vintage clothing + fashion blog // a blog for all things vintage and vintage inspired

Vintage Fashion Designer: Madeleine Vionnet

2012-01-31T11:17:00.000-08:00

Madeleine Vionnet was a French fashion designer nicknamed the "queen of the bias cut". Her designs were very much inspired by Grecian draping and influenced by the dancer Isadora Duncan. She dominated the haute couture world in the 1930s and her designs were worn by the likes of Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, and Marlene Dietrich.

A portrait of Madeleine Vionnet | source

Her process for designing was a lengthy one often draping and constructing miniature dresses on small wooden dolls. Madeleine was also known to have helped revolutionize fashion by introducing ready to wear mass produced clothing.

Get ready to "Ooh and Ahh" ladies.

And one last photo of Madeleine working in her French atelier in the 1930s...

// Vintage Fashion Designer: Madeleine Vionnet
image sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

Vintage Inspired Wedding: On Top Of A Mountain

2012-01-25T08:37:00.000-08:00

Oh good golly! I look through a lot of wedding photos, mostly because they're just pretty... and a few months ago I had repinned this photo without ever bothering to check the source for the other images. And today I did and I'm just gobsmacked by how absolutely wonderful these moments captured are!

Can we say OH MY GOD? The bride's dress is stunning and not to mention a stunning bride! I love the netted fascinator veil she opted for, short and sweet with gold floral details in the back.

These photos make me smile and also make me wish I got invited to this wedding on top of a mountain in Colorado. The Seattle based photographer Sean Flanigan has an amazing eye for those perfect little moments. He truly is an editorial photographer, absolutely wonderful!

This last photo gives me goosebumps, I can't quite put a finger on it, but it is such a beautiful photo. Like a favorite memory thought of over and over again into your wee old years and it's fading. Lovely, but fading.

Viktor & Rolf: The 1930s Mystique

2012-01-23T17:19:00.000-08:00

"This is our reaction to vulgarity. We imagined a modern Victorian woman, discreet, moody, rich, and luxurious."- Rolf Snoeren

It has been awhile since anything on the runways has really made my heart strings play a pretty little tune. At first glance, these vampiric inspired images from the Viktor & Rolf Pre-Fall 2012 collection made me hesitate, but some of their silhouettes caught my eye and eventually I took a closer look... and thank goodness I did!

I am so completely in love with all of these pieces. Completely. Head to toe, want everything. The 1930s shapes are just stunning, I love the Victorian accents like the high necked blouses, the ruffles! Oh God those ruffles! The colors, the fabrics, the draping... perhaps I could do without the full moon backdrop, but it definitely lends a mythical and dark appeal to the collection.

Oh my goodness, every time I look at these clothes I just die a little inside because I could never afford these pieces without putting a huge dent in my bank account. I have never with any designer even considered plunking hundreds upon hundreds for one garment (for vintage, sure, for modern day designs...eh, not really).

I am dying over the brown dress with polka dot sheer panel in the front and the bow. Dying over it. Such an amazing collection!

image credits: style.com

Playing Favorites: My Favorite Picks in the Shop

2012-01-22T20:16:00.000-08:00

Hello chickens! Last week was a whirlwind and I have a feeling this upcoming week will be no different. There are more changes up ahead for me and my little vintage shop and at the moment all I can do is try to keep as patient as possible, but it's so difficult to!

I've slowly become more and more familiar with the likes of Etsy and I've made the decision to stick around on it. Not to worry, I'll be running my main vintage shop as well (for those of you new to the blog, it's over at Adorevintage). I've been storing up so many beautiful things for a relaunch, that I'm running out of room in my vintage studio.

In case you've missed the vintage shop updates on Etsy... here are some of my favorites of the bunch! See more at Adorevintage on Etsy.

Shop vintage clothing + accessories at ADORE VINTAGE.

10 Vintage Facts About: Clara Bow

2012-01-22T17:46:00.000-08:00

She was known as the "Flapper-par-Excellence" or the "The Royal Canadian Mounted Policeman of sex, who always gets her man"... so here are more fun facts about the 1920s silent film star, Clara Bow.

A photo of a young Clara Bow, probably around the time she won the beauty contest that would change the course of her life | source

10 Vintage Facts About: Clara Bow

1.] Her idols included Mae Murray, Gloria Swanson, and Theda Bara

2.] Clara Bow arrived in Hollywood in 1923

3.] She went to Hollywood by way of winning a Beauty Contest while she was still in high school

4.] She failed in the talkies mostly because of her thick Brooklyn accent

right | left

5.] From 1927 to 1930 she was one of the top five Hollywood box-office attractions

6.] Clara Bow had a horrible childhood and grew up poor. She was sexually abused by her father and neglected by her emotionally unbalanced mother.

7.] Her last name "Bow" is short for her actual last name "Bowtinelli"

8.] Young Gary Cooper had a crush on Clara Bow

9.] Despite her films' successes and more money, Clara Bow opted to live humbly in a bungalow instead of a mansion

10.] She married cowboy actor and rancher, Rex Bell, in Las Vegas. They lived in Nevada where Rex Bell eventually became lieutenant governor.

source

--- FIN ---

To find out more about the 1920s film star Clara Bow, please read: Biography: Clara Bow and The Unknown Clara Bow. For more Clara Bow pictures, I highly recommend the Clara Bow Archive

Vintage Photo Collection: Cats + Their Owners

2012-01-18T18:25:00.000-08:00

I adore cats so very much but unfortunately for me I am allergic to them so sadly I do not own a feline friend. But, I found all of these vintage photographs of cats and their proud owners and wanted to share these images with you.

source

source

source

source

source

source

source

source

source

And this last one isn't of a cat, but I couldn't resist including this hilarious photo!

source

A Tour Around the Vintage Studio

2012-01-14T08:45:00.000-08:00

So, a couple months ago I had a wonderful chance offered to me by my friend,Esther Jean. And that was to share a studio space with her in the FIDM Mercantile Building in the fashion district in LA. Of course I jumped at the chance!

It's a small space, but it's the first step to someday soon getting my own live/work studio. But for now, our little space works, although at times it's a bit cramped in there. I haven't taken any official photos of the vintage studio space, just Instagram... so *drum roll please*... welcome to the Adorevintage Studio!

This is the exterior of our building, very Art Deco, don't you think? We are on the 5th floor and there are 12 floors I believe. The other tenants all work in fashion as well. Some are designers, some are small ecommerce shops, others are pattern makers or accessory designers.

My work table is against the windows so I have a pretty lovely view. I usually keep the windows open while I'm working (day or night) to let in fresh air (is there such a thing as fresh air in Los Angeles?). At night I get a lovely view into the lofts across the street. LOL. But they can see me just as clearly. I should wave to them once in awhile.

My studio mate makes these gorgeous headbands and wreaths from vintage millinery flowers and dried blossoms. Aren't they gorgeous? We share supplies, so once in awhile I'll use her scissors, needles, thread...and she utilizes my vintage dress forms and hat blocks.

Ashley and I have a lot of fun in the studio. On one particular Saturday I came in and she had bought A TON of flowers from the Flower Market a few blocks away. Our entire studio was filled with the scent of roses! I was busy photographing vintage dresses that day and she had to jet off, but I snapped this photo of the pretty mess that is our studio and sent it to her...in which she replied "Ahh Home Sweet Away From Home"

The view while inside the loading elevator. I love that you can see all the way up!

Behind the studio. Some of these vacant spaces look so cool and industrial, but unfortunately I can't afford the rent *le sigh*

A 1930s slip and an Edwardian gown fitted on dress forms and inspiration boards...

--- FIN ---

Well, there's the Adorevintage/Esther Jean studio! It's small, but for now it works for me and what I need it for. I dream of having an actual live work studio where there's a specific area to photograph vintage, an area for mending/cleaning, and a merchandised area and women can come by and browse/shop. Sort of like an atelier I suppose. I know I'm one step closer to that... so it's really exciting for me to have taken this move.

Vintage Shop Arrivals: The 1930s to the 1970s, A Preview

2012-01-12T15:08:00.000-08:00

This week has breezed by in a strange blur. I've been sick and out from work for 2 days which strangely enough has made me the most productive person on the planet. Ok, well that may be a stretch... but I've never photographed so many vintage things so quickly and getting them listed so quickly either! Of course, I do have a bit of help now... which is really wonderful. Running an online vintage clothing store completely on your own can be quite maddening at times.

Anyhow, back to the plethora of vintage I've been photographing... here are just SOME of the items coming soon to A D O R E V I N T A G E. Updates by the decades...

The 1930s + The 1940s

vintage 1930s black crepe dress

vintage 1930s pineapple fiber blouse

vintage 1930s lace wedding gown

vintage 1940s red silk blouse

The 1950s + The 1960s

Vintage 1950s floral retro dress

Vintage 1950s cashmere bow cardigan

Vintage 1950s orient print dress

Vintage 1950s green wiggle dress

Vintage 1960s green chiffon layered cocktail dress

The 1970s

Vintage 1970s sheer lace lingerie

Vintage 1970s silk ruched cocktail dress

Vintage 1970s navy blue wrap dress

All of these vintage clothes will be available in the A D O R E V I N T A G E etsy shop by Saturday!

*** The main shop site is STILL being worked on. Although I do have some help now, I am still the only web/graphics designer on this here vintage ship... and sadly sometimes PHP and CSS are not very cooperative.

Club Monaco Spring 2012 Lookbook

2012-01-11T15:28:00.000-08:00

I love the simple and dreamy effect of Club Monaco's Spring 2012 lookbook editorial featuring Sasha Pivovarova. I first spotted it over at Fabsugar and knew I had to share. The classic and simple lines remind me a bit of the 1960s... for some reason these images evoke a sort of Audrey Hepburn in "Two For the Road" feeling.

Perhaps I am way off on the Two for the Road reference, but that's how it makes me feel, how about you? It does make me wish summer was closer already. Although in Hollywood, it's pretty summery year around... (not to brag or anything...)

I never really looked at the clothes at Club Monaco. It's one of those brands I never paid much attention to, but after seeing this lookbook, I'll definitely keep a perked ear and watchful eye out. I adore the blouse and skirt combination, definitely falls in line with the color palette I like to wear. Loving the cinnamon and rust colors too, might have to incorporate that color into my wardrobe.

And now for the man in your life... loving these looks. I love cardigans and sweaters on men, there's something about a chunky or preppy piece of outerwear that's so inviting. You just want to hug someone when they're wearing a cozy looking sweater, and especially when he's handsome mixed with a bit of ruggedness, am I right?

image credits: fabsugar | club monaco

Old Fashioned Remedies: 10 "Vintage" Ways to Cure Your Ailments

2012-01-10T09:07:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately and it's possibly because the weather in southern California has been so haphazard. One week it's 45 degrees in the morning and by mid afternoon it's 80! I'm pretty stubborn when it comes to falling ill, I hate being sick. (But then again, who loves it?) I feel so completely useless when I'm sick. I know of course I'm suppose to rest and get sleep, and that I do, but the next day (like today) I always feel like there's even more to catch up on. *le sigh*

So, for just a bit of fun, I wanted to post some silly (and not so silly but I feel actually work) vintage old fashioned remedies for common ailments.

the greatest cure of all

Old Fashioned Remedies: 10 "Vintage" Ways to Cure Your Ailments

1.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a COUGH: Bring two cups of water to a boil and add two sliced lemons, 1/2 teaspoon of either mint or dried ginger, and 2 tablespoons of honey and 2 tablespoons of sugar. After mixing these ingredients and having brought them to a boil, they would soon turn into a thick syrup. Once this occurs, add an ounce of liqueur or brandy. - source

2.] Old Fashioned Remedy for SHORTENING A COLD: Eat garlic! Research has shown that garlic is an antioxidant and can shorten the life of a cold. Also, Allicin, an ingredient found in garlic, is a decongestant that will help clear your blocked nose and sinuses. source

3.] Old Fashioned Remedy for PREVENTING A COLD: Take in lots of Vitamin C! So load up on some oranges.

