I came downstairs wearing this black 1980's dress with red trim and Mr. ETB said I looked how he'd envision a character from a 1940's spy novel he was reading. I hadn't yet accessorised, so I took that as a challenge. I own some 1940's pieces that don't get much wear, so why not?
The dress is made from a polyester fabric that can't decide if it wants to be brushed nylon or Ultra suede and falls somewhere in-between. It launders easily enough, but it does attract every bit of lint. I keep a lint roller in the car for just such fabrics, and this one really put the roller to use. As the dress was absurdly inexpensive I don't mind a bit of effort keeping it tidy.
Two recently acquired brooches.
Seashells encased in lucite with glitter-can earrings get any better?
A bracelet that is fast becoming a favourite. It is quite heavy, which makes it difficult to wear for more than a few hours.
Another velvet 40's handbag for my collection. I own a similar bag in a taller design, but at $3.99 I couldn't really refuse. The bag was in remarkably good condition, and probably didn't see much use.
Outfit Particulars:
1980's does 40's dress-Goodwill
Belt-Came with another dress
Stockings-K Mart
Vintage swing jacket-Hand-Me-Ups
1940's velvet handbag-Goodwill
Both brooches-Goodwill
Bracelet-Goodwill
Vintage earrings-garage sale
Gloves-Mum's
Vintage velvet hat-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-YSL Paris
I looked for a suitably vintage drink that a spy might have enjoyed in the 40's and found
The Cablegram:
2 oz. whisky
1 teaspoon icing sugar
Juice of 1/2 lemon
Stir well with ice. Strain into a tall glass and top up with ginger ale.
I made a foam-board template for this year's gingerbread house today. I'm feeling pulled in a dozen directions at the moment, so I'm keeping it simple this year. We're heading into the end of semester and there's still so much ground to cover. I bought myself a present...
I never knew I needed giant mugs until they ended up on the clearance shelf at Big Lots for .50 cents each. I bought two, because I like to go wild with money sometimes.
And now I have a cold, so they will get plenty of use delivering hot drinks. Pass the whisky.
I'm still drinking from my Chai Guevara mug I bought for 75 cents at out local 'departmental' store. I'm sure Castro would have been proud, RIP.
ReplyDeleteI remember that lint loving ultrasuede/brushed nylon stuff from the 80's, wasn't it called peachskin or something like that?
Anywho, LOVE that bracelet and you definitely do look like a 40's villainess gettin' villainous.
ReplyDeleteGoody, you are a 1940s spy personified! That jacket is absolutely beautiful and I love the dress, hat , handbag and stockings? You wear stockings? OMG, I haven't worn stockings since I first met my OH and when I did I remembered why I welcomed tights so much when they replaced stockings. Stockings have got to be one of the most uncomfortable items of clothing - ever.
Some fabulous jewellery; I absolutely loved the brooch with the circles round the black stone and the bracelet is so pretty.
Middle grandson is making a gingerbread house at school on Monday. They made the dough last week - I'm looking forward to sampling some!
Have a lovely weekend and keep sipping that whiskey...
Veronica
I do love a 1940s spy novel so I utterly adore your ensemble, it's fabulous. Those earrings are fabulous, they're like the mad paperweights I used to buy from jumbles when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteHope that cold does one soon. Keep drinking the whiskey. xxx
What a stunning outfit! Mr.ETB was spot on: you do look like a character from a 1940's spy novel. You accessorized the dress really well. I love both brooches but the second one is a firm favourite. I love the swing jacket too. Have been looking for one for ages. Hope you recover from your cold soon, but until then, a hot drink with plenty of whisky will do the trick, I guess. xxx
ReplyDelete@Bibi
ReplyDeleteThere were so many odd fabrics that had names lost to history. Do you remember a leather-like fabric that wasn't pleather, but a flexible fabric that had a shiny finish? I've been trying to remember what it was called.
@Veronica
I DO wear stockings-even the silly "tan" ones. They're getting hard to find good, inexpensive ones, so I always buy in quantity when there's a sale on.
Get photos of your grandson's artistic efforts-I love seeing what children's creativity can come up with when decorating gingerbread.
@Vix
Those old paperweights could break a toe if you dropped one.
@Ann
I need one of those vintage Thermos flasks like you collect so I can tote my hot booze with me and no one will know!
Hats and gloves do make an impression, do they not? Especially when the gloves are adorned with a suitably grand bracelet! Somewhere in a closet I've an oddly shaped oblong box that was intended solely for the storage of "long gloves". I've forgotten the rules for wearing them, alas.
ReplyDeleteFabulous outfit, I love it!
ReplyDeleteMan you suit hats, not many people do, but you so do. Ah the Ginger Bread House, I love what you do. Something I have never attempted is a ginger bread house. You spend a dollar, you are outta control lady!!!
ReplyDelete@Beth
ReplyDeleteI think as long as you don't offer a gloved hand for a handshake, the rules are pretty straightforward.
@Miss Magpie
Thank you. I wish I had someplace smart to go.
@Sue
They're fun to bake, but it would be tricky in the Southern Hemisphere-humidity and gingerbread don't mix, so unless you were having a dry summer, I wouldn't try it. Maybe you can head for the beach and make a sandcastle that looks like a gingerbread house-how cool would that be?
So little money for a 1940s handbag! And looking like a character from a 40s spy novel is no bad thing; you'd definitely be a femme fatale. Try not to meet a sticky end...
ReplyDelete@Mim
ReplyDeleteI really have been lucky of late with bags-I have no idea why.