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December 13, 2014

Time to start planning your vintage New Year's outfit!



Vintage Fashionista Friday blog graphic for Chronically Vintage photo VintagefashionistaChronicallyVintag.png


{Gold and green, two of the holiday season's most iconic hues shine through brilliantly in this elegant handmade fabric headband, which can be dressed up or down to your heart's content (and is fab for keeping your hair out of your face during a night of partying). $10.00 from FlosCaeli.}




{Pearls and New Year's go together like canapés and champagne - in fact, I rather think that the gorgeous rose gold hued beads on this 23.5 inch long, c. 1940s hand knotted pearl necklace resemble the bubbles in a glass of that most iconic of New Year's libations. $24.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Ramp up your usual red lip this holiday season with a sparkly, New Year's Eve (or Christmas) party perfect gloss that is bound to dazzle, shine, and impress from sunset to sunrise! Ruby Slippers Lip Glitz lip gloss, $8.50 for a 0.42 ounce tube from Live Beautifully Body.}




{If you're a fan of geometrically inspired jewelry, metallic hues, or vintage lucite, than this seriously chic mid-century rose gold plastic bangle bracelet with matching rhinestones is for you. $24.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{Turn every last head in the room when you enter wearing this sublimely beautiful 1940s inspired slinky, curve hugging gold lace strapless dress that positively exudes Old Hollywood glamour. Available in modern ladies sizes 6 to 14. $179.00 from Blue Velvet Vintage.}




{This has really got to be the most fantastically well suited novelty purse for New Year's Eve ever!!! No matter if you drink or not - and perhaps all the more so, if like me, you don't (because it finally gives you a chance to carry around champers all night! :D) - this structured champagne bottle fabric bag is for you. It's fun, quirky, and sure to start many a conversation all evening long. $66.33 from Aldo.}




{What better way to keep shine at bay having a stellar vintage compact (that you've refilled) at the ready. This gorgeous 1950s pearlescent white seed bead and sequins stunner not only looks like its covered in confetti, but it also reminds me of falling snowflakes, making it doubly well suited to the holiday season. $32.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.}




{I wear opaque black tights frequently from September to April, but semi-sheer black tights or stockings are something I very rarely sport (no idea why!). I think that if I had this party perfect, vintage inspired sparkly seamed pair, that would change mighty quickly! Available in modern ladies sizes S/M and M/L. $20.00 from My Tights.}




{Ummm, can we please take a minute to savour how delicately fabulous these vintage-esque sparkly gold t-strap heels are? As if their gorgeous, King Midas approved hue and mix of textures wasn't enough, the price is so affordable, you might be tempted to get two pairs! Available in modern ladies sizes 5.5 to 8.5 (as well as in various other equally marvelous colors). $32.59 from Amazon.}






Each year, very nearly without fail, the work and energy involved with Christmas and the weeks leading up to it do such a number on my health, that by the time the last endearingly lovely day of the year comes along, I'm bedridden with flare-ups and genuinely crippling pain from various conditions and am lucky to be awake at all when the ball drops. I miss the annual local fireworks show at midnight down at the beach, I miss the festive feast, and I miss out on celebrating it with family and loved ones (aside, some years, from Tony, who will often very sweetly stay home or return home early to be with me - he's such an angel!).

Not this year! No siree, no way, no how. Okay, maybe not. As I've talked about at length in past posts (such as this 2013 edition of Saturday Snapshots), planning things in advance and juggling a plethora of severe chronic illnesses do not usually go hand-in-hand in the slightest. There are steps I can take, such as scaling back my usual holiday season workload, that can help a bit, but until a given date arrives (and even then - things can literally change on the health front for me at any moment of the day), I never know for sure what it will hold in store for me.

Perpetual (realistic) optimist that I am however, I like to dream big and hope for the best, while doing everything to facilitate my goals and the last one for this year is, fittingly, to celebrate on December 31st. As such, with little more than half a month left to go, I thought I'd share some of the delightful vintage and vintage appropriate offerings that have been fueling my creative fires when it comes to what I might wear for this special night.