4.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a COLD: Sweat it out. My mother used to always tell me to lay under lots of blankets and bundle up so you expel the sickness. I'm not sure if this really works, I always just feel super uncomfortable and clammy.

5.] Old Fashioned Remedy for the FLU: Mix 1 tablespoon of horseradish and 1 cup of olive oil and left it to stand for 30 minutes. Use it as a massage oil for instant relief for aching muscles. source

vintage bayer aspirin ad

6.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a CHEST COLD: Collect hot steamed cooked onions in a cheesecloth and this compress can be used for placing on the chest in the event of a chest cold, on the outside of the ear in the case of an earache, on a boil to help it burst, on an abscessed tooth to soothe the inflamation. source

7.] Old Fashioned Remedy for a CONGESTED CHEST: Smear a sheet of brown paper in goose fat and stick it to the patients chest before bed. An earlier incarnation of rubbing Vick's on the chest perhaps... source

8.] Old Fashioned Remedy for REMOVING A FEVER: Put onions in your socks! Cut up half an onion and put them in your socks making sure your toes are touching the onions (um, gross, and um smelly!) Even today, some doctors claim that onions draw a fever away from the body. source

9.] Old Fashioned Remedy for SLEEPLESSNESS: Drink ginger tea at bedtime. "Ginger tea taken at bedtime soothes one to sleep," This is a very good remedy when the stomach is at fault. It stimulates this organ and produces a greater circulation, thereby drawing the blood from the head. This will make the patient feel easier and sleep will soon follow." source

10.] Old Fashioned Remedy for DECONGESTANT: Add 2 or 3 drops of essential oil of eucalyptus to a wet washcloth placed on your shower's floor. Close the door, turn on the water, steam up the bathroom, and inhale while you scrub yourself clean. Euacalyptus is a decongestant and expectorant and make also ease a sore throat. source

---

Now remember, I'm no doctor so I hope you don't go home try all these and get angry you're not instantly cured. Especially after putting onions in your socks. Has anyone actually tried this?

Pretty Things: What's Inspiring Me Today

2011-12-29T07:23:00.000-08:00

The year is drawing to a close...only a few days left of 2011 and that same old question rolls around: "What is your New Year's Resolution?" Back in December of 2009 I made it my one and only resolution to abide by this quote and ever since then I feel like my life has only improved for the better. I don't plan on making any other New Years resolutions, this one I made a couple years ago works for me and it's realistic.

So how about you...what is YOUR New Year's Resolution?

image credits: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13

Nearly Lost | Lisa Warninger Photographer

2011-12-23T11:49:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite blogs to peruse is Honey Kennedy and I chanced upon a post featuring an outtake photo by Lisa Warninger. It was love at first sight. I quickly clicked over to her photography portfolio and was so inspired by her photo essay Nearly Lost that I had to share!

You can find more photos from the set here.

Vintage Industrial Americana | The Priory

2011-12-23T11:35:00.000-08:00

I wanted to introduce to you a new etsy shop called The Priory which blends industrial vintage, World War II memorabilia, and Americana all into one. My favorite piece (which is sold out) is this 1920s wooden toolbox.

The Priory has a lot of fantastic little storage bins and boxes for all your pretty what nots like these vintage barn feed bins and vintage handy andy storage box.

Adventures in Re-Branding Adorevintage

2011-12-22T18:45:00.000-08:00

Life has definitely been crazy this year. And as the year draws to a close I have to take this moment to reflect and recap on the big changes I went through for 2011. Well, I'm not going to recap it here, I'll just skip to the whole point of this post which is the rebranding of Adorevintage, my vintage shop.

Many years ago (well ok, not that long ago) I started Adorevintage because I was running out of closet space and I started on Ebay. Throughout the years I thought it was a good idea to brand AV like it was a bigger company and most people would be so surprised it was only little old me doing everything for the shop. And to this day it STILL is ONLY me. So, I thought, ok...I need to rethink a few things. Not to mention life threw me quite a few curve balls this year and in heart, mind, and body I could not focus on Adorevintage.

So now, that things feel more settled, my feet aren't so shaky to stand on... I can finally focus back on my passion and love for vintage. I definitely will be more true to what Adorevintage is...a vintage clothing shop run by a young woman who is crazy about vintage clothing. Not a corporation, not a business with lots of interns and people doing everything for her... it's a mom and pop without the Mom or the Pop. :) What would you call that?

So above... is the new brand/look inspiration board for Adorevintage. You can already see some of it in action on my blog... but the new site design as well as any media I will be doing will be brand focused. A lot of my inspiration came from this amazing design blog Pugly Pixel. I feel so much more sure about my place in life right now.

What a fantastic feeling to have going into the New Year!

10 Vintage Christmas Holiday Cards

2011-12-21T18:00:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how quickly this year went by! Or the month of December for that matter, it's only 4 more days for Christmas! I've been so busy with everything this year I didn't even get a chance to send out Christmas cards, oh dear, maybe next year... *le sigh* I wanted to send out vintage Christmas cards, I found a few at a couple different antique malls, but like I said, didn't get around to it.

Anyhow, to make up for it, I wanted to share these really sweet vintage Christmas and holiday cards I spotted on flickr. Vintage cards are just so cute, don't you think? And some are terribly cheesy which I like. I hope you like these vintage Christmas cards!

credits // one | two | three | four | five | six | seven | eight | nine | ten

A Vintage Inspired Wedding Brunch

2011-12-20T13:40:00.000-08:00

I spotted these beautiful wedding brunch photos from a wedding florist website and unfortunately I cannot locate the original location (when I do find it I'll update this post, but if anyone else knows please feel free to share!)

I adore cream and white linens and pretty vintage inspired dinnerware. This wedding table setting is so lovely and pretty and can work for any formal brunch or dinner. Just add a few touches of color to make it less wedding themed. :)

Vintage Shop Love: Revolving Styles Vintage

2011-12-07T14:48:00.001-08:00

Oh goodness me, there are so many cute vintage clothes and accessories to be found at Revolving Styles Vintage... Anna has a vintage collection with a little bit of something for everyone like sparkly party dresses, beaded tapestry bags, art deco inspired jewelry... Here are a few of my favorite vintage pieces from Revolving Styles Vintage.

1.] This vintage 1950s beaded sweater is so sweet, I love the greens. If I were headed to Ireland any time soon I would definitely be packing this in my suitcase. { buy it }

2.] This vintage 1960s cocktail dress has sweet little ruffles on the sleeves and hem, such a darling dress for a holiday party! { buy it }

3.] Usually I prefer more feminine vintage handbags, but this 1960s mod bag really caught my eye, I love the colors. { buy it }

4.] I don't wear jewelry often, but when I do it's usually a statement making ring. This vintage filigree ring dates to the 1940s from Germany, love! { buy it }

- - -
You can find out more about the owner Anna and her vintage shop on her blog, facebook, or follow Revolving Styles on twitter.

Runway Report: A Détacher Spring 2012

2011-12-06T11:31:00.001-08:00

I love when modern clothing has a vintage appeal and the A Détacher Spring 2012 RTW collection by Mona Kowalska certainly had a vintage inspired look, but very modern too. I love what Maya Singer had to say about the collection... "There's generally nothing coy in her covered-up looks, and nothing risqué about them when they're revealing"

The collection used vintage scarf patterns for the prints, I'm wondering if that's what the lovely polka dots are based off of. I love the color palette, but then again I'm very partial to the color grey blended with subdued tones. The accessories are so clever too, the skinny belts and little harnesses especially. Although, I doubt I could ever pull off a harness! Which is your favorite look?

Adorevintage Places to Go: Wertz Brothers Antiques in Santa Monica

2011-12-01T23:12:00.000-08:00

I meant to share these photos from my quick trip to Wertz Brothers Antique Mall much sooner... but it's a bit of an understatement how far behind I am on "work"... in due time. One day at a time.

Wertz Brothers has one of the most well curated collection of antiques I've ever seen. At a very pretty penny. It's where I got my vintage Wolf dress form about a year and a half ago. Hmm... how times have changed. Anyhow... if you are in search of a vintage dress form, then Wertz Brothers is the place to go. They run about $450-$800. If you're lucky one of the booth vendors might be having a sale. It's how I got mine for a little under $390. *le sigh* But she was so worth it!

There are quite a number of vintage dress forms at this antique mall. Wold dress forms, PGM, a couple Acme forms. I'm still in search of a size 0 form, but no luck yet!

I can honestly spend HOURS here, but I mostly go there for vintage design and decorating ideas. I love the mix of industrial with shabby chic and French frou frou. I think that pretty much sums up the decorating phase I'm in right now. This weekend I think is the Irvine Flea market, so I'll probably head out on Sunday bright and early to see what wares I'll find.

Shop Information:
Wertz Brothers Antique Mall
1607 Lincoln Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 452-1800
Mon - Sat: 10 to 6 • Sun: 12 - 6

Vintage Shop Update

2011-11-29T08:28:00.001-08:00

The main shop is taking a breather for right now. I'm having a difficult time with getting the new site exactly as I want it to look, so instead of hoarding all the vintage goodies I've been saving for a big update, I decided I'll update the Adorevintage etsy shop as things move forward. As my dear friend Esther Jean says "It'll all flow darling."

{ click on image to view listing }

Lots more coming soon! Most of the vintage I'll be listing in the shop are 1950s and earlier. I really want to curate only the best of the best for vintage, just really beautiful special things you will keep and treasure and pass on to your children sort of vintage. ^_^

What I Wore: Rainy Sunday Antiquing

2011-11-20T19:03:00.001-08:00

This morning we ventured bright and early to the Long Beach Flea Market and unfortunately got rained heavily on. But, we did see a few of our booth regulars and was happy to run into the ever so sweet, Rose from The Tarnished Crown. She makes these lovely pillows with scented sachets of lavender. Mmmm.

So, since it poured down rain, we headed over to our favorite antique malls instead and met up with a friend traveling from Australia. The rain stopped for a bit and I got these little snaps of the garden area at Country Roads in Orange. It's such an inspiring antique mall and pretty close to a darling vintage shop, Elsewhere Vintage, where I've picked up a few vintage treasures. So, here we go, to the outfit snaps...

What I Wore:
Top: American Apparel over a vintage 1940s slip
Skirt: Vintage from Wasteland
Bag: Vintage
Trench Coat: Vintage
Straw Hat: Vintage, I love this hat. I lost it for awhile and it reappeared back in my life (it somehow ended up in the back of my storage closet!) and now we're best friends again!

I really love Sundays. (Saturday I'm almost always working on things for Adorevintage, then Monday it's back to the grind.) So, in Southern California, there is a flea market going on EVERY SINGLE SUNDAY of the month whether it be the Pasadena Rose Bowl (wayyy too expensive), Long Beach, Irvine, Fairfax Trading Post, or the Santa Monica Airport...so needless to say, I'm at a flea market every Sunday. I can drop money on antiques like that, but today I was good. Well, mostly because rainy days don't really make me feel like carrying around a bunch of stuff, AND I'm determined to stick to a budget. *grumble grumble*

So if I'm not at a flea market on a Sunday I'm perusing some random Antique Mall... well lately I've been going to them a lot to get decorating inspirations... a couple quick pictures from Wertz Brothers Antiques on my visit on Saturday. I'll have to share more pictures of this amazing antique mall in a separate post, it's my second favorite place to shop for industrial, shabby chic, and French inspired finds.

Photographs by moi. Feel free to share, but I would appreciate a link back ^_^.

Vintage Hats in Detail (Pre 1950s Edition)

2011-11-19T09:07:00.000-08:00

Vintage 1920s Straw Cloche Hat
I adore this vintage 1920s straw cloche hat so much, but sadly it's a bit too big for my head. Well, actually I'm not sure if it's too big, I know cloche hats were somewhat suppose to obstruct your view, weren't they? I love this particular one so much because it's just so sweet and innocent looking. You could wear it with a little vintage lace ecru dress and pretty Victorian inspired brown boots and be on your merry way to brunch at a cute cafe. - This vintage hat will be available soon in the "new" vintage shop.

