You asked: Tell me more about your lipsticks

In the middle of last June, on a day when the weather was just about a complete 180 from the wintry world we find ourselves in nearly seven months later, the wonderful Sanne from Sanne's Blog left a comment on one of my outfit posts, in which she said the following, "Even your lipstick is perfect. And speaking of lipstick - how about writing a post about your lipsticks?".

You bet, dear Sanne. It took a little while to come into being, but today I'm delighted to bring you just such a post.

As I've touched on before (such as in this post about 1950s eye make-up), generally speaking, I tend to use a fairly close-knit group of cosmetics. In other words, much as I adore make-up (and goodness, do I adore it!), I don't have mountains of mascaras, piles of powder jars, or scores of shadows filling up my make-up box and bathroom.

In part because of my super sensitive skin, in part because of the fact that I need to ensure all make-up that goes near or on my mouth is gluten-free (because I have celiac disease, a point that I chatted about in this post about Red Apple Lipsticks products), and in part because I tend to stick with what I love, my make-up collection is on the smaller side and typically includes a selection of items I've been using routinely for years.

Due to the fact that anything used near/on my mouth absolutely must be gluten-free (this is a non-negotiable point for me, as I get extremely ill from even super small trace amounts of gluten), and not all lipsticks (and liners, glosses, balms, stains, etc) are gluten-free, I don't presently have a very large lipstick collection, but I'm certainly game to talk about those that I do use these days.

There are four main lipsticks that I turn to, all of which have appeared here in outfit posts over the past couple of years. They are...





MAC Russian Red: Like many gals (vintage and otherwise) out there, it took me a long time to find my perfect shade of red. I'm fair skinned and look better in blue-reds, but my skin also has pink undertones, and it's easy for almost any lipstick to unintentionally bring out that pinkness in an unflattering way. About five years ago, I started using Russian Red after reading some really glowing reviews online about it, and have been hooked ever since. It is, bar none, my all-time favourite red lipstick.

The texture is thick, but not to the point of being stiff or hard to apply. The colour is a lush, vintage appropriate, deeply pigmented blue-red that goes on true to colour (at least I find that it does on me), and a single tube seems to last for a very long time even when applied almost every day (four to six or more months, I've found).

Here's an example of me wearing MAC Russian Red.






MAC Diva: A dark, seemingly vamp merlot wine hued lipstick might seem a bit out of place on a gal like myself who favours 1940s and 50s fashions, and while, admittedly, this colour wasn't the most common of shades during the era, it's one that I've found works surprisingly well with a number of vintage looks.

Much like Russian Red, this is a high quality lipstick with a lot of staying power, pigmentation, and punch. It is, however, lighter once on than it appears in the tube. Instead of looking goth, it's elegant, eye-catching and very sophisticated, yet sweetly fun at the same time. After Russian Red, this is the lip colour that gets the second most amount of play in my lip wear arsenal these days.

Here's an example of me wearing MAC Diva.





Clinique Raspberry Glace: Pink lipsticks are a tricky camp for me. I love them dearly (ditto for corals, which are almost impossible for me to wear), but often times they don't work well with my colouring. Over the years, I've had the best luck with those that veered towards the dusty rose and ever-so-subtly mauve infused side of the spectrum, and somewhere in between is where you'll find Raspberry Glace.

A gentle, very natural hit of pink with subtle shimmery undertones, this is a fairly lightweight lipstick that glides on like a dream, has quite decent staying power, partners well with vintage outfits, and is a perfect year-round pink in my books.

Here's an example of me wearing Clinique Raspberry Glace.




Red Apple Lipstick (in) Red: Much as I love, and very frequently wear, Russian Red, sometimes I want a slightly lighter red, one that's pigmented, but not quite as matte and dense, and on those days, Red Apple Lipstick's classic Red is often my shade of choice.

Far from being matte, this lipstick has an appealing shine and element of shimmer to it, but stops short of looking like a gloss. It's a timeless true red (that goes on like a dream) and one that I think would work wonderfully on a wide range of skin colours.

