Say Hello to September with Mid-Century Golden Harvest Pumpkin Pie

After one has been blogging for a number of years, there are certain things that you just naturally assumed you've covered on your site by this point in time. For example, I was shocked to recently discover (unless I've completely forgotten and now cannot find a post about such) the fact that I've never blogged a vintage recipe for a straight up classic pumpkin pie.

Seriously, how that can that be? Back in 2011 I did share a lovely mid-century recipe for Coconut Pumpkin Chiffon Pie (which is off-the-charts tasty!), but again, I can find no concrete evidence that I've shared a more traditional pumpkin pie recipe here.

Given my unending love of both autumn and pumpkin foods, that really is surprising, I know! As they say, no time like the present - and when the present just happens to me my first blog post of September, the month that ushers in fall's return, now seems like a thoroughly good moment to do so.

I know, believe me, I know - many of us are keen to savour these last final days (or weeks, if we're lucky) of summer weather are are still thinking "grill" not "casserole". While I do have one foot planted squarely in that camp for sure, the side of me that waits with boundless enthusiasm for autumn's return is already a.) decorating for the season and b.) gearing up in the kitchen for it.

I'm a huge fan of pie across the board. No matter the season, I'm there with pies aplenty and haven't let not being able to eat gluten (due to celiac disease) stop me from still whipping up plenty of pies the whole 'year round.

As much as there are varieties that make me go weak in the knees during winter, spring and summer, none quite do it for me like autumn's richly fragrant, earthy hued, gorgeously spiced versions - very much including apple, pear, sweet potato, and today's offering, Gold Harvest Pumpkin Pie (which is a classic single crust pumpkin pie with a charming ring of chopped nuts on top).




{Dessert fads may come and go, and plenty of variations exist out there on this dish, but at the end of the day (not to mention the end of the summer!), sometimes you simply can't beat the sublimely tasty treat that is a classic pumpkin pie like this fun 1950s version. Vintage recipe image source. Click here for a larger, easier to read version of this image.}


Growing up my mom made (and still makes to this day) an incredible pumpkin pie - think magazine cover worthy flaky crust, a creamy (but never runny) filling, and just the right amount of sweetness and heady spice. Her version has been the benchmark against which all other pumpkin pies, be they homemade, from a restaurant, or store bought have been judged.

Her classic version dates back to at least her own mom, my maternal grandma and is strikingly similar (minus the ring of chopped nuts) to this wonderful 1950s take on an incredible fall time treat.

We always had airy lashings of whipped cream (usually homemade, not in an aerosol can, though either does the trick fabulously!) and as such, I make a point to ensure that there's plenty on hand when I bake up a pumpkin pie, too, which is a beautiful fall time ritual unto itself for me.

 {1950s Reddi Wip ad image source}

I rarely stop at just one pie, but if that's all that happens in a given autumn, it's frequently for Canadian Thanksgiving in early October or Halloween at the end of the month.

No matter when it appears on the table, you can bet your bottom dollar that it will be there at some point - and unlike with most recipes, I rarely deviate much from the traditional iteration.

Like a great roast turkey - another much adored treat of the season - a marvelous pumpkin pie recipe needs little to enhance it. The combination of a buttery crust, satisfyingly squishy filling, and the unmistakable flavour of pumpkin + cinnamon and nutmeg is culinary perfection in my books.

If you do want to jazz things up a bit though, crumbled pralines in the filling is fabulous, as is a drizzle of caramel, butterscotch, or chocolate sauce on top, and whipped cream (as mentioned above) and vanilla, caramel, toffee crunch, apple, pear, or even pumpkin itself ice cream are delectable partners for this incredibly iconic fall time dessert.

And, as always, if shortening ("Fluffo" brand was used originally here in this recipe) isn't your cup of tea, then certainly feel free to swap in another suitable cooking fat, such as butter or coconut oil, instead.

