Label Love: Retrolicious by Folter Clothing

I'm sure most of you know by now that I can never say no to a novelty print.  Luckily (or unluckily, for my bank account), the Folter Clothing brand always has me covered when I'm jonesing for a fun or funky printed dress.  Because I've been a longtime fan, I'm highlighting some of my favorite prints from Folter's sub-label, Retrolicious, in today's installment of Label Love.

Original posts: 1  //  2  //  3 (borrowed from Marisa)

Founded in 2005, Folter Clothing is an L.A.-based brand that likes to juxtapose tough + creepy with pretty & delicate.  Skulls, zombies and spiders often adorn their dresses, but in a way that manages to be much more charming than off-putting.  Retrolicious is Folter's other line, which focuses more on vintage-inspired prints that are often colorful or kooky.  As I am more inclined to be drawn to dresses that are more silly than scary, I tend to prefer this line to Folter's main label.

Original posts: 1  //  2

Folter sells their clothing on their own site, and is also carried by ModCloth, Unique Vintage, Sourpuss Clothing and Amazon.  From personal experience, I've found that their dresses tend to run a little small (especially since their fabrics typically don't provide stretch), so I've learned to size up if I'm between sizes.  Their dresses are usually unlined (which makes them good for summer ensembles and as layering staples), and their dresses usually range from $60-$115 in price.  If you're on the hunt for a unique yet wearable print, this brand is a great place to start.

Original posts: 1  //  2

I have a pretty sizable collection of Retrolicious dresses, but here are a few I'm still coveting:

a   //   b   //   c   //   d

On a separate note, it's strange to look back at some of my old posts!  I haven't worn some of these dresses in quite some time, and although I'm never fully satisfied with the quality of my photos, peeking back at some of these photos from early on make me realize how far I've come with that (though I still have a lot to learn, since most of what I pick up is through trial and error).  One thing that has stayed the same, however, is my love of whimsy when it comes to fashion, and Folter has no shortage of that in their pieces!

Original posts: 1  //  2  //  3

What about you?  Are you a fan of the Folter label?

If you own any of their pieces, let me know which ones you have in the comments!

Have a great Wednesday!

xox Sammi

White gold

I've always loved matching dress & coat sets.  This outfit didn't come as a set (I bought the dress a couple of years ago, and the coat was one of my Christmas presents this year), but I think they look pretty perfect together!  I ended up being a total couch potato on New Year's Day, but had I gotten dressed up, I would have worn this outfit, for sure.

It's supposed to get really cold and snowy here this week.  I don't mind the snow, but I'm not looking forward to 18-degree temperatures (that's just way too chilly for photos!).  But on the upside, I can start tackling some of my resolutions!  I definitely want to get back to exercising, and I also really want to learn how to sew this year.  I'd love to be able to make my own dresses!  I'm spending lots of time on sites like Spoonflower in anticipation of buying fabrics to use.

  Outfit Details

Dress: Kohl's (similar)

Coat: gift (similar)

Necklace: similar

Shoes: ModCloth

Have a great Sunday!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #77

Good morning!  I hope you all had a wonderful start to 2015!  In other news: it's Friday already?!  Here are some of the things I've been loving this week...

If you know anything about my sense of style, you'll have guessed how much I adore this apple purse!

How silly are these carrot mittens?!  There are lots of different fruit + veggie versions, too!

These breakfast sandwich rings are so delectable and delicate:

I wish I played the ukelele so I could have this sweet cupcake one!

I wish this darling dress came in my size!

B.A.I.T. Footwear just started carrying these super-sparkly heels!  I can't wait to see their full spring line.

I absolutely need this cosmetic bag:

How gorgeous is this dress (coming soon to Pinup Girl Clothing)!?

These My Little Pony boots are so fun:

I have to admit that I ordered this dress as soon as I saw it.  It's the perfect color and shape!

This little hot air balloon is actually a bird house!  How cute!

I don't yet own any Swedish Hasbeens, but I always admire them.  This pair is so pretty!

I'm the kind of person who needs a new planner every year.  As much as I like my iPhone, I need to physically write things out and have my schedule in front of me (especially because my hours and activities are always changing).  I love the planners from this shop, because they're made from recycled books.  It was hard to decide on one to order (I ended up going with a retro Barbie one!), but this one was one of the top contenders: 

If only this scalloped beauty were a better silhouette for me!

And speaking of scalloped beauties, this swimsuit is beyond adorable:

This balloon animal necklace is too cute to pass up!

...As are these sewing pattern note cards:

And finally... this is the prettiest bistro chair!  Which reminds me that I need to add "painting my bistro chairs" to my list of resolutions for this year... oops!

Have a wonderful weekend!

xox Sammi

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Resolutions & Wrap-Ups

Happy New Year!  I normally feature a blogger Q&A interview post on the first of the month, but since today marks the beginning of a brand new year, I wanted to share some of my 2015 resolutions with you.  I've found that it really helps me to write down my goals by hand and then display them; I know some people have enough will-power to keep them in mind all the time, but I need a good visual component.  And speaking of visuals... I know I recently did a seasonal round-up of outfits from this past autumn, but I wanted to include a small sampling of my favorite outfits from the last 365 days -- just to remind myself that although this was a tough year, it was filled with a lot of great ensembles!

I came up with a goal chart earlier in the year, at a time when I was feeling very lost and in limbo.  I found it helpful to divide my goals into different categories, so I decided to continue with that for my resolutions list.  For instance, my health goals include sticking to my Weight Watchers tracking, implementing more exercise into my day, a specific weight loss goal, and to focus my attention on my skincare routine.  My financial goals are to limit and keep better track of my spending, and my career resolutions include finishing my professional website, finding a new (or second) day job, and putting definitive plans in motion to move.  My blogging resolutions are to continue to expand my readership, improve my photography and establish sponsorship with brands.  I also wanted to make sure to include some other resolutions that are focused on my well-being, like getting a car of my own, seeing friends more often, getting a massage, reading more, and making an effort to keep a clean and organized personal space for myself.

There are times when coming up with resolutions makes me focus too much on what I didn't achieve during the previous year.  Because I don't want to discount all of the good things that happened in 2014, I made a little list of what I achieved from my other goal chart.  These accomplishments included getting my driver's license, being cast in some new and exciting projects, surpassing my blog readership goals, and taking some much-needed time to focus on myself.

But my last (and favorite) resolution is to keep dressing in ways that make me happy!  It was hard to pick just one outfit per month from 2014, but here are my favorite 12 outfits from the past year -- all of which brought me a lot of joy:

January  //  February  //  March  //  April  //  May  //  June

July  //  August  //  September  //  October  //  November  //  December 

Thank you all for spending 2014 with me (and sticking with me through these past 12 months)! Although it's been a bit of a tough year, it's been a very valuable one, too.  I'm eager to see what the next 12 months will bring.

So tell me: if you make resolutions, what are some of your goals for 2015?

Have a great start to your year!

xox Sammi

A toast to 2015

I'm totally dismayed -- how is it almost 2015?  A lot has happened over the past year.  If I'm being perfectly honest, it's been a very difficult year, filled with a lot of loss.  I've struggled a lot to find my footing and figure out a direction for my life (which is something I'm still working on).  But there's also been a lot of soul-searching and self-discovery, and learning more about yourself and what you want (or don't want) is never a bad thing.  Navigating your mid-20s is tricky enough without essentially having to scrap the plan you had for your future, but if nothing else, being adaptable -- and daring to re-imagine something more for yourself -- improves character and makes you realize how strong you truly are.  I am fortunate to be surrounded by people who care about me and I've been given some great opportunities along the way.  And even if my life doesn't currently look like how I envisioned it, I am looking forward to what the new year might bring.