Here's an example of me wearing Red Apple Lipstick (in) Red (layered under Red Apple's Firestorm Lip Gloss).

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

♥ ♥ ♥

These are not the only lipsticks I own or wear, but they are the ones that see the most action by a long shot at the moment (and in the case of the first three lippies, for at least the past four years - Red Apple's offering is a fairly new edition that joined my make-up bag last year). Occasionally, if I'm after a shade that falls somewhere in between red, burgundy or pink, I'll combine two of these lipsticks, such as I did in this post from the summer of 2012.

Typically I use a lip liner in a similar shade to my lipstick first (to give my lippie extra staying power and help ward off that dreaded bare patch look that can happen to lipstick as it wears off throughout the day), with my two favourite brands presently being Annabelle and Red Apple Lipstick.

Sometimes, instead of a liner - or instead of lipstick (and liner) all together - I'll also reach for a lip stain, in which case I really love Covergirl Outlast Lipstain in 440 (Wild Berry Wink). It's a sweet dark pinkish-red that delivers a terrific I-just-ate-three-pink-popsicles kind of flush of colour to one's lips and which stays on for hours and hours (here's a series of outfit snaps in which I'm wearing Wild Berry Wink lip stain).

I don't tend to wear a lot of gloss nowadays (I did in my teens and early 20s, but lip gloss was a product that I kept getting glutened from in the early days of life with celiac disease, so I really scaled down on the amount I use, even though I'm happy to say that I have since found a few brands that are guaranteed to be gluten-free). When I do reach for glosses, I usually like either clear (it goes with everything, you've got to love that!) or a true red that can be worn alone or layered over one of the lippies discussed here. In either case, Red Apple Lipstick and Annabelle are my two brands of choice.

My lips (like my skin) in general tends to be pretty dry (especially during the fall and winter), so a good balm or chap stick is a must all-year round for me. To be honest, I've not yet found a gluten-free one that I'd give an A+ to in terms of effectiveness, but two that I've had decent results with so far have been Badger Balm and EOS (of which I've found their Strawberry Sorbet balm to be most effective).

I'm sure that as time goes on, I'll try other lipsticks, some of which will miss the mark by a long shot, others that will become instant favourites, and some that will land squarely in the middle. This is the nature of not just lipsticks, but almost all cosmetic products.

It's important for me that my lipsticks have a timeless feel to them and are on par with shades that existed during the mid-twentieth century. Ideally I like them to come in at under $25 a piece (I don't buy a lot of department store cosmetics at all for the sake of my budget and also because I'm quite happy with a number of drugstore products, but I make a notable exception to statement for lipsticks), have staying power when I kiss my husband (which I do a lot!), and last through many, many applications (so as to get a fair amount of bang for my make-up buck).

All four of the lipsticks discussed here today do just that, which is precisely why they're my go-to shades day in and day out all year long.

Thank you very much to Sanne for her great question - I always welcome queries from my wonderful readers, be they related to my make-up, wardrobe, or anything else pertaining to the vintage lifestyle, and hoped you enjoyed learning a more about my current favourite quartet of lipsticks.

7 steps to big 1950s eyes

Eyeliner, and by extension eye make-up as a whole, and I have had a long standing love affair stretching back all the way to when I was 14 years old (and not technically allowed to wear make-up yet, but I'd put it on - and take it off before returning home - each day at school...such a rebel, I know!). Back in those days (the late 90s) I loved nothing more than to rim my lids, top and bottom, with thick, smoky black (or less commonly blue) liner and any number of different colours of shadows.
 

Like many teenagers, I played around a lot with make-up during those formative years as I tumbled ever closer towards adulthood, sometimes sporting vivid indigo hued mascara, vampy sage green and grey adorned eyes, violet shadow, sultry gold liner, and all number of different looks. It was fun, creative, and helpful in ultimately helping me to learn which eye-makeup colours (and products themselves) worked best on me – and which were best left back in the 90s!
 

