February 11, 2013

So, we meet again, grey wall!


1940s pink and black vintage Valentine's winter outfit_2


Outfit details

1940s dusty rose tilt hat: Gift from Tony ♥
Classic faux pearl stud earrings: Claire's
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Fitted black velvet blazer: Smart Set
Gold coloured metal & rhinestone antique inspired brooch: eBay
Black velvet scarf: Zellers
Burgundy top: Thrifted
1950s light pink pencil skirt: eBay
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro
Vintage maroon gloves with buttons: etsy seller Antiqueelegance
Black tights: Arden
Black 1940s style shoes: Thrifted
Lipstick colour: MAC Diva

Photography by Antonio Cangiano









































Last year on a breezy early spring day, in the nearby city of Kelowna, I just happened to encounter, and instantly fall head-over-vintage-heels in love with, a particular grey wall, as documented in this outfit post.

To the causal observer, and no doubt many of the thousands of people who drive past this wall everyday (it's located on a busy road that leads to the Kelowna airport and local college campus), this is just a wall like any other, and I'll grant you that there's nothing particularly extraordinary about it at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it's hard not to see its charm and allure.

Painted in a true medium hue, this concrete wall is just about the most perfect shade of grey. There is scarcely a skin tone or colour in the world this grey wouldn't compliment, wouldn't serve as the perfect backdrop for. It's a relatively strong colour, yet it stops short of overpowering those hues put in front of it. It has cool undertones, is not inherently modern looking (though it is, the wee little string of shops it connected to was only built a couple of years ago), and I'd be hard pressed to think of a single outfit in my whole closet, I wouldn't happily wear while standing in front of it. If we lived in Kelowna, I'd probably shot outfit snaps in front of this wall at least once a month.

Alas though, we do not, and so the wall becomes a special treat, offering up a certain peace of mind that no matter what, so long as Mother Nature wants to play nice, I can always rely on this particular wall to serve as a guaranteed (wonderful) backdrop if we're taking photos in Kelowna.

On this particular snowy day, I set out with February 14th in mind. I didn't want to go too twee (it's easy for red and pink to veer into saccharine territory far too quickly, especially when worn on someone my age), but I definitely wanted to imbue a sense of romance into my ensemble. To that end, I nixed red entirely, favouring instead a burgundy hued top, maroon gloves, and soft, bracingly lovely shades of pink. To offset the Valentine's Day card quality of those colours together, I kept the other key elements of this look to a palette of black.

However, I choice sumptuous velvet, a fabric that is as romantic and sensual as the day is long, for my black garments. Being petite and relatively curvy, I have a hard time finding blazers and suit jackets that fit, be they vintage or modern, but this particular jacket (bought years ago from Smart Set) fits me like a well-tailored glove, and gets worn more than any other blazer I own (it's a definite wardrobe staple for me). Though modern, it channels a timelessly classic feel and goes with more outfits than you could shake a stick pin at.

This hat - another much loved favourite of mine - was a gift from Tony, that I saw in a while back (just as with the navy blue 1940s hat seen in this outfit from last fall), and which he very, very sweetly bought for me. Given that my tilt hats are my favourite style of vintage topper and dusty rose is the hue I adore most, you can imagine how wild I am about this chapeau! It's a little worn in spots and the wide band of elastic could be tighter, but it still has a lot of life in it and will always standout as one of the most marvelous vintage hats I've ever owned or had the joy of wearing.

It was a nippy day indeed when we took these photographs (a few degrees below zero centigrade, snowing on and off), so a scarf was a must with a jacket and top that left a fair bit of my neck exposed. This black velvet scarf, purchased many years ago at Zellers, is just about the only cold weather scarf I wear. It's not terribly warm, I’m the first to admit, but darned if it doesn't go with everything and feel incredibly against my skin.

I have a couple of other winter scarves, but as with most years, to date this winter, I haven't even taken them out of the closet. I wear this scarf everywhere and with everything, so it's almost surprising that it took this long for it to make an appearance here on the blog. It matches this blazer so well that one could easily be forgiven for thinking the two had come as a set from the get-go. Though the did not, the fact that the coordinate so well makes me a very happy camper indeed given how frequently I wear both of these pieces.