New Year's is a really a go big or go home kind of event. Now is definitely the time to bust out the sequins, lame, sparkles, evening gowns, dramatic hats, bold makeup, fabulous updos, oodles of glittering jewelry and anything else shimmering, bright, OTT or otherwise awesome that your heart desires. It isn't a necessity of course, but it is a ton of fun and as there are usually so few other days in the year when we get to celebrate like this, very much including with our ensembles, so why not make the most of this super festive year end celebration, kick up your (rhinestone encrusted) heels, and party like it's 1949! :D

I can't promise that I'll be able to do the same, but I'll be trying my hardest to make that happen. Wish me luck - I'll be wishing all of you an endlessly happy New Year's celebration!

25 comments:

  1. Oohh!! An excuse to dress up! I love your suggestions, especially the seamed stockings. Just reading your post has gotten me excited. I hope your health and stamina hold up this year and you can enjoy a wonderful night.

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  2. In Italy, my dearest husband's native country, they say you should wear red underwear on new year's eve for good luck dying the following year. I remember how I tried desperately to find a red bra on Dec 31 - in fact I found it, but wore it only once. I gave up this superstitiousness before I even adopted it, but as I love red, I always try to find a red detail, a red accessory, to wear with my new year's outfit.

    Enjoy the holidays and all the best for 2015!
    Doris

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    1. Ooooh, sweet Doris, I didn't know that your husband was, like Tony, a native son of Italy as well. He's never mentioned that tradition to me, so I'll have to ask him about it. I know that soooo many things in Italy are more regional than national on the tradition front, so it may be that they didn't do this where he lived or just that he never spoke of it to me. Either way, chances are he will have at least heard of it.

      I may just have to follow your lead and start sporting read for New Year's Eve, too. It is certainly in keeping with the colour palette of the season! :)

      Big hugs & tons of happy holiday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  3. I love the glitzy suggestions here Jessica, some lovely items. I think we might just be having a quiet NYE at home, but just because you're staying home doesn't mean you can't be glam! Last year we got dressed up and went to the living room, so it may well be a repeat of that. I have to say it's a chance to wear your highest heels but not have to worry about your feet aching, as you've always got a seat, there's no queue for the bar, and you can always kick them off safe in the knowledge your floor is clean! x

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    1. Very true, my wise friend. I'm a lowkey partier at all times (if given the choice), so I don't mind throwing a mini bash for two, four, six, etc at home and not steeping outside (though, I would love to go down to the beach and see the fireworks - but aside from that, I mean). Just getting to that point will beat most years though. I sooo hope it does. Surely actually celebrating New Year's eve must kick off the coming year on a better note - and who couldn't use that? :)

      Big hugs & tons of early happy New Year wishes!
      ♥ Jessica

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  4. Everything's crossed for you! I definitely take my health for granted and my heart goes out to you when I read how much of a struggle it can be for others like you out there... please take it as easy as possible! I would love to see you in that knockout gold dress or similar, you'd look fab awash with gold and sequins! CC x

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    1. Thank you deeply, honey, you're such a compassionate, caring soul.

      That would be pretty sensational! I've never head a head-to-toe sequins or lame dress. Perhaps 2015 will be the year I add one to my wardrobe and it can debut here next holiday season. For this one, I do have a new (but fairly vintage-y looking) brocade one, which is lux and shimmery looking, so I may wear that for Christmas and/or New Year's. We'll see! :)

      Huge hugs & oodles of happy holiday wishes,
      ♥ Jessica

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  5. wow that gold evening dress is sure glamorous

    retro rover

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  6. I will keep my fingers crossed and well wishes your way that you are able to enjoy the festivities of New Year's Eve. It will be so lovely to see how you might dress. I hope you are able to watch the ball drop and celebrate the evening with family and friends:) Some lovely ideas! I especially love the bag! I always love a good novelty purse and this one is perfect for New Year's. Hugs and well wishes your way!

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    1. That's so sweet, thank you very much, my beautiful friend. Isn't that bag sensational? It would be a great purse for Valentine's Day and anniversaries, too - basically any occasion that calls for Champers! :)

      I hope you have a marvelous, merry and entirely enjoyable New Year's celebration, too!

