Friday, June 21, 2019

Sleeves? Can't Be Bothered

 Our summer weather finally arrived even if accompanied by loads of rain. At this point, just being able to go sleeveless is cause for celebration. I'd been waiting since winter to wear this vintage 70s sundress I bought at Goodwill during a snowstorm. What a difference six months makes!
Isn't that print incredible? I had to remove the crumbling built-in-bra and elastic, and I still need to fix some repairs made by a previous owner, but all-in-all, I was pleased with being able to rescue this dress.
The dress had such beautiful coppery tones that I wore my vintage 50s Renoir set with it.

Outfit Particulars:
Vintage 70s sundress-Goodwill
Shoes-Et Cetera, Seward
Renoir copper set-Goodwill
Vintage handbag-yard sale
Rings-all over
Fragrance-Balenciaga Portos


So, my arms aren't the only thing I like to get out in the summertime ๐Ÿ˜€ (ooh-er). Truthfully, I didn't notice how revealing this dress was until I posted it on Instagram and was met with some playful comments, but eh, whatever. They're just boobs.


 Outfit Particulars:
Eyelet dress-Goodwill
Shoes-K Mart years ago
Vintage straw and wood bag-can't remember
Brooch-Goodwill
Bracelet-Hand-Me-Ups
Fragrance-Laura Ashley No. 1


 This sleeveless, polyester maxi is a summertime favourite. How can I feel anything but fab in something this cheerful?


Outfit Particulars:
1970s polyester maxi dress-Salvation Army
Handbag-New Life Thrift
Necklace-Goodwill
Bracelets-all over
Fragrance-Bvlgari Omnia Coral



 Something bright, you say? I've got bright! How's this Hawaiian number?


 Pardon the stern expression-this is one of those tight-fitting dresses where smiling would take away energy from shallow breathing. Hope you understand. There aren't many items of clothing I'd suffer for, but this dress is an exception. It isn't horribly tight, I'm just not used to such close-fitting clothes.


Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Hawaiian  dress-Goodwill
 African wax cloth handbag-Goodwill
Shell earrings-World Market
Fragrance-Guerlain Terracotta

I bought this gorgeous vintage  cotton dress to wear as a cover-up at the pool, but then thought better of it-this is far too nice to waste walking to and from the pool. I am only a 3 minute walk to the pool.

 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage sundress-Hand-Me-Ups
Handbag and necklace-both World Market
Vintage straw shoes-Goodwill
Vintage earrings-New Life Thrift
Fragrance-Balahe



 I saved the best for last. Anyone for a cocktail print? Paper umbrellas, citrus slices, and olives decorate this fun vintage rayon playsuit from the 80s.



 Outfit Particulars:
Vintage 80s playsuit-Hand-Me-Ups (from the .99 cent room!!!)
Embroidery under plastic handbag-antique mall
Vintage shell earrings-Goodwill
Vintage cherry brooch-Goodwill
Fragrance-Sofia Vergara, Sofia (cheapo but delightful and the body lotion sparkles like starlight!)

What about you? Is sleeveless something you do in summer, or do you have a better way to stay cool?









































































Tuesday, June 11, 2019

June is Bustin Out All Over

Well, as you can see by my hair, the heat and humidity have returned to Omaha! That's not an entirely unwelcome thing as we've had so much cold and rain this spring. I lost a good chunk of my garden a couple weeks ago in a freak hailstorm, but I've salvaged what I could, and re-planted a few things as it is still early (we stay warm into October). 


So that was a drag, and by the light of day, it looked even worse. It took a full 16 hours for the hail to melt, and by then the damage was done.
 Frozen peas, anyone?
I was able to cut back the chard and it is recovering. Anyway, that's the perils of gardening in Nebraska, but it was still disappointing. 
On a lighter note, I saw this shirt in a local thrift store. I wasn't tempted to buy it as it was made of that awful scuba material, but it was interesting to see this sort of meme-inspired "fashion" trickling down to the thrift shops of Omaha. 
School is officially out until 14 August! This was my last year teaching, so it is bittersweet. We took Danny to the high school to register for his freshman year classes. He's taking all the typical courses (maths, science, English, French) but he had a few electives to choose. I guess I expected he would go for art or music, but instead signed up for welding and woodworking. I'm excited for him-we'll finally have someone in this family that knows which end of a hammer to strike with. Danny is at the university now for a week long intensive weather science session. He's never been away from home, but he's enjoying it. It will be the first break I've had in 14 1/2 years as we never had a babysitter or and we homeschooled. We don't have any family here to help out, so we just took him with us everywhere. I'm sure it will be strange for us all, but it was time. He's getting to the age where he scarcely wants to be in the same room with us๐Ÿ˜Š.
On the vintage clothing front, I'm setting up shop. It was time, and when I started going through the storage to wash, press, and hang on garment rails the things I'm parting with, I was shocked at the amount of stuff I've accumulated since the last cull. It is hard to pass up a bargain, but I can't possibly keep it all, even if it only cost .99 cents. This top is a fine example. A 1960's polyester with a zip down the back, it is a classic sort of look. I must have a dozen of these in various colours. I will never wear them all, so it is time to send them off into the world. 
Here's another sleeveless striped polyester top, this time with the zip in the front. You get the idea. 
 I must show you a close-up of the vintage printed denim shorts...
Isn't that hilarious? I'm not a Disney fan, but the idea of a Hawaiian print with subtle characters hidden in the design was too good to pass up. I won't be keeping the shorts either, but had to wear then once for the sheer humour of it. 
This outfit, I'll be keeping. A peach coloured peasant blouse doesn't seem terribly practical at first, but it goes with nearly everything. The skirt was home sewn (by someone else) and has a metal zip. It was sold as a 50s skirt, but I'm pretty certain it is 70s. That's OK, as it was a bargain and I love it. I suspect the metal zip had been sitting in the sewing basket for years and the sewist decided to use it in the 70s. The platform shoes are from the 2000s, but work so well with 70s vintage styles. 




 Outfit Particulars:
70s skirt-Etsy
Peasant top-Goodwill
Vintage handbag-Antique mall
Shoes-Et Cetera thrift store
Earrings-Goodwill
Brooches-Hand-Me-Ups
Belt-Goodwill
Bangles-all over

 It wouldn't be summer without a vintage Hawaiian shirt, would it?
 I bought it for Danny (it is a men's shirt) but he didn't like it, so I kept it. The heavy cotton is pleasant and doesn't wrinkle much. 


Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Hawaiian shirt-Hand-Me-Ups
Shorts and tee shirt-both K Mart several years ago
Lucite and rhinestone bangles-Both Goodwill
Pink hoop earrings-Target
Shoes-K Mart years ago

So here's something interesting. I take most of my photos indoors in bad light. Sometimes though, I go outside and...
 I am much greyer in natural light! So that settles it, I'm never leaving the house again. Nothing good out there anyway๐Ÿ˜€.
I'm certain that's exactly how it will happen!
Anyway, I guess I need to go out once in a while to find an outfit like this.
Outfit Particulars:
Vintage Indian dress-Goodwill
Shoes-Goodwill
Basket bag-Antique mall
Necklace and earrings-had both for decades

You don't live in Nebraska without owning some red and white clothing (college sports) even if you didn't attend UNL.
I don't actually go about clutching my handbag like Moominmama...
...but I likely have an equally odd assortment of items therein. You never know what might come up! Best to carry everything.
Outfit Particulars:
Vintage sweater-Hand-Me-Ups
Vintage cotton Pendleton skirt-Goodwill
Vintage shoes-yard sale
Vintage handbag-New Life Thrift
Vintage stretch bracelet-can't remember
Necklace-Hand Me Ups
Lobster brooch-K Mart
Vintage climber earrings-antique mall in Wayne, NE
Cinnabar bangle-Hand-Me-Ups

I'm going to keep this short as I'm trying to get the kid's room cleaned before he gets home. What is it about teenagers and their inability to throw anything out...ever? If it were wartime and there was a paper drive on, we could fund a couple of battles just with what I've cleared out of his room. I very much doubt he was saving two years of maths homework/worksheets because he thought he'd need them. 

Hope your week is treating you well.