13 fantastic vintage related YouTube channels you should be following

Goodness knows that my own YouTube posting is, to put it mildly, sporadic at best, but I do love creating videos a great deal and know that in periodic bursts, all things willing, I'll continue to post there when possible.

I might not be uploading every day or even every month, but like many people, I do swing by YouTube numerous times throughout an average week as a viewer and always delight in seeing new videos from some of my very favourite vintage related YouTubers.

A delightful blend of more traditional vintage, pinup, rockabilly, retro, and vintage inspired, the following selection of thirteen awesome YouTube channels - a number that was selected in honor of the fact that today is none other than Friday the 13th - never fails to entertain, inspire, and often teach me.

I really feel like each of them deserves all the viewership love that they can get and am so happy to get a chance to share them here with you in this post.

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You may already be following some, or even most, of these awesome ladies, but I hope that amongst this baker's dozen of talented, friendly vintage adoring YouTubers, you'll discover at least a name or two that is new to you.

Without further ado, may I present (in alphabetical order) thirteen seriously fabulous vintage related YoutTubers and their channels (along with one of their videos for you to get a taste of what their channels are like).

1. A Vintage Vanity: Passionate long-time YouTuber Jennifer, aka, A Vintage Vanity is one of the most vivacious, enjoyable, and talented people you could ever hope to encounter. With frequent videos spanning a wide range of topics (from styling and beauty how-tos to giveaways, reviews of classic movies, and so much more!), a killer sense of humour, beautiful pink locks that will make you want to up your dye job game big time, this vintage YouTube maven is an absolute must-follow in my books.

2. Bonita Vear: It might surprise you to learn that a fair number of us longtime (and a few newer, too) vintage bloggers also have YouTube channels (love that!). One of whom is my dear Australian friend, the endlessly lovely Bonita Vear (from the blog Lavender & Twill), whose YouTube channel is a terrific place to get to know her better, very much including through charming haul videos featuring products from some of the leading vintage repro brands around the world.

3. Glamourdaze: From the immensely popular, longstanding website of the same name, comes a YouTube channel that is sure to make any vintage fan's heart skip many a beat. Jam packed with incredible real world vintage video clips (many pertaining directly to fashion or beauty), plus twenty-first century how-tos to help you nail the perfect vintage look, this channel is simply not to be missed! (I've been known to binge watch Glamourdaze's videos on many an occasion! :))

4. How To Be Fancy: This channel is a downright joy! Bursting with colour, happiness, fun and great videos highlighting her passion for style and beauty, Heather blends old school glamour with modern know-how to create videos that are sure to inspire and entertain many both within and outside of the vintage world alike.

5. Iris J: One of the first vintage related YouTube channels I ever subscribed to, easily seven or eight years ago now, was that of Iris J's phenomenal hairstyling videos. With her warm smile, friendly demeanour, and super helpful (not to mention continually creative) hairstyling videos, Iris brings vintage and rockabilly gals the world over a treasure trove of 'do ideas year after wonderfully enjoyable year. She's a font of knowledge and definitely worth following no matter your level of vintage hairstyling ability.

6. Lilly Jarlsson: From Northern Germany comes the immensely elegant and very charming Lilly Jarlsson, a freelance writer and beautician who imparts her passion for living a vintage lifestyle to her beautifully shot videos, which abound with how-tos and great tips alike to help us all join her in celebrating so much of what is wonderful about being an old school fan.

7. Lisa Freemont Street: A vintage related YouTube channel that likely needs no introduction to many in our midst, this longstanding and highly popular account is chock-a-block with fantastic vintage/pinup hairstyle tutorials, repro fashion reviews, and oodles more that is sure to have you digging deep through the achieves of this fantastic account.

8. Making It Modern: From Bethany, aka The Glamorous Housewife, comes this seriously fab channel that shines the spotlight on revamping vintage recipes into appealing dishes for the 21st century palette, as offering up handy household management and cooking tips. Fun, well shot videos and Bethany's gorgeous wardrobe (and kitchen!) will have you coming back for another helping, so to speak, time and time again.

9. Miss Rockabilly Ruby: From sunny California one encounters the beautiful and talented, Miss Rockabilly Ruby, a pinup modern, retro hair stylist and makeup artist who brings her passion for all three areas to her lovely YouTube how-tos. So far she's only shared a handful of videos with us, but those that have appeared are aces and you'll quickly find yourself champing at the bit for her next upload!

10. Nora Finds: A beloved fixture in the vintage fashion and social media world, Nora (who you may remember from her recent blog interview here on CV) from the blog Nora Finds launched a YouTube channel a while back and has been filling it with a delightful array of videos, such as how to style a vintage inspired hair scarf turban and a beginner's guide to dating vintage fashion. Just like her blog, these videos are captivating and oodles of fun!

11. Ruby's Musings: Created by a woman of many talents and interests, this recently launched channel is helmed by Ruby from the eponymously named blog Ruby's Musings. Both do a great job at presenting a diverse assortment of topics pertaining to vintage and modern homemaking, cooking, fashion, and other elements of life in general from the perspective of a deeply passionate long time vintage fan.

