{NEW SERIES} Razzy Reads & Swell Sites: September 2015

Oct5

Can you believe we are into October already? It seems like just last month I had gone to Viva and spent the week afterwards in California at my friend Nicole’s, and don’t even seriously tell me it’s been six weeks since my surgery! It seems that every year the train of time chugs along a wee bit faster than it had the year prior. Before I know it a temperature of 32 degrees Farenheit will be the norm and I will be cursing the snow every chance I possibly can.

I have decided to start a new series, one where I will post the month in articles relating to vintage, history, rockabilly, and like topics. I will try to accumulate near a number of ten for you all – some months may be more fruitful, while others may be less so. I am sure you could understand that!

With that being said, let’s get to the links, shall we?

91 Year Old German Woman Faces Charges of Accessory to Murder as Worker at Auschwitz – I find this article fascinating. It brings up a lot of morality issues: is she still culpable 70 years later for her crimes? How involved was she? Should the charges be dismissed in the interest of her age? Certainly thought provoking.

92 Year Old Man Sings to His Dying Wife – If this doesn’t make you tear up or at least smile, you have no heart. Doesn’t everyone want a love like this?

Pre-Drug War Vintage Ads from When Cocaine Was Just Another Vice – Ads for cocaine paraphernalia, mostly from the ’70s (naturally). These will both shock and humour you.

Hollywood Sunset – An article/interview of Monica Lewis, the discovery of Benny Goodman, who could just about do it all – sing, dance, do jingles, host radio shows, and more. Quite the lady and a tale of the times.

The Leading Ladies of Old Hollywood – The photographs of legends such as Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, and Grace Kelly by Sir Cecil Beaton.

Boxed up for 67 years and now set free: Brand new 1948 Youngstown Kitchen cabinets + 1948 GE Airliner stove – This set just made my jaw drop! Brand new and still in the box, this cabinet set and stove have been waiting for use for 67 years. If I could redo my kitchen with this, I’d be on it like white on rice!

Upper Deck: Traveling in Style – These are some amazing photos of some premium examples of air travel from the 1960s & 1970s. There were open bars, beds, tables, and LEG ROOM! Why can’t we still travel like this?

303 Dubsdread Circle – Check out the amazing home up for sale of Brownie Wise, former VP of Tupperware Home Parties (and soon-to-be subject of a movie!). I absolutely adore the mesh of both Art Deco and Mid Century Modern elements in the home. Such an amazing space! If I could deal with the Florida humidity I would live there in a hot minute!

Lunch Menu from Titanic Sells for $88,000 – The menu from the last lunch on the Titanic on April 14, 1912 has sold at an auction for a price well above its estimated fetching price. It’s amazing to see the opulence of the First Class of the ill-fated ship from a first hand source. Fillets of brill, cockie leekie, ox tongue…and to finish was a platter of numerous opulent cheeses. Is it just me or am I the only one who would be eating all of the cheese? 😉

Date Day at the Zoo

May4

Today was a big day for the husband and I – it was our first official date day as husband and wife! It only took two and a half months, but we did it 🙂 Since we both love animals so much (and this destination had been on our “gotta go to” list since before we were even engaged – September of last year!), we decided to go to animal central: the zoo! And where is one of the biggest and best places to go to a zoo in the US? The Bronx Zoo, of course 🙂

We decided to make a full day of it and brought a little snack and something to drink, and prepared ourselves for some major walking. Since I have the RSD in my left foot, I took my major pain medication beforehand and made sure I had appropriate shoes. But I still wanted to look cute, so I made sure to build my outfit to be vintage style high and pain inducing low. What did I wear, you ask? Well, since you asked…

Here’s a picture of my husband and me, a close up of my makeup, hair, and dress print:

I put my hair back into a snood in a nice tan colour that was a minor colour represented in my dress, which is a great 1950s atomic frock I managed to nab up on eBay shortly after I returned from Viva. I accessorized with matching bakelite bracelets in various colours from the dress and butterscotch tan bakelite earrings as well (the ones I purchased at Viva). I also wore a gold feather brooch that had belonged to my grandmother. I wore a tan cardigan with vintage tan penny loafers while I carried a vintage white structured purse with a lucite handle. I certainly got lots of looks but I loved it! I forgot just how confident and enthusiastic I feel wearing a pulled together and more vintage look than something that is more modern or vintage “looking”. I had kind of lost touch over the last few months due to stress as well as all of the wedding stuff going on. Viva brought my passion right back to the surface! 🙂

We arrived at the zoo at 11:30 AM and we found parking relatively quickly, which was rather surprising considering it is such a huge tourist attraction and it is in the city (well, the Bronx) as well.

So what kind of animals did we see? We saw way too many to go into huge detail about any particular one!

We saw camels first thing…

…and then Red Pandas…

…and even antique water fountains from around 1900!

A sleepy polar bear taking a nap in the most awkward position ever…

…and the tush of a snow leopard.

We saw a snake with a really badass pattern on it. We called it the “emo boa” because it looks like it has razor blades running up and down it’s back LOL.

Check out the neck on this dude!

See ya later, alligator!

Itty bitty baby horsies…

Tony the (tired) tiger…

Peacocks are absolutely gorgeous!

Oh deer…

Elephants are really graceful and sweet animals to me 🙂

Rhino! Just seeing him from this angle reminded me of that scene from Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls. If you’ve seen it, you know exactly what I am referring to 😛

Adorable zebras!

I love giraffes! I have no idea where it came from, but I just couldn’t wait to see this guy 🙂

African Wild Dogs – they were playing around and rough housing while we were watching. It was sweet!

Oh just a baboon…

…and his big blue bubble butt!

Mackayla Monkey is not impressed.

This mommy gorilla was breast feeding against the viewing glass. You can see the baby’s head if you look. At one point Alex tried to peek around to see the baby after I pointed him/her out to him, and when he did the mom turned around and looked him point blank in the eye (they were literally only separated by about an inch of plastic) as if to say, “What the hell are you doing?” It was pretty cool LOL.

FLAMINGOES! I ❤ these cuties 🙂

‘MURICA. We took numerous pictures of this dude, and each and every one of them made him look epic.

See what I mean?!

Even sea lions need mid afternoon naps…

When we got to where the sea lions were, it had a lot of great old style buildings and wonderful landscaping. What else was a vintage girl to do other than take a few shots? 😉

After a full six hours making our way through the zoo, we were tired, sore, hungry, and ready to make our way home. But we had a great time and had a ton of fun. We left there with huge smiles on our faces for sure!

Outfit:
Dress: eBay
Sweater: ModCloth
Bakelite bangles: eBay
Bakelite earrings: vendor at Viva Las Vegas
Snood: eBay
Penny loafers: eBay
Purse: Guess where? eBay 😛

The Start of My Vintage Yearbook Collection…

Mar24

…begins with this 1945 Westwood High School yearbook from New Jersey!

As some of you know, I was born and raised in New Jersey, so naturally when I saw this, I was immediately pulled in. And best of all, I know exactly where Westwood is! I love looking through the yearbooks; it gives me a real connection to the eras that I love and allows me to know what people’s everyday lives were like – especially those just starting their lives in a very scary and trying time – World War Two.

Regrettably, my mind sometimes goes to places that are depressing, and looking at a lot of these pictures made me think of how many had died in the war. I know it is a very viable prospect, and highly likely that this is a situation that exists in high numbers. It really makes things hit you that much harder when you see faces and lives in cold, hard ink. There is even a list in my 1945 yearbook of all the alumni who died in the war until that point, and later on in the book you see a list of who is going into the service from the graduating class.

But one of my favourite things is that it does give a real face to those in the war, and commemorates their lives rather than their deaths. I also enjoy the intense patriotism that these yearbooks show, and it makes my heart swell with pride to know that quite literally, everyone partook in the war effort in one way or another.

