Friday Favorites #66

Happy Friday, everyone!  Our Indian summer seems to be winding down here, which makes me feel better about my ongoing Halloween & winter coat obsession.  Take a peek at some of my favorite finds from this past week:

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I love how this cape could work for a costume and for cold weather!

I'm obsessed with these shoes and matching clutch from Charlotte Olympia:

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If you missed out on this Betsey Johnson bag from last fall, make sure you sign up for notifications for when this version arrives at ModCloth!

And speaking of great bags... this mini-clutch from Candy Strike is fab:

As are these pink coats:

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This coat is really sweet, too:

More coats!

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These retro dresses are super cute!

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Although I tend to gravitate towards cat prints, I do love this doggy dress:

And finally, I love this list: 20 things to remember when you think you're not good enough.

Have a great Friday!

xox Sammi

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 I absolutely love, from companies I wholeheartedly support.  Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Advertise with The Soubrette Brunette in October!

It's been a couple of months since I've done a "call for sponsors" post, but I wanted to make sure I did one this month.  Because my birthday is at the end of October, I've planned a very big giveaway at the end of the month (yay!).  Historically, I've gotten a large response from my giveaway posts, and that means lots of interaction and attention to the ads in my sidebar.  If you were looking for a good time to advertise on my blog, now would definitely be 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 anyone can afford to advertise.  If you have a smaller blog and you're looking to generate some more traffic and gain some followers, any of these three ad sizes would be a great way to go about it.  I also love working with small businesses and artists!

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.

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!  :)

Blogger Interview: Jenny from She Loves Dresses

Happy October!  This month is probably my absolute favorite of all -- autumn is in full swing, and it contains both Halloween and my birthday!  Since I adore this month so much, I felt it was only fitting that this month's blogger interview subject be one of my new favorite people: the adorable and ethereal Jenny from She Loves Dresses!  I first "met" Jenny on Instagram, and I was immediately captivated by her love of vintage and sense of whimsy.  She's also incredibly sweet and eloquent, and though she's relatively new to blogging, I always look forward to her carefully-crafted posts.  Get to know more about this gorgeous girl below and be sure to follow her blog and Etsy shop!

Name: Jennifer Baquing

Age: 26!  I'll be 27 on November 13th :)

Where do you blog?  I blog at She Loves Dresses!  I've been blogging for a little over a month and it's been a really great experience so far.  :)  I blog mostly about vintage fashion, but in the future I would like to write more critically about things I would like to see changed about the fashion industry as a whole, as well as intersectional feminist theory as it relates to pop culture and Millennials.  :)

Where do you work or what did you study in school?  In the evenings, I work for a financial company with my husband Josh in San Francisco, CA, and at an electrical company during the day. I also sell natural gluten-free health supplements and sell jewelry on Etsy. The money is very good at my traditional day jobs, but I don't see myself staying there for much longer. 

What's your dream job?  I would love to blog full-time and open my own brick-and-mortar vintage shop in either San Francisco, CA or Kyoto, Japan. I lived in Japan for two years and miss it terribly. 

Your favorite musical artist:  I really love listening to Hans Zimmer. I mostly prefer music without lyrics, because then my imagination can really run wild. 

Your favorite musical:  Wicked! 

Your favorite movie:   I really love the movie Serendipity. It's dreamy and romantic, and although I believe that hard work and hustle are what position a person for success and opportunity, the dreamer inside me also loves to hope in something bigger than myself such as fate and density. 

Your favorite guilty pleasure:  I love napping. I don't even need to be tired. I just love to sleep. I'm not getting nearly enough these days, but it's okay!  Hehe. 

Drink of choice: Chocolate chip cookie dough milkshake :D

Favorite food in the world? Sushi from Japan! And pizza! And ice cream! And cookies!

One character from a movie or TV series with whom you identify:  Kiki from Kiki's Delivery Service :)

Do you have a celebrity crush?  Captain America all day long. <3

Which actress would play you in a movie version of your life?  I really love Maggie Q and if she were down to cut some bangs for the role, then that would pretty much be perfect. ;)

Favorite book (from childhood or now): Winnie the Pooh!

