveling in not taking any photos. Instead, I thought I would wrap up the end of the year featuring the photographs Tom took during one of our favorite projects of the year; our trip to Beekman Place in NYC. If you looked through the flip book when I posted it, you've seen some but not all of these shots. Each day this week, I'll spotlight a different set of photos from the project here on the blog. I hope you enjoy!

A Forest Picnic

2011-12-23T11:01:00.000-05:00

Seeing these outtake photos posted on the Frolic blog made me want to go on a wintery picnic. Sounds like an oxymoron doesn't it? It also got me on a search for a Hudson Bay wool blanket. I've always wanted one but never found a vintage one in good condition that I wanted to bring home. Perhaps a new one is the way to go. They seem so sturdy and warm like they'd last a lifetime.

Photography: Lisa Warninger. Wardrobe styling: Lauren Hartmann. Prop styling: Chelsea Fuss. Model: Jennifer Sullins. Hair and Makeup: Lyndsey Strand at Amore Salon.

Etsy Update: Black & Blue

2011-12-22T10:00:00.000-05:00

ebony holiday dress ... after midnight pointelle dress ... ~~noir crepe holiday dress~~

polka dot contrast dress ... constellation rayon dress ... indigo knit sweater dress

~~boardwalk wool sweater coat~~ ... trellis floral vines dress ... muted tones plaid dress

jewel tone floral dress ... jonathan logan dress & jacket ... sapphire floral dress

Etsy Update: Rustic Sweaters

2011-12-22T09:30:00.000-05:00

~~fair isle boatneck sweater~~ ... ~~bold moves striped sweater~~ ... rust striped sweater

~~cocoa pointelle scallops sweater~~ ... leaf motif wool cardigan ... cream in your coffee cardigan

rocky mountain cardigan ... grand canyon wrap cardigan ... ~~appalachian wrap cardigan~~

bohemian striped knit sweater ... ~~paris deco sweater vest~~ ... rustic striped vest sweater

The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt

2011-12-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Here's yet another blog post that I have thanks to a link sent to me by Tom. What can I say, the boy knows me. This one concerns the novel The Scrapbook of Frankie Pratt by Caroline Preston. It's actually an illustrated book, or graphic novel of sorts, presented as a scrapbook. The novel concerns a 1920s college girl who moves to Greenwich Village to pursue a career as writer. I'd love to get my hands on a copy. I imagine it would inspire me to start my very own scrapbook.

House Industries for Hermes

2011-12-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

I often tease Tom for being a “type-nerd”. It’s not unusual to hear things like, “I can’tbelieve they used (insert font here) on that billboard” or “The kerning on thatposter is ridiculous" on a daily basis. Actually, it's rubbed off on me a bit and now I find myself noticing things like that more and more. So I wasn't surprised when he sent me a link to the House Industries designed windows for Hermes Tokyo. It's the perfect combination of font-meets-fashion.

Every year he takes his design students on a field trip to House Industries since their headquarters are located in not-too-far-away Delaware. If you're a designer and haven't checked out their fonts then drop what you're doing and check them out right now. It's enough to turn me into a bit of a type-nerd myself.

The Artist

2011-12-19T09:00:00.000-05:00

Have you guys seen The Artist yet? I haven't, but I really want to! If you're not familiar with it, it's a new silent movie that getting loads of attention as awards season rolls around. It's set in Hollywood, 1927, and centers around George Valentin, a silent movie star, and Peppy Miller, a young dancer just getting her big break as "talkies" gain popularity. It seems to star unknown actors in the lead rolls, but I spy John Goodman, Malcolm McDowell and Penelope Ann Miller in these stills. I love the real thing when it comes to silent movies, but I'm really curious to see what this modern day version is like.

Make Love Not War

2011-12-16T10:00:00.000-05:00

photos by Darshana Borah

Back in the spring I had the pleasure of working with Sarah on the very first photoshoot I'd ever styled. It was a cold and blustery day and I kept putting her in shorts and sheer dresses and she was such a trooper about standing around in the cold all day. I still don't know how she managed to not look like she was freezing in the photos.

When she contacted me last week to let me know she started her own clothing line, I was happy to help spread the word. These photos reflect the MLNW mini holiday collection. You can check out Make Love Not War here and buy things in the Etsy shop here. Everything in the Etsy shop is 15% off for the month of December with the code "HOLIDAY" at checkout.

ba&sh

2011-12-15T12:05:00.000-05:00

The brainchild of two designers, Barbara Boccara and Sharon Krief, ba&sh's Autumn/Winter collection is a nice mixture of structured classic pieces and light floral ones. That's pretty much the perfect duffle coat as far as I can tell and I also love the loose fit on the floral mini dress. Of course, styling everything with a simple pair of oxfords doesn't hurt either.

Etsy Update: A Little Greenery

2011-12-14T12:00:00.000-05:00

jade velvet mini dress ... olive shift dress ... forest mod mini dress

winter sunset wool sweater ... whipstitch belted cardigan ... marled knit cardigan

houndstooth pencil skirt ... coffee pleated wool skirt ... spruce marled knit skirt

london fog short trench coat ... fireside quilted coat ... parchment wool riding jacket

mod striped blouse ... geology stripe sweater ... rugby team sweater

evergreen pleated skirt ... candied apple plaid skirt ... moss button skirt

stacked heel fringe boots ... cole haan leather buckle oxfords ... ginger lace up ankle boots

oxblood braided leather boots ... caramel leather boots ... chestnut stacked heel boots

Willard Suitcases

2011-12-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

This is one of the more amazing things I've stumbled across lately (via Foxtail + Fern). What you see here is a collection of suitcases that were discovered in 1995 at The Willard Psychiatric Center. They had been stored away in the attic of the pathology lab for decades like time capsules for their former owners. They are now in the hands of the New York State Museum and are being carefully archived and preserved. Read more here.