Vintage Edwardian Velvet Hat with Feather Detail
When I first spotted this antique Edwardian hat I immediately thought of the BBC show Downton Abbey. It's just so precious and the deep indigo purple color is so rich and highlighted with the peachy orange decor and the little feathers. I adore it! The back of it has a pinched detail, but sorry, I didn't photograph that yet. This vintage hat will be available soon!

Vintage 1940s Straw Cone Hat with Silken Flowers
I was so excited when I chanced upon this adorable vintage 1940s cone hat. It reminds me so much of hat designs by the fabulous milliner Sally Victor. The millinery flowers on this straw cone shaped hat are just so lovely and I love how muted the colors have become. A perfect little Autumn topper, don't you think?

Vintage 1940s Red Straw Floral Tilt Hat
Red is one of my favorite colors, but then again I like so very many colors. (Although grey, cream, and pale pink are probably my absolute favorites always). This vintage 1940s tilt hat would be so fabulous paired with "kiss-me-now" red lipstick. BTW, if you want to please read my article on how to choose the right red lipstick. I love the little red flowers circling the top. Wouldn't this look smashing atop glossy curls or 1940s victory rolls?

Vintage 1930s Spring Floppy Sheer Straw Hat
Oh goodness me, this vintage 1930s straw hat is probably one of my most favorite I've ever come across. It is so incredibly feminine and so glamorous all at the same time! The pale blue velvet ribbon is just that perfect shade of blue and don't even get my started on the clusters of white flowers and greenery! The best thing about this vintage hat is that the natural sun fading on it has made the color the most lovely pale pink, there's something so French country side about it, wouldn't you agree? I just have visions of this hat being worn with a Spring floral printed 1930s bias cut dress and driving through the countryside and having a picnic. I'll have to post this gorgeous fashion editorial I saw once (I think it was in Italian Vogue) and the clothes and hats were so beautiful!

All these vintage hats will soon be available in my vintage shop, but if you'd like to see other vintage hats I have for sale, please do visit them here.

Western Union: Lauren Bush and David Lauren Tie the Knot for VOGUE

2011-11-17T08:20:00.001-08:00

I love weddings, especially weddings that evoke that rustic vintage wedding feel. When I saw these gorgeous wedding photos of Lauren Bush and David Lauren posted on facebook since I started following Vogue, my heart did a little dance. The photo of Lauren Bush in the horse drawn carriage, oh goodness, how romantic! And the scenery... so beautiful! I wish there were more pictures from their wedding, maybe they'll turn up later on... but for now, here are a few wedding photos shot by Norma Jean Roy the couple shot with VOGUE aptly titled "Western Union".

Lauren Bush described her wedding as "rustic elegance" which is so fitting! The couple were married at David Lauren's 17,000-acre Double RL ranch in Ridgway, Colorado. (Oh, in case you haven't figured it out by now, David Lauren is Ralph Lauren's son...)

Here are some snippets from Vogue.com about Lauren Bush's experience with her wedding dress custom made for her by Ralph Lauren.

Lauren's Wedding Dress: "It was like a dream come true. We sat together and arrived at this silhouette. It isn’t Victorian exactly. I wanted something modern as well, so there is the high-necked collar and puffed shoulders with the large open back.” Made of richly embellished fabrics, the dress’s top layer is featherweight tulle in antique ivory. Some 100 craftspeople spent more than 3,000 hours hand-embroidering the tulle with delicate motifs of small flowers and Renaissance-era scroll designs in ivory silk and metallic thread, Swarovski Elements crystals, and off-white pearl beads."

The Wedding Flowers: "Wild roses, lily of the valley, Queen Anne’s lace, and delicate gardenias."

Image Sources: Vogue

Fairy Tale Inspired Clothes by Antonio Marras

2011-11-15T11:47:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I don't really follow current fashion trends and I'm sure you other ladies that are into vintage probably don't give a lot of figs about what's hot right now either... so anyhow, where I'm going with this, is that I was over at the Fashionspot and came upon a thread in the "trendspotting" forum entitled Is Downton Abbey Sparking a Trend for Early 20th Century Fashions... and was introduced to the Italian fashion designer Antonio Marras and instantly I was in love love love. I'm highlighting some of my absolute favorite vintage fairy tale inspired clothes from his Spring 2010 Ready To Wear collection... j'adore!

Don't you just adore everything?! The soft romantic colors, the pretty floral prints, the subdued pastels, those little stockings with ruffles?! If Marie Antoinette was a modern day fashion blogger she'd totally rock these looks. ^_^

Image credits: NY Mag

Adore Vintage on Instagram: Moments Captured on Camera

2011-11-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

A friend of mine introduced me to Instagram a few months ago and I honestly didn't understand that it was a social sharing photo medium. I'm still trying to get the hang of it, but honesty there are so many social media outlets out there I can't keep up with all of them. But, I do love Instagram so much! Love that my photos instantly get that dreamy vintage touch with a touch of a button. So... without further ado... Adorevintage on Instagram.

{ click on image to enlarge }

1.] My "new" vintage industrial work bench used as a desk + "new" industrial stool.
2.] A growing collection of vintage brooches that will be available at my vintage clothing store soon!
3.] My favorite breakfast of rosemary bread, chocolate spread, French berry jam...and a vintage book from the library
4.] A Coca-Cola break during the afternoon when I moved *almost* all my vintage goodies into my new work studio
5.] My roommate's little vintage bride and groom wedding cake toppers. I adore these little people!
6.] A vintage Acme dress form I purchased at the Long Beach flea market
7.] Sometimes I like to get crafty. Made this twig ball with flowers, silk ribbons, birds, butterflies, and bows... it now hangs from my ceiling
8.] A pretty mess of beautiful antique treasures picked and found...
9.] I so adore snacking on macarons! These are from Lette Macarons on Larchmont Boulevard... the pink striped one was "rose petal" and it was delicious!

Do you have Insta.gram? Let's follow each other. Find me under "adorevintage" ^_^ Happy snapping!

Vintage Catalog Scans from Eaton's 1920s Fashion Catalog

2011-11-13T21:02:00.000-08:00

My heart did go all a flutter upon seeing these most exquisite antique blouses in this vintage catalog scans from Eaton's 1920-1921. Don't you wish you could just wave a magic wand over these pages and the actual garments would show up in front of you. (Obviously you wish this too, LOL, who wouldn't?!)

{ click to view larger }

Image credits: Charmrmaine Zoe - Vintage Eaton Catalog Scans

What is Vintage Millinery + an Introduction to the Queen of Millinery, Sally Victor

2011-11-06T19:49:00.000-08:00

In the world of vintage I think it is always important to learn as much as possible about it. And today I wanted to spend some time talking about what exactly vintage millinery is as in the past I always confused it with hat making. What brought about these ponderings was a meet-n-greet with this lovely 1940s cage hat adorned with cherries and berries and little Autumn flowers and I thought how lovely would that be for the holidays... but unfortunately the vintage hat was not for sale. Oh the sadness! So then I proceeded to thinking perhaps I can just recreate something similar and did a little bit of research for millinery supplies, but I have yet to come across those adorable little cherries and berries.

{ image source }
Anyhow, without further ado...

What is Millinery? In the most simplest of definitions, millinery refers to hat dressing or designing hats. Sometimes it can mean the manufacturing of hats, but for the most part millinery refers to designing hats.

One of the most famous American milliners is Sally Victor whose vintage hats are showcased at the The Metropolitan Museum of Art. These two vintage Sally Victor hats from the 1930s are my favorites! J'adore!!!

Sally Victor was born in Scranton, PA on Feb 23, 1905. She studied art in Paris for a couple of years and sewed and designed her own clothes from the age of 14. What started her millinery career was being a hat buyer for Macy's in New York City. When she got a job at L. Bamberger & Co., she met her future husband, Sergiu Victor, a hat manufacturer. Eventually she became so successful as hat designer that Sergiu closed down his hat manufacturing company to join her in her millinery adventures. And what a wonderfully beautiful journey it was!

A photo of milliner, Sally Victor, inspecting a straw hat surrounded by vintage millinery supplies.

A vintage advertisement for Whitman's Chocolate featuring a rose adorned vintage hat by Sally Victor.

There is a fantastic little read and preview photos of the hat exhibition at the Brooklyn Museum Sally Victor: Mad Hatter. I'm hoping to dwelve a little bit into hat designing, small steps, baby steps. I can't even find the proper millinery supplies!

Vintage Shop Love: Purple Deer Vintage

2011-11-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

There are so many lovely vintage dresses, vintage handbags, and pretty little vintage hats I would love to add to my vintage closet from Purple Deer Vintage. There's this one super rare 1950s horse head novelty wicker vintage bag that I just squeal with delight over. Purple Deer Vintage is based out of Sacramento, California and curates a collection of pretty floral frocks, tapestry and needlepoint bags, and has vintage spanning from the 1950s to the 1980s with a few pieces from the 1930s and 1940s. Below are just a few of my favorites!

Vintage Young Edwardian Jumper Dress // $78
Vintage Silk 1930s Blouse with Birds // $70
Vintage 1970s Autumn Feather Hat // $38

To find out more about Purple Deer Vintage, check out their blog or visit their Etsy shop Purple Deer Vintage!

Vintage Work Studio and Office Inspirations

2011-11-01T23:01:00.000-07:00

I had a lovely talk with my new roomie today about life, love, and business. We chatted casually about the ins and outs of our life among bolts of ecru lace, vintage inspired fabrics, pink maribou feathers, and other sorts of fancies. Amongst other topics we also talked about what we're going to do with our new space. Shall we divide up the studio or mix everything in together. Luckily my roomie, Esther Jean and I have very similar aesthetics. Esther Jean designs the most beautiful vintage inspired dresses and accessories so naturally we share a love for vintage inspired interiors. A little shabby chic, a little industrial, a bit of French, and definitely a whole lot of pretty.

I just purchased an industrial work bench just like the one pictured here but in an eggshell cream color with a little drawer on one side. For the shelves I got these large wooden bins that came from an old barn in Pennsylvania.

I will definitely have large blooms around the studio. I love fresh flowers.

So excited to get a mood board going! My roomie and I are planning on doing a large scale mood board for all of our different ideas. The first time I met Miss Esther in her apartment I was so amazed by her mood board in her apartment as it took up nearly an entire wall and had been a 2 year project.

Can I confess that I am so excited to color code the vintage dresses on garment racks!

So this weekend is my official move-in weekend. Technically suppose to move in during the week, but the walls need to be repainted. There's so much to be done... but if I can set up an apartment and get it all pretty for Apartment Therapy in less than 2 weeks... I can set up a work studio in less time. Very excited.

P.S. - I sincerely appreciate the comments left on my blog post below. I don't want to sound sappy... but I teared up reading your comments. Thank you so much, really, for the love and support. I feel like the internet is a place where we get to know people and follow their lives but never really get to know them, so when I receive such personal comments I'm so touched.

10 Vintage Inspirations + A Bit of a Confession

2011-10-28T20:28:00.000-07:00

I am in almost disbelief that October is coming to a close and November is upon us and pretty soon the arrival of a New Year. I won't get too mushy-gushy overly emotional on you ladies and gents (if the latter does read this), but I feel like I've been holding on to something so long and just a small part of me wants to kind of let some of it go.

So, this year has had its series of ups and downs to say the least. I never thought I'd ever join the ranks of divorcees, but yeah... I'm pretty private when it comes to my personal life and I tend to always post about happy, fluffy things on my blog...which is how I think it should be, this blog isn't meant to be a place for me to vent, but rather a place for others who are crazy about vintage like me to gather inspiration and knowledge.

