Category Archives: Uncategorized

Summertime Sadness

Posted on by

4

Just when my golden tan is finally coming along nicely, it’s already time to say goodbye to summer and hello to autumn.

The change of seasons brings about my favorite time of year in stores: end of season clearance sales. Markdowns galore, it is a barganista’s paradise if you don’t mind digging through chaotic racks of clothes. To me, its almost like shopping at a thrift shop – the piece you pick up really might be the only one left of its kind.

I think I swooped up on the last pair of these distressed denim cutoff shorts – they were exactly what I’ve been looking for all summer. And what could be a more perfect companion to these shorts than a lightweight airy blouse? I bought this blouse many years ago, but it has become a staple in my wardrobe – I absolutely love the floral pattern and the lace details. With shorts this short, I shied away from high heels, but still wanted a bit of height. A pair of vintage peep-toes with a woven straw mini wedge was the perfect answer to my shoe dilemma.

Summer days, drifting away – how dare you leave me when I look this good?


thrifted blouse (similar) / Urban Outfitters shorts (similar) / vintage wedges (similar) / vintage elephant necklace (similar) / vintage wooden cuff (similar)

The First Year

Posted on by

1

When I first started this blog , I didn’t really know where I was going or for how long I would maintain it. Now a year into it, I am still refining my voice on style and fashion. I plan to continue to catalogue my vintage journey through flea market finds and my dense closet, while providing style tips for my followers. I hope you continue to enjoy reading my posts as much as I delight in writing them.

The hardest part about blogging is finding the time for it when I have a 9-5 job. Taking photos can be a challenge; it has to be the right time of day for optimal lighting. I am picky about my backgrounds, and sometimes my face isn’t always photogenic, my posing is awkward, or the photographer isn’t available when I am. I often encounter writers block – what have I not written about already? Is the topic interesting? Am I witty enough? I tend to over-edit my posts, reading them over and over again for grammatical errors as well as to improve the content as much as possible before publishing. And finally, the hardest part is finding similar items for the outfits I’m wearing. It is a challenge to find clothing in stores that are comparable to my thrifted and vintage items, but I do my best – all for my readers.

If you asked me for my favorite decade of dress, it is hands-down the nifty fifties. Yet, as I go through my archives, I realize I have an overwhelming amount of posts dedicated to the swinging sixties. Had it not been for my blog, I don’t think I would’ve realized this about my own style. I’ve had to dissect and analyze each vintage item with detail and do diligence researching the history of a silhouette or the origin of a style with great accuracy. As a self declared fashion blogger and vintage lover, I must be a credible source for my followers. I don’t just pull this stuff out of nowhere.

Between my whimsically styled outfits to my witty and innuendo filled written content, I don’t think I can pick a favorite post. That would be like a parent saying that they love one child more than the other, and that’s just not possible, now is it?

It feels like just yesterday that I started you, oh humble blog. And now with the mere blink of an eye, a year has already passed. I must be getting senile at age 1 because I forgot my blog-birthday had passed a few days ago. Although I am not famous (yet), I am thankful to have a handful of followers (and growing). My dear readers, you love me, you really love me! Happy belated birthday blog!

Jan: You Can Toucan
Mar: Green with Envy
Apr: Flower Power Suit Part 2 – Pattern Play

Party Like a Rockstar

Posted on by

0

Or how about dress like one?

Mercy Vintage recently hosted a pop up shop featuring limited one of a kind items from the closet of Kim Gordon, rock icon from Sonic Youth.

It was a hot summer evening as a small crowd of people gathered into the cozy boutique. With a glass of spiked lemon ice tea in hand, and a plate of delectable pickled veggies in the other, my eyes devoured the sights of Kim’s clothes – all in perfect vintage condition and only at an arm’s length away. Marc Jacobs, Pucci, and Alexander Wang were amongst some of the designer duds for sale, as well as other vintage items.

I also couldn’t help but sift through the racks of Mercy’s regular merchandise. They have an amazing collection of dresses ranging from casual cotton day dresses to fancy chiffon and tulle fit for prom – no wonder I love shopping here. All of the frocks were so darling and I swear I heard one call out to me, “Chic Vic!” To my surprise, it was not a dress, but Brandy, the fashionista-confectionista blogger from Will Bake for Shoes. We oogled over which of Kim’s pieces were our favorites.

Alas, I was good to my pocketbook by not spending a dime, but I assure you this is one act you don’t want to miss out on.

Birds of Paradise

Posted on by

9

My dear toucan, it’s been a while. You’ve brought some friends I see.

This dress is certainly a tropical paradise indeed. Against a backdrop of an otherwise blueprint like design of a jungle, the colorful parrots and toucan seem like they will take flight right out of the dress. Not to mention the yummy mystery fruits that look ripe for the pickin’.

To accent the orange details on the dress, I wore a bright tangy scarf of the same hue. The lightweight weave is perfect for protecting my arms from the blazing sun. The beauty of a scarf like this is that it can be draped over the body in endless ways, with each drape creating a subtly different look. I accessorized with a double strand of oversized faux crystal beads to add some dimension to the matching green background of the dress.

My scarf hangs low, it wobbles to and fro, I can tie it in a knot, and I can tie it in a bow. I can even throw it over my shoulder.


H&M dress / H&M necklace (similar) / Me Too shoes (similar) / orange scarf (similar)

Stripes on Stripes on Stripes

Posted on by

2

I attended my very first clothing swap party some months back. A clothing swap party is exactly what it sounds like – all you need is a person to host the party and a group of gals to bring in unwanted clothing/accessories/shoes/handbags. The rules will vary from party to party, but the single most important requirement is that all who participate must contribute something to the swap. What better way to empty your closet and also shop for a “new” wardrobe? Let the swapping games begin!