I know that not everyone is a huge fan of this particular dessert, but if you are, I hope you'll join me in ushering in the return of fall - when it does actually arrive - with a slice of the age old classic that Pumpkin Pie.

{Fall themed 1930s magazine cover image source}

It is to our taste buds, what the spectrum of jewel tone fall autumn leaves is to the eyes - and both are elements of the season that I can never, ever get enough of.

5 summer into fall perfect vintage comfort food recipes

This past week has been a bit of a bumpy ride for me as a result of the routine medical procedure (mentioned here) that I had at the hospital last Monday. I have a follow-up doctor's appointment later this week to find out more about how it went and what the next course of action will be in regards to the particular chronic illness of mine that such was for, and that's weighing on my mind a fair bit at the moment.

I'm always an optimist though, and after fourteen years of being a multiple severe chronic illness fighter, I've been down similar - and much worse - paths many a time before, so I'm just thinking positively, hoping for the best, and reminding myself that anything can be tackled in one way or another.

Thankfully I've had our upcoming trip to Edmonton to help divert my thoughts from my health this month and that has been quite a blessing for sure. And this past weekend, I took a stab at answering the 40 Random Beauty Questions tag here, which was oodles of (distracting) fun as well.

Before delving further into today's post, I wholeheartedly want to thank all of you who have left caring blog comments and/or sent well wish filled emails my way in recent days. They truly mean so much to me.

While last week wasn't a ton of fun and this week won't likely be worlds better, I really am doing positively and can feel my body recovering more and more from last Monday's procedure with each passing day. Thus, I expect this week to be "life as usual" on all blogging fronts.

As we head into the final month of summer and the weather is starting to shift (we had, for example, some pounding rain and strong wind here last night that felt and sounded more like November, than August!), many of us are starting to rouse our ovens from hibernation and are thinking to hearty, delicious comfort foods once more.

Between the season and the fact that I'm in recovery mode right now on the health front, comfort foods are definitely on my mind as we kick off the second to last week of August. As such, I wanted to share a fun little selection of five different mid-century vintage comfort food dishes I've come across lately online that all fit that bill for me.

Of course what constitutes a comfort food will differ for each of us and there are probably dozens, if not hundreds, of recipes that I'd put under that header myself.

These five have common elements that are often seen as being part and parcel for a comfort dish (such as simmering, baking, or fragrant, inviting aromas), and as they suit the tail end of summer and certainly all of the fall (and winter) awesomely, I thought that today would be a great time to share them here with all of you.



1. Bold, flavourful, and a cinch to multiple as many times over as you need, Chili con Carne is a fabulous dish that, arguably, tastes even better a day or two after it was made. If you're not a meat eater or simply prefer your chili without the carne, ditch it and up the quantity of beans (or a vegetarian/vegan ground meat substitute) instead.

This particular chili recipe calls for Campbell’s Tomato Soup, but of course it can be made with tomato sauce or even simmered (diced) stewed tomatoes instead, if you’d prefer.

Though not overly traditional, I'm also partial to adding some sweet bell pepper to my chilli as well. And on the toppings front, sour cream and a sharp cheddar or Monetary Jack cheese are musts for me. It's hard to go wrong, too, with a hefty slab of corn bread served up on the side.



2. One of the very first things that I rush head first for the moment we start to get even the tiniest hint that fall is on its way again, is pumpkin (canned, fresh and frozen alike). Each year I make up at least one or two classic spiced pumpkin cakes or batches of cupcakes (on top of other pumpkin standards like pie, muffins, and soup) and they have become a lovely family tradition around our home (we always invite my folks 'round to tuck into such with us).

This delightful Pumpkin Cake recipe from 1948 is somewhat similar to the (albeit it GF and EF) version that I make, though I add more spices, including a couple teaspoons of cinnamon, and frost mine with a rich cream cheese icing.

Pumpkin Cake is an awesome, beautifully scented dessert and one that I find compliments nearly any autumn time meal to a tee.




