10 Inspiring Home Interiors: A Touch of Blue

Image credits: 1.} Guest Room 2.} Winter Garden 3.} Desk Lamp 4.} Desk 5.} Still Life 08, Children's Books 6.} Shabby Chic Bedding 7.} Pale Blue Foyer 8.} The Scenic Room 9.} Maps as Decor 10.} You're Super, You're Swell

Red, silk, and ruffles: Stunning 1930s inspired Sue Wong gown

{ buy me! buy me! buy me! }

Chanel Spring 2010, the lovely details will break your heart

This mini silent film showing the details of Chanel's Spring 2010 collection is so heartbreakingly beautiful. Little whispers of silk, chiffon, kisses of pearls and embraces of lace. I'm in love!

Video source YouTube

Vintage Photo Find: Innocence Lost circa 1930s

"But the flower leaned aside
And thought of naught to say,
And morning found the breeze
A hundred miles away"

Found photo via Flickr, Poem snippet from "Wind & Window Flower" by Robert Frost

Interior Inspiration: A Feminine Vintage Inspired Vanity

Most little girls want a vanity table in their room. I certainly was no exception and to this day, I still want a pretty little corner in the bedroom that is just my own where I can display shiny baubles and have a vase of fresh pink peonies.

Someday...someday...

{ The Shopping List }
1.] 1930s Maison Jansen Vanity from 1stDibs.com
2.] Birch Tree Wall Decals from Charming 925
3.] Green Book Boxes from Wisteria
4.] Brosseau Ombre Rose L'Original Perfume from JohnLewis.com
5.] The Baker's Jar from Anthropologie
6.] Louis Ghost Chair from Design Within Reach
7.] Antique Glass Key Tray from Kate's Paperie

The 1930s vanity table from 1stDibs is definitely out of my price range ($5000 and then some...) but it is definitely my inspiration as far as style and color goes.

Vintage Luxe Find of the Day: 1970s Karl Lagerfeld designed 'CHLOE' dress

A beautiful novelty print silk dress designed by Karl Lagerfeld for "CHLOE", so lovely isn't it? And it it weren't for that $1250 price tag...

You can view details and purchase it at 1st Dibs from "The Way We Wore"

Le Printemps: A preview of lovely vintage clothes and accessories for Spring

Goodness, I adore such pretty little things. Don't you? I will be adding details and more images in my little { vintage shop } this evening.

The clothes and accessories featured here are from the 1940s and the 1950s with the exception of the peach silk bed jacket that at first I thought was from the 1930s due to the lack of elastic on the ruching and the style, but upon closure inspection it is only 1930s inspired and dates from the 70s. There is a very small tag that has "LOT SIZE" which would not be present in a garment dating from the 30s. At least, not to my knowledge.

Oh, and I have finally decided to sell vintage lingerie and intimates again as I have amassed quite a collection and really shouldn't be so selfish :)

An Interview with Audrey Hepburn

I found this on YouTube and wanted to share. Gosh, I really hate the person interviewing her, it seems like he wants to put in her in a negative light and always interrupts her! BUT, please do watch because Audrey Hepburn is so enchanting and I love how she talks.

At 3:01, how she says "Times" and at 3:09 how she says "Now"...I love it!

Screen Gems of the 1930s: Myrna Loy

Today my fashion inspiration is the beautiful 1930s silent films and actress Myrna Loy. With her exotic looks, Myrna was often typecast to play the vamp or portray Asian/Eurasian women during the early parts of her career. (Interesting!) Her acting career spanned nearly 4 decades! Myrna was married four times but never had any children (a pity, think how outrageously beautiful her offspring would be!). She is quoted to have said "Some perfect wife I am... I've been married four times, divorced four times, have no children, and can't boil an egg."

I would very much love this entire ensemble!


Image credits: 1.] Myrna Loy 2.] Myrna Loy, Franchot Tone, Rosalind Russell and Walter Pidgeon from the 1938 MGM movie Man Proof 3.] Myrna Loy & Robert Montgomery, 4.] Portrait of Myrna Loy, 5.] Portrait of Myrna Loy from The Squall

And, just for fun, a Myrna Loy tribute video from Basil Nelson who has very many wonderful tribute videos to screen gems of the past.