I picked this light pink 1950s pencil skirt up last year on eBay and have been waiting for the perfect time to debut it here. Few holidays are better suited to pink than Valentine's Day, so this week really seemed like the ideal time. I'd been hankering for a pink pencil skirt for years and was delighted to find this mid-century gem for a relatively good price several months ago. It's made of a mildly nubby medium weight fabric and is one of those pieces that can really work for all four seasons, so long as hosiery is involved during the colder months.

I have a few brooches (some vintage, some vintage appropriate) which involve hearts, but I didn't feel pulled in that direction this year. Instead, I felt that burnished gold, AB finish rhinestones and an elegant clear crystal dangle attached to bow would suit this outfit better. Bows and crystals have always been romantic beings in their own right and go just as nicely with a St. Valentine's Day look as any heart would.

And speaking of the day of amour, though I didn't set out with the goal of taking snaps in front of this exact wall that afternoon, the moment we decided to do so, it seemed only natural that I partner the wall that I adore most in Kelowna with a vintage outfit geared towards Valentine's Day. Kismet that we should meet up again for just such a series of photos? I rather like to think so.

Who knew that cupid had fall-in-love-with-a-grey-wall arrows in his quiver too? :)

91 comments:

  1. Lovely outfit. I really love how you combined the softer pink with the black!

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  2. Jessica, darling...you look absolutely stunning my dear. I adore every aspect of your outfit assemble. The hat! It's to die for, you know my obsession with hats and this is just lushness! You have given me inspiration for a skirt I thrifted last week, which is the same colour as this your wearing :)

    Much love

    Katy
    xox

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Katy. I'm delighted to know that this outfit helped give you some inspiration for how to style your newly thrifted skirt. I bet you'll look gorgeous however you style it!

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. how gorgeous Jessica, love the whole outfit especially the brooch, and your Mac lippy. Of course the little leg flip in the last picture completed the whole ensemble. ..... Val x

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    3. Thank you very much, Val! Awww, I'm tickled that you noticed the wee little leg flip in the last photo. I've been meaning to do that for so many shoots now, but usually tend to forget (especially if I'm busy focusing on the weather). It was fun to remember to do it here for once.

      Thank you again & have a fantastic Valentine's Day,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. omg! this hat! sooooo cute!
    love this outfits colors and textures. but cant get over THIS HAT!
    i have to find something like this, or make..... spring is near.
    p.s.: did you see my snow pictures?

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Beate! You are one very talented lady indeed if you could make a hat similar to this. I'd be doffing mine for sure if you did! :) No, I don't think I've seen your snow pictures yet. Please feel free to post a link to them here if you'd like.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. http://bahnwaerterhaeuschen.blogspot.de/
      and with the hat - i dont think i can do a similar - just something in this style....maybe a little straw hat, some ribbon and silk flowers. just the look.

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    3. That sounds like it would be absolutely lovely! Off to check out your photos right now. :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Gosh, you look super in that hat- really suits you, "tis gorgeous!"
    Tupps x

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    1. Dear Tupps, you're all together too sweet, *blush*, thank you very much!

      ♥ Jessica

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  5. I can see why you love that grey wall. It's the perfect back drop for any photo shoot. And the hat is spectacular. I know Solanah {aka Vixen Vintage} has a superb hat collection, but I must say I'm rather partial to yours. They are neither ostentacious and yet they are quite statement pieces.

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    1. What an immensely lovely compliment, thank you very much, Sean. This dusty rose topper is definitely amongst the most prized jewels in my collection.

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. It's a great hat. I wish I had piece like this. And it's also good to see how pink and red go together.

    Lovely as always. :)

    Betty

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  7. You really know how to put outfits together! Love the pink of the hat against both the grey wall and the auburn hair color. Gorgeous!

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    1. What an awesome, touching compliment, thank you very much, dear Betsy. I'm going to smile happily all day over what you said about my ability to put outfits together.

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  8. My girls said you look like Mary Poppins!