3. Another fabulous vintage dish that lends itself to being multiplied is the classic Swedish Meatball. Easily, made, too, if so desired with alternative ground meats such as turkey, chicken, or (lean) pork, Swedish Meatballs are great as appetizers, starters, or as the heart of a meal itself.

If opting for the latter, they're especially nice served on a bed of hot buttered rice, noodles, (cooked) spaghetti squash, or fluffy mashed potatoes. They also freeze wonderfully, which makes them a great choice for busy fall evenings when you might not have time to prepare dinner from scratch.



4. There's just something about the scent of bread baking that fills the soul with comfort and happiness. It's almost a primal feeling for many of us, as we knowing that this glorious smell has indicated that nourishing subsistence was coming humanity's way for thousands of years now.

Today’s bread recipe isn't quite that ancient, but it is a few decades old and calls for the inclusion of a hearty breakfast cereal that dates all the way back to 1897.

This quick, easy and delicious recipe for Grape-Nut Bread is a wonderful a base for savoury or sweet toppings alike, and is wonderful enjoyed on its own, too - perhaps with a steaming mug of pumpkin spice latte, spiced apple cider, or hot cocoa.



5. As touched on a time or two before here over the years (such as in this 2014's vintage recipe post for Honey Pound Cake - itself a marvelous yesteryear comfort food), I know that raisins aren't exactly everyone's cup of tea.

If, however, like me, you flip for them, then this recipe for a classic - and, IMO, far too infrequently seen these days - Raisin Pie is bound to have you swooning up a storm.

I love raisin pie so much, I'd say it's in my top ten (or perhaps even top five) favourite pies of all-time. Sometimes I'll make it with a mix of regular raisins (like those here) and golden sultans, too, and frequently dish slices of this awesome pie up with a generous scoop of vanilla, butterscotch ripple, or cinnamon ice cream.



{To learn more about a specific vintage recipe image used in today's post, please click on it to be taken to its respective source.}

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Though you could of course serve all five of these dishes together as part of one big meal, you certainly do not have to in the slightest (aka, this list isn't a menu plan per se, just a fun assortment of lovely, stick-to-your ribs mid-century foods).

Each of them shines on its own and can usually be modified/adapted to suit your tastes and/or dietary needs, as required (save perhaps if you need to make the Grape-Nut Bread GF, as Grape-Nuts themselves contain scads of gluten; in that case, I'd probably make a similar style of GF bread using real chopped nuts and/or a similar style of gluten-free breakfast cereal, such as Crunchy Flax from the brand Enjoy Life, instead).

Over the years I've shared quite a few other vintage comfort food posts here as well. So definitely check out the vintage recipes section for scads more ideas on that front, if you are looking to put together a larger meal, dinner party, or holiday feast, or would simply like some further old school culinary inspiration.

While the past few days haven't been the best ever for me, it's wonderful to have so many things in my life - from the gift of sweet online friends to our upcoming travels to the fact that fall is just around the corner - to help keep my spirits up, no matter what the universe throws my way.

When the seasons start to change hands once more and a familiar nip returns to the air, what are some of your favourite - vintage or contemporary - comfort foods to whip up for these gorgeous, all-too-short days of summer into autumn?

Welcome the return of comfort food season with this great 1950s casserole recipe

For the third time in a single year, quite a rarity on the ol' calendar, we get to experience a Friday the 13th. I'm not a very superstitious person myself, so this doesn't phase me in the slightest. If anything, I actually tend to find Friday the 13th to be a really positive day for me - or at least not one that differs from your run-of-the-mill Friday.

{Vintage Friday the 13th image source}

Presently my mind is focused far less on bad luck and suspicious mojo and much more on the fact that we are really and truly into comfort food season once again. Winter may still technically be more than a month away, but in Canada it might as well start on November 1st for all intents, because once Halloween wraps up, most of us switch into winter holiday mode and the weather tends to take a substantial nose dive early in November as well. Not always, and certainly more so in some parts of the country than others, but in general, yep, November = the start of winter here.

I'm a huge fan of comfort food, of gathering friends and family around the table and satiating our bellies and souls alike with food so delicious you nearly tear up with joy as you smell it cooking. Food that evokes thoughts of cozy autumns and icy winters past, of childhood memories, and sometimes of places we've traveled to throughout our lives as well. Such food doesn't have to be an epic calorie feast either, but sometimes it is, and there's nothing wrong in the slightest with that (at least once in while!). We need the extra fuel to stay warm and stave off winter's energy zapping chill.

Today's vintage recipe falls somewhere in the middle I think, though it could be more or less of a treat, just depending on what you put inside it. This 1950s recipe for Chili or Stew Casserole is dead simple to make and isn't too hard on the wallet either, especially if you put existing leftovers to work in it.



{Tasty mashed spuds combine with your favourite chili, stew or similar filling (a thick corn chowder is fabulous here!) in this classic mid-century cold weather perfect casserole that first appeared in the pages of Women's Day magazine back in 1952. Vintage recipe ad image source.}


One of the great things about this recipe is that it can easily be made vegetarian or vegan, if so desired (simply omit meat and/or other animal products), and you can also use a good all-purpose gluten-free flour for the topping. I've made GF versions of this recipe numerous times and it always comes out aces!

You can also swap out the regular potatoes for cooked yams, sweet potatoes, mashed turnips, hearty squash or pumpkin verities, mashed (and drained) cauliflower or broccoli, carrots or, one of my personal favourites, parsnips.

Likewise, as with many casseroles - and this is certainly one of their most appealing qualities - you can add or subtract from the filling, if so desired (for example, you add further cooked chopped veggies to stretch out a small amount of leftover stew or chili). This dish is also nice, especially if you're using chili for it, topped with a little grated cheese before you put it in to oven to bake.

This is not the first, nor, I'm sure, will it be the last vintage comfort food recipe that I post here. I love dishes like this that satisfy and more than live up to their name. They make us happy, are reliable, and work well for as well for solo meals as they do large crowds - plus they usually freeze wonderfully to boot (perfect for those busy December holiday season weeks that lay ahead). What's not to adore? :)

The 1940s fall outfit that a vintage newspaper article inspired

Outfit details

1940s/50s brown felt + feather hat: Christmas gift from my parents
Red plastic rose stud earrings: Claire's
Red 1980s does 1950s necklace: Gift with online purchase years ago
Floral print blouse: Thrifted
Vintage Candi Jones floral embroidered denim jacket: Secondhand Wonderland
1940s/50s cream ruched gloves: Unknown, had for years (probably eBay or Etsy)
Yellow plastic rose stretch bracelet: Thrifted (Value Village)
Brown faux leather skinny belt: eBay
Red mid-century vintage skirt: Thrifty Vintage Kitten
Green faux leather cross body bag: eBay
Brown textured tights: Ardene  Navy blue faux leather patent pumps: Payless
Lip colour: MAC Russian Red


Photography by Tony Cangiano

♥ ♥ ♥

Vintage fashion inspiration can come from a huge - one might even argue, endless - range of sources, people, and places. While scores of vintage magazines have help fuelled my looks, gotten my sartorial fashion juices flowing, or introduced me to a previously unknown styling trick, it wasn't until this fall that a vintage newspaper clipping got its turn to shine on that front, too.

As I blogged about here two days ago, my dear friend Emily from Emily's Vintage Visions is currently holding a very exciting vintage fall fashion contest, for which I'm honoured to be one of the judges and suppliers of the prizes that the winner and runner up will each receive.




The fabulously unique factor of this vintage fall fashion contest is that participants take their styling cues from two 1940s newspaper articles that Emily has provided (in the contest details post on her blog).

