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July 18, 2013

A beaded turquoise cardi, classic black 1950s hat, and the wind strikes again!



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Outfit details

Black 1950s platter hat: eBay
Faux pearl bow barrette: Dollar store (in Oliver)
Faux pearl stud earrings: Claire's
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Beaded turquoise cardigan: Forever 21
White vintage slip: etsy
1940s/50s black scalloped wrist gloves: etsy seller I Love Vintage Stuff
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
Grey 1970s a-line skirt: etsy seller Cereal Vintage Thrift
Black vintage handbag: etsy seller A Vintage Revival
Nude with black seam stockings: eBay
Black patent peep-toe pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red



Photography by Antonio Cangiano








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Every photo shoot - at least of the ones I've done - results in plenty of unusable snaps. This is normal for just about all photographers and their subjects. Technically speaking, they may be lovely and well taken, but the pose or facial expression isn't flattering, there may be someone photobombing in the background, your hat might constantly go flying from your head...

Yes, my sweet dears, the latter really seems to be a theme for me recently (the same thing happened while down at Wharf Park in Naramata last month), and on the day about four weeks ago when we took these shoots seen here, the wind was even more persistent and heavy-handed than the afternoon in Naramata. If I could show you all of the snaps from this day, you'd probably chuckle - just as I did when I saw them - because they look like a comic flipbook of me constantly either reaching up to hold my hat on or chasing after it as it blew off.

There was nary a whisper of wind when we left Penticton that day, but as the afternoon wore on and we paused to take these photos at a park in the Rutland area of Kelowna, heavy grey clouds overhead were pummeling us with wind that was doing all it could to snatch my fab 1950s platter hat right off my head. Lucky, it didn't succeed completely, and - though a touch disheveled by the mighty breeze - I was able to retain my topper for the rest of the day!

An afternoon of errands plus some driving (Kelowna is located about an hour each way from our town) was on the agenda, so comfort was definitely important, but I was also really in the mood for some glamour and a sprinkling of glitz, so I reached for one of my all-time favourite cardigans. Though not vintage (I bought it online from Forever 21's Canadian website early last year), it really looks the (1950s) part and is presently the most beaded sweater I own.

I'd been on the hunt for a great all-purpose grey skirt that would work year-round, and found this charming 1970s one on etsy last February for a real steal (I kid you not, it was only $6.00 plus shipping!). It fits wonderfully and is a cinch to put to work in 40s and 50s outfits alike. I just love the cute little front hip pocket, sturdy belt loops, versatile colour, timeless cut, and where the hemline hits (and I'm sure you'll see it many more times here in future outfit posts).

This hat, which I picked up on eBay a while back, is making its debut blog debut today and is a style I'd been after for quite some time. It's classic, chic, and endlessly perfect to pair with structured fifties looks (especially if you want to channel a mid-century ladies who lunch - and possibly wear Dior - vibe care of a skirt suit or swanky cocktail dress) - though, I now know, it's another beaut that will require a hat pin if there's even the vaguest threat of wind on the horizon.

Plenty of pearls, vintage black gloves, one of my favourite mid-century handbags, and a vixen-esque pair of black patent peep-toe pumps help round out the look and keep me warm, something that I've not often had to say around these parts since early May, and doubt I'll be uttering again until autumn rolls around.

One never knows though, nippy breezes, can pop up out of the blue any old while, and you should always be prepared to hold on tight to your hat and just keep on smiling while they do - especially if you've got a camera lens pointed in your direction.



71 comments:

  1. Wind? Please send something over to Holland. We are boiling.

    You look stunning, as ever!

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    1. Oohhh, I happily would it if I could - those this was one of only a couple days in the past two months that weren't roasty-toasty (we even had a little heat wave at the start of July with some days getting up to 40C/104F). Still, come nighttime, there's often a bit of a breeze down by the lake here, and I would send as much of it as possible to you if such was feasible.