How to date vintage clothing, a study of silhouttes, Part I

Today's "How to Date Vintage Clothing" lesson will be a quick guide through the different decades and the popular clothing trends from each era.

The other day I received a question from { Dani Red } asking how to date vintage clothing as she was quite new to collecting. So, I hope this simple guide will be useful!

I don't come across too many clothes from the 1910s-1920s, they are rare finds these days (considering they're nearly 100 years old!) and it is even more rare to find a dress that is in mint or excellent condition. Therefore, most vintage clothes dating in the earlier part of the 20th century can garner a pretty high price. All that being said, here are a few patterns and illustrations to give you a better idea of the silhouttes of the earlier portion of the 20th century.

{ The 1910s & the 1920s }

Notice the waist bands and waist locations of the dresses from the 1910s... then notice the disappearance of said waist bands in the dresses of the 1920s. In the 1920s the "Flapper" girl was born. But, more on that another day.

{ The 1930s }

Notice the difference in the skirt silhouttes? The waistline has returned! I love many of the evening dresses from the 1930s, mostly cut on the bias, so they skimmed the female form in the most elegant way.

{ The 1940s }

One of the biggest changes in fashion in the 1940s was the length of the hemline for day dresses. Hemlines gradually got shorter in the first part of the 20th century, but in the 40s, they took huge cut mostly to war shortages. Skirts became a little fuller, eventually leading to the voluminous poufs in the later part of the 40s and into the 50s. Notice also that dresses had far less decorations and details as previous decades.

{ The 1950s }


Hemlines continue to rise in the 1950s, but not by that much. Skirts and dresses became much fuller usually with the help of crinolines and ruffled slips. The waist was an important focal point, waistbands and belts were very common in fashion. Towards the end of the 1950s the sheath and wiggle dress became popular shapes. This also marked the beginning of 60s fashion.

Part II of "How to Date Vintage Clothing, A Study in Silhouttes" will be posted later on this week!

Cream Fronds & Checkers: An outfit post

So very happy about this blouse and the fit and the color. Recently I have becoming increasingly in love with creams, whites, and beige... the absence of color. Which, if you have seen my outfit posts from recent years, is quite a leap in the other direction.

And this time with my shoes showing as a lovely reader pointed out that an outfit post is not complete without shoes. *hehe* I mostly don't post my shoes because in full length shots I feel like a lollipop head. Unfortunately, I have a rather large head compared to my body. *sigh*

All but my shoes are vintage. I haven't been carrying a bag around lately. Mostly just this coin purse I got in Chichicastenango, Guatemala. (this word is so fun to say, btw, Chi! Chi!) So, no bag today. And for a bigger picture, it's here. Oh, dear, I feel so very vain.

Will be adding more items in the { SHOP } today as well! Items are selling out fairly quickly, so I need to make sure more inventory is added so my virtual store shelves don't look so bare! Goodies from the 1940s and 1950s soon to be arriving.

Smoke & Fog: 10 Transcendental Landscape Photos

I wish I could say I took these because that would mean I've actually been to these magical looking locations. I can't remember where they're all from unfortunately, most are sourced through Flickr or We♥It, but I was click + save happy and didn't copy the source code. So to those who took these amazing photos of landscapes that seem otherworldly, lucky you and thank you!

*side note* You may have noticed I added music to my blog. I know some people hate music on websites, especially if we don't share similar tastes in music. You can shut it off by clicking the "STOP" (square button). I created the playlist for my own enjoyment while working as sometimes Pandora can be hit or miss and I'm too lazy to keep switching out CDs.

My adventures at the Antique & Textiles Show at Pickwick Gardens

First and foremost, I did not bring my camera after all. But mostly because I knew I wanted to get lost in the world of vintage and lugging around a big clunky camera was not in my plans for this little magical trip.

So, off I drove to Burbank, stopping to get a latte and croissant along the way. I arrive and I'm immediately smitten! I can feel the energy around me as other woman "coo" and "ahh" over vintage dresses and costume jewelry. At last! A place where like minded girls are all under one roof and can relish in all of these pretty little things. Sometimes I feel like such a big nerd when I find a pretty vintage dress in a shop, I run my fingers through the fabric and hold it against me imagining the stories behind the garment. La! La! La! I'm so pretty!

There are two big rooms, one on the right and one on the left. Both rooms have vintage clothes, accessories, and textiles (linens, aprons, blankets). I go into the right room first. Lace blouses and pretty floral prints and billowy chiffon dresses all catch my attention first. 15 minutes of being inside and I've already asked three different booths to put something on hold for me.

I must not be impulsive! I will practice control!

I am not there for jewelry or handbags. So, I don't look through any of the booths that have them. But trust me, there are PLENTY to choose from varying in price ranges from "nearly broke college student" to "thank God my husband is with me and he's footing the bill" (haha!)

I feel like a hummingbird flitting from booth to booth. Oh! Oh! a green velvet hat from the 1940s, oh it looks so perfect against my dark hair! Oh, it's $100! (sad face). Oh my God! Oh my God! It's a vintage Versace! Someone else grabs for it. No! No! I saw it first! The dark navy chiffon and silk rustle past me in a blur. (another sad face) Ooo what is this grey 1950s day dress with the big lace collar? That would look so great with black tights and mary-janes. Oh, no! What?! You don't take Visa? Arg!

Many of the booths take credit cards if their prices are higher. Almost all the booths I went to that had reasonable prices only took cash or check. Lesson learned. Bring your checkbook!

I'm inexperienced at these things. I hear other women haggle for prices. I'm not brave enough to do it. But, if you're good at that sort of thing, go for it. Bargains are to be had here!

Hey, who's that? She looks familiar. I know her from somewhere. Keep walking, walking. Oh, look at all of these gorgeous Victorian dresses! So much lace! Eggshell, cream, beige, cafe au lait colors... I am swooning! There's that girl again, and that other girl, and that other girl.

Oh! It's Tennessee Thomas. And the other girls from "The Like" except I don't realize this until much later. And I recognize Tennessee from theFashionspot forums, but I'm shy when it comes to strangers so I don't say anything. I notice her colorful 70s mini dress and mirrored novelty 1950s straw bag.

After a couple hours, I am hungry and know I might lose control if I stay longer. I pick up business cards, introduce myself, enquire about an AMAZING AMAZING 1930s cornflower blue silk dress cut on the bias with a gored skirt and capelet and I want to cry because I can't buy it (it's $345 and I have no need for a formal gown) but somehow or other this dress and I are meant to be together. It's DESTINY!

I leave clutching three paper bags in my hands. I am floating. I have three new treasures to add to my closet. HOORAH! HOORAH! What a great day it has been!

And if you've read through this lengthy post... here are my new treasures!

(See, I practiced restraint ^_^, only three things!)

Delictable & Sweet Inspirations for Saturday

Please try not to salivate on your keyboard. :) As for me, I am having chocolate cake and a cafe au lait for breakfast *Mmmmm*

Another outfit post, and I'm on a roll!

I'm feeling a bit gleeful today. Perhaps it's because I have finally organized the Adorevintage work closet or perhaps its because on Sunday I am going to a vintage clothing and textile show! *HOORAH!*

I wonder if they will let me bring my camera? I don't see why not. I bet there will be loads of well dressed women all just waiting to get their photo snapped to inspire outfit decisions in the future. *hehe*

Oh, another reason to be happy, in March I start taking pastry and baking classes at Gourmandise Desserts! I am so very excited to learn how to make French macaroons and finaciers and opera cakes (whatever those are)! I've always really enjoyed baking, and now I can take classes with a real life French pastry chef. Oui! Oui!

Friday Shop Updates: Cream, Persimmon, & Nutmeg

New vintage clothes and accessories in the shop!
Click to shop: { ADOREVINTAGE.com }