Perfect coat in navy.

Yesterday I got to work to find the usual pile of merchandise on the floor to steam and put out on the floor. It's great because then I get first pick of things, and how I get lots of what's in my closet, the most memorable, bird hat. Well, I'm going through everything, steaming away, and at the bottom of the pile is my perfect black coat. In blue. I tried to think of a way I could dye it black, but finally came to accept that this will be my new navy coat, because it really did have everything I wished for, only in a different color. I'll be wearing navy for a while...


Coat, shoes- The Urban Eccentric

Purse-Michael Kors.

The rest-I don't even remember, that hat was a garage sale maybe...

Oh and I took the stockings back to the store, then spent the money at the bins. It was SO BUSY! I almost wanted to leave as soon as I got there, but then I started finding things which is always encouraging.

Borrowed Stetson

Nothing helps a bad hair day like Sams Stetson and red lipstick. Also here's the jacket I monogramed, instructions can be found below. As well as monograming it, I also replaced the plastic buttons with some golden metal ones, buttons makes such a difference.

Jacket-The bins.

Skirt and pin-The Urban Eccentric

Shoes and gloves-Discovery shop.

Tights-T.J. Maxx

Hat-Got it for Sam at a rummage sale

Velvet vixen...

I must have some sort of attraction to velvet lately, as the two dresses I purchased Monday were velvet and so is this fantastic pink turban. I got it a few years ago in California when I had bobbed hair, because sideways it looks like a cloche. Here I'm wearing it backwards, maybe one day it will actually be worn properly :)


Top and shoes-Discovery shop

Skirt-Buffalo Exchange

Necklace-Great Grandmothers

Hat-Flashbacks

Something new...

When I was in school I checked out a great old monogramming book from the art institute library. It had all of these different letters, techniques, detail designs, etc. Of course I don't remember what it was called, and kick myself for not keeping it (they so owe me), so yesterday I decided to try a little from memory. I picked these gloves up at the bins, so they seemed perfect. At first it was a little pathetic, my stitching was too wide and uneven, but with some practice it improved a bit. I'd love to do a post on how to monogram, but I'll have to get a bit better. Meanwhile, I'm off to finish the "R".

Hatless...

I feel so odd without a hat. Sometimes I feel a "phantom hat" like a reminder of all the pretty hats I'm not wearing. I feel the same about gloves, going out without gloves is like going out in the snow without a coat. It's not unacceptable, but its also not comfortable.
Today I went to the bins and found some fun items, my favorite is a victorian mens vest in perfect condition. I had hoped it would fit me, but it as a little too big, and I'd rather not alter something so great. Also a victorian silk apron. Because y'know, silk is great in the kitchen.


Skirt and blouse-Bins.

Cardigan-Mothers.

Purse- T.J. Maxx.

Boots-The Urban Eccentric

*Ok, now that I look at the vest closer, it looks like a quality reproduction. Maybe I will alter it afterall.*

New hat!

After the party yesterday my mother and I went to an antique mall, Monticello. There are so many great booths there, many of the owners have a flare for decorating, and one booth in particular always carries something I want. It seems to specialize in items from the early part of the century, and has things like lace monograms, boxes of bob pins, victorian trims, etc. This wonderful mustard colored hat immediately caught my eye, along with a cute little velvet bow still in it's package.


Neon signs are cool, as long as they don't have a tacky beer logo.


A greatl working register.


What a doll.


A box full of pretty rhinestone treasures.


Skirt-Goodwill.
Blouse-Thrifted, originally from Bebe.
Hat-Monticello.
Tights-T.J. Maxx
Shoes-Buffalo Exchange.
Gloves-Estate sale, then dyed red.
Leaf brooch-Actually that was sitting on the ironing board at work, so I pinned it on for the photo :)

Chuck E Cheese

Today was my nephews birthday party at Chuck E Cheese, where there was all sorts of fun to be had. Including failing at skee ball...


The sailor collar kind of helps the nautical state of mind.


Grrr.


Dress-Mothers.
Cardigan, hat, boots-The Urban Eccentric

Big hats are lovely.

I really don't usually wear large brimmed hats in the winter, just in the summer, but decided to try this old one out, and loved the way it looked with boots, plus the long feathers are really dramatic.

Instead of tucking in the blouse, I just belted it.

Close-up of the shirt. Fish!

Braids down the sides of the boots make them extra cool.


Blouse-Buffalo Exchange.
Skirt-Discovery shop.
Hat-So old I don't remember.
Boots-The Urban Eccentric
Tights-T.J Maxx

Dream of Socks.

This Christmas I got some cash to go shopping with, and while I considered buying some business supplies (Steamer, storage containers), I realized I was in need of some warmer legwear. I had never bought from sockdreams before, but my boss, Chris had on a great pair of legwarmers the other day from them. So I got on the site and had a tough time deciding what to buy, there's so many great socks! I decided on a lovely pair of purple stockings, and two pairs of long legwarmers, burgundy and black. They are wool blend, so really warm, and I'm hoping they will last a long time since there is no toe or heel to wear out. The stockings are great too, actually called thigh high socks, but to me they are the cotton type stockings worn pre 1930s. If only they had a seam up the back :)

Dress-Buffalo Exchange.

Cardigan-Target.

Legwarmers-Sock dreams.

Shoes-Nordstrom Rack.

New coat.

"Hi. I'm Solanah, and I'm a coataholic."

Everyone: "Hi Solanah."

Its red, cashmere, and has a bow. You would have done the same.

