November 12, 2012

Raspberry, brown and pink for fall



...Or the case of the high waisted vintage a-line skirt that unintentionally looked like a pair of trousers in these photos.




























Outfit details

Floral print vintage cotton scarf: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff
Prescription eyeglasses: (frames) Venus Eye Design V-12
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Raspberry knit cardigan: American Eagle Outfitters
Pink shell top: Smart Set
Vintage brown a-line skirt: etsy seller Second Hand Addiction
Brown faux alligator handbag: Le Chateau
Cinnabar looking carved bangle: Forever 21
Other bangle bracelets: assorted sources
Nude seemed stockings: eBay
Brown round toe pumps: Pipsqueaks and Damsel's consignment store 
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red

Photography by Antonio Cangiano
 

♥ ♥ ♥

This brown skirt is a relatively recent acquisition that I picked up for an absolute song from an etsy seller who is currently in the midst of trying to sell off all of her inventory. It's a little big in the waist, but I used a safety pin (on the underside) to help wrangle in the extra material in the waist band. This shade is a great natural hue and I highly suspect, even though it's a touch too big, I'll get a lot of millage out of this classic brown skirt.

These photos were taken after we'd been bopping around Penticton doing various things one day and I didn't realize at the time they were taken just as rumpled and wrinkled my skirt had become throughout the afternoon. As the result of one particularly long crease running almost right down the middle, in some shots it looks like I'm actually wearing high-waisted, wide leg trousers! Not that I mind actually, I don't own (or wear) many pairs of pants, so it's sort of fun to pretend that I was sporting some trousers in these photos.

It was a somewhat nippy day and an icy wind kept blowing past and causing me to clutch my cardigan to my chest. I love this sweater, not only for its lovely raspberry juice hue, but also because it's one of the few (somewhat) chunkier knits that I own.

Not being a knitter myself and having a wool allergy, it can sometimes be tricky to find vintage appropriate medium and heavy weight knit cardigans, so when I spotted this lovely American Eagle Outfitters at one of the local Salvation Army thrift stores (we have two here) earlier this fall, I swooped in on it right away. It's quickly become one of my most worn autumn pieces and will definitely be in heavy rotation until the toastier days of late spring return once more.

Though a relatively simple ensemble over all, I adore the colour palette as well as the vintage scarf wrapped around my head (to hide the still damp curls I'd put in earlier that morning). There's a sweet forties feel to this outfit and in a way I feel as though I look like I could have been heading off to a WW2 job at a factory (in my street clothes) or, then as now, running informal errands around town on a nippy November day.


56 comments:

  1. I love the colour if this cardi. It´s perfect for autumn! ♥

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  2. I adore that outfit! And agree the colour of the cardi is very special. People forget that deep pink tones and purple hues are perfect for Autumn too, and compliment the rust colours so well. x

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  3. The sweater is so pretty, I can't really pull off pinks, but it looks lovely on you! The skirt is fantastic, it's pretty much my favourite shade of brown (can never have too much brown!). You look beautiful!!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet gal. Some pinks can be harder than others to pull off for sure. Not all pinks for on me - for example fuchsias, hot pinks, and really bubble gum-ish shades) - but some do and I adore wearing them. I personally believe that anyone can wear just about any colour, it's just boils down to finding the right shade for your colouring (for example, there's only a couple of shades of yellow I can wear, but when I find them, they're work great on me). If you like pink, keep trying, I bet there's a shade or two out there for you.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. I love your cardigan--that shade of pink is so pretty on you!

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  5. You look cute and the cardigan is very pretty. I've just recently come to accept the fact I can't pull off the A-line or pencil skirt.

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal. I'm so sorry that you feel like either of those classic style work on you. One or both usually do work on most women, but there's always exceptions to every rule (and skirt styles are no exception). Do you find that circle and much fuller skirts work better for you? I love them, and certainly do wear them (need to get my pettiskirt fix in sometimes), but often find that it's pencils and a-lines that the most becoming for my short, curvy figure. If you like a style though, I say just go for it. Life is too short to always worry about if your clothes are making you look as slim as possible all the time. Just have fun and wear what makes your heart happy (that's what I try to do).

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Thank you. I do look better with a full skirt. I have a belly and am very self-conscious about it. I love the whirl and twirl of full skirts.

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  6. Lovely! I love how you are able to make even a recent clothing manufacturer look vintage:) You match perfectly:)

    http://dividingmoments.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Joanna, that's a thoroughly wonderful compliment. I love finding modern pieces that are vintage appropriate like this sweater and then trying to make them even more old school looking by partnering them with genuinely vintage pieces (like the brown skirt). I'm planning a post on that very topic actually in the near future, as it's something that I do often and know many others have an interest in, too.

