Arts & Crafts (an outfit post)

 Outfit Details:
Scenic Painting Umbrella Skirt: ROMWE (see other ones here, here and here!)
Black mock turtleneck: Target (a few years back)
Gray stockings: Borrowed from Mom's collection
Lady in Rad Boots in Ink: ModCloth

Isn't this skirt divine?  When I saw Kate from Scathingly Brilliant wearing it in an outfit post not too long ago, my mouth dropped open because the same skirt was hanging in my closet, waiting to be worn!  It's such a cool print, and the print seamlessly continues onto the back (it repeats, but does so flawlessly).  In retrospect, I wish I had paired a long necklace with this outfit for one extra thing, but alas.  Next time!

Last weekend, my mom and I went to this great co-op here in Rochester.  There are a ton of stores there, offering everything from antiques to homemade goods.  We had been there once before, and I had seen this set of four beautiful cafe chairs (they were each painted a different pastel color and the seats were covered in pastel plaid and gingham fabrics).  They were having a 20% off everything sale, and I had hoped these chairs (which I hadn't stopped thinking about since we saw them) were still there, as they would have been a wonderful addition to Steven's and my future apartment.  I was heartbroken to discover that the chairs were gone, and was kicking myself for not insisting we purchase them when we spotted them! I swear that next time I find some beautiful, reasonably-priced metal cafe chairs, I will be buying them on the spot and painting them myself.

Luckily, with over 200 stores at the co-op, there was at least one thing that caught my eye: a vintage wood purse with decoupaged wild mushrooms!  And it was only $7 with the 20% off sale!

I also liked this hat (which was also very inexpensive, especially when you compare it to of all the similar hats listed on Etsy), but the shape looked pretty silly on my head.  I'd like to be more of a hat-wearing girl, but I think my head is too large to look good in a majority of them.  I mostly just admire them on other people.  I can rock a fascinator with the best of them, though.

Although the location of this place is a bit out of the way for us, I'm eager to go back at some point soon.  I should have taken a pictures of the white and orange retro hutch and old fridge they had.  I also can't wait to pair the purse with an outfit... and I already have one in mind!!  :)

Have a nice, restful Sunday!

xox Sammi 

Wrapped Up in Books (an outfit post)

I am a self-proclaimed bookworm (and I'm also Belle & Sebastian fan, for those who recognize the title of this post).  I have always loved to read and write, and for quite a while, I was convinced I was going to be an author when I grew up.  As an actor, I think it's pretty imperative to have a love for the written word, because you essentially become the vessel for the playwright's words -- the one who brings those ideas on the page to life -- and if you don't have an immense appreciation for language, I think you're missing a big piece of the puzzle. 

So, when I saw this lovely book-themed dress on ModCloth, I knew it needed to hang in my closet!  After ordering one in a size too big and exchanging, I finally got it right (or, as right as it can be).  Admittedly, it is not the BEST dress I've ever owned.  I had to remove the sash that came with it because it ended up looking silly, but luckily I can wear just about any belt with it.  And even though it's flattering, the top has some weird fit issues (the next size up was WAY too large everywhere, but this size cuts into my arms after wearing it all day, and the cap sleeves - though cute - look slightly strange without a sweater over it)... but I love the print so much that I couldn't bear to part with it.  Some of the book titles are hard to make out, but I did manage to find Gone With the Wind and Little Women on there!

Outfit details:

A Plot to Love Dress: ModCloth

The Dream of the Crop Cardigan in Black: ModCloth 

Black tights: Danskins (dance tights from college!)

Lady in Rad Boot in Camel: ModCloth

Black belt: from another dress

Clock Strikes 12 Watch: ASOS

I just realized I forgot to take off the little film protector!  Whoops!  But isn't this watch adorable?  I felt like a hybrid of Belle and Cinderella in this outfit (and loved every second of it)!  I also love this one, which is quite princess-y too! 

Meanwhile, this little princess decided it was time to clean herself at this precise moment...

Someone seems very curious back there...