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    1. That is so darling! I completely see it. :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  9. My goodness, your hat is just lovely! And you look just as lovely wearing it. Your brooch is awfully pretty too xxx

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  10. My dearest Jessica, I love everything in your Valentine's day outfit in front of this special grey wall. The skirt and hat in this wonderful dusty rose - I even love the sound of these words - the velvet jacket and scarf. The vintage brooch sparkles and is the icing on the cake. I also like how thoughtful you matched the pale rose and black with burgundy and maroon. That's real talent! The Oxford shoes are exactly the right addition to your style. Thank you for the inspiration. I must go at once and have a look in my wardrobe to find out if I could get a similar outfit for Valentine's Day. I hope you don't mind. Best wishes!
    PS: Your hair goes so well with that outfit.

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    1. Thank you very, very much, sweet lady. I would be absolutely honoured if you created an outfit inspired by mine here. That's so touching! You have an amazing eye for colour palette creation and accessorizing, too, so I'm sure your ensemble will be absolutely amazing.

      Oodles of hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. Love everything about these photos!!! The pink and grey are fabulous!!!! Lovely!

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  12. LOVE this outfit! You look stunning! Seriously! I cannot get over how amazing your skin looks with that dusty rose colour so close to your face! *heart*
    I am also lusting over your beautiful brooch and pretty much everything else you've got going on here! :)
    Plus I think your bangs are looking much prettier shorter. Good choice my friend!

    Greetings from Gillam, Manitoba!
    Lisa.

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  13. Gorgeous! The way you put an outfit together is truly inspiring! Everything matches so perfectly (without being overly "matchy") right down to the subtle pink in your glasses! And I must say, that hair is extremely becoming on you ;) Especially in Auburn! Boy does that color make your eyes pop! Stunning <3

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Rochelle! I am totally convinced that I was born to be an auburn or redheaded lass even if the universe had other plans (I had strawberry blonde hair for the first few months of my life, then morphed to a pale blonde until puberty when my hair changed to a mousy light brown; shortly thereafter I started colouring, more often than not red or auburn).

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. What a gorgeous hat!!!! Pink is one of my favorite color.
    You are lucky to have a romantic husband, mine is perhaps a vintage lover but not romantic at all....

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Laurence. I think that in a way your husband is very romantic because he shares your passion for all things vintage. There are scores of vintage ladies out there whom I'm sure would be immensely happy if their husbands/partners were interested in vintage like they themselves are, and even more, that they (the chaps) worn actual vintage like your super stylish fellow does. Each person is romantic in their own way and you got super lucky and found a fellow with whom you can share your love of vintage with. That seems pretty awesome to me!

      ♥ Jessica

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  15. Lovely outfit! A nice prelude to Valentine's day. I do think of velvet and Valentine's also going hand in hand. Those are some fabulous gloves you have. It really isn't easy to find the right shade of red in vintage gloves. I've been looking for a pair and I'm still looking:) I love the gray neutral backdrop too. It really brings out the colors in your outfit. Lovely post! Are you getting used to having such lovely full locks of hair? I bet it is a nice feeling.

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    1. Great question, yes, I'm really used to my new fuller head of hair now. When I have it on, I rarely even think about the fact that I'm wearing a wig (unless I'm in a situation where it could potentially slip off or become askew). The one thing that's still a bit strange is that I can't really style it in a completely upswept 'do. I miss being able to do, but perhaps other wigs I get in the future will be better able to worn this way.

      It's interesting you know, these maroon gloves get more wear then just about any of my other gloves. It's amazing how many outfits they work well with. So true though, red/burgundy/maroon gloves can be tricky to find. I'm forever pouring over vintage gloves on etsy and eBay, and will definitely email you if see any red ones that I think would work for you.

      Thank you very much for the wonderful comment,
      ♥ Jessica

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  16. These pictures are beautiful & you look so vivid & wonderful against the dense grey texture of the wall—just perfect...!

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  17. You look spectacular!! I love the hat, it looks amazing with that hair colour !