Anyhow, I've tried to keep the peace as much as possible. So... there you have it. I'm 28, a divorcee, and going through a huge transition phase in my life. *le sigh*

I find it a bit ironic that many of my inspirations are kind of vintage wedding inspired... I just love pretty, flowery, happy things. And aren't weddings all of the above? And after all, despite everything, I still believe in Happily Ever Afters.

Image Sources: Adorevintage on Pinterest

Vintage Adventures at the Long Beach Antique Flea Market

2011-10-25T11:42:00.000-07:00

The Long Beach Antique Market is one of my favorite hunting grounds for shabby chic, industrial, and vintage treasues for my apartment. I spied with my little eye (and my camera) a variety of antique medals with silk grosgrain ribbons that had the loveliest colors, I had to snap some photos! I did end up purchasing a few industrial bins and drawers and an industrial work bench for my eventual *crosses fingers* work studio.

If you'd like to visit the Long Beach Antique Flea Market, it's every 3rd Sunday of the month, and if there is a 5th Sunday (which this month there is!) they do a SUPER SALE! I've never been to a Super Sale before so wondering if it's worth checking out... are there tons of vintage bargains to be found?! To check out when the next flea market day is in Long Beach, check out their Schedule

Vintage Shop Love: Mod Human Vintage

2011-10-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

If you're on the hunt for that perfect little vintage purse or handbag, look no further! The selection at Mod Human Vintage, an Atlanta based vintage clothing shop, is well curated and so easy on the eyes (and on the coin purse!) But this vintage shop has so much more than just darling 50s and 60s handbags, there are vintage coats, pretty patent loafers, ladylike vintage cardigans... just take a look for yourself, I promise you'll adore it! But first, here are some of my personal vintage favorites from the shop!

vintage 1960s tweed + wool plaid coat $64.99 /
vintage 1905s bermuda style handbag $24.99
vintage 1950s slingback heels $34.99

To find out more about Mod Human Vintage check out their blog and follow them on twitter. Oh, goodness... I wish those little 1950s floral slingbacks weren't so gosh darn tiny! (Size 5.5 for you lucky Cinderella's out there). They would definitely be in my closet if they were my size, such a bargan at less than $40!

Vintage Shop Love: Fanciness Vintage

2011-10-19T09:15:00.000-07:00

I am so smitten by the gorgeous vintage 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s shoes currently available at Fanciness Vintage The 1940s dark brown velvet peep toe pumps... don't even get me started! The curled details on the uppers just makes me dream of thick dark chocolate shavings atop a decadent chocolate mousse. Fanciness Vintage is based out of the sunshine state and you can view cute outfits and other adventures of Fanciness Vintage at their blog. But... for now, let's get to those vintage shoes!

vintage 1940s shoes $138 // vintage 1930s heels $78
vintage 1930s peep toe heels $158 // vintage 1920s mary janes $128

To find out more about Fanciness Vintage, be sure to visit their lovely blog and check them out on facebook.

The Vintage Closet, When Vintage Takes Over! (and other news...)

2011-10-18T07:46:00.000-07:00

Trying to reorganize one's life is much harder than reorganizing a closet. And I must admit, I do enjoy organizing closets so very much. Mine in particular was getting quite crazy and sometimes when certain things are perplexing me, it helps to have a little place of solace. In my world, that's my closet which is filled with pretty vintage tops, frilly vintage dresses, and other things I fancy.

Here is the "Before" photo... kind of a crazy mess.

And here it is "After" Ahh... how clean and lovely!

So, in other news... still waiting to hear about the BIG news. I'm crossing my fingers, my toes, my eyes... haha. I'm basically waiting to hear back if I'll be getting a creative work space soon in the fashion district in downtown LA! It just so happens that one of my good friends shares a studio with one of her friends (also a vintage seller) and that friend is waiting to hear if she was approved for a brick + mortar and if the answer is yes then that means that soon I'll finally have a studio to work out of and will no longer have to work in my tiny little apartment (which the past couple months has really proven to be difficult!)

Wow, sorry for that gigantic run on sentence!

Anyhow, having a studio space means so many many wonderful things! We'll have a place to shoot product photos that I won't have to dismantle every time. I'll have a shipping station, things will be much more organized and more functional for work. Working out of a 450 square foot apartment and using the kitchen counters as a shipping station (and pantry as storage) isn't exactly ideal...

Needless to say I'm on pins and needles waiting if it's "yes" or "no" as a few other things are pending on this answer. (More on that later...I don't want to put all my eggs in one basket!) But on an end note, here are some more closet photos...

Vintage Inspired Interiors: I Loft You So Much!

2011-10-13T23:12:00.000-07:00

Exposed brick walls, warehouse windows, bare concrete floors, high ceilings, downtown city views... ahh the dream of loft living. A nice big open space with plenty of natural light spilling into all the corners, a mix of French antique and Americana industrial... I can only dream of it at the moment, but day by day wishful thinking will become reality.

Well, at least I've got the vintage Wolf dress form already. ^_^ But in all honesty though, I'm putting it out there. Thinking positive thoughts and filling my life with positive and good things. I think my apartment is ready for a new shift. Maybe less Frenchy antique fair... ok, not less Frenchy-French since I adore it so, but perhaps I just need to inject a few more masculine pieces. Something more industrial, more vintage Americana, a little rusty, worn in, solid structures, less frou frou... My vintage apartment is without a doubt very frou frou. Maybe I should get a "new" desk... something like this industrial looking one here. Time to troll Craigslist!

10 Autumn and Fall Wedding Inspirations

2011-10-11T07:18:00.000-07:00

This past weekend while hunting for antique treasures around Southern California, I got to visit Oak Glen which is nestled up in apple orchard covered hills and has lots of nostalgic little shops and cute little booths. Some of it was kind of cheesy, but I like those sort of things. Unfortunately apple picking was closed because of a freeze and there weren't enough apples... but being around all that cider, apple pie, cinnamon dusted pastries... Autumn was in the air. Later that evening I attended a friend's wedding at a ranch and everything was just so lovely. I do love weddings so much, so here is an inspiration wedding post particularly all about Fall and Autumn weddings!

Barn wedding in Oregon // source

Onota Lake Wedding // source

Autumn bride inspiration // source

Autumn inspired wedding aisle // source

Autumn florals for a wedding // source

Autumn wedding table inspiration // source

Rustic autumn wedding // source

A most magical forest for an Autumn wedding // source

Autumn wedding cake inspiration // source

Autumn barn wedding tables and florals // source

Vintage Shop Love: Salvage Life

2011-10-03T17:23:00.000-07:00

I adore everything at Salvage Life, all the vintage selections are adorable and completely wearable. The owner, Beth Giles, does a fantastic job of curating totally cute and totally wearable vintage clothing. There is so much to choose from I couldn't pick just one favorite item! This vintage skirt is so adorable for Autumn! Can't you picture it being worn with knit tights and a lightweight sweater top tucked into the skirt or maybe a pretty secretary blouse with a cardigan. J'adore! Honestly, if it were my size (it's a Medium) I would have snapped it up on a second! I also love this vintage tooled leather bag, don't they pair so well together?

Vintage Striped Skirt $48 // Vintage Tooled Leather Bag $120

Salvage Life has an actual boutique as well, so if you're in Long Beach, be sure to make an appointment to visit the adorable little shop! To find out more about Salvage Life check out their blog stock full of vintage inspirations, and of course check out Salvage Life vintage shop on Etsy!

Vintage Inspired Editorial: La Petite by Mason Poole // Jalouse July/August 2011

2011-10-02T18:15:00.000-07:00

I am so in love with this fashion editorial with the gorgeous Hailey Gates photographed by Mason Poole for Jalouse magazine July/August issue. The editorial very much reminds me of Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby The gorgeous lighting, the lace, the lovely straw summer hats and floral prints...j'adore! J'adore!

{ click on images for full view }

Image sources: The Fashion Spot

Adorevintage at A Current Affair Vintage Marketplace Pop-Up Event Los Angeles

2011-09-26T21:34:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I was lucky enough to be one of the vendors at A Current Affair, a vintage pop-up marketplace held at the penthouse of the Cooper Building. The two day event started on Saturday afternoon and stylish guys and gals shopped, gabbed, and drank into the evening. I had SUCH A BLAST! Even a few celebrities passed on through and I was able to brush shoulders (and have short conversations) with the likes of Marisa Tomei and Nora Zehetner (from Grey's Anatomy and Mad Men). I was cool as a cucumber on the outside, but inside I was as giddy as a little girl in a Unicorn shop!

Here are some instagram pics I snapped during the event. The next one is December 3rd and 4th, so if you're in LA or nearby, mark your calendars and be sure to check out A Current Affair!

I made friends with the other vendors by me since we took turns watching each other's booths when we needed bathroom breaks. Check out LUX Revival and Vutique, the shop owners are pretty kick ass people! The event was such a great place to meet new people, hear stories, and witness some really fabulous fashion! I had a 15 minute conversation with a gentleman who curates the Debbie Reynolds Hollywood Museum about Kathryn Grayso n and he seemed genuinely excited that I own two of her vintage dresses from her estate because he had a couple as well. Met the stylish gals from Fabulous on a Budget, the super sweet Heather from La Fashion Snob, the lady behind the camera and style inspiration blog HiStyley, and the ever sweet Kat of La Femme Vintage. It was just so nice to be around people that really appreciate, love, and kind of obsess over vintage like I do!

Vintage Shop Love: Rococo Vintage

2011-09-17T07:09:00.000-07:00

Be still my heart! I have died and gone to fairy tale cupcake vintage dress heaven! Seriously, this dress from Rococo Vintage is beyond amazing and befitting of a true modern day princess or perhaps someone with a penchant for pink sugared confections.

Where to Shop: 1950s Fairy Tale Dress // $324

Rococo Vintage always has such pretty little things. Vintage cocktail dresses with large blossoms showered throughout, little black dresses with pleats and ruffles to last you for a lifetime, and amazing 1940s numbers like this one that I would snap up to wear to a wedding (or to a movie, or to buy groceries, I'd wear the heck out of this dress!) if only it were my size!

To find out more about Rococo Vintage be sure to visit their blog (gorgeous imagery!) and visit their website Rococo Vintage

Pretty Things: What's Inspiring Us Today

2011-09-16T20:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy busy week my lovelies. Working on some new stuff for AV, slowly but surely! I'll be selling at "A Current Affair" next Saturday and Sunday so if you're in the LA area, be sure to come by and say hello! (More on the show later!)

I'll be combing the flea markets this weekend for industrial looking tables for the show. Hopefully I find some at a nice price (less $75... a girl can dream, no?)

The following images made me feel so happy and peaceful, I hope you're inspired by them too.

source

Vintage Outfit Post: Polka Dot Trousers + Black Basics

2011-09-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been a whirlwind! In a good way of course. On Friday I did a little antique shopping and treated myself to a pair of rhinestone and sapphire blue stud earrings ($10!). I wore them with a 1930s marigold gown I wore that evening. Marigold and sapphire look really good together, I must say. I did eye another pair of lovely dangly earrings in which the sweet lady behind the counter said "You've got excellent taste" with a little chuckle and proceeded to show me the most lovely pair of Miriam Haskell vintage earrings...at a mere price of $428. Le sigh. Sadly, my budget was closer to the $20 or less range...

Outfit Details:
Blouse: Vintage
Cardigan: Secondhand from Buffalo Exchange
Pants: Vintage from SLOW Vintage
Shoes: Beverly Feldman
Bag: Vintage from Adorevintage
Brooch: Vintage

You know, I have to say, I really appreciated this woman's attitude. Sometimes if I am a bit taken aback by how expensive something is a seller gets a little insulted. But if I'm taken aback it's not because I think you're overcharging, it's mostly because I'm trying to calculate inside my head how much work I need to do to afford said earrings and realizing I simply just cannot afford it at this time. Her reaction was a simple smile and a "Well, you'll look lovely in the sapphire earrings especially with it against your dark hair." I wanted to hug her. She was so sweet and genuine. I'll definitely be going back to the shop! I so wish I could remember the name, I had just wandered in randomly. I'll find it again and will share with you name and location of said antique shop!

