Enjoying a rousing game of vintage tag

Back during the sweltering dog days of last summer, the very lovely (and talented – my goodness, can this gal sew!) Stephanie Lynn of The Girl with the Star-Spangled Heart posted about a fun game of Youtube/blog tag that's going around, in which participants answer a series of vintage related questions about themselves.

Stephanie shared her answers in the form of a Youtube video, but as I'm more of a (virtual) pen and paper kind of gal, I'm opting to jot down my replies instead (peppering them with photos, of course).

Though I could write whole posts on just about each of these questions unto themselves, I don't want you feel like you're slogging away through an essay here, and so have tried to keep my answers short and sweet.

{21 vintage lifestyle questions and answers}

1. Who are your style icons? Real world vintage women (like the stunning lady pictured below). As much as I adore the styles that the celebrity set of yesteryear sported, I've always found I could relate more - and see elements of myself in - the everyday ladies of the decades I adore most.

{Image source}

2. What is your favourite way to get inspired? I'm guessing that this question was meant in the context of wardrobe inspiration, in which case that would probably be a toss up between looking at vintage photos (say, on Flickr) or playing around in my closet and dreaming up ideas for future outfits.

3. What's your most-used hair tool? In my real hair days, I would have said my various types of curlers. Now, wig wearer that I am, I'd have to say that I've been focusing more on accessories than tools (with hair flowers seeing the most play as of late).

4. What's your favourite hair tool? Even though they sometimes bother my skin (as you may recall from this post about my hunt for nickel-free bobby pins), I'm going to have to go with the classic workhorse that is the humble bobby pin (which I still use often with my wig).

5. Updo, down, or half-and-half? I tend to enjoy and wear all three, but if I had to pick just one, I'd probably opt for half-and-half (such as style in this photo below, which was taken in East Kelowna last spring).




6. Is vintage something you do every day, on weekends, or for special occasions? All the time, baby!

7. What's your favourite blush and lipstick? My cheeks have a generous natural hit of pink to them already, so I don't wear blush that often. When I do, it's usually one from Clinique. My favourite lipstick is definitely MAC's Russian Red.

8. Dress, skirt, or pants? Heels or flats? A femininely tailored vintage dress and a cute pair of heels, please.

9. Off-the-rack or homemade? I love both, but as I don't sew my own clothing, I usually go for off-the-rack or reproduction.

10. Do you swing dance? I know how to, and certainly did swing dance at one point, however for several years now I've not really been able to due to my health. So these days I usually just tap my fingers to the beat of my favourite big band tunes from the comfort of my living room.

{Image source}

11. Extreme vintage or subtle touches? If one means head-to-toe vintage/repro/vintage appropriate by "extreme", than, yes, that's me the overwhelming majority of the time.

12. Favourite perfume? It's a tie between the sublimely gorgeous, deep, subtly vanilla tobacco redolent Dior Hypnotic Poison and the feminine, classic elegance of Ralph Lauren Romance.

13. Favourite skincare product? As I chatted about in this post earlier in the year, I tend to stick with classic skincare/beauty products and don't have an arsenal of expensive skincare items cluttering my counters. The more I think about it, the more I do believe that a simple bar of Dove Beauty Bar Sensitive Skin may be my favourite, as I use it both to cleanse my skin everyday and to shave with (most shaving creams irritate my super sensitive skin).

14. What does your family think of your style? I'm consider myself so fortunate that my immediate family members all seem to like, respect, and understand my style (very much including Tony, who flat out loves the fashion sense of his vintage bedecked wife).

15. Favourite accessory? My classic strand of pearls, which was a 27th birthday present from Tony (pictured below in a shot captured last summer).

16. Do you find the vintage community welcoming or snobby? Graciously welcoming through and through.

17. What drew you to vintage style? I can't remember a time when I was in love with vintage style, but if I think back to my earlier childhood influences, I'd say it was things like looking at vintage photographs (and thinking that the women in them looked so exceptionally beautiful, stylish and elegant) and watching movies such as A League of Their Own, White Christmas, and Roman Holiday.