These cropped cardigans from ModCloth are seriously the best cardigans I own.  They're stretchy, comfortable, warm (thicker than you'd expect) and immensely flattering for dresses.  They're also priced extremely well, especially for ModCloth, and come in a few different colors.  I wear a sweater with pretty much everything, and these are my go-tos!

I just love this picture.

Speaking of words and books, this brings me to a wonderful perfume I just purchased called Dead Writers (a name I ADORE)!  When I saw this scent featured in an article on The Frisky, I immediately headed over to Sweet Tea Apothecary on Etsy and bought my own little bottle.  I received it today and it's just as lovely as I'd hoped.  It contains notes of black tea, vetiver, clove, musk, vanilla, heliotrope and tobacco, which I think are all incredibly fitting for the name!

And look at the cute packaging!  The bottle was smaller than I'd anticipated (due to my own inability to recognize how big 15 mL is), but the scent is so lovely and a little of it really does go a long way (and lasts a long time).  Sweet Tea Apothecary also makes some other amazing-sounding perfumes, like one named for Thoreau (with notes of sandalwood, sage and bamboo).  I absolutely love scents that aren't so typically perfume-y (and can be worn by both genders, as this one can), so this is one of my new favorite sellers!  I also love that all of the items are historically-inspired.  As you might have guessed, I do love when something has a theme (case in point, this blog post)!

Have a wonderful, wordy Tuesday!!

xox Sammi

A purrrrr-fectly sunny Sunday (an outfit post)

Although it was gray and snowing earlier this morning, the skies are sunny and clear now for the first time in a number of days.  The appearance of sunshine really turns my mood around these days; I'm in such a funk when there's none to be seen.  Maybe I just have a Vitamin D deficiency?  

I just realized that this outfit is kind of symbolic of the weather today.  These pictures weren't taken today, but I thought they were fitting for the burst of sunshine coming through the gray!

Outfit details:
Start Spreading the Mews Dress: ModCloth

Mustard-colored cardigan: Forever 21 (at least 3 years ago - similar here)

Skinny black belt: from another dress

Storybook Of My Life (jelly!!) flats: ModCloth

Heart necklace: ASOS (out of stock)

Pumpkin was out of frame here, but she was looking at me and making the cutest face!

Isn't the print of this dress amazing?  It's fake cat-related news articles and headlines!  Purrfect for a cat lover like myself! :)

As you may have guessed, I am obsessed with jelly shoes, and I am thrilled they are making a comeback!  These ones are quite comfortable, and I love that they look like you are just wearing bows on your feet!

She does not look pleased, but I swear she was purring!

Yeah, perhaps purring out of annoyance then.

I wore this outfit outside to run a couple of errands, and I guess I was too eager for spring, since it was FAR too cold to not wear tights (which just looks silly with jelly flats, I think)... I'll have to try again with this one when the weather is warmer.  :)

Enjoy your Sunday!

xox Sammi

"Nobody can be un-cheered with a balloon" (an outfit post)

As you may have realized, Nishe is one of my favorite labels.  When I saw this dress was arriving at ModCloth, I knew I had to have it.  The beautiful color, the amazing hot air balloon embroidery, the collar, the mesh top.  It's pretty much perfect.  I didn't even pair it with any accessories, since I think the dress and the shoes stand on their own, and to add anything else seems superfluous.

Outfit details:

Float Couture Dress: ModCloth (also available at ASOS)

Toe-Tapping Attitude Heel: ModCloth

The only unfortunate thing about both items is that they actually seem to run a tiny bit big.  I'm usually a true UK 12 (US 8) in Nishe dresses, but this one seems to run a tad big around the waist, so I'm looking for a wide white belt to pair with it.  The shoes also run a little bit big, but only when I wear nylons (as pictured), so I'll have to put an insert in them in the future.  But aren't the bows to die for?

I'm making a conscious effort to bring brighter colors into my wardrobe, because it makes me feel cheerier and more spring-like.  It's just around the corner, but I've heard we'll get snow again here soon.  I'm so sick of winter!  I think the geese around here are very confused.  I've seen hundreds of them (flying in a westerly direction, strangely), and I think nature is just as eager for spring to arrive.

