Pink + Peaches

The warm weather is finally here to stay (for a while, at least), which means I can bring out my summery staples again. Although I've worn gingham year-round, I associate it with picnics and sunshine, so it just feels *right* to wear it in the spring and summertime. This pink gingham number from Unique Vintage is so sweet (albeit sexier than I'd anticipated!), and the lightweight cotton fabric of this dress makes it perfect for summertime get-togethers. I'm especially enamored with the button detail on the bodice! This look makes me yearn for backyard barbecues and cotton candy at carnivals.

I'd never owned any Bettie Page brand clothing before (though I love their shoes!), and I hadn't realized that their size chart aligns more closely with UK sizing than with US sizing (though the company is based in the USA). I probably fall somewhere between their size 12 and 14 in Bettie Page (for reference, I'm usually an 8 or occasionally a 10 in most brands), but I went with the 12 and it fits fine, aside from a very slight tightness in the shoulders. I found this dress to be quite flattering on me, though I will say that I wasn't expecting the neckline to be quite so deep! I'm not fond of wearing camisoles underneath dresses, but I found this dress to be far too revealing without one, and the end result actually looks better than I'd thought; it ties everything together and makes for a slightly more casual look – especially with the addition of flats, my trusty boater hat and the cutest peachy picnic pin from Erstwilder!

Outfit Details

Golly Miss Molly Swing Dress: c/o Unique Vintage

Boater hat: similar  ||  Flats: Aerosoles via Amazon

Pettislip: Amazon ||  Camisole: Target

Peachy Keen Brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Now that it's spring, what are you most looking forward to doing – or wearing?

Jammin'

Most of you know that I'd be hard-pressed to find a food-themed outfit that doesn't make me swoon. But when I saw this skirt from Dangerfield – complete with its delectable croissants, jars of cherry jam and polka dotted bows – I'm pretty sure I let out an audible yelp and waited all of 2 seconds to purchase it. I was absolutely powerless to resist the urge of these buttery breakfast treats and accompanying marmalade... which is a sentiment that also applies for when I'm faced with these foodstuffs in real life! And of course, as I am nothing if not thematic, I had to wear my Erstwilder preserves brooch to complete this yummy ensemble.

This skirt is a perfect staple for spring and summer; the fabric is a lightweight cotton, and the black and white checked pattern is so picnic-esque. I sized up to a UK 14 in this skirt after looking at the provided size chart, and though it fits fine, I probably would have been okay with my normal UK 12 as well. Since Dangerfield is based in Australia, I was afraid of receiving a too-small skirt, and I always remind myself that it's easier to have something taken in, if need be. As it is, it totally works (though I swapped out the belt it came with for something a bit sturdier) and, as I like to say, it leaves me with "eating room!"

Outfit Details

Parisian Skirt: Dangerfield (on sale!)

Erstwilder Popular Preserve brooch: D&J Retro

Yellow top: Poshmark  ||  Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Polka Dots + Picnic Pies

This outfit has to be one of my favorites to date. Even though two of the main components of this ensemble are from overseas, this post just screams "Americana" to me! This fantastic dress is from UK-based vintage reproduction brand, Vivien of Holloway. I was familiar with some of their designs prior to receiving this dress for review, but I wasn't well-versed on the fit and quality of their garments. The construction is absolutely top-notch on the "Grace" dress you see here, which comes in many other colors and patterns, and I love the silhouette on my frame (though I have to give some credit to my Rago waist cincher and this longline strapless bra for making everything look so smooth!).

The fabric of this polka dotted dress is of a nice cotton sateen, which is a nice weight for the colder months and stands up well if you want to wear a fluffier petticoat. The skirt isn't lined (nor does it have pockets), but because I loved this dress even more than I anticipated, I didn't mind in the slightest. The price point is on the higher end of the spectrum, but I feel the superior construction warrants a higher price (especially for a dressier garment like this). Even though I asked for further assistance on sizing, Vivien of Holloway's size chart is special in that there are no lettered or numbered sizes (i.e., no "S/M/L" or "6/8/10") – instead, you choose your size based on your bust, waist and hip measurements, which is much more helpful for online shoppers. Just be sure you know (and are honest about) your measurements! The dress with my measurements (B38, W30) fit like a glove, but if you're in doubt, you can always ask their customer service team! I'm inclined to think a girl can never have too many polka dots in her life... so if you're like me, you can find their vast selection of polka dotted pieces here.

This may have been my first Vivien of Holloway dress, but it's certainly not the first time I've featured a piece from Erstwilder here on the blog. The Australian-based brand just launched their wonderful "Pinup Picnic" collection, and I'm swooning over all of the designs. I have a couple of the other pieces from this new line waiting to be styled (stay tuned!), but I thought this "Be My Cherry Pie" brooch fit in perfectly with this mid-century look. I felt like I had a matching pie on the windowsill waiting to cool! The detail on this piece is really amazing (the lattice work is its own separate layer, and there are hidden hearts on the pie server and inside the pie filling!), and it's already become one of my most-loved pins. The entire picnic collection is now live on the Erstwilder website, and it features TONS of food-themed pieces. Be sure to check it out here!

Outfit Details

Polka Dot Grace Dress: c/o Vivien of Holloway

Be My Cherry Pie brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Vintage gloves: Etsy (similar)

Heels: ModCloth (similar)

Vintage hat: Etsy (similar)

I almost forgot to mention: the winners of my recent giveaway have been chosen! Congratulations to Elise, Paola and Ashlee, and thank you SO much to all of you who entered and continue to support my blog! <3

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Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Lingerie et parfum

I hope your week is going well so far! The snow has melted since I snapped these photos (the weather has actually been really nice for the past few days), though I'm sure that won't last for long. But if I have to venture out into the cold, at least I can do it in outfits like this! I'm totally obsessed with this skirt from Lil' Lou Lou – the print is of vintage undergarment advertisements! – and I ended up really loving this whole ensemble.

I featured two other Lil' Lou Lou pieces last month in this post, and while I really like both of them, I have to say that this skirt is definitely my favorite. It seems to be made of a slightly heavier cotton than the other Jivin' Skirt I have, and it fits me like an absolute dream. I don't own a lot of navy blue (I've just never really been drawn to it for some reason), so coordinating this outfit was actually a fun challenge. I finally got a chance to wear this Erstwilder perfume bottle brooch, and I brought out an older pair of shoes I completely forgot I had! The thing I love most about fashion is that it gives me a chance to think creatively, and I really have a blast putting pieces together. (Is that weird?)

Outfit Details

Jivin' Skirt in Vintage Undergarments Print: c/o Lil' Lou Lou

Eau De Toilette brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Cafe Parfait Top: ModCloth (other colors)

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Bow heels: old (similar)

Bow belt: similar

In case you missed Monday's post, I'm celebrating 3 years(!) of blogging with a gigantic giveaway! You can enter to win 1 of 3 incredible prize packages. Get all the details & enter here!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Deck the Halls

This is the last Christmas outfit I'll be documenting here on the blog this year (though I actually still have yet another outfit planned for the actual holiday, featuring my very favorite dress of all time). I just love this darling fabric, and I knew I had to pair this dress with my holiday brooch from Erstwilder! I've also been a bit obsessed with faux fur shrugs this year... I now have about 4 or 5 different ones (though in an ironic twist, it's been about the warmest December that we've ever experienced) – they're a fun alternative to the cardigans I normally wear, especially for the holidays.

If my hair looks different here, it's because I had to take these photos before our Sunday matinée performance over the weekend. I play a 1920's socialite, and it's a fun change to be able to get my hair done for every show. After our Sunday performance, my mom and I saw the tour of Irving Berlin's White Christmas, which was absolutely wonderful. A friend of mine from college was in the show, and it was delightful to be able to see her perform (for the first time in 5 years) and have a good, long catch-up after the show. Although there's no snow on the ground, seeing both the movie and the musical versions of White Christmas definitely puts me in the holiday spirit!

Outfit Details

Dress: ModCloth

Brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Faux fur shawl: Amazon

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Shoes: estate sale store (similar)

I finally finished wrapping my gifts, but now we need to get started on baking! Things have been unexpectedly hectic and stressful in my house these past couple of days, and it kind of derailed things a bit. I still have to fit in all my Christmas movie-watching, too! Ahh! And here I thought I wasn't leaving anything until the last minute...

Happy Holidays!

Gone Glamping

I'm popping in for a quick post this morning to showcase this adorable Happy Camper brooch from Erstwilder – and to appreciate what's probably the last of the warmer weather for a while. It actually snowed last night (gah!), but I like that it's finally feeling a little more holiday-like now. At least I had time to wear my peasant top from Pinup Girl before the cold really hits! I've never been an outdoorsy type in the camping sense, but I'd be up for it in a cute little trailer like this (and maybe with more amenities than normal).

I had a much-needed, low-key weekend for the most part, which involved lots of good food, great movies and snuggly company. If you've never seen The Brothers Bloom, I highly recommend it. I'd never even heard of it before, but I ended up really loving it. In contrast, yesterday was kind of anxiety-filled. I don't want to rehash all the details, but it's the sort of thing that happens just when you're moving on and feeling happy, and something from your past decides to weasel its way back into your life against your will. It's really hard for me to shake things off sometimes (I think that's part of being so highly sensitive), but I'm trying to prioritize what really needs my energy, and figure out what will best serve me. It sounds selfish, but if it isn't beneficial or healthy for me, then I can't afford to spend my time on it. I can't be afraid to check in with myself and identify what I really need. It feels weird saying that, which is a big indication that I need to not be so worried about pleasing other people, and need to focus on pleasing myself, above all else. Sometimes it takes someone who cares about you to point out that you should care about yourself a bit more.

Outfit Details

Peasant top: Pinup Girl Clothing

Skirt: Hey Viv! via Amazon

Happy Camper brooch: c/o Erstwilder

Heels: ModCloth (similar)

Belt: old (similar)

Have a good start to your week!