What's one thing that most people might not know about you?  My left arm was entirely green from wrist to shoulder (like a birthmark) until I turned 12 and then they became a bunch of freckles!  No freckles on my right arm.  I think it's super cool! 

What's your favorite season and why?  Spring. I love bright colors and pastels in mainstream fashion. Although I don't wear many modern styles, I like being out and watching other people break out their delicate florals and happy prints.

How would you describe your personal style? 1950's fit and flare mixed with 1960's babydoll, mixed with Asian street style. 

What's the most beloved article of clothing you own?  My grandmother remarried in the 60's and wore the most beautiful crochet lace mini dress with bell sleeves. She gave it to me a few years ago and it is the most beautiful dress I've ever owned. 

If you could live during any other time period, what would it be?  Many vintage-loving gals have nostalgia for the early/mid 20th century decades, and although I love the fashion, I am happy that I was born in 1987. I don't think I would have had nearly as many opportunities had I been born at an earlier time, especially as a minority. 

Do you have a style icon?  If so, who?  My grandma, Dianne. She is the best dressed lady in my family and was a total 60's bombshell back in the day. Best leggies ever!!!

Your favorite place to shop or favorite clothing brand:  I love vintage shopping in San Francisco. The Haight Ashbury/Mission area has sooo many amazing shops! 

Go-to accessory?  Flower crowns!

If you could only wear one outfit every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?  I guess... This really awesome red 1960's mini with gigantic bib collar!

How did you get into blogging?  I feel like there are gaps that need to be filled in the vintage fashion communities (and fashion blogging communities in general) in regards to representation for people of color. I want to bring awareness about social justice issues within the fashion communities so I can find others who are like-minded and want to work together towards true equality for women of all colors and all sizes. I work with a lot of vintage shop owners in the way that I do so I can help support small businesses as well as get my name out to other people in vintage fashion circles. 

What are some other blogs that you love?  Yours! Of course! SO many to name, but here are some off the top of my head that I read religiously: The Dainty Dolls House, feministkilljoys, Gradient Lair, The October Road, Nora Finds, Princess Lasertron, Prison Culture, and more.

What's been your favorite post from your blog so far (or favorite outfit you've worn)?  It's super hard to choose, but this has been my favorite blog post so far, and it's one of my favorite outfits!

Anything else you'd like to talk about??  I make super adorable jewelry!  

You can find it all in my Etsy shop, She Loves Cute Stuff!

A million thanks to Jenny for agreeing to be this month's interview subject!  I've so enjoyed getting to know more about her -- she is a truly beautiful person both inside and out.  Be sure to follow here here!  

Have a beautiful start to your October!

xox Sammi

Eden

I thought fall was here to stay, but it seems as if we're in the midst of Indian summer here.  I'm excited for sunshine, but I was in such an autumnal state of mind that I'm kind of over the heat.  I'm eager to remix my outfits with tights and cardigans, but I figured I should take advantage of the nice weather while it lasts.  I've styled this dress on the blog before, but I felt like styling it again because it's one of my favorites.  It was a lucky eBay snag, and I love the off-the-shoulder style and built-in crinoline.  It's so flirty and fun!  I have a dress (which I used to wear all the time for auditions in college) that has a similar top, and when I lost weight, it no longer fit, which was so upsetting.  But this dress is even better, I think.  The print is so pretty and lush, and it reminds me of the Garden of Eden.  I found it dress on eBay once prior (and I think I either lost it in an auction or it wasn't my right size), but finding it again was really serendipitous.

In other news, the Fringe Festival is over.  There were such great offerings this year, and I'm glad that I had the opportunity to be a part of it in multiple facets.  I have a meeting this week for the children's theatre company I've worked with in the past, and hopefully that will mean being involved in some school touring again this year.  It'd be ideal if I could do that, work in the box office the rest of the time, and supplement with princess parties on the weekends -- fingers crossed.

