Friday, February 26, 2016

Friday Favorites #124

Another work week has (almost) come to an end, so it's time for another Friday Favorites post!

I adore these lapel pins!
lapel pins

I also really like this cassette tape pin:
brooch
This ping pong sweater is adorable!
kling ping pong sweater
Yumi has such great prints, like this cactus dress...
cactus dress
... and this dreamy cloud dress!
cloud dress
I want these knobs in my life in some way:
anthropologie knobs
I can't get enough of Miss Ladybug's tees, like this one.

miss ladybug

I may be a cat lady, but I love doggie dresses too!
dog dress
a   ||   b

These gold heels are so pretty:
gold heels
This gingham dress is perfect for spring and summer.
modcloth gingham dress

This pillow is gorgeous:
anthropologie pillow

I might need this Bernie Dexter dress...
bernie dexter serenity path
And these skirts are calling my name:
van gogh skirts
This candle seems like a must-have for Disney lovers!
disney candle
This swimsuit is so stinkin' cute!
unique vintage swimsuit

I'm really eager to see this new Vogue-based documentary:


And finally, this story really made me laugh.
(via)
Have a great 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 love. Thank you for supporting The Soubrette Brunette!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Kitty Cat

miss ladybug cardigan

I'm an animal-lover in general, but it's no secret that I'm a bit partial to felines; I'm a devoted cat mom, and I can't say no to a kitty print! This cat cardigan by Miss Ladybug is so adorable and soft, and I love the fact that it's sort of subtle, too (I may love kittens, but that doesn't mean I want my wardrobe to scream "crazy cat lady!"). I decided to style it with this skirt from Doll Me Up, which I've worn before on the blog (see the post here), but this cardigan could easily be styled with a cute pair of jeans or capris for a more casual rockabilly look. Even with a fancier outfit like this, I felt totally comfortable in this cat cardi.

doll me up queen bee skirt
red skirt
cat cardigan

I'm enamored with so many of the designs from Miss Ladybug, and their screened tees and cardigans are all fantastic. The designs are influenced by the 1920s-1960s (much like my own style), and have a childlike sense of wonder, which is something I always like in my clothes. I'll be styling two t-shirts in future posts (and I can talk a bit more about sizing then), but for this cardigan, I sized up to the XL to accommodate my bustline. There's still a bit of gaping present, which is somewhat unavoidable with my build, but wearing a leotard or camisole under alleviates any issues – and I wouldn't have wanted to size up to the XXL, since I think it would be too big everywhere else. This cardigan also comes in pink and green, and I've got my eye on a couple of Miss Ladybug's other cardigans (like this record embroidered one and this musical one)! Do you own any of Miss Ladybug's charming designs?


retro cardigan
cat sweater
miss ladybug
Outfit Details
Retro Kitten Cardigan: c/o Miss Ladybug
Queen Bee Skirt: c/o Doll Me Up
Black leotard: similar
Shoes: ModCloth
Tights: similar

In case you missed it, I've listed a bunch of new things in my Shop My Closet store! There are tons of gently-worn and brand new items (sizes M-XL) from popular vintage-inspired brands (and some real vintage, too!) up for grabs. Check out the full selection here.

Have a great day!

Monday, February 22, 2016

Shop My Closet update!

Since there's currently too much snow on the ground to take photos (without ugly snow boots, anyway), I thought it'd be a good time to make another big update to my "Shop My Closet" store! I've added pieces from Tatyana, ModCloth, Steady Clothing, Hell Bunny, Bryony (formerly Poppy London) and TONS more – including a few vintage dresses. (And if you're a lover of novelty prints, you'll definitely want to check it out!) If that's not enough to convince you, I'm giving my readers 10% off their purchase with the code SOUBRETTE10. Here's a tiny preview of what's up for grabs... but click here to see everything!

shop my closet

Happy Shopping!

Friday, February 19, 2016

Friday Favorites #123

Another weekend is almost upon us! We had a huge snowstorm this week (we still have around 18" of snow on the ground), so I've been trying to stay inside and keep warm... which gave me a lot of time to do some internet window shopping. Here are some things I've been coveting this week...

There are lots of aquatic pieces being released for the spring and summer, but these are a few of my favorites:

mermaid dress
a   ||   b   ||   c

Novelty bag time!
novelty purse
a   ||   b   ||   c   ||   d   ||   e   ||   f

Mint + peach has to be one of my favorite color combinations, and when you add gingham to the mix... watch out! This dress has to come live in my closet.
gingham dress modcloth

These phone cases are the cutest!
lolli phone case
a   ||   b

This Lucky-Charms-inspired marshmallow print dress from Book of Deer is wonderful!
book of deer marshmallow dress
I need this heart-shaped ottoman!
heart stool ottoman
This strawberry coat is amazing!
strawberry coat
If you saw my post on Wednesday, you'll know that Erstwilder's newest picnic-themed range launched this week... and I want pretty much every design in it.
erstwilder pinup picnic
a   ||   b   ||   c   ||   d   ||   e

This dress is giving me spring fever!

bernie dexter
This hat print button-down is so fun!
hat print

These power banks are both funny and practical.
power bank
a   ||   b

I want this Twin Peaks brooch!
twin peaks pin

I love this story!
(via)
And finally, this video further cements the fact that I need an otter (or several).