18. Favourite places to shop vintage? Etsy for sure, followed on the heels by eBay. I thrift often and hit as many yard sales as I can in summer, but these days such sources rarely offer up vintage fashion finds, so (factoring the lack of actual vintage stores around these parts) I do the bulk of my vintage wardrobe shopping online.

19. What vintage eras are your favourite? Hand down, bar none, the 1940s and 50s. If we want to get extra specific, the period between 1947 and 1957.

{Image source}

20. Most glamorous film stars? Glamour, like beauty, is sometimes in the eye of the beholder and can certainly be subjective, but I'd say that timeless talents such as Jane Russell, Ava Gardner, Gene Tierney, Betty Grable, Veronica Lake all exuded their own distinct, unquestionable sense of glamour.

21. Favourite vintage object that you own? Can I just say everything in my closet to make things simpler? No, ok, well then I'd have to go with my vintage hats, a wonderful pearl hued 1950s lucite purse that Tony gave me for my birthday this year, a beautiful white and royal blue polka dot 1950s summer dress, and (my ever-expanding) collection of vintage cookbooks.


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As with most interview-like series of questions, the answers to some of these were easy-as-pie and others took a little more thought or were trickier to concisely sum up. I enjoyed them all though, and am curious now to know who (I it was suspect one of us vintage loving ladies, naturally) started this interesting series of vintage questions.

I know that not everyone is a fan of being tagged with blog questionnaires, so I won't name names here, but if you'd like to have a spin at this interesting series of vintage related questions, by all means consider yourself "tagged".

If you do give it a shot, be sure to let me know in the comment area of this post, as I'd thoroughly love to read your answers, too. Happy tagging, my dears!

Vintage Fashionista Friday: March 5, 2010

There is always a degree of excitement when I begin a new type of post that is set to occur regularly within the pages of Chronically Vintage. A clear sense of eagerness accompanies that exhilaration, as I begin to tentatively create the layout design that future editions (in this case for the brand new “Vintage Fashionista Friday” series) will adhere to – or at least be guided in some measure by.

To date one of the most popular posts on this site (not to mention one of my absolute favourite to put together!) has been Seven Stunning Vintage Holiday Season Outfits, which appeared in the early days of last December. That holiday season article – and the immensely positive response it received – really got the ball rolling in terms of what inspired the idea behind this new “end of the work-week” post.

In that piece I created seven distinct looks based on different vintage styles (such as “The Jitterbug” and “The Bombshell”), handpicking a number of items for each style. I think that for this budding series of fashion centered posts, I’m going to adopt a somewhat similar approach, however, instead of classifying each look by a title (for example, “The Girly-Girl”), I’m going to bestow a female name upon each weekly look.

As I was mentioning just the other evening on the phone with my step-dad (while discussing an entirely unrelated matter), I’ve always had a passion for naming things. Growing up I named nearly everything in my bedroom, including the beloved down filled pillow that saw me through my whole childhood (it’s name, if you're wondering, was Squishy), and that passion for bestowing monikers onto things has scarcely waned over the years (to this day any doll, plush toy or anthropomorphic item that comes into my house gets its own special name).

There’s something soulful and endearing about giving an item – or in this case, a handful of items grouped together – a human name. Doing so is certainly not a new act in the world of fashion; just think of the many clothing, shoe, handbag, and jewelry designers that assign monikers to their items and/or collections, some of which – like the Hermès Kelly bag – have literally become household names amongst those with a passion for style.

Of course the sort of look that one person might conjure up in their mind for the girl’s name “Evelyn”, for example, may be entirely different from what you yourself would picture someone with that name wearing. If you ask me, that’s part of the fun in assigning handles to things! The names I’ll bestow on each look are the product of my imagination; they’ll be based on anything and everything from a passing whim to a lifelong association with a direct source of inspiration.