Secrets from a Stylist

2011-12-12T04:00:00.001-05:00

Last week I caught a rerun of the show Secrets from a Stylist on HGTV, hosted by Emily Henderson (serious girl crush alert). Since it's the season of holiday decorating I was excited to watch as she transformed a family's space into a holiday party wonderland. While the color scheme for this family's home does not match my own, I still came away with tons of ideas for decorating. There were lots of DIY projects for making your own decorations and tips for picking up pieces at flea markets and putting them together in creative ways that make a space feel personal and unique. I've already taken on the yarn-ball-as-tree-ornament project and plan on tackling the old-book-pages-turned-mini-trees next (you'll have to watch the show to see that one). And can we talk about the vintage-globe-snowman-family? So cute. If you don't have a moment to watch the show, you can check out the Holiday Guide magazine that includes not only a lot of photographs from the episode, but also lots of other crafty ideas and gift guides that have led me to many new and fun places on the internet.

Street Style Favorites

2011-12-09T10:51:00.001-05:00

Stockholm Street Style, Vanessa Jackman, Sartorialist, Fancy Fine, Shop Lawrence, Hummingbird Girls, Stockhom Street Style, Sartorialist

You may have noticed a lack of outfit photos on the blog lately. I just haven't felt much like stepping in front of the camera. I'm sure it's a phase and it will pass but until then, rest assured that I'm still getting dressed on a daily basis. Ha, ha. When I'm feeling a bit stuck and I'm not quite sure what to wear, I often consult the "outfit favorites" folder on my computer for inspiration. These are some of my favorite favorites right now: lots of neutral colors, layering, longer length skirts and ankle boots. That pretty much sums up what I've been wearing.

2011-12-07T11:13:00.001-05:00

As soon as I saw these scans from Elle Decor France on Moodboard, I saved them to my "home inspiration" file. So good! A few things I'm taking note of; must get kilim pillows to throw on the couch, be on the lookout for more vintage etched mirrors to brighten up dark spaces, a random assortment of baskets collected on a shelf makes great storage and fresh cut flowers on the table are lovely any time of year.

Etsy Update: A Touch of the Holidays

2011-12-05T12:57:00.001-05:00

winter solstice dress ... merlot lace holiday dress... silent night chiffon dress

audrey lace dress ... ruby wool wiggle dress ... sheer noir lace dress

silver fox stole ... scarlet cape coat ... persian wool coat

crossing lines cardigan ... peppermint knit cardigan ... ahoy sailor sweater

hidden secrets skirt ...brick corduroy skirt ... ebony knit skirt

bonnie tweed vest & skirt ... british isle cape & skirt ... queens plaid vest & skirt

wool ski cardigan ... geometry sweater ... snowflake sweater

elegance velvet skirt ... charcoal notched skirt ... holiday velvet skirt

netted party dress ... garnet velvet dress ... metallic wiggle dress

cranberry wool coat ...first snow plaid coat ... macintosh red wool coat

appleseed belted dress ... folk music dress ... half and half dress

Photography: Andrew Nuding

2011-12-02T09:00:00.000-05:00

I wish I could remember exactly where I first saw Andrew Nuding's photography so I could give credit where credit is due, but I can't so it will have to suffice to say that I'm quite taken with these images. Right now I'm partial to the ones that portray a seemingly cold, grey winter sky. It seems Old Man Winter has finally arrived and I'm digging in my heels in preparation to ride out another long winter. These photos are serving to remind me that I can do so in a fashionable way and not just wrapped in flannel pajamas and quilts as I'm tempted to do.

Hiking Boots

2011-12-01T08:30:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking about a pair of completely practical, sturdy boots for stomping around town or the woods. Luckily I found a pair of brown hiking boots with red laces in the boy's section at the thrift store but if I hadn't, I may have sprung for this pair or this pair. I plan on wearing them with rolled up jeans and chunky cableknit sweaters for comfy days.

Winter Wishlist

2011-11-30T09:19:00.011-05:00

Orla Kiely dress / Madewell archive boots / SA cashmere hat / Hansel from Basel tights / Madewell caravan satchel

Steven Alan dress / Madewell socks / UO hat / Madewell prairie boots & California necklace

Whit blouse / Topshop skirt / Tocca coat / Topshop hat / Marc Jacobs flats

Steven Alan shirt / YMC sweater / Raleigh jeans / Madewell trailrider boots / socks / Pendleton blanket

Pendleton sweater / APC skirt / Madewell stable boots / Hansel from Basel socks / hat / Rachel Comey purse

Etsy Update: Neutrals, Pt. 2

2011-11-29T11:15:00.001-05:00

broken twigs dress ... noir button back dress ... walnut corduroy jumper

fall leaves blouse ... angora wrap sweater ... newspaper knit top

on the horizon skirt ... college town wool skirt ... grey skies corduroy skirt

intersection dress ... parallel lines dress ... asymmetry dress

fitted fur collar jacket ... fawn riding jacket ... irish wool cape

Tweed Run

2011-11-27T19:14:00.003-05:00

I would love to one day witness (or perhaps participate in!) the Rugby Ralph Lauren's Tweed Run in New York City. Or better yet, in London! It seems like it would be so much fun to be surrounded by so many well dressed ladies and dapper gentlemen.

Photography: Of Kentucky

2011-11-25T09:42:00.006-05:00

Since I just spent the better part of a week down south, I thought I would make today's photography post southern related. I was searching for something to post about when I remembered a link that Tom sent to me about a photo essay featured in the New York Times called Of Kentucky. It features photography by Shelby Lee Adams (a good southern name, if I may say so myself) from the book Salt & Truth spotlighting the Kentucky countryside where his family resided for generations.

Then I had second thoughts. I’m a bit protective of the south and find that people who haven’t been there and experienced it for themselves typically don’t hold it in very high regard. Wherever I go, I’m always surprised at the general ignorance in people’s opinions of the South. Although you can’t deny the truths shown in this series of photographs (there it all is, documented in black and white) I’m hesitant to show this facet of southern life, lest I reinforce the stereotypes that so many harbor about southerners.