One doesn't have to interpret what is written in those fashion pieces to the absolute letter, but they should use them a general jumping off point. Emily thought that it would be oodles of fun for the three of us who are judging the contest (the wonderful Lauren from Wearing History is the third judge) to each put together a look based on the newspaper descriptions as well and the photos that you see here in today's post are my spin on things.

Interestingly, while I do own a fair number of types of garments mentioned in each of the two newspaper clippings with their swoon worthy early 40s fashion write ups, I don't have many in the precise colours described (which actually surprised me a fair bit) and as such opted for a somewhat more liberal interpretation of the general styles, lines, and colours mentioned within. I noticed that brown was touched on numerous times through out, so I opted for some brown pieces, layers, a 40s silhouette, and other colours (like blue, red and green) that also appeared within the newspaper clippings.

Emily's own inspiration look, which she shared in this recent blog post, also starred brown, so clearly we were on the same stylish wavelength there (we didn't discuss the particulars of our own looks beforehand).

I'm all about embracing fall's colour palette and dressing for this season, so I enjoyed putting together my own look big time - especially since it gave me a chance to sport this fabulously pretty vintage denim (1970s does 1940s) jacket on camera for the first time. It's a piece I purchased a few months ago from Secondhand Wonderland on Etsy and which I've been utterly dying to wear the moment the temperatures dipped a bit.

Denim is one of my favourite fabrics ever and I absolutely adore it when I can weave such into a mid-century look. It doesn't happen every day, especially since outside of jeans, overalls, and strongly western influenced garments, denim wasn't the most common fabric for women's fashions in the 1940s and 50s, but when it does, I get seriously happy about it!

From the cross stitch style embroidery on the lapels to the fitted princess coat-esque lines, there isn't a single thing that I don't madly adore about this beautiful vintage denim coat and love that Emily's fall fashion challenge gave me a chance to debut it - ditto with this wonderful c. 1940s brown felt hat that was an awesome Christmas gift a couple of years ago from my parents.

There's a fair bit of colour going on in this outfit, but I grounded it all by using brown throughout my look (hat, belt, tights) and really liked how everything came together here. I might not have dreamed up this exact 1940s inspired look were it not for Emily's great vintage fall fashion contest, so I thank her all the more that she suggested us judges try our hand at creating a look (to help inspire participants with their own styling - we're obviously not taking part in the contest as judges ourselves :)).

This might be the first vintage outfit I've put together based on a mid-century newspaper clipping, but I hope it won't be the last and love how doing so was a marvelous way to think outside of the box and interpret some early 1940s styling ideas in my own individual way - just as all those who take part in Emily's vintage fall fashion contest will do with their own beautiful looks as well.

Judging and providing prizes for Emily's awesome fall vintage fashion contest

This autumn I have the great honour and pleasure of being involved with my good friend Emily - from the stellar vintage + historical sewing blog, Emily's Vintage Visions - first ever vintage fall fashion contest.

This past spring Emily held a similar fashion contest using vintage write ups from mid-century newspapers as the jumping off point for contests to garner inspiration for their looks from and it was a roaring success, so she decided to hold the same sort of contest again this season, just with a fall touch to it.

Emily very kindly tapped both myself and Lauren from Wearing History to help her judge the entries and to provide prizes for the winner and a second place runner up as well. I thrilled to be involved on each count and can hardly wait to see all of the entries that folks submit. This contest is open to participants worldwide and you can find out all of the details regarding how to enter in this official contest announcement post on Emily's blog.

