On the Cusp of Summer {Monday Muses, June 15th}

It rains one moment and exudes glistening sunshine the next, teetering between seasons June can be one of those months where it’s always wise to dress in light layers and carry an umbrella – at least in some parts of the world.

Here in Toronto we’ve had a mixed bag of weather so far this month. Some days have been stunners, others stormy, wet messes. Nature has embraced the idea of summer, but is still a tad hesitant to part with spring. Warm mornings and cool nights, or perhaps the exact opposite can pop up as easily as perfectly balmy days.

Jeans and shorts are both kept at the ready, sandals and gumboots sit side-by-side in the entryway. It’s more summer than spring, but far from the stifling heat of August that leaves you languid and in dire need of a constant stream of cold drinks.

The middle of June smells like fuchsia roses, Hawaiian Tropic, campfires, garden soil, and dusty rain. It’s like a child about to hit adolescence, certain of its impending growth but still tied to the comforts of its innocent past. Mid-June is a time to string badminton nets, sit outside until midnight hoping to glimpse falling stars, and gather (or at least admire) as many of the lingering lilacs of May as you possibly can.

There is so much warm beauty to this rich time of the year, when daisies begin appearing and everything suddenly seems a hundred times tastier when consumed between gulps of fresh air. Pivoting between seasons, this brief window of toasty, but not scalding, heat is a treat to behold and experience. This week my Muse is the cusp of summer, that magical time right before school lets up for the year and the dog-days of July come roaring in.

The following photos – and mosaic of pictures – all fill my soul with an instant fondness for this lovely, tranquil moment of the year, while providing wonderful ideas regarding what sorts of vintage looks to don for the arrival of summer. I hope that you too will enjoy the delightfully pretty, playfully fun time that mid-June brings with it (or at least the romanticized notion of such).



{This incredibly charming photo hails from a blog that I just discovered this month called wildflowers::pretty. I love the gentle beauty that flows through its creator’s photos and posts.}



{Johanna Öst looking superbly pretty in her new navy blue and white, button adorned swimsuit. Something about the fuller cut makes me think of the cooler water temps one generally encounters in June.}



{Anja of Clever Nettle looking about as sweet-faced and adorably set for early summer as one possibly can be.}



{This photo from Esme and the lane way does such a strikingly excellent job of conveying the sort of fading sunlight glory that summer ushers in.}



1. Vintage Style Outfit in Living colour, 2. Summer 1950, 3. laundry day!, 4. 081258 01 00A, 5. Cherry nosegay vintage button necklace, 6. Casual 50's look, 7. The California Barbecue, 8. It's not so easy as it maybe seems to take a picture at this angle, 9. Happy Birthday Mutti!, 10. 50's fashion , 11. A Patio Somewhere in Suburbia, 12. 8/6/08, 13. May 25 1957 {Vintage June joys of all sorts abound in these photos! Click on a link to see a larger version of a particular image and/or for photographer information}

Do you love the sweet tenderness that June can still posses or do you favour the passionate heat that comes later on in the summer? Does June inspire you or leave you wishing it was time to shovel snow from the driveway again?

Pretty Link Roundup {June 14th}

This post began its life on Saturday, but I must confess to falling asleep quite literally with my laptop alongside me on the sofa yesterday evening. While I cannot call the day immensely exhausting from a physical standpoint, I think I was worried into slumber over money and the fact that earlier in the day darling husband and I had returned from the bank whereat we paid our income taxes in full (it’s the first time either of us has had to pay, and boy howdy, was it a hefty chunk of change to dole out in one go!).

I perked the evening up by making my (very North American-ized) version of chicken and mixed vegetable yaki udon (with perhaps what might be called a slight French hit thanks to a little pat of butter I used to enrich and thicken the sauce, of which I prefer their to be copious amounts), that hit the spot wonderfully, but I think helped lull me to dreamland as well. I awoke this morning perhaps no less consumed by thoughts of finances (story of my life for...well, ever! ;D), but ready to continue hopping to and fro among some of my favourite blogs, looking for all sorts of vintage goodness to share with you.

Immersed in an online universe centred around the bygone days of earlier times it’s tremendously hard not to shake off at least some of one’s worldly woes for a little while. Escaping to – or perhaps more aptly, peeping in on – the past is great joy of mine and a huge part of what drives my love of vintage. No matter how dreary, rough, fantastic, ordinary, strange, or “taxing” the day is, I know that the pursuit of vintage images, fashion, music, films, decor and the like will always transport my heart and soul to a relaxing place that is full of mystique, allure and beauty.