12. Stephanie Lynn: From the wonderful lady who has long brought you the vintage and historical sewing blog, Girl with a Star Spangled Heart, you'll discover this engagingly lovely YouTube channel that documents many of the different vintage and everyday happenings (including travel vlog videos and recently her exploration of the Konmari system of home decluttering) in Stephanie's life.

13. The Long Haired Flapper: Talented fellow vintage adoring Canadian Kate (from the blog Vintage in a Modern World) presents a wonderful channel that focuses primarily on Victorian and early 20th century hair and beauty related topics, complete with scores of seriously inspiring hairstyle tutorials, each of which will have you itching you get your 1920s look on something fierce!

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Naturally, this list does not include every channel pertaining to vintage out there on the ol' interwebz and if you, or an account you love watching, didn't appear here, chances are it was simply because this list was capped at a mere thirteen entries. By all means, if you have a vintage related channel or want to share some of your favourites that fall under that heading, please feel free to do so in the comments below. The more names, the better!

With so few TV shows that have even the slightest to do with the vintage/rockabilly/pin up lifestyle (I don't mean those set in the past, such as Mad Men and Call the Midwife, but rather ones that realistically portray what it's like to be a vintage adoring and wearing lady or gent), YouTube helps to fill the gap for us there and the work, dedication and creativity that the video makers highlighted here today put into their channels cannot be praised highly enough.

It requires a great deal of time and effort to regularly (or even just semi-regularly) create (and edit!) videos and I have nothing but respect for those in our circle who take on this wonderful roll and help to enrich many of our lives all the more with their own unique take on vintage.

Let's all shower these hardworking individuals with adoration and subscribe to their accounts on the double (if you're not doing so already, that is).

Who knows, with these thirteen talented gals frequently filling your Subscriptions tab with new videos, it might just inspire you to start a vintage related YouTube channels of your own! :)

Introducing a new video series: Vintage Fashion 101 (which kicks off with a look at snoods)

Ever since returning to YouTube last month, my mind has been teaming with ideas for possible videos there, which I must say, I truly love and appreciate, because when I first tiptoed onto the YouTube stage in the summer of 2014, it was often crickets and tumbleweeds on the “what video topic to cover” front.

I'm sure, as with most creative endeavors, there will be further periods of feast and famine there as time goes on, but thankfully, again, at the moment, the well is not running dry and one of my favourites that I've struck upon as of late is is that of a Vintage Fashion 101 series of videos.

When it comes to the trifecta of beauty/makeup, hair, and fashion, the latter is my strongest suit and the one that I'm best able to readily create videos about.

Due to a couple of my conditions, my hands/arms shake when I hold them up for very long and I'm not a super great expert on fancy makeup how-tos, so that one isn't an area of videos that I'll likely make many on. Plus I wear a wig all the time, so between that and the whole shaky arms situation, hairstyling techniques, are not a topic I'll probably make a ton of videos on, but I can talk about and show examples pertaining to vintage fashion until the cows come home!

Not to contradict what I just said, as they are something of a hair accessory, but I decided to kick of this fun new video series with an in-depth, fun filled look at snoods. Those classic, comfy, stylish (usually) netted crocheted or knitted hair coverings that had a major moment during the mid-twentieth century.

In this video, I talk about the history of snoods, provide snood styling ideas and tips, talk about how to prevent your hair from sticking out of the holes in a snood, discuss some of the best places to source snoods from, and share examples of snoods from my own personal collection.

{Snoods are one of my absolute favourite vintage accessories and I wear them quite frequently both in outfit posts, as avid readers of my blog will know, and in my daily life, so I thought they'd make for a great topic to launch my exciting new Vintage Fashion 101 YouTube video series off on.}

Generally speaking, especially when I own examples of the garments or accessories that I'll be talking about in my videos, this is the sort of format that I suspect my Vintage Fashion 101 videos will take.

I adore hearing about what you guys like to see on my channel, so if there are wardrobe related topics that you'd like me to cover in my Vintage Fashion 101 video series, please let me know in the comment section here, on YouTube, or really, anywhere you can reach me. 

You guys, I am really jazzed about this fun new YouTube series (which will likely be randomly occurring, as inspiration or a suggestion to create a new one strikes), especially since it lets me talk about an area that, humbly, I tend to know a great deal about (vintage fashion).

I hope that you all enjoy watching these delightful looks at a different vintage wardrobe area and creative, helpful ways to style that particular garment or accessory.

My July 2015 vintage thrift haul!!!

As I've said many times here before, and is the case for a lot of folks around the world these days, the vintage thrift scene around these parts has been pretty darn slim for the last several years. It's not uncommon for me to many months or longer, if we take super basic costume jewelry and home decor pieces out of the picture, between when I find vintage items - let alone ones for myself. As such, I haven't had a post like this up here in an age and half!

Last month however, the thrifting gods smiled on me and I found several fabulous vintage - and one vintage appropriate - item for myself, all of which I highlight in this new YouTube video (below) that I made really recently.