Then I read a quote from the book that changed my mind again. While I don't personally relate to the way of life shown in the photos, Adams says in the book, "when I was young I couldn't wait to leave Kentucky. Now I value every day when I return." I can certainly relate to a part of that statement. I didn't grow up waiting out the days to leave Alabama, but I certainly value every day that I get to spend there now.

Back in Pennsylvania

2011-11-23T13:31:00.006-05:00

- Steven Alan dress
- Madewell cape
- UO hat
- H&M tights
- Bonvelle shoes courtesy of Blowfish
- vintage Coach purse

After a few relaxing days traveling in Alabama and I finally back home to the cold and grey of Pennsylvania. I was determined to stay away from the internet as much as possible while I was down south and did just that. I didn't take any photos for the blog at all! I just hung out with family and old friends and enjoyed a bit of a break.

A few things I enjoyed while I was there: catching up with my Birmingham girlfriends over beers at Rojo (you know who you are ladies! I miss you!), seeing my former cat Stewie living the good life in his new country home, learning to use a drill press to make candle holders in my parent's workshop, taking a nap in a hammock with my one year old niece, helping lay the floor for my parent's new chicken coop and playing a game of Skip-Bo on the front porch in the unseasonably warm weather with my family.

Modern Vintage 2011

2011-11-18T07:14:00.003-05:00

Here is the final product of our recent trip to NYC. I'm currently traveling so I'm going to keep this post short on words since it's heavy on photos. And speaking of photos, this post wouldn't be complete without a huge thank you to my partner in crime, Tom, for taking all of these photos, for humoring me when I want to do ONE MORE outfit and for designing the entire flip book.

If this thing works the way it's supposed to, you should be able to flip through the photos here on the blog, or click on the photos to view them larger. You can even download it if you want!

Etsy Update: Neutrals, Pt. 1

2011-11-16T14:00:00.001-05:00

diagonal lines dress ... morse code dress ... scallops and dots dress

noir collared sweater ... favorite boyfriend sweater ... contrasting stripes cardigan

horizon lines dress ... maude mini dress ... psychedelic print dress

downtown tweed skirt ... penelope pleat skirt ... terra chevron skirt

first snow coat ... slate princess coat ... toffee belted coat

Nadinoo Winter 2011

2011-11-14T12:09:00.005-05:00

I had something different planned for the blog today but the combination of not feeling well and preparing for a trip out of state beginning Thursday has me in a bit of a funk. Instead, I'm happy to spread the word about the Nadinoo Winter 2011 collection. The collection features lots more of the bird prints that I adored in the Fall collection and a pair of killer high waisted shorts that are going on my wishlist.

Tara Jarmon

2011-11-11T10:20:00.000-05:00

It was refreshing to discover Tara Jarmon's Madaemoiselle Tara collection via Erin's blog yesterday. Like Erin, I was unfamiliar with the line even though it's apparently been around for ages. I like the mod undertones of the collection and the cheerful pops of color. I would definitely give that orange floppy hat a go.

Oswald's Mill

2011-11-10T12:51:00.002-05:00

If I started a new category on the blog called "can I please live here?" Oswald's Mill might be on the very top of that list. How can so much amazing stuff be in one place?! Every detail is just lovely. The funny thing is, the mill is only about an hour or so away from where we're living now. That's doable, right?!

Etsy Collection: Pretty Dresses

2011-11-08T18:48:00.000-05:00

diagonal stripe dress ... icy blue wool dress ... marble print dress

fawn wool mini dress ... mint floral chiffon dress ... herringbone wool dress

oatmeal wool dress ... native toile dress ... sunset border dress

heathered pleat dress ... glacier wool dress ... toffee belted dress

two toned diagonal dress ... vanilla ruffle dress ... olive floral dress

Beekman Place

2011-11-07T11:12:00.008-05:00

- 60s wool sweater
- 30s wool jacket
- Steven Alan chambray shirt
- thrifted wool skirt (shortened by me)
- H&M tights
- vintage boots, belt & wool hat

Yesterday Tom and I ventured up to New York City for a day of exploring and taking photos. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that a planned trip to NY had been delayed and yesterday was finally the day. This trip has been in the works for quite some time! A while back, Tom was invited to photograph a historic abandoned building in the financial district of Manhattan and asked me if I would like to come along. The answer was an easy yes.

The Beekman Street building was once known as Temple Court and was built in 1882. Today it is the earliest surviving “fireproof” office building of the pre-skyscraper period. It is also the third building in the city to have had an elevator installed. The elevators are still working, by the way. Words really can't do this place justice. Everywhere you look there are amazing details, from the art nouveau style stair railings to the cast iron dragons that hold up each balcony. I was daydreaming about living there the entire time I was wandering around! The fate of the building is still unknown as it sits abandoned but there are rumors of it being turned into a hotel. I want to go back and stay there someday!

Here are just a few quick snapshots I took around the place. As I walked around I found a lot of the rooms held evidence of past photos shoots; piles of hair pins, tissues smeared with lipstick, a set of prop ladders that had been left leaning in the sunlight. I couldn't resist carrying in an armload of clothes myself to have some fun with. Tom took lots of amazing photos that we are working on compiling into something (not sure exactly what yet) to present on the blog. I can't wait to show you!

Hunsecker's Mill Covered Bridge

2011-11-04T09:01:00.005-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- Alexa Chung for Madewell dress
- thrifted J. Crew cashmere cardigan
- Rachel Comey boots
- vintage wool beret
- vintage Coach purse

Here we are at another local covered bridge! I never knew there were so many around this area. I supposed I could make this a regular feature on the blog. Ha, ha. The funniest thing about these photos is that after they were taken, I realized that the half-erased graffiti I was standing in front of used to say "this is not a photo op." I suppose I beg to differ.

