Skyliner Diner

This Bernie Dexter dress never fails to make me smile!  I've worn it on my blog before (see here and here), but this might be one of my favorite ways I've styled it.  When I received this awesome jukebox brooch from Erstwilder, I knew it'd be a perfect fit with this diner-worthy outfit.  Though I've admired Erswilder's brooches for a long time, this jukebox was my first.  Now I'm hooked on these quirky, high-quality resin brooches and I've started my own small collection!

Since there's still lots of snow on the ground, I thought it would be fun to visit a diner that's housed entirely indoors!  The Strong National Museum of Play is a wonderful museum (if you ever visit Rochester, you should definitely plan to stop there), and the Skyliner Diner is housed in its food court.  I remember eating there years ago, and thought it'd be a fitting location for these photos.  It has since been taken over by a local restaurant chain, so some of its retro charm has been replaced by cheaper, modern alternatives, but it was still a fun place to visit (and enjoy a root beer float).  I brought along my friend Henry to take some cute shots together.  Henry is one of my favorite people, and it's so nice to have a friend who is willing to take silly outfit photos with me.  Oh, and for those of you who asked last time: he does in fact set his hair at night to get those beautiful waves!  He says he may put up a YouTube tutorial for it at some point.  :) 

Outfit Details

Dress: Bernie Dexter

Jess Jivin' Jukebox Brooch: Erstwilder

Cardigan: Trashy Diva

Saddle shoes: Payless

Hope your day is swell!

xox Sammi

New York, New York

Although the temperatures are slooooowly warming up a bit, the snow here is still up to my knees (which makes it very difficult to take outdoor outfit photos)... so I thought this was as good a time as any to share some quick snaps from my weekend trip to New York!  If you follow me on Instagram, you've probably already seen a few of these, but I didn't post a lot of them.

When we arrived in the city, we checked into our hotel, ducked into a Scottish pub for a bite to eat (where I had one of the best crab cake sandwiches of my life), and made a quick stop at the Disney store in Times Square.  They had all of this gorgeous Cinderella merchandise out, in anticipation of the new movie (which I must see!).  After freshening up back in our room, we headed out to meet my roommate from college for Thai food and to see A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder.  I'd been wanting to see it since I saw them perform a number on the Tony's last year, and we ended up getting $35 tickets up in the highest balcony.  The show was really clever and silly and fun, and it was wonderful to catch up with Caitlin.

The next morning, we met up with my cousin Madeline for a leisurely brunch at Sarabeth's.  Madeline is more like an aunt to me, and I hadn't seen her in quite some time, so being able to spend time with her (and feast on breakfast goodies) was a treat!

After brunch, we did some shopping!  One of the highlights was getting to visit the Tatyana store.  I have a few of their pieces, but it's such a lovely experience to shop with them in person.  I ended up getting a very pretty (albeit summery) polka dot dress that I'm excited to wear.  Spring, hurry up!

This dress is definitely on my wish list!

After shopping, we headed over to Dough (a donut shop I've followed on Instagram for quite some time) to indulge.  I was bummed that they didn't have any chocolate earl grey or blueberry donuts available, but I settled for lemon poppyseed and toasted coconut.  They were scrumptious and huge!

After picking out our donuts, we headed back to the hotel to get ready for the trip's main purpose: to see John Cameron Mitchell in Hedwig and the Angry Inch!  Hedwig has been my favorite musical since I was in the 8th grade.  My only tattoo is taken from the movie, my senior thesis in college was centered around the show, and I played Yischak in a production I produced at the Rochester Fringe Festival a couple of years ago... so essentially, I'm a total Hedhead.  I was thrilled when I heard it was coming to Broadway last summer, but I told myself that I wasn't going to see it until John Cameron Mitchell (the creator/writer/originator) stepped into the role.  No offense to Neil Patrick Harris, Andrew Rannells or Michael C. Hall, but JCM is and always will be the definitive Hedwig to me.  My mom got us tickets as part of my Christmas present (seriously, how cool is my mom?), and I'd been counting down the days ever since.

I've seen productions of the show a few times (and I've seen the movie more times than I can count), but this was mind-blowingly incredible.  It's my absolute favorite theatrical experience, hands down, and I'm still thinking about it -- that's how good it was.  I went into it being very familiar with the material, but there were so many surprises, and I was just astounded by John Cameron Mitchell's talent, energy and honesty.  I'll never forget seeing it.  If you get the chance to go (especially before he leaves the show at the end of April), DO IT!   

Outfit Details:
cardigan: ModCloth // skirt: Kohl's // purse: Betsey Johnson // brooch: Tatty Devine // tights + hat: old
(I felt very clever with my (midnight) radio purse and Spinal Tap-inspired brooch!)

We flew back home the next afternoon, but before we left, we met up with my aunt and cousins (from the other side of my family) for tea at Alice's Tea Cup.  It was a bit chaotic, but so nice to catch up with them and to see my little cousin, who just turned two.  There was entirely too much food, but it was all lovely.