Headed off to the Rose Bowl today, so hopefully I find some treasures! I had a small shoot yesterday so it was nice to get a bit of cash to bring to the flea market and not to mention it gives me a strict budget since I refuse to withdraw money and just have cash sitting idly in my wallet (I WILL spend it and won't realize how and when and where...) For now...au revoir!

Wedding Inspirations | Lovely Boutonnieres + What exactly is a Boutonniere?

2011-09-10T11:30:00.000-07:00

Coined by the French a "Boutonnière" is a little bit of floral flourish worn by men for special occasions on the lapel of their jackets. The British term for it is "Buttonhole" which (as immature as it sounds) I don't care for how that sounds at all. Boutonniere's used to be worn much more frequently by the likes of dashing Hollywood men such as Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra. Nowadays you usually only see men wearing boutonniere's at weddings (or proms for you young uns reading this).

{source}
How to Wear a Boutonniere: This is a fantastic post and a little history of the boutonniere on The Art of Manliness. "Great statesmen, warriors, and poets have worn flowers for over a millennium. Soldiers headed to war have proudly worn flowers on their chests, and here in the United States every January 1st two of college football’s best teams square off wearing roses on their uniforms."

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

{source}

Pretty Plated | 5 Vegeterian Recipes We Want To Try

2011-09-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

My stomach is grumbling in protest because unfortunately it is not being fed any of the delicious foods you are about to encounter on this page. I wanted to do a post on vegetarian recipes because to be quite honest I'm trying to motivate myself to eat better/healthier. I do try to cook a few times a week, not only is it healthier it's also cheaper. Can you imagine decades ago women cooked every meal every day?! Where did they have the time?

Anyhow, here are some deliciously yummy (and easy enough to try) vegeterian recipes found all over the interwebs. I think I might start doing one "meatless" day a week, maybe on Mondays. Meatless Mondays! If I really loved tofu I could do Tofu Tuesdays (or Thursday) but I don't love tofu. Haha. Happy cooking guys and dolls!

Vegeterian Mini Pizza della Sicilia // RECIPE: Green Kitchen Stories

How pretty are these mini pizzas? I'd probably only attempt one instead of one of each. Have to stay on budget and I can't be buying the entire veggie section at Trader Joe's!

Quinoa with Cherries, Feta, and Pepitas // RECIPE: Yummy Mummy Kitchen

Oh my gosh, my mouth is watering looking at how fresh this looks! I could probably do a big batch and have it for lunch for a few days. Mmm. With some garlic pita. Mmm...

Walnut Ricotta Cake with Orange Curd + Cream // RECIPE: Casa Yellow

I had to do a dessert, I have such a sweet tooth! This looks so delicious and on such a pretty plate too. This website has really lovely food photos.

Zucchini Blossom Fritters // RECIPE: The Parsley Thief

Vegetables always taste better when fried to golden perfection. Haha, I know I'm trying to be healthy, but at the moment my vegetable of choice is French Fries. Why are fried vegetables so darn good?!

Veggie Paella with Saffron + Orange // RECIPE: Veggie Num Num

I LOVE paella! I can't wait to try this recipe! Too bad saffron is kind of pricey... :( so this recipe might have to wait.

Vintage Shop Love: Dear Golden Vintage

2011-09-09T09:30:00.000-07:00

I'm perusing through the beautiful vintage wares at Dear Golden and I've come across this most darling little mustard yellow Curry A Favor dress and I'm trying to convince myself on why I have to have this dress. Oh, could it be the pleating on the bodice? Perhaps that ridiculously lovely topaz gemstone belt?

Where to Buy: Vintage 1950s Curry A Favor Dress // $264

Or perhaps its because it's exactly my size and I have an Autumn wedding to attend and this dress would be oh so darling and well, I know I already have a mustard yellow dress as an option, but it's okay to have another dress of the same color and besides you can never have too many choices, you know just in case... *le sigh* Well my vintage dears, I won't be purchasing it too soon (mailbox this morning had two lovely utility bills, thanks life!) and I'm sure someone will purchase it soon enough seeing as how the vintage lovelies at Dear Golden fly off the shelves in a blink of an eye. If you haven't wandered over to the online shop on Etsy, I highly recommend you do! Any vintage aficionado is bound to find something to love and covet.

To find out more about Dear Golden Vintage... be sure to check out their lovely vintage blog and of course the well curated vintage selections in their vintage shop.

Vintage Inspired Fashion Editorial: Two for the Road by Will Davidson // Harper's Bazaar Australia September 2011

2011-09-08T16:30:00.000-07:00

It's a 1940s vintage inspired love story featuring model Kendra Spears and Aussie actor Ben Mendelsohn. The fashion editorial features Miu Miu, Prada, Gucci, and many actual vintage pieces! I love when stylists use authentic vintage in photoshoots! This shoot was photographed by Will Davidson and styled by Jillian Davison for Harper's Bazaar Australia. Original post where I got the photos is via Dust Jacket Attic.

100 Years Ago: A Collection of Vintage Victorian Photographs

2011-09-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Really old vintage photos from the late 1800s are so beautiful and creepy at the same time. Here are some rather peculiar and lovely Victorian photographs I wanted to share with you. Guess which of these I find the creepiest? If you guessed the thin girl in the 5th photo, you're right! She looks downright scary!

Two Victorian ladies with festive hats // { source}

Dressed to the nines // { source} | Tambourine Girl // {source}

Brothers & Sisters // {source}

Someone looks a bit angry (and scary) // {source}

I love how she's faded off to the side, the photo looks like a faded memory // {source}

Remember that fun day we had in the field //{source}

A family of cyclists // {source}

Creepy looking children // {source} Stella // {source}

Charlotte in 1890 // {source}

Shall I read to you // {source}

Granma Van Vuuren and her Six children // {source}

Vintage Outfit Post: Vintage Silk Scarf + 1960s Pencil Skirt

2011-09-06T15:02:00.000-07:00

I was greatly anticipating some news this morning and I've just received it and all is good to go. I was telling my friend the other day that there's a fresh new breeze sweeping through California and changes are a comin' and a comin' they are! This piece of news actually means I'll be working less for Adorevintage, but not to worry lovelies, I'll still be around and actually will get to focus on my true love for vintage instead of just "working" with vintage. Oui! Oui! I am so very excited!

Outfit Details:
Blouse: H&M
Skirt: Vintage 1960s
Clutch: Vintage 1940s
Scarf: Vintage from Melrose Trading Post
Shoes: Beverly Feldman

*oops sorry for the slip showing in the shoe photo, how embarrassing

Today is my dear friend's Scott Laytart's birthday. You've seen his work posted on the blog before as he often photographs many of the lovely editorials for Adorevintage. Hopefully he'll be up for drinks and appetizers at TART. It's such a cute little restaurant and the food is amazing! Then it's movie night, going to go see the new Anne Hatheway movie "One Day". I hope it's not a tear jerker, but I kind of read it was. But before all this I'm finally going to catch up with my "adopted" older sister for coffee and cakes at Susina. And of course it's beautiful outside... this day is awesome. Yippie!

Life is really good right now. I'm so blessed and so happy.

Vintage Inspired Engagement: Stacie + Geoff Papillons and Summery Fields

2011-09-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Oh my gosh, can my heart just melt now please? Seriously, this engagement session is just so sweet and lovely! From her pretty vintage inspired blouse, the braid in her hair, his plaid and gingham shirts paired with suspenders... I'm melting! Oh, and did I mention the vintage wicker picnic basket? Ahhhh! (btw, totally dorky, but I have the same exact Sound of Music record, thought you might like to know ^_^)

The adorable Stacie and Geoff were photographed by Sloan Photographers based out of Orange County, CA and while this engagement session was shot a couple years back, it still holds a lot of vintage inspired goodness!

Okay, and just because I'm so inspired by this engagement session and what they're wearing... I thought I'd add a little outfit inspiration...

Engagement Outfit: For shopping details for this outfit please go here and view on Polyvore.

Pretty Things | What's Inspiring Us Today

2011-09-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Happy Labor Day everyone! Here are some pretty vintage inspired images for your Monday. Hope you all have a good day!

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

{ source }

Sponsorship + Advertising on Adorevintage Vintage Blog

2011-09-05T07:00:00.000-07:00

I am now offering sponsorship opportunities on the Adorevintage blog! The AV blog is one of the top vintage blogs on Google, ranking in the top 3 for "vintage blog" (#3) and "vintage clothing blog" (#2) search engine results.

Sponsorship will be a great way to get exposure for your vintage clothing shop, blog, and small businesses to a targeted vintage market. But I don't want to just have your banner ad on the side of my blog, I really truly want to help small businesses find their niche and reach new people, other gals who love and adore vintage as much as you! I don't want you to just have a little banner that someone may or may not click on if it's attractive enough, I want visitors to the AV blog to genuinely adore our sponsors too and care about what they have to say and love what they have to offer.

BLOG STATISTICS
According to Google Analytics the Adorevintage Vintage Clothing + Fashion Blog receives...

- 17,000 visitors a month
- 34,000 page views a month
- top countries are United States, United Kingdom, and Australia

We have over 2,500 Facebook Fans, over 1,900 Twitter followers, and over 2,300 subscribed readers and growing daily (yay!). Our blog readers are mostly female who love vintage, fashion, art, interior design, and all things pretty and lovely.

SPONSORSHIP DETAILS
We are happy to offer "a la carte" sponsorship in which you can choose which sponsorship package you would like that works best for your budget. Sometimes you want to try out sponsorship and see if business increases (as a vintage shop owner, we totally get it!). ALL of our sponsors will be featured in a short "Sponsor Spotlight" blog post! Read below for sponsorship "a la carte" options.

CHOOSE AN AD SIZE

SIZE A: 200 x 130 $35/month or $90/3 months - rotated weekly
SIZE B: 200 x 70 $25/month or $60/3 months - rotated monthly

A LA CARTE OPTIONS

Share on Twitter - Share 5 items with our Twitter followers from your shop - $5
Share on Twitter + Facebook - Share 5 items with our Facebook fans AND Twitter followers - $10
Share on Twitter, Facebook, + Pinterest - Share 5 items with our Facebook fans, Twitter followers, AND Pinterest followers - $12

YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A SPONSOR FOR THESE A LA CARTE OPTIONS! Just send us a quick e-mail and let us know which options you would like. We want to share vintage and our love for it with everyone!

PAYMENTS + PLACEMENT
All payments processed through Paypal. Please contact us with your sponsorship selections and we will send you an invoice. Upon receipt of payment and your advertisement banner we will post your ad within 24 hours. If you purchase more than 1 month of sponsorship we are more than happy to switch out your ad graphics to keep everything fresh and new.

If you have any questions feel free to email or post a comment!

Sunday Pastries + Adventures at the Melrose Trading Post

2011-09-04T20:08:00.000-07:00

September is a really beautiful month in California and today was just as lovely as yesterday. I wasn't feeling too well yesterday so aside from going to the gym for an astonishing 17 mins (gotta keep those hips trim! HAHA) I stayed indoors.

EARLY MORNING: Mended the vintage dress I'm wearing in the photos as when I originally got it there was a seam at the waist that needed some stitching up. Pastries and coffee at Paris Baguette followed. Pineapple custard was my choice and hazelnut coffee with plenty of half and half and splenda.

Then it was off the Melrose Trading Post.

Oy vey, I went to one booth and this one guy was a royal douche. Here I am merrily browsing his wares. He looks bored to death. It's only about 9 in the morning, much too early to look bored as the flea market is open until 4 PM I believe. He says to me (but not looking at me) "All that stuff on that rack is very expensive because it's designer."

I smile and say "Okay, thank you" and continue to thumb through dresses and coats. I pick up a black and white chiffon polka dot number which is heavily soiled with stains and has a tear in one of the pleats. I figure I could get these stains out and the tear I could fix. I ask "How much?"

