Tag Archives: vintage

Mad for Paisley

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Are you mad for Joan, Betty, or Peggy?

While I’m mad for Don Draper, the ladies of Mad Men each have their own distinct style that I covet. Whether it is curve hugging sheath dresses for Joan, sophisticated fit and flare for Betty, or innocent and conservative office attire for Peggy – I have items in my closet that can easily identify with each of their style personalities.

I would say this abstract paisley dress fits Peggy’s style personality best. The conservative high neckline and feminine flared out skirt makes this dress oh-so office appropriate. I can picture Peggy wearing this dress as she climbs the corporate ladder. If that corporate ladder were Don Draper, I’d try to climb it too.

Look who decided to join Peggy for tea time: why, it’s none other than Velma from Scooby Doo!

vintage dress /vintage earrings (similar) / Urban Outfitters necklace (similar) / Guess platform pumps (similar) / silver & gold cuff (similar)

 

Stripes on Stripes on Stripes

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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

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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)

Poolside Polka Dot

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When it comes to styling the perfect outfit, I often freestyle it. Take the bathing suit for example: one has to think outside the swimming pool.

Betty Grable

Even though I purchased this red and white polka dot one-piece a few seasons ago, the retro design and classic style makes it timeless. Whenever I wear it, I feel like Betty Grable, although I dare not compete with her beauty and body.

Luckily, you don’t always have to bare your bottom. A one-piece bathing suit can be worn perfectly with a pair of trousers or a skirt. I chose to wear my polka dots with a full midi skirt thrifted from Salvation Army and completed my glam poolside ensemble with summertime appropriate bangles and a flower in my hair.

Far from a belly-flop, this is one outfit too chic to do a cannonball in.

Urban Outfitters bathing suit (similar) / thrifted skirt (similar) / Me Too shoes (similar) / flower headband (similar) / bangles (similar)

Jungle Fever

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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)

Tribal Baubles

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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

Shake it Like a Polaroid Picture

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In elementary school, I remember being forced to take awkward Polaroid mug shots for no reason. As a kid, my siblings and I would fight over using the Polaroid camera, and then watch in awe as it magically spit out the unprocessed image. It was pure magic to witness the pictures develop right before my eyes.

So with this nostalgia, I was elated to find this awesome tee shirt at a museum store during my visit to Toronto a few months back. I had long been looking for a cool “tourist” tee shirt – one with a graphic of a camera slung around the neck – and this one fit the profile perfectly. It was old school in all the right ways.

Lately my go-to casual outfit has been: graphic tee, blazer, jeans, strappy heels, and dog tags. This vintage yellow blazer added the right pop of color to an otherwise neutral palette. I wore this outfit to a quick casual dinner, and soon afterwards, I was ready to shake it like a Polaroid picture at a local bar without feeling too underdressed or too pretentious.

Who’s ready for their Polaroid mug shot?


personalized dog tags (similar) / vintage blazer (similar here + here) / graphic tee (similar) / Me Too shoes (similar)

Papa Don’t Preach

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But I made up my mind, I’m writing this post about you.

When I look at my father’s 60-year-old frame today, it’s hard to believe that he was once an energetic young dad dealing with four kids. Looking back at old photos of him, I’d say he was a pretty stylish guy.

He wasn’t around much when my siblings and I were younger because he worked hard to make sure he could provide for us and feed our hungry tummies. This was one of his biggest regrets, he later told me, that he missed out on so much of our childhood. To make up for lost time, he would lecture us on various facets of life, lectures I always dreaded. Only in recent years have I started to understand the meaning of his lectures. Whether it is advice on finding the right man or finding a career I’m passionate about – he has two cents to say about everything. I’ve realized that my dad is a very smart man. He has bestowed on me many words of wisdom, of which I realize the truths to his words much later.

Dad, thank you for always challenging me and providing the inspiration for this outfit! Like father, like daughter.


unlabeled jacket (similar) / U.O. tee (similar) / vintage trousers (similar) / Me Too shoes (similar) vintage D&B purse

Beautiful Little Fool

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“That’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool . . . ” – Daisy Buchanan

I guess you can call me a beautiful little fool for attempting to rival the looks of Ms. Daisy Fay. After all, she wears the finest pearls that money and buy and has two men vying for her love. Who wouldn’t be jealous?

Perhaps one of the most popular fashion decade amongst vintage experts and amateurs alike is the flapper style of the Roaring 20s. The style of this decade consisted of shapeless shift dresses with boxy straight cut silhouettes. Gone were the constricting corsets of past eras, and this was the first time there was so much exposure of the arms and legs. Shoes also became important in the outfit, as they now were visible because of the shorter hemlines. Mary Janes and T-straps were the popular shoes of this era, with their aesthetically pleasing design and practicality for dancing.

After watching The Great Gatsby, I was inspired to get jazzy and celebrate the 20s while I am still in my 20s. I got this awesome sequined wool top during my solo trip to Toronto a few months back. Not only does it shine and sparkle under the lights, but also when I move, the sequins rustle like the sound of leaves blowing on the treetops during a breezy autumn day. I wore it over my LBD, and with my already boyish figure, I suddenly created a flapperesque silhouette of a dress. Add some gold T-strap heels and a velvet turban headband (I used a strip of fabric scrap), and I am ready to do the Charleston all through the night. I probably could’ve used one strand – or ten – of pearls, since the 1920s look isn’t complete without tons of costume jewelry. Oh, what a fool I am!


vintage sequined tank (sequin option here) / We Who See T-strap heels (similar) / DIY velvet turban headband (tutorial here)

When in doubt, crop it out

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There are just 14 days until the start of summer and I’m already experiencing hot flashes. How can I keep my cool during these heat waves? When in doubt, crop it out.

I’m not inclined to bare it all unless I’m in Vegas. However, when the temperature reaches the mid 80s, a cropped top is a perfect way stay cool and shows off a little skin without feeling too exposed. Not to mention it’s an excellent solution to get some color in your midsection, if you don’t mind a funny tan line.

My aunt was cleaning out her closet and I became the lucky recipient of her groovy 1960s two-piece dress. The openness of the sleeves is not only stylishly cute, but has a functional purpose, for it serves as a much needed ventilation to my overheating body. This photo shoot was taken in the late afternoon, with the sun beaming down on me, and not a shady spot in sight. I think I might be too hot to handle, quite literally.

Is it hot out here or is it just me?

two-piece vintage dress (similar top & skirt) / vintage heels (similar here & here)