Friday, September 4, 2015

Friday Favorites #104

Happy Friday! I feel like I haven't done a "regular" Friday Favorites post in a while... which means I have a lot of fun stuff saved up from the past few weeks! Here's what I've been loving lately:

Betsey Johnson is killing it with her newest novelty bags! I'm swooning over her whole wedding line, and the mailbox and typewriter bags are amazing!

betsey johnson

a   ||   b   ||   c   ||   d   ||   e   ||   f   ||   g   ||   h

I finally got my hands on this magical unicorn brooch from I Love Crafty!
unicorn

This slumber party print that Kate created is available in many different products in her Society6 shop, but I especially like it in this adorable pillowcase

society6

I'm not normally a t-shirt girl, but these retro + cozy tees from Mischief Made have changed my mind! They're so cute and are very reasonably priced!

retro t-shirt


irregular choice

Everyone knows I love novelty prints, and I love retro tech prints – like this television dress from Lindy Bop...

lindy bop dress

...and this rotary phone dress by Yumi:
yumi phone dress
How sweet are these farm animal flats?
modcloth flats
1    ||    2

Poppy recently launched a new collection of dresses, which includes pieces with prints of bunnies, farm markets and even plates of sardines!
poppy england
a    ||    b   ||    c

I just love hedgehogs! I heard that they're actually in danger of being wiped out in the UK, which makes me so sad! I wish they existed in the wild here. At least I can have a sweater with one on it (or on a Kate Spade cross-body bag)!
hedgehog
1   ||   2

We're actually having a bit of a heatwave at the moment, but I'm still thinking ahead to fall – and as always, I'm being tempted by cute coats in the prettiest plaids!
modcloth plaid coat

a   ||   b   ||   c

I absolutely need this top.
waffle shirt leslie knope

And finally, because I love interspecies friendships (and this one is especially sweet):


Have a wonderful weekend!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog. I link only to items and brands I absolutely love. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Sweet corn


I may have a problem with these Dee Dee dresses from Pinup Girl Clothing: namely, I can't stop buying them! I now own 3 out of the 4 current colors offered in the Junebugs & Georgia Peaches line – oops! Although I really adore several dresses from the collection (and adore my friends who inspired it even more), the Dee Dee style feels the most "me," with its peter pan collar, puff sleeves and retro waitress feel (which makes it the perfect match for my Erstwilder milkshake brooch!).


These cornstalks will soon be turned into the Amazing Maize Maze! I haven't been since I was little, but I want to go this year. They have a moonlight maze too, which sounds really fun. I was holding onto summer for dear life, but I think I'm just about ready for fall. It's supposed to be pretty hot here for the next week or so, and by the time that's over, I'll have had my fill. (Then again, it's supposed to be another horrible winter here, so maybe I'll be eating my words!) Though I didn't get through everything, I did manage to check off a lot of summery things on my list – like fruit-picking, going to a sunflower field, visiting California and going to the Renaissance Faire. What was on your summer to-do list?

Outfit Details
Dee Dee dress: Pinup Girl Clothing
Shake, Rattle and Roll brooch: Erstwilder (similar)
Pettiskirt: Amazon (similar)
Flats: YesStyle (similar)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Monday, August 31, 2015

Aeroplane

Photo credit: Ashley from Southern (California) Belle
I'm finally getting around to going through my recent photos from my recent trip to California. When I finalized the plans for my visit, I knew I'd have to bring along the Mary Blair planes print Heidi from Pinup Girl Clothing; it was just too appropriate for my first cross-country plane trip!


This is the only Heidi style dress that I own (thus far), and if you're curious about sizing, I'd say that the Heidi runs a little bigger than the average PUG dress. I originally chose this dress when I won a PUG contest on Instagram, and my normal size large was much too big on me. I ended up selling it to buy the medium, which fits really well. It's a much lighter material than some of my other dresses, which was actually a blessing with the California heat! 

Photo credit: Ashley from Southern (California) Belle
Getting the chance to spend time with Ashley was so wonderful. It can be really difficult to have such dear friends who are so far away, but it makes me even more thankful for our friendship because it stands the test of time (and distance). It also gives me an excuse to plot more fun visits! ;) I'll have to get better at photography before I visit again though – her photos are so much better than mine!

