Blogger Interview: Shermy from Shermette (+ Onecklace giveaway winner!)

Hi, everyone!  Happy June!  Since it's the first of the month, that means it's time for my monthly blogger interview.  I love highlighting and getting to know new bloggers, and this month, I'm featuring the gorgeous Shermy from the blog Shermette!  Shermy's blog focuses on all things vintage, and I'm absolutely enamored with her style and stunning photos.  Here's your chance to learn all about this Canadian beauty!  Be sure to follow her over at Shermette.  (Oh, and the winner of the Onecklace giveaway is listed at the bottom of this post!)

Name: Shermy

Age: 25

Where you blog: I blog at www.shermette.com!  My blog is about vintage and vintage-inspired outfits, findings and travels.

How did you get into blogging?  I started blogging as sort of a creative outlet. There isn't a vintage scene at all where I live, so I just decided to share some of my endeavours online!

Where you work or what you studied in school:  Since I was a young teenager, I have worked for my family's school bus company.  Aside from that, I am an eyelash extension stylist!  My dad and I are also known to shoot a wedding here and there as well, as I'm also a photographer.

What's your dream job?  I have never really pondered this question much before, but I think my dream job would be a fashion stylist (preferably vintage).  I thought I'd like to run a vintage shop, but heck, I like buying and finding vintage, not selling it!  I'm also always trying to dress people, so maybe it's my calling!

Your favorite musical artist: I am very passionate about music and love so many genres and artists, but I really believe Perry Como is my all-time favourite, for many different reasons. Not only did that man have the voice of an Italian angel, but listening to his music as a kid just made me plain ol' happy. I feel so lucky to have had his music as a soundtrack for my life! Nowadays, older music is sometimes viewed as "silly" or "cheesy," but honestly, I think the general population would have happier lives if they listened to it!

Your favorite musical:  It was a toss-up, but South Pacific. I watched this so many times that when I was 11, I broke the VHS tapes.  Balllliiii Haiiii...

Drink of choice:  Not to be unhealthy, but Coke in the glass bottle. It tastes totally different than the can.

Favorite food in the world?  POTATO SALAD.  I'm pretty sure this song is about me.

Favorite book (from childhood or now):  No book has ever inspired me more than the first Harry Potter book.

What's your favorite season and why?  Fall has always been my favourite, as the climate where I live (Ontario, Canada) is the most ideal in the fall, and there's just something magical about the colourful leaves.

 Do you have a celebrity crush?  Clint Eastwood.  More specifically, "young" Clint Eastwood.

Which actress would play you in the movie version of your life?  So this ended up being a community question, as I had no idea! But my friend suggested Elizabeth Banks, and I really think that suggestion hit the nail square on the head!

 If you could live during any other time period, what would it be?  Clearly, I'm a huge fan of the 40s, 50s and 60s, but sometimes I really just wonder what a real home-cooked meal in the 1800s/early 1900s would have tasted like. I know that's random, but everything today is so genetically-altered, and our generation may never know how food was intended to taste. Mind you, I am accustomed to some modern conveniences, so I guess I would like to be my age now, maybe living on a farm in the late 1940s.

How would you describe your personal style?  Vintage with a side of kitsch.  As much as I love vintage, it can look dowdy if you're not careful, so I always try to spice it up with a little kitschiness!

Your favorite place to shop or favorite clothing brand:  Hmm, I really enjoy any flea market, vintage clothing store, or antique mall. The thrill of the hunt gets me every time! As brands go, my favorites are likely Pinup Girl Clothing and Trashy Diva. 

What's the most beloved article of clothing you own?  I searched through my things trying to decide, but I think my favourite piece is a little boys' 50s rayon Hawaiian shirt I found at an antique mall. It works perfectly for me as a crop tie top, and the colours are so vibrant! I'm crazy about anything tropical!

Shermy's favorite Hawaiian shirt

Do you have a style icon?  If so, who?  I find myself drawing inspiration from so many sources, but if I need to choose one, I do really love Betty Grable.

Go-to accessory:  I've been a purse girl for a long time.  (Yes, Sammi, I've been eyeing all of yours!)

If you could only wear one outfit every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Well, let's pretend the weather is nice all the time here, and I'll say probably just one of my vintage cotton day dresses. One with pockets. I'm trying to approach this question with some logic, as I'd normally want to say my puffy pink 50s prom dress!

What's been your favorite post from your blog so far?  Reading back through my posts, I have decided my favourite post is Washington Bound! I really liked my outfit (maybe not my favourite), but my husband and I really had a great time that day. Washington was really something to see, and the weather was so beautiful. Back home, we were still in snow drifts!

from Shermy's favorite post, "Washington Bound!"

