February 12, 2014

Celebrating Valentine's Day with my gorgeous new Mizpah Designs floral headscarf




Outfit details

Silk cotton screen printed floral headscarf: etsy seller Mizpah Designs
White plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
Black cardigan: Fairweather
1950s coral pink knit top: eBay
Cute c. 1980s plastic bow and heart dangle brooch: etsy seller Candy Apple Vintage
c. 1930s red plastic coil bracelet: 7th annual Rutland Antiques & Collectibles Show
1950s white gloves: probably etsy or eBay
Vintage inspired black pencil skirt with pleated detailing: A Vintage Affair
Red bow stretch belt: (An Asian clothing store at) Pacific Mall in Toronto
Black crochet handbag: Thrifted (Value Village)
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Black faux suede round toe pumps: Wal-Mart
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano











































It's scarcely a secret that I love (LOVE!!!) headscarves, be they genuine vintage or modern pieces that fall squarely into the vintage appropriate camp. As such, it's seems especially fitting that for my festive pre-Valentine's Day festive ensemble this year, I received a wonderfully pretty new handmade floral print gem from UK artist and etsy seller Sarah Hall, who runs the charming shop Mizpah Designs.

Each of Sarah's designs are created by her from scratch and digitally printed on high quality cotton silk and I was delighted when she very kindly offered me the chance to receive one of her headscarves to review and model here on the blog.

Though somewhere on the lengthy journey between the UK and Canada, the postal system squashed her parcel a touch, I'm happy to say that - thanks to the very secure packaging including a lovely paper box featuring the brand's logo on it that my order was shipped with - the headscarf itself arrived safe and sound in 100% perfect condition.

What struck me first upon unwrapping it was what a quality fabric it was made from. This is not dollar store fabric by any means. It's soft yet definitely sturdy, tactilely pleasing, and cool to the touch. It glides over your hair like warm butter and is so very comfortable against the skin as well. Printed with a bold black, red, pink and green rose floral print pattern, the scarf I received will go well with a number of items in my wardrobe and can easily be worn around the neck, tied to purse handle, or looped around a ponytail as well, so it's versatility doesn't end merely with being a headscarf.

Inspired by the fashions of the swinging sixties and a longstanding love of all things vintage, Sarah puts her heart and soul into her creations, which can easily be styled to work with various decades, especially the 1940s, 50s, and 60s. I sincerely appreciate this beautiful scarf, which I've worn numerous times since it arrived, most recently on a chilly Sunday during which Tony and I were headed out to Kelowna to run some errands and visit my sister.

We pulled off the main road for a quick spell en route to snap these photos at Antlers Beach in Peachland, as a hearty wind whipped the icy waters of Okanagan Lake so powerfully that I got hit with a bit of spray a few times while shooting.

When getting dressed that morning, I used my Mizpah Designs headscarf as the jumping off point for the rest of my outfit, as well as the fact that Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I was in the mood for a generous dose of pink and red. Not just any pink, but warm coral pink, which just happens to be my one of my sweetheart's favourite hues.

Black, in the form of the cardigan, skirt, crochet purse, and shoes (and the seam on the back of my stockings) help ground the vibrant, girly colours at work here and prevent them from unintentionally veering into twee territory.

Cuteness still abounds though thanks to the red bow belt and the fun circa 1980s plastic bow and heart dangle brooch, which I bought from etsy seller Candy Apple Vintage a little over two years ago and have been saving ever since just for Valentine's Day one year. As the colours in it complimented those in the headscarf so well, now seemed like the perfect time.

I feel very blessed to have the honour of working with a wide array of companies, etsy sellers, and artisans various sponsorship capacities throughout the year. My wardrobe and blog are often bolstered by our interactions and I'm able introduce you, my dear readers, to brands and shops you might not have heard about before through posts that feature these products. As Valentine's Day approaches, I can't help but send my love and gratitude out, not only to Sarah for this splendid Mizpah Designs headscarf, but also to every one of the individuals and companies who collaborate with Chronically Vintage.