I've been trying to thrift a lot lately, when possible, and while the end of July yielded fewer pieces than the start, if things continue to go in my favour on the thrifting front in August and/or September, hopefully I can bring you another video with lots more cool finds down the road in a few more weeks.

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It's truly awesome to be filming again! I've shared two more videos between my "I'm back" one and this thrifting haul, which are 25 random fun facts about myself and a Vintage related, cookbook, and crafting book haul, respectively, so please be sure to check out both of those videos,  too, if you haven't done so already.

Thanks so much for watching this new video, dolls and gents, and again for all of support and encourage regarding my return to YouTube this summer.

Have an awesome Tuesday everyone!!!

Vintage Link Love for July 2015

Perhaps it comes as no surprise to most folks, but July whizzed by at the speed of light! I know that I begin many Vintage Link Love posts with similar sentiments about the pace at which the month that we just enjoyed whipped past at, but at perhaps no other time of the year does time seem to vanish more quickly than during the summer.

Though I'm in no rush to see the glorious warm weather disappear, the passing of time does mean that it won't be too long (the first week of September, to be exact) until Tony gets home from working in the States this summer, and that's certainly something that we're both massively looking forward to.

{This early twentieth century beach photo sums up July so well for me this year. Full speed ahead, with a smile on my face, a song in my heart, and sand underfoot - at least once or twice!}

This month I was a seriously busy little bee! Between my birthday celebration, listing over 190 brand new antique and vintage items in the shop (including oodles of adorable vintage novelty brooches), returning to YouTube after a nearly eleven month (unplanned!) break there, thrifting up a storm (I've got a video in the works with some of my exciting recent thrift finds, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that), penning plenty of blog posts, and - no word of a lie - already beginning to think heavily about Halloween (giant shocker to those who know me, I'm sure! :D), plus all the other usual bits and bobs of life, I've been on my toes nearly none stop this month.

Ooohhh, plus, in the last few days of July, Chronically Vintage's Facebook page hit a new milestone: over 4,000 likes - thank you so much to everyone for your support there!

In amidst of burning the candle at both ends, I still found time to read many of my favourite blogs and websites. Amongst them I gleaned the following selection of twelve posts that captured my attention for one reason or another. I hope that you'll enjoy and/or be inspired by all of them as well!

♥ 42 glamorous wedding dresses from the 1920s and 30s: Though I don't know anyone tying the knot here locally this summer, wedding season has been out in full force for a while now and this selection of more than 40 photos of vintage gowns more than helps to make up for the lack of nuptials I've been attending lately. Prepare to swoon!!!


♥ What to know when getting your hair bobbed: Recently the always marvelously stylish Jenny Frances chopped over several inches of hair and is now sporting a very becoming bob. To help those who might want the skinny on what to know if you're considering this classic haircut, too, she put together a stellar, image filled post all about the ins and outs of getting a bob (that's definitely worth bookmarking even if you have no plans to chop your hair anytime soon - you just never know when a great post like this might come in handy).


♥ Crinolinemania: the sexy fashion trend that killed 3,000 women: The heart of this story from Mashable/Retronaut may not come as shocking news to those who study historical fashions, but the concept that so many people perished as the result of an elaborate undergarment is still more than enough to give anyone reason to pause and think.

♥ 21 post ideas for bloggers: I've thought about penning a similar post to this one myself many times before, but haven't yet had the chance, so in the meantime, I thought that I would share this lovely, helpful list of twenty-one blog post ideas from, fittingly, the fun contemporary fashion, travel, and lifestyle blog N°.20 - because, really, who amongst us bloggers can't use a little post prompt help every now and then?


♥ DIY Miriam Haskell Necklace: My good friend and fellow vintage blogger Bianca from The Closet Historian is not only a lovely writer, but an incredible talented milliner, seamstress, and jewelry maker. It is the latter skill that comes to foreground in this recent how-to post of hers in which she takes us through the easy to follow steps involved with make a show stoppingly gorgeous vintage looking, Miriam Haskell inspired statement necklace. Believe me, you'll want to reach for your round nose pliers, pronto!


♥ The Great British Heatwave In 32 Photos: 1911-1976 (WARNING: MAY NOT BE SAFE FOR WORK OR SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS/VIEWERS DUE TO NUDITY): Heat waves are anything but new, however the act of capturing them on camera has obviously only been possible since the invention of this world changing device. This recent post from the site Flashback rounds up over 30 photos taken in the UK during the early to mid-twentieth century during various heatwaves. Anyone who has ever experienced this common summer occurrence will be able to instantly relate to these memorable photos.




♥ How to pack a trunk in 1870: I find the topic of vintage travel and how people packed for it in the days of ocean liners, long railway journeys, and even the early days of aviation to be wildly interesting, so when Aimee shared this post about how to pack one's trunks for a voyage Victorian style, I couldn’t lap up each word quickly enough!


♥ Nine myths about dressing vintage: From fellow Canadian vintage fan, wearer, and blogger Kirstie, comes this spot on post that delves deeper, IMO, than many similar entries I've seen over the years and dispels some of the persistent myths that exist regarding the wearing of vintage.


