Nautical by nature

Outfit details

Anchors and Stripes Nautical Rockabilly Bandana: c/o Inkabilly
1950s red glitter resin earrings: Summer Blue Jewelry
Red long sleeved top: Urban Planet (I think; had for years)
1940s style denim overalls: Freddies of Pinewood
1940s/1950s enamel coated anchor brooch: Unknown, had for years
1950s corduroy bucket purse: Rue 23 Vintage Clothing Mid-century vintage style beaded charm bracelet: Handmade by me
1940s style brown leather shoes: Naturalizer
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red
Nail colour: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Red Carpet

Photography by Tony Cangiano

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Pattern matching is one thing, and I do dabble in such from time to time, but blending two distinctly different geographical styles as they relate to fashion is not something I dip my toes into very often.

Pulling such off can be tricky at best and look downright wonky at worse. That isn't to say it can't be done - and indeed, some fabulous styles have been born of such marriages - but, again, it's a risky zone and one that is best approached with some forethought.

A little earlier this year, as first mentioned in this fun camping outfit post last month, I had the great pleasure to begin a working relationship with the exciting British vintage/retro/rockabilly inspired fashion and housewares brand, Inkabilly.

I was drawn to Inkabilly's creations for a number of reasons. Not only are they vibrant, fun and very well made, but the company is helmed by a passionate husband and wife team (Lee and Karl).

This really resonated with me, as a lot of business related things that Tony and I do are shared together in a similar way (for example, we founded and have both subsequently run our free weekly new book email notification service, Any New Books, together for over six years now).

Lee and Karl kindly let me select a few of their stylish offerings to share about with all of you and this week I'm tickled pink - or, perhaps more like red and blue :) - to get the opportunity to highlight another of their excellent offerings here today.

Two of the items that they kindly sent me were their signature headscarves, of which is this is the second (the first stars darling, vibrantly hued flamingos).

Like many a vintage fashion fan the world over, I have a serious love for all things nautical related. From the colours to the imagery to actually being near the water, I flock to nautical related things and love when the chance to put together a new outfit based around such arises.

We're a few hours away from the actual (Pacific) ocean, but we are fortunate to live in a town with not one, but two, large lakes (plus numerous other lakes and rivers in the general area), which can serve as a good stand in for such.

In the case of this particular shoot, we opted to take snaps in the bright, warm late afternoon sunlight recently down at Rotary Park at Okanagan Lake here in Penticton. This is a spacious, lovely swath of grass and flowers that is popular as a lounging spot with locals and tourists alike.

We've shot here a small number of other times over the years and will likely return to it again and again in the future, as it offers up a slice of both grass (aka, the “nature” in my puntastic post title, which takes inspiration from the well known rap group, Naughty By Nature) and a large expanse of beautiful blue water.

My outfit was selected earlier in the day and the location determined later on, but I knew that as I had boldly opted to partner that most classic of farmyard staples, the humble denim overall, with nautical elements, that I wanted both turf and lake alike visible in my outfit snaps that day.

It struck me that I hadn't sported my Freddies of Pinewood overalls, which I love to the moon and back, here in ages (seriously - the last time may very well have been the spring of 2013), despite the fact that I live in them year round (they, like my other Freddies pants, are my staple dog park attire, as they hold up awesomely to the rigours of Annie and her energetic canine chums).

I was in the mood to wear them on camera again, but also wanted to highlight this fantastic anchor print headscarf from Inkabilly, and so this outfit - a mashup of land and sea - was born.

It's a casual, fun look and one that suits the unpredictable nature of our weather this summer really well (though, delightfully, we were treated to some gorgeous sunshine on the particular Sunday when we took these snaps).

To echo the anchor print in the headscarf (called the Anchors and Stripes Nautical Rockabilly Bandana, which retails for a very reasonable £6.99), I opted for a fun mid-century vintage enamel anchor shaped brooch and a made-by-me vintage inspired anchor charm bracelet.

Beyond that, a basic red top, plus a tawny hued vintage handbag and forties style shoes in the same colour round out the mix, both picking up the dark golden stitching in the overalls themselves.

Simple, in many ways as this outfit may be, I absolutely love it! I haven't dabbled in farm meets seafaring looks very often, but this ensemble has me thinking that I should delve into such a bit more frequently. Dark overalls like this, with their inky indigo shade, take to classic nautical shades like red and white extremely well and are reminiscent, colour wise, of classic navy blue sailors trousers.

I really like this charming nautical print headscarf from Inkabilly. It's lightweight, expertly made, has excellent colours, and would go with a million and one different nautical inspired looks. I could easily see packing it the next time we were headed to the ocean, but know that it will get plenty of wear around these landlocked parts as well, and want to sincerely thank Lee and Karl for sending this terrific vintage inspired accessory my way.