Far more than just the physical products I receive from some of my blog sponsors, with each new partnership, I gain something - including in certain cases a new friend - and my site is enriched because of it. Thank you, one and all, from the bottom of my heart for that!

66 comments:

  1. Gorgeous!!!
    you looks great, i love it!!

    XoXo

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  2. You are the best poem anyone could write on Valentine´s .
    Every single detail a true inspiration.
    love and sunshine, dear Jessica.
    XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx

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  3. You look wonderful! In this outfit are all my favorite colors ♥♥♥

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  4. where to begin with all that cuteness :-)
    first - i love red and pink combis. very well done! then that skirt - what a gorgeous kick pleat detail! not to mention the beautiful and handy scarf, the pretty handbag and the heart-y and bow-y accessories.......
    happy valentine <3

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Beate!!! I've been living in red and pink for the past few days and have no plans of stopping until the stroke of midnight on February 15th. It's so fan to partner these colours together and also see which other hues they work well with, too (denim blue, brown, navy, and mustard yellow are some of my other faves to wear with red and pink in the same outfit).

      Wishing you a joyful Valentine's celebration!
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. So so pretty. I need to make head scarves a part of my wardrobe, but I can't quite get the hang of them. And I LOVE that little brooch!!!

    xox Sammi
    www.thesoubrettebrunette.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Sammi. I totally get where you're coming from. Before I started wearing snoods a few years ago, I felt much the same way about them (and vintage turbans, come to think of it) as you do about headscarves. The latter, IMO, are even easier to pull off. You can wrap them around your whole head, a pony tale, even wear them as tied around your neck (or purse straps), if you'd like. They're fun, youthful and very addictive once you've started sporting them! :)

      ♥ Jessica

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  6. This will sound stupid (not the first, or last time for me) but how do you secure your headscarves? With a light coloured scarf, pins would show, but unsecured, they always slip around my head so that they end up either a neck scarf by the end of the day, or lost altogether.

    I must add, the outfit is put together beautifully. Pink and red always look smart.

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    1. Hello sweet dear, that's not a stupid question (there are no stupid questions when they're asked with genuine curiosity, fear not) at all. My trick is to secure the scarf quite tightly (not to the point of being painful or apt to cause a headache of course though), then crisscross two bobby pins over the scarf at the very back with the head of one pin pointing upwards and the other pointing down. If your hair and/or the scarf was quite thick, you might want to do two sets of "x's" like this.

      This way, if you're wearing your hair down, the pins are completely hidden, and if you're wearing it up, people can still only see the pins from the back.

      I haven't tried this approach myself, but another product that might be helpful and fairly inconspicuous (if you get the clear version) is Good Hair Days Magic Grip Bobby Pins: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003JN5ZEG?ie=UTF8&tag=chronically-20

      I hope these ideas help, honey. Please feel free to keep any and all questions you may have coming. I'm always happy to be of assistance however I can.

      ♥ Jessica

      *PS* I've seen plenty of photos of women back in the day where headscarves where you could see that they had bobby pins securing them to their heads, so it's not breaking with tradition to have exposed pins on the sides of your head, if need be.

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  7. Wow! The devil is in the details and you have so many great details here. It's really a little work of art.

    bisous
    Suzanne

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  8. So cute. :) I love the pin and the bow belt. I think it is funny that right after Christmas I'm sick and tired of red, but already in February I love it again. I have always been a fan of red. Hope my small gifts reach you soon.

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  9. You look really wonderful in this outfit, I love the little details you've added in the accessories ♥

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  10. I love this black-based Valentine's Day outfit. It's a nice sleek take on a traditional look. Also, that shot of the gloves and purse is really well orchestrated.

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  11. Those accessories! I can't deal with how cute you are. I am in love with your brooch and belt combination, so adorable.