♥ Decked Out-Nautical Fashion through the Ages: Whether you live a stone's through from the ocean or hundreds of miles away from the nearest seashore, summertime calls for nautical inspired fashions in spades and it's always fun to see examples of them from decades past, such as the lovely roundup in this recent post from Blue Velvet Vintage's delightful blog.




♥ What do you want to be when you grow up?: This post from Gemma's always engaging blog Retro Chick spoke to me a great deal.  I constantly find areas of my life, very much including the running of my blog, where my own assorted childhood career aspirations come to the surface and are realized, at least some of the time, through the work that I actually do for a living these days, much as Gemma finds that to be true for her as well.


♥ 29 of the most delicious things you can do with zucchini: With zuc season upon us again, the fine folks at BuzzFeed have rounded some thoroughly scrumptious looking recipes that make good use of the vegetable, which frequently grows in copious quantities for those who plant it and which always seems to be easy to come by in spades during mid-summer (no matter if you have a garden or not). The Pizza Boats, Chocolate Muffins, and Blueberry Zucchini Cake with Lemon Buttercream in particular really jumped out me. Which zucchini recipes there call your name the most?


♥ Remembering the Apollo 11 Moon Landing With the Woman Who Made It Happen: July 20th marked the 46th anniversary since Neil Armstrong famously took his first steps on the moon, but as this intriguing Time Life piece details, such may not have been possible were it not for the pioneering software development work of Margaret Hamilton (pictured below).

{To learn more a specific image used in this post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

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August, the eight month of the year and final full month of the summer, is a unique one. The dog days of summer are often behind us (or very nearly so), but autumn's chill hasn't yet returned. The beaches are full still, but at the same time, the first Halloween decorations are starting to grace the shelves of various shops (Walmart, Michaels, Hallmark, and Marshalls are usually amongst the first to bring in seasonal decor here in our neck of the woods).

Those who enjoy the summer are usually still flushed and happy about the heat and spirits are high in general. However, I think that many of our minds are already starting to look ahead to fall and the changes that it brings back into our lives, be it a fresh school year, unpacking our cold weather threads, or coaxing our ovens out of hibernation when comfort food season strikes once more.



{August is a fascinating month. We often bound into it in a bathing suit and leave sporting trousers and cardigans again - or at least starting to think about introducing them into our closets and daily ensembles once more. It's fun, sunny, and usually over far too quickly - much like this July was!}


I think that August, just as with early September, is a wonderful transition filled time between the two chapters of the year and I love that it lets us enjoy summer proper for a little while longer.

In the coming weeks, I plan to continue thrifting and yard saling up a storm, cooking and baking (peach pies made with local fruit, you guys, oh my gosh, I can't even - they're always sensational!) with local produce, enjoying the fact that the sun still sets fairly late in the day, and yet at the same time, thinking more and more about autumn and all my ideas and blog posts for that season.

From the bottom of my heart, I wish you each a sunny, fun filled, awesome August and hope that it will be a terrific month for all of us!

Guess who's (finally!) making YouTube videos again!

Around a year ago, for the first time in my life, I began making YouTube videos. Tony and I - he behind the lens, I in front of it, as per usual - filmed a few and then as we got busy with our awesome trip to Vancouver Island, another bracingly cold winter set in (we were filming our vids outdoors), and as life in general stole the show, YouTube got put on the backburner for me.

Well, no more...I hope! This week, for the first time ever, I filmed a little “I’m back” video myself using my Canon Rebel T5i camera. In it I expand on the points above, delves into some of my plans for my channel, and invites all of you to ask me anything you'd like to know or to suggest topics for future videos (which you are super welcome to do here in the comment section of this post, too).





I know myself, I know my health, I know the complexities of my life, and I know that promising you a new video on X, Y and Z days every month is a recipe for failure (to be able to do so) on my part and potential disappointment on yours, so I won't say anything that set in stone.

I will however give you my word that I have every intention to continue posting YouTube videos again on a considerably more frequent basis (in an ideal world, at least once a week - but again, we'll see, and I'm happy with pretty much any frequency that beats about 11 months since my last video, which was what this unplanned YouTube hiatus lasted for!).

Thank you so much to all those here who is already following me on YouTube and if you haven't done so already, please feel free to subscribe to my channel there.

Huge thanks, everyone - I'm massively excited to share lots of new videos there with you in the weeks and months to follow!

*PS* If you need more incentive to follow my channel, I will be wearing some outfits there - especially when Tony's away this summer - that will not be appearing (in the moment at least) in blog posts. So you can get more of my vintage style on YouTube - yippee! :)

The winner of the $75 Etsy CV store credit, I've got the flu, our 10th wedding anniversary, and other recent going ons

...And now that I've written a title that's long enough to be a post unto itself. :D

First and foremost (despite the hefty title size), this post is not going to be a particularly lengthy one (by my standards). I'm literally writing it with just one eye open only half the way to try and block out the effect that light radiating from my laptop screen is on the pulsating migraine that I have right now, brought on by a rather unpleasant flu (not that there’s any sort that I'd dub "pleasant"!) that came on in the blink of an eye on Monday and is still very much going strong four days in.