So while it might not be everyday that I meld two distinct styles like farm/land girl and nautical together, I must say, I'm very happy with the results of this experiment and love that I now have yet another styling technique to get even more mileage out of both my Freddies overalls and this great new anchor print headscarf alike.

Do you ever mix two (or more) unique styles as well? Would you wear a nautical meets farmland ensemble yourself?

Stripes, gingham, a snowy owl, and wouldn't you know it, more rain!

Outfit details

Green and white vintage style headwrap: Handmade gift from a lovely blog reader
Black enamel covered metal hoop earrings: Unknown, had since I was a teenager (probably Claire's)
Green and white striped Gina Top: c/o Dolly & Dotty Green cardigan: Old Navy
Oscar the Owl brooch: Erstwilder
Black plastic rose bead stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
1940s style side button high waisted blue jeans: Freddies of Pinewood
White 1950s/60s tile purse: Running Rabbit Studio
Black & white vintage style saddle shoes: eBay
Lip colour: MAC Party Line


Photography by Tony Cangiano  















































(The fabulous keyhole and tie string detail at the neckline on the back of this darling green and white striped shirt from Dolly & Dotty.)

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Earlier in the month, I chatted (here) about the near monsoon levels of rain that we've been getting around these usually very dry parts and how they've been impacted our normal spring/summertime ability to take photos just about any time during daylight hours that we desire. As such, I won't lament the weather - very little we can do to change it, after all! - here a great deal, but it does warrant mentioning because it is directly responsible for the backdrop against which today's images were captured.

Recently, on yet another rainy weekend (it's almost like the rain is intentionally falling most heavily on the two days a week that are the most likely for Tony and I to be out and about on – le sigh. We'd been doing quite a lot of bopping about in the northern Okanagan that afternoon, rain falling the whole day long (you can actually see some raindrops on my clothes in many of the photos above).

As evening began to break and we knew we'd have next to no daylight soon, we opted to just make the best of a damp situation and found an (already closed) little shopping mall/plaza that had a slender overhanging roof that allowed us to duck under and avoid getting wet while grabbing a few snaps of this fun, casual 1940s inspired ensemble.

For the first time ever really, in just the last year or two, I have been feeling stripes big time for my own wardrobe. I've always appreciated stripes and enjoyed them on others, but for ages, I shied away from them as a general rule (with a few notable exceptions made for things like classic Breton strips).

I'm not sure what flicked the switch, so to speak, but something did and now it seems stripes are something that I can't add enough of to my closet. Especially so in terms of vibrant, yet still very classic looking garments, such as this absolutely delightful Green and White Striped Gina Top from online UK vintage reproduction/vintage inspired/rockabilly clothing superstore, Dolly & Dotty.

I'm truly honoured to have recently become one of Dolly & Dotty's brand ambassadors and to, in this exciting new roll, get a chance to highlight a number of wonderful pieces - and share more about the company itself - from this fantastic, budget-friendly brand here on my blog in the coming months. Beginning with this super cute striped shirt, which looks sweet and innocent from the front, then gets decidedly flirty with the fun keyhole detailing on the back (see photo above of such).

It was far too cold (about 10 or 11C and pouring rain) on the day we took these snaps to go comfortably go bare armed, but I slipped down my cardigan for a few moments so Tony could get a snap of this wonderful detail on the back of it for you guys to be able see as well.

I really like this top. It's lightweight, but not sheer (which is getting harder and harder to find, even in the repro/vintage inspired fashion world), very reasonably priced, incredibly comfortable, fits like a glove, and is timelessly pretty as well.

I have several other separates, aside from my beloved Freddies of Pinewood side button jeans here, that I know it will play really nicely with, too, including a vintage high waisted denim skirt and a jumper style skirt from Tatyana (bought way back when they were still known as Bettie Page Clothing) - to name, but a couple.

I knew, as it was indeed the fact, that a lot of driving and bopping around would be taking place that day, so comfort was the name of the game, but naturally, as us vintage fashionistas do, I still wanted to look a.) old school and b.) well put together.

I don't do a great deal of pattern mixing usually, but when I do, I like to reach for patterns that compliment each other nicely, in terms of both their colour and design. Strips and gingham are practically kissing cousins, as the old expression goes, so they felt like a natural match.

This very sweet fabric headwrap was a surprise gift a few years ago now, which a super thoughtful blog reader made and sent it to my PO Box as what is called online these days, “love mail”. I was immensely touched by her kindness and have worn this wonderful handmade piece many times, especially during the summer months, which might as well be called gingham season, if you ask me.

I kept my accessories fairly simple here, as the striped top (which I want to sincerely thank the fine folks at Dolly & Dotty for), gingham headwrap, and dark denim high waisted jeans already make quite an impact themselves. Naturally some made it into the fold though, including one of my absolute favourite brooches from Erstwilder, which stars none other than a well known Canadian bird: the majestic snowy owl.

