Polka Dots + Bows

It's still very snowy in Rochester, so I'm glad I had a chance to take these photos a few weeks back (during an unseasonably warm spell). This is the other dress I received from OUGES (you can find my review of another piece from them here), and it's so comfy and cute. Plus, it's much more versatile than a lot of the other dresses in my closet. I'm sure I'll be styling it in lots of other ways in the future, but for this post, I decided to go with a classic red.

Outfit Details

Sleeveless Patchwork Dress: c/o OUGES

Belt: similar  ||  Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Bow brooch: c/o Match Accessories

I'm so impatient for spring to arrive (and for the snow to melt). I want to wear all the florals and spend time outside! Is it already springy where you are? Living vicariously may be my only option for now. 

Have a great start to your week!

Luck of the Irish

Happy St. Paddy's Day! I may not be Irish (at least, I don't think I am... I have to send in my Ancestry DNA test soon to see for sure!), but I'll use any holiday as an excuse to dress thematically. Plus, my boyfriend is very into his Irish heritage, so maybe I can consider myself Irish by association. I'm hoping that I actually get to try corned beef and cabbage for the first time this year! Do you have any St. Patrick's Day traditions?

Last week, we had a horrible windstorm that left 100,000+ people without power... and then this week, we were hit with around two feet of snow! Needless to say, it's been a bit crazy outside and conditions haven't exactly been conducive for taking blog photos. But I really wanted to take some St. Patrick's Day photos in this cute little polka dot dress and four-leaf clover necklace. I know the shamrock is actually the Irish symbol (not the four-leaf clover), but it's sort of fitting: I may not be Irish, but I sure am lucky.

Outfit Details

Polka Dot Swing Dress: Amazon

Four Leaf Clover Necklace: Trashy Diva

Belt: similar  ||  Heels: B.A.I.T. Footwear

Have a great weekend!

Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty

I'm long overdue for a book review post! I used to do them fairly regularly, but between work and other obligations, the idea of reading for pleasure has definitely fallen by the wayside. That's why I couldn't be more thrilled to finally review this absolutely enchanting book – Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty.

Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty is a true delight. It's filled with photographs of sirens of the silver screen, as well as vintage makeup ads and even some contemporary references. It's the kind of text you can leaf through at your leisure or study with intent. The book's gorgeous layout alone would be enough for me to thoroughly enjoy it, but it's filled with tons of helpful tips from famous movie icons and beauty experts, too. Some of them might be a bit too dated even for the most dedicated of pinups to embrace, but surprisingly, many of mirror today's trends (i.e., contouring, using products you'd find in your cupboard for beauty treatments, etc.).

One of the passages I love most is actually in the introductory section:

Today, of course, 'vintage' has become the most wonderfully eclectic kind of umbrella term – to be embraced in whichever manner you chose. We can even mix styles and eras – why not? Vintage style is all about cherry-picking looks and techniques from the past and incorporating them into your own life. How you wear them is entirely up to you – it's your style, after all. 

This really speaks to me, as I've never liked the idea of feeling restricted when it comes to fashion or beauty. I love taking a little bit from all different kinds of styles to come up with something that's uniquely mine. Above all else, I think fashion and beauty should be fun, and while there are some "rules" that I like to follow because I think they make me feel my best, by no means do I think those are always going to be right for other people. And while I think vintage beauty regimens might have been a bit more strict than what we have today (maybe simply due to the sheer variety and the increased access we now have to find it), there are definitely parallels between those guidelines and the ones we tend to follow now.

Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty also proves that everything is cyclical. The ultra-thin eyebrows that women sported in the 1920s came back into fashion at the beginning of the new millennium. Highlighting and contouring were practices favored by Marlene Dietrich and Sophia Loren, and we all know how popular those have once again become. And while I think there was too much emphasis on correcting one's features that might be outside the "accepted standards" of beauty at that time, Instagram and YouTube beauty vloggers are forever astounding us with the transformative nature of makeup.

Personally, I'm not good with retro hairdos, and although I'm decent at doing vintage-inspired makeup, I know there's always something to learn. Of all the retro beauty books I own, this was definitely one of the most enjoyable (and least daunting) to read. If you want to start including some of these tips into your beauty routine – or if you simply want to be dazzled by some lovely photos – you can find Vintage Secrets: Hollywood Beauty here!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. To read some of my previous book review posts, click here!

Do you have a favorite vintage beauty trick? Or are there any beauty or vintage style books you think I should check out? Let me know in the comments!

Stray Cats

This year, I've been challenging myself to embrace new fashion elements and remix items I've showed on my blog in the past. I initially styled this Stray Cats blouse with cute leggings-style pants, but I really hated how it looked in photos. So instead, I decided to style my lavender Jenny dress as a skirt and pair it with this top! It's a really easy way to remix pieces and a layered blouse can be a great alternative to a cardigan. I just tied the bottom of the shirt to make it a bit more cropped and rolled it under and up to my waist before hiding the bulky portions with a wide black belt. I do this all the time and it instantly doubles my wardrobe!

I tend to have trouble with button-down shirts (fellow well-endowed girls will understand), but I ended up really liking this top from Sourpuss Clothing. I sized up to the XL to accommodate my chest, and I found the fit to be nice overall. The design is super cute (I have a thing for puff sleeves), and of course, I enjoy the fact that it's Stray Cat-themed. I wouldn't say I'm an extremely knowledgeable of the Stray Cats, but I like their stuff a lot. I also just realized that they were in one of my favorite childhood movies (a really obscure film called Mother Goose Rock 'n Rhyme)! I have a very eclectic taste in music – thanks, Mom and Dad! – but I definitely have a connection with rockabilly. I have this fantasy of being in a rockabilly-style band someday... maybe it'll happen down the line.

Outfit Details

Stray Cats Lolita Top: c/o Sourpuss Clothing

Lavender Jenny Dress (worn as skirt): Pinup Girl Clothing

Belt: from another dress (similar)

Shoes: B.A.I.T. Footwear

I was so hopeful that spring was here, but this weekend was SO cold! We had a crazy wind storm last week, and now there's fresh snow on the ground. I know that's typical for March here in Rochester, but I'm sick of staying indoors. On the bright side, it gave me the chance to list a bunch of stuff in my Shop My Closet store (there's still a bunch of great stuff up for grabs – don't forget, you can use the code SOUBRETTE10 for 10% off!). I think it's supposed to warm up a bit this week, so I'm hoping I can spend at least a little time outside. Have a great start to your week!

Shop My Closet update!

Happy Friday! In the spirit of spring cleaning (here's hoping that spring is nearly here), I thought it was time for a big update to my Shop My Closet store! I've listed a bunch of brand new or gently used dresses, skirts, purses, and brooches from some of my favorite brands. Here's just a tiny sample to whet your shopping appetite. You can find everything that's up for grabs here. And as usual, you can use the code SOUBRETTE10 to get 10% off your entire order! (Please note that I can't apply this coupon retroactively, so be sure to enter it when you check out.) 

Have a great weekend and happy shopping!!

Twin Peaks

I just missed Twin Peaks Day (it's February 24th), but this skirt reminds me so much of all the movies and TV shows I love from the 1980s and '90s. It's a mix of Audrey Horne, the Heathers, and Clueless – what more could you want? Plus, it looks totally at-home in this nature park. I'm actually not in love with this outfit as a whole (I wish I wore a different top), but I really love the skirt and can't wait to style it in other ways. It's super comfortable and the quality is great, too!

The weather for the past couple of weeks has been pretty mild and spring-like, but I'm not totally convinced that we've seen the last of winter. Fingers crossed that it's over, though! I have a feeling I'll be stuck inside for most of this week, so I'm planning on listing a bunch of clothes for sale in my Shop My Closet store very soon. Keep an eye out over the next couple of days!

Outfit Details

Skirt: Pinup Girl Clothing

Cardigan: similar || Tank top: similar

Boots: Steve Madden (similar)

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Lady and the Tramp

My search for the elusive and highly coveted vintage Lady and the Tramp skirt may never truly end, but at least I finally have this wonderful reproduction version! I hinted in a post a few weeks ago that I'd soon be styling this creation from Vintage Inspired by Jackie, and I ended up loving this entire outfit. It's almost a Disney-bound, actually (if only I lived closer to Disney World or Disneyland!). 

I've always really identified with the character of Lady for some reason, and I bought this brooch from Lillian Madison designs a while back just in case I'd ever find my own matching skirt. The movie's become even more symbolic because I recently learned my boyfriend's favorite Disney film is Lady and the Tramp (which is funny because I've always thought of him as the Tramp to my Lady!). After going through months of trying to get a skirt like this from a different seller (who, unbeknownst to me, made it a habit of stealing other peoples' designs and taking money without fulfilling orders), Jackie saved the day with this one! The design is absolutely spot-on. While I do wish the fabric were a bit thicker and softer to the touch, I'm so glad a skirt like this is mine now! This skirt isn't currently listed in her shop, but Jackie regularly takes on custom orders. Be sure to message her if there's something you're dreaming of!

Outfit Details

Novelty Dogs Border Print Skirt: Vintage Inspired by Jackie

Cardigan with Faux Fur Collar: eBay (similar)

Lady Brooch: Lillian Madison Designs

Belt: from another dress (similar)

Heels: similar

The snow is gone here for now (fingers crossed that it stays that way), but I don't think spring will arrive for a while yet. At least it's sunny outside today! I always forget how much that impacts my mood. I hope you have a great start to your week!