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Thankfully, in the world of flues, this is not one of the most severe I've had, but nevertheless, it's taking its toil and putting me pretty much completely out of commission at the moment (especially since, like - without fail - all colds, flues and the like that I get, it has caused serious flare-ups with some of my medical conditions). While I'm not very pleased about that, I am grateful at least that this virus was so "kind" as to spare attacking me at the end of the month. With a bit of luck, lots of rest, and drinking gallons of liquids, I should hopefully be on my feet again come Halloween (fingers crossed!).

Okay, onto more enjoyable topics! For starters, though I was asleep with a 103F fever for nearly all of it, Tuesday was Tony and mine's 10th wedding anniversary. Over the years here, I've talked about our relationship and its beginnings (such as in this post last May) and the profound, unshakable love that we have for one another (such as here), so many of you may already know a bit about our story.

For those that do not however, in the tiniest of nutshells, we met online in March of 2004 (at the time I was living right here in Penticton and Tony was on the other side of the Atlantic ocean in Ireland), in person for the first time in June, were engaged in July, and married in a super small civil ceremony with just a few close family members in attendance in October of that same year. It was, in no uncertain terms, a whirlwind romance, but we both know in the furthest recesses of our hearts that we had found "the one" and that there was no sense in waiting years to do something we knew within weeks that we were destined to have happen (marry one another, that is).

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We were young by modern standards when we tied the knot - I was 20, Tony was 24 - and yet both came to relationship with absolutely no shortage of life history under our respective belts. In the past decade we have lived in two countries, two (Canadian) provinces, and multiple cities. We've faced staggering adversity on many front, become pet "parents" to Stella (our darling tabby cat) and Annie (our sweet, endless energetic American Bullador), cried, laughed, celebrated, and worked incredibly hard together. Tony and I have grown up and grown incredibly close over the course these last ten years and it was with no small amount joy that we celebrated this milestone anniversary this week (which will be properly observed, festive feast and all, once I'm over the flu). I love my husband with every fiber of my being and am so grateful that we get to share our lives and our futures together, continuing to built on the life, dreams and hopes of the past decade, while keeping our eyes on tomorrow and never forgetting to savour today in the process.

In other news, last month I posted a new Chronically Vintage reader and customer survey and invited all those who completed it to leave a comment for the chance to win a $75.00 Etsy store credit. The deadline to do so wrapped up last night and this morning I'm thrilled to announce the winner (who was selected using a random number generator). Drum roll, please...

Huge and very happy congratulations to Abigail from the immensely lovely blog Sweeter Gets The Journey, you've won a $75.00 Chronically Vintage store credit which you can put towards the cost of anything in the shop. I will be contacting you by email ASAP with further details and sincerely want to thank you - and absolutely everyone who took part in this survey and giveaway (your impute is hugely appreciated and will certainly play a roll in shaping my blog and Etsy shop in the future).

{The lucky winner, Abigail, in one of my favourite photographs of her from her gorgeous, image filled blog.}

Between some health issues in the later part of the summer and our wonderful recent travels to Victoria, plus the flu (et al) this week, I am well aware that I haven't posted a new YouTube video for some time now. When I initially launched my channel, I'd - in true, overly optimistic Jessica fashion - envisioned posting there once a week on average. A few videos in and my feet were soon back on the ground again and that notion had flown out the window. That said, I adore making videos and do plan to continue posting them periodically, always (massively) welcoming your ideas for topics to cover in the process.

And last, but not least, in this "bits and bobs" sort of update post, I'm still very much on the hunt for my Halloween costume this year. Maybe it's because I usually know months in advance what I plan to go as, but this year, for the 30th All Hallows Eve of my life, my costume remains one big question mark (not literally - though that could be a fun disguise unto itself :) ). With just two weeks left until the fabulously fun and splendidly spooky night to go, I truly must - once this flu lets up a bit - get to it and come up with something interesting to wear.

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That's it for today, sweet dears. I'm off to get some more healing shut eye. I hope that you're doing splendidly, are flu free, and are enjoying an absolutely beautiful October!

The cutest ladybug cardigan ever + the top comments that vintage wearers receive

Outfit details

Black satin 1950s hat: eBay
Pearl stud earrings: Claire's
Marietta ladybug cardigan: Voodoo Vixen
Red faux leather skinny belt: eBay
Grey 1970s does 40s/50s a-line skirt: Cereal Vintage Thrift
Red 1950s gloves: Unknown, had for years (likely eBay or thrifted)
Faux pearl stretch bracelets: Real Canadian Superstore
Vintage Saks Fifth Avenue black patent purse: etsy seller MK Retro
Black seamed nude stockings: eBay
Red patent faux leather pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano





















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Every time I wear this ultra adorable Marietta ladybug cardigan from Voodoo Vixen, which I've been doing a whole lot lately since receiving it as one of two thoroughly fantastic review products from the brand a little earlier this year (I blogged all about the other, the immensely beautiful Flora Dress in a post here last month), I'm reminded of the absolute plethora of these polka dotted insects that lived on the juniper hedges in our front yard of one of my earliest childhood homes.