The weather outside is frightful...

Its been snowing all week, which means the world stops around here. I wasn't able to go thrifting at all so I'm a little lacking on items for the shop, but that's given me a reason to get all the mending done and even make things, like another bustle skirt I've been working on. I've been enchanted be a 1930s coat at work, so in order to consider buying it I've been going through my own coat closets and seeing what I can part with. So far I sold one, and have two others up for sale in my shop. But loving this coat has made me look closer to 1930s fashions. Flipping through the 1930s Sears Catalogue book I can see just how amazing these outfits were. The waistlines and hemlines are in a love hate relationship the entire decade, moving closer together and farther apart with each year. The detail not only on dresses, but on the sleeves of the dresses is what amazes me most.
I pulled out a beautiful 1930s two piece dress my friend gave to me that was her grandmothers, and mended a bit of the smocking on the sleeve. This dress is silk and the only flaw it had in 80 years was some stitches loose. I've bought new shirts that barley last a week. As I told a friend recently, these sleeves have more character in them than an entire modern formal gown. Simply stunning. I plan on wearing it to my families brunch on Christmas Eve, and attempting on finger waving my hair. We'll just see how that goes...

Coat-Estate sale. My first vintage purchase years ago.

Hat-Goodwill.

Gloves-Discovery shop.

Snow day

Winter is here, there is snow on the ground, and I am forced to switch my bird hat for a fur one. With pom-poms no less. Collecting wool skirts all year and tights to prepare for the colder months has been a success, today instead of my usual winter wear (Jeans) I put on some cotton tights, my green 1950s wool skirt and newly repaired boots. Warm as a bunny.

Jacket-Forever 21
Skirt and scarf-Goodwill
Hat and mittens-The Urban Eccentric

Here are some photos of the windows this week.

Sgt. Pepper.

An ensemble fit for thrifting. I got some great items I'll be listing all week. A few cute sweaters, skirts, some dresses and fabric. Ya'know, the usual ;)

Band jacket-Antique mall
Skirt, purse, and shoes-Discovery shop
Cardigan-Buffalo Exchange
Tights-T.J. Maxx

Something different.

I'm always getting inspired by bloggers of Pandora and Liebmarlene vintage. Always with beautiful photos of their own great style, I've seen these girls constantly wearing all kinds of tights with vintage dresses and bold prints. I usually switch to pants in the winter, for some reason I never caught on to the wonderful world of tights. So when I was in california I bought a bunch of pairs, and have started to pull out what I already have. On Pandora there is a lovely photo -taken by the photographer from The Satoialist- of the french darling with ripped black stockings with knee socks bunched down and ankle boots. It looked so stylish I thought I would try the look for myself since I just got those little black shoes that would make the look seasonal. Plus they are so comfortable l spend more time in them than not.

Fur trimmed cardigan-Mothers.
Skirt-Dolce and Gabbana
Hat-Goodwill
Stockings and socks-T.J. Maxx
Shoes-Discovery shop.

Dressing gown.

Here is the dressing gown I found yesterday for my shop, and decided after ironing the mile deep wrinkles out that I couldnt let it go. Could you?
?

Saloon Girl.

I always forget I have this coat until its too late to wear it, so luckily I remembered before it got too chilly. It came from the Portland Antique Expo a few years back, and its a 1970s dress/coat, works perfect for full skirts. Sam and I went apartment shopping and then he took me thrifting (what a darling) I found some great stuff for my shop, but one thing I cant let go of, a 1940s dressing gown, pictures of that later. I love this hat, its pretty beat up (felted wool), but I love the bonnet style and fluffy plume, I'm constantly looking for hats like it, but they are always expensive. I bought this from a woman who was closing her B&B and had a trunk full of hats at $5 a pop. I got some pretty ones.

Cool November day.

I've found I really like wearing short skirts with long jackets, and this look seemed to work.

Ice Cream...

Sam and I stopped at Dairy Queen today for lunch. I just realized that they have pumpkin ice cream right now, and regret not getting it. I've been obsessed with pumpkin flavored things this fall ever since I had a pumpkin truffle at Moonstuck at the crisp beginning of fall. Then last night I found These truffles and am thinking I need to just try every pumpkin chocolate I come across. There is a fast food restaurant in Vancouver WA and Portland OR called Burgerville, which serves food with local fresh ingredients, and they have a seasonal milkshake. Pumpkin is the featured flavor at the moment, and oh my gosh it's so good.
Jacket-Buffalo Exchange
Shirt- Anthropologie
Mink collar-Discovery thrift shop.
Purse-Coach

Petticoats and velvet.

I loooove the Victorian era. It's so elegant, and shapely, and full of pretty little details. One reason I make those bustle skirts :)
This outfit was a little mix of Victorian and 1950s.
Bolero and flowers-Portland Antique Expo
Skirt-Retro Renegade Vintage
Hat-Nikie Frye

New coat!

So yesterday at work Chris asked me to put the giant pile of coats out on the racks.

It was pretty inevitable I would find at least one I loved.

I have a LOT of coats. I mean a lot. And why not? When you live in a part of the world where seven months out of the year require a coat, that pretty much becomes your wardrobe when you go out of the house.

My friend Ellery got one like this at The Urban Eccentric last week in red, so now we can go out together and look like Christmas.

In order to justify me taking this coat home, I've decided to sell one of my four leopard coats on Etsy. Maybe...Its really cute...

*sigh*

This is why I have so many coats.