In giving a ladies’ name to each weekly outfit (which is composed of a selection of different wardrobe pieces, accessories and related items that tie into a particular style), I feel that it embeds an extra level of depth to the very title “Fashionista”. For just as with women themselves, beautiful looks should always have a name to be remembered by.

And on that very note, let me present Chronically Vintage’s first ever edition of “Vintage Fashionista Friday”, staring a lovely, excellent for the beginning of March ensemble I’ve dubbed “Daphne”.


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{Sensuous curves and a fabulously elegant shade of steely-lilac, paired with gold toned arm bands, combine to make this stunning set of 1950s aluminum cat eye style frames a true work of art for your pretty peepers. Vintage women’s eyeglasses frames (which do not include lenses, so that you easily have them filled with your own prescription), $82.00 (US) from etsy seller Vintage 50s Eyewear.}



{Cardigans are a wardrobe staple all year round, but few times call for them more than when winter is slowly beginning to transition into spring. This immensely cheerful vintage button front sweater (labelled as size “M”) in the hue of fresh churned butter would pair well with everything from sun dresses to wool skirts, making a great piece to have on hand no matter the season. Splash some sunshine into your wardrobe with this cute cardi, which can be found from etsy seller My World of Wonder’s shop for $28.00 (US).}



{When I think of a woman named Daphne, I imagine a bold mix of sultry allure and girl-next-door charm. She’s the type of gal who wears a fragrance that is both feminine and powerful, such as Galanos (by Galanos), a classic scent that’s been on the market for over thirty years now. Mixing cedar wood with geranium, rose, carnation, oak moss, musk and other heady floral and earth notes, this scent would be perfect for the ethereal lady I envision in today’s vintage look. A 60ml bottle of Galanos eau de toilette can be had for $43.24 (Cnd) from FragranceX.com.}



{A cacophony of gorgeous leaves in rich shades of blue, plum and yellow swirl to and fro across this immensely pretty 1940s/50s cotton day dress (complete with rhinestone buttons down the front), which is fits up to a 40 inch bus/32 inch waist, and is available for $118.00 (US) from etsy seller The Greedy Seagull.}



{This glistening set of elasticized rhinestone bracelets from Forever 21 would be the perfect way to add a pop of sparkle to another wise understated outfit – or they’d do just as nicely as the finishing hit of pizazz for a to-the-nines look. No matter what you match them up with, there’s no denying their sticker price of $10.80 (US) for the entire set is real gem of a deal!}



{Sometimes it’s the most agelessly precious of items that can add extra life to an outfit or a room. Case in point, this darling Bukowski of Sweden plush bunny rabbit, which so wonderfully echoes the approaching spirit of spring and Easter time. This sweet little bundle of faux fur can be found for $10.00 (US) from etsy seller Hello Darling! Vintage.}



{Imagine you’re strolling through a field of vibrant daffodils as you go about your day in these upliftingly lovely “Lemon Meringue Heels”, complete with their playful matching bow. These stylish citron hued pumps are available in women’s sizes 5.5 to 10, for $34.99 (US), from ModCloth.com.}

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I truly hope that you all enjoy and garner your own wardrobe inspiration from this blossoming series of weekly Friday articles. I must say, I'm even more giddy about the idea of Vintage Fashionista Fridays then when I began writing at the start of this post (surely that's a positive sign of things to come!).

Wishing you each a gorgeous weekend filled with countless reasons to smile, my eternally stylish dears!

Five for Friday: January 29, 2010

...Sunshine, delicate as spun sugar encircles the air, yet its presence is a mask for the bitingly cold temperature that accompanies the light outside, pale as home churned butter. Still, so long as one is indoors, it’s nearly impossible not to feel invigorated by the much needed dose of vitamin D that the sun delivers – and certainly, sweet little Stella, loves the having a spot of light to nap in peacefully. As the weekend approaches my mind shifts to thoughts of tranquility levels equaling that of a sleeping cat. We’re still in the thick of winter and there’s no reason why a spot of good old fashioned hibernation can’t be on the agenda. Curl up with your favourite warm drink, a snugly blanket and some thick, comfy socks to fend off the chill, and settle back for a few minutes of fun with this week’s edition of Five for Friday...