The first place winner will receive the following prizes:

-Vintage Related Goodies Bag Plus $30 in Store Credit from Emily's Vintage Visions

-Beautiful Collection of Autumn Themed Accessories from Chronically Vintage (see below)

-Vintage Sewing Goodies Bag Plus $30 in Store Credit from Wearing History

The runner up will receive the following prizes:

-Vintage Related Goodies Bag Plus $25 in Store Credit from Emily's Vintage Visions

-$20 in Store Credit from Wearing History

-$30 in Store Credit from Chronically Vintage

The first place prize pack that I'm providing includes the following items:

-1950s/60s peach and brown polka dot scarf with rolled hem

-C. 1950s brown net triangle shaped head scarf (great for keeping the wind from ruining your hair or for wrapping over curlers)

-C. 1950s white and yellow millinery flower "crown" (one would attach it with bobby pins)

-Original early 1930s photo of a man and two women in winter coats (on the back it says Niagara Falls, NY, Feb 1931)

-Vintage (probably 70s) Cooking with Kellogg's recipe booklet

-3 different autumn hued mid-century "fakelite" plastic bangle bracelets

-Mid-century thick copper chain bracelet

-Fairly long c. 1930s black Czech glass bead and gold/brass toned metal spacer bead necklace

-1950s/1960s green and gold hued plastic beaded necklace

-1950s/60s silvery-gold hued metal and orange rhinestone bow brooch

-1950s gold tone metal maple leaf sweater guard (chain)

-C. 1940s green plastic leaf/feather screw back earrings

-1950s (signed) Coro silvery-gold metal and orange rhinestone leaf clip-on earrings

-Plus, not pictured, a pair of vintage gloves if I have one in the winner's size, or if not, they can choice from either either another scarf or a piece of jewelry that I'll pick out myself (and try to keep fall-ish, too).

♥ ♥ ♥

I strongly encourage you to check out this fabulously cool vintage fall fashion contest and to enter (entries can be submitted up to, and including on, October 18, 2015 - with the winner being selected and announced shortly thereafter).

This is such a creative, fresh idea in the vintage blogging community and one that can land you some seriously great prizes! Way to go, Emily, on coming up with these exciting vintage fashion contests!

25 Vintage Deals Under $100 for September 2015

To my mind mind, no season is quite as cozy as autumn. Winter has the same, if not a greater, degree of hibernation-ness, yes, but even in this super modern day and age, winter seems to have a great degree of survival and risk involved. Icy roads and sidewalks, potential power outages during rough weather, cars that won't start in the morning, the dangers of blizzards, frostbite, hypothermia, falling through the ice if you're on the (frozen) water, more contagious viruses floating around, the list goes on and on.

Of course winter has many resplendent, beautiful points as well, don't get me wrong, but there more of a carefree coziness to autumn and that is what is at the heart of this month's 25 Vintage Deals Under $100.00 post.

The perks and charms of this season are well known and widely beloved. Hearty comfort food, often made with the season's rainbow-esque bounty. The last vestiges of warmth from the sun before it quite literally heads south for the winter, the return of soft layers and element protecting tights; hunkering down in front of a roaring fireplace, and gathering with others inside to celebrate the season's marvelous holidays are but a few of the things make fall the seasonal equivalent of a sublimely soft cashmere throw.

These brief, elegant weeks of golden light and equally amber hued leaves, rich pumpkin desserts and times when coats feel more like the fashion statement they are and less like a mandatory fortress against the icy chill that will accompany winter, are utterly marvelous and will forever stand as my very favourite of the year.

Let's then, delve into a fun filled selection of budget-friendly vintage, handmade, and vintage appropriate finds that celebrate the homey comforts of autumn, which kicked off this week, and revel in the joys, gorgeousness, and peaceful comfort of this third chapter of the year.

25 Vintage Deals Under $100

for September 2015

1. Scarves aren't just pretty, come the nippier months of the years, they're a vital fashion accessory to help keep the chill at bay. Whether you wear it around your head, neck, or even as a belt (to wrangle some of those many cold weather layers, perhaps), this big, gorgeous c. 1950s fall hued rose print 30.5 inch square scarf is bound to keep you toasty in style. $22.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




2. Gear up for all manner of fabulous fall feasts with this elegantly pretty set of mid-century autumn leaf print paper napkins and coasters, which come in their original packaging. $7.25 for the set from The Weathered Bungalow.