In other news, ModCloth is currently having a contest with their Style Gallery!  The outfit photo with the most "loves" in the gallery will win a $100 gift certificate, and 2 random winners who "love" the winning photo will win $50 gift certificates!  I have a few outfits (one, two, and three) in the gallery at the moment (#3 is the one shown above!), so I'd be super appreciative it if you wouldn't mind checking out the Style Gallery and showing my outfits some love!

Have a lovely Wednesday!

xox Sammi

Button-down the hatches (an outfit post)

I really like button-down shirts a lot.  I don't own a lot of them, because they can prove very tricky for those of us who are rather (ahem) well-endowed.  I hate when they gap, even when there is more than enough wiggle room in the fabric!  This particular button-down does gap on top (hence the cami), but it's such a lovely shirt otherwise that I had to keep it.  And most of all, I like that it's more of a feminine button-down.  I dislike feeling schlumpy, which happens with shapeless button-downs, so I love that this is tailored and has a nice cut to it.

Outfit details

Scout Finch Top in Maycomb: ModCloth

High-Waisted Skinny Jeans: dELiA*s

White tank and gold necklace: Forever 21

Madden Girl Pinup Boot: DSW (gift from Steven)

It's hard to tell in these pictures because they're blown out, but this is what the top looks like in person:

And I'm dying to get it in this color combination!

It reminds me of salt water taffy, for some reason.

I think the best-fitting button-downs I own are actually from Forever 21, if only because they give such exact measurements for every item on their website.  My problem is that when they fit on top, I usually have to wear them tucked into a skirt, since they're usually too billowy on the bottom.  You win some, you lose some, I suppose!

Don't you love these boots?  I'm not normally drawn to boots like these, but I'd been eyeing them for a while, and Steven insisted on getting them for me.  I love cognac-colored boots -- they pair with almost anything!

I feel spring in the air... it's so close, I can taste it.  I'm so anxious for nice weather, though I feel like it's probably going to snow again for a little while before spring finally takes hold.  Today is supposed to be a little bit warm(!!!), so I hope I will be able to enjoy some sunshine in between rehearsal and seeing The Book Of Mormon (!!!!!!!) tomorrow night.  My best friend Wayne and I snagged tickets to the final performance of the national tour here in Rochester, and we couldn't be more thrilled!  It's the perfect combination of dark, totally inappropriate humor and legitimately great contemporary musical theatre.  I can't wait to see it, since I know the cast recording -- as great as it is -- can't do it justice.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

xox Sammi

Pumpkin among the flowers (an outfit post)

It's been so gray and wintery here for the past couple weeks, and I'm itching for spring to get here already!  I'm trying to incorporate some springy cheer into my wardrobe to make up for the drab weather.  Naturally, this floral dress fit the bill.  I don't have too many casual dresses (I am so drawn to special occasion dresses that I end up getting those instead of more practical choices), so this one has become a staple of my wardrobe.  I especially appreciate that it can span the seasons and still be appropriate for each.

Outfit details
Plant By Numbers Dress: ModCloth
Lady in Rad Boot in Camel: ModCloth
Tights: a cheap store in Union Square (similar here)
Belt: ASOS

I love how this dress looks with tights and boots!!

The original orange belt that came with this dress broke after the first time I wore it, so I was thrilled to find a belt from ASOS that perfectly matched the original!  I've worn a wine-colored belt (from another ModCloth dress) with this one too, but I think the orange is so lovely with it.

Meanwhile, another orange thing named Pumpkin was very interested in what I was doing...

...Very interested indeed (notice that she was also interested in my boot laces).

I informed her that if she was that interested in what I was up to, she would have to be a part of the photos, too!  She's a natural in front of the camera, don't you think?  :)

I'm SO happy to have (mostly) figured out the solution to my blurry photo problem!  Taking photos in this corner of my room provide the most light, and not having enough was the main issue.  I can't wait til it warms up so I can start taking photos outside, too.

Have a lovely, lovely Wednesday!
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