UNIONMADE GOODS

2011-11-02T09:35:00.000-04:00

If I was a dude, I would be seriously obsessed with Unionmade Goods. Hell, I'm not a dude and I'm pretty obsessed with it. I think it's the most perfectly curated guy's shop I've come across online. There are lots of classic woodsy looks for fall and winter. It's great for the guy in your life or for some tomboy inspiration for yourself.

Etsy Update: Dresses

2011-11-01T10:22:00.000-04:00

sheer gypsy dress.... plum striped nursing dress... merlot print smocked dress

bronze star dress... botanical print dress... royal embassy dress

dolman striped dresss... purple belted dresss... bohemian floral dress

chiffon babydoll dress... indigo ruffle dress... logan floral dress

ruffle collar dress... violet floral dress... plum wrap dress

Wilbur Chocolate Factory

2011-10-30T17:31:00.006-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- Alexa Chung for Madewell sweater
- vintage button up shirt
- vintage 60s skirt
- Topshop boots
- vintage Coach purse

My plan for posting photos today was to show you my Halloween costume that I wore yesterday. That plan was thwarted by a freak snowstorm that dumped about 5 inches of heavy, wet, sticky snow all over the region. My costume wasn't as elaborate as last year's but I was still dressed up as a character from a movie. Perhaps I'll recreate it later this week and snap some photos so I don't want to give it away just yet. Do you have any guesses?

Earlier last week Tom and I stopped in Lititz by the Wilbur Chocolate factory and snapped these photos. You can tour the factory and visit a little gift shop where they sell all sorts of chocolaty treats but it was all closed when we were there. The smell of chocolate in the air was such a tease coming out of the factory! I didn't get a treat but there was a little vending machine selling food for the ducks so I figured I'd give them a treat.

Whit Fall 2011

2011-10-28T08:21:00.000-04:00

For a while there, it seemed like I was in fall-collection-posting overdrive. Every other day there would be a new set of looks I'd want to post about and even I got a bit tired of it. So... I tried to back off a bit but when I saw the new Whit collection, I knew I had to make an exception. I remember liking the fall 2010 collection a lot but when the spring collection came out it just wasn't my thing. Now that the 2011 fall collection is out, I'm back on the wagon. It seems to have a lot of the little things I love; bird prints, polka dots, lots of grey and navy and camel tones.

A Bit of a Celebration

2011-10-27T08:34:00.001-04:00

- Goldie London dress
- vintage 60s boots
- AA tights

I'm in a bit of a celebratory mood over here. Why? Because my Etsy shop has just surpassed 2000 sales! Some days I feel like I'm moving in leaps and bounds on Etsy and other days I'm moving inch by inch. Lately it's been more of the inching along variety so I feel like the number 2000 is a bit of a landmark. I want to say a HUGE thank you to all of you for supporting my Etsy shop for theses past few years. I couldn't do it without you and y'all are welcome to celebrate right along with me! For the next 2000 minutes (that's 33 and a third hours if you're counting) you can receive 20% off anything in the shop by using the code SJV2000. Thanks so much to every one of you for helping me reach this milestone!

As for this outfit it was seriously inspired by the George Harrison documentary, Living in the Material World, that has been airing on HBO the past couple of weeks. If you get a chance, I'd definitely check it out. It's a bit all over the place and there are some key moments that seem to be skimmed over, but it's still worth a watch just for the amazing archival footage. Toward the end of the first part (it airs in two parts) there is some killer film footage of Jane Birkin that's worth it alone!

Etsy Update: Smoke & Mirrors

2011-10-25T11:44:00.006-04:00

winter sky dress... botanical shadow dress... heathered pintuck dress

crosswalk knit sweater... athena belted cardigan... sailing the seas wool sweater

rugby striped boyfriend sweater... monogrammed navy sweater... smokey mountains sweater

captain navy blazer... houndstooth plaid pea coat... peek-a-boo black coat

levis 501 boyfriend jeans... calvin klein fitted jeans... levis 501 faded jeans

penny lane plaid mini skirt... windowpane plaid pleated skirt... perfect navy mini skirt

dove grey pintuck dress... pinstripe navy dress... smoke & mirrors dress

diamond print jacket... tabitha tweed cropped top... aspen cotton jacket

Erb's Mill Covered Bridge

2011-10-24T08:43:00.000-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- H&M dress
- ASOS duffle coat
- Topshop boots
- vintage silk scarf

Yesterday Tom and I had plans to go to NYC for the day but at the very last minute our plans fell through leaving us with an entire day at home with no real plans. It was such a lovely fall day we wanted to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air. We ended up taking a very touristy drive though the countryside, stopping at a couple of covered bridges along the way.

This bridge, spanning Hammer Creek, was originally built in 1847 for just $700 and was rebuilt in 1887. As we were sitting by the creek, several Amish horse & buggies crossed over the bridge. One had a teenage couple in it and the boy stopped the buggy right in the middle of the bridge making his girlfriend squeal in half terror. I couldn't help but wonder if he does that every time they cross a bridge.

Photography: Eugène Atget

2011-10-21T10:16:00.001-04:00

The other day I was catching up on watching episodes of Boardwalk Empire. There was a scene where Nucky asks Margaret if she's ever seen Paris and she replied no. I started thinking about what Paris would have looked like had she visited in 1920. The closest thing I could think of was the photography of Eugène Atget. Atget was a French photographer that was known for documenting street scenes and the architecture of early 20th century Paris.

My favorites, which I've included in this post, feature some of the inhabitants (both living and inanimate) of the Great City, as he lovingly referred to Paris. If you delve further into his archives you'll discover many photographs that display seemingly abandoned streets and buildings void of any signs of life. It seems easy to me to imagine Nucky and Margaret inhabiting those empty spaces.

Pumpkin Patch

2011-10-20T09:31:00.000-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- thrifted silk shirt
- H&M shorts
- Rachel Comey boots
- vintage Coach purse

This time of year Lancaster becomes covered with orange polka-dotted fields. It seems like everywhere you go there's a field full of pumpkins just begging to be carved into jack-o-lanterns. We stopped in this field just before sunset on our way to eat Thai food in Willow Street.