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{Delicate petals of burgundy vintage satin and velvet swirl together with tiny rhinestones in this charming handmade fascinator style headband. Can’t you just picture this pretty piece paired with a cream hued wool coat or a faux fur stole during the winter, then as an accompaniment to your favourite flirty summer dresses and skirts. “Penelope” vintage millinery blossom headband, $25.00 (US) from etsy seller Katrina Pinka.}

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{Writing letters is one of my favourite activities no matter the season, but I find that the natural fact winter tends to equate to spending more time indoors means I’m able to zip off even more quick notes and long correspondence alike. I’m continually on the prowl for beautiful and/or adorable stationery, and this charming set of two notepads (50 pages each) of lined paper and delightfully cute plastic quill pen fit the bill perfectly! “Lines Birdie Note Pads and Plume Pen Set”, $22.00 (US) from Plasticland.}

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{If ever there was a scent that was aptly named to appeal to fans of the past like us, “Vintage Soul” from Liz Clairborne is it! Not only does this eau de parfum have a lovely moniker, it comes in an immensely beautiful bottle (and box) that calls to minds thoughts of the Moulin Rouge in its heyday, and is packed with a garden full of floral notes such as lilies, freesia, cactus flower, jasmine, gardenia, and tuberose. 3.4oz bottle of Vintage Soul, $22.61 (Cnd) from overstock.com}

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{Put the kettle on and pair your favourite cuppa with these fantastically cute Tiny Cherry and Almond Tea Cakes (which look both rustically playful and deeply sophisticated at the same time) made with sweet binge cherries and kirsch for oodles of appealing fruit and flavour. Image from, and recipe on, marthastewart.com.}

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{Rich, regally elegant jewel tones always seem to go hand-in-hand with the colder months (in my mind at least) and work so well to bolster one’s spirits. What better way to infuse a royal hit of passionately deep eggplant into your wardrobe then with this stunning 1940s reproduction frock? “Lula” wiggle dress with fish tail hem, available in sixes small-XL, £100.00 (UK) from The Pin-up Emporium.}

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Bundles of thanks, everyone, for your wonderfully lovely comments this week! At the risk of sounding like a broken record (but for the sake of Chronically Vintage’s newest followers), I will do my best over the course of the next couple of days to catch up on my visits to your own splendid sites. I love hearing from you so, so much and appreciate every one of your shared thoughts.

Wishing you all an amazing, warm and relaxing weekend – and last two days of the first month of 2010!

Five for Friday: January 15, 2010

...Yesterday afternoon, following a week ravished by arctic winds and murky grey skies, the temperatures actually rose a tad, climbing ever so slightly above zero (Celsius). With this sudden “warm snap” came early daydreams of spring. I know it’s far too soon for the gentlest season to arrive, but there’s no reason why I can’t let my thoughts stray to beautiful things like blossoming trees, first harvest vegetables and the scent of sunshine once again toasting the air. Granted there’s still snow and ice on the horizon, but in the meantime I’ll be busy starting to plan all the lovely ways I’ll celebrate when April does eventually whirl into town...

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{To fill your bath with the delicate scent of orchard fruits}


{Hued like a bowl of just churned orange sherbet, this generously sized (12.5 oz) bar of Luxo Banho soap comes packaged in an immensely lovely Art Deco inspired box, and smells delightfully of fresh apricots and peaches. Available for $12.00 (US) per bar of soap from All-Pop.com.}


{The kind of timelessly pretty, wear-it-anyplace sweater that will remain a staple in your closet for years}


{If like me, you’re a giant fan of light weight, classically styled sweaters, this darling number is just the ticket! Made of soft organic cotton and featuring a charming knit bow, this wonderful turquoise top would look equally stunning in the winter with a long wool skirt or paired with sailor inspired shorts come the dog days of summer. Turquoise bow knit sweater in assorted modern ladies sizes, £52.50 (UK) from Lunacy Boutique.}


