You can leave your hat on

Remember that song? I loved it when I was little, though I really had no idea what it was about. Tehehe.

That top picture is my fave, I've had that concept in the back of my head since I started Vixen Vintage, and never go around to it. I mentioned it to Lara, and she said "let's do it!"

I think this is my favorite set so far we've done, I mean, it features my favorite accessory! My facebook peeps might remember a picture I posted a while ago of a studio set up in my teeny living room. Well, this is the result! I still can't believe these were taken in my house, Lara does wonders!

Hope you enjoy, and have a nice weekend!

All photos by Lara Blair

Polka dot dress-Fab Gabs

Pink dress-Buffalo Exchange

Red dress-Urban Eccentric Vintage

Breakfast for one

Last thursday I turned the ripe old age of 22 (don't worry, they're putting me in a home soon), and just happened to have my first photoshoot scheduled with the lovely Lara Blair. She contacted me a few weeks ago wanting to do some fun vintage style shoots, and as the weather improves, I'm sure you'll see many more!

These were taken at Je t'aime bakery, a place I frequent for soup and pastries. At the recent expo I found this amazing amazing 1940s bird hat, and a belt to match! I found them at the same vendor, so maybe the woman who owned them in the 40s wore them together too :)

Wittnauer Champion roll 1

Last year Sams dad gave me a beautiful vintage camera, with it's original leather case, and I've been itching to use it. I know nothing about cameras though, so I was reluctant to jump right in, but a few weeks ago I researched the camera online (nothing much, it's a rare camera), and bought some new, 35 mm film. Sam tried to warn me the pictures "won't be great". But thats what I want!
I'm really happy with how they turned out, I was actually afraid they might turn out TOO good, with correct colors and no light leaks, but much to my surprise they are exactly what I was hoping for! I think my favorite part about them is the color, they all have that vintage feel, without photoshop! The lovely Lulu of Camera Bandit searched and found me the original manual for the camera (she's the bees knees), so next time I might actually get the settings how I want, but all in all, I say good first roll :)

First photo by Sam, taken in front of my work.
Second, third, and fourth by me, when Sam and I took a walk in the neighborhood.
Fifth by me, of my cousin Pearl in a 60s Juliet dress.
Sixth by me, of Julie and Lulu hanging pictures on the set of Fab Gabs
Last photo by my cousin Ruth, as we explored an abandoned WWII army hospital.

Fab Gabs!

I think we've all drooled over Fab Gabs at one point or another, Julie always seems to present the most covet worthy items on Etsy. And then one day she asked if I would like to come over, put on fabulous dresses, sit on fabulous chairs, and take fabulous pictures.

Um, yes please.

Yesterday I met up with Julie and her photographer Lulu for all those things, and we had a ball. And with each new thing Julie pulled off the rack I went "Oooooooo!". Honestly it was hard to not just take everything home, but at least you can! Above I've posted some of my favorites, but there are so many more. My very favorite (which was hard to pick) would have to be the turquoise 40s frock in the second photo, if you look close the print on it is pretty ladies in dramatic hats! Eeeeee!

These are all sneak peeks, nothing listed yet, and you can always follow Fab Gabs on Facebook for sneak peeks all the time!

All photos by Lulu of Camera Bandit.

The happiest place on earth

My brother and his family went to Disneyland this weekend and took some awesome pictures that made me want to fly down there even more. But then again when don't I want to go to Disneyland.

Wedding photos!

The day started out as lovely as any day could. It was sunny, with a light breeze and little birdies seeming to chirp "congratulations!"
The wedding was taking place in an old house on officers row, and across the street on the large grassy grounds was a civil war camp set up with boys in uniform and ladies in hoop skirts and parasols. It was pretty cool. As Alicia did my makeup we could hear someone playing a horn:)

Our flowers were hydrangias, and thanks to family and friends picking bundles of flowers from their own yards we had plenty of flowers for pretty bouquets and tables. The bridesmaids dresses matched the flowers perfectly, it came together so well!

The ceremony took place in what was once the parlor, mismatched vintage chairs set up for guests eagerly waiting. After the bridesmaids walked down the staircase from the dressing room to the parlor, I followed and made the short walk down the isle, this being the first time Sam saw me all fluffed up and frilly in my oh so expensive wedding dress.
The ceremony was short, just a few minutes because the real fun is at the reception! There was wonderful food, tables and chairs set up outside in the shade, and we even had a dance floor where everyone that watches Arrested Development danced to "The Final Countdown" like Gob (yes, we played that at our wedding).

The amazing cake was made by our friends Alena and Caitlin, isn't it pretty?

My brother, mother and father. Sams mother and father. Our mamas wore beautiful 50s dresses!

There just happened to be a 50s car show going on down the street, so vintage cars were going by all during the reception. Seriously, could it have been more perfect? Our venue coordinator and photographers stopped a nice man in this car and he let us take photos with it! Funny thing is I had been seeing it around town all summer and it is my absolute favorite out of all the vintage cars I've seen.