Speaking of fingers crossed... I found out that my best friend Wayne had to have emergency surgery this weekend, and is currently in the ICU.  He has a long history of health problems (which I won't get into here), but this was particularly scary.  As of right now, it seems like he will recover, but will be in the hospital for a few weeks.  This year has been such a rough one, and I'm honestly not sure what I would do if I lost him.  I'm not a religious person these days, but I would be thankful if you'd keep him in your thoughts.

Outfit Details

Dress: eBay (originally from ModCloth)

Wedges: Urban Outfitters (available here)

Heart necklace: ASOS (similar)

Belt: from another dress

xox Sammi

Misty Blue

I was so eager to try on this dress that I ended up wearing it straight out of the box for these photos -- so I'm sorry for the wrinkles!  I was in a bit of a rush, since I took these right before I had to head to the theatre for the staged reading I did last week.  I played Nellie Bly in the reading (if you're familiar with female journalists, you probably know who she was), so I kind of needed to wear my hair up, which always feels weird to me.  But I sort of ended up liking it in these photos!  Plus, this dress is so fluffy and pretty that I still managed to feel very feminine.

I'm glad I was able to get this dress when it went on sale, since I'd been eyeing it forever.  I wish that ModCloth would specify brands on every piece they carry though, because this dress is actually made by the same company as this other dress -- which I absolutely love, but they have similar sizing issues.  The skirts of both dresses are incredibly full, and both of their tops very snug.  I'd definitely recommend sizing up on this one, since I could barely zip it up while wearing a bra.  Both of these dresses are so gorgeous that I have to keep them, but I can't help thinking that if ModCloth explicitly stated the brand, I would have felt more secure about my sizing choice.

 Outfit Details

Blue Ribbon Baker Dress: ModCloth (no longer available)

White Mary Janes: estate sale store

Bracelet & ring: old

Have a superb Saturday!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #65

I may have officially gone coat-crazy this week.  It's so hard not to when all of the gorgeous fall and winter coats are arriving!  There are tons of jackets in this week's post, but I've also included some beautiful dresses and fun picks for Halloween!

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These pink coats are everything -- especially the one in the middle!  I was swooning so hard over it that I found a 15% off coupon and ordered it on the spot.  I hope it's as wonderful in person!

I know these mints don't match 100% exactly, but this dress and coat make a pretty good pair, and they're both so adorable.

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These pastel cuties just arrived at Hello Holiday:

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I'm still on the prowl for a perfect white coat!  I do love these three, though:

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This vintage-inspired purse from Collectif would be a great complement to any of these coats!

I know not everyone is into the pastel coat trend, so I picked out these three coats, which are incredibly special & glamorous:

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Speaking of glamorous, I think I might need at least one of these for the chillier months!  I love little hats and fascinators in general, but I would love one that's more neutral, like these.

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Oh, and faux fur is always fun -- especially in wild colors and styles!

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Plaid is the most wonderful print for autumn, so if you're seeking a plaid coat, I've found a bunch of cute ones!  

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Plus, there are tons of adorable plaid dresses around right now... like this new version of the Coach Tour Dress:

And these pretty fall dresses:

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I think this grass green coat is so darling!

I'm so happy that velvet made a comeback last year.  This plum-colored velvet dress would be an excellent fall-winter transition piece, and it's so lush-looking & classic!

I wasn't quite ready to say goodbye to summer, but knowing there might be a way to make flower crowns work for cold weather makes me happy!  These two would be great for the fall and winter holidays!

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While we're on the subject of holidays... in my opinion, you can never have too much Halloween garb, so I've found some more spooky stuff this week.  My favorite might be the tights with glow-in-the-dark ghosts on them!!

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And I love these pumpkin rings from Rockafrilly!

I'm dying to make these pumpkin & spiced chai sugar donuts from the I Love Crafty blog:

(via)

I'm still trying to decide what to be for Halloween.  I was a cupcake last year.  Maybe I should just be a donut this year, or some sort of dessert.  I could use these sweet pieces!

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And finally... I just really want Andrea Martin's new book, because she's wonderful and I love her.  How can you not??  There are so many good books by awesome women coming out this fall!

Whew, that was a long post!  Have a great Friday!

xox Sammi

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 I absolutely love, from companies I wholeheartedly support.  Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!