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June 25, 2013

This summer, Mother's Nature's name is Marie (and I'm borrowing her colour palette!)



 photo VintagespringtimegreenandbeigeinthefrontyardMarievintagenamepin_3_zps37b59dfa.jpg


 
Outfit details

Orchid hair flower: eBay
Gold toned hope earrings: Claire's
Green and white polka dot tee: Thrifted (Salvation Army)
Green crochet cardigan: Second Tyme Around consignment store
1940s gold toned name pin: eBay
Vintage beige button front skirt: etsy seller Have Mercy Vintage
Brown bow stretch belt: (An Asian clothing store at) Pacific Mall in Toronto
Bangle bracelets: Assorted sources
1950s corduroy bucket purse: etsy seller Rue 23 Vintage Clothing
Brown leather wedge sandals: Yard sale find
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Antonio Cangiano















 photo VintagespringtimegreenandbeigeinthefrontyardMarievintagenamepin_8_zps7ee3d58f.jpg


























Though I didn't set out to match my out to the landscape of our - suddenly verdant again – front yard, the moment I started uploading these snaps, I saw right away that I had and I rather loved it.

Though early May was unseasonably toasty here (much like Easter Sunday back in March), as a whole, spring was a bit late in returning - the sole tree (pictured here) on lawn didn't blossom until well into May, and it wasn't until early June that I started to feel like the last vestiges of winter were gone once and for all.

That they are now though for sure, and that means scads of sunny, gloriously lovely Okanagan summer days once more. Hurray! I don't have a ton of summer shoes, so it was with no small amount of glee that I found the pair I'm wearing here the very day before (these pics were taken) at a yard sale on the outskirts of the town.

They're real leather, were in perfect (I'd venture to say, never worn) condition, and had a five dollar price tag on them. I offered three and the seller said "for sure" without even batting an eye (which made me wish I'd offered two instead, but I'm not complaining three bucks is a total bargain for these classically styled beauties). They're super comfy, and I just know they're going to become one of my main warm weather footwear staples.

To help pick up the tawny brown of the shoes, I opted for a darling bow adorned belt, my beloved 1950s corduroy bucket bag, and some wood (veneer) bracelets mixed into my bangle stack.

Green continues to be my colour of the year, and as neither of these two garments have appeared here before, it felt like high time they both saw the business end of a camera lens. A timelessly pretty white and green orchid hair flower helped inject a further hit of earthy colour into this casual ensemble.

I love vintage wirework name pins. I've searched high and low for one featuring my first name, but alas Jessica was no where near as popular back in the 40s-50s as it became from the 1980s onward, and to date none have been forthcoming. Luckily however, I have two middle names, both of which are classic, popular girls names, and so far I've found a vintage name brooch for one of them: Marie.

It's probably been at least a couple of years since I bought this pin on eBay, but this is its first debut on my blog. I really like the name Marie (which I was given in honour of two of my great-grandmothers) and was thrilled when I found it (for a song to boot!). The classic cursive font and bright gold hue are eye-catchingly lovely, and help ensure it compliments everything from carefree polka dot tees to chic vintage suits.

One hears tell of Mother Nature - that fabled spirit who calls the great outdoors her own and who seems to have a serious hand in the shifting of the seasons, but have you ever stopped to wonder if she had a first name? I've pondered this occasionally over the years, and each time a different possible name comes to mind, depending on the season, my mood, or simply what girls name I'm smitten with at the moment.

This year however, as we kick off the start of another sublime summer, I cannot help but feel that she needs a timeless, sweet yet powerful name to match the plethora of warmth, beauty and strength she's bestowed upon the earth once more.

Thus, I'm (unofficially) dubbing her Marie - and she's welcome to borrow my vintage name pin anytime she wants (just as long as she promise to keep a gentle breeze blowing each night this season in return!).



67 comments:

  1. This colour palette looks particularly lovely on you Jessica! My hair is dark auburn and I'm tempted to see if it suits me too, I wonder if I can pull together these colours from my wardrobe? I might have to go digging!!

    I love the story about the brooch too, and how you're giving Mother Nature a nickname. Too cute!

    P xx

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  2. You look absolutely glorious! I adore greens and browns, they compliment each other perfectly. Your belt is adorable, and you definitely got a great deal on those shoes. I'll keep an eye out for a Jessica brooch, and will be sure to let you know if I come across one!

