I discovered the London based Cabbages & Roses through Black*Eiffel the other day and I am LOVING the Spring/Summer lookbook on their website. I want all of it! Unfortunately, my budget won't allow that, but it's still a wonderful source of inspiration. In fact, the shape of the dress at the bottom left reminded me so much of my little white dress that it, along with the white dresses over jeans, inspired today's outfit. Now I just need to thrift me a lil' pair of white Keds and some wellies!
I love the mix of white cotton and denim for summer. It's such a classic pairing. Whether you go with cotton of the crisp variety (like my little thrifted dress) or the softest of tee's, vintage 501's (like my new flea market pair) or a cute jean skirt or jumper, there are so many ways to interpret this freshest of themes!
Oh, and don't worry, I didn't forget about the free clover dress! It was just insanely hot today and that dress is not made of fabric conducive to scorchingly hot weather. :)
Flea markets are so much fun. Especially when they're right down the street from your house and can be enjoyed on a nice sunny day with friends!
Ahh the trinkets, I do love the trinkets! So many wonderful treasures to ooh and ahh over. I could seriously lose an entire day there.
The beauty is in the randomness of it all. The colorful ceramics, the babies with mohawks, the gumball machines, the little girls carrying what appear to be actual (as in once living and breathing) now dead and stuffed dogs (I am so not kidding… creeeepyyyy), the red sparkly retro chairs… all such wonders to behold. And yes, that pillow absolutely does say “bone jour”… you’ve just gotta love it!
We spent a lot of time at the spot where the woman lays out a giant tarp covered in huge piles of vintage clothing. I really wish I would have taken more pictures there but as you can imagine I was too busy digging ;)
This is my friend Lucie pondering a new addition to her enviable wardrobe. Laura Jane, who had to leave before I could snap a shot, found the most lovely vintage house dress. The woman selling the clothes took a liking to Laura Jane and offered her another gorgeous vintage dress for free as it had a bit of a sun-bleached area. Lucky for me the free dress was quite small so I got to take it home along with a pair of perfectly worn-in vintage Levi’s. The dress is green with purple plums and blue CLOVER leaves... how perfect is that?
Also picked up a few little treasures to send off to a distant friend. Unfortunately, I can’t show those as she’s been known to read my blog from time to time and I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise ;) Will try to get some outfit shots up soon featuring the new dress and maybe even Laura Jane’s too if she’ll agree to pose for me :)
Remember what I was saying last week about amazing vintage sunglasses turning up everywhere?! And I still have yet to find a pair of my own *sigh*. Lucyinthe7thsky on the other hand can now wear a different fabulous pair LITERALLY every other day of the week. Can you believe she found all of these together in one thrift store?! Talk about hitting the jackpot, but wait because it gets better. The top pair... BALENCIAGA... the bottom pair... CHLOE... me... SO jealous!
Well, hi there lil' flowery suitcase of my dreams! Oh my, the navy with the flowers and that pale pink handle... it's all so perfect! Such a fine specimen and for only ONE DOLLAR?!!! All I have to say is... Revolutionarygirl, you lucky duck!
And then there's this perfect piece of pale pink perfection to add to the mix. It actually has tiny textured white polka dots and an old ribbon bow which can be seen here in the detail shots. So lovely! Anja always finds the best stuff for her Etsy shop estate sale and of course this sweet crinoline has already been sold, but the good news is she's constantly adding new gems at very reasonable prices so I definitely recommend checking it out!
I'm pretty sure the perfect summer traveling outfit somehow involves this pink crinoline, that flower power suitcase, and those vintage Chloe sunglasses... *swoon*
Another great outfit post by Nemrešpobjećodnedjelje in the 100% Thrifted flickr group. You may also remember her from this Pick of the Week. I’m always so impressed by this lady’s unique sense of style and here, I am inspired by her ability to create interest while using so few elements.
With just three simple pieces, minimal use of color, and NO accessories, Nemrešpobjećodnedjelje accomplishes the type of look that would have most resorting to elaborate color and pattern mixes along with strategically added accessories to rival. The shape and texture of the skirt are wonderful and the detailing along the neckline of the tank is perfectly harmonious with the netted looking shoes.
I love the adorable spritelyness of the outfit combined with her amazing hair and how it conjures images of ballerinas, the circus (as so fittingly interpreted by Painfully Hip), and maybe even the ice capades, all while remaining totally wearable and not in the least bit costumey. How in the heck does she do it?
There is a five-building compound about 20 minutes north of my town on the 101 that is nestled among old growth oak trees and rolling hills. It is the most pastorally located Salvation Army (or thrift store of any kind for that matter) that I have ever witnessed. We call it Lytton Springs because that is the name of the Road and freeway exit that lead there.
I don’t make it out very often, mostly because of the drive and my laziness but it also can be a bit hit or miss as far as the merchandise goes. Even when I come home empty handed though, it’s always a fun thrifting adventure. Who wouldn’t love perusing old farm houses full of thrifty treasures in such a lovely setting? Last week I took a friend who had never been to check it out and snapped a few shots while we were there:
Here Clover and I are browsing through “Sallie’s Attic”, the little house on the right in the second pic.
Unfortunately, both the dreamcatcher and the vintage Ferragamos were priced way above what I was prepared to spend... so lovely none-the-less.
The majority of our time was spent in Sallie’s Clothing Barn, the largest of the buildings. I had pretty much scoured the place and come to the conclusion that this visit was going to be a “miss” when I found the most incredible hand-made vintage 60’s minidress tucked away in the middle of the girl’s clothing rack. The dress is a dream and for $2.50, soooo worth the drive! I’m planning to wear it tomorrow but until then I will leave you with a sneak peek: )
Typewriters have become another one of those hot ticket vintage items in the world of thrift, along with the likes of suitcases and cameras. I recently received in the mail, a hand typed note from a friend. In today's email driven world, I must say it was quite a charming little treat and somehow seemed even more old fashioned than a handwritten one. It made me want a typewriter of my own, unfortunately the ones I see are usually in pretty bad shape. This brown and white beauty on the other hand looks brand spankin' new and reportedly "works wonderfully!!" From the Salvation Army no less, what a SCORE!
It was the scientist in me who chose these. That's right, when I'm not taking time off to be a stay at home mom to Clover who likes to thrift shop and play on the internet in her spare time, I'm a scientist. I work in a lab, often utilizing glassware much like these two flasks (allow me to geek out on you for a moment)... one liter volumetric flasks, to be exact, used for the precise measurement of exactly one liter of liquid. White lab coat, safety glasses, latex gloves... the whole deal. I'm so used to seeing these in a work setting that I was struck by how lovely they look displayed out of context like this, especially in front of this very cool vintage metal sign (another wonderful find!). I am loving the flasks as part of this cool display and now wishing that I had pilfered some of my very own before leaving my job ;).
The most amazing vintage sunglasses keep turning up everywhere I look. Unless of course I happen to be looking in a place like a thrift store or a flea market where I might hope to procure a pair of my own... sigh. These lovelies acquired by talulagosh (aka talulagoshyouareluckytohavefoundthosesunnies) are gorgeous and keep me from losing hope, as apparently there are still great ones out their for the finding! I love both the color and the shape of these and the best are those wee stars in the corners *swoon*.
My favorite post in the 100% Thrifted flickr pool this week was hands down La Meow in her vintage denim floral overalls. I am a BIG fan of overalls and as I exclaimed in her comments, these are probably the most perfect little overalls I’ve ever seen! I adore the cut of them which is quite unusual with a small bib and slim straight leg. I just love it, and a dainty little flower pattern to boot! The cream colored tee and matching shoes allow the overalls to stand out for full appreciation and the big sunnies add just the right amount of flair. Perfect outfit for a sunny day bike ride, on a sweet bike as well!
While this is one of La Meow’s more subdued outfits, I should also mention that I am a huge fan of her rare talent for taking pieces (mostly from the 80’s and early 90’s) that would look downright wacky on most of us and working her creative styling magic to produce the most amazing outfits. Two things come to mind when I think of her: acid wash denim and florals, and when she puts the two together magic is bound to ensue. She rocks the high waist acid wash tapered jeans like no other and is the absolute queen of floral denim. I am constantly amazed by her fun and original style and always look forward to her posts. Check out her vintage eBay store for fun unique pieces of your own!
Lately I’ve been appreciating the unique beauty and style of older women… as in much older, and I’m not talking “Granny Chic” in the ironic hipster sense of the phrase. I mean the real deal… chic grannies if you will. Some of my recent flickr faves should help illustrate what I’m getting at:
It all started when I came across Margaret and fell head over heels for this photo by ZoeRuth. It depicts the elderly waitress in such a lovely and charming way.
All four of these women are wonderfully stylish and expressive. Now I’m finding myself admiring stylish old ladies wherever I go.
While I love the way young women look in vintage clothing, there is something so refreshing about seeing an older woman with that hint of retro to her look that comes not from a desire to emulate something from the past, but rather an expression of who she once was carried with her into the present.
These two gorgeous ladies from the Sartorialist are just amazing and perfect examples of the type of look I would love to have someday as an older women. So inspiring!
While I keep hearing about “girl crushes” on the likes of Zooey and Chloe, who are no doubt incredible, what about all the beautiful older women out there? Who’s your “golden girl crush”? Mine would have to be Julie Christie in Away From Her. I loved this film. She is SO good in her Oscar nominated role and AMAZINGLY beautiful, even while playing a woman stricken with Alzheimer’s!
Now, you are probably thinking, what does any of this have to do with thrifting? Well, since you asked, allow me to show you my latest batch of elderly-inspired thrift finds:
Vintage floral tapestry bag ($4, Salvation Army)
Not one but TWO pairs of vintage SAS old lady shoes ($7 each, Goodwill). A bit more than I would normally spend but they were in excellent condition and fit perfectly, something that (as you know) is quite rare for me in a shoe. I was only going to get one pair, but I just couldn't decide which color I liked better, and as it turns out, they both match my new bag perfectly!
And last but not least, a vintage cashmere grandpa cardigan ($2.50, Salvation Army). Believe me, I do know that my acquisition of cardigans appears to be snowballing out of control, but this one so perfectly fit what I was looking for back in this post. I know, I'll stop!
Outfit of the day, 100% thrifted, featuring new shoes and cardigan:
I am really loving this large glass pear vessel. It's quite beautiful all on its own. I would imagine that it would also make a lovely fruit bowl, maybe filled with pears : ) or a really cool terrarium, something like this. The possibilities are pretty much endless, such a nice find!
Well, as I am not "allowed" to buy teacups of my own, I will just have to live vicariously through the wonderful teacup finds of others ; ). I don't know much about Logan, Utah, but I do know that this is a darn cute cup! The blue swallow motif is so sweet and I love the shape and sturdiness of the cup too, like a mug in the shape of a teacup. Very nice!
Speaking of darn cute! Love this vintage cookie jar. The polka dots and those adorable little kids with their rosy cheeks, so determined to get their hands on those cookies! I know how they feel, I could go for one right about now myself : )
I revisited the drawer of fifty cent tee shirts in the back of the Welfare League thrift store. It seems this is not just any drawer. I am convinced that I have discovered some sort of portal to the 80's through which awesome tees are making their way to me. Remember this one? Same drawer. Your right, this is a ridiculous theory... it's probably just the 80's tee shirt fairy who's leaving them... Love her ; )
In fitting with the Hawaii '87 vibe of the shirt, I am totally stoked on the paint splashed gray. It's such a great combination of colors and I love that they are uncharacteristically mild for a tee shirt of the 80's.
I discovered the London based Cabbages & Roses through Black*Eiffel the other day and I am LOVING the Spring/Summer lookbook on their website. I want all of it! Unfortunately, my budget won't allow that, but it's still a wonderful source of inspiration. In fact, the shape of the dress at the bottom left reminded me so much of my little white dress that it, along with the white dresses over jeans, inspired today's outfit. Now I just need to thrift me a lil' pair of white Keds and some wellies!
I love the mix of white cotton and denim for summer. It's such a classic pairing. Whether you go with cotton of the crisp variety (like my little thrifted dress) or the softest of tee's, vintage 501's (like my new flea market pair) or a cute jean skirt or jumper, there are so many ways to interpret this freshest of themes!