The yearbooks also give a great glimpse into the real fashions that people wore, from the teenage/twenty-something students to the faculty and other people in between. I love looking at the outfits and the hair of the girls – I get rather envious of some girls with great dresses and perfect hair to match!

I have five yearbooks now – three from high schools, and two from colleges. Why the college yearbooks? It gives another insight into life back during that time. I love to look at the majors of everyone and see what kind of path they were paving for themselves. I just so wish I could further investigate their lives and see what they made of it. I may have to at least pick a few of the ones that interest me the most and do some research! As would be anticipated, most of the women in college either majored in home economics, English, or education. But I did notice a few outstanding women who went above and beyond the “boundaries” of their time to major and go into fields such as political science, psychology, chemistry, and even medicine. These women make me proud – they didn’t let stigmas of the time dictate what kind of live they led. They let their passion take the driver’s seat rather than what was “expected” of women during that time. And that is trailblazing at its finest, my dears! 🙂

My favourite yearbook has to be the 1942 Flambeau from Manitowoc, Wisconsin. It’s called the “Victory Garden Edition”, of course paying homage to growing your own veggies to offset the rationing of the time.

This yearbook is unusual first off in that it is spiral bound – this has to be the first and only time I have ever seen this! It was owned by Howard Lensmire, a junior during this time and was slated to graduate in 1943. He seemed to be quite a popular and well-liked guy by all of the signatures he acquired!

On nearly every page you see a few signatures from kids in the school. I love reading them, and knowing that real people wrote on that exact page back in 1942. It just blows my mind and makes me smile 🙂

But the real cherry on top of this ice cream? Well, when I opened up this yearbook initially, a piece of paper fell out. It was yellowed, obviously showing some age. I opened it, and immediately was stunned – it was the whole wedding coverage of the yearbook owner’s nuptials! Not only that, there was the announcement of his second child’s birth!

How amazing is that?! I feel like I know Mr. Lensmire personally because of having all of this first hand information. I want to research more of his life and if he is still alive! I think this may become a pet project for me now LOL!

Howard was also on the Junior Varsity Football Squad, and in the picture I have the yearbook opened to that page. You can see him in the group by looking directly where the lower right hand corner of the birth announcement is pointing to in the picture. I believe his jersey was #17.

I have had a few people give me weird reactions when they know I have a collection of vintage yearbooks. My one friend even said, “Why do you have yearbooks from a school you never went to and people you don’t know?” But I feel that unless you are either a history nerd or a vintage buff, you won’t entirely understand the magic of it. But if you are a history nerd or vintage buff, I highly recommend getting yourself a vintage yearbook or two from your favourite eras. They’re not expensive at all, either – the most expensive one I have cost $15 with shipping included on eBay! It is a very cool and very fun way to have an authentic attachment to a period that holds a special place in your heart.

Archie, Veronica, Betty, Jughead & the Gang!

Mar8

Many of you may not know, but I have been a fan of the Archie comics gang since I was single digit in age. I remember going to the Foodtown in my town and looking at the Archie digests near the checkout and imploring my Mom to buy it for me. I would read and re-read them, always enjoying the antics and situations the characters got into. The past few years I kind of lost my connection to the gang of Riverdale High, but with the recent release of MAC’s “Archie’s Girls” collection, one could say I’ve gotten back into my groove and love for the comics!

These are the glosses I recently bought on eBay – one from Betty, and one from Veronica. I lived both the colours, and wanted a gloss from each “side” even though I’ve always fancied myself as a Veronica (and apparently so do my friends as well!). After I purchased these glosses, I went on a hunt for some Archie comics themselves. Soon, I found this comic from 1970 for only $1 on Etsy!

I read the whole issue in less than an hour after receiving it in the mail. Even though these comics are meant for kids, many of us “older folk” still enjoy reading them for the nostalgia factour. I also love the vintage flair they have – you can sense it in the clothes as well as what the characters say and do. I was instantly re-addicted! I immediately bought more old comics 🙂

These are all issues from around when I bought them when I was a kid. Seven digests and seven double digests. I have already cracked open one of them and am enjoying every page. But my real pride and joy!

Right here!

A sixty year old Archie comic, from Jan/Feb 1953! I love looking at the clothes and hair styles of both Betty and Veronica, as well as the ads! I managed to grab this bad boy on eBay for only $10 when most of the other ones around this time were going for $40 or $50! That’s the advantage of having a saved search 😉

Archie comics can go as far back as World War II on eBay, I’ve seen! They usually go over $100 or more, so for now it will be something I have to dream about 🙂

Bundles for Britain

Feb26

I’m sure a good many of you have probably not heard of the group “Bundles for Britain” that started during the war, as I haven’t heard of it myself until reading a book on New York in World War II. I figured it was a very interesting and very proactive look at America just before entering the war and our own activities with the war effort for Britain.

Bundles for Britain was started in 1940 by Natalie Wales Latham in a store front as a knitting circle in New York City that sent various knitted goods such as socks, scarves, gloves and other items over to aid the war effort and support those fighting for Britain. In sixteen months Bundles became such a success that there were over 975 branches and over a million contributors. By 1941, the group was sending over much more than just knitted wearables – ambulances, field kitchen units, surgical instruments, cots, and much more were sent during their tenure.

Ms. Latham thought that despite the Neutrality Act of 1939 and the Lend-Lease Program that America should be doing more to help Britain’s cause. She managed to borrow a Park Avenue storefront rent free and posted a picture of a British service member and sat in the window and began knitting. Before the night had ended, numerous others had come to join her. And they joined not a second too late – nationwide rationing began on 8 January 1940, and Bundles for Britain was born six
days later.

Just over a year later, the group had expanded to 975 branches and helped raise over $3 million dollars for their cause. Not only did they collect knitted clothing, but began to collect numerous other items as well. If the items could not be used then they were sold to help raise funding. Before long, Bundles traded their Park Avenue storefront for office space as well as a shipping and storage house on 89th Street. Ms. Latham began to correspond with Mrs. Winston Churchill herself in order to ensure a more efficient use of the items and help she sent. And throughout the months of the Blitzkrieg, Bundles adopted 19 London hospitals and sent money to pair for their repairs.

Bundles for Britain was a very important and oft overseen contribution to the war effort before America officially joined the war. Being able to have a small movement grow into a huge national organization like Ms. Latham did take a significant amount of gusto and also even more of an amount of dedication as well as support. America had all of that. Many think that the U.S. was completely isolationist just before the war, but that is not completely true as evidenced by the sheer power that Bundles had managed to grow in a short period of time. I believe reality was setting in on a good portion of Americans, and we saw Britain as our sister who was in dire straights with an enemy who was becoming more malevolent every day. While Ms. Latham and her Bundles comrades did not serve in uniform, they certainly did serve to help the war effort and surely helped Britain when she needed it most. America entered the war of December 1941 to provide aide in the Allies winning the war, but certainly Bundles for Britain provided as well – they provided help during a time of great sacrifice.

Liebster Award Recipient

Feb13

I am one of those typical bloggers who love to check out their stats, and when I did, I noticed a lot more referrals from a friend’s site more than usual. Being my typical self, I was inclined to investigate.

It turns out that my fellow blogging buddy Eclectic Epherma has himself won the award, and has been ever so kind enough as to pass it on to me! Thank you dear Bruce, for not only being wonderful in awarding me, but for also answering with my blog as your recommendation to follow as the answer of a question from the blogger who awarded you. I am very happy and humbled you thought highly enough of my blog to pass it along to others!

If any of you have not visited Bruce’s blog Eclectic Epherma, please do yourself a favour and do so now. He covers a little bit of anything in the range of the Victorian era right through to the Fabulous Fifties. Quite work a look if I do say so myself!

Now, if you are not well acquainted with how this award “works”, I have been given eleven questions by the blogger who bestowed this honour upon me to answer, then I must give eleven random facts about myself, as well as nominate eleven other blogs and create a list of eleven questions they must also answer if they choose to accept the award. So, let us get to these questions, shall we?

Why did you start blogging?

I started blogging because I felt I wanted to share my journey into the realm of everything vintage with others right from the start. I also felt like I had a lot to offer others in terms of my knowledge of both history as well as hair and makeup, so that I could help people to understand the eras they loved and their context of it, as well as how to achieve the proper look and keep my readers looking as beautiful as they can be. I feel as if my blog is not aimed strictly at women (I feel being awarded by a member of the male gender displays that much), but being a woman I naturally have a knack in writing about more of the feminine perspective of things. I try not to have one dominate the other overly so, but sometimes I can’t help it 😉

Is your family understanding about your love of vintage and your desire to blog about it?

My family tends to be most understanding of the things I do. Most know that when I speak of my family, I mostly mean my Mom – she is the only family member I am very close with, and it was her mother (my grandmother) who ignited my love of vintage, although little did she know at the time.

What country would you most like to visit?

Since it is one of my life’s ambitions to move there someday, I think the best answer to this question is England 🙂

When did you discover vintage?

As I had mentioned before, it was my maternal grandmother who ignited the passionate fire of vintage within me at a very early age. I remember being only single digit in age and hearing my grandma regale me with stories of her younger days from the 1920’s even up into the mid-1960’s, often stopping to say, “Oh, I should probably quit babbling on, you are probably bored to death hearing any of this”. Only I would hop up and down to deter her from stopping, almost screaming at her to keep going. I could never get enough. When she came out with the boxes of old photo albums, I instantly felt like I was home, as if it were my life she were recalling instead of her own. I never felt so much excitement yet so soothed as when my grandma would do a show & tell of her earlier days. I realize now that is where my love of vintage began. I so wish she were still alive to see how I dress and style my hair, and to keep hearing those same stories she used to tell me dozens of times over, because I’m sure even still hearing them dozens of times more would still never be enough.

What’s your favourite vintage shop?

I can’t honestly say I have one. The selection of “vintage” in NYC is so poor that you would be appalled at how such an “everything” town could be so lacking in good vintage. Unfortunately, a good many hipster has changed the stock of “vintage shops” into concert tees from the ’70s or ’80s and maybe a few ’50s or ’60s skirts that are woefully paired with Doc Martens and one of those concert tees. I mostly shop for my vintage online, at either eBay or Etsy.

Is there a lot of vintage in the city where you live?

Vintage clothing from the eras I love, no. If you hit the jackpot and do manage to find some decent vintage, then it is grossly overpriced. You want $300 for this plaid 1950’s day dress, you say? No thanks. I could just sew one myself from a vintage pattern with vintage fabric for much cheaper 🙂 For vintage culture/history, NYC is top rate. This area is just so rich in history that even if you lived here your entire life you still could never take it all in. I am currently reading (or trying to read – damn you school and all your required reading!) a book entitled “Over Here! New York City during WWII” by Lorraine B. Diehl, and it has been such a breathtaking look into my city during one of my eras of most piqued interest. I would suggest the book to anyone even though I haven’t finished it yet – you would be both disgusted and amazed by what you discovered within its pages.

Did you discover new hobbies or interests after you discovered vintage?

Of course I did! I never used to be too interested in fashion history, but now I have read up so much on it (as well as beauty, but I believe that falls under the umbrella of ‘fashion’ for all intensive purposes) that immediately upon seeing a dress listed on eBay or Etsy I can tell you as to whether or not it is indeed to decade it is being flaunted as being. Sometimes I see some dresses being advertised as being from the 1940’s when just a glance makes me laugh because I can instantaneously ascertain that those shoulder pads are way ’80s, as is that peplum. Just the pattern alone screams “AQUA NET!” I’m all for saving a few bucks and buying an ’80s-does-’50s or ’70s-does-’40s frock now and then, but that’s only when I myself can genuinely be a bit puzzled as to its decade of origin. If it is apparent that Molly Ringwold may have worn it in “Pretty in Pink”, then it’s a total no-go for me.

I have also become more of a décor aficionado, and although I do not have much to decorate as of right now, I am currently trying my best with my ’50s barkcloth curtains, kitsch collection, pin up girl sheets, and the like. I am also aiming high in hoping to learn how to knit soon; I bought myself an original 1941 beginner’s guide, and I have already inquired about a class to take soon. Let us just see if school will allow it – that’s another question!

What famous person from the past or present do you think you look like?

I’ve been told that I look like Marilyn Monroe a lot. I have no idea how, but I think the fact that it comes from guys who want to go out with me and already are aware of my love of all things Marilyn tells you all you need to know on that front. Other than that, I have no idea. Does anyone think I look like an Old Hollywood actress? I get told that I look a lot like a young Kirstie Alley, and if here in NYC the 80’s is considered vintage, then there’s your answer LOL.

I have also gotten told I look a lot like Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas, as well as Katy Perry more often than not, like I had mentioned in my Campus Katy Perry post a few days prior.

Who is your favourite author?

It really depends on the genre we are talking about. But a pretty good bet for me usually is D.H. Lawrence, whether in poem, short story, or novel format.

When you sit down to compose a blog post do you plan/think ahead or just write off the cuff?

I tend to write mostly off-the-cuff. I believe my best writing is done that way, as it allows for a free flow and and genuineness to come forth that “structured” or pre-planned posts just really don’t offer. I like to offer my readers information and new ideas, but also I think the best way for me to put all of that forth is to write without some silly outline nearby like I have to follow a GPS map to a destination. That is also how I write songs. I enjoy writing the most that way, and I believe my best work comes from that style. I’m not saying outlining and planning is a bad thing, because for other people that is how they work best. I am just saying that for me it is cumbersome, and therefore it feels more like “work” to me, which I have never wanted.

Sometimes, I have ideas for posts I plan ahead on, such as for tutorials and the like, but I never pre-plan it every step of the way. Everyone has a method to their madness and that is mine 🙂

If you could be a fly on the wall for any event in history, what would that be?

Oh my word, that is such a great question but just entirely too open-ended. Maybe I’d like to be a fly on the wall when FDR gave his “Date Which Shall Live in Infamy” speech, or when my great grandfather came through Ellis Island all by himself in 1896 at the barely grown age of 19. Maybe I would be interested in seeing how the Olympics were back in 1936 when they were held in Berlin, or to be in Times Square during VE Day. Maybe I could be behind the scenes of the filming of “Gone With The Wind”? Maybe in Hitler’s bunker during his last few moments in 1945? Or on Lexington Avenue during the filming (or fake filming, as it was just a publicity stunt) of Marilyn’s famous skirt scene? Or just see how an everyday housewife made it day-to-day through the war knowing half of her heart was in grave danger fighting for his country half a world away, constantly afraid of receiving a telegram or uniformed officers at her door? There is just too much to choose just one moment. Way too much!

And now, here’s 11 facts and little tidbits about yours truly. It’s hard for me to think of anything so sorry if some of these are kind of boring 😛

1. I cannot sleep unless I am in a room where it is almost completely dark, fairly cold (65 degrees Fahrenheit is perfect), and totally silent except for a white noise machine. I also need to wear earplugs.

2. I must have my closet organized by type (pants, then capris, then sweaters, long sleeve shirts, 3/4 sleeves, short sleeves, then dresses), with all garments facing in the same direction. I can’t hang an item up and just leave it if it’s not according to this rule.

3. I always start out sleeping on my stomach.

4. I am the tallest in my family at 5’11”. The rest of my family (mother, father, and sister) are either 5’9″ or 5’10”.

5. I am related to President Franklin Delano Roosevelt on my father’s side.

6. I was born and raised in New Jersey.

7. I have had 4 orthopaedic surgeries – three on my right knee, one on my left shoulder.

8. I love the movie “Kingpin”.

9. I am 75% Dutch, 10% English, 10% Swiss, and 5% Scottish. Yes, I have it down to percentages 😉

10. I speak French fluently.

11. I don’t own a car. Owning a car in NYC is more of a hassle than it is worth! LOL.

And now, I shall bestow the Liebster Award unto the following blogs:

Delancey Dame Vintage
Bunny’s Victory
Chronically Vintage
Va Voom Vintage
Atomic Redhead
Lost in the 1950’s
A Thrifty Mrs.
Oh So Lovely Vintage
Fat Mum Slim
The Rockabilly Girl Next Door
Retro Chick

Here are my 11 questions for them to ponder over:

1. What started your romance with all things vintage?
2. What made you start a blog about it all?
3. What is your favourite vintage item you have acquired so far?
4. If you could own one item of clothing from an Old Hollywood film, which would it be and why?
5. Would you rather live back in your favourite era(s) or would you prefer to stay in present day? Why?
6. If you could be a female historical figure, who would you be and why?
7. Same question, but as a male historical figure and why.
8. How do you come up with topics to write about?
9. What nationalities/heritages are you?
10. Do you pre-plan posts of write off-the-cuff?
11. Where do you see the future of your blog? What would you like to see it as being in about one year? What about five years?

I tried to come up with original questions, and ones that could help you as well as your blog, as well as other bloggers out there who may need some guidance. Plus it is just kind of fun to see how others work 🙂

Thanks again to Bruce of Eclectic Epherma for bestowing me with this award! He has a fabulous blog that I would have awarded him with this award again, but then it would just be redundant and a never ending circle LOL. I hope my question answers and 11 factoids were interesting at least – I tried to keep it vintage or rockabilly related but without having too narrow of a scope. Congratulations to all of the winners I chose to give this award to! Some of you may have received this award before like I had a few months ago (and I was just too busy to accept to do the whole post, blargh), so it is your option as to whether you want to do another post or not. I just wanted to let all of you know that you are amongst a small group of my favourite blogs that I read consistently and love. I don’t have much time to read many blogs because of school and a new study I am involved in, but I think the 11 blogs above epitomize the vintage/pinup/rockabilly blog world and have tons to offer its readers. I also love the theme of this award, because it is a “feel good” award, allows your readers to know more about you, and the best part is you get to pay it forward. All of you are great and are what keep me going and striving to make my blog the best it can be!

Outfit of the Day: 08 February

Feb9

So yesterday I had an early day – I had a 9:30 appointment for my orthopaedic surgeon. We had quite the snow storm/blizzard here from yesterday afternoon into today, and the rain and sleet BS had already started even by the morning. So I was just super excited to go out in all of that crap. I also had a lab class from 3 to 6, but the forecast said the real crap would flow between that exact time span, so there was no way in hell I was going.

So what was a girl to do? Hit the streets still looking vintage fabulous, of course! I recently bought an absolutely stunning 1940s WWII suit that – get this – was made in Great Britain during the war. To me that just upped the fabulousness factour to an 11!

And since it was still colder outside than Dick Cheney’s heart, I decided to wear some black thermal leggings/stockings to aid in keeping me toasty. I’m still not sure if they looked alright with the suit, but I’m sure all of you can help me decide 🙂

Isn’t the suit just to die for?! And I’m sure you haven’t noticed all of the little details such as the interweaved colours, pocket bling, and cuff fold details. But here are some extra pictures so you can further inspect 😉

And here is a more scrutinizing picture of the pocket bling/intricacies and ornate yet glamourous weaves of colour detail for all y’all to oogle over:

And guess how much this beauty cost me? Only $45! I saw it on eBay about a month ago from the seller VogueVintageVixen and the start bid was at $40 with the Buy It Now at $45. Now I am not that stupid to just disregard the BIN option and just fight with people until the bitter end and watch the price just climb to nearly $150 or $200 easily. This is a perfect example of when having saved searches is the most genius idea – Diane had just listed this beauty not even a half an hour prior to my discovering it. Imagine if I hadn’t? I would have missed out on a huge opportunity to own one of the items from my Christmas Vintage Wish List – and it was number two on my list, so it was pretty important for me 🙂

In addition to the amazing suit, I had busted out my new brown loafers, which is one of the most comfortable pairs of shoes I own now. I know the brown wasn’t an exact match, but I felt it offered a decent contrast to the black leggings and the colour was represented in a small amount within the suit. One of my own personal “fashion rules” is to wear accessories that go with the minor/accent colours, such as with my loafers here and the yellow dahlia and blue rose earrings I had on, as well as my bakelite bangles. I feel following this rule really makes an outfit comes together in a much more natural, subdued, and amazing way.

As some of you may have noticed if you have been following my blog for a bit now, is that I usually am not a wearer of hats. At first I figured, “I would rather have more dresses, tops, skirts…” meaning more actual clothing in and of itself, rather than hats. Then I figured, “Meh, I don’t really look so hot in hats.” I’ve seen hundreds of pictures of my maternal grandmother from around this era of dressing, and she really knocked wearing hats way out of the ballpark. Then I decided, “Hats are really a necessary staple for most vintage wardrobes”, and I started hunting. I’ve gotten just four hats in the past month alone, all for first cheap on eBay. eBay has really become my main source for vintage clothing, because if you save searches and play your cards right, you can save some major money on these things! Most of the vintage items I have bought on eBay have been at least half or even a fifth of what it “should”/”would” be on Etsy. Just remember – perseverance and saved searches! To figure out my bidding strategy that has worked so well for me (for the most part! LOL) you can click here to read my previous post.

I did, however, have one ’40s hat. I bought it back in December 2011, soon after I had my shoulder surgery. It screamed at me constantly to buy it, and plus it was only $10 due to the netting being all torn n’ worn. I’m not a big fan of having a net over my face anyway, so when I received it, it was promptly removed. But have I worn it since I bought it over a year ago? Nope. Not even once. I was even thinking about selling it. But as soon as I saw that suit, the whole status of the hat changed as well. It now has a life! And it was given many compliments during its outing today. I am sure all of my other hats (I keep wanting to say “covers” instead of “hats” – old military habits die hard LOL) are quite jealous. I will get to the rest of you my lovelies, no worries, as I now have a newfound love of hats thanks to this spectacular little brown number that took me 14 months to wear:

Isn’t it beautiful? I have no idea why I never wore it before other than my firm belief I had nothing to wear with it, which was an invalid idea even before getting this suit – I had a few dresses with some brown in them prior, so I don’t know where my mind was for 14 months in regards to this hat!

The seller of this suit also had several other items she needed/wanted to unload, as she really isn’t going to sell anymore because she just said being a seller, especially on eBay, is just too much BS anymore (to which I agreed, as I’ve had my own issues). Then she went on to say she would send me a few other vintage goodies for me, since we seemed to have the same measurements. She sent me a 60’s black sheath dress with incredible beading and jeweled detail at the neckline, a 50’s nude lace skirt and top set, again with great neckline detail also. And last but not least, she sent me a tea length black 50’s fully lined coat with mink fur at the collar and around the a cuffs, made in the USA by the union(s). Isn’t all of that amazing?! I must take pictures for all of you to see, because it is just breathtaking, all of what she sent me. I thought about selling the 60’s dress and 50’s shirt/skirt set, but I just can’t because they have sentimental value now – it reestablished my faith in humanity and the kindness of strangers in a way; it made me smile to know that there are still some decent people out there that you are fortunate to come in contact with once in a while 🙂

So despite this heinous weather we are having now, I still made an effort. Like I said in my first outfit post – I try to look the best I can to look presentable and dress the way that I always feel best in – true vintage or rockabilly style 🙂

DON’T FORGET! The VALENTINES DAY GIVEAWAY is still available to enter until the 12th! Click HERE to enter for your chance to win!

Veronica Vintage

One woman's trip from modern monotony to vintage vixen

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