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, February 17, 2016

Polka Dots + Picnic Pies

vivien of holloway

This outfit has to be one of my favorites to date. Even though two of the main components of this ensemble are from overseas, this post just screams "Americana" to me! This fantastic dress is from UK-based vintage reproduction brand, Vivien of Holloway. I was familiar with some of their designs prior to receiving this dress for review, but I wasn't well-versed on the fit and quality of their garments. The construction is absolutely top-notch on the "Grace" dress you see here, which comes in many other colors and patterns, and I love the silhouette on my frame (though I have to give some credit to my Rago waist cincher and this longline strapless bra for making everything look so smooth!).

vintage veil hat
vivien of holloway dress
white vintage gloves

The fabric of this polka dotted dress is of a nice cotton sateen, which is a nice weight for the colder months and stands up well if you want to wear a fluffier petticoat. The skirt isn't lined (nor does it have pockets), but because I loved this dress even more than I anticipated, I didn't mind in the slightest. The price point is on the higher end of the spectrum, but I feel the superior construction warrants a higher price (especially for a dressier garment like this). Even though I asked for further assistance on sizing, Vivien of Holloway's size chart is special in that there are no lettered or numbered sizes (i.e., no "S/M/L" or "6/8/10") – instead, you choose your size based on your bust, waist and hip measurements, which is much more helpful for online shoppers. Just be sure you know (and are honest about) your measurements! The dress with my measurements (B38, W30) fit like a glove, but if you're in doubt, you can always ask their customer service team! I'm inclined to think a girl can never have too many polka dots in her life... so if you're like me, you can find their vast selection of polka dotted pieces here.

vivien of holloway polka dot grace dress
erstwilder pie brooch
pie brooch

This may have been my first Vivien of Holloway dress, but it's certainly not the first time I've featured a piece from Erstwilder here on the blog. The Australian-based brand just launched their wonderful "Pinup Picnic" collection, and I'm swooning over all of the designs. I have a couple of the other pieces from this new line waiting to be styled (stay tuned!), but I thought this "Be My Cherry Pie" brooch fit in perfectly with this mid-century look. I felt like I had a matching pie on the windowsill waiting to cool! The detail on this piece is really amazing (the lattice work is its own separate layer, and there are hidden hearts on the pie server and inside the pie filling!), and it's already become one of my most-loved pins. The entire picnic collection is now live on the Erstwilder website, and it features TONS of food-themed pieces. Be sure to check it out here!

vivien of holloway grace dress
Outfit Details
Polka Dot Grace Dress: c/o Vivien of Holloway
Be My Cherry Pie brooch: c/o Erstwilder
Vintage gloves: Etsy (similar)
Heels: ModCloth (similar)
Vintage hat: Etsy (similar)

polka dot dress

I almost forgot to mention: the winners of my recent giveaway have been chosen! Congratulations to Elise, Paola and Ashlee, and thank you SO much to all of you who entered and continue to support my blog! <3


Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Lucky in love

lady luck skinnydip purse

I don't consider myself to be very lucky in love. I'm fortunate in many ways, but when it comes to matters of the heart, I've historically been a bit... cursed, shall we say. Maybe that's too strong a word. This isn't a "woe is me" kind of post (on the contrary, I feel sort of amused by the whole thing as I'm writing this); I've had a few rather dysfunctional relationships, a couple of bad breakups, a lot of unrequited feelings... but there's been a lot of good in there, too. I've fallen head-over-heels and have been loved hard. I've been "the other woman" and "The One." I wear my heart on my sleeve (and sometimes in purse form), and I usually listen to and follow it pretty closely. I've spent the last year or so trying to heal my little heart, and I've let myself love again, in spite of all the risks. Allowing yourself to be vulnerable is one of the bravest and most beautiful things you can do, in my opinion, and I feel glad that I can be in that place again – even if it means getting hurt in the process. Our hearts are so resilient, aren't they? A couple of years ago, I don't think I would've been able to look past what I'd experienced (much less be thankful for it), but here I am: happy, hopeful, and loving myself more than ever. So maybe I am lucky, after all... lucky that I feel so deeply, and lucky to be where I am now.

tatyana shame swing dress red
vintage hat
red polka dot dress

Moving on to something more superficial...  I have to take a moment to say that this Tatyana dress is AMAZING. I don't think I'm doing anything fancy for Valentine's Day, but if I do anything that requires changing out of pajamas, I'll be wearing this. I was initially a little worried about how it would look on me, but I was so thrilled when I tried it on after receiving it for Christmas (thanks, Mom!). It's playful and sexy, but I still feel totally well-covered and classy in it. It also fits like a glove, which always helps. I decided to keep it fairly simple with the accessorizing (well, except for the holiday-appropriate novelty bag), but I'm already thinking of other ways I'd like to style this special dress. It's currently out of stock at Tatyana, but you can sign up for the waiting list!

tatyana bettie page dress
red vintage dress
tatyana red shame dress
heart purse
red dress tatyana
Outfit Details
Shame Red Circle Dress: Tatyana Boutique
Skinnydip Lady Luck purse: ASOS
Shoes: ModCloth (similar)
Vintage hat: Etsy (similar)

red 1950s dress

Have a wonderful Valentine's Day!