Smokin'

If something is even slightly kooky or kitschy, there's a good chance it'll pique my interest. In the case of this cigarette-themed skirt from Shawna Lay Designs... I immediately became obsessed. I'm not a smoker (nor do I condone it... even though I'm currently dating one), but this design beautifully captures the 1950's Hollywood glamour of it all. Shawna makes some really incredible pieces and does a lot of custom work, and this skirt has quickly become one of my absolute favorite pieces. 

Although Shawna initially displayed this skirt in a beautiful cyan, I opted to go for black, as I think it makes it a bit more versatile. The skirt itself is made of cotton sateen, which is a really nice choice in terms of quality and isn't too heavy for the hotter months. I love the little pops of red and butter yellow in the design, so though I could easily wear this skirt with another neutral, I have more colorful options for separates as well. Shawna offers custom waist and length measurements as well, so this skirt is perfectly suited for me. She'll also work with you on a totally custom idea, so be sure to message her if you're feeling creative!

Outfit Details

Matchstick & Cigarette Skirt: Shawna Lay Designs

Peasant Top in Red: Pinup Girl Clothing

Brooch: vintage (get it here)  ||  Hair flower: similar

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Flats: Aerosoles via Amazon

I'm currently recovering from my show (we had a sold out closing weekend, which was great) – I'll miss doing Heathers, but my body needs a break! Hope you have a great start to your week!

Life is a circus

There's no truer statement to sum up my existences as of late than "life is a circus." I feel like it's hard for me not to get a little bit overwhelmed by what I'm doing and what I have to cross off my checklist. I have four performances left of Heathers, the Musical (we got a really nice review in one of the local papers, which you can read here if you're interested), and I've been nursing one of a few injuries sustained during the show on my off days. I dealt with a slight MacBook emergency earlier in the week (which luckily did not result in losing any of my data, thank goodness!), and once the show closes, I need to focus on making some pretty big changes in my life  – namely, finding a new job, getting a car of my own and moving to my own place. It's scary, but exciting... and definitely necessary. I've never been great at juggling several big tasks, but for now, I've got to keep all the balls in the air.

I'm still catching up on editing some newer sets of photos, so I'm finally getting a chance to post these ones I snapped a few months ago. Since I've started wearing separates more, I've tried to amp up my collections of basics, which include adorable t-shirts and plainer skirts. This red skirt from Le Bomb Shop has gotten a ton of wear; I love the stretchy scuba material, and it's an easy grab-and-go piece that retains its shape. It comes in a bunch of other colors, too! I thought this vibrant red went perfectly with this adorable, cozy tee from Miss Ladybug. I've featured a couple of other tops from Miss Ladybug, and the quality is always great – plus, I'm a sucker for anything carnival or circus themed! This outfit was incredibly comfortable, but still allowed me to feel totally put-together (which is an A+ in my book!).

Outfit Details

Life is a Circus tee: c/o Miss Ladybug

Twirl in a Circle Skirt in True Red: c/o Le Bomb Shop

Heels: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Have a great day!

Cottages

Although I've always been fond of this cottage print, I felt like it was a bit too busy in the dress versions I've seen. I love a loud print more than almost anyone, but sometimes, too much is simply too much. I think it's perfect in this skirt version though, since you can easily break it up with a solid-colored top, and it's a great casual piece. It's not available on her site anymore, but I was able to nab it during one of Bernie Dexter's Zulily sales (keep an eye out for them!). 

I'm finally feeling somewhat normal again, after dealing with some injuries from my show. I woke up on opening night with pretty severe back/neck pains and, after an emergency appointment with a massage therapist, I'm finally feeling a bit better. I also fell during our final dress rehearsal, which resulted in a huge gash in my knee, and on opening night, there was a mishap with a bench that caused a few of us to take a tumble (and I have a big bruise on my bum to prove it). Apparently, I'm cursed! I'm feeling a lot better, but it's made me realize that I do need to take better care of my body. Getting in shape is definitely a goal of mine for the summer!

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter skirt: Zulily

White peasant top: Pinup Girl Clothing

Belt: from another dress  ||  Boater hat: similar

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear (similar)

Have a splendid start to your week!

Friday Favorites #131

I've been super busy with my show, so Friday Favorites took a small hiatus... but I'm back today to highlight some things I've been obsessing over as of late:

Anyone else excited for the finale of Rupaul's Drag Race? Gimme all the merch.

1   ||   2   ||   3   ||   4

You can be "painted for the gods" in this cosmetic print dress!

I need this Minnie Mouse lipstick!

This perfume print dress is so cute, too.

This Alice in Wonderland Urban Decay palette is everything.

This dress from Unique Vintage is so pretty!

I might need these shoes from Loly in the Sky...

I'm loving everything off-the-shoulder right now, and these bodysuits would be awesome under some of my busier skirts!

a   //   b

Everyone's obsessed with this Bardot dress from Target's WhoWhatWear line... I actually bought one for myself and it's definitely a cute & comfy dress for summertime. The striped version is finally online (and it's available in solid black, too) here.

I can't wait to read Mara Wilson's book!

Skinnydip has the cutest bags, like this rainbow one!

And finally... this dress is STUNNING and I need to own it.

Have a great weekend!

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Vinyl

I'll start out by saying that this ended up being one of my favorite outfit posts in a while. This rockabilly record skirt by Banned Apprel really encapsulates my kitschy, retro sense of style, and I'm obsessed with the vamp tops from Pinup Girl Clothing. Even though I love my pastels, for some reason, my red-and-black ensembles end up being the ones I like the most – maybe because they're still fun but have a slight sexiness to them.

Because the Banned website is for wholesale retailers only, I had to search a little bit until I found a site that was carrying this adorable skirt. Viva Dulce Marina (or VDM) carries a bunch of brands I really like, including Banned. I ordered according to the size chart that VDM provided (which was spot-on), and it's safe to say that this skirt runs big. I ordered the medium in both this and another Banned skirt, and they fit perfectly. The material is a lightweight cotton – which is great for summer! – but it's stiff enough that it holds a nice shape with a petticoat underneath. Although this skirt will pair nicely with a number of tops I own, I absolutely love the vamp tops because they have great structure (I'm able to wear them without a bra if I need to) and they give a great silhouette. I know I'll get a ton of wear out of both pieces, and I can't wait to style them in different ways!

Outfit Details

Banned Record Hop Skirt: ShopVDM

Vamp Top in Black: Pinup Girl Clothing

Name necklace: c/o oNecklace

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Flats: similar

Have a great day!

Bowl-a-rama

Because I have this ever-present desire to look like I belong in the cast of any and every 50's movie-musical, I'm totally taken with Campbell/Crafts' adorable retro shirts. I really enjoyed their pastel diner themed collection, and their mint & pink bowling shirts are just as adorable! After putting on this outfit, I immediately got "Score Tonight (Let's Bowl)" from Grease 2 stuck in my head – which is kind of the exact reaction you want, really. If only this shirt would allow me to pirouette down a bowling lane... or at least let me get a good score without using bumpers.

If you're thinking of getting yourself one of these tops, they're made of a lightweight fabric and are pretty comfy to wear. It's prone to wrinkling (I had assumed they'd be a little stiffer), but it makes for a really nice casual piece, which is a welcome addition to my dressy wardrobe. I received the UK 14 in an attempt to accommodate my bust without having gaping in the buttons; I still experienced some, but sizing up again would make the shirt much too big in other areas, so I think I made the right choice. I decided to tie the bottom of the shirt in lieu of tucking it in to the skirt as I had planned, which is also a great option if you wanted to layer it over a dress or wear it with high-waisted pants.

Outfit Details

Ladies Bowling Shirt: c/o Campbell/Crafts

Twirl in a Circle Skirt in Black: c/o Le Bomb Shop

Bowling collar clips (DIY'd into brooches): similar

Flats: Aerosoles via Amazon

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Doilies

Some people collect baseball cards or coins... while others collect dresses. Although I'm trying to weed out the pieces I don't wear anymore, my Bernies remain a wardrobe staple. (Hopefully you aren't too sick of seeing them!) It's sort of become my unofficial mission to eventually acquire all of the Bernie Dexter dresses I can find. When I saw this dress pop up on a Facebook swap & sell group, it was a no-brainer addition. I'd seen this fabric in another style before (it has a heart cut-out in the back), but I loved this version even more – which is like the Paris but with a halter tie! Since this style seems to be an older one (and therefore, a rare find), I'm glad I was able to add it to my ever-growing collection.

This week's going to be a busy one, as tonight signals the start of tech week for Heathers. This rehearsal process has gone by really quickly, as it's such a large-scale musical and a bit of a beast to put together. It's at the stage where the show feels not quite there and you start to worry whether everything will work out okay (spoiler alert: it always does), which is a bit stressful. But if nothing else, I'm having a lot of fun with it, and with a show like this, that's exactly what's needed. We open on Friday, and though I've planned out a couple of posts in advance, my presence will be a bit scarce until after this weekend. Duty calls!

Outfit Details

Bernie Dexter Yours Always Dress in Bouquet: swap & sell group

Cropped cardigan: available here

Petticoat: Pinup Girl Clothing

Flats: Amazon

Necklace: old

Have a great Monday!