I've never been the type who was of was terribly fond of bugs (being very arachnophobic doesn't help there), but these wee little critters didn't frighten me one bit and like many folks, ladybugs are pretty much the only insects I've ever let intentionally crawl on me. Proof positive if there was that beauty can be a game changer and how you interact with someone or in this case, something!

I love a great novelty cardigan, though objectively don't own very many (despite my rather large cardi collection), so I was especially elated to receive this beautiful black and red one from Voodoo Vixen. It's a splendidly soft viscose knit with some stretch to it that hugs the body marvelously. I generally like my cardigans to fitted, but not ultra skin tight, and this spotted insect adored charmer delivers there big time. The solid red coloured tie neck is another big point in its favour and helps instantly impart a further vintage vibe to this lovely garment.

Though red, grey and black is, no word of a lie, my default winter colour palette of choice (I wear it so very much between November and March that I sometimes have to make a conscious effort to sport other hues, lest folks start thinking I only own those three colours!), every now and then, loving it fiercely, I'll don it during the warmer half of the year as well, which is precisely what I opted to do when styling my beautiful Mariette ladybug cardigan for these photos.

A classic 1970s does 1940s/50s grey a-line skirt, a glamorous black satin 1950s hat (which strikes me, more than any other vintage chapeau I own, as one that Marilyn Monroe would have worn), red 50s gloves, classic pearl jewelry, black vintage patent leather purse, and red patent pumps round out the ensemble, which is just right for the not too hot, not too cold days of late summer/early fall (come winter, I'll slip on black tights and another shirt or blouse under the cardigan to help ensure I can keep on wearing this outfit even when we're up to our mascara coated eyelashes in snow again).

I've also been wearing this fabulously cute ladybug cardigan with denim capris, my grey 1940s style Heyday swing trousers, Freddies jeans, and with a red quilted 1950s circle skirt. I’m sure further ensembles will follow the longer I have the pleasure of owning this darling vintage inspired cardigan from Voodoo Vintage - which always, without fail, puts a big smile on my face when I spot it in my closet or wear it. Life, and one's wardrobe, needs a good hit of whimsy sometimes of the sort that only a cardigan this fun can deliver.

On the day when Tony and I took the outfit photos for this post, we also shot a video for my YouTube channel in which I talk about some of the top comments that vintage wearers receive from members of the public (and sometimes our own friends and family, too). I'd chatted before back in 2013 about a handful of the far more bizarre comments and questions I'd had directed at me over the years in a post called Strangers say the darndest things, but I hadn't overly addressed the more common, everyday sorts of comments that I receive before and felt that day was as good as any to do so.

Now, these are not the only comments I hear often of course, but the are some of the top contenders and as I know many of you receive such remarks and questions as well, I wanted to discuss them and let you know, especially if you're relatively new to the world of wearing vintage, that you're not alone in hearing such things. As I touched on in my video, I usually don't mind at all when people ask me questions or say comments to me about my vintage attire.

I am entirely aware of the fact that, objectively, I don't look/dress like 99.9% of other people (make that an even 100% here in my small town) and that that alone will always be enough to illicit curiosity. Fortunately, more often than not, the comments I receive are friendly, kind and well meaning, something that I know isn't always the case for some of my vintage loving/wearing peers around the world, such as this wonderfully lovely vintage couple from the UK who were recently in the news because of the challenges they've faced due to their vintage lifestyle and fashion choices (which is nothing short of criminal - we should all be allowed to dress, and live, however we please - so long as we're not hurting anyone, of course - without any fear of ridicule or rudeness whatsoever).

In posts such as I am Authentic to My Soul and Dress Like a Cupcake Should Feel, and many others here over the years, I have talked at length about the importance of wearing whatever one fancies and makes them happy no matter what those so-called haters and narrow minded folks out there might think, and this message is one that I will continue to promote for the rest of time.

Receiving comments and questions, assuming they're polite, from strangers and people I know alike doesn't phase me - shy as I am - any more in the slightest. After half a lifetime of sporting vintage attire, I've grown completely at ease with them and know that at least a couple (often more) will come my way anytime I'm out and about in public. It can be fun to see the look on peoples' faces, for example, when I reply that, "Yes, I do wear vintage all the time", for example. It is usually either a wide-eyed look of surprise, as though they themselves couldn't even remotely fathom doing the same, or conversely, a big smile and positive remark such as "That's awesome!" or "Good for you!".

Certainly another common type of question that I receive is where did I get a particular garment or accessory I'm wearing from, and numerous folks have already asked me that about this enchantingly sweet red and black Voodoo Vixen cardigan. I find that the general public is often more apt to want to know where to source repro, rockabilly, pinup, and vintage inspired pieces from, than full on genuine vintage ones, because those who don't wear old school vintage themselves are sometimes more apt to sport a modern piece that has a yesteryear look to it - and indeed, mid-century appropriate though it is, this cardi could easily be worn with more contemporary ensembles as well.

So, my lovely dears, just as I asked in my video, tell me, what are some of the most common comments that you receive when you wear your vintage (or repro, etc) finery? Have you found the public to be generally accepting, kind and polite where you live? What are some things you've been asked that you never would have expected? Do you wish that people would keep to themselves or you enjoy the questions about your appearance that come your way?