Etsy Collection: Changing Leaves

2011-10-18T09:02:00.000-04:00

fawn wool & fur coat... hooded wool trench coat... sherlock trench coat

gant wool toggle coat... tweed short cape... classic camel toggle coat

dijon wool mini dress... seaton hall skirt & vest... basket weave sheath dress

stafford camel overcoat... caramel wool cape... blush swing coat

steel striped sweater... marigold wool sweater... rustic fair isle sweater

coffee plaid shirt dress... sunny tweed dress... goldenrod belted dress

toffee wool shorts... wool pleated skirt... houndstooth wool shorts

southwest belted cardigan... autumn sweater cape... marled knit cardigan

The Skinny Barn

2011-10-17T14:14:00.004-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- UO dress
- vintage Edwardian era jacket
- UO chelsea boots
- Madewell acorn necklace
- vintage Coach purse
- vintage silk scarf

Tom and I have driven by this skinny barn lots of times and every time we do, we wonder aloud what in the world it was used for. Last night we finally stopped to check it out up close. Now it's used as a haven for all sorts of birds, mostly barn swallows that have built their nests in the rafters. But its original purpose escapes me. Our best guess is that it was used as a tobacco barn where farmers hang and dry the tobacco that is commonly grown around this area. Any guesses?

Masscob A/W 2011

2011-10-14T08:55:00.000-04:00

As much as I love to look at the fancier lookbooks, Masscob's A/W 2011 collection definitely reflects a little more of my actual style at the moment. Lots of casual layers, black chelsea boots, easy fitting printed dresses and comfortable separates.

Te Chichi Autumn 2011

2011-10-12T10:31:00.003-04:00

I'm pretty sure I've posted about Te Chichi once before on the blog but had forgotten all about it until I ran across these images from their Autumn 2011 lookbook. It definitely has an Anthropologie vibe about it which, of course, I always love. The liberty print pieces are especially nice.

P.S. I want to thank everyone who entered the Milk & Bread Vintage giveaway! The lucky winner has been randomly chosen and is... Jennyboo from Hummingbird Girls. Congrats and Happy Shopping!

Etsy Collection: Teal & Merlot

2011-10-10T11:02:00.001-04:00

twilight stripes dress... grey houndstooth dress... teal angora dress

ruby corduroy jumper... heathered grey dress... merlot wool dress

confetti print dress... noir floral dress... sunset floral dress

teal cowl neck sweater... maroon marled sweater... wool ski sweater

tweed winter coat... fair isle sweater jacket... grey toggle coat

avant fold blouse... autumn plaid shirt... lilac stripe sweater

slate plaid skirt... tweed wool skirt... blanket stripe skirt

dove grey blazer... velveteen cropped vest... charcoal striped blazer

Alive & Well

2011-10-07T00:14:00.003-04:00

- vintage Diane von Furstenberg sweater
- Madewell jeans
- UO chelsea boots
- Alexa Chung for Madewell hat
- vintage Coach purse
- Madewell mail bag

Hello! I am alive and well despite not showing my face around here very much lately. I stopped on the way to drop off some packages at the post office today (thus the big mail bag I'm carrying) to prove that I'm still kickin' and also to show you that you haven't been missing much as far as what I've been wearing. I've worn some variation of this outfit everyday that I've left the house for at least the last week. Keepin' it casual! But really, I think the cooler weather has me thinking about things like camping and hiking so I've been dressing like I'm preparing for a trip into the woods when really I'm just hiking to the post office.

Nadinoo Autumn 2011

2011-10-05T09:54:00.003-04:00

I've been waiting for this! I'm so excited to finally see the pieces from the Nadinoo Autumn collection. I know I say it every time but I think this might be my favorite collection by Nadia yet. And we still have the winter pieces to look forward to as well!

Goldie London

2011-10-04T22:08:00.004-04:00

I've spent the last hour or so cyber-stalking Goldie London. I've been reading the blog, looking through the shop, checking out the pieces available on ASOS and gathering these lookbook photos from their Facebook. I am officially ready to start dressing like a modern day Marianne Faithfull! I'm sort of obsessing over that perfect velvet dress with the buttons on the front. Of course it's not showing up in their shop so I guess I'll have to keep my fingers crossed to find something similar in vintage form.

Etsy Collection: Autumn Harvest

2011-10-03T08:42:00.001-04:00

~~sheer floral print dress~~... ~~oakleaf plaid dress.~~.. ~~latte sweater dress~~

~~brick red wool coat~~... autumn harvest cape... ~~terracotta hooded coat~~

pumpkin suede coat... herringbone tweed blazer... gainsbourg suede jacket

jersey drawstring dress... chevron stripe dress... appleseed wool dress

~~ruby corduroy jumper~~... autumn striped top... folk print dress

forest hooded sweater... space dyed knit turtleneck... emerald striped sweater

split pea plaid skirt... moss wool embroidered sweater... aztec pleated wool skirt

~~rust wool skirt.~~.. woodstock plaid skirt... cranberry corduroy skirt

Photography: RRL

2011-09-30T11:57:00.002-04:00

When I first saw these images from the new Ralph Laurn RRL campaign I was momentarily convinced they were genuine vintage photographs. Upon further inspection it became clear that they were impressively faithful reproductions. They remind me of the Australian mug shots that I posted about here. Once I started studying the photos closer, I couldn't help but think about how much fun it would have been to work on this project; from the set design to the lighting, and the styling to the post production.

Sea F/W 2011

2011-09-29T09:40:00.004-04:00

I love discovering new (to me) collections at this point in the game. Sometimes I feel like I'm looking forward to the same designer's collections every year without adding anything new to the mix. This is the first year that I've seen the New York based line from Sea. Here are some of my favorite looks from their expansive collection. The navy and ochre color palette is one that is inspiring a lot of my choices right now and I'm always a fan of star prints. And I love how all the looks are paired with beat-up Converse. There was a time when I wore my beloved Chucks with everything!