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  7. fingers and toes crossed that your health will play along! i wish you a awesome party on new years eve!!!!!!!
    and can´t wait for pics of your outfit :-)
    love your suggestions - although i will opt for breeches, anorak and hiking boots. doing the very first hike of the year has become a tradition for us. thats not said that if there were a fun party in sight we would not attend... and dress glamorous....
    hugs and kisses to you! <3

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  8. this years new years eve i will porbably wear a moving box and a paint brush in my hair ... ;)

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    1. Hello my sweet friend! I've been there before myself and can completely relate. I hope that your move goes smoothly and that you're still able to celebrate in one way or another. I'll be sure to raise a glass for you December 31st and will be wishing you a truly excellent move and year ahead.

      Big hugs,
      ♥ Jessica

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  9. I hope you will get to have a lovely night out. I adore the bubbly clutch. That would be such a cute accessory to have on the night. I think I will possibly be staying home that night as usual, but that's ok by me. I get a little bit of a view of the fireworks from where we live and I'm not fond of seeing them up close as the noise hurts my sensitive ears.

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  10. How I wish someone would invite me to a New Year's party where I could wear something gorgeous and vintage inspired! And I love those pearls! :) For us, NYE will probably be spent at home, in front of the fireplace with our pups and a small glass of champagne...then bed. :)

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  11. I hope you feel well enough to enjoy New Years Eve xxx

    I'm not a big fan of doing anything on this night of the year and for years went along with the tradition of going out or staying up, but I'm such a homebody that I don't mind staying home and even going to bed before midnight! Also, Andy has usually worked so can often be asleep on the sofa by 8pm, or like one year - 6.30pm! That was a record even for him, hehe.

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  12. I'm in love with that dress and shoes, and I wish we could have an excuse to dress up like this more often, not only to parties, it's so damn pretty ^^

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  13. I really hope that you get your big New Year's Eve festivities this year! You've definitely put together an amazing look with your links, it would be a shame if you didn't.
    My NYE last year was amazing. I went to this circus themed event that a theater troupe put on - I got to wear a costume, there were really fun things to do (thing giant swings and slides), and the whole thing had a fantastically steampunk vibe. We're keeping it more sedate this year, but of course I'm still going to get glammed up.

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  14. Ohh, how I would love to party in the golden Jayne Mansfield dress and dance the night away in the golden heels. But my budget does not allow it and I am sure I have a dress in the basement that is festive enough for New Years Eve. Dearest Jess, you really have to scale down the last two weeks of December so you are not in pain and are able to sniff a bit to the NYE party. I don't think anybody expects that much of you during Christmas, I think it is yourself pressing yourself too hard. Save a bit of energy for NYE, see the fireworks while kissing your angel. :)

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  15. Some lovely glamorous choices here. That compact is gorgeous! I love to see the amazing bangles that you wear and have in your shop. I really wish that I could wear them but I obviously have 'man' hands as I can rarely get them to fit me. Such a shame, there are so many beauties. I hope that you can get to celebrate plenty this festive season.

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  16. Mmmmm, that gold dress is just spectacular. I can just imagine shimmying on the dance floor in that lovely little number.

    And the gold dance slippers are also just lovely. The op-shop in town has a silver pair that are strikingly similar, but the store is closed until the new year. Each time i pass, I try to get a good look at them through the window. Once the store opens again I think I'm going to have to make them mine.

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    1. Ooohh, you really must try to make them yours, sweet gal. I am of the mind that if something miraculously manages to stay put in a thrift store for long and continues to call you name, it's a sign that you need to return and bring it home with you. :)

      Big hugs & the very happiest of New Year's wishes coming your way!
      ♥ Jessica

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  17. I really do love that lip gloss is called "Ruby Slippers". My sister has always, always been a huge Judy Garland and Wizard of Oz fan and this automatically makes me think of her. Maybe I can get it for her as a stocking stuffer or small birthday gift someday. And I always enjoy seeing your own shop's items featured in your posts. :)

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    1. That would be a fabulous stocking stuffer! I think beauty products are amongst the loveliest and most practical things one can find waiting for them in their stocking on Christmas morn and I'm sure your sister would adore that gloss.

      Why, thank you! It's fun to try and find items I have in stock to weave into a given theme. Occasionally I don't have any, but often than not there's at least one that will work.

      ♥ Jessica

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