      Thank you very much, honey!
      ♥ Jessica

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  2. You look so elegant! I have this horrible tendency to blink whenever I stare at a camera lens too long. It drives my husband bonkers. There's always a few blink outtakes from my photoshoots!

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  3. Wow, that cardigan is beautiful! I have to say that Forever 21 definitely know what they are doing when it comes to cardis! :)

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    1. Thank you, dear gal! They do nail it sometimes for sure! Three of my fave cardis (one of which, come to think of it, I don't think I've blogged about before) have come from them. I so wish we had an actual store around these parts (the nearest is about five hours away), but at least there's the Canadian website to order from. I keep checking it every so often for more beaded beauties like this, but no dice yet. Hopefully they'll bring some more beaded styles in again.

      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Jessica: That little beaded sweater fooled me, Forever 21!! Good Find! If you were my sister I would definitely borrow that beautiful beaded top! I think I need to make a trip to Forever 21!
      Keep the photos coming.
      Christine

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    3. If I passed by someone on the street wearing it (and didn't have one myself, I mean), I would easily think it was vintage, too. I so love finds like this that epitomize what it means for a garment (or accessory) to be vintage appropriate. If you lived nearby, I'd happily let you borrow it anytime.

      ♥ Jessica

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  4. I can't believe your cardi is not vintage! You look divine, as always, dear Jessica.
    x

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet lady! I know, right? It one of the very best 1950s lookalikes I've ever encountered (and certainly the best that I've owned to date) on the cardigan front.

      ♥ Jessica

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  5. Love your look, that is the cutest cardi ever :)

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  6. Ooh very pretty look! That beaded cardigan is a darling sight. Love love <3

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  7. You look absolutely lovely my dear...loving the turquoise cardigan! I wish I had the time to handwash things more often....which would allow me to own some beaded pieces! And might I add...the weather looks lovely where you are....have a fabulous weekend my dear!
    May xx
    www.walkinginmay.com
    ps: A big hello from London goes to Stella! x

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  8. You are so elegant like always. I don't know what to say because I love your every outif.

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  9. That cardigan is so lovely. The color is beautiful and I really like the beads.

    And your shoes are beautiful too!

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  10. Oh my goodness, Jessica. The detail on that cardigan is stunning!

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  11. Great hat, your hair is lovely with that pin. And the way you reach for your purse looks so elegant! Nice outfit post again!

    Liz

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  12. I thought for sure that cardigan was vintage would have never guessed it was F21 great find! Those scalloped gloves are darling as well, lovely outfit for a cloudy looking day.

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  13. I am utterly in love with that sweater! The whole outfit is super adorable, but that sweater takes the cake!!

    And it's shocking to believe that skirt is 70s!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Janey! I know, even in person it's hard to believe it's 70s - it's one of the best examples of 70s does 40s/50s I've come across so far. I wish I could find more skirts in other colours just like it from that era for the same bargain basement price! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  14. oh! the cardigan is amazing ♥ i love turquoise.
    jessica, you look so beautiful :)

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  15. Love the hat and pearls! I work in a very windy area, because of the architecture. I fought it for so long, and now I just wear a flowing summer scarf and let the wind work in my favor!

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  16. I love windy days, even if they are no good for taking pictures! I chalk it up to being a March baby.

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  17. You look gorgeous! Turquoise looks great on you. I've can't believe that cardigan is from Forever 21. It is a beautiful piece. I hate it when you dress up and the darn wind picks up and at the very least makes your hair all disheveled. Those shoes are just gorgeous.

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  18. Hello my lovely! You look amazing as always, whatever mother nature throws at you! I love you cardigan. It is so feminine and beautiful, and typically vintage in style. Adore!!!! I so enjoyed reading this post. Great pictures! Tania ♥

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  19. You need a hat pin.