Family Affairs F/W 2011

2011-09-28T10:36:00.002-04:00

Here's another fall/winter collection that I love. It's called Meteorite Dream by Family Affairs. I always enjoy the titles of their pieces and the song lyrics they include with each one. The colors in this collection are right up my alley; black, navy, camel, cream. I've been on the hunt for long sleeve dresses and the Scotland dress is about as perfect as they come.

Sponsor Post: Milk & Bread Vintage

2011-09-27T00:14:00.005-04:00

I've teamed up with Milk & Bread Vintage, one of my lovely September sponsors, to bring you a pretty exciting giveaway. They are generously offering a $100 credit to their shop to one of you! Their shop is stocked full of pretty pieces that are perfect for the upcoming season. Some of my favorites are this Jerry Gilden party dress, this perfectly broken-in Levis denim jacket, this cute woven shoulder bag, and this pretty fall-hued skirt. All you have to do to enter is check out their Etsy shop and leave a comment on this post (make sure you include your email address). I'll randomly pick a winner in a week so you've got seven days to enter. Good luck!

2011-09-26T09:04:00.003-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- Could've Woodland Cape courtesy of Modcloth
- UO skirt
- vintage silk blouse
- UO boots
- vintage Coach purse
- sunglasses courtesy of BonLook

How was your weekend? Ours was quite nice. Here are the rest of the photos that I was too tired to post last night. We took them along a foot bridge on our way to eat dinner at Iron Hill Brewery. We don't typically go there to eat but Tom had a gift card so we thought we'd check it out. We split the biggest plate of nachos I've ever seen, then a pizza made with local mushroom and topped it all off with creme brulee. But the best part? The beers! They make their own craft beers on site and last night we had two of the best I've tasted (that didn't come straight from Belgium). After dinner we headed home to watch the season premiere of Boardwalk Empire. The episode itself wasn't that great but I know it's just setting things up for the rest of the season so I'm keeping my fingers crossed it's a good as last year's.

Going Places

2011-09-25T22:54:00.002-04:00

The kind folks at Modcloth offered to let me pick a piece from their Going Places lookbook. I had a hard time choosing but I finally picked the Could've Woodland Cape. I have lots more photos to share, but I'm too sleepy right now so I thought I'd give you a side by side peek and I'll share the rest tomorrow!

Etsy Collection: Earth & Sky

2011-09-22T12:09:00.000-04:00

navy gingham jumper, fawn angora sweater dress, gunmetal plaid dress

gridlines plaid dress, icelandic wool cape, royal striped wool dress

vanilla floral dress, wrangler denim jacket, sheer dots dress

autumnal plaid blouse, oatmeal knit cardigan, lee western shirt

scottish flock sweater, nautical stripe sweater, navy rugby sweater

norwegian wool sweater, caramel knit vest, folk snowflake sweater

faded levis boyfriend jeans, paisley pleated skirt, worn levis boyfriend jeans

slate plaid midi skirt, taupe plaid midi skirt, maple plaid midi skirt

Delightful Feather Dress

2011-09-20T10:25:00.005-04:00

photos: Orchid Grey, Selective Potential, Here's Lookin' at Me Kid, A Thought is the Blossom

I'm sequestering myself in the house this week to try to catch up on lots of work I've neglected over the summer months. That means no outfits posts and no internet browsing looking for interesting things to post about. Instead I'll point you in the direction of a lovely group of ladies known as the Delightful Dozen. I was so excited to see them passing around a dress that I sold in my Etsy shop. As a vintage seller, most of the time you never get to see the items you pass along in their new surroundings. It's a lot of fun to see this feather print dress being worn by so many stylish ladies.

Alexa Chung for Madewell Fall 2011

2011-09-17T09:20:00.000-04:00

Some of the looks from the Alexa Chung for Madewell collection have made their way online. I have to say that I'm a little relieved that while I do like it, I'm not so overly in love with it that I feel like I NEED to have it. What a relief for my wallet! Ha, ha. I like the casual styling of the outfits but feel like I can make similar looks with things that I already have or can find vintage. I'm sure a lot of people will be all over that little white lace dress. It's super cute but I've come to accept the fact that I'm not a white lace dress kind of girl. The sweaters are nice, but only if the aren't acrylic or polyester. I guess we'll see. And the palm tree print isn't really my thing. That black and white dress, though... that's another story.

Photography: Sweet Jane

2011-09-16T11:59:00.004-04:00

Photographed by Tim Barber and styled by Susan Winget for Muse

This week's photography post is decidedly fashion related, as was last week's. It's not intentional, as I started this series to take a look at all sorts of photography, not just fashion. But I usually don't find editorials that I find interesting (they're usually too over the top for me to take much inspiration from them) so when I ran across this 60s inspired one from Muse I knew I wanted to feature it. It's got some nice outfits for that awkward transition of seasons that we're in right now.

Etsy Collection: First of Fall

2011-09-15T13:51:00.001-04:00

moss paisley suit ..... teal plaid suit ..... turning leaves plaid skirt
mille floral crop top ..... paisley mini dress ..... cocoa mini dress

I feel like it's been ages since I've added anything new to the Etsy shop. Two whole weeks! I didn't mean to let that much time slip by but I've been busy cleaning out the old summer stock and organizing all of the fall/winter pieces I've collected. I'd almost forgotten how excited I can get about things like wool and tweed and plaid. I've just finished adding all of these items to the shop and I can't wait to get started on next week's collection.

fawn wool trench coat ..... nouveau floral skirt ..... oxblood leather jacket
forest wool mini skirt ..... collegiate knit cardigan ..... nightfall paisley dress

emerald city smock dress ..... rooster knit cardigan ..... autumn ombre dress
cinnamon striped top ..... maple plaid jumper ..... jade sweater vest

dusty rose market bag ..... terrafirma market bag ..... geranium market bag

nutmeg leather boots ..... harness ankle boots ..... russet buckle ankle boots

2011-09-14T08:37:00.000-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- 60s cotton dress
- vintage denim jacket
- Rachel Comey boots
- vintage wool beret

I've just added something to my wardrobe. Something I've been searching for, not quite sure which one was right for me. Can you spot it? It's a watch! Someone commented to me years ago that wearing a watch was becoming obsolete. If one needs to know the time they simply consult their cellphone. So true! However, my disdain for cellphones is a constant joke to my friends. I have an little flip phone with some prepaid minutes in my purse that I save for emergencies. I check it about twice a week to see if anyone has called it (they never do, I don't even know the phone number for it). If someone texts me, I usually return the favor about three days later. I just don't know how people function with them constantly in their hands!