      ♥ Jessica

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  7. You have such a knack for color combinations, I am envisioning your closet looking like a rainbow all colors matched in a row going from purple, to green , to red etc.

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    1. Awww, thank you very much, Trina, that's a fantastic compliment. You nailed it precisely. I sort my clothing by type (dresses, skirts, cardigans, blouses, etc) and then sort each category into a rainbow. It's so fun and cheerful to be greeting by several rainbows every morning - I highly recommend it to one and all.

      ♥ Jessica

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  8. This color combination is absolutely gorgeous <3 You look lovely!

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  9. You have a excellent eye for detail and the combination of colours! Flawless outfit! :)

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  10. I love the combination of brown and pink. Of course, I love pink with just about anything...especially green.

    You are very photogenic, and I would assume it is your darling Tony who is your photographer. A huge thanks to him for assuming that role, for without his willingness to do that, we blog readers wouldn't get to see all your beautiful vintage outfits.

    I especially love the photo where you are clutching your sweater to yourself to keep the cold at bay.

    Have a great day.

    Love,
    Patti

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    1. Thank you very much for your lovely comment, dear Patti. Like myself, Tony has been passionate about photography for much of his life and has long been a hobbyist photographer, so it's a match made in heaven when we teem up for our shoots. He takes the photos, I do any editing or post processing work, and the finished team effort is what you see here.

      Awww, I'm woefully shy and have battled self-esteem and body issues my whole life, so it wasn't until earlier this year when we started taking vintage outfit photos that people began to call me photogenic. I've found our shoots have helped with both of those areas (yay!) and - at least for Tony - I now love getting in front of the lens.

      Thank you again, my friend - big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  11. I love this look!! That sweater is absolutely amazing, and raspberry is an awesome colour on you!!!!

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  12. Fantastic skirt! I love your hairstyle, scarves are my absolute favorite vintage accessory. I don't have tons of them, most are bandana's, but I love how versatile scarves are. Use them as a belt, hair accessory, tie them around the neck, purse, etc...They're just fabulous!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Sean. I adore scarves, too, and wear them relatively often. I like the bigger ones - especially in cotton - but find that mid-century or vintage appropriate ones are getting tricky to come by these days at thrift shops and the like. But that's true of so many vintage items, so scarves aren't the odd man out in that regard. I wish more modern companies produced good sized, classic looking scarves at reasonable prices. They'd have such a market amongst us vintage loving gals.

      ♥ Jessica

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  13. Don't you look lovely! I especially like the one of you snuggling into your cardi xxx

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    1. Thank you very much, hon, that shot was my favourite of this series, too. :)


      ♥ Jessica

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  14. Lovely palet of colors! Raspberry suits you very well!

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  15. Hello! when it comes to choose your photographer, the best option will be your lovebird, it looks the sweetness of your eyes :)

    Your outfit is lovely, those colors really suit you.

    Hugs xx
    Lorena

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  16. I can feel the chill in that Autumn air...although you are looking positively rosy. I have a few cardi's that I love too, that are just snuggly and warm and comforting.I really like the ribboning down the front and cable detailing of yours. The scarf does give you a bit of a WW2 look,and I could see you heading off to work in a factory- Rosy the Rivetter watch out! xx Shauna

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  17. I love the way you smile at your husband behind the camera!

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    1. That is one of the single loveliest things anyone has every said to me, Kathleen, thank you deeply. It means a lot to me to know that you picked up on how I can't help but beam for my beloved.

      ♥ Jessica

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  18. Oh I love this color combo. You look beautiful in the raspberry and I love how the scarf matches perfectly.

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  19. I love those colors on you! So awesome you scored that cardi! If you were to knit-is there anything you can use? xox

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    1. Hi sweet Bunny, thank you very much. I don't knit and have no immediate plans to learn, but if I did - and when I'm out shopping for knitwear - I can wear cotton, acrylic, and cashmere, it's just sheep's wool (it makes me break out in hives) that I need to avoid. Thank goodness some sweaters are made of other materials (not just sheep's wool) or else I might get rather chilly during our numbingly cold Canadian winters :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. Beautiful colour combo! I swear I have the same coral rose bracelet...Forever 21?

    Lisa.

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    1. Thank you, hon! How awesome that you have this beautiful cinnabar inspired bracelet, too. Forever 21 for the win! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  21. I love the colors in this outfit and your bracelets!

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  22. These shades look beautiful on you, really you look radiant!