"$100."

"Oh wow, really? But it's stained and there's a tear right here."

"I told you this was a designer rack." (I look at the label at this point, can't recognize the maker)

WELL SORRY I ASKED! I put back the dress and he mutters something under his breath. And I nearly lost it! I spun back on my heels and said "Are you talking to me or about me?"

"No, I'm just talking to myself."

"Well it sounds like you're talking about me."

"I'm not I'm talking to myself...*mumble mumble* so annoying..."

"Well, if you have something to say, you can say it to me."

"It's just annoying because I explain to people it's designer and they always get aggrivated when they are told how expensive it is. I told you it was expensive."

To which I replied...

"I think you're the only one getting aggrivated Sir. And I collect vintage and will pay a lot of money for it if it's worth the money being asked. But $100 for that dress is ridiculous."

Walk away, walk away. I'm fuming at this point. What an asshole!

All right lovelies, I'm done venting. But honestly, I can't stand when people are just asses to strangers.

..let's continue with photos!

On a happier note to end... I did get two vintage silk scarves and a vintage wool throw with yellow pom poms for my bed for $10 from the NICEST guy ever! I'll definitely be revisiting his booth. In fact he was going to give me the loot for $7 but I was like "It's ok, $10 will work" because he was just so nice.

See folks, you catch a lot more flies with honey than you do with vinegar!

The vintage apartment on a Saturday

2011-09-03T18:35:00.000-07:00

I snapped a few photos of my apartment "as is" and thought I'd share my little world with you on such a lovely little Saturday. Since my Apartment Therapy tour I've moved a few things around the apartment. It's still small as ever, but it's mine and I adore it so. I have some lovely plans for it in the future, but right now I'm just trying to do little projects here and there making it more my own and of course constantly looking at vintage inspired homes and keeping them in a Pinterest folder.

I moved the couch to the other side so it opened up my apartment a lot. I taped up fresia on my wall not realizing when they dried it would look very sad, so next time around I'll dry them FIRST then tape them up.

Flowers I bought at the Larchmont Farmer's market. I go every Sunday to buy rosemary bread from this French baker and buy a bunch of flowers for the kitchen.

A few of my own antique and vintage dresses I have out for display. Although they're currently acting as "curtains" since the apartment can be quite bright in the morning and as soon as the sun rises I'm awake. Probably not great for fabric...sun fade damage... I really need curtains!

I've never been great at keeping plants alive so I have succulents and even these guys look like they will expire soon...

Today was such a lovely day in California, I do love the weather here so much. A perfectly sunny warm day with a hint of a breeze... hope all of you are enjoying your Labor Day weekend!

Our Favorite Vintage Clothing Finds // Septembre Une Semaine

2011-09-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite vintage clothing finds on Etsy for the first week of September. There are so many beautiful vintage clothes, accessories, and jewelry to be found that I absolutely felt the need to start sharing. Perhaps it's just because I love "window" shopping and if I had oodles of cash I'd snap up all of these regardless of fit and have them tailored to perfection and that's why I want to start highlighting and showcasing some of the gorgeous vintage dresses and jewelry to be had out there... but I also feel like I really want to share vintage with everyone since I adore and love it so much!

{ click on image to view treasury and shop links }

I really loved the Miriam Haskell jewelry pieces I found. I so wish I had a bit more spending cash right now. The gold leaf necklace from Adoring Vintage (hey, similar name but they're in Switzerland!) is so beautiful! It would make a lovely accent for a wedding, don't you think? And I just adore the pale yellow floral vintage 1940s blouse from Dear John Vintage, I wish it was an XS, it's so darling!
I'll be doing more vintage finds of the week, maybe not EVERY week, but I really do love sharing vintage with all of you lovelies out there and hope you love my vintage finds!

Vintage Photo of the Day:

2011-09-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

I adore the grey colored 1950s frocks these two ladies are wearing. I especially love the scalloped Bertha collar (is that technically a Bertha collar? Probably not, but it's what came to mind, so I'll just call it that) with the matching detail on her cuffed sleeves.

I wonder where they were going to? They're very modestly dressed so I am assuming perhaps they are going to Church?

Credit: Untitled by Kelsey Reilly

10 Lovely Vintage Perfume Advertisements

2011-09-01T18:37:00.000-07:00

I just adore vintage perfume advertisements. The women always look so feminine, so elegant, and they always seem to appear like they are in some sort of dream. Don't you just love what these vintage perfume ads evoke?

I also love the description on the vintage Elizabeth Arden perfume ad "laughing, lilting, flower happy-fragrance is timeless as a dream of summertime..." that description alone makes me want to spritz myself all over and "abandon myself to Blue Grass" What perfume do you wear?

Sources: 1.] Vintage Miss Dior French perfume 1967 ad, 2.] Vintage Elizabeth Arden perfume ad 1965, 3.] Vintage Faberge perfume ad 1967, 4.] Vintage perfume cover 1910s-1920s, 5.] Vintage Yardley perfume ad from 1948, 6.] Vintage perfume ad in Esquire magazine 1966, 7.] Vintage French perfume ad from the 1940s, 8.] Vintage Dior perfume advertisement circa 1955, 9.] Vintage French perfume advertisement from the 1960s, 10.] Vintage 1964 Avon perfume ad

Vintage Fashion Styling: Sterling Clairmont by Louiza Vick

2011-08-28T21:29:00.001-07:00

A couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to style a 1940s vintage fashion inspired editorial with the talented Louiza Vick and the ridiculously pretty Sterling Clairmont. We shot in a lovely park in Malibu and I was ever so pleased that we got horses in the shoot! I didn't want the shoot to look overly costumed, so I tried to pick outfits that still appeared modern.

{ click to view full size images }

Shop the Shoot: Vintage 1940s red polka dot dress here. Vintage 1950s white cotton ruffled blouse here. Vintage 1940s white cotton eyelet dress here. Vintage 1940s/1950s pink floral hat band here. Vintage 1950s pale peach slip dress (worn under blue and white dress) here.

A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes...

2011-08-25T21:48:00.000-07:00

Lately I've been musing around with the idea of someday having an actual vintage studio. Not just a place with plain walls and a plain door where I tinker with photographing the vintage wares in the shop... but an actual cool space that looks a bit industrial, a bit bare, but definitely pretty...

I've been Pinning ideas the past couple days, just trying to see where these ideas are going. Sometimes it just takes a little spark to ignite a fire... and baby, I want a bonfire on the beach, the whole shabang!

Do you ever feel like you're on the brink of something kind of amazing, kind of fantastic...and you're a little afraid that if you just take one more step, it could all be too much? Maybe this is just the medicine I just took talking, but I truly feel something amazing is just around the corner, I feel it with every fiber of my being...but I can't quite place a finger on what it is yet.

Once I know I'll let you gals (and guys if the gentlemen population is reading this) know.

Vintage Inspired Weddings: A Bohemian Wedding

2011-08-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

I adore weddings, in fact sometimes I style weddings and I'm a guest contributor at The Lane, a wedding inspiration website.

I was browsing through one of my favorite wedding websites, Green Wedding Shoes and happened upon the most lovely Bohemian Black Tie wedding and knew immediately I had to share these images with all of you. The vases and flowers were actually already featured in the Vintage Inspired Interiors: My Bohemian Hovel post a few days back, so happy to see where the original source of this image is from.

I love that their favors were vintage scarves and vintage bow ties gifted in these lovely little brown boxes. So charming and the attention to detail is perfect. Be sure to check the link below for even more amazing photos from this vintage inspired bohemian wedding!

Image Credits: Green Wedding Shoes - A Bohemian Black Tie Wedding

Red Velvet Cupcakes with Raspberry + Almond Petals

2011-08-18T12:37:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon I decided to bake red velvet cupcakes. The stuff from the little red box mind you, but I didn't want to just make plain red velvet cupcakes... oh no siree, I am a girl who loves everything to look just so and by just so I meant cute in every way possible (without injecting Hello Kitty glitter hearts crap all over it). The icing is just cream cheese whipped frosting. So, nothing really "from scratch."

I had some raspberries and almond slivers and I had some extra craft tape and toothpicks... and well, here are the cutest cupcakes I've ever baked thus far!

Hopefully I'll have time today to bring some over to the lovely abode of Rococo Vintage. I'll save some though seeing as I have a dozen left.

Vintage Sewing Patterns: Vintage 1940s and 1950s Blouse Patterns

2011-08-16T21:24:00.000-07:00

Here are some adorable vintage sewing patterns from the 1940s and the 1950s for blouses! I especially love the vintage teen pattern for the 50s blouse with the peter pan collar, so sweet!

Image credits (L-R T-B): 1.] The Fancy Lamb, 2.] Coconut Pie, 3.] Glass of Fashion, 4.] + 5.] Cemetarian Hard Copy, 6.] Miss Betty's Attic, 7.] lost link, I'm sorry! 8.] Vivian Belle 1955

Vintage Photographs | The Fairy Tale Evoked Photos from the 1900s to the 1920s

2011-08-14T09:54:00.000-07:00

I simply adore these vintage photographs from the 1900s to the 1920s of lovely women in pretty floaty things with shimmery fairy wings and dresses that ripple in the soft breeze. And I most especially love the photos of the women dancing in the forests, how fun, how fun would it have been!

Image credits: All fairy images are from the ever so lovely Forest Graves blog.

Fashion + Film: The Edge of Love 1940s Fashion

2011-08-13T19:08:00.000-07:00

The vintage inspired clothes from The Edge of Love I go all a flutter for. Keira Knightley looks absolutely stunning in every single frame, she is so gorgeous in this movie, even towards the end when she's less glamorous. I love that this movie really portrays everyday fashion in the 1940s (well for Welsh country/beach side that is). J'adore! (click on thumbnails for larger image)

Screencap credits: Screenmusings.org (go here for HUNDREDS more screencaps from The Edge of Love)

Behind the Scenes: 1970s Bohemian Inspired Shoot with Jade McDaniel

2011-08-12T20:03:00.000-07:00

Here are some lovely behind the scenes photos from a shoot I styled a few days ago with the lovely Jade McDaniel. I worked with photographer Lauren Freney, who's work I find so lovely! Once I get the final images I'll share with all of you. But for now, here are some pictures I snapped with Instagram and Hipstamatic!

{ The Team }
Photographer: Lauren Freney
Make-Up: Shaun Garcia
Hair: Tony Yanez
Wardrobe: Rodellee Bas for Adorevintage.com
Model: Jade McDaniel

Vintage Inspired Interiors: My Bohemian Hovel

2011-08-11T16:49:00.000-07:00

Here are some gorgeous bohemian and gypsy inspired interiors and fashions for this lovely Thursday.

Image Credits: We ♥ It and Pinterest

The Vintage Clothing Shop Updates of the Week

2011-08-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

Adorevintage has been updated with lots of vintage 1950s party and sundresses, pretty blouses dating from the 1940s, and a few sparkly little brooches. Check out the Fresh Picks of the Week to see all what's new!

Adorevintage Pop-Up Shop at Space1520 in Hollywood, CA

2011-07-29T18:27:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday I decided to pack up some of my vintage wares and sell them to the public at a little place in Hollywood called Space 15 Twenty for a pop-up shopping event called "Midsummer Night Sample Sale" hosted by Racked L.A. and DNA Designers & Artists.

This was the first time I've ever done anything like this, so I was a little nervous about making sure it looked great and people would get the Adorevintage brand. I forgot about signage until a couple hours before the event so I quickly crafted the chalkboard sign with a blank canvas, chalkboard paint, and some dried flowers from last week's visit to the farmer's market on Larchmont. Not too shabby...or actually it IS shabby but it's suppose to be! ^_^

I have to admit, I think the crowd at this venue probably prefers more "urban vintage" (as in 80s & 90s) while I tend to favor all things lacey, polka-dotty, and in general older. I still had so much fun chatting with everyone though and meeting a few fellow vintage sellers and fashion bloggers.

Check out more photos on our Facebook page!