{Was life truly any less carefree in the 40s or 50s? Who’s to say for sure? One thing is certain though, the majority of magazine photo spreads – such as this jolly balloon filled beach scene – would have you believe that it was. Image via Party Perfect’s Flickr stream.}

And on that note may I present to you this week’s roundup of diverse vintage links, spanning everything from Wizard of Oz inspired red heels to movie ads from the thirties. I really hope you enjoy them!


* Quick Vintage Up-Do: Every hair style I’ve ever seen Atomic Mama sport looks nothing short of fabulous, and in this post her speedy vintage do is absolutely no exception. Be sure to check it out if you’re looking for an awesome vintage style in mere moments.

* In Praise of (Vintage) Shorts: With summer’s heat bearing down on us it’s time to shake off long pants and don some shorts. In this article Lizzie of the Vintage Traveler takes a journey through the subject of vintage shorts, complete with a lot of history and lovely images featuring these pint sized trousers.

* Bathing Beauties (Volume 2): Betsy eye for beauty, timeless style and immensely wearable pieces is a joy to behold each week in her blog posts, such as this terrific piece full of summer bathing suits that tickle her fashion fancy.

* A Return to Vintage: Some Like It Vintage observes the excellent point that in times of financial troubles and/or world crisis, a return to the art of good tailoring, investment pieces, and timelessness over quick flash-in-the-pan styles often appears on the fashion scene.

* It’s all about the Betty’s: The mid-twentieth century is peppered with marvelous stars who had more than just lovely bodies and faces in common, some of them also shared a common moniker: Betty, as highlighted in this lovely post by Darla.

* Come Fly With Me: The first time I flew on a plane I was 14, I was not entranced by the world of sky travel as a child, and I have a small pocketful of less-than-glamorous airline stories, and yet there is something so immensely appealing to me about the styles and aura that surround vintage airlines hostesses and the yesteryear world of aviation. As such I just about squealed with delight when I saw this image packed post on the subject vintage air travel from Moonspinner of Dust Jacket Attic.

* 30s Film Ads: Images of quirky, charming, and absolutely delightful black and white movie advertisements from the 1930s are on the bill in this cinema themed post.

* Hosiery Fashion Timelines: The older I get (ok, at a month shy of 25 I don’t think I’m quite out to pasture yet, but nevertheless...) the more I find myself in love with hosiery. Giddy about denier and pattern, hue and material, tights and stockings alike, it’s always a pleasure to encounter an article on the subject of this wardrobe staple, such as this lovely one from Glamour Daze.

* There’s no place like home: Arrive wearing a pair of sparkly, glitter encrusted red shoes and chances are people anywhere will instantly think of the footwear Dorthy wandered around Oz in. This fun post gathers a slew of glistening crimson heels together into one spot, making it even easier to agree “there’s no place like a shoe store!” :D

* Wardrobe Staple: Shirtdress: Teaming with photos and interesting facts (plus styling tips), this post does a wonderful job of highlighting and displaying the subtle, ageless beauty that emanates from the humble shirtdress in all its past and present iterations. (And for more on the subject of these practical yet deeply pretty frocks, be sure to see Miss Ruby La Mour’s post on the same topic.)

This week the video in the limelight comes care of LadyMakeup1, and features a handy-dandy tutorial on how to emulate the make-up style that Lucile Ball sported throughout the I Love Lucy series. So fun and adorable!

{I Love Lucy Makeup}



When you jump into the online cosmos of all things vintage, how does it make you feel? I hope that as I do, you find tranquility, enjoyment and inspiration as the days of the past do their best to make the present world better, brighter and more joyful for those of us who admire them so dearly.

Pretty Link Roundup {June 7th}

I keep odd hours. I’m a night owl and I admit it. Always have been, likely always will be. Almost romantically I sometimes like to think that my penchant for the wee hours of the morn hearkens back to the fact that I was born at night, thus setting my internal clock to a PM schedule from day one. Whether there is any merit to this notion or not, is really anybody's guess.

There’s a serenity that befalls the night in which I often find my mind feels sharper, more invigorated – fine-tuned even. As such I often work, write and do all manner of productive tasks while a lot of the world is getting their beauty rest. Though this can mean I’m short on sleep at times, I rarely mind. I’d take feeling alert at 3am and a little sleepily at 3pm to never feeling entirely recharged just about any day.


{Like these studious ladies from the 1950s, I often read – be it books or blogs – at night. Photo via UMW Centennial’s Flickr stream.}

At the moment there’s a wide, curvaceous moon poking out from behind some concrete hued clouds as I put together this Pretty Link Roundup (which spans two weeks, as I missed posting one last weekend due to the fact I had family in town). It's sweetly enchanting and, unlike the sun, can be stared at safely for as long as I wish ;)

While beauty abounds in the night sky, it also runs rampant through the blogsphere! This week I’ve corralled a number of diverse links that span everything from summer hats to a modern line of vintage inspired workout wear. Also be sure to check out this week’s video clip – or should I say two clips – both care of vintage beauty maven Casey (of Casey’s Elegant Musings).


* Recession fashion - 1930s: Roslyn takes a look at the fashions that recessionistas of the 1930s were sporting.

* That Perfect Arch: Few techniques in the make-up world can so quickly define the look of an era as the eyebrow. In this post MissRedLips delves into what makes for a perfectly arched eyebrow and how you can achieve a pair for yourself.

* 1940s Trousers: I’m not sure about you, but I often feel like I need a fair bit of inspiration and style guidance when it comes to getting the look of vintage trousers right. Thankfully posts like this one that are full of pants wearing gals are there to help! If vintage shorts tickle your fancy too, drop by this article from Retro Ways on the subject.

* Sweaty Betty: Over on The Mysterious Life of the Metropolitan Housewife I read what has to be the first blog post on the subject of workout wear that made me squeal with excitement. Seems a clever gal called Jessie Pavia has decided to produce a line of vintage/Rockabilly inspired exercise clothing under the brand name Box Wine Betty. This cool new line will be available soon, and you better believe I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled to see more of their products!

* Interspace - A vintage interior (redux): Thoroughly handy tips to help you master your own personal retro/vintage interior design style.

* The Pros and Cons of Vintage Fashion Shopping By Location: The title of this handy post does a fab job of explaining what it’s about, but I’ll add that not only are numerous pros and cons listed, they’re laid out so as to correspond with various categories of vintage/second hand shopping such as estate sales, consignment stores and flea markets.

* 8 Beautiful Summer Hats: With the warm weather barreling down on us, now is the time to ensure you’re ready to face the sun’s rays head-on with a lovely (vintage) summer hat.

* Art Deco & Flapper Era Faces, Figures and Fashions: A wonderful gathering of vintage pieces for the art deco and flapper era fan to browse and admire.

* Boho Starlets: While boho (short for bohemian) has been a fashion buzz word and popular style for numerous seasons now, its roots actually stretch much further back, as this lovely photo filled article shows.

* Evolution of the household 1950 to today: Women’s Day magazine takes a gander at the price of everyday items, homes, and wages, as well as other related statics, from every decade between now and the 1950s.

* Barbie make-up tutorial: Featuring a lipstick shade that is not too far off from that one that I recently mentioned liking, this tutorial style post – complete with absolutely gorgeous photos – shows you how to create an old school inspired Barbie make-up look.

* Working on the land: No matter what they were doing, however much drudgery was involved with the job, I’m always struck by the underlying element of beauty and grace that seems to have prevailed through women of the WW2 era, as evident by the hairstyles in these photos of female farmers (or these workers that were featured in Life magazine).

* Vintage Scarf Blog: I just discovered this blog devoted entirely to the sale and subject of vintage scarves a few hours ago and wanted to share it with you all. Vintage scarves are a marvelous way to add colour and style any outfit and it never hurts to have another spot to source them from!

I hope you enjoy this week's selection of two wonderful clips featuring timelessly gorgeous “girl next door” vintage style make-up, that accompany this extremely handy article on the subject.


{Girl Next Door Make Up pt.1}



{Girl Next Door Make Up pt.2}



Before the morning breaks I think I’ll have a very light late supper (I’ve been craving unbuttered popcorn with a hint of salt and a crisp Red Delicious apple for three days, so that’s probably what I'll grab from the kitchen) and schedule this post to appear more towards noon, when I’m sure far more of you will be awake! (Are there any other fellow night owls amongst my lovely readers?)


{I’m off to rustle up a quick nibble before calling it a night - wish my apples were situated in a crate with a label this adorable on it! Darling vintage label from the pages of *julia’s terrific Flickr stream.}


I hope that you're each doing really well, and that you have a serene and joyful Sunday!