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  18. That hat is gorgeous!! It looks like something a '40s film star would don; the ribbon detailing is just fantastic. Also a fan of your wine-colored lipstick; I always forget about that color, but it's such a nice alternative to the traditional bright red.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Dakota - what an wonderful comparison. Tony often (super sweetly) tells me he thinks I look like a 1940s or 50s actress, so it's great to know I have a hat that would fit the part if I was.

      I love dark wine lipstick, it's probably my second most worn shade (after classic red). This particular shade is MAC's Diva. I think it would look amazing on you, too.

      ♥ Jessica

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  19. Love this ensemble! and the gray wall is such a perfect backdrop - great find! I have an obsession with velvet and I love burgundy and pink, so this is right up my alley!I have a drop waist slouchy black velvet coat that I wear for most outings. I do believe I suddenly need a velvet scarf like yours. I love these colors on you! Looking at photo # 8, they seem to compliment your complexion, glasses, lip and hair color perfectly. I can see why this is one of your favorite hats!

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    1. Thank you very much! Your jacket sounds really lovely - velvet is one of the absolute best fabrics of all time, if you ask me.

      I got this scarf years ago at a Canadian department store called Zellers, but I just hunted through eBay and found a listing for a very similar one: http://www.ebay.com/itm/BLACK-RAYON-VELVET-FRINGED-SCARF-74-long-beaded-ball-fringe-tassels-/251227443208?pt=US_Scarves_Wraps&hash=item3a7e529008

      Thanks again & happiest Valentine's Day wishes to you, my friend,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Thanks Jessica, darn I missed it but now I know where to look :)

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    3. My pleasure, dear, always happy to try and help. No worries, here are some (active) listings for fairly similar black velvet scarves:

      http://www.ebay.com/itm/INC-NEW-Nostalgia-Black-Velvet-Pucker-Scarf-One-Size-BHFO-/290867421666?pt=US_Scarves_Wraps&hash=item43b90ca1e2

      http://www.ebay.com/itm/INC-Womens-Velvet-Neck-Scarf-Black-Ruched-Ladies-Designer-Adult-Fashion-Sale-/400417433554?pt=US_Scarves_Wraps&hash=item5d3abd27d2

      http://www.ebay.com/itm/Charter-Club-Shawl-Scarf-Black-Velvet-100-Silk-trim-back-/130854364357?pt=US_Scarves_Wraps&hash=item1e778724c5


      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Just stunning!! I absolutely love this color combo and that hat is just darling. Very romantic, indeed! Well done!

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    1. Thank you so much, sweet lady!!!

      Wishing you a marvelous Valentine's Day!
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. What an awesome outfit! And that hat is to die for!! Really, Jessica, you wear vintage beautifully!

    Have a wonderful day.

    Love,
    Patti

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    1. That is an absolutely beautiful compliment, thank you deeply, my sweet friend.

      Big hugs & happiest Valentine's Day wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. You look very lovely and classy in your velvet jacket. I love velvet but can pull it of without looking like a goth chick. The hat is very lovely and suits you well too.

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    1. Thank you very much, honey! So true about velvet, especially black velvet. Small does (no more than half of an outfit) can help cut down on the potential goth factor. Try a handbag, scarf, hat, or pair of gloves for a nearly guaranteed way to avoid venturing into goth territory.

      ♥ Jessica

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  23. Beautiful collection of clothes, all of which work perfectly with each other. And that hat! I'd trade a motorcycle for that hat. :)

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    1. That's wonderfully sweet, thank you, Ally. Please hold onto your motorcycle though, I'll keep my eyes vigilantly peeled for a similar topper and send any such links your way immediately. That way you can have still have a great set of wheels and a stellar vintage tilt hat! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  24. Your hat is amazing, and that is a great color combo!
    So you're petite, too?! I didn't realize! I have the same problem with suits and everything tailored in general, so I totally understand. :)

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    1. Thank you very much, my dear! Indeed, I just barely come up to 5'2" and not a single part of my body can be described as being long. My shoulder are fairly slight (though - much to my chagrin - my upper arms aren't) and I wasn't overly blessed in the chest departments, so most suit jackets do not work (off the rack at least on) either. I'm sorry that you find yourself in that boat, too. Someone really needs to start a repro line geared just as petite ladies like us!