Personally, at this stage in the game, I fall into the latter camp. You just never know who, in doing so, you might help inspire to embrace and wear vintage more in their own life. I madly love, love, lovvvvvvvvvve vintage and any chance I get to chat about it with friendly people is a good thing in my books.

As is this cuter than cute, comfy, fantastic ladybug cardigan, which I think I might just have to sport again today while I continue packing up a storm for our trip in a mere four days to Vancouver Island. There's so much to do and so few days to accomplish it all in! I best hop right to it, like a ladybug flittering around a hedge, so that we'll be all set to leave at the crack of dawn on Monday, two week’s worth of vintage outfits all ready to see what kinds of comments and questions the lovely people of Victoria have about them.  :)

   

Voodoo Vixen love at first sight

Outfit details

Vintage pale pink nylon/chiffon scarf: eBay
Pink sparkly bow earrings: Payless
Pearl necklace: Birthday gift from Tony ♥
Turquoise cardigan: Cleo
Circa 1950s silver tone rose brooch: Miss Farfalla
Aqua and pink Flora dress: Voodoo Vixen
Pink plastic rose bangle bracelet: Walmart
Vintage straw handbag: Yard sale find
Nude seamed nude stockings:
White pumps: Payless
Lip colour: Clinique Raspberry Red
Nail colour: Sally Hansen Rogue Rush over Essie Pink Diamond


Photography by Tony Cangiano

 ♥ ♥ ♥

A little earlier this summer, when I took the (massive - for shy little me at least!) plunge and decided to start filming YouTube videos, I knew that I wanted to wear something that really and truly represented my personal style. Various wardrobe options swirled through my head, but ultimately I happily opted to sport this uber charming vintage style pink and blue Flora dress from UK fashion brand Voodoo Vixen on video camera.

I had been contacted by a lovely rep from Voodoo Vixen a little earlier this year about collaborating on some product spotlight outfit posts and the company very kind sent me this dress, as well as a seriously darling ladybug cardigan (which I'll be featuring in a post unto itself here in a few weeks). I sincerely appreciate both pieces and have fallen head-over-heels in love with each of them.

Seriously in love, that is. I wouldn't have donned my new Flora dress as the key outfit component of my first YouTube video if I didn't have mad adoration for it! :)

This soft, comfortable cotton frock channels the spirit of the 1940s, but can easily be styled in a 1950s or more contemporary direction, too, if so desired. It's well constructed, true to size, made of very good quality materials, has darling cap sleeves with one pink button on each (the same kind of buttons that appear on the torso), and a flattering vee meets sweetheart sort of shaped neckline.

I'm also a big fan of its mid-calf length (on my 5'2" torso, that is) and the fact that the skirt on this dress has a wonderful amount of swing to it. Indeed, I could see being able to dance the night away, if one wanted, in this dress no problem. By the same token, you could take it in a fancier direction, adding gloves, a hat, perhaps a lace or crochet shawl, or anything else your heart desired for events such as weddings, garden fetes, baby showers, or a timelessly lovely tea party.

The moment I saw this dress on Voodoo Vixen's website, which is chalk-a-block with vintage inspired styles that are sure to provide no shortage of wishlist fodder for many a vintage loving, pinup, and rockabilly lass the world over, my heart skipped a beat. Its fabulously feminine colour palette and floral motif instantly reminded me of a similarly patterned wallpaper that hung in one of my childhood bedrooms (in the first house we lived in here in Penticton, actually). I adored that wallpaper and have found myself drawn to things that resemble it ever since.

In person, Flora was even more stunning and she and I hit it off splendidly! Though it wasn't a chilly day by any means when we were shooting (photos and a video!), I knew we'd be in the shade a bit (at the always stunning Guisachan Park in Kelowna), so I topped this lovely aqua and pink dress with a turquoise hued cardigan and pulled colours from its palette for my accessories and nail polish choices.

Interestingly, unlike many patterned dresses, there is no white, black, grey, red, or navy blue in this dress' design, which is relatively uncommon amongst the frocks in my closet and made me really give thought to what hues my accessories should me. As the dress itself is vibrant and eye-catching, I wanted to ensure it remained the star of the show that day and that it wasn't overpowered by darker accessories. Thus, I opted for pale coloured ones - specifically a classic pearl necklace, pale pink nylon/chiffon scarf, pink rose pattern plastic bangle, sparkly pink bow earrings, a silver tone vintage rose brooch, white shoes and a pale straw handbag.

Idea for spring, summer and the first few still-warm days of autumn on its own or topped with a lightweight cardigan, as I've done here, this dress could also be hugged by a pale hued (think cream, light grey, beige or taupe) fur wrap come the nippier days of the year. In fact, I can easily picture this dress and the person wearing it looking like a million dollar against a snow covered landscape, the gentle colours of the pattern popping all the more thanks to the marshmallow hued background.