These days, well over a decade since high school ended, I generally stick with the same small handful of beloved, highly tried-and-true eye cosmetics: black liquid liner, black mascara, and light coloured shadows (i.e., cream, mushroom, pale pink). Every now and then though, especially since I rather adore the dramatic, attention grabbing eye make-ups looks that were present throughout the 50s (particularly during the second half of the decade), I channel my inner 16 year old again and toss on a striking, heavily made-up eye.
 

I know that I'm not alone in this regard and that many of you greatly enjoy experimenting with various make-up looks as well. As such, I wanted to share this delightful pair of vintage magazine pages that I recently came across on Flickr, which guide you through seven easy steps to achieve big 1950s eyes.

{Both vintage images via Dovima is Divine II on Flickr. Please click on an image to be taken to its respective Flickr page, where you can also see an even larger version of each image.}


Aside from the fact that few of us still use cake mascara applied with a brush, these handy instructions really look as though they could have just as easily come out of a contemporary magazine. A few years ago beauty experts were recommending step number seven right, left and center, but having already seen it suggested in mid-century magazines (such as this), I knew that lining your inner lids with white pencil was a technique that had been around for decades.
 

By today's standards, the look these steps create isn't astronomically dramatic, but it's still bold and very beautiful. Though you might not adopt it as your day-to-day vintage eye make-up look, it has elegance and appeal aplenty, making it immensely well suited to fancy evening events in particular.
 

I hope that, as it has for me, this charming tutorial has put you in the mood to try a captivating vintage eye this coming summer. On your marks, get set, sharpen those eyeliner pencils, ladies! It's time for a big 1950s eye!

Beautifully autumn worthy 1940s Revlon make-up

✯ Day 300 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

When one thinks of the words "Halloween make-up", any number of images, from cute little faces done up with mother's cosmetics to the hair raising work of horror movie make-up artistes spring to mind.

I think back to that thick, inexpensive drug store make-up in stark shades of snow white, lime green, and tomato red that we used as kids. I also recall Halloween eve's spent sitting on the counter sink as my mom drew pointy eyebrows on my face with her eyeliner, then covered my lips liberally in her darkest shade of lipstick, in order to turn me into whatever spooky trick-or-treat character I wanted to be that year.

In fact, I think that for a lot of us girls, it was Halloween night that we first became acquainted with many of the seemingly magical tubes, vials, bottles, and containers of make-up that adult women reached for every day.

And come the end of the evening, when, with full pillow cases and slightly smeared faces, we returned home, it was back to the bathroom or our mom’s vanity table we were whisked, to have our Halloween faces scrubbed off with copious amounts of cold cream.

There was something exciting and comfortingly ritualistic about this yearly tradition, so it comes as no surprise to me then that I still make a point of wearing special make-up each Halloween.

Sometimes I'll "paint" my face to go with a given costume, or other times, when I'm just donning black and orange for a night spent at home handing out sweets, I'll give my beloved, daily 1950s inspired make-up a decidedly goth feel, channelling shades of deep grey, inky black, and mossy green; the deepest of merlot wine hues slicked over my lips.

And yet, there are also those occasions when one wants a softer look, something in the peach, pink and cheerful red family. Especially if your costume or Halloween night ensemble is more sweet than spooky.

If such is the case, they you may find the chic 1940s ad below, with it's glistening pumpkin and autumnal colours, provides you with just the right dose of inspiration.

{Strikingly elegant, completely Halloween worthy 1940s Revlon cosmetics ad via curly-wurly on Flickr.}

 

I adore the warm palette here, in shades of apricot, rust, bronze, and shimmering gold. The make-up itself is classy and gorgeous. Youthful, feminine, and fitting for practically any occasion. (Her sophisticated updo is fantastic, too! If only I had a fraction of the thickness of hair needed to successfully pull that look off!)

So whether you'll be reaching for gobs of grease paint this year, or just a whisper of pumpkin hued lipstick and nail polish, be sure to celebrate Halloween by doing something out of the ordinary with your make-up. After all, if you can't paint your face on All Hallows Eve, when can you?!

Vintage 365: Darling vintage Dogette ad for dog nail polish!

 

✯ Day 55 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

There are certain vintage finds that can't help but put a wide grin on your face. They're those images or items that someone how seem so off-beat, so quaint, so entirely irreverent compared to the ways things are generally supposed to be that they instantly become likeable. "Give me a 'for instance', Jess", I hear you say. Delighted to! :)

Ladies and gents, I present a vintage ad for Dogette Nail Enamel: nail polish for your favourite canine companion. Matching was big in the 1950s (not of course, that there's anything wrong with that - I can think of few things more lovely than matching one's lipstick and nail polish, and do so myself quite frequently), from home decor (think kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms in primarily one colour) to identically hued hats and shoes, it was seen as classy and classic at the time to colour coordinate.

{Wonderfully interesting Vintage Dogette Nail Enamel poster, measuring 18 x 12.5 inches, $19.99 from All Posters.}

 

Evidently, thanks to the fine folks at Dogette, you could match your dog's claws (nails) to many popular fashion and automobile shades of the day. As we can see in this delightful vintage ad, Dogette came in a range of au currant mid-twentieth century colours, from whisper pale lilac to bold sky blue, these hues were definitely going to get your pretty (and pampered) pooch noticed. (Can't you just imagine regal, highly groomed 1950s poodles sporting perfectly manicured nails?)

While Dogette may seem like a rather strange product (after all, it is a cosmetic product for dogs!), the brand (for whom I honestly could not find much information at all; if anyone knows more about this company, please don't hesitate to share your knowledge in the comments) was decades ahead of their time. In recent years a handful (pawful) of companies have hit the market with their own lines of dog nail polish. It would seem though Dogette has gone the way of the Molossus of ancient Greece (which is a shame, their logo and packaging was downright adorable).

Color Paw (which comes in a wide array of colours) and OPI's Pawlish are two of the best known brands of dog nail (both companies produce formulas that differ from human nail polish and which are safe for use on dogs) on the market today, proving that sometimes even the quirkiest of yesteryear beauty products - be it for people or pets - has staying power.

Introducing The Vintage Shopping Bazaar

Like many of us, in the course of my online travels I encounter a seemingly endless plethora of vintage and vintage inspired items that I’d like to post about. At the best times, of many such finds make their way into blog entries, while other may be stored for future use or eventually forgotten (or morphed into daydreams, if the item is one you’d love to own yourself).

Over the course of Chronically Vintage’s life, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing many of my favourite finds with you. At times I’ve had a "daily" post featuring one extra cool find that caught my eye (I use the word daily loosely, as said posts weren’t always actually added each and every day, but rather dispersed between other blog entries), and while this is something I hope to continue when I’m able to get back into blogging more regularly, for the time being (as I’m simply not blogging anywhere as much as I generally have throughout this site’s life), I thought I’d introduce a new (reoccurring) post to share some fabulous vintage finds with you.

As anyone who spends much time shopping (or scouring for items as sources of vintage inspiration and blog post material) knows, things that are for sale online rarely stick around for months or years at a time. Retailers and smaller scale sellers alike constantly remove older listings to ensure that new items are available for their customers. While product turnover is a great in many respects, for bloggers it can mean that you have a short window of time in which to feature a product that is still available for sale (from the source you discovered it from) on your own site.

Many-a-time I’ve spied an item, bookmarked it for later, and when my mind thought of it again, half a year or more had passed and the item was no longer for sale (tell me this doesn’t sound familiar to you as well?). While it’s probably not realist to blog about every item that captures your attention (especially if you’re the sole blogger on a site that isn’t strictly devoted to highlighting products), at the same time it can be a little sad to see great finds go unmentioned.

To that extent I recently came up with the idea of putting together a (reoccurring) post by the name of The Vintage Shopping Bazaar, which will lasso a bunch of items that I’ve found in my online travels (but which haven’t appeared in previous posts) that I don’t want to miss out on sharing with all of you.

The inspiration behind the name for this new type of post came about from the fact that shopping bazaars are usually marketplaces that swirl with troves of different types of items. One stall might have bolts of fine silk, another handcrafted jewelry, a third mountains of fragrant spices. Such destinations are fascinating mixtures of all manner of goods, that while often quite different from one another, all work in tandem to create the unique shopping experience that comes from visiting the modern shopping mall’s predecessors, a bazaar.

There really won’t be much in the way of rules to such posts. They’ll appear from time-to-time, be comprised of an eclectic hodge-podge of lovely items that I’ve found recently, and will be a spot in which to share some of the online treasures that have been fuelling my vintage inspiration fire lately – and which I hope will delight and inspire you as well.

On that very note, let me welcome you to inaugural edition of The Vintage Shopping Bazaar (please note that all prices are in American dollars unless otherwise specified). I really hope you have fun browsing and daydreaming!


♥ ♥ ♥


{Steal the show with your radiant vintage elegance when you sport this stunning 1950s inspired, 100% cotton sharkskin frock – complete with flattering boned bodice – which can be worn either as a strapless or halter neck dress. “Classic 1950s Sheath” dress, fits a 39-40 inch bust/29-31 inch waist (size alterations are available upon request for an additional charge), $225.00, from Whirlingturban.}



{Though they may first call to mind thoughts of distinguished gentlemen from a bygone era, when seen dangling from a delicate tarnished gold hued necklace, there is something deeply beautifully and entirely feminine about pocket watches such as the one used as a pendant on this old fashioned feeling, elegant piece. “Watch as Time Goes By” necklace (with a 27 inch chain and functional watch that simply needs winding first to work), $29.99, from ModCloth.com.}



{Natural shades paired with timelessly smoky hues are forever in style, and this beautiful collection of gentle eye shadow colours would make the perfect base upon which to build your favourite vintage make-up looks (dip your applicator or brush into a little water and then one of the darker shades and, poof, instant eyeliner for the perfect 1950s cats eye!). Too Faced “Naked Eye Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection” pallet featuring nine essential matte neutrals and soft shimmer eye shadows, $34.00, from Sephora.com.}



{A cheerful riot of colours come together harmoniously in this delightfully fun, entirely summery pair of plaid peep toe, ankle strap heels, which would partner so nicely with a trove of different vintage warm weather styles (think everything from sailor shorts to flowing sundresses). “Color Theory” stiletto heels, available in ladies sizes 6 to 10 (some half sizes are available), $34.00 per pair, from ModCloth.com.}



{This hot-off-the-press book (it was just released this month!) caught my eye while it was still in pre-release and is now firmly planted on my reading wish list. Chalked full of information on the time-honoured art of sewing (from the history of the sewing machine to highlighting modern fabric pattern designers like Amy Butler) and boasting 25 vintage inspired projects, this title looks like a must-own for anyone with an interest in vintage fashion, sewing or twentieth century costume history. Sew Retro: 25 Vintage-Inspired Project for the Modern Girl & A Stylish History of the Sewing Revolution, written by Judi Ketteler, $16.49 from Amazon.com.}



{Looking as though it could have been plucked right off one of the walls at Sterling Cooper, this fantastically retro inspired, white frosted glass clock would look sensational in your own office – or any room for that matter. 13.8 inch square “Jazzy” clock, $48.00, from Chiasso.}



{A novel idea if ever there was one, this sophisticated tin looks at first glance to hold Chamberlains face powder, however its vintage interior instead houses (100% all natural) modern day lip balm. This example and many other salvaged beauty product tins have all been sterilized and turned into lip gloss receptacles, providing you with both a beautiful heirloom tin and a fantastic way to ensure your lips stay soft while at the beach, on a picnic or any place you can imagine. “Lovely Lip Balm” in a vintage tin, £24.00 (UK pounds), from Andrea Garland (note that refills are available for £5.00 plus £1.50 shipping within the UK).}



{Just because summer is half way over doesn’t mean you can’t justify picking up a new swimsuit, especially when it’s one that’s as agelessly perfect as this graceful vintage inspired, black two piece. “Lisa” halter neck bikini, available in ladies sizes small to XL, $110.00 (for both pieces), from Stop Staring Clothing.}



{Cute meets spunky in this fabulous red, grey and cream hued vintage tattoo print fabric. I can easily envision this lively material being utilized by everyone from quilters to scrapbookers, seamstresses to mixed media artists for a myriad of diverse uses! “Love Tattoo” fabric (designed by Michael Miller Fabrics), $9.50 per yard, available from eQuilter.com}



{Old School postcard style art reigns on this cheerfully coloured 11 x 17 inch poster featuring a jaunty image of the Empire State building. “New York framed poster”, $32.00, from Urban Outfitters.}



{Measuring in at a petite 2.25 inches, this vibrant vintage flower brooch positively sparkles with summertime energy and lively beauty, and would look wonderful clipped to a purse, lapel, blouse, scarf, or hat. “Vintage Blue Flower Pin”, $12.00, from picnicbyellie.}



{Refined French style teams up durable cotton in this sleek throw pillow sham (note that a pillow itself is not included with this listing) featuring silhouettes of dressmakers dummies on a soothing cream hued backdrop. “Chic Paris Mannequin” cotton burlap looking pillow sham (fits a 14 inch pillow), $16.00, from amongst the items available from etsy seller Berry Lane.}



{Every bit as refreshing as an ice cold lemonade on a scorching hot day, this immensely cute short sleeved dress is just the ticket to carry you through the rest of this summer and many, many more to come! Vintage inspired “HepCat Dress”, available in ladies sizes small to 3X, $49.99, from ModCloth.com.}



{Ahoy, vintage fashionistas! Gather ye treasures (ransacked or otherwise ;D) up this marvellously fun 1950s, half-moon shaped purse. Composed of a tweedy cream hued fabric adorned with sequins, shells, gold coins, faux pearls, and precious little fish embellishments, this whimsically sweet handbag is sure to make you smile (and perhaps want to take to the high seas!) every time you use it. Vintage Claire Fashions “Pirate’s Treasure” handbag, measuring 10 inches tall by 15 inches wide, $75.00, from Viva Vintage Clothing.}



{Set a flock of darling birds free upon your home decor with this endearingly sweet group of sparrows shaped mirrors. Whether displayed all together or dispersed throughout your home, these lovely birds add a whimsical vintage touch to any room. Set of six 7 inch by 12 inch glass “Flying Sparrow” decorative mirrors, $24.00 (for all six), from Plasticland.}



{Help ensure your project stays tidy while adding a captivating dose of antique French charm to your craft space with this elegant printed cardboard thread organizer, which is equipped with 16 holes. “Saintes Thread Organizer”, $16.00, from Acme Notions.}



{Channel a sweet, subtly ethereal vibe with this classically tailored, ruffled cap sleeve blouse in the cheeriest of lipstick red hues. I could see this pretty top making fast friends with high waisted pencil skirts and vintage trousers alike, putting in tons of wardrobe millage all year long. “Special Engagement Blouse”, in sizes XS to XL (also available in navy blue), $45.00, from Fredflare.com}



{Ensure your skin stays glistening and healthy this summer with a little help from this incredibly cute set of four skincare products (SPF 30 sunscreen, “After Sun Soother” lotion, foaming facial cleanser, and facial moisturizer), each bottle of which is decked out with a darling image of a vintage gal enjoying a day at the beach. Four piece “Beach Diva” set, currently on sale for $16.95 (for the whole set), from Sterling Richards.}



{Crisp tailoring and a timeless pallet of black and white lend this exquisite two piece 1950s playsuit a wonderful sense of grace and summertime allure. Originally produced by “Style Plus California”, this delightful set is “new old stock” and has never been worn (the shirt fits up to a 39.5 bust/33.5 waist, the shorts fit up to a 28 inch waist/38.5 inch hips). Two piece set featuring circle print top and black shorts, $98.00 (for both pieces), from etsy seller Planet Claire Vintage.}