      ♥ Jessica

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  25. Fabulous photos. And what a gorgeous hat! Your hubby was very sweet indeed to pick that up for you. :) It's a great style.
    -Emily

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  26. I think the color mix is perfect, Jessica. I really love the vintage brooch /pin,

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  27. I'm new to your blog, and my first impressions of these pics were "so pretty in pink" and "I want her hair!" I know it's a wig from prior comments, but wow, I've been chasing red hair for most of my life, and yours is my gold standard now! :)

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    1. Hi Lynne, thank you very much for your wonderfully nice comment. Though my hair is indeed a wig (worn due to medical hair loss), I used to colour my natural locks a fairly similar, but redder hue, as I just adore having auburn or crimson locks. Even if you like your real hair, there's no reason why you couldn't try out this wig if you feel it's calling to you (it's quite inexpensive, as far as wigs go, and you might really enjoy wearing it).

      Thanks again, it's terrific to make your acquaintance.

      ♥ Jessica

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  28. Tony gives great gifts! That gorgeous hat is definitely you. The whole outfit is wonderful and you look smashing :)

    ~ Cerridwyn

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    1. Thank you very much, he certainly does and he knows my taste well. I spotted and picked out this hat myself, but he was the one who gave it to me as a wonderful "just because" gift (the best kind!).

      ♥ Jessica

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  29. What a romantic post my dear! You look absolutely lovely in pink I say...and the red is well matched indeed. I can see why you would fall in love with this grey wall...really is a bit of brilliance hidden away! Here's hoping that you will have a fabulous Valentines Day with your love!
    May xx
    www.walkinginmay.com
    ps: Glad you found my how-to Qipao (Cheongsam) post useful...was worried I was rambling on about nothing! And I am sure you will look ravishing in the right Qipao! x

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    1. Hello sweet May, thank you very much! Fear not, I didn't find your posts on cheongsam to be akin to rants in the slightest. On the contrary, they were engaging written, helpful, and chocked full of fantastic (inspiring) images. I've never felt more pulled towards buying and wearing one of these classic Chinese dresses as I did after reading all of your recent posts on them.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  30. So pretty! You make me think of a woman of the 1940's who is ready to go out for a morning of shopping followed by afternoon tea and sandwiches. :)

    And that is indeed a wonderfully colored wall.

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  31. You look STUNNING!!!!! Dee

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    1. Thank you deeply, Dee, that's so wonderfully sweet of you to say.

      ♥ Jessica

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  32. Your outfit is lovely!
    I love the brooch so much! It's such a timeless piece!
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

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  33. Oh my, that velvet jacket is to die for. It is very lovely, looks very classic, and gives your outfit just the right touch. And the gloves are just a lovely shade of crimson. You didn't go over-the-top with the Valentine's color choices at all. I just hope that you didn't get too cold standing out in the snow for the photo shoot!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Collette. Sometimes I'm in the mood to bust out every last bell and whistle for a holiday ensemble, but not this Valentine's Day. Understated was my approach of choice and I'm very happy to know that you like that I went this route. It was a nippy day for sure (you can see in many of these snaps that my glasses a little foggy from the cold), though not quite the coldest we've shot on to date.

      Big hugs & happiest Valentine's Day wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  34. That hat! Gasp! The brooch! Double gasp! Pink and grey always look well together somehow. I loved reading about the thought that went into putting this outfit together. I see what you mean about the shorter fringe too; I did like the heavier fringe on you but I can see why you've trimmed it shorter. Your eyes are a bit more visible now!

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    1. Thank you very much, honey! I must admit, I still gasp sometimes when I see this cute pink tilt hat, even though I've owned it for the better part of a year now. It's just one of these vintage toppers that has that magical ability to steal your breath away.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  35. Loved this post, and I love your outfit, really stylish! Such a sweet thing of Tony to give you that hat.

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  36. I love your outfit, you have put it so well together and i envy your rhinestone pin, it's fabulous!