{To invigorate your mood on even the bleakest of mid-winter mornings}


{From Japan-cool brand Tokyo Milk comes “Paper and Cotton”, a crisp, airy scent embedded with notes of white sage, birch, moss and coriander, all housed in a bottle bedecked with vintage fashion images. Each 1 oz bottle of perfume in a clear glass bottle (with spritzer) is $29.00 (US) from Plasticland.}


{An endearing reminder of days both past and more recently spent at local fun fairs and carnivals}


Available in six alluring designs, these laser cut wooden brooches boast playful vintage images and are shaped to look just like ticket stubs. Pin one (or more) to your favourite coat, purse, hat, scarf or anywhere else you please and pretend you’re on your way to a carnival. Vintage style wooden fun fair ticket brooches, £6.00 (UK) per pin from The Oriental Magpie.}


{A woman can never have too many bags, especially when they’re handmade, vintage inspired ones!}


{On those days when it’s far to grim to venture outside one moment more than is strictly necessary, spend some time indoors delving into a DIY book such as Making Vintage Bags by Emma Brennan ($12.21 [US] from amazon.com). This helpful (176 page) title provides detailed instructions on how to make twenty original designs (five each from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s), amongst which nearly any handbag enthusiast is sure to find a purse they’d love to make for themselves.}


I want to take a moment and extend massive thanks to all those who provided me with their impute earlier in the week regarding my hunt for a good source of crinolines (some of your leads look really promising!). I will be certain to do a follow up post later in the year to report how the status of my budding crinoline collection is coming along.

Many thanks as well to all those who have left comments on other Chronically Vintage posts lately, too. Over the course of the weekend, amidst such pleasant activities as writing snail mail letters and hand washing a gorgeous vintage skirt that arrived in Thursday post, I will do my best to catch up on at least a portion of your wonderful comments and visit each of your gorgeous blogs.

Recently a dear visitor commented that she found the smaller font size that I often use directly under images to be a bit hard to read. I’d wondered before if that font was too tiny and upon knowing that some find it to be, I’m happy to report that from here on out instead of reducing the front size (below photos, graphics, etc) to differentiate it from the rest of the text in my posts, I’ll italicize it. I always welcome your feedback on any element of this blog and appreciate the person who mentioned this doing so (I hope you find the font easier to read now, sweetie).

Wishing one and all a sublime weekend filled with warmth (be it derived from hot cocoa or the weather itself), serenity and many lovely memories.

Five For Friday {August 28, 2009}

...The weekend draws near, August’s last for nearly twelve more months. Time to savour the best of summer while simultaneously sitting on the edge of your set in anticipation for autumn. Crystal blue skies that will soon house harvest moons, fresh picked berries give way to pumpkin pies, tumbling leaves take the place of end-of-summer roses. Celebrate the next few in-between weeks and all they hold, they’re the gentle parting kiss from summer that will help you forget just how wildly fierce it can be at times...


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{To ensure you wake up on time for everything from classes to craft fairs this fall}


{First spied on my lovely friend Trains and Sewing Machine’s creative blog, this delightful Crosley alarm clock is thoroughly modern (it boasts a plug for your MP3 playter), but looks fantastically vintage. Plastic and stainless steel alarm clock, $58.00 (US) from Urban Outfitters.}


{To ease you into "coat weather" in the prettiest of vintage styles}


{Darling with high waisted trousers, casual skirts or even atop dresses, this versatile hued topper would look marvelous – and help keep you warm – as we transition into autumn. Cocoa brown, faux fur trimmed coat with a 37” bust and 34” waist, $58.00 (US) from etsy seller The Greedy Seasgul.}


{To capture the essence of any season or scent your heart desires and relive it time and time again}


{From the pages of the stellar (and perpetually inspirational) blog Indie Fixx, comes a comprehensive, thoroughly well constructed article on how to make your own perfume. Sniff out all the beautiful details here.}