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  23. I simply adore this color on you! It's delightful! I'm sorry to hear about your wool allergy! I have a friend who has it as well, and both sells vintage, as well as lives in Portland, where you have A LOT of wool!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. Thank you very much, Janey. I'm sorry that your friend has a wool allergy, too. I've encounter a few other folks in this boat over the years, but there doesn't seem to be that many of us around (perhaps if there was, fewer garments would be made with sheep's wool). Some people get watery/itchy eyes, breathing troubles or stuffed up noses from wool, which I'm spared, but being in contact with it for more than a few minutes usually causes me to break out in a rather unpleasant case of hives. Thankfully though not all knitwear is made from sheep's wool. Actually, I find it's vintage suits where I really feel my ability to wear wool come into play, as so many (not all, of course, but a good percentage) of them are either entirely wool or a wool blend. Not the end of the world though, there's always alternatives to be had (luckily!). :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  24. The is one of my favourite colour combinations, because pink and brown remind me of strawberry-filled chocolates! Pink suits you perfectly, down to your rosy cheeks :)

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    1. Yum-yum, I love chocolate and strawberries, together, too (so does Tony, who's definitely the chocoholic in our relationship). Thank you very much for the wonderful compliment, dear gal.

      ♥ Jessica

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  25. ah I am so sorry to hear you broke your foot as well! It is absolutely horrendous trying to get around on crutches *shudder*

    Your outfit is just darling! I absolutely adore it. I can totally feel the forties in it also! Great choice with the berry tones for the colder months :) it suits your hair colour and skin tone amazingly.

    Fabulous post as always.
    Love,
    Lilli

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    1. Thank you very much, honey. It was actually the second time in my life I broke my foot - and the left one both times to boot. Fingers crossed the tally ends there.

      I've been thinking about you and sending countless healing wishes your way, sweet Lilli.

      ♥ Jessica

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  26. Those colors are just perfect on you! No wonder pink is your favorite color, its family of shades (I just made that term up) suits you so well.

    While not super warm, it might be worth your while to do some hunting for acrylic knit cardigans from the 50s and 60s. I have found several over the years on Etsy and eBay and they are usually very reasonably priced. While they are not terrible chunky they are warmer than, say, a modern machine-knit cardigan, and they would layer well, and work for someone with a wool allergy. Plus super easy to wash since they're acrylic after all. :)

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    1. Hi sweet Tasha, thank you very much. I love vintage acrylics, too! They're often a bit pricey for my pocketbook, but I found four 1950s acrylic thin knit sweaters (one cardi, the rest long sleeve tops) last winter from the same eBay seller, each for under $20 a piece, and was floating on (cozy) cloud nine for weeks. Fingers crossed I can find some more in the same price range this year as well.


      ♥ Jessica

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  27. I love the look, and the colors make you look like a dessert! Raspberry is definitely one of my favorite autumn colors, and it looks great against your complexion. I'm swooning a bit over here!

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  28. Lovely Outfit! Pink is one of my favorite autumn colors. (violet and (dark) red too)

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  29. Love the bangles especially the one with the carved flowers. Wonderful colour combination in your outfit. Have a wonderful week.

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  30. Such an inspired combination of colours! I never would have thought of it. As always you are lovely and bring a dash of good cheer to each day I read your blog. I hope you are well and that the weather hasn't gotten TOO frigid up there in the great white north!

    ~ Garnet

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  31. This outfit totally makes me think of the photos of munitions factory workers in the 40s! I think it's the headband especially that gives it that feeling!

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  32. Wow! Well, as always.. you look fabulous. Everything is perfect, and i especially adore your cardigan and scarf. Lovely!

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  33. That is such a beautiful color combination on you! I love that it gives such a warm cozy feeling while at the same time being cheery. The 1940's look certainly suits you too!

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  34. Juat delightful! You have a fantastic eye for colours ;)

    Ruby xx

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  35. Hello Jessica,

    You do look just like a 40's lady out for a busy day. I just love the 1940s and love feeling like they must have felt then.

    Have a happy day!

    :) Hope

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  36. You look simply darling in all these wonderful colors dear Jessica! I always love seeing you in purples, they suit you so well.

    xo,
    Em

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    1. Many thanks, Emma, that's so wonderfully nice of you to say. I love the red, pink and purple family, so it's definitely a good thing many shades from those parts of the rainbow work nicely with my colouring (I love them so much, I think I'd wear them even if they weren't the most flattering hues for me).

      Thank you, too, for your just-made-my-day comment on my Halloween costume post. You're the sweetest!

      ♥ Jessica

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  37. Classy lady! You have such a lovely pale skin *envy* :)

    www.nancywilde.blogspot.com

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    1. Awww, thank you very much, my dear. It is pale for sure, but not entirely devoid of colour. There's always been a pink flush to my skin that leads me to describe my colouring as "berries and cream" :)

      ♥ Jessica

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