I really could not have asked for a more perfect day, everything was beautiful and thanks to everyone it all came together without a hiccup. Oh and you can't really see but Sams ring is a silver version of "The One Ring" :)

Our photographers were the energetically charming Alicia and Ben of Vorpal Images. Alicia also did an amazing job on my makeup, her work is fabulous! And as you can see their photography is super stylish.
You can see all wedding photos on the Vixen Vintage photostream on Flickr.
...and read the story behind my wedding dress here.

Enjoy!

New pictures!

Friday my mother in law to be, Lisa, threw me a lovely bridal shower with the help of her fantastic friends. She wanted to have some pictures of me for guests to look at so a few weeks ago we did a photo shoot on a perfect warm evening. Needless to say the shower turned out wonderful, as did the photos!
In the above photos I'm wearing a pink novelty playsuit with matching open front skirt from the 1940s. I got it at work in the winter and couldn't wait to wear it!

When searching for a fresh backdrop for this outfit the local post office popped into my mind. I spend so much time there, I may as well have some nice photos! It is a really cool post office, it's old and has giant pillars in the front and carved moldings.
I bought this black strapless dress in Encinitas California back in October, and the pink petticoat underneath made the entire outfit. Sweetheart necklines are my favorite, but they are difficult to find (unless I wanted 80s prom dresses...I don't.)

This silk dress is another one from work, I love the shape so much, I wish I could have more like it in cotton.

I'd love to tell you that you can see lots more on my flickr, but they tell me I am up to my monthly limit. And I considered getting a pro account, but I can think of many more things I want to spend money on right now, so more photos next month, or if I cave and pay the fee sooner :)

Meanwhile you can see all the photos in this slideshow, and if you need any sent to you, feel free to ask :)

Food and photobooths.

I got my new shoes! Cici actually found them for me after I mentioned I have been looking for perfect red shoes for ages. Somehow she just found them in an instant :) They are from Retro Renegade Vintage, one of my favorite vintage shops on Etsy, and they are sooooooo pretty! Even better in person, I cannot believe the condition they are in, not a single scratch or smudge despite being patent leather. I walked with cation all day.

One of the main reasons I don't have tons of photobooth pictures is because I hardly carry cash around. Today though at The Ace Hotel they changed "cash only" into "cards only". I could be there for a long time...
They did however raise the price from $3.00 to $4.00 which was a little disappointing, but ah well. It's fun. Which is why when Sam and I went to Portland today we took a couple of sets. Ok, we took one together, then I took one by myself for the blog banner. What do you think?
After walking around we went to Kenny and Zukes, the place is always packed but we've never gone. It was really good, I just wish they had a vegetarian sandwich option, but the mac and cheese I had was super. Sam was of course, a silly goose.

Spring in Portland

Yesterday I headed to Portland with my friends Ellery and Ian, first stop Saturday market. There's a booth there with all sorts of things made form silverware: Rings, bracelets, candle holders, headdresses, and masks. As you can see Ian found a lovely mask.

Of course we went to Powells and Buffalo Exchange, and Ellery found me an amazing vintage sailor dress for only $7.00. They are so weird with their pricing. Also this super cute hat, more fall than spring, but who cares. The three of us try and go to the photobooth in The Ace Hotel whenever we're near, and stuffing into that little booth is quite a sight. I'm so glad they have it though, it looks vintage, but actually works, unlike the one that used to be at The Red Light. We always get caught off guard with the first photo, there's no warning!

Later in the afternoon we met up with friends Anna, Sarah, and Caitlin, and got some food to make for dinner. Someone wanted to try out cumquats, and since none of us had tasted any before, we got some and were excited to eat the peel of something that looked like a little orange. They were soooooo much more sour than we expected. Yet I still ate them, hoping for a sweeter one each time. Ellery found some glitter make-up at Whole Foods, and of course tried out every color. She's like a fairy. I also insisted we stop in Anthropologie, does anyone else think the Portland Anthropologie smells so good it makes you want to buy things? Anyway, I just looked though the home section for inspiration, and snatched a catalogue, there was an adorable little birdie drawer pull I loved, so cute!

*I started a hat blog for those who are interested, I call it The bird hat. After Bird hat of course ;) *

Confusing I know.

I'm at Sam's families house just as much as my own. Sometimes he's home, sometimes he's at work, but either way his family is always so fun and inviting there's never a dull moment. Tonight his mother Lisa pulled me aside for some assistance with a 1940s style photo shoot she has tomorrow. The big effect to get down was lighting, and we looked at old Hollywood portraits with dramatic contrast to achieve just the right effect. So I sat there in Sam's Led Zeppelin t-shirt, with my unstyled hair and makeup worn off and click-click went the camera. She worked on the above one in in photoshop and I must say worked wonders. Too bad I don't look like that every night.



Here is one from one of my first photo shoots with her with the same dramatic lighting effect.


One of my favorites is of Veronica Lake. Seriously.

As it should be.

In July I did a photo shoot for Lisa, she had this amazing wedding dress that looked like the one Amy Adams wore in "Enchanted" so we made it princess inspired. Set in the Portland Rose Gardens, when all the beautiful and fragrant flowers were in bloom (not to mention all the tourists around, we got some looks). I was so lucky to get my makeup and hair done by Kristin Leonard, as you can see, her work is pretty amazing. Nothing like some perfect makeup and a frilly dress to make you feel like a princess.