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    1. Indeed! I certainly could have used one on the days when the snaps for this and my last vintage outfit post were taken. I have a few and am thinking I should just put one in the glovebox of the car so that I'm always prepared when a windy day strikes! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  20. How have you been feeling? You're looking lovely! The sweater is so pretty! I just love those 1950s pastels!

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    1. Hi sweet April, thank you very much for your caring comment. Honestly, I'm too doing to fantastic on the health front this moment, but things could always be worse of course, and our newly installed central air is certainly helping to make life a bit easier.

      I'm really glad that I was able to get some outfit snaps (like the ones here) last month and at the start of July, because I don't foresee many, if any, days out and about again for the next little while, based on how I'm feeling. We'll just see though, and hope for the best (there are a couple of local events coming up in August, such as our town's annual square dancing festival that I would really love to attend, if possible).

      Thank you again deeply,
      ♥ Jessica

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  21. Well even though the wind is trying its best to photobomb you look stunning. Adore that colour turquoise on you and that skirt what a bargain!xxxx

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  22. My my, I didn't know we could find such beautiful cardigans at Forever 21! I love it, and the color looks perfect on you!
    Very pretty and cheerful outfit, the colors are gorgeous together! You look stunning dear Jessica!
    Kisses from Paris!
    Melodie
    http://sevenlivesandmore.blogspot.fr/

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  23. Love your outfit! That cardigan is gorgeous :)

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  24. I've always been so very self-conscious so taking and sharing photos of myself online has been a very slow process! The number of photos I take before I have one I'm okay with can sometimes be ridiculous. ;)

    I love your outfit and the colour combination. I love the snap of you holding your hat. Very cute!

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    1. My sweet dear, I understand what you mean more than words could ever convey. For many, many years I was too shy and self-conscious to post my photo online anywhere. For the first three years of my blog's life, I almost never posted my picture here (much as part of me wanted to), but then in early 2012 I vowed to work on becoming more self-confident (and to have more self-esteem/be more at peace with my body image issues) and posting frequent outfit photos here has been the means by which I've done that.

      I highly doubt I'll ever shake off most of the issues I have when it comes to shyness, self-esteem, body image, etc, but at least, here in the comfort and safety of my own little corner of the internet, I have reached a point where I'm ok with showing my face (and body) to the world. It's not always easy, but I'm truly glad I decided to push myself out of my comfort zone in this way.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  25. i love your cardigan!! i've been on the lookout for some lovely vintage beaded cardigans. i've seen a few around but they're quite expensive and none of them have been the right size and shape for me to want to spend too much on them, so i'm going to keep waiting until i come across the perfect one. you look beautiful, and i love that you wear gloves! it really dresses up your whole outfit. :)

    little henry lee

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  26. I really really love your cardigan and your skirt!

    I hope you're well... Greetings from Greece!...

    xxx

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  27. Love the color and cut of your top. I also love your lippie. You look so hot and sexy. Great choice of outfit indeed!

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  28. It is a gorgeous hat, I am glad the wind didn't manage to snatch it from you. I love the pearls and beads combination, the cardigan is fantastic ( both beading and colour ) and the pearl hair bow looks lovely.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Kate - I'm certainly glad, too! Now it gets to live another day and appear here in future blog posts. I'm thinking it would look fab with a classic 50s suit, so that's definitely an outfit I have in mind to put it to use in down the road.

      ♥ Jessica

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  29. Oh I hear you about 100 photos and 10 that are ok-ish (for my part that is). You look lovely and that cardigan is a sparkly beaded dream and I adore the colour contrast between the cardi, the pearls and the bling! xx
    Shauna

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  30. Hehe I actually find the photos of you with you hands on the hat to keep it down quite charming! And a very 50s Vogue sort of pose too! That turquoise cardigan is so dreamy, a gorgeous color and the beading is wonderful! How I do love a nice beaded cardigan, I would love to find some for myself :3

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  31. Don't you look lovely! Such a pretty cardigan and I adore that amazing 50s hat on you. The wind swept look just adds to your charm!