Weekly Anthology: Everything is Coming Up Roses

2011-07-26T10:30:00.001-07:00

This week's collection has a rose and floral theme. Floral print 1970s maxi dresses, vintage rose earrings, a gorgeous beaded bag with large blossoms. It's been a lovely month so far, I'm definitely seeing the world through rose colored glasses (even though sometimes I really shouldn't). Sometimes I have a bit of a hard time with "reality", I tend to enjoy living in my little make believe world where everything is coming up roses. That's not bad, is it?

Focus On || Alle Von Denen + Spaziergang im Käferwald by Amira Fritz

2011-07-26T06:26:00.000-07:00

Flowers, so many lovely flowers! I love the tone and subject of this photo series by German photographer Amira Fritz. A bit melancholic, don't you think? The photos selected here are from the Alle von Denen project + Spaziergang im Käferwald project.

Pretty Little Things: Crowns + Combs + Fascinators from WhichGoose

2011-07-25T22:46:00.000-07:00

At an antique shop today I happened upon two very lovely silk flower wreaths from the 1920s which I'm so excited to use for an upcoming editorial shoot for Adorevintage. I did a little searching on Etsy for more crowns to supplement the photoshoot and happened upon the gorgeous creations of Emily Zych of Which Goose. In Emily's own words... "I am a 28-year-old gal who left my "real job" to make crowns and other pretty things"

Aren't they all so pretty? You can purchase them at Which Goose.

Runway Report | Carven Resort 2012

2011-07-19T07:05:00.000-07:00

Guillaume Henry of Carven likes to work, he likes to create, and he likes to drive himself to come up with clothes that girls will feel cool, and offhand, and kind of naughty/sweet/sexy in—the prim pinafores slashed to the thigh, the curvy jackets that give the most delicious décolleté, parkas cropped to hit the waist. - VOGUE.com

Fantastic color palette, adore the big bows on the heels, and so in love with the shapes of this collection, a little tiny throwback to retroville. Some may beg to differ, but those with an eye for vintage will definitely see what I'm talking about. The red sweater, blue collared shirt, splatter paint skirt, and dark navy coat is my absolute favorite look out of this entire collection. So inspiring.

Image credits: All images from VOGUE.cm

Vintage Movies | Bonjour Tristesse with Jean Seberg + Deborah Kerr

2011-07-17T09:12:00.000-07:00

About a year ago I was at a little bookshop in Hollywood for a friend's book reading and when all was said and done my eye caught the cover of the book "Bonjour Tristesse" (Hello Sadness) by Françoise Sagan.

The book opens with "A strange melancholy pervades me to which I hesitate to give the grave and beautiful name of sorrow." and I remember thinking, well, that sounds lovely.

I just saw the screencaps for the movie which was released a few years after the book was published. I hadn't realized it had been made into a film and it stars Jean Seberg and Deborah Kerr! After you read the book you will realize the movie is perfectly cast!

A definite must read and definite must watch! The fashion is fantastic (late 50s French riviera) and the movie has amazing scenery.

Image Credits: Lovely Pieces Design, movie poster here

Vintage Streetstyle | Real Fashion from Vintage Photographs

2011-07-16T07:08:00.001-07:00

I love vintage photographs and when I am at a flea market or antique mall I can never pass up the booth that has bins and bins of old photographs. Here are a few fantastic vintage photographs showcasing real life fashion and style from the 1940s and 1950s.

(All from Flickr found and scanned by others who peruse those bins just like me)

Vintage Inspired Interiors | The Adorevintage Apartment on Apartment Therapy

2011-07-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

"A dream is a wish your heart makes, when you're fast asleep..." - Cinderella.

I felt it was quite appropriate to quote this song from the 1950 Disney classic film sung by the lovely Ilene Woods because once upon a time being featured in Apartment Therapy was a far fetched dream. And as of this moment I am happy to say that two of my residences have been featured this summer. Ahhh, my little heart does beat so proudly.

So here is where I dwell and where all the pretties from the shop have their temporary home until they make their way into yours. These photos were taken by the lovely Bethany Nauert, who has a really wonderful portfolio with many interiors photography to peruse and admire. You can read the full post on Apartment Therapy: Rodellee's Tiny Vintage Apartment and view even more photos (30+ more actually!)

Favorite quote from the post: "Rodellee has brought her love of nostalgia, antiques, history and storytelling all into this 450 square foot space." - - - Bethany had met me only for a little while and she completely nailed what my home and what I'm all about in a small span of time. Merci beaucoup!

Thank you for visiting, please drop by again!

The Darker Side of Pretty || Inspirations in Grey, Black, and Midnight

2011-07-12T12:16:00.000-07:00

Anyone that knows me knows all too well how much I love white, bright, and clean spaces. And I still do, very much so, but lately I've started to fall in love with the darker side of pretty. I think it all started with me painting a strip in my kitchen chalkboard black...

The inspirations I've posted here will greatly influence the look of my vintage shop's current splash page. The mornings in Los Angeles have cooled a bit and it's effect has me nestling up to dark and serene colors.

The Prettiest of Pretties, Vintage Lingerie Arriving in the Shop

2011-07-10T22:44:00.000-07:00

I've finally started to sort through the rather large collection of vintage lingerie, night gowns, robes, slips, peignoirs, and antique corset covers I have amassed over the past couple of years. I'll be listing some delicates and intimates in the shop here and there, so if all things lace, sheer, and romantic are your cup of tea, be sure to visit the shop to check out The Boudoir (vintage lingerie) collection!

Happy 4th of July + Inspiration in Red, White, and Blue

2011-07-04T16:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some vintage fashion and modern day style Independence Day Red, White, and Navy Blue inspirations! Hope you all had a fantastic evening watching fireworks, spending time with friends and family, and of course celebrating Independence Day!

Source: Pinterest

Vintage Vogue Magazine | The Year 1975

2011-07-01T08:58:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite websites to peruse is Ciao Vogue which features a bunch of scans from vintage Vogue magazines mostly published in the 1970s. Here are a few of my favorite vintage fashion editorials, advertisements, and snippets from the year 1975.

Source: Ciao Vogue

Runway Report | Stella McCartney Spring 2012 Resort Collection

2011-06-30T17:38:00.000-07:00

Houndstooth, primary colored stripes, Hawaiian prints, and lets throw in some bows for good measure. Stella McCartney's Spring 2012 Resort collection is a perfect example of how you can combined prints from different families and it can still work. It's all about balance and proportions of prints. I'm not such a huge fan of the Hawaiian prints (hence no photos of it) but here are some of my favorite looks. Enjoy!

(click on images to enlarge)

Source:VOGUE

Vintage Inspired Interiors | Eclectic Femme in Sweden

2011-06-30T08:12:00.000-07:00

I simply adore this vintage inspired apartment in Sweden! Love the bright and light clean rooms which are warmed up with traditional wood tones and cozy linens. There are touches of pink everywhere which is just the right amount to convey a lady dwells here without it being in your face.

Source + more photos: Bo-Laget.se

Retro + Vintage Advertisements: Getting Around Town

2011-06-25T10:44:00.001-07:00

I wouldn't say I'm a car buff, in fact I'm pretty far from it. I couldn't tell you the difference between one maker from another other than I prefer the shape of this one more than that one. But anyhow, I do quite like vintage cars and despite me not knowing all the proper terminology, I can certainly appreciate their appearance.

My vintage dream car is the Fiat 1200 Spyder which is known for it's cuteness. Seriously, it's so damn cute. I want to ride around town in one with a scarf in my hair.

SALE || Adorevintage 30% OFF Clearance Sale

2011-06-22T07:13:00.000-07:00

So, you may or may not know, but I've moved into a new studio (last Thursday) and while it's been super fun getting the apartment set up, I must say moving from a 1900 sq. ft apartment to a 450 sq. ft studio that has to double as my living and work quarters... well I'm sure you can imagine what it looks like. (Haha!)

So, what to do with the boxes upon boxes of vintage I have? Have a HUGE CLERANCE SALE that's what! The sale is until July 4th, so be sure to hop in on the savings while you can! Free Shipping isn't available and all sales are final.

Some of my shop favorites...

SHOP THE 30% VINTAGE CLEARANCE SALE
Happy Shopping!

Vintage Style Icon: Faye Dunaway

2011-06-20T21:27:00.000-07:00

There have been countless fashion editorials inspired by Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker in the 1968 film "Bonnie & Clyde" with Warren Beatty, but honestly, nothing beats the original. I love her wardrobe in the entire film, especially the first cream colored dress she wears when she runs out of the house to meet Clyde. It's a definite vintage movie must see, and if you're into the story of Bonnie + Clyde, I recommend reading more about them on Biography.com

Faye Dunaway has one of those gorgeous chameleon faces. She can look different but still always look like herself all at the same time. Kind of like Kate Moss, one moment she's girl next door pretty the next moment a total bombshell.

"I often say the last role I played that really touched me and where I was able to access what I really am was Bonnie, which is kind of sad when you think how early in my career that was." - Faye Dunaway

Image Credits: TheFashionspot.com Forums - Faye Dunaway

Daily Inspiration: Just Breathe + Just Jump In

2011-06-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

I was never one of those brave kids that could just dive into a pool. I always had to stick a foot in, test the waters, let my feet get used to the temperature, then I'd wade in up to my knees, begin the temperature regulation process again... but a couple weeks ago I surprised myself by diving right into a pool. A small little victory, but worth noting.

It's my last days in our current apartment, nearly everything is packed away, tomorrow is the first move date and the day after everything for the new AV studio is getting transported to the new location. I'm nervous and excited. It's odd that I'm moving less than a mile away but yet it feels like a giant leap in life. People, places, things are always changing. Change is a good thing, it means we're living.

All image sources via Adorevintage Pinterest

Deep breaths. Finalizing the packing up this evening. Tomorrow getting the keys! Thursday, moving truck!

Press & Love: Adorevintage Featured on Apartment Therapy House Call

2011-06-11T12:51:00.000-07:00

Can I share a little secret? A few years ago I happened upon Apartment Therapy and made a little wish in my heart to someday grace the virtual pages of this most amazing website. And last week I received an email from an editor making my wish come true... did I squeal like a school girl who has a boy band crush into a pillow...absolutely! So, here is my little House Call feature on Apartment Therapy!

For the full post you can check it out here: Rodellee's Sunny Southern California Style House Call

Some of the comments asked about the Swan Lake mosaic in the bathroom, and seeing as a House Tour wasn't doable since we couldn't schedule the photographer to snap pictures of our apartment BEFORE it was all packed up... that picture won't be shown on Apartment Therapy...however... here is the craziest bathroom in Los Angeles in all its glory!

So when I said in the Apartment Therapy post... "Our bathroom never fails to make people gasp, I don't blame them, there is a mosaic of Swan Lake after all by the bathtub! I know it's weird to really like a bathroom, bathrooms never get featured, but I have to say, ours is pretty snazzy." - you can probably see why.

Images above snapped by my friend Melissa Santiago

Current Obsessions: Breton Stripes, Navy Stripes, + More Stripes!

2011-06-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

I am developing an unhealthy obsession with stripes. And this is coming from a gal who went through a hot and heavy obsession with florals and polka dots. (You cannot imagine the absurd amount of the latter I have in my closet.)

I think the recent obsession with Briton stripes has something to do with a new phase I am entering as far as personal style goes. Once upon a time all I wore were summery dresses and skirts and now I feel like my taste has really been inspired by more masculine shapes and forms. Still blended in with vintage, I'll never get over that, obviously!

So without further chit chat, here are even more Stripes currently inspiring me and plastered all over my "Pinterest"

Image sources: Adorevintage on Pinterest where all images are linked to their original source.

Vintage Clothing Shop Updates: A Little Bit of Lace + A Whole Lot of Pale

2011-06-10T12:07:00.000-07:00

Finally a shop update! It's been over a week since any new vintage shop arrivals, so rolling a bunch of new products out to kick start June. Had to include the detail of this vintage 1940s blouse ("Thine Own Self") since it's really too pretty to miss!

