Chamomile

Guys.  I finally figured out how to do victory rolls!  They're definitely not the best, but this was the first time I was able to create something that looked passable (every other time I've tried, I can get the first one and fail miserably at the second).  I was bummed when I realized it was raining outside, and I thought my chances of documenting this feat were ruined... but then the sun miraculously came out for the last bit of daylight!  I suppose it just goes to show that things have a way of working out in the end.

I don't wear this gorgeous dress from Tatyana very much (it's such a special piece), but one of the only good things about winter is that I can pull this out of my closet again.  The neckline is probably my favorite part.  I wore this dress last year on the blog, but my favorite styling of this dress has to be Ashley's recent post of the wiggle version!

Outfit Details

Dress: Tatyana (no longer available)

Petticoat: eBay (similar)

Tights: ModCloth (similar)

Brooch: ModCloth (similar)

Shoes: ModCloth

I spent this past weekend in New York City with my mom, and we're coming back home today.  I was glad to get out of town, even for just a few days, and we did lots of fun things!  We saw A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with my college roommate on Friday, went shopping and saw John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig and the Angry Inch (the whole reason for the trip) on Saturday, and we're meeting up with some family to have tea at Alice's Tea Cup today before we leave for the airport.  I'll have a post devoted to the trip soon, but suffice it to say that I've had a very nice last few days.  :)

Hope your weekend was wonderful, too!

xox Sammi

Everything but the victory rolls (an outfit post)

After re-familiarizing myself with UK retro clothing line Collectif (which, by the way, is having a 50% off full-priced clothing sale, from now until March 3rd!), I was inspired to style a 1940s-esque outfit of my own this week for work:

The one thing I didn't have time/patience for was an era-appropriate hairstyle!  I have a great book called Style Me Vintage: Hair (available here) which has excellent pictures, references and step-by-step instructions of all kinds of hairstyles, from 1920s finger waves to 1970s feathered 'dos.  The problem is that I haven't had enough time to really familiarize myself with it and try out any of the styles!

Outfit details

Teal blouse: Forever 21

Black jumper: Bernie Dexter, via Ebay (similar look here from Bettie Page Clothing)

Sheer black tights: Urban Outfitters

The Best of Times Heel in Noir: ModCloth

Some of the best retro hair tutorials I've seen are from the beauty blog ruby red.  The result of the victory rolls tutorial looks super clean:

She recommends this other retro styling book, which I may just have to look into...

I also love the pictures she posted of this dreamy mid-century updo:

All via ruby red

Just more things to add to my ever-growing list of things I need to learn how to do.  Hopefully I'll start crossing more of those items off my list soon enough.  One thing I did cross off my list was figuring out how to take much better quality pictures with my camera while using the self-timer!  So hopefully this will be the last of the quasi-blurry pictures for a while (fingers crossed!).

Have a lovely Sunday!

xox Sammi