There's nothing quite like swing music to chase away the wintertime blues

✯ Day 309 of Vintage 365 ✯

November, as we were discussing in Tuesday's post, has many appealing qualities (especially if you prefer winter over summer), but there's no skirting around the fact that for those in the western hemisphere, it is still the start of another very long, very cold season.

From snow banks so high you need to set up base camp before trying to scale them, to the sudden desire to hibernate like a fury brown bear until Easter, there are - I'm the first to admit - more than a few reasons why it can be hard to stay peppy all winter long.

Aside from vibrantly hued garments, marshmallow topped mugs of hot cocoa, and the ingrained merriment of Christmas, one of my favourite ways to shake off the doldrums that the greyest months of the year can cause any of us to feel sometimes, is to play really lively music.

From smooth-as-silk 30s jazz to psychedelic 60s tracks, 80s pop and 50s rock, if the tempo is hopping and the tune is catchy, just about any song is fair game. Few genres of of music however, can so quickly or enthusiastically perk of slopping energy levels than classic jitterbug swing!





Take for example the wonderfully lively number above that I just discovered this week on Youtube. Though the quality of the film itself is a little lacking, the music is intact and couldn't be more delightfully fun!

I searched the ol' interwebs for a while, but couldn't unearth too much about this vintage song, other than the information provided by the person who posted it on Youtube.

From that source, I can tell you that purportedly this great swing dance tune, called Juke Box Joe's, was preformed by Wingy Malone's Mardi Gras Band with Carol Adams, and that the dancers were Lennie and Freda, Gil and Nikki Brady. (By all means if you happen to more about this terrific tune, do let me know in the comment section.)

Though not a long song, Juke Box Joe's is buzzing with the precise kind of acoustic vitality that can do wonders for the mind, body and soul - especially on those bleak and dreary, numbing chilly days that lay ahead of us in the coming months of winter.

These beautiful 1940s reproduction velvet Mary Janes are perfect for fall

✯ Day 239 of Vintage 365 ✯

 

Soon autumn will be upon us - that season of Midas-worthy golden sunshine, endlessly crisp breezes and nippier temperatures. Given that fall is my favourite season, I'm tickled pink (errr, pumpkin orange?) about this, but know that one of the things I'll miss about summer is the light, playful, carefree footwear it brings.

I'm definitely not a flip-flop gal (outside of the beach), instead I love to spend the summer in wedges and cute vintage inspired sandals. I don't have a large summer footwear wardrobe, but those pairs I do own are well-loved and most have been with me for several years now.

Autumn in Canada can whiz past so fast that if one blinks, they stand the very real chance of missing it entirely. While it's here however, I'll definitely be enjoying the fact that you can still get away with wearing shoes (outdoors) that aren't the heavy-duty, snow-proof boots or other similarly sturdy footwear that winter demands.

Much like the clothing of fall, shoes for this time of year strike a pleasant - and very beautiful - balance between the lightness of summer and the utilitarian nature of winter. You can usually get away with peep-toes and ankle straps still, yet by the same token, you can easily reach for richer, sturdier fabrics, too.

The more I stop and think about it, the more I realize I love autumn footwear. It's dependable and practical, but in no way devoid of elegance or beauty (that's right snow boots, I'm talking about you!).

One of the most delightful pairs of autumn appropriate vintage inspired shoes I've chanced upon lately are these stellar brown velvet Mary Janes from renowned dance show brand Aris Allen.

At a modest - but in no way matronly - 2.25 inches high, the heel on these charming pair - which are an exact copy of 1940s dress shoe - is wonderfully wearable, and stands to be quite comfortable if you need to be on your feet for long spells.

Featuring a bit of mesh for added breathability and style, these lovely brown velvety Mary Janes would look amazing with so many colours in fall's wardrobe palette. Can't you just imagine pairing them with taupe, camel, deep red, navy blue, mustard, rust, paprika, ivory, dusty rose, denim, and teal - to name but a few, I certainly can.

In fact, in my experience brown shoes can be virtually as versatile as black ones, with the added benefit of standing out a smidge in the crowd of onyx heels.

I'd love to slip into these velvet heels (which are available in ladies whole and half sizes, ranging from 6 to 9, for $59.95 from dancestore.com) and a tweed skirt suit or cream hued dress. They could take on a causal spin with high waisted vintage jeans or become instantly date night appropriate with a jersey dress.

So while parting with summer won't be the easiest thing to do, gorgeous vintage reproduction shoes like this brown velvet gems definitely help make embracing autumn's arrival worlds more fun - and fashionable!