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    1. *Blush* Thank you very much, honey! There are few adjectives in the whole wide world I adore and feel happy to be complimented with than "cute". You've made me smile ear-to-ear! :)

      Tons of hugs & joyful Feb. 14th wishes.
      ♥ Jessica

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  12. Wow, I just love everything in this outfit! The red, pink and black are great together; the skirt is awesome; the bag, I LOVE the bag; brooch, I just need that brooch, too!! Great, great combi!

    Have a great Valentine's Day with lots of love, Jessica!!

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  13. Dearest Jessica, I am so sorry for going MIA for soooo long! Ever since the logging that happened here this past fall I've been in a bit of a funk. I even moved my blog over to Wordpress in the hopes of shaking things up a bit. Anyway, I am back! Girlfriend, you never cease to amaze me with your adorable outfits and how cute you always are! :D I love that scarf but I am also in love with that skirt, the back is way too cute. Your new look for your blog is fabulous... you just keep growing leaps and bounds and I couldn't be happier for your continued success!!! I hope sometime you will get a chance to pop over to my new blog and maybe even follow me over there... (http://elisabetpollockstudio.wordpress.com). How is the puppy doing, I'm sure she isn't a puppy per se at this point... I hope your health for the new year is unaffected by your chronic issues... having a chronic illness is such a pain in the ... !
    Well, off to nose around your blog some more... talk again soon-ish (you know me, I don't get over a lot but you never leave my thoughts)!
    Hugs from your blogging sister in brrrr New Hampshire USA,
    Beth P

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  14. What a perfect Valentine's Day outfit! I love the use of black to offset the pinks and reds, and that headscarf is just gorgeous. Also what an adorable pin!

    Cheers,
    Jenny

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  15. oh what an adorable and perfect look for valentines day! i´m in love with your brooch! well the look is perfection from the headscarf to the seemed stockings!
    kiss,mary

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  16. You look absolutely stunning in these colours! Such a darling colour combination that suit you perfectly! I wish you a darling Wednesday sweetie!

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  17. Jessica I love the new blog design ! (I've not been around the internet these last weeks) so it's new to me.
    It's vintage like but yet modern…
    Oh and i love your outfit! the bow, the pin, the scarf, you're a living doll. The doll a little girl dreams of having someday.

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    1. Sweet Lorena, that is, hand on my heart, one of the most beautiful, touching and memorable compliments I've ever been given. It will make me (a lifelong doll lover) smile and feel good, I'm sure, on countless days to come when reflect back on it.

      Huge thanks & the happiest of Valentine's Day wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  18. These pictures are amazing! You are so stunningly beautiful and your outfit coordination is seriously admirable. I am not normally a pink-person, but I have to say that the way you pulled this off is definitely changing my mind about the colour! I also love the background to these pictures, the grays of winter really make your outfit stand out.

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    1. You have beyond made my day, sweet dear, thank you deeply for your beautiful comment and compliments. It really means a lot to me, too, that you noticed the background here, because usually Tony and I do try to select a backdrop that compliments (or at least doesn't glaringly clash with) what I'm wearing that day and the over all message of what our photos are trying to convey. Of course, sometimes that's easier said than done (depending on the outfit, town we're in, weather, etc), but it is an element that we aim for with as many shoots as possible.

      Thank you again & have an absolutely joyous Valentine's Day,
      ♥ Jessica

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  19. Such a lovely outfit, that brooch in particular just kills me, it's so adorable!
    Also, it is ridiculously beautiful where you live. There are currently talks in my household of moving to Canada for a year or so soon so your photos always get me super excited to come and see such a gorgeous country!!

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  20. This outfit is too darling! And I adore red and pink too!

    xoxo
    -Janey

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  21. Sweet Jessica, you are so beautiful! You always shine :-)
    You have such an eye for colour combination, incredible. I love each detail of your outfit - You look so darling sweet! Happy Valentine's Day :-)

    Miss Beta

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    1. What splendidly touching compliments, sweet Beta, thank you very, very much.