3. Though bees are often seen as a symbol of spring, and that they rightfully are, I've always associated them - and their hives (and scrumptious honey!) - with fall as well, so the moment I spotted this gorgeous vintage appropriate cardigan from Gleeful Peacock, it was love at first sight!!! Available in modern sizes small to XL. $46.00 from Gleeful Peacock (who have very kindly offered my readers free shipping on all orders at their site when you use the coupon code Vintage15 at checkout).




4. They're not paper, plastic, wood, or even the real deal, nope, they fabulously lifelike looking fall leaf cake decorations are made from rice paper and would be stunning for any fall time cake, batch of cupcakes, doughnut tower, or other sweet treat (a wedding cake very much included). $6.18 for 14 edible fall leaves from Eat Me.




5. From the rich, warm brown hues to the timelessly gorgeous oak leaf, wood grain, and acorn imagery depicted on it, this early 20th century molded plastic belt buckle sings with the spirit of the season and will look sensational on any sewing or craft project. $20.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




6.Nothing says fall quite like pumpkins, be they used in our decor, recipes, or wearables. In the latter camp, I am thoroughly smitten with these elegant handmade pumpkin earrings that have such a serene, timelessly pretty quality to them. $15.00 from D'Rae Designs.



7. To use a spot of current lingo, I die...Seriously this stunning 1940s gold/mustard yellow hued blazer is so stylish, so classic, and so deeply attractive. It's reasonable price is the icing on the sartorial cake. Fits up to a 38" bust/30" waist. $85.00 from Blue Velvet Vintage.



8. An owl, warm seasonal hues, a beautiful quote from George Eliot, what's not to adore about this enchantingly pretty hand made metal cuff bracelet? $38.00 from Accesoreads.



9. Perfect for pumpkin spice milk shakes, iced chai lattes, festive punches and scores of other scrumptious seasonal drinks, these fun, retro style orange, white and brown paper straws are just the thing to jazz up any meal or party. $3.49 for 25 straws from Food with Fashion.




10. I am by no means the first vintage gal to make this statement, but I really notice that I tend to wear more separates in the fall and winter. Certainly the need for layers and oodles of warmth factors in there, but I think that the fact that we want to feel cozy in the process also plays a roll. If you've been hunting for a great vintage skirt that suits this season to a tee, this beautiful c. 1970s does 1940s/50s Tan Jay brand dusty rose hued wool blend offering may just do the trick. Fits up to a 31 inch waist/42 inch hips. $32.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




11. Splendidly pretty and immensely seasonally appropriate, this classy vintage mixed metal autumn leaf charm bracelet is just the thing for any old school, boho, or modern outfit. $35.00 from Coco and Orange.




12. Step into fall, quite literally, with these timeless, wonderfully pretty 1960s tawny brown hued suede and leather shoes. Listed as fitting a vintage size 7 1/2 foot. Currently on sale at the time of writing for $18.00 from Memorare Vintage.




13. Hunting for a stunning vintage fall statement necklace? Search no further! This sophisticated mid-century five strand plastic faux pearl necklace sums up autumn's earthiest shades in a chic, glamorous ombre array that is stop-you-in-your-tracks gorgeous!!! $28.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




14. As the days grow shorter and the temperatures chillier, one can't help but want to reach for an especially luxurious vintage hat - such as this mid-century cream feather covered stunner - again. Not only are they wildly chic, but they'll help you stay warm to boot. Total win-win! Vintage feather hat, currently on sale for $24.50 from The Best Vintage Clothing.




15. Pine cones might be more commonly associated with winter, but they've always been a lovely, familiar part of autumn - especially the second half of the season - for me as well. I love that this Mother Nature inspired mid-century Gerry's brand enamel and gold tone metal suits both seasons splendidly and yet is not so inherently tied to either, IMO, that it can't be worn all throughout the year as well. $12.50 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




16. Talk about the most perfect fall palette ever for a garment! This 1950s day dress is alive with cozy hues of orange, yellow and brown and would be utterly marvelous to wear for Thanksgiving. Fits up to a 41" bust/30" waist. $98.00 from Stutterin Mama.




