Tag Archives: vintage

My Vest Friend Mickey

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Oh Mickey you’re so fine, you’re so fine you blow my mind. Hey Mickey!

Although I have never watched an episode of The Mickey Mouse Club, I still have a favorite Mouseketeer: Ryan Gosling. From an awkward boy to a fine man, he has certainly grown into his chin. Let’s take a moment to dwell on God’s gift to womankind, the best Mouseketeer there ever was.

I was still in diapers when I went on my first trip to Disneyland. Needless to say, my memories of the happiest place on earth are quite hazy. I’m sure my mom purchased this tee during that very trip there in the 1980s, but now it’s vintage and all mine. Time to pay homage to everyone’s favorite oversized rodent.

Make it denim and blues for this mouse, starting with a vest. I made the $15 inVESTment (on sale!) and have become best friends with this denim vest; one could say I am VESTed (I’ll stop it with the vest puns). The versatility of a denim vest is endless. The look and feel of the outfit can be determined by whatever sleeve you wear underneath, be it faux leather, camouflage, knit, or, as I have chosen, a ribbed solid color cardigan. We all know that behind every great mouse is… a great mouse. The little red bow is my tribute to Mickey’s better half, Minnie. Finish with a pair of skinnies rolled up to show off my red shoes, and I’m ready to stroll down Main Street, USA.

How I would like to be on the happiest place on earth right now. And by that, I mean on Ryan’s hot bod. M-I-C-K-E-Y M-O-U-S-E!

Vintage Tee (similar new) / Levi’s Vest (similar) / William Rast jeans (similar) / Dr. Scholl’s shoes (similar) / Urban Outfitters cardigan (similar)

Surprise, Surprise, Faux and Hide

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Things aren’t always what they seem.

From across the sales floor, this dress appeared to have a delicate lace overlay in a beautiful contrast of hunter green and pale blush pink. Yet once we met up close, I was surprised to discover that it wasn’t lace at all, but rather a lace print. This faux lace meant that it would be easy to care for because it was machine washable. No expensive dry-cleaning bills and purchased on sale, this dress was a score.

While the fit and flare silhouette of this dress is reminiscent of 1950s fashion, the length is not. The flared skirt combined with the stiff fabric make for an inappropriate flashing opportunity. I won’t be going bottoms up in this dress, unless I have a drink in my hand.

Like the faux lace, this bracelet was also deceiving. I picked it up at a vintage show, thinking it was just a pretty blingy bangle to add to my collection. Oh, but it was so much more than that: when hinged open, the rose uncovers a watch. Since it was made in the good old days, I was able to wind it up and use the watch immediately. And it just so happens to match a brooch I already had – were they part of the same set and somehow separated long ago? It was serendipity that brought them together in perfect harmony with my dress.

Whether it’s faux lace or a hidden watch, keep the surprises coming. Except for a surprise stain, which I am guilty of overlooking for the love of vintage. Don’t judge me!


Zara dress (similar) / Nina shoes / vintage brooch (similar) / vintage watch (similar)

Day of the Dead

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Halloween may be over, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get a little undead. Time to replace the duck face with a skull face for Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos).

With origins in Mexico, this holiday occurs the day after Halloween and is meant to commemorate the lives of the deceased with food, drink, and lots of lively celebrations. Although I have never participated in this, I am still astounded by the vibrant colors, morbid face paint, and psychedelic skeleton artwork that characterize Day of the Dead.

I’ve had this black dress for years and have never worn it, but the colorful Mexican inspired embroidery seems perfect for this holiday. The look wouldn’t be complete without a head full of flowers. My solution: I pinned a couple of oversized flowers to a pillbox hat, and voila, instant floral arrangement! I love how they match the embroidery in my dress perfectly. This black dress needed some umph, and a vintage petticoat was just the answer. I’ve always wanted a petticoat, and I’ve been so lucky to inherit this one from my aunt. Yes, the scratchy tulle makes things a little itchy down there, but at least it’s not caused by a transmittable disease. Huzzah!

Unfortunately, I am not very good at putting on makeup, and would be deathly incompetent in painting a skull on my face. Alas, my Day of the Dead inspired outfit falls short of looking sinister.

Without the skull face paint, I look pretty alive. Can someone throw me a bone?

Nov: Day of the Dead

Anna Sui dress (similar and here) / Forever21 pillbox (similar) / herringbone fishnets (similar) / Dollhouse booties (similar)

Circus Circus

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Circus Tent

Come one, come all! I may be a lady, but let the freak show begin!

I went to my one and only circus show when I was ten years old. It was actually my dad who really wanted to attend, so he insisted on taking my sister and me. As much as I protested against going, I actually enjoyed the show – minus the smell of elephant poop.

While the circus I visited took place in an indoor arena, I am still enchanted by the whimsically striped circus tents from the olden days. The dizzying array of vertical and horizontal wide stripes on this dress is reminiscent of just that. The crisp blue and white can only be complemented by bold pops of cherry red in my belt and shoes. I kept all other accessories to a minimum except for a bracelet, a brooch, and a blue headscarf to match the blue stripes.