Outfit Details
Heidi Dress in Mary Blair Planes Print: Pinup Girl Clothing
Name necklace: c/o Onecklace
White flats: Aerosoles
Pettiskirt: similar

Have a great Monday!

Friday, August 28, 2015

Bathing Suits + Book Reviews


I don't normally do non-Friday-Favorites posts on Fridays, but since I needed some extra rest once I got home from California, my blogging schedule got a little backed up. You might remember that I'm attempting to make book reviews a semi-regular feature here on The Soubrette Brunette. I'm also trying to find ways to tie the books in to an outfit post feature. Last month, I reviewed The Book of Joan by Melissa Rivers (a memoir with a few laughs and a few problems), and I happened to wear a vintage dress that perfectly matched the book's cover. This month, I've entered the world of fiction with my review of Summer House with Swimming Pool by Herman Koch – and I'm wearing a new-to-me swimsuit for the occasion; I figured I'd pair a somewhat-scary story with the somewhat-scary premise of posting a photo of myself in a bathing suit on the internet.


I was completely unfamiliar with Mr. Koch's work prior to this experience, which can actually be a good thing, as I had neither expectations nor biases diving in to my reading material. I initially wanted to read the book because it was marketed as a murder mystery (and I looove those): when a famous actor dies under mysterious circumstances, his high profile doctor has to come up with answers. The trouble all started the summer before, when the actor and his wife invited the doctor and his family to their summer home in the Mediterranean – they soon find out that no one can be trusted.


The reviews I've read have called the book a "psychological thriller," and have compared Herman Koch to a "modern-day Agatha Christie." When I finally finished the book, I could see the truth in the former, but not in the latter. Mr. Koch has an incredibly distinctive voice – one that is very different from my own – and his writing is powerful and compelling. His writing is definitely controversial and it's clear that he likes to push boundaries with his readers; he even admits that he likes to make them feel uncomfortable and enjoys playing devil's advocate through his characters. Koch's narrator isn't likable or reliable (he actually borders on sociopathic), but he's absolutely captivating. The book is told through a series of flashbacks, and there were times that I gasped out loud through the story's many twists and turns. In many ways, the book could be considered a mystery, but unlike Agatha Christie's work, Koch's main characters are in no way endearing. He also makes astute comments on socialized medicine, creative types and the human condition; the "thriller" aspects of the book come in much later, and the story is built in such a way that it's a bit difficult to box it into a specific genre. All in all, despite how despicable many of these characters are, I completely relished the book. I couldn't put it down (and I don't say that about many books these days). It was my go-to reading material for my recent travels, and if you aren't super-squeamish, I'd recommend this book for sure.


If you're interested in reading Summer House with Swimming Pool, you can find it here!
Have you read any good page-turners this summer? I'd love to hear your recommendations!



Outfit Details
Swimsuit: Pinup Girl Clothing (swap & sell group)
Mel by Melissa wedges: similar
Popsicle necklace: similar
Sunglasses: Unique Vintage
Donut pool float: Amazon

Have a great start to your weekend!

I received this book from the Blogging For Books program in exchange for an honest review.

Monday, August 24, 2015

There's no place like home

unique vintage skirt

Hello from the West Coast! I'm having so much fun with Ashley on this trip. On Friday, we did some shopping (which resulted in a new dress and adorable vintage hat box/purse for me) and I had dinner with a friend from home. We spent a whopping 12 hours in Disneyland on Saturday (and had lunch with Elana!), and yesterday we went to the Gentle Barn to meet some rescued farm animals with Erica! It's been wonderful to finally meet these wonderful girls; I feel as if I've known them for a long time, despite never having seen them in person before this past week. Although I've been known to gripe about technology and the internet in general, I'm grateful and amazed to have been able to connect with such great people from across the country.

retro skirt
oblong box shop skirt
midcentury house skirt

Although I've been enjoying my time here in California so very much, I always like coming back to Rochester again. Sometimes it takes a little time away to remember how nice it is to be home. This adorable midcentury house skirt from Unique Vintage reminds me of that too. (It also makes me want to have my own place to decorate!) I actually wore this skirt on the plane here, and it was the perfect choice because it's lightweight and doesn't wrinkle easily. Plus, I got a ton of compliments on it! Truthfully, I'm not a huge fan of separates in general, but I know I'm going to get a lot of use out of this skirt; it's comfortable, runs true to the size chart, and who can resist that print? It's found its way into my home – and my heart! Be sure to swing by Unique Vintage for lots more retro clothing.

retro skirt
pinup skirt
unique vintage
Outfit Details
Midcentury House Swing Skirt: c/o Unique Vintage
Lily Top in Black: c/o Heart of Haute
Keiko frames in Lily White: Bonlook
Pettiskirt: Amazon
Shoes: Amazon

keiko bonlook glasses

Today's my last day in California, and I think Ashley and I are headed to Santa Monica (our one touristy excursion). 
I hope you have a great start to your week!

Friday, August 21, 2015

Friday Favorites #103: Travel Essentials

I'm writing this post from up in the air, as I'm currently California-bound to visit Ashley! Since I'm traveling this week, I thought it might be fun to do an updated version of a trip necessities Friday Favorites post; I did one last year, but this one has some new additions. I'm admittedly not a huge adventurer, as travel (and packing, especially) tends to stress me out. I'm the kind of person who always needs to make a list, so here's a handy dandy guide to my travel must-haves:
travel essentials list
I'll just say it: I'm horrible at packing lightly. I always fear that I'll regret not bringing a certain item or that I'll forget something. I'm definitely better at paring it down than I used to be, but even so, I end up coming home with a bunch of things I never used or wore while away. I've tried to rectify that by packing only a few accessories that pair well with everything I bring.

packing list traveling
a   ||   b   ||   c   ||   d   ||   e

For instance, I wear my black Aerosoles flats on the plane and pack a white pair (I swear by these flats – I walked all over New York City in them in total comfort and without getting a single blister), and make sure all of the clothes I bring will work with one or the other. I wear a white purse with everything, and since packing a petticoat would be troublesome, I wear a thinner pettiskirt on the plane (and no one can even tell). I've forgotten my sunglasses before on trips, and I hope I never will again!

I'm sort of high maintenance when it comes to makeup and toiletries and tend to pack things I could probably live without for a few days. However, there are a few lifesaver items that I could never leave behind.
beauty essentials

1   ||   2   ||   3   ||   4   ||   5   ||   6   ||   7

I use my portable clothes steamer on a daily basis, even when I'm at home, and it's perfect for getting out wrinkles from packed clothing (and if you hate to iron like I do). I don't usually travel with a lot of jewelry, but I love this jewelry carrier because it has little individual compartments for everything; having to untangle necklaces is the worst, so being able to avoid that is key. Fashion tape is amazing – I use it all the time to keep belts, collars and other embellishments in place. I recently started using the Colorescience line because of a dermatologist recommendation, and I'm obsessed with the color corrector palette! It's the perfect size for traveling and you can achieve both full-face coverage and quick touchups with it – everything from red blemishes to dark under-eye circles. Oh, and a portable makeup mirror, a cute cosmetic bag and a quirky sleep mask will definitely come in handy!

tech for traveling
a   ||   b   ||   c   ||   d   ||   e

And then it's time for tech! Since I usually take lots of photos on my trips, a travel tripod is a must. If you're a blogger, I also highly recommend investing in a camera remote timer – it's been a Godsend for me! (Be sure to check if your DSLR is compatible with the model I linked... if it's not, there are tons of other options on Amazon.) I love my backup mobile charger from ban.do, which also comes in other styles, and it's perfect for long layovers or a day at Disneyland! And of course, I had to pick adorable + delicious tech gear: a donut print laptop sleeve and pastel earbuds with a macaron carrying case!

What are your never-leave-home-without-'em items? Let me know in the comments!

Have a great Friday!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking on one of these links, I may receive a small commission, which helps to run my blog. I link only to items and brands I absolutely love. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!