OK, enough of sounding like an old fogey. The point is, I don't ever know what time it is... so I bought a watch. It took me forever to find an affordable option that I really liked. There are some seriously tacky watches out there folks. Since I couldn't lay down enough cash for my dream watch I settled for a Swiss Army Garrison. It's simple, classic and goes with everything.

Built by Wendy

2011-09-13T08:40:00.000-04:00

I know everyone is busy posting photos from NYFW but I just can't get with the spring program right now. I'm still too excited about the fall lookbooks that are popping up on some of my favorite sites. I've been waiting for the Built by Wendy collection to come out because I usually like her fall pieces more than the spring one (although those are usually nice too). This year I'm finding that to be true again. All of these looks are pretty simple and wearable which I think is the thing I love about them. I also really like the blanket prints and have been looking for something similar for myself at the thrift store.

2011-09-12T09:02:00.002-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- silk blouse by Alexa Chung for Madewell
- vintage dirndl borrowed from Iron Orchid Vintage
- Topshop boots

One of my sponsors, Iron Orchid Vintage, was kind enough to send me a box of clothes to play around with. In the box was this vintage dirndl which somehow seemed perfect for the slightly fall weather we've been having. I paired it with a silk blouse from last year's Alexa Chung collection and ended up feeling like I matched my surroundings with the blue sky and the golden corn fields that fill Lancaster county.

100 Years of Style in East London

2011-09-10T06:34:00.000-04:00

The most adorable thing I've seen in ages!

Two for the Road

2011-09-09T08:31:00.000-04:00

photographer: Will Davidson, stylist: Jillian Davison, featuring Kendra Spears & Ben Mendelsohn in Harper's Bazaar Australia Sept. 2011

This editorial from the September issue of Harper's Bazaar Australia caught my eye. It's got the Bonnie & Clyde thing that I love so much going on. I really love that some of the clothes used by the stylist are actual vintage pieces. I don't have occasion to dress this fancy very often but it does make for some nice photos. See more from the editorial on dustjacket attic.

Toast Lookbook

2011-09-08T08:25:00.000-04:00

Looking at these photos from the Toast lookbook made me realize that I must be really ready for fall. All of the outfits seem so warm and comforting. I really like the maxi-dress and blazer combination and the wool cape reminds me of one I found over the summer and put away somewhere in the attic.

Phillies Game

2011-09-07T10:11:00.001-04:00

On Monday Tom and I celebrated Labor Day with America's favorite pastime... a baseball game! Tom is a lifelong Phillies fan, and I've come to love them through association. So I put on a red dress and we drove a scenic route to Philadelphia. The forecast called for rain (the remnants of yet another hurricane) but we were lucky because it just sort of drizzled all night and never really down-poured. It was dollar-dog night at the stadium and here's the best part about that... they serve vegan hot dogs! We stuffed ourselves on hot dogs and cheese fries and watched the Phillies beat the Braves 9 to 0.

Fall Collections

2011-09-06T11:42:00.000-04:00

The layering in the Wren collection has me excited about the cooler weather we're having.

I love the neutral color palette for the Dace fall/winter collection.

I'm so glad to finally see some of the pieces from Hetterson's fall collection. That striped sweater is such a great basic must-have!

Sally Scott's fall/winter collection has lots of great knits and clean, simple silhouettes.

Papercup ~ The Sands (Summer 2011) from Swonderful Boutique on Vimeo.

And finally, Papercup's summer dresses make me a little sad to see the end of the season.

The Last of Summer

2011-09-05T16:53:00.000-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- vintage romper
- vintage shoes
- vintage hat
- H&M sunglasses

Since today's Labor Day holiday is sort of the last hooray for summer, I thought I'd finally dig out the last of the photos from our summer vacation. These were taken on a day that we spent in Joshua Tree National Forest back in May. I can't believe it was that long ago! We took a hike (it's really a pretty easy walk) out to Barker Dam. There is a spot were during the rainy season water naturally collects. When the area was first being settled, the ranchers in the area built a dam to have a place for their horses and cattle to drink. On previous trips to the area the water has been much higher than it was on this trip. You can see the waterlines on the rocks behind me in some of the photos. Further down the trail there is a spot where petroglyphs can still be seen carved into the rocks although someone vandalized them by coloring them in at some point.

Alexa Chung in 2011 Madewell Campaign

2011-09-03T07:07:00.001-04:00

I'm so glad there's not a Madewell store anywhere near me. I can see that I would spend WAY too much money in there this fall. The store is already stocked with lots of things I love (their shoes are just perfect, every pair) and the Alexa Chung collection hasn't even come out yet!

Fall Wish List

2011-09-01T09:41:00.003-04:00

Crew Kids sweater, Steven Alan skirt, Pendleton hat, UO boots, Madewell necklace

Steven Alan dress, Topshop coat, Madewell socks, Rachel Comey shoes

Monki dress, J. Crew cashmere sweater, Madewell necklace, shoes and tote

Crew Kids sweater, Acne shorts, Rachel Comey Penpal boots, A.P.C wool beanie, J.L.Hulme bag

Orla Kiely dress, Madewell socks, BonLook glasses, Topshop shoes and bag

Tocca Fall 2011

2011-08-31T06:30:00.001-04:00

Ever since Lyell closed last year, there's been a bit of a hole in my fashion-lovin' heart. Each season, it was always the collection I looked forward to seeing the most. I'm not sure exactly what the deal is, but when you go to the old Lyell website, it redirects you to the Tocca website where these photos of a new collection are presented. Whatever is going on, I'm happy about it!