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    1. Thank you very much, darling gal - both for your wonderfully nice comment and for letting me know that you'll keep an eye out for a Jessica name brooch, that would be awesome! If I can ever return the favour and help you look for anything at all, too, please don't hesitate to ask.

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. How sweet! Green looks amazing on you, that shirt is supercute! I loove name pins, they are so pretty, I wish I had one with my name, would be cool :)

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    1. Thank you very much, honey! I've seen a few Sarah/Sara ones over the years before, and will let you know if I spot another online right away.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Lovely outfit - I particuarly adore the bow belt and that green orchid, gorgeous!

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  5. Aren't you the most beautiful thing around? You look so wonderfully sunny, I loved this entire outfit! ♥

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  6. This is such a cute post Jessica! I love the thought of Mother Nature having a name. You do look beautiful in your green and natural tones. I love the belt and you scored quite the deal with those shoes!
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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  7. Love green and love hairflowers, so I think this combi is great! The orchid is beautiful!

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  8. You look stunning in this fabulous green ensemble! I am loving that polka dot blouse! Hurray for Summer shoes! Don't you just love when you can find amazing deals on items you adore?!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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  9. Oh my gosh, Jessica, I LOVE this outfit! So pretty! Green is my favorite color and it suits you to a "t"!

    And the orchid hair pin? Perfection. Sigh... <3

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  10. Oh I love that colour palette on you, it matches your hair so wonderfully.

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  11. I love those wire brooches. I have one that says, "sweetheart," from the 40s, but I would love one with my actual name on it. You look lovely. :)

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    1. They're so darling! I'd happily wear ones with names I had no personal ties to, just because I think they're so sweet. I saw a Hannah (or possibly Hanna) one many years ago online - should I ever spot another one, I'll let you know right away, dear gal.

      Tons of thanks & hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. You are stilish in your green dress, and evey detail is so right! The pin is very cute and you have been lucky to find one with your name!
    The orchid, the ribbon on the belt...wow!

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  13. Hello!
    I appreciate your appreciation of GREEN. :D
    Now, serious face:
    You inspire me. You do! Every day, in lots of ways. First (oh, naturally!) whenever I feel "Blah, I'm not dolling-up today" - your blog reminds me that fashion is a "must".
    Next, whenever I turn to my too-lazy-to-care mood, I remember you.. you, who are gorgeous and elegant in spite of the fact that you are struggling with a chronic illness.
    Last: you are Brave, Strong and (you post a lot of darling pictures).. Refreshing.

    ..oh, and I've been reading your "letters to the Blogosphere" for over a year.. never got tired.. KEEP 'EM COMING!

    Cheers! :D

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    1. My dear gal, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your terrifically sweet, touching comment. It means a great deal to me to know that my blog and I help inspire you and bring happiness your way (your beautiful comment certainly did just that for me today).

      Rest assured, I have absolutely no plans stop blogging anytime soon, so (all things willing) you should continue to see lots more posts from me as the years roll on.

      Tons of hugs & joyful summer wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  14. What a lovely outfit. I love green too (and my surname is Green, ha!). Your combination with the adorable brown belt and shoes is great. And the shoes would have been a bargain for the price, I'm sure.

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  15. My mother's middle name was Marie!

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    1. How wonderfully lovely! My mother has the same middle name, too, and it's also one of my sister's two middle names (each of us three kids was given two middle names).

      ♥ Jessica

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  16. This outfit is so lovely!!

    ...and ps. my middle name is Marie too!! After my grandmother! haha! twinsies!

    I love brooches...now I'm on the hunt for a 'Lisa' pin...I've never seen one of these name pins before and I am smitten.

    Lisa.

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    1. Thank you! Awesome - middle name twinsies for the win! :)

      Lisa is such a classic, beautiful name, I don't doubt for a moment that a vintage wirework brooch exists featuring it. Should I ever come across one, I'll email you right away, dear gal.

      ♥ Jessica

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  17. I love your brooch!! I have one that says "Bingo" that I wear all the time. I love it when I go out and strangers go to read it, expecting a name! This whole outfit is perfection. I love all of the textures of the belt, the cardigan and the dots on your blouse. Beautiful!!

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  18. I adore this color palette! It looks so good on you!

    I hear ya regarding the name pins. I doubt I'll ever run across my name either.

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  19. The colours in these photographs are gorgeous. I really like the story of the name pin.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Kate! We've been hit with a bit of rain here for the past few days, which has become common for this part of the province in recent years (it wasn't that way usually when I was a kid), but I'm sure the sunshine will be back soon and will give us plenty more days with colours like this as summer ploughs along.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  20. I also meant to add that my middle name is Marie also! :)

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    1. How very cool! It's such a lovely, classic name and I'm delighted to know we share it common, dear gal.

      ♥ Jessica

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  21. Love your outfit especially today, because I have a vintage brooch lot like this ... so beautiful ... mine has the word "Mother" on a pearl ... You look wonderfully sweet with the colors of Mother Nature.

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    1. Thank you very much, dearest Rosy! I love the vintage "mother" brooches, too, which, come to think of it, would be exceedingly appropriate for today's post as well. I saw a brooch like this once on eBay that said "sister" on it, but it went for beyond my budget at the time so I didn't end up with it. I've been keeping my eyes peeled for another like it ever since (as I'm a big sister).

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Still absolutely adoring green with your colouring! Also admiring your knack for putting outfits together from such a wide variety of sources, and pulling them together so successfully. It really is a talent. The weather report here in England is improving at last also, I am pleased to say. We had temperatures of 21c today, not scorching by any means I know, but the sun was out with a light breeze. Everywhere is green and there are lots of flowers, garden and wild, blooming. So welcome after such a long winter. I hope you have a marvellous summer!

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    1. Thank you very much, my dear Philippa, that is an extremely beautiful, touching compliment.

      I'm still super smitten with green, too (though yellow is becoming a firm favourite this season, too). In fact, I just thrifted a pine-ish green button front shirt this weekend at Value Village's latest 50% off sale (it's not vintage, but it's super classic looking and will be a cinch to style in either a 40s or 50s direction), that I'm really looking forward to wearing on cooler summer days and when autumn rolls around again.

      Our weather has a been a bit all over the place for the past few days, much as it was as June wrapped up last year. Today wasn't too bad - a little rainy in the early am, but otherwise fairly sunny and about +26.

      Sweetest thanks again,
      ♥ Jessica

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  23. Marie...you look beautiful! The colors are perfect and your hair and make-up look fab!

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  24. Lovely to meet you Jessica. Stumbled over here from The Pretty Cute, and was delighted to see you're in Penticton. Penticton, Naramata, and Summerland are at the top of our where would we live if we could live anywhere list. Well, okay Maui is at the top, but as a fellow BC gal, I'm sure you know what I mean. I'm loving your vintage vibe and I have read a few of your newsy posts.

    Thanks for sharing,

    Sue xo

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  25. Green is such a great color for you, you look fabulous. I love your belt too, it definitely showcases that teeny waist of yours.

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    1. Thank you so much, darling Denise!!! (I have this same belt in red, too - I've been thinking it would be awesome for an Xmas outfit later this year.)

      ♥ Jessica

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  26. Just soooo pretty!!! I love the play of textures on your belt vs. your top and your cardigan!! My middle name is Marie, so I smiled when I saw your pin!!!!

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  27. I really like the green and brown palette. Very summery and earthy. Yay for yard sale scores! I am getting a bit better with making offers. I was always a little scared to, but I'm gaining confidence about it. So far, I've never had an issue. Hope your having a lovely start to your summer :)

    Abbi

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet gal! Though I have run into a few very orrery yard sale sellers over the years (one elderly man last year went from totally friendly to scary mean the moment I asked for a dollar less on a teacup and saucer I was interested in - I'll never forget that), by and large most people are pleasant to deal with when you try to wheel and deal. My mom taught me to be confident on this front when she started taking my siblings and I yard saling when I was a little girl, and I'm so glad she did, because (by and large) I'm incredibly shy/timid in general, but thanks to her, I can haggle with the best of them now as an adult. :)

      Our summer is off to a great start so far, thank you - I really hope yours is as well, honey.

      ♥ Jessica

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  28. Yes I think Marie is quite fitting. What gorgeous colors to draw inspiration from! People say earthy colors are calming, but I've always found them so energizing. That pin is so darling and I've been on the hunt for a 40's pin of my own. The namesakes are too cute! I doubt Rochelle is a popular name of the era though. Rochelle Hudson is the only person I know who had it in that time period!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Rochelle. I adore your beautiful name - it flows off the tongue with such grace and melodic loveliness.

      I think some talented soul needs to start a custom name brooch business where you can have any name (or word) you want created in this same kind of vintage flowing wirework style - then all the Jessicas, Rochelles, and others with names that weren't common (or were, but didn't have brooches made of them) back in the day can easily find one now.

      ♥ Jessica

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  29. Green looks absolutely stunning on you and I adore your outfit. Right down to the adorable belt and bargain shoes. Great find!

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  30. Oh sweet :) I love green! i used to love going to sports carnivals in highschool, not because I liked sports (eww, I am really bad at sports), but because Our sports house was green. So I went all out and wore heaps of (not so much grren) make-up because we could get away with it.

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  31. What an absolutely gorgeous outfit! I love every little detail of it. And grren really is your colour dear gal! I hope you're having a fabulous day!

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  32. This outfit is stunning! I love the way that you've worked the same few shades through the outfit, matching belt, shoes and bangles, and your cardigan to your bangles. It looks so gorgeously polished.

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  33. Love the colors in this outfit! The shoes are a great find!

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  34. So gorgeous, and nothing better than when a beautiful outfit matches its backdrop! I love these natural earthy colors on you Jessica, they suit you SO well. It looks like you are having a looovely summer in Canada :D

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  35. Green suits you so well...especially with your auburn hair! I love the idea of naming mother nature- so poetic. I'm so glad you found a badge with your middle name on it, if not your first, they really are so nostalgic. I have never come across a Shauna or Amee (my middle name)yet...but live in hope. BTW- I am very envious of all your fabulous bargain that you've been posting on instagram- well done-and yes, I totally loved the pink gloves. xx Shauna

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    1. Thank you very much, dearest Shauna. I think, many years ago, I may have seen an "Amy" or an "Aimee", wirework name brooch, but I don't recall "Amee". I was mentioning in another comment here that there would be such a market if some talented soul launched a line of custom name brooches - I bet almost all of us vintage ladies would flock to get our own name(s) if the prices were decent.

      Aww, thank you - I'm really curbing my spending this summer, so bargains (which I always strive for anyhow) are going to be the name of the game this season if I want to add anything new to my wardrobe. :)

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  36. I just adore this spring green ensemble! And name pins are so darn cute! I doubt I'd ever find one in my own name, but it would be awesome to find a Margaret or Shirley, which are my grama's names. Anyway, this look is so you and so pretty as usual.

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    1. Thank you, honey! That's so sweet - I've looked for ones in my grandmas' and mother's name before, but no dice yet (I really think I might have good luck with my grandmas' names though - Jean and Bernice - as they were fairly common back during the era when these charming wirework brooches were more popular). I will let you know right away if I ever spot a Margaret of Shirley (again, two names that I think have a really good chance of being unearthed because they were common at the time).

      ♥ Jessica

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  37. Adorable, dear Jessica.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

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  38. Oh I just love that wirework brooch. Seeing as we have the same name (well sort of I am a Jessie not Jessica) I don't hold much hope of finding one myself. But there is a guy in the city that makes wirework name necklaces....maybe he would make me one in a brooch.

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  39. Well Jessica Marie - I'm sure you have better odds than me at finding a vintage namepin with your name than I do mine -
    Now that i saw yours I am hoping some arsty soul on Etsy still makes them today.

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  40. Sigh, you look beautiful love the taupe paired with the green so fresh and pretty. And that pin is just adorable! xxx

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  41. Beautiful outfit Jessica. You look fabulous. I especially love your skirt and your name pin. Marie is perfect for summertime. It has such a lovely ring to it!

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  42. That is the cutest outfit! I love all the shades of green! I love reds/browns and green together, it looks so striking with your hair!

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  43. I wanted to say the same! Your red hair goes so well with all the greens. Love that!

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  44. The green looks absolutely stunning with your hair! Also that is a fabulous deal on those cute shoes.

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  45. green looks so fantastac on you! beautiful pictures!

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  46. Do I need to tell you that i loved the color palette in this outfit?

    You're are a terrific inspiration, Jessica <3

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    1. Thank you very, very much, darling Charlotte, that truly means a lot to me

      Huge hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  47. Wow, green is definitely your colour! Great outfit.

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  48. Hi Jessica,

    Great deal on the shoes...they look like some I once owned. What a cute belt as well!

    I have been away since early morning June 19th, returning home just yesterday.

    Summer has arrived for sure!

    :)Hope

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  49. I dont know how I missed this post, gorgeous outfit as always. Your ginger hair looks great with the green, you really know how to pull an outfit together

    kate old fashioned way

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  50. Gorgeous photos, the colours are so vibrant and suit you so well! I noticed the bow on your belt immediately. What a fantastic find with those shoes! I hope you find your Jessica pin one day :)

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