      Wishing you a marvelously lovely Feb. 14th!
      ♥ Jessica

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  22. Gorgeous look Jessica.
    Lovely:)
    http://balearaitzart.blogspot.com.au/

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  23. Lovely outfit, pink is certainly a great color for you. I also very much enjoyed seeing your backdrop near the water. There is just something so soothing about being near water like this. I hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day. How cute is your heart brooch? And, of course, love the back kick pleat in your skirt:)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Joanna. No argument there. :) I think the universe must have know pink was going to be my absolute favourite colour when it was dishing out my skin, eye and hair colours.

      So very true! There is something about the appeal of living around the water and the mountains like this that speaks to me on an almost primal level (my little sister, who has spent nearly all of her life in the Okanagan feels the same way and says she has a hard time imagining ever not living in this environment for any kind of extended period of time). I've always missed both, especially the mountains, when I've lived away from them.

      This brooch is a cutie pie, I agree. It's super Valentine's Day-ish, but can easily work through the rest of the year, too (it would be fab our our anniversary in particular as well).

      Tons of thanks & happy Valentine's Day countdown hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  24. You are so lucky to receive such a beautiful headscarf! Love that they are created from scratch and then digitally printed! It sure makes the perfect touch on your valentines day look! The beautiful blend of red and pink is gorgeous and I adore that heart brooch!

    Rebecca
    www.winnipegstyle.ca

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  25. You are seriously the queen of beautiful accessories and perfect execution of them! I look at your photos and feel like I need to be taking notes haha. This photo set is lovely.

    Amanda
    http://junebugsandgeorgiapeaches.blogspot.com/

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    1. That is such an awesome compliment, dear Amanda, thank you very much!!! Accessorizing - and making sure all the accessories I was sporting in a given outfit harmonized well together - has always been a particular fashion passion of mine, so it means all the more when some comments on how I style my outfit "embellishments".

      Have a stellar Valentine's Day!
      ♥ Jessica

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  26. So beautiful! What a great look—the scarf is the perfect finishing touch. I just sent a friend in Nashville who has expressed interest in dressing vintage a few from my own collection and hope she loves them! Your Valentine pin is so, so cute—just darling! Prettier than any box of chocolates, I must say. ;) That coral is a great colour for you, too. So warm and pretty despite the cold—bright colours are the perfect antidote!

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  27. I rarely see pink With red but you gather both of those Colors so well,

    Have a lovely Valentine s Day tomorrow With Tony !
    Xoxo,
    Lorna
    Http://lornasharp.blogspot.com

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  28. You pulled it off, Jessica: this outfit is both cute and elegant; it has the ultimate feminine feature (being pink), and a tone-down by combining it with black. The "cute" factor is the ribbon in your hair; and the "love me forever" definitely shown in the adorable brooch.
    Spot on.
    Great choice, as always!

    Marija

    P.S.
    Pop by my blog tomorrow - I'll leave a present in a form of.. well, something that will make you and everyone else smile.

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  29. A gorgeous outfit and those accessories are just perfect. A valentines day look that is so pretty with the colours blending so well together. Enjoy your valentines day!

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  30. Oh you look so gorgeous !!! A real Valentine girl ! Such a beautiful outfit

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  31. the heart brooch is so cute. loooooooooove it. ... the 50s knit top is adorable, too. i would wear it right away!!!!

    happy valentines day!°

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  32. Lovely photos! I like how the black touches mess this is a very wearable outfit, not too sickly sweet but still romantic. The heart brooch is very cute!

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Kate. Indeed, it can be easy for large doses of pink (or pastels) to quickly veer into twee/teeny bopper territory, but usually grounded it with a dark, solid colour can help there. I love pink with navy blue and dark, warm cocoa browns, as well - and of course, child of the 80s that I am, I also really fancy it with grey.

      Big hugs & tons of joyful Valentine's Day wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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    2. Ooo, pink and grey is one of my favourite colour combinations. I went to a wedding where that was the colour theme and it was stunning. I really like the idea of pink and navy, off to see if I have anything in my wardrobe in those colours that I can pair together.

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    3. I love pink and navy blue together. Especially if it's a light or very vibrant (but not necessarily dark) pink. The two temper each other well and create a mix that I find to be powerfully feminine and very, very pretty.