You only get one first time for every new thing that you try, and for my inaugural YouTube video, I will always remember and be very happy that I had recently received such a gorgeous floral print vintage style dress from Voodoo Vixen, which I was able to wear on camera that day. It is me and my style to a tee and will forever remind me, in the loveliest of ways, when I wear or see it hanging in my closet, of the nerves, excitement and happiness of that majorly cool experience and exciting new step in my life.

Tell me what you want, what you really, really want

...to see...


On my brand new Chronically Vintage YouTube channel.


Last weekend, I'm thrilled to say, we (Tony and I) created the first two little videos. The first is a welcome clip for my About page for the blog, the second a welcome to my YouTube channel. Here they both are:









Now, while I wouldn't say I'm entirely without ideas for videos, unlike when it comes to blog posts (which I, no word of a lie, have pages upon pages of possible topics for, most of which work best in the context of a written post), I do not yet have scads of ideas for specific YouTube videos and would truly welcome your impute here.

If there's any sort of vintage, product review, lifestyle, fashion, beauty, wig wearing, thrift store shopping, etc related subject that you'd like me to explore on YouTube, please let me know in the comments here, by email, or on YouTube itself and your suggestions may very well end up in a future video.

I would wholeheartedly appreciate it if you subscribed to my channel as well, as I'm creating it, my sweet dears, as another awesome avenue through which to share my love of, and knowledge on, vintage topics with all of you. If you could post about it on Facebook, Twitter, your blog, and anywhere else you'd fancy, that would be seriously fantastic, too.


Thank you all so much!!! Here's to this very cool new venture and all the exciting Chronically Vintage YouTube activity that lies ahead!

Jane Austen's Fight Club

Perhaps it because I experienced so many of my formidable years during the 1990s, maybe it’s because at any given moment there’s a rather decent chance that a rerun of Friends is being shown on at least on channel on any TV in North America, or possibly  it’s simply because sometimes good, honest song lyrics ring truer in my mind than most of the words that I've ever been told in person. Whatever the case, there’s no skirting around the fact that as 2010 has barrelled onward, certain lines from the now pop culturally immortal song, "I’ll be there for you" by the Rembrandts, have been echoing around in my head day after day, week after week, month after month.

It’s true you know, no matter what you witnessed, were told, read, or daydreamed about, no one could ever fully prepare you for (adult) life. Nobody could tell you it was going to be this way, because I don’t think one person can really ever ready a youth – with so many days of possibility, so many hopes, and so much starlight in their eyes – for the rather glaring realities of adulthood.

Growing up isn’t about eating ice cream for every meal (really, didn’t we all holler at our parents at one point or another – usually en route to our bedroom after being scolded for something or another – that we were going to grow up, live on our own, go to bed whenever we wanted, and eat ice cream every day?), it isn’t all rainbows and unicorns (curse you Lisa Frank stickers that filled my childhood sticker books for eluding that such was the case!), it has monumental highs and crushing lows. It bites and kicks and screams, it drives you the brink of madness and then cuddles you like a kitten. It’s feisty, tempestuous, sometimes stoic, all too often ludicrously unpredictable.

Like many people I grapple (more often than I care to admit to) with the fact that my life, as envisioned with the wide eyes of childhood, is nothing (and I really do mean nothing) like how I imagined it would be when I reached the milestone that is being an adult (and I’m not just talking about the 24/7 ice cream binge not coming to fruition, it’s the big things – the dreams and fantasies that somehow slipped into the abyss before they ever had a chance to materialize).

Is it better or is it worse? Those adjectives are truly relative, for one can never honestly compare a dream with what came to fruition. The only certainty that I know for sure is that it’s different, wildly, blazingly, incredibly different, and I think that sometimes the weight of knowing that these differences exist gnaws away rather incessantly at my mind.

Yesterday was one of those days. Those smile and look happy for the (figurative) camera days, where under the first millimetre of your epidermis you’ve silently got an emotional three ring circus going on. One of those days when you’re as apt to laugh as you are to cry, scream as to whisper (lest anyone over hear the whirlwind in your mind). These sorts of days sometimes linger – setting off, much as that now time-honoured song proclaimed – one of those weeks or months or years that simply isn’t yours.

They break though – those murky thoughts, those days of personal toil – something or someone always seems to come along and snap you out of it or provide you with an avenue back to the here and now that jettisons your thoughts from what could have been to what still remains to be seen.

For me, more often than not, it’s the power of a good soul-cleansing laugh that revives me, puts me right with my reality. In the wee hours of the night, after one of those days weeks months, the very laugh I didn’t even realize I was in massive need of, came my way in the form of one of the funniest (spoof video) plot mash-ups that’s ever been constructed.

Going much more old school (circa the Regency period) than the usual mid-twentieth century vintage theme of this blog, the video clip below is so awesome, so immensely funny, so unexpectedly cool and smile-inducing, that after it had mended my blue spirits, I knew instantly that I had to share it with you. Watch it, sweet friends, and bookmark it for the next time the day that – for whatever reason – simply hasn’t been yours. I certainly have.

...Because, after (Jane Austen's) Fight Club, you’re inclined to see the world differently. And that’s rarely anything but a positive, if you ask me.