"Bitter Much?"

Photos by Twila Jean

Sometimes readers ask if I get tired of compliments.

Compliments no, rude inquiries yes:

When I am at work (I work at a vintage store), people usually ask "Do they make you dress this way?"

When I am out and about, people ask "So are you in a play or something?"

And my favorite: "Where did you get your wig?"

Today while out with Twila Jean, we got asked a few too many times if we were in a play, or commercial, or whatever, I stopped listening.

Honestly I am mostly offended that a person who puts effort into their appearance, stands out so much that people think there must be a special reason for their effort. This doesn't just go for vintage gals, because I'm sure that if you have worn a dress and heels to the grocery store, you've been asked "You on your way to a wedding?"

I know I look different. I know I stand out. I know I get stares, but I have learned to be oblivious to all that. I think anyone who dresses differently can relate, vintage or not.

I enjoy talking about vintage to people, most are very nice and just curious, and most just want to tell me how much I remind them of their mother, grandmother, great aunt Bertha, etc. And thats pretty cool. I especially love talking vintage with younger people, because I hope that I can inspire interest in preserving the past through fashion. Or even just reassure them that being different is awesome, even if there are those out there who just don't get it.

Be who you want to be, even if people ask you stupid questions :)

1940s girl scout dress and scarf-Urban Eccentric Vintage

Belt-Thrifted

Shoes-Chie Mihara

Period Perfect Hair Workshop!

This weekend was the wonderful Period Perfect Hair Workshop with Kristen Behlings! (She's the gal in the second picture, with the mesmerizing hair!!!) The event was put on by Kristen, Julie, and Alyssa, and held at The Beauty Bar. As you can see, The Beauty Bar is a must if you are ever in Portland. You can have a cocktail and a manicure! And it's how my bathroom should look. And they have a photobooth. Eeee!

About 15 ladies attended the workshop, arriving in pretty candy colored curlers and scarves. After settling in with drinks and bobby pins, Kristen taught us a few 1940s roll variations. Unfortunately me and my amateur camera skills didn't capture the finished styles at the end of the day, it got a bit hectic when they opened the doors to the public, but I'll be doing my hair in rolls more often, so you can see those results!

If you missed this workshop, make sure and follow the Period Perfect Hair page on Facebook for future workshop updates.

Thank you to the lovely ladies who put on the event, Kristen for having the patience to teach us, and the Beauty Bar for accommodating us! (The bartenders were awesome).

xoxo

Dress swap!

Photos taken by Lulu of Camera Bandit

You know what's more fun than reading your favorite blogs, and drooling over the outfits? Getting to wear the outfits those darling gals wear!

This dress is not my own, it's on loan from the ever sweet Quincy of Q's Daydream. If you haven't visited her blog yet, you must. It's one of my few daily reads, and the photos she posts of herself and her darling outfits are so inspiring!

We are also growing our hair out at the same time. Hair growing binds girls like no other!

Anyway, I LOVE this dress, it's a perfect condition late 30s, early 40s rayon number with a perfect collar and, my favorite, button closure on the side. There's just something so charming and delicate about button closures.

I accessorized with a rose topper, pink belt, and little rhinestone sparrow pin.

Thanks Quincy for lending me such a great dress!

Mamas wedding!

Today my mom got married!

(insert Arrested Development quote here)

The wedding was held at the same place Sam and I got married. It's a perfect wedding venue :)

My mother of course looked stunning, and we are so happy to officially welcome her new husband into our family.

It was a perfect day for a wedding, we have been lucky to have such sunny weather last well into September. But of course it's never too hot for all the guys to wear awesome suits ;)

But my heels did keep getting stuck ing the grass, hehe.

My dress-Fab Gabs

Hat and shoes-Thrifted

Jade necklace-A gift from Sam on our honeymoon in San Francisco

Random pics

Here's a few random pics from around here and there. First up is a photobooth picture from The Ace Hotel. Friday night Sam and I were laying around in pjs, watching tv, and I said I wanted to go to a photobooth. So we did! We stopped at The Alibi on the way for dinner (fried mac and cheese for me!), and then it was to The Ace for photos. Sam always tries to keep a serious face in photobooth pictures, but laughs in between clicks :)

Second is me with mega fringe. No, I could not see.

Third is a page from the 1900 Sears catalogue, which reminded me of the victorian suit my brother just got from Duchess Clothier. It's awesome. Pictures later.

And last is me trying to avoid the paparazzi as I drive up to the playground. So it seems...

1940s overalls

Photo by Twila Jean

Although overalls have been around for centuries, it wasn't until the 1930s that many women took to them for factory and farm work. There were even printed versions labeled "beach overalls" similar to beach pajamas. During WWII, as you can imagine, sturdy, easy to wear overalls accompanied jumpsuits in the factories, and became standard workwear.
Softer, more feminine versions came into fashion during the 1940s, either full length, knee length, or in a shorter romper style.

I made these using this pattern, from Eva Dress, and am really happy with them! Some days I just want to pull something easy on, and these do just the trick. For next summer I want to make them in the romper version, they would be darling in red!
The denim I chose for this is pretty thin, so not really working overalls, and I don't think the design would work as great with a thicker textile. I do however want to order this other 1940s overall pattern as it looks like it could handle a heavier denim. Y'know, for all that manual labor I do....

Kitty, of course, wanted to lay on the pattern pieces I needed. When I tried to pull them away, he grabbed them from me! Luckily the pattern is printed on thick paper :)

Vintage hairstyling lesson!

Hey Portland gals, there's FINALLY a fabulous vintage hairstyling workshop you just can't miss! Kristin Behlings, vintage hairstylist extraordinaire, will teach two vintage styles, and by the time class ends, you will have a beautiful coiffure for a night on the town!

The event is sponsored by myself, Alyssa of Period Perfect Houses, Julie of Fab Gabs, and The Beauty Bar!. If you've never been to The Beauty Bar, you are missing out, it's adorned in powder pinks and baby blues, with striped walls, and hood dryer chairs for lounging with a cocktail! Perfect setting for hairstyling and drinks if you so choose :)

The session is only $20, and trust me, Kristin's knowledge is worth every penny and more! (She did this hairstyle on me a few months back). This would make such a fun girlfriends night out :)

I would love to see you there, it's going to be fabulous! But buy your tickets soon, space it limited!