Along with favoring things with clean lines and structural shapes, I've also been attracted to transparent accents. It started with a hunt for a certain style of jewelry, which had me leaving an antique show with a Mid-Century cube stacked necklace.
I picked up the two vintage bags with chunky clear handles while thrifting. I think they were donated by the same woman, and I would have loved to have a peek inside of her closet.
I talked yesterday about collections that take time to hit you, and then there are the ones that make you emit an instant YES! as soon as they walk down the runway. Dries Van Noten Spring 2013 show was one that really resonated with my personal aesthetic. He managed to make plaid skirts look ethereal and paired them with 1940's style prints, silvered pieces, and shadowy blacks.
This vintage plaid shirt had a similar color palette to the Dries so it made the cut at the thrift store.
Some runways shows hit me instantly, while others simmer away in my subconscious slowly influencing my purchases. Stella McCartney's Pre-Fall 2013 snuck up on me, making me suddenly start lusting for coats with either a menswear cut or oversized silhouette.
I stopped at a couple of thrift stores on my way home from DC last week and managed to find two vintage coats that met my criteria. These are normally the coats I skip through on the rack, but something about streamlined designs is very appealing to me right now.
This fits like a long men's suit jacket and it's a perfect compliment to some of my more feminine outfits.
I've had an olive green coat on my wish list for a while now, so this find was a 2 for 1 deal. It also has the roomy look I was going for that I can stuff chunky sweaters under.
I thrifted a vintage coat that kinda makes me look like the Cowardly Lion. Oh, and hi, long time no talk.
So what's been going on?
1. Our upstairs wood floors are finally refinished (Minwax Dark Walnut) after like 15 tries and having to stay anywhere that had an empty couch or bed for the duration. Unfortunately, in the middle of all that moving around I lost my engagement ring. Sadness.
2. We painted every room upstairs Benjamin Moore Simple White. I can't tell you how much I love it compared to that horrible margarine color that it was painted. I'm not sure if every room will stay this color, but it's nice to have a clean slate to start from.
3. We caught a second opossum—this time alive— in our crawlspace after a broken grate was missed the first time. SCREAM.
4. My Macbook, which has pretty much been a piece of junk since I bought it, finally shut down completely.
I'm going to be honest, it hasn't been a fun couple of months, but onwards and upwards.
What's next?
1. Replacing the wood floor in the dining room.
2. Replacing and moving around chandeliers in living areas and foyer.
3. Painting Kitchen cabinets and walls.
4. Getting living room sofa reupholstered.
5. Finding drapes/blinds that will fit our non-standard windows.
I could go on and on, but these are the tasks at the top of the list.
The magic mirror shot that makes you 10 inches taller and 10 pounds skinnier.
Vintage beige Sweater (thrifted)
90's Express skirt in dark green (thrifted)
Falke black wool tights
Loeffler Randall Emmy Boots in Taupe
Hermes Collier de Chien Cuff (I declared that I would wear this every day if I got it and I'm doing pretty well at holding to it)
After watching the Jil Sander Fall 2012 show I was dreaming about that pink coat. Ashley Olsen was first out of the gate to be photographed in it and she won't be the last judging by how fast the $3k coat sold on Net-A-Porter.
The coat wasn't in my budget, but I made a mental note to look for something more affordable. At an estate sale this summer I was poking around an attic devoid of any oxygen and not finding much. I opened up an old wardrobe and there hanging was this vintage pink coat for $5. Sold!
1. Vintage Dress from Free P Star 2. Kaysa Clogs c/o Loeffler Randall 2. Hermes cuff 4. Burnt skin all me
How have you guys been handling the heat? We've been breaking records here in the south and combined with the lovely humidity I'm lucky if I go outside at all.
This blessid tent of a dress was found at a vintage store in Paris and allows for gusts of air to circulate. A beautiful feeling when you walk outside and it feels like your oven on broil. These Loeffler Randall clogs have been in constant rotation since they lend themselves well to bohemian style. While they look like little corsets for your feet they are actually the most comfortable sandals I own.
1960's White Silk Dress with Jewel Encrusted Neckline-I saw this glittering at me across the room at the thrift store and pretty much ran to it. It came with a matching jacket in the same heavy white silk.
1960's Geoffrey Beene Dress-My favorite find at the flea market this weekend. I love the stiff baby doll shape, with rhinestone buttons and double pleats in the front.
Vintage Heart Earrings-These are like disco balls for your ears, but I love them.
1950's Plaid Jacket-Found this at the thrift with the original store tag still attached. I've pretty much lived in it all week.
1980's Silk Skirt-This skirt was midi length but I had it taken up to the knee. I love the blueberry color so very much.
1980's Mint Green Sweater-Yet another marled top to add to my stash. I found this in the kid's department at the thrift store.
Vintage Patent Leather Clutch-I couldn't really capture the color of this bag, but it is a greenish yellow with a grey snakeskin print on it.
My breaks from the internet have been stretching out longer and longer. Bottom line, I'm having a case of the mehs. I would say a case of the blahs—which is more of a personal condition—but I'm feeling meh towards things online besides myself.
Instead, I've been spending a lot of time in galleries and museums for sources of inspiration (sorry, Pinterest). They also compliment 1960's jackets and wearing your hair in droopy Olive Oyl style buns.
Anyway, it's Derby week and as usual I've waited until the 11th hour to find a dress and hat. So I'm taking off to go shopping, but I'll probably default and wear something vintage. I am excited to break out a sparkly Banana Republic pencil skirt (I haven't bought anything from them in forever) and a 1960's dress with a built-in necklace for some parties.
Talk to you soon.
Late 70's Christian Dior Lace Skirt-I'm wanting all shades of cocoa for summer, so I may have squealed when I spotted this skirt on the rack.
80's Grid Silk Top-I have a habit of picking up these little tops in every thrift store I visit. I have this crazy idea that everything will eventually be made of polyester and I'll never find a cute print in a breathable fabric again.
Late 70's Halston Matte Jersey Maxi Skirt-The original minimal.
Early 80's Bill Blass Check Separates-I'm loving my matching tops and bottoms. I'm thinking about having the skirt hemmed short.
90's Express Diamond Pattern Skirt in Forest Green-I have a feeling I'll be wearing this a lot in the fall with tights.
80's Polka Dot Peplum Dress-Couldn't have asked for a more spot on piece for spring 2012.
Late 60's red silk jacket from Saks Fifth Avenue-I was crossing fingers, legs, and toes in the dressing room that this would fit me.
For a long time I had to turn a blind eye to home stuff when I was at the flea market or thrift store. Now I have to bolt pass the racks of clothes and concentrate on buying things for our new (but very old) house.
Well, until this week, when I knew my local thrift store was having their big kick off event for the new season. They stock the store from top to bottom with fresh donations.
As you can see, I'm still obsessed with prints, especially checks and grid patterns. I bought a couple more pieces, but they are already getting cleaned up. I'm particularly over-the-moon about a suit from the 1960's. Both pieces are made from the heaviest white silk shantung, with the dress having a jewel encrusted v-neckline. I feel a little Jackie O in it, can't wait to show you guys.
Photography: Moodboard