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  37. Love the outfit and your skin looks lovely. I have trouble with velvet because it always picks up so much lint, so all I have is one skirt, but this reminds me I should get to wearing it before it's too warm (it may already be, but we're hoping for one more cold spell).

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Chrissy. Indeed, velvet does have a tendency to attract lint (and pet hair!) sometimes. I find a good, classic lint brush helps with, as does lightly pressing pieces of tape against the velvet to help pick up those more stubborn pieces of lint. I hope you get a chance to enjoy wearing your velvet skirt before the warm weather hits (I have a black velvet skirt - it's appeared here many times - that I wear all year round, but it's a lightweight velvet, were it much thicker, I might be able to do so).

      ♥ Jessica

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  38. Pretty in pink! I love the dusky pink and maroon colours together - not necessarily a colour combination that I would have thought of, but looks fantastic! I'm sure that whilst Tony was taking these photos, he was thinking what a lucky guy he is to have you as his Valentine! <3

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  39. These photos took my breath away! Just stunning...you're right about the wall being a perfect backdrop. Your outfit is heavenly and the colours are just perfect for your complexion (which looks snow-white clear).Black velevt is always such a glorious fabric, but even more so with the scarlet blouse popping out.

    Your hat suits the colour of your new 'hair' so well, and is rather dishy.The style of this hat frames your face and suits your hairstyle so well. ( Your wig is working so well, so happy for you!)

    Happy Valentine's Day Sweet friend.
    xx Shauna

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  40. You are too right about that wall! I often ponder what spot i'll use for my outfit posts, as I live at least 20 mins from anything except pine trees, farms and housing. The area I use to photo for the shop has a chair rail around the room that would other wise be lovely, but now it just breaks the shot.
    Beautiful as usual, especially the red/pink combo!
    Cheers,
    L A
    http://ravishing-ruby.blogspot.com/

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  41. I love this outfit! So well put together. Your lipstick is the most fabulous shade. xxx

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  42. Beautiful! That hat is so lovely and what a wonderful shade of pink too! :)

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  43. I truly need to find a grey wall of such beauty! You look wonderful. I love how you put together new and vintage clothes to make such wonderfully cohesive outfits. Also I don't think you could have found a more lovely shade of lipstick for your skin tone.

    Heather
    www.orangeblossomgoddess.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you very much, Heather. Blending vintage and vintage appropriate clothes is one of my favourite approaches to dressing (and one that I really recommend all vintage clothing fans consider adopting if they're not doing so already), as it doesn't limit you in anyway (by which I mean you can avail of whatever vintage or modern garments you like instead of potentially pigeonholing yourself into one camp or the other).

      Thank you! That lipstick (Diva from MAC) is probably the second most frequently worn shade in my make-up case. In the tube it almost reads as being goth, but once on, it's the most wonderful shade of dark bourdeax and it works surprisingly well with a number of different vintage outfits (got to love that!).

      Wishing you a fantastic Valentine's Day!
      ♥ Jessica

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  44. Oh my word, that outfit is just heavenly! I can't say that there is one thing that is even slightly off - I just want it all LOL! I have a love of tilt hats myself, but like I mentioned in my last outfit post I really need to up my hat collection. I just acquired a gorgeous black velvet wide brim tilt with hair combs inside the brim for hold, I can't wait to wear it! It's not exactly like it's appropriate for school (I'm sure most sitting behind me are annoyed enough with my stature, I couldn't imagine adding the hat to the mix hahah), and alas, for I have no social life LOL. But I will find some time to wear it! I am looking at buying more hats on eBay and Etsy but it is hard for me to look beyond the "basics" or what the major colours are in my wardrobe - black, red, white, brown, et cetera - to find more of an array or variety of hats to hunt and gather. It would probably be easier if I just had more money to buy whatever hats I wanted! LOL.

    -Holly

    Veronica Vintage

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    1. Thank you soooo much, darling gal! You're all together too sweet and kind. I've bought most (not all, but a sizable percentage) of my vintage hats over the years from etsy and eBay, and have had only positive hat buying experience on both sites. I know just what you mean, the pragmatic side of me tends to be drawn to practical hats that I know will go with a lot of different outfits, but sometimes you just see one that you fall in love with so very much you simply must snap it up, no matter the colour. Well, snap it up so long as your wallet agrees ;)

      I wish you tons of luck with your vintage hat hunt and hope you'll post about some if your new hat finds down the road (I'd love to see them!).