17. Much like hats, gloves do double duty (style + practical warmth) in the colder months and no pair currently listed in my shop captures the colour palette of the season better than these fabulous 1950s -60s wrist length sparkly gold Lurex ones. Most likely to fit a size 6 or 6.5 hand (see listings for sizing details). $16.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




18. Dish up everything from crisp fall morning Sunday brunches to Thanksgiving dinner sides (or even some of the turkey itself) on this timelessly lovely mid-century Old Orchard pattern serving platter that measures 15.25" x 11". $18.00 from The Haystack Needle.




19. I absolutely, positively love acorns and acorn themed items, so the moment I laid eyes on this hand painted Woodland Wishes Pendant necklace from Gleeful Peacock (which is available in various colour combinations), it was love at first - the fact that it's design is timeless enough to wear vintage various vintage/pinup outfits certainly doesn't hurt either. $32.00 from Gleeful Peacock (who, as mentioned above here, have very kindly offered my readers free on all orders at their site when you use the coupon code Vintage15 at checkout).




20. I'm not a knitter, but I'm sure if I was, I would feel the siren's call to put my needles into overdrive each year as autumn reemerged, turning to fabulous mid-century knitting booklets like this c. 1950s Styles by Beehive offering if I was. $8.50 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy (check out the other knitting booklets that I currently have in stock here).




21. These darling vintage owl salt and pepper shakers are such a hoot! (See what I did there? :D) Liven up your Halloween or Thanksgiving party table with them or simply keep these adorable vintage owls out all season (or year) long for a great hit of nature in the home. $12.00 from Yell and Panic.




22. With a product name like Autumn Heirloom, it was a safe bet this beautiful sounding hand lotion would catch my eye instantly. It boasts notes of Anjou pear, pumpkin, apples, honeycomb and so much more. Swoon!!! $10.00 for a 5.5 ounce container of lotion from Debaucherous Bath.




23.The colours in this elegant handmade hair flower are so sweetly gorgeous! I feel like really capture the feminine side of autumn's palette. J'adore!!! $7.00 from The Two Wicked Magpies.




24. Our corner of the country is one of the largest wine producing regions in North America, with thousands upon thousands of bottles being produced locally each year. Early fall is grape harvest season for many growers around these parts and indeed Penticton even has a big annual wine festival each around the start of October. As such, this familiar fruit and its delectable ends results are big part of autumn for many around here and to celebrate that fact, I thought it would be fun to include this elegant c. 1950s - 1960s Sarah Coventry gold tone metal and faux pearl grape branch brooch here today. $16.00 from Chronically Vintage on Etsy.




25. As someone who rarely goes more than a few days in the fall without tucking into something pumpkin spice filled, this charming 100% cotton flour sack dish towel instantly spoke to me and put a big smile on my face. 28" x 29" tea towel, $10.00 from Kitsch Studios.

♥ ♥ ♥

Not only is fall fabulous cozy, but it is also deeply elegant. The rich jewel tones, sensual fabrics (velvet, thick knits, corduroy, etc), and myriad ways we decorate for this time of the year makes it one of the most sophisticated and stylish seasons, too - a point that I also tried to weave into today's post.

I'm giddy as a squirrel who happened upon an unexpected acorn tree grove that fall is here again. I started decorating (for autumn) back in August and will begin putting out Halloween things - of which I've bought several new additions to my collection in recent weeks - very soon. Happy camper? You bet your bottom dollar! :)

Let's all celebrate and embrace autumn while it's here. Bake apple pies, go pumpkin picking, frolic in the crunchy leaves, take a peaceful Sunday drive in the county to admire the enchanting colours of the landscape, and savour each point that makes this time of the year such an incredible, joyfully cozy one.