{Imagine the year is 1943 and you’re receiving a long anticipated letter from your beloved (who is valiantly off serving on the front) every time you use this endearingly sweet, eco-friendly, water-proof pouch. Perfect for storing modern day postage stamps, coupons, accessories, make-up, or anything else you can fit into 9.5 x 7.25 inches of space, this wonderful vintage inspired bag is certainly something to write home about! “Airmail Pouch”, $9.95, from FredFlare.com.}



{There are shoes that are cute, then there are shoes that are so adorable they practically make you squeal aloud when you spy them! These fantastically playful nautical meets tattoo art inspired flats are just such a pair. Perfect for evening strolls along the beach, marathon shopping trips, breezy vacations, even tucked under the long folds of a wedding dress hem (should you wish to keep your toesies extra happy on your special day). “Tattooed Sailor Button Ballet Flats’, available in ladies sizes 5 to 10, $43.00, from Plasticland.com.}



{Believing (much as I do) that many recipes housed within the pages of vintage cookbooks (and our grandmothers’ collections) deserve to live on in today’s busy world, author Lari Robling gathered up a fantastic assortment of 80 yesteryear recipes that are sure please just many crowds today as they did during when they first appeared several decades ago. Endangered Recipes: Too Good to Be Forgotten, $13.46, from Amazon.com.}



{The perpetually romantic charm and beauty of lush summertime roses tumble forth across this feminine gold toned (stretch) bracelet, which features a row of chunky crimson blooms. “Carved Red Rose Bracelet”, $10.99, from Enchanting Jewels.}



{Stay as cool as a cucumber and as pretty as a peach through the long, hot days of summer in this airy, playfully pretty 1950s chemise and panty set. Soft layers of white and pastel yellow chiffon give this nightgown a light-as-air look and feel that is sure to help anyone sleep more peacefully. “Lemon Drop Cream Puff Chemise”, chemise fits up to a 40 inch bust/50 inch waist and the (elastic waist) panty fits between a 22 and a 30 inch waist/38 inch hip, ($36.00 (for both pieces), from etsy seller StilettoGirl Vintage.}



{Retro flare oozes from this immensely cute little business card holder shaped like a classic rotary dial telephone (which, if one felt like picking up multiples, could also be used as a fantastic place card holder). Aqua hued “Call Waiting Card Holder”, $9.99, from ModCloth.com.}



{Summon up tasty childhood memories with an generous sized box of old fashioned salt water taffy (made at the Jersey Shore for added authenticity), packaged in an adorably wonderful vintage inspired plaid box (with a darling Scottie dog on it to boot!). 1LB 8oz box of assorted flavours of classic salt water taffy, $10.95, from Douglass Candies.}



{Let sleek, understatedly cool mid-twentieth century home decor charm radiate from your living room, bedroom, den, study, family room or any other spot you’d like to place this classic wooden media stand. Use this tiered table to store anything from your music player of choice to craft supplies, or simply put it to work as a tasteful side table (which measures in at 18.25 inches wide, 13.75 inches deep, and 25 inches high) that is sure to garner compliments from your design savvy friends. “Manchester Media Stand”, $88.00 from Urban Outfitters.}



{Rich with shades of buttercup yellow and tropical turquoise blue in a playful polka dot and strip pattern, this immensely pretty 1950s full skirt is the kind of feel-good, light-hearted piece every summertime wardrobe needs at least a few of. “Coffee Seeds and Absinth Circle Skirt”, fits up to a 32/33 inch waist (with free room in the hips), $70.00, from etsy seller LaMistinguette.}



{Sometimes I wonder if I’m secretly Dutch and don’t know it, because I think that there are few ways more fantastic to explore the world than on the seat of a fabulous (and massively stylish!) bicycle, such as this gorgeous (and really reasonably priced) aquamarine hued beauty! Fittingly called the Bella Cruiser, this lovely, delightfully vintage feeling bike is just sort of ride that one could so easily picture Audrey Hepburn jauntily riding – or a pin-up girl posing playfully with. Available in baby blue, mint green (shown), pink, and vanilla, the Bella Cruiser is available for $179.99, from Chubby’s Cruiser Shop.}