// click here to shop vintage

Kunstformen der Natur : The Art of Ernst Haeckel + Other Vintage Biology Art

2011-06-09T23:07:00.000-07:00

I love lithographs especially those pertaining to nature. My favorites being those related to coral, jellyfish, anatomy, and wild flowers. So naturally I had to share with you Kunstformen der Natur (Artforms of Nature) - first published in the 19th Century 1899/1904 by artist and more importantly biologist Ernst Haeckel who would later inspire many Art Nouveau artists.

Here are some more that are not by Ernst Haeckel but obviously in similar fashion. I do prefer a cleaner look and less clustered, some of Haeckel's illustrations got a bit too crowded, but that's just me.

Image Sources: Pinterest (Botanical Print Query) and Wikipedia

Weekly Anthology: The Garden in Late Afternoon

2011-06-09T06:02:00.000-07:00

Every Sunday I select some of my favorite vintage clothes and accessories in the vintage shop for the "Weekly Anthology" which is a collection of Adorevintage products set around a central theme and mood. ADDED BONUS: It's all at an additional 20% OFF! Hooray! Check out this week's collection!

{ click to shop Adorevintage }

Vintage Wedding Inspiration: "Painted Forest" Wedding Theme Guest Contribution on TheLane.com

2011-06-07T12:13:00.001-07:00

About a month ago I was approached by the lovely ladies at THE LANE to become a guest contributor on their wedding inspiration site. I couldn't be more pleased, the website is so gorgeous and stock full of inspiration, I was honored to be asked to be a part of it!

Thought I would I share the "Painted Forest" wedding theme with you and hopefully it inspires your wedding planning!

---
We are very excited to share this whimsical guest theme, created by Rodellee Marie of Adorevintage.com, an online vintage clothing store based in Los Angeles, California and the editor of popular vintage blog - AdoreVintage Blog. Named by H&M Magazine as the No.1 online vintage store, Adore Vintage has a antique vintage wedding dress collection available here.

See the full wedding inspiration board here

Mood: You've entered a world that's half forgotten, a forest glen where sunshine dapples through the leaves, long wild grass sways gently in the summer breeze. It's a fairy tale romance tinted with mystery and whimsical intrigue come to life.

Palette: Mossy greens, whisper cream, faded ivory, blushing pink with touches of vibrant wildflower hues such as poppy, mauve, and daisy white

Tune: Claude Debussy's "Reverie"

Inspired by: Every girl dreams of a fairy tale wedding with the shining castle and marble floors, but what about a fairy tale wedding nestled deep in an enchanted forest where the romance might have first possibly bloomed? Sir Jon William Waterhouse's preraphaelite paintings was the original inspiration and the beautiful "Reverie" by Claude Debussy.

---

To view the full post, be sure to visit Painted Forest Vintage Wedding Inspiration at TheLane.com

Vintage Style Board: Beach Picnic Pretty | Dress Up Vintage Sea Green With Natural Elements

2011-06-06T09:54:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday a dear friend of mine tied the knot in Key West, Florida at the lovely Ernest Hemingway house. Before the beachy nuptials, my friends and I had a chance to explore the Florida keys and soak in some much needed sunshine. I'm from L.A. so I do get plenty of sunshine, but it's much more enjoyable when you're sitting poolside with a strawberry daquiri. (Mmm...)

As we walked along Duval street I couldn't help but be inspired by all the bright island colors. Gleaming aqua, sea greens, Florida orange punctured with rich yellows and coral. It's pretty evident where my inspiration for this vintage fashion style board comes from! But why a beachside picnic, you ask? Well, instead of a traditional meal for the wedding reception at the Oldest House & Garden in Key West, our friends opted for sliders, veggie flatbreads, fresh fruit, and fried little morsels of mahi-mahi and shrimp with island flavors (mango, coconut, ginger, yum!). It really made me think of top notch picnic food, so hence, the inspiration!

Shopping + Image Credits: 1.] Vintage Diane Fres Dress, $188 from Adorevintage.com, Beach Picnic photo via NadjaSeale, 2.] Marchella Clutch, $95 from Calypso St. Barth, 3.] House of Harlow 1960 Abalone Shell necklace, $150 from PinkMascara.com, 4.] Woven linen striped scarf, $8 (approx) from H&M, 5.] Vintage inspired light green sunglasses, $25 from Topman.com, 6.] Vintage camera image from SVPPLY.com, 7.] JUNOU Sandal, $400 (approx) from Toast.co.uk

Vintage Interior Inspiration: How to Decorate With A Touch of Shabby Chic

2011-06-05T17:52:00.000-07:00

I adore touches of vintage shabby chic goodness in my home, not over the top frou frou, but definitely just touches of it. If you want to inject some shabby chic into your home here are a couple little tips for you...

1.] Use a vintage crochet or lace bedspread for a shabby chic vintage look in your bedroom. If you can't find a bedspread, a large table cloth will double as a fantastic pretty little lacey thing on top of your duvet.

2.] Dried plants, herbs, and little butterflies would be cute in a weathered jar or pot in the kitchen or bathroom. You can also tie a lace or silk ribbon around dried plants and hang them on a door knob.

3.] Even though shabby decorating means weathered treasures, a shabby chic home isn't quite complete without a little crystal sparkle! Look for a small vintage chandelier at the flea market made from brass, gold, or iron that has great patina.

4.] You don't have to wallpaper your entire room if you just want a touch of shabby chic. Try wallpaper on just one wall panel or maybe in an unexpected place like a closet or inside of your dish cupboard.

5.] Shabby chic decorating can mean you can use your pretty vintage little lace dresses as decor. Hang one on a pretty rose print hanger or on an old coat rack. If you don't have a coat rack, a pretty vintage hook will also work.

6.] Shabby chic colors tend to stay in the neutrals zone with touches of pastel and accents of robin's egg blue, lavender, and peony pink. Flowers to stock up and decorate with include lavender, wisteria, roses, peonies, and hydrangea (or anything that looks like you grew it in your own garden!)

Design + Vintage: Water Colored Shakespeare + Sheer Floral Vintage Dress

2011-06-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

I just love how this watercolor and colored pencil William Shakespeare quote from The Fabled Needle pairs so well with this sheer floral Terrace Blooms vintage dress from Adorevintage.

Vintage Wedding Dress + Gowns Shop Update

2011-05-31T19:51:00.000-07:00

The vintage and antique wedding dresses you'll find at Adorevintage are for the bride that wants something different, something old (and new, to you, at the same time *hehe*), and for the bride that wants an eco friendly wedding dress.

AV just got a bunch of vintage wedding dresses from the 1920s to 1970s as well as a couple of antique Edwardian tea gowns that could easily double as a romantic bridal dress for your walk down the aisle. Visit the "Vintage Bridal" section for more selections!

Monday Inspiration | Memorial Day White Out + Some History Tidbits

2011-05-30T09:06:00.000-07:00

By the end of the first year of American involvement, tens of thousands of the nation’s soldiers had died (World War I). President Woodrow Wilson was concerned that large numbers of women wearing the traditional black or dark-colored mourning clothes would have a negative effect on public morale, diminishing the nation’s will, and eventually its ability, to win the war.

While black is a traditional color of mourning in Western cultures, I think the decision by AGSM (American Gold Star Mothers) to wear white, rather than black, was a strong statement of how the women wanted to be perceived as they participated in the organization's business. Yes, they mourned their lost children, but white made a symbolic statement that went beyond mourning, a statement of peace, sacrifice, innocence and goodness. Those were the things that their children had been and had died for - wearing white celebrated their children's contributions while the gold star acknowledged their sacrifice.

Image Sources: Adorevintage Pinterest. Article snippet from Gold Star Moms -

Faded Beauties | Details of Lace, Ruffles, + Chiffon from Adorevintage

2011-05-28T16:48:00.000-07:00

I have a weakness for soft, floaty, pretty little things. I tend to keep a lot of these dreamy dresses purely for admiration purposes, but I am slowly learning to let things go and let these antique and vintage dresses be admired and treasured by someone else. This afternoon I spent playing "dress up" on my vintage Wolf dress form and my other dress form who's getting quite banged up. I know it sounds incredibly silly, but I throughly enjoyed snapping photos and creating little vignettes.

Nearly all of these pieces hanging on the rack will be available in the shop sometime early next week, probably starting Monday. If there is something that strikes your fancy, feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to Reserve, Hold, or put something on Layway.

Marilyn Monroe + Norma Jean Baker | Photographs Beyond the Gloss

2011-05-27T07:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone has seen the sex symbol photos of Marilyn Monroe with her perfectly made up lips, bleached blonde hair, and va-va-voom dresses. But my favorite portraits of her are the ones where I feel Norma Jean Baker is shining through the glossy veneer of Marilyn Monroe.

"Beneath the makeup and behind the smile I am just a girl who wishes for the world." - Marilyn Monroe

Image Sources: We Heart It // Marilyn Monroe

Adorevintage Places to Go: INHERITANCE Interior Deco Shop in Los Angeles

2011-05-26T18:58:00.000-07:00

I can't claim I discovered INHERITANCE on my own, although I wish I could say I did! But, I was introduced to it via Emily Henderson's "Secret Shopping Resources" for Los Angeles via Apartment Therapy and Emily's design blog Style By Emily Henderson.

After a quick styling gig this morning, I decided to make a little pit stop. Emily's quick review of the shop convinced me that I could probably find a little treasure for my new apartment (aka new studio for Adorevintage!). And oh dearie me... a quick drive by and I KNEW I was going to be instantly hooked!

When you first walk in you feel like you've entered Ariel's grotto of treasures, except instead of being greeted by Ariel you're greeted by Mike, the shop owner who is incredibly nice, chatty, and very passionate about what he does. We spent a good 35 minutes discussing French settees, OCD cleaning and rearranging, and pancake parties. I love going into a shop and the shopkeeper is personable and doesn't mind if you hang out a bit (but if you are going to hang out, be sure to buy something! LOL!)

The prices are incredibly fair and some things are surprisingly affordable. There are a few pricey things here and there but they're pricey for a reason (for example 1950s sterling silver desert forks by Allan Adler which can fetch a price of $125-$175 A PIECE on Ebay). There are so many little gems in this two story shop! Porcelain bull dog figurines, little magnifying glasses, scarab napkin rings, anatomy dishware, original oil painting portraits, little leather coin purses just large enough for a few lucky pennies... a very well curated shop of lovely little vintage and modern things to collect and admire.

If you're in Los Angeles and looking for antique and interesting knick knacks to add to your home, be sure to stop by INHERITANCE! Be sure to tell him Rodellee from Adorevintage sent ya!

Here is the little treasure I picked up! A chair that converts into a ladder!
Webshop: Inheritance Shop
Address: 8055 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Hours: Mon-Fri. 11am to 6pm, Sat. 11am to 5pm, Sun. by appointment only.

Adorevintage.com May 2011 Lookbook

2011-05-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

The AV Vintage May 2011 lookbook shoot was a really fun day spent with friends and a team of talented individuals. I had quite a lot of fun styling the shoot which was inspired by the 1960s (a modern take on Brigitte Bardot hair and thick lashes with coral lips). I wanted to keep the clothes very subdued with hints of cocoa and caramel here and there. You can purchase all the clothes featured in the lookbook at Adorevintage.com

I hope you love the new Lookbook images as much as I loved putting it together! Life is a bit hectic right now (I'm moving, again!) but hopefully will be able to create a June/July lookbook as I have so many ideas in my little noggin!

Inspired By: Paolo Roversi

2011-05-23T14:08:00.000-07:00

Italian fashion photographer Paolo Roversi has shot some of my favorite photos of all time. So romantic, artistic, and in some cases mysterious. I truly admire his work. My absolute favorite photograph is this first one, so stunning.

Credits: Pace/MacGill Gallery, Fashion Gone Rogue, Foto-Decadent