      Happy outfit creating!
      ♥ Jessica

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  33. Lovely pics and love the colour combos. Of all the pink shades I think coral pink is my favourite and really suits you. Great idea with the use of red too, it's not something I would have thought of putting with coral until now and seeing how well it works! Best wishes Jo x

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  34. Love it! This whole outfit makes me excited about Valentine's Day, which is not normally my thing. =)

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  35. These are really gorgeous pictures of you and I love all the little touches, particularly that brooch

    retro rover

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  36. Such a perfect outfit for Valentines, I love how you've incorporated the scarf. Beautiful! x

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  37. Very Valentine-y and very cheerful! the scarf seems like a great find.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Desiree! This scarf is such a great piece. It feels especially gorgeous against my skin, too, which makes me adore it all the more (and which, come to think of it, heights its Valentine's Day appropriateness all the more).

      Have a fantastic February 14th!!!
      ♥ Jessica

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  38. What a sweet outfit, you do make me think of strawberries and chocolate! Everything goes with that cute scarf perfectly.

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet lady! I love that yummy comparison - I wish I had both ingredients on hand at the moment (we need to go grocery shopping and currently have neither, which is rare because I almost always have strawberries on hand), I'd whip up a batch right this moment. There's no more fitting food for Feb. 14th.

      Oodles of hugs & joyful Valentine's Day wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  39. A darling Valentine's themed outfit from the scarf on your head to the bows on your toes! <3

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  40. Beautiful as usual, my friend! I particularly love the adorable heart brooch and bow belt.

    Happy Valentine's Day!
    Lisa.

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  41. So perfectly coordinated and the headscarf adds such a sweet touch.
    xo

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Teresa. It's so fun to get a chance to go all out with pink and red at this time of year!

      Tons of hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  42. I used to dress for Valentines, but not really any more. Of course I used to dress for Christmas as well. I always make and attempt to dress for Easter though!! I do love seeing all the pretty looks you and so many others put together. And pink is definitely your color. I think it goes so well with your red hair and fair skin. :-)

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  43. What a perfect Valentines day outfit! I love the mix of red and pink with the black :)

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  44. Not many would have the creativity to marry pink and red in the same outfit and manage to make it look so chic! The black is a great complement for those two colors and as usual you accessorized the outfit beautifully. Congratulations on yet another inspiring look. Hope you had a lovely Valentine's Weekend :)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet Theresa! I've always loved red and pink together (my Valentine's Day outfit last year featured the same colours but in very different hues: dusty pink and burgundy), but they can look overly Feb. 14th if worn together at other times throughout the year (sometimes at least), so I really try to make the post of this colour combo in February.

      We had a stellar Valentine's Day, thank you!!! My sweet chap spoiled me with awesome presents, I cooked a scrumptious dinner (with warm-from-the-over chocolate chip cookies for dessert), and we watched some great movies on Netflix. My perfect kind of Valentine's Day! :) I hope your was terrific as well!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  45. I love the way that you've anchored the pink and coral tones with black accents. It gives the outfit a more sophisticated edge and looks divine. I am so jealous of that scarf. It looks so lovely.

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  46. such a cute outfit! I love that brooch :)

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    1. Thank you very much, sweet dear! I adore this charming plastic heart brooch, too. It's not mid-century vintage and there are no identifying marks on it, but it has the look and feel of similar styles I remember Hallmark (the greeting card folks) putting out when I was a child in the 80s and 90s. No matter when and were it was made, I adore it and was so happy to showcase it here this year for Valentine's Day.

      Big hugs & many thanks for your comments today,
      ♥ Jessica

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  47. You are always so stunningly beautiful. I love your entire outfit and such a wonderful backdrop for your photos. Breathtaking!!!

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    1. And you, dear Denise, are always, truly, so incredibly kind and encouraging. Thank you deeply!

      I hope that you and your family had a marvelous Valentine's Day,
      ♥ Jessica

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