Having been blogging considerably less often over the course of this summer (and most likely still for the next while onwards as well - especially with my surgery coming up at the end of this month), there were so very many items that I wanted to include in this post, but I did try and keep it from getting too ridiculously big :-) Though, that said, it might be a tad chunkier in size than future editions. However, I think that it does a splendid job of encapsulating the spirit of what this fun virtual shopping (or inspiration gathering) foray is all about.

Thank you, beautifully dear friends, for your ongoing understanding, support and wonderfulness. I wish you each a glimmeringly gorgeous month of August and hope that life is showering you all with endless inspiration and bliss!

Vintage Fashionista Friday: April 9, 2010

{Bring the lively beauty of a vivacious spring garden to your locks all year round with this wonderfully over-sized, ruby red dahlia floral hair clip (which stays in place thanks to an alligator clip). Whether clipped to your hair, the strap of your dress or onto a handbag, this splendid faux bloom – which sells for $28.00 US from FlowerClip.com – is bound to make you smile every time you look at it.}



{Like a gorgeous fiery sunset, these timelessly lovely handmade earrings feature Mexican opals dangling from elegant gold leaf chandeliers. I could easily see these glistening earrings pairing wonderfully with everything from white cotton blouses to saucy black cocktail dresses, always ready to bring a marvellous splash of warmth to any ensemble. If these lovely earring have caught your fancy, too, they can be found for $49.50 US from etsy seller Made By Sam.}



{Enticingly mysterious in their jet black and crimson wrappers, these sublimely scented soaps from the renowned Spanish brand Maja, are filled with floral essential oils such as rose, carnation, jasmine and geranium, as well as rich Spanish olive oil, making them heady enough to rid you of the need to dab on perfume. A set of three round bars of Maja soap, complete with a deeply beautiful, artistically captivating box can be had for $14.00 US from TheSoapBar.com (and I can’t help but think they would make an amazing hostess or thank-you gift for anyone who loves vintage packing and/or tremendously pretty soap.}



{Keep warm during those spring months of unpredictable weather or on chillier summer nights with this graceful, agelessly beautiful 100% merino wool knit lace shawl from etsy seller Resurrection of Romance, who sells this stylishly cozy wrap for $139.00 US.}



{As vibrantly spicy as a chili pepper, this charming red hued 1950s Western/Mexican/Square Dance dress is sure to inject a wonderful dose of stylish charm to your warm weather wardrobe. This engagingly fun frock, which fits a 36 inch bust/22-30 inch waist, can be yours for $145.00 US from etsy seller Retro Threads.}



{Delightfully rustic beauty resides in this wonderful vintage clutch, which features colourful embroidery work on a woven straw-like material. In excellent shape, this sweet little handbag would look so terrific at the beach, on a picnic, or at any outdoor activity where the dress code veers a little more on the casual side. If you’d like to bag this chipper purse, it’s available for $26.00 US from etsy seller Olden Vintage.}



{All eyes will be on your feet when you step out in these fantastically lovely 4.5 inch wedge heel sandals adorned with vintage looking tattoos – including some adorable little swallows. Part rockabilly, part pin-up girl and part drop-dead gorgeous, these heels are sure to make anyone who sees them swoon! Available in ladies sizes 6 to 10, these playful shoes hail from Babygirl Boutique, where they’re priced at $53.00 US a pair.}

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A week of perpetually drab, sullenly grey weather has left me pining for all things eclectically bright, bold and full of energy, such as the pieces above that I imagine our stylish Senorita, Esmeralda, sporting as she made her way to an evening of fun, friends and scores of lively dancing.

I absolutely hope that each of your weekends ahead will be just as bright and gleeful as these darling Mexican inspired pieces, and wish you all a fabulous next couple of days!