I've spotted numerous types of owls in the wild (and heard the calls, no doubt, of more still), but haven't encountered any snowy owls in person. Maybe one day - that would certainly be a thrilling experience! Either way, this wide-winged sweetie pie can keep me company anytime and work wonders with a slew of different outfits, thanks to its timeless black and creamy white colour palette.

Though we have been getting some dry lately lately (cue chorus of excited cheers!), there have still be tons of damp ones as well, including this past weekend.

Thus, as we embrace summer's return this week, it will be genuinely interesting to see what Mother Nature has up her (rain jacket sleeve) and if we'll be needing to seek out more covered awning as we head into July or if we'll finally be able to shoot in good weather anywhere we please, as per usual for this time of the year.

As you can imagine, I'm pulling for the latter!

Ooh, foxy scarf lady!

Outfit details

C. 1980s paisley print scarf (worn on my head): Thrifted (Value Village)
White plastic rose earrings: Claire's
1940s style sparkly gold sunglasses: Canadian Tire
Custom handknit fox scarf: Delightful Handiwork
Forest green button front shirt: Joe Fresh
1940s style side button jeans: Freddies of Pinewood
Vintage yellow and orange Bakelite bangles, and wooden bangles: Assorted sources
Camel coloured cross body purse: eBay
Contemporary 1940s style camel coloured shoes: Swap meet find years ago
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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Granted Jimi Hendrix and 1940s garb might not always be the first natural pairing that you think of, but I couldn't help borrow and slightly modify the title of this rock legend's classic track for today's vintage outfit post, as it really does suit it so splendidly well. :)

Many a photographer will tell you that shooting in harsh afternoon sun is a big no-no (even though hip fashion magazines have been doing it for decades), and in general, I'm with them on that, but sometimes it's flat out fun to venture down the unconventional path, especially if that's when you happen to find yourself on a quaint, peaceful dirt farm road in East Kelowna on a nippy April day while wearing your brand new knit fox scarf.

Designed to look resemble classic fur scarves, wraps and stoles of decades past made from whole or partial animal pelts, this gloriously adorable creation is one that I recently bought from fellow vintage blogger Michelle's Etsy shop Delightful Handiwork. She posted about her own identical scarf not too long ago on her blog (also called Delightful Handiwork) and the moment I saw this darling creation, I knew that I absolutely had to purchase one.

I zipped an email her way and before I knew it, her knitting needles were clacking away and just a couple of weeks later, this cuter-than-the-day-is-long tawny red and white fox scarf - designed in the classic Miss Marple style - had landed on my doorstep.

Fortunately since chilly weather often lingers into April (or even May) in Canada, I was able to test drive this excellently well made scarf a few times before spring really started to hit it stride and may honestly whip it out even though it now has. Say, on rainy day and/or chilly days or at an evening beach bonfire come summer.

I love supporting fellow Etsy sellers and I also adore a heavy-handed dose of whimsy in my wardrobe. This gem of a hand knit scarf delivers like there's no tomorrow on that front. At just $20.00 USD + shipping, it's also a serious bargain, too, IMO, for a handmade creation and I would happily purchase more from Michelle to give as gifts or if she makes other variations featuring different precious critters in the future.

On the day that these photos were taken, Tony and I attended our town's annual gun + antique show, which is about 98% guns and the like, both past and present, and about 2% other vintage items, so the name of this event is somewhat misleading. However, this wasn't my first time visiting it, so I knew what was in store for us there. While guns and hunting aren't personally my cup of tea, I couldn't help but think that the natural association of fox those two things made this a cheeky place to wear my new scarf to.

No one other than Tony picked up and commented on the association, but I still liked being able to have a somewhat themed accessory to sport to such an event. Very little vintage was to be had, but I did pick up a couple of small items for the shop and one seriously cool book from 1958 featuring hundreds (if not more) B&W photos all from classic mid-century movies. It's missing its dust jacket, but for $14 (the seller would only come down a dollar from his asking price of $15), it was still a steal of a deal for all of the cinematic history it houses (I will definitely try to share some pages from it here and/or on Instagram in the future).

Fashion, like sunlight, doesn't always have to take the path most followed. No matter your stance on wearing real fur (and/or hunting), you can easily sport a darling vintage appropriate handknit creation like this uber sweet fox scarf. I really adore how as time goes on, we are fortunate as old school fashion fans to consistently have creative folks like Michelle offering up products that not only look the yesteryear part, but which are skillfully made, and available to one and all the world over.

So while I don't plan to suddenly do all my photo shoots in the glaring mid-day sun, sometimes it's more than worth it to try something new and worry more about capturing the moment, than twiddling your thumbs while you wait for the golden hour to appear. When a scarf this adorable is around your neck, you want to take photos the very moment you slip it on - or at least asap, as we did that windy, golden springtime afternoon last month.

In which I feed a little herd of seals - also known as one of the best days of my life!

Outfit details

Blue and white bandana: eBay
Red plastic rose earrings: Claire's
Red plastic vintage necklace: Gift with online purchase years ago
Plaid shirt: Warehouse One
Burgundy lace trimmed camisole: Fairweather
Vintage reproduction green knit bolero: Miss Beta Knits
Vintage white, blue and red enamel anchor brooch: (probably) eBay
Side button 1940s style jeans: Freddies of Pinewood
Blue and white plastic stretch bracelets: Both thrifted
Red cross body mini satchel bag: eBay
Black and white saddle shoes: eBay
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

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The past four months have flown by nearly at the speed of light. A mixture of marvelous holidays, poor health, bursts of productivity, powerful snow storms, and the start of 2015. Some days it feels like a rather long time since we were on Vancouver Island and yet there are also moments when it's almost as though we're still there. Those two weeks were the one of the biggest highlights of the past year for both Tony and I, who adore traveling to no end, so the latter point comes as no surprise to me.

Ill health and equally poor weather has not made for the best of conditions when it comes to taking photos around these parts lately, so before January wraps up entirely, I wanted to share at least one outfit post with you this month and thus I'm dipping into the Victoria trip vault and pulling out these snaps from what was truly an incredibly fun afternoon.

You may remember from my post 10 highlights from our awesome trip to Vancouver Island, that I chatted about the rainy day on which we had the immense joy of feeding a small herd of harbour seals at the wharf in Victoria.

Seals have been one of my favourite animals for as far back as I have memories, but never before that day had I gotten the chance to get anywhere near that close to them - let alone help to give them a free lunch! :)

The seals that congregate at the wharf there know that tourists and locals alike want nothing more than to provide them with freshly caught fish (which one purchases from a small fish monger's shop a few feet from the water's edge), but even if they're used to interacting with humans, that doesn't mean that they're not still entirely wild. They most certainly are and it's important to keep that in mind if you're interacting with these darling creatures.

Known, entirely affectionately, to locals as Rock Sausages, the seals are a hearty, friendly bunch, each with their own distinct personalities. It was fascinating to kneel down on the dock, heavy raindrop all but landing with a thud around me, and gingerly hand fish to these beautiful marine mammals. Their behaviour struck both Tony and I instantly of being incredibly dog-like and indeed, one of the sweetest of the bunch reminded us a great deal of our own dog, Annie.

It doesn't take long to feed a hungry pack of harbour seals a small plate of fish, so once we had (and after we'd taken no shortage of photographs of them), Tony and I ventured a little further down the wharf to a walkway that runs between the rows of vibrantly coloured floating homes that also reside in this corner of the mighty Pacific Ocean.

Knowing this was going to be a rugged sort of outdoors-y day, I'd dressed the part in an outfit centered my beloved Freddies of Pinewood 1940s style side button jeans and a truly fantastic bespoke pine green knit bolero that my dear friend Beta from Miss Beta Knits created for me as an incredibly kind review gift last year.

Beta, a passionate knitter, mother, wife, and fellow vintage loving lady resides in Portugal and is truly one of the kindest and sweetest people you could ever cross paths with. Her charming Etsy shop is filled with a carefully curated selection of knits that she creates using genuine mid-century patterns, such as scarves, gloves, berets, and boleros akin to the one I'm wearing in these photos. Beta also takes custom orders, so if there's a knit project you've been hankering to have made she may very well be the gal for the job.

This is the second product that I've received and review from Beta (the first was one of her fabulous Miss Marple scarves) and I truly hope that it's not the last that I'm able to add to my wardrobe from her talented knitting needles, because both are extremely well made, comfortable, soft, and delightfully vintage appropriate.

I have sported this dark green knit bolero more than any other sweater of cardigan in my wardrobe this fall and winter (especially during Christmas time, when its holiday tree hue was especially fitting) and I absolute love it to bits. It's chunky and cozy and as every bit as sweet as those precious harbour seals were.

Though four months have passed since we left for our two week holiday to Vancouver Island, the memories of that adventure packed fortnight are crystal clear in my mind still and I know that many of them, especially those of the day we fed a little heard of uber adorable seals will stay with me always. A dear and beautiful reminder of just how special Mother Nature and all her wild children are - not to mention how much they adore being handed platefuls of their favourite food!

Bar none, this was/is one of my favourite days in my whole life and I'm so happy to that we captured it on camera. You can bet your last smelt that I'll be down at the dock tossing fish to the seals the next - and all future - time(s) I'm in the majestically lovely city of Victoria and should you happen to be there yourself, I can't recommend doing so highly enough. It really is one of the more enjoyable experiences that you could ever have!