I know what you’re thinking and the answer is yes: beneath this tent is the greatest show on earth. That’s what he said.

Where’s a lion tamer when you need one?


thrifted I. Magnin dress (similar) / thrifted Selby shoes (similar) / thrifted scarf (similar) / vintage brooch (similar) / red belt (similar)

You Had Me at Aloha

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There isn’t a person I know who goes to Hawaii and has a terrible time. With the beautiful sunsets, clear blue waters, and soft sandy beaches, Hawaii is as close to paradise as it can get. Especially because anyone who travels there is bound to get lei’d.

I’ve always been on the lookout for something retro Hawaiian, and luckily found this lovely dress at Mercy Vintage.  It seemed to fit the bill without appearing too touristy. I love how the floral pattern has the qualities of a watercolor painting, and while not the typical Hawaiian hibiscus floral motifs that can often be found on sarongs and beach towels, the dress still evokes the aloha state.

I don’t know when I’ll visit paradise again, but I can at least look like it in this dress. Aloha, I’d like to get lei’d. Next, may I have a side of poke come through too?

vintage dress (similar here & here) / Me Too heels (similar) / vintage elephant necklace (similar)

Leaf Me

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My mama and papa said all the leaves are brown and the sky is grey. Well, almost – but not quite.

I chose my leaves in the form of a thrifted shift dress. The leafy vine motif in an autumn inspired color palette of orange and green is so appropriate for the season. It reminds me of the picturesque leaves changing colors on treetops – one of my favorite features of fall.

Since the dress is so short, it requires some careful ladylike maneuvering. My floppy hat serves a dual purpose: not only does it shield the sun from my face but it also preserves my modesty when I sit down. A dress this short deserves some flats or low wedges. I found an excuse to wear my new Jeffrey Campbells – I love the allover perforation and tonal cutout detail on top of the shoes. The nude color is versatile and the low wedge height makes them so comfortable I can practically live in them everyday before it gets too cold. My initial cluster necklace gets a bit lost in the busy print of the dress, but since V’s are so rare, I just had to wear it. The outfit wouldn’t be complete without my thrifted Anne Klein II purse to keep all my worldly possessions together.

Now make like a tree and leave.


thrifted dress / H&M hat (similar) / Jeffrey Campbell shoes (similar) / Anne Klein II bag (similar) / Urban Outfitters initial necklace (similar)

The First Year

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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

A Little Birdie Told Me…

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…That whomever said it is wrong to wear white after Labor Day is a Dodo bird.

Labor Day is supposed to mark the end of summer, but my golden tan and the hot asphalt outside beg to differ.

Even in this 90-degree weather, I’m maintaining a cool 60s. I was smitten for this sweet 1960s eyelet blouse when I laid eyes on it; anything eyelet exudes an air of innocence and a demure-like quality. What I love about wearing white is that you can treat it as a blank canvas. Just add some colorful accessories and voila, you’ve got yourself a masterpiece.

I chose a vibrantly colored scarf with three birdies on it and perched my new feathered friends atop my head. I accented the yellow in the scarf with matching wooden canary earrings. My wrists wouldn’t be complete without a cloisonné bangle and a vintage two-toned wooden cuff. Is it possible to take this outfit up a notch? I went from the 60s to the 70s with my newly acquired pair of Swedish Hasbeen wooden clogs, which originated in 1970s. Who doesn’t like wood?

I guess the age-old fashion faux pas of wearing white after Labor Day and the Dodo bird have something in common after all.


60s vintage eyelet blouse (similar) / Urban Outfitters jeans (similar) / vintage bird scarf (similar) / wooden canary earrings (similar here & here) / 70s vintage wooden cuff (similar) / Swedish Hasbeens

Party Like a Rockstar

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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.

Floppy Wall Flower

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Whoa! I’m Blossoming every time I put on this floppy denim hat – minus the oversized flower.

I hastily bought this hat a few seasons ago for a summer trip. Although it is cute and my face is shielded from the sun’s harmful rays, I always feel like I will walk into a tree or a telephone pole – it’s just too damn floppy for my own safety. Yet, as most fashionistas do, I sometimes sacrifice comfort and practicality for visual aesthetic. Floppy this hat might be, but a fashion flop it is not. The camera captured my floppy hat in all its glorious motion.

The light denim color of the hat lends itself well to this thrifted silky blouse with washed out citrus colored flowers and a dash of sky blue. Likely once a home sewn project, I date this shirt back to the 1960s. The print is reminiscent of wallpaper, floral motifs on dishware, and flower power stickers that were all the rage in that era.

I wore mid rise denim skinnies to balance out the blouse’s short boxy silhouette. The fact that my jeans are nearly the same shade of denim as my hat is no coincidence. Why, that’s just made in the shade.

Where my girl Six at?

Citrus Summer