Confirmed via Nylon magazine... Emma Fletcher is now the designer at Tocca. Yay! (Thanks for the link, W)

End of Summer Etsy Sale!

2011-08-31T05:40:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to make room for lots of fall items that I'm excited to list in the Etsy shop. So... I've marked down over 100 pieces in the shop to less than $18. Ready, set, shop!

Twenty-seven Names Winter 2012

2011-08-30T21:01:00.006-04:00

photos by Guy Coombes

I've been trying to keep an eye on the collections from New Zealand Fashion Week as they're being shown this week but it's more difficult to find good photos since there's no typical style.com coverage of the shows. I'm super excited to see the Juliette Hogan lookbook once it's shot since the few photos from the runway show look really great. If you have a moment, check out this video of the show featuring an interview with Ms. Hogan.

OK, this is not a post about Juliette Hogan, but rather the Winter 2012 collection from Twenty-seven Names. They opted out of the traditional runway show in favor of an exhibition in the form of a party. You can see lots of behind the scenes photos of the festivities on Katherine is Awesome. I really like the navy and mustard color palette of the collection.

2011-08-29T10:13:00.007-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- H&M dress
- UO fatigue jacket
- Hunter Wellies
- sunglasses courtesy of BonLook

This weekend we were all prepared for a visit from Hurricane Irene. Fortunately all we saw was a lot of rain and wind and a few branches down in the backyard. Yesterday when the rain finally stopped we walked downtown to the Spring House Taproom to celebrate a friend's birthday. I wore my rain boots in hopes of splashing in some puddles but everything was already dried up. The wind, however, was still going full force which made for some pretty interesting photo-taking.

I was also wearing my new sunglasses from BonLook. I am blessed with good eyesight so when they offered to let me try out a pair of their glasses, at first I almost declined since I don't need to correct my vision. Then I realized they also offer nonprescription lenses and sunglasses so I gladly took them up on their offer. I'm wearing the Weekend @ Bernie's style. If you check out their site and see something that catches your eye (no pun intended!) you can use the coupon code BONLOOKGIVE to receive $10 off your purchase.

Whistles A/W 2011

2011-08-28T11:58:00.003-04:00

Whistles Autumn/Winter 2011 from WHISTLES on Vimeo.

I love all the slow motion prettiness in this video featuring the fall collection from Whistles. I'd been meaning to gather some photos from the collection for a post, but I think seeing them in motion is even better.

Mt. Gretna

2011-08-26T11:36:00.002-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- Topshop sailor shirt
- Fletcher for Lyell shorts
- Topshop boots
- Fieldguided tote

Earlier in the week Tom and I took part of an afternoon off (a pretty novel idea for the two of us in the middle of the week) and drove up to Mt. Gretna. We'd been there once before the first summer we moved to PA for an arts & crafts festival which was packed with all sorts of, well, arts and crafts. This time the place was a bit more subdued and reminded me of the summer resort where Baby and her family stayed in Dirty Dancing. That's a good thing, by the way. There was a little man-made lake with a diving platform built in the middle. You could rent a canoe or a paddle boat but Tom and I just opted for a walk around the edge of the lake. After our walk we treated ourselves to an early dinner at the Jigger Shop. We had the only two vegetarian options on the menu, a portabella sandwich and a hummus wrap. Or course we were still hungry after that so we added a scoop of chocolate almond and butter pecan ice cream.

Dear Creatures Fall 2011

2011-08-25T08:38:00.001-04:00

The other day we got a little sneak peek at the fall collection from Dear Creatures. Now all the pieces can be seen on their Facebook page. I was instantly obsessed with the wool jumper that has the buttons down the side. Now I can add to the list of must haves; that sailor collared coat (in camel wool or olive corduroy?!), the herringbone cape and the pleated blouse with the bow at the neck.

2011-08-24T00:23:00.000-04:00

photos by Tom b.

- 60s cotton dress
- vintage hat
- Topshop oxfords
- Field Guided tote

Tom and I were out for a drive and decided to check out a trail we'd heard about that leads to an observation tower. It was one of those beautiful days that felt more like fall than summer with bright blue skies and big puffy clouds. We found the trail with no problem but not long down the path we discovered a long fence with a blocked gate. Fail! We weren't able to make to the observation tower so we just wandered around through the fern covered paths for a bit. I could have stayed out there all day!

Etsy Collection: Summer Blues

2011-08-23T15:00:00.005-04:00

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I'm working on adding lots of pretty blue pieces to the Etsy shop. I think this will be the last of the summery items that I'll add to the shop. I'm really itching to get started sorting all the fall and winter pieces I've been collecting. While we're talking about the shop I wanted to mention a change to the Etsy search feature that you may have read about. Up until now, when you searched for an item on Etsy, the most recently listed items appeared in the results. Now the items are sorted by "relevance". That's all well and good, but as sellers, I think we're all scrambling to figure out how to make our items more "relevant". For one, that means I'm going to have to change the way I title and tag my items. Anja talked about it on her blog as well and she probably explained it a bit better than me. Just remember that if you want to see the most recently listed items when you do a search, you'll have to choose that option manually.

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Alexa Chung for Madewell Fall 2011

2011-08-22T21:12:00.003-04:00

I was lucky enough to snag a few pieces from last year's collection and hope to do the same this year. I'm already spying a few things I'd like to try out. I've read that the collection has an American road-trip vibe and was inspired by girls in bands who live in their looks. I've already marked Sept. 22 on my calender!