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  32. Your cardigan is adorable.. I'm loving the beads! It makes me feel even more devastated for not having Forever 21 over here.
    Skirt - very flattering.
    You are right - One never knows.. reminds me of Girl Scouts "BE PREPARED!" :D
    Great post, darling!

    Marija

    P.S.
    My compliments to your cameraman.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Marija. I will pass along your wonderfully nice compliments to the cameraman - aka, my husband (Tony) - right this very moment. I know it will brighten his morning as much your comment did mine.

      ♥ Jessica

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  33. You look amazing! That cardigan is to die for! The wind, it is working for you.

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  34. I was just talking with my friend how I need some amazing vintage cardigans, and here it is - your post and your amazing, adorable, beautiful cardi :D
    You look stunning, as usual ;)

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  35. Oh, and now I see that cardigan is Forever 21 :O I'm amazed :D

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  36. I have certainly chased many an errant hat! I love this outfit! That cardigan is so adorable. Isn't it funny how Forever XXI has so many perfect pieces to go with a vintage wardrobe? It's too bad they are not better quality garments.

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  37. You put together the most gorgeous outfits! And I'm in love with your hair color!
    xx
    http://thescreensiren.com

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    1. Thank you very, very much, honey! It's a wig (since late last year, I've been wearing a wig full time due to medical hair loss), and can be yours, too, if you're ever interested. Here's a post with more info about this wig: http://www.chronicallyvintage.com/2013/01/new-hair-for-new-year.html

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  38. Lovely cardi! As for the hats, I have long since learned to wear my hats TIED to my head somehow :) Perhaps you need to search for some vintage hatpins- I believe the Queen is a fan of the hatpin, and seeing as how she wears hats ALL the time, she should know ;)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Rachel - I really think it's lovely, too (I wish I had many more just like it other colours). I have a few (relatively small) hatpins, hailing from the 30s to the 50s, and am honestly thinking I should start keeping the plainest (so it will go with the most number of different hats) of them in the glovebox - perhaps with a couple of other vintage items so that it doesn't (unintentionally) look like some kind of tiny weapon (to someone who didn't know what it was). Ooohh, I can just imagine the gorgeous collection of hatpins that the Queen must have - surely some of them would be antiques and Royal Family heirlooms.

      ♥ Jessica

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  39. Its a gorgeous outfit, I particularly like the hat. Im sweating just looking at you though! Its 99 degrees here today and the heat index makes it feel like 108. Its the hottest the city has ever beenin the 15 years Ive lived here.

    kate-the old fashioned way

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  40. Jessica, i'm serious, that's the best outfit ever! I'm so in love with that cardigan, and you are wearing my two favorites colors! ♥ You look gorgeous!

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  41. You look so classy with those matching gloves and hat. I jusr adore the cardi too. I love beaded cardis and that colour ! Its so cold and windy in my town atm. Im also glad to say my beret worked out :-)

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  42. Oh my word that cardigan is incredible!

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  43. What a lovely skirt! What a steal this was! This skirt has a very vintage appeal and I could certainly see it with many different blouses and looks. I also very much love your bracelet. Some very beautiful pictures:) I am continually amazed at the clarity of your photographs:) I just love all the details in your sweater. Oh those pearl buttons are just so cute! Very lovely sweet beautiful Jessica:))

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    1. It was - I think that's the best price I've ever paid for a garment (as opposed to an accessory) on etsy to date! The shipping cost more than the skirt itself! :) I completely agree, I think that it's going to go with a ton of different blouses, tops and sweaters over the years. I needed another good basic skirt like that (to give my beloved black velvet 50s pencil skirt a day off sometimes) big time, and was so happy when I found it earlier this year.

      Thank you so much - I will pass that thoroughly lovely compliment on to the photographer (aka, Tony). There would have been so much camera shake if I'd been shooting in the wind that day, but his strong hands stayed steady as a rock - unlike my hat!!! :D

      Thank you very much for your wonderfully nice comment, my darling friend - huge hugs!

      ♥ Jessica

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  44. Yet another stunning outfit you've put together Jessica! :) I especially adore your cardigan and gloves. I also love the neat hat that kept trying to take off. lol. You look smashing in spite of the strong breeze my dear!

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  45. Beautiful sweater!!! I just realized i follow you on instagram.....what a small small world.
    xoxoxoxoxoxo

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  46. gone with the wind ... beautiful pictures.
    the cardigan is so cute. i can't believe it's from a high street fashion store.

    (i went to the big foot site you had linked in your last post, sadly most of the you tube videos there aren't working any more - but i had my fun watching bf.) :)

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    1. Thank you very much, dear gal - if I didn't own this cardi myself, I'd have a hard time believing it was from a trendy modern chain like Forever 21, too. I really wish they'd stock more pieces like this - I fully believe that vintage fans and admirers of classic, timeless attire alike would appreciate and buy them.

      Oh no! Sorry about that honey, I'm pretty sure that all of the videos on that page were working a couple of weeks ago when I started putting together my Bigfoot post. It's always such a gamble with anything Youtube related though - videos are pulled there so frequently. Who knows, maybe one day I'll spot the Sasquatch and get a video of it to post myself - unlikely, but you never know! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  47. I love that cardigan! Forever21 is a great place to find vintage inspired pieces isn't it?? I've been on the hunt for a beaded cardigan, I'm going to add them to my list of places to check!
    You look gorgeous in that color!
    ~xoxo, CoriLynn

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  48. These are such lovely vibrant pictures!

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  49. You look cute in the breeze, my dear! And I can't believe you got that skirt for $6. That. is. crazy.
    -Jamie
    ChatterBlossom

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    1. Thank you very much, dear Jamie! It was a true steal of a deal! The shipping cost me several dollars more than the skirt itself, if I remember correctly, and I believe this stands as the best price I've ever paid for a vintage garment on etsy to date. The vintage fashion gods were smiling on me - and cutting my wallet some much needed slack - that day for sure.

      Big hugs!
      ♥ Jessica

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  50. I really do love this look on you, Jessica! The teal really contrasts well with your pretty red hair and fair and clear complexion.

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  51. How I wish there was some more wind out here XD I haven't slept properly the past two days, because I have to get up early in the morning to go to work and at the time that I have to go to sleep, it's still so hot inside that I just can't sleep at all :(
    Anyhow, I think this outfit looks really wonderful on you! I love the colour of your cardigan, it's very lovely and reminds me of clear blue skies on a summer day :3

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    1. I'm starting to think it's something about that part of Kelowna (which is called Rutland), because the last (and previously only other, best I can recall off the top of my head) time we grabbed some outfit snaps there back in 2012 it was a wildly windy day, too. Overall, our corner of B.C. isn't particularly windy, so the fact that I've had two photo shoots this summer in different areas that were wind filled is quite interesting - I wonder if there will be any others before the season is up.

      I'm really sorry that you've had to endure such sizzling temperatures lately, honey. If I could send you some Canadian grown wind right now, honey, I would do so in a heartbeat.

      Fingers crossed that cooler weather comes your way asap!
      ♥ Jessica

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  52. oh darling you took my breath away. you look always so perfect!!! i looove that beautiful cardigan and your hat! vintage perfection again!
    lots of love and kisses,mary

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  53. You look fabulous, and I also noticed the grey skirt. It is hard to overlook that fab cardi. And I've got one almost alike it. :) mine is a little darker and more blueish turquoise. I bought it at a flea market and boy, it took a lot of washing and restoration before I could use it. But now I love it. And grey is my basis colour, since I'm not that fond of black.

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  54. Adorable pearled embroidery cardigan!

    Nella Fragola

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