      ♥ Jessica

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  45. You look beautiful :)
    I usually stay away from lighter colours in winter because they just don't feel "wintery" but I love how it works with the velvet. :)

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  46. Such a lovely collection of photos (second last one in particular is all kinds of fabulous). You look amazing, not that you don't normally, but these really pop. Great colour palette on you. I am a complete sucker for velvet so rather in love with your jacket. :)

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  47. You look absolutely beautiful! I love the shade of pink you are wearing, it really pops against your skin (and the grey wall, of course).

    Deborah
    <a href="http://hellcat-vintage.com>Hellcat Vintage</a>

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  48. I love this one so much, Jessica! That hat is the best! And that shade of rose pink, as you know, is really the most wonderful color on you. Love all of this and great photos, Antonio! And dear Jessica, I know I owe you emails and comments and many thanks for my wonderful birthday card. I'm so behind on everything but thinking of you. More soon. xo

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  49. How unbelievably cute this hat is! <3

    xoxo,
    Monika

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  50. Happy Valentine's Eve, everyone! Thank you all very much for your terrifically sweet comments. I'm delighted to know that many of you adore this cute pink vintage hilt hat as much as I do! :)

    Wishing you each an joyful Valentine's Day that's overflowing with all kinds of sweetness!

    ♥ Jessica

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  51. What a gorgeous look! Has a bit of a romantic Victorian influence, just in time for Valentine's Day! The hat is absolutely precious with it.

    That gray backdrop really is lovely too... that's why we ended up painting our living room a blue gray, because we felt it was a great backdrop for almost any other color we wanted to infuse the room with!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Tasha. I love that you sensed a Victorian element to this outfit. I completely agree, so I didn't set out with that intention while putting it together, I noticed it while editing the shots and just love it (I'm a die-hard fan of the Victorian era).

      It's awesome that you settled on grey for your living room paint colour. If it wasn't for the fact that our current sofa and love seat are a sandy light brown, I think we might have when we moved into this place last year, too. I'd love to have a grey living room one day as well.

      Happiest Valentine's Day wishes, my friend!
      ♥ Jessica

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  52. Beautiful outfit, the colours suit you so well, too. I agree the wall makes an ideal backdrop - how clever that you noticed it!

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  53. you look gorgeous! this 40s hat is fantastic. it totally adorable!

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  54. Jessica,
    I keep meaning to show you/ tell you about this fun site. (or maybe I already did?) Lots of vintage clothes. Some are down right dreamy. It's on a bid system and sometimes it stays pretty low. Seems that there are at least 10,000 pieces of clothing each day...some vintage. Every day at least 2,000 new pieces. This coat reminded me I need to tell you about the site. You really have to browse a lot to find cool things, but you can put them in your "watch list."

    http://www.shopgoodwill.com/auctions/Vintage-Wns-Cream-Faux-Fur-Collar--Cuffs-Coat-12493137.html

    Have a great Valentine's day!!
    Karen

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    1. Hi Karen,

      Awww, thank you very much for thinking of me and for sharing the Goodwill auction site with me. I've looked on with much yearning at that site (and it's frequent vintage offerings) from Canada for years now. I so, so wish they would open it up to international bidders, too. Until that day though, I'll just stick with what eBay has to offer when it comes to online auctions.

      Thank you again (it was so thoughtful!), my friend, I really hope you have a beautiful Valentine's Day!

      ♥ Jessica

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  55. That outfit is gorgeous! I LOVE the hat, it's adorable. And that brooch is so sparkly and pretty.

    I have major hair envy too, it's beautiful, such a lovely colour and such perfect curls, and perfectly set off by your make up.

    The wall is very nice too :)

    Cherry x
    http://mrsstonesthrupennybits.blogspot.co.uk/

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  56. Beautiful outfit! What an interesting hat
    www.adoramehitabel.blogspot.co.uk

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