Anything else you'd like to talk about?  I want to mention the Toronto Vintage Society, and suggest that anyone in and around Toronto check it out! There's plenty of "old time fun" events to attend, and plenty of opportunities to wear your favourite vintage outfits. Also, stay tuned, as in the near future, I'm launching a line of tropical hair flowers! More info will be up on my blog soon!

Thanks so much to Shermy for agreeing to do this Q&A on such late notice!  Be sure to follow her vintage adventures over at Shermette to see get all the latest!  And without further ado, the winner of the Onecklace customized name necklace giveaway is....

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Congratulations, Carla!  Onecklace will be in touch with you about claiming your prize.  Thank you so much to those of you who entered! :)

Have a great Sunday!

xox Sammi

Magnolia

Outfit Details:

Confectioner's Dream Dress: ModCloth

Hair flower: Forever 21 (similar here)

Flats: Urban Outfitters (similar here)

Wicker purse: vintage (similar here)

I really wish we had a magnolia tree.  The blossoms would have been gone by the time I took these photos, but this outfit would have been a perfect match.  I sort of forgot about this hair flower clip until I was trying to figure out how to style this dress, but I'm really glad I rediscovered it.  As far as this dress goes, I think it's really dreamy on the website, but I don't like it quite as much in person -- largely due to fit issues.  Although I think ModCloth has some beautiful in-house designs, I've found that their exclusive lines are a little lacking in terms of fit.  The arm holes on this dress are a bit tight, and it's certainly not the most flattering dress I own.  The buttons on the top are actually a little uneven, too.  I thought long and hard about sending this one back, to be honest.  I think I ultimately just really loved the color, and it's hard to find a blush pink dress in just the right shade.  I may end up selling it in a "shop my closet" sale, I'm not sure.  But stay tuned on that front, because I have a lot of things that are taking up room in my wardrobe, and opening up my online "shop my closet" store is on my short list!

I can't believe it's the last day of May.  We're heading into summer territory at this point (like I've said before, spring never lasts as long as I want it to!).  I need to find a way to motivate myself this summer, and not take it too easy.  I've kind of been taking it easy for too long, at this point.  It's hard to start, though.  I always get overwhelmed with all the things I have to do and end up doing something unrelated to alleviate the stress, which is totally unproductive.  Anyone else have an issue with this?  How do you fix it?  I know it's better to focus on one thing at a time, but I have a really hard time doing that!  Any advice would be most appreciated.  :)

Have a great Saturday!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #50

Happy Friday, all!  Today's post (#50!) is going to be shorter than normal -- apologies!  It's been a weird week, and there haven't been that many new things that have caught my eye.  Oh, and don't forget, today is your last day to enter my giveaway for a customized name necklace, courtesy of Onecklace!  Get all the details & enter to win here!  :)  Now, onto today's (few) favorites!

I have oft professed my love for jelly shoes here on the blog.  I especially love the Melissa brand, and it's lucky that Mel By Melissa is on the affordable side, but I really love the Melissa and Vera Wang collaboration.  These two pairs from Pinup Girl Clothing have the look of that collaboration but are far less expensive!  I can't speak for how comfortable they are, but I'm dying to purchase the heels, so I may have a verdict on that at some point in the near future.

a // b

These nail files are so cute!

Love this pretty lavender dress from Lulu*s!

I love this power cord (and love that it comes in "mermaid" as a color scheme)!

Every mermaid needs one of these:

This swimsuit is actually a maternity suit, but my goodness, this print is dreamy:

This dress is so lovely and has scallops galore!

These heels are soo pretty (but WAY out of my price range):

This fruit bow headband definitely reminds me of something from my childhood:

And speaking of childhood nostalgia... not only is this a My Little Pony mug, but it comes with reusable stickers that you can use to dress up the pony!!  I'm obsessed.

I adore these two yellow retro dresses.  The first one is by Blutsgeschwister and the second is by Emily and Fin.  I love both of these brands so very much!

a // b 

Amy Poehler's memoir is set to come out ON MY BIRTHDAY!  Yes yes yes.