Outfit Details:
dress: Lady Vintage (similar) // cardigan: Trashy Diva // brooch: ModCloth

We fit a lot into just a few days, and it was definitely nice to get out of Rochester for a little while.  Even though it was cold in the city, they don't have mountains of snow like we do!  It's so easy to feel stuck in a rut in the wintertime, so shaking up my routine for a weekend was great, too.  Being in the city all the time is kind of stressful (my mom gets really anxious there, and I pick up on that very easily), and I'm still trying to figure out whether I want to move back (or live outside the city), or just go somewhere else completely.  I haven't decided yet, but it was nice to get back there again.  I have some time yet to figure it out.  Until then, visiting is always a fun option!

Have a great day!

xox Sammi

Cutie π

I think I've worn this dress more than any other on my blog, and it's not really difficult to understand why.  I waited forever for it to come back in stock, and I don't know if there's a more perfect novelty print than this one.  Since today is Pi Day, I couldn't resist wearing this scrumptious dress for the occasion.  Kate even sent me the sweetest Pi Day package ever, which included this little button (plus 5 others) and another Pi Day brooch (which I didn't wear with these photos but am wearing today)!

You'll notice that it is still incredibly snowy in my backyard... much to my frustration.  There is simply so much snow on the ground that it's taking forever to melt.  The weather is decidedly more springy, which I'm thrilled about, but I'm very impatient and tired of wearing boots for photos.  I can't wait until I can go bare-legged in my ballet flats again!

Outfit Details

Dress: ModCloth

Cardigan: Trashy Diva

Pin: c/o Kate Gabrielle

Pettislip: Amazon

Belt: Forever 21

Boots: eBay

Have a great Pi Day!

xox Sammi

Friday Favorites #86

Ahh, it's Friday again!  Thank goodness. Here are some of my favorite finds from the past week:

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Most of Heart of Haute's spring line is now on their website, and oh my goodness... so many pretty pieces!

(Find all of the Estelle blouses here!)

        

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This flower pot print dress from Retrospec'd is just darling:

I heart this Tara Starlet coat!

I have a sizable collection of makeup bags (mostly because I always manage to spill makeup in them), and this retro fast food one is on my wish list:

A high-waisted, classic car print swimsuit!  What more could a girl want?

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Not only do I love a gingham dress (with ric rac trim!), but this neckline is so unique:

I need this sweatshirt immediately.

I adore this sweet baby kangaroo who just wants to cuddle!

I Love Crafty's Cinderella collection launched this week!  There are so many adorable pieces, but I'm especially taken with the glass slipper necklaces.  You can see the whole collection here.

This dress reminds me of Sleeping Beauty!

And what good is a princess without a castle (iPhone case)?

I'm fascinated by these vintage ring boxes that were turned into realistic, tiny dioramas!  Find more here.

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I'm pretty obsessed with lavender.  I can't really justify getting another dress in this color family, but eShakti is making it difficult to resist with these two beauties:

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I love these clover hair pins!  They'd be perfect for St. Patrick's Day.

And finally, how breathtaking is this dress made out of flowers?!  You can find more photos of it here.

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Have a great Friday!

xox Sammi

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Fictional Fashion Plates: Romy and Michele

I was recently struck with inspiration for a new series here on The Soubrette Brunette -- the first installment of which I'm launching today.  So much of my aesthetic is inspired by fantasy and costume, and I realized that there are so many characters in film, television and literature that have shaped the way I have cultivated my personal style.  I wanted to pay homage to these fabricated figures in a monthly series that I'm calling "Fictional Fashion Plates."  I'll be sharing some of my favorite style moments from whatever source material I can find, as well as some style boards and links for those who feel inspired to infuse some fiction into their wardrobe reality.  For my first post in this new series, I've chosen to honor Romy White and Michele Weinberger, from the late-'90s film Romy and Michele's High School Reunion.

Some of you might be surprised that I didn't choose characters that are a little more retro in aesthetic, but I've always been obsessed with the costumes in this film.  In fact, costumer Mona May is responsible not only for Romy and Michele, but for two of my other favorite 90's flicks: Clueless and Never Been Kissed.  Mona May's creations in these films are larger-than-life in the very best way, and my fascination with the wardrobe of the central characters hasn't waned since I first watched these films as a kid.  As we all know, fashion is cyclical, and the late-'90s are having a bit of a heyday right now -- so if you're looking to draw some inspiration from Romy and Michele, you don't have to look too far!

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Although Romy and Michele's sense of style has definite tones of tackiness, I think that can be a really fun element to work into your wardrobe every once and a while.  Bright solids and pastels, faux fur, feathers, and chunky heels are staples in their closets.  One of the first brands I thought of when looking for current inspiration was Glitters For Dinner, and ironically enough, I had no idea that they've actually named some of their pieces after Romy and Michele!  In general, co-ords are pretty popular right now, and it's a great way to create some longevity in your wardrobe (since pieces can be worn together or mixed with other items).  And if Romy and Michele were living in today's world, I bet they'd rock a pair of Jeffrey Campbell shoes.  I had so much fun putting together these contemporary takes on some of my favorite ensembles from the film!

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Overall, though I wouldn't dress like Romy and Michele on a daily basis, I love the ever-present sense of fun they put into their outfits.  They dress like every day is a party, and that's definitely a message I can get behind!  What about you?  Would you wear any of these flick-inspired finds?

Have a Romy and Michele Day!  :)

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