{To beat the sizzling summer heat while still cleverly ushering in one of autumn’s most iconic flavours}


{If you love your apple pie ala mode (and really, who doesn’t?), than this recipe, which combines flavours from both of these classic desserts into one, is definitely for you!! Photo from, and recipe for cinnamon apple ice cream on, Tarla Dalal.}


{To keep you cool on toasty nights and then to nestle beneath a glamorous vintage robe when the mercury dips}


{Lace, bows, a gorgeous pale turquoise hue, heart trimming at the hem, what’s not to adore about this absolutely lovely vintage slip that could easily double as a warm weather night gown? 1950s slip with a 42” bust and 30-36” waist, $37.00 (US) from etsy seller Shrinkle.}


Enjoy these final few days of August, my dear readers. Spend time immersed in those season specific pastimes you love, take photos illuminated by deeply golden light while it's still present, and embrace the tail-end of this last full month of summer. I know I certainly will!

Wishing you each a gorgeous and serene weekend!

Five for Friday {July 24, 2009}

...This weekend is in need of uplifting serenity, respite from nagging worries, gentle moments spent listening to the breeze, and something fantastically sweet to take the occasionally bitter tinge off of everyday life...




{To keep you both cool and gorgeous at night}


{For everyday where I prefer nightgowns that veer towards gamine, charming pieces that could almost pass for the lightest of summer dresses, like this charming vintage number. 1950s Sweet Maiden white cotton nightgown, $45.00 (US) from Heavenly Vintage Lingerie.}


{To breathe new life into vintage linens}


{I spotted the incredibly cute idea of turning vintage pillowcases into children’s dresses at my sweet friend Karyn’s blog and have been thinking about it ever since. I fully believe that you could turn a pillow case into an adult size skirt too (perhaps with the addition of a second fabric), and am enamoured by idea now.}


{To celebrate the fact that cherry season is too short not to make the very best out of it!}


{One the most refreshing, perfectly suited to July recipes you could ever hope to encounter: cherry ice cream profiteroles with almond granita. Photo from, and recipe to be found on, the brilliant culinary blog, Dessert first.}


{To ensure one of the best elements of summer lives on all year long}


{The scent of line-dried or piping hot from the dryer cotton is one of the most relaxing and beautiful on earth, something that I wish I could have at the ready constantly. Fortunately, as this beautiful perfume attests to, I’m not the only one who feels this way. Clean Warm Cotton eau de perfume, $69.00 (US) from Clean Perfume.}


{To remind you of all the truly amazing everyday beauty in this world}


{Any and every photograph from the astonishingly fantastic, deeply gorgeous Flickr group Joyful Simplicities. 1. Untitled, 2. The butterfly room at Phipps Conservatory, 3. A warm welcome, 4. Lavender Harvest. Please click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information.}





Wishing you each a weekend filled whatever brings your heart bliss, days spilling over with tranquility and star-kissed evenings.

The essence of pure elegance

There are certain things which instantly and undeniably convey grace, charm, beauty and sophistication. Time honoured ingredients that entice, allure, soothe and inspire. An unfathomably well tailored evening dress, slickly crimson hued nails, the unmistakable glint of diamonds, a signature perfume weaving its dazzling scent across your skin, perfectly coiffed hair, a stemware glass of something wildly chic to sip slowly over the course of an evening, your date – looking strikingly like Dean Martin – in the background waiting to take your hand and twirl you across the dance floor.

In the photograph below of model Jean Patchett sporting a Jacques Fath frock, one finds each of these ravishingly lovely elements and is struck by the desire to embody elegance the way it used to be. It’s the sort of style that somehow, perhaps only in the land of daydreams and mile high wardrobe budgets, I strive to achieve on some level a little every day.


1. Jean Patchett, 2. A TOUCH OF SHALIMAR, 3. Nail polish / red, 4. The warming {Click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information}

Who are your muses of vintage grace and beauty? What components translate into unconditional elegance for you?