One of my favorite facets of caring people in my life include the dear friends who I have met through blogging.  Even though I haven't met most of these blogging ladies in real life, their friendships have meant the world to me, and I feel very lucky to have made these virtual connections with such wonderful individuals.  Two of these individuals are Amanda and Katie of Junebugs and Georgia Peaches, who were kind enough to send me this beautiful Voodoo Vixen dress!  I drink very rarely (I'll have a cocktail maybe twice a year), but this martini print dress is so darling, and I thought it'd be perfect for New Year's Eve.  I usually like to opt for sparkle or luxurious fabrics for NYE, but this is such a fun alternative!  Although I'm working all day and planning on a low-key night in (not my ideal choice, but them's the breaks), I still like to dress up for the occasion!

What are your plans for New Year's Eve?  And more importantly, what are you wearing?  :)

Outfit Details

Dress: gift from Amanda & Katie

Black coat: Tatyana Boutique

Belt: from another dress

Heels: Aerosoles

Ring: Forever 21

Petticoat: eBay

Tights: ASOS

I hope you all have a fantastic & safe New Year's Eve!
xox Sammi

Advertise with The Soubrette Brunette in January!

Once again, it's been a while since I did a "call for sponsors" post.  But since it's almost the new year(!), I thought it was about time!  My little blog has grown quite a bit over the past few months, and if you're looking to grow your own blog or get some traffic for your shop, advertising is a great way to go about it.

I currently offer 3 different sizes for ads (featured, large and small).  Featured ads get the highest visibility, but large and small ads are also in prime spots.  All of my ad prices are super-affordable (prices range from $5-$15 per month), so everyone can advertise, even if you're on a budget.  Speaking from personal experience, advertising on a few different blogs was a really good (and inexpensive) way to get some more traffic and followers, and it also allows you to form relationships with other bloggers.  I love working with bloggers, artists and shop owners -- especially those with a similar aesthetic to mine!

Purchasing an ad is incredibly easy!  You can visit my advertising page here, and then all you have to do is choose the size you'd like, click "add to cart," and then "checkout."  From there, just fill out the information, upload your ad (the size specifications are displayed for each -- if you need an ad made, send me an e-mail), and pay for your ad spot!  Your ad will go live right after I approve it, and ads run for 30 days.  Featured ads are featured in the order they're purchased (so it behooves you to purchase early!), and both large + small ads are shuffled so that everyone gets equal exposure.

You can check out all of my updated stats, find out more about sizes and rates, and even purchase your ads right here -- or you can head directly to my Passionfruit page.  Space is limited, so don't miss out!  I'd love to work with you in 2015!

Have a great Monday!

xox Sammi

Santa Baby

Finally: my third holiday outfit option!  If you missed the first two, you can catch up here and here.  This gorgeous red dress was a birthday present from the sweet people at Unique Vintage.  I was so touched that they wanted to send me a dress of my choice, and I knew that this one would be perfect for Christmastime.  It has a built-in crinoline (always a bonus), and though you can't tell in these photos, the neckline is scalloped!  Plus, it goes perfectly with this Christmas ornament clutch from New Look.  What more could a girl want?  :)

For the past few years, my parents and I have had a traditional Jewish Christmas (i.e., going to the movies and out for Chinese food).  This year, we saw Tim Burton's new film, Big Eyes, which was really great.  I wasn't expecting to see so much midcentury loveliness (tons of classic cars and vintage dresses!), so that made it even better.  I didn't end up actually wearing this dress on Christmas Day, as it seemed a tad dressy for the movies (if you follow me on Instagram, you might've seen my real Christmas Day outfit), but I'm looking forward to remixing this dress for other occasions.  It would be such a wonderful Valentine's Day dress, too.

Outfit Details

Red dress: c/o Unique Vintage

Ornament clutch: New Look

Capelet: Target (similar)

Tights: ModCloth
Shoes: thrifted

Have a great Sunday!

xox Sammi