I almost passed on this pair of striped shorts. It is a size too big and the Bermuda style looks tomboyish on me, but I saw the potential – and it was FO’ FREE! There was no need to worry about buyer’s remorse here.

My inspiration for this outfit materialized merely by accident. I’ve gradually accumulated blue and white striped items in my closet, and one day I had a stroke of genius to wear all the stripes together. If you’ve been a reader of mine from the beginning, you know that I’ve always been a bit nautical by nature. I wore my go-to maritime rope belt with my favorite compass necklace; it will come in handy in case I get lost at sea. Not one to be too matchy matchy, I also threw in a vintage brown and goldenrod paisley scarf for good measure.

I’ve got on more stripes than I can spot.


Truly Madly Deeply striped shirt (similar here & here) / Japanese bermuda shorts (similar) / White Mountain espadrilles / Urban Outfitters rope belt (similar here & here)/compass necklace (similar) / Urban Outfitters zodiac watch (similar)

Net Werk It

Posted on by

4

I recently attended a happy hour network event to mingle with other industry professionals over drinks. Half informal, half business professional, this occasion called for a fine line between looking fashionably casual and professionally boring.

The easiest way to pull this off is to isolate a single business professional piece. This can be a suit blazer, a pair of trousers, a suit skirt, or even a business dress. Then finesse that piece with more casual items and don’t forget to accessorize. The result is a perfect harmony of casual professionalism, with a dash of style.

I started with a navy pencil skirt as my building block, and paired it with a vintage eyelet blouse. With a little help from my rhinestone gecko, I incorporated some green into my outfit, and all it took me was 15 minutes. Now if only if I could save some money on my car insurance.

Looking sharp with my business card in one hand, I was ready to werk it. May I have a drink and a job with that?


Jones New York cardigan (similar) / vintage eyelet blouse (similar) / Banana Republic skirt (similar) / Old Navy gecko bracelet (similar) / Me Too shoes (similar) / vintage Coach (similar)

My Sassy Girl on the Lawn

Posted on by

2

It’s been a while since I’ve sprawled out on the lawn and listened to awesome live music.

Call it cheap seats if you will – I prefer the term budget conscious seats. Having to sit/lay/squat/stand on the lawn for several hours can bring a host of problems, mainly, “What should I wear to stay comfortable yet still look cute?” I had to rule out the mini skirt, stilettos, and anything bodycon.

I decided to go with my worn in soft skinny jeans, a loose fit tee, flat sandals, and a light scarf to cover my bare arms. I love how the girl on my tee-shirt has such a sassy smirk on her face. I accented the colorful floral in the shirt with my floral bangles, ring, and floral details on my scarf. My sassy girl sure loves flowers.

As I lay down on my blanket, the smell of weed drifted through the air. I stared up into the sky and waited for the stars to appear while beautiful music bathed my subconscious.


Zara tee (similar) / Silence & Noise jeans (similar) / Franco Sarto sandals (similar) / old scarf (similar) / old cloisonne bangles (similar) / Forever21 ring (similar)

Jungle Fever

Posted on by

0

I’ve got jungle fever – and I don’t mean in the Spike Lee sense.

Although I have never been in a jungle, I have trekked through lush rain forests on several occasions. I would imagine the jungle experience to be similar, complete with the sights of gigantic oversized ferns, hot and humid temperatures, and the sounds of frogs, birds, monkeys, and other critters that inhabit such an environment.

Since I have no plans to venture into a jungle anytime soon, I will gladly settle for this amazing blouse I recently purchased on sale from H&M. As a part of their Conscious Collection, this blouse epitomizes my style in every way; it is soft, flowy, feminine, and most importantly, it has a beautiful printed design. The illustrated jungle scene is depicted as a half fantasy, half realistic utopia.

I paired the blouse with a thrifted cream pencil skirt. Since the skirt is so light in color and form-fitting, I could not tuck in my blouse as I would normally do with a pencil skirt. To remedy this problem, I simply wore the blouse untucked, and added a skinny belt to keep the outfit looking neat and polished.

I’m thirsty from all this blogging. Time for some jungle juice.


H&M blouse (similar) / thrifted skirt (similar) / Me Too heels (similar) / vintage earrings (similar) / vintage Avon necklace (similar) / vintage belt (similar)

Who Wears Short Shorts

Posted on by

0

I like short shorts, but unfortunately, all I own are own some denim Bermuda shorts and some safari-esque khaki shorts.

I am desperate need of a chic pair or two to add to my wardrobe. Currently coveting: retro high waisted, casual distressed denim, and sailor style.

And that’s the long and the short of it.

Who Wears Short Shorts

Tribal Baubles

Posted on by

0

Greasy sunscreen, the smell of charcoal, and the taste of burnt hot dogs. Not wanting my finest frocks to smell like barbeque, what should I wear?

I decided to go with one of my favorite tops for the summer, a vintage Leslie Fay knit. I opted out of wearing a belt at the peplum to make way for more food in my tummy, although now I have stylist’s remorse for putting my appetite before my fashion sense. To spruce up the pallid top, I added some colorful tribal jewelry collected from my past world travels. Every time I put on this necklace, I am reminded of the sights, the food, and the people of the village from where I skillfully bargained for it.

Never mind the onlookers behind me, and the smell of barbeque wafting through the air, I attempted to find my Zen in a shady spot under the trees. The hues of blue-greens in the necklace and bracelet helped calm my soul on a beautiful summer day.

If only I didn’t go for seconds, I would’ve achieved the perfect lotus pose.

Summatime