Finally, please enjoy these otters playing the keyboard:

Have a great Friday!  And don't forget about the giveaway!  It ends at midnight! :)

xox Sammi

Chicory

Outfit Details:

Vintage dress: Hep Threads Vintage

Flats: Urban Outfitters (similar here)

Boater hat: River Island (similar here)

Daisy ring & brooch: Mom's

Petticoat: eBay

Instagram can be a wonderful tool for vintage lovers and sellers alike.  Most vintage sellers are on Etsy or other platforms (though some use Instagram exclusively), but it's a fantastic tool for sharing new additions, sharing sales and revving up interest.  I started following Brenna on Instagram after seeing a lovely drawing she did of Amelia and June, having no idea that she also sold vintage pieces.  I saw a post involving this dress and promptly fell in love.  I crossed my fingers, hoping that it might be my size (so many beautiful vintage dresses are XS, which would never ever work on me)... and luckily, the measurements she gave were *just* plausible for me.  Brenna was incredibly sweet and reserved the dress for me, and I pounced, praying that it would fit once it arrived.  I don't normally take gambles on vintage, especially on more expensive pieces, but something told me that this dress would be worth it.  And it was.  It's certainly one of the prettiest vintage dresses I own, and I love it even more in person than I did when I first saw it on Instagram.  And best of all, it fits perfectly.  The skirt is full enough for a crinoline (always a plus!), and I love the subtle floral pattern and ric-rac trim.  This is truly the epitome of a lucky find, and I'm so thankful to Brenna for this beautiful edition to my closet!

I can scarcely believe how green everything has gotten since I took these photos!  It was just beginning to feel like spring when I took these (and it wasn't that long ago!), but now my entire backyard is completely lush and it's already overgrown!  This dress is really perfect for summer, and I can't wait to wear it again.  I'm so relieved that it's finally spring, even though it doesn't last as long as I'd like before it gives way to summer.  But I'm just grateful that we won't be seeing snow again for a while!

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

xox Sammi

PS: Don't forget to enter my giveaway!  One lucky follower will win a personalized name necklace from Onecklace!  Get all the details & enter to win here!  :)

My Favorite Outfit: Alexandra from Into the Woods

Note from Sammi: This is the last post (for now!) in the "My Favorite Outfit" guest series!  Today's guest post is from the beautiful Alexandra from Into the Woods.  I have long-admired Alex's blog; her photography is always impeccable, and has an equally-impeccable fashion sense.  I have a feeling that Alex's favorite pick will be gorgeous and vintage!  Let's see if I'm right...

Hello Everyone! Alex here from Into the Woods. I am super excited to be guest posting for you all today on Sammi's beautiful blog! Sammi is such a doll, and I've really loved getting to know her more through the blogosphere. With that said, I am honored to be able to share my favorite outfit with you here on The Soubrette Brunette!

It was super-de-duper tricky for me to pick out one outfit- I'm generally pretty indecisive but when it comes to clothes- erm- let's just say I'll stand in front of my closet for an hour each morning trying to decide on an ensemble- haha! This is my absolute favorite swimsuit- it's from the 1950s, so it has that great retro fit. It's modest enough that I can feel semi (as comfortable as I will ever feel in a swimsuit) covered at the beach or pool.

I knew I wanted to accessorize with vintage style accessories, so I used a 50s nylon scarf to cover my hair (best to cover up my beach frizz ;)), polka dot cat-eye glasses, and some pops of red.

Hope you enjoyed! Do take a minute to drop by my inter-web corner and say hello! Have a lovely day!

<3Alex

PS: Don't forget to enter my customized necklace giveaway from Onecklace!  Get all the details and enter here!  :)

GIVEAWAY: a personalized necklace from Onecklace! [CLOSED]

Hi, everyone!  Some of you may remember this post, in which I gave a glowing review of my personalized name necklace, courtesy of Onecklace.  I wear my "Sammi" necklace all the time; the quality is top-notch, and the style is perfect for my retro-inspired ensembles.  Plus, I can never find my name on pre-made name necklaces, which makes me love my customized piece even more!  Onecklace has a great website of their own, but they've also just opened up their own Etsy store!  I'm obviously a huge fan of Etsy, and I think it's a great platform to promote their high-quality jewelry.  The kind people at Onecklace actually contacted me about picking another item for review, but I opted instead to work with them in another way: a giveaway for my lovely readers!  Hooray!

One lucky follower will receive a customized necklace in the same style I have, which is the 24k gold-plated name necklace in their "Italic" style (seen here).  It's truly the perfect typeface for any vintage-loving gal.  You can customize your chain length, too (I chose the 18" one, myself), and obviously, you can have it say whatever you'd like!  Just enter the Rafflecopter below to be entered to win!

The details: Giveaway starts at 12:00 AM (EST) on Monday, May 26th and will end at 12:01 AM EST on Saturday, May 31st.  You must be a follower of The Soubrette Brunette (no immediate unfollowing after the giveaway ends, please!), and you must leave a blog post comment with your favorite item from the Onecklace Etsy shop.  The winner will be announced no later than Monday, June 2nd.  Please remember to leave an e-mail address in your comment so I can contact you if you win!!  Best of luck! :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway