moodboard

J. Morgan Pruett

I wanted to start telling you about Paris yesterday but wound up spending hours thrifting instead!  I know you will understand, as I stumbled across a whole wardrobe of vintage dresses for sale.  It took me about two hours to try them all on and whittle down my favorites.  I hope to have my store up and running again soon and to list all but one(I NEED it).  I'm still trying to decide if I want to continue with Etsy or go back to Ebay.

Then I lost all track of time after I came across Russel of Eric Basin's guest blog post on DesignSponge about J. Morgan Pruett.  I was instantly intrigued after reading she charred her wood floors to make them black.  After doing some googling I'm dying to go visit Mildred's Lane, her artist retreat. She mentions Thoreau and the Bloomsbury group on her site and it is all over for me. 

There are so many beautiful images that I will split them up into separate posts. Her interiors look like antique oil paintings brought to life. 

This is an old chicken coop she updated:

 

 

 

GAP Fall 2008

I stopped by the grocery store this morning and flipped through the new August issues of Teen Vogue and Glamour.  In both an editorial made me stop and take a closer look, Patrick Robinson's new Fall 2008 lineup for Gap.

As with most fall looks you can check off that it will be dark and jewel toned along with menswear featuring wools and chunky knits.  This line definitely hits the vintage London newsboy look mixed with Eddie Vedder grunge, but with great shades and perfect price points.

In particular a beat up bag with a bright pop of purple handle caught my eye($150) along with what looks to be cross dyed t-shirts in great greys, and railroad striped skirts and denim. 

I couldn't bear to purchase a $4 magazine with Christina Aguliera on the front cover so as soon as I find the magazine cheaper I will update this post with the editorials. 

Hallway Longings

We are in the middle of moving our house around and trying to find more room. I have been suffering from entry way envy as our front door opens directly into a long and narrow living room. It doesn't stop me from collecting inspiration photos for when we find a permanent base. Here are some from Livingetc that have caught my eye:

Such a decadent hallway.  Gorgeous stain glass, the gilded wallpaper, chandelier, and vintage console table.

The use of tone on tone color with the front door and hallway is brilliant. I'm thinking how pretty that door must look from the outside too. I'm swooning over the turquoise paint.

I love filling up a small space, the vintage table and bright pop of art work perfect here.

My Charley Harper Dress

-Lilka nightie from Anthropologie

-Vintage magenta leather sandals bought as new old stock

I still haven't figured out all the bells and whistles on our new camera, a Nikon D60, so the kind Mr. M took this early morning photo.  

This is my Flight Pattern chemise dress from Anthropologie. Just a little inspired by Charley Harper don't you think?

Detail Shots:

Giving Them the Slip

I go off in tangents when I speak and write, many things can spark side stories for me. I'll happily take you down the many forks on the road to my story end, much to the horror of those being forced to listen.  So I apologize for future run-ons and winded tales.

While working at Banana Republic when I was younger the mall was hosting a modeling contest. They were having a runway show, and apparently they told the competitors they needed a dress. One long legged model came racing in desperate and we started scrambling trying to help her out.  We had some black silk eyelet slips that had been clearanced to $19.99.  She grabbed one, threw it on and of course it looked stunning as a mini dress.  After she wore it on the catwalk the rest of the slips blew out of the store by the end of the day. 

After visitng Anthropologie yesterday while out of town, I remembered this old article in the NY Times.  Ellen Tien discusses the rising popularity of New York city women wearing Anthropologie nighties as summer dresses.  Not that wearing your undergarments outside is a new idea by any means. The 90's and Calvin Klein had everyone wearing slip dresses, or in the case of Courtney Love, vintage slips as dresses.  I know several of us vintage lovers across the blog world have continued this tradition. 

Back to Anthropologie, with their new beach wear line they have introduced many more possibilities that can be used as dresses.  From my experience you might want to size down, especially with the Lilka line.  Also some may require a light slip underneath, but with rising prices you can obtain some of Anthropologie's whimsy but at a better price point. I'll be posting my own nightie dress purchase later this afternoon after I figure out the timer on my new camera!

Fantasy Island Chemise-$58

Ahoy Chemise-$78

Sakura Ice Robe-$39.95

The Wedding of Leah Woods

While I like the vintage vibe Leah Wood was going for, I'm not sure about the dress.  I think it reminds me too much of a picture of one of my aunts in the late 60's early 70's with this almost exact outfit & hair do. 

 

Most of us know going in as a bridesmaid that the dress will be headed to the nearest Goodwill right afterward. But even with that knowledge, I'm just not sure what she was thinking with these dresses.

The guests came ready for the cameras though.  I think Patti Hansen looked amazing, I would love to have that dress.   

 

Model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who is dating the bride's brother, has been tagged as the one that upstaged the bride with her stunning pale dress.  She even wore a tiara! Not to be outdone...

Kate Moss showed up 10 minutes late for the wedding. She picked beautiful accessories, shoulder grazing earrings, sparkling bag and an exquisite vintage midnight blue shawl.

Anja Rubik's Hair

For the majority of my life I have had long hair.  It has been various shades of brown & blond, usually a caramel highlighted mess.  I've gone the extreme with dying it dark brown, but never having the guts to go platinum. 

I grew my hair to Lady Godiva length because I had a vision of long wavy hair flowing down at my reception.  Instead it was 100 degree heat and I kept my updo for the ceremony the entire time.

I'm itching for a change and Anja's hair may be the push I need.  I've already decided that to keep my hair looking the healthiest for how dry that color will make my hair I will have to bob it.  I'm just trying to get up the nerve.

How great does this July issue of German Vogue look?

Anja looks like a modern day Marilyn Monroe 

Can we talk about the home inspiration in this picture?  If you click on it you can see more detail.  I love the softness of the fur, the print of the rug, the stacks of driftwood, and rough burlap.

pictures via thefashionspot

Penelope Cruz

I love this dress. I love the combination of velvety black, pale pink and ruffles.  To justify the purchase maybe wear as your wedding dress, and put your bridesmaids in silky white(or even pale blue!) as your make a darkly romantic walk down the aisle?

Topshop Fall 2008 Preview

While still wading through 300+ pictures of Paris I saw that the Topshop fall preview is now online. They are heading to NYC in October but I'll hedge my bets and stick to ordering online.  But for the coat above I may be one of the crazies that sits in front of the store all night waiting for it to open.

Paris Return

We have returned and I am sad to leave the city of light.  There was still so much to see and experience.  We have already planned to return, maybe as early as next year. I'm working on dividing up my experiences into groups and will post